#the caring big brother figure who has to work to support his family. who has an abusive homophobic father.

[thestobingirlie]

“fanon steve is just canon jonathan”

no. fanon eddie is just canon jonathan with some of canon steve’s relationships.

[bunnwich]

This is altogether random, but I feel you might appreciate the idea: since Leona is doing his internship with a mining company in Sunset Savanna, I like to think if he were to propose to his partner, any ring would have a stone he found himself (then or years later) that made him think of them, because they’re worth the effort.

No, I love this so much and this actually inspired to think of some HC for Leona and Yuu's engagement!! So pardon me as I use this as an excuse to yap/draw.

🧡Leona x Yuu Proposal

🧡Engagement:

I picture Leona and Yuu would be together a while time before he worrys about marriage. Leona as we know is not traditional by any means. And the two are so used to just…being there for each other, lives intertwined like a braid. 

At this time after NRC I see Leona having his hands in a few things, but mostly just there as support for Yuu and even Ruggie as they navigate graduating. After his internship he currently sits as a member of the Board of Environmental Utilization.

I think they would already live together in a somewhat isolated place near the edge of the Outlands and Sunrise City. Leona originally helped get it for Yuu to have a forever home but now he finds himself there more and more. It's a bit of a fixer-upper, reminding Yuu of the Ramshackle.

I imagine their house has a revolving door policy and often has uninvited guests, Ruggie comes to visit a lot and uses it as a place to crash when he's in town to see his Granny. And then there's Cheka (who is now a teen rebelling against his parents.)

Often the two take late-night drives in Leona’s jeep to get away from the craziness of all. Leona struggles trying to adapt to a more humble living situation and lifestyle. (he still can't work the microwave for a damn), but he tries enjoying the quiet life he has with Yuu. Yuu is still figuring out how they will fit in in their new homeland as a Sunset Savanna citizen.

I feel Leona’s family would be hassling them about marriage for years but neither are too keen on the idea of it liking their private life. However, Leona knows it’s the easiest way to protect Yuu and make sure they always have a home and inherit the house they fixed up together. (Should anything ever happen to him.) Plus, it would give them full citizenship in his homeland. 

So one day, he decides that it's time to make it legal. Of course, he already knew a long time ago that they belonged to one another, this is so cemented in his mind and he’s not even that nervous about it. At this point, they’ve been through so much together they live together, they are one. So, he does it in his Leona way.

On one of their sunset drives together he pulls out a special ring his sister-in-law helped him design with Yuu's three favorite stones that he’d sent them in their time apart. He had two requests when he had it made: it had to have a moon for Yuu and a stone for both of them.

Leona during his internship would often collect stones he would find in the mines, finding some to send to Yuu. He knew that they liked that sorta stuff even if he didn't care for it. And he didn’t mind writing down little geological facts for them. 

“So…ya wanna be married to me?”

Yuu would honestly not expect it. And he said it so casually too! Smug bastard. But as usual, he was…right, their lives were so connected they couldn't imagine not seeing his cocky face every day or hearing his soft words of encouragement then loud ass snores every night.

“Okay.” They say with a shrug, and Yuu would be crying for both them. He was right, it just made sense. Besides, what would the lion do without them?

After putting the ring on their finger he'd wrap his arms around them, intending to never let go after that. He can’t help but get teary too. He never thought that he’d have someone like his brother did, to be by his side always.

“Well, now, yer stuck with me.”

“That’s okay.”

🧡Wedding:

As for a wedding, I KNOW Falena and Sis-in-law would press for a big, fat traditional Sunset Savanna wedding. There is a bit of controversy among some old-fashioned council members that Leona is marrying an outsider and a few murmuring that Yuu is a human too. But Leona’s favorability in the kingdom has always been so divided that some take an apathetic view, expecting this behavior from the second prince anyway.

Being a “spare heir” works in Leona’s favor this time, as there is not as much pressure for an arranged marriage for him as his brother had. Though there’s still some pushback. They were fine viewing Yuuta as a fling but it’s tradition for royal family members to have political marriages.

It’s a bit of strain on their relationship during this time with the stress of the capital’s spotlight on them. Since Leona told no one about it until after he proposed to Yuu. But, because a few on the council are fond of Yuu already, (as well as the queen regent), it all works out eventually! (Leona threatens to take Yuu and run away so many times.)

It is an…adjustment getting this much attention for Yuu. But, because the house they chose is already out of the prying eyes, the two compromise by agreeing to a true royal wedding…

This doesn’t last long. The two get fed up and…elope a few months later in the middle of the night. Cheka/Ruggie sneak out to be witnesses. Falena and the queen are pissed and make them promise to get married again in a few years publicly.

🧡Traditions:

Rings are a bit more of a modern marriage tradition in the Sunset Savanna as other countries' cultures melded with theirs over the years. Leona has never been one for traditions anyway and he liked the idea of matching rings, made out of the same ore and gems.

An old tradition of Sunset Savanna marriages is that of permanent bracelets, braided by hand by the officiating party. They are meant to stay on til death. Often colored beads are added to represent each personality. The braided hemp itself represents an eternity together in this life and the next. Through the circle of life, they are connected from then on out. 

[dirtytransmasc]

Spider and Tuk being the bestest siblings ever and spider being the mvp big brother we all know he is hc's (modern + adopted spi au addition):

Before he could drive he would wait at Tuk's bus stop to get her off the bus. He insisted on doing it to "ease the workload on his parents" (since with Jake and Neytiri's work schedule, Tuk would have to go to an afterschool program and someone would have to pick her up) which it does, but it was really cause he liked to have the quality time with Tuk.

On their walk home he would ask her about school. He asks about what she did, if she brought anything home she wanted to show him (normally stuff from art class), if she did anything special or fun, that sort of stuff. He also stays up to date on her school gossip and makes sure no one's bothering his baby sis.

They hold hands the whole walk home, and more often than not he ends up carrying her or her bag for her.

Once he gets his license he picks her up from school and fills the 45 minute-ish time she would have normally spent on the bus and walking home at the park or getting ice cream or something else of the like.

When they get home he makes sure to look at anything she brought home. All the cool stuff first; art, school work she's proud of, a pretty pebble, or the occasional half wilted flower from the recess field. He makes sure to give all the praise and compliments possible, especially to the art and school work, cause he's supporting those skills early. Then he makes sure he gets all the homework, permission slips, things like that.

When his siblings ask why he does it, he says, "Who's gonna ask her to see what she drew during recess? Who's gonna ask if she did anything fun with her best friend? Who's gonna make sure she's not left out of the loop? We're a busy family, I don't want her getting left out just cause she's little, I'll ask, I like doing it anyway" he knows his family's busy, he knows Tuk tends to fall to the background cause she's the youngest, and that Jake and Neytiri are busy trying to keep them all afloat, so he takes care of Tuk.

He helps her with her homework and never raises his voice or gets frustrated. He sits next to her and they figure it out together.

He's always proud of her, even for the little things, so he's always giving her hugs and kissing her hair and other classic big brother things.

More often than not, Spider puts Tuk to bed. Either Jake and Neytiri give up trying to tame the "cranky banshee" (what Spider call her when she's tired) of a child and call Spider in, or she asks for him. He'll lay down next to her and pull her close and tell her stories until she gets sleepy and cuddled into him. Only then does he pull out the "put'em to sleep" combo, as he calls it; he hum to her (he hums "a la nanita na", like his mama used to hum to him, fight me) while rubbing her back with one hand and plays with her braids with the other. She's out like a light in a few minutes every time.

He often refers to her as a little banshee whenever she's being feisty or especially energetic.

There was an almost 2 month streak where Tuk would only sleep if Spider stayed in her room for the night or if she was in Spider's bed (which she preferred cause it was bigger and cozier). Spider didn't mind so he gave in almost immediately. Best sleep he got in years, even with the bony knees and elbows poking him.

Spider will sacrifice himself when she gets sick, opting to be the one to go comfort her, knowing he'll be sick soon after. He has spent many nights holding her on the bathroom floor and wiping snotty noses. (he always gets it and gets it *worse* but it's worth it for his baby sis)

Tuk always does he best to take care of him after. She'll sit in bed with him and pet his hair or bring him snacks/water. When she was little, she'd bring out all her Doc McStuffin's toys (cause she'd love Doc McStuffin's, again, fight me) and try and 'make him better'

Spider has the strongest cuteness aggression ever for Tuk, like, he wants to squish her and bite her and squeeze her and shake her, with all of the love in the world. He satiates himself by snatching her, flopping on the floor, and bear hugging her as tight as he can, with his legs too, and just rolling back and forth till she's giggling so hard she can't breathe.

He is deeply invested in multiple children's shows because of how often he watches them with her. (His favorite is Wild Kratts, Paw Patrol, and Ninja Turtles)

(this one next one is so random but Spi and Tuk have pastina lover vibes, again, I dare you to fight me on this)

Spider spent time in the system and fending for himself, meaning he picked up a lot of easy recipes, one of which, was pastina with butter, broth, and cheese. He passed this on to Tuk, who has now decided this is the best snack ever and asks him to make it all the time.

Spider works out, just so he can carry her around forever and ever.

He always make sure that he and his older little siblings always give time to Tuk and involve her in their play.

They go on day trips after he gets his license, sometimes just the two of them, other times with all the Sully kids. They go to museums and science centers and such. He again holds her hand most of the time, or makes sure that she doesn't get lost while playing.

Worries over her constantly.

They trade art all the time. He'll make her a knew piece of jewelry and she'll give him a new painting to keep in his room.

He has a picture of her in his wallet.

He takes so many photos of her, he's like a facebook mom. Lo'ak makes fun of him.

He's teaching her how to skateboard, cause she thinks he's the coolest ever cause he knows how to skateboard. He got her a pretty skateboard and hot pink gear (in which he went overboard in buying considering her basically bought her a hot pink suit of armor) and helped her decorate it. He also makes sure she's not picked on when they go to the skate park.

He kisses every boo boo.

He makes and (never ever breaks) lots of pinky promises.

they have a special handshake.

When the Sully's go out anywhere, you can tell when Tuk wants to go home, because she'll be in Spi's arms, cause he'd never turn down an opportunity to hold his baby sister.

They match hair beads. Spi will always have at least one that matches with hers at all times, and Tuk will have one of his on the braid behind her ear so she can fiddle with it.

Tuk always double and triple checks that Spider has his inhaler (he doesn't know how she remembers better than he can)

She wears his shirts to bed a lot. They're big and soft and who could blame her?

should I do more of these (maybe one for each sibling?)

[gulnarsultan]

i missed you!!! ❤️ do you write yandere for the bridgerton siblings x reader

Hello dear. I miss you too. I hope you like it. Yandere Platonic Bridgertons and gender neutral sibling Bridgerton reader.

Anthony

He is an extremely determined and focused on success. He is determined to fulfill his duties as a viscount. He is concerned about his family's social standing and how people perceive him. Anthony is especially meticulous about your social standing. He will make sure that nothing and no one harms your social standing. He will make sure that you are healthy, well-nourished and well-cared for. He tries to be a father figure in a way. He is protective and territorial. He does not want to let you have a lover. However, if you insist and if the man is really a good candidate for you, he may allow it. Even if he never says it out loud, you are his favorite among his brothers and sisters.

Benedict

He is the person who cares about emotions the most among the brothers in the family. He works very hard to establish true and reliable emotional bonds with you. Sometimes he thinks that the other family members do not understand him. He is very meticulous about playing the role of your father emotionally. He will never let you feel fatherless and unloved. He will especially never let your feelings be hurt by others. It doesn't matter who the other party is. He will always try to surround you with people who will truly understand and care about your feelings. If he truly believes that the person who wants to be your partner is honest about their feelings. He will allow you to have a relationship.

Colin

He is an expert at making you laugh. He always tries to put a genuine smile on your face. He is proud to be the source of your joy. If you asked Colin, he would say that his purpose in this world is to make you laugh without thinking. Colin gets very jealous when someone else cheers you up and makes you laugh. He pouts and wanders around like a child. He probably doesn't want you to have a partner. He is trying to encourage you to love being free like him. After all, who needs a partner when you can have fun with a great big brother like him?

Daphne

She is a mother hen. Your childhood is spent with her struggling around you as a protective mother hen. Your health and happiness come before anything else. Moreover, she needs you to support her and be by her side. She is ready to do anything for your love and appreciation. If you see her as your role model, believe me, Daphne will be happy for the rest of her life. She never gets tired of talking about you. If someone upsets or hurts you, Daphne's anger will burn and destroy everything. She really has to believe in your partner to let her have a partner.

Eloise

She is the quickest witted in the family. She does a great job of eliminating many problems with her intelligence. She often spends most of the day having intellectual discussions with you. She helps you with your homework and many other subjects that require intelligence. She thinks she is the best choice to be your mentor. She will let you have a partner on one condition. Your potential partner has to pass Eloise's test. She will protect and save you with her intelligence.

[softsan]

・⊹ 🎐 ˙ ̟!! NCT MASTERLIST

key: fluff 🤍 , angst 🖇️ , suggestive 🍶 , smut 🥛 , adult themes 🍚 , coming soon 📨 , in progress 🎧 , completed 📑 , requests 📁 .

