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paucubarsisimp · 3 months ago

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HEYY! Could you make a fic where Pau Cubarsi starts liking Hansi Flick's daughter, who is the same age as him? At first Pau was afraid to approach the girl because he was scared of Hansi's reaction, but eventually they become friends until they both start to like each other. Idk how else to describe it haha, just something cute and fluffy please 🥰🧡

coach’s daughter

pairing: pau cubarsi x reader

summary: in which pau falls for his coach’s daughter

warnings: none

a/n: this was such a good idea 🥹! lmk if i should do a part 2 with hansi finding out!

tagged: @barcapix, @universefcb, @nngkay, lmk if you want to be added to the taglist

it was a cloudy morning when your father first walked through the doors of the barcelona training facility as their new manager. you had seen the excitement in his eyes, that familiar fire that burned when he stepped into a new chapter of his career. but for you, things were different. you had always been a shadow behind him, following his success, his every move. but now? now, you were part of the club, even if you hadn’t officially started anything. the pressure was suffocating.

you weren’t exactly involved in the club’s operations, not the way he was. still, the fact that you were there—sitting in the stands during every practice, standing by when your father needed to make a decision—it made you feel like you were just as much a part of it all as the players themselves. and that’s when you first saw him.

pau cubarsi.

at first, it was hard to focus on him in the sea of players running drills. you were used to watching professional athletes, to the smoothness of their movements and the precision in their steps. but something about him caught your eye. maybe it was the way he held himself—shy, yet determined. maybe it was how his hair always fell over his forehead in a messy, but somehow charming way, or how his greenish-blue eyes looked like they were always searching for something, someone.

he was only 18, but there was something about his presence that felt different. not like the others. more… vulnerable. like he was carrying the weight of something bigger than himself. it wasn’t just the training that wore him down. it was the weight of expectation, the desire to prove himself under your father’s watchful eye.

you saw him during breaks, always off to the side, quietly observing. he would often steal glances at you, like he wasn’t sure if he should look or if he was imagining it. when his eyes met yours, it wasn’t awkward. it was almost like he was trying to figure you out.

you tried not to pay too much attention to it. you were here for your father, to support him as he made his mark at barcelona. still, the way he looked at you… it left a strange feeling in your chest. like he was scared, but not in the way you’d expect from someone younger or less experienced. it was more like he was afraid of getting it wrong, of disappointing someone.

it wasn’t until the next practice that you found yourself sitting alone in the stands, watching the players run through drills again. most of the team was there, but your eyes kept drifting back to him. pau was standing on the far side, focused but quiet, always a few steps removed from the rest of the group. he didn’t speak much, didn’t seem to laugh or joke around like the others did. he was just there, working.

that’s when your father came up behind you.

“you’re watching cubarsi, aren’t you?”

you blinked, surprised that he’d noticed.

“yeah. he’s different, isn’t he?” you said, glancing at your dad.

your father nodded, eyes never leaving the field. “he’s got potential. he’s just young. and he’s still trying to find his place here.”

you could tell your father respected him—there was a quiet kind of admiration in his voice. “does he talk to anyone?” you asked, half-joking. you had rarely seen pau interact with the others. he always seemed… apart.

“he’s shy,” your father said simply. “but he’s also determined. i’m hoping he’ll come out of his shell soon enough.”

the idea of pau being shy surprised you. most professional players had an air of confidence about them, or at least, that was the image they portrayed. but pau was different. there was a quiet intensity about him, something raw and unpolished.

“he’s not like the others,” you murmured, more to yourself than to your father.

“no,” your father agreed, “but that could be a good thing.”

days passed, and as your father settled into his role at barcelona, you found yourself at the training facility more often. you’d attend the sessions, watching the players and occasionally offering a word of encouragement to some of them. but mostly, you kept to yourself. it was easy to get lost in the routine.

but then there were those moments when your eyes would inevitably drift to pau. you couldn’t help it. there was something about the way he carried himself, the quiet determination he had. and though he rarely spoke to anyone, when you two made eye contact, it was always a different kind of moment. almost like there was a quiet understanding there.

it wasn’t until a week after you first really noticed him that you got a chance to talk to him.

after one particularly brutal practice, most of the team had already left. you were walking toward the exit when you saw pau sitting on one of the benches near the field, his shoulders slumped, a towel draped over his neck. he didn’t look exhausted—he looked… thoughtful.

without thinking much about it, you walked over to him.

“hey,” you said, softly, not wanting to startle him.

he looked up, his greenish-blue eyes wide, almost surprised, like he hadn’t expected anyone to approach him. “oh. hi.”

you offered a small smile, taking a seat next to him on the bench. “how’s it going?” you asked, hoping to start a casual conversation.

“uh, good,” he said slowly. “i think. just… a lot to process, you know?”

you nodded, understanding completely. “yeah. it can be overwhelming at first. i’ve seen it with my dad so many times. the pressure, the expectations.”

“your dad…” he trailed off, glancing at you. there was something almost shy about the way he spoke your father’s name, like he was still getting used to the idea of being coached by someone so accomplished. “he’s… he’s tough.”

“yeah,” you said with a quiet laugh. “he is. but he’s fair. if you put in the work, he’ll notice.”

pau nodded, his fingers playing with the edge of the towel around his neck. “i just don’t want to mess up. i don’t want to be the guy who lets everyone down.”

you could hear the weight in his voice. it wasn’t just about the game for him. it was about proving himself, not just to your dad, but to everyone around him.

“you won’t,” you said quietly. “you’ve got talent, pau. just trust yourself. no one expects perfection right away.”

his eyes met yours, and for a moment, there was silence. the kind of silence that felt charged, like something was about to shift between you two. and when he looked away, it felt almost like a weight had lifted, though neither of you had said anything that would explain it.

“thanks,” he said, offering a small, uncertain smile. “i… i appreciate it.”

it was a small moment, but it lingered.

as the weeks passed, you found yourself talking to pau more often. it started with simple exchanges after training, but then, those moments became more comfortable. there was a quiet ease to your conversations. he began to relax around you, and you found yourself looking forward to those little moments when you could catch a glimpse of him, or maybe even share a few words.

he didn’t talk about himself much, but little by little, you learned things about him. he came from a small town, his family had sacrificed a lot for him to get this far. he was quiet, introverted, and seemed to have a deep passion for the game. but there was more to it than that. it wasn’t just about playing for the love of football. it was about a personal drive, something that pushed him to constantly work harder, to never settle.

and you couldn’t help but admire that.

one afternoon, after a particularly tough training session, you were walking toward the exit when you saw him again, sitting on the same bench. this time, he wasn’t alone. some of the other players were there too, chatting and laughing, but pau sat slightly apart from them, his eyes fixed on the ground.

you approached, and he looked up, his eyes meeting yours with that same hint of uncertainty.

“hey,” you said, offering a warm smile.

“oh, hey,” he replied, his voice a little shy, but warmer than before.

you sat down next to him. “how’s it going? still processing?”

he smiled faintly. “yeah. but it’s getting easier.”

the conversation felt easy, comfortable. and even though you hadn’t admitted it yet, there was something growing between the two of you. something unspoken.

as the days turned into weeks, you both began to realize that maybe… just maybe, this was the beginning of something more.

it had been a few weeks since you and pau had started talking regularly, and already, you could feel the difference. the tension that had existed between you—mostly because of your father’s position, and the fact that you had to maintain a certain distance from the players—had started to fade. with every quiet conversation and every shared glance, you felt a shift. you were beginning to see pau differently, and he, it seemed, was starting to see you in a different light as well.

it was a friday afternoon when the team had their last training session of the week. the sun was lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the field. the mood was more relaxed than usual. the pressure of a mid-week match had passed, and now, it was all about fine-tuning.

you found yourself sitting in the stands, like you always did, watching the drills unfold below. your father was in the middle of a tactical discussion with a few of the senior players, and you could hear the occasional bursts of laughter from the rest of the squad as they ran through a scrimmage.

but you weren’t really paying attention to that. no, your eyes kept drifting to one person: pau.

he was on the far side of the field, quietly running through his exercises. his hair was slightly messy, as usual, and his bright greenish-blue eyes were locked on the ball at his feet, as though it held the secret to everything he needed to do. he had always been so focused, even in the little things. it was something you admired, but it also made you wonder if he ever allowed himself to relax.

as if sensing your gaze, pau looked up. his eyes met yours for a split second, and there was that familiar feeling again—a kind of unspoken understanding between the two of you. his mouth twitched into a small smile, and you couldn’t help but return it.

the moment was fleeting, but it felt like something more than just a glance.

after practice ended, as the players began to disperse, you stood and made your way toward the locker room. your thoughts kept drifting back to pau, to the way he looked at you when he thought you weren’t looking. there was something there, but neither of you had dared to say it out loud.

just as you reached the door to the locker room, you heard someone call your name.

“hey, wait up.”

you turned to see pau jogging toward you, his strides quick but careful. there was a slight hesitation in his steps as if he wasn’t quite sure what he was about to say.

“hey,” he said, breathless from the run. “you heading out already?”

you nodded, offering a smile. “yeah, just thought i’d grab some air before heading back to the office. you finished for the day?”

“yeah, just… stretching a little,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “i usually stay after practice to work on a few things.”

you raised an eyebrow. “like what?”

he glanced down at his feet, a slight blush creeping up his neck. “you know, just… some drills. trying to improve my footwork. i feel like it’s one of the things i can control the most, but… i’m still not quite where i want to be.”

you tilted your head, considering his words. pau was always trying to improve himself, always trying to become better. but it was clear that his drive came from a place of insecurity, not arrogance. it was a part of him that you hadn’t seen before, and it made you admire him even more.

“don’t be too hard on yourself,” you said gently. “you’ve got the talent, pau. you just need to trust it.”

he met your gaze, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to say something more, but he hesitated. instead, he gave you a small smile.

“thanks,” he said, his voice quiet. “i’ll keep that in mind.”

there was a long pause, an awkward silence hanging in the air between you. and then, as if to break it, he stepped forward slightly, the uncertainty clear on his face.

“do you… want to hang out for a bit?” he asked, the question coming out slowly, almost nervously. “i mean, it’s just… after a day like today, i figured maybe it’d be nice to have someone to talk to.”

you felt a warm flutter in your chest, surprised by his invitation but also flattered. you had spent so much time watching him, observing his quiet intensity, but you hadn’t considered that he might want to spend time with you too.

“yeah,” you said, smiling. “i’d like that.”

the two of you made your way to a nearby café, a small, cozy spot a few blocks from the training ground. it wasn’t much—just a quiet place with warm lighting and the smell of fresh pastries in the air. you sat at a small table near the window, sipping on your drinks and talking about everything and nothing.

at first, the conversation was light—talking about training, small observations about the players, and the general chaos of your father’s schedule. but as time went on, the conversation deepened. pau started to open up more, sharing things he hadn’t said before. he told you about his life growing up, the pressure he felt to make it big in football, the sacrifices his family had made to support him. he talked about how hard it was to be seen, to feel like he was good enough, even though he was always told he had potential.

and as he spoke, you listened. really listened. you could see the weight he carried, the vulnerability he hid behind his quiet demeanor. there was a quiet pain there, but also a fire that burned, one that pushed him forward despite all the doubts he had about himself.

when he finally paused, looking down at his drink, you couldn’t help but ask the question that had been on your mind.

“you don’t have to be so hard on yourself, you know?” you said gently. “i mean, you’re doing great. you’re already here, at one of the biggest clubs in the world. that says something.”

pau glanced up at you, his greenish-blue eyes meeting yours with a quiet intensity. “i just… i don’t want to let anyone down. especially not your dad.”

your heart skipped a beat at his words. you knew what he meant. your father’s expectations were sky-high, and pau knew it. he didn’t want to fail in front of someone who was already so accomplished.

“he won’t let you fail,” you said softly. “he sees your potential, pau. and so do i.”

the words left your lips before you could stop them, and for a moment, the air between you felt thick, charged. pau’s eyes widened slightly, and he looked away, clearing his throat.

“thanks,” he said, his voice a little rough. “that means a lot. really.”

you smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you. there was something in the way he spoke to you, something that made you feel seen, too. not just as your father’s daughter, but as you—someone he was starting to trust.

and for the first time in a long time, you felt like you weren’t just watching the world from the sidelines. you were a part of it. and so was pau.

after that evening at the café, something shifted. it wasn’t immediate, but gradually, the little moments between you and pau grew more natural. it started with small interactions: a quick smile across the field, a casual hello when passing each other in the halls. but those small moments began to build into something more.

every time you saw pau, you noticed how he seemed to open up a little more. he wasn’t as shy around you anymore. he’d hang back a little after practice, waiting for you to join him, and when you did, the two of you would talk about everything—football, life, and sometimes just random, silly things that made the hours fly by.

and you found yourself looking forward to those moments. they were always simple, but something about being with him made everything feel more… alive. it wasn’t like he was trying to impress you. he didn’t need to. the quiet sincerity in his words, his unspoken vulnerability, was enough.

it was after one particularly intense training session that you found yourself walking to the locker room, ready to head out for the day. you’d been sitting in the stands, watching the team run through drills, when pau’s eyes had caught yours again. this time, though, you didn’t look away. you held his gaze, and the corner of his mouth lifted in that familiar, shy smile. you smiled back.

as usual, he waited for you by the exit. when you saw him standing there, hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie, looking more comfortable than usual, your heart did that little flutter it always did now.

“hey,” you greeted him, approaching with a smile.

“hey,” pau responded, his voice warm. “you heading out?”

“yeah,” you said, falling into step with him as the two of you started walking towards the café. “feels like it’s been a long week.”

“tell me about it,” he replied with a small laugh. “but at least it’s friday, right?”

you nodded, glancing over at him. “yeah, at least there’s that.”

the conversation was light, just two people sharing the casual rhythm of a Friday afternoon, but something was different about it. maybe it was the way pau wasn’t as hesitant anymore. maybe it was the way you both felt comfortable in the silence, the occasional chuckle breaking the stillness.

as you approached the café, pau turned to you with an almost uncertain look in his eyes. “i, uh… i was thinking about something,” he said, voice a little quieter than usual.

“what’s up?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

he hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing his words. “well, i’ve been… kind of thinking about how much time we spend talking about football and all that,” he said, his hands fidgeting. “but i want to know more about you. like, outside of your dad’s job and the team. what do you like to do? i mean… i know you probably have your own life, too, right?”

the question caught you off guard, but in the best way. it felt different, more personal than anything he had asked you before. you thought about it for a moment, then smiled.

“yeah, i do,” you said, your voice soft. “i’m actually really into art. i sketch a lot. when i have the time, i mean. but mostly, i like to just… go out and explore the city. see new places.”

pau seemed to brighten at that, his interest piqued. “art? that’s cool. i didn’t know that.”

you shrugged, feeling a little shy at the attention. “it’s just something i’ve always done. i guess it’s my way of… getting away from everything. it helps me clear my mind.”

“that’s really cool,” pau said, sounding genuinely interested. “maybe you can show me some of your sketches sometime.”

the invitation was light, but you could hear the sincerity in his voice. and you found yourself feeling a little warmer, a little more at ease with the idea of sharing that part of you with him.

“maybe,” you replied with a smile. “i think you’d like them. but no promises—they’re pretty rough.”

“rough is good,” he grinned. “rough means it’s real, right?”

you chuckled, and the two of you settled into the café, each of you feeling a little more comfortable in the quiet space. as the days passed, you found yourselves hanging out more often, even outside of the café. sometimes it was walking through the city, other times it was grabbing lunch together, but the more you spent time with pau, the more you realized how much you liked him. not just as a player, not just as someone you shared casual conversations with, but as a person.

and it wasn’t just the way he made you laugh or the way he seemed to understand your silences. it was the way he paid attention. the way he saw things about you that others didn’t. he saw the little things—your half-smile when you were nervous, the way you tugged at your sleeves when you were deep in thought. he noticed how you’d take a deep breath before speaking, like you were trying to find the right words, the right moment. and he didn’t rush you.

it was small, but it was everything.

one afternoon, as you and pau sat on a bench overlooking the city from a high point in the park, there was a shift. something unspoken lingered between you two, heavier than before.

pau had been quiet for a while, staring out at the horizon as the golden light from the setting sun bathed the city in a warm glow. you’d been talking about football, about how the team had been preparing for an upcoming match, when the silence fell.

finally, pau turned to you, his expression serious, and for the first time, you saw a vulnerability in his eyes that took you by surprise.

“can i ask you something?” he said, his voice low.

“of course,” you said, looking at him.

he paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before speaking again. “do you ever feel like… like you’re just a part of someone else’s story?” he asked, his voice unsure.

you blinked, taken aback by the question. “what do you mean?”

“i mean,” he said, his gaze shifting downward, “with your dad being who he is, and everything… do you ever feel like people see you as just ‘the manager’s daughter’ or like you’re only important because of that?”

the question hit a little too close to home, and for a moment, you didn’t know how to answer. but you took a deep breath, glancing down at your hands, trying to find the right words.

“sometimes, yeah,” you said quietly. “it’s hard to not feel like that when everyone expects so much from him, and by extension, from me. it’s like… i’m always just trying to fit into the world they’ve built around him.”

pau looked at you with an understanding that made something inside of you shift. “i get that,” he said softly. “i know i’m just starting out here, and everyone’s watching me, waiting for me to be this big thing. sometimes i wonder if i’m good enough to be part of this.”

the words felt like a confession, and it made you realize that pau’s vulnerability was much more than just insecurity—it was a window into his true self. someone who was trying to carve out a space in a world that had already decided who he was supposed to be.

“you’re good enough, pau,” you said, your voice firm. “you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. especially not me. you’re already more than enough.”

he looked at you, his eyes soft, and for a moment, there was no pressure, no expectation—just the two of you, sitting side by side, quietly understanding each other.

the shift was subtle, but undeniable. there was something there now. something more than just friendship.

the days after that afternoon in the park felt like they were suspended in time. everything around you seemed to continue at its usual pace, but there was a growing awareness between you and pau, something that wasn’t there before. it was subtle—his lingering glances, the way his smile held a little more warmth, the way he was a little more open with his thoughts. and with each passing moment, you felt a connection that was becoming harder to ignore.

it wasn’t just about the quiet walks or the café visits anymore. it wasn’t even about the conversations that started light but ended with something deeper, more intimate. no, it was something else. it was the way your heart would race whenever he was close, the way your stomach would flutter when he said your name with that softness in his voice.

you couldn’t deny it. you were falling for him.

but you also couldn’t ignore the fact that you were starting to sense something in him, too. it wasn’t just your imagination. there was a shift in the way he looked at you—his eyes held more meaning, and he seemed to notice the smallest things about you. when you were tired, he could see it even before you said anything. when you were happy, it showed in the way you smiled, and he’d smile back, like it was a secret only the two of you shared.

you tried to keep things casual, but it was becoming harder.

it was a rainy evening, and after a long day of training, you found yourself sitting in the stands, waiting for the last few players to finish up. the rain had started to fall in soft sheets, and the cold breeze made you pull your jacket tighter around your shoulders. most of the team had already cleared out, but you didn’t mind the quiet. it gave you time to think.

the only thing you didn’t expect was pau.

he appeared out of nowhere, emerging from the locker room door with his hoodie pulled over his head, looking like he was going to head out—but then he saw you. he hesitated for a moment, then jogged toward you.

“hey,” he greeted, his voice a little breathless, like he hadn’t quite expected to find you here. “what are you doing out in the rain?”

you shrugged, trying to make light of it. “just thinking. didn’t expect the rain, honestly.”

“yeah, it’s been like that all day,” he said, settling down beside you. “you want me to walk you to the car? it’s not a good idea to stay out here alone, especially when it’s this cold.”

you smiled at the thoughtfulness behind his words. “you don’t have to do that. i’m fine.”

“i know i don’t have to,” he said, his eyes locking with yours for a moment. “but i want to.”

your heart skipped a beat. it was a simple sentence, but the way he said it—so casually, yet with so much sincerity—made your chest tighten. you felt like there was something he wasn’t saying. something just under the surface.

“alright,” you agreed softly, your voice barely above a whisper. “thanks.”

as you stood up, pau moved a little closer, falling into step beside you as you both made your way toward the parking lot. the rain was still falling, but it wasn’t as heavy as before. the sound of the droplets hitting the ground was oddly calming, the rhythm of it matching the steady beat of your heart.

the walk was quiet at first, but then, pau spoke again, his voice hesitant, like he was testing the waters.

“do you ever wonder…” he began, and you looked up at him, raising an eyebrow.

“wonder what?”

he paused, a small frown crossing his face. “i don’t know. i guess i just wonder if things are going to stay the way they are. i mean, with us. i don’t want to mess it up, you know? everything feels so… natural when we talk. but i don’t want you to think i’m just some guy who doesn’t get it.”

you could hear the vulnerability in his voice, and it made your chest tighten. he was scared. scared of crossing that line between friendship and something more. scared of ruining what you had.

you stopped walking for a moment, turning to face him. the rain had slowed down to a drizzle, and the streetlights cast a soft glow across the wet pavement. you looked into his eyes, those greenish-blue depths that always made you feel like you were seen, really seen.

“pau,” you said softly, your heart racing. “you don’t have to worry about messing anything up. i’m not going anywhere. and neither are you, are you?”

his eyes softened, and for a brief moment, you saw something vulnerable flash across his face. it was as if he was waiting for you to tell him that it was okay, that it was safe to admit what had been building between the two of you.

and you did.

“i… i like you, pau,” you said, your voice quiet but firm. “i really do.”

the air between you two seemed to stop for a moment. everything else faded into the background—the rain, the noise of the world, the people rushing around. it was just the two of you, standing there in that small space, with everything hanging between you like a secret neither of you had dared to say out loud before.

pau’s breath caught, his eyes searching yours for any hint that you didn’t mean it. but there was no doubt in your voice, no hesitation in your gaze.

“you like me?” he asked, his voice almost incredulous. “really?”

you nodded, smiling shyly. “yeah. i do.”

it was then that you saw him let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. a relieved smile spread across his face, and for the first time, you saw him look at you like you were the only person in the world. his gaze softened, and without another word, he stepped forward, his hand gently brushing against yours.

“i like you too,” pau admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the confession was something fragile, something he was only just now allowing himself to believe.

the air around you two seemed to shift in that moment. the world was quieter, the rain falling around you both almost like it was a backdrop to this newfound understanding. there was no turning back now—no pretending this connection wasn’t there.

his fingers brushed against yours again, this time intertwining, and you felt a warmth spread through you at the simple touch. it was a promise, an acknowledgment that this was real.

you looked up at him again, your heart in your throat, your pulse quickening as he gazed back at you. and then, slowly, ever so gently, he leaned in. the space between you closed as his lips hovered just above yours, waiting for you to meet him halfway.

and you did.

the kiss was soft at first, tentative, like neither of you wanted to rush this moment. but as you deepened it, you felt the tension, the weight of the last few months, melt away. everything felt right. the rain falling around you felt like it was a world all its own, a perfect backdrop to this moment that you would never forget.

pau’s hands moved to cup your face gently, pulling you closer, his lips pressing against yours with more intensity, as though he was finally allowing himself to feel what had been building between the two of you for so long. the kiss was everything—gentle and urgent all at once. and as the rain soaked through your clothes, it didn’t matter.

you pulled away slowly, breathless, your forehead resting against his, both of you trying to catch your breath in the silence that followed.

“wow,” pau whispered, his voice a little hoarse. “that… that was perfect.”

you smiled, still a little dazed, and brushed the wet hair from your face. “yeah,” you agreed softly. “perfect.”

you stayed there for a moment, just holding each other, letting the rain wash over you both, the world outside fading into nothing.

and for the first time, you felt like this was only the beginning.

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sweetdispatch · 5 months ago

Text

Sex stays, right? - J. Hughes

Purple Chemistry | Previous Chapter timeline: December 2023 - January 2024 summary: Jack opened to you after one of his lost games to later ignore you warning: mentions of sex, swear words, misunderstanding note: devils - rangers game is a good reason to post another chapter haha

Everything went back to normal with you two. Well, normal after your secret was out. Jack was still showing up at your apartment when he needed to fuck you. Although, after you received the flowers, you started talking on a daily basis. It wasn’t the same as earlier when he only wanted sex. You felt that he’s trying to trust you again.

Still, Jack was enjoying the deal you two had about sex. He didn’t want to pressure things but having someone for a night was nice. He didn't feel bad that he was using you for this but after he fucked you and left undone, it brought him to realisation that you’re more than just this. He was bitter about the lie and your favorite club but he wanted to make it as normal as possible.

During Christmas time, Jack gave you a gift and you were in shock because you didn’t prepare anything for him. You never thought he would come up with something like that. It was a teddy bear and your favorite chocolate but for you, this gesture meant a lot. You wanted to give him something but he was repeating that it’s fine. This teddy bear was sleeping with you from now on.

Day before New Year’s Eve, Jack played in Boston. You watched this game and saw that his team had a 2:0 lead, and lost 2:5. This time, you held your tongue and decided not to say anything. You felt bad for him but not bad enough to talk with him about it. You were sitting quietly at home, searching for inspiration for a tomorrow’ party.

You woke up in the morning and went to prepare yourself with lemon water. You heard knocking on your door. Being sure that one of your friends decided to visit you, you opened the door but it was Jack. You let him in but didn’t say a word to him. You were keen on your preparations instead of him.

“I feel like a loser” He sighed and dropped on the couch.

“It’s just one game, move on and focus on the next one” You didn’t want to have your mood ruined because of his pity party.

“Easy to say for you, we were leading and later we let score 5 fucking goals”

“Oh c’mon, games like that happen. Now, you can just learn from the mistake and be better in the next ones” You said while washing your glass. “Now, do you want anything more or can I start getting ready?”

“Are you going somewhere?” He asked surprised.

“Yeah? I’m going to a party with my friends and I need to get ready” You replied.

“Can I stay and just talk?” You looked at him with shock written on your face.

“Um… sure. If you want”

You went into your bedroom and sat down in front of your mirror. You pulled out your cosmetics and started working on your eye look. Jack sat down on the bed and talked his heart out about this game, how he feels playing and how his team is doing. You were listening to every one of his words but didn’t interrupt him. You wanted him to feel free to express his feelings.

For Jack it felt so normal to lay in your bed and talk about everything. He hadn’t felt weird to be honest with you about what he’s thinking. Your presence was calming him even if you were only listening to him. He wished you two were more than this but he couldn’t forgive you lies and he was bitter over who you are rooting for. In his mind, you're a Rangers fan so you could never truly support him.

After two hours, you were done with your makeup and stood up to go change into a dress. Jack laid on your bed and rested. This was a quiet moment between you two. No talking, just enjoying each other's presence. You grabbed the dress and went into the bathroom to change.

“I saw you naked, you don’t need to hide” Jack joked and you rolled your eyes.

When you were ready, you left the room and Jack looked at you. You were wearing a short black dress that laid perfectly on your body. He was looking at you for a couple seconds and you felt insecure that it’s not a good choice.

“Do I look bad that you are staring?” You asked him and he quickly shook his head.

“No, actually I think you look gorgeous” You blushed hearing his words.

“Thanks” You walked into a closet to pick out high heels and a purse.

Jack sat up on your bed and couldn’t erase the image of you in this dress. You looked like a goddess and all he wanted to do now was to worship your whole body. Quickly he remembered that you’re going to a party and started feeling possessive that other men will be looking at you just like he is. Your voice brought him back to reality.

“Okay, I’m ready and you need to leave” You said while putting on your earrings.

“Do you need a ride to the party?” He asked you but in reality, he just wanted to know where you were going and be sure that you’re safe.

“Yes, you’ll save me some money” You giggled.

You left the bedroom and grabbed your coat from a hanger. Jack followed you and you two left your apartment. You were following him to his car. As a gentleman, he opened the door for you. You gave him the address and focused on the road ahead of you. It was a nice feeling to know that he’s there with you but you felt like he’s doing this as a way to repay that he could talk to you earlier.

“If you want, I can pick you up from the party” You heard his voice.

“No need, I’m coming home with my friend and I’m staying there for night, but thanks”

Jack dropped you in front of the house where the party was held. You placed your hand on the handle to open the door before Jack stopped you.

“Let me know after the party that you’re safe… please” You looked at him, shocked that he cares that much about you.

“Yeah, of course” You replied and just like that, you left him behind walking into the party.

Jack watched you when you entered the house. He felt jealous that he’s not the one to take you out there or be your plus one. Today’s day made him realise that he has stronger feelings towards you that he would like to admit. Although he started questioning if you also had them looking at how cold you were to him.

Since the New Year’s Party, you felt like Jack is putting distance between you two. He started talking less to you and you were wondering if you did something wrong. Maybe he’s mad that you didn’t respond to him while he was having a monologue? That was your first thought. You asked him about it but he said that everything is fine.

For you, nothing was fine. Jack was starting to trust you again but now, he was ignoring you. You knew that there’s a tension between you two, when after a tough loss, he hasn't showed up at your place like he was always doing. You wanted to scream at him and get your answers but decided to give him space instead. Two can play this game.

You stopped talking to him. For the past weeks, it was you who always started the conversation and Jack’ replies were dry. You were done with this. If he made up his mind, he’ll text you. One day turned into one week with no message from him. It bothered you but you didn’t want to let him win.

Jack was confused with his feelings. One part of him wanted to have you close but the other part was scared that he’ll fall for you. He thought that the best thing he could do is to keep you away while he’s trying to figure out things. He felt bad that you’re always the one to talk with him but he didn’t do anything to change it. When you stopped, it finally was a signal for him that he needs to fix it.

You were coming back from work after a tough day. You needed a bath and wine to relax. When you left the elevator, you saw Jack standing in front of your door with flowers in his hands.

“What are you doing here?” You said not even bothered to look at him. You were searching your keys in the purse.

“I came to apologise but you weren’t home so I waited” You opened the door and walked into your place, he followed you into. “This is for you” He handed you the flowers. You went to grab a vase and put the flowers.

“Thanks” You replied and the two of you stood in awkward silence for a minute. “Are you planning to say something or just came to fuck me?”

“I just want to say sorry. I’ve been awful for the past couple of weeks and you didn’t deserve it. It's just…” He took a deep breath. “I like you and you're a good friend for me but it feels weird for me to forget about the lie and I needed to think about what we are even doing” He chuckled. “But when you stopped talking to me, I realised that I miss our pointless conversations and just hanging out around you”

“Let me get this straight. You needed to think if you want me around you because I lied to you and you didn’t know if you can forgive me?” You asked.

“Yeah but as you said this like that, it sounds terrible” He laughed.

“It does” You sighed. “So what are we?”

“Friends? If you want this of course”

“I want this” You hugged him.

“But the sex stays right?” You rolled your eyes at his words.

“Sure thing. Now if you excuse me I have a date with my bath and wine”

“How about you take a bath and I’ll order food and we’ll enjoy the night” You smiled at him.

“I would love that”

You prepared your bath and laid in the hot water trying to relax. Instead, Jack’ voice was ringing in your head and his words. You were overthinking the whole situation. In the meantime, he ordered your favorite meal and poured you a glass of wine. He didn’t want to drink because he still needed to return to his apartment. He turned on your favorite movie and waited for you.

When you stepped out of the bathroom, you dressed up in more comfortable clothes and went to the living room. You saw Jack unpacking your food and smiled at this sign. It felt too good to be true. You sat next to him and the two of you enjoyed the meal and movie. After you finished eating, you started talking about how your life has been lately and joked around. Couple hours later, he left your apartment and you were lost in your thoughts about what the two of you are.

Last two months were interesting to say. You and Jack after a major argument and his ghosting finally returned on the right track. Everything was going smoothly for both of you and you felt like he’s trusting you again after the conversation when he returned from Boston. Your feelings for him came back like a boomerang and this time, you didn’t want to mess up.

