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thedo0zyslider · 11 months ago

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Take A Break (For Little Ol' Me) - 2k Words

Jimmy is just trying to get his work done, and a bandit is determined to make it as hard as possible to do so...

A03

(@thehappyromeo THEYRE HEREEEE)

"Ah! Sheriff!”

A voice calls from behind him, and Jimmy has to hold back a groan. Really? This guy? Right now, of all the times? He is very busy at the moment, and has no time to deal with this idiots shenanigans! He never does really, but now is a partially bad moment.

"Whaddya want, Bandit?" The Sheriff says, annoyance clear in his tone. He tugs on the reins of his horse, drawing the animal to a stop beside him. Him and Bullseye had been rounding up some escaped horses, one’s that had gotten out through a broken pen the night prior. They’ve stayed in a herd, but have strayed quite far from Tumble Town. Getting the animals back was already going to take hours, and now it was probably gonna take like, six more; with how annoying this guy loved to constantly be.

The Bandit smirks at his indignation, his blue eyes shining with mischief. They always glimmer with something like that, and it's always not good. Not that Jimmy looks at his eyes very much…no. Not when they’re kinda covered by that mask…

“I just wanted to see my favorite Sheriff!” The Bandit purrs smoothly, a devilishly little smile dancing along his face. He gets closer to the blonde, his smirk growing ever wider as he does so. This guy also loves getting in his personal space, has he forgotten to mention that? Jimmy thinks it's his favorite damn pastime nowadays. “What’s so wrong with that?”

“Well I’m busy, so you’ll have to wait. I have horses to wrangle.” The Sheriff huffs, grabbing Bullseye's reins again. There’s two more horses right there, and if he can just grab them, he’ll feel comfortable enough to ward this guy off. There’s already another horse with him, so if he can get these others, he’ll have around half wrangled.

“Can’t you just take a break? You work all the damn time.” The thief grumbles, crossing his arms slightly. The Sheriff takes a few steps forward, a vain attempt to lose his companion, and the Bandit follows him stride for stride, walking next to him rather annoyingly.

“Nope.” Jimmy says, getting ahold of a stray horse’s reins. This one is called Dusty, and belongs to one of the farmhands. He thinks. The Sheriff knows he often gets that horse confused with another, near identical one they have. So this one is either Dusty, or Perry, who belongs to another person in town. Considering how old Perry is, he hopes his first guess about the name was right. It wouldn’t be good for him to stray this far from the town.

“Not even for me? Your favorite bandit?” The man next to him purrs, that sly smile never quite leaving his face. It doesn’t leave his face often anyways, so Jimmy doesn’t know why he’s expecting too. Or why he wants it too. He doesn’t even know what other look he would like to see instead.

“Still no.” Jimmy huffs, getting ahold of another horse. Debby, he thinks that's this one's name. Either way, she’s the one that belongs to their local bartender, and he’d hate for him to lose his beloved horse. That bartender’s a… good friend of his, you could say. If you were a historian specifically. “And you are not my favorite bandit.”

“Then who is?” The criminal huffs, his pointed ears flattening. He sounds a little ….. jealous , possessive even. Like the Sheriff is his to own. Which is funny, because nobody owns Jimmy. Nobody but himself, that is.

“The bandits that cooperate when I try to arrest them.” The blonde huffs, tightening his grip on all three horses' reigns. The animals are following him without protest, Bullseye even motioning his head towards the last of the wayward herd. Jimmy gives the horse a friendly pat, and tries one final time to lose this guy. Even if he knows deep down all his attempts are futile.

“Ah.” The Bandit sounds…rather unimpressed by that. Like he expected Jimmy to name someone, like anyone gave the Sheriff half as much trouble as he did. It was like he expected to have to fight for the law’s attention. Which was…..an interesting realization. But also a fun one that could be used against him.

Jimmy stops trying to lose his companion, and turns to look at him with a smile. “What, were you jealous?” He asks, forgetting entirely about the horses. He takes a few steps closer to the Bandit, making a pointed effort to get in the other man’s space.

“Now why would I be jealous of some low life little cowards.” The Bandit huffs beneath his mask, almost sounding offended by it. “ I don’t bend to the law that easily.”

“I think you do bend easy to the law.” Jimmy feels a small smile of his own creeping across his features, satisfaction running through him. He can see the way the other’s eyes widen, how they search his face and linger too long on certain places. It seemed invading the Bandit’s personal space did do the trick after all.

“How so?” He asks, going to pull his mask down. The one that covers the bottom half of his face, not his eyes. That part is still hidden. But enough of the criminals face is showing that it would be…bad if someone else were to find them. It’s moments like these where Jimmy is glad he works alone.

“Like you are right now.” The Sheriff purrs, his tone now teasing. Briefly he leans closer, pressing their chests together for the smallest moment, so they can feel each other’s heart beating. The Bandit's breath hitches at that, but he does not move away. Just blushes, which is gosh darn adorable, Jimmy had to admit.

“I do not!” The blonde exclaims, sounding indignant. But it’s not too genuine, because he moves closer, until they are practically touching. Until they are close enough to grab each other’s faces and do gods knows what afterwards. “I just enjoy making your job harder!”

“Besides, that means I get you all to myself~” He adds, moving ever closer. The Bandit seems to have regained his usual spunk, now flirting right back. Good, Jimmy was starting to get concerned. It’s never like him to be so easily flustered.

“You love that, don’t you?” The Sheriff says, raising an eyebrow. Hell, he knows this guy loves it. He himself loves it, loves all the attention and fleeting touches that are exchanged between them. Love it like some kinda drug.

“Am I that obvious?” The blonde purrs, flushing their bodies closer together. Jimmy doesn’t move away, even though he should. Their chests press together again, for longer this time, and the Sheriff needs to ignore the warmth that flutters in him at the contact. He swallows nervously, the Bandit’s cat like eyes trained on every inch of him.

“You’re basically on top of me, so yes.” Jimmy mutters, feeling his resolve crumble. For whatever sly comment he makes, his little thief friend is always able to one up him. Every single time, he always makes him splutter and stumble over his own words like a fool.

“What can I say, I like what I see~” The Bandit purrs, teasingly ghosting a hand over the Sheriff’s arm. Another hovers above his waist, and it is taking all the strength in him for the cow hybrid to not lean into the touch; no matter how tempting it may be.

Jimmy resists the urge to roll his eyes, and the near magnetic pull he feels. He resists the urge to lean in, only for a few minutes more, “I know that already….”

“I think you do as well.” The blonde says, breaking their gazes apart from each other. Jimmy hadn’t even realized they’d been staring into each other’s eyes before that moment.. He follows the other’s gaze, and sees the very thing he is probably not supposed to see. The very thing that is trying to ruin their lovely horrible little moment.

It is then that Jimmy realsies the horses have run off again. All three of them, even Bullseye. He holds back an annoyed groan, moving his hand away from the Bandit’s own. Who is currently trying to grab it and keep him there and further distract him. Like the flirty little pest he always is.

"I'm so going to arrest you.” Jimmy huffs, making some lame attempts to move away, mostly because he knows the other will just drag him right back. Criminals are very persistent when they want to be, especially when they have something for you. Especially this one.

"With handcuffs? Quite kinky, don't you say?” The Bandit smirks, looking rather proud of himself for that one. The horses are forgotten again as soon as he says those words. His tail curls in self satisfaction, matching the annoying look on his dumb stupid face. His dumb, stupid, pretty face….

Jimmy feels himself go beet red, fumbling at the indecency of the comment. "Martyn!”

"Hmm, that's how to get you to say my name? Interesting~” Martyn purrs, sounding oh so pleased with himself. He seems to relish in how flustered the other man is, now touching him purposefully. In all the spots he knows make Jimmy weak in the knees. Like an asshole.

He fumbles out another response, his ears flicking down in embarrassment. It’s hard to make a good defense right now, especially when someone has a hand grabbing the back of your neck. "Well you....you said that-”

"We've done a lot worse than a little tying up, dear Sheriff." Martyn cuts him off, teasingly running his fingers along the side of Jimmy’s chin. His other hand rests on the tallers's waist, far too close to his waistband. The damn flirt. The Sheriff can't help but blush at all of that, reminded of their past ah..... meetups . The non-family friendly kind, if you must. They’d had…far too many of those for him to be comfortable admitting to anymore…..not that he ever was in the first place…

The Bandit chuckles again, going to hold the emperor’s cheek in his hand properly. Jimmy leans into the touch like a fool, like Martyn probably knew he was going too. "You're so easy to fluster.” His touch is warm and soothing, and Jimmy can see why he always falls for it. It’s…. nice to be held like this, he has to admit.

“And you're the biggest flirt in town.” Jimmy snorts, the other thumbing his cheek lightly. This guy knows all the ways to make his heart flutter, dunnit he? “Plus you're the most touchy person ever. ”

“Touche.” Martyn hums. His eyes twinkle with something, something the Sheriff might dare and call fondness. If he didn't know any better, that is. He doesn’t think this rascal could ever be fond for anybody, not anything beyond friendship anyways. And they are not friends, or anything more, despite what the evidence might suggest. They are just a Sheriff and the Bandit that always escapes capture, locked in a never ending chase. With some drunken affairs sprinkled in between, of course.

Despite himself, Jimmy smiles, and nuzzles into Martyn’s hand. He thinks the blonde goes a little pink at that, and his ears flick downward. A sure sign that the Sheriff has finally managed to fluster him. Jimmy holds back a smirk at that, and just enjoys the new redness of the criminal's face. If this were a normal relationship, he would press a kiss into the other’s palm. But their relationship has never been normal, so he does not do so. Even if the blonde wants to so badly, to show his affection like he so desires.

“Well, I got you to take a break, didn’t I?” Martyn huffs, finding both of their faces closer than they had been just a minute ago. The bandit’s tail flicks around both their legs, brushing against Jimmy’s occasionally. Eventually, it settles, intertwining with the Sheriff’s own tail casually. Jimmy pretends not to notice it, even if it makes his heart flutter ten times faster.

“I guess you did…” He mumbles, quiet and breathless. The air between them is no longer tense, now something softer. It’s something he wouldn’t trade for anything, moments like these, staring into the prettiest blue eyes the world has ever shown him.…

Martyn leans in slowly, taking the others' lips in his. Jimmy lets him easily, for this is not the first or last time they will do this. The bandit’s grip on him tightens, but never becomes hard enough to hurt. Just firm enough to keep him in place, like the Sheriff would ever try to move from this. It’s….a very sensual kiss, an enjoyable one. Mainly because Martyn is very good at this. Jimmy leans into more with every second, and has to stop himself from being disappointed when it ends. He wanted more.

They break away, both of them taking rather deep breaths. Jimmy lets both of them catch their breaths, before leaning in again. He wants more, so he’s going to take more; and he knows that the bandit will not complain. Martyn makes a sound as their lips connect again, a happy little whine he thinks. He holds Jimmy’s face in both hands this time, bringing them even closer as he kisses back. This one is slow, like they are making it last as long as possible, in case it never happens again.

Martyn moves back slowly, making the moment last as long as he possibly can. Jimmy keeps trying to chase him like a starving man. The Bandit stops him though, the hold on his face becoming firmer. The Sheriff says nothing, just leans into the touch and pouts a little. Martyn’s face is still just as pretty as it had been before, even when his lips were puffy and swollen and his cheeks redder than some of the desert sand. He;s still so pretty, even when his gaze darkens again and Jimmy knows what it means.

"This never happened?” He asks, almost in a whisper. He asks to make sure that they are still on the same page, doing so in timid conformation. That this never happened, that this is not the nature of their relationship. That they are just a troublesome thief and the sheriff that wants to finally put him behind bars. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Not at all.” Martyn mutters in agreement, letting go of his face. The Sheriff tries not to miss the touch too much. It doesn’t work. He misses it like he’s never missed anything or anyone ever before.

Jimmy moves way further, so that no part of them is touching. The lack of contact burns unpleasantly, but he pushes the sensation to the back of his mind. He still has some wayward horses to corral, after all. He needs to focus on that instead. "It.....still doesn't mean anything?”

"No.....it doesn't.” The Bandit says, pulling his face mask back over his mouth. The mask that keeps his real face such a secret. Oftentimes, the Sheriff wonders what would happen if he just…tore it off one day, and showed his face to the world.

"Good..” He hums out the one word response, fixing his slightly rumpled clothes, The Sheriff's hat is pulled tighter onto Jimmy’s head, in case someone wants to steal it again. Even if he knows today isn’t one of those days. The atmosphere isn’t right for their normal teasing anymore. He almost misses it.