✉️ ・ 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓 ・ ᝰ

˚ ☁️ ⊹ alphabet boy. — lee taeyong 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🥛 , 📨 , single dad au, ceo au synopsis - after a nasty breakup with your ex-boyfriend, you return back to the city you once called home. not quite ready to face your parent’s disapproval, you beg your brother jaehyun to keep the secret of your return and help you out by securing you a job. what you hadn’t foreseen to come was the all-consuming relationship that would form with your new boss taeyong… what more trouble could you possibly find yourself into? - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ champagne problems. — lee taeyong 10k ; 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚 , 📨 , gangster au synopsis - the night was young, your parents were merry. this engagement would prove fruitful for you family, only furthering their fortunes. however, the infamous gangster taeyong has other plans. can you resist  taeyong’s deadly allure? or will you fall helplessly for the for the enemy you should avoid? - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ twist of a pen. — lee taeyong 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 📨 , fantasy au synopsis - you were a novice scriptwriter who had just received your big break joining the writing team for the upcoming miniseries starring some of hollywood’s finest. taeyong was the heartthrob lead, cold and distant to everyone on set. one rainy evening, whilst writing, you accidentally fall asleep and find yourself transported to an alternative reality where you are the princess of the script you were writing, and taeyong is the villain that tries to kill you. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ noir. — kim doyoung 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚 , 📨 , 1950′s setting, gangster au synopsis - you were a daunting figure, a true-born witch of the lunar coven. doyoung was a formidable foe, a gangster from the city east. both of you worked in societies’ shadows to expand your own personal objectives. however, it appears fate has entwined your paths together in more ways than one. What happens when you pair an impulsive witch with a ruthless gangster? chaos. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ you're undeniable, love. — kim doyoung 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 🍚 , 📨 , medieval setting, fantasy au synopsis - you had promised the elders to keep a low profile. to do what you must to sell yourself as an ordinary being. once disguised as a maid, your lady who was betrothed to the merciless prince doyoung flees before her wedding ceremony, leaving her father with the impossible choice of finding a replacement to pose as his daughter in order not to offend the warring states. his replacement, most unfortunately, is you. however, will you survive alongside the lies, deceit and a husband the world has branded as a monster?  - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ mortem. — jung jaehyun 10k ; 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚, demon au synopsis - you were a struggling dropout who took a side job as a waitress at a maid café. not only were you financially supporting your high school sweetheart through law school, but you were also responsible for taking care of his elderly grandmother. despite your dedication to your boyfriend, he commits the ultimate betrayal, selling your soul to the underworld. desperate for your survival, you make an impossible choice…becoming a servant of a bloodthirsty demon, jaehyun. . - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ be my valentine. — mark lee 3.2k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 📑 , 1980's setting, best friend au synopsis - you’ve had a crush on your neighbour mark since you were a kid. one fateful valentines day dance you decide to confess your love. unfortunately, things go horribly wrong as a slew of misunderstandings occur. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ hold me tight. — lee donghyuk 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 📨 , soulmate au synopsis - . - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ sugar cookie. — lee jeno 10k ; 🤍 , 🥛 , 📨 , slice of life, cafe au synopsis - life can be challenging. one of your daily challenges was trying to study in your brother’s cafe, in the presence of the cute barista boy, jeno. you knew you really should have gone elsewhere—you concentration fading by the second, but oh you couldn’t will yourself to leave, not after he flashed that smile of his in your direction. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ so called love. — na jaemin 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 📨 , soulmate au synopsis - . - read here.

✉️ ・ 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 ・ ᝰ

˚ 🌨️ ⊹ mafia au. — nct 10k+ ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚 , 🎧 , mafia au synopsis - dive into the dark, devious, devilish mafia universe. where one rejoices in deadly past times, and indulges in all sorts of sin. - read here.

˚ 🌨️ ⊹ werewolf au. — nct 10k+ ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 🍚 , 🎧 , werewolf au synopsis - howl alongside the werewolf universe. come across the likes of moon beast, wolf bites, and other wicked and wild things. - read here.

˚ 🌨️ ⊹ hybrid au. — nct 127 10k+ ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍚 , 🎧 , hybrid au synopsis - embrace the hybrid universe. overcome the greatest of differences and the hardest of challeges, for a reward most precious. - read here.

✉️ ・ 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐒 ・ ᝰ

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ taeyong. [5:43 am] [1:58 pm] [4:09 pm] [5:26 pm] [10:58 pm] [11:56 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ taeil. [3:54 pm] [6:35 pm] [9:15 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ johnny. [7:43 am] [2:26 pm] [3:43 pm] [5:38 pm] [8:23 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ yuta. [7:45 am] [8:55 am] [4:45 pm] [5:47 pm] [6:45 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ kun. [4:56 pm] [6:12 pm] [8:45 pm] [11:04 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ doyoung. [10:12 am] [3:14 am] [8:36 pm] [9:06 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ ten. [12:31 am] [6:13 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jaehyun. [3:12 am] [4:51 am] [8:56 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ winwin. [5:48 am] [11:03 am] [1:39 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jungwoo. [7:07 am] [7:43 am] [7:45 am] [5:28 pm] [7:21 pm] [11:58 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ mark. [8:12 am] [6:59 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ xiaojun. [6:02 am] [10:17 am] [4:43 pm] [5:34 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ hendery. [6:42 am] [8:54 am] [2:30 am] [6:08 am]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ renjun. [12:03 am] [10:01 am] [3:25 pm] [6:02 pm] [11:54 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jeno. [12:25 am] [10:12 am] [4:09 pm] [4:43 pm] [5:43 pm] [9:47 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ haechan. [11:15 am] [3:01 pm] [5:56 pm] [11:39 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jaemin. [12:20 am] [1:06 am] [8:45 am] [11:03 am] [4:58 pm] [6:14 pm] [7:34 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ yangyang. [2:32 am] [7:45 am] [9:18 am] [2:58 pm] [10:56 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ chenle.

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jisung.

© softsan - all rights reserved. please do not repost on any social media sites, translate, or modify any of my works.

[martamatta95]

Thanks to @westernmanergy and his great post about Valentino the vigilante/urban legend, he inspired me to post this because I decided to write some snippets that I've been putting off for months.

I've been thinking about this AU in the style of Turning Red (Pixar movie) for a while now. A Puerto Rican boy who, due to a family curse, wakes up one day in the body of this ten-foot-tall moth.

And here I need your help guys, I'm a fan of staticmoth so:

where do I place Vox in all this? And I had several inspirations, student Val has a crush on? Or Hot teacher?

Consider that in this AU I want to make Valentino older than the protagonist of Turning Red so 16/18 years old.

Then I also thought what if the abilities/appearance of the Moth activates when our poor boy has impure thoughts and gets excited? What if Vox is a hunter of mythological creatures/exterminator and Velvette is his assistance? Did they go undercover in this school following reports of paranormal/demonic activity? What if Vox is also afflicted by a curse?

My favorite option is Valentino who is figuring out his sexuality and struggling with the issues of a normal teenager, meanwhile he has to take care of his little sister Verosika, while his mother is single and works two jobs to support her children.

In the midst of all this, one day he suffers a major public humiliation (I'm trying to decide what) and that night he has strange nightmares of terrifying creatures. The next morning he wakes up in the body of a ten foot tall moth and from there chaos ensues as he tries to hide and master this new ability, balance his 'normal' life, the strange instincts of the moth that make him more sensitive and receptive.

Added to all this is the arrival of a new trendy student who Val quickly befriends and the new math teacher who Valentino develops a crush on and the moth squeaks kick in when that beautiful man is around.

And what do you think? Feel free to tell me your opinions on this silly AU.

As always my native language is not English so I apologize for any mistakes

PS I want a little Verosika hugging her soft big brother💓🦋

[theitgirlnetwork]

Better

Ch. 13: I've Got It

Note:....Been a while. I know boooo, it was very shitty of me, and I'll spare you the sob story but I'm back. Thank you all for the continued support, I am extremely grateful to everyone who gave and continues to give this story a chance. I am ready to get back to work. This chapter is a long one as the beginning of my apology. As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or just to chat, but all in all, it feels good to be back. Happy Valentines Day, babies <3

Warning: Toxic Family Dynamics, anxiety, angst and strong language.

“Now we wait.” 

Lip rolls his eyes as he sits on the bed in his and Charlotte’s room at Kev and V’s house, crossing his arms. “This is fucking stupid.”

V’s sharp elbow goes into his side as Kev shushes him, facing the opposite direction. 

The three of them are sitting and waiting outside of the bathroom door, straightening as Carol emerges from the room, blue and white stick in her hands and Charlotte in tow. “Auntie Carol, I told you I’m not pregnant-” 

“Hush, little girl, stop whining.”

“But Mama,” V tries, rubbing her head tiredly. “She just had her period.”

“You shut up, Veronica, you were supposed to be watching her, not letting her shack up while you did, lord knows everything but take care of your cousin. Now I’m gonna hear shit from her father and his wife the whole time they’re here.” The older woman huffs, squinting at the test, snapping her fingers and pointing to the bed, gesturing for Charlotte to sit. “The least we can do is make sure she’s not pregnant when they get here.”

Lip rests his hand on Charlotte’s thigh as he tries to hide his annoyance with the whole situation. The call with Charlotte’s dad had been disastrous, as he suspected it would be. The older man had cursed him to high heaven before demanding Charlotte be on the next flight home. When Lip heard that he’d panicked, snatching the phone back from his wife and hanging up. All they’d received since then was an eerie message that they were on their way. Because he’s him and he has literally no control over his own brain, he had no choice but to question why she hadn’t told her parents about them, about him. It seemed like her dad hadn’t even expected to hear from a boyfriend let alone a husband. They’d at least been together long enough that her parents should know he exists.

In fact that’s all he can think about, aside from the fact that he may have lost his job. And how the two may be related. 

“Fuck!” Lip growls as he punches the wall in the hallway. He’s unconcerned with what Fiona will say about it. He’ll just blame it on Frank. 

Charlotte’s head pops out of the bathroom with a freshly bathed Liam on her hip, both looking as innocently confused as ever. Liam claps his hand, squealing, mumbling out an excited ‘fuck!’ as he meets his brother’s eyes. “No, Liam, that's a bad word. Phillip didn’t mean to say that. He meant to say darn, right Phillip?”

The blond is in too foul a mood to concede for cuteness sake and instead squeezes the boy’s cheek and gives his wife an appreciative pat on the ass before scooting past. “Nah, I meant fuck.” 

Charlotte pouts as she bounces the child on her hip a little before taking him to sit with one his other siblings as she goes to figure out what’s wrong with her spouse. She’s noticed that Phillip has been on edge since her parents’ message, but she was beginning to think that wasn’t all that was bothering him. 

She finds him spread out on the couch, staring up at the ceiling with a scowl on his face. Her pout deepens as she climbs over the side of the couch, laying her body over his, pressing her chest to his and offering him a bright smile. “Talk to me, bubba.” 

“I’ve just got shit to figure out I guess, I gotta handle it or we’re fucked.” he huffs, rolling his big blue eyes, as she smooths the lines between his brows with her soft fingers. 

“Shit like what?” Charlotte asks, tilting her head lightly. 

“Watch your mouth.” He murmurs, softly, dragging his thumb over her bottom lip before pushing it into her mouth, humming with quiet satisfaction as she simply closes her mouth around it, brown eyes staring up at him intently. “That shit at the party, lost my cool, cause that fucker is trying to fuck you-” 

“Don’t want him.” she says around his finger.

“I lost my cool and sorta might’ve cost us a good thing.” Lip sighs, smoothing his other hand over her hair. “Daddy wants to talk to me in his office later this week. Fucked it up, sorry baby.” 

It almost feels worse. How quickly she shrugs off his failures. She doesn’t tell him he fucking sucks, or that he ruins everything. She doesn’t huff and push off of him. She offers him a soft smile, kisses him deeply, and tells him ‘they’ll figure it out’. They’ll do it. Another thing he just can’t do for her. He feels helpless. He loves her, and this job was the biggest step he’s made in showing her that. He might beg. He might literally have to set his pride aside and beg. 

That was part one in the hardest lesson life has taught him. Phillip Gallagher is not good enough for Charlotte Gal…Fisher.

“Yay, Debbie!” Charlotte screams , clapping along as Ian whistles. The family was gathering for Debbie’s first soccer game of the season and it was…not going well. Turns out Debbie’s team sucks and she doesn’t respond very well to the rules and restrictions of soccer. She was currently focusing more on digging her heel of her cleats into the shin of a kid who’d accidentally kicked her hand while the ball rolled past her. 

“Fuckin’ kill ‘em, Debs.” Mickey calls, lighting his cigarette. His brows furrow at the looks the parents around him send him. “I fuckin’ meant, metaphorically.”

“Figuratively.” Lip corrects, smacking away the middle finger that gets waived in his face. He sighs as Charlotte knocks his own cigarette out of his hand before he can light it, slapping her thigh, pulling her leg over his as she giggles in his ear. Lip relishes in the closeness and warmth he gets from this moment. His wife leaning into him, absently toying with his fingers as she cheers for his little sister. 

It makes him think. He thinks about the future. Doing this with his kids. Their kids. Kids he didn’t even think he wanted. Not until her. Just the idea of her opens a world of possibilities he hadn’t even factored in. It feels good. It would feel great, if some fucking idiot wasn’t staring at her like a piece of fuckin’ meat-

“Can I fucking help you, fuck face, or do you wanna keep starin’ at my wife?” He demands, standing immediately. Ian and Mickey are following suit soon enough, the latter, lifting Charlotte and placing her on the opposite side of all of them. 

“Woah,” the guy lifts his hands in surrender, eyes darting between the men nervously. “I just was trying to figure out where I know her from, I don’t want any issues.”

“Let’s just say you don’t know her from anywhere and you get to keep your teeth, alright?” Mickey growls. 

The three men settle back into their seats and return to the game. Charlotte waves off Debbie’s confused look that she sends to the stands. She whispers into Lip’s ear that everything is fine. That the guy probably frequents the bar she works at. But from the way she shifts uncomfortably in her seat, zipping her jacket up to her neck and crossing her arms over her chest, hoping he wouldn’t notice…Lip fucking hates himself. He really does. He hates the guys at the club that pay to see the love of his life essentially naked. He hates that they go around thinking about her after they leave the fuckin’ seedy ass building. He hates that she works there, because despite the fact that her body is beautiful and he’s glad she’s comfortable in it, his insecurity is making her insecure and now they can’t be at his sister’s soccer game, or the grocery store, or the park or the club without someone fucking eye-fucking his wife, pissing him off and making her uncomfortable in her own damn clothes. 

But mostly, mostly he hates himself for not being able to make her like the women sitting on the opposite side for the other team. The soccer moms who have husbands that take care of fuckin’ everything they need and have shit to spare to give them what they want. He hates that she’s not sitting here with one of those fancy, stupid ass purses that they all seem to fuckin’ have. He hates that while they got to drop their kids off at a nice ass school after they kissed their husbands goodbye and then went shopping or drinking or whatever upper middle housewives do with their days Charlotte was helping clean his shithole house. He hates that after the game he’s gonna drop her off to the club where she’ll meet more creeps who get off thinking about her and eye-fuck her in his face. He hates that he’s too pussy to go into the club because then he’s worried he’ll steal one of Mickey’s guns and air the bitch out and Charlotte’ll be forced to visit him in jail for the rest of her life. 

So Lip grinds his teeth and finishes watching the game. Leg jumping as he tries to soothe his temper. That’s part two.

Charlotte’s parents arriving is the nail in the marital coffin for Lip. They go pick them up from the airport in the attempt to make a good impression. The couple borrows Kev’s car and the whole ride their Charlotte tries to keep him in a good mood. He knew he must be walking into the lion’s den from how she’d been acting. They’d had sex twice that morning, and before he could start to offer to make her breakfast for her…efforts, she was pulling out the ingredients to make him pancakes. In the car, she didn’t whine about his music, just humming softly as it played, rubbing his arm as his hand rested on her thigh. He wants to be able to leave it at this. He doesn’t want to interrupt the great morning by asking the dreaded question, but he’s him and he can’t let it go.

“So, we haven’t really gotten to talk about it, but I need to ask…why didn’t you tell your parents about me?”

Charlotte takes a deep breath, staring straight out the window as they pull into a pickup spot. “They’re parents…you know, they didn’t exactly send me here to get married in three months.”

“They won’t approve. Fuck.” he nods.

