#sweet moments

[aventurineswife]

aventurine x reader!!: 🤍

req with hanahaki, but it’s a condition reader was born with {rather than the traditional unrequited love type of things, but aven doesn’t know that} basicallyyy: reader hides their condition from him, until one day aven finds out, and is worried it might be his fault

noticing how extra clingy he’s become, reader decides to ask him about it, he asks about their hanahaki, and we get cute fluffy ending <3

{basically chronically ill reader looking back on this, but hanahaki is very interesting :D}

hope you’re having a wonderful morning/evening/night <3 🤍🫧

“I won’t give up on us, even if the skies get rough”

Summary: You have been hiding a lifelong condition, Hanahaki Disease, from Aventurine. Though the disease isn't caused by unrequited love, it still manifests in the form of flowers growing your lungs. As Aventurine becomes more clingy and concerned about your health, you finally confess the truth. Aventurine, feeling a mixture of guilt and concern, vows to support you through your condition, offering comfort and care.

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Hanahaki Disease, Chronic Illness, Fluff, Comfort, Emotional Support, Angst (with a fluffy ending), Established Relationship, Relationship Growth, Vulnerability, Healing, Sweet Moments, Caretaking

Warnings: Mild illness (Hanahaki Disease), mention of chronic conditions, light angst, feelings of guilt and concern, unrequited love not being the cause of the condition.

A/N: THIS ACTUALLY SUCH A GOOD PROMPT?! AND ALSO ORIGINAL TOO!! LIKE MAN I WAS DONE CRYING OVER CHARACTER GETTING THE DISEASE BECAUSE OF UNREQUITED LOVE!! ☹️💔

The morning sunlight filters through the curtains, casting soft, golden hues across your shared living space. Aventurine stands in the kitchen, flipping through a deck of cards absentmindedly, his gaze shifting occasionally in your direction. You’ve noticed how his attention seems to linger on you lately, how his glances feel like they carry a silent question he hasn’t yet voiced. And though he’s always been affectionate, his recent clinginess has you wondering if something’s on his mind.

Today, after all the little moments of unspoken worry and his fingers brushing your arm a little too often, you decide to bring it up.

"Aven, love,” you begin gently, meeting his gaze, “Is everything alright? You’ve been...extra close lately."

He hesitates, his ever-present smile faltering just slightly. "Ah, am I really that obvious?" He chuckles, but there's a hint of nervousness behind it. "It’s just...I couldn’t help but notice you’ve been coughing a bit more lately."

You freeze for a second, feeling your heart quicken. You’d tried so hard to hide your condition from him, carefully coughing petals into tissues, tucking them away when he wasn’t looking. Your condition was a lifelong burden, not caused by any recent heartache but simply part of who you are. But now it’s clear he’s been noticing more than you realized.

“Aven, it’s not... It’s not what you think,” you say softly, reaching out to take his hand. “I know what you’re thinking—that it might be because of you. But it’s not. It’s something I was born with.”

For the first time since you’ve known him, Aventurine’s confident composure breaks entirely. He stares at you, brows furrowing, genuine worry and perhaps a bit of guilt swimming in his eyes. "You mean...this wasn’t something recent? You’ve...you’ve had it all along?”

You nod, squeezing his hand. "It’s always been there. The doctors don’t know why, but it’s just a part of me. I didn’t want to worry you, so I hid it."

He exhales, visibly relieved but still concerned. “You shouldn’t have hidden something so big,” he murmurs, brushing a hand through your hair, fingers gentle and affectionate. “I... I hate thinking of you going through that alone.”

His tone is soft, filled with a depth of emotion you rarely hear from him. "I just wanted things to feel normal," you whisper, resting your forehead against his. "But lately... it’s been harder to hide. I didn’t want you to think I didn’t trust you."

For a moment, he’s quiet, his hand slipping down to cradle your face, his thumb tracing gentle patterns against your cheek. “I’ll help you through this. You’re not alone in this anymore, you hear me?” His voice is resolute, his determination clear.