"...See you later, Sheriff.” Martyn says, his voice stiff. Controlled. Like he wants to say more, to do more. Like he’s holding himself back. He looks off into the distance, not meeting the Sheriff’s eyes, like he can’t muster the strength too anymore.

"Yeah, try not to rob anything while I'm away.” The Sheriff says, his own voice sounding strained, even to him. There is still an unpleasant feeling squirming under him, that he is trying to ignore. There is a long bear of silence before Jimmy gets a response, and it's one that sends him thinking.

"No promises, love.” Martyn says, turning away from him. Jimmy tries to ignore the use of love at the end, but fails miserably in doing so. It’s just how they talk where the Bandit’s from, or something, it doesn’t mean anything. Probably. Even if he is from Tumble Town, just like the Sheriff is….

It doesn’t mean anything, I can’t. If it does, Jimmy doesn’t know what he would do with himself.

“Take Debby and go, will you?” He huffs, his earlier annoyance leaking back into his tone. The Sheriff isn’t actually annoyed….he doesn’t think. Just upset. He’s not sure what he’s upset about exactly, but he knows it has to do with Martyn and his work being interrupted. Yeah, something like that.. Probably, hopefully…

“Yeah, thanks for getting her.” Martyn responds, trying to summon his usual…whatever he normally has back into his voice. If Jimmy was anyone else, it would fool him. But he’s not anyone else, so he isn't fooling anyone right now.

“Don’t steal anything.” He reminds again, not knowing what else to say. The horses walk further into the distance, and Martyn turns to leave. The Bandit saddles his own horse, and heads towards the opposite direction. Where he can’t interfere with the Sheriff’s work, and they don’t have to see each other for the rest of the day.

“No promises.” Martyn repeats, and then vanishes into the sun.

#ron.fic #jimmy solidarity #inthelittlewood #trafficshipping #solidwood #mirror birds #bandit au #empires smp #empiresshipping #<-- sure yeah technically

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shi-bxnii · 10 months ago

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doodles of the twst boys + slight HC's and my SONA TEEHEE (need to update the card cuz man sm has changed :[ )

MORE TO DO WITH HEADCANONS (n my sona) BELOW THE CUT!

VISUAL (IMG 1)

Jack 🐺 HC's : He got so round face but its cuz hes got slightly chubbier cheeks, so when he gets his hair all messy or hes still wakin up he looks like the "He eated bees"

Sebek 🐊 HC's: Minor facial scars and scars in general, i dont think he'd have anything crazy since despite his brash behaviour he is very on about perfection, the TOP of his ears are bigger but not pointed also

Deuce ♠️ HC's: His hair is obviously more neat but when hes asleep or doesnt comb it/style it he has very messy and more noticabley longer hair in the back, at most it covers his nape, he also often falls asleep forgettin to wipe off his makeup (which earns him a scolding from riddle)

Ruggie 🦴 HC's: SNORES SO LOUD AND A DROOLERRRR, everyone who likes ruggie and self ships i hope u know i think he drowns u in drool cuz that mf sleeps like a tired dAWG /lh

------

Sona/Sebek meet:

Theyre both in class 1-D so on the first day of class Sebek immediately striked convo.

(In the game its stated there isnt exactly any girls enrolled which makes me believe it isn't inherently spos to be an all boys school but they just rolled with it since its p much only dudes who end up there, so for the first femme to be enrolled it sparked everyones curiousity teehee)

For the most part it was just Sebek being curious and nothing more but p quickly they always sat next to eachother and studied more as a habit.

---

SEBEK about my sona:

- is absolutely annoyed or worried, i have narcolepsy so sometimes P4 happens when i get just slightly too warm

- For the most part actually enjoys the convos they have since we study similar subjects and i particularly like potionology (Science club :3)

- When annoyed he purposely shuts up which sounds weird for sebek but he found out it quickly becomes WHOS LOUDER!! and got both in trouble each time

- Sometimes brings lunch to me since i be forgorten to eat

- Since hes in Diasomnia and my sona is Ignihyde he often prefers that they study in the library or in Diasomnia cuz he hates the enviroment of Ignihyde

- Overrall sees my sona as a good friend but also as a mild annoyance he very much doesnt need to deal with but he still does

MY SONA about Sebek:

- Thinks hes a bit silly and gets to uptight fast, annoys him on purpose

- Does secretly enjoy when he is a hardass cuz it means that there is likely competition ahead (ARIES 😭)

- When the vibes are calmer often falls asleep or gets physically close to be bothersome (think like a cat purposefully sittin on ur laptop during a writing)

- During potionology/science magic classes makes explosives or dictates the entire project which makes them bump heads

- During calmer vibes (part 2) they often just read or talk about random stuff though can often be over ruled by Sebeks "Malleus the great" speeches

- Sebek has been mad about someone leaving random food in his bag (ranging from sweets to full on meals), somehow he hasnt picked up its my sona 😭

-Overall sees him as a close friend and a friendly competetor

#self insert #self indulgence time #twisted wonderland #twst #jack howl #sebek zigvolt #deuce spade #ruggie bucchi

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foefire-flame · 2 months ago

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Nightly lore thought is thinking about the ways Rytlock and Leo both approached falling in love. These experiences differ greatly as Rytlock isn't necessarily a stranger to it but is always still haunted by the memory of what he had with Crecia, vs Leo who is so aversed to approaching any kind of romantic relationship bc of not eanting to get hurt bc he would want somwthing long term but it isnt necessarily common on top of already existing as a black sheep by legion charr standards.

For Rytlock although he fell for Leo first it was still something he had to kinda both shove himself through and also. Bury. When he first starts feeling the prickle of love, the feeling where you start catching yourself craving the specific attention or time, or the allure of wanting to know more, he kinda dismissed it as something that was probably physical and remnants of missing any kind of relationship where he can both rely on someone else and confide in them. At the time Leo meets him again theyre both respectively in a pretty lonely place. This is the excuse he uses until after Leo (having caught on to Rytlock's subconscious lingering gaze) propositions something casual and they sleep together for the first time. Well maybe not directly after, I think it takes this going on for a bit until he realizes that no this isn't something that can be satisfied by a casual situationship, its deeper. One night as Leo is getting ready to leave and return back to his warband's barracks Rytlock kinda blurts out for him to stay, and Thats when he has to come to the realization that just as their friendship was growing, his feelings for Leo as something beyond what they had did have real substance. Leo doesn't stay, of course, and Rytlock kinda has a round or two with his own psyche of how this is all kind of stupid, theres no time for it, he always fucks up these things somehow, ect ect. But the very funny thing about love is that wants that train starts there Aint No Stopping It.

I mean like he's a grown ass man with a 9-5 officd job, so this isn't like love-sick puppy behavior, its something more refined and subtle, even if more subconsciously. He's more gentle with Leo, more patient. He prods him just to listen to see him get passionate about something because he likes seeing Leo get worked up about things he believes in. He starts inviting him out with him to get drinks which becomes routine. The more he can let his own mask slip the deeper his affection for Leo grows. The most embarassing thing is that he starts making jokes he would otherwise consider dumb because he learns that despite Leo's seemingly stoic, cool exterior he has a soft spot for puns that causes him to laugh and Rytlock likes to hear him laugh. He knows how leo likes his alcohol, he learns his tells, Leo chuckles when he's nervous, his left ears pin when he's about to sneeze. Then he wonders when the last time he knew someone this closely was, then he remembers the scar on his leg, the inticing warmth of Sohothin, he remembers Leo always refuses to stay. It's not that his feeling for Leo ever goes away but he has to bury them when the years go by and Leo still leaves every night. It becomes white noise, always there and easy to ignore or even forget. But then Leo does something and it resurfaces as a pointed reminder that they exist before it has to be shoved back down again...

Oh its 2am Ill have to do the leo half of this later but MAN

#javi talks

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theendofuno · 10 months ago

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alr i said i felt like writing about my aus and then i went to sleep. the most responsible person ever

ALSO SORRY IM KINDA LATE..i was..eepy..mimimimi.........

ANYWAY (prolly big text down there)

ive been writing a bunch of stuff recently for this au.....who is nameless.......like all of them............we just call it the hermits au lol

for context, theres a few different species going on: hermits, humans, demons, animalpersons n the list goes on (not really)

the hermits are human-looking with horns, pointy ears and cat-like pupils, theyre also pretty much known for being agressive towards humans and cannibalistic tendences (which is not a rule [for the lack of better word lmao..not sure if condition would be fitting in english the way it would in pt] and can be avoided)

what differ them from demons is basically their reputation towards humans, some demons do have non-human skin colors (pink, blue, purple) but not all of them, and they have round pupils aswell

not quite sure i need to explain humans or animalpersons.. 😭 ykyk, just people and people with animal ears and tails

the hermits are Uno, Lass, Veigas, Mari, Ronan, Lupus and Zero, and hermits basically live in the forest isolated from the rest of the population due to their reputation. in some places theyre even banned and activelly hunted down to death (pointing at Noir and Frost royalty) , while others simple don't actually care and its more "if you dont mess up youre cool here" (the CrimsonCanyon royalty and the witches)

i would talk about everyone here but i really want to draw more stuff before cuz i like having images to visualize stuff 😭 so i'll just keep here with Uno n buddies

Uno (who uses they/he!) lives in the forest with Ronan, Mari and Lass, Veigas used to be with them but they ended up disappearing one day (ooo lore.....cool), they're also Zero's adopted sibiling who don't live with them since he's a witch, and the hermits live close to Azin's house, who's a sorcerer and very good friends with everyone there

(fun fact! the arm in the drawing is indeed from Azin, Uno is very agressive towards everyone except the hermits they live with, but different from canon Azin is very kind and sees Uno as a lil child [besides he being 18] and likes to take care of him, in fact he's the only person who is trying to cure the curse Uno has [who is on his hands and spreading to his face]. they experienced remorse for biting him......poor thing)

Uno grew up alone, and ended up finding Zero at a very young age (dumbasses here [me and panela] didnt noted Zero's actual age so he's listed as 20-22 but you get the age gap), who was also alone and started taking care of Uno. after some time Zero ended up getting hurt real bad and Ronan and Mari appeared out of nowhere to help them, and ended up inviting them to live with the others (Lass and Veigas), which Uno and Zero accepted cuz it's easier to live around by other adults rather than being two alone teenagers

it took a long time to Uno to actually like them cuz he was always paranoid and over-protecting Zero, but no one never showed being an actual threat to both of them, so Uno started cooling down and lately accepted them as a family

n thats basically all for now :D

wanna talk more about them but i would get annoying.........hehe

#daily-uno

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floatingonalowvibe · 2 years ago

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chapter six, part one

After reading that letter, I had just a moment to think.

I didn’t think of anything in general, but just a moment to sit.

The joint had burnt out a long while ago, but the high was still strong enough for me to feel floaty and light.

I knew Dad was coming to visit the family in a few weeks, so that would be the time I would leave.

Ever since I first visited the North Pole that one faithful night, it seemed so alluring to me, like it wanted me to stay. It was so comforting, the small snow flurries, the faint smell of something I can only describe as a Christmas smell. And the friendlier than ever elves, how they would let me watch their work, and how even sometimes they would let me help. I still know how to make a few trinkets that they taught me how to make. I will never forget the wonderful feeling of the North Pole. The feeling of belonging was always there. The human world could never compare.

I could never forget Bernard, how whenever I think of him, the smell of peppermint and cinnamon finds a way to waft into my nose and calm my mind. His tall stance of confidence, how he would loom over me when I was around him. His tight curls, lopsided hat. I couldn’t get him out of my mind.

I could imagine his voice, how smooth it was.

God, I can't get enough of him.

He's just so.....i don’t even know how to describe it.

His pointed ears, always rosey face with a slight sparkle to it.

I knew it was the drugs talking, but he was beautiful.

~one week later~

this weekend dad was coming over. I have been waiting for what feels like forever.

Charlie helped me pack up a good amount of the items I owned. in total, I had one large suitcase and two bookbags filled. I didnt own much, but a cherish what I have.

everyone was downstairs, Charlie and I were sitting in the living room, him being busy trying to figure out how to fix a CD player he got about a month ago. I on the other hand, was going through old cassettes I had, figuring out which ones I could erase and re-tape for different songs. Neil and mom were both in the kitchen, talking about some boring adult stuff. I know I'm basically an adult, but it doesn't seem right to me. being an adult sounds scary to me.

everything was silent, except the crackling fireplace charlie and I started about an hour ago.

the silence was broken by a rythmic knocking on the front door. Charlie and I immediately bolted for out seats in the living room to the door.

we were greated by none other than dad, who sported a nice red sweater this evening. he looked jolly as ever, with his rosy cheeks, big round belly, and white hair with a matching beard.