Jack opened his heart for you again. It was a tough process for him but last month helped him to realise that you’re his true friend. He needed to have you around because even if you were on the opposite side in his sports life, you were always next to him in his private life and that was the most important thing for him.

Next Chapter

#jack hughes #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes imagine #jack hughes fanfiction #jack hughes au #nhl #nhl imagine #nhl fanfiction #new jersey devils #purple chemistry #v' work

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wonwoosthetic · 1 year ago

Note

Helllooo! Could we please get a nana tour update? 🤍

a/n: I know this update took longer than expected! I‘m trying to get the episodes out now quicker but writing TV programs takes quite a while so excuse it if it takes a bit longer😅🫶🏼 it also doesn’t help that I can’t hold myself back from writing long ass chapters haha; but anyways, I hope you enjoy it🥰🥰

series masterlist

word count – 11.1k

warnings – none ˙ᵕ˙

Go Together NANA Tour EP3-1. - EP3-2. 🌷 Minnie

italics is always just bonus content for you guys and wouldn’t be seen on camera ˙ᵕ˙

EP3-1. Silent Screams Part 2

"Okay!" Na PD exclaimed, "Minnie, next."

Sitting between Vernon and Dokyeom, the trio was whispering to each other, chuckling at whatever they seemed to find funny.

Mingyu, Jeonghan, Vernon and Joshua had chosen their dream activities for the following day, leaving Minnie to choose now. There were three more spots for the hot air balloon tour, one free seat in the car to Florence��and five people were still able to enjoy the wine tour just down the hill.

"What are you going to do?" The producer nagged.

With a mischievous smile, she glanced at Vernon, who was already grinning at her, nodding his head. She turned back to the producing team in front of them before answering,

"I'll take Florence, please."

The two oldest, along with the '98 Liner, erupted in cheers, stepping closer to her to reach out and shake her hand while the young rapper bopped his head in clear excitement.

"Woah...," Hoshi gasped out loud. The rest of the group gazed around perplexed. "I thought you would choose the wine tour."

"Same," Dino agreed with the sub-unit's leader. The other members nodded in agreement, glancing at the small group that had formed around the ones sitting on the kitchen counter.

"Then," the producer announced, "Florence is completely sold out!" Another round of clapping and cheers filled the room.

"You didn't want the hot air balloon?" Joshua leaned back to smirk at the female member, who looked at him in shock.

"Are you insane?!" She chuckled, "Between possibly falling from like ten thousand feet in the air or visiting a pretty old city, I think I'd prefer the latter. Thank you." The older member smiled, patting her dangling leg before turning back around.

Vernon scoffed, "I don't think it's ten thousand, to be honest."

Minnie just rolled her eyes and shook her head. "It's too high. Period."

Seungkwan and Minghao surprisingly chose the hot air balloon tour with pure excitement, surprising the female member as she thought her fellow '97 Liner would enjoy a comfortable day in the city.

"There's only one spot for the hot air balloon, right?" Wonwoo asked into the round, sitting up in the chair he had occupied.

Yeongseok nodded. "There's one spot for the hot air balloon. And with the wine tour...," his change of tone got a laugh from the rest of his team. "The people that are left are automatically going there!"

"Isn't it a punishment for Soonyoung to go on a wine tour?" Seungkwan wondered with an entertained grin.

With his hands intertwined, Hoshi had sunken in his posture, a painful smile decorating his face as he thought to himself. Minnie noticed the lack of reaction coming from the leader.

"Aww," a sympathetic chuckle left her lips as she leaned forward, patting his shoulders, hoping to somewhat comfort him.

The producer of the group, along with the maknae were able to pick next, thanks to their high score in the game they had just finished playing. Woozi opted for the hot air balloon, even after asking Dino for his preference, ripping the dream right out of the youngest's heart.

His decision made the room filled with whole-hearted laughter and fingers pointing at the maknae as he stood still, showing no reaction.

"He's not even interested and still chose the hot air balloon!" Jeonghan giggled out loud.

Minnie dared to take a glance at Dino, pushing herself off the counter to walk over to him. Not able to hide the amusement on her face, she wrapped an arm around his frame, patting his back as she into his side.

"Look at his face!" Mingyu called out, pointing directly at the member left standing.

The girl looked up, her hand immediately reaching to pat the top of his hair with a chuckle.

"Don't be mean to him," she mumbled with a pout, her other arm snaking around his front to give him a quick squeeze.

Even the producing team was clearly amused and in awe of the '99 Liner.

Na PD laughed at his reaction, "I think he's really angry." Making Dino respond quickly,

"No, no, no," he brushed off. "No, no, no. Disappointment!" His palm touched the left side of his chest, "Only my disappointment is strong." Minnie shook her head with another chuckle, running a hand up and down his arm before she got back to her place between Dokyeom and Vernon.

After the groups for the following day were officially decided, the idols were dismissed. Each of them made their way out of the kitchen to walk back up the stairs to the main floor of the house. Some went straight into their designated rooms while others decided to chill in the main living space.

"Ah, guys... I'm so jealous," Hoshi sighed out loud. His disappointment was clear in his voice.

His statement got a loud chuckle out of Vernon as Woozi wondered,

"Why?" Within a second, it hit him. "Ah, because of the hot air balloon," followed by a good laugh from the producer.

Minnie and Jun stopped one of the carton boxes they had brought in, filled with the stuff they had gotten in the grocery store a few hours before.

"Yeah, jealous," the '96 Liner chuckled to himself. The girl's eyebrows scrunched up,

"You're jealous too?"

The older member turned his head towards her, "Aren't you?" To which she just shook her head wide-eyed, getting a giggle from him in return.

"I think I might become jealous of you guys tomorrow," she admitted. Her hands reached into the box, grabbing the underwear and socks she had gotten for herself.

Jun tilted his head, "You wanted to choose the vineyard?"

Minnie shrugged. "It sounds fun. Getting to drink as much wine as you'd want."

"Why didn't you choose it then?"

"I don't know if I could start drinking that much in the middle of the day."

Her fellow unit member scoffed, "As if you haven't done that before!" Smiling at the reaction of the girl as she looked at him with an open mouth.

"But not that much!" In the next second, Minnie's clean socks smacked across his upper arm. "Don't make it sound so bad!", getting another chuckle from him. She was quick to join in too, shaking her head along with it.

"I think you'll have fun."

Jun nodded, "I think so too."

Just as she was about to leave to find her room again, she pointed a strict finger at the dancer. "But don't drink too much," squinting her eyes at him.

"You should say that to Hoshi," the '96 Liner smiled at her, passing her as he walked straight ahead.

"Oh my God...," she quietly gasped, mumbling to herself.

Minnie had gotten comfortable in her room, thinking about whether to shower or brush her teeth first, when a loud voice rang through the entire floor of the house.

"Who's doing the laundry?" Seungkwan wondered out loud. The girl's ears perked up, making her push herself up from the bed and rush over to the doorway.

"Are you washing your clothes?" But before the younger member could answer her, Mingyu beat him to it.

"Let's do it together if the members do it," he called out from his room on the opposite side.

"But where do we do it?" Seungkwan asked, looking around the room before turning back around to go back to the other end of the house.

Minnie retreated back, gathering the minimal clothing she had brought to the country, along with the underwear she had bought and the shirt she had gotten in one of the small shops in the city.

Right as she went back out again, her eyes found a small group of the guys walking in a straight line right behind Vernon, heading towards the stairs.

"Are you doing the laundry now?" She called out, making the '98 Liner stop in his tracks. His hand was holding onto the metal railing as he was just about to take a step downstairs.

He glanced up. "Yeah, you wanna do it too?" To which he got a nod from her in response. Vernon nudged his head towards the lower floor, "Come downstairs."

"Alright," she let him know, stepping out of her room to follow him, but not before stopping by the room directly across from hers. "Mingyu," the sound of her voice made the '97 Liner peek his head out of the attached bathroom. "Should I take your clothes downstairs?"

"They're washing them now?" He wondered, making her nod her head in return. With a big step out, he reached out to grab the bag off the chair in the corner, handing it over to the girl in silence. It was only then, he showed off his naked torso as his shirt was ready for the laundry run.

Just as she wanted to head back out, his voice made her stop.

"Who are you in a room with?" He asked her.

"Wonwoo." They talked about everything and anything during dinner, yet this didn't even come up once.

"Hm." Mingyu nodded quietly, opting for a hum to be his final answer. His silence got a giggle out of the girl, making her take a few steps forward to get closer to him as he was already back in the bathroom.

"Jealous?" She eyed him through the mirror, leaning on the doorframe as a sneaky grin spread on her lips. Her teasing made the '97 Liner turn around, his hand coming up quickly as he tried to get a hold of her arm, but she swiftly moved out of the way, stumbling slightly as she walked backwards.

Her laughter echoed through the house as she jogged towards the stairs.

Back in their shared room, the female member was lying on the bed, her phone in her hands as she was texting her mum about another passed day in Italy.

"Where's shampoo and body wash?" Wonwoo called out from the bathroom to her right.

She directed her sight from the bright screen over to the open door. "Isn't it in the shower?"

The rapper came out of the room, shaking his head as he glanced around, trying to see if they had placed it somewhere else.

"Are you sure?" She scooted off the bed to head into the bathroom, taking a quick peek before she came back with a frown, "But I remember putting it there. We got enough in the supermarket."

"Someone probably took it," Wonwoo explained while heading out.

With a soft sigh, the girl exited the room as well, crossing the entryway to walk into the shared bedroom on the other side. Her eyes immediately fell on Dino, who was relaxing on the mattress.

"Did you guys take the shampoo and body wash?"

The maknae glanced up at the female member. "We had it, but Seungkwan took it."

"What?" Mingyu asked as he came back, wondering what the two were talking about.

"Did you take the shower gel and shampoo from our shower?" Only getting a shake of his head in return.

Minnie was about to pass her fellow '97 Liner to continue the questionnaire when Mingyu added,

"But Jun had some earlier."

"Where did he get it from?" She wondered, but the other guys in the room just shrugged, "I thought we bought enough..." she mumbled as she went back out, only to find Wonwoo already meeting her halfway. In his grip, were three different bottles of what seemed to be toiletries.

"I got it," he let her know as they walked into their room again. "Body wash, shower gel and conditioner." Knowing they were only looking for the first two things, but since Minnie would have to take more care of her longer hair, conditioner was essential.

The thoughtful act brought a soft smile to her lips. "From who?"

"Seungkwan," he simply told her, bringing everything he had gotten to their shared bathroom.

Both of them washed up one after the other, with Wonwoo going first and Minnie last. While the girl was taking care of her long mane in the bathroom, Wonwoo found a few of the guys in the backyard of the house. They had gathered around one of the tables on the terrace, all of them sitting in comfortable silence, sharing a piece of thought every now and then. He joined them for a few minutes, exchanging some thoughts about the countryside of Italy and the clear sky they were blessed with that night, before they all headed into their individual rooms, wishing each other a good night.

The moment he entered the shared room, Minnie chuckled as she came out of the bathroom, "You know what I realised?" getting a hum from the rapper in return as he claimed the side of the bed closer to the door leading into the entryway. "You're gonna spend an entire day with a drunk Hoshi." The girl was still occupied with brushing through her somewhat dry hair, thanks to the blow dryer while Wonwoo was getting comfortable underneath the duvet.

Just as quick as he lifted his head, he let it fall again with a soft sigh, getting another giggle from the female member.

"You'll have to take care of him."

Not only both of them, but every other member knew the drastic change in personality that came with a drunk Kwon Soonyoung. He could go from laughing to crying within a mere split second. If you think you know where he is and what he might be doing, check in on him a minute later, and he'll suddenly be on the other side of town or rolling on the ground for no apparent reason.

"Why me?" His eyes followed her movements as she got closer to the bed, settling down on it with one knee. "I'll let the others do that. Who's coming again?"

The girl stayed quiet for a moment, puckering her lips as she thought. "Ehm... you, Hoshi... Jun, Dino, and... Dokyeom."

With a groan, Wonwoo hid his face behind his hands, making the girl laugh out loud and smack his leg underneath the covers. "I'm just gonna drink a lot too," he commented.

"Really?" Minnie pulled the other leg in as well, getting into a comfortable sitting position, and looking at the man next to her with a surprised expression.

"If I already have to do a wine tour, might as well," he shrugged. "I was surprised you didn't choose it."

"Jun said that too," she straightened her back. "But... I can drink here with you guys too. So whether that's in a vineyard or here doesn't change much for me."

"Probably better," Wonwoo admitted, "I don't know if I could take care of Hoshi and you."

Minnie gasped, "Taking care of me?! I'm not that bad when I'm drunk!"

"You get really emotional, you know that," the '96 Liner chuckled at her reaction, reaching out to take her hand in his grasp.

"Yeah, but like... loving emotional. Hoshi is... a rollercoaster." Wonwoo joined her giggles, remembering the evenings spent together drinking with the rest of the members and playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who would make sure Hoshi got home safe.

Crawling across the mattress, Minnie got herself comfortable on the other side of the bed, sliding right underneath the covers.

"Who are you going to Florence with?" The rapper changed the topic.

"Vernonnie, Shua, and Jeonghan," she simply answered getting a grunt from the rapper in return.

"You're gonna have an easy time."

Minnie chuckled, "Yeah, but you're gonna have a lot to tell afterwards."

"Maybe," Wonwoo smiled to himself, already dreading the following day. "It'll be interesting."

The female member nodded in agreement. "Always drink responsibly."

"Of course."

EP3-2. The optional tour day

The shrill sound of a phone alarm blasted through the shared room of the young couple. Groaning sounds came from the bed as Minnie tried to detangle herself from their intertwined legs underneath the shared blanket. She had a tight grip around the man's arm but had to let go to reach the nightstand and turn off the alarm. The room was basically completely dark, with only a faint ray of sunshine coming in, barely lighting up the space.

"What's going on?" Wonwoo's deep voice made Minnie look behind her as she sat up on the bed.

"Sorry," she whispered, "I forgot to turn it down." Explaining why the ringing sound could've woken up the entire floor with the volume it was set on.

He pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes as he tried to get them to focus in the dark. Minnie was already moving around the room, heading towards the window right in front of the bed first, pulling the curtains to the side to let the sunlight in. Her action got a loud groan from the rapper on the bed, making her chuckle,

"Sorry." He let himself fall back on the mattress with a huff while the girl stretched out her arms, covering her mouth with her hand as a yawn escaped her.

"Are you leaving now?"

"Not yet," she told him, "It's 9am. We're leaving at 10, I think."

In the shorts, they had gotten from Na PD after winning the game they played during their first night in Italy and the NANA tour zip-up sweater, along with a sports bra she had bought in the grocery store the day before, Minnie made her way downstairs into the kitchen. Right behind her was Wonwoo, wearing one of the Mona Lisa shirts they had bought while sightseeing along with the same sweat shorts.

Right as she came into the kitchen, the female singer glanced to her right, finding some of the producers already hurled up around a table, all enjoying their breakfast.

With a tired smile, she waved at them, followed by a "Good morning," from both members.

Turning around, they came to sight with a breakfast menu, set up just for them, prepared by a group of chefs that were still working in the kitchen.

"Oh!" Minnie's eyes went wide, "Thank you so much!" She grinned at the producer, who proudly smiled back at her. "We don't have to play games for this?" She teased them, getting a round of chuckles in return before one of them spoke up,

"Are you that suspicious?"

Minnie giggled. "I watched all episodes of 'Youth over Flowers'! I know what you used to make others do!" The producers joined her in whole-hearted laughter.

"But Minnie-ya," Hoshi suddenly spoke up as he joined them in the kitchen. "This is a different program. They're treating us here."

"I don't know yet..." she quietly joked with a grin, but still loud enough to let the others hear.

"What else do we have to do to make you trust us?!" One of the male producers called out desperately, making everyone around him start laughing, along with Minnie and Hoshi on the other side of the room.

The unit leader gave the girl a comforting pat on the head and one to Wonwoo's bottom as they switched their focus back on the breakfast items.

"We need to go drink some wine later," the rapper let a nervous chuckle fall from his lips.

"You should eat a lot now,“ Minnie advised them, “then you won't feel the alcohol too much.“ But Hoshi just let his head hang.

"I'm already scared," he admitted, making the girl laugh at him and place a hand on his upper arm.

"You just have to drink responsibly." To which he shook his head.

One after the other came in to grab their own variety of breakfast items while some had already gotten together to eat together. Minnie and Wonwoo decided to bring their plates upstairs, along with cups of tea in each of their grip. On their way, they walked past Dokyeom, who seemed to have just woken up, letting him know there was a menu waiting for him downstairs.

Outside, they sat down their plates and cups, before falling into the dark wicker chairs. For a second, the female dancer let her eyes fall shut, taking a deep breath in to enjoy the gentle morning breeze.

"Imagine waking up to this weather every day and just getting to eat your breakfast outside," she dreamily spoke.

"Must be nice." Wonwoo chuckled next to her, "But what about winter? Doesn't Italy get cold then too?"

"Well, that's when you'd go travel to Hawaii or Bali. They're warm all year around, I think."

"Just travelling all the time to go to warm places?" He laughed at her explanation while she seemed to just enjoy the moment. Minnie nodded excitedly, a big grin brightening up her face.

"But you like cold weather too," Wonwoo stated, reaching out to take a sip of the hot tea in his cup.

"I do," the girl shifted in her seat, "But right now I'm enjoying the warmth so much, that I want a lot of it."

Without another word, the girl got up from her chair, taking a few steps ahead to stop at the railing that held her from falling down the shallow slope that stopped at the bottom part of the garden, where the pool was. She got out her phone from the side pocket of the shorts, lifting it up to get a picture of the scenery in front of her. The Italian countryside was decorated by small hills, different colours in the grass, bright green blooming trees that grew on the side of the old streets, and different-coloured glowing flowers and bushes garnishing the gardens of the Italian-styled country houses.

"This is so beautiful," she mumbled under her breath, turning in circles, trying to somehow capture even just a bit of the beauty of nature she was surrounded by.

"Mum asked me for pictures," she explained, walking to the chairs again to get back into her seat. "Because I told her it looks a little bit like in France."

"Where your grandparents live,“ Wonwoo nodded, getting a hum in return.

During their shared breakfast, Jun came to join them, his own plate in his hands as he settled down on the other side of the table.

"Woah," he took a deep breath in and out, his eyes wandering around the garden, "it's so pretty."

"Right?" Minnie excitedly turned towards her fellow unit member. "It looks like a painting."

"Like we're living in a painting, yeah," Jun agreed, getting up from his seat to copy what the girl had done mere minutes ago and got his phone to snap a few good pictures of the scenery.

"I think I can stare at this all day long and space out. Because it's so pretty," Wonwoo commented before a complete silence could fall over the trio.

Minnie nodded. "I could get used to a view like that."

The rapper hummed in agreement, making her turn to glance at him, chuckling at what she came to sight with.

"What?" He asked about her sudden reaction.

With a grin, the girl reached out, her fingers brushing through the unruly set of hair on top of his head. "Your hair looks crazy." She glided her palm over the top, trying to straighten down some of the strands that had decided to stick out into different directions - and he let her.

"Noona!" The sound of the maknae's voice made her turn around, finding him sitting by a table behind them along with Hoshi. "When are you leaving?"

After a quick look at her phone screen, she answered him, "I think at 10. In like… twenty minutes."

Dino nodded. "Are you excited?"

She couldn't help but smile at the youngest. "Yeah," only to let her grin get even wider as soon as the next question popped into her head. "Are you excited?"

"Ah... noona...," he sighed, getting another loud giggle out of the girl. "I really don't think it's a good idea to let me drink."

"Nooo," she tried to calm him down, getting out of the chair with her plate in one hand and her now empty cup of tea in the other, "You shouldn't think like that. You're gonna have fun."

With a shake of his head, he got up, taking his plate with him as he joined her on the way back into the kitchen.

"I have to be really careful."

Back in her room, Minnie was looking around at the very few pieces of clothing she had to choose from, now spread out on the bed, along with Wonwoo, who had busied himself with his phone.

A sigh escaped her lips as she ran a hand through her hair. "I really don't have anything to wear for a trip like this." The '96 Liner didn't react to her complaint, only taking his eyes off his phone, the moment, she opened her mouth again. "What if I just leave like this?"

Looking into the mirror, she grinned to herself standing there in just her jeans the sports bra she had worn before.

"You can't leave like that," Wonwoo simply told her, focusing back on the screen in his hands.

"Says who?" Teasingly, she turned around, finding the eyes of the rapper already back on her form. With her arms crossed, she got closer to his side of the bed, another sigh of hers ringing through their ears. "I don't have anything else."

"You're not leaving in your underwear." He pushed himself up from the mattress. "Didn't you guys buy something yesterday?"

"Yeah, but I haven't washed that yet," she answered him, following him out of the room, where they suddenly met Joshua and Jeonghan already waiting for them in the entryway.

"Oh-," she came to a halt, "Are we leaving?"

"In a minute, yeah," the oldest turned around, frowning as soon as he saw her outfit, but Joshua bet him to speak up.

"Are you leaving like this?"

Minnie chuckled, "No, don't worry," before passing them to enter the room on the other side. Carefully, she opened the door, her suspicion being confirmed as soon as she found her fellow '97 Liner cuddled up in his bed. With quiet steps, she walked inside, making sure not to startle him as she tapped his arms,

"Mingyu," she whispered, trying to wake up the rapper. But he didn't budge. "Oppa," she tried to again, getting slightly closer.

A soft hum escaped Mingyu as he squirmed around, opening his eyes with a frown.

"What?" His groggy voice made her smile.

"Where's your cardigan? The one you wore on the plane."

The '97 Liner shifted on the bed, getting his arm out from underneath the blanket to point towards the chair in the corner of the room across from the bed.

Without another word, Minnie walked over, lifting up one of the pillows that was placed on top of it to find the thin piece of clothing she was looking for. She stopped in front of the mirror on the wall, throwing the cardigan over her frame to see what it would look like on her.

"Why do you need it?" Mingyu suddenly asked her, making her look at him through the mirror.

"I don't have anything to wear to Florence."

"Why don't you wear the white blouse you bought at the store?"

With a huff, she took the piece of fabric off again. "I haven't washed it yet," and placed it back on the chair.

"I did."

Minnie's head snapped towards him. "What?"

He turned his head just slightly, begrudgingly opening his eyes a bit to look at her. "It was in my pile of laundry."

"Oh, then it should be outside, right?" To which Mingyu just nodded.

With a wide grin, the girl got on her way to rush out of the room, "Thank youu," only to be stopped by the call of her name.

"Huh?"

A wave of his hand told her to come closer, which she did, getting surprised by the sudden grip on her hand. She had no time to react before she got pulled in, steadying herself on a free spot on the mattress with her hand, so her entire weight wouldn't fall on top of the rapper.

"Mingyu," her giggles filled the room as she held onto his arm that he tightened around her frame, pulling her in even closer. Her hand gave up trying to hold herself up, giving into the embrace as she tried to wriggle out of it. "I have to go," she whispered, knowing he could hear her clearly due to the proximity.

He was just about to turn with her in his arms, ready to pull her fully onto the bed when the door suddenly opened, exposing Dino coming in.

"Mingyu," she repeated with a chuckle, "Please."

"Nini!" Jeonghan called out, "We have to go!" Coming in, a laugh tumbled from his lips as soon as he came to sight of the two on the bed.

"I'm trying!" She desperately called out before she finally felt the grip around her loosen. A dramatic gasp of air left her mouth, getting a chuckle from the guys in the room.

"What are you doing?" She glanced over at the maknae, rummaging through something in the corner.

"You need money," he answered, turning towards her to hand her the amount he had picked out.

Jeonghan's chuckle made the attention shift words him while his eyes were fixed on the man in the bed.

"I thought you were sleeping," he grinned at Mingyu, taking a step forward to switch places with Minnie.

"I am," the rapper simply told him, shifting in his position to start snoring playfully.

Suddenly, the '95 Liner leaned down, placing a peck on the younger member's cheek, getting a round of chuckles from the people in the room.

"What are you doing?" Dino wondered as the oldest just smiled,

"He's pretty."

In a hurry, the girl quickly handed Jeonghan the money she had gotten from the maknae before finally making her way towards the door.

"I need to get dressed," she notified them before running down the hall and down the stairs, past the kitchen to head to the outdoor area where they had put up the clothes from the washing machine and left them to dry. She quickly found the white short-sleeved blouse Mingyu had mentioned, smiling to herself before grabbing her underwear and socks that seemed to be dry already too.

With big steps, she was upstairs again, jogging into her room to change in a hurry - and within a minute, she was back in the entrance area, now with a pair of sunglasses on top of her head.

"So you did wash it?" Wonwoo addressed the top she refused to wear only a few minutes ago. He looked up from the phone in his hands as he was still sitting on the small couch in front of the entrance door. Together with Dino, he was waiting to send the small group off.

Minnie shook her head, adjusting her jeans. "Mingyu threw it in his pile of clothes he wanted to wash. I didn't even know it was there."

"The top?" Vernon asked her, pointing at the white blouse, making her nod with a smile.

Only a second later, Jeonghan and Dino exited the shared bedroom, joining the rest of the Florence trip group.

"Everyone ready?" The oldest asked into the room, looking at each of the members to see them nod in return. "Okay, then let's go!"

"Have fun, guys!" The maknae stopped by the door, right behind him Wonwoo, who waved at the four leaving the premise. "Take good pictures!"

"We will!" Minnie called out as she turned around, sending a flying kiss towards the two men, who smiled back. Dino dramatically reached forward, proudly showing her the kiss he had caught, and sent her a final finger heart before they disappeared around the corner, leaving only Minnie's warm laughter to be heard.

Together, the four left the property, walking down the short private lane before they reached the main street, where a car was already waiting for them. Joshua and Jeonghan decided to sit in the middle row, leaving Minnie and Vernon to share the very back seats. As soon as the car started, all eyes were fixed on the windows. The passing countryside was too breathtakingly beautiful to miss by closing your eyes and trying to get a quick nap, which they would usually do.

In an almost dreamy haze, Shua admired everything he could catch as they passed by, speaking loud enough to get the attention of the other members in the car.

"Oh, it's so hot," he noted, getting the girl to nod in agreement.

"I hope I don't burn," she spoke up, half-jokingly, making the '95 Liner chuckle, while Jeonghan frowned.

"Are you wearing long jeans?" Genuine concern dropped from his lips as he turned his head to the side to direct his voice at her

The female member nodded before she realised he couldn't see her. "Yeah-"

"Why?!"

"I didn't want to wear the sweatshorts to Florence! And the jeans are the only other pants I have," she quickly defended herself as soon as she noticed his voice getting more whiny.

Jeonghan shook his head with an almost curse coming from him a mumble. "Tell me when you're getting too hot. We can buy other shorts."

"Okay, okay," she agreed, slightly brushing him off. Minnie knew he was coming from a good place, but she also remembered the multiple lectures she had gotten in the past from the older members about different topics. The possibility of a speech about taking care of oneself and not joking about potentially burning in long clothes while it had a good 35+ degrees Celsius outside was just around the corner.

"It's a hot vibe," Joshua suddenly threw in again.

Minnie nodded, "The perfect summer weather."

"Shua likes hot things." Jeonghan's out-of-pocket comment got a chuckle out of the girl, making him realise what he had just said, therefore quickly adding, "Because he lived in LA."

A look of amusement was shared between the two younger members in the backseat, holding in their laughter before continuing to sit by themselves, focusing back on the world right outside their windows.

A few more minutes into the drive, Joshua continued his commentary, keeping the car filled with conversations and chuckles. Vernon stayed quiet for most of the time, glancing over at the girl whenever she had something to say or show him and Jeonghan enjoyed Shua's liveliness, answering his remarks every now and then, keeping a contained smile on his face.

"The internet is so...," Joshua spoke again. "It being slow is kinda a vibe too." The three members in the car smiled at his gentle complaint, but Minnie added a roll of her eyes.

"You're spoiled from the fast internet in Seoul," she nagged at him, making him turn around with a surprised facial expression before he continued the discussion.

"You're just as spoiled," he warned her with a raise of his eyebrows.

The girl scoffed, "I'm not complaining because of the internet."

"He's not complaining," the other '95 Liner grinned, "He... he has a good vibe."

Joshua teasingly nodded at Minnie, agreeing with the oldest member quietly, while she couldn't help but shake her head with a smile.

"I learned that vibe from you," he said to Jeonghan. "Everything is a vibe."

The moment the streets of Florence opened up right in front of their eyes, the car filled with gasps and exclaims of admiration. For every shop, every building, every street lamp, and even each and every flower on the corners could an acrostic poem be made, and not even then would words be enough to describe the beauty of the tourist city.

"It's nice that Shua is so happy today," Jeonghan's comment made the girl look up. While his words were supposed to be endearing, his voice sounded anything but that. His unusually dull tone brought a frown to her face.

"Oh, I'm so happy that I'm here today," Joshua nodded with a smile.

"Jeonghannie-hyung doesn't sound like he's happy today," Minnie suddenly spoke up from behind them.

One of the female producers in the very front of the car agreed with her. "You seem like you're having a hard time compared to the first time in the car." Which made the '95 Liner just chuckle before he focused back on the view outside of the car.

After a good hour of complete silence from the left side of the car, Vernon jumped into the conversation. "He needs a new type of simulation." Commenting on Jeonghan's character trait of turning suspiciously quiet if a scene stayed too monotone for too long. He did enjoy the calm times every now and then, but especially long car rides were not his cup of tea.

"I need to walk around in the streets," he stated, describing his current state in more detail.

"We'll get to walk around a lot today," Minnie assured him, already fidgeting in her seat as she couldn't wait to finally get outside.

On his phone, Joshua found a food market in the heart of the city, knowing that a regular restaurant might not be enough for a good experience as Jeonghan was still dull next to him, even though he was slowly blooming up the more they drove into the centre.

Mercato Centrale seemed to have been the perfect decision as the moment they stepped foot out of the car, the oldest member was already smiling brightly at the sun directly hitting them. He made sure the backpack he had brought was secure on his right shoulder before he started to walk ahead, knowing the rest would follow him.

"Let's walk around the market once and around the outside too!" His exclaim brought a smile to the girl's face, happy about the change of mood as they were met with his usual bright persona again. They were quick to agree to his idea, Minnie and Joshua slightly behind the other two members in the front as they took their time looking around a bit more. With their go-pros propped up on a stick, the group made their way into the food court.

Starting off in the main area, they looked around the various restaurants lined up on the side, passing different stalls that prepared everything your heart could possibly desire - from fresh fruit bowls to pizza, grilled meat or pasta dishes.

"I think pizza would be really good," Joshua commented as they passed a specific food stall.

Minnie nodded. "If we're in Italy, pizza is always a good idea. You have to eat authentic food whenever you're in a specific country."

"That's right," Jeonghan said from where he had fallen behind her in line.

They passed one more place that seemed interesting to the four, a dumpling stall, yet in the end, all of them decided on the classic Italian cuisine.

"Let's go with pizza then," Vernon agreed as they made their way towards one of the many restaurants that offered them.

"Minnie!" Jeonghan's sudden call out of her name made her turn around as her eyes were locked on the other side of the food court, her eyes fixated on just how big the space actually was and yet how many people still managed to find spaces to sit and eat. "Is pizza okay?" He waited for her quick steps over to join the group again, excited nods making her hair bounce and him chuckle. With a soft push forward, he let her walk ahead while keeping close behind her.

"Fresh from the oven," Joshua read out one of the signs that hung above the stall they had stopped in front of. That sounded good.

"Oh, shiiit," Vernon commented, getting an immediate laugh from the girl, making him realise what he had just said. "Oh! I'm sorry," he quickly said into the camera he was holding before he felt a push to his back.

"You can't say that!" The girl admonished him.

