#that's okay I can do it when I go back to the store

[heyftinally]

I'm going to add on because I have a friend who was in a similar situation.

If you're considering whether or not the food pantry would change how you eat, it's time to check it out. You aren't taking resources from someone who needs them - YOU need them. You shouldn't "be supposed to do this alone" - our society was never built to exist this way. Capitalism has obliterated any fantasy of a single income being sufficient for anything. Also, the VAST majority of the time, you showing up and getting some food means an added number to the head count. You showing up adds to the numbers proving food pantries are needed, and that often means they get MORE money and resources. You are literally helping them by showing up and using them. You also don't have to get a ton of food. If you need to, show up one day and just find out when they typically restock. Go back a week or two later the day before restock and pick up whatever you might eat that's "left over" - if someone was going to take it by now, they would have (note: you deserve more than the leftovers, but this framework can help people ease into accepting this kind of help). Then after that's more comfortable, start going in the middle of their week. Then go whenever is more applicable to your situation (close to restock day if you have a lot of dietary restrictions, on Thursdays when you know they get veggies from the local store, etc). It's okay to ease into it. It's okay if all you do is show up and ask for information "for a friend".

It's okay to accept help.

Something that I have noticed is I know almost nobody my age that goes to a food pantry. I know people who regularly run out of money for food and in general have to eat an unsuitable diet because that’s what they can afford and they still don’t go to a food bank, im not sure if it’s because they’re embarrassed or maybe if you didn’t grow up going you don’t know much about it but if you’re financially struggling I really recommend it. And look into other options for food assistance too like community fridges and gardens and other programs that can assist you, where I live Salvation Army pays for an allotted amount of grocery delivery for low income people every month, in the summer farmers take excess produce to the library to be taken by anyone who needs it, etc. There are a LOT of resources for free food that you can look into especially if you are literally not eating because of your financial situation

[loucifersbitch]

when the levee breaks bucktommy | G | 1.5k | warnings: MCD

It hits him out of nowhere on a random Wednesday in June.

Bobby is gone. He's really gone forever. Buck is never going to see him again. Never talk to him, never share another meal, never hug him. Nothing ever again.

Buck is walking home from the grocery store on a random Wednesday in June when his knees buckle and he nearly goes down. He braces his forearm on the facade of the nearest store, eventually pulling himself into an alley before any of the pedestrians near him feel the urge to call 9-1-1. It's not an ideal place to have a breakdown, but it's what he's got right now.

Setting down his bags of groceries - carefully because he bought eggs - he leans his full bodyweight against the sturdy wall, trying to hold back the tears prickling behind his eyes. This couldn't happen when he was home by himself? Breaking down in public is not exactly what he had in mind for his day off.

He clutches at his chest, grasping his shirt with one hand while his other goes for his phone. Who's he even supposed to call though? Maddie and Chim are busy surviving the newborn stage, Hen and Karen have taken their kids on a roadtrip through California, Eddie is at the beach with Chris. He's not calling Athena, that's for damn sure. He gasps as a sob tries to work its way out. He needs to get out of here. He has to get home somehow and quickly. He needs -

"Evan?"

At the gentle tone, Buck takes a shuddery breath, looking toward the entrance of the alley to see Tommy. He's clearly trying to make himself smaller and unassuming. Buck knows the breadth and width of him intimately.

"Are you okay?"

He's not. Not even a little. But that's not Tommy's problem. Buck is always too much, too loud, too impulsive, too clingy, too…Buck. Tommy shouldn't have to deal with that.

"I -" his voice cracks.

A sob breaks through. Then another and another, and soon he's fully crying, breaking down like he hasn't since the night Bobby died. The night Bobby told him he loved him, that he'd be okay, that the team were going to need him.

Except they didn't. They didn't need him. They don't need him. And he's not okay. Nothing is okay, and it never will be again because Bobby fucking died. Bobby left him here to just…what? Go on with life? Keep going every day like there's not a giant Bobby-shaped hole everywhere he looks? Somehow keep living even when everything feels like it's falling apart, like he's failing everyone he loves?

"I know. I know," Tommy is saying. Had Buck said some of that out loud? "I'm so sorry, Evan. I know. It's not fair. None of it is fair. I'm sorry."

At some point, they had sunk to the ground, Tommy holding him tightly. Buck's breathing starts to even out as Tommy keeps talking, keeps holding him, holds him together at all the places he feels like he's about to break apart.

When Buck is able to breathe mostly normally again, he lifts his head from Tommy's shoulder, sniffling as he wipes at the tears left on Tommy's henley.

"Sorry about that," Buck says, embarrassed for many reasons. "I don't know why -"

"Hey," Tommy cuts in, kind but firm, "you have nothing to apologize for. I miss him, too, and I didn't think of him as a father."

"I know, I just feel silly breaking down like that on you. I should be over this by now. Not feeling so many things."

"Evan, you have the right to feel everything. Losing a parent - even someone who was a father figure - is a big deal. Especially when you're as close as you were with Bobby. Okay? You never have to be sorry for missing someone you loved."

Tommy starts to move his arms like he's going to let go, but Buck catches his hands, placing them back where they were.

"Not yet," Buck says, half joking, half serious. "Need you to hold me together a little longer."

"I can do that," Tommy smiles softly. They sit for a moment holding each other quietly before Tommy says, "You know, grief isn't linear. You don't go from one stage to the next boom, boom, boom. It's not simple or easy, and you'll probably repeat stages a few times. And that emptiness you feel? It never really goes away. That person was a part of you, and that will never change. But all the other people you love who also loved him can fill in the gaps. You'll see bits and pieces of him in other people, and sometimes that helps, sometimes it makes it worse. But the people we lose are never really gone as long as we keep them right here," Tommy finishes, pointing at Buck's chest where his heart is thumping quickly.

"Wow," Buck says after a moment, sniffling again as he tries to hold back a fresh wave of emotion, "when did you get so smart about grief?"

Tommy barks a laugh and says, "It comes free when you lose your mom as a kid and then sign up for active duty as soon as you're of legal age."

"Ah," Buck nods. "Makes sense." This is not the right time, and he knows that, but he can't help asking, "Will you come over?"

He realizes too late how that sounds when Tommy raises an eyebrow and smirks at him.

"Not like that," Buck amends. "I just want your company. And maybe we can talk?"

Tommy's face softens.

"Okay. That sounds nice actually."

They finally get up, releasing their hold on each other long enough to dust themselves off and collect Buck's groceries. Tommy grabs his hand before they exit the alley. When Buck looks down, Tommy shrugs.

"In case you still need the support," he says.

As they walk the last few blocks to Buck's house, he asks, "What are you doing on this side of town anyway?"

Tommy's shoulders tense almost imperceptibly, but Buck notices before he can come up with an excuse.

"Tommy, were you hoping to run into me?"

"No, I just - um - I like the kombucha at that froofy health store you always go to. Running into you is just a bonus."

"Uh-huh, and how often do you buy kombucha?"

Buck knows he's got him when Tommy winces.

"Two, maybe three times a week. Sometimes four."

"Tommy," Buck laughs, "you could've just called."

"It wasn't the right time," he says, squeezing Buck's hand. "It didn't feel right to ask about us when you were going through something life-changing."

"Mm, you have a point." Buck squints in the afternoon sunlight, but looks at Tommy seriously when he says, "But I had already decided I want to be with you before Bobby died. That hasn't changed."

He isn't expecting Tommy to stop in his tracks, or to turn toward him and kiss him, surprising him like he did the first time they kissed. It's just as soft and sweet as that first time, but now it's familiar too.

"What was that for?" he asks when they pull apart.

Tommy starts walking again, dragging Buck along.

"I love you," Tommy says, nonchalant, like he didn't just empty Buck's brain and then make him trip over his own feet.

"I - I'm sorry. What?"

"I said, 'I love you,'" he repeats, eyes sparkling mischievously when he looks back. "I figure there's no point in not saying it. You should know. Even though I think you already do." He looks at Buck pointedly, and Buck nods because he does. He does know. "So I thought I should say it."

They continue walking, and Buck's house comes into view.

"I love you, too," he says. "You should know I love you, too."

"I do," he squeezes Buck's hand again.

"Is there anything you don't know?" Buck laughs.

"Hm," Tommy hums, thinking. They reach the front door, and while Buck grabs for his keys, Tommy says, "I guess there's one thing I don't know yet."

"Oh? What's that?" Buck asks as he opens the door, stepping through.

The house is a little messy. Buck knows he needs to pull himself out of his funk and do some laundry and sweep soon, but that can wait for a moment.

Tommy hangs back, not crossing the threshold.

"Tommy?" Buck prompts. "What don't you know?"

Seeming to steel himself, Tommy huffs.

"What I don't know is, do you want me to stay just for some company? Or do you want me to stay…longer?"

He looks nervous, and it's understandable. Buck doesn't let him stew for long. He reaches out a hand, hoping Tommy will take it and step through the doorway. There's a moment when Buck feels a pit open in his stomach.

Then Tommy takes his hand and steps inside, steps into the mess with Buck.

"I want you to stay forever."

[dollishmehrayan]

𐔌 . ⋮ DAMIAN WAYNE AS A S/O .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱ ── .✦ ( solo damian wayne x reader run )

𝜗𝜚 a/n: I’ve been reading damian’s run these days and aww stop he’s so adorable anyways I thought why not to write something for him to get out my writers block sooo enjoy?? anyways I was pressured by my bbg @kyriakis to post this so after this I’ll probably write genuine hcs of him only of things he probably does / used to based off canon, tags: ( damian wayne x reader ) ! Disclaimer the following tags include jason, dick, bruce, Tim even when not mentioned this allows for the fandom to equally react since most don’t follow damian tag

© dollishmehrayan — ( all rights reserved to me. These works cannot be reposted, translated, or modified. Thank you for understanding dollies! )

A BIT OF A GREAT GIFTER ── .✦

Damian’s idea of romance is... a little dramatic. You once casually mentioned how you like the color purple or any other color and the next day you received an extravagant bouquet of rare lavender flowers, LIKE THIS MAN REMEMBERS WELL.

“Purple is a necessary part of your aesthetic,” he states nonchalantly as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

But then, if you ever mention how much you love a particular type of chocolate or a specific scent, he’ll track it down and somehow acquire it without you knowing and just say it’s a ‘gift’ as if he didn’t spend hours finding it.

And if you dare to ask him about it? PFFFF

“Tt, don’t know what you’re talking about. I simply noticed the details, as any competent person would.”

DRAMATIC BUT ON LEVEL 10 ── .✦

Damian acts like you’re going on an actual mission when you leave the house. “What do you mean you’re going for a walk? You can’t just walk around Gotham. There’s danger everywhere.”, “It’s just a bodega damian.”

And even if it’s just a trip to the store, he’ll insist on accompanying you with that “I’m doing this for your own safety” tone, but the moment you come back home, he acts like he’s been out on patrol the entire time.

“I’ve successfully completed the task of ensuring no harm came to you.” HIS LOVE IS IN ACTIONS NOT WORDS OKAY?!

He says this while wearing a full suit and tie, because of course, that makes sense for a walk to the bodega ( corner shop )

Not the Best at Compliments, but...

Damian’s way of showing affection can be a little... rough. But somehow, it always gets the point across, think of like people being sarcastic as a love language but his seems to be like kinda blunt? Where at first he won’t say out loud ‘oh I love you’ no but he isn’t ignorant either, he knows he loves you and that’s validated to him.

“You’re fine. I mean, I guess I could see how someone would find you attractive. It’s not the worst thing in the world.”

And then he’ll look at you, almost daring you to call him out. But in truth, his eyes are saying, “I think you’re the most beautiful person in the world, but I’ll never admit it because I am Damian Wayne, and I am far too cool for this.”

The thing is, though, he’ll do anything to make sure you’re happy, even if it means begrudgingly going out of his way to make sure you get exactly what you want.

WILL DEFEND YOU 100% ── .✦

one of his brothers say something mildly annoying to you?

“Don’t talk to them like that.”

Damian’s got your back no matter how small the offense.

Someone’s being rude to you in public? He’s ready to pull a full I’m Damian Wayne, son of Batman, sole heir to ra’s al ghul and start a verbal altercation, followed by a very intense, “No, they didn’t just say that about you” look.

You? Trying to defuse the situation like a normal person?

Damian? “Nope, too late. I already decided it’s a fight now, this is mockery.

If you’re lucky, he’ll look at you and say, “It’s okay. I’m protecting you,” with a glint in his eye that says, “And you better be grateful.”

GENUINELY DOESNT GET PDA BUT FOR A GOOD REASON ── .✦

Damian’s not one to show affection publicly. In fact, he’ll try to avoid touching you at all if he’s around anyone. But the second he’s sure no one is looking, you’ll catch him glaring at you from across the room like, “We’re together, and everyone should know it, but I won’t say it.” BUT he isn’t embarrassed by you or isn’t hiding you relationship

It’s just private not secret.

He’ll give you the occasional side-hug or brush your hand ever so slightly, then immediately retreat like nothing happened if you don’t grab it fast enough.

But if you’re standing near him, don’t be surprised when he casually places a hand on your shoulder or rests his head on yours... only for it to turn into the most awkward five seconds ever, followed by an immediate, “What? It’s not like I wanted to do that. You were in my personal space.” HE DOESNR WANT TO ADMIT HE’S DEPENDENT 😭

So, yeah. PDA with Damian is... complicated, BUT ITS DIFFERENT

“It’s a Normal Relationship. I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About”

Damian, when you ask if he wants to do something like go for a walk, or watch a movie together:

“I don’t know what you mean. We’re not doing anything special. This is just a normal... well, normal for us. What is ‘normal,’ anyway?”

And yet, there he is, sitting with you, absolutely enjoying the time together trying to act like it's nothing special, but he’s leaning in just a little too close to you to be that casual.

Sometimes, he’ll act like he’s too cool for the typical date stuff, but in reality, he’s all in. He’s just trying to pretend he’s not, to maintain his Bat-cred.

COMPETITIVE TO A TEA ── .✦

This seems like a regular occurrence for him where, it’s not only you but anyone, he likes competition and challenges in general by classmates, friends, you, teammates, anyone. ( This also why he doesn’t do well on teams in canon but we ain’t ready for this convo )

Whenever there’s something to compete over whether it’s a simple game or a sparring match damian’s all in. He takes everything way too seriously.

“I’ll beat you at Mario Kart.”

Damian: “Tt, you think I’m going to let you win? You underestimate me immensely this is social injustice to my name.”

And the next thing you know, he’s strategizing his every move, plotting out every turn like he’s planning an actual mission. MEANWHILE ITS JUST JENGA DAMN

When he inevitably wins (because he’s Damian Wayne, and you knew he was going to), he’ll throw you the most smug smile.

“I told you. You should’ve known better.”

BUT HE LOVES YOU ── .✦

Underneath the tough exterior, Damian’s a softie who occasionally lets his guard down when you're alone together. He might not say it, but you know when he's trying to be vulnerable.

For example, one evening, after a particularly intense patrol or he says something too smart during a simple game of uno , he’ll just stare at you, quietly, in the way that only Damian can.

“You’re... okay, right? I didn’t, uh, hurt you…. I apologize for my lack of understanding if that hurt you.”

You’ll blink and be like, “You literally saved me like 10 minutes ago?”