A small, hesitant smile finds its way onto your lips as you nod, feeling the weight of your secret lighten. “You really don’t have to...”

“Oh, but I do,” he insists, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead, then your nose, and finally your lips. “I’m already envisioning ways we can handle it together. I’ll bring you tea every morning, make sure you rest more, and maybe bring a few cards to distract you when things get rough.”

You laugh softly at his playfulness, feeling an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude. The tenderness in his eyes, the way he’s looking at you—it’s as if he’s promising to take on part of this burden just to keep you smiling.

“I’m lucky to have you.” you murmur, wrapping your arms around him.

He smiles, holding you close, his voice a gentle whisper in your ear. "And I’m lucky to have you, petals and all."

With Aventurine by your side, you realize that even the things you once saw as burdens feel a little lighter. The two of you, together, find comfort in each other’s embrace, knowing that no secret or struggle can stand between the love you share.

[yuff7e]

Hello, can you write fluff genya x GN reader with reader being affectionate with genya alone and he's pretty much too flustered to admit he likes it and pretends to be annoyed, but he gave in and kiss the reader to shut them up? I hope you have a good day! :)

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓… 𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐓 𝐔𝐏 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐂…

𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

hi anon!! what a cute request, i love genya too, so i’d love to write this for you!! he’s the cutest. hope you enjoy this one-shot i made for him :) ఌ︎

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝����𝐝

genya shinazugawa

the moon hung high in the night sky, casting a gentle glow over the quiet countryside. genya shinazugawa and you had taken a brief respite from the long journey, finding a secluded spot by a small, serene river. the world seemed to have faded away, leaving just the two of you in this peaceful, private moment.

you had always admired genya's strength and determination, but it was in these quiet moments that you truly saw a different side of him. as you both sat on a grassy knoll, you couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for him. his usually stern and serious demeanor was softened by the calm of the night, and you decided it was the perfect time to express your feelings.

you moved closer to him, your hand gently brushing against his. "you know, genya, you're really amazing," you said softly, your voice filled with warmth. "i don't think i say that enough. you work so hard and you always have my back."

genya glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, his face flushing slightly. "stop it," he grumbled, though there was no real heat in his words. "i'm just doing what needs to be done."

you smiled, undeterred by his gruff response. "but i mean it. you're always so brave and strong, and i’m grateful to have you with me. plus, you look really good tonight."

he shifted uncomfortably, clearly flustered. "don’t get all mushy on me," he muttered, trying to hide the redness creeping up his cheeks.

you chuckled softly, finding his embarrassment endearing. you leaned in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. "i can’t help it. you’re too important to me, and i love showing you how much you mean to me."

genya’s attempts to act annoyed were increasingly futile as he struggled to maintain his composure. he looked away, his cheeks now a deep crimson. "seriously, stop it. you’re making me uncomfortable."

you laughed, leaning your head on his shoulder. "i just want to make sure you know how special you are to me." genya made a small noise of protest, but it was clear that his resolve was weakening. "i’m not cute." he mumbled, though his voice lacked conviction.

determined to break through his defenses, you playfully nudged him with your shoulder. "come on, admit it. you like it when i’m affectionate."genya’s face turned even redder as he tried to come up with a response. instead of arguing, he sighed and turned to face you, his eyes softening. "alright, alright. fine. just... just stop talking for a second."

before you could respond, genya closed the distance between you, cupping your face in his hands. his lips met yours in a tender, surprisingly soft kiss. it was a gentle but passionate expression of his feelings, and it was clear that he had given in to his emotions.

when he pulled away, his face was still flushed, but he managed a small, shy smile. "happy now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

you grinned, reaching out to touch his cheek. "yes, very much so. thank you, genya." he looked down, his expression a mix of embarrassment and contentment. "don’t mention it," he replied, though the faint smile on his lips betrayed his true feelings.

as the night grew quieter and the stars twinkled above, you both settled into a comfortable silence, the warmth of the shared kiss lingering between you. genya might have pretended to be annoyed, but it was clear that he cherished the affection you gave him, and you were more than happy to keep showing him just how much he meant to you.

requests : open

[avatarfan11]

Asami: My hands are cold.