The younger member whipped his head around to meet her eye, "I just said, I was sorry!" He whined out loud, only making her chuckle again. Only a moment later, they were greeted by a waitress, who let them know they could find a table on the second floor, right above them.

Their gazes glided over the area, finding more empty seats than downstairs.

"Let's sit all the way at the end!" Jeonghan called out, pointing towards a free table for four right by the railing that overlooked the entire lower floor. Another waitress came along to hand them four menu cards and left them some time to settle on what they would eat. Joshua asked into the round with the oldest telling the group to choose whatever they'd want - he had never been a picky eater. While Minnie and Vernon were still going through each page of the menu, Shua had already found something, immediately asking the others what they thought of it. They settled on a mozzarella mushroom pizza.

Thanks to his confidence, the '95 Liner was chosen to order for the table, telling the waitress what they had chosen when she reminded them that they should also look for something to drink.

"We also have Aperol Spritz," she proposed, making Minnie's head shoot up.

"Oh, yes yes yes!" She excitedly nodded, making the guys chuckle.

"Should we take Aperol Spritz too?" Joshua asked her, only making her bop her head.

"Trust me," she told him, "Yes." With a smile, the waitress took the menus back into her grasp, telling them she'd be back in a few minutes.

Once they were alone again, Vernon switched his attention towards the girl. "Is Aperol Spritz that good?"

Minnie's eyes widened the second those words left his lips, but then she remembered that he hadn't had an opportunity yet to try the alcohol mixture in Europe.

"Yep," she assured him. "It's a bit... bitter, depending on how you mix it, but if it's made well it's literally the best thing you could drink in the summer."

"Better than somaek?" Jeonghan joined the two, sending the girl a teasing grin, knowing how much she enjoyed the soju-beer mix.

"So much better than somaek," her remark made the oldest lean back in his chair with a gentle gasp.

"Woah," he huffed out, "the moment we're in Europe, Korean Minnie is gone." The entire table erupted in laughter while the female member looked at him in shock.

"What?!" She couldn't hold back joining in the holer.

"Her European side comes out more," Joshua explained. "That's true."

"You guys...," with a grin, she shook her head. She went to lift her head again, ready to continue the conversation, when the ring of her phone on the table cut her off. Snatching it off the surface, she turned it around, frowning as soon as she saw who was calling her.

"I'll be right back," excusing herself without another word and answering the call right as she stood up.

"Who called her?" Vernon shot a question at Joshua since he was sitting right next to the female member, but he just shrugged turning in his seat to follow her silhouette as she stood in a corner, covering one ear, so she could hear whoever was on the other end of the call better.

While Minnie was busy with her phone call, the Aperols they had ordered arrived. Jeonghan showed them off proudly to Dokyeom, who had called in that time, but the older member abruptly ended the call to go back to conversing with the table.

"I'm so interested in how it's going to taste," Shua commented, leaving Vernon and Jeonghan to nod in agreement.

"Should we wait for Minnie?" Jeonghan wondered, but the female member was already on her way back.

"Wait for me for what?" She asked but then her eyes found the glasses on the table, "Oh!" Making her slide back into the chair excitedly. She got a hold of her own, lifting up to make the others join her.

"Cheers," she started, which the other three copied, bringing their aperitifs into the middle to clank together before each took their first sip.

The moment the taste hit Minnie's lips, she groaned.

"Ah...," she sighed after gulping down, "I love it."

"Wow... it's really good," Shua agreed.

"It's like orange champagne, it's good," Vernon remarked. "What's in it?"

All eyes switched to Minnie as nobody else knew the answer.

"Aperol, Prosecco and sparkling water," she explained. "Some also put in a little bit of Orange juice, I think. But I don't know what the original recipe is like."

"And what is Aperol?" Shua now wondered.

"Like a liquor. I don't know exactly what's in it, but I think rhubarb and bitter orange and something else."

Vernon shrugged, "It's good." Making the others nod.

For a second, the four enjoyed a short moment of silence before the oldest spoke again, his nosiness getting the best of him.

"Who called you?" To which the others' ears perked up as well.

"Oh yeah," the '98 Liner mumbled, remembering he had wondered about it too.

Minnie chuckled, as she was just about to take another sip again, deciding to put the cocktail glass down first. "Hoshi‘s mum."

"Really?" Joshua's chuckles rang through her ear as she joined him, nodding her head.

"What did she want?" Jeonghan questioned her more, taking another gulp of his drink.

"Just asked how I was doing," Minnie shrugged. It was no rarity for her to get phone calls she declared as random in the past from the other members' parents. After a while of it repeating, she came to the understanding that they were anything but random. The mothers and fathers of the members were just as interlinked with each other as the idol singers, even calling each other from time to time as well. So, wondering about their kids wasn't something all too uncalled for.

The girl chuckled to herself. "She got really irritated with me though."

"Why?" Jeonghan grinned.

"I asked her, 'You do know we're in Italy, right?' because the phone call would be really expensive for her," another giggle fell from her lips. "And she snapped at me, 'Why would I care about money if I want to talk to you!'" She raised her arms in defence, "Sorry."

The imitation of the older woman's voice got a burst of laughter from each member in return.

"All of our parents really like talking to you," the oldest commented. "Even my sister tells me you talk to her on the phone a lot."

"Well," Minnie flipped her hair dramatically over her shoulder, "They just love me."

[The favourite child]

"It's because they don't know how you really are," Shua jokingly added, getting a gasp and a shove to his arm from the girl.

She pouted in her seat. "That's something Cheol would say...," The chuckles from the other members were agreement enough. "Ugh, I miss him." Dramatically, she let her face fall into her hands.

"Didn't you talk to him yesterday?" Vernon asked, pure confusion lacing his voice.

Minnie lifted her head again, fixing her hair swiftly along the way, "What was yesterday?" Thinking for a second before she remembered the breakfast she, Minghao and the member in front of her shared, "Oh, yeah! But that was yesterday. Today's a new day."

"But you don't always get to talk to him every day," Jeonghan tried to reason, but she looked at him with a frown.

"I do." Her confession gained her multiple straight faces staring directly at her.

"You talk to him every single day?" In a clearly slightly concerned, yet amused and surprised tone, Joshua asked the girl, making her turn towards him. For a quick moment, she just looked at him before letting her gaze meet the other members and speaking up again.

"Wh- you... you don't?" Getting three clear shakes of heads.

"Every other day, yes, but not every day," Jeonghan explained, followed by Vernon,

"That's not normal, Minnie."

"What do you mean?" Chuckling at the reaction from the three guys. "Don't judge me like that!" But despite her exclaim, the '98 Liner sent her a face that told her more than she needed to know, so she pointed a strict finger at him. "I'm gonna tell him you cursed in front of the camera today!"

"Not without your phone you won't-" Before she could even realise what he had said, Vernon leaned forward, snatching her phone away from her to put it into the pocket of his jacket that was hung around the back of his chair.

Minnie could only look at him with her mouth hanging open. While she glared at him, the rapper kept up a contained grin. The two older members watched the young duo in amusement, smiling at their antics but keeping quiet.

Silently, the female singer propped her arm up on the table, her palm open in front of them. "Give it back."

Vernon reached for his drink to take another sip. He nodded as he enjoyed the alcohol going down his throat. "You have good taste." Reaching his hand out, he slapped her palm with his, smiling, "High five."

Minnie's chuckle didn't hide her warning tone, yet it didn't seem to face the younger member. "Give me my phone."

"I don't have it," he simply shrugged. His dull comment made the girl laugh out loud, yet desperation dropped from her lips as she whined,

"Vernonnie..., please." The older members continued to watch in giggles, not able to focus on anything else as they adored the interaction between the two youngsters.

"I really don't have it," he continued to stand his ground, knowing he was getting a raise out of the girl as she fidgeted in her seat, her tone getting stricter.

"Vernon-"

"Minnie-ya," Jeonghan suddenly interrupted, "if he says, he doesn't have it, then you should believe him."

"Huh?!" While she glanced at the oldest in pure shock, the '98 Liner couldn't contain himself in his seat, his shoulders starting to shake as laughter took over his body. Joshua joined him, shaking his head along with his chuckles.

"You guys-" the girl exclaimed, her eyebrows shot up as she looked around the table. She was once again stopped, this time by Shua, who tapped her arm and nudged his head towards the waitress who was coming back with the pizza they had ordered.

They quickly thanked her and were about to dive in, but Minnie continued to shake her head in disbelief.

"I really don't like you, guys." Letting the chuckles that followed be the end of the conversation before they started eating.

The four enjoyed their meal, conversing only a slight bit to comment on the taste of the pizza while Joshua continued to admire, "the vibe", making the girl smile in return. While Jeonghan and Minnie were full quickly, having had a filling breakfast not too long before, Joshua ate a tad bit more before leaving the rest to the youngest, who skipped the earlier meal to sleep in. The alcohol was only helping feeling more full, so they decided to get it in a plastic cup to-go, letting them move on with their exploration day through the city.

They left the food court to walk around the outside of the building just like the oldest had suggested when they had arrived.

"Where should we go now?" he asked into the round.

They tried to find a free space to stop and think about their next journey, but the mass of people was making it harder for them to keep together, making Minnie interlock her arm with Joshua's, who was right beside her.

"Well, what kind of vibe do you want to go for?" He asked his fellow '95 Liner.

"Don't you think we need to go to the cathedral?" He wondered in return, catching the attention of the younger members.

"Yeah, let's go there!" Minnie exclaimed.

"Cathedral?" Joshua turned to her, wondering if he had heard the other member correctly, so the girl nodded while Jeonghan continued,

"Okay, then let's go towards the Duomo cathedral!"

"We can see what's along the way or decide on what to do next once we're there," the female member proposed, which the member seemed to agree with as they started to walk together.

Vernon, who appeared to have become the designated navigator, held onto his phone as he walked straight ahead, leaving the other three to stay right behind him, following his every step.

"What do you think about the streets of Europe?" Jeonghan wondered out loud, directing his question towards Joshua, who seemed overly captivated by the architecture around him.

"It's so nice," he spoke dreamingly. "It really has a vibe." His choice of words brought another chuckle out of Minnie as she continued to sip on the plastic cup that she almost finished. "You're lucky you got to grow up in areas like that," he said to her, but she shook her head.

"It didn't look like that where I grew up," she defended herself, but Shua was quick to speak up again.

"But most of Europe has old architecture. And just a lot of history behind buildings and stuff."

"I guess, yeah... but when you grow up in Europe, surrounded by older buildings, you don't really realise just how 'lucky' you are and how... unique it is for others," she explained in detail. "I only noticed how different it was when I came to Korea. But then the way that you think about Florence now is how I thought about Seoul. Seoul was really really cool to me because it was so different."

"Yeah... you're probably right," he told her.

Minnie chuckled, "I know I am," answering him with a bright grin, earning her a nudge to her side with his hip making her slightly stumble as they laughed in chorus.

It didn't take long for them to find it. The curved rooftop of the building came into view as the height overshadowed most constructions in the city. Joshua and Jeonghan got their phones out of their pockets, holding them up to get a few pictures of the cathedral. Just as Minnie was about to do the same, reaching into the back pocket of her jeans, she found it empty. Then she realised-

"Can you take good pictures and send them to me, please?" A chuckling Vernon passed her as she decided to stand still, her eyes following him with a glare he couldn't see, thanks to her sunglasses. Her gaze followed the entire front of the construction, trying to find the very top of the roof up in the sky.

The guys couldn't believe their eyes, gasping and throwing out exclaims of admiration as they looked around the open space.

"This is the heart of Florence!" Jeognhan cheered as he walked a bit further ahead than the others. They decided to follow him as he continued their journey deeper into the city centre, making sure to admire every passing building as more marvellous churches followed.

They stopped in front of a specific one, taking a closer look at the statues that decorated the front. In awe of the stone carving, the guys made sure to not let a corner of it get un-photographed. The producers that came along with them were able to answer most questions that the group had. Mostly about the hand carving of each stone and stature right in front of them.

Each member seemed to have found their own way as they slightly parted, leaving the different cameramen to disperse as well, following them individually as they roamed the streets around the cathedral.

Suddenly, Minnie turned towards the producing crew that followed��right behind her.

"Where's Yongseok-hyung?"

[All of a sudden?]

Vernon, who was next to her, erupted in chuckles, leaving the two older members, who were further ahead, in confusion, but their attention was on something else anyway.

One of the producers, holding a typical tour guide flag in his hands, laughed at the girl's question. "Minnie-ya, you're watching these beautiful buildings and you're thinking of Yongseok?" The realisation of busting the question in that situation hit her, making her laugh as well.

"No, I- I just realised I didn't even see him in the morning."

"He's preparing more things for all of you, you'll see him later," he assured her, making the girl nod quickly as she dropped a,

"Ah, okay," before she turned her focus back on what was ahead of her.

[To Na PD: please always make sure Minnie sees you before you leave <3]

They found each other again in a smaller side street, that was home to local artists who were able to portray their artwork - everything from oil paintings to pencil drawings and even caricatures, which seemed to have caught the interest of the two oldest.

"Jeonghan-ah!" Joshua called out, "Can I do a caricature?"

"I was going to ask you to do it together!" He shouted back, turning towards the younger members who were standing close by together. "You guys wanna do it all together?"

Minnie chuckled at the excitement radiating off him. She couldn't say no to a happy Jeonghan. "Sure," she nodded, glancing over at Vernon, who joined her as they made their way over to one of the artists who was unoccupied at the moment. Together, the four sat down in front of the man, taking off their glasses as they posed for the drawing. Minnie sat down between her fellow English-speaking members, running a hand down her blouse to straighten it out.

"Let's not look until it's done," the oldest suggested, to which Shua happily agreed, nudging his head at Minnie and Vernon, who were just amused at the two members next to them.

Quicker than expected, the artist finished the pencil drawing, turning his board around to let the group get a glimpse of what he had created. The singers immediately erupted in laughter, with the female member having to lean onto the '98 Liner as she hid her face in his shoulder.

"We're all the same," Vernon chuckled, slanting forward in his seat.

"I don't look like you guys!" The girl gently hit his arm as she couldn't hide her amusement as well.

The rapper shook his head. "The only thing different about you is the hair, other than that, we all look the same." And a closer look at the picture just confirmed it, only making her start giggling again.

They thanked the man and Jeonghan took the picture with him before they continued their journey.

"Ah, that was so funny," Vernon breathed out, the other members smiling along with him. "It was really unexpected."

"That's why it was fun," Jeonghan answered, still clearly amused at the drawing in his hands.

The producers asked the group to find a good spot to take a picture of them holding the caricature before they would decide where to go next. With the sun now shining directly onto them, Joshua, Vernon, and Minnie were back to wearing the sunglasses as they quickly posed for the asked picture, making sure they were standing in the same order as they were on the drawing.

They found themselves at the highest point of the city again after getting the recommendation to go there from the tour guiding producer. The Piazzale Michelangelo was the perfect decision, they realised, the moment the view of the entire city hit them.

"Woah...," Minnie gasped as they got closer to the railing overlooking the rest of what was in front and below them.

Joshua nodded, "That's crazy."

"It must be insane to be here at night," the girl commented, being only able to imagine the lights that would illuminate the darkness. A clear view of an ancient city skyline was not something to be taken for granted. They continued to walk around the space, staying too close to each other as they continued to talk about the view. Joshua suggested taking a few pictures of each other in front of the railing, so they looked out for a free spot to occupy. Jeonghan led them towards one, pushing Shua forward first so he could snap some pictures of his fellow '95 Liner. Vernon followed close by, getting a few shots taken of himself before the oldest pushed Minnie forward too.

"Let me take some pictures of you guys together."

The rapper had one hand on the railing, leaving enough space for the girl to come in closer as they posed together.

"Hehe," Jeonghan chuckled, "cute."

Vernon left only a moment later, leaving the female member alone for a last few pictures.

"I'll send them into the group chat." Doing exactly so only a few seconds later.

A sigh from the youngest made Minnie turn towards him, her eyebrows in a slight frown as he pulled something out of the pocket of his jacket.

"Your phone keeps ringing." In his hand now, her phone, making her scoff as she tried to get it out of his grasp. Damn his reflexes, he shot his arm up in the air, leaving the girl with a sulk as she now had to look up to where he was tightly holding onto it. The girl just sent him an unamused glare while the smile she was trying so hard to suppress was making it hard to take her seriously. Still, Vernon lowered his arm again and handed her her phone back.

"So you did have it?" She sarcastically asked him, but he just shrugged with a soft grin making his lips curl.

"I found it just now." To which Minnie rolled her eyes.

She had already seen the name on her screen, so she was quick to answer it.

"Yeah?"

"Where are you? Why did you take so long to answer?" His immediate concern brought a chuckle out of her.

"Vernon had my phone," she spoke as she glared at the man in question who just sent her a thumbs up, making her shake her head. "He gave it to me now because it was annoying him that you were calling all the time."

"Well, I was trying to reach you for a while. Are you still in Florence?" Mingyu asked her from the other end of the line.

The female member smiled in amusement, "Obviously."

"Where are you right now?"

"Ehm... I think it was called Piazzale Michelangelo. It's like an open space on top of the city."

Her wording seemed to have confused the rapper. "On top?"

"Not directly on top. It's on a hill- wait, I can Facetime you." She pulled the phone away from her ear, clicking on the button that let her turn on the camera. Her face lit up the moment she came to sight with two of her fellow '97 Liners on the screen.

"Hi, Hao!"

"Hi, Minnie! How's Florence?" He wondered.

"Woah... honestly... you would love it here. Both of you would."

"You haven't sent any pictures yet," Mingyu told her.

Minnie had to hold back a roll of her eyes as she remembered just why she wasn't able to do so just yet. "Yeah, Vernon had my phone the entire time. He didn't let me take it."

"Oh," he just said before laughing, the other member joining in.

Suddenly, another voice from behind the phone camera spoke up, "What did you do to him, Minnie-ya?"

"Yongseok-hyung!" The girl called out in cheer," Mingyu turn the phone around!" With a chuckle and a scoff, he did as she asked. "Hi!" The girl shouted into the phone, getting a whole-hearted laugh from the producer.

"Are you enjoying your time in Florence?"

"Yes! Thank you, really. We had a really nice time here. I even asked about you," she admitted.

"Me? Why about me?"

Minnie leaned against the railing behind her as she continued the conversation. "I didn't see you in the morning, so I was wondering where you were."

"Aw, Minnie-ya," the producer chuckled. "That's very sweet of you. I'll see you when you come back."

"Okay!" She grinned into the phone.

"I'm gonna give the phone back to Mingyu." To which she nodded, smiling as soon as the mentioned member was back in view.

"Look," she turned her camera around to give him a peak of what she was currently seeing. An echoed gasp came from the speakers of her phone as Mingyu and Minghao were able to get a look at the city far ahead of them. "It's for real so beautiful." The camera was back on her when she was suddenly joined by the younger member next to her.

"Shua-hyung said it has a romantic vibe."

Minnie frowned at his remark. "Then I don't know why I'm here with you guys." Getting a chuckle from the other end of the line.

"Can you send some pictures?" Mingyu wondered, making her nod.

"Yeah, I'll do it now," she waved into the camera. "I'll see you at home."

"Have fun!" Hao shouted out.

"Stay safe," the rapper added before the girl ended the call. In a swift motion, she turned around to take a few pictures of the view before tapping on the icon that would lead her to her gallery.

With a quick suck in of air, she glanced up at Vernon.

"You took pictures with my phone!" Finding different pictures he had taken over the course of the day, some of the buildings and streets they passed and some of her as she unknowingly wandered in front of him.

"Yeah," he simply just told her, his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

Minnie shook her head in disbelief, "You... really..." chuckling as she clicked on a few she would want to send all while his eyes followed each movement of her fingers on her screen.

"You have a separate group chat?!" He suddenly called out, making her gaze at him in slight confusion.

Minnie chuckled at his reaction. "We live together. Of course, we have a group chat." Defending the chatroom she shared with Wonwoo and Mingyu, to which she sent the pictures she had just taken along with Vernon's photos, adding a quick message underneath before sending it.

Taglist: @waosobii @chaebb @lunarxsun @hoe4wonwoo @kimhyejin3108 @soobzao @billboard-singer @cosmicwintr @zwiehe @alixnsuperstxr @angie-x3 @smooore @allthings-fandoms @lllucere

#minnie 🌷#seventeen #seventeen oc #seventeen 14th member #Nana tour #fluff

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fallingrealms16 · 6 months ago

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CAITVI FIC REC LIST PART 1 (???) <3333

Now tell me why I’ve never actually read wlw fics before???? Because now I’m insanely obsessing over Caitvi (arcane) (also their name should be Violyn FIGHT ME)

SO WITHOUT FURTHER A DUE: here is my first compiled list of VIOLYN fics that I have read so far! (Word count ordered: ascending) There will absolutely definitely 1000% be another one of these so if you like it pls pretty pls note it, comment, re tumble it!

Reminder‼️ pretty please read all the tags on each fic before reading as I am not responsible for any emotional trauma you may experience ^3^ (more notes at the bottom ty, ily <3)

Where All the Secrets are Spilled by ConnieLingus, L_Kayze @connielingus423

10K Words // 1 Chapter // COMPLETED

//EXPLICIT//

The reunited Hellfire squad drinks together in the Kiramman Family Library before Noxus invades Piltover. Caitlyn and Vi reckon with their mistakes. It gets angry, it gets raw, and then it gets away from them.

An imagining of what happens post Act 2 and pre Act 3

Bound and Determined by Pandoras_Hope

27K Words // 10 Chapters // COMPLETED

//EXPLICIT//

When Vi finally gets released from Stillwater prison, she is determined to get back to her old life as quickly as possible. But a chance encounter with her new next-door neighbor pulls her into an unexpected tangle of sex, violence, and a plot to take control of the undercity.

Vicious Dogs Fight Dirty by paleserendipity

33K Words // 3 Chapters // COMPLETED

//EXPLICIT//

If anything, she should be at home, resting the countless cuts and bruises lining her skin. Though, really, if she had a choice in it, she’d probably still choose to come here. Easier to fight than curl up in a makeshift bed as nightmares of your situation-ship girlfriend plague you, right?

Burn by ThisOrThatFan @thisorthatfan-ao3

44K Words // 6 Chapters // COMPLETED

//EXPLICIT//

A modern AU of Piltover's Finest - a story of two firefighters battling flames not only on the job, but also against the internal fire burning within their hearts.

Late Fine by ConnieLingus

52K Words // 7 Chapters // COMPLETED

//EXPLICIT//

Vi’s one night stand is working the Returns counter at the Zaunite Branch of the Connected Cities County Public Library and Vi has to return her sister’s overdue items. What could go wrong?

Make Out Lessons With A Boxer by poetess

72K Words // 8 Chapters // COMPLETED

//EXPLICIT//

The friends with benefits college AU where oblivious mutually pining idiots pine mutually, jinx is an exhausted zoomer, and bisexuals rule the world.

I wanna point out that I use Ao3. At one point this year the normal Ao3 server was down and I wasn’t able to load any fics I was reading but I found that Ao3 has a secondary website completely the same: archiveofourown.gay

So naturally being the queer diva I am, I completely switched to .gay because it’s iconic <3

Also I am an adult so these fics usually are explicit or teen and up just because I like the explicit themes.

May vary from smexual content or just mature themes (violence ect…)

These fics are just what caught my eye first and just so happen to all be labelled explicit!

BUTTTTT if you want any fic recs such as “teen and up” or “all audiences” let me know as I’m open to anything!

My question box is also open so if you’re looking for fics with certain tags I’m happy to search and recommend! The fandoms I follow are:

Supernatural (destiel ship mainly)

DC universe (superbat mainly!)

Marvel (fluff for Spider-Man and tony stark - FATHER/SON, Bucky x Reader, stucky, x-men universe)

Teen Wolf!!! (Started off my account as this - specifically sterek but I do read Stydia sometimes too)

Arcane (Violyn mostly known as Caitvi😪)

I take recommendations too so if you find something you think I should read I’m all eyes and ears HAHA

I read all the fics I recommend too to know exactly what I am recommending!!! If you have made it this far reading Thankyou and I appreciate you ⭐️

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penkura · 1 year ago

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last forever [5/13]

Summary: Zoro only offered to marry you to keep you out of an arranged marriage with a man much older than you. You agreed with the caveat of ending it via annulment once you received word from your parents regarding the original engagement, despite your growing feelings for your close friend.

Pairing: Zoro x Fem!reader, mentioned Sanami later (like epilogue later so chill)

Warnings: Marriage of Convenience, Fake Marriage, referenced sex (waaaaaay later on), mutual pining, Zoro is bad at feelings but what's new there, eventual romance I promise, mention of past attempted assault (I'll warn in that chapter), creepy older dude later on

Note: Only three hours late, that's not so bad haha. I had fun with this one, adding in how our couple met, I was going to do it as a flashback but I couldn't get it to work in my head how I wanted, so it's here differently. I'm a little mean to Reader at the end, or, well, Zoro is, but he has his reasons. Things will be okay, I promise.

[Ch. 1] ● [Ch. 2] ● [Ch. 3] ● [Ch. 4]

Honestly, at this point, you shouldn’t be surprised at Zoro’s tendency to get badly injured from his own stupidity at times. Little Garden ended up being more than just an island you all passed through, with giants and more Baroque Works agents, you’d even been caught by Mr. 3 and nearly turned into a wax statue, joining Nami and Vivi shouting at Zoro that he was being an idiot with his threats to cut his own legs off at the ankle to fight the agents there.

You were relieved when Luffy and Usopp showed up, stopping your husband from doing anything ridiculous. Once the four of you had been freed and Sanji showed up, explaining where in the hell he’d been, you grabbed onto Zoro’s shirt, making him look at you while you give him a blank stare.

“…what?”

“Sit down. You need stitches. Again.”

Rolling his eyes, Zoro does listen to you, sitting down nearby the rest of your friends as they discuss your next course of action and Dory and Broggy offer to help you all leave. Vivi comes over and watches you as you stitch up Zoro’s ankles, looking impressed by your quick work and how you don’t even look a bit squeamish about it.

You just shrug when she comments.

“I’ve gotten used to it. This guy’s an idiot—”

“Hey.”

“—so I’ve had to learn to fix him up.”

Vivi laughs a bit and nods, seeming to understand. Once you’ve finished and out your small kit away, you just give Zoro a smile when he quietly thanks you, before you walk back over to the rest of your crew. You hang close to Sanji and it again causes a strange ache in Zoro’s chest, he has to bite his lip to make it stop.

You’ve started spending so much more time with your cook, he should be happy about it, maybe you’re starting to have feelings for Sanji. Some of your free time is now spent in the kitchen, if Zoro walks by he hears you laughing most of the time. The weird feeling in his chest moves to his stomach when he hears you, he’s still not sure if it’s annoyance at you and Sanji getting close or jealousy at the situation.

Shaking his head, Zoro pushes the feelings away and goes to join you all to leave.

What the hell is wrong with me?

+!+

When Nami comes down with a strange illness after you leave, leading to your crew trying to find an island with a doctor, you all take your turns watching over and caring for her. You hope and pray you all reach an island and find a doctor quickly, you don’t want to lose one of your best friends. The boys freaking out about it doesn’t help at all, leaving you and Vivi to really care for Nami and try to help her get better. Every second her fever doesn’t go down scares you, it’s worse if it’s gone up even a tiny bit.

You know nothing about medicine, it’s something your mother thought was useless for you to know. All you needed to know was how to bandage yourself or your future kids up, that’s it. She really treated you like you were made of glass at times, you always wondered if that was due to how late in her life you’d been born. Whatever the reason, you’re happy to help Nami right now, to try and make her feel better.

When you and Vivi switch off one night, instead of heading to bed like you should, you choose to go up to the crow’s nest where Zoro’s taken the first watch of the night. You stopped in the kitchen before heading up to bring something to drink with you, grabbing a coat on the way since you’re in a colder area right now.

Once you make it up the ladder, you poke your head in and give Zoro a smile when he looks at you with a raised eyebrow.

“What?”

“Wanna share a drink?”

You aren’t surprised when he seems to light up briefly at the mention of sake, nodding you over to sit by him, handing over the bottle you’d gotten from Sanji while you made yourself comfortable beside Zoro. You’re still not used to the burn of alcohol but still take a big a drink when Zoro hands the bottle to you, passing it back to him. The only reason you started drinking was because Zoro had bet you to do so on your eighteenth birthday, promising you he’d give you money if you did it, so you took a few shots that were given to you, quickly regretting it when you threw it all up outside the tavern you two had been in. He may have lost the bet but at least he was nice enough to hold your hair back and get you to your hotel room without much trouble, and you did get your money a few days later.

“I meant to thank you for the other day.”

“Huh?”

“In Loguetown when we ran into Elias,” Zoro barely looks at you, but you pay him no mind, instead watching the light snow fall against the midnight sky, “For not telling him the truth about, you know, us.”

Shrugging, Zoro takes another swig of drink, before offering it back to you which you decline.

“Wasn’t any reason to tell him. Don’t need him telling your parents the truth.”

“He wouldn’t have, but I get what you mean.”

Zoro nods, partially believing you just from the one meeting with your brother and the things you’ve told him. You were a surprise to your parents, coming along when Elias was ten-years-old, your parents in their late thirties and not planning to have another child. Elias was enthralled with you once you were born, he’d protected you from everything, especially once you turned fifteen and your parents started to sift through possible suitors. According to you, he was pissed when your parents chose someone even older than him, promising he’d never leave you alone with the man and eventually helping you run away in the dead of night.

You two were close despite your age difference.

“You know,” you draw Zoro back to paying attention to you when you speak again, “Taking care of Nami reminds me of how you took care of me when we first met. Remember?”

Your smile as you ask makes him feel like his stomach is doing flips, it must be the alcohol doing that he thinks, but he still nods a bit.

How could he forget that?

You were unexpected to him too, running into a rundown bar so quickly you’d slammed into Zoro, making him grab your arms to keep you upright as you tried to apologize but your mouth felt like it was full of cotton, you don’t even know if actual words came out. You were burning up from a fever and passed out while Zoro kept you upright. The bar owner was nice enough to put you up in a room while you recovered, and he still isn’t sure why he did it, but Zoro took care of you the entire time. Johnny and Yosaku had been there at the same time, helping out by bringing any medicine they thought would help, getting a doctor to come check on you only to confirm you had pneumonia but that you’d be fine after a few more days of medicine and rest.

Once you were better, you were so grateful to the three men that you offered to give them whatever money you had on you, which they all rejected, you definitely needed it more. You kept the truth about why you were running into a bar in your state to yourself, eventually making an offer to Zoro only that you could travel with and help him, but he'd only agree to that if you beat him in a small sparring match, he’d noticed your sword right away.

Of course you lost, but you both had a great time, to the point Zoro let you tag along the last year and a half, he helped you improve your skills and you’re still so grateful to him for everything.

The second you shiver form the cold you’re about to go back down to sleep, before Zoro moves his arm to open the blanket around him and nod you over again.

Smiling again, you scoot over and sit right up beside him, practically flush against his side when he brings his arm back down around you. You’re both used to this, used to coming to each other for simple things like warmth or food, even with the rest of your crew. It’s leftover from when it was just the two of you.

Zoro doesn’t want this to go further past your friendship and being crewmates, not now. Neither of you can or should be thinking about romance, that’s Sanji’s job.

So why does he feel disappointed when you finally go down to the bunks?

+!+

After leaving Drum Island with Nami well and Chopper aboard as your doctor, you’ve started to have a tiny second shadow following you around. The reindeer taking a liking to you right away, starting to follow you around the ship after you’d given him the initial tour. He's started staying close to you and showing you how to make medicine and dress wounds, teaching you more than you ever could’ve imagined knowing.