And he’ll just look away, muttering something like, “Well, I don’t want you to get hurt. I just... don’t want to lose anyone again.” ( damian ‘I will not have anyone dying for my mistakes the way he did’ Wayne ☹️

And then he’ll change the subject super quickly, because he doesn’t want to burden you with his fears

[angelic-sturniolos111]

*The New Avengers | headcanons

authors note: marvel tumblr is SO BACK BABY. we’re getting avengers tower fics again— i could cry 🥹 obviously don’t read if you haven’t seen thunderbolts* although there’s not really any spoilers in this anyways

marvel characters masterlist

marvel taglist

Yelena

has a cute array of various succulents on the windowsill of her bedroom.

owns more stuffed animals than the average adult female probably should.

she doesn’t really read all that much, but if she hears of a new bestselling book, or anytime she passes by a bookstore, she always buys a new book for Bob :’)

hates the color pink.

likes to coordinate pranks to pull on Bucky with John.

downloaded tinder just to try it out. made a profile. deleted said profile less than half an hour later. deleted the app. never again.

Bucky

in the early hours of the morning when everyone is still sleeping he’ll make his way to the tower gym, play a YouTube yoga routine on his phone, and do morning yoga. he’s very embarrassed about it for some reason, but it’s therapeutic for him. plus he’s like, 100 years old, so it’s good for his muscles and bones.

HATES the taste of beer. drinks the absolute fruitiest, girliest cocktails and has NO shame about it whatsoever.

really pushing for the team to agree to getting a cat as a pet to let roam around the tower and such. Bucky gives cat dad vibes idk.

asked Bob and Yelena to teach him how to use FaceTime so he can FaceTime Okoye :’)

journals every night before bed.

loves loves LOVES matcha tea.

makes sure he does the daily wordle.

Ava

has a passion for cooking and loves making new recipes for the team to try.

with her newfound freedom and autonomy, she looks back on pop culture moments she missed from her stolen childhood. she finds that she LOVES 1D and becomes a directioner later in life. better late than never.

loves to go to local farmers markets and festivals.

John

diehard Atlanta Falcons fan and always asks (demands) the team to watch the game with him.

Bob always says yes even though he has zero interest in football and has no idea what is going on 99% of the time (he’s just happy to be included :) )

Alexei also always says yes, but it’s because it’s an excuse for him to sit around and drink some beers… then he goes on and on praising “the great American sport” of football.

John hates doing laundry. hates it. like will literally wait until he doesn’t have a single clean pair of underwear left before doing it.

he likes to hit the gym/ train with Bucky even though Bucky outperforms him most of the time. john will pretend he’s not even breaking a sweat to keep his composure and make himself look “cool” for Bucky even though he’s going to collapse on the gym floor (hydra serum IS the fancy one).

John will never admit to it, will take this secret to his fucking GRAVE, but he absolutely loves Bridgerton. he sat in on Ava watching an episode and said things like “this is so stupid” “what is this shit” but then immediately went to his room afterwards and binged the entire series.

Bob

has posters of his favorite bands/artists plastered all over his bedroom walls like a damn teenager.

keeps a (rather large) poster of “the new avengers” on the wall in front of his bed so he can see it before he goes to bed at night and when he wakes up in the morning to start his day.

likes to paint yelena’s nails for her because it’s very calming and grounding for him.

“I mean— I- I can paint them! You know, uhm, like if that’s okay with you? Not in a weird way I- I just—”

“Sure Bob, you can paint my nails for me.” :)

always shyly compliments Yelena and Ava randomly “that’s a nice color on you” “your hair looks really nice today”

loves to sit on the balcony of avengers tower and just people watch, nature watch. really take everything in and ground himself.

gets really excited for holidays. he likes to go to the party store and decorate different rooms in the tower for whatever holiday is coming up.

downloaded Duolingo to learn some basic Russian to impress Yelena… but Alexei ends up appreciating it was more and presses Bob about doing his daily lessons so he doesn’t lose his streak.

Alexei

ice cream addict. LOVES ben & jerry’s. it got to the point where he was buying so much ice cream “for the team” that it was taking up all the space in the kitchen freezer. so, he bought a mini fridge for his room and he keeps them there for himself.

INSISTS that, at least once a week, the team has a “game night” with all sorts of board games, charades, etc… the team will grunt groan and protest everytime he asks, but ultimately they all end up having fun (and arguing like crazy)

watches love island. he 1000% watches love island.

snores SO FUCKING LOUD— like the team is begging Val to reconstruct his bedroom to make it soundproof. you can hear him snoring from down the hall.

never makes it through a single movie. falls asleep every. single. time. very dad of him.

please let me know if you like this because I haven’t written for marvel in YEARS, but I’m looking to get back into it! let me know if you want a part two, or if you want solo character headcanons :)

[skelesnakesposts]

Ok so I ended up writing 12k words, I'll put the first chapter in here and link the ao3 bellow because I'm not gonna make people read all of that.

Chapter 1:

After what felt like an eternity, the bell finally rang, signalling the end of class. Lily had just survived the most boring math lesson of her life, and she was beyond relieved to be free. She packed her books as fast as she could while the teacher reminded everyone about the test on Friday.

She filed out with the rest of her classmates and made a beeline for her locker across the hall. As she was packing up to go home, Eve approached.

“Hey, Lily. I’m really sorry—I have to cancel again. My mom wants me home. Some family stuff came up.”

“Okay… Do you know when you’ll actually be able to work on the project? It’s due next week, and Ms. Maken will kill us if we don’t get it done. It’s like fifty percent of our final grade.”

“I know, I’m really sorry. I’m not sure when I’ll have time, but I’ll let you know as soon as I can, okay?”

“Fine. I’m going to start on my section—it’ll take a while anyway. Just send me your part whenever you get the chance. I’ll handle the formatting,” Lily said, obviously annoyed.

“Thank you so much, Lily. You’re a lifesaver,” Eve replied with forced gratitude—her tone made it obvious she wasn’t planning to contribute much.

“I’d better go. See you Monday, Eve. Hopefully, everything’s okay with your family.”

“Thanks. See you Monday.”   Eve turned and walked away.

Not long after, Lily headed home. She had a mountain of work waiting for her and couldn’t afford to waste time. Wanting to beat the early evening darkness, she decided to take a shortcut.

The alley between the vape shop and one of the dozen nearly identical phone stores shaved several minutes off her walk. It let out just a block or two from her house—close enough to feel convenient, not far enough to feel dangerous.

At least, not usually.

Halfway down the alley, she spotted a couple of shadowy figures. She paused. Should she really walk toward them?

“Whatever,” she muttered. “It’s fine.”

It was not fine. Walking toward strangers in a sketchy alley was objectively a terrible decision.

As she got closer, the figures began arguing—loudly.

“What do you mean you lost it? You had one job!”

Lily stopped cold.   She knew that voice.   “Uncle David?”

He didn’t turn, too caught up in yelling at the stranger.

“You think I meant to? I worked my ass off to get that! You seriously think I’d just hand it over?”

Lily opened her mouth to call out again—but then she saw something that made her freeze.

Plants—real plants—were snaking up around the stranger’s neck.

She blinked.

She had to be imagining this. Where would plants even come from in the middle of a concrete alley?

Then the man collapsed.

David turned—and saw her.

His face changed instantly. Panic. Regret. Guilt.

Lily’s heart was hammering. That wasn’t just anyone. That was her uncle. And she had just watched him kill someone?

She took a step back.

“Wait! Lily, it’s not what it looks like!” David called.

“Oh really?” she snapped, eyes wide. “Because it looked like you just murdered someone.”

David raised his hands, staying where he was. “Okay, it was—kind of. But you can’t tell anyone. It’s not like they’ll believe you anyway. You’ll end up in a mental hospital, they’ll think you’re insane.”

Lily stared at him. “You’re my uncle, David. How am I supposed to process the fact that you just choked a guy with plants? What even is that?”

“I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he muttered.

“You think that makes it better?” she said, her voice high and shaky. “How the hell am I supposed to act normal after this? I could still call the police and say you strangled him with a rope or something. That’d be enough to get you arrested.”

David let out a slow, tired sigh.

“Okay, but… are you really going to do all that?”

The way he said it—so calm, so certain—made her stomach twist.   And, frustratingly, he wasn’t wrong. Her brain was still catching up.

The alley was silent now, thick with tension.

After a long pause, David spoke again.

“Look, I know this is a lot. But what you saw wasn’t supposed to happen like that.”

“You mean the part where vines came out of nowhere and strangled a man?” she said, arms crossed. “Yeah. Not exactly the family reunion I expected.”

David nodded wearily. “Right. So, let’s start over. I’ll explain. But I have so many questions.”

“Shoot”

She narrowed her eyes. “So that thing with the vines… that was magic, wasn’t it?”

He nodded. “Yeah. It was.”

Lily exhaled, trying to centre herself. “Okay. So magic is real. Cool. Just what I needed to round out my week.”

David gave a tired smile. “You’re handling this better than I thought.”

“Well, I haven’t passed out yet, so that’s something.”

“Yeah that’s a good sign. You said you had a lot of questions, you may as well keep going.”

“Yeah ok. How did you even know you could do magic? And what about me? Is there a chance I could do it too?”

“There’s a test for that.”

“Seriously? It’s that simple?”

“Pretty much. All we need is a piece of paper, a drop of your blood, and a basic spell.”

“That’s it?”

“You sound disappointed. We’ve got better tools these days. No full ritual required.”

She rolled her eyes. “So… when and where are we doing this? Because I want to know but I need to be home before my parents start asking questions.”

“I know a guy. He’s about ten minutes from here, and the test only takes five. I can bring you in and get the test done, but if you don’t test positive you have to forget that all of this ever happened. I’ll have you home right after. Deal?”

“Fine. Let’s go.”

and here's the link for the rest if you want to read more:

Wait, are you saying that magic is real?" "Yes." "And you can test if I have magical potential?" "Yes. It's simple: a piece of paper, a drop of your blood, and a simple spell."

[knightjpg]

sugar pit

tags: pussy eating, a handjob, unprotected piv sex, loss of virginity, caleb and mc's usual What Art We relationship. if the whole "Caleb is MC's brother but also not" thing isn't for you now's the time to click away!

It doesn't matter how many times you tell yourself you won't do it— 

“Caleb!” 

—without fail, you run and jump into his arms. Caleb catches you every time.

You cling to him, burying your nose in his shoulder. He smells like work, leather and metal and gasoline. Sweat, too, but that you don't mind. It's something that's Caleb's. You like his smell. When you pull back from him he's smiling wide, eyes soft as he looks down at you. 

“Hi, pips. Didya miss me?” 

“Missed you enough not to ask why you look like haven't slept in three days,” you reply lightly. You poke his cheek with a finger. “Did you miss me?” 

“Always do, pretty girl.” Caleb readjusts his bag, and you tug on his arm. 

“Then let's go,” you say, and Caleb lets you lead the way. 

“I'm happy you came to pick me up, baby, but next time you can just have me come straight to your door, okay?” Caleb steps behind you, around you, moving himself to the part of the sidewalk closest to the street. His hands are on you when he does, gently, steering you on your arm, your lower back. 

“But this way I get to spend more time with you.” 

There's never enough of it. Time. You realised that, after Caleb died. Wished to turn it back, flip the hourglass, just another day, another minute, just one more second with Caleb. 

Somehow you got your wish. You intend to make the most of it. 

Caleb laughs and ruffles your hair. “Okay, smooth talker.” 

This part is easy.  

You're always ecstatic to see him, these first couple of hours. The joy is so fierce and intense you don't care about anything else; you're just happy Caleb is here, and that he's with you. You greedily drink in his affection, grab hold of anything he'll give to you, because you know that it's precious. Grains of sand in the hourglass. 

You chat while you walk. You do most of the talking, as usual; Caleb can never say more about his work than ‘fine’ or ‘okay’ or ‘busy’. You try to accept this, even when it hurts. Even when the anger burns; even when it makes you want to shake him until the secrets fall out of his pockets. 

“What do you wanna eat today? Should we stop by the store?” 

You shake your head. “Dinner's waiting for you.” 

Caleb is surprised; he smiles, bemused, and raises a brow. “Did you order in for us? Or did you make somethin’ and burn it again?” 

"No,” you jab at his ribs with your elbow. “I cooked for you. And that was just the one time, you meanie.” 

“For me?” Caleb is pleased. He pulls you close for a moment, arm swung around your shoulder, and kisses the top of your head. The warmth of it trickles all the way down to your toes. “Thank you, sweet girl. What'd I do to deserve that, huh?” 

“Don't say thank you yet. Maybe you won't like it.” 

“I like everything you do, baby.” 

If you could, you'd eat those words instead of dinner. Pluck them right from the air and let them dissolve on your tongue, then swallow. Hoping you taste Caleb's voice in your throat. 

Yeah, this part is easy.  

It's good—it's how things are meant to be. It's not without effort: you have to pretend that Caleb's eyes haven't changed, that his complexion hasn't become paler, more drawn. You have to pretend not to see that the edges of him have sharpened. This Caleb is harder. Quieter. His quick, easy smile has lost about ten percent of its previous shine. It is a loss you grieve very much, but— 

you're well acquainted with grief, now. 

For the first couple of hours, you're always very good about ignoring all of this. 

You walk Caleb all the way to your apartment, and line your shoes up next to his in the hallway. His sneakers are huge and well-loved, logo old and faded on the sides. He always buys a same pair of new ones, then wears them out until he can't use them anymore. 

You should spend more money on yourself, you tell him when he buys you flowers, heels, a watch, a nice coffee machine. Caleb never listens to you, just smiles. 

I just like spoilin’ my girl, that's all.  

You've begun to watch your words more closely when you talk about things you like. 

“You even set the table? What's goin’ on here?” Caleb narrows his eyes at you playfully when you enter your home. “It's not my birthday for a while yet, pips.” 

“Don't be silly.” You move to the stove and turn it on low so the pans already assembled there can start warming up. Caleb did this for you for years, day in, day out. Breakfasts and lunches and dinners, snacks from the corner store. He used his pocket money to get two of everything you liked. 

You ate it together on the pavement just outside your home. 

“Sir? Your seat is ready,” you say, and pull out his chair with a bow. Caleb sits down with a chuckle, and you serve him food. Things he likes, lots of it. Rice and fish and sour fermented things. Fried vegetables, crispy and still-warm. 

“You've finally gotten good at this, huh? No burned edges this time,” he teases. 

“Like you didn't snatch up the burnt ones before I could eat them.” You push more food on Caleb's plate. He's too thin, these days. It makes you wonder if he remembers to eat when he doesn't do it with you. 

Caleb insists on doing the dishes after, and this you allow, though you help him dry and put things away. 

“I got you dessert, too. Do you want it while we watch a movie?” 

Caleb looks at you, hands covered in bubbles. “Why're you bein’ so nice to me today, huh? Did you do something bad again?” 

You huff. “Fine. No dessert for you, then.” 

Caleb splashes you with soapy water in retaliation, and you dodge, laughing. You lean your head against his shoulder, just for a moment. It's nice. You're punishing yourself. 

“I just want you to have nice things.” 

Caleb shifts, pressing his weight into you until you move away again. “I already got you, pretty girl. I don't need anythin’ else.” 

You turn your back to him, hang up your towel to dry. You keep your voice level. “What about a girlfriend?” 

The faucet runs, then stops. “You know I'm not dating anyone. Not planning to, either.” 