“Bubba, it doesn’t matter.” Charlotte turns to face Lip, pulling her knee into the seat beneath her. “It doesn’t matter, I approve. I’m more worried about what you’ll think of me. My parents aren’t the nicest people, and…I’m not good with navigating them.”

“Charlotte, there’s literally nothing short of murder you could do that would make me change my mind, you’re not the one we need to worry about.” Lip pushes his tongue into his cheek absently, nervously drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, the reflection of the simple ring shining on his hand. 

“This is temporary, right?” Charlotte murmurs, leaning over the console and placing her hands over Lip’s. “They’ll come, and see how good you take care of me and they’ll go home. ‘Kay?”

The blond man just nods quietly, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing it, savoring their bubble one last time before they get out of the car.

“I hate the airport, it's dirty and busy all of the time.” 

Lip rolls his lips together as he drags his in-laws bags over to the car, listening quietly with Charlotte as her mother and father talk about how miserable their flight has been. Her dad, Victor, had given him a curt nod in introduction and held his arm out for Charlotte to obediently place herself into a hug that Lip could tell she didn’t want. Her mother Cynthia had kissed her cheeks in a European way to where they never actually touch. Both people looked polished, and barely tried to hide their wince when Charlotte said, “This is my husband, Phillip.”

Lip’s wife’s pretty brown eyes haven’t lifted from ground level since they met her parents at the terminal, an absent look on her face as her parents drone on and on with pleasantries.

“...and, honey, don’t you think it’s a little too cold for that outfit?” her mom finishes, as the three of them stand back and watch Lip load the car.

“‘M warm.”

“I am warm.” Her mother corrects.

“I am warm.”

“I don’t know how you could be, with this frigid Chicago air. Hopefully you’re not getting sick. Phillip, you always have to watch her, she never wants to wear a coat, always trying to walk around half naked and expect not to get sick-”

“We’d better hope she’s not having hot flashes.” 

“Victor!”

And that too. The snide remarks. Glances down at Charlotte’s stomach, and positioning himself between her and Lip as they walk back to the car. The muscle in Lip’s jaw jumps in irritation as her father continues to insinuate that the only reason he’s here is because he’s some white trash deadbeat that knocked his daughter up. 

“I’m not pregnant, Daddy.”

“As you’ve told me.” The older man grunts, sliding between his daughter and the car, climbing into the front passenger seat the second the lock clicks open, not even sparing her a glance. 

“Are you guys, uh, hungry? We could stop and get something to eat.” Lip sniffs, glancing up into the rearview mirror to get a look at Charlotte. She’s in the back, toying with her fingers as she stares out of the window. That is until her mom swats at her hand to get her to stop, and she takes to biting her lip instead.

“No thank you, young man, the hotel should be fine.” Victor huffs again, for the fiftieth fucking time since he’s been in the car. “Charlotte, I made you a doctor’s appointment for tomorrow, since you never took the time to find a physician yourself. Your mother will take you after we have breakfast. I assume you’ll be joining us, Phillip.”

Charlotte manages to look up at that, her voice resigned as she addresses her father. “Of course he will, Daddy, we’ll be with you bright early.”

The car goes silent for a moment before Victor mumbles under his breath, ‘you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.’

“Daddy?”

“I’m sorry, are we supposed to pretend that this is okay? Cynthia, I tried, but this is fucking ridiculous!”

“Victor! Please.”

“Okay.” Lip grunts, pulling the car into one of the hotel parking spots in the far corner of the lot. 

“No, Charlotte Andrea Fisher, you are 19 years old. You are away from home for the first time, against my better judgment. You have been away for only 3 months. You are naive, and impulsive, and for some reason want to be like your cousin Veronica so damn bad. You are going to take your ass upstairs to the hotel room your mother and I got you and you are not shacking up with this boy-”

“He’s not a boy, he’s my husband, Dad.” Charlotte whimpers from the backseat. Lip grinds his teeth and unbuckles his seatbelt, catching her mother roll her eyes and rub her forehead as he climbs out of the car.

“Oh, god, the waterworks-”

“You are a little girl, and that is a boy. You’re talking about marriage, that sham is getting annulled, if it was even legal-” Victor follows suit, climbing out of the car and slamming the door, opening his wife’s before walking, meeting Lip at Charlotte’s door. The older man goes to tug it open, only to be stopped by Lip’s hand. “Move.”

“No. My wife is coming home with me.” he says calmly.

“Your wife? Your wife, she’s my daughter, and she’s coming with me and her mother-”

“Her mother and I.” Lip says smugly.

“Oh.” Victor cocks his head, taking a step closer to an unflinching Lip. “You think you're tough, boy?”

“You tell me, we’re from the same place.”

The older man glares past him to the car window again. Shifting his attention to Charlotte. “Charlotte Andrea Fisher-”

“Gallagher.” Her muffled voice calls from behind the cheap glass. “My last name is Gallagher now, Dad.”

It’s quiet. Soft. Her voice waivers. But still. She said it. And still, it fills Lip up with pride as he leans against the car door, using its keys to click it closed as he watches her mother drag her husband away. Forcing him to the hotel.

After he watches the fancy, sliding double doors close behind them and the yelling becomes a little more faint, Lip unlocks the car. The way she falls into his arms crushes him. The tears, the shaking, the sobs of ‘I thought they’d give us a chance’ that part hurt. 

Lip Gallagher has watched his parents abandon his siblings. Hit them. Steal from them. Lie. Everything in the book of bad parents. He’s been watching it his whole life. He’s numb to it. It’s life, he tells them. Doesn’t matter, they don’t matter. Frank and Monica. They’ve never been anything to them, and never would be.

But watching this. Watching Charlotte lose her parents in front of him, because of him, he’s never seen anything like it. He’s sad for her. He watched them rip her to shreds with words and disapproving looks. They came here and broke the love of his life within an hour and a half.

This wasn’t the final straw.

No, because Lip’s girl is sweet. This is something he’s always known, and in anyone else he’d call it a flaw. She’s like Debbie, but less vengeful. She forgives. Gives second…third…fourth chances. Hell, its the only fuckin’ way he’s been able to keep her, and normally, he’d thank whatever shitty higher power that’s up there that dropped this woman in his lap for him to hoard to himself but not today.

“She says she wants to say sorry for him. I’m not gonna talk to him, just her. She promised.”

“Bunny, I’m not gonna tell you don’t see your mom-”

“Good!” Charlotte chirps as Lip watches her tug on some notably baggy jeans over her shapely legs, and pull an oversized sweater over her head.

“‘M gonna tell you it’d be pretty fuckin’ stupid though.” he finishes, grabbing the edge of her sweater and pulling her into his lap as he sits on the bed. 

Charlotte smoothes her fingers over his cheek before leaning her forehead against his. “Hm, like threatening your boss's son?”

“Fuckin’ defendin’ your honor.” he grunts, tilting her toward him and patting her ass.

“My hero.”

“Exactly, and now I’m the fuckin’ dragon, lockin’ you up in the tower so the evil people who made the princess cry yesterday don’t get to do it again.”

“That’s really not how fairytales work. And dragons can’t lock doors.”

“Fuckin’ smartass.” Lip breathes, connecting his lips to hers, kissing her deeply. He squeezes her tightly, trying to wring every negative thought out of her head. “They hurt you.” he whispers against her lips.

“They’re my parents. They think they’re doing what’s best for me. They’re not. But that’s what they think.” she whispers back, pressing one more kiss to his lips before pulling away. “So, I’m gonna go to this doctor’s appointment. Do another pregnancy test. Show them we’re married because you loveee me. And then, I’m gonna tell my mom our love story, leaving out some key details. And I’m gonna make her love you like I do, Bubba.”

Lip sits back and takes in her words. Because maybe that is what she’ll do. Maybe Cynthia will reconsider and maybe that will make things better. Maybe they’ll understand their situation and that they love each other and he’s pretty sure they won’t fuckin’ love him but maybe they’ll understand that he fuckin’ loves her. “Hopefully not like you love me. You’d have some competition.” she gasps at that, smacking his arm. “What? You look alike!”

The plan was clear. Charlotte was supposed to go and charm the pants off her mom on Lip’s behalf, he was supposed to be at home, hold down the fort, and figure out what the hell he was going to say to his boss, to get his job back. 

Lip had set up shop. He’d plopped back on the run down couch in his house, and pulled one of his little siblings toys from underneath his ass and started rolling a joint on the table. It was time for him to play his part. Think. For him, and for his family. 

But then there was the knock. And then it turned into knocking. It was incessant.

“Fuck! Hold on. ‘M fuckin’ coming!” He calls, tripping over the plastic bat on the floor when he makes his way over to the door. “What-”

“Phillip.”

“I…what the fuck are you doin’ here? Come to yell at me s’more?” 

Victor Fisher stands with his arms crossed. Polished with a neat sweater and ironed pants, looking wildly uncomfortable and out of place in his own old neighborhood. “No, I…think I did enough of that yesterday. At least that’s what Cynthia tells me.”

“Okay,” Lip shrugs, leaning in the frame and catching Victor’s glance at the chipped paint. “Well, she tell you that she and Charlotte are going to the doctor?”

“Yes. It was my own idea to come down here and ask you to come get something to eat with me while we wait.”

The blond’s eyes narrow as he laughs incredulously. “You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.” 

“Not at all.” Victor sighs, crossing his arms. “I am extending an olive branch. For Charlotte’s sake. Grab the other end.”

For Charlotte’s sake.

“So tech. Good business.” 

“Technology and science are languages that I’ve always been able to speak. It pays too.” Lip shrugs, pushing a forkful of eggs into his mouth. 

“Well?” Victor asks without looking up. This has been their breakfast so far. Short, stilted conversation. Lip answering the questions Victor fires at him. Trying to gauge his reactions to everything he says. Pretending he wasn’t starting to hate this man.

“Gettin’ there.” 

“How many siblings do you have, Phillip?”

“Uh, five.” 

“Smart like you?” he asks, pushing his glasses up his nose.

“They’re smart.”

“But not like you.”

“Uh, no. Not like me.” Lip shifts in his seat, suddenly unable to follow the conversation.

“Hm.” Victor reaches to the side of the table, pouring more coffee into his cup and then into Lip’s. “Charlotte is an only child, you know that?”

“I know everything about Charlotte.”

“So, you know why we want her to go to the doctor so badly?” 

“Fuckin’- yes!” 

“You know she’s got chronic pain? That she suffers from sickle cell? She told you that?”

What?

Lip tries to keep a poker face as all of the wind is knocked out of his body. A thousand questions are swirling around in his head. His chest hurts. He didn’t know, why didn’t he know? He should have known-

“Do you know what happens when people who suffer from sickle cell go into crisis? What a flare up of chronic pain looks like for her?” Victor sighs, fully removing his glasses this time. “Probably not, you’ve known her for three months. But it happens, and it's bad. She…she can’t move. Barely eats, loses weight rapidly. The pains. The shakes. The crying. Are you prepared for that?”

“Yea-yes-”

“I’m sure you could. You’re a man. I understand that. You grew up here. You’ve had to be a man long before you were supposed to and that is unfair and I’m sorry that happened to you but the reality is, Charlotte is a girl. You two are a year apart, but you’re a man and she’s a girl. She grew up in a nice house, with me and her mother. She went to nice schools. We knew she was pretty, too pretty for her own good, so we protected her from the boys not worth keeping around-”

“Fuck you.” Lip scoffs.

“No, I’m not implying you’re not worth anything, Phillip. Boys like you from this area are diamonds in the rough. Just like me. I was just like you. And I got the girl. You have Charlotte, I had Cynthia. I know how it feels to hit the lottery.” Victor pauses to take a drink of his coffee, gesturing to the waitress for the check. “But Phillip, I don’t speak to my siblings. My parents. They were deadbeats. My siblings stayed here. I left them behind. They hate me. All of them. And over time, I’ve learned that I don’t care. I chose Cynthia. I chose me. They were holding me back. I let them go. Because you’ll learn, Phillip, that getting there only gets there, when you can focus. You can’t keep two families afloat.” 

Lip works his jaw irritably, feeling his skin heat with irritation as he weighs what his father and law says. “What are you trying to say? I should abandon my family?” 

“No. I’m saying it's not too late to choose them and annul your marriage. We both know you can’t take care of Charlotte. Not the way she should be. Not for a long, long time. So give her back to people who can. People who can make it worth you and your family’s while.”

“I…” Lip grits his teeth at the sound of his voice cracking. “I love her. I take care of her.” “She’s been living here, working as a stripper under your care. Want better for her, Phillip.” Victor says, snapping his checkbook closed as he slides the piece of paper across the table. The waitress comes over with the bill, dropping it between the two men and Lip absentmindedly reaches into his pocket to find some money, pausing when the older man holds his hand up to halt him. “Don’t worry, son. I’ve got it.”

Sending the message was hard, but it was the only way Lip knew how. 

He knew he couldn’t look Charlotte in the face yet. No. He needed more time. Time to think. Time to decide he was doing the right thing. Time to finish talking himself into this. 

Victor told him what he needed to do. Bend her heart, not break it. Neither of them wanted to see her broken. Just hurt her enough that she’s prepared to go home. Charlotte’s stubborn, so she won’t just give up. She won’t run to her parents so easily. So Lip would need to be able to hold out long enough that she would give up. Get tired. Realize it was over and go home. 

And Lip would be able to pay the bills in the house, for the next three months. One month for each one he and Charlotte had together. He would be able to get his family a car. He would have something to drive back and forth to work in. A real car. Not a run down busted up car barely off the junk lot. A real car. One that he could keep for years.

So, he came home. Her mom kept her out a long enough time, clearly in on this plan to write him out of Charlotte’s fuckin’ life. He went to his house. He looked his siblings in the face and told them that he was ending things with Charlotte. And they were fuckin’ pissed. The kids weren’t talking to him. Debbie said she hated him. But she’d get over it. That’s what Victor had said when he’d told him how they loved Charlotte. 

Carl mumbled something about a ‘waste’ and shoved past him. Liam doesn’t understand. And Lip knows that he’ll feel horrible when his baby brother wakes up tomorrow asking for her.

Ian and Fiona were the worst. Ian started rattling insults immediately. Telling him what a piece of shit he was. He knows. Telling him this is the only chance at something good, at love he’ll actually get. He fuckin’ knows.

Fiona just asked so many questions. Why? What happened? Are you sure? 

That all stopped when Lip shrugged, schooling an emotionless expression onto his face, dropping the check onto the kitchen table and snapping his phone closed as he finished his message. “It’s done.” 

All of that hurt. It fucking sucked and he felt like blowing his brains out when the flood of text messages started rolling in. But nothing could beat the crying. The begging. 

“Bubba, please.” Her voice is small on the opposite side of the door, the whining lilt to it has his entire body tense as he leans against the wood, staring at the wall over Ian’s shoulder, refusing to make eye contact with any of his siblings. “I love you. Why are you doing this?”