"Hiya guys!" he said, opening his arms to give us two a hug. we both have him a big bear hug, which he returned with an even bigger bear hug.

we all had huge smiles on our faces as we walked into the house, Charlie going on a rant to dad about all the interesting things that have happened since he has been gone. I just watched him.

~pretend I wrote a whole dinner scene~

I was back to my place in the living room, stuffed from the dinner.dad and Charlie were sitting next to me, dad helping Charlie figure out his CD player.

I glanced over to the clock that sat above the fireplace, it read 8:30, right on the dot.

I made an agreement with mom that I could leave at 9:00, so I have been anxiously waiting for that time to roll around. And now it was almost time.

I got up from my spot, causing dad to ask here I was going. I replied, telling him I was grabbing my stuff, getting ready to leave.

I made my way up the stairs, walking into my room.I grabbed my bags, looking around at my room. I wasn't going to miss anything.

~timeskip, theyre about to leave~

hugs and kisses were being tossed around as we were standing outside by dad's sleigh. Mom had me in bone crushing hug, not wanting to let go of her son who she loved dearly. I awkwardly hugged her back, reassuring her that I would be back before she knew it. I was only staying there for a few months to see how I liked it there.

Niel was right behind her, giving me a big hug. he was telling me how much he was going to miss me, how well I'm going to do, and reassuring with me that I got everything I needed.

last but certainly not least, was Charlie. he was almost in tears as he hugged me. I hugged him tight, talking him that I would write letters. His hug lasted longer than any of the other hugs.

after yet another round of hugs, kisses, and goodbyes, dad and I were off.

the feeling of the crisp air flying through my hair was amazing. I couldn't wait to get to the north pole.

part 2 should be posted later today.

any type of interaction with this story is greatly appreciated.

go drink some water.

#bernard #bernard the elf x reader #bernard x reader #bernard the head elf #bernard the arch elf #x reader

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kill0mtr · 1 year ago

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writing this down before i forget. (its all incomprehensible word-vomit sorry) (oct. 14 - oct 27)

world

candy world. all people are candy or candy-like things (think peppermint, bubblegum, cotton candy, caramel apples, etc etc) most people teeter on the line of anthro animals vs fully human.

think like moominvalley, how the moomins and hemulen and mymbles resemble animals in some ways, but are distinctly not human nor animal. except its candy... most families follow one candy-type (like how the Pennyroyals are mint-based, the Spiceroots are gingerbread-based, etc etc)

the food here is unlike any human has seen, having no earth-related food. instead, its all magic to us, since the people here ARE the food, they need to eat non-food items. hence, the made-up magical food they eat isnt anything real. (as in, its not REAL to US. the food they eat IS real to them. they cant just not eat anything) (i feel like this doesnt make sense because i explained too much)

what constitutes as candy? well... anything thats "junk" food. so popcorn, caramel apples, popsicles, etc etc, while they arent exactly "candy", they are quite junk-y.

the vegetation and plants in this world also arent like anything we have. the trees bear fruit that the candy people can eat, and the animals are all fantastical creatures.

despite the fact that the animals and plants and stuff arent candy, theyre still named after some. like a peppermynx, aka "a dog made of mint", who isnt actually made of mint, playing on the words of "peppermint" and "mynx", an old word for a domestic dog (now spelt minx, and is now a demeaning word for a promiscuous woman) in our world. i will go more into depth about this worlds animals and plants in a reblog of this. the town names and family names are also candy-based. because themes.

the candy world, which i have yet to name, is very similar to ours, because i have no originality left and earth's customs is all ive ever known. :P if i think of more itll be in a reblog.

characters (designs subject to change)

Cain "Mr. Peppermint" Pennyroyal. he/him, mid-late 20s (25-29) tall, lanky. bunny-like ears flop down to just above his chin, giving the appearance of chopped hair (the colors alternate between red and white, with white being the base color, giving the allusion to a candy cane) has a rounded bunny-like tail that swirls red and white like a peppermint candy. his paws have red stripes around the joints on his fingers. wears a green-brown tailcoat (inside is brown; like a dark brown) wears heels that add about two inches to his already tall height. eyes are quite "big", in the sense of he seems to always stare right through you. green eyes with a red shine on the pupils, making his pupils appear red in some lighting (like how cameras do that red eye thing)

Ginger "G.G" Spiceroot. she/they, late teens to early 20s (18-23) average height, with a bit of chub and curve. mo hawk-like brown "hair" that resembles porcupine quills, with small rounded ears. snout ends on a point, with white freckles. in their spare time, they roller skate. her style is very "punk", with a short cropped jacket, long-sleeved striped shirt, short shorts, ripped black leggings, and white chunky-soled running shoes. their eyes are a mismatched red and blue, with speckles of pink and purple in each respectively. her wrists, ankles, and waist have bands of white fur across them, reminiscent of a gingerbread man's.

Chip "Biscuit" Baker. he/him, late 20s (26-29) short, chubby, and stout. curly brown hair that extends about an inch or two past his shoulders. wears a suit most of the time. looks like if freddy fazbear from fnaf1 got humanized <- im getting lazy sorry

#idk im just. im just writing stuff and hoping it makes sense #long post

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astranne · 2 years ago

Note

Hhh just got around to remembering anxious!xiao brainrots so here u go!

For starters, im calling him a nerd. I love ners tropes so much they itch my brain so perfectly. He can probably read off his favorite science/math/history book in the exact words. If your lucky he can even cite the direct sources.

Anxious!Xiao not knowing when he should speak during conversations and just floating in the background or ignoring large groups entirely, if they arent his friends he arent going near them. Double fuck no if theyre anyone that bullies him.

Anxious!Xiao knowing how to kick ass. As in, if someone fucks with him he will lay their ass on the ground immediately. Im a firm believer in Xiao being able to takw someone out easily despite their size. He wont say anything of course after he wins a fight, he doesnt want that type of attention.

Anxious!Xiao only being himself to close friends and people he truly trust because everyone uses him and he believes he isnt worth their time or friendship after they all leave him after they get what they want from him. Xiao getting rlly bad anxiety when they add him to group chats and just lurking in the background until someone speaks to him directly (now theyre wondering when he was added).

Now a few purely indulgent headcanons

I will be a strong believer in Xiao's ear twitching when someone says his name and knowing exactly who it is. Also, Xiao having a pet bird. Dont ask just him with a pet bird. Also Xiao just infodumping about his favorite thing whoever has been unlucky enough to ask.

And for some angst.

Xiao's caregivers only caring about his grades, when they ask about why he has anything lower than a A his anxiety gets worse, his caregivers are probably acutely aware of this man's crippling anxiety but they ignore it, because he has grades and school to take care of. Xiao's siblings picking on him for not having many friends or not going out as much and making fun of him for fidgeting or stuttering when he speaks, or when hes speaking softly they mock his voice so he just clams up (love u xiao i promise 😊).

Xiao getting bullied but the moment they mention any of his younger siblings he decks them in the face and might even give them a black eye, or might even sprain their wrists only Xiao can mess with his younger siblings. (Alternatively, Xiao being the fun big brother to anyone younger than him because he adopts the outcasts of his school)

I feel as though this was longer than usual for some reason. The amount of times i had to retype this because i closed the tumblr app (i write on my phone) and fell asleep halfway because i started writing this at like 5am 🫡 i did get sleep i just love staying up late during the summer

-🪶

ANXIOUS!XIAO- XIAO BRAINROTS- FROM FISCHL ANON, TODAY IS A BLESSED DAY-

xiao is a nerd. yes he is. he is just so smart <3 and he's really proud of it too. also- xiao with glasses- HHHHHH- but like, the round glasses, with very thing metal thingies if you get what i mean,,, and then him just pushing it up and mumbling about homework and uasiudfgjha-

anxious!xiao who has no idea how to interact with anyone, like anyone at all. it makes him super nervous and he'd rather not speak at all if that means he won't embarrass himself. especially if it's a group of strangers- xiao is an introvert.

also, xiao being a badass and no one knowing he is one- i- yeah, he will absolutely destroy someone if he wants. but until he gets to this point... takes a rather long time and this is why he often gets picked on. they all think he's weak, but he is in fact not, he's just the bigger person abt it <3

anxious xiao who has very few friends, maybe one or two and even with them he feels just... so anxious. class chats always end up with him reading but never writing/sending something, not even homework when someone asks. he just can't- he gets too nervous, fearing another situation, where he ends up used and alone. he just doesn't really have trust in humans anymore :(

PLEASE?? xiao with a bird??? that bird's name is alatus and is his one big love. when someone asks if he has a pet, xiao will literally bloom and hhhhhh- just talk about his fav lil birdie.

sobbing rn. this hurts really deep. my heart is bleeding- xiao's family just being assholes and xiao can't do anything about it and they only make it worse- this is why he's always studying so it doesn't get worse. he has the unhealthy mindset of being perfect and it's- not good for him :((

but him still being protective of his family is just <3333 xiao, you're perfect and i love you very much <333

just- xiao, who has problems with social things because he never learned, always feeling pressured thanks to his family but he can't just- stop. he has to continue, so they will be proud, he has to protect his siblings, because who else will??

ALSO- thank you sm for sending this!!! i totally feel this, tumblr moblie can be a fuckin bitch <33 but please get enough rest, even tho it's summer :)

#genshin impact #xiao #modern au xiao #xiao brainrot #genshin xiao #xiao genshin impact #✨ star dust #⭐️ 🪶.star #i always love it when you send so long asks and i know it takes a lot of time #please know i treasure these brainrots very much <3 #🌚 knowing moon

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space-girlllll · 22 days ago

Text

OK!!!!! SO!!!! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ROUND!!!

A LOT HAPPENED SO IMMA DO A SMALL ANALYSIS AND JUST POINT THINGS OUT BCS I NEED TO TALK ABT THIS!!!

First of all, Hyuna is still bleeding from the gunshot wound of last round, and idk how long it takes for an abdominal gunshot wound to stop bleeding, but it can't have been more than a few hours, so this couldn't have happened too long after the last round. and since thats true, is it usually this short of time in between, and when did this short time in between rounds begin?

also, i'm so mad at luka but like. pop off???? he plays the fuckin violin???? hes a talented guy ig???

Hyuna stopping mizi from going after till and luka??? she looks absolutely terrified, bcs who know what could happen to her if she goes up on that stage with luka. She's worried that luka will hurt mizi and that just. :(

This scene breaks my heart tbh :( mizi running off with hyuna left watching after her terrified, bcs she feels powerless.

also!!!! in this scene??????? where you can see the blood CLEARLY still on tills pants??? did they not have him change his pants after the previous round??? he's still covered in ivan's blood thats just so- AAAAAAAAAAA

The disco ball beign earth?? that's absolutely crazy to me. like damn.

When Luka reaches out and touches till??? First of all, the lyrics specifically being 'the dark crimson air' during this part just made me think of ivan, who had red in his eyes, like, huh. and also that red behind till's ear? is that a part of his ear piece? and also speaking of the ear piece why does it glow red this whole round, when it didn't glow like that before (i think i might be wrong ;-;)

and this!! him putting his hands exactly where Ivan put his when he choked till, and especially because this is when he sings 'embraces us'? that is just. uggghhhhhhh. and also the rings on his hands are placed so specifically on each finger. huh.

And the fact that his face gets all dead, void of expression once he hides his face behind till is just scary, the way he can wipe off all semblance of emotion. also, back to till's ear piece, i can't help but be fixated on it, with how it glows red so BRIGHTLY in some scenes, and with how out of place it looks with everything else around it, idk.

Till, here, looks absolutely terrified, and so tired, he's so scared he doesn't sing the next few lines for a bit, i feel horrible for him ;-;

And again with the ear piece! he even looks in pain as pulls his hand away from it like it's causing him so much pain. i'm rly worried abt it :/

and he looks DELIGHTED that till is in so much pain, like it's funny to him, because luka is a FREAK AND WE CAN'T FORGET THAT

he's so exhausted that his weird fake guitar glitches out ;-;

THE RED FLASHBACKS OF CURE ALL GOING DOWN AND IVAN'S DEATH??? THAT'S CRAZY

AND ONCE AGAIN THE RED FLASHING EAR PIECE WHILE TILL IS LOOKING ALL DEFEATED AND HIS NOSE STARTS BLEEDING?? MY BOY IS TIRED.