“I'm not pretending to be your girlfriend at work again,” you warn him. It was awful. Nothing like back when Caleb went to DAA. His colleagues were nice, but you felt like you were burning alive with Caleb holding your hand, fingers interlaced, talking to some of the guys he worked with. Kissing you on the cheek when you left. 

It was so nice. It was the worst kind of punishment he could have given you. 

“Why not? You're so good at it.” 

Like anything was difficult with Caleb. You didn't even need to do anything; just stand there, next to him, looking at him like you were in love. It required no effort on your part. 

“I don't like lying,” you say simply. “What do you wanna watch tonight? You can pick.” 

Caleb looks at you with a serious expression. For a moment you think he'll continue about the girlfriend stuff, but then he shakes his head. “Actually, I wanted to take you somewhere tonight. You not too tired?” 

“Depends. Where are we going?” 

Your breath comes in white little puffs, clouds that trickle up to the night sky. It's very clear out tonight; the moon is at three-quarters, so it's not too dark, not even here at the outskirts of Linkon. 

Caleb hands you a blanket from his car, then zips up your jacket all the way to your chin. 

“’S cold out, baby.” 

You marvel at all the things he pulls out of the back. A thermos with hot chocolate, a heating pad, camping chairs that unfold with one shake. And that's not counting all the stuff he usually has in there: first aid kits, fixing tools, flashlights, rechargeable batteries. Gum and water and sanitary pads and towels. Your favourite chapstick, a sweater for when you get cold.  

Apocalypse Caleb, you called him when you first found out. He laughed. 

“What if I'd said I wanted to stay in? Look at all this,” you say. “You prepared so much.” 

Caleb shrugs a little. “Then we would've stayed in.” He tests the camping chair, pushing it securely into the ground. “Here you go, pips, go sit down.” 

You do as he says, tucking the blanket over your lap. Your nose is cold, but the rest of you is very warm. Caleb insisted you put on more clothes before you went. 

You let your head fall back to look up at the stars. They blink back at you; little dazzling lights, far far up ahead. So far out of reach. Just like Caleb. 

The first couple of weeks after he came back you felt like you were in a stupor. Dazed. You'd forgotten how to walk and talk and breathe the way you normally do. You didn't know how to look at your brother anymore, the person you loved most in the world. You felt like you were burning out of your skin being in the same room as him. You felt like you were dying when you weren't. 

“Earth to pipsqueak.” Caleb's finger pokes your cheek. “You got a deep thinkin’ look on your face. What's on your mind?” 

You shift, turning your face to him. He's sat down right next to you; the arm of his camping chairs right up against yours. Absentmindedly, you fiddle with the little net at the end that lets you put cups in there. 

“I was thinking about when I saw you again for the first time.” 

Caleb smiles a little, but it's not a very happy smile. “Not a fun day, huh.” 

“It was the best day.”  

You cried so much you couldn't open your eyes anymore. Blindly, you clung to Caleb, refusing to let go. When he had to leave you for a minute to sort out his Colonel duties you had a full-blown panic attack. 

He had to rush to your side to work you through it, warm hand rubbing your back, telling you listen to his breathing. Just focus on me, pips. On me, okay? I'm right here.  

This is the tricky part. 

You love Caleb very much. You're so, so happy he's here.  

You're so, so furious. 

Some days you think that this anger is the only thing that sustains you. 

“Are you still upset with me?” 

Your big brother never had to ask how you were feeling. He always already knew, even when you didn't want him to.  

There's lots of things you don't know about me now.  

You look back up at the sky. “What will you do if I say yes?” 

Caleb takes your hand, rubbing warm fingers over your cold ones. “I'd ask you to tell me how I can make it better.” 

I want you to turn back time. I want you to let me go inside first. I want to die in your place. I want you to bury me.  

“You already make everything better.” 

Caleb makes a small noise, like he's in pain. You squeeze his fingers, and he squeezes back. 

“I wish...” he trails off, then sighs. “I wish you were angrier with me.” 

You laugh a little. Wisps curl up from your mouth; cold air is sucked back inside. It tastes clean on your tongue. “If I was any angrier I'd explode.” 

“So you are angry with me.” Caleb's voice is very soft. “Why haven't you shown me? You can yell at me if you want. Or hit me. I don't mind.” 

“No.” You look at him again. His eyes are dark. Everything is, out here, in the middle of the night. The only light comes from the stars. “That's your punishment. You have to stay with me for the rest of your life, and you only get to have nice things. I'll never hit you. I'll never curse at you. You'll let me take care of you whenever I want, and you'll never get to see me angry again.” 

The only thing that could hurt him more is removing yourself from him, and you can't do that. This will have to do. You want him to suffer. You want him to be punished, every day, for dying, for leaving, for not seeking you out again. 

You’re a bad person. Maybe it's yourself you're so angry with, all the time. 

Caleb lets out a deep breath beside you. “I'm sorry, baby. I'm really sorry.” 

You don't care. You'd love him even if he weren't. 

Caleb takes your hand, presses a kiss to your palm. “If that's what you want, I'll do it.” 

“There's one more thing,” you say. Your curl your fingers over his cheek, stroke along his jaw. “I'm not pretending to be your girlfriend anymore. You can tell your colleagues we broke up.” 

Caleb's breath hitches. “Because you don't like lying?” 

It hurts, when Caleb lies to you. It hurts because you love him so much, even with all his lies. 

“Yes. Also, what if you meet someone you want to date? Or maybe I'll go on one.” 

You've never even been kissed. There was always Caleb, always only him, and then there was school, and somehow no one ever even seemed to be interested in you anyway. Then Hunter exams, work, death. Only recently have you begun to consider that while you may forever be cursed to want what you can't have the most, maybe you should give the experience a try with someone else.  

Even if it's just to see what it's like. Even if it's just so you can fantasize about Caleb's hands touching you better. 

Caleb is still next to you. He does that sometimes, where his whole body stops. But underneath everything is moving, buzzing, like there's an animal in a cage wanting to get free. A plane stuck in forever takeoff. 

“I'm not going to date anyone. Who are you going on dates with?” He asks quietly. 

You shrug a little. You kick your feet, scuffing dirt on your toes. “No one yet.” 

“Is there somewhere you wanna go?” Caleb presses. “Or something you want to do? I'll do it with you. I'll take you anywhere you want.” 

The anger fills you. You're so happy he's here, your Caleb. He wants so badly to never hurt you, but his presence is one big hurt. It's a kind of pain you crave, can never have enough of. But it crushes you. Every day again. 

You look up and see a star blink at you and then disappear. There's another, but this time it blinks red. A plane flying overnight. 

“I've never kissed anyone,” you say, still looking up. “Tara was shocked when I told her. If I can't find someone on my own she said she'd help me.” 

“Baby.” Caled sounds desperate. He's holding your hand very tightly, so you look at him. “You don't ever have to kiss anyone if you don't want to. Or—” Caleb exhales. He looks tense, like he's upset but doesn't want to show it. “Or you can do it with me.” 

You frown. If he's going to sound so reluctant saying it he shouldn't say it at all. 

“But I do want to,” you mumble. “And I wanna do it with someone who wants it too. I don't want it to be pretend.” 

“Then it can just be practice. How's that sound, pip? You can practice with me as much as you want. See if you like it, and if you don't, then it doesn't count.” 

You're conflicted. 

On the one hand, you want to take everything Caleb gives you. And this is one of the things you want most, have been wanting most, since you were about fifteen and started to understand that the way you felt about your brother wasn't like how most people felt about their siblings. 

I'm not your brother, Caleb's voice says in your head. I'm tired of playing house.  

It's an offer that's too good to refuse. But— 

You're very angry with him. And you worry that if he gives you this you'll let some of it slip through; after everything you just said to him about punishment it'd be an embarrassment to your integrity if you just gave it up.  

Unlike Caleb, you're not a liar. Some things that are true you just keep to yourself. 

“What do you think?” 

Caleb is smiling his warm big brother smile. You relax instantly; at this point, it's Pavlovian. You see Caleb, and you know you're safe. Nothing will happen to you as long as you're with him. 

Caleb senses that you're about to give in, because he adds, “We can even do it now, if you want to. You want to, baby? Come sit on my lap, and I'll kiss you.” 

You throw off your blanket. Stand up. Take one step, and sink down on his lap. Caleb's arms wrap around you immediately, holding you tight against him. His hands squeeze you through your jacket. Very faintly, you feel his heartbeat. It's fast. 

“I don't want you to force yourself,” you say. But you're already here. If he makes you leave now, you’ll cry yourself to sleep tonight. 

“I never force myself with you, pretty girl.” Caleb's calloused fingers stroke your cheek. He pulls on your chin so you face him properly. 

Very, very gently, his lips press against yours. They're soft—even softer than you thought they'd be, and you've spent a lot of time thinking about Caleb's lips. Your pulse is rabbit-quick, heart threatening to grow wings and fly out of your chest. 

You breathe against Caleb. The cold air prickles in your nose, but Caleb is very warm. He always has been. Your sun. Your summer in a bottle. He moves his lips against yours, and you copy him. Curious, you poke the tip of your tongue against his lower lip.  

Caleb groans. He opens his mouth, then, and presses you against him tighter. He slides his own tongue against yours, and you taste hot cocoa. The pudding you got him for dessert. Your head feels light, fuzzy, like you're way up in the clouds next to all those stars. Your heart thunders in your ears. 

When you pull away you realise you're panting; Caleb is, too. He's hard underneath you. 

Suddenly you're overcome with what you've just done. Whose dick is hard under your legs just from kissing you. You duck your head into Caleb's shoulder so he can't see your face and he lets you, running his big hands soothingly over your back. 

“How was that, pips?” he asks. His voice is hoarse. “Did you like practicin’ with me?” 

“I don't know,” you say muffled into his neck. 

“You feelin’ a little shy? Want me to take you home?” 

“I don't know.” 

Caleb laughs a little, then sighs. It's a happy sigh. He squeezes you against him tightly, then stands up holding you in his arms. “My little girl is so cute I could eat her up,” he says fondly. “C'mon. Let's go back.” 

You don't protest. You feel like you're burning up again. Caleb tucks you into your seat, clicks on your seatbelt, and loads all the stuff he brought back into the back. The car engine rumbles to life under your feet, and then you're gliding back into the city.  

Caleb's hand is on your leg while he drives. Just below the knee, fingers squeezing down occasionally. You wish he'd move it lower. You wish he'd stop the car and kiss you again. You wish he'd fuck you on the backseat. 

The radio is on low, and Caleb hums along to the song. You don't feel angry so much anymore now; you're flushed, flustered, quiet. 

You touch your hand to your lips and watch the world outside the window slip away in the dark. 

“Up you go now.” 

“Hmm?” you ask sleepily. “Caleb?” 

“Yes, baby. I'm right here.” 

There's the sound of a car door closing, and air rushes past you. You're floating, no, flying—it's Caleb, carrying you. Your body moves with the sway of his feet, boots going thump thump thump along the hallway to your apartment door. You rub at your eyes. 

“I'm sorry I fell asleep.” 

He looks down at you and smiles. “Don't be. You were feelin’ all tired, weren't you? Now you can go back to sleep in your bed.” 

You don't want to go back to sleep. If you have to be in bed you want Caleb there with you, kissing you more. Even if it means you won't be able to look him in the eye tomorrow. 

“I'm not sleepy anymore now.” You press your finger against the lock, and the door clicks open. Caleb steps inside, toes off his boots, then continues into the living room to set you down on the couch. He kneels to take off your shoes. 

“I can do it,” you say, nudging at his hands. “Caleb—” 

“I know. But let me do it for you.” 

You sink back into the cushions and watch him for a moment. “I've decided,” you tell him. 

Caleb looks up at you. He's finished with your shoes. His hand is wrapped around your ankle, and strokes up, along your calf, over your knee. “Decided on what?” 

“I want to practice more.” Your cheeks burn when you say it. It's dark inside, just low light from a table lamp behind you, but you can see Caleb much better compared to when you were out stargazing. 

It means he can see you much better, too. 

Caleb's hand squeezes your leg, moves a little higher. His eyes look bright. Eager. Angry. “Yeah? You sure you're not too tired?”  

You nod, and zip off your jacket. You're suddenly very warm—the extra layers Caleb insisted you wear for your little trip stick to your skin, sweaty and too-tight. Caleb, still kneeling, helps you with your jacket, folding it neatly over the back of the couch. When you get stuck in your sweater he helps you with that, too. 

He chuckles when you grab his zipper and bend closer to pull off his jacket all the way. He's wearing a fleece sweater underneath, and that has to go, too. You pull on it impatiently, and once it's off, tug on Caleb's shoulders. Come closer, your hands say. I want you closer.  

You're angry again. 

You think Caleb might be, too, because he doesn't kiss you so gently this time. He's wound tight, a wire ready to spring, and licks into your open mouth like he'll die if he doesn't. The kiss is harder, messier, spit and teeth, Caleb half-crawling, half-crouching over you and pressing you into the cushions. His knee is in between your thighs, dangerously close to your wet hot core, the part of you that's burning brightest. Burning for him. For his touch. 

Your hands roam over his chest, dig into his hair, pull on his necklace. The metal is warm from his skin, and the chain digs its teeth into your fingers. Caleb moans when you pull on it, pull him closer to you. 

Caleb's hands are in your hair, too, cradling your skull, moving you below his hungry mouth. You make sounds, too, little hitching breaths, whines that he swallows whole. Your body is hot. You want him so, so badly. 

You've always wanted him. Always chased him. Curled up at his side, hanging off his arms, perched on his shoulders. 

Look, Caleb, I'm flying!  

He'd make you fly for real one day, Caleb promised. Once he's a pilot, he can take you anywhere. See anything. Even way beyond the clouds. 

You start to cry. 

Caleb jerks back as if shocked, big hands coming to rest on your cheeks. His eyes flit over your face, brows pinched. “Oh, pips, baby, what's wrong? What's wrong?” He hugs you close and rocks you, just like he did when you were little. “Did I hurt you? I'm sorry.” 

You hurt me all the time. You hiccup against his shoulder, tremble when he pets your hair. Try to breathe, chest heaving, blood rushing fast. 

“Hey, talk to me. What's got you so upset, huh?” 

You're so angry. You're so angry you can't talk for a moment, mouth nothing-words against Caleb's shirt. “Can't—” you hiccup again. “Can't tell you.” 

“Gonna make me guess? I'm reaaal good at it.” Caleb shifts to sit on the couch, lifting you on his lap. You bury your head in his shoulder, and he tucks your hair behind your ear before stroking it again. 

“Guess number one: you didn't like the kissing.” 

You shake your head. You liked the kissing very much. 

“Hmm... Guess number two: you're mad at me. Am I right?” 

Yes. No. Kind of. Not really. You're upset Caleb can't give you what you want. You're angry at yourself for kissing him anyway. You knew this would happen, so why why why did you do it?  

Because you love him so much. Because you've never wanted anyone but him. You want so badly for this to be real, and it can't be. You're the worst kind of person, greedy and cruel, because even after you got what you wanted more than anything else in the world—Caleb, alive, different, changed, but not dead, not in the ground, not blown to pieces—you still want more. 

Caleb takes your silence as a yes, and he kisses your head. “See? I told you I'm real good. Now how can I fix it, baby? Why are you upset at me?” 

“What if—” your voice comes out scratchy. You sniffle, start again. “What if I wanted to do other things? Not just kissing. Would you practice with me then too?” 

Caleb is silent for a moment before answering. “I told you, pips. Whatever you wanna do, I'll do it with you.” 