Korra: Here, let me hold them.

Asami: *Blushing*My lips are cold too.

Korra: *covers Asami's mouth with their hand* Here you go.

Asami: *unimpressed look/raised eyebrow*

[shyjusticewarrior]

[krazycattgurl]

Phayu and Rain 🩵

[iamnot-crazy]

A Pirates Choice Part 2

Part 1

a/n: I wanted to say I do have plans for this part two to have two options maybe 3. But I really wanted to get this part out now that the recent One Piece episode was released so yes this chapter does contain spoilers for that episode. Anyway please enjoy I did cry while writing this which means that this chapter has to be one of my good ones.

This chapter is not all sad though there are a few sweet moments.

Trafalgar Law x f!reader

TW: This story contains mentions of sexual assault, unwanted pregnancy, and loss.

****

Your thoughts swarm as you ponder Law's words while he hovers above you awaiting your response.

“What I want?” your voice cracks as you tear up looking up at your captain.

Law nodded, “I promise we can work out whatever you choose.” He encourages you wiping away the stray tear off your cheek.

You nodded and in that moment Law knew your answer and pulled your head into his chest gripping you tightly.

Law kept his promise and when you finally calmed down the two of you went over options. You decided that you were going to find your new home in Dressrosa. You both figured that it would be far enough removed from the government without the dangers of a lawless island and you could help the country regrow itself.

Law informed Hakugan that they would be temporarily changing course. It would take a bit longer than expected but Law assured to see your safe landing on Dressrosa was worth pausing his expedition to the one piece.

However, your trip was cut short.

The Polar Tang bucked and groaned beneath you as cannonballs slammed into its hull. Chaos reigned on the bridge. Crew members scrambled, faces etched with fear, while Law's voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the din. "Make for the nearest island!"

You stumbled your way onto the bridge, “What is going on?” You shouted over the ruckus.

Law’s eyes darted up to meet yours, a storm of worry and determination reflected in their depths. “Blackbeard,” He gritted out, bracing himself against the lurching vessel.

Adrenaline surged through you as the sub tilted dangerously. Water began seeping in through cracks in the hull. You joined the frantic struggle to cover the cracks. The sub swiftly steered towards the nearest island and the water pouring in slowed as the sub surface.

Everyone dashed to the door to ready their fight on the island. You followed suit, but a strong hand clamped down on your shoulder, halting you in your tracks. Law’s stern gaze met yours. "You're staying here," he growled.

Shock and defiance warred within you. "What?!" you exclaimed, wrenching your shoulder free. "It's Blackbeard!” You paused quickly hiding your fear behind a reassuring smile, “I'm not missing out on the fun." A forced laugh escaped your lips as you tried to mask the fear creeping up your spine. But as you turned your back toward your captain your fear quickly resurfaced and etched itself on your face.

The blinding sunlight forced you to shield your eyes as you stumbled onto the beach, Law's figure a blur behind you. Blackbeard, a monstrous silhouette, soared above on a grotesque, winged beast. Before he could land, Law met him with a barrage of room-based attacks.

Your attention snapped to Jesus, the user of the Strong Strong Fruit. Mountains were yanked from the ground and hurtling towards your allies. With a fierce cry, you coated your sword in Haki and leaped into the air, cleaving the oncoming disaster in half. A triumphant grin spread across your face as you landed, meeting Law's approving gaze. Pregnancy hadn't dulled your edge, it seemed.

Law's orders echoed through the chaos as he dispatched Penguin and Shachi to the sea, and Hakugan to the Polar Tang. Then, the earth convulsed beneath you. Blackbeard's Tremor Tremor Fruit was unleashing its fury. You were pinned to the ground, the world a jarring, chaotic blur. Fear gnawed at you as you struggled to breathe, the full extent of Blackbeard's power a terrifying reality.