“Lip-” Fiona starts, cutting herself off when her little brother looks up at her, wide blue eyes watery with tears, an exhausted look on his face, jaw clenched so hard she worried his teeth would crack. She thinks this is a mistake. She loves Charlotte, and even more, Lip loves Charlotte more than anything, but this was his decision, and he was her brother. 

“I love you, what did I do? M’sorry.” she whimpers, soft thump letting the three siblings know she’d slid down the door. “Please, I love you. Please…st-stop.” 

The three eldest Gallaghers stand there in a stalemate. Ian shifts on his feet, quietly shaking his head as he looks away. Fiona watches her brother struggle somberly, wondering if she could have done anything that would have avoided this. 

And Lip, silent, straight faced, completely devoid of emotion as he rests his head against the door, staring forward. The only indication that he feels anything at all is the few tears that managed to escape down his face. 

It goes on like this for an hour and a half. At 40 minutes, Ian scoffs, mumbling under his breath as he storms his way up the stairs, slamming his room door closed, causing his sister to flinch. Once the standoff reaches 1 hour and 15 minutes, Fiona sighs, scrubbing a tired hand down her face before patting an unmoving Lip’s shoulder, retiring to bed herself.

The sobbing and constant knocking at the door had slowed to quiet pleas, still making Lip’s chest hurt just as bad. He’s doing what’s best for her. He knows that. It hurts now, but she’ll recover from this. She’ll be better, she’ll have a chance to do better than him. 

Lip will never recover. He knows that too. He knows that this is his better. His best. Being with Charlotte is everything. That’s why he doesn’t deserve it. He should’ve never tried to drag her down with him. He can’t give her the life she deserves, or the things she should have access to. He could only offer her hard work, and being bound to mental illness and alcoholism. Trapping her with a baby, forcing her to live in the fucking slums and dance for a couple of bucks from creepy frat boy fucks and drunk limp dick losers like his father. 

Soon he can hear footsteps approaching the doorway, Charlotte is immediately riled up by the presence of whoever it is. “No, no, no, he needs to talk to me. Something is wrong, I don’t know what I did- Phillip, please.” 

“C’mon Lottie, let’s go home.” Lip recognizes Kev’s muffled voice from the opposite side of the door. After some quiet arguing, he finally releases a breath when he hears the wood creak under the weight of them walking away. 

The man ignores the crushing feeling in his chest, the gut wrenching pain that comes with the realization of what he’d just done. A numbness spreads over his limbs as he hazily makes his way over to and up the stairs, breathing shakily. He reaches the doorway of his dark room and stops there. He wants his bed. He wants to climb under the covers and pretend he didn’t just blow up his fuckin’ life. But he can’t make it over the threshold. 

This is her room too. He didn’t think this through. She’s touched everything. How was he supposed to lay in the bed that they laid in together? Her clothes are still in the drawers. Pictures still taped to the mirror and walls. Fuck. 

It’s humiliating, the way he breaks down. Strong shoulders shaking with stronger sobs. Body curling over until his knees simply give out, he sits on the floor next to the crack in the wall where Carl had drilled a hole to hide drugs for Frank. The sound of miscellaneous toys left out squeaking under him. Lip pulls his legs to his chest and cries, because it’s all he can do. Despite every ounce of his being telling him, ‘stop being a bitch,’ ‘the fuck are you cryin’ about, pussy?’ he can’t help it. And he doesn’t stop. Not when his throat started getting sore, or his back started to hurt. Not when the sun starts to peak in through the half broken window in the hallway. Not when he feels his little sister lay a blanket over him before sitting beside him, quietly resting her head on his shoulder.

Charlotte doesn’t fare much better. She finally fell asleep with V rubbing her back, sleeping in her cousin’s bed while Kev slept downstairs. When she wakes she has a pounding headache, her eyes are puffy and burn. She wraps one of the blankets around herself before dragging to the bathroom, brushing her teeth and splashing water on her face. 

She’s hurt. Heartbroken and confused. She knows why he’s doing this. Her parents said something. Did something. Something that made him decide she isn’t worth the trouble. 

But she wasn’t going to give up without a fight. She loves Phillip. She loves her husband, and she didn’t take their time together lightly. She pulls on one of Phillip’s sweatshirts and jumps her way into a pair of jeans before looking at herself in the mirror. 

“Hey, honey,” V’s soft voice comes from behind her, Charlotte’s cousin appears over her shoulder, wrapping her arms around the younger woman. “I didn’t think you’d be up.”

“I’ve gotta,” she sniffs, combing her fingers through her hair. “I’ve gotta take Liam to daycare. And um, make sure Carl remembers his science project. See if Phillip wants me to have lunch with him at work today, I could…I could make him something-”

“Lottie.” V interrupts, “Didn’t Lip-”

“He’s confused.” Charlotte says sharply, swinging her purse over her shoulder, holding her hand out to her cousin expectantly. “My key to their house is in our room. I…don’t normally need it.” 

“Charlotte, listen. I’m not saying this to hurt you, but that boy left you crying on the porch in the cold, that sends a message. Don’t you think you two need space?”

The younger woman shakes her head stubbornly, looking forward to the door, refusing to look at V. “No. Space will let him spiral. My parents made him doubt me, I’m gonna show him that they don’t know what they’re talking about, that I’m what he wants and needs, no matter what they say.”

Determined, Charlotte makes her way next door, unlocking the door with V’s keys and gets to work immediately. Frank is passed out on the couch, so she nudges him awake with a beer at the ready, guiding the drunken man out of the door so he won’t be there when everyone wakes up. Next she starts on the bacon and eggs, brewing a cup of coffee before climbing the stairs to grab Liam, changing and dressing him. “G’morning Liam, did you sleep well?” she coos, pressing kisses to his cheeks as she makes her way back down the stairs. 

When she gets down there, Fiona is sitting at the table, eyes going wide as she sees her sister-in-law. “Lottie? I…when did-”

“Early this morning. I know yesterday was really weird, and I’m sorry you guys had to see that-”

“Hey,” Fiona smiles, taking Liam from Charlotte’s arms. “There’s no embarrassment with family. Gallaghers know no shame, girl, and you’re one of us.” 

And she means it. Fiona watches as a wave of relief washes over the girl bustling around her kitchen, dumping fresh bacon onto a plate. “Thanks Fi.” Charlotte tucks some hair behind her ear, sliding a bowl of cheerios in front of the toddler. “I’m sorry to even ask you this, but did he talk to you about anything? Like something they said or s-something I did-”

“Mornin.” 

The deep voice makes Charlotte’s heart drop to her stomach. She turns slowly, as if she’s approaching an animal that’s likely to scare. And there he is. Standing there in his pajamas, hair mussed, bags under his eyes. But still handsome as ever to Charlotte. “Phillip.”

The blond pauses for a beat. His blue eyes are cloudy for a moment as he takes in the girl before he slips past her, ignoring her extended hand, offering a mug of coffee, opting to open the fridge and grab the orange juice instead. “Hey, you come here to pick up your stuff?”

“My…my stuff? Phillip-”

“I uh, gotta get to work.” he sniffs, grabbing his bag from it’s place on the kitchen floor, slinging it over his shoulder with his jacket in his hand.

“But-” Charlotte flinches as the door slams shut, shoulders tense as she stares after her husband. Fiona quietly slips behind the girl, resting her hand on her shoulder, apologetic for her brother’s behavior, but unable to do anything about it. “He means it.”

Charlotte had whispered so quietly that her sister-in-law didn’t catch it, leaning in for clarity. “What?” 

“Phillip, he’s leaving me, and he means it.” It was like a rock landed in her stomach, both painful and grounding, Charlotte steels herself. “Fine.” she huffs, grabbing her own bag and storming out of the house, slamming the door shut behind her.

Phillip’s day had been absolute shit so far. He woke up to his boss’s daddy’s assistant calling him in for a meeting. No doubt calling him in to fucking fire him for beating the living shit out of his pussy ass son. Lip doesn’t regret it. Not really. But he regrets losing his fucking job. 

On top of that, he came downstairs to see the one person he couldn’t handle seeing. She looked so damn pretty, mixing up in his kitchen, bein’ with his family and shit. The hopeful look in her eye as she saw him enter the room. He didn’t deserve for her to fuckin’ look at him like that. He wanted to kick his own ass for how broken her pretty little face looked when he dismissed her. He loves her. That’s why he’s doing this. Her eyes were pink and puffy. She’d been crying for him. The fact that he was fighting with himself not to like that…he’s a sick fuck. Like he’s said, he doesn’t deserve her. 

Lip doesn’t even bother asking Kev to use his car to get to work, opting to take a walk to the train station to clear his head. He was in no real rush to be fired. As he blows into his hands to warm them, he lets his mind wander to the last place it needs to, but the only place it seems to want to go. 

“So, what the fuck are they mad at her for? They don’t wanna do the band shit anymore?”

Charlotte giggles, running her fingers through his curls as he lays his head on her lap, scowling at the television. She was educating him on Disney movies; it seemed that in the process of raising his siblings along with his sister, he’d never gotten the chance to experience sitcoms and original movies that were formative for her childhood. He’d said, ‘I’m not watchin’, put your shit on and I’ll take a nap’ but here he was, watching intently with a wonder that made her heart ache. “Guess they don’t have your work ethic, bubba.”

Lip hums contentedly, bringing her free hand to his lips, absently pressing kisses to her palm as he continues watching the movie. “Yeah, I know you liked her little rapping white boyfriend.”

“Um, excuse me? Even though he’s cute-”

“Knew it.”

“And you happen to also be a white, blonde with blue hair, most of my exes haven’t been white, I’ll have you know.”

He tried to swallow down the comment, really. But he fuckin’ couldn’t hold himself back, sue him. “Yeah, how many exes are we talkin’ about?”

He expects for her to get offended, or be evasive. Tell him to fuck off. That’s what any of his sorta exes would’ve done. Hell, that’s what he would’ve done. With anyone but her. He’ll tell her whatever she needs to know. But Charlotte has soft edges. Even when he’s being a dick, she has softness for him he’d never experienced before. 

“Not many, baby, just like, five.” She smiles gently, smoothing her hand over his hair again. “You’re the only one who matters now, Phillip.” she takes a deep breath, leaning down to press her forehead against his, and Lip can’t help but lean up to meet her, eyes trained on her face as hers slip closed. “Love you.” she mumbles.

She’s everything. “I love you, Bunny.”

With that, her brown eyes open, staring down at him with joy, she wrinkles her nose. “Ew, you like me?” she teases, squealing in his ear as he pushes himself up, grabbing her thigh and tugging her down on the couch.

“Fuckin’ brat.” he chuckles breathily against her lips, slapping her thigh lightly as he descends on her, her giggles ringing out into the air.

“Fuck.” the blond huffs out, roughly wiping at a stray tear before storming up to an abandoned car, left on the frozen grass and kicking at one of the doors, denting it slightly. He breathes heavily, shaking his head and turning to go back to his path to the train. Her laughter. That fuckin’ pretty ass laugh that she’s gonna end up giving to someone else makes him feel like he could vomit. He could hear it. In his head. It used to be nice. Now it feels like his heart is being wrenched from his fuckin’ chest. Damnit! 

Lip drops his bag onto the ground, lifting his leg and kicking the car again. And again. And again. Until he stops. Then, he starts punching the windows, his knuckles start getting bloody as the glass shatters and breaks under his efforts. But he keeps going. He just keeps punching, and kicking, and screaming…? When did he start doing that? 

He was so focused on what he was doing that he didn’t even notice someone approaching him.

“Lip…?” A familiar voice calls out. Familiar, but not the one haunting him now. “Well, it’s been a while, I can guess how you’ve been.”

He stops, turning to look at the person intruding on his break down, brows furrowed. The blond reaches in his pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes, raising it to pluck one into his mouth before offering it to them. “The fuck are you doin’ here?”

“Needed a nice bed, and food. Came to check on my mom. Aren’t you gonna ask me how I’ve been doin’?” 

To say Charlotte was pissed off was an understatement. Hot, angry tears stream down her face as she swings open the door to V and Kev’s house, throwing her purse on the floor. She tries to level out her breath as she pushes into the bathroom. Charlotte rests her hands on the sink as she watches herself cry in the mirror. Sobs racking her body she doubles over with the force of her crying. She was glad no one was home to see her like this.

She doesn’t even know what she’s doing when she climbs into the tub, bringing her knees to her chest. She raises her left hand to look at the small ring on her finger. It’s not what she used to picture. When she was younger, she would envision her life. She would dream about what her ring would look like. What her husband would be like. 

It was always a ring like her mother’s, a large house like she grew up in and the some faceless prince who spun her in circles but surprisingly never spoke. 

This life she was building with Phillip was nothing like that. They live in a small house with his siblings, he’d shared a room until he was 18 and got her ring from his drunken father. It was small, and wouldn’t pass as a kids toy where she came from. Phillip was quiet compared to his siblings, but generally loud, crass, and aggressive. With everyone except her at least. He was a prince. He does spin her around, and hug her, and kiss her and look at her like she’s everything. The life he gave her was better than she’d imagined. 

But he’s ready to throw it away. And it hurts. Charlotte is tired of being the one being hurt. 

She sits in silence for a few moments, staring at the tiles on the wall before she can distantly hear her phone chiming in her purse outside the bathroom door. She tries to ignore the clench in her chest, the little glimmer of hope that it’s Phillip, calling to say sorry, that he’d changed his mind and he was coming over so they could make up. Charlotte pushes out of the tub at the third chime, walking on unsteady legs over to the bag, sniffling and tucking hair behind her ear as she squints to read the messages.

It’s her manager from the club, asking if anyone was interested in working the day party for today because the promoter’s entertainment fell through. Normally, she’d turn this down. She knows how Lip feels about her new job, and for her it was only a means to an end. They were discussing alternatives until this shit started. But maybe working a party would be a good way for her to get her mind off of things, and make some extra cash. Especially since it seems she’ll be doing things by herself for now on. 

“So you got married? That wasn’t a joke?”

“Uh, nope, real shit.” Lip takes a final swig of his beer before sailing it into the street, smiling softly at the glass shattering before opening another. 

“Hm, never thought you were the marrying type.” 

“M’not.” 

Karen shrugs, sipping her own beer and looking up at him. “Must’ve been pretty though, to get you down the aisle. Or pregnant. Both?”

“Not pregnant.” He says, opening his phone and showing her a picture of Charlotte. He supposes he’s gonna have to stop having those at the ready, if he’s gonna move on. As if he could. 

“Damn, she’s sexy.” Karen’s eyes widen as she grabs the phone. She remembers the current situation and bites her lip. “Sorry.”

“S’fine. She is. Fuckin’ beautiful.” 