You push up suddenly, twisting so you can look at him. Your nails dig into his chest; your vision is blurry with tears. “I hate it when you do this. When you act like this. I'm so angry at you, all the time. You lie to me, you hurt me, and it doesn't even—doesn't even matter, because I—” the tears fall again, heavy and wet, “because I love you so much. I just let you. I just hurt.” 

A sob wracks your body, and you fall back against Caleb, shaking. His arms come around you and squeeze you so tight it's painful. 

“Oh, pip.” Caleb almost sounds like he's crying, too. “Baby. I don't want you to hurt. I don't want anything to hurt you, even me. Least of all me.” He lets out a shuddering breath. “Can you tell me what it is I'm doing that's making you so angry? You sure it's not ‘cause we kissed?” 

You shake your head. 

“Then why? What am I actin’ like, pretty girl? Tell me and I'll fix it.” 

“Like—like it doesn't matter. Like you'd do whatever, and none of it really matters. Like I'm just using you.” 

Caleb noses against your forehead. “Everything I do with you matters, baby. And I like it when you use for me stuff you want.” 

“I don't want it like that,” you say quietly. “If you don't feel the same way I do, I don't want it.” 

That's a half-lie. You want it. You take it all, Caleb's touches, the kisses he drops on your head, the hand he holds yours with in a crowd, the groceries he buys for you, the time he makes for you, his calls, his texts, his warmth, everything. 

But all of those things fall under safe territory. Things that can be explained away into the familiarity of the act, because Caleb's always taken care of you. Kissing and dating and sex is something else, something that you can't bear to lie to yourself about. To have Caleb lie to you about. 

Caleb is very quiet. He's hard under you again, something neither of you acknowledge.  

“Then how do you feel, pips?” he asks finally. You draw up your knees and curl your hands in your lap. 

You knew this question was coming. This is what you were afraid of, letting him so close, letting him touch your want, your anger, your fucked-up desire. Some of it spilled out. He asks questions you can never answer, except now you did. 

“I can't tell you.” 

“Do you want me to guess again?” You hear the smile in Caleb's voice. He likes playing with you. He likes when you make him work for it, whatever it is.  

“It's a secret. You can't guess it.” 

“Then do you wanna trade?” Caleb says softly in your ear. “I'll give you my secret, and you give me yours.” 

Caleb has so many secrets now. So many things he hasn't told you, so many things you don't even know to ask about. You promised each other you'd never keep anything from each other, years ago. But Caleb broke that promise, and now there's a whole wall of things left unsaid dividing you. 

Of course you want to know. 

“Then you go first. And it has to be a good secret. I won't tell you if you try to trick me.” 

Caleb hums and leans back against the couch, gently wiping at your cheeks. “My secret's that I really liked kissin’ you, pip. I was so happy you let me, ‘cause I've been thinking about doing that for a long time.” 

Caleb's thumb is still stroking over your cheek, even though you're pretty sure there's no more tears left to clean up. As expected, his secret isn't as heavy as yours, but the words pierce through you regardless. 

He's thought about it for a long time. What's a long time? A month? A week? A lonely year in deepspace? 

“I liked it too,” you say in a small voice. 

Caleb's eyes crinkle into little crescent moons. He's smiling wide. “I'm so happy to hear that, baby. I want you to feel good. I want to make you feel good.” 

Then make me feel good, is on the tip of your tongue. You can't say it. You need to think about how to respond, how to match Caleb's secret with your own in a way that won't repulse him forever. 

“Is there anything else you've thought about for a long time?” 

Caleb gazes at you with dark eyes. They're beautiful, framed by long dark lashes that kiss his cheek when they flutter closed. He's not closing them now, though; he's looking at you with a strange, serious expression. 

“Yeah.” 

When he doesn't elaborate, you push him. “Like what?” 

You earn a tap on your nose for that. “Now who's trying to trick who, huh? It's your turn.” 

You press your hands against Caleb's chest and look down at them while you speak. The words come slowly. Carefully. 

“I guess that... my secret is the same as yours. I've thought about it for a long time, too.” 

Caleb's heartbeat flutters under your palms. He echoes your question back at you: “And other things?” 

You're burning again, a hot little flame that starts low in your stomach and blazes through your neck, your cheeks, your ears. Red all over. 

You keep your eyes away from Caleb's, afraid of what he might say, and don't answer. 

“You asked me, right? If I'd do other things too?” Caleb's voice is very close. His breath is warm on your cheek. “What other things, pip? What have you been thinking about doing with me?” 

Your heart trips over itself. He's going to find out. He's going to know. He'll know and he'll be disgusted by you, he'll pull away from you, he'll finally be alive again and you still managed to ruin it all—  

Caleb presses his lips to your jaw, once, then twice, then nudges you with his nose, his hands, to kiss you on the lips. “You can tell me,” he murmurs. “It's just me, pips. Only me here.” 

He kisses you again, coaxing you out of your little shell. And you come crawling, because it's his voice that's calling your name. Caleb's hands slide over your arms, your waist, stop to squeeze at your hips. He lifts you, briefly, so he can grab your leg to straddle him. 

You're so wet you're afraid he'll feel it, afraid he'll feel a wet little spot just like you're feeling his cock strain against his pants under you. When you break the kiss a thread of saliva keeps you connected. Without noticing one of your hands has wound itself in Caleb's hair, and you slide it lower to cup his cheek. His skin is warm and tanned. The freckles that grow darker in summer dance under your fingertips, and you map them with your eyes, putting together constellations on his cheeks. You always wished you'd get freckles, too, but unlike Caleb you just burned. 

Even now, whenever you smell sunscreen you think Caleb. If you close your eyes you can feel his hands rubbing it on your cheeks, your arms, every part of you. Like a shield, like armour. 

But even with all those layers— 

“Still don't wanna tell me?” Caleb asks. His voice is rough and low, husked at the edges. You're this close to kicking him out so you can finger yourself while you still taste him on your lips, trying to fill the aching emptiness everything he does ignites in you. 

—you're always burning. 

“Tell me what you want. I'll give it you.” 

“I want—” 

You're just a person. Human. Weak with wants and needs. Everything has a limit, even you. Even your desires. 

“I want you to touch me,” you whisper. 

Caleb makes a low sound in the back of his throat. His dick twitches in his pants, and when you dare to look at his eyes you see they're blown so wide there's barely anything left of his usual violet. 

“Where, baby? Where do you want me?” 

You shake your head, whine. Caleb chuckles breathlessly. 

“You're not makin’ it easy for me, princess. Is it here?” He moves his hand from your hip to your thigh, squeezing. “Or here?” His other hand travels up, all the way to the back of your neck. 

“I can't. You'll hate it,” you manage to force out. “It'll ruin everything. And then you'll leave, and I can't—I can't lose you again—” 

You thought you were done with crying, but tears threaten to spill again. Caleb shushes you. “I'm not goin’ anywhere. I'll never you leave, pip, I promise. No matter what you say to me. No matter how angry you are, or how much you cry. I'm always here.” 

Can you believe him? Can you trust him?  

And if not Caleb, who's left? 

“I want to touch you,” he whispers. “All over. You just tell me where. I want it.” 

You close your eyes. You take the hand on your thigh, and bring over, up, right over where your jeans zip closed. You're catching fire. 

“Right here, huh?” Caleb says. There's a tremble in his voice. “Do you wanna take off your pants when I do?” 

Eyes still closed, you nod once.  

Immediately, Caleb's moving, hoisting you up with both his Evol and his own strength. Your eyes fly open in surprise, and you see he's taking you to your bedroom. For all his hurry you're laid on the bed oh so gently, and then his fingers are working open button—zipper—shimmy down— 

And a thumb hooks around your underwear. Caleb's breathing fast, eyes glued on the wet spot right in the centre of it. He strokes his thumb over it, and your hips jerk in surprise and arousal. 

“Can I—” Caleb groans and presses his forehead against your naked thigh for a moment. When he looks up at you again your breath catches over the raw need on his face. “Can I touch with just my hands? Or can I use my mouth?” 

The heat is making you short-circuit. “But—I—wait, I haven't showered,” you stutter. 

Caleb presses his nose against your core, inhaling deeply. His fingers dig into your legs so hard it'll bruise, and he moans. You think you might pass out before he actually does anything. 

“Can I?” he asks again, though this time it sounds more like he's begging. He's already pulling your underwear off, and you're too distracted to notice he stuffs it in his back pocket instead of throwing it on the floor. 

“I—okay,” you whisper, because Caleb so very rarely asks for anything. Because you want to give him everything. Because you're so unbelievably wet that you'll die if he doesn't touch you right now, hands, tongue, whatever he wants. 

As soon as you give him the okay he leans in. You gasp when he licks up a broad stripe over your cunt, pressing his tongue flat against it, groaning like it's him who's feeling good. 

“Caleb—” You whimper when he does it again, and then again, and then he's eating you like he's been starving for days. He fucks you with his tongue, he sucks on your clit, and when he adds his fingers—long fingers, big and strong, big enough to curl against your weakest spot—your head falls back on the bed with a whine. The more sounds you make, the more eagerly he laps at you, kisses you, bites at the soft flesh of your thighs. 

Dazedly, you wonder if this is meant to feel this good. You can't stop clenching down on him, trying to suck him deeper inside. You're going to come, and you're going to come fast, and is this even real or a dream inside your head? 

“Shi—it,” Caleb groans. “You're so pretty, baby. So fuckin’ pretty. Knew you would be, too. Fuck.” 

“Caleb,” you pant. “Caleb, I'll—” 

He moans in response, tongue working you again, the sound of his fingers moving inside you wet and obscene. The pleasure builds, crests, then rushes over you like a wave. Your whole body tenses, one big strain, caught up in the current. Broken moans leave you on the comedown, body shuddering like a leaf caught in the wind. 

You twitch away from Caleb, who hasn't stopped lapping at you, and then melt, boneless, into the sheets. While you catch your breath you see Caleb rise, licking his lips. He sucks his fingers—his fingers, the ones that were just inside of you—clean with a lidded gaze.  

Even now, after just having come on his tongue, you feel a warm twinge in your lower stomach. 

“Was that nice, pretty girl? Did it feel good?” 

You nod. It was more than nice. Caleb just ruined your vibrator for you, and you fear you’re going to have to spend a pretty penny to get anything that'll come close to the way he just made you feel. 

When you push yourself up on your elbows it occurs to you that Caleb's still fully dressed, and you're still wearing your shirt. You haven't even taken off your socks. The red dotted pattern winks at you from the edge of the mattress. 

You suddenly feel shy. What are you supposed to say now? Will Caleb go home, leave like this was business as usual? Your dimly lit bedroom is cosy and warm, but you doubt you'll be able to fall asleep tonight. Not after this. 

Fortunately Caleb saves you from having to say anything. Smiling, he crawls up the bed, hovering over you to kiss you again. You taste traces of yourself on his lips; you realise this is the very first time that you do. It's weird. A little bitter, a little musky, but— 

It's not bad. Not if Caleb's the one making you taste it. 

When he gathers you in his arms, maneuvering you side by side, your face tucked under his chin, you hug him back. If you cling to him tightly enough maybe he won't leave. 

“Was that what you wanted, baby?” Caleb murmurs into the crown of your head. 

“How are you so good at that?” you whisper back.

Caleb laughs and squeezes you closer. His cock is rock-hard and poking you insistently in your stomach, even through his pants. “Am I? I'm glad you think so. It's my first time givin’ it a spin.” 

Huh? 

Shock overtakes embarrassment, and you pull back to look at him. 

Huh? 

“What?” 

Caleb cocks an eyebrow. “What ‘what’?” 

“Have you ever had sex?” you blurt out. 

The corners of Caleb's mouth twitch upwards. “Nope.” 

“But why?” The endless love letters, the confessions, the whispers, the stares. Everyone loves Caleb, no matter where he goes, and you've come to accept it simply as fact a long time ago. You understand, because you love him too. Even if the jealousy makes your stomach feel sick with it sometimes. 

“’Cause I never wanted anyone else. I told you, didn't I? I want to touch you. You just tell me where.” 

Anyone else? 

Anyone else?  

You sit and gape at him. Caleb chuckles and kisses the hand that's curled against his chest. “I can see the steam comin’ out your ears, baby.” He sighs, and the smile fades on his lips. He looks back at you with his serious eyes again. “Well, what about you? Have you?” 

“No,” you say meekly. “There was—no.” 

Caleb relaxes, and his smile returns. “Good.” 

“Caleb.” 

“Hmm?” 

“Do you...” you hesitate. Pause. Rethink what you want to say. “You didn't mind? Touching me?” It doesn't gross you out? Disgust you? Make you hate me, make you leave, make you not want to be around me anymore?  

Caleb kisses your hand again. “I loved it, baby. Even more than I thought I would. I'd do it every day if you let me.” 

Every day—  

You shake your head. Focus. “If I tell you another secret, will you tell me another one of yours again?” 

“There's more secrets?” Caleb frowns a little, but he brushes over your cheek gently. “Yeah, pips. I'll tell you if you tell me.” 

He hasn't run screaming yet. He said he wanted to touch you, that he's wanted to kiss you. You don't dare to look too closely at what it might mean. What lies at the end of devotion? Does it have an end, with Caleb? 

I've been thinking about doing that for a long time.  

“I wanted you to touch me,” you say carefully. “But I also want to—to touch you. Not for practice. Just because it's you.” You peek at Caleb through your lashes. His cheeks are flushed, and his eyes glitter like stars. 

“Where, beautiful? Where do you wanna touch me?” 

Your voice is very quiet when you answer. “Anywhere that makes you feel good.” 

Caleb's eyes flutter closed for a second. When he opens them again he looks serious, but it's not serious angry Caleb. It's serious thinking Caleb, one who's arriving at the end of a very long equation. 

“For a long time?” 

You duck your head. “Maybe. Now give me your secret.” 

Caleb sits up abruptly and pushes into your space. You fall back in surprise, back hitting the mattress, as he leans over you. His pretty purple eyes are dark again, intense, storm-in-a-bottle. Clouds gathering for rain. 

“I want you to touch me. I've wanted you to touch me since forever. I want to fill you in every way I can, with my hands, my mouth, and my cock, and I want you to look at only me.” 

Your mouth drops open, air coming shallow and fast. 

“It's never been pretend for me. I don't want anyone else touching you, ever. Only me.” 

You swallow. “But—what—what if it doesn't work out? Things will be different. And I don't want to lose—to lose you.” Not again; never again. 

Caleb lowers his head to press a kiss against your pulse, just below your jaw. "You'll never lose me, pip. I promise.” When you stay quiet he lifts his head to look you in the eye. It's a little frightening, the intensity of his gaze. The weight of his want. “I promise. Is that the only thing you're worried about? Losin’ me? Think I won't like you anymore after I've been inside you?” 

You're worried about a million things. About not measuring up, about falling out, about being so angry with him and loving him so, so much at the same time. About drifting apart, again. 

Caleb takes your hand and guides it to his groin, presses it against his cock. He lets out a little hiss. “Feel that, beautiful? Feel how much I want you? It's always been like that. When we were livin’ together—I jerked off three times a day, I wanted you so bad. I felt like I was going crazy. I—” Caleb exhales, drops his head on your shoulder. “I stole your used panties. I sniffed your gym clothes. I was so fuckin’ desperate.” 