Desperation fueled your attempt to rise, your instincts to protect your stomach and child from damage distracted you from the monstrous boulder hurtled towards you. Law's anguished cry was a distant echo as your world shattered. The impact was a cataclysmic force, ripping you from the earth. Your body was a helpless puppet, tossed and turned by an unseen hand. The ground itself seemed to revolt, rising in jagged walls that met you with unforgiving brutality.

Your body finally came to a jarring halt, and the extent of your injuries became painfully clear. The worst was concentrated on your abdomen. The fabric of your shirt was shredded, revealing a gaping wound that stretched across your slightly risen belly. Law’s face contorted in horror as he took in the sight. He knew, with a cold dread, that your child’s fate was grim. You weren't wearing the protective gear the crew usually donned, but one of Law's oversized hoodies. Now, the once comfortable fabric was tattered and useless, fluttering in the wind.

Law’s mind drifted back to the day you’d claimed the hoodie. Exhausted from a day at the helm, he’d retreated to his quarters, only to find you rummaging through his closet. A smirk tugged at his lips as he approached, amused by the sight. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice laced with playful curiosity.

You jumped, startled by his presence. Your face flushed as you stammered out an explanation, a nervous smile playing on your lips. “Ah! Uh, Captain... I thought you’d be out a little longer.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Law replied, a playful smirk gracing his lips as he perched on the edge of his bed.

You groaned, turning back to his closet and rummaging through the clothes. "My suits are getting harder to hide this bump, and Shachi's starting to catch on to my suit-borrowing habit," you explained, pulling out a hoodie. You slipped it over your undershirt and turned to your captain for approval.

Law chuckled, “You know if you go out wearing my hoodie, everyone is just going to think that we are in a relationship.” he teased, raising an eyebrow.

You roll your eyes and scrunch your nose at the comment slipping the hoodie off and throwing it into a pile on his bed before turning back to the closet, “As awful as that sounds, it's better than them finding out I’m pregnant.”

Law sighed, grabbed the hoodie, and began folding it neatly. “Why are you so concerned about them finding out?” he asks with a gentle tone.

You paused your search, a thoughtful expression crossing your face “Because then they will see me as weak.” you replied, your voice soft. Resuming your search, you pulled out one of his long coats. A playful smirk spread across your lips as you turned to face him. The coat nearly touched the floor, engulfing you.

Law shook his head in amusement, but his expression turned disapproving. You removed the coat and playfully tossed it at him, covering his face. He pulled the coat off his face, “You are one of the strongest fighters of the crew no one is going to think you are weak even for a second.”

“They will when they find out how it happened.” You spoke coldly gripping the next item tightly.

Law noticed the action and stood up to grab your arm. “Y/n what happened does not make you weak,” he spoke softly in your ear as your back pressed against his chest.

You frowned gently releasing the fabric and placing your hand over his. A sigh escaped your lips as you relaxed into his touch. “The only two people who know about the… event. is you and Ikkaku. And both of you already look at me differently. I don’t think I can handle it when the rest of the crew starts looking at me like that.” You admitted, avoiding his gaze.

Law looks down at you in surprise, “I don’t look at you differently.” he defended. You shook your head, and his frown deepened. He grabbed your shoulders, gently spinning you to face you, “Okay, maybe I do look at you differently, but it’s not because I think you're weak.”

Your gaze met his, and you absorbed his words. “I know that what happened was awful, but it showed that you are much braver than I could ever imagine. You saved those other women, and you protected Ikkaku. I’m worried you’re bottling things up is unhealthy, but I think it shows how much you care about everyone around you.” Law pauses as he looks into your eyes, “If I am looking at you differently it's because you've been amazing me.” a blush crept on his face as he watched your eyes search his face.

Law’s eyes widened in horror as he watched your body convulse on the ground. A low groan escaped your lips as your hand instinctively moved towards your stomach, a look of pure terror etched on your face. His heart pounded in his chest as he lunged towards you, the desperate need to protect both you and your child consuming him.