Karen looks out into the road again, hesitating for a moment before nudging Lip’s shoulder. “Want me to take your mind off of it? It’s been a while.” 

Before Lip had even met Charlotte he had told himself he’d never fuck Karen again. She’s better now, sure, but she also almost fucking ruined his life multiple times. Once he had met Charlotte, he hadn’t even thought of it. He really didn’t consider that he’d ever fuck someone else again. A realization that surprised himself more than anyone, considering he’d never been the monogamous type. 

But now he’s in pain. And he doesn’t think he’ll ever be with Charlotte again. That makes him feel cold in a way that he’s never felt before. Lip, desperate for any kind of break he can get from what he’s feeling, rolls his eyes to the sky. “Yeah, fuck it, why not.”

“Gee, you used to be a lot more excited for me to get you off.” she mumbles against his cheek before leaning in to kiss his lips.

Lip turns his head away, pulling his mouth from her reach, “Don’t um, kiss me.”

Karen looks at him for a moment before laughing. “Okay, kissing used to be your thing, not mine.” As she kneels in front of him, Lip finds himself squirming uncomfortably, looking everywhere but down when he feels her unzipping his pants. “Um…are you��is it like, too cold?”

“Uh, no, I’m…gimme a second.” He feels like he can’t breath, the ring on his finger feels like it’s literally fucking scalding his skin. 

“Oh-kay.” 

A few more moments pass and Karen speaks again. “Do you want me to help you? Is there anything I can do?”

“Nope, no, not at all. Just, shut up for one second, please.” He brings his hands together, tugging the ring off and putting it in his pocket and prays.

“You can think of her if you need to. I don’t mind.” she tries again. 

“Um, yeah, maybe.” He squeezes his eyes shut tightly, and lets the images of Charlotte that he’s racked up over time run across his brain. It feels good to think of her. To sift through the memories of her smiling up at him, holding him close, crying out his name. But he couldn’t trick his mind or body. He’s in love. Still. And she’s not the girl on her knees in front of him. “No, no.”

“No?”

“Yeah, sorry, I can’t I’m…I don’t think I can fuck someone who’s not my wife. At least right now.” Or ever. Shit. I’m never gonna get my dick wet again.

“Jeez, that’s serious.” Karen says. She hops up, tucking her hands in her pockets. “What is she? A contortionist?” Lip just looks at her and she sobers, her smile dropping. “Sorry. I’m serious. I’m talking to you as a friend, talk to me. Your wife is hot, and nice, and clearly has a hold over your dick, so what’s the problem, why’d you leave her?”

“She’s perfect.” Lip sighs, lighting another cigarette, the muscle in his jaw jumping as he works back the lump in his throat. He’ll be damned if he cries about this in front of Karen.

“Okay so-”

“She’s perfect. She’s everything, she deserves everything and I am stuck here. I live here. I was born here, I’m gonna live and die here and I don’t want her here to do it with me. So I can’t have her, that’s fine I’m teaching myself that it's fine but it fuckin’ sucks! It fuckin’ sucks Karen, and it’s fuckin’ worse because she’s willing to stay. I hate her for not making this easy!” He roughly throws the bottle into the street, barely missing a parked car.

“Oof. Okay. Clearly, you need to get your mind off of things.” She says, scooting the remainder of the six pack the pair of them bought from the liquor store across the street away from him. “C’mon, let’s get you a real drink and some recreational drugs.”

“You’re making some good tips out there girl, they’re loving you at this party.” 

Charlotte smiles briefly before leaning over the vanity, reapplying her lip gloss in the mirror. 

“Of course they are, they’re actually seeing her. Normally, guests only get a glimpse of the back of her head, before she runs into the back again to check in with her man.” 

“Well, he won’t be checking in today, so-”

“What?”

Trish leans back in her own seat to look at her friend. “Did something happen with you and Lip?”

Charlotte tries to ignore the quiver in her lip and stare forward into the mirror, focusing on the pink she’s applying on her lips. “I dunno, he’s doing his own thing, I’m doing mine, I guess.” 

“Well, that seems-”

“Girl, about time!” Kelsey, one of the girls Charlotte met through the club, claps, pushing her way into Charlotte’s seat. “All you talk about is that man and his gaggle of kids. Now, we can invite you to do fun stuff. We can go out!”

“They’re his siblings, first of all and they’re good kids.” Charlotte sighs, smoothing her hands over her hair.

“Gallagher kids? Okay.”

Charlotte’s eyes narrow, her mouth opening for her to ask her co-worker what the fuck she meant by that, something she would’ve never done a couple of months ago. But Trish beats her to it, patting her arm and shaking her head. Instead of telling her other coworkers about herself, Charlotte settles for rolling her eyes and mumbling, “We could’ve always gone out.”

“Please, the way you used to all but trip over yourself running out the door to climb back on Lip’s dick? When would we have the time to ask?” 

“There’s nothing wrong with the girl loving her man, Renee.” Trish intervenes, leaving her arm tossed around Charlotte’s shoulders. Was she really that pathetic? Did she really spend all her time running behind Phillip? She supposes that she never took the time to think about it while it was happening, but is this what everyone thinks? “Just because you don’t have one.”

“Well,” Kelsey shrugs, rubbing more glitter lotion onto her chest and meeting Charlotte’s eyes in the mirror. “Doesn’t seem like Lottie does either anymore. So, Lottie, have you dislodged yourself from Gallagher’s side or not? Are we going out”

Charlotte fully plans to say yes. For the first time since she’d met her husband, she thought that maybe this is what she should have been doing. She’s only ever had two identities in her life. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher’s daughter, and Phillip Gallagher’s wife. She’s never been Charlotte. Not when she left home, not when she got her first job, she just went from being one person’s possession to another. Maybe this is all a sign that she should focus on being alone. However miserable that sounds. That’s why, whether you believe her or not, she was going to say yes. 

Until her phone rings.

“What’d you even give him anyway?”

“Don’t fucking make it sound like that, it was just some weed and booze!” 

“Fuckin’ weed and booze, he’s on his fuckin’ ass Karen! Fuckin’ idiot!”

“Fuck you! How was I supposed to know he drinks and smokes like a little bitch now?” the blonde girl huffs loudly as she turns back to the drunk man in front of them, barely intelligible as he slams his hands down on the bar again, demanding to be served another drink. “Lip, seriously, we need to fuckin’ go-”

“Get the fuck off me, I’m married.” 

The bar owner emerges from the back again, his cellphone in hand, a scowl on his face. “Aye, Gallagher, she’s takin’ too long, he’s scaring the real customers, get him outta here before I gotta call the cops.”

Ian groans, running his hand down his face, “Yeah, good luck cleanin’ up all the coke you’ve got on these tables before they get here. Fuck off, your place is a dive, Billy.” Turning back to his brother, the redhead, tugs his arm, making the shorter brother stumble but ultimately not moving him at all. “Lip, come the fuck on man.”

“Just fuckin’ leave me alone. Not listenin’ fuckin’ idiot-” he slurs, shoving Ian a little before grabbing a half drunk beer from the bar and downing it. 

“God-fuckin’-damnit-” Ian growls snatching the already empty bottles. His brown eyes catch on something over at the door and his tense stance settles. “Thank god.” he mumbles under his breath.

Karen’s eyes follow his over to a woman who looks just like the one Lip had shown her earlier, a tense, concerned look on her pretty face. Her cheeks dimple as her lips turn down into a frown upon spotting the spectacle in front of her. Her hair is tied up into a clean bun, her body covered with a matching sweat suit. Her eyes look exhausted. So that’s the wife?

“Phillip-”

“Bunny, you’re here, come drink with me, baby.” The blond offers her a crooked, drunk smile that has the same knee weakening effect on both women. His muscled arm shoots out, wrapping around the girl’s waist and tugging her to him, all but dragging her into his lap. 

“No, Phillip, it’s time to go home. Let’s get you up.”

Big blue eyes roll closed, his forehead falling forward, uncoordinatedly thunking against the woman’s forehead. She doesn’t flinch, just keeping her tired, sad eyes on him as he inhales deeply, breathing her in. “We gonna go home together?”

It’s the softest voice Karen has ever heard the eldest Gallagher son use. He’d spoken to her softly before. They’d been best friends, lovers. He was always scared of her leaving…rightfully so. But this, it was like he was scared that she was going to break if he rose his voice too much. It was like he was whispering a secret that’s just for them and everyone else in the room is intruding. Karen hadn’t ever seen anything like it. She likes this for him.

The girl was ordering water, grabbing a straw from over the bar and guiding it to Lip’s mouth as he stayed close, rubbing his hands along her hips and mumbling about missing her between gulps. She hadn’t even looked at Karen, her eyes had locked on Lip since arriving. “Um, I’m Karen by the way.”

Big brown eyes finally take her in. There’s no disdain behind them. No hate. She doesn’t look at her like every other girl who’s ever loved Lip has looked at Karen. She just offers a tired look. Glossed lips parting briefly, snapping shut again when she feels the Lip’s head droop forward onto her shoulder, quick hands shooting up to cup the back of his curls. “I’m Charlotte. I’ve got to get him home, are you okay?”

“I’m..I’m sorry?”

Charlotte bites her lower lip in determination as she pats his cheek, getting him to stir awake again. Her eyes never return to acknowledge Karen. “Up, Bubba, up. Are you okay to get home? I…need to take him home, are you okay?” 

Oh. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Okay, Ian, can you please help him, help him stand?” Karen watches as this woman, Charlotte helps hoist Lip’s weight onto Ian, the redhead slinging his brother’s arm over his shoulder, nodding at Karen as they make their way out of the bar with her…ex? Best friend?

She can’t help but compare herself to the girl. She knew that they were both pretty, generally attractive in different ways. Both short. Big eyes. Round faces. Their difference physically was glaringly obvious, but that wasn’t what mattered. It was in the eyes. Everything is in the eyes. Not the color, but the looks.

When the evening started to turn sour, Karen had been fucking annoyed. She hates babysitting. Hates having to take care of people. That’s why she’s always loved being around Lip in one way or another. That’s why they’d been such good friends. He was the caretaker. He takes care of people. His family, neighborhood kids, her. He doesn’t ask for anything for himself aside from the occasional blowie, and it was mostly a joke. 

Until he asked for more. Until he asked for love, attention and care and a partner. Things that Karen had no interest in. Things that crazy bitch Mandy wasn’t able to give him. He needed too much. He went from something easy to do, someone easy to be around to being this person who needs things. 

It was hard, too hard. Being with Lip is exactly the daunting task people think it would be. But Charlotte, his wife, she’s doing it. She looks exhausted, pissed off, and just caught her husband hanging out with his ex. But she came. She managed to unclench her jaw and offer him a soft look and kind voice. 

Karen had been poison to him. She knows that. She was bad for him, and to be honest, she’d thought that even with the time had passed he wouldn’t have been strong enough to get her out of his system. But, she should have known better than to underestimate Lip Gallagher. He found something good. Someone for him. 

Good for him.

“I know you’re mad at’me.”

“Shut up, man, you’re just gonna make stuff worse.”

“M’talkin to my wife, motherfucker, you shut up.” Lip slurs as Ian all but drags him down the street. “Sweetheart-”

“Phillip, please.” Charlotte begs, voice cracking as she refuses to turn around and face him. Her arms are wrapped tightly around her own form, walking several paces ahead of the Gallagher brothers up the dark road. “Please.” 

It had been going on since they started walking. He keeps trying to talk to her. He keeps calling her all of these sweet names and they fucking hurt. They hurt like him telling her that they could get their marriage annulled. They hurt like him telling her to go with her parents. They fucking hurt like him let her sit on his front porch crying and begging just to see him as he sat on the other side of the door. And now, she understands that he’s drunk or high or whatever, but she needs him to stop talking. 

Her plea is answered with the silence she asked for. Shocked that he actually went silent, Charlotte whips around to see if he’d fallen asleep, but is met with big blue eyes with dilated pupils, brows softened as he meets her shaky gaze. 

The woman turns around so he can’t see her chin tremble as she leads the group onto the streets. Another voice breaks the silence, over the sound of three sets of footsteps, only one set steady, the other two, sloppy and wavering. “Lottie, what do you wanna do?”

She knows what he’s asking. They’re rounding their homes. Where should he put him? Is she going to stay with him? And she immediately feels shame wash over herself. She knows the answers to all of those questions. She should be embarrassed. This man has treated her like shit over the last 24 hours. She hates how he made her feel about herself. She didn’t understand how he could be both the man who strolled past her as if he didn’t know her this morning and the one who was just looking at her the way he did. 

But she’s weak, and he’s everything. 

And she’s already shifting his weight from his brother's arms into hers, stumbling a little under it as she guides him toward her cousin’s house.

“Charlotte.”

“It’s okay.” she breathes. “I’ve got him.”

And she struggles getting him to the door. He tries to help, she can tell. But he’s too fucked up, his motor skills are lacking and only set back any progress she makes. She grips the railing with her spare hand as she helps him up the last step. She tells him to watch his step as she leads him through the doorway, eyes locking V’s as the wooden floors creak under his steps. She ignores the disappointed look on her cousin’s face as she guides her husband to her room. Their room. 

But as she pulls the shoes from his feet and helps him into bed, she’s confident in one thing. Charlotte knows she loves this man. It doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks the breaking point should be, or who they envision her with. She wants him. And she was going to keep acting like it.

Charlotte feels a tightness around her waist as she wakes up in the chair she’d dragged into the bedroom once she’d gotten Phillip settled. Her eyes are already watering as they peel open, burning from tears and exhaustion. 

“I fucked up, Bunny.”

“Yeah,” Charlotte sighs, sniffling a little and letting her head drop back against the wall. “How bad?”

“I fuckin’ hurt you-” his voice is muffled against her stomach, his arms tightening around her, fingers squeeing and releasing the fabric of her shirt. 

“Yes.”

“I hate that. M’just fucked up, y’know? But m’sorry, baby, m’sorry.”

Charlotte is annoyed by the sob that leaves her body involuntarily, causing him to pull her even closer to him, her butt almost hanging off of the chair. She’s even more annoyed that she’s wondering if his knees hurt from kneeling on the floor in front of her. She shouldn’t care. “You left me outs-side alone.”

“I know, baby, I know.” she feels a wet spot forming on her shirt and tries to stop her lower lip from shaking. “Fuckin’ supposed to be taking care of you. I’m a shitty husband, you deserve better. And I’m trying to be that, I swear, Charlotte I fuckin’ swear. I…I’m gettin’ to keep my job, and m’gonna save more, gonna get us some more money, just gimme a little more time, sweetheart. I know this fuckin’ sucks, but I’m gonna do better-”

“You’re hurting me.” Charlotte mumbles, staring up at the ceiling, letting the tears freely fall down her cheeks. 