OK HERE. So Ivan is looking down on till, all high and mighty, serious, scary, all cold and condescending while till is all defeated and broken down

meanwhile, behind Luka, Ivan is practically the exact opposite of the one above till. He's crying, he's dying, he's dressed as he is in cure, but one of the only things the two share is theyre both looking at Till. Even if the two images are opposites, they are always looking at till. UGH. Ok also, i feel like the two are sorta how the two see ivan?? like not completely, but it's his image in their eyes. To till, he's so far above him, he's off putting and mysterious, but to Luka ivan is pathetic, low and close to the ground, emotional and defeated. i'm not saying this is 100% how i think luka sees ivan, but its a part of it.

UGHHH LUKA MIMICING IVANNNNN. ALSO NOT THE LYRICS BEING 'LEAVE NO REGRETS' FOR THIS SEGMENT.

ALSO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO PICS ABOVE ARE EVERYTHING. Luka is mostly expressionless here, a small smirk, but other than that, his face is blank. Ivan meanwhile, despite being till seeing ivan in luka, is so much more human looking between the two. He's sweating, he's tired from the performance, his hair is slightly messy, he has sorta eyebags/crinkles from his exhaustion, his small smirk, he just looks so much more real then Luka in this moment, despite not being real at all.

AND THE CHANGE BETWEEN HIM SEEING IVAN AND THEN NOTICING MIZI!!!! FROM THE TERRIFIED LOOK ON HIS FACE WITH THE RED REPLACING HIS PUPIL, AND THE LITTLE PINK EYELIGHT AFTER HE SEES MIZI!!! INSANE.

AND SUDDENLY WHEN HE LOOKS IN THE CROWD AGAIN HE DOESN'T JUST SEE ALL OF THE RED, ALL OF THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, HE SEES MIZI, AND HE SEES THE PINK OF THOSE AROUND HER, AND NOTHIGN ELSE.

AND HE BEGINS TO SING AGAIN. AND HAS THE MOTIVATION TO KEEP FIGHTING.

LUKA IS FLABBERGASTED AT ALL THIS

AND TILL, SUDDENLY REINVIGORATED TO KEEP GOING, SINGS, AND ALSO THE EAR PIECE GOES GREEN.

Luka seems genuinely annoyed at this and im so sorry bcs at this point im just narrarating whats happening im not good at analysis sorry ;-;

AND HERE!! WHERE TILL TRANSITIONS FROM THE DARK GREEN ALL AROUND HIM TO MIZI'S SOFT PINK!!! HE'S INSPIRED AND HAS HOPE. ACTUAL HOPE.

AND THE PINK ALL AROUND THEM IS SO SWEET, THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO EO, MIZI HOPING TO SAVE TILL AND TILL SO DESPERATE TO BE SAVED ONLY FOR HIM TO GET SHOT IMMEDIATELY AFTER?? UGH.

the absolute horror and pain in mizi's expression as she watches till fall ;-; he was the last person left from before, and now mizi's is all alone.

OK IMMA CONTINUE THIS IN ANOTHER POST BCS THERES A LIMIT TO HOW MANY IMAGES BUT JUST YOU WAIT. IM COOKING HERE I SWEAR.

#alien stage #alnst till #alnst luka #alnst ivan #alnst mizi #alnst hyuna #i have so much to say but i have a lotta trouble talking abt it and writing it down so bare with me here #sorry that im not so good at analysis its rly just me pointing out specific points that i feel like are more important than they seem #and narrarating

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fruitcoops · 4 years ago

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OMG CAN YOU WRITE ABOUT COOPS SURPRISING JULIAN ON HIS BIRTHDAY? LIKE TELLING HIM THAT THEY ARE SORRY THAY CANT MAKE IT TO HIS PARTY CAUSE THEYRE SUPER BUSY BUT ACTUALLY FLYING TO WISCONSIN WITHOUT HIM KNOWING?? AND ALL OF JULIANS FRIENDS TOTALLY FANGIRLING OVER THEM??

This highkey might be one of my favorite fics I’ve ever written. I adore Julian (as you could probably tell from my header) and it’s always wonderful when I can fit him in! SW credit goes to @lumosinlove <3

It was his birthday, and Jules was…well, honestly, kind of bummed. The string of his party hat itched the underside of his chin and he picked at his cake—his mother had made it the night before, and he had been looking forward to it all day. Now, though, it just tasted bitter.

His friends skated around with bright smiles and loud laughter, racing each other around the ice with reckless abandon in some weird version of tag that looked pretty lame. Jules had really tried to have fun, but the disappointment was crushing him.

Sorry, buddy, but we’ve got a game, Remus had said over the phone three days prior. We’ll come and see you as soon as we can, though, okay?

And Jules had said ‘okay, love you’ even though he wanted to cry a little, because he was eleven and that made him a grownup. Remus had never missed his birthday before.

A heavy hand squeezed his shoulder and he looked up from his paper plate. “Hey, kiddo, why aren’t you out on the ice?” his dad asked. He was smiling, but Jules could see the concern on his face.

He shrugged and pulled his hat off. “Takin’ a break. My legs were getting tired.”

It was a lie, and a poor one, but the bummer clouds were getting thicker and his birthday cake was tacky in his mouth. “Eleven’s a big one,” his dad tried again, sitting next to him on the bench.

“Yeah.”

“And all your friends are here.”

“Yeah. I don’t want to kill their mood, but…” He pressed his lips together and licked more frosting off his fork. It was chocolate; Remus would have loved it.

“Tell you what: I’ll tell people we’re having a second round of cake, and you can help me cut it instead of sitting here all by yourself, okay? That way nobody will get bummed out.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Jules pulled his feet out of his skates and wandered over to the table with his plate, sniffling a little.

“Hey, baby,” his mom said, giving him a quick side hug. “Are you okay?”

“I miss Re.” His voice wobbled and he cleared his throat. “But he’s got a game, so—”

“He sounds like a real loser, actually,” a new voice said drily behind him. Jules froze. “I mean, not showing up to his little brother’s birthday party? Yikes.”

“Next time you see him, you should kick him in the shin,” someone else added. There was a light smacking sound and a quiet laugh.

Jules slowly turned around.

Remus’ skates hung loose from his hand as he leaned against the wall, casual as you please; next to him, Sirius was barely hiding a smile. He raised an eyebrow when Jules looked at him. “Oh, hey, Jules. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Remus,” his mother scolded, though she didn’t sound very upset at all. “You could’ve said hello like a normal person.”

“You came,” Jules blurted, still in shock. Whispers were starting to spread out on the ice. “But—but you—you came out for my birthday?”

Remus gave him his most annoying big-brother look. “Duh.”

Jules was running before his brain even caught up and he flung himself at Remus, who dropped his skates and hoisted him into the air for a tight hug. “You came,” he repeated, suddenly close to tears as he wrapped all his limbs around his brother.

“Of course I came,” Remus said quietly, holding him just as close. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I thought you had a game,” Jules sniffled, pulling back to get a good look at his face. It didn’t seem real.

“I had to make it a surprise somehow, right?” Jules punched him in the arm. “Ow!”

“I was upset!”

“Surprise?”

“Sirius, will you be my new brother?”

Sirius snorted. “Sure, Jules, that sounds great.”

“We came all the way out here just for you to replace me?” Remus asked with fake indignance, tickling Jules’ sides. “You little rat!”

“I hate you!” Jules laughed, wiggling out of his hold. Most of his friends had gathered at the boards in a clump of shock and awe—he puffed his chest out a little. Hell yeah, that’s my older brother. “Everyone, this is my brother Remus and his fiancé.”

“That’s Sirius Black,” Devin whispered, his voice cracking. Sirius waved and his jaw dropped. “Jules, that’s the Sirius Black.”

“Cool, right?” Remus flicked his ear lightly, and he stepped on his foot. “Oh, and there’s more cake if anyone wants it.”

The rest of the cake remained untouched as ten kids mobbed the newcomers; Jules perched on his bench and laced up again, grabbing his stick and sliding onto the ice once more with a smile so wide it made his cheeks hurt. Remus ditched Sirius to get his own skates on and quickly joined him, passing a spare puck over with ease.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” Jules said after a minute of short passes.

Remus’ face fell a little, all previous teasing gone. “I’ve never missed your birthday, buddy.”

“Well, yeah, but you said you had a game.” He shrugged with one shoulder and poked Remus in the thigh as he passed. “Your job kinda needs you there—”

“Jules.” He stopped short as something tugged his jersey; Remus pulled him around gently, already crouching down to his level. He looked serious in a way Jules didn’t see very often. “Hockey is never going to be more important than you, okay?”

“Okay.”

Remus gave him a look. “I need you to believe me on this one.”

“It’s your job, Re.”

“I don’t give a shit—” He wrinkled his nose in instant regret. “Don’t tell mom I said that. My job takes second priority over family. Your birthday is important to me. You are way more important to me.”

Jules’ lower lip trembled. “Okay.”

“C’mere.” Remus pulled him in for another hug and Jules scooted as close as he could. “I love you so much, Jules.”

“Love you, too, Re.”

“I’m really, really sorry for making you think I wouldn’t be here.”

“It’s alright, I’m over it. The surprise was cool as f—ow!”

Remus rolled his eyes as Jules rubbed his wounded ear. “Watch your language.”

“Fine, mom.” They pulled apart and Jules pretended not to see the dampness of Remus’ cheek that he quickly swiped away. Sirius was looking a little distressed under the onslaught of questions and gave Remus a pleading look from the bench. “I think he needs help.”

“Nah, he’s fine.” Remus grinned and blew him a kiss. Sirius pointed to something across the rink, then flipped him off as soon as Jules’ friends looked away.

Jules doubled over in laughter until a puck hit the back of his skates and nearly toppled him. He whipped around, but Remus was already skating backwards with an irritating little smile on his face. “What was that for?”

“Rule number one of hockey: don’t get distracted.”

“You little—” Jules suppressed a scream as Remus took off in the other direction, laughing at his frustration. “You can’t be mean to me on my birthday!”

“If you catch me, I’ll play goalie!” Remus called back.

Being a smart and innovative eleven-year-old, Jules found a loophole. It only took five minutes of all his friends—plus Sirius—getting in Remus’ way for him to catch up and hit the back of his knees with his stick. “I hope you brought your mouthguard,” Jules panted as they laid side-by-side on the ice, both out of breath.

Remus dissolved into laughter, and Jules wasn’t far behind. Best birthday ever, he thought as Remus clambered to his feet and headed toward the goal posts.

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insomnihan · 3 years ago

Text

han’s Entire Thoughts & Feelings on Dreamcatcher’s “BEcause”

youtube

WE ARE F UCKING UNDER ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there are no read mores here so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ALRIGHT SO-

THE SONG WHERE DO I START WELL- I SAW A COMMENT SOMEWHERE THAT WAS LIKE ‘THIS HAS GOODNIGHT CREEPINESS WITH RED SUN ESSENCE’ WHOEVER THAT WAS YOUR BRAIN IS GINORMOUS™ AND WRINKLY- IF YOU LISTEN TO IT THE SLIGHT SUMMER VIBE IS TOTALLY THERE YET THE PIANO AND THE HARP (MAYBE I DUNNO BUT WHAT I DOONO IS THAT IT SLAPS) THE PRE CHORUS BUILD UP FAST AS HELL THE DRUMS ARE FAST AS S HIT THE CLOCK IS SO CREEPY THE GUITAR IS JUST ASDFFJGHLHKL;;’ THE DOUBLE TIME DURING DAMIS RAP THAT WAS LITERALLY™ AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE MY LIFE (they were this 👌 close istg) AND THEN THE BRDIGE…………………… SOMEONE TAKE THE WHEEL-

AND THEN THEIR VOICES POWERFUL AS ALWAYS AND THAT F UCKING DISTORTION S HIT DURING ‘FOREVER LOVE AND FOREVER MINE’ IS ACTUAL DR*GS- i dunno what it is but the instrumental being like that and then (to me anyway) theres such a sweet undertone (???) in how they sing and then knowing the lyrics likE I KNOW THEYRE OBSESSED- B O I DO I MISS A FAST DAMI RAP P L E A S E I FEEL LIKE SHES THREATENING ME I LOVE THAT PSYCHO NOISE B ICYJ- THAT BRIDGE IS F UCKING CRAZY SIYEONS AND HANDONGS AND YOOHYEONS GENTLE VOICES AND THEN S U A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUREALLYGOTTACOMEOUTOFTHELEFTGODDAMNFIELDWITHTHATICANTSTANDYOUHOWDAREYOUJUSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hello hello for the dance section i will be using THE mcountdown performance yEAH THE ONE POSTED BEFORE THE ACTUAL MV/ALBUM DROP- FIRST OF ALL THE INTRO sorry i have to talk about this theyre so creepy and doll like and jiu is so menacing lIKE WHAT THE F UCK IS THAT (someone answer me what iN THE F CUK did she feed yoohyeon)- NOW ANYWAY I HAVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE ACTUAL DANCE-

OFF THE BAT THE MIRROR INTRODUCTION IS *CHEFS KISS* and then gahyeon choking jiu?????????? LORE????????? IN CHOREOGRAPHY?????????