His path was disrupted when Blackbeard landed on the island, his arrival a jarring interruption. Law's attention was torn between your desperate state and the looming threat. A growl erupted from his throat as he glared at the pirate, his mind racing with a thousand different plans. Blackbeard, sensing an opportunity, swung his fist, forcing Law to defend himself. The pirate’s blow sent him crashing across the beach, his body slamming into the unforgiving sand.

A blood-curdling scream tore from your throat, your focus solely on your injured abdomen. Then, with a feral snarl, your head snapped up, and your eyes locked on the monstrous pirate. Adrenaline coursed through your veins as you launched yourself at Blackbeard, your Haki-coated sword a blur. You connected with his chest, the impact sending a thrill of satisfaction through you.

Blackbeard vain throbbed in his forehead as he looked down at you with surprise and irritation as you seemingly disappeared into the next attack. He swung his arm toward you but you easily dodged his attack and appeared beside him slashing at his open side. He hissed as his hand instinctively reached for his injured side, granting you a guttural growl from the pirate.

You took no moment to relish in his anger but allowed another feral scream to roar out of your chest as you dive into another attack. This time the pirate captain stopped you in your tracks by grabbing your throat and lifting you to his eye level. You dropped your sword as you clawed at his massive arm terror and desperation warred within you as you gasped for air.

A twisted smile crept across Blackbeard’s face as he looked down at you, your face soaked in tears and contorted in fear. “Wow, you are a spiteful one!” He sneered but his mockery was cut short by the blue-coated end of Law’s sword pierced through his chest. A look of shock and disbelief flashed across his face as he dropped you to the ground.

Law’s voice echoed through the air as he unleashed his attack, his blade now crackling with yellow electricity. Blackbeard faltered to the ground, his gaze now fixed on the enraged bloodied doctor. With a swift motion, Law pulled up the ground beneath him, transforming it into a deadly threat that spun around him as he launched himself at his opponent.

You groaned in agony, clutching your injured abdomen. You tried to look up towards the fight but were only met with the pitch darkness of Blackbeard's Black vortex. When the darkness that enveloped the battlefield dissipated your eyes quickly searched for your captain.

Law was on the ground covered in blood. His usual snarky demeanor was replaced with one of raw fear as Blackbeard hovered above him tauntingly. Ignoring the pain you pushed yourself off the ground. Your vision blurred, and your legs trembled, but you refused to give in. You raised your sword and shouted for the pirate gaining his attention. He turned to look over at you but laughed seeing your state. “Do you really want to keep fighting me? When you look like that!”

You straightened yourself as you held your sword up confidently, “For my captain. I will do anything. Even die.” You declare, your voice filled with a fierce resolve.

Blackbeard's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise and perhaps even respect crossing his face as his eyes drifted down toward your slightly raised belly. "Y/n... don't," Law coughed, his voice weak but filled with a desperate plea for you to stay out of the fight. Blackbeard smirked, relishing in Law's vulnerability.

But before either of you could react, a shockwave erupted from the Heart Pirates' side. The ground trembled as a monstrous figure emerged - Bepo transformed into a colossal, enraged beast. Twice his normal size, his fur was pure white, and his eyes glowed an ominous red. With a thunderous roar, he charged towards Blackbeard's crew, his voice echoing across the island. "Don't touch my captain!”

"Y/n," Law coughed, his voice barely a whisper. You fell to your knees beside him, taking his hand in yours. "Save yourself," he begged, his eyes filled with a desperation you'd never seen before.

You shook your head, bringing his hand to your lips and pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. "Thank you, Law," you whispered, tears streaming down your face. "For everything." A bitter smile tugged at your lips. "I'm sorry," you managed to say before pushing yourself to your feet. Bepo was already returning to his normal size, his exhausted breaths a stark contrast to his previous ferocity.

Bepo collapsed to the ground, his knees buckling beneath him. Tears streamed down his face as he looked at his Brother. You rushed to his side, helping him to his feet. "You need to get him away from here," you urged, your voice trembling. Bepo nodded, his determination unwavering.