Caleb's words send a zap of lightning between your legs. Your whole body is aflame and breaking out in a sweat; it's a little hard to focus on anything but Caleb's dick twitching against your fingers, his hot breath on your skin, and I stole your used panties. I wanted you so bad. Feel how much I want you?  

It's always been like that.  

You tug at his shirt. “Take off your clothes,” you demand. 

A tentative smile breaks through on Caleb's face. Without a word he obeys, sitting back up on his haunches and peeling off his longsleeves. There's a compression tank under it, and this too is dropped on the side of the bed. 

But you're impatient, now, and your fingers reach his belt before he can. You tug the leather free, fumble with the belt loops, then go for his zipper. Caleb's hips rock against you, once, like he can't help it, and he watches your hands with a shaky sigh. 

He helps you tug his jeans down, and then his underwear, and then, and then— 

Your mouth feels dry when his cock slaps against his stomach, finally freed. It looks red, angry, leaking with precum. You want to touch it, so you do, pushing yourself upright while Caleb kneels before you: one careful, curious finger stroking alongside the shaft. 

Caleb shudders. 

“How can I make you feel good?” you ask earnestly. “Show me.” 

Silently, Caleb takes your hand and wraps it around his cock. Your fingertips just barely manage to touch, not-quite closing around him. He places his much bigger hand over yours and shows you, squeezing at the base, twisting upwards, gently at the tip and down again. He's panting; the flush on his cheeks has spread all the way down to his neck, over his chest, his lovely freckled skin. Scarred and bruised. So perfectly his. 

When you grow bolder and start moving your hand on your own, upping the pace, Caleb lets out a strangled moan, throwing his head back as his hips jerk forward helplessly. “Oh, fuck,” he groans. “Pip, baby, angel, that feels so good. Feel so good around me. I'm gonna—ah, gonna cum soon if you keep going.” 

“Do you want to?” you ask. You look up at him, your big brother, your protector, your heart. Your pain and the cure. 

Caleb laughs, breathless and eager. “I wanna cum anywhere you let me.” 

That's not good enough. You slow your hand and stop while holding him at the base. Caleb squeezes his eyes shut, brow scrunching up. 

“But I want to know what you want,” you say. A little petulant, a little bossy, because Caleb's always spoiled you, indulged you, and you told him, didn't you? This was punishment. He'll let you take care of him whenever you wanted. He's only allowed to have nice things. To feel good. To get everything he wants. 

Caleb's eyes open again. “Inside you,” he rasps. “Inside your pussy.” 

Another wave of heat makes you let go of him, scooting back on the bed. Caleb watches, entranced, as you lie back and hold out your hands to him. 

“Okay,” you say simply. 

There's a moment where Caleb looks like he's frozen in time; disbelieving, desperate, helpless. 

Then he moves. 

He crawls over you and kisses you again. He's trembling a little, and you think you are too. You jolt when you feel his fingers against your clit again, still sensitive, raw, everything so new. 

He dips them inside, nose pressed against your neck and inhaling deeply, stroking once, two, three times, curling them until your nails dig into his shoulders. When he removes them he spits in his palm; then holds it out to you, under your chin. 

“Spit,” he commands. 

You spit. 

He slicks himself up with your combined saliva, your arousal, his sweat, and then his tip is pushing against you, into you—  

“Fffuck,” Caleb groans. “Relax, pip. Relax for me. Shit, you're perfect. So tight.” 

You're trying to do as he says, but your whole body has turned into one big nerve, and at the root is the little place that Caleb's entering now, deeper and deeper, hot wet thick warm tight. 

His jaw is clenched, and even in the low light you see the sweat shining on his brow. He's so careful with you, pushing himself further in so very slowly. Pausing when you gasp or tighten around him reflexively.  

Once he bottoms out, pelvis flush with yours, he exhales. 

“Caleb,” you croak. You're so full.  

A bead of sweat drips down his nose, and your Caleb smiles. “Yeah, baby. You're doin’ so good. Feel how far in I am?” 

You can feel him in your throat. Your lungs. Your heart, completely.  

“I love you,” you tell him, voice patchy, and watch his eyes glisten. His lips press on yours, hard, full of relief.  

You tell Caleb you love him every time you say goodbye. It's a little bit of a compulsion. You have to say it, need to say it, because what if? What if you don't get the chance to again? What if this loop of time is broken, again? 

But it's different, now. 

“I love you, too, pretty girl. Always have.” Caleb rolls his hips into yours, and you gasp. He does it again, a little harder and a little faster, and keeps doing it until you're whimpering under him, your legs locked around his hips and your arms scrabbling for purchase on the wide, muscular planes of his back. 

He cradles your skull and tucks it against his neck, large fingers splaying wide over your head. His shoulders are broad, overtaking everything you see. Everything you feel. 

Caleb's other hand shoves itself between your two bodies to rub your clit, and when Caleb shifts, angles his hips, and fucks you—  

Stars explode behind your eyes. A loud moan swings loose from your chest, unable to stay inside, because it feels so, so good, and then Caleb keeps hitting that spot, keeps making more noises spill from your lips, just like they do from his, until the core of you is wound tight again. 

Caleb kisses you messily, panting in your mouth and groaning low whenever you squeeze down on him. 

“Come on my cock,” he rasps. “Come on my cock, pip, let me feel you, just like that, c’mon—” 

You're helpless before his command. You do as he says while clinging to him tight, shaking, and a few tears slip out from the sheer intensity. Caleb leans down and licks them up, tongue hot and wet on your skin.  

He works you through the wave, just barely, before he loses his rhythm. He hits you deeper, now, harder, clenching his teeth, pressing biting kisses on your neck. The only thing you can do is hold onto him. 

“Gonna—gonna come, angel, gonna come inside you, fuck, I'm gonna fill you up. Take it, you're gonna— take it—” 

Caleb's hips jerk one, two more times, and then he spills inside of you with a heady groan. It shocks you, the heat of it, and you moan with him on his comedown. Caleb rocks inside you a few more times, trying to fuck his cum into you deeper, and then— 

He melts. Right on top of you, heavy as can be, and the air is pressed out of your lungs with a soft oof.  

Before you can complain, though, he turns, rolling you onto your side. You do your best not to knee him in the stomach while you reposition your legs, because Caleb won't let go of you even a little. 

He buries his face in your neck, hair tickling your cheek, and you stroke your fingers through his short dark strands. “What do you think?” you tease him. “Do I need practice after all?” 

Caleb squeezes your sides; you can feel him smiling against you. “Depends. Am I the one you're practicin’ with?” 

You laugh. Caleb's cock is still inside you, and you feel it twitch at the sound. “Nope. I told you, I only want it for real.” 

Caleb loosens his grip on you just enough to look you in the eyes. His hair is messy, and his cheeks are still flushed. Sweat clings to his temples. He looks so beautiful it's like he's not from this world. 

“Then we'll do it for real. As long as it's me, pips. Will you promise me?” 

Caleb's holding his pinky, and you take it in yours. “And if I want other things? Not just—kissing or touching?” 

The tips of your ears are warm again. 

“Then we'll do those too.” 

You lower your eyes, focusing on a freckle near his lovely mouth. You have to say it now. After this you can't go back to the way things were. 

“Like dating. For real. Not... not just so you can turn down confessions.” 

“Oh, pip.” Caleb pulls you close again, a tight, warm hug, and your eyes flutter closed at the proximity. Silly, the way you’re still connected but him embracing you makes you feel warm and safe all over again. “I'd turn those down either way, you know. Even if you didn't wanna help me.” 

You give his chest a weak slap. “Answer the question.” 

“Yes ma���am.” Caleb does his funny soldier voice, and suddenly you just can't take him seriously anymore. Dummy. Dork. Crazy. Still inside you, still hard, and he gives you a salute when you ask him very seriously if he wants to be your boyfriend. 

You throw your head back in exasperation. You're trying very hard not to laugh. “I'm serious!”  

Caleb chuckles softly and gently pulls you back so he can kiss you. “Good. Me too.” 

“No, you're not,” you accuse him. “Stop goofing around and answer me. Or I'll think everything you said was a lie.” 

Caleb's gaze softens. “I meant it, pip. I'm very serious about you. About us. If you want me to date you, be your boyfriend, anything, you already have me. I wouldn't lie to you about that.”  

You purse your lips, considering. “I guess if you're my boyfriend I could make sure you're fulfilling your punishment.” When Caleb cocks an eyebrow, you huff. “Did you forget already? I said you have to stay with me for the rest of your life. You only get to have nice things, and you'll let me take care of you.” 

“...And you wouldn't get angry at me. I remember,” Caleb says softly. He brushes his lips over your cheek. “I'll take anything you wanna give me. Even if I wish that you'd be angry at me.” 

That wall of secrets separates you again. You've lost so much time grieving. 

Caleb, too. You see the pain in his eyes, the change in his face. He's still yours. He's always been yours, and nothing can take that away from you. 

But you and him, you've been through a lot. Scared to show each other the scars—afraid of what the aftermath might change. 

“Then stop hiding yourself from me,” you say. “Maybe I'll be angry at you, then.” 

“Have you... do you wish I was still the old Caleb?” 

Caleb's voice is unsure, vulnerable in a way that you've heard very few times in your life. It's anxious Caleb. And just now you had silly Caleb, and there's angry Caleb, and serious Caleb, all these different sides of him, gleaming in the light like facets of a pretty stone. 

All different, all the same. 

You smile. You rest your head on Caleb's chest, feel his strong heart pump the blood around in his body. You're sweaty, messy, and the sheets need changing. Tears and drool and cum. Blood and spit and hurt. Love and pain. Anger, so much of it, and someday it will need a name. A place to sit and live. 

For now, though— 

(For always, though—) 

“I just want the one that's right here with me.” 

[caitlinsnicket]

yelena belova relationship headcanons

warnings: angst if you look really hard for it, mostly fluff

a/n: i have become enchanted by these people and now i cant stop please send help. also who knew i still could write things this long? ha!

masterlist | 🍉 | ko-fi

so so so touch-starved, just melts whenever she gets to hug you.

holding her face and kissing her cheeks and forehead used to make her eyes water, heart ready to burst out of her chest, her arms almost automatically jumping up to hold you closer and feel your warmth.

she likes it when you hold her from behind, your hands coming to rest on her stomach like a warm anchor. she insists you do it when she cooks or brushes her teeth, every now and then pulling you to her in front of others. she just enjoys the closeness and the pressure.

loves eye contact. could spend a long time just looking straight into your eyes without blinking. you might be watching a movie or showing her something on your phone, and suddenly she’ll go quiet. when you look back at her, she’s just… staring back.

whenever the two of you are having a conversation (important or unimportant), she’ll look right at you and give you her full attention. that’s also happened when she was driving, which you had to call her out for. she just laughed you off, as if paying attention to the road instead of you rambling about something you read recently was an insane request.

gets anxious if the two of you go too long without talking, even if everything is okay. she doesn’t like being left alone with her thoughts and always wants to make sure you’re okay.

she’s also a little scared of coming off as clingy or too emotional, but she can’t help herself, and after a lot of reassurance, she eases up bit by bit until she’s completely comfortable with you.

you know her humor is less than kind at best, but the more time the two of you spend together, the less bite there is behind her words. she’ll banter with you, pull lightly on your hair, and pinch your sides when it’s just the two of you and she feels extra bold, but it seems like she’s incapable of joking around with you as rudely as she does with others.

when the two of you fight, it’s mostly over trivial things rather than anything serious. she’s always weirded out that you seem to be completely okay with the fighting, going away for weeks and often bringing work home, but end up bickering about unwashed dishes or the way you said something.

and at first, she’s fine. but as things progress and your voices start to rise, she can’t help the tears that well in her eyes, the way her voice cracks and her lip quivers. she holds your hand then, no matter how angry the two of you are, and says, “i love you right now, okay?” she only stops crying after you say it back. it’s the only way she can get through those moments without having a full mental breakdown.

she always gets creative with her makeup, eyeliner colorful and dark lipstick as usual, and sometimes she sits in front of you with her makeup bag, eyes closed, waiting for you to do it for her. she does it once a week now, excited about how you portray her and what you think looks best on her (might invite bob to one of your makeup sessions).

after you get to know her completely, you understand how much she loves building her own style and personality little by little. that means she’ll love gifts and clothing you surprise her with, but she’ll adore it even more when you take her out to pick her own stuff and then buy it for her.

she’ll start off self-conscious and shy, but as the two of you go through more stores and you reassure her that she’s free to choose whatever she wants (even that damn ugly sweater with the puffy sleeves), she lets herself get whatever catches her eye. she holds your hand the entire time and pulls you along with her.

once she found youtube tutorials on how to sew and modify clothes, she started stealing yours every now and again to add new pockets, embroidery, and other little details just to make your day. the next time you wear it, not only will it smell like her, but it’ll be way more useful (in her words).

she also feels like she’s marked you. not in a possessive way, but as a way for you to always carry her close.

your clothes are no longer just your clothes, and the same goes for hers. after a few months, she’ll just put all your clothing in her own wardrobe and get rid of any other place where you might keep your things. excluding underwear, it’s become normal for the two of you to morph into each other, your smells mingling into something entirely new.

if someone asks, she’ll say it was hers all along. but deep down, she likes that she can wear something that belonged to you, that she’s now shared the same space as you. she might deny it, but her heart always flutters whenever the two of you go to sleep in each other’s clothes. the sense of belonging floods her, and all she can do is squeeze you against her to stop her eyes from watering.

she’ll always have something ready for you to eat when you get home after a day out, maybe some of that mac and cheese that she loves so much, or a full-course meal that’ll last a few days so you can reheat it whenever you want. she also cooks extra portions when she has to be away for a while on a mission, worrying about your well being.

when you pack her lunch for the first time, it becomes her favorite meal of the day, not so much for your cooking, but because you made something for her. you thought about her before starting your day, and that’s what gets her. she likes being looked after, even though she doesn’t need to be. she refuses to share even a bite with anyone (no one asks anymore).

rainy days are her favorite days. she remakes the bed with fresh sheets, new blankets, the few stuffed animals she won for you at a fair sitting politely in the very center of it. the two of you drink tea in the kitchen, socks on your feet mismatched from the laundry, and after you put the cups in the sink, she holds your hand and pulls you toward the nest she’s made.

the window stays closed, the curtains pulled so the two of you can watch the sun go down and the rain fall. yelena sings a lullaby so low you think you might be imagining it. she lays with her head under your chin, nose buried in your neck, hands tracing shapes beneath your shirt. she can’t help but sigh happily when you hold her back, kissing her forehead and tangling your feet with hers.

she drifts off still humming, warm and soft in the safest place in the world.

[northboreas]

Highlights from the TGWDLM watch party on RanbooLive's twitch for those who couldn't make it:

- Ranboo, a well known Twitch Streamer and longtime Starkid fan got some of the cast of TGWDLM together to rewatch the show & promote the kickstarter!

- It was a side collab, there will still be the main "Divining the future" and DnD Finale streams happening in the next weeks

- Joey Richter got ahold of the soundboard and he abused it wholeheartedly. Crickets, Buzzer sounds, Fart sound effects, ect.

- (Who gave him that power btw. Which one of you did it.)