Chopper has also started bringing you with him to nap with Zoro, your swordsman almost rejecting it at first, before Chopper pulls you to sit beside him while your doctor lays across Zoro’s lap. It makes you laugh as Zoro tries not to have any eye contact with you. Can’t let you see him being all soft and stuff about Chopper now.

You don’t say anything about it, especially once you all make it to Nanohana and do your shopping to find desert and heat safe outfits, though you feel like you’re going to suffocate at times, you’ll be glad to avoid a severe sunburn or heat stroke.

Then you all met Luffy’s big brother Ace.

You remember seeing him in the paper before back home, briefly, the thought in your mind that wow, he’s attractive but it’s not like you’d ever meet him.

The universe laughs at you constantly, you swear, especially when it seems like Ace starts to flirt with you as he joins you all for a bit on your journey to Erumalu. You feel like you have a never-ending blush on your face and it makes Ace laugh when you shove his arm after he says something to you about how shy you seem.

“You’re so cute! I can’t believe you’re on my brother’s crew!”

“Stoooop, you’re making me blush even more!”

You do laugh alongside Ace, he’s easy to be around. Comfortable and almost familiar, you’d say. It reminds you of time spent with Elias, though, without the flirty comments. Ace throws an arm around your shoulders, trying to keep his voice down even though your crewmates are all over the place at this point either partying or sleeping nearby, in Zoro’s case.

“So, you got someone special to you or do I have a chance?”

You hum, pretending to think before giving Ace a smile after you take a sip of your fancy drink Sanji made for you girls.

“Sorry, I got my eyes on someone else.”

“A shot to the heart!” Ace throws his head back as you laugh, double checking that Zoro’s still asleep in case Ace asks you for details, “Just don’t say it’s Luffy, I couldn’t handle losing out to my brother.”

“No, no,” Shaking your head, you watch Ace as he seems to perk back up knowing it’s not your captain you’ve got the hots for, “Definitely not Luffy.”

“Is it a secret then? Promise I won’t tell nobody.”

Ace leans on close to you, your face still warm from either the sun or your blushing you aren’t sure, but the few glances you take towards Zoro tell him the answer, making him grin.

“Ooh him huh? Yeah, I can see it.”

“S-See what??”

“You guys, together. Does he not like you back?”

You wish you hadn’t been so obvious, but you shrug a bit, shake your head, then groan and hide your face behind your drink.

“I…don’t know…he’s not really the romance type.”

Nodding a little, Ace keeps his arm around you and pulls away just a bit, he’s probably making you more nervous that you already were by being so close to your face. He hasn’t known you for more than a day at this point, but he’s been able to see you and Zoro seemingly drawn to each other most of the time, or Chopper does it for shade or to be carried by one of you because of the heat.

Maybe your face is warn more from a blush than from the sun after all.

“I bet he’ll come around. You’re cute, he’d be lucky to have you.”

You almost drop your glass at that.

When Ace leaves you all the next morning, you feel sad at the fact he’s going on his own again, but when Luffy says you’ll all see him again, you agree with a smile. Zoro watches you, wondering how you’d gotten so close to Ace in such a short time, but he realizes that’s just you.

Despite your past with your parents, you trust far too easily at times. Granted, Ace is a good guy, but Zoro worried that it’s going to get you, all of you, into trouble one day.

Though, it’s more likely to be because of Luffy than you.

+!+

Alabasta is finally free from Crocodile a few days later, thanks to your crew and Vivi’s work. You’ve all been granted stay at the palace to recuperate, all of you sustaining major injuries though some were starting to heal faster than others. Luffy spent a couple days sleeping but was now up and ready to party as Alabasta celebrated their freedom.

Your worry for Zoro at the time had kept you attached to his side for the most part, latching onto his arm enough that he’d gone from flinching at the contact to quietly removing your hands from him, he doesn’t want you that attached to him, you get it, kind of.

It still hurts when he does it, Sanji sees it on your face more than anyone else. Zoro had protected you at points during the attacks going on, until you all separated to battle different members of Baroque Works, you ending up trying to stop several of the fights between Alabastan army members and the rebel forces, a few of them not taking that kindly and turning their weapons towards you. Most of your wounds were stabbings or slashes, a deep one on your abdomen that Chopper fixed up no problem.

After you’ve all healed enough to join in the celebrations, that’s just what you do, even with the Navy around. Sanji drags you along to dance with him, trying to keep you distracted from Zoro, though you gravitate towards him anyway. It’s like in Cocoyashi, you just lean against the wall Zoro’s placed himself at, giving a smile while you talk to him, brushing your arm against his whether by accident or on purpose. You’ve brought him another drink too, it makes Sanji scrunch his face in annoyance, only because it seems like Zoro just doesn’t care, like he’s that oblivious to your crush on him.

And maybe he is, the blond isn’t sure, even when you look a bit dejected and return to his side for a just moment, to tell him you’re going back to the palace to up to rest for a bit. You’ve gotten tired from the party and need a few minutes. Sanji promises to come get you after a little while, which you thank him for as you leave.

He has a half a mind to tell Zoro to go with you, but by the time he looks back, the swordsman is gone.

+!+

“Why are you up here?”

You hum a but, turning and giving Zoro a smile. Yes it was late, normally you'd be asleep, but Alabasta was still awake, having a party to celebrate the end of the their war and the rain returning to the country. You had chosen to return to the palace, watching your crewmates outside the window. Luffy and Usopp were celebrating in disguises to keep the Navy off your tails, Nami was laughing with Vivi, Chopper and Karoo nearby asleep, and you haven't seen Sanji or even Zoro until now, when your favorite swordsman found you.

“Just…wanted to rest a bit.”

Understanding, Zoro nods a bit, leaning against the wall beside you, arms crossed over his chest while he watches you.

You know that he heard you talking to Ace when he was with you all, telling him you've developed feelings for your legal husband. Honestly he's had his suspicions for a while, mainly after you all left Drum Island and you acted so odd at times, but he never wanted to confront you about it before.

It was harmless, a crush didn't mean you really believed the two of you would be a couple or anything. Despite your actually being married, since it wasn't meant to last forever, he figured he'd leave you be and maybe your feelings would fade over time. You spent a lot of time with Sanji, Zoro fully expects at one point for you to bring the annulment papers to him, saying you liked the blond or that your parents finally responded to you.

Neither of those have happened, and seeing your constant smiles and little blushes at him, Zoro feels the need to say something about it.

"Listen."

Zoro sounds so serious you can't help but sit up straighter, keeping your gaze on the still partying city outside the palace, but you nod to let him know you're listening.

"Whatever…this is between us," he's staring right at you, but you don't dare to look at him, knowing what he's going to say, "it's not going any further than our being crewmates. Whatever feelings you may have, I'm not returning them any time soon. We need to focus on our goals and helping Luffy, not romance. Got it?"

Despite the ache in your chest at that, you nod, the softest agreement coming out of your mouth in return. You knew this was coming, from the way Zoro started to distance from you after your time on Drum Island and the recent events in Alabasta, you could tell something was up and you guess this was it. Zoro was trying to put a stop to your feelings for him, he couldn't be caught playing romance with you right now, maybe never.

Of course, even with your half-hearted agreement, you know feelings can't be squashed so easily. You don't want to stop them, but Zoro wants you to so you can focus on your goals. You weren't going to become a world renowned swordswoman if you were busy focusing on a relationship with someone. Zoro would never become the greatest swordsman in the world if he was focused on you.

When he finally leaves you alone, you can't help yourself and the quietest tears start. You knew this was going to happen, Zoro doesn't like you back, he’s only still married to you because you haven't heard a thing from your parents, but damn it still hurts to basically get a rejection like this.

It feels worse when Sanji comes into the room a few minutes later, having kept his promise on bringing you back down to the party with him, and he knows you've been crying without having to see your face. He wants to go after and curse out Zoro for making you cry, whatever the reason, but chooses to quietly pull you into a hug instead, telling you that you don't have to say anything, but he's here for you.

Honestly, having Sanji around, someone who was willing to listen to you and just let you cry over something that felt stupid at the time, you felt like things would be okay after some time.

Even when he says he'll kill Zoro for making you cry once you tell him why.

#zoro x reader #one piece x reader #reader insert #last forever #fem!reader #roronoa zoro x reader

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yunuen · 2 months ago

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your writing is so incredible omg. baby author attempting to write but horrible at keeping momentum going (generally come out strong with a fun beginning and lose steam). do you have an outlining process that helps you structure your fics? how do you go from idea to fleshed out plot? (no worries if this question it too complicated to answer HAHA)

you’ve asked the worst possible person because I DON’T do outlines at least not for this fic. i’ve basically worked around it by structuring it out of small vinyettes that i can just move around as needed. what i actually do is that i obsess over what i call beats. i think of beats as a scene that creates a change/ripple effect in the story, either in terms of plot or in terms of emotion/charaterization and then i work on the rest with that in mind. i usually have 2 to 5 beats each chapter. for instance, to me the first northern lights scene in jellyfish is an emotional beat. so is the second one when viktor suggests they sleep together and the end when they go to sleep. so if i know i want these 2-3 beats to land i need to work towards and around them, so i have them fighting over survival stuff at the start so when they get to the northern lights the shift from surviving -> living hits. then i set up jayce’s nightmares so that the moment they sleep together hits as well. sometimes i work retroactively because it’s easier to me to ramp up the tension if i’m aware of what i’m ramping up to. (if i had planned this fic better this would be more spaced out - i don’t like showing set up and payoff so close together but it is what it is) i also usually obsess over the ending of each chapter (idk, think of chapter 4, the fight in the snow and the hug) and usually i know the last few lines i want written (chapter 4: “we’re in ionia”) because it’s usually what sticks in your reader’s minds and what sets up the beginning of next chapter. i just realized you might be talking about the entire fic, not just the chaptered structure, but i think it (more or less) still applies. still, the line is covered in jellyfish was NOT designed to be so long and it’s only through sheer luck that people are connecting with it as a character study. i think the key is knowing how to split the narrative beats of the plot so that in each chapter the reader feels like they’re advancing and not stagnant. like no chapter should leave you going “okay so what was the point”? idk if i succeed but i think it’s a good thing to keep in mind!! godspeed with your writing!

#ask #the line is covered in jellyfish

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mirisss · 1 year ago

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Chapter 9

Stray Kids OT8 x hybrid! afab! reader

Warnings: anxiety, mentionings of a breeding facility, verbal and physical child abuse, neglect, spiked collars, blood, injuries, scars, suicidal thoughts, being apathetic, panic attacks, low self-esteem, I think that's everything,

This chapter involves flashbacks into (Y/n)’s past, so it’s a lot of angst but there are also fluffy moments in the chapter.

Wordcount ≈ 3.2k

Thank you guys for your patience! I hope you like this chapter!

Please reblog!

Taglist: @ayoo-bangtan, @lose-lose07, @kingcarrot-thecarrotking, @starjane312, @reighlee-greaves, @hi-39024, @queenmea604, @septicrebel, @justayoungandwisefangirl, @imasimplol, @k-p0p-4ever, @detectivedoodle, @hehe-24-hehe, @jinnie-ret, let me know if you wanna be added!

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 10,

“He’s here, come on, (Y/n), we can go home and watch a movie and maybe draw some more,” “That -” YAWN “- sounds nice” “Haha, tired I see,” And so we got in the car, I barely sat down before my eyes were closing. The last thing I remember is hearing a low humming from Hyunjin as I rested my head against his shoulder before I fell into a deep sleep.

Hyunjin’s POV

As soon as we sat down in the car, (Y/n) fell asleep with her head resting against my shoulder. I managed to move around to buckle her seatbelt without waking her. I leaned my head against hers as I lowly hummed an unfamiliar tune. Every now and then, (Y/n)’s body would twitch a little, not enough to wake her but enough to keep her from being comfortable. I recognized the twitching, Jisung does it sometimes too. I have done it a couple of times.

Anxiety.

Her anxiety is making her twitch, shiver, flinch even. That explains why she’s tired all the time, the anxiety twitches are keeping her from resting properly. I wish we knew more about what she has been through so that we can help her.

Her ears twitch every once in a while too, though after doing some research on bunny hybrids, that was a normal trait for them. Her breathing was slightly too quick to be relaxed, but the way she nestled into my shoulder made my heart race. She was so cute. I loved her just as I loved the other members. She might not have been with us for that long, but it didn’t matter. Now that she’s in our lives, everything feels complete.

I looked up and out of the car window, seeing that we were only about two minutes away from our apartment. “(Y/n), sweetie, bunny, wake up, we’re home,”

(Y/n)’s POV

“(Y/n), sweetie, bunny, wake up, we’re home,” Home. That is such a nice word. I slowly came back to consciousness as I heard Hyunjin’s sweet voice calling my name. As I opened my eyes, I noticed that I was resting against Jinnie’s shoulder. As I understood what I was doing, old habits took over me and I jerked myself away from him. “Sorry,” “It’s alright, bunny. I don’t mind. It was cozy. Now, come on, let’s go home,” “Home,” Before I could stop myself I repeated the word home, Hyunjin looked down at me, his eyes looked glassy, almost as if they were filled with tears. “Yes, home.”

The car came to a stop and we got out of the car. Hyunjin stretched out his hand and smiled at me, his eyes darting almost nervously between his hand and my eyes. I carefully took his hand, afraid that this was all a dream and if I moved too quickly, it would disappear. We went into the building, the elevator was empty for the first time since I came here. Elevators usually spike my anxiety. Reminding me of my past.

Flashback

When I was nine years old I was still with my first owner. The breeders who had my parents. They weren’t exactly mean, but neither were they nice. They only cared about the hybrids they had of the highest quality. I was not one of those. They fed me enough to keep me healthy, but they gave me no love. They never spoke with me, they never pet me, they barely even looked at me.

I hadn’t seen my parents or siblings since I was three. I felt isolated and lonely. The only friend I had was a desert fox who lived in the cage beside mine. He was also an outcast like me. The breeders said his personality wasn’t good, it didn’t fit his species. I didn’t understand what they meant, he was the nicest person I knew, before I got to know SKZ that is.

One day, one of the breeders came up to me with a scary man. The unfamiliar man stared at me with a weird, creepy look in his eyes. I backed away as far as I could in my cage. My whole body shivering, my instincts screamed at me to run but I was stuck. I couldn’t escape. “I believe this one fits everything you wanted. Quite, small, obedient, ugly.” The breeder and the man laughed loudly, the creepy man agreed, saying he’ll take me. I began crying. Begging the breeder to let me stay. The fox boy in the cage beside me raised his voice trying to stop them from taking me.

“No! Don’t take her, take me. Please, I’ll do anything, just don’t take her. Please, please, let her stay. NOO!” “Please, I want to stay. Please, I don’t want to go, please, help,” “(Y/n)!” That was the last time I saw him. He screamed my name as they dragged me out of the room filled with cages of neglected hybrids.

The creepy man dragged me out of the breeding facility with a spiked collar. The spikes dug into my neck, causing permanent damage to my skin. Silent tears ran down my cheeks as no sound would leave my throat. It was my first car ride, and I didn’t want to ever get in another car, at least not with this man. I was nine years old, and he hit me, laughed at me, called me names, and told me how he would cut me and torture me for his own pleasure.

When we arrived at wherever he was taking me, he once again dragged me along with the spiked collar. There was a tall building in front of us, and we were walking straight toward it. I tried calling for help as I saw many people around us, some of them looked but after seeing the man who was dragging me they all looked away, others didn’t look at all.

When we came inside the building, we went into a strange small room, a loud *ding* could be heard as the doors opened. The tiny room was packed with people. I didn’t want to go, but the man pulled me inside, the spikes had now penetrated my skin completely, and drops of blood ran down my neck. “Nice toy you got there boss,” A few people said the same thing, as they all stared at me. Their voices harsh on my sensitive ears as they all laughed loudly.

“Yes, we all will be able to enjoy this one. I made sure to buy a young one, so it will last long,” They spoke about me as if I were an object and not a living being. “Mm, so many fun things to do with such an ugly toy. I know it’s young but I hope it becomes prettier in the future,” My heart hurt from hearing what they said. It was true. I wasn’t pretty, that’s why the breeders didn’t keep me. It was why I didn’t deserve love.

During the five years, that I lived with that man and his friends, the elevator was a common place for verbal and later on, physical abuse. Whenever someone saw me walking around the building, they would drag me into the elevator, hitting me, kicking me, spitting on me, pulling my ears, my hair, or my tail. They would curse at me, scream at me, and tell me why I didn’t deserve to live. After five years, they kicked me out after I became numb to their advances.

I stopped speaking. I stopped crying, I stopped eating, I didn’t react to anything anymore, no matter what they did, I never reacted. I felt nothing but emptiness. I wanted nothing more than to die. If this was all my life was worth, I didn’t want to continue. When I stopped reacting, I stopped being fun for them so they kicked me out. Hoping I would die on the streets, all alone. Alone. That was all I knew how to be.

Elevators always remind me of the scars around my neck, the scars that littered my body from the abuse it suffered all those years, and most importantly, elevators remind me of how ugly and worthless I am in the eyes of many.

End of flashback

As I was pulled into a flashback, my breathing picked up, I couldn’t breathe, my eyes couldn’t seem to focus on anything, my knees felt weak, I found my own eyes in the mirror, it felt as if I looked into the eyes of my terrified nine-year-old self.

“(Y/n)! (Y/n), bunny, hold on, it’s okay, just breathe, hey, I’m here,” Hyunjin’s voice seemed far away as if he was in another room. I felt his gentle touch on my arms, I knew it was him, I knew I was safe, but my body didn’t understand. The doors to the elevator flew open with a *ding*, I used my full strength and pushed myself out of the elevator, landing on the floor outside. My arm hurt from landing on it awkwardly, but all I focused on was getting as far away from the elevator as possible.

“(Y/n), please breathe, please,” My eyes slowly stopped darting around, they focused on Hyunjin’s eyes which were filled with tears as he looked down at me. Worry was written all over his handsome face. I didn’t want him to cry, especially not because of me.

Third Person POV

(Y/n) looked up at Hyunjin as he leaned over her. The hybrid was lying on the floor, shaking, struggling to breathe, teardrops running down her cheeks. The dancer leaned over the scared hybrid, trying to calm her down, his own eyes and cheeks stained with tears, his heart hurt from seeing (Y/n) like this.

One of (Y/n)’s arms reached up and gently caressed Hyunjin’s cheek. Her hand was cold against his warm cheek. She still trembled as she tried to catch her breath. Before she knew what she was doing, she leaned her head up, her hand gently guiding Hyunjin’s head down. Their lips barely met, the kiss so gentle it almost didn’t happen, but it did. Hyunjin’s heart raced a thousand times quicker as he realized what they were doing. He was kissing (Y/n). (Y/n) was kissing him.

Hyunjin broke away from the kiss, a surprised look on his face as he looked down at the bunny. (Y/n) too looked surprised. She hadn’t realized what she had done, it seemed to be pure instinct. “I’m sorry,” (Y/n) whispered as she looked away, her hand falling from his cheek. “It’s okay. I liked it. Um, how about we get off the floor and go inside the apartment, to talk about what happened,” (Y/n) nodded in response, too embarrassed to speak.

They went inside the apartment, first going into separate rooms to change clothes. (Y/n) got dressed in the fuzzy pajamas that Jeongin reminded her they had bought, it was warm and cozy. It smelled of Jeongin and Felix. (Y/n) inhaled their scents, it calmed her down. She still felt embarrassed over kissing Hyunjin, she had never done something like that before. Her first kiss. Her first kiss.

Hyunjin was changing into some comfortable clothes too. His mind completely focused on what happened only minutes prior. (Y/n)’s soft lips against his own. Her cute eyes opened wide as she realized what she had done. Her small hand against his cheek. The way she pulled him in. It was intoxicating. He wanted more, but he had to hold himself back. (Y/n) probably didn’t mean to kiss him, she wasn’t ready, he thought. Especially after what happened in the elevator.

Hyunjin walked into the living room and found (Y/n) sitting on the couch. One of her legs bounced anxiously on the floor. “Hey, do you want some water or tea, or maybe some hot chocolate?” “Water please,” “Alright, I’ll be right back with it,” (Y/n) was nervous, and anxious, thinking that she had truly ruined this now. She kissed Hyunjin without his permission, he was probably going to call the others and tell them that she couldn’t stay. That was what (Y/n) thought.

“Here you go, bunny,” (Y/n) carefully took the cold water bottle from his hand, opened it, and took a sip. The cold water calmed her burning throat from the panic attack she had just a few minutes ago. “Would you be okay with telling me what happened in the elevator?” “It sparked some old memories,” “Could you tell me more about these memories? You don’t have to but I want to be able to help you, we all do, if you don’t feel ready to talk about it now, that’s okay, but please don’t be afraid to open up about what you’ve been through,”

He spoke with so much sincerity in his voice and so much love in his gaze as he looked into the hybrid’s eyes. (Y/n) took a deep breath before she told him of the flashback she had. New tears clouded her eyes, Hyunjin embraced her in a calming hug as she cried and told him of all the horrible things the man had put her through.

“Oh bunny, I’m so sorry, no one should ever have to go through such things,” Hyunjin held (Y/n) tighter as he did his best to calm her down. They stayed like that for a good 20 minutes until the door opened. Minho, Felix, and Jeongin stepped inside. Once they came into the living room they found Hyunjin and (Y/n) curled up on the couch together. The hybrid was still slightly shaking from crying and going through all of those memories twice.

“What happened?” Felix said as soon as he realized that (Y/n) had been crying. “It’s a long story and I don’t think (Y/n) has it in her to tell it again or be present for it to be told,” Hyunjin answered, Minho noticed that the tall boy’s eyes were glossy, he too had been crying. “Alright, we’ll talk later. Now, do you want to watch a movie, eat something, sleep, or something else?” (Y/n) sniffled a little before she leaned away from Hyunjin’s warm embrace. “I’d like to take a bath if that is fine,” “Of course, come on, I’ll set it up for you,” Jeongin said as he gave her the wide smile she loved.

Jeongin tried to cheer (Y/n) up by joking around and smiling. His presence did make her feel a bit better. Once again, he reminded her of that fox from the breeding facility. Warm, safe, familiar. His eyes were kind, with so much love and adoration in them. His touch was warm and gentle. Jeongin was happiness to her. “Do you want some bath salts in the bath?” “What’s that?” “Oh, they’re like tiny crystals that make the bath smell nice,” “Do you like those?” Jeongin smiled even wider at the question. “Yeah, they’re nice, we have a couple of different scents, this one’s my favorite!” He held out a little bottle with blue crystals, opened the lid, and let (Y/n) take in the scent. The hybrid inhaled the scent, it instantly reminded her of Jeongin.

“Do you like it?” “Yeah, it, um, it smells like you,” “I’ll put some in the bath then,” Jeongin poured a few of the crystals into the warm water filling the tub. “There we go! Your towel is here, the same spot as always, and you have your clothes here, and I think that’s all,” Jeongin was about to walk over to the door and leave (Y/n) in the bathroom. “Wait,” (Y/n) took a hold of his hand.

“Hmm, what’s wrong?” “Can you just stay with me for a little while longer, I don’t want to be alone just yet,” “Alright, I’ll stay with you as long as you want me to,” They sat down on the floor, (Y/n) still held onto his hand. Jeongin kept an eye on the water in the tub, making sure it didn’t fill too much. “Can you hug me?” “Of course,” Jeongin turned off the water before he opened his arms and (Y/n) scooted closer into his embrace.

“(Y/n), remember what we talked about earlier?” “About all of us facing challenges in the past?” “Yeah, you don’t ever have to be ashamed of what you’ve been through, none of it was your fault. We won’t ever hurt you, nor will we let anyone hurt you,” (Y/n) held onto Jeongin just a little tighter. “Can I tell you something about what happened today?” “Of course, if you want to tell me, then I’ll gladly listen,” “I’m embarrassed and worried about it,” “It’s okay, whatever it is, it will be fine,” “I kissed Hyunjin,” Jeongin looked down at (Y/n), not believing his ears.

“What?” His voice was shocked, yet his eyes still held nothing but love and adoration. Making (Y/n) feel a little less worried. “I kissed Hyunjin. I didn’t even notice, I didn’t know what I was doing, it just happened,” “Okay, do you regret it?” “Um, I don’t know. I liked it, I think. I’ve never done anything like it before. I’m just scared that he’s angry with me,” “I promise you, that he is not angry. I’m certain he’s over the moon with joy. We all love you, and kissing is a sign of love, so none of us would be angry with you for kissing us, we just want you to do it when you want to, we don’t want to pressure you into anything,”

(Y/n) listened intently as Jeongin spoke, his voice brought the bunny comfort. Her eyes explored his face. From his warm eyes to his nose, to his sharp jawline, and stopping at his lips. Something within her, yearning to feel his lips against hers. Even though the kiss with Hyunjin had barely happened, she yearned for more. She yearned to feel love in its purest form.

“Can I… Can you, kiss me?” Jeongin smiled widely, his eyes seemed to sparkle as he leaned a little closer. “Are you sure?” (Y/n)’s eyes once again darted between his eyes and his lips. She felt safe. She felt loved. “Yes, I’m sure,” Jeongin leaned even closer, his heart racing. He was nervous and excited. The bunny felt the same as she leaned a little closer. Their lips were only mere millimeters apart. (Y/n) closed her eyes, fully trusting Jeongin, just as she would with any of the eight boys she now called her home. Jeonging couldn’t help but smile as he too closed his eyes.

~ To be continued ~

Thank you for reading! Please reblog!

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chevyslate158 · 2 months ago

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Pleasantries of 'Love' 18+ (Coriolanus Snow x Fem!Reader) Chapter 2 - Veiled Intentions

A/N: Hey everyone! I’m finally back with the long-awaited Chapter 2 of Pleasantries of 'Love’! I know it’s been a little while since my last update, and I want to thank each of you for your patience and support. I’m so excited for you all to read this chapter, and I truly hope it’s been worth the wait. Your kind comments and encouragement mean the world to me, and I’m so grateful for you all!

Also, just a heads up, Chapter 6 of Threads of Freedom will be uploaded in the next day or so! I can’t wait for you to see where the story goes next. I’m juggling both stories right now, but I promise I’m working hard to keep things moving along from now on.

Now, I’ve got a couple of polls coming your way! I’ve been thinking a lot about the age gap between Coriolanus and the reader, and I’d love to get your input on how big you think it should be. I’ve got a few ideas in mind, but I want to see what you all think! I’m also debating whether the reader should be 19 or 20 in this story, so there will be another poll for that as well. Lastly, since this chapter is nearly 9k words long, I’d love to hear what you think. Do you like the length, or would you prefer it to be shorter? Or a bit longer even?

Sorry if there’s a bit of a poll overload, haha! I’m just really eager to know your thoughts and get some feedback. Thanks again for your support, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Word Count: 8.8k words Warnings: Power Imbalance, fixation, manipulation, obsession themes, social pressure, control, age gap, jealousy, gendered expectation, objectification, traditional expectations/views, coercion, unhealthy relationship dynamics (Coriolanus and Reader), eventual smut and eventual arranged marriage [Let me know if I missed any]

The quiet hum of the limousine filled the space between them, a soft vibration beneath her fingertips as she kept her hands neatly folded in her lap. Beyond the tinted windows, the Capitol glowed with golden light, its towering buildings standing tall against the dark sky. The streets below were still alive with movement, people wrapped in extravagant fabrics, laughing, sipping on sparkling drinks, indulging in the kind of luxury that never seemed to sleep. The world outside was grand, dazzling, overwhelming.

But inside the limousine, the air felt different. Quieter. Closer. Intimate.

Y/n sat with the perfect posture that could only be learnt by constant years of correction by her family, her hands clasped together gently, her eyes lowered ever so slightly. Even now, she could feel the warmth in her cheeks, the remnants of a flustered blush that refused to fade. The evening had been more than she could have ever imagined. The grandeur of the restaurant, the rich scent of roses woven into the air, the way President Snow’s attention had rested so fully on her. It had been unnerving, yet… oddly enchanting. And now, in the soft glow of the limousine’s interior, she was more aware of him than ever.

He sat beside her, poised and composed, exuding an effortless authority that made her stomach tighten with nerves. His presence was commanding, though he did nothing outright to demand attention, it simply followed him, clung to him like an unspoken rule that everyone obeyed. She swallowed, willing herself to stay calm, though the knowledge that they were alone made her heart flutter wildly in her chest.

The silence stretched until his voice, smooth, deliberate, and far too knowing, cut through it.

“It’s rare,” he mused, as if merely thinking aloud, “to find company that makes an evening feel… worthwhile.”

Y/n’s breath caught in her throat. She turned her head slightly, just enough to meet his gaze, though the moment her eyes locked with his, she immediately wished she hadn’t. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on her, watching and studying her with his expression unreadable yet wholly consuming. A warmth crept up her neck, her fingers tightening slightly over the fabric of her dress.

“Oh,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her lashes fluttered as she quickly looked down, unable to hold his gaze for too long without feeling her heartbeat stutter. The weight of his attention was overwhelming, pressing against her like a velvet glove, soft yet suffocating. “That’s very kind of you to say, Mr. President.”

He didn’t respond right away. The pause was long enough that her nerves prickled with unease, and she hesitantly glanced up again, searching his face. His expression remained composed, but there was something unreadable in his gaze, something flickering just beneath the surface. For the briefest moment, she thought she saw the glint of something sharp, was it annoyance? Displeasure? But before she could be certain, it was gone, smoothed away like a wrinkle pressed from fine silk.

Then, smoothly, effortlessly, he corrected her once again that night.

“Coriolanus,” he murmured, the syllables drawn out with a quiet patience that made her breath hitch. “You know this, doll, I don’t want to have to repeat myself.”

Y/n blinked, startled by the sudden intimacy of his wording. Doll.

The word settled over her like a warm ribbon, curling around her spine, making her heel-covered toes press against the floor of the limousine as if grounding herself would stop the flustered heat creeping up her neck for what seemed like the hundredth time tonight. The way he said it, both low, deliberate, as though he were reminding her of something already established, sent a shiver down her back.

She knew she should correct herself, should apologise for the slip, but the word lingered between them, unchallenged. It felt strange, almost improper, but not in the way society would deem scandalous. It was improper because of how it made her feel. How it twisted something deep within her, something she didn’t quite understand or want to acknowledge yet.

Her fingers curled into the soft fabric of her dress, creasing it slightly. “I didn’t mean to forget, Mr President, I mean-” She stopped herself, cheeks burning brightly, utterly mortified at how flustered she sounded.

The corner of his mouth quirked as if entertained by her struggle. “You didn’t forget,” he mused, tilting his head ever so slightly, studying her. “You’re simply hesitant.”

She swallowed, her gaze dropping again. The name felt far too personal to use considering they hadn't known each other for that long, too bold for her to say aloud, even at the dinner, it felt odd to voice his name. After all, he was the President, a man of great power. “I just… I don’t wish to be disrespectful to you.”

He hummed a quiet, knowing sound. “Disrespect?” His voice held a faint trace of amusement. “Doll, if I took offence to such things, do you think I’d be here with you now?”

She didn’t know how to respond to that. So she said nothing, only nodding slightly, hoping it would be enough to satisfy him.

But Coriolanus Snow was not a man who was easily satisfied, nor a man to back down.

He watched her for a moment longer, the corners of his lips barely tilting, not quite a smile, more of an acknowledgment, as if he had already anticipated her response. The way she folded into herself, so careful, so nervous, so impossibly sweet, it was almost endearing. Almost.

With an exhale, he spoke, staring down at her. “You’re overthinking, doll,” he said, his voice smooth, the kind of quiet authority that left no room for argument. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be.”

She stiffened slightly at his words, her fingers curling tighter around the fabric of her dress. It wasn’t that she doubted him, of course, he had no obligation to be here, but the thought of it, the idea that he had willingly given her his time, that he had chosen her, bewildered her in ways she couldn’t explain.