LISTEN. L I S T E N. ALL OF THEM LIFTING YOOHYEON AT 1:29 LIKE THATS INSANE AND SO FITTING FOR THIS SONG AND VIBE plus yknow………………… handong doing a lot of the lifting………… 👉👈

this specific video doesnt show it during suas verse (which is like Rude™ but fine they show it elsewhere obv) but when shes singing and the rest of them are dropping down slowly………………… yeah-

THE CHORUS EVERY👏SINGLE👏F UCKING👏TIME👏 LIKE THE POSE THEY DO FOR ‘BE’?????????????? THE POWER AND THE GENIUS™ OF IT??????????????????????

DAMI UNHAND ME UNHOLY DEMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the bridge…………… the rocking from side to side…………… whatever the f uck handong and yoohyeon are doing…………… it was almost like sua was controlling everyone right like deadass im scared-

THE DANCE BREAK PLS LET ME BREATHE

the ending with everyone bowing but gahyeon…………

BICTH……………… BICHY- THE VISUALS JUST KEEP LEVELING THE F UCK UP THATS LIT RALLY INSANE I LOVE THAT FOR THEM- the moment that mystery code was revealed and we were getting demented creepy carnival i waS V I B R A T I N G™ WITH EXCITEMENT the creepy scenery of the dark hotel lobby and the rundown carnival with the merry go round and teacups AND WITH A CULT and the hallway with the mirrors and the lights (like the use of SO much red and green……… the symbolism………) JUST EVERYTHING IS SO F UCKING ABANDONED AND S HIT- THE LITERAL MIRRORING AND DIMENSION S HIT WHAT THE F UCK!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT CREEPY ASS ROOM WHERE THEY KIDNAPPED GAHYEON IN AND SIYEON WAS ACTING ALL TWITCHY OR WHATEVER WHAT WAS THAT-

TIME TO SHOW WHICH SCENES I LIKED

youtube

THE WHOLE GODDAMN THI-

(jk ☺️)

OFF THE BAT GAHYEON MAIN CHARACTER I KNOW THATS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

…………………… i just wanted to put this here-

i just wanted to put this here too-

HOW DID YOU EVEN GET HERE

id like to think that the real handong is one getting dragged away and the one standing is the doppelganger (for Plot™ purposes)

W H A T T H E F U C K

I DUNNO WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN IM SCARED-

G OD WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE THIS PART WAS SO WEIRD WHAT DOES THIS MEAN WHAT DOES IT MEAN

HELLO??????????????????

yeah sure let me take this apple from this broken mirror where another me lies within the walls of this creepy hotel anD EAT IT

W E L P-

………………………………… F-

T H E M

I DUNNO HOW IM BREATHING RN-

JIU

whaT IN THE F UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS SCENE IN THIS SCREENSHOT IS ALREADY A LOT the way she looks seemingly unassuming and harmless in that reception desk that brown and white outfit (is her hair in like………… pigtails???) and then the smile to the instant glare you jusT KNOW youre gonna d*e in that place- MAAAAN BANGS OR NO BANGS SHES STUNNING EITHER WAY AND THATS SO RUDE………… the white dress and those red ACTUAL TALONS will be the d*ath of me

SUA

if i counted correctly she had three (3) different outfits??? outside of the dance ones??? white and red then black and purple then that green and black one??? i think of all of those i really like the red and the green one theres SOMETHING ABOUT THEM i think the green one with the big puffy sleeves more NOT BC ITS MY FAVORITE COLOR I SWEAR the green looks silky and then she also has the thing on the side of her face the pearls in her hair- AND THEN THAT RED ONE with the white sleeves and the frilly collar dude whAT THE F UCK LIKE I KNOW WE SAW IT A LOT BUT I WANNA SEE MORE THO……………

SIYEON

OKAYOKAYOKAY LOOK- THIS OUTFIT IN THIS SCREENSHOT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULDNT LIKE IT YET I DO????????????? two completely different looking patterns that animal print and the strips and then that big ass belt (???) around her waist like this shouldnt be like a GOOD look i dont think……… truly only She™ could make this look work 😔😔😔 i got A LOT A LOT to say about the red and orange plaid crop top and skirt with the different colored clips in her head but the only thought going through my Dumb of Ass Stupid Brain™ iS HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

HANDONG

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY NATURAL BLONDE BELOVED this white dress and the BLACK BOOTS AND THE CHOKER SHE BETTER S TOP- AND DO NOT I REPEAT D O N O T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPEAK TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ON THAT SHORT WHITE DRESS WITH THE WHITE BOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOEVER STYLED HER YOU DONT CARE ABOUT ME AND THE OTHER HANDONGISTS YET I ALSO LOVE YOU SO MUCH the one with the pink dress dont talk to me dont approach me donT EVEN F UCKING LOOK AT ME IM GOING THROUGH A LOT RN

YOOHYEON

im really Dumb of Ass™ i thought that one pink and (maybe???) super light blue dress had a clock on it- BUT MOVING ON FROM THAT the space buns and whatever those accessories those are and the pink makeup this is sO- then the white dance outfit with those (mesh??? lace??? i just know that its see through-) sleeves and those big ass earrings THAT LOOK AT 2:24 the boots (yeah i gotta mention that first since i just ALWAYS have to mention them) the white blazer all those pearl long ass necklaces and whatever that is on the side of her face why do her visuals HURT SO BAD-

DAMI

bicth…………………………………… B I C T H- WHAT HAS THIS WOMAN BEEN DOING??????!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!??!?!?! THIS OUTFIT IS SUCH AN ATTACK I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS ON HER FACE THIS WHOLE LOOK IS SOMETHING ELSE™ her tattoo 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 that bottom part of her hair is kinda clapped tho honestly- the pig tails?????? braids?????? in the dancing part on the black and white tiles IM DOWN YALL IM DOWN SO BAD AND ITS F UCKING RUDE™ THAT WE DONT SEE S HIT OF THAT DRESS AT THE END-

GAHYEON

IM GONNA SAY IT AGAIN LEE👏GAHYEON👏MAIN👏CHARACTER👏I👏KNOW👏THATS👏RIGHT👏👏👏👏👏👏👏!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS RED HAIR IS A BLESSING (especially in that high ponytail i-) SHE IS ATTACKING ME BUT YKNOW WHAT THATS OKAY- im SURE theres a plot significance to her two different dresses the mostly black and the mostly white but my brain can only register WOMAN PRETTY that white one in particular…………… the choker with her hair up and those boots…………… i saw it clear as day and im d wording over it-

BONUS TIME: B-SIDE TRACKS (thoughts and parts i liked)

Intro

i usually expect the intro to be like SUPER HYPE AND INTENSE yknow which it kinda is! however it is consistent that it fits very well and captures the overall vibe of the entire album the calm beginning with the bell like were walking into an establishment and at the halfway point it picks up its intriguing and the ‘i like you’ adds a subtle eeriness that adds just enough to make one wanna continue listening its v good 👌

Airplane

LISTEN……………… LISTEN- this is the VERY LAST genre i expected out of this group YET im not even a little bit shocked that they did this like this cutesy izone-esque summer bop of a song is a DREAMCATCHER™ song……………… YALL- THE AMOUNT OF SEROTONIN THAT ‘AIRPLANE LALALALALALA~~~~~~~’ BRINGS IS SOMETHING SO PERSONAL THIS SECOND GENERATION SUMMERY ASS INSTRUMENTAL WHAT IN THE F UCK- I FEEL LIKE IM RUNNING ON THE BEACH I FEEL THE COLD WIND OF THE WATER BUT THE HEAT OF THE SUN AGAINST MY SKIN AND IM PLAYING WITH A DAMN BEACH BALL WITH A COCONUT DRINK (I F UCKING H*TE LEAVING MY HOUSE) JIU AND DAMI SOUND SO F UCKING PHENOMENAL

Whistle

im pretty firm on believing these b sides represent different times of a summer day and this is the late evening or twilight like not nighttime but CLOSE- i thought i wasnt gonna like the whistling part but that only makes it catchieR THIS SONG IS MAKING ME YEARN AND TRYING TO RECALL LOVELY MEMORIES I DONT EVEN HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then again……………… theres always usually a song on their albums that make me unlock and feel hidden emotions………… THIS SONG GOT ME MISSING A PERSON THAT ISNT REAL this is such a mellow yet so powerful in the way they sing and express each syllable- they all did so good on this song but i gotta mention dami again for her part like oH mY gOoOoOooOoOOOooOD

Alldaylong

JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the way this song was inspired by a hug jiu got from yoohyeon…………… THIS IS NOT A JOKE she said ‘i wanna try city pop’ anD SHE DONE DID IT- i have NO IDEA how this song managed to hold so much joy and light happiness in every word and instrument used in this but im :ccccccc i literally wanna hug someone after listening to this 😔😔😔 this also makes me yearn for something but at least this one isnt unrealistic or unobtainable i dont think! there are some songs out there that make me cry from its lyrics and its sound but THIS ONE the lyrics and just how happy this song is bro reading the lyrics im about to cry for like the fifth time- they who im love so much… :ccccccc doesnt it make you just wanna hug someone and tell them you love them????????? that you appreciate them??????????

해바라기의 마음 (A Heart of Sunflower)

i knew FOR A FACT FOR👏A👏FACT👏 that they were gonna have a ballad for this album bc road to utopia didnt have one i will admit i was one of the 🤡 that thought jiu would be credited on this song 😬😬😬 ANYWAY- AGAIN WITH THE DAMN YEARNING FOR SOMETHING BUT THIS TIME IM F UCKING SAD AS S HIT why must this song be so powerful to make me emotional before i even got to read the lyrics to fully grasp it……………………… now im truly yearning in the Sad™ way and waiting for some imaginary person who i dont even know will even come back…………………… those damn adlibs are pretty as hell it was sua (and i have to mention dami again okay shes really killing it on this she woNT LET ME LIVE-) who got me feeling this the most like yeah…………………… i am a fool…………… im a fool for loving and missing someone who just disappeared from my lifE G O D D A M N IT-

LIKE this is COMPLETELY surprising album BUT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE as its described it really is a ‘special’ album as while the title track still has their music style and sound theres still an element of summer (a very Terrifying™ summer BUT a ✨Summer✨ album nonetheless) like the b sides are SO different and COMPLETELY caught me off guard when i listened to the highlight medley YET this group of seven amazing and talented women pulled it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its extremely obvious at this point that their steady and organic growth has grown VERY HIGH this time and (although im still very confused by how everything was released and announced BUT i digress) this different kind of method in performing the song the day before seemed to work?????????? I DUNNO WHAT TO SAY ANYMORE this section could literally be summed to just I LOVE DREAMCATCHER SO MUCH 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

IN CONCLUSION: LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM BECAUSE ITS BOMB AS F UCK

AND AS ALWAYS

#these are becoming harder to do i dunno why i cant focus 😔#i wanted to switch handongs and yoohyeons pictures as a joke but i didnt want people to think i was stupid and fake 🤡#dreamcatcher #han.txt #han's afterthoughts

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vanchlo · 4 years ago

Text

The Firsts / #1 “The First Time Meeting The Family”

ABOUT: A blurb series retelling the important firsts in the first year or so in Becks and Harry’s relationship, covering the gap between the end of The Assistant, and the beginning of its sequel, The Partner.

---> NEXT BLURB: I hope that I can put it out on October 4th, following the every other week rule, but I’m not sure with my busy schedule. Keep an eye out for updates on the series masterlist!

READ THE ASSISTANT, AKA WHAT CAME FIRST

SERIES MASTERLIST

MAIN MASTERLIST

READ ON WATTPAD

LEGEND:

+ : a break in the story; a time jump.

italics : a flashback in the story.

++ : a point of view change in the story.

WARNINGS: Some mild language, and a small incidence of physical assault

WORD COUNT: 10.9k words (!!!)

SONG: A Love Like This by Ben Rector (CLICK TO LISTEN AND I KNOW I USE TOO MANY OF HIS SONGS BUT THEYRE SOOO ROMANTIC)

* SNEAK PEEK, DUH BC ALWAYS *

“Always, baby - protect you, save you- you name it and ‘ll be there,” Harry coos with the softest of smiles, tracing with his thumb the new red lines that litter my face in places. “Always,” he whispers, leaning forward to kiss the place under my eye where my birthmark sits, and beside it a new scar that he’s kissed more times than I could count.