- Everyone on the discord call had pictures next to their names instead of having their cameras on, most notably Lauren Lopez had a stock photo of a doctor, Jon Matteson had a picture of Jeff Blim, and Jeff had a picture of Jon

- The whole cast introduced themselves and basically said what they had gotten diagnosed with since they did the show

- "This is a HIPPA compliant stream" --Jamie Lyn Beatty out of context

- Lauren Lopez PHD confirmed that after TGWDLM she went to medical school and was the one who diagnosed all of her friends

- Most of the starkids hadn't rewatched the show at ALL until this stream

- Train Choreography mentioned!!!! the cast said James Tolbert is considering bringing it back for the reprise

- Lauren said shes going to be using all of the kickstarter funds to pay for med school

- "It took an apocalypse for him to get closer to his crush" - Jon talking about Paul Matthews

- Jamie made one of the "Tip for a song" sign props for TGWDLM!

- Jamie and Mariah said Alice and Deb are an OTP

- They also said they might make fake instagrams for them to promote the reprise. This is great news for potseed shippers

- There used to be a cut song before La Dee Da Da Day that had Peanuts the Hachetfield Pocket squirrel SINGING

- Lauren said that she would love to have peanuts actually make an appearance, "That squirrel budget is enormous"

- The "Should I take this chair?" "I'll take the piano!" bit was an ad lib

- All the "Okay"s from Paul were also ad libs, meant to give the actors more time to quick change, but now its a genuine part of his character

- They mentioned the homeless man so much, they said that they wanted cocaine to be under his nose for the reprise

- Lauren chimed in with "He doesnt have enough money for coke. He became homeless BECAUSE he spent all his money on coke."

- Lauren confirrmed that she specifically told James Tolbert to keep the "Cup of Roasted Coffee" choreo exactly the same for the remount

- The "Show Stopping Number" choreo will also be the same

- Jeff mentioned that hes planning on making Mariah's songs higher and his songs lower for the show too

- Lauren said she wanted to get a big dumpster for the "Paul, get in the trash can!" scene so the cast could actually be hiding in the trashcan (Probably a joke, but it'd be cool lmao)

- Mariah Rose Faith called TGWDLM a "Sexy Show"

- Lauren joked that shes going to add a line referencing "Janes a Car" from NMT to the scene where Emma talks about her sister's death

- They pitched Smoke Club / Perky's Buds branded joints, and Blue Goo edibles, all being sold at the TGWDLMR merch store

- Jon had to leave the stream right after Act 1 and the second he did the cast was like "Okay, so what do we really think of Jon?"

- "Actually, we're gonna be recasting Paul as this brand new actor named Aaron Tevit" -- Joey Richter

- Joey and Jeff had a headcanon that the army guy Joey plays in TGWDLM calls John MacNamara "Dad"

- During the show Jeff Blim once forgot to wear the watch while playing MacNamara

- "It was the most embarrassed I've ever been in my life"-- Jeff blim

- Ranboo told the cast that they once recorded a shot for shot remake of Show Stopping Number with all the choreo for his school

- America Is Great Again was actually a backup song, the original song that got cut was "goofy" according to Jeff Blim

- When Emma asked people for their phones at curtain call some people would actually give her theirs, and Lauren + The cast would go backstage and take photos with the phones for their fans

- We reached 475k (The Witches Budget) during this livestream, and we still have 14 days left for the kickstarter!

[theocddiaries]

Yelena: Guys, I'm making the shopping list, do you want anything? John: Again??? We just went the other day. Yelena: Well, there's nothing left. Bucky: There are six of us, it's normal for things to run out faster. Yelena: Tell me now because we always forget something, and I won't make two trips tomorrow. John: Tomorrow? Tomorrow is Sunday, it's packed with people who have nothing better to do. Ava: That's why that's when we go. John: Why don't we order delivery? Bucky: No, I like to see what I'm buying. Alexei: Besides, they charge us nine bucks. John: Oh, how will we ever make it to the end of the month? Bob: Who cares, we all go together and have some fun. John: You've never gone to the store, have you…? Yelena: Okay, just tell me what you need that we're out of. John: Sausages. Yelena [writing]: Turkey sausages-- John: No, normal sausages. Bob: I prefer turkey, they taste better. Ava: Oh, fiber cookies, please. John: Those fiber ones are impossible. I feel like a cow; it takes me two hours to chew one. Alexei: Dip them in milk. John: There's never any milk either. Just some watery white stuff that you have to wait for it to curdle to get any flavour. Bucky: It's skim milk. John: Well, I'm not going tomorrow to buy stuff I don't even like. Ava: Stop whining, it's just a quick trip! John: A quick trip??? Look, we leave around noon, get to the parking lot, half an hour to find a spot, another half to find a cart that's the wonkiest one, bumping around like bumper cars. "Where do we start?" "Go get salt". I go. I grab a pack, it's torn, get salt all over me while someone else goes to the deli, takes a number. Number 27. What number are they on? Fifteen. John: While one of you wait, we go get yogurt. "Where are the fucking yogurts now, they were always here?" [mimics]: "Ding dong, today's offer on tomato sauce". You all rush to the tomato sauce like sheep, I call you. "Where are you???" "By the tomato sauce." "Where's that?? Lady, stop pushing, the aisle is wide!" Finally, one of you finds me and brings twenty other things that weren't even on the list. John: You all swear we have everything. We go to the checkout. We pick the line with the fewest people, but it doesn't move. "That one seems faster," we switch, lose our spot, and now that line moves faster, and by the time we switch back, there are eight people ahead. We get there, "Sorry, this is the express lane," Express? I've been here half an hour! John: We end up in the longest line, watching how out of five checkouts, three are closed on a freaking Sunday morning. When we finally get there, the lady in front wants to pay in coins. Finally, it's our turn. We put everything on the belt. You ask for bags, and the asshole gives us two. We get the items in the bags fast as we can while the guy behind starts putting their stuff before we even pay. John: We grab the bags and put them in the cart. They don't fit. "How can they not fit, John? They fit before!" WELL, THEY DON'T FIT NOW, OKAY? We head to the car. Another round of Tetris with the bags and the trunk that's full of crap we never use and don't even know where it came from. "Careful with the eggs. Not the sandwich bread underneath! [imitates honking]: "Hey, are you leaving???" I HOPE SO! John: We get home, take the bags out, the damn elevator doesn't work. So it's the fucking stairs. We get to the door. "John, you always have the key," I pass the bags to Bob, and he drops whatever I just put back. "It's not his fault, it's yours, you pack stuff however." John: I kick the door open. We get to the kitchen, put the bags on the table. "Help me put it away." You even want me to help put it away?! And all this freaking mess for nine fucking bucks that you then waste on Netflix, where we never watch anything because nothing ever interests you?! Everyone: Yes. John: SCREW YOU, GUYS! Tomorrow I'm staying home, that's it! [And the next day, John went shopping with them anyway.]

[jungwnies]

cat cafe | max verstappen

୨ৎ : featuring : max verstappen ୨ৎ : synopsis (requested by 🦈) : going on a date to a cat cafe 🐈‍⬛

୨ৎ : genre : fluff ୨ৎ : word count : 680

୨ৎ masterlist ୨ৎ 10k event | masterlist ୨ৎ

ᡣ𐭩 a/n : plsss this is so cute omfg 😭

you don’t even get a full step inside the café before max practically melts.

there’s a sleepy ginger curled up on the window ledge. a black and white tuxedo cat sprawled out across the checkout counter. somewhere in the back, a small gray blur streaks by, chasing a toy mouse like its life depends on it.

max’s eyes light up like a kid in a candy store. he doesn’t even hide it.

“okay,” he whispers under his breath, turning to you with a grin so boyish it makes your heart skip. “best idea you’ve ever had.”

you raise a brow. “even better than letting you teach me how to drive manual?”

“way better,” he says instantly. “no offense.”

the girl at the front desk gives you each a lint roller and a pair of house slippers, then waves you in with a soft “feel free to sit anywhere.” max is already crouched by the nearest scratching post before she finishes the sentence, fingers outstretched to a chunky tabby who immediately rolls over and exposes its belly like they’re old friends.

“look at you,” you laugh, toeing off your shoes and sinking into one of the floor cushions nearby. “absolute cat whisperer.”

“they know i’m one of them,” max says without looking up.

you snort. “so humble, too.”

the café is warm and soft, with low lighting and the smell of brewed tea and vanilla cookies in the air. there’s lo-fi music playing, a few couples scattered around with drinks and cat treats, but it all feels peaceful. safe.

max eventually joins you on the floor, two cats in his lap and one trying to climb his shoulder. his cap is tilted back just enough to show a few messy strands of hair, and his smile hasn’t left since you walked in.

he leans over and whispers, “i want, like, four.”

you blink. “cats?”

he nods. “for now.”

you roll your eyes, but the warmth in your chest is undeniable. “you’re ridiculous.”

he grins. “you’re the one who brought me here.”

you nudge his leg with your foot. “you’re lucky you’re cute.”

he raises a brow. “i’m lucky?”

a small gray kitten pads over and curls up in your lap, purring immediately. max watches you with the softest look — the kind he only gets when he thinks you’re not paying attention.

“i could stay here forever,” he says quietly.

you hum, brushing your fingers through the kitten’s fur. “i’d get jealous.”

“of the cats?”

“yeah.”

he smiles. “they’re great, but they don’t hold my hand during takeoff. or tell me they love me when i’m three time zones away.”

you glance up at him, surprised by the tenderness in his voice.

he shrugs. “don’t look at me like that. i’m allowed to be soft.”

you smile. “you are. you just usually do it with more sarcasm.”

“yeah, well,” he looks down at the orange tabby now nestled against his chest. “you bring it out of me.”

by the time your drinks arrive — hot chocolate for you, iced coffee for max — there are six cats between you, and neither of you has moved in over twenty minutes. you sip carefully, balancing the sleeping kitten on your thigh, while max snaps a photo of the black cat now curled inside his hoodie.

“i’m naming him turbo,” he says. “because he’s fast.”

you squint. “you named the sleepiest cat in here turbo?”

he shrugs. “it’s aspirational.”

before you leave, you both buy a sticker from the donation box and promise the staff you’ll be back. max practically has to be dragged away, gently prying turbo off his sweater and giving him one last scratch behind the ears.

as you step out into the cool evening air, he grabs your hand, fingers lacing through yours like instinct.

“that was the best date ever,” he says, swinging your hands between you. “i didn’t even know i needed that.”

you smile. “we can go back.”

“no,” he says, grinning at you like you just gave him a podium. “next time we’re bringing one home.”

2021-2025 © jungwnies | All rights reserved. Do not repost, plagiarize, or translate

[c4tluver02]

golden line

wc: 2.4k

warnings: none! hurt comfort happy ending lets go!!

summary: Finally getting a moment to talk to you, Steve is determined to get things fixed between the two of you.

a/n: i hope u guys enjoyed this little series!! <33 thank u for all the love on it !!!!!!!

part 1, part 2, part 3

How can I repay the due? The way you know me, love me, pull me through. ♫

After everything with Venca Steve accepted that things just wouldn't be the same. He would no longer be mad at the new normal. His new life would consist of sleepless nights all alone, no time for hobbies, stitched into a routine that wouldn't fail him. Nothing changing meant nothing could go wrong. 

This was all set in stone until you came along, and now Steve can't help but rethink his whole system. Maybe, somehow, Steve wouldn't have to feel so exhausted by all the weight he has to carry. That someone would actually want to do that for him. But now Steve is stuck in a constant state of stress for how he was gonna tell you all of this, without messing it all up. 

All of this has kinda forced Steve to open up more, ask his friends what to do instead of always having all of the answers. Robin was able to get through to him that you needed time. And maybe if the date you went on did go horrible, like he'd hoped, he’d be ready to pick you back up. 

Which it did by the way. It was just the worst and if Steve wasn't so pretty you’d swear off men for a lifetime. To get yourself all done up and have some guy waste your time felt like a slap in the face. The whole date all you could think about was how Steve wouldn't say that, or Steve would have done this. Being plagued by him was starting to drive you mad, like the way he so easily wrote you off and humiliated you wasnt enough for you to get over him completely. 

In hopes to at least start ‘mission get over Steve’ you decide to go to the store, ready to divulge in a whole carton of ice cream and cry out how sad you are of the way things ended. Whatever stage of grief involved you feeling sorry for yourself was what you were experiencing. Your red eyes in the grocery store matching a baggy outfit to show the world how broken you were feeling. Rejected, bad date, rock bottom. Next week you’ll bounce back but for right now you walk towards the ice scream section. That is until you hear a loud ‘ouch!’ come from an aisle that you were walking towards. 

Now you were really starting to feel crazy because if your delusions have truly melted your brain you would almost guess that it was Steve's voice. And when you hear Robin lecture him you feel your heart drop. 

“Do you always have zero class?” Robin scolds.

“I just tripped! I'm heartbroken, deal with me would you?” He pleads. And if a gun were to Rob's head, she would reply with a ‘oh I know’. Because to be quite frank, it's all she's heard about. 

He had asked her about the idea to go see you but Robin reminded him that maybe that wouldn't fix all his problems. That he could actually make things worse. 

Quick to get as far away from them you decide to go through the next aisle but it is humorous how bad of an idea that was. You try to turn as you see their cart come through before they do but you don’t make it in time. 

“I know but it-” The sentence stops before it really even starts. Both of you freeze, caught. 

Robin’s heart breaks, despite Steve saying he's sad, you actually look it. Eyes slightly swollen, your hair in a braid that's slightly falling apart, and an outfit that shows that you haven't left the house in a few days. 

“Are you okay?” Steve is quick to ask, walking towards you as you stand still in your spot. 

“Yeah, I just-I needed some reinforcements.” You say with a dry laugh, trying to not come off as embarrassed as you feel. 

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you. I was gonna actually stop by your house but I dunno- I mean I know how weird that sounds, but I couldn't get a hold of you and I wanted to make sure you were ok.” Somehow Steve got it all out with one breath. His hands are matching his words telling a story themselves. 

“You know where I live?” You are trying to ignore how he wanted to check up on you. 

“Well no but I was gonna look in the system.” He says scratching the nape of his neck, this isn't really coming out as romantic as it would have felt had he done it. 

“Oh.” You nod but you really don't know what to say, too embarrassed for the second time around Steve no wonder he doesn't want you. 

Robin walks up to meet you two in the middle. “We were gonna have a movie night if you wanted to join?” 

You let out a small smile at her invite, always okay with being the third wheel. And if we’re being real you could really use a win right now. It may not be a date night with Steve but hanging around two people who you know will make you feel good sounded nice. 

“Okay sure, yeah. If that's okay with you?” You ask looking back at Steve.

His round eyes go wide, not expecting you to say yes. “Sure, yes. Yeah that would be nice.” He doesn't even care that he's giving away his nonchalant facade with the big grin on his face. Simply happy with how this is going so far. 

As you scan all the snacks you three got for the movie night Steve toys around with asking how your date went but Robin beats him to it. 

“So how was your date with pool guy?” She pulls out her wallet and Steve hands you his card, already a step ahead of her with this at least. 

“It was ok, we weren’t a match but I got a free dinner.” You say with a shrug putting the last item in the bag. Admitting that it was a fail isn't an option right now, already letting them see you in this state was punishment enough. 

Steve takes the bags and you start walking out to the car. 

“I can meet you guys there?” You ask. A second to decompress how awkward this all is would be nice. 

“Okay see you there!” Robin says as she closes the door to Steve's car. You know they are talking about everything that just happened but you are sitting comfortably in silence. 

–

It only takes you about 5 minutes to get to Steve’s, his house being pretty close to the grocery store. 5 minutes to gather your thoughts about how this night might play out. Trying to think about every outcome possible to prepare but the short ride doesn't give you much time to think. 