“I-I know,” she murmured, but her voice lacked conviction.

He leaned back against the leather seat, the ambient glow of the Capitol’s skyline casting sharp shadows across his features. “Do you?” he mused, tilting his head just slightly in a form of mocking, but it washed right over her head. “Because you keep acting as though you don’t. As though I’m here out of obligation. That’s not the case.” His tone remained light, almost thoughtful, but there was something firm beneath it, something that sent a nervous tremor through her.

Y/n lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting together in her lap as she tried to steady the warmth creeping up her neck. She hadn’t meant to offend him and hadn’t even realised that her hesitance could be taken that way. But the idea of him choosing to be here, wanting to spend his evening with her, felt too grand to accept so easily.

“I didn’t mean to imply that,” she said softly, barely above a whisper. “I just…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s still… difficult to believe.”

A quiet hum left him contemplative. “Difficult to believe?” he repeated as if testing the phrase out himself. “And why is that?”

She shifted slightly in her seat. “Because you’re…” she trailed off, cheeks heating under his expectant gaze. Because you’re Coriolanus Snow. Because he was powerful and poised and impossible to ignore. Because men like him didn’t just choose to sit across from girls like her.

He arched a brow at her unfinished sentence. “I’m what, exactly?”

She swallowed, feeling foolish for even thinking it. “Important,” she finally said. “Busy. You have the entire country to run, and I’m just…” Her voice faltered, the weight of her own insecurities pressing down on her. “I don’t see what I could possibly ever offer in return for your time.”

For the first time, Coriolanus exhaled a quiet laugh, not mocking, but as if she had said something amusingly naive. His fingers tapped idly against his knee as he regarded her, his gaze unreadable.

“That’s where you’re mistaken, Darling.” His voice was smoother now, more deliberate. “You think time is something I give freely? That I waste it on people who have nothing to offer me?”

She stiffened, shaking her head quickly. “No, no, I definitely didn’t mean-”

He lifted a hand slightly, silencing her stumbling words immediately. “I don’t do things without reason,” he continued, his tone measured. “And I certainly don’t keep company unless I find it worthwhile.” His eyes never left hers, holding her there, forcing her to take in every word. “So stop questioning it.”

Y/n sucked in a quiet breath, nodding quickly. “Yes, sir,” she said instinctively, her voice barely above a whisper.

His lips twitched-just slightly, just enough to tell her he had caught the slip. The moment stretched between them, thick with something she couldn’t name.

“Coriolanus,” he reminded her again, softening his tone this time.

She hesitated, then nodded again, forcing the name past her lips. “…Coriolanus.”

He looked satisfied with that, at least for now. “Better.” His gaze flickered toward the window as the limousine began to slow, signalling their arrival. “I trust you’ll remember that next time.”

She wasn’t sure if it was a command or a suggestion. But either way, she knew she wouldn’t forget.

For a few minutes, silence settled between them, save for the quiet hum of the limousine gliding through the city streets of Panem. Y/n turned her head toward the window, her eyes flitting across the dazzling display of lights that stretched endlessly into the night. The Capitol was breathtaking in its extravagance, golden chandeliers glowing through towering glass windows, illuminated fountains bubbling in the distance, streets lined with opulence at every turn. It felt almost otherworldly, a place crafted for spectacle and indulgence. She watched as a couple in lavish attire strolled along a grand avenue, their laughter light and carefree, so utterly at ease in a world she still struggled to comprehend. For a moment, she allowed herself to be distracted by it all, to lose herself in the shimmering beauty just beyond the glass.

“The Capitol will talk,” he murmured, breaking the silence once more, his tone almost absentminded, as if the thought did not bother him in the slightest. “A quiet young woman, seated across from me at dinner… they’ll be insatiable.”

As he spoke, Coriolanus shifted slightly in his seat, his long fingers moving with practised ease as he adjusted the crisp lapels of his suit. The subtle motion drew Y/n’s eyes downward before she could stop herself. Her gaze lingered for a moment too long, tracing the way the fabric stretched over his broad shoulders, the way his cufflinks gleamed under the soft lighting. Then, lower, to his hands where his veins stood out against his pale skin, the sharp, elegant lines of his knuckles, the smooth control with which he moved his fingers.

Heat crept up her neck before she even realised what was happening. She blinked, quickly looking away, pressing her hands together in her lap as if that might stop the sudden, flustered warmth pooling in her chest and banish the improper thoughts forming in the back of her mind.

Did he notice?

She swallowed hard, hoping the dim lighting inside the limousine might conceal the growing pink dusting her cheeks or the fact that she was eyeing up the President. But when she dared to glance upward, she wished she hadn’t, she found his gaze already on her, unreadable yet entirely knowing, like he had caught her staring and was merely waiting for her to acknowledge it herself. She parted her lips to speak, but not a single sound escaped, her throat tightening as she found herself ensnared by his piercing blue gaze. The weight of it made her squirm in her seat. His gaze was more unsettling than the cold air circulating through the limousine, yet it still made her heart flutter. His lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk, the kind that made her stomach twist. With deliberate ease, he finished adjusting his suit, his fingers brushing over the pristine fabric before his gaze dragged down the length of her, drinking her in just as she had done to him.

“You do realise,” he murmured, his voice rich with amusement, restating his previous comment with more vigour. “The Capitol will be talking soon enough. Their beloved president being seen with such... captivating company such as yourself.” He let the words settle between them before adding, almost lazily, “Though, given how openly you were admiring me, I’d say you won't mind the attention much.”

The words sent a ripple of unease through her. Of course, she knew how the Capitol worked. She had seen it before, how the slightest thing could turn into something far grander than itself, how people whispered and speculated and twisted stories into whatever they found most entertaining.

Her hands tightened in her lap, her voice small when she finally managed to speak. “I… I don’t want to cause any trouble…”

His chuckle was quiet and smooth with a hint of warmth. “That,” he said, tilting his head slightly in her direction, “My dear is far out of your hands now.”

Eventually, the limousine glided through the gates of her family’s estate, the sleek vehicle’s tyres smoothly passing over the road as they approached the grand manor, her home. The estate was bathed in the soft, golden light of the Capitol’s evening, the stone pillars of the manor’s exterior standing tall and imposing. The vehicle came to a stop at the front steps of her manor

Her gaze shifted toward the upper floor of the house, where, through the window, she saw a small figure partially hidden behind the curtains, a faint outline of her younger sister, barely visible but unmistakable in her attempt to sneak a peek at her arrival. Y/n couldn’t help but smile softly to herself. Even in the quiet of the night, her sister’s curiosity was evident, and the thought of her waiting up to hear about her evening filled Y/n with a sense of warmth.

Before she could linger on the thought, Coriolanus appeared in front of her and smoothly opened the door of the limousine, stepping out with the same practised ease as before. He extended his hand toward her, a gesture that seemed even more natural now, as though it were second nature for him. Y/n hesitated for only a moment before placing her hand in his, his touch cool but firm as he helped her out of the car.

The moment she stood on the ground, the night air felt cooler against her skin, but his presence seemed to absorb the chill. She glanced back up at her family’s grand manor as Coriolanus guided her toward the steps, the soft glow of light from her sister’s room still visible through the window. A flicker of movement caught her eye, her sister’s figure vanishing behind the curtain, no doubt excited to hear all the details of the evening.

With a gentle smile that graced her lips, Y/n turned her attention back to Coriolanus, allowing him to lead her up the front steps. The soft click of her heels on the stone echoed through the quiet night, and with each step, she felt herself inching closer to the threshold of her home.

Just as they reached the front door of her manor, Coriolanus’s hand brushed lightly against her wrist, grasping it in his hand, halting her in place beside him. Before she could question it, he reached into the inner pocket of his coat, withdrawing a single white rose, its petals pristine and delicate beneath the dim glow of the entrance lights. With a practised ease, he snapped the stem to a shorter length, then reached up, tucking it gently behind her ear.

"You wear beauty well, my dear," he murmured in her ear, his voice smooth, dangerously soft as he leaned in, his breath a whisper against her skin.

Y/n felt the warmth rise swiftly to her cheeks, her lips parting slightly, though no words came to her. Her heart fluttered in response, a nervous thrill weaving through her chest as she lowered her gaze shyly. By the time she gathered the courage to glance back up at him, Coriolanus had already straightened his posture, his expression composed, as though the moment had been nothing at all. Yet the faintest trace of a grin lingered on his lips as he reached for her hand, tugging her just a little closer to his side while they waited for the door to open.

Y/n's pulse quickened as they waited at the door, the quiet hum of the evening still hanging in the air. Coriolanus’s presence beside her seemed to fill the space, spreading a feeling of warmth through her, even as they paused in front of the large, ornate door to the manor. Before Y/n could even turn the handle, the door swung open with a soft creak, revealing her mother standing eagerly on the other side.

Her mother’s eyes lit up as she took in the sight of her daughter, her face flushed with excitement from the evening’s events. "Y/N, my dear! You're home, darling," she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and enthusiasm. Her hands fluttered to her chest as if in awe of the occasion. "And… Mr. President! It’s an honour to have you at our doorstep once again!"

Y/n's heart fluttered uncomfortably at the mention of the title. But before she could form a response, her mother took a quick step forward, offering a welcoming smile. "Would you care to come inside, Mr. Snow? We’d be honoured to have you."

Coriolanus, ever the composed gentleman, shook his head with a soft smile that never quite reached his eyes. "I appreciate the invitation, Mrs. Y/l/n, but I must decline. I have already overstayed my welcome, perhaps next time." His voice was smooth, polite, with a touch of finality, as if he were accustomed to the boundaries of such social pleasantries. His eyes briefly flickered toward Y/n, and a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Goodnight, Chevy," he said, turning toward her with an air of quiet intensity. "It was a pleasure to spend the evening with you."

As he spoke her name, he leaned in just a fraction closer, his breath warm against her ear. "I’ll be looking forward to our next encounter," he whispered, his tone low and enticing, though no one would have guessed the subtle weight behind it. His words were like a secret promise, making her skin flush as she tried to steady herself in front of her family.

Y/n nodded numbly, her heart racing, her pulse a beat too fast as she felt herself drawn to him in ways she didn’t fully understand. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his cool, calculating blue eyes, and despite his courteous manners, there was a sense of ownership in his presence that unsettled and thrilled her at the same time.

Before she could respond, her mother gave a small, disappointed sigh but quickly hid it behind another joyous smile. "Very well, then. Thank you for escorting my daughter home, Mr. Snow. You’re always welcome here."

Y/n could feel her father’s more composed presence behind them in the hallway, his posture straight as he observed the interaction with a quiet intensity, not too eager for the closeness of his daughter and the young president before him. His gaze flickered between his wife’s excited expression and Coriolanus's dignified manners, a subtle hint of wariness beneath his calm demeanour.

From around the corner of the staircase, her younger sister peeked her head out, her wide eyes gleaming with curiosity as she caught sight of the scene. It was clear she had been trying to stay in bed, but the thrill of seeing Coriolanus Snow at their doorstep had been too much for her to resist. Y/n couldn’t help but smile inwardly at her sister’s eagerness.

Coriolanus, still standing by the front steps, gave a small, sly nod to Y/n’s sister, offering a courteous smile, though it was fleeting. "Goodnight," he said simply, before turning on his heel with the same quiet elegance with which he followed him like a shadow.

Y/n stood there for a long moment, watching as he climbed back into the limousine, the door closing with a soft click behind him. The vehicle pulled away into the night, leaving her standing in the warm light of the doorway, her heart pounding in her chest.

Inside the house, her mother immediately rushed to Y/n’s side, eager to hear every detail of the evening, but Y/n’s mind was elsewhere on the whispered words, on the way he’d looked at her, and the way his presence had lingered long after he’d left like a blanket on a frosty winter night.

And she couldn’t help but feel helplessly drawn to him, even as a part of her instinctively whispered that the path ahead was more complicated than she could imagine.

Inside, the warmth of the manor enveloped her, a stark contrast to the cool night air. Her mother and younger sister were already waiting in the sitting room, their faces alight with anticipation.

“Tell us everything.” Her mother breathed, taking in the sight of her with barely contained excitement.

Her younger sister had dropped the act of being sneaky and bounded over to her eldest sister, bouncing on her feet. “Was he charming? He must’ve been. And what is that?” She gasped. “Is that a rose?”

Y/n’s cheeks burned as she reached up, fingers brushing the delicate petals. “He… gave it to me before he left,” she admitted quietly.

The reaction was immediate.

Her mother clasped her hands together in delight, while her sister squealed, grabbing her hands and dragging her toward the settee. “It’s like something out of a storybook!”

Y/n allowed herself a soft laugh, though she kept her words measured as she recounted the evening about how grand the restaurant had been, how exquisite the meal was, and how he had spoken to her in a way that felt both unnerving and strangely flattering. She left out the moments that had truly unsettled her, the way his gaze had lingered a little too long for comfort, the subtle weight of his words.

Across the room, her father stood by the doorway, silent.

Unlike the others, he did not gush or pry. His expression was unreadable, though Y/n could see the hesitation in his eyes, the wariness of a man who had spent his life understanding the power of people like Snow.

“A man like him…” he said finally, his voice quiet but firm, “does not give his time lightly.” He met her gaze, his eyes filled with something deeper than mere concern. “Just be cautious, sweetheart.”

Y/n smiled softly and shook her head in disbelief at his comment, but she nodded in agreement nonetheless. “I will, Father.” She took his comment with a grain of salt, far too excited to understand her father's implications.

Her father lingered for only a moment more before turning away, leaving the three of them to their giddy excitement that lingered far on into the night.

-Three days later- The Capitol was already ablaze with whispers.

It started subtly with an elegant picture in one of the glossy publications, taken slyly as Snow had escorted her both to and from the restaurant. Soon, there were murmurs in the boutiques, hushed conversations in high-end cafés, and, inevitably, bold headlines speculating what her presence at his side meant.

Was this a political alliance? A new darling of the Capitol? Or something more?

Y/n caught the whispers everywhere, and with each passing day, her name seemed more entwined with Coriolanus Snow’s. It was a dizzying but intoxicating experience, like stepping into a dream spun from silk and starlight. Every glance, every conversation they had shared, every lingering mention of her name alongside his felt surreal, an impossible fantasy woven into reality.

The world around her seemed to shift, its edges softened by the warmth of whispered admiration and envious sighs. She was no longer just Y/n Y/l/n, she was the young woman who had captured the President’s attention and possibly his heart.

And despite the uncertainty, despite the way her heart fluttered with nerves whenever she thought of him, there was something undeniably thrilling about it. It was a bliss, unlike anything she had ever known, a secret kind of joy that set her soul alight, flooding her system as if she had been swept into the pages of a story far grander than she could have ever imagined.

Her family viewed it as the highest honour possible. Her mother beamed with pride constantly, and her sister gushed endlessly to her school friends about her eldest sister and the president, and even her father, though he was still wary of the young man he still acknowledged that she had done something no one else had: captured the attention of the most powerful man in Panem and that was not to be taken lightly.

Later that day, Y/n found herself stepping through the glass doors of a charming little tea lounge with Clara and Rose at her side. The boutique-style café was nestled neatly between two glittering storefronts, a luxurious milliner’s shop displaying elegant feathered hats in its windows and a jewellery boutique where diamonds caught the sunlight like tiny stars. The scent of fresh pastries and steeped tea drifted out as the trio entered, their heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor.

The cafe itself was warm, pastel and bright, with sunlight streaming through tall windows draped in sheer white curtains. The tables were delicate things, small and round with intricate lace cloths, and every setting had its own porcelain teacup, hand-painted with tiny pastel flowers. Crystal vases filled with soft pink peonies and creamy white roses sat atop each table, adding to the airy, romantic feel of the place.

Y/n, Clara, and Rose found a table tucked near one of the windows, giving them a perfect view of the bustling street beyond. They sank into the plush velvet chairs with a happy sigh, already giddy from the prettiness of it all. A waitress dressed smartly in a black dress with a crisp white apron appeared with a small leather menu, offering them a kind smile before leaving them to look.

The menu was delicate and refined, offering things like lavender scones, rosewater macarons, and artfully arranged finger sandwiches. Y/n ran her fingertips lightly over the gold-embossed lettering before glancing up at her friends, their faces practically glowing with excitement.

Across from her sat Clara and Rose, who were positively brimming with energy. Clara, with her warm brown eyes sparkling beneath faintly wavy chestnut hair, and Rose, with her riot of ginger curls and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose that only seemed to stand out more under the golden afternoon sun.

They each picked something light, a shared tower of assorted pastries and delicate tea served in a tall glass pot. As they placed their order, Y/n felt the faint, nervous flutter in her stomach again, sensing that their conversation was about to turn, inevitably, to him.

And she was right.

"I still can't believe it," Rose gushed first, unable to contain herself. She leaned forward, her elbows on the lace-draped table despite the disapproving glance of a nearby server. Her blue eyes were wide with excitement. "You dined with President Snow! Y/n, you sly young lady!"

Clara giggled, a musical sound, reaching across the table to lightly squeeze Y/n’s hand. "And not just dined, you were escorted by him. That’s not something he does for just anyone, you know." She grinned, practically bouncing in her seat.

Y/n flushed, feeling the warmth rise in her cheeks as she quickly looked down, stirring her tea to keep herself busy under their intense, affectionate stares. "It wasn’t it wasn’t like that," she protested softly, though even to her own ears, the words sounded flimsy and unsure. How could she explain the strange, magnetic pull he seemed to have, the way he looked at her like she was something rare, something meant to be treasured and kept close?

Rose clutched her chest dramatically, making Clara laugh harder. "If it wasn’t like that, why do you look like you're about to float out of that very chair, hmm?"

Y/n ducked her head, hiding her flustered smile behind the rim of her delicate teacup. Her fingers fidgeted slightly against the porcelain, the soft clink of her spoon giving her away. "Really, it’s nothing," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper as she stirred her tea, needlessly adding a small bit of extra sugar to her already sweet cup of tea and stirring it once more.

Desperate to escape the topic, she cleared her throat softly and glanced toward the window. "Did you see the new window display at the boutique next door? I heard they just got a shipment from the Capitol's spring collection-"

But Clara and Rose were having none of it.

"Oh no, you’re not getting away that easily," Clara said with a mischievous grin, leaning in even closer. "Exactly," Rose added, tossing a wild ginger curl over her shoulder with a sparkle in her freckled cheeks. "Spring dresses can wait. We need every single detail."

Y/n’s heart fluttered helplessly as she sunk a little deeper into her seat, the gentle laughter of her friends wrapping around her like the soft sunlight filling the room. It was hopeless and, secretly, she didn't mind one bit.

Clara smirked behind her teacup, exchanging a knowing look with Rose that made Y/n instantly wary. "You know you’ve been smiling the entire time, right?" Clara teased, setting her cup down with a faint clink. "You never smile this much unless it’s something or someone special."

"I have not!" Y/n protested, though the heat rising in her cheeks betrayed her the moment the words left her mouth. “And I always smile, it's good manners.” She defended weekly.

Rose let out a delighted little laugh, covering her mouth with her hand like she was trying to be discreet but failing miserably. "You have, and it's adorable! You're practically glowing, Y/n. It’s like something out of one of those fancy Capitol romance dramas."

Before Y/n could even attempt to scramble for a proper defence, the soft jingle of the door caught their attention. A young mother strolled into the tea lounge, gently pushing a polished white stroller adorned with delicate gold trim. Inside, a chubby baby kicked its little feet, gurgling happily under a pale blue blanket. The sight was so sweet that Y/n couldn’t help but glance over, her heart squeezing with a wistful tenderness.

The baby’s large, innocent eyes blinked up at Y/n, and for a moment, their gazes locked. The child’s wide eyes seemed so curious, so trusting, and without thinking, Y/n found herself smiling softly at the little one, her features softening as well. The baby, almost as if sensing her warmth, gurgled and cooed, a playful giggle escaping as it wriggled its fingers towards her. Y/n couldn’t help but lean forward slightly in her seat, her lips curling into a gentle smile as she caught the child’s gaze.

A flutter of warmth spread through her chest at the simplicity of it, a moment of pure, untainted joy that made her momentarily forget the whirlwind that had come with her association with Coriolanus Snow. She felt the smile tug deeper on her face, her expression softening as she continued to watch the baby, lost in the quiet innocence of the scene before her.

She was still smiling when the mother looked over and caught her eye, giving her a knowing nod of acknowledgment and a sweet smile. Y/n quickly snapped back to the conversation, a flush of embarrassment creeping over her face, though the soft tug of that emotion lingered within her.

And, unfortunately, Rose noticed.

"Oh, look at that," Rose said slyly, nudging Clara with her elbow and casting a meaningful glance at the stroller. "You’d be such a sweet mother, Y/n. Just picture it, a little one with your perfect hair and those pretty eyes."

"And maybe," Clara added smoothly, her voice dripping with mischief, "hair a few shades lighter perhaps. White, almost. And the sharpest blue eyes anyone's ever seen. Wonder where that would come from? Features only for a Snow baby, isn’t that right, Y/n?" Her brown eyes gleamed as she leaned in a little, the teasing note in her voice impossible to miss.

Y/n nearly dropped her spoon, sputtering as she tried to settle them down. "Stop it," she hissed under her breath, glancing around frantically. A few patrons were already glancing curiously in their direction, their elegantly plucked brows raised in amusement. Y/n leaned in over the table, lowering her voice. "You two are being ridiculous. We’ve only been out once for dinner! Once. You’re getting way ahead of yourselves."

Rose waved her hand airily as if to dismiss Y/n’s concern. "Pff. Once is all it takes with a man like that."

Rose nodded eagerly, a wicked glint in her blue eyes as she picked up right where Clara left off. "Exactly! Did you see the way he was looking at you in that photo outside the restaurant? Honestly, Y/n, it didn’t look like he was thinking about dinner at all." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping into a playful whisper. "He looked like he wanted to scoop you up right then and there and take you straight back to that big, fancy presidential penthouse of his instead.”

"Clara! Rose! That's enough!" Y/n gasped, nearly tipping her tea over in her panic. She cast another nervous glance at the nearby tables, cheeks burning hotter than ever. "Honestly, you both are impossible."

Still, even as she tried to shush them and steer the conversation toward safer, less scandalous waters, a tiny, secret part of her clung to the image her friends had so carelessly painted. It drifted through her mind like a sweet, fleeting dream, a peaceful afternoon in a garden bathed in sunlight and warmth, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers.

In this vision, a little hand, small and soft, reached up for hers, fingers curling around hers with trust and innocence. The sound of children's laughter would echo around them, filling the air with lightness and joy. And in this quiet, tender moment, a pair of blue eyes startlingly similar to Coriolanus Snow’s would gaze up at her, full of innocent wonder and adoration.

Her breath caught at the thought, and her heart fluttered, though she immediately scolded herself. It was foolish, she knew that. Utterly, hopelessly foolish. But no matter how hard she tried to push it away, the thought lingered in the corners of her mind, warm and persistent like a seed buried deep in her chest, waiting to grow.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with excited chatter and giddy theories about what could come next. Clara and Rose bounced ideas off each other, their imaginations running wild with possibilities. Maybe there would be an invitation to a lavish Capitol ball, where Y/n could twirl in a gorgeous gown beneath the glittering chandeliers. Or perhaps, they mused with knowing smiles, something more official, an invitation to an event at the Presidential Palace itself, where Y/n would stand beside Coriolanus Snow as if she were already a fixture at his side.

Y/n laughed along with them, her cheeks flushed with the warmth of their enthusiasm. Their excitement was infectious, and for a brief moment, Y/n felt like she was caught in a dream, wrapped in the cozy comfort of her friends' affections. It felt so sweet, so innocent, a stark contrast to the weight of the world pressing in around her.

The delicate chime of the tea lounge door sounded behind them as Y/n, Clara, and Rose stepped back into the afternoon sunlight. The city’s golden glow bathed the storefronts, glinting off polished windows and the intricate designs of the boutiques that lined the street. Laughter still bubbled between the three girls, their arms linked and their hearts light.

But as they rounded the corner past the tea lounge, the cheerful warmth dulled slightly. Parked just outside the boutique next door, a glittering hat and jewellery shop famous for catering to Capitol socialites, stood a small cluster of young women, each draped in designer silks and sharp smiles. Their conversation slowed to a murmur when they caught sight of Y/n.

It wasn't loud, nor obvious, but it didn’t need to be.

Their glances were practised and cutting, their eyes sliding from Y/n’s simple dress to the soft flush in her cheeks. One of them, tall with an angular frame and sleek blond hair pinned perfectly back, tilted her head and whispered something behind a manicured hand, prompting the others to titter behind her. They pretended to admire a row of jewel-encrusted combs in the display window, but their gazes kept flitting back to Y/n with poorly concealed disdain.

At the centre of the group, however, stood Livia Cardew.

Her presence was unmistakable. She wore a tailored designer dress, the pearl white fabric hugging her figure and ending just at her knees, with delicate pearl beading tracing the hem and sleeves. A pair of slender white gloves clutched a small jewelled handbag at her side as though it were an outlet to her bubbling rage. Her dirty blonde hair, always styled with meticulous care, was swept into a soft, elegant twist at the nape of her neck, held in place by a gleaming silver comb. She looked every inch the polished Capitol socialite, perfect, poised, and utterly ruthless. Livia wore a smile too polished to be kind. Her eyes, a cold and calculating shade of blue, locked onto Y/n with a look that made the hairs at the back of her neck prickle.

Livia didn’t need to say a word; her expression said enough.

She had been chasing after Coriolanus Snow for years now, ever since he had first begun his steady, dazzling climb through the Capitol’s ranks with ruthless brilliance. Livia had been a constant presence at every glittering function, every political gala, every whispered gathering where his power and presence hung thick in the air. She had constantly lingered on the edges of his world, offering carefully calculated smiles, rehearsed laughter, and endless opportunities for him to notice her. Always circling, always waiting like a hawk hovering over its prey, patient and sharp-eyed.

And now, here was Y/n.

A younger girl from a respected, prosperous family. A girl who hadn’t clawed or postured her way through the Capitol’s treacherous social circles, but had instead been gently, almost effortlessly welcomed. A girl who, with one dinner and a few stolen photographs, had already succeeded where Livia had failed.

It stung. It burned. It was a humiliation wrapped in silk and pearls, one that Livia could hardly mask behind her brittle smile.

Y/n, sensing the weight of those eyes on her, straightened her shoulders instinctively, refusing to wilt beneath their scrutiny. Her heart hammered against her ribs with traitorous force, but she kept her chin high, her expression calm, willing herself not to betray the flurry of nerves twisting inside her.

"Ignore them," Clara whispered at her side with a reassuring smile, giving her hand a subtle, grounding squeeze.

"You’re glowing," Rose added with a wink, leaning in conspiratorially. "Let them stare."

Y/n bit back a shy laugh, letting herself be swept forward by her friends. They crossed the cobbled street together, leaving the bitter glances behind. The air shifted almost immediately as they stepped into the Capitol’s famous flower park, where blooms of every colour stretched out like a living painting.

The moment Y/n, Clara, and Rose crossed the busy street, it felt as if they had stepped into another world entirely. The Capitol’s famous flower park stretched out before them, a masterpiece of colours and scents so rich it almost overwhelmed the senses. Every inch of the park was in meticulous care; the trimmed hedges were sculpted into graceful shapes, and the beds of flowers were arranged in elaborate, artistic patterns, like vibrant tapestries woven into the earth itself.

Marble fountains tinkled merrily from the centre of the walkways, each one adorned with statues of mythic figures cradling baskets overflowing with blossoms. The air was heady with the perfume of jasmine, gardenias, and, of course, countless varieties of roses, some traditional deep crimson, others rare shades of gold, lavender, and even a dazzling ice blue that sparkled faintly in the sunlight.

The girls fell into an easy pace, strolling beneath towering trellises dripping with sweet-smelling wisteria and wide oaks hung with delicate ribbons of moss. The light filtered through the leaves in golden patches, scattering across their dresses and hair as if blessing them with little kisses of sunshine.

Y/n found herself breathing easier here, her earlier tension dissolving into the peaceful beauty of their surroundings. Clara and Rose, however, hadn’t let up on their playful teasing.

Every time they passed a rose bush, which, given the park’s adoration for the flower, was often, Rose would make a little dramatic sigh, clasp her hands to her heart, and shoot Y/n a knowing look.

“Oh no, Y/n," Rose said theatrically, pausing in front of a bush of creamy white roses, their petals pristine and glowing in the afternoon sun. "Do you think he personally planted these for you? A whole park in your honour, perhaps?"

Clara snorted, reaching out to gently pluck a single fallen petal from the path. She held it up like a piece of evidence. “Mark my words," she said with a mischievous glint in her chestnut brown eyes, "one day you’re going to be walking through a garden just like this, only it'll be at his manor."

Y/n could only groan, cheeks warming despite herself. She tried to hide her smile by pretending to be absorbed in the little white daisies peeking up from a nearby bed, but her friends were merciless.

Rose flashed a sly grin, her arm slipping through Y/n’s as she leaned in. “Come on, don’t play coy with us," she teased, her eyes sparkling. "You’re practically glowing. If you smile any more, they’ll think you’re part of the garden decor.”

Y/n rolled her eyes, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she shook her head. “You two are impossible," she said with an affectionate sigh.

But even as she scolded them, there was a tiny, secret flutter inside her chest at the thought. The image of wandering through a private garden, a hidden place of peace far away from the polished coldness of the Capitol, lingered at the back of her mind more stubbornly than she would ever like to admit.

They wandered for what felt like hours, meandering down winding pathways, stopping to admire the extravagant displays of lilies, orchids, and peonies that looked almost too perfect to be real. Laughter followed them wherever they went, blending easily with the soft rustle of petals in the breeze and the distant splash of the fountains.

-Timeskip later that night-

In the quiet of her bedroom, the soft glow of candlelight flickered against the walls, casting delicate shadows across the room. The night was calm, the kind of stillness that seemed to settle deeply into her bones as the world outside her window grew darker. Y/n sat at her vanity, the familiar scent of vanilla from the candles mingling with the faint floral fragrance of the rose she had placed there earlier.

The white rose, still pristine and lively despite the passing few days since the night she had received it from President Snow, stood tall in the crystal vase, a special gift from her mother, an elegant heirloom that had been passed down through the generations. It was almost as if the rose mirrored the evening itself: delicate, pristine, bright but with a subtle strength that was hard to ignore. Y/n’s fingers lightly brushed the smooth glass of the vase as she stared at the rose, her reflection staring back at her in the mirror, her thoughts distant and far away.

She couldn’t help but remember how Coriolanus had snapped the flower from its stem and tucked it behind her ear with a gentleness that bestowed his usual authoritative persona. The warmth of the memory lingered, tugging at her heartstrings, making her pulse race all over again. The way he had looked at her, the way he’d made her feel so...noticed, so seen in a way she’d never experienced before, would be something she would never forget. But it wasn’t just the gesture itself; it was everything that came along with it, the quiet weight of his presence, the things unsaid that seemed to hang in the air between them back in the limo.

After a few moments of lingering over the rose, she sighed, a mixture of longing and confusion in her chest. The world felt heavy with possibility, with the swirling, intoxicating feeling of something new, something unexpected. But just as quickly, she pulled herself away from the thought, shaking her head lightly. Stop overthinking, she told herself, standing up from her vanity to slip into her nightgown and blow out the candles.

Her room was serene, the soft rustling of the sheets and the faint hum of the world outside her window providing the only sound. As she moved toward her bed, she glanced back one last time at the rose, her heart a little lighter, but still full of the strange warmth Coriolanus’s presence had left behind like a stain she couldn’t quite scrub away or a pin lodged deep in her side, not painful, but always present a reminder that something had shifted in her, and there was no going back

With a sigh, she climbed into bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin, lying on her side. The evening had been filled with laughter and teasing from her friends, but now, in the quiet of her room, her thoughts circled back to him, that faint smile that would tung at his lips, his constant gaze upon her, and the way he seemed to promise in his own words that this was just the beginning of something much bigger.