Suddenly his arms are gone from her waist and he’s staring up at her, frantically running his hands through his curls. “M’sorry, I was holding you too tight-”

“Have I done anything to make you believe I won’t wait? Have I cheated on you? Made you feel bad about not having a house for us? Buying a car right now? Anything? What did I do to deserve you telling me you didn’t want to be with me anymore? Stop hurting me!” She finishes with a stomp, feeling childish. Lip is quiet as he listens to her, his hand running along her thigh in soothing strokes.

“You’re perfect. You didn’t do anything, Charlotte. That’s why I was fuckin’ tryin’ to do the right thing.” Lip huffs, clenching his jaw anxiously. “I was tryin’ to give you up. Because there’s somethin’ wrong with me Charlotte. I can’t get out of my head. Everyday I wake up and hear how too fuckin’ good for me on loop in my head, and then people remind me, and I can say fuck ‘em, they’re not you, I don’t care what they think, but then your parents came-”

“Fuck them too.”

“No,” Lip pushes up off the floor and paces in the room. “Not fuck them, because yes, they’re fuckin’ assholes, but they made you, and you’re fuckin’ everything, so they are pretty much the authority on what’s good shit and what isn’t. I don’t deserve you, they know it, I know it, for some fuckin’ reason, you don’t know it, so let me make this clear for you, Bunny. This shit shouldn’t be so hard. I’m hurting you. That’s not what being in love with you feels like for me. My love for you isn’t good enough, because it’s making you suffer. Being in love with you gives me a fuckin’ reason to breathe. So I was trying to be fuckin’ good. And let you go.”

Charlotte watches as he finishes, standing in front of her. Blue eyes bloodshot. The veins in his neck popping out, his chest rising and falling with effort. He looks so serious. And all she can do is laugh. Literally, put her head in her hands and laugh. 

“Um…what the fuck?” he asks incredulously, watching her shoulders shake with her laughter. 

“You’re such an asshole, Phillip.” she giggles, wiping her wet cheeks, gasping in an attempt to stop her own laughter. 

“I’m really not fuckin’ gettin’ the joke here.”

Charlotte shakes her head, crossing her legs as she sits up fully in the chair, trying not to break at the confusion on his face. “Don’t you think it’s a little too late for you to decide that you want to save me the trouble of being in love with you? You pursued me, you asked me to marry you, you made me love you and it's too late. I’m stuck. You leave, I’m still hurt. You stay, you can choose to man up, make good on your promises, stop feeling sorry for yourself and be a good husband. You want to stop hurting me, then stop hurting me. Stop talking about me deserving better and be better.”

The couple stares at each other from across the room, nothing but white noise from the house fills the air as Charlotte’s challenge hangs between them. A few beats pass before Lip begins slightly nodding his head, the same focused face he keeps when he’s working on a project from work, or doing people’s taxes for extra money. Lip smooths his hand over his jaw, clearing his throat. “Okay. I’ll be better.” 

“Okay.” 

“Can I…uh, hold on a second.” The blond murmurs, crossing the floor and places his hand on her jaw, dragging her up into a deep kiss, absolutely breathing her in as he nearly pushes her chair back with the force he pushes against her. He breaks away only lightly, his lips against hers, as he speaks. “I love you. I’ll be better.”

“I love you too.” she smiles. “And I know.” 

This is good…this is better. I’ll deal with the rest later.

[jheselbraum]

can we talk about the apprenticeship again? i wanna talk about the apprenticeship again (people online are scaring me bringing back the "ford didn't really care about dipper/his family/placed them below his Greater Good" discourse again ☹️ feels like we need a refresher)

The apprenticeship was about Ford wanting a friend and buddy! It was about Ford reaching out to his family the only way he knew how! The second he and Stan were on good terms again he immediately wanted to spend time with him. The apprenticeship was Ford wanting to spend more time with his family because he doesn't think anyone will want to spend time with him without some sort of scientific endeavor to catch their fancy, and while I always thought that if Mabel had simply asked to stay too Ford would've said yes after reading tbob I am firmly convinced that if Mabel asked to also stay in Gravity Falls with him he would've started crying. And this whole "catch their fancy with an apprenticeship instead of just asking them to hang out" thing carries over to Stan where he asks Stan to go with him to fucking Antarctica to dig up Time Baby or whatever the fuck, when what he actually wants is to just finally go on the damn boat trip with Stan!

The only thing particularly wrong with the apprenticeship offer is that while it's Ford's way of reaching out, because of who he offered it to and when it would effectively mean passing on his tendency to close himself off to Dipper, Mabel, and Stan, as each of them would be alone. This effect is reversed when Ford offers the same deal to Stan, who at the end of summer would otherwise be returning to his lonely life before he met the kids, so now at the end of summer neither Dipper and Mabel nor Stan and Ford are alone. It's weird to hold that against him since that's how conflict in a story works and the payoff of Ford wanting to go travel the world with Stan at last is weaker if we weren't presented with the first option of Ford wanting to remain in the basement with Dipper cataloging mushroom samples forever.

And at the end of tbob, Dipper, Mabel, and Stan are so fucking supportive of Ford, literally laughing off his worries about his biggest insecurity (in a positive way). They don't care that he made a deal with Bill, they don't care how much he fumbled Fiddleford, they don't care about the fucking apprenticeship! They love him and they're glad he's okay!

The solution to Ford's problems, past and present, has always been reaching out. The correct action for Ford to take, whether or not he takes it, has always been reaching out.

Ford didn't reach out when Stan was kicked out. He didn't reach out when Fiddleford left the project. He only reached out to Stan when he realized Bill's abuse and manipulation when things got truly dire, life threatening, not just to himself but when Bill made it clear that he could and would hurt the people Ford cared about, too, at least emotionally. And then finally after a lifetime of closing himself off and putting up walls, he actually honest to goodness reaches out to his family (or rather, they reach out to him) and it wouldn't make any sense if building and maintaining those connections didn't finally pay off for Ford. His life is better for having formed those connections! The Pines' lives are better for having those connections as well! Stan has his brother, his twin! Dipper has a mentor figure who shares his love of mysteries! Mabel has a companion who fosters her outgoing spirit and shares her creative interests! One of the show's big themes is family, why are we acting like Dipper and Mabel should reject a member of their family who, like Stan, is a gruff old bastard who's made his share of mistakes but god damnit if those kids aren't the light of his life?

[froggibus]

Hi! I was wondering if you can do platonic hanzo and genji with a little sister(reader) who’s a death metal singer, like she dresses all cute and all but has the voice of a grown ass man 😭( also if it’s ok can it pls be hc’s?)

Metal Singer! Sister Headcanons - Shimadas

Pairing: older brother! Hanzo Shimada, older brother! Genji Shimada, family friend! Kiriko Kamori x little sister! reader

Genre: fluff, crack

CW: metal singer! reader, reader is in a band, supportive brothers, Kiri is like an older sister figure, mostly just fluffy n cute

hey sorry this took so long, it got buried under my other requests & i just remembered it when i saw your post. anyway i hope you like it ^~^

Hanzo:

most supportive big brother ever 

he’s probably not a fan of metal music (too chaotic for him) but he’ll go to every single one of your shows

the first time he sees you perform he’s absolutely SHOCKED

based on your cute outfits & demeanour he just assumed it would be some cutesy pop

he thought wrong. 

gives you little musical gifts here and there 

maybe a new notebook so you can write lyrics, or a cute outfit for your next show

probably threatens your band members to take good care of you (or else)

takes pics & videos of you at your performances like a proud dad

Genji:

he’s your biggest fan

like your BIGGEST fan

he’s at all of your shows, he’s watching you rehearse, he has MERCH

tells all of his friends & coworkers about you and insists they listen to your music (even when they don’t like metal)

including Angela who was SHOCKED to hear what Genji’s “sweet baby sister” sounded like

spoils you constantly

new outfits, new microphones to match them, ANYTHING

loves sitting in the audience and demanding an encore every time you leave the stage 

gets to know the members of your band and probably hangs out with them after the show

Kiriko:

goes to every single one of your concerts 

absolutely loves helping you with your makeup and coming up with unique styles

brings you donuts and tea after every show

she’s around so much that your band mates just assume she’s your sister 

she’s FLATTERED when she hears that

keeps flyers for your shows at her work and hands them out to ANYBODY wearing a band tshirt 

has so many pictures of the two of you at shows on her Instagram 

she loves dragging her friends to your shows and seeing the looks on their faces when you start singing 

covers for you if you ever want to stay out late and hang out with your friends after a show!! 

overwatch masterlist | masterlist

(if you enjoy content like this, interactions go a long way! comments, likes & rbs are always greatly appreciated ^-^ !!)

[aspenaspenaspenaspenaspen]

Dexiana headcannons (I'm starved for content of them and they're my babies)

The way I screamed when I got this ask. Okokok I have so many thoughts.

-When they started dating, they kept it secret for a while, even from their friends.

-Fitz suspected them for a long time, and eventually he confronted Biana about it, who told him the truth.

-Initially he was wary of it (he’s protective ok it’s understandable ok I don’t hate Fitz ok😭) but he cares about Biana (and Dex probably) so he’s decided to just keep any problems with it to himself.

-(He also figured that if he was supportive of it he could at least regulate it, like the protective brother her is)

-Dex’s family knew for almost the whole time because Biana spends a lot of time at Dex’s house.

-Biana’s family finds out later, and they don’t approve (good luck stopping Biana tho!)

-Dex fidgets with his hands a lot, he’s so used to working on some gadget to keep himself busy, so when he gets fidgety Biana will hold his hand.

-Sometimes Dex will idly trace her scars or draw circles on her palms.

-They’re not really the type of couple who kisses a lot in public or stuff like that, but instead they just always seem to be by each other, sitting next to each other, standing close together etc.

-That sort of more casual stuff is actually a big reason why I ship Dexiana, which might not make a whole lot of sense, but a big part of Dexiana as a ship is it’s not always super obvious, or even inherently romantic. Like I would say Tiana is arguably more obvious in the books, yet Dexiana has actually plagued my mind with most of the canon text being “they smiled at each other” and I sorta love that.

-Their relationship is very Platonic-coded, and that’s because Dex and Biana are best friends first, lovers second.

-They still go on cute romantic dates, but they also just hang out with each other sometimes.

-Dex’s love language is gift giving, so he’s always making gadgets and jewelry for Biana.

-Dex doesn’t sign up for Matchmaking, and Biana plans on not signing up, but Alden and Della pretty much force her to.

-Biana goes through the whole Matchmaking process, and when she does get her scroll she and Dex just giggle over all the elves she matched with.

-Biana also has a Winnowing Gala, but she pulls a Cinderella and ends up running away half way through to meet up with Dex.

-I don’t really have any marriage headcannons, and I can’t decide who would propose either, but if anyone has any thoughts…

-I’m a strong believer that Dex is asexual (and sex repulsed) so in the future I can’t imagine them having kids together (at least biological) but I can imagine them being the fun uncle and aunt.

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

Hit ‘Em Up! (18+ Fic)

Pairing: Cowboy!Gojo Satoru x Cowboy!Geto Suguru x Black!Cowgirl!Reader (Slow Burn/Enemies to Lovers)

Synopsis: You get to meet Geto & Gojo the Gunslingers, the notorious outlaws that have every town and law enforcement in a twist, when your bum-ass BF offers you as payment to avoid going to prison. Little do they know that this is only a part of your plan to get what you desire. But when you realize that the infamous gun-slinging, smooth-talking cowboys could be everything you want and more when they offer you a deal to team up with them, will you successfully be able to go through with it? 

Warnings: Smutty Smut; 18+ (MINOS GTFO); poly!SatouSugu; Reader is Black & Fem; Mention of other JJK characters; Porn with Plot; Tragic Backstories; T/W for Childhood Trauma, Parental Death, Violence, Panic Attacks & Torture; Angst/Hurt/Comfort; Hand Kink; Masturbation; Voyeurism; Gay Sex; Polyamorous; Double Deepthroat; Mutual Oral; Fingering; CMNF; Spitroast; Riding; Unprotected PiV Sex; Creampies; Outside/Public Sex; Shotgunning; Multiple Positions; Spit Kink; Facials; MDom/fsub Undertones; Aftercare

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer’s Note: Aaaaand we are DONE!!! Thank you all so, so, so, soooo much for the love, support & views on this fic! I had so much fun writing it & I hope you enjoyed reading it. I have plans for more longer fics in the future so stay tuned for those! As always, feel free to comment & tell me what you think. Also attached below is a fic playlist. I LOVE doing those & I may start doing them for all of my work lol. Take care! Love you! -Jazz

FIC PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1z6Gly1RueiZTdvCF8uKlJ?si=5b961666cb8e498c

Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen PT I & II. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-One. Twenty-Two. Twenty-Three. Twenty-Four. Epilogue + Soundtrack.

*********

EPILOGUE.

There isn’t quite a sky like the one in autumn. 

It is a crisp, clear blue with not a single cloud in it, serving a gorgeous backdrop for the crimson red, orange, and golden trees lining the school courtyard and surrounding the quaint little red schoolhouse. 

It is officially fall which means crunchy leaves, apple-picking, Halloween, and Thanksgiving feasts for little Keiko and Sagoyo, brother and sister and twin siblings. Unfortunately, this also means school time which also means dealing with the stupid kids who always have something to say. 

Keiko growls in irritation, gripping her project in her hand. “I can’t believe those stupid kids didn’t believe us!” She angrily complains to her brother. “We worked so hard on that family tree project and did everythin’—I mean, EVERYTHIN’—we were supposed to do!” 

“Well, we might still get a good grade,” Sagoyo murmurs, staring at the poster of the hand drawn tree. Keiko painted the leaves for fall time while he and his mom drew in chalk stick figures of their family from top to bottom. They also included old photographs that they taped onto each branch. 

Keiko huffs, her cheeks pink with frustration. “It won’t matter ‘cause no one believed us, Goyo. They think we just made everythin’ up about our parents. Why would we—“ 

“Hey, loser twins!” One of their classmates shouts. They visibly cringe. Speak of the devil. They each turn around, albeit wearing the same exact expression on the same exact face. 

While they look exactly the same, it just so happens that Keiko has violet eyes and snow-white hair that she usually wears in pigtails for school while Sagoyo has blue eyes and short, black hair with a slight curl to it. They each have skin the color of toasted almonds and the same big smile, similar to one of their dads. 

But they also have the same narrowed expression as you when they are angry. Those narrowed eyes are now directed at a gang of their classmates who laughed at them during their presentation today. “What do y’all want?” Sagoyo clippingly asks, his voice soft just like his father’s. 

One of the kids mockingly gasps, pressing a hand to his patched jean jacket. “Oh, wow! Lil’ Goyo talks now?” 

The kids laugh, making Sagoyo blush. While he has a very laid-back, soft-spoken attitude which can be good in certain situations, Keiko does not. She is loud, hot-headed, and speak her mind for a little seven-year old. 