“Rob open the door?” You hear Steve ask as you get out of your own car. 

“You ever heard of a please? Maybe a thank you?” Robin responds, even though she does open the door for him. 

You walk in only a few steps behind him and let out a soft thank you to her. 

“See at least she has manners, why am I not best friends with her?” You smile at her as she closes the door, you’ve missed this.

“So what movies did you guys get?” You ask sitting on the couch. 

“We got ‘The Exorcist’, ‘Jaws’, and E.T.”. Steve answers as he's placing all the treats you got on the table. 

“Pass, pass, and okay I could do E.T.” You smile digging into the snacks you got. 

Steve laughs and rolls his eyes at your opinionated response. “You aren't up for Jaws?” He asks while sitting next to you.

His couch isn't small but it isn't huge. The warmth of his thigh could be felt by your own, if he leans over at all he's in your personal space. 

“I think I should be asking you why you want to watch a movie about a shark that kills people.” You joke back. You're both acting like nothings wrong. It’s really not the time to get into a whole deep argument and for now that's okay with you both. 

“It’s a good movie, you should watch it.” He gives your knee a nudge and asks Robin to turn off the lights. It’s later in the evening and the sun is almost completely done setting which you thank in hopes that he can't see how flustered his small touch made you.

As the movie plays the three of you sit there making small comments in between scenes and eat your food. When the last 30 minutes comes you only hear the loud snores coming from Robin. Deciding to call it a night, Steve turns the TV off. It’s now completely dark and suddenly the fact that this has been the first time you both have been, basically, alone since the fight hits you all at once. 

“I should-”

“Can we talk?”

You both say at the same time. Steve is the one asking to talk and you nod thinking he's right. The smart adult thing to do is to talk. 

He puts his hand on the small of your back and leads you out to his backyard. The weather at night is perfect and the silence plus the small wave of the wind is relaxing. You sit on one of his long white chairs and he does the same with the other. 

“I’ve really missed you, y’know?” Steve starts. You almost wanna let out a sigh at how annoyingly mature he’s being about all of this. So open to say what's on his mind. 

“Me too.” You decide to copy. 

“I want you to know I didn't mean what I said.” 

Your eyes immediately shoot towards him. Trying to find out what game he's playing, what his angle is. 

“I am not, not, looking for something right now.” He wishes he could explain his feelings in a better way. “I know I said I wasn't and I thought I wasn't but then you came around and you changed everything for me.” 

This small silent treatment you’re giving is sorta killing him. The need to explain as much as he can to get on your good side again is all that's on his mind. 

“But then you left and you weren't coming around and the one time you do you're going on a date.” Steve lets out a huff, the anger coming back all too easily. 

“What did you think I was coming around for Steve? I liked you. I really thought we were on the same page. I mean the inside jokes and spending the whole day together.” Your usage of “liked” makes Steve wince. It hits him hard and every word after it is like salt on the wound. 

“I just, I didn't think I had anything to give anyone. All I know how to do is keep everything in all of the time so no one else falters.” Steve lets out a sigh, his vision blurring. “What would anyone want anything to do with someone like that?” 

You wish you were sitting next to him to give him a hug. To lend him a hand to squeeze, or maybe a shoulder to lay his head. 

“Steve, you know any of these people in your life would stop everything if they knew you were feeling like this.” 

“But then who's taking care of them? Someone has to.”  Poor Steve you think. A kid who was never cared for, only focuses on caring for others. 

This time you actually get up and move toward him. He scootches over and the weight of you both at the end of the plastic chair makes it lift at the top. Almost falling off Steve puts his weight to the top and you stay on. A laugh escapes out of you and soon enough he's coping. 

Silence falls between you for a few seconds. “I'm sorry you've been feeling this way.” It’s simple but it’s true. Steve is the last person who deserves to feel like this. 

“I’m sorry I made you feel this way.” He’s talking about a whole different feeling but nonetheless an awful one. 

You reach your arms to go around his shoulders and he lets his chin fall on your shoulder. His arms wrap around you in return and for the first time in weeks you feel at peace. 

“Would you stay the night? I have a spare room– Normally Rob sleeps in it but I'm sure she wouldn't mind the couch.” He asks lifting himself from the warmth of your shoulder. 

You and Steve still have a long way to go, more to get through but you’re ready to do it with him. Ready to share whatever baggage he might bring. 

“Yeah I can stay.” Giving him a warm smile, it really does numbers for his heart. 

His shoulders fall as he breathes out a breath of relief. Your forehead falls gently against his own and he closes his eyes. It allows you to really look at him, like how long his lashes are, and how pretty his lips purse out. 

“Cmon, let's go to bed.” You stand and lay your hand out for him to take. 

All of these emotions are hitting him all at once, exhaustion taking over as he does as you say intertwining his fingers with yours. 

You lay a blanket on Robin who is now fully stretched out on the couch and Steve locks the sliding glass door. You both walk up the stairs in silence but once you reach the top you both pause. 

“Can I sleep with you?” You ask. He offered you the spare room but right now you really don't want to be away from him. 

Steve is secretly thankful you did. He nods and you both climb into his bed. You guess the pros of being a rich kid is having a big bed, you both fit nicely. 

He wraps an arm around your waist and you snuggle your face into the crook of his neck. He smells like pine and chlorine from being outside this whole time. But it’s his heartbeat that easily puts you to sleep. The consistent rhythm being a perfect reminder of how thankful you are to have Steve. And the feeling of his hand going up and down due to your soft breathing is what puts him to sleep. Unsure of what tomorrow will bring but you'll deal with it together.

[ysrjune]

please i am begging for a teen dad! scott barringer x gf!reader where they go to the farmers market or something when their baby is still a toddler like 1 1/2 and just some super cute fluff with scott holding the baby and just adorable moments in general please 🙏

I've never been to a farmers market, so I chose the grocery store ANDD added other scenarios for u. Enjoy 💜

You insisted that your boyfriend just take the baby carrier with you guys inside the store, but he wasn't for it. "I can hold him. Plus, there's a seat meant for kids on the carts, so if I get tired, I'll just put him in there." Scott tells you.

Thank God that you had made a list of what you needed. Neither of you could remember from the top of the head what was missing back at home. "Milk, cereal, fruit.." You side eye Scott as you're about to read the next thing listed. "4 bags of goldfish?"

Scott looks at you and nods. "Who put that ther-Was it you??" He raises his eyebrow at the baby boy. The baby covers his mouth with his small chubby hand and then shoves it in there. "Yeah, Leo did it." Scott tsks and looks back at you. "Little trouble maker already, aren't you?" He removes the baby's hand from his mouth. "Don't do that. That's disgusting." Scott sighs and pulls a napkin from his hoodie pocket and wipes off the drool.

You roll your eyes and cross out the goldfish. Maybe one bag was okay, but you needed to stick to the actual list.

At your parents' house, there was no room for you and the baby, but luckily, Scott's house was way big enough. 2 stories and had a guest room that they turned into a nursery. You switched to online school during the middle of your pregnancy, and to 'pay back' your in-laws, you cooked and cleaned around the house while they were at work and Scott was at school.

Scott had Leo in the cart seat, pushing the cart as he followed you around. He was talking to the baby about how he was gonna switch schools next month.

"That school I'm enrolling in after winter break is supposed to help me graduate faster if I have enough credits." He tells the baby. "And it's allll because of you. Thanks a lot, pal." He grins and plays with the babies hair. He ran into the back of your ankles a few times, and everytime, he blamed Leo. "He was distracting me, babe. Honest!"

He ended up just carrying Leo the rest of the time as he helped you shop. "Oh, we need bacon and chicken legs. Can you make those again? The legs? Like, fried but not with flour? It's really good. I like it." Scott was daydreaming about what you would make for dinner the next week. He thinks your cooking is so good. Before you moved in, he had to deal with his mom's weekly spaghetti, un-well seasoned porkchops, and whatever frozen food was in the freezer.

"Your brother is so cute!" The cashier lady tells Scott with a sweet smile. He knew she meant well, but it still bothered him. Hell, it bothered him being a dad. A teen-dad at that, but it was all worth it because he loves you and Leo. Even if it's hard here and then. "Thanks," Scott mutters and takes his dad's card out of his wallet to pay. Yes, his dad pays.. it's groceries.

—

When Leo was 5 and actually able to talk, Scott's life got even better. He could actually have a whole conversation with him now, even if Leo was sort of.. annoying sometimes.

"Daddy," Leo rubs his eye with one hand, standing in front of the TV. "Yeah, buddy, what's up?" Scott asks, moving his head around to catch an angle of the TV where he could see the whole screen while his son was in front of it. "Hey man, you mind moving really quick, please? I'm watching the game." Scott says, still trying to catch that angle.

"Daddy, you know I watch the kangaroo song after I nap." Leo pouts. "Yeah Leo, I know that, but look, we can watch it after daddy watches the game, okay? This is a really good game so far and I really wanna-" "Kangaroo song. Kangaroo song, Kangaroo song," Leo says while jumping up and down. "KANGAROO SONG!" Leo yells. "ALRIGHT!!" Scott yells back in frustration. It doesn't scare the boy, though. He just laughs.

Scott groaned and went to go fetch the dvd for it and then inserted it into the dvd player. "Ya little brat." He rolls his eyes, flopping on the floor, listening to the damn Kangaroo song. He hated it so much, but if Leo didn't hear it after his naps, he'd get into a mood. Worse than Scott's.

Leo was hopping around to the song with a big smile on his face, singing along. Scott knew Leo was gonna replay it over and over again, so he turned to his side and decided to tune it out and take a nap. It was finally summer, and he thought that it'd be a chill one, but no. You were either out with your friends or parents (which was well deserved since you always took care of Leo while Scott was busy with school, football, and going out when appropriate) And Scott was here dealing with the 5 year old.

—

It was finally Scott's 21st birthday, and his parents threw him a surprise party after coming back from running stupid unnecessary errands all day. "No way, you guys did all this?" Scott smiles and hugs you, his mom and then his dad. "We did. Your dad just bought the stuff." His mom laughs. "Happy birthday, honey." She smiles and kisses his cheek.

Obviously, there was alcohol, music, dancing, drinking games, friends and family.. and kids. The backyard was really big, so there were activities out there for them. A bouncy house, toys and playhouse, swings, and everything kids like.

After running around for a while, Leo came back thirsty. The first thing he saw on the table where you and Scott were sitting was a cup half filled with an amber liquid. In Leo's mind, it was apple juice. You both didn't register your son reaching for the cup, too engaged in a conversation with a few friends from highschool. Once you heard a gag and noticed the cup drop to the floor, you looked at who dropped it. "LEO! What're you doing!" Scott reaches for his crying son.

"Leo, what were you thinking?!" You open a water bottle and give it to him. "I'm sorry mama, I thought it was juice!!" He cries, thinking he was going to be spanked. Upon hearing that, Scott starts to laugh. "Juice? Dude, you're totally insane." He keeps laughing and now stroking the boys head. "It's okay, you made a mistake. The juices are in the cooler over there. Go get one." Scott says, calming the boy down while also pointing to the blue cooler.

"I'm sorry daddy." Leo apologizes again. "It's okay, buddy." Scott replies and kisses the boys forehead. "Go play around for a little while before it's time for bed." He takes him off of his lap and gently pushes Leo to go over to play

"That was hilarious." Scott begins to laugh again. "Poor baby. He was so scared." You frown, now watching how Leo was drinking a caprisun and walking over to his cousins and friends. "He'll forget about it in an hour." Scott shrugs and holds onto your thigh. "Trust me he's gonna be okay."

—

Leo has an obsession with dinosaurs and gorillas. Like, he watches every movie he can that has them. So ofcourse his favorite movies are Ice Age: Dawn of the dinosaurs, and Tarzan. Scott actually likes Tarzan. He thinks it's sort of stupid, but either way, his eyes are always glued to the screen. His favorite character is Tantar.

His favorite in Ice Age is Buck and Rudy. He thinks Rudy is so badass. Well.. he likes all of them, actually. Especially Crash and Eddie. Again—they're so stupid, but he can't take his eyes off the TV.

Leo liked Tarzan so much that he always asked you or Scott to sing him the lullaby that the mom sang to Tarzan at the beginning. It put him right to sleep, so your answer was always yes when he wanted you to sing it to him. Scott never let you around when he'd sing. It was only for Leo's ears.

—

• Scott has a photo of you holding Leo in the hospital in his wallet.

• Leo is a perfect mix of you and Scott.

• Leo is such a sweetheart. He's very nice but he can also be a handful sometimes.

• Scott carries Leo around all the time or holds his hand.

• Leo is such a mommas boy, but he loves his daddy too.

—

When Leo was born, Scott held him in the corner of the room while you were asleep. He was in a chair, a blanket on his lap. Leo was staring at his dad through half lidded eyes. "I can't believe this." Scott thinks to himself. "I'm a dad. A 16 year old dad in 10th grade. Should've used a condom."

He admired the way the baby looked so soft and warm (he was) and felt his heart ache when Leo would yawn or begin to let out small whines. Scott wasn't the best at knowing what to do right off the bat, so he just assumed that Leo wanted to be rocked. It worked, thankfully.

—

People at your school knew you were pregnant and they knew who the dad was, but when you stopped coming to school, they sort of forgot about it until they tried to stalk yours and Scott's social media for updates. The only thing they saw was Scott's profile picture which was you and him at your baby shower.

He keeps things private. He doesn't even really talk about it with his friends unless they ask, and even then, he keeps it simple and short. He gets stares all the time around campus when somehow everyone found out that you had given birth. Must've been one of his 'friends' that said something. It was really annoying because even the teachers knew.

"So how's the baby?" Mr. Justin asks in front of the whole class one day. Scott looks up from his lab table and shrugs. "He's good."

"Oh, so it's a boy? What's his name?"

Scott wanted to roll his eyes so bad but he kept himself from it. "Leonardo." He says, not loud enough for everyone in the classroom to hear. But the teacher repeated it. "Leonardo Barringer. Cool." The man nods. "How's dad life treating you?"

"I like it." Scott shrugs.

"You take care of the baby?" Anorher damn question? When will this guy shut up?!

Scott decided to lie because he didn't want everyone to know his business. "No, I go over to my girlfriends house during the day and then she takes care of him at night and I go home."

"Makes sense since she's the mom." Mr. Justin nods. "Well, you're lucky you don't have to wake up to a crying baby all the time." He chuckles and goes back to the lesson.

Scott could feel everyone staring, but he just kept writing notes in his notebook. He knew they were judging, but he didn't care because what he said wasn't true.

big daddy reference lol also sorry I couldn't think of anything else is like 2am rn and I'm getting sleepy

@bxbyysstuff @anakinstwinklebunny @lovethestarrs @valloos @anisangeldust @xo-yaaaaaasxo @anakinca @dollfilmz @alexlovesysrjune @sockiess @sythethecarrot @speaknow-sw @loveamira @alealuvshayden @mvst4far

[filmbyjy]

Hiiii can I make a niki request? Where him and reader are trying to bake a cake or something and they end up burning the kitchen down���🤣

a/n: now that is funny, jay would definitely just look at the kitchen and be like "bruh." also i do apologise that it is quite short

we burnt that?

jay has always reminded both you and ni-ki to be careful in the kitchen. you were both never great at cooking or baking. if you even thought about picking up a knife to cut something, you'd feel a spatula smacked right onto the back of your hand.