Coriolanus’s Pov:

The office was a masterpiece of wealth and power, polished floors gleaming beneath the soft glow of golden light fixtures, casting an ambient warmth over the dark mahogany bookshelves lining the walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering expanse of the Capitol, the city stretching out below him like a kingdom bowed at his feet.

A decanter of aged whiskey sat untouched on the sleek, ebony desk, beside it was a neat stack of documents. Every detail of the room was curated to reflect what he had built, what he had become and what he had accomplished. Behind where he was seated was a large, detailed self-portrait of himself, one which was done by the finest of the artists in Panem, after all, he only accepted the best.

Coriolanus leaned back in his leather chair, steepling his fingers as his gaze drifted over the cityscape. It had been only a few days since that first evening when he had taken Y/n to dinner, and already her name had begun to echo through the halls of the Capitol, being tied to his own like a drop of poison dissolving seamlessly into wine undetectable, inevitable, and wholly in his control. The whispers were growing louder, threads of speculation weaving an intricate narrative of admiration, curiosity, and, most importantly, inevitability. It was all coming together.

He allowed himself a small, measured smile. Y/n was different from the others, not because she was exceptional in any way that truly mattered to him, but because she was perfectly suited for what he needed. A well-mannered, demure young woman with an impeccable reputation, untouched by scandal, intimacy or controversy. She was graceful, obedient in the way that mattered most, and perhaps most importantly, pliable and naive.

It was a slow, deliberate game, and Coriolanus had all the time in the world. He had learned the bitter lessons from his past, lessons he would never speak of, never acknowledge aloud, but they were there, etched deep in the fabric of his mind. Lucy Gray had been a mistake, a reckless distraction that had slipped through his fingers like sand, taunting him with her unpredictability. She had been everything he despised: untamed, free-spirited, and impossible to control. Her wildness had burned in him, but it had also shattered his carefully constructed illusions of power. Her absence had haunted him in ways he could never admit, a jagged reminder of how fragile even his control could be.

Y/n, however, was different. She was like a delicate thread that he could easily pull taut, weaving her into a pattern that suited him. There was no fire in her, no spark of rebellion that could threaten to undo everything he had worked so carefully to build. She was quiet, compliant, just the way he liked them. He would not make the same mistake twice. Y/n would not slip from his grasp like Lucy Gray had. She would not vanish into the shadows, leaving him with nothing but bitter regret. No, this time, he would shape her, mould her into what he needed. And she would never even realise it was happening.

She was already falling, he could see it in the subtle way her eyes softened whenever she looked at him, how her gaze lingered just a moment too long, as though she could almost convince herself that it was normal to feel the heat of his presence in her chest. It was in the quiet, hesitant tremor of her voice when she said his name, that little quiver that betrayed her nerves, yet the unspoken trust that lingered in her words as she talked about her family back at the dinner a few days ago, as though he didn't have a clue.

Speaking as though he didn’t already know everything there was to know about them from her parents, to her little sister, and the little details she thought she was offering him out of vulnerability. They were just more pieces of the puzzle he had already neatly assembled in his mind.

There was doubt, of course, he could see it in the careful way she still measured her steps around him. But beneath that, beneath the fear of the unknown, there was something more fragile, more malleable: a growing affection, a budding devotion that she hadn’t even realised was beginning to take root.

It was all so painfully naive. She still believed that this was innocent, that it was simply the natural progression of their encounters. She didn’t see the strings he had already begun to weave around her, delicate but unbreakable. Her cautiousness was only a thin veil, a fleeting hesitation that would eventually melt away like dew under the sun. She was still so unsure of herself, still so uncertain, yet with every passing moment, she was unknowingly falling deeper into the snare he had set. He didn’t need to rush. Time was on his side. And with each carefully placed word, each interaction, her barriers would crumble, piece by piece, until she no longer questioned her place by his side.

Her hesitations would become whispers, silent and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Soon, she would not just want to be there. She would need to be there, beside him, in the place he would carve out for her, her world slowly folding into his. She wouldn’t even know how it happened. But by the time she realised it, it would be too late. She would belong to him, heart and soul, without a second thought.

Coriolanus exhaled slowly, the corners of his mouth twitching as he watched the red rose he had taken from the vase on his desk. His fingers wrapped tightly around the delicate stem, the petals soft and fragile beneath his touch. He twisted it slowly, the stem snapping under the pressure, as if the flower itself were a mere symbol, a reflection of the fragile hold he had over her. It was nothing more than an illusion, something to keep up appearances, to distract from the truth. She was already his, she just didn’t know it yet.

He would not make the same mistake again.

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i-hate-liking-batman · 3 months ago

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20 Questions for Fic Writers

I was tagged by @yersina ! Warning that most of my fic links are Ao3 account locked!

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

13! They're all different lengths and about half of them are complete? And only more to come because I joined another big bang...

2. What's your total ao3 word count?

It's crazy because I only started really getting into writing in the past 3 years and I hit 151,653 words! I'm very proud to be here! I remember when writing 40k in a year seemed impossible for me.

3) What are your top five fics by kudos?

Haha this is more of me having one very popular fic and the rest are neck and neck, but here is the order! "Hello, Time Goes Quickly", "Fate Led Us to You (It Was Worth the Wait)", "I'll Take Care of Your Roots So Grow Tall, My Love", "Time to be Human", and "The Trials of Loving"!

4) What fandoms do you write for?

I've written all over the place, and some I won't come back to writing for even if I still read! I've written for D. Grayman, Marvel, Mob Psycho 100, Genshin, My Hero Academia, Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun, and The S Classes that I Raised! I mostly write for the last two!

5) Do you respond to comments? why or why not?

I actually always respond to comments! Every time. I make it a point to respond to every comment I get on my fics. I just get so excited knowing someone cared enough to comment, and want the reader to know I see them!

6) What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I don't really write angsty endings so I'll just go with angstiest in general! I'd say my S Class Percy Jackson au, "The Trials of Loving" is the one!

7) What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Ooooo I have a lot of happy endings! And they're pretty happy if I do say so myself. Maybe my Percy Jackson au for Sctir "The Trials of Loving" again lol. It ends on their wedding day!

8) Do you get hate on fics?

Nope! I have gotten spam though rip. At most it's commenters who are confused so I explain, but my commenters are lovely people!

9) Do you write smut?

... I have one smut fic and it's my most popular one. It's 30k and only like 5k is smut, and all of it was hard to write lol. But it must be done! For anyone curious it is in fact "Hello, Time Goes Quickly" lol.

10) Do you write crossovers?

My first fic was actually a crossover fic! It's inspired by liketolaugh 's crossover fic "Cosmic Composite" which is an Avenger's and D. Grayman crossover. Everyone should check out their fics! One of my favorites is.... so many actually so here's a link to their PJO and Avenger's crossover: The Blue Food Project

11) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so, but I don't really check for that, so it's possible!

12) Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but it would be great if that happened!

13) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

..I have tried and failed because I don't have a consistent writing schedule. I write 10k in 2 months and then go off the grid for 6 lol.

14) What's your all time favorite ship?

Oooo this is tricky!!! Maybe Sung Hyunjae x Han Yoojin from the S Classes that I Raised! I love them a lot. NEVERMIND MAIRUMA LATEST CHAPTER CHANGED ME LOVE TRIO FOREVER!!!!! (Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun ship with Iruma Suzuki, Clara Valac, and Asmodeus Alice)

15) What's the wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

My Welcome to Demon School fic "I'll Take Care of Your Roots So Grow tall, My Love," I had so much fun with brainstorming ideas there is no set ending... I'll update it eventually though!

16) What are your writing strengths?

I'm confident of my characterization of characters! It's why I usually can't do other POVs for other characters. I need to feel confident in how I understand them to write for them.

17) What are your writing weaknesses?

Writing in detail. I like getting to the point, because too long sentences in my writing aren't interesting lol. So sometimes there are images in my head I don't describe enough for readers to picture what I'm imagining.

18) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Fun! I just want to make sure I use it right.

19) First fandom you wrote for?

Whoops I already answered this but D. Grayman and Avengers! For personal writing it's My Hero Academia.

20) Favourite fic you've ever written?

Oooo this is also a hard question because I don't read my fics lol. Probably "The Schoolmaster Must Die"! It's a School for Good and Evil au with the characters of "The S Classes that I Raised" and I had a lot of fun with it even if it's not close to done.

This was so much fun to answer! Tagging @frill-s , @enmu-redacted, and @meow-meow-magical!

#my writing #sctir #mairimashita! iruma kun #I hadn't even realized I passed 150k on ao3 until now!#well 3k is cheating because a friend guest wrote a chapter for me but still!

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unsanctioned-if · 4 months ago

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Writing Update 1/2 - 2025

January has, unfortunately, been a bit of a crash start. Not only did I fracture my wrist two weeks ago, but I also got the flu only a week later. Needless to say, I haven't been able to work much on the IF during this time.

The good news is that my hand is getting better and the mobility in my fingers has improved significantly; I can now write on my own instead of using voice to speech, if only for short periods at the time.

Since I'm also starting to properly recover from the flu I've been able to do a little bit more than before. Though the pace is slow, I'm just happy that I'm able to get back to it little by little.

My main focus for now is still fixes, polishing and editing + the profile, codex and spellbook, then I'll move on to adding more content or editing existing content more thoroughly. I'll make an announcement once the demo is fully done and then I'll continue to write the rest of chapter 2.

I experimented with adding more content to the backgrounds, but to be honest I think they are probably long enough as they are haha. I think I've mentioned it before but they were supposed to be quite short (10k words at most) but ended up around 17k - 20k words in total. I'm still going to include one or two additonal options for the scavenger background, but once that's done I think I'll probably leave them as they are, or come back to them later if there are bigger changes I want to include.

Another writing update will be posted end of February/beginning of March :)

I'll list the changes I've made so far under the cut for those interested (might contain slight spoilers!). Thank you so, so much again to everyone who has been reporting these, you're such a big help and I appreciate all of you <3

Changed Fri's fate depending on certain choices in chapter 2.

Fixed errors where some choices did not have a "continue" button in chapter 1.

Edited and polished the writing for the summoning for all backgrounds.

Fixed some stuff in the "spellbook" section to make it available only once you reach chapter 2 + added information about different types of magic. However the page is still a WIP and I'm slowly working on completing it.

Fixed an error where you were set as another background if you clicked "no" at the choice of background and instead picked another one.

Added the option for the nomad to be more shy or outgoing with strangers.

Added a unique interaction between nomad!MC and Cirern at the end of the lesson scene in chapter 1.

Fixed accidental repetitions in the aristocrat background (hopefully all of them).

Fixed a continuity error in chapter 2 regarding the Garm.

#interactive fiction #if #unsanctioned #writing #twine wip #update #writing update

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songforeddiemunson · 1 year ago

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Haunting in Blackwood Hollow Part 2

An Eddie Munson x F!Reader Miniseries

Series Summary: It’s the year 1991. Eddie and reader check into a rented house in the Appalachian woods, joined by Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and Robin. Unfortunately for our gang, things in Blackwood Hollow are never as they appear.

Tropes: established relationship, Jonathan x Nancy, no mention of the events from ST, smut, comedy, fluff, scares, bit of whump (but nothing too crazy)

Series Warnings: Swearing, drinking and weed use, sexual and scary situations, minors please DNI.

Chapter Two: Fool Me Once

Chapter warnings: naughty language, mentions of drinking, weed use. Smut, p in v sex, bit rough (you like it) wrap it before you tap it. Spooky situations

Author's Note: Thanks so much for the smut inspo, @hiscrimsonangel (with this post haha iykyk)

Word Count: ~3K

PART ONE

You stayed up quite late that first night catching up with your old friends, drinking cans of pilsner or oversweet margarita mix from sticky solo cups, laughing your asses off, the ouija board forgotten and back in its box. No longer a big fan of heavy drinking yourself, you cut yourself off after just a few drinks, preferring the more mellow buzz of herb than bubbles.

Jonathan got quite drunk, which was a riot, and his friendly ribbing of Steve always increased in that state, to the delight of everyone in the room. Despite Steve’s history with Nancy (and subsequently Jonathan), the three of them managed to become great friends.

Robin bemoaned what she referred to as her perpetual spinsterhood, making you all laugh; “I don’t think you can legally call yourself a spinster at 23,” Steve said. “Just enjoy not being tied down yet,” he finished, causing the rest of the room to tease him for projecting, considering he couldn’t seem to find his one-and-only either (but he pretended he didn’t mind, fooling nobody).

Steve dated plenty, but Robin struggled with it more than he did for obvious reasons. The two of them were roommates for a time in Indianapolis before going their separate ways. The catalyst; one of Steve’s hookups once implied she would like Robin to join them in the bedroom, which horrified them both so much they ultimately got separate places but still lived on the same block. Robin managed a coffee shop and spoke about her wish to try out for the Indianapolis Philharmonic, which thrilled her but made her so nervous she became nauseated whenever she thought about it for too long. Steve had been employed as a junior high school basketball coach for the past year and decided he would like to go back to school for academic sports; he loved working with the kids.

Nancy filled in the group regarding her grad school studies at Columbia University in New York City for journalism. It was hard work but, true to form, Nancy was excelling, and she had a bright future in print journalism in the city. Jonathan had relocated to be with her and was working as a freelance photographer when he wasn’t working in the kitchen of a popular Brooklyn restaurant. He had ultimately decided not to pursue college and chose to support Nancy instead, thinking that would be the best chance for them as a couple. It caused a lot of friction at first, with Nancy initially pushing Jonathan to go to college, but they were able to work through it and had come out stronger.

After high school Eddie had tried his hand at being a musician, mechanic, bartender and assorted other odd jobs with limited success, and ultimately decided to attend vocational school to become a tattoo artist, which was truly his calling. All the doodles he made for Corroded Coffin and the Hellfire Club paid off, and he was one of the most sought-after ink artists in St. Louis, earning enough for the two of you to live in a nice apartment, despite your modest salary as an administrative assistant for a dentist’s office.

You were all thriving, and it was wonderful to celebrate each other’s successes. The wedding rehearsal was the following evening, and you looked forward to catching up with the younger kids there– “kids” who were all legal adults by this time; a fact that none of you could believe nor enjoyed thinking about. You were all relieved that you weren’t staying with them, despite the less than ideal location in which you found yourselves; those kids were like a pack of ferrets on cocaine, especially when they were all together. It would be too much, so you stuck with your own age bracket.

Finally, around two in the morning, Robin decided to turn in. Nancy and Jonathan followed about fifteen minutes later, leaving you and Eddie alone with Steve.

You stretched and yawned. “I think it’s time for bed. You coming Eddie?”

Eddie waggled his eyebrows at you. “I don’t know, am I?” he asked, his voice dripping with hyperbolic innuendo.

You laughed and gave him a smack on his tightly bedenimed rear end. “Just get moving, Munson.”

“Yes ma’am,” he saluted, while Steve rolled his eyes.

It turns out that mercifully, someone did actually change the sheets.

A blessing, honestly, considering you were currently tangled up in them, with the sharp bones of Eddie’s pelvis almost painfully pressing into the soft flesh of your thighs. The bed, old and squeaky with a metal frame that resembled something out of a cold war era prison, was a loud testament to the rhythm of your sex. You couldn’t be bothered to care much, since it felt incredible. The few cans of PBR you had chugged didn’t hurt either.

Eddie had you pinned to the mattress, caged between his arms as he nuzzled and suckled your neck, punctuating soft kisses with nips that would surely leave a mark. You enjoyed it like this sometimes, when he would manhandle you just a bit, claiming you, marking you, and fucking you roughly into the mattress. Sure, there was a time and place for soft lovemaking, but sometimes, you just wanted to be nailed.

“Feel so good baby,” he murmured into your ear, barely more than an exhalation, most of his efforts being concentrated on slamming his cock into your depths. You could barely do more than wiggle and squeal with the way he had you immobilized, which seemed to heighten every sensation. Even his breathy little grunts and gasps were sending you into the stratosphere. You clawed at his back, and the resulting moan in your ear helped bring on climax number three, and you bit into Eddie’s shoulder to stifle your cries.

Eddie’s pace began to falter, and he grasped your waist roughly with his fingers as he shuddered and thrust to his own completion, ending with a final grind of his hips against your sensitive clit, making you yelp. “Ha,” he burst triumphantly; he could be a cocky shit when it came to the pleasures he could draw out of you. He also wasn’t wrong.

After a tender kiss, Eddie rolled off of you and retrieved his boxers from the floor, sliding them on before fumbling around on the bedside table for his smokes. He lay back down with his back propped up against the pillow, lighting a cigarette and sighing contentedly. He looked at you and grinned.

“You think everyone heard us?”

You chuckled. “I don’t see how they couldn’t,” you said, as you dressed in a tank top and sweatpants. “This bed is so squeaky, it almost wasn’t worth even trying to be quiet.”

Eddie laughed. “You sound so cute though when you try,” he said as he flicked his ash into the ashtray on his nightstand. “All squeaky and whiny,” he finished with a wink.

“How dare you,” you joked. “I’m a vision of propriety.”

“Properly fucked, you mean.”

“Eddie!” you scolded, laughing.

“I’ll take it back when it stops being true darlin.’”

“You’re the worst,” you countered.

“You love me,” he said.

“Dammit, you’re right, I do,” you said. You bent to kiss him, and as you pressed your lips to his, you felt him smile.

“I love you too babe,” he said.

It was incredible, how he could still make your heart beat faster after all this time.

You headed into the ensuite bathroom and started to go through your usual bedtime routine of brushing your teeth and washing your face. You were suddenly struck by how exhausted you were; between traveling, cleaning, drinking (and smoking) and some vigorous sex, you were thoroughly spent. You glimpsed through the open bathroom door that Eddie had picked up his paperback of Needful Things, and was reading it by the light of the table lamp.

You clicked off the bathroom light and were just about to exit when something caught your eye out of the window. You peered closer to the thick glass to get a better look.

There was someone standing below on the lawn.

You couldn’t make out any details, but you had the sudden, hair-raising sense that whoever it was was looking right at you.

You jumped backward in alarm. "Eddie!” you shouted.

He was out of bed and by your side in an instant. “What?! A rat? Why are you standing in the dark, babe?” He peered around the room intently.

“No, down there!” You pointed out the window, down onto the grass, but now the figure was gone. “But…but it was there a second ago…”

Eddie bent to the glass for a closer look, brows furrowed. "I don’t see anything. What was it?“

"A person! They were definitely standing down there. And babe– I swear it was looking at me.”

A look of intense wariness crossed his features, and he straightened, all business. "Are you sure?“

"Yes! It was right there!”

“Stay here.” He was out of the bathroom like a shot. He quickly pulled on his flannel pajama pants and strode from the bedroom. You waited with your heart in your throat as you heard the front door below you creak open. You watched out the window as Eddie came into view on the lawn, carrying a fireplace poker in one hand. He clicked on a flashlight and began to sweep the property with it. It was late, and the shadows from the trees that peppered the property created long ribbons of darkness across the grass that the lights from the house were unable to penetrate. You realized that it must have been difficult for Eddie to see out there, even armed with a flashlight, and you broke into gooseflesh at the thought.

Screw this, I’m not leaving him alone out there, you thought to yourself, and left the bathroom. Eddie hadn’t turned on any of the lights in his wake, and in the darkness the house had taken on an even more sinister quality than when you had arrived. You tried to push it out of your mind, dismissing it as the aftershock from your scare. It permeated regardless, with a nearly palpable weight. You hurried downstairs and toward the front door, clicking on lights as you went. The downstairs area was deserted; everyone else must have also turned in. You quickly scanned the entry area for a weapon, finding only an umbrella. It would have to do.

You stepped outside, eyes sweeping the lawn for Eddie, hearing only crickets as you peered into the trees. In the moments since you had taken your eyes off of him he had disappeared from view. Your heart was pounding and your breath misted around you in the chilly night air. You crept forward slowly, and you found that your eyes were having difficulty adjusting to the darkness. The shadows were too inconsistent. Anyone could be watching me from those trees and I’d never know it, you thought. Dammit babe, where did you go?

“Babe?” you called softly. Silence. “Eddie,” you called again, a little louder this time. Was that a twig snapping?

“What?” said a voice, from directly behind you.

You squeaked with fright and whirled, striking out with the umbrella. "Ow, what the fuck?!“ Eddie bent forward, clutching his head.

"Oh my fucking god Eddie! You scared me!”

He rubbed his head in irritation where you had whacked him, mussing up his curls. “What are you doing out here? I asked you to stay inside!”

“I’m sorry! I couldn’t just stand there waiting for you. Are you alright?” you stood on your toes to get a better look at your boyfriend’s scalp, but thankfully there was no blood.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he said, then sighed resignedly. "I didn’t see anything in front, so I circled round the back to be sure. There’s nothing out here that I can see. Are you sure you saw someone?“

"Positive.”

“Your eyes couldn’t have been playing tricks on you?”

“Edward,” you said, your voice taking on an acerbic tone. “You know I’m not prone to hysterics.”

“Fair enough,” he replied, and hugged you to him. "Maybe it was Steve or something.”

“If it was, where is he now? I didn’t see anyone when I came downstairs.”

Eddie could only shrug at that.

Once back inside, he bolted the front door. "Seems solid,” he said. He went around the house and checked to be sure all the windows and the back door were locked, and when he was satisfied, you went back to the bedroom together. As you passed Jonathan and Nancy’s room, Jonathan opened the door and poked his head out, his hair mussed and sticking up in every direction.

“Someone scream?” he mumbled blearily.

“Eddie saw a spider, go back to bed,” you said. Eddie shot daggers at you with his eyes, but a slight upward curl of his lips belied his irritation. Jonathan only nodded and closed his door.

Back in your own room, you undressed and crawled under the covers, snuggling up to Eddie.

It was quiet for a moment, but the wheels in your mind were still turning. “Maybe it was just a local cutting across the lawn on the way somewhere. They may not be used to the house being occupied,” you offered.

"Maybe,” Eddie replied, but he didn’t sound convinced. “Will the light bother you if I read for a while?” he asked.

“Not at all,” you said. "Going to sleep with the light on will be okay with me tonight.”

The following morning you shuffled downstairs for breakfast, rubbing the sleep from your eyes as your housemates warmed up the oatmeal or ate the boxed cereals that Nancy helpfully supplied the previous evening.

“Did anyone see or hear anything strange last night?” you asked the group as you poured yourself a cup of hot coffee.

“I think I did,” Steve began. “Some sort of instrument I think. What was that Robin?”

“Bedsprings,” Robin stated simply as she swallowed a bite of peaches ‘n cream flavored oatmeal, looking the worse for wear.

“Uh, besides that,” you said, feeling the blood rush to your cheeks. Eddie laughed.

“Don’t hate,” he said.

“I heard Eddie scream at a spider,” Jonathan said, and this time it was your turn to laugh.

“It was NOT me, and it was not a fucking spider!” Eddie yelled, offended by the notion.

“No,” you said, quelling your giggles. “It was actually me. I– I thought I saw someone outside last night, watching me when I was getting ready for bed.”

Steve sat forward, suddenly wide awake. “Wait, really?”

You nodded. “Eddie went out to look for whoever it was but he didn’t find anything.”

“Oh shit,” Robin said, “that’s the last thing I needed to hear. Can we go to a hotel now?”

“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation,” Nancy said. “Maybe it was just a local?”

“The nearest neighbors are a quarter mile away,” you said.

“I dunno,” Jonathan chimed in, “you hear stories about cannibals living in the woods in Appalachia…”

“That’s a gross stereotype,” Robin scolded.

“Feel free to ignore him,” Nancy said with a sigh.

“My mom was from Appalachia!” Eddie spat.

“Okay, nevermind,” Jonathan said, as he shrank down in his seat and went back to his oatmeal.

“Well if it wasn’t a local, what could it have been?” Steve asked.

“Maybe messing with the ouija board woke something up,” Robin said, and though you normally didn’t place much stock in those things, you felt something akin to an ice cold finger trail down your spine. You shivered.

Steve chuckled. “You can’t be serious.”

“No really!” Robin cried defensively. “In the movie Witchbo–”

“I am not using a shitty 80s horror film as a guidebook!” Steve shouted.

“Whatever,” Robin said. “If you guys get murdered by an evil axe-wielding ouija spirit, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

You laughed it off along with everyone else, yet the idea wouldn’t leave you. It was unsettling, to put it mildly.

Unbeknownst to you, Eddie was studying your expression. You did always wear your emotions on your sleeve, and he could sense your unease.

“So,” Eddie said. "What’s everyone wearing to the wedding?"

His umber eyes slid over to yours as the conversation devolved into fashion and hairstyling chatter.

Thank you, you mouthed to your boyfriend, and his Mona Lisa smile wordlessly said, I’ve got you. And he did, that much you would never be unsure about. Regardless of what was happening in your life, Eddie Munson would always have your back, which made you feel very lucky indeed.

You didn’t know it yet, but it was a sentiment you would come to rely upon much more in the days to come.

To Be Continued...

More is coming! As always, comments and reblogs are the lifeblood of every fic writer!

PART THREE

MASTERLIST

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fic #eddie munson smut #eddie munson series #stranger things fic #stranger things series

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ivarlover · 3 months ago

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UNPREPARED

Part 2 (sequel #5 to UNLEASHED, UNDENIABLE, UNEXPECTED, and UNPREDICTABLE)

Alex + Modern Ivar

Mentions of Female Reader + Hvitserk

NSFW 18+ ONLY

If you're new here and want to catch up, just go to my pinned master list.

A special thanks to my Beta reader @lostasalice-thisway ! Couldn't have done it without you! 😘 I hope you guys like it!

Summary: During a hot weekend between Alex and his best friend, Ivar, it turned into an entire relationship between the two of them that neither of them had seen coming. Now, that they are just getting into the swing of things and finding their groove with navigating their relationship, Ivar's ex fiance comes back into the picture, with his child he didn't know existed, and it seems she's sure to shake things up.

Warnings, The sequel in general: Totally NSFW, Unprotected anal sex (male receiving), oral, male to male contact and more, a bad case of the feels, language, smut, with me, there is ALWAYS smut. 🤣 Each chapter will have its own warnings.

This chapter: Language, explicit, major case of the feels, heartbreak, *inaccurate and unrealistic medical descriptions, diagnosis, and practices, unrealistic police and emergency assistance procedures, descriptions, and practices,* anguish, angst, guilt, and self loathing, violent descriptions and details, and actually no smut in this chapter (a smut warning that there is no smut? Haha)

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Words: I don't know; too MANY to count

*Let me know if you want on or off the tag list!*

Note from me: My apologies for how long this has taken, but hopefully, you'll find it worth the wait. 🤞🏼 I had some major problems with getting this one written, including, but not limited to, accidentally deleting a portion of it and needing to rewrite it. PLEASE feel free to share your feedback. Hope you enjoy!

@lostasalice-thisway @istorkyou @vero-maris-zamo @lonewolf471 @galaxy-1000 @covidinducedsocialreject @chapada010101010 @tessakate @twistergirlie @noway4u @velvetvowsandvikingdreams

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Series Master List

Alex sat in the chair beside Ivar's hospital bed, his hand in Ivar's as he gripped it, a sign showing him he would not leave his side. His other hand lovenly rubbed his cheek, "Close your eyes, and get some rest, Ivar. You need it. You've been through a lot today. I'll be right here when you wake up. I'm not going anywhere."

Ivar's eyes watered again, as he wet his lips, attempting to speak to him, but Alex stopped him. "Shhh. Save your voice. I know it's difficult for you to speak." Ivar's eyes widened at Alex in an obvious panic.

Alex placed his hand over Ivar's heart and gently rubbed, feeling it pound as if it was going to jump out of his chest, as he said, "You heard the doctor. You'll slowly get your voice back without pain."

When he glared at Alex again, Alex then understood his nervousness. "You're going to be fine. It's totally safe for you to sleep. Look at your oxygen levels, and listen to your heartbeat," he pointed to the monitors. "They're both very strong. I promise it's safe. I wouldn't let you sleep otherwise, and you need to rest. Ok? And I'll be right here by your side. I promise."

Squeezing Alex's hand a little tighter, Ivar slowly nodded, knowing he was in safe hands with Alex at his side. As he closed his eyes, he weakly made kissing lips at Alex. Alex grinned. Even in a hospital bed, Ivar still thought of such things. Alex leaned forward and gave him a gentle peck on his lips. "Now, sleep."

As Ivar finally dozed off, Alex's mind wandered back to the day's events. It had truly been fate that Ivar had woken up on his own when he did. He didn't even want to think of what the alternative had been, how they'd planned to take him off life support. He was thankful that Ivar was a defiant little shit, even when he wasn't conscious.

He couldn't prevent himself from reliving the intense moments after Ivar had opened his eyes. In what had actually only been a minute or even less, it had felt as if Katia had been gone from the room for an eternity to get a nurse. Alex had been helplessly looking at the love of his life, trying to calm him and wipe his tears, when Katia finally busted back into the room with doctors and nurses.

Alex jerked around to them in urgency, "He's awake! He's awake! He needs you to remove the tube!"

Within seconds, the doctors cleared the room, telling them to wait outside so they could do their job. Alex saw Ivar's panic stricken face, "I'm not leaving you. I'll be right outside the door. I'll be back in as soon as they give the word."

Once in the hallway, at Alex's request, Katia hurried off to tell Ivar's family the news. He impatiently waited at the door like he said he would, but he did not like what he heard.

Loud voices were all talking at once in Ivar's room. Alex heard clatter, what sounded like something falling to the floor and shattering, before he heard Ivar's strained voice groaning in what could only be described as excruciating pain.

At that very moment, Katia, a historical Aslaug, and Ivar's three brothers all rushed to his side. In pretty much unison, they all asked what was happening.

As Alex was about to answer, they heard another loud groan from Ivar followed by the sound of chairs squeaking across the floor. "What the fuck?" leave it to Hvitserk to state the obvious.

As Aslaug began to speak between her tears, "I'm going in there! That's my son!" the door opened.

A familiar nurse to Alex, as he'd been there in the hospital with Ivar just as long as Ivar had been, stood in the doorway. Quickly scanning the small crowd that had gathered, her eyes landed on Alex. "Alex, umm, Mr. Lothbrok, please. Can you help us? He won't let us touch him, and he's asking for you."

Aslaug quickly responded, "He's talking? I'm his mother. I'll go."

The nurse stepped in front of her, blocking her, as she took a step toward the entrance. "No, he's not talking yet. He won't let us take the tube out, and I'm sorry, ma'am, but we need Alex."

Alex stepped to her, "Is he ok?"

"Well, yes, but we tried to remove the tube and he went crazy, shoving and pushing us all. He's got some strength on him to be in the condition he's in. He ripped the IVs out of his arms and every other cord he could reach. He keeps pushing us away and pointing to the door. I asked if he meant you, and he moved his eyes up and down. Can you try to calm him for us?"

A bit taken back, and feeling the weight of Aslaug's shocked stare, Alex answered, "Of course," and entered the room with the nurse closing the door behind them.

As they entered the room, Alex was surprised at what he saw. He may have even laughed if not for the seriousness of the situation. The bedside table was laying on its side in the floor, all the contents that had been on it, scattered across the floor with some of it broken. The two chairs were moved across the room, one on its side, and then he saw Ivar. His hand and arm was bleeding where he'd yanked the IVs out, the blood pressure cuff was ripped and in the floor, the heart monitor was beeping a high pitched sound with only one of the connections still attached to Ivar's chest, and Ivar held both of his hands up in defense to ward off the doctors and nurses from him. Everyone was talking, practically yelling, at the same time, and Ivar clinched his eyes shut. Alex could only imagine the headache he must have.