You turned to face Blackbeard as he pushed himself up from the ground Bepo pounded him into, your heart pounding in your chest as you swallowed a painful lump in your throat "And don't let him see what happens next," you whispered, a single tear escaping your eye as you come to terms with your fate.

Bepo's breath hitched in his chest as he realized the gravity of your words. Fear gripped him, but he couldn't find his voice. "GO NOW!" you screamed, your voice filled with desperation. Bepo nodded, tears streaming down his face. Scooping Law into his arms, he turned and ran towards the sea. You took one last look at the two before shifting your attention back to the pirate crew and jumping into your attack.

"Bepo, please!" Law cried out, his voice filled with anguish as they fled. "I can't leave them! I can't let y/n!" His sobs echoed in the air. Blackbeard's cruel laughter filled the silence as he held your lifeless body aloft. Bepo's heart shattered as he dived into the water, blocking the horrifying sight from Law's view.

Law finally was consumed by the darkness allowing Bepo to take him far away from the island and out of Blackbeard's clutches.

[punkpandapatrixk]

Simple romances of Life~

You’re so deserving of a healthy romance☆

Because your heart is so good and the Universe hears it~♥︎

[nobeerreviews]

We fell silent again. The thing we had shared was nothing more than a fragment of time that had died longe ago. Even so, a faint glimmer of that warm memory still claimed a part of my heart. And when death claim me, no doubt I would walk along by that faint light in the brief instant before being flung once again into the abyss of nothingness

-- Haruki Murakami

(Rapperswil, Switzerland)

[britanniabay]

Not saying this is the angle at all (nor that this is even what it depicts), but I would love for this to have been a snap of Anne's reaction to the hug between Zara and Tim. Such a sweet moment nonetheless.

[reblogcutethings]

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Sweet moment

[lokisam83]

Lover Boys

[karasu904]

“If you don’t mind getting close, we can share my umbrella.” 🦚💙

You snap a photo to commemorate this moment. You place a few stickers on the photo, defacing it with a marker by doodling a pair of kitty ears, a tail, and whiskers to match. Little did you know, Lucifer found the photograph and decided to leave a note behind. He can’t help but tease you as he scribbles his message and signature.

Because it was you, he will let this one slide. This photo must remain for your eyes only!

[saylercreates]

found this moment in a book, too cute not to draw. this is a pretty default style for me.

[spiritundaunted]

Bertie & Elizabeth, flirting...

The Duke & Duchess of York (later King George VI & Queen Elizabeth) pose for formal pictures while on tour in Ulster.

Elizabeth looks over and teases Bertie for looking so serious, which makes him giggle.

Love the little bashful foot shuffle! 💕

Source: British Pathe

(dude in the middle be like, awkward!!)

[kinardsevan]

30 day fluff challenge: day five

"painting together" (aka, a mini deleted scene from The Devil Doesn't Bargain)

Evan leans back against the wall from his space on the floor, staring at the canvas in front of him. It’s definitely…something. 

He looks up at where Tommy is standing a few feet away, his own unstretched canvas stapled to the wall. He’s working in much larger dimensions than Evan an his little eight by eight tile, but the work is also far more definitve than the little swirls of the brush Evan is making. 

“You seem at peace,” he states softly, staring up at his boyfriend. 

Tommy doesn’t reply right away, giving his brush a spin around the glass palette in his right hand before he goes back to the canvas, working in a layer of blue to properly coat the canvas. 

“It took me a while to find something that was calming enough,” he admits when he finally steps back from the canvas two minutes later. He glances down at Evan, smiles at the tile in his hands. 

“I mean obviously you like art,” Evan replies. “I’m surprised you don’t commission it.” 

Tommy shakes his head as he swipes another line of paint across the canvas and then presses a finger into it, blending together two shades. 

“I don’t do it because I want money,” he states over the paintbrush between his teeth. “Sometimes I have an idea and it happens, sometimes it doesn’t.” He pauses as he steps back from the canvas again, and then moves and sets the palette on his supply cart before dropping the paintbrush in his water cup and turning his attention towards Evan again as he sits down on the stool he never uses. 