“Shut up, Seita!” she yells in her little voice. “Leave him alone!” The kids once again laugh, irritating her more. “As usual, savin’ her brother ‘cause he’s a lil’ baby,” Seita scoffs. 

“We just wanted to see your famous parents,” Miya, a girl with long, black hair and candy bracelets, smirkingly says. “They’re comin’ to get ya, right?” 

The twins look at each other, silently dilberating about whether or not to tell them the truth. Sagoyo averts his gaze to his school clogs. “We…We always walk home from school.” And they do. Their home is only a ten-minute walk right up the trail from the schoolhouse. 

“So we can’t meet ‘em?” Erik, another kid with a black bowl cut asks. ”Just admit it! You losers lied ‘cause your parents are lame!” 

Once again, the children laugh, making little Keiko grow red with anger. “We are not!” she shrieks. “Our parents really are outlaws! Nothin’ like your loser dad who left to go get milk and never came back!” 

At this, Seita looks like a deer caught in headlights while the other kids “oooo” at the harsh burn. Sagoyo grabs his sister’s elbow, squeezing it. ”Keiko, stop,” he pleads. 

Seita’s tiny face twists in anger, just as enraged as Keiko now. “Just shut up!” he hollers, his voice echoing across the courtyard. “Your mom isn’t the Fatale Femme and your dads aren’t Geto & Gojo!” 

Keiko drops her school bag and project to the ground, prepared to put her fist in this little boy’s face. “You stupid mother—“ 

“Whoa, little one,” a soft, deep voice says from behind her. “What’s goin’ on over here?” 

Each kid turns around and wordlessly gapes at the tall, long-haired man standing above them. Though the sunlight makes his features a bit shadowy, especially underneath his hat, his familiar piercings and face are unmistakable. 

Gojo the Gunslinger, though much older now and sporting some stubble, is just as cool as he was years ago to the little ones standing at his knees. “You guys okay?” he asks, concerned. “Y’all aren’t fightin’, right?” He raises one pierced brow at the kids who only stare, gobsmacked. They may as well be meeting God! 

“Papa!” Keiko shouts, tossing herself at the man. “You’re here, you’re here!” Geto wraps his arms around his daughter, squeezing her to his waist.

“Mommy asked me to come and get y’all today. Uh…are your friends okay?” 

He points one gloved finger at the staring, silent kids. Each one looks like they’re frozen. “They’re just excited to meet you,” Keiko laughs, smirking at the kids. Especially Seita’s bitch ass. 

Geto laughs and gives her and Sagoyo head ruffles. “Well, say goodbye until Monday. You two have got some business with some ice cream today.” He gives them each a wink. “Yay!” the twins shout before picking up their things and racing out of the courtyard with Geto striding in his boots. 

After a detour to the ice cream parlor for some rocky road, chocolate-vanilla swirl, and mint chocolate chip cones, the three head home that afternoon. The sunshine’s on the apple trees lining the road uphill where a buttercream white, quaint, cozy house sits with a red barn not too far from it. 

The house looks like it came straight out of a storybook with its white shutters, red brick rooftop and chimney, fruit orchards in the backyard, and animals grazing the day away. 

Geto walks in the middle while his babies walk on either side of him up the road, still talking about their sweet treats and what the best ice cream flavor is. Like clockwork, the horses come trodding up to greet them at the fence blocking them from the road. Keiko goes barreling over, petting the old beasts. “Hi, Reneigh!”she giggles, petting her snout. The horse chuffs in response, her coat much lighter now that she’s older. 

Geto greets the horses with gentle pats on the back as his twins race to the front door. “No fair, Keiko!” Sagoyo yells. “You got a head start!” Keiko ignores him, running until she gets to the front porch. She goes barreling inside like a hurricane, giving the unlocked door a satisfying slam. “Mama, Papa, we’re home!” she bellows. Geto and Sagoyo come in right after. 

“Hang on a sec!” you shout back from upstairs. The three wait at the steps as you slowly and carefully come down, one hand on your lower back. You don’t know why, but it eases the pressure on your back that your plump, very pregnant belly has on it. 

You smile at your twins and your husband, moving as fast as your swollen feet will allow in your slippers. “Hey, flowers,” you coo at your twins. “How was school today?” 

Keiko doesn’t respond, too busy ogling at you. “Mommy, your robe!” Sagoyo shouts, blushing as red as a tomato. Geto coughs into his arm, struggling not to laugh. 

You look down and there, you see that your plump, round belly, lace bra, and panties are on display. You gasp as Geto strides up to meet you on the steps. He blocks the kids from seeing you as he ties your robe for you. “Oops! I’m sorry, flowers. Mommy just woke up from a nap with Papa.” 

Geto’s gaze meet yours, his violet eyes hooded and lustful. “I bet you did,” he whispers, keeping his voice low enough for only you to hear. “You’re spendin’ time together without me?” 

His fingers peel the flaps to your robe open, caressing your asscheek. You swallow roughly, ignoring the pulse between your thighs at his touch, tone, and familiar look. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” you breathlessly reply. 

Geto’s eyes light up like a Christmas tree. “Uh-huh,” he chuckles. “You can make it up to me later tonight. Careful now, babydoll.” Ice cream is on his breath. You wonder briefly if it’s on his tongue and lips too. He takes your hand and guides you downstairs as if the last few seconds never happened. 

But that is the life of being the Gunslingers’ wife. One minute, you’re asking them to pass the broccoli at the dinner table and then the next, you’re bent over in bed taking one big cock while the other is in your throat once the kids are off to bed. 

“Mama, your hair is all messy!” Keiko giggles once you’re downstairs. You elbow Geto when he stifles a laugh. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to borrow yours,” you cackle, tugging on your daughter’s silvery locks. 

You turn to Sagoyo, hugging him in greeting. “Oh, Uncle Nanami stopped by! He bought you guys some gifts.” You give them a secretive smile as you walk over to the armchair facing the fireplace, purposely to hide the gift. 

“Really?!” the twins squeal excitedly. They follow you while you take out two matching blue gift bags. There, you take out two horse pendants for them.“He got ‘em on his trip to that medicine conference,” you explain. “Uncle Haibara made him get ‘em for y’all, so give them a call tonight and thank both.” You hand the pendants to your ogling twins, watching as they admire them. “Oooh, pretty!” Keiko coos, admiring the pretty pendant. 

“Granny also sent over some apple cider dounuts even though I specifically told her not to,” you sigh. “She’s gonna turn you two into pumpkins.” Geto laughs, knowing that you’ve told your parents to ease up on the home baked goods since unfortunately, your kids have inherited Gojo’s sweet tooth. Speaking of the devil, his smooth laugh comes from upstairs. 

Still smooth, still sly, and still sexy. His hair is cropped shorter and his voice has grown deeper, only adding to the sexiness and maturity he has been rocking since you all hit your thirties. “Leave ‘em alone, babe,” he tuts, walking down the steps in his jeans and sweater. “Ya know they got their sweet tooth from me.” 

“Clearly,” you mutter. You squeak when Gojo smacks you on the ass, just out of sight from the twins. 

“Daddy!” Keiko shouts, running over to her dad. Gojo bends down onto his long legs and hikes her up in one arm. He does the same to Sagoyo, hugging both to his sides. “Hello, my darlins’,” he coos. “How was school?” 

The twins each give each other a look. Sagoyo nervously looks at you then at an expectant Geto. “Uh—“ 

“Good!” Keiko immediately answers, grinning a little too brightly. All three of you share a knowing look. “Oooh, that ain’t sound like y’all agree,” you point out, exhaling as you sit down on the soft cushioned couch. Your aching knees and feet immediately feel 100% better. 

Geto goes to stand over with you, never wanting to be too far from you. Gojo is the same way. They hound over you like dogs, always protecting you from unseeable threats and pampering you. They did this when you got married, but when you got pregnant with the twins seven years ago, it only increased. 

“So are you two finally gonna tell us what happened earlier?” Geto pointedly asks, crossing his tattooed arms. 

Gojo looks at him and then at the twins. “What?” he cluelessly asks. “What happened earlier?” 

“Uh….” The two kids look at each other, unsure. Finally, under Geto’s scrutinizing gaze, they break. “These kids just made fun of us for our project today,” Sagoyo admits. 

“They didn’t believe us!” Keiko tearfully shouts, big fat ears welling up in their eyes. “They said we lied about you guys bein’ famous!” She begins to silently cry. You smile to yourself. Keiko has the anger of her mama, but the sensitivity of her daddy. Meanwhile, Sagoyo is more like his daddy and papa: easygoing and quiet, but very intelligent. 

Keiko’s daddy hugs her close, cooing at her soft crying. “Aww, babygirl, it’s okay,” Gojo shushes your daughter, kissing her forehead. “We appreciate the thought, but if they don’t wanna believe it then fu—“ 

“Satoru!” you and Geto immediately snap. You won’t have him teaching the kids how to cuss again! 

“Forget them,” he finishes, winking at you and his husband. “That’s all I was gonna say! Geez, nine years later and you still think I’m a bad influence on kids.” The twins laugh, their smiles brightening the room. Suddenly, Keiko’s sorrow is gone. 

“Well, I still think your project is adorable,” you giggle, admiring it as Geto moves it to the mantel. “And I’m sure those kids won’t bother you again now that they saw your papa in the flesh.” 

You clap your hands once, signaling the end of discussion. “Now, let’s forget all about today with some delicious donuts and sweet tea, shall we?” 

“Yeah!” the twins shout, and all talks of mean kids and schoolyard fights are gone. “Keiko, don’t take all of ‘em!” Sagoyo calls as he chases after her into the kitchen. You laugh with your husbands, always humored by your precious Earth angels. 

An hour later, after eating donuts, chugging down sweet tea, and cleaning up after school, the twins go outside into the fields to run about and play with the horses. You stand by the open front door, looking out into the grassy fields. “Not too far, y’all!” you shout. 

You put one foot out to walk onto the porch, but Gojo stops you short. He takes your hand in his and guides you to the swing chair that he and Geto specifically bought from you three to share. Together eight years later, you still share that swing on lazy afternoons and drunken nights. 

“Satoru, baby, ya don’t have to walk with me,” you chuckle. “I can still walk.” But your husband has a mind of his own. “Nuh-uh,” he stubbornly replies. “I’d carry ya if you’d let me.” 

He sits you down next to Geto sipping on some tea. “But I can always put you in my lap.” He gives you a sultry smile as he sits next to you, trapping you between them. “Or mine,” Geto cuts in. “You know Y/N enjoys sittin’ on me more.” He places his tatted hand on your thigh, his fingers caressing your skin. 

“None of that right now, fellas,” you purr while Gojo kisses your neck. He pouts, but stops, one hand still playing with your hair. You smile, placing your hands on theirs, right over their rose tattoos. “But later tonight, I’ll hold y’all to it.” Your husbands look happy with that idea. 

As they go back to watching the twins play, you admire the dark ink of their rose tattoos. After all of this time, Benji the Bandit and Valentine seem so far away. After their deaths, there had been a slew of criminals and bandits running a mock in the Wild West that you and your Gunslingers took care of. It only lasted for a year, but your killing spree was enough to scare the wits out of any aspiring bandit. 

After some time of traveling and living the outlaw life, you three finally retired to Willow Springs to marry and start your family. And here you are now, sitting with everything you’ve ever wanted, fully embracing your past and looking forward to your future with your husbands. 

You admire them both, loving how the rays of the afternoon sun turn their hair into spun gold. It is getting dark earlier now and soon, winter will replace fall as it always has and always will. Time continues to pass and you still see your husbands as the sexy, smooth-talking, gun-wielding outlaws you met all of those years ago. And you know they still see you as the hot-headed, stubborn, fierce Fatale Femme (though you’ve softened overtime).  

Gojo sees you watching him and raises an eyebrow. “What?” he curiously asks. 

You shake your head, squeezing your husband’s hands in fear that they may disappear. That this peaceful, cozy life in Willow Springs with them is just an illusion. “Nothin’,” you giggle. “I’m just so glad you chose me.” 

Geto scoffs, releasing your hand to wrap an arm around your shoulders. “More like we’re glad you chose us, little lady,” he replies. “You could’ve had anyone, but you went with us two outlaws.” He presses a soft kiss to your cheek and Gojo follows suit, the both of them pressing their lips to your face. 

When they pull away, they place each hand on your plump stomach. “This is the life, ain’t it?” Gojo hums. He leans his head against yours, watching your twins play and the blue sky stretch like a painted canvas above. 

Sitting between them, you feel more at peace than you ever had. “Yeah,” you agree, sighing softly. “It’s a dream come true.” 

THE END.

[shadowknightapologist]

do yuo have any mcd gene headcanons perchance……

BOY DO I!!! hello my new favorite person enjoy your stay /silly

WARNINGS FOR: referenced child abandonment, sick parent, mild body horror (bad piercing habits), cannibalism, execution, and murder.

prior to being a shadow knight...

gene is afro-dominican (maria is dominican, his father is black).

bisexual demiromantic, he/they, BPD + insomnia (i fear him and laurance are going to become personal conduits /hj silly).

if he'd have had the chance, he probably would have become an artist.

he always loved cats. his childhood pet was a golden tabby molly named apple (after dante bc it was one of his favorite words and gene wanted to make sure he could pronounce it). she was very affectionate and usually rode around on his shoulders while he was patrolling the village and she'd cry at him whenever dante got out of school. very accomplished mouser and gift-giver, much to chagrin of her household. she got sick just before maria did and died the day after gene's execution.

gene was executed at 19 (dante was 13) and is 25 as of season 1. he looks about 21-22.

he looks like his father and he hates it (the design i made is already a little outdated but that's okay i'll figure it out one day).

his full name is eugene alejandro de la cruz.