I could never keep track of how many times I’ve looked at him and silently said those three words that once itched to jump off of my tongue and into his ears. The very three that sit in his eyes, just for me.

“No matter how much it hurts, no matter how hard it gets, you gotta keep grinding. And that’s how we’re gonna win. We’re gonna win and anyone that gets in our way? Well, God help them.” - Dean Winchester, Supernatural

The phone rang with a shrill bringggggg!, yanking a sigh from my lips.

Another one.

Another sigh.

Another call.

It’s just another normal day for me.

After sliding back on the mask that I so often wear within these walls, I at last leave my office and the phone that tends to keep ringing off the hook. Ignoring it and letting the answering machine take it this time, my heels click-clack on the dark tiled floor, a sound I had long ago become accustomed to.

Yet another sound is that of the hot coffee churning into my mug from the Keurig in the break room, and the splash of the creamer I pour in next.

A sound that I don’t think I could ever get used to, nor would I want to become mundane, is that of the breathy giggle trickling out from my open office when I return. He doesn’t see me yet, but I see him as I take a page from his book and lean in the doorway to watch him. Steam wafts across my smiling lips before the coffee meets them, my eyes fixed on the back of his tousled curls.

“It’s about time your meeting finished,” I announce, returning to my stride as I close the door. Setting down the hot mug on the corner of my desk, I tread over to my chair and let my arms wind around his neck from behind.

“Yer tellin’ me,” he nearly scoffs, switching apps on his phone quickly.

“What are you being secretive about, hmm, Harry?” I tease with a peck to his satiny smooth cheek.

“Oh, nuthin’, I jus’ wanted t’ check tha weather. Reckon we’re in fer some sun this weekend, yet anotha thing that’s overdue. We should go on a hike or sumthin’ Sunday, but we might need our Wellies.”

“You say that I’m a bad liar, but you should know that so are you,” I huff against his cheek, catching a whiff of his aftershave’s notes of cucumber and aloe vera.

“I dunno what yer talkin’ ‘bout, Becks,” he insists with a measly shrug of his shoulders, but he tries to act like I can’t hear the slight snicker in his voice, or see the red appearing in his cheeks.

“Fine, I give up . . We should get cracking on those testimonies already, seeing as now I’m done waiting on you.”

“Agreed. ‘m gonna go grab a cuppa, and ‘ll meet you in me office. ‘Kay?” Harry responds, standing to his feet, and turning around to face me. The smile falling into my cheeks is instantaneous at the mere sight of him, making me realize that I somehow missed him for the last three hours he was in his meeting. Well, I wouldn’t be wrong to say that I’m most definitely spoiled getting to work with my boyfriend for nearly every second for five days a week. My dream at last came true. “Wait, I thought you were gettin’ sick o’ me earlier? ‘sn’t that right, bug?” he poses with a perfect raise of his eyebrows, taking a step towards me.

“I uh, dunno what you’re talking about.”

“Yer a bloody terrible liar, still dunno why ya think I can’t sniff ‘em out on you,” he smirks, clicking his tongue in disappointment as he taps my nose. The tall white roses on his baby pink slacks billow with every step of his, only worsening my giggle. “Becks, Becks, Becks,” he tuts with a shake of his growing curls. My lips sparking with a happy nervousness bring out the dimples in his cheeks.

“What, Harold?”

“Dunno how many times ‘ve told ya not t’ call me that,” he exhales with a wag of his finger, only a few steps between myself and the door now.

“But Rory gets to call you that!”

“He doesn’t get t’ call me anythin’, bug. Rory doesn’t listen t’ a fookin’ word I say, so he’s not goin’ t’ start callin’ me by me real name fer tha first time in eight years, I don’t think,” he chuckles, and I let an eye roll slip, but not quick enough. “Ya betta watch it now, and my bloody God, Rebecca Holte, you best put that pout away befo’ I-.”

“Before you what, Harry?” I tease with a cock of my head.

“Y’know yer pushin’ me buttons, right? Oh wait, yer fully aware o’ that, arentcha, Becks? I can see tha look on yer face right now, y’know yer diggin’ yerself a hole here, babe,” Harry tuts, continuing to wag that finger at me until my back meets the door and he lays his hands above my head to steady himself. “And, t’ answer yer question - reckon ya won’t get any kisses fer tha rest o’ tha day if yer gonna be a brat,” he shrugs with full composure, sliding a hand to my back that he presses on to come closer to him. “Make this one last,” he whispers, leaving a kiss on my forehead before opening the door.

“Harry!” I exclaim, whirling around to find him already escaping down the hallway.

His hearty laugh wanders down to grace my ears, and then, he turns around with that smart grin on his face, “‘m jus’ grabbin’ a new cup o’ coffee, ‘ll meet you in me office, love,” he calls back ever so innocently, almost running into one of Asher’s blokes from IT. Groaning, I imitate his typical stance of leaning against the doorway with crossed arms, watching his figure become all the smaller as he stops to talk with Amelia and then to Jennings with an always cheerful smile.

At times, it still boggles me how different things are, although it’s difficult to remember how things were before. How they were when my view every day was this very hallway from my measly desk sat at the end of it. It makes it all the harder to remember how much I longed for, how it tore me apart, and not just that, but how different of a person he was. I wasn’t the same either - I started off cold and brash with him, as did he, and I could never entertain the thought of what things would be like if he hadn’t warmed up to me, as well.

Memories flash in front of me as the sofa molds to my body, like all of the other times, followed by the thud of my heels falling to the floor. With a blink, I’m propelled back to the days when I’d be scared to set foot in this office, his. Now, I can’t imagine feeling anything other than safe to be in here. Despite the traumas that took place inside of these four walls, my lips curl up at the thought of the lovely things that were born in here as well. The hidden kisses. The beginning of our friendship. Our first hug. My beginnings as a lawyer, and so much more that warms me from the inside.

My, all of the firsts that we have had.

Pulling my cardigan around me tighter, I round a corner and then another, hoping I’m at least going in the right direction. The images keep flashing before my eyes - the silence that fell over the room when he entered it, a completely different person than the one that I know. A pride that I want to deny and forget still clings to my body and every thought that I have. So often, I find myself hating him, and yet I couldn’t have been more proud sitting in that room and watching him do what he does best, argue.

Coming to a halt, I look around for a sign to tell me where I’m going, in the hopes that the front doors are somewhere near. Shaking my head, I take another left on a whim, and regret it within a matter of moments.

“Holte?” comes a voice from ahead of me. Glancing up, I freeze in my place before my feet try to scurry away. “What tha bloody hell are you doin’ here, and where are you goin’ so fast?” they say, almost making a sound. A laugh, perhaps?

“I was just uh, meeting a friend.”

“Since when do friends meet at a courthouse?” he asks with skewed eyebrows, his steps ending in front of me. His hand full of rings cards through his long curls, and my, they only look better up close.

“My friend . . works here.”

“Oh ‘s that so? What department do they work in?” he continues, the dimples slowly finding their place in his cheeks, especially as the words fleet me. “Yer lyin’ t’ me arentcha, Holte?”

“Fine, I wanted to come and watch you argue your case, since you were making a big deal out of how important it is,” I sigh, turning around and placing my back to him.

“Hey, you. Wait!” he calls, and I soon feel his rings against the flesh of my bicep. “What’s tha rush?” he titters, and when I turn around, this all only gets all the more weird.

“What, is it a crime to come and watch you in action?”

“No, so why’re you actin’ like yer doin’ sumthin’ yer not s’posed t’ do?” he smirks. “Huh, Holte?”

“I don’t know, Mr. Styles,” I sigh, wishing I could sneak a look at his fingers gentle around my arm to prove that it’s real, but . . that would give it away and perhaps make him stop. That’s the last thing I want, even though two seconds ago, I thought that running into him here was the last thing I wanted. Now, I’m not so sure. I should have known that this would happen, though. “You were great, you know,” I say slowly, a smile mirrored on his reddening face.

“Thank you,” he responds quietly, looking away and regrettably, letting his hand fall from my arm. “I didn’t know you were there . . watchin’ me.”

“I wasn’t planning on it . . but I’m glad that I came and spent my lunch break watching you.”

“Me too,” he replies softly, his bottom lip escaping to between his teeth.

“Well, good luck and I’ll see you at work, I guess.”

“Ya, you too, Holte. Thanks,” Harry says, and I find it painful to walk away from him now, and awkward. Sighing, I find a hallway in each direction when I reach the corner, and take one at random.

“Tha main entrance ‘s tha other direction, Holte,” Harry giggles, and I stop in my tracks, hearing his familiar Saint Laurent boots click-clack on the tiled floor. “Here, I was jus’ goin’ t’ lunch, I can show you tha way.”

“No, I’m okay.”

“No, please. Let me,” he insists, and when I steal a glance at him he’s pushing back the dark sleeve of his smooth black blazer to look at his watch. I’m left wondering which was more expensive, the suit or the watch. “I was jus’ poppin’ ova t’ a restaurant down tha street fer lunch, if ya’d like t’ join me, yer welcome t’.”

Gulping, I quickly look away and to the ground where he can’t see my eyes threaten to pop out of my skull. Did he really just ask me to get lunch with him? What should I say? Wouldn’t it be awkward? What would we even talk about? I should say no, he’s probably just being nice.

“I um . . “

“‘ll take that as a yes then,” he pipes up eagerly, accompanied by the sound of his booming steps. “Hurry up, Holte, time’s a tickin.’ I reckon this ‘s tha only time you’ve been in these walls, so ‘ll be kind enough t’ show ya t’ tha front doors, even tho’ me car ‘s on tha otha side.”

Because of course he would say that, Mr. Hotshot Lawyer who is cocky, annoying, frustrating, full of himself, bossy, rude-

“Thank you,” I say, interrupting my thoughts and taking a plunge, right into those deep green eyes that land on me, and to my surprise, with a smile.

“Welcome, Holte.”

“Thank you,” he says with a rose colored smile to the server, plucking the black book from the middle of the table before I could even think to grab it first. With a quiet sigh, I watch him fish out his wallet and slide a sleek credit card out from a sleeve, stuffing it into the small pocket inside the book, without even a glance inside. “What’s yer problem?” he huffs, chewing on the mint-flavored toothpick and pointing his eyes at me. His eyebrows do all of the talking that stops me from refusing.

“You don’t have to pay for me, I can pay for my own meal,” I insist firmly, touching my wallet that I had pulled out and placed next to my dwindling glass of water.

“I know that,” he begins with strength in his voice, and I worry that I just offended him. I’m afraid it could erase the memorable first meal we just had together of brunch, talking about his case and actually finding out things that he likes and enjoys. “But I would like t’ treat you, and I did invite you after all,” he finishes, smiling briefly when the server returns the book. Sliding out his credit card, he replaces it in his wallet and instead grabs a few bills that he tucks into the black book. “Goin’ t’ argue with me some mo’, are we?”

“No.”

“Good choice,” Harry replies, and when he meets my eyes across the round wooden table, I think that I may see him smile at me.

“But-.”

“And what tha bloody hell d’ya want now?” he grins, propping his chin on his upheld fist, his cheeks round from his smile.

“Maybe I wanted to pay for your meal too.”

“You can tha next time, love. Alright?” he replies softly. When he tears his eyes away to glance at his dinging phone, something stirs inside of me and I wish I could make him look at me like that again. I wish I could create another moment where it feels like he actually likes me.

“On one condition.”

“What’s that, love?” he asks with that breathy laugh of his I’ve only heard a few times now, and never has it been because of me.

“You go back to calling me Becks . . no more ‘Holte,’” I announce slowly and carefully, because if I said them too fast or not just right, I’m afraid that they may break altogether and ruin it. One corner of his mouth reaches higher up his cheek, and I think that for the first time, I’ve made him smile all on my own. “I like it when you call me that.”

“I like it too, darlin’. Reckon ya could be a good lawyer, y’know, with that convincin’ face o’ yers, yer hard t’ say no t’,” he answers, standing to his feet and sliding on his coat, waiting for me to do the same. Does that mean my puppy dog eyes worked on him, fucking finally?

“Thank you, Mr. Styles.”

“Yer not allowed t’ call me that anymo’ then,” Harry says, looking back over his shoulder at me, a few steps ahead of me now.

“Okay,” I agree softly, and the breath hitches in my throat when his eyebrows raise at me with the smallest of smirks. “Harry.”

“Good, I like tha sound o’ that betta.”

“Me too,” I echo ever so quietly, stepping out into the fall air as he holds the door open for me, dreading the strange friendship of ours that will end in the next few moments. A friendship that I wish could live within the walls of the firm, and inside of my heart as something more.