“When I was first working with Rob, he knew I would draw; sometimes these really dark things that I would remember,” he explains. “But we were in a session one day, and he’d told me to draw the memory I couldn’t get out of my head, onto a canvas. He said ‘whatever it is, however dark it is, just draw it’. And I thought that was crazy because it brought up all of these really dark emotions about it all. I got really angry.” 

Evan nods, watching Tommy with rapt attention as he talks. Something about it has him drawn in. It might be that it’s the first time they’ve really discussed Tommy’s trauma without him being upset about it. 

“So, I get it done, and I bring it into my next session, and it’s this drawing on a twenty-four by thirty-six sheet, black and white and in paint pens, with a ridiculous amount of detail.” He pauses for a beat, staring at the floor as though he’s caught in the memory. After a time, he looks back up at Evan. “Rob looks at it for all of six seconds, and then takes it and puts up on this wall, and when he comes back over, it’s got all of these little holes in it.” 

“Wha?” Evan furrows his brow, confused. Tommy lifts a finger, one second, a small smirk pulling across his face. 

“He’d glued all of these thumbtacks backward on a corkboard with superglue. So when he put it up, he pushed all of the pins through, and then came back, and I was kinda like ‘what the fuck’ you know? Like I put all this work into this project, and he just destroyed it.” 

“Please tell me this resolves in a good way,” Evan states with a small chuckle. 

Tommy nods, drumming his fingers gently against the seat of the stool. 

“So he walks over to me and hands me this water balloon. And I’m still miffed about the picture. But he tells me to throw the balloon. And at first I was like ‘fuck no, I did all this work and you just messed it up’. But he says ‘just trust me, and throw the balloon,” Tommy explains, bobbing his head slightly as he retells the story. He rolls his eyes as the smile reemerges on his face. “So I threw the damn balloon.” 

His smile falls then, but there’s still a look of contentment on his face that Evan hasn’t seen in a long time. He sets his tile on the floor and pushes himself up, walks over to where Tommy is sitting on the stool. He rests his hands on either side of his boyfriend’s neck, thumbs circling in the space behind his ears. 

Tommy narrows his eyes, his gaze pointed at Evan’s shoulder but not actually looking there. 

“There was crimson red paint in the balloons.” 

Evan stands in front of him, watching and waiting. Tommy’s gaze drifts up to him a few moments later.

“After the first one, I kept throwing them, and when they were gone, I went up and ripped it off the wall,” he explains. “And of course he asked me how it felt.” His gaze drops again, eyes searching before he nods at a thought inside his own head and looks at Evan again. “Felt like someone had seen the inside of my head for the first time, and what it felt like to be in here.” 

Evan lifts Tommy’s head gently, presses his lips against the older man’s. Tommy’s hands rise to meet his waist, pulling in a step closer. When they finally break apart, Evan remains in the same spot between Tommy’s straddled legs. 

“I still have that canvas around here somewhere,” he admits, glancing around the room. “And it was the first time I felt like paint might do something more than a pencil could.” His gaze trails back up to Evan. “That was also the first session I was able to actually say ‘I was sexually assaulted in the military’. So I guess you could say his methods work.” 

Evan smiles at him, laughing silently at the statement. Tommy laughs with him, pulling him another step closer and nuzzling his face into Evan’s neck. Evan strokes his hand down the back of Tommy’s head, fingers massaging lightly against the back of his skull. 

“I like seeing you like this,” he murmurs to him. “Like you feel at home in your own body again.” 

Tommy nods, though he doesn’t lift his head. 

“Thank you,” he rasps softly after a tick. “For loving me through it.” 

Evan pulls back then, making sure Tommy is looking at him before he speaks again. 

“I’d never be anywhere else,” he murmurs. “I meant it when I said I’d love you no matter how far you got in the healing process. I choose you, Tommy. Every time.” 

[y2ksus]