"eugene" is after his father, but calling him that whether you're aware or not will get your teeth knocked in. the only person who got away with this is his mother, maria, because she was sick (dante, before and after gene's execution, would probably be fine too, but dante never had a reason to call him eugene anyway so).

gene took care of both dante and maria.

gene DID actually work to be headguard, and he was going to be picked fairly. however, he was in competition with an older, well-respected gentleman and panicked—i'm thinking the lord was corrupt and made it so low-ranking guards and villagers were kinda miserable, so with maria getting sick and their father leaving, gene was terrified he'd be unable to properly support them without the rank.

so his first run-in with his magiks was an attempt to manipulate the man into no longer wanting to be headguard so it'd leave gene as the only option. instead, he corrupted his memories so bad that he got severe PTSD and had to step down as a guard completely.

i think that, in addition to memory warping, gene can cast small illusions. this is how dante is introduced to gene's magik—he used to do little shows based on fairytales to help dante sleep.

gene was too busy growing up to bother with crushes or attractions beyond physical/aesthetic attraction and occasional flirting bc he's charming and knows how to read/talk to people. yes this means i'm making the lord's daughter thing largely noncanon!! instead she liked him and he used it to his advantage (not in a gross way) (more like "my family is safest when i'm on your side so that's where i'm gonna be") (unkind, yes; assault-y? no).

after becoming a shadow knight...

gene developed feline qualities after becoming a shadow knight. when passing for a human, this is visible in his eyes. in his usual knight form, he has a tail, the claws, and the teeth. in his more beastly form he basically looks like a fucked-up, zombified big cat.

additionally. shad gave him a nether-born feline mount.

in my headcanon, shadow knights are kept in the nether for 1-3 nether years (26-78 overworld days) so they can start training, acclimating to the realm, and be brainwashed. gene stabilized pretty quickly for newborn shadow knights, especially as magiks user. shad allowed him to leave with supervision after eight months (17 overworld days).

i believe that, in general, spirits suffer memory damage after dying. it's typical and usually fixes itself in the afterlife. however, since gene never got to any afterlife, nothing fixed itself. so when he's reborn, he believes, whole-heartedly, that dante betrayed him. his little brother, his shadow, the one person dante would have done anything for—now the one who tossed gene away, who let them make a public spectacle of his murder.

gene eats his lord, the two senior knights, and the boy who executed him. while he's fighting he takes a few chunks out of people. all in all it's a complete bloodbath. i think he would have done something to keep maria and dante away from a majority of the violence tho, whether that was trapping them in the house or using magic to create some sort of "bubble" so they couldn't hear anything.

gene still hits dante with the "someone has to remember" line, but no one's memory is actively changed (1, because everyone is dead; 2, because gene is still scared of his powers at this time, having not used them a lot; and 3, a part of him is hesitant to inflict that on dante). he leaves the communication amulet with dante and tells him to run.

after that, gene stays with maria for a while. either she dies of natural causes or he kills her himself (considering it a mercy kill).

dante (and maybe shad, but in a different way) is gene's only flaw as a shadow knight. he's the one thing remaining of his old life that gene can't kill, the one thing that makes him act out. gene will simultaneously hurt dante and beat the shit out of any knights that breathe a word about him.

aphmau reminds gene of dante. laurance and aphmau remind him of him and his brother (i'm not doing laurmau i think).

gene handles most of the rebirth process for baby knights. laurance was his favorite due to the unusual circumstances surrounding his turning.

gene is an exalted knight.

gene has tattoos + piercings. the piercings are mostly from him getting bored and just... stabbing things through his body.

in a perfect world, gene forgives dante and makes him a shadow knight with him and they serve shad together. he doesn't know why he hasn't done it yet (he'll say dante needs to suffer the consequences of his actions a little longer, but the truth is some deeply buried part knows and acknowledges that being a shadow knight is torture. he doesn't want that for his dante).

gene considered sasha a friend against his better judgement, up until she fled (he knows considers her a traitor and a coward). vylad is disconcerting and frustrating to him because he's hard to read. vincent is a coward. laurance is both infuriating and, truth be told, a little scary to him. gene isn't a stranger to eating other knights so zenix is straight up just annoying to him.

um this quote makes me think of dante and gene

these are probably so boring and all over the place, i just got excited </3 some may be subject to change bc i fear they're not very interesting!! but we'll see

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

"The Return" thoughts

I said it earlier after my first viewing, but this episode proves why Crosshair is such a compelling character. I love him so so much and I realize that I resonate with him deeply.

I also love how the title of this episode can refer to multiple things be it characters, locations, or ideas. It really is a perfect fit.

Spoilers below

I have no words for how beautiful and perfect this episode is. Although I would've liked to see Crosshair being accepted back by his brothers in that cliffhanger, I was still overjoyed to see him finally on Pabu. He finally gets to experience island life. Unfortunately, his hand is still acting up. After today's episode, I genuinely believe that his tremors are a result of physical damage combined with psychological factors. His identity has been ripped apart, he's lost so much, and his turmoil regarding his brothers still lingers. The moment where his hand trembles at Hunter's words solidified that for me.

AND ECHO RETURNED! I missed him so much and it's relieving to see that he's doing well. Mama Echo is home. I love how he's written in this episode as well. Echo is someone who has a strong set of values that he follows and believes in to his core. This makes him a great mentor/parental figure and to see that here was amazing. He's always there to break up Cross and Hunter's fights and he gives Omega sound wisdom and advice. He validates her feelings but also acknowledges that she did make the right choice in escaping. I assume he's older than the Batch which also makes sense in why he can parent them so well. He's the voice of reason and the braincell carrier.

Overall, I really enjoyed the action and plot of this episode. When Crosshair mentioned he knew a place that could bypass the imperial encryption, I had a feeling of where he was talking about. Still, to see the outpost consumed by the environment of Barton IV hits hard. Of course, nothing prepared me for seeing Mayday and the other clones' helmets. Seeing Crosshair set the helmets up as a sign of respect hit hard. Aside from that, the episode does a great job of letting Crosshair and Hunter try and reconnect. It isn't easy due to their avoidant natures. However, both still relied on each other when danger struck.

Looking back, I'm glad they got the reunion of Omega and Crosshair taken care of so they can focus on finding Tantiss and freeing the other clones. I thought we'd get a whole season of just Hunter, Wrecker, and Echo wandering around while Cross and Omega are stuck. Now, we get new dynamics and seeing the bonds between brothers reborn.

Crosshair and Omega still continues to be an amazing duo. He loves her so much and is so comfortable around her. Omega playfully calling him "little brother" and his smile is so sweet. I still think Cross is the baby of the family. There were also moments when Cross sounded like Tech when he yells and it honestly makes me buy into the fanon idea that they're twins. Anyways, Omega still supporting her (big) little brother is so endearing. Same with Wrecker and him returning the armor to Crosshair. So touching. And the hug! Crosshair finally got a hug and I'm so happy.

Now, Hunter and Crosshair. I loved how their relationship was handled. Both distrust each other and lash out due to lack of communication. That being said, both of them didn't hesitate to rescue the other when danger struck. They still love each other deep down and I'm glad they came to an understanding at the end. There's much to work on, but they're moving forward.

(also Batcher is best emotional support dog!)

(also also, seeing Crosshair's crestfallen face at the mention of Tech hit the feels)

[one-idea]

Speaking of Deuce I know in my heart that when it got out that Ace is Roger's son the WG tried to change his bounty poster to Gold Ace, like not even writing it the correct way. And I know that Deuce has the biggest vendetta against that shit, like "IF THEY DO THAT IS JUST REWRITING THE PUBLIC NARRATIVE TO FIT THEIR IDEALS OF COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT AND DISMISSING HIS PERSONHOOD". Ace's poster still says Portgas D in the timeskip because Deuce, Olivia and Sabo kept getting rid of all of the Gold ones and the Marines got fed up with having to print new ones every time

I love this!

No chosen names are such a big thing for Deuce and Ace.

I can imagine Deuce siting there worried about his friend. Knowing he just lost his little brother who he loved so much. And there is nothing Deuce can do for him. He’s paper that he’s so proud of couldn’t sway the public in time to save Luffy. (He had such short notice, there was no way he could have, but that doesn’t matter to him) he doesn’t know where Ace is, he can’t support him.

And to top it all off someone spilled Ace’s closest secret to the world government.

Deuce is sitting there feeling like all his work is meaningless if he can’t help the people he cares about when someone (probably Olivia) slams Ace’s new bounty on his desk. Normally he’s trilled when Ace’s bounty comes out. He knows Ace loves when his bounty goes up. (And he totally doesn’t have a collection of Ace’s bounty posters)

But this one is different. Ace is still standing there with the same smirk as always (it’s the same picture as always) but the name is wrong. Gold Ace is brazenly printed across the poster.

“If they’re going to be blatantly disrespectful, they could at least spell it right.” Olivia says with a sneer. But it’s white noise to Deuce because, How. Dare. They. How dare they put a name on Ace he obviously didn’t want. How dare they use a name Ace had worked so hard to distance himself from.

Deuce is furious. His true name isn’t known to anyone. Not the Revs, not the reverse crew, not even Ace (he didn’t want to know after Deuce told him he rejected it) Ace is the one who dubbed him Deuce. Who created his new name Masked Deuce. The name the world knows. It’s his name! He would be livid if the World Government tried to tie his brith name to his current life. He rejected it and his family.

Ace did much the same. He chose to go by Portagas because he loves his mom. Deuce knew the name was important to Ace. Whether it was a decision made to hide his connection to Roger didn’t matter to Deuce. No one had the right to make Ace go by a name he didn’t want.

Add on to that it’s to fit the world’s government’s narrative of punishing sons for the sins of their fathers. That it puts Ace’s life in jeopardy for something he didn’t do.

Oh Deuce is hopping mad.

“So what are we going to do about this?” Olivia asked as she watched the rage build across Deuces face. He turned to face her with nothing but righteous furry.

He thought of the brilliant orange flames that often danced around Ace. “We’re going to burn them to the ground.” This he can do. He couldn’t help Ace at Marineford and he can’t be with him in the aftermath. But he can do this.

He’s publishing story after story highlighting PORTAGAS D. ACE and his accomplishment. He’s doing research about what Gol D Rogers was actually like (incase Ace ever does want the name) Sabo and Olivia help him destroy every copy of that stupid wanted poster. (He keeps one, 1) because it enrages him and reminded him what he’s working to prevent, 2) incase one day Ace wants it, even if it’s just to burn it himself)

He figures out where the World government is printing them from and raises it to the ground. No more posters for them! The world government finally relents when he sends them the correct poster (same increase bounty right name) and offers to stop burning all their bounty if they will just print the right one. They have to give in, he’s destroying all of their bounty poster, how are they suppose to bring in anyone if no one knows who to look for.

It his the price on Deuces own head but he’s more than pleased with the resulting new bounty that reads Portagas D. Ace. It’s worth it.

He hopes Ace never had to see the Bounty with the wrong name, no reason to add that to his plate when he’s already dealing with enough.

[letmetellyouaboutmyfeels]

F&F AU!

Eheheheh so for those of you not aware, F&F stands for Fast & Furious, so yes, after @mistmarauder and @catdadeddie made me watch that franchise for the first time, I am writing a Fast & Furious Buddie AU.

But uh not the spy shenanigans and cars in space part. Just the first one.

The premise is that rookie cop Eddie Diaz moves to Los Angeles to reconnect with Shannon, who when they were teenagers was big in the street racing scene (there's a teeny tiny Timeless Easter egg in there actually). But Shannon dies shortly after Eddie moves there and Eddie learns that part of why she refused to see him was she had been recruited by the LAPD to infiltrate the street racing scene to get an in with the 118 racers, a group that are believed to be robbing and smuggling. They're led by a former cop, Athena Grant, so they know all the usual tricks and keep outsmarting the police. Now that Shannon has died, Eddie's offered the opportunity, and takes it since it means a much higher payday that he can use to pay for his son's care.

He's supposed to get in with Maddie Buckley, who recently joined the group and doesn't seem to be involved in their crimes, but Eddie senses Maddie's in a bad place and instead chooses to go after the group's wild card (and Maddie's younger brother) Evan "Buck" Buckley. Buck's been banned from racing by Bobby Nash, Athena's husband, for unknown reasons, so Eddie figures he can help Buck sneak in and win some races to get his in.

It's just that. Well. Buck is very good looking. And sweet. And funny. And he adores Christopher. And...

Well you can see where this is going.

But oopsies :3 Eddie's still a cop :3 how on earth will the 118 react when they learn this? :3 and how will Eddie adjust when he finds the 118 gives him the family and support he's always craved? :3

we're an ACAB household here we all know how Eddie's gonna adjust. now the real question is how will he adjust to Buck's cock in his-- *I am dragged offstage by a comically large hook*

Basically I watched the first film and was like... you ever see something trying so hard to be macho it circles right around to being gay? Yeah. That. It was delightful. And I needed to write about Buck and Eddie being homoerotic about engines and gear shifts while racing sexy cars through Los Angeles immediately.

It's going to be very fun to write, I had hoped to write it this summer since I don't know if any of you have seen the film, but the first F&F film has a very sticky dog days of summer feel to it, the L.A. it shows is wonderfully lived in and grimy in a very affectionate way, but obviously I had to start working on my Halloween fics so that didn't happen. But it's still gonna be fun either way!

[rumble-aint-a-rumble-without-me]

i’m not sure if you’re comfortable doing this, but would you do like- someone who sees darry as an older brother figure?

A/N: Oh yeah, way comfortable with this! Here you go Non! Hope you enjoy!

Now I don’t think Darry would be too caught off guard if you told him that he was like a big brother to him

I think everyone in the gang looks at him like a big brother, even Two-Bit!

So don’t expect special treatment? Like he’s not gonna be easy on you

You’re another head to watch over, another mouth to feed when you show up at his door, another person who wants to sleep on the couch

Another little sibling to watch over and care for

And he really does care for you, I promise!!

Yeah, you’re another sibling, but he really does love you a lot and look at you like you’re his little sibling

He wants to hear about your days, about your problems, about the good things that happened and the bad things too

If you’re in trouble? Call him

He’ll show up to bail you out, fight for you, and drive you home, I promise you with all of my soul and being that Darry will never leave you hanging

That being said, if you’re his little sibling, you will not be spared from his endless chastising

If you do something wrong, you’re gonna hear about it and you’re gonna hear about it for a long while

It’s best to tell him if you mess up like right when you do it because chances are, he won’t be as mad then!

If you lie about it? Or try to hide it? Good luck with surviving!

He makes sure you’re doing good in school and have enough to eat every night, offering you a spot at the table even when he knows they’re gonna be tight on food

You’re his kid sibling, y’know?

He’d do the same for the rest of the boys, why wouldn’t he do it for you? 

Also, you’re definitely invited to the lot football games and to rumbles when they happen

You’re good when you’re on Darry’s team, but he likes tackling and roughhousing when you’re on the other team too

He’s just a college kid, alright? Yeah, he works hard and brings home a paycheck to support his little family, but he’s just a kid

He likes to hang around and goof off sometimes and I think the more little siblings he collects for himself, the more he actually has time to

You might think that’s backward, but I seriously believe Darry does better when there are more people around him

Maybe it’s more people to watch over, but they’re his people and he knows they love him just like he loves them

And speaking of love, I think Darry would be really flattered if you told him that you looked up to him! That he was like you’re big brother!

I think he takes a lot of pride in being a big brother!

More of a character analysis than a headcanon, just really fast, but Darry seems to thrive a little when he’s got people dependent on him?

Like he works so hard, he puts everything he has into taking care of his brothers and making sure all of their needs are met before he even thinks about himself

Ponyboy talks about this!! About how Darry doesn’t do anything for himself!!

But yeah!

That’s it! Those are the opinions and headcanons!

I’ve got a few more pieces featuring a big brother Darry, mostly just headcanons, and you can find them here, here, and here!