He quickly rushed to Ivar's side, holding his hands up to everyone trying to talk. Ivar's eyes popped open as he heard Alex softly ask, "Ok, what do you need me to do?"

A doctor motioned his hands toward Ivar, "Convince your husband that he needs to lay as still as possible so we can get this overwith already and he can rest."

Alex spoke softly to Ivar as he grabbed his hand, "Look, I'll be right here with you. I'm not going anywhere, but you've got to let them do this. You'll feel so much better afterwards."

Alex looked back to the doctor, "Is there at least something you can give him to numb the discomfort? I won't be responsible if he punches any of you guys."

"Sir, we already did, directly into one of the IVs, but as you can see, he's ripped them out, so I'm not sure how much of it he actually got."

Alex looked to Ivar, and Ivar moved his eyes back and forth. "Well, can you give him something now? Directly in his vein or something local on his throat, maybe?"

The two doctors spoke under their breath to each other, and finally, one answered, "Yes, we can do that. If he's going to let us touch him."

Alex assured them that he would as he held Ivar's hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of it, attempting to calm him as much as he could. He looked at Ivar lovenly, "You're going to be ok. I'm right here."

Ivar's heartbeat sped up as the doctor got closer to him. "Son, we're going to do what we can to make this as quick and painless as possible, but please understand, you're young and in good shape. You have toned muscle and membrane. Your body is going to try to resist this." Alex gulped. "I need you to concentrate, and relax as much as possible. If you tense up, it's going to make it more difficult, and I don't want to hurt you." He squeezed Alex's hand a bit tighter. "So, you understand?" Ivar gave him a weak thumbs up. He hadn't noticed, but the doctor had given him a shot in his arm. He was thankful for the distraction.

On the doctor's say, one nurse went to the side of Ivar opposite Alex. She grabbed his hand. The other nurse pressed buttons on the bed to lay him straight on his back before coming around to his head. She pulled out something that looked like a belt and told him what she was doing as she did. She placed it on his forehead and pulled it tightly around the back of the bed and fastened it. Ivar's eyes grew wide and Alex began rubbing his arm. "We're almost finished," the nurse said softly to him.

The two doctors went to either side of the bed after putting on gloves. One worked on pulling the tape lose while the other said, "You've got you a good one here, Mr. Lothbrok. He hasn't left this hospital the entire time you've been here. Day in and day out, he's been right here by your side." Ivar looked at Alex, more emotion coming from a single stare than Alex could have ever expected.

The doctors readied themselves as the one continued talking. "You know, I thought he was going to put our nurses out of a job. He's the one who shaved you. He bathed you and washed your hair." The other doctor nodded his head as he turned the life support machine off. The one talking took ahold of the tubing. "He sat right here with you the whole time, never leaving your side, talking to you, and reading you books. He even set up camp in the room next door to you to be sure we did right by you. I'd say this man loves you dearly, Son." And with that, he jerked the tube in one fluid motion. Ivar's eyes widened as he groaned and began to cough. The nurse at his head placed her hands on his cheeks, attempting to prevent him from turning his head. Ivar gripped Alex's and the other nurse's hands. Just as he felt like he was going to come up off of the bed, the doctor said, "And we're done."

Alex couldn't believe what he'd just seen. He was impressed that Ivar hadn't broken lose and punched the doctor right in the face. He knew it hurt. Ivar's face told him just how much.

Only seconds had passed, and suddenly, Ivar leaned over and threw up into the floor, looking at Alex apologetically. "That's perfectly normal, Mr. Lothbrok," the doctor reassured him.

As the nurses busied themselves cleaning him and the floor up and removing everything, the doctor told Alex, "He's going to need to rest now. His voice will be hoarse for a while. He can have ice chips or sip on water, but he doesn't need to have too much or he'll be sick again."

"We'll run some tests on him tomorrow and let you all know where we stand. A nurse will come back in to reconnect the heart monitor to his chest, the oxygen reader to his finger, and a new blood pressure cuff. Right now, I understand family is waiting and anxious to see him, but please keep it quick. He really does need his rest." The other doctor and nurses left the room as the one speaking said, "I'll give you two some time and tell your family you'll let them know when they can come in."

As he stepped away from the bed, Alex told him, "Doctor, thank you. Umm, thank you for your help."

"Certainly. And thank you for helping us with taming the wild beast," he winked and grinned as he left the room.

The moment the door closed, all of Alex's attention was turned to Ivar. "Oh my God, Ivar." He leaned down and kissed him on the forehead before he went into action, wiping Ivar's face, moving his hair out of his eyes, pulling the blankets up over him. "What do you need? Ice? Water? Would you like me to step out so you can rest?" His mind was jumping around at all the things he needed to do for Ivar.

Ivar weakly raised his left hand and grabbed Alex's, stopping him. He pulled it to his chest and held it there tightly. As he took a deep breath, he began to cough, and Alex grabbed kleenex from the box and held it to his mouth, helping him wipe it.

"Water?"

Ivar slowly nodded, clearly still in pain. Alex grabbed the water bottle from the sink and brought it over, holding it to Ivar's lips. "Slowly, just sip. Don't want you getting choked." Ivar did just that, coughing again. Alex was about to remove the bottle, but Ivar took it in his hand and sipped a little more, wetting his lips.

When Alex placed it back on the sink and came back to Ivar's side, grabbing his hand again, Ivar softly whispered, with a groggy voice, "Th-thank you, Love." The corner of his eyes were wet, and Alex used every ounce of strength he had left not to cry like a baby.

"You don't have to thank me. I'd do anything for you. You know that. I'm just so happy you're ok." He could see the protest across Ivar's face. "Save it. Don't strain yourself. Your mom and brothers are outside, waiting to see you."

Ivar held his arms out in front of him in a motion to hug Alex, as his arms shook from under use. Alex couldn't believe those were the same arms that had pushed the nurses and doctors away, causing such a mess in the room. He smiled as he happily accepted Ivar's invitation and bent down to finally hug his love, his everything, his very reason for breathing.

Nothing had ever felt more right to either one of them. Ivar snuggled into the nape of Alex's neck, burying his face there as Alex sighed with relief. Ivar's entire body trembled, and he tightened his arms as best he could, holding Alex as close to him as possible.

It wasn't until Alex felt the wetness on his neck that he realized Ivar wasn't trembling because of any weakness. It was then that he heard a light mumble, "I-I'm," Ivar coughed, "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, Love."

Alex placed one hand behind Ivar's neck and the other still wrapped around his waist and back, holding him firmly. "Shhh. You have nothing to be sorry for." He brushed his hand through Ivar's hair as Ivar's tense body slowly dissolved into him, clearly worn out from all he'd been through.

Alex slowly guided him to lay back onto the bed, hoping for him to finally find some rest, when suddenly, the door to Ivar's room sprang open.

Alex looked to find Aslaug standing in front of Hvitserk, who was looking at him with apologetic eyes. "I'm so sorry, but I couldn't wait to see my son any longer. I need to see that he's ok." She rushed to Ivar's side, swooping down to hug and kiss him. "Oh my God. Dear, are you ok?"

He weakly smiled at her, happy to see her as his eyes watered more. Feeling protective of Ivar, Alex told her, "He did great, but his throat is a little sore. He can't really talk all that well just yet. The doctor said he needs to rest." Alex held his breath, not sure how Aslaug would respond to him.

She looked up to Alex, "Oh, of course, Sweetheart. I just had to see him first." She reached over and grabbed Alex's hand. "Thank you. Thank you for being here for my baby." Ivar smiled lovenly at the two of them, as Alex breathed a sigh of relief and shock.

Looking back to Ivar, she said, "Dear, I can't tell you how happy I, well, we are to see you. You really gave us a scare." Rubbing his cheek, she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I'm going to go back out to the waiting room so you can get some rest, but please have Alex come get me if you need me for anything, anything at all. Ok?"

Ivar mouthed the words, "Ok. I love you," as he gently smiled.

Giving him a quick kiss on his cheek, she said, "I love you, too, Dear. So much." She turned away from him as she began to cry again, and he reached out and grabbed her hand. She turned back around him, and he winked at her, making her smile through her tears. Alex came around the bed and hugged her, so relieved she'd made this easier than he'd expected.

As she went out, Ivar's brothers came in together. He smiled widely at them. "Always determined to be the hardheaded one of us, right, little brother? Anything for just a little bit of attention," Hvitserk teased him.

He walked over and patted his shoulder with a cheesy grin. "Damn glad to see you, man. I knew you were too stubborn to let this get you and that you'd pull through it," he smiled as Ubbe and Sigurd came over and joined them. They exchanged their hellos and well wishes, and all three of them left almost as quickly as they'd came in, deciding ahead of time that they'd discuss what had landed Ivar in there to begin with a bit later.

Alex had felt a bit relieved that they'd told him Katia had already left for a doctor appointment she had. He wasn't sure if that was stress Ivar needed at the moment, although, he was disappointed that he hadn't been able to see Ivy.

Now, Alex sat watching Ivar finally sleep. He was still holding his hand, the reassurance Ivar needed to actually close his eyes and give in to his exhaustion. It wasn't until he placed his other hand over Ivar's heart and felt the steady rhythm of his, now, strong heartbeat, that he realized just how tired he was, too. He laid his forehead down on his arm just beside Ivar and before he knew it, he was sleeping, too.

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A bit later, the nurse came in to check on Ivar and reconnect everything he'd ripped off of himself earlier. "Hey, guys, I'll be quick, but I have..." her voice trailed off as she looked over to Ivar's bed. There, she saw Alex laying in the bed with him, snuggled up to him at his left side. His head laid on Ivar's shoulder with Ivar's left arm wrapped tightly around him and Alex's left arm draped over Ivar, his hand resting over Ivar's chest.

She stopped in her tracks for a moment, admiring the sweet, peaceful scene before her, before deciding everything she needed to do could wait. She couldn't bring herself to disturb them knowing everything they'd been though these last few weeks. She leaned down and gently pulled the blanket up over them, Ivar seemingly snuggling into it, and lowered the lights as she turned on her heels to head out of the room.

As she nearly reached the door, it opened, and Aslaug walked in. Before the nurse could warn her, Aslaug was already talking, "Boys, I just came to let you know that I'm going to head out and," she then saw them and looked back at the nurse who simply shrugged and darted out the door. Her heart warmed at the perfect scene of love displayed before her, as if painted on the most beautiful canvas.

Having heard his mom's voice, Ivar stirred awake a little, his eyes fluttering open, sleep still very evident in his expression. Aslaug leaned over to him, kissing his forehead, "Shhh, I didn't mean to disturb you, Dear," she whispered. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm leaving and will be back in the morning." She lovenly brushed hair from his face as she looked over to Alex and smiled. "He really does love you, you know?"

Ivar grinned sleepily at her. "I'm happy you have him. You deserve this, Dear." Ivar squeezed him and kissed him on top of his head before nodding to her, noticing her wet eyes. After she was sure they didn't need anything, she left them to their much needed rest.

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The morning seemed to come quicker than Ivar and Alex would have preferred. As the sun peeped through the hospital room blinds, Alex lazily rubbed his eyes. It was a minute before he realized where he was, looking up to see Ivar smiling at him, already awake, watching his every move. Since when did Ivar wake up before him?

His voice and throat still a little scratchy, Ivar wet his lips with his tongue and softly mumbled, "Good morning, sunshine."

Alex quickly raised straight up, "Oh shit! I'm sorry! How did I get here in the bed with you? Oh my God! Are you ok?"

He started to get up, but Ivar grabbed him by the arm, "No," and pulled him back to his side. "You were sleeping with your head laying on," he began coughing, and Alex quickly reached back and grabbed the water bottle for him and held it for him to sip some water through the straw. He swallowed audibly and then said, "Thanks, Love. Your head was laying on the side of the bed, and I needed you up here with me. Besides, you looked really uncomfortable." Alex's cheeks flushed. "So, don't get up. Don't leave me."

Alex gave him a quick kiss and hugged him tightly, relieved that he hadn't hurt him.

The day was a long one. There were several tests to be done to see what the plan of action would be for Ivar and where he was on his way to recovery. Just as soon as Alex had gotten comfortable with Ivar again, nurses came to take him for the first test.

After everything was done, it turned out that he would need at least one, possibly two, more skin graft surgeries on his right leg and some intense physical therapy if he wanted to be able to walk again. Infection had also set up in his leg, to make matters worse, and they planned to start him on very strong medication for it immediately.

Ivar was not thrilled with what he'd learned. Still with a hoarse voice, he took a deep breath and asked, "So, what, exactly, are you saying, Doctor? Are you saying I will never be able to walk again?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying," the doctor rubbed his head. "Well, actually, there's no guarantee, Son, if I'm being honest." Alex gasped. "You've suffered some serious injuries and quite frankly, you're lucky to still be alive at all. Everything depends on how well you respond to your therapy, how hard you work, and how quickly the medication turns this nasty infection around for you."

Ivar was trembling at his words. With gritted teeth and his jaw clinched shut, Ivar asked, "Ho-how bad is the infection?"

The doctor looked away from him, and Ivar growled, "How bad?"

Placing his hand on Ivar's shoulder, the doctor softly said, "Son, I'm sorry to tell you this, but if the medication doesn't do it's job, and fast, umm," he glanced at Alex, who was holding Ivar's hand and looking down at the floor, "Well, it could be possible we'd have to amputate your leg up to your thigh."

Ivar shook his his head as the tears flowed silently from his eyes uncontrollably. "Nu-no! NO!"

The doctor continued, "That's the worst case scenario right now, though, ok? There's nothing that indicates that will be the case, but I just can't lie to you. You need to know all of the possibilities."

"Right now, let's just focus on getting the physical therapy stared, and once we know that the medication is doing it's job, we'll release you and let you continue physical therapy from home. I've seen your determination, Son, refusing to stop breathing, and I believe you can still turn this whole thing around."

Ivar was stunned as he looked at Alex, who was obviously feeling the exact same way. "When," he began coughing, and Alex quickly handed him the water bottle to drink from, "Wh-when will I begin with everything?"

"The nurse is getting the medication ready as we speak, and physical therapy will begin tomorrow afternoon. If everything seems to go well with the medication over night, we'll do the first skin graft first thing tomorrow morning."

Ivar gulped and dropped his head. The doctor turned toward the door, "I know I've unloaded a lot of information on you. My apologies. I'll give you time, because I know you need to process. I'll leave you to it and see you tomorrow."

He left the two of them lost in their thoughts. It was several minutes before Alex finally placed his hand on Ivar's shoulder. "Ivar, don't worry. I'm sure you're going to be fine. You're strong and," he began.

Ivar pulled away from his touch, "Don't."

Alex looked at him, surprised, "Wh-what?"

"Just don't. You can't always save me, Alex. You heard the man. Shit sounds pretty grim for me," Ivar coughed.

Alex tried to understand Ivar's anger as he took a deep breath. "Come on. Don't give up already, Ivar. We don't know..."

"Yes, we do. Anytime anything begins to go my way, it ends badly. It's just my luck. I've accepted it."

Alex frowned and just decided he wouldn't say anything else. He didn't want to be the focus of Ivar's anger. Afterall, he did understand his discouragement, and he knew he was just worried. He sat down, and simply waited for the nurse to bring the medication, trying his best to conceal his own worry and concern. He was still relieved that Ivar had awoken from a coma and hadn't quite swallowed, yet, all of the complications that was ahead of him.

The nurse finally came in. "For the first round of medication, I need to inject it directly into your IV and give you pills as well. And Mr. Lothbrok," she hesitated, looking nervous, "Umm, you need a very aggressive form of treatment for this infection so umm, I, umm..."

"Oh, get on with it already!" Ivar growled, trying to ignore his sore throat.

She continued, "I'm sorry to tell you, but the injection is strong. It will hurt and burn, but it's necessary. I would never intentionally hurt you." She swallowed nervously. She gave him the pills first, and he grumpily took them with water. Looking at Alex apologetically, she then injected the medication. Alex leaned up and grabbed Ivar's hand.

Ivar looked at her angrily and waved her out of the room dismissively. He knew it wasn't her fault and didn't want to lash out at her, but he also knew how fed up he already was with everything.

He took a deep breath and looked over to Alex. In those deep blue eyes, he saw the patience to move mountains, love unwavering, his life, his everything, but he also saw great worry and concern. He knew Alex was worried for him, and he felt guilty for putting him through this. Alex deserved better.

And what if he never regained his ability to walk again or even worse, if he had to have his leg amputated? That was a tremendous burden to put on anyone. He knew it was too much to ask of Alex. He'd rather end things with him than let him waste his life taking care of the cripple. He didn't want Alex to grow to resent him, and decided right then and there that should it come to that, he'd end it all, no matter how it broke his own heart. He absolutely would not let Alex play his live in nurse.

He suddenly felt a burning sensation climbing up his arm. It was as if his veins were on fire and were cooking him inside out. He squeezed Alex's hand and the sheets of the bed as his head bent back on the pillow. He closed his eyes tightly. That nurse wasn't kidding, his entire body hurt as the medication spread!

He finally let out a deep breath and released Alex's hand. He sat for a moment, realizing this wasn't the worst pain he'd felt in his life even though it was certainly one of the top five, at least, and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

Just as he was about to apologize to Alex for being an ass, another nurse came in and told him that the very first dose of medication was actually in two separate injections since it's so strong, but the first nurse hadn't known that and was now too worried to come back in.

He felt a wave of guilt, but he didn't have time to process it before the nurse was already at the side of his bed preparing the second injection. Hesitating, she said, "Let me look at you. I need to be sure you haven't had any kind of reaction before I give you the second round. I'm sorry, Mr. Loth..."

"Spare me the fucking sympathy, and just give me the damn injection. You guys are torturing me," Ivar growled at her, coughing uncontrollably. She tried to give him aome water, but he batted her hand away.

Ignoring his anger and attitude, and after she was sure the first round hadn't disagreed with him other than the pain, which Ivar was sure to remind her of, she began the second injection. Alex instantly went to grab Ivar's hand, but he pushed him back and wrapped his hand in the sheets instead. He gritted his teeth together as he felt the medication begin it's slow crawl through his veins.

Ivar leaned forward, and with a loud growl, he swiped his hand over the bedside table and cleared it with one sweep, everything shattering to the floor, "FUCK!" The nurse's eyes widened, and Alex jumped to his feet.

"Ivar, she's just doing her job. Come on. She's trying to help you," Alex said, rushing to the other side of the bed to begin picking stuff up from the floor with the nurse. "I'm so sorry," he mumbled to her.

"It's ok. I'm used to it. It kinda comes with the job, ya know?" she gently smiled at him.

She explained to Alex that Ivar would probably sleep for most of the rest of the day. "That's how the medicine can do it's job best, so don't worry, but call if you need anything, ok?" He nodded to her as she left the room.

When Alex turned back to Ivar, he instantly knew he was trying his best to deal with the pain without lashing out. Again. Alex felt helpless. He hated seeing him like this, but he knew he couldn't do anything but be there with him.

He walked back over to his chair and sat down without saying a word, trying not to give Ivar any reason to act on the pain and anger he was very obviously feeling. Ivar turned to him quizzically. "What?" Alex asked, mentally preparing himself for the next battle.

"Why? Why have you always stayed by my side, Alex?" Ivar asked almost in a whisper. "Even when we were kids, you were always there for me, most of the time, when I didn't even deserve it." He cleared his throat. "Kind of like right now."

"You seriously have to ask?" Alex wasn't sure what he was getting at, but his tone made him nervous.

"Yes. I want to hear it."

"Because I love you, Ivar." Alex dropped his head as he continued, "And I guess, in one way or another, I always have."

Ivar reached his hand out for Alex's, and Alex hesitantly gave it to him. Pulling his hand to his lips, he kissed his knuckles. "I can't keep saying I'm sorry and just expect you to keep staying," he took a deep breath, "But I also know that when my anger takes ahold of me, there's no telling what I might do or say. And I don't want you to be the one catching it all, Alex. It's not right. You, you don't deserve to be treated like this, especially when you're the one who has always been here for me."

He dropped Alex's hand and covered his face in shame. How could he continue to be so awful and yet, Alex continued to remain there with him? He couldn't believe he hadn't already left.

Alex rolled his eyes. "I refuse to listen to you right now, Ivar. We're not making major decisions about our relationship while you're laying there in bed in such pain. So you may as well just drop it," he sighed. "And you haven't really treated me any kind of bad way, Ivar. You just have a lot on you right now. I know we'll probably have this conversation again, and everytime we do, I'm going to tell you the same thing. I'm not leaving. Period. You need your rest. Tomorrow is a big day, so just stop worrying about it."

Ivar was taken back by Alex's assertiveness and refusal to listen to him. Had he not been in the shape he was, he would have put up a fight, but as much as he hated to admit it, Alex was right about one thing. He needed to rest. He felt sleep creeping into his body, and even though he wanted to fight it, his eyes grew too heavy.

He held his hand open toward Alex and Alex placed his hand in it, gripping it tightly. As Ivar began to apologize, the medication took control, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Alex smiled, despite himself, and sat back down. He knew the exact reason Ivar was so angry was because he was worried, not because he was actually angry, and he understood. During the last day, he had been through a lot. He knew he was going to be on this roller-coaster for a while, and he knew he'd still be there for it all.

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The next morning was already there before Alex had realized he'd, too, fallen asleep. As he got up from the chair he'd slept in, his body knew he'd been sleeping, though. Looking at Ivar sleeping, he thought of the calm before the storm for he knew they'd be in for him within minutes to take him to surgery.

Reluctantly, he leaned over and gently tapped Ivar's shoulder, "Ivar, hey. It's time to wake up. They'll be here to take you to surgery soon."

Stretching, it took Ivar a minute to realize where he was. For what it was worth, the medicine he'd been given at least helped him sleep well. He looked at the clock and then said, "Damn it."

"Good morning to you, too," Alex smiled.

Ivar asked for a drink of water, but Alex reminded him that he was about to go for the skin grafting and couldn't eat or drink. He watched as the snarl returned to Ivar's face. "Hey, this is going to help you. Please let them do their job."

At that moment, the door opened, and nurses came in to take him for surgery. Surprisenly, Ivar didn't say a word. As they began to roll him out, he asked them to stop and looked back at Alex. "Umm, will you, uh, are you leaving now?" He dropped his head. He knew that's exactly what he deserved, to come back to find that Alex had finally left the room or even the hospital.

Alex rushed over to him and leaned down to kiss him on his forehead. "No. I'm not going anywhere, Ivar. Not, umm," he gulped, "Not unless you want me to?"

Ivar immediately felt relieved. "No. I'd really appreciate it if you would still be here. I'm sorry," he sighed, "For everything."

"Shhh," Alex kissed him on top of the head again and let the nurses take him. It was difficult to remember the other times he'd seen Ivar just like this. Ivar had always been one to react with anger anytime he was scared or hurt. It was his immediate go to defense. He didn't like showing vulnerability like this. Alex knew he shouldn't take it personally, but it sure was easier said than done sometimes.

While Ivar was gone to surgery, Alex spoke with Aslaug, who had come to check on him. She informed Alex that they'd been having problems with Ivy at home. Apparently, she'd been crying uncontrollably for Ivar. They decided that it would be best to bring her to visit Ivar just as soon as he was able to visit with her.

As she prepared to leave, she told Alex, "Please let me know how he is as soon as he's out of surgery. I'm actually going to watch Ivy so that Katia can go to the doctor herself."

"Is she ok?" Alex asked, concerned.

"She said it's just a follow up on how she's doing with her therapy. No need to worry. You have enough on your plate right now, Dear."

Alex nodded as she stood and hugged him. "Let Ivar know I stopped by."

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Over the course of the next few weeks, Ivar had been nearly unbearable. He was angry and upset with anyone and everyone. So much so that Alex had resorted to either sitting in the room with Ivar and not saying a word to him or watching afar from his own room and out of Ivar's line of fire.

The skin graft surgery had went well and luckily, they hadn't had to do more than one. Ivar was still taking strong medication for infection and to help him heal. He had learned he'd need one of those strong injections once a week for the next month. No doubt, those days were the worst.

His family had come to visit, but he usually didn't talk much to any of them, thinking it better to be quiet. He wasn't trying to find himself completely alone.

Knowing the extra, unneeded stress it would cause, his brothers had decided to hold the information about the Finehair brothers being responsible for everything until he was home and things were a little more close to his normal instead of their previous intentions of telling him much sooner.

The couple of times Katia had brought Ivy were the better days. Although, he hadn't had much to say to Katia, he'd work extra hard not to scare Ivy by being his angry self, but it proved to be extremely difficult for him, asking more than once for Alex to remove her from the room. The hardest part was always seeing Ivy cry uncontrollably each time she had to leave. Ivar was only able to calm her by saying he'd see her again the next day. Each time, after she left, Ivar was more distant but but a bit sweeter. Alex held onto those sweet moments with Ivy, though, because it was nearly the only time he'd see the loving man he knew Ivar to be.

They had started with physical therapy and brought Ivar a wheelchair to get to and from the physical therapy room. He'd immediately refused to use it and threw his breakfast plate at the wall the first morning they brought it in. It wasn't until the doctor reminded him that if he didn't get to physical therapy, he'd surely remain bedridden for the rest of his life, that he gave in and decided to use it, grumbling the entire time and each time after.

It was only in the late nights, when Ivar was spent and actually had the time to think of his own actions from the day, that he would try talking to Alex, an attempt to apologize, and was more like himself. "Alex, umm, I-I'm ashamed of how I've been treating you, how I've been acting. I don't know why you stay with me."

Alex slid his chair closer to the side of Ivar's bed and gently grabbed his hand. "I understand why you get so upset, Ivar. I know how incredibly difficult it is for you to need to depend on everyone around you. It's ok."

Ivar dropped his head back on the pillow and looked up at the ceiling. "No, Alex, it's not. It's not okay. You deserve better. You're the one who has always been there for me, you've never left me, and this is how I treat you? No, it's not right."

Leaning forward, Alex became nervous, "We've discussed this. I'm not letting you push me away. What are you saying, Ivar? Wh-what do you mean?"

Ivar closed his eyes, "That you should leave. You should leave me, Alex. I'm not going to get any better. I am a miserable person to be around, and I know that, but I can't control my anger." He took a deep breath, "I don't want to take it all out on you, and I'm afraid I will. For fuck's sake, I have been already. I can't walk. Fuck knows what else I can't do, and you don't deserve to sit around and wait when you could be out there, living your life. How long has it even been since you've been to class? You need to just leave." He pulled his hand out of Alex's and wrapped it around his own chest, an attempt at holding himself together, and sighed in defeat.

Ivar's words gripped Alex's heart and squeezed so tightly that he thought it would split and gape open. He took a deep breath as he stared at Ivar, trying to assess if he really desired to be left alone and single again, or if he was just trying to be selfless. Did he really want him to leave?

Bracing himself for backlash, Alex took another deep breath and asked, "Ivar, do you still love me?"

Ivar's eyes spang open, "What? You know the answer to that."

"I need to hear you answer me."

Sighing, Ivar said with a small voice, "Yes, of course I do."

Alex felt a wave of relief as he said, "Then fuck you!"

"What?"

"You heard me. Fuck you! Fuck you for trying to push me away. Fuck you for trying to make this have anything, at all, to do with my classes. I'm taking them online! Fuck you for giving up on us. Fuck you for thinking I could ever be better off without you and that I'd just simply walk away that easily just because you said so," Alex wiped his eyes.

"After all this time sitting with you, hoping and praying you'd come back to me, I finally get you, and then you're just going to quit? No! I refuse to let you just give up. On yourself, on me, on us. No! You can do this! I know you can. And if it turns out that I'm wrong and you can't, then so be it. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, and we'll find our way to make it work. Together."

"My love for you isn't contingent on whether or not you can walk. Sure, I want you to, because you want to, but Ivar," Alex cupped Ivar's cheek, "I love you for the man you are, regardless of how your legs do or don't work. Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself, stop being an ass to all of these nurses who are just trying to help you, and try your best in therapy so you'll get better. No more pitty parties!"

Ivar was overcome with emotions, and as Alex started to say more, Ivar caught his words on his mouth, lips covering Alex's in a soft, passionate kiss, threatening to steal Alex's last breath. As he attempted to pull Alex closer to him, Alex fell onto the bed, on top of Ivar with a thud. They both gulped.

"Oh shit! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you, Ivar. Are you ok? I-I'm so sor..."

Ivar kissed him again as his arms wrapped tightly around Alex's waist. As they pulled slightly away from each other for air, Ivar whispered, "I-I'm so sorry, Love. I, umm, I just realized how much I've missed you." He pulled Alex closer, still, and deepened the kiss.

Their lips were moving in familiar movements in no time, muscle memory taking over, as they both seemed to forget about anything and everything happening around them. Alex's hand tangled in Ivar's hair, and Ivar groaned.

As the kiss grew even more heated, so did Ivar's desire. Feeling Alex's growing buldge against his own hip, he involuntarily bucked his hips. Alex's eyes sprung open as he pulled away from their delicious kiss again. Breathlessly, he said, "Oh shit, Ivar! I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," he blushed. "I know you're in pain and I, umm, shit! I just can't help it. You're just still so hot."

To Alex's surprise, Ivar laughed. "Shhh. Come here." He pulled Alex back to him and began kissing the life out of him. They quickly began panting, hands roaming all over each other as if they were exploring new territory, chests heaving, and desire becoming overwhelming. Ivar reached his hand between them, palming Alex's buldge over his sweats. He slipped his hand inside the waist band, and as he reached Alex's pulsating member, Alex gulped, "Ivar! Wh, uh no! We can't."

Ivar smiled at him, "Yes! Tell me you don't want it, too." Alex couldn't deny Ivar's words. He quickly dissolved into Ivar as Ivar wrapped his hand around Alex's shaft and began to slowly move it along his length. Alex thought the hospital room was probably not the best setting for such intimate acts, but he couldn't bring himself to stop Ivar and pull away.

As Alex's hands began to roam over Ivar's body, he slowly let his left hand find Ivar's waist line of his hospital pants. Without warning, he dipped his hand inside them to grab Ivar as well. To both of their surprise, Ivar wasn't even hard. He quickly pulled away from Alex and looked down at himself. "Wh-what is happening? I am. I mean, I know it's just. What's wrong with me?" He stumbled over his words, "I, umm, I want you so badly. I do. I just can't. I can't explain this." He instantly removed his hand from Alex's pants and planted his face in his hands as his cheeks flushed bright red.

Alex placed his hand over Ivar's as he softly spoke, "Ivar, it's ok. Look at me. That's not important right now."

Ivar jerked his hand away from Alex's as he turned his head away from him. "I wish I would have just died," he mumbled.

The mood of the room totally shifting, Alex got off of the bed and stood beside it. "What did you just say?" he asked in disbelief. "Because I know I didn't just hear you correctly."

Ivar glanced back at him, the snarl across his face softening as he saw Alex's hurt expression. "I, uh. Nothing works. I'm broken. I'm not," he exhaled heavily, "I'm not a complete man, Alex. I should have just..."

"Don't you dare say it!" Alex growled through a clinched jaw. "How dare you wish such a terrible thing when you have so much to live for. What about Ivy? What about your mom or you brothers? What about me? Am I not worth you living?"

Ivar started to answer him, but he interrupted him, "Wait! I'm not finished. I know this hurts you, Ivar. I get that you feel less of a man, but I'm sure it's just a combination of everything your body is going through. You're way too stressed. You need to rest. You're on a lot of medication. All of these things play a part in how your body works. There's no reason to get so upset about it that you say such ridiculous things."

"I'm tired of it, Ivar, and I refuse to let you give up on yourself and expect me to do the same and just let you push me away. We can talk to the doctor tomorrow and see what he says. Until then, I don't want to hear anything else even remotely close to your angry, self loathing comments. Do you understand? Are we clear?"