"no." jay would say. it was a simple rule that jay always told the other boys.

"(name) and ni-ki aren't allowed in the kitchen." he'd warn them. usually they'd follow but today they made mistake.

all 6 of them had their own schedules at HYBE, outdoors or some pop up store. they seem to have forgotten...

"okay, what do you want to make?" you had asked your dearest best friend. ni-ki looks over your shoulder, reading the cook book. he points right onto the sweet chocolate cake.

"that seems simple. we have all the ingredients at the dorm already, perfect!" he says.

and so the cake baking journey starts. it was simple really, you had followed the steps in the book. they gave detailed and simple instructions that even a toddler would understand. ni-ki easily stirs up the bowl. you had opened the bag of flour, it rips completely open and you were covered in it. it goes dead silent and ni-ki slowly looks up at you.

soon enough, the both of you fell into pits of laughter. he points out the flour in your hair. honestly, if anyone was in the dorm, they'd probably think you and ni-ki were dating. of course, you two did have feelings for each other but were you two going to cross that line? who knows.

"let me help, oh god." he reaches out to swipe the flour off your face. it causes you to sneeze and he flinches a little. "okay, ew. snot."

"fuck you? you made me sneeze."

"uhh, no? the flour did." you reached out to smack ni-ki. he laughs.

"okay! i'm sorry. let's continue baking and finish it before they others get back. jungwon says that they're finishing their schedule in an hour."

"your fault." you stuck your tongue out teasingly and ni-ki does the same.

with haste, both you and ni-ki managed to finish the batter and pour it right into the cake tin. ni-ki makes sure that he sets the timer to 15 minutes before going over to where you had sat.

"you do realise that you're still covered in flour."

"no shit sherlock. i don't have a shirt to change into."

"well, you can lend mine. you should go bathe too since it's in your hair. you look like a grandma still."

"thanks. you said you'd grow old with me." you had sarcastically said.

"and i will but not when i'm still young and good looking." ni-ki smirks. you gave him a sarcastic smile and then a middle finger.

"shirt and towel, please."

"yeah, yeah." he goes over to his bedroom and hands you a shirt and towel. "do you need shorts?"

"yeah, sure." he hands you some shorts and you were on your way to the bathroom. you had quickly taken a shower and once you were out, ni-ki stays frozen.

"you look like you've seen a ghost." you say as you squeezed your hair dry. ni-ki steps closer to you and you stepped back. "earth to nishimura riki. hey." you had waved your hand in front of him.

"you look really..." he trails off. you were about to say something when you felt the cold wall right against your back. "stupid." he grabs your towel and covers your head with it. you snatched the towel and groaned.

"yah, nishimura. don't do that." he laughs. "stupid."

"why? felt your heart racing? i know, you like me too much." he sticks his tongue out and you start to chase him.

it seems though, both you and ni-ki did not hear the alarm ringing. the both of you were too blissfully enjoying each other. at some point in time, ni-ki trips and falls onto the couch. you fall right on top of him. you were up close to him. the tension felt undeniable at this point, ni-ki leans in.

just as you barely felt ni-ki's lips right on yours, you heard the keypad numbers beeping. you and ni-ki looked up at the door, not moving an inch from your position.

"we're home!" jungwon says as the door unlocks. jake, sunoo and jungwon stopped in their tracks. they were about to question the position you and ni-ki were in when they smelt something bad. something burning...

they turned their heads to the side and there, the black smoke erupting from the oven. sunoo gasps first.

"jungwon get the manager." he says. jungwon runs to get their manager. jake looks around for the fire extinguisher and sprays it right on the oven. he also turns on the the hood to allow the black smoke to go away.

once it was settled, he sighs. he stares right at you and ni-ki.

"never bake ever again." jake warns. both you and ni-ki nodded, too afraid of how angry jake looked right now.

✎ᝰ. lesson learnt: never bake ever

✎ᝰ. lesson learnt for the other boys: never leave you and ni-ki alone ever again

and yes, jay has banned the both of you from completely coming into the kitchen. at least though, both you and ni-ki were finally and happily dating.

[marvelkiddie]

Mommy’s Day

Today was a special day you figured, it’s been a while since Wanda got you long enough for her to trust you to watch a little bit of tv in the mornings, you were watching some morning cartoons when Mother’s Day commercials keep popping up on TV once in a while, by now you adored Wanda, you weren’t scared of her anymore and she knew that, it was only fair to give her something special today after all she took care of you and she no longer hitted you! you thought, but there was a tiny problem as much as she loved having you she never got proper little girl things like cute crayons or art supplies, so making a card for her was gonna be a little hard Mommy do you have scissors? i weally need them you asked while she sipped her morning coffee no you don’t, what do you possible need scissors for? she said giving you a suspicious look you pouted i can’t tell you or it wouldn’t be a surprise maybe some markers i need them for something important pwease she realized you didn’t had anything that you were asking for and after a moment she figured it wasn’t for something cheeky or harmful mmm tell you what if you do your chores mommy will go to the store to get you things hmm? you immediately stand up and walked to the sink to clean your breakfast dishes maybe some stickers too? any pretty ones you like mommy you said while fidgeting with your feet by this time she had caught onto your little plan and if she was right, she was oh so excited to finally have you all to herself and you adoring her, she quickly got ready to leave before you said if I’ve been good can i get some chocolates too pwease? You’ve been more than good but she said to not be so greedy I’ll se what i can do okay. You heard the loud clicking sound of the door and beeping to the code you made quick work to Wanda’s room to find some of her pens to start doodling on a piece of paper that you hoped will be a nice little card for her, you drew two figures one much taller with pretty wavy hair and the smaller holding onto her hand along with some flowers, by the time she got back you walked to her with caution to your surprise she got you a 64 pack of crayons! oh you were delighted, also some bunny stickers and a special scissor that cut in a zigzag line thank you mommy! thank you for my new things i did all my chores and aah im a little tired now you said faking a yawn Wanda just chuckled and gave you the bag of things, you walked to your tiny room and started coloring your previous piece of art making sure to use every single crayon of that box of course, you looked through the bag to see what else she had gotten and you were shocked to see some glitter pens! this was the best day ever! about twenty minutes later you walked to the living room with your hands behind your back mommy? are you busy? You asked with a soft voice what is it baby? are you okay? she asked putting her book down mhmm i just wanted to make you something special i hope you like it mommy you said walking to her handing her the most colorful card she had ever seen and a box of chocolates with some of them missing already but you tried! Wanda was in awe she was so happy to be at this point with you, you adored her and she could definitely see that now i think it’s Mother’s Day and you are my mommy so i wanted to give you something just for you Wanda stood up to hug you and walked you to the couch sitting you on her lap this is such a pretty card little one thank you so much she said giving you kisses all over your face making you giggle im sorry i ate some of them chocolates I couldn’t help it you said pouting but she just hugged you no worries i was gonna shared them with you anyways she said with a hand on your cheek giving you a kiss on your temple you both sat on the couch for a while with your back pressed to her explaining your work of art while munching on the yummy treats you had left, after a while you fell asleep in her arms while she was holding you close running a hand through your hair, you were both so happy to have each other.

[sturnboos]

KIDNAPPED BY CHRIS PART TWELVE

CURRENT WARNINGS: stockholm syndrome, manipulation.

“what shopping center are we going to?” Delilah asks, she was sat in the backseat beside Nick, Matt drove and Chris was in passenger.

“none that you’d know” Matt replies.

“Alright, you know the rules right?” Chris says looking at me sternly as matt pulls into the car park at the shopping centre.

“don’t walk off, dont speak to the workers, everything I want needs to be approved by you and if I need to use the restrooms one of you have to go with me?”

“I’ve trained you well” Chris laughs.

“if you dare to tell anybody you were kidnapped or you run off I’ll make you regret even having the thought” Matt said sternly as he turned the car off.

They all got out Chris held Delilah’s hand as if she was a little kid so she couldn’t run off. Matt and nick followed them like body guards. Their first stop was was a small clothing store, an older lady worked quietly at the register, and the radio played softly. Chris pushed Delilah over to the clothing racks, flipping through at light speed. Delilah watched his motions, hesitant to pick anything herself, but she didn’t need to because in the end she knew Chris had the final say, chris grabbed anything shaded pink in sight since he knew it was Delilah's favourite color. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t the right size, chris would throw it over his arm for her to try on anyway. 

Delilah looked back at Matt and Nick worriedly to see if they were going to step in and stop Chris from getting so much at the first store, but they just shrugged and let Chris grab every piece of clothing he got his hands on, seemingly unconcerned. Eventually, Chris parades Delilah over to the dressing rooms, shoving her into one. “Okay, try them on!” He exclaims, closing the door.

“ALL of them?” She asks, slightly exasperated.

He pauses. “Well, not if you don’t want to, but we’re getting you something. So at least try a few” he replies through the door.

“Also, let us see when you try something on.” Nick adds.

First Delilah picks up a light pink cropped sweater, and black skater skirt, but as she looks in the mirror, she doesn’t feel very happy with it. Not that she doesn’t love a good crop top, but she wants to prioritize stuff she can wear in her downtime. Still, to satisfy Chris she steps out in the sweater to see what the 3 think think. Nick claps, Matt just nods and chris whistles.

“Do you like it?” Chris asks.

“It’s a bit small.” She answers honestly.

He nods. “Okay, Matt go find a bigger size for this"

"Go see what other outfits we grabbed!” He smiles at her and she ducks back into the changing room.

She flips over hoodies, until she finds one that she likes. It looks a bit oversized. She slides it on, and is buried beneath it. The graphic photo is a little cracked but that was part of the design she was still fuzzy and warm in it. The sleeves flop over her hands and the bottom of it hangs down almost long enough to be a dress. it’s perfect. Excitedly, she opens the door and poses sarcastically.

“I take it you like this one?” Chris laughed, clapping his hands together in joy.

“Yeah, it’s cozy.” She held out an arm for them to feel, and feel they did, oohing at the texture. Matt was preoccupied inspecting an orange flannel on one of the nearby racks, but smiled at Delilah giving her a thumbs up when she looked over at him. “Okay, I’ll go try on more.” She said, and rushed back into the dressing room. She ran through most of the clothing, and managed to work the pile down to maybe a third of what Chris had grabbed.

At that point, they decided to leave and went up to the register to check out. Chris had asked Matt if he wanted anything since he had been looking through the flannels, but he shook his head. As the employee behind the counter read off the price, Delilah hesitated. She didn’t want Chris to pay THAT much. 

“We can uh, put some things back if that’s too much.” She said quietly. Chris turned to look at her in exaggerated shock at her suggestion. “Shut it. I’m buying things for you and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He insisted, passing his credit card across the counter. 

The employee packed the clothes into paper bags, and there ended up being a lot. Chris took a few, and Delilah planned to carry some, but Chris reached past her and grabbed 6 bags passing them into Matt’s possession. “What? When did I become her servant.” He protested. “Oh, come on, it’s a few bags.” She grinned at him mischeviously.

They ran through various other stores, the next one being furniture but they were only after little decor peices. Delilah found a nice lamp she liked, and artificial flowers in a plastic vase. “Delilah?.” Nick called, leaning out into the aisle so she could see him “come smell these candles” so Delilah did just that, until she found one she liked... a pink sands yankee candle. The rest of the shopping went pretty quick as they sped up before the store closed, she grabbed a few plushies as 'bed decor', an alarm clock, curtains, a small pink fluffy mat.

During the whole trip she didn’t even think about asking anyone for help cause the truth is she was in too deep, she was in love with Chris. She didn’t want him in trouble.

tags: @mattsfavho @sturniolobananas1 @courta13 @alexisa78 @chrisissos3xy @sturnobessed @mattschelseaa @sturniolos67 @norahsturns @dolliraez @jibitzlesscrocs @blushsturns @blahbel668 @riasturns @iloveduckssm @cl1tlover3000 @emmaweasley @chrissbxby @sturnobessed @kayskreativeideas @tits4matt @cherryswifeyy

[thoughtsforsoob]

ateez when you bring home a new pet!

note: I saw a TikTok of a girl wiping her tears with a small kittens fur and I was very inspired. I wish I could have a kitty :( anyways, we will live vicariously through y/n for now 🩷 please enjoy

hongjoong

would be hesitant at first because he’s very busy most of the time. he feels so guilty he can’t spend a lot of time with your pet. when you first brought home your new pet, a hamster, he was unsure. he’d never had one before so he didn’t know how to take care of one. he was very shy the first time he held the little creature but immediately warmed up. now, whenever he gets home, he checks on your little hammie and makes sure he’s got food and water. (ps: he calls the hamster joongrami)

seonghwa

was sooo shocked when you came home with a tiny bunny in your arms. the poor little thing was so little and it was soaking wet. you assumed someone abounded the poor thing and it was raining outside so you picked them up. seonghwa did not protest and immediately looked up a safe way to warm them up and dry them off. he grabbed a heating pad and put it on a low setting. he set in on top of a blanket on the couch and you set down the bunny. from that day forward, he brings the bunny little treats and plays with them.

yunho

so confused. he comes home one random day and finds a small golden retriever puppy on the couch. he noted the small pup was very happy yet calm, wagging its tail while managing to stay in place. he walks up and pet the puppy who nuzzles its little head into his hand. when you walk in from your bedroom he asks you about the origins of the dog. you told him you got him at a rescue shelter because they had a discount. of course he makes sure the little guy had all the good and toys he needed and never one complained for vet bills or taking him in walks.

yeosang (this one is so unserious please hear me out!)

his first though when he walked into the backyard was ‘what the hell is a capybara doing back here?’ he calls you and you come to the yard too, crouching down to pet the big rodent. you’d already formed a connection with it and he seemed to like you back. you explained that a cafe was closing and they needed homes so when you found out, you decided to adopt one. he seemed nervous about the idea at first but you assured him it would be okay. it took some time but he warmed right up the day the big rodent hopped on the couch next to him while he was watching tv.

san

this man would be so innocent with the new addition. you two already take care of byeol together so what’s another kitty? he figures it would be nice for byeol to have a little sibling to keep them some company when no one is home. He looks so funny holding just a small little creature. She’s almost lost in his broad chest. he coos to her whenever she does anything remotely cute.

mingi

he would have never thought he was going to be a father to a baby chick but here he was. you went out one day and when you returned, you had a little box from which chirping can be heard. he questioned it and you told him an older woman gave you the chick which had been born on her farm. of course he was confused as to why you’d accept but he didn’t fight back. he took the little baby chick in his hands and chirped back at it. they seemed to be having a conversation and it warmed your heart. (He does NOTtake your ‘chicken soup’ jokes lightly).

wooyoung

you only went down to the convenience store. that’s it. you were picking up two bottles on soju for your movie night and BAM! You came in with a little black kitten in tow. Wooyoung was so confused. You explained that the kitten started following you on your way to the store and you had also checked for any sign of a mama, which there was none. He agreed that you should take in the kitty, who immediately got cozy with you two. He gives her a bath, which she actually seemed to enjoy. He spoils her with cute collars and tiny kitty dresses and sweaters.

jongho

he has no idea why there’s two blue colored birds in your living room. did someone leave them there? he immediately calls you and asks you about it. you happened to be at the pet store, finding feed and other things for them. of course he’s not surprised on your crazy choice but he doesn’t mind the birds. They’re not terribly loud and they’re actually quite cute. He gets attached to them quickly and builds them a huge enclosure in the backyard so they can fly as much as they’d like.