“Ya, that all sounds great. I can’t wait fer this weekend . . Ya, ‘ll ask her soon and let y’know . . Alright, bye,” I hear from down the hall in a happy lilt. Within moments, the smile I hear in his voice appears before my eyes, and somehow only grows brighter.

“What are you smiling about? Oh, and what’s this you’re going to ask me?”

“I neva said I had sumthin’ t’ ask you,” he shrugs with a rosiness to his round cheeks, gliding into his office with his bottom lip held between his teeth.

“Don’t be rude.”

“‘m not,” he giggles softly, stopping at his desk to grab his dark gray Macbook.

“You don’t have me convinced, Mr. Styles,” I sigh, letting my chin fall into my hand as I open up my Google Docs.

“Ah, I rememba when ya used t’ call me that, ‘s been awhile.”

“You can say that again, and God, don’t get too big of a head about it,” I huff with an ironic laugh, feeling myself pulled down memory lane regrettably. “I was just thinking about that, and how much things have changed.”

“Too true,” Harry hums, getting comfy beside me on the sofa while his Macbook blankets his face in a soft glow. “You were Holte and I was Mr. Styles or sir sumtimes. Talk ‘bout a bloody blast from tha past,” he tsks and I find myself nodding along with him. Glancing over to him, my eyebrows fall as my cheeks deceive me with a balmy warmth filling them.

“What are you looking at me like that for?” I wheeze, my fingers drifting to my hair nervously. After all of this time, he can still make me blush like there’s no tomorrow.

“What, I can’t admire me pretty girlfriend?” he scoffs with a shake of his head, booping my nose with his finger. Sometimes, I really still can’t believe that I get to be called that by him.

“I guess you can.”

“Reckon ya should be nicer t’ yer boss, miss. ‘m tha person who signs yer checks,” he tuts while I admire the beauty of his side profile, still trying to get used to how he looks without a beard. Give him back his long hair and it would be like the beginning all over again, although I’m not sure why I keep thinking back to then. I’m not even positive if it’s a good or bad nostalgia.

“Hey!”

“Hey!” he returns in a high pitched voice, imitating me, I suppose. His bubbly laugh soon follows and so do those olive greens that return to me, quite possibly my favourite color in all of existence. “Look at us, bug, back where it all started, aren’t we?” he coos, pulling me into his side and pressing his lips to my head in a loud smooch.

“Mmmhmm, better than ever.”

“Yes, we are. A new beginnin’ o’ sorts, Becks. I dunno how I got so lucky with you,” he winks and thumbs at my chin, his lips only a breath away.

“I think I’m the lucky one.”

“No, that’s me,” he argues with his trademark breathy laugh, and before I get two words out, my comeback is smothered with a kiss. I really did get lucky, luckier than little old me ever thought I would, or could.

God, I’m so proud of her - the old Becks. Him, too. The new us, and especially the old us. We earned this.

“Woman, I swear t’ bloody God if ya send me one mo’ bleedin’ photo o’ a puppy ‘stead o’ writin’ yer brief, imma boot you outta me office and yer not allowed back.”

“Harry!” I scoff after a sound of disbelief, my eyes tearing away from the Google search and to him. His chin is held in his palm while he taps his temple with his pointer finger, eyebrows raised in a silent question at me. “You wouldn’t!”

“Oh, you wanna try me, Holte?” he returns with his eyes narrowed at me, giving me a nod.

Huffing, I look away and back to my laptop, to a screen filled with photos of golden retriever puppies. “Y’know, you’ll seal yer fate if ya roll those pretty eyes at me.”

“I won’t,” I grumble softly, closing out of the tab sadly.

“Good girl,” he hums, tapping the corner of my laptop from above. Looking up, his green eyes draw me over, but I don’t let them pull me in. “Good girl listenin’ t’ yer boss, bug,” he finishes with a wink.

“Don’t call me that, you know I don’t like it,” I retort curtly, switching tabs to my brief where the cursor stares back at me, daring me to try my hand at it.

“But ’s cute, brings back good memories. I like tha name, ’s yer last name. Rebecca Holte,” he teases, nosing at my cheek that grows warmer with every word he speaks.

“For you it does, not me, Harry,” I almost snap, closing the laptop with a sudden clap! He clears his throat and the sound is followed by that of his velvet black Chelsea boots backing up. Spiegel im Spiegel floats from his iMac across the room, a black folder sitting in front of it with now forgotten documents.

“‘m sorry, Becks, it wasn’t tha best o’ times fer me either . . ,” Harry says softly. I wouldn’t have to even look and I know that his lip is held between his teeth like a vice. At my eye level, he twirls a red gemstone ring around a finger, much like I do when something is itching at my insides annoyingly.

“It was the best of times and the worst of times, somewhat minus the best part,” I mumble, picking at the Coldplay sticker already peeling from the lilac case of my laptop.

“Hey, it wasn’t all that bad when ya think o’ tha good parts, babe. Tacos at Pedro’s, stayin’ late drinkin’ wine coolers togetha, tha Halloween party, all o’ our games o’ Scrabble, takin’ you t’ that charity ball with the masquerade theme, and meeting me best friend in tha whole entire world.”

“You know how to work the floor, you know that?” I say gently, smoothing down the sticker with the back of my fingernail.

“Looks like we need anotha night at mine, paintin’ our nails togetha,” he pipes up, but when I remain silent, he returns to my comment that he so easily ignored. “Well yes, yer datin’ a lawyer here, bug. That’s how I swept you off yer feet, dontcha rememba?”

“I dunno about that,” I giggle, ever so slightly, distracted by his hands that come into view and his rings that I bother with. At last, I find those green eyes waiting for me, just as they always do.

“Hey, why tha long face, my love?” he coos sadly, eyebrows bent beneath the weight of his words. “‘m sorry t’ upset you, ‘m not gonna kick you outta me office, y’know I couldn’t handle you bein’ gone eitha.”

“I know,” I titter softly, sliding off his silver ring dotted with little figures and placing it on my thumb where it still hangs loose.

“I like tha name, maybe even fer a boy one day . . Holte,” he muses happily, but I can’t find any words that I’d be willing to say. Instead, I pry the jewelry from my hand and swiftly glide it back onto his. “Altho’ I reckon I treated you like shit when I called you that.”

“Just a bit.”

“‘m sorry t’ drudge tha memory up like I did,” he whispers, only feeding the awkward tension waiting in the air. His lanky figure leaves its place in front of me, reminding me of the money tree sitting across me by the window, an ironic gift from Myles last month. “Can I help you with yer brief, li’l one?” Harry continues, the cushion underneath me dipping with his weight. I nod before I even feel his hand squeeze my adjacent shoulder and pull me into his side with a lasting kiss to my forehead. “Love you.”

“I love you too,” I echo, tipping my head to his shoulder as he lifts the closed laptop from my lap. Laying back, he props it on his spread lap as I snuggle into his side.

“I like what ya have so far, I think yer inna good spot. How ‘bout this, next we . . . . ,” Harry says after reading the document, but with his greens back in sight and that dimple threatening to pop loose, I find it hard to listen to a word he says while staring up at him. My boyfriend. Can you believe it, Becky? “You even listenin’ t’ me there?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just hard to when you’re so cute.”

“Bloody hell,” he chuckles with rosy cheeks, the dimples loud and proud at the helm of his smile. “Alright, let’s take a break from goo-goo-gaga land for a few, Ms. Holte, and work on yer brief fer yer case that’s bein’ heard next week. Alright?”

“Alright,” I sigh with a slight pout that he sees instantaneously with a shake of his head.

“Shall I entice you? Dunno why I should hafta, but I guess we all need a li’l bit o’ bribery e’ry now and then,” he smirks, finishing his words with a wink. “My Becks likes bribes.”

“Oh and what, you don’t, Ha-,” the giggle flows from my lips, and is yanked in by his that silence my words. Sometimes, I really do wish that I could tell The Old Me about how good it gets, and to hold on, because it may be a bumpy ride, Old Becky, but it’s going to all pay off in the end.

“Bloody hell, no wonder ya’ve had t’ pee ten times t’day. Chill on tha caffeine, would ya?” somebody gripes from behind me, but it falls away when their arms come around my middle, soon nosing at my neck.

“Hey, I gave into coffee long ago. It owns me by now,” I return, closing the top to the Keurig. After pressing a few buttons, the machine begins to whir and spit out the dark liquid. My neck tickles from his warm breaths behind me, and the feeling of his lips.

“Becks?”

“Yeah, Harry?” I respond, my hands finding their way to surround his that lay clasped over my belly. The tip of his middle finger ghosts over my several inch scar, making me wonder when he had memorized it in his mind.

“My mum ‘s comin’ t’ visit this weekend, t’ see Gemma and tha kids, and me. She’s comin’ over t’ mine Saturday mornin’ fer brekky . . and I was uh, wonderin’ if ya’d like t’ join us? If ya’d like t’ meet me mum at last? She hasn’t stopped askin’ t’ meet you fer tha last two months.” the words leave his lips in an announcement, taking away all else and no longer do I feel his hands on my stomach or hear the churning of the coffee. Turning around, his dimples live far away and so does his bottom lip that’s trapped between his teeth, telling me that I’m not the only one being consumed by my nervousness. “I reckon she’s mo’ excited t’ see you than she ‘s t’ see me,” Harry chuckles but the light on his lips sputters out when I tear my eyes away from his hopeful ones.

“Harry, I . . “

“What ‘s it, Becks?” he whispers. My eyes close when he noses against my cheek, his next words crawling along my neck. “Y’know she’ll love you, ‘ssa given, babe.”

“How can she love me when she hasn’t even met me?”

“‘Cuz yer so lovable, that’s why,” he insists from below my ear, mouthing at the hollow that lives there. “Why’re ya so nervous, babe? I reckon this ‘s a piece o’ cake compared t’ how I met yer bloody parents, in hospitals o’ all places.”

“Yeah, I shouldn’t complain,” I respond quietly, but that’s all that I can think of when we pull apart at the sound of a voice from behind the break room door. Clearing my throat, I turn back to my mug of coffee where the last few drops plop into the steaming liquid.

“Promise you it’ll be okay. There’s nuthin’ t’ be nervous ‘bout, she’s tha sweetest woman ‘ve ever met- well, besides you that ‘s,” Harry says quietly, eyes wandering between our guest and me. “‘s jus’ brekky and if ya like, dinner at me sista’s that night too.”

“Two in one?” I exclaim, setting down my coffee and turning to face him where he leans against the counter. The smirk painted across his face spreads to his shoulders that he shrugs ever so smugly. “God, Harry, bombard me much?” I sigh sarcastically with a shake of my head, turning away from him and watching how the coffee does somersaults when I pour creamer into it.

“Well? Ya aren’t jus’ gonna leave me hangin’ there, Becks, are you?” he plods on, pulling at the cuff of my blazer impatiently while one of the blokes from IT rummages through the refrigerator.

“I dunno, Harry, meeting two family members in one day is a lot to ask of me,” I tut jokingly with my lips pressed into an uncertain line. The disappointment on his face melts away when I find his greens with my own again. “Of course I’ll meet your mum, but I’m supposed to have dinner with Skye and her parents Saturday night, so I can’t make it to your sister’s, I’m sorry. It seems to be a popular weekend for parents to come into town.”

“Oh, I rememba you mentionin’ that now. ‘m sorry, I forgot. No worries on meetin’ me sista, she lives in town y’know, so we’ll jus’ find anotha day,” he agrees in a soft voice, brushing it off expertly. “Yer not gettin’ outta that one that easily, Becks,” he teases, pointing a finger at me that I push away.

“If you meet Skye’s mum, I’ll meet your sister. Sound like a deal?”

“Skye’s mum?” he questions, crossing his arms over his chest with knotted brows. I almost giggle at the confusion swept over his face until the bulging of his muscles beneath the arms of his button up pulls me in and far away. Once again, this man really does know what he’s doing to me, even when he’s not exactly aware of it.

“Yes,” I exhale, dragging my eyes back to my tan colored coffee. Finished with the creamer, it closes with an excited snap! “I was nervous for you to meet my mum, although I never thought it’d happen, but I’m more about you meeting Eliza, Skye’s mum. She’s more of a mum to me than mine ever was, always letting me sleep over when things got bad with mine, and Robbie too. I’d really like for you to meet her, maybe lunch or something while she’s in town the next few days.”

His eyes are soft and light dances within them, just for me. “‘Course, bug, ‘d love t’ meet her. She sounds lovely, and so would lunch with her and Skye. Altho’ ‘m not sure how somebody who birthed Skye could be lovely,” he jokes and quickly laughs when my jaw slackens. “‘m bloody jokin’ and whateva ya do, don’t tell her I said that,” he chuckles, enjoying this far too much than he should be.