Ivar stared blankly at Alex with a loss for words. Alex hadn't spoken to him that way in years. "I said, are we clear?"

"But I can't. How do I? I mean. It just keeps getting worse," Ivar hung his head down in shame.

Taking a moment to breathe, Alex finally placed his hand under Ivar's chin and pulled it up to look him in the eyes. Locking his gaze with Ivar's, Alex softly said, "These things don't matter right now, Ivar. I'll tell you what would have been worse, Ivar. Losing you. Waking up everyday for the rest of my life without you here with me, not having someone to share the beautiful things in life with, watching Ivy grow up without her wonderful father. That would have been worse. I don't know what it's going to take for you to snap out of it and realize what you still have, but this is definitely not the worst that could have been."

He sat back down and lowered his gaze to the floor, fighting tears he was tired of shedding. He was worried for Ivar, but he was also hurt. He didn't like seeing him so unhappy with himself. Underneath all the anger and fear, he knew there was a gentle, loving soul, and he was determined to find him again, because he knew if he didn't soon, all that would be left was a lonely, miserable shell of a man, and he couldn't stand the thought of that as a reality.

Ivar didn't have a response. Alex had left him speechless. He hadn't stopped to think about what his condition was doing to him and the others he loved. And he knew his attitude wasn't making it any better. Could he do better? He knew Alex certainly deserved for him to try. He decided not to say anything, because he didn't want to break any promises, but he knew he had to try to find the positive and focus on that. He also knew that meant he had a lot of work to do.

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While Ivar had definitely done better with lashing out at everyone, he'd still had his moments when he just felt he could take no more and was in mid fight or flight mode before he'd even realize it. No matter how hard he tried, he could not see a valid reason for Alex to remain with him. The more he tried with therapy and failed, the more he felt useless and had become to hate himself. If he hated himself so much, how could Alex love him? He felt completely hopeless.

When doctors and nurses weren't in his room, a solemn silence had settled in between he and Alex, something he never thought he'd have to endure with him. They weren't cold or angry with each other, but more distant than he could ever remember them being before. He missed his love, his best friend, but he just didn't feel worthy of any of it.

He would watch Alex move around in the room, intentionally avoiding eye contact or anything that he thought may cause any conflict to arise. He'd noticed how Alex pretty much only spoke when he was spoken to or to offer his assistance when he was certain it was needed. They hadn't had a real conversation since that night when Ivar had discovered his issue, and they certainly hadn't spoken about that again.

He'd see Alex do his school work on his laptop in the room next door to his and how quiet he was for it, an exact opposite of when he used to always discuss what he was working on, having such a love for history that he'd always share, hoping to spark an interest in Ivar as well.

He saw it all, how drastically their relationship had changed, how he'd ruined their vibrant love, and what was left of his already breaking heart practically crumbled. How horrible that he'd managed to dim Alex's bright light! It wasn't healthy for him to be so overly cautious just to prevent problems. That was how abusive relationships were. Was he abusive? It hadn't been his intentions to have such an effect on Alex, but now he wasn't sure how to make things right. How could he take away the sadness that Alex obviously felt when he, too, felt the same way?

He'd, at least, finally been doing better with the physical therapy, and he had even gained movement in his toes. The doctor had said that was promising news, but he hadn't even told Alex about it because he was sure Alex wasn't in the mood to celebrate something so small. Plus, he didn't want to give him false hope of him getting to complete recovery when he, himself, felt sure that was never going to be the case. He wasn't sure how much longer he could let Alex waste his time by being with him. He ached at the realization of what had now become his reality.

All he really wanted was to just hold Alex, to feel his arms wrapped tightly around him, but he knew that wasn't possible at the moment. As he growled in frustration, Alex looked up from his book. Hesitantly, Alex asked, "Do you need something for pain? I can call the..."

"No! Everything isn't about my fucking leg, you know," Ivar automatically snapped before he'd even realized what he'd done. Once he saw the immense sadness creep into Alex's expression, he began, "Oh, Alex, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..."

Standing up and dropping his book in the seat, feeling completely defeated, Alex said, "Save it."

"But I.."

Alex held his hand up toward Ivar, palm facing him, a sign for him to stop as he walked past the foot of the bed and toward the door.

Ivar's heart officially broke from his chest and slid to the floor. What had he done?

As Alex approached the door, it swung open, "Well, if it isn't my two favorite fruit cakes! How the hell are you, boys? Or? It's not girls now, is it?" he laughed.

"Floki!" Alex exclaimed, rolling his eyes and crashing into his arms.

Ivar actually smiled a genuine smile as he said, "You dirty, old bastard. Where have you been?" He hoped Floki hadn't heard his and Alex's unpleasant exchange.

"I'm so sorry I haven't been here, guys. You know me, I've been out exploring the world. I was living in a tent in the mountains for the last few months, completely off the grid, until I finally decided to come home for a change of scenery. I came as quickly as I could after hearing all the desperate voicemails your family has left me." He walked to Ivar's bedside and bent down to hug him, "At the risk of sounding too sentimental, I sure am happy you pulled through your frightening coma, boy. I don't know what I would have done if we would have lost you."

"Hell, you wouldn't have known any difference. You're never here to know if I'm alive or dead anyway." Floki was about to tease Ivar futher, but upon looking at his snarl, he realized he was serious, and there was a clear bile to his statement.

He looked back to Alex who only shrugged his shoulders in defeat, dropping his head, and said, "I need some air. I'll leave you two alone to catch up, and I'll be back in a bit." Not waiting for either to reply, he left the room.

Floki turned back to Ivar, "You'd best get to talking, boy. What the hell was that about?"

Rolling his eyes, Ivar answered, "Who knows? I guess you better ask him if you really wanna know."

Floki pulled one of the chairs up beside the bed and sat down in it. "No, I'd really like to hear it from you, you miserable ass. What did you do to that boy? He loves you, and what I just saw was a very defeated and broken young man full of pain."

Ivar huffed and answered sarcastically, "Yeah, sure. He's the fucking broken one who's feeling all the pain. Ok, whatever. And I'm so sure you can tell from one sentence what his feelings are for me."

Knowing Ivar as well as the back of his own hand, it only took a minute to understand what was going on here. He'd been the closest thing to an uncle that Ivar had known growing up, and he'd spent a lot of time with him over the years, which also meant he'd spent a lot of time with Alex as well, since they had practically been inseparable when they were younger. "Ivar, that boy has loved you since you guys were just kids. It's a shame, actually, that it took you so long to figure it out. He'd take a damn bullet for you. Don't you know that?"

Ivar hesitated, his eyes widening, and ran his hand down his face, sighing deeply, before he finally asked, "How, umm, how could you possibly know that?"

"Well, for starters, I'm not blind, but don't you remember all those times the two of you came over and spent so much time at the house with my Helga and I?" Floki placed his hand over his heart as he mentioned Helga. "I sure do miss her."

"Me too," Ivar held his hand out to Floki and placed it in his.

"You two practically spent the entire summers with us. Well, she first brought it to my attention, and I, of course, laughed at her, but as I began to pay more attention, I realized she was right. Even Ragnar knew it, boy." Ivar gasped, and Floki laughed his signature giggle. "But it wasn't until your father's death that I realized that you loved him as well."

"What? How? I didn't. Umm, I mean. I never even."

"You always have been the hard headed one of the family." Floki smiled. "It sure did take you long enough to finally accept it, and stop fighting it. I only wished your father could have seen it, too. He always hoped you'd come to terms with it and if not end up with Alex, at least end up with someone who loves you like he does."

Surprised, Ivar asked, "He didn't have a problem with the thought of me being with another man?"

"On the contrary. He just wanted you to finally find someone who'd do right by you and who'd love you the way you deserved." Ivar couldn't believe what he'd was hearing.

"He'd be so proud, but look at you, now. Having this second chance at life and this opportunity to experience the kind of great love that only comes around once in a lifetime, and here you are, just pissing it all away like it's some luxury that everyone gets to partake in."

Not saying a word, Ivar seemed to be taking everything Floki had said to heart. He really did feel bad, but how could he fix that now?

Floki continued, "I was so overjoyed when I heard that you and Alex were finally giving it a go. He's the type that won't leave your side, even when he should, and I can tell from the tension in this room, that now is a time when he should. Talk to me, boy. What's going on?"

"I've, I, umm, I'm afraid I've fucked it all up, Floki." Ivar explained everything to Floki. For some reason, he'd always felt comfortable telling Floki anything. He was the one person he knew that wouldn't go anywhere after whatever madness he'd share with him. Then, he suddenly realized that he had that same thing with Alex, and he felt so ashamed. "How'd we get here, Floki?"

"It's not too late, boy. You only have to swallow your pride, and talk to him. He'll listen. Do you know what I'd give to be able to still talk to Helga, to tell her how much she means to me, how much she's always meant to me? Don't waste the time you have, the second chance you've been given. Talk to him, you idiot!"

Ivar then thought of what had truly become an issue for him and made him so hateful and angry, and truth be told, what made him the most embarrassed and loathe himself like never before. Could he tell Floki something that personal? Could he tell him he was not capable of the simplest act, the one thing that he used to do so well, that he wasn't even a real man anymore?

Leaning forward to Floki and placing his head on his chest, he began to fall apart. "Floki, I, uh, can't, I, my heart is broken. Fuck! I am broken."

Floki silently placed his arm around Ivar and waited for him to explain himself. He held Ivar as he spilled his heart out to him.

Never looking up into Floki's eyes, ashamed of himself for his incapabilities and how he'd been acting, he told Floki everything. "I've never hurt so badly, Floki, and it doesn't even have anything to do with my damn leg. That's just the icing on the cake. I can handle the physical pain. It's the torture of knowing I can't satisfy Alex anymore, of watching him hang around here everyday and knowing he's just wasting his time with me. I've done things, said things that I'm not proud of, that I know he can never forgive me for. I'm just a miserable, useless fuck up who can't walk and who can't fuck. What good am I at all to him or to anyone?"

Floki rubbed his back, trying to comfort him. When Ivar finally sat up and looked at him, Floki asked, "Have you asked him to forgive you, Ivar? How can you be so sure he won't? He wouldn't still be here if believed you weren't worth it, if he didn't truly love you. How can you decide for him, humm? Don't you think that's his decision?"

Wiping his face with the back of his hands, Ivar said, "Why would he?"

"Let me ask you this, would you forgive him if the tables were turned? Would you suddenly think he was a loser because he couldn't walk or because he couldn't get hard here in the middle of a damn hospital?" Smiling, Floki shook his head at the thought of them being so hot for each other that they were making out during the current situation.

"Of course, not. And of course, I'd forgive him."

"Then what makes you think he doesn't feel the same? Why would you think your love is so superior to his? You're missing the point. You just need to tell him how you feel and what's been bothering you. Talk to him. Simple as that."

"And if he's super mad, still?"

* "Well, if you want peace, first, you must prepare for war," * Floki smiled. "And as far as your other issue goes, what did the doctor say?"

Turning bright red, Ivar dropped his head and only shrugged.

Floki looked at him in disbelief, "You did talk to the doctor, didn't you?"

"Umm, well, not exactly. That's embarrassing. I'm surprised I even told you."

"And I take it Alex didn't either?"

"Not if he knows what's good for him," Ivar snarled.

Rolling his eyes, Floki said, "You know what? You're both idiots! You're here worrying yourself sick over something, that may not even be permanent, to the point that the two of you aren't speaking to each other, when all you had to do was talk to the doctor and get some solid information. I just can't even believe you." Floki dropped his head to his hands. "Do I have to do everything around here? How have you even survived this far without me?"

Floki stood up. "Wait. What are you doing? Where are you going?" Ivar asked him in a panic.

"To find your doctor and get to the bottom of this," Floki answered as if it was the most obvious thing.

Ivar sat up in bed, staring him down, and practically growled at him, "Don't you fucking dare!'

Floki took a step back, just out of Ivar's reach. "Yeah? And what is the cripple going to do to stop me? Humm? Floki smirked. "Are you going to stand and chase after me?"

"Fuck you, crazy old man!"

Floki giggled, "You can't! Remember?" he laughed and then added, "Save that for you lover boy." And before Ivar could say another word, Floki turned and ran into Alex as he was coming back into the room.

As Floki left, Alex came in and sat in the chair he'd been reading in earlier. Not speaking to Ivar or even looking at him, he opened his book again. They sat like that, avoiding eye contact, in uncomfortable silence for a while before Ivar finally sighed and asked, "How much of that conversation did you hear?"

Slowly looking up from his book, Alex softly answered, "Umm, just the end of it."

"So?"

Alex shrugged, "So what?"

Ivar ran his hand through his hair, trying not to get aggravated, "So, what umm, what do you... You know what, nevermind."

Alex closed his book, placed it in his lap, and then looked sincerely into Ivar's eyes. He waited for a moment, seemingly in thought, before he finally said, "Talk to me, Ivar." Alex huffed and took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever argument this was going to cause, but he knew they needed to talk. This hurt him way too much. "Please."

Ivar stared at him with an unreadable expression that made Alex nervous, but still, he persisted, "Please, Ivar. If we can't talk to each other, then who can we talk to? I don't, I mean, umm, I, I miss you." He dropped his head and stared at the floor. He knew it was useless. He wasn't even sure why he'd even tried. Ivar had made it clear he didn't want to talk. Maybe what he really wanted was for Alex to seriously leave.

With that thought burning in his mind, he made one more final attempt. If Ivar wanted him gone, he'd leave him. He would no longer stay there against Ivar's wishes. His voice small and quiet, Alex said, "Ivar, I, umm. I won't bother you by staying here anymore if that's what you want. For the record, I don't want to leave, but I know when I'm not wanted. Can you please talk to me? Just tell me what's on your mind. Please." He turned away from Ivar and wiped away his tears.

Ivar felt horrible. How could he have been so cruel that he'd made the one person he loved more than anything feel unwanted. He hated himself for it. So much so that part of him wanted to actually let Alex go. And maybe he would have had he not talked with Floki. Floki had always had a way of putting things into prospective.

"Alex," Ivar's voiced cracked. He swallowed audibly, "I-I'm, uh. Please. Please don't. Don't leave me." He hung his head in shame.

To Ivar's surprise, Alex actually stood and walked up to the side of Ivar's bed. With hesitation still in his voice, he said, "I won't. Not if you don't want me to. But Ivar?"

Ivar looked up at him with clear worry in his eyes. "Yes?"

"If I'm going to stay here, and with you, we have to stop the frighting. I hate it when you're mad with me. I-I'm sorry for everything."

Ivar reached his arms out for Alex and Alex, breathing a sigh of relief, practically fell into them. Ivar held him like that as he began finally saying everything he'd been holding in. "I'm not mad at you, Love. I've been mad with myself. I can't. I'm not able. Umm, well, you know, I'm not whole. And I, umm, I feel like I can't make you happy any longer, and that upsets me for you. It's not fair to you. Not to mention, on top of all of that, I also can't walk. What good am I to you? I don't want to be a burden. I don't want you to resent me. I-I'd rather, ugh. You know me, all of it comes out in anger. I know I've said it before, so many times, but I am truly sorry. You haven't deserved my wrath."

Shocked, Alex raised up and placed his hand on Ivar's cheek. Wiping his wet eyes, he said, "Oh, Ivar, you know, you really are the most stubborn man I know. I'm not concerned with what works or doesn't with your body. I just want you to be ok. There's more to life than just sex, you know. You don't know how terrible it was when I thought I'd lost you for good. I never want to feel like that again. What is important is that you're still alive, you still have your life, you're still here. What you make of it, is up to you, but if you're willing, I am, too. We can get through this and anything else as long as we're together."

Breathing a sigh of relief, breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding, Ivar pulled him back into another tight hug and pulled so tightly that Alex lost his footing, causing him to topple over onto the bed. "Ivar, you've got to stop making me do this!" Alex laughed. "What if I hurt you?"

Ignoring him, Ivar pulled him into the bed beside him. "Just where I wanted you. This is where you belong." He kissed Alex on the head as warmth filled them both. This is what he'd longed for, Alex at his side, his arms wrapped tightly around him. Now, that he had it, he wasn't letting go. He'd been so stupid, and he knew he was truly lucky. He just didn't know what he'd done to deserve it.

Alex nuzzled into the nape of his neck, happy to finally be close to him again. Ivar had been right, this was definitely where he belonged.

A few moments later, Floki came through the door with the doctor shortly behind him. Alex sat up, looking between them and Ivar, confused. Floki grinned at the display in front of him.

Glaring at Floki, Ivar's face turned beight red. Angrily, he said, between gritted teeth, "You didn't really..."

Cutting him off, Floki said, "No, I didn't. You're going to, boy. I found the doctor and asked him if he'd come back to your room with me because you have something important you'd like to discuss with him."

"Is everything ok, Mr. Lothbrok? You're not in too much pain, are you? I can get a nurse to..."

"No," he said curtly, eyes boring into Floki, "I'm fine." Ivar rolled his eyes as he answered, confusing the doctor even more.

That was when Alex grasped what was happening. Instinctively, he grabbed Ivar's hand and gently squeezed. He was worried how Ivar was going to handle the uncomfortable situation that Floki had thrown him into. His body grew tense as he felt the tension in the room grow as well, and he waited for Ivar's backlash.

"I can't believe that you," he started at Floki, as he glanced over to an obviously very anxious Alex. Pausing, he took a deep breath and then looked back to Floki. He knew his intentions were good and that his heart was in the right place, but he couldn't help the overwhelming urge to smack that smirk right off of his face regardless of the slight possibility that he could actually be right.

Even still, for the first time since the night that he and Alex had found that his body had an additional problem, he seemed to feel a bit of hope. What if Floki was right, and it was only temporary? Could he possibly be that lucky? He knew having hope was a dangerous thing, but after just having spoken with Alex and not wanting to hurt him even more, he decided to at least talk to the doctor. He didn't expect to hear good news, but he thought it was at least worth a conversation.

Swallowing his pride and doing his best to ignore the embarrassment that came along with the sensitive subject, he attempted to mention his erection problem to the doctor. His cheeks immediately flushing bright red and his heartrate quickening, he cleared his throat as he looked down and began. "Umm, I, uh, well, we have discovered that umm, well," Ivar felt beads of sweat roll down his forehead as he looked to his hand in Alex's and squeezed. "So, Alex and I. Umm, you know that Alex and I are. We're together. And umm," he truly struggled to get his words out, feeling ashamed of his incapabilities.

The doctor listened intently, trying to understand what, exactly, Ivar was trying to say. "Well," Ivar finally continued, "It seems that. Well, my. Fuck!" He took a deep breath, and then, he suddenly blurted everything out, all at once, as quickly as he could. "It's not just that my damn leg doesn't work. Other parts of my body don't work either, and Floki, here, suggested it may just be temporary because of stress or medication or I don't know what. And he ran to get you to force me to ask you. So, I just wanted to know, is it normal that I can't get an erection?" He breathed out heavily and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He couldn't believe he'd just said all of that, but he was thankful it was over.

The doctor looked around the room, and trying to be as sensitive as he could, he said, "My apologies, Son. Unfortunately, that is one of the side effects of the very strong medication that you are on, not to mention all of the stress that your body has been under."

He placed his hand on Ivar's shoulder, an attempt to ease his concern. "I'm sorry I didn't mention it to you before, but," he looked between him and Alex, clearing his throat, "I assumed that it wouldn't be necessary during your stay here in the hospital," he coughed, trying not to grin at the now, very red Ivar. "Hopefully, by the time you're released, the injections will be finished, and it will be something the two of you won't have to even worry about at all."

Ivar nodded, not sure he felt relieved just yet. He glanced at Alex and then looked back to the doctor. His cheeks flushing bright red again, he asked, "So, you mean umm, I-I'm not broken? I mean, umm. This is just temporary? Are you sure?"

He stepped back and looked at Ivar's stiff posture and obvious worried expression. "Mr. Lothbrok?" Ivar sheepishly looked up to him. "I can assure you that this is just a normal side effect from your injections. It will soon be a thing of the past. And if, for any reason, your problem persists longer than two weeks once you're released to go home, call us, and we'll see what adjustments need to be made to your other medications. Ok?"

Finally breathing a bit eaaier, Ivar answered, his voice small, "Umm, thank you." The doctor patted him on the shoulder, and he said again, "Thank you, really."

Smiling warmly at Ivar, with his hand still on his shoulder, he softly squeezed and said, "You're welcome, Son. I understand this can make things, umm, well, a bit difficult for the time being, but it is only temporary. My apologies again for not disclosing the side effects with you before we started you on this treatment plan."

Once the doctor left the room, the mood in the room shifted. What had been dark and gloomy for days, weeks even, felt lighter, brighter.

Alex looked to Ivar who was fidgeting with his hands, cheeks still red, and head hanging down. He was visibaly embarrassed and maybe Alex saw a twinge of regret in his eyes as they finally looked up and caught his own. "I'm truly sorry, Love. I've been such an ass. I should've listened to you."

Alex squeezed his hand, wrapped his arms around Ivar, and leaned over, kissing his cheek. "Shhh. Now, you have something to look forward to," Alex grinned.

"And that's my que to leave," Floki giggled.

"Oh, Floki," Ivar began, "I suppose I owe you a huge thank you."

"Put it on my tab, boy. If I charged you for everytime I saved your ass, I'd be rich by now." Floki grinned, happy to see the two of them smiling. He motioned between the two of them, "I like this. This looks really good on you."

Ivar looked at Alex and back to Floki, brow raising, "What does?"

"Love, stupid. I'm happy you finally found true love. I was worried you'd end up married to someone who'd spend their life taking advantage of you, and I'm so thankful that you only gave her a child and not your name," he chuckled.

Ivar grinned, heart warming, at the thought of such a precious child coming from the broken relationship he'd had with Katia and how it became a good thing. He, too, was happy he didn't give Katia his name, but now, as he looked beside him, he wondered if Alex would ever want to take it.

He could see their future so clearly, should he decide to take that next serious step, filled with nothing but love and happiness, spending their time doting on their precious princess and one another, a life dedicated to each other. His heart warmed.

He glanced to Alex again, his eyes filled with love and his head in another place, and he pulled his hand up to his mouth and gently kissed it.

"Speaking of which," Floki interrupted Ivar's train of thought, "I'm on my way to Ubbe's to meet little Ivy, now. That's why I must leave you two." He stepped to the side of Ivar's bed. "How is it even possible that you have a little girl whom I've never met?"

"Good question, old man. Don't stay away so long," Ivar answered him.

"Oh, I plan to be here for a while, now. You'll be sick of me. You'll see." He leaned down and hugged Ivar, whispering in his ear, "Take good care of him. He's a keeper." He giggled and rubbed the top of Ivar's head as if he was still a little boy, Ivar rolling his eyes.

"Alex, whip his ass if he misbehaves. And umm," he looked down to Ivar as he grabbed Alex's hand and squeezed in an appreciative way, "Officially, welcome to the family. Finally." And with that he headed to the door.

"Hey," Ivar called behind him. Floki turned around. "Thank you, and don't scare my little girl." Smiling from ear to ear, feigning innocence, Floki waved his fingers to say goodbye and practically skipped out of the hospital room.

Silence settled in between Alex and Ivar, both lost in their own thoughts. It had truly been an eventful day, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, leaving them both exhausted.

Snuggling into Ivar's side, Alex finally broke the silence. "So, Floki approves, humm?"

Ivar smiled, voice filled with pride, "He does." He pulled Alex closer to his side and pulled the blanket over them both. "And apparently, father did as well."

Alex looked up to him, "What? How?"

"Well, according to Floki, you've been in love with me since we were kids, just teens." He grinned his typical devilish grin at Alex. "And father didn't miss it, so he says."

Alex lowered his head to Ivar's shoulder. "Oh, shut up. You're so cocky."

"And you love it," Ivar kissed the top of his head, his smile not fading until they both drifted away into a deep sleep.

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The next couple of weeks proved to be difficult ones for Ivar, but he handled them better than before, with a determined end in sight. He'd finally decided to give his all with physical therapy and was even actually able to stand on his own for a few moments at a time.

With that information, his doctor had told him he was well on his way to walking again, and it also meant no amputation, providing blood tests agreed, but for the time being, he needed to continue with the hard work.

After consistent work from Ivar, he was given a brace for his leg and crutches to walk with. He was finally able to walk short distances on his own. With the encouragement from Alex and his therapist, he was determined to accomplish his goal of walking again without help and getting out of the hospital.

Today was the day Ivar was going to have blood tests and exams of his legs to check how he was healing and if he would finally be able to go home. He had been on edge the entire morning, and Alex had been silently praying to everything holy that he wouldn't result to his typical angry outbursts. When they came to take him to the exam room with the wheelchair, he refused to use it. Just as Alex held his breath and waited for Ivar's wrath, he said to the nurse, "I think I can actually walk there. Can you just push the chair alongside me just in case I were to tire and need it?"

Alex snapped his head around to Ivar. He had been expecting anything but a pleasant, calm response from him. As a proud grin spread across Alex's face, Ivar innocently smiled back at him. "What?"

"Nothing. Let's get you down the hall to the exam room."

Ivar would have been lying had he said the tests weren't a bit painful. He had to place his right leg in very uncomfortable positions for the doctors to get proper readings of his muscles, tissue, and bones. They needed him to stretch it and hold it tightly in the needed positions. He was becoming frustrated and irritable as the tests went on. He gritted his teeth and began dreading the results. He was sure, now, that he'd be staying in the hospital for a while longer. All the confidence he'd felt walking to the exam room from his room had completely left him, and he now felt defeated. Again.

"We're all done, Mr. Lothbrok. You may return to your room now. The doctor will be in to see you soon with the results," one of the nurses said.

He slipped his brace back on, trying not to make a sound at the additional pain it caused, and stood up. He wobbled a bit and lost his balance, falling back to the exam table. "Woah, woah, Mr. Lothbrok. Not so fast. Take it easy. Are you ok?" the nurse asked, rushing to his side.

"I'm fine," he growled, determined to get up and try it again, and stood once more. This time, he caught himself on the table and managed to continue standing, though the pain certainly didn't seem to be helping.

The nurse motioned for the other nurse to bring the wheelchair over, and she turned facing Ivar. "I think we've put you through too much this morning. Why don't you let me push you back to your room so you can give your leg some rest and time to recuperate?"

She saw his look of desperation as she locked the wheels on the chair and then quickly added, "This is just for your comfort, Mr. Lothbrok. Using this wheelchair isn't what will determine you getting to leave us. The results of those tests will. It's too be expected that you'll be in a bit of pain after all the stretches, pulls, and twists we've put you through. I'm sorry for that, by the way. I'm actually quite impressed you still want to walk, but here," she offered him her arm for support, "Let me give you some relief, just this once, and assist you back to your room for now. You can have some pain pills if you require them once we get you settled."

At first, Ivar looked at her like she had horns growing from her head, but once he tried to remove one of his hands from the table that he was using to support himself, he quickly realized he should take her up on her offer even despite his feelings of immense failure. "Umm, ok. I guess," he said, refusing to look her in the eyes.

She stepped closer to him, "Let me help. Grab my arm." Ivar did as instructed, and before he knew it, she'd wheeled him back to his room and was helping him sit down on the bed. "The doctor will be in shortly."

Alex, who had been impatiently waiting in the room, stood up immediately and went to Ivar, who dropped his head. "Ivar?" he hesitated, "Do you need some meds?"

"No! I'm fine!"

Alex knew he wasn't, and he wasn't sure if he should push or not. The last thing he wanted was an argument, but he hated seeing Ivar in pain when he knew there was relief available. So he tried once more. "Ivar," and Ivar glared at him, "You don't have to take anything too strong. You could just take something to help the pain ease up some. You know it doesn't show a sign of weakness."

Ivar sighed, giving Alex a look of despair, "No, it shows that I'm not getting out of here today. I just really thought I was ready."

Alex grabbed his hand, "Oh, we knew the tests were going to be a bit rough, Ivar. Of course, you're going to have some pain from time to time, but what's important is if the infection is gone and that you can actually walk now. Don't give up now. If you don't get to go home today, they'll test you again in a few days. Whatever happens, you just have to know it's for the best." He leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.

"How can you always stay so positive?" Ivar said, finally looking up to meet Alex's caring eyes.

"Because one of has to be," he smiled. "If the two of us are mad, what could we ever accomplish?" He placed his hand on Ivar's cheek. "Let me get a nurse for you, ok?"

Ivar nodded, giving in to the fight. He knew Alex was right, but he couldn't prevent all the negative thoughts going through his mind. He knew if he didn't have Alex by his side, everything about his current situation would be very different. He sent a silent prayer above, thanking the powers that be for bringing Alex into his life.

Once a nurse came in and gave Ivar some medication, he finally laid his head back to relax. Within minutes, he dozed off to sleep with Alex at his side, rubbing his arm in an effort to calm him. Before he knew it, Alex had rested his head on the side of the bed and fell asleep as well.

After some time, the doctor finally came into Ivar's room. Ivar and Alex both stirred awake. "Sorry to disrupt your sleep, guys. Should I return a little later?" he teased.

Annoyed, Ivar groggily answered, "Please just deliver the bad news so we can rest."

The doctor grinned, "Well, I thought you may prefer to rest at home in your own bed."

Ivar sat straight up in the bed, "Wh-what? Did you just say?"

"Yes, Son. You are cleared to go home. The nurse is getting the paperwork together as we speak."

Alex gasped as Ivar turned to him and then back to the doctor, completely shocked. "But I. I couldn't walk back. It was. Damn. The tests caused a lot of pain. Are you sure? You're not messing with me, are you?"

The doctor stood at the foot of Ivar's bed and gave him a serious look, "I would never do such a cruel thing, but there are conditions. You still need to follow up with your therapy, and you must continue with your medication at home, but you don't need the injections anymore. The infection has cleared up quite nicely. I'm so pleased there's no worry of amputation. The nurse will schedule a two week follow up appointment with you to see me in the office. Between now and then, if you have any problems or questions arise, do not hesitate to call my office."

Ivar eyes glimmered with hope and excitement, "I was sure. I mean. I just knew I'd have to stay longer. I can't believe it. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Mr. Lothbrok, you may still have some tough days ahead of you. You've been through a lot. Promise me you'll remember that, and forgive yourself when you need a break. And this is why you must also take the wheelchair with you. There may be a day here or there that you'll be happy to have it."

Ivar grimaced but said, "If it means I get to finally go home, I'll roll all the way there in it!" They chuckled.

When the doctor left, a very emotional Ivar looked over to Alex. "I, I can't believe it."

Alex quickly jumped into action. "Well, you rest while I get all of our things together. Let's be ready once the nurse comes." Ivar watched him rushing around, throwing things into bags, gathering items together, pulling get well cards off the walls, and he just smiled. He was thoroughly pleased with the news. He'd seriously began to believe he'd be in that hospital from now on.

His mind drifted to being home, seeing Ivy, finally, and feeling a little normal again. He wondered how long it would be before he could return to their club, when he'd be able to drive again, when he'd be able to bend over and pick Ivy up into his arms on his own, when he could do the normal things that he used to take for granted such as standing in the shower, running, or yes, making love to his ever patient, loving Alex.

Before he knew it, Alex was gently tapping him on the shoulder. "Ivar?" Alex said softly, "Are you ready? The nurse is here with papers for you to sign."

Ivar rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands. "Huh? Umm. Was I sleeping?"

Alex smiled, "Yes. Apparently, your excitement wore you out."

The nurse went over everything with them and had him sign her paperwork. She gave copies to Alex as she headed to the door. "And congratulations, Mr. Lothbrok. I'm really happy for you."

When the door closed, Alex told him, "We're all packed up and ready to go. Who do you want to pick us up?"

Without hesitation, Ivar answered, "Hvitserk. I could use some of his nonsense right now." Ivar's smile grew widely across his face as Alex called.

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*= phrase from the character, Winston, in the movie, John Wick