“You’re really going to be in for it with Skye now,” I giggle with a dismissive shake of my head as I lift the mug to my lips.

“What’s new?” he asks with his hands held out in front of him, leaving my side to grab a Styles and Lawson mug from the cabinet, identical to my own. “I thought you and Rose didn’t like our mugs, so why d’ya keep usin’ ‘em, hmm?”

“I dunno, they have . . good handles.”

“Sureeeee, Becks,” he tuts as the K-Cup falls into the holder with a signifying pop! “So, Saturday then?” he says nonchalantly while placing the mug under the impending stream of caffeine. He continues his trained practice of his voice dipping when the bloke gets too close to us- Brian, I think it is, I can’t remember. He really does know what he’s doing, this man of mine.

My name on his lips rouses me from my overactive thoughts and pulls my eyes over to his and his already five o’clock shadow, distracting me from the clang! of the door closing. “What should I wear?” I wonder aloud with placid lips that only move to imitate the emotion yanking his towards the heavens.

“You’ll look gorgeous in absolutely anythin’, bug, and ‘s jus’ brekky. Please, ya don’t hafta worry ‘bout meetin’ her, she’s so easy t’ get on with. ‘s like she already knows you from everythin’ ‘ve told her ‘bout you over tha years.”

“Wow, no pressure or anything,” I exhale loudly, glad to have the room back to ourselves, and for the way his arms lull the monsters away. “Do I even want to know what you’ve told her?”

“I dunno, sumthin’ along tha lines o’ how ‘m in love with this girl, and have been fer awhile now,” he coos into my ear, zings sent down my spine when his lips brush my earlobe. The next words stop in their tracks on my tongue and my arms stop halfway to wrapping around him.

“Wait,” I begin lightly, taking a step back and wishing I could in this conversation. “You’re in love with me?” I say tentatively, the front of his blazer grounding me to this moment when my fingers grab onto it.

“I thought that you knew . . that it went without sayin’,” he giggles with cheeks resembling apples, both by shape and color. “I couldn’t be anythin’ other than that, Becks.”

“Huh,” I hum absently, admiring the threads of each white flower that climb from the sides of his slacks and all the way up to his lapels between my fingers.

I think I lose my grasp on them when his lips attach themselves to my forehead, and I just hope that he can’t feel the racing of my pulse all the way up there. That may not be possible, but to feel the way his lips curl against my skin is, and a whisper of a laugh.

“Reckon ‘s time we have a li’l argument over who’s been in love with tha other fer longer, innit?” Harry begins before a kiss brings an end to his words, their sound whisked away by a long silence that I fear. “Ya don’t hafta say it back y’know, I won’t-.”

“It’s not you,” I interrupt, my fear quickly being allotted to the same emotion that wipes his face clean. “The winner, I mean. I’ve been in love with you far longer, that’s for sure.”

“Can ya maybe not gi’mme a bloody heart attack there?” he giggles, clutching at his chest.

“What, I rarely get the chance to one up you, so I have to take it!” I exclaim and my eyes grow wide when I see the look on his face. One of his signature looks. A squeal tickles the air when he lifts me off of my feet and into the air. “Harry Styles!”

“What, Rebecca Ann?” he titters after a few spins, soon setting me down on my feet. My lips have only parted when he silences them with his, and I wonder how I went from dreaming a dream that I knew could never exist and now, getting to live it every second of every day.

“I think I fell in love with you when I saw you get off that lift,” I begin, looking away shyly, but he doesn’t let me get away with it, lifting my chin with his finger. He may let me get away with loads of shit, but no, not this time. “That night in Madley, at the hospital . . . but I think I had fallen in love with you a little bit loads of other times before, and not known it.”

“I swear, woman, tha amount o’ times ya make me fall fer you all over ‘gain,” Harry wheezes with damp eyes, shaking his head with the largest contradicting smile. “C’mere, my love . . Bloody hell, I think ya win this one, ‘cuz I can’t even rememba tha moment I fell fer you, ‘s been so many times fer me as well. Reckon I prolly told me mum each time they happened too.”

“Saturday should be fun then,” I joke from the corner of his neck, relaxing with my exhale against him.

“Yes, it shall. Until then, let’s get goin.’”

“What, where?” I giggle, finding the glitter in his eye that I have a hard time remembering them being without.

“‘s Tuesday, silly,” he titters with dimples shining, and face skewed into a confused question. “Let’s go get our tacos. ‘ll even buy ya extra churros.”

“That’s the only reason I’m going,” I joke, feeling him squeeze my hand. When I look over to him, I find those warm greens painting their happiness all over me.

“Don’t be bloody rude,” he chuckles with a shake of his head, holding the door open for me.

Although this impromptu ‘meeting the parents’ gig is eating away at my nerves, I can’t help but grow in excitement at the idea of meeting the very person I have to thank for him.

My God, I have my whole world to thank her for.

We had fallen into our own routine at work and quickly, but that was due to ‘push came to shove’ and there was no real way around it. Much to my mortification, Harry had told me that while in the hospital Myles had informed the rest of the legal team at the firm that we were dating, and so they knew. There wasn’t any way around it really, trying to explain why Harry was also gone for the same length I was from work, and suddenly. Regardless, Harry and I still avoided acting like we were dating, and at times I let it get to me, dwelling over the fact that everybody knew our secret. It was fun at first to keep, but it grew out of hand swiftly. It frustrated me often and I think it did the same for Harry, refraining from hugging when a team meeting went well or we won a case. The rules of the courtroom were far stricter, but it still upset me at times.

Like now, seeing how Amelia’s substitute was flirting it up with Harry, unbeknownst to him. It’s not like I could exactly walk up to them and tell her to stop, although it bothers me how her flirting goes through one of his ears and out the other while he shows her how to do something at the front desk.

“Fuck me,” I groan, giving up on waiting for him and going ahead with what I was doing. Blinking hard and filling my lungs with air, my opal necklace dances below my collarbones with every step.

I find that I have the room to myself, and as the copier beeps with each button that I press, I hum a song to myself. The documents sitting in my hands are whisked away by the large machine, a newer and larger one since my first time here. Thank God, because that thing was always having problems.

“I think somebody’s got a little crush on our boss out there,” somebody snickers from the doorway. My eyes flit over to find Jennings waltzing into the copier room, his horn rims perched on his long nose. Awkwardly, I look away and answer with a soft ‘mmhmm.’ I occupy myself with watching the machine spit out new sheets onto its bottom tray. “I hope you’re not too jealous,” he jokes with a loud laugh, but I don’t echo it. Why would I? Could you bring up anything more awkward or inappropriate to say to me, Jennings?

“I’m fine,” I answer gently, picking up the stack after the whirring sound finishes. Stepping to the side, I tap the stack against the black counter and slide open a drawer.

“Figure I owe you a congrats on your Employee of the Month recognition, that’s a rather big deal,” he continues, meandering through the wire shelves of supplies across the room from me.

“Thank you, I appreciate it,” I return with emphasis in my voice, feeling out the lack of compassion in his. Clearing my throat, I dig around in the plastic tray set in the drawer until I grab a few large binder clips.

“I’ve worked here for years, and haven’t had the luck of getting it since they started it this year,” he remarks, shaking a box of pens that he plucked from the shelf.

“It’s only April, I’m sure you’ll have your chance,” I say slowly, separating my piles and tapping them against the counter until they’re neat and tidy.

“I dunno about that, I haven’t even made bloody partner yet here. You’ll probably make it before me, seeing as how you have an in with the boss,” Jennings nearly retorts, and I gulp hard, suddenly reminded of the iffy feeling I’ve always had about him. I can’t place the blame on myself though, because he’s given me good reason for it, and I hope that he isn’t about to give me more. “It’s a shame you lost your case last week though, I hope Harry wasn’t too upset with you, but I’m sure he couldn’t be mad at his little girlfriend. He would’ve been mad at Rose, or even me, but no, not you. Isn’t that right?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I begin, the papers threatened between my suddenly clammy fingers.

“Excuse me? I’d say it is, I don’t want you giving the firm a bad name now, but it looks like your boyfriend can’t save you from everything.”

“What are you implying?” I demand curtly, turning around swiftly just in time to watch him slip a Macbook charger into his pocket.

“I thought you were supposed to be a brilliant lawyer from what I hear, Becky, so I’ll leave that one up to you, wouldn’t you say?” Jennings poses with a dark glint in his eye, raising one thick eyebrow at me. “Oh wait, maybe I’ll give you a little help, seeing as how you couldn’t even win the case of that ex-wife racking up debt in her ex-husband’s name . . How do I say it? Well, I find it rather unfair the special treatment you receive, wouldn’t you agree? No, I guess you wouldn’t, would you?” he snickers, the swing and fall of his shoulders and eyebrows being more than enough for me to see.

Turning back around, I hastily fasten the clips onto the stacks of documents for Harry’s new case, and well, mine too, much to somebody’s dissatisfaction. Excerpts from legal books, testimonies, and rough drafts of the argument. The tapping of a pen against the wire shelf gnaws at my ears, and accelerates the time bomb inside of me.

“I don’t receive any special treatment, because of Harry or from him,” I mutter through gritted teeth, gathering the stacks all into one final pile. “I’d say that you’re being out of line and that you need to stop while you’re ahead.”

“Or what, you’ll tell your big, bad, boss boyfriend? Nobody likes snitches, you should know that. Plus, I’m his friend and I’ve known him longer than you, so who would he believe?” he chuckles darkly, igniting the hairs on the back of my neck with his impending footsteps. “Don’t deny it, you do receive special treatment. You get out of meetings and trainings even, the firm pays for your lunch several times a week I’m sure, you get overtime when you want it, you got a free thousand-dollar laptop again, and I’m sure your reviews will come out just sparkling. Not to mention, still having a job after being gone all that time after your accident. Did I miss anything there, Becky?” he finishes, his snarky words slithering along my back and into my ears where his breath wafts over me.

“‘s everythin’ alright in here?” comes a voice from out of the blue. The three-level paper organizer sat in front of me blurs as my eyes widen. The ball in my throat is met with an unsuccessful gulp when I feel a hand on my arm. I shrink away from the touch before he can squeeze it.

“Oh yes, I was just congratulating Becky on her Employee of the Month recognition. She deserves it,” Jennings answers for us, voice boisterous with faux cheer.

“Becks?” Harry murmurs, cautiously touching my arm again and this time, I don’t run away from his touch. “Alright?” he whispers questioningly, the gentleness of his voice wills my eyes over to him. There’s a pang in my gut when I watch the emotion mirrored on his face - alarmed with fear and confusion. “Hey, what’s tha matter?” he probes, the warmth of his rings seeping through the thin fabric of my long sleeved blouse.

“H-He . . was saying this stuff to me- awful stuff, and . . ,” I trail off quietly, my eyes flitting to the sandy brown hair I see from behind Harry, watching and listening as well.

“What tha hell did ya say t’ her, Pete?” Harry questions, turning to face his colleague as he holds my elbow firmly.

“Nothing,” he almost laughs, and then he makes a sound as if something came to mind. “Okay, okay. I guess I upset her when I told her that I saw her nick one of the Macbook chargers the other day. I approached the subject gently, just letting her know that they’re eighty bucks a pop, and she can only have one here at-.”

“What, I did not! You’re the one who just stuffed one down your pants, you liar!” I scoff, spinning to face them both. “You did it when you were accusing me of getting special treatment from Harry!” I exclaim with my voice breaking in mid-sentence, the explanation soon growing wet.

“What?!” Harry breathes, shock coating his every syllable. “Pete, what in tha bloody fuck ‘s tha matter with you? Becks would never steal and- wait, yer accusin’ her o’ gettin’ treated special jus’ ‘cuz she’s datin’ me? Have ya fell off yer fookin’ rocker, mate? I don’t treat Myles any bleedin’ different fer bein’ me best friend all me life, I treat e’rybody here tha fookin’ same, if ya hadn’t noticed. I reckon ‘s none o’ yer damn business how I mentor her, and don’t forget who fookin’ hired you as well, mate, and who can fire you.”

“I just dunno why I’ve been here for how many bloody years as only a senior associate, mind you, and in walks her and-.”

“I don’t care what yer fookin’ problem ‘s, Pete, but maybe I would’ve if ya’d bloody brought it t’ me instead o’ takin’ it out on her. ‘m yer boss, mate, I coulda helped you, so what good was it t’ cuss her out ‘cuz ya feel like shit?” Harry interrupts defensively, and with a blink, I see the redness rising in their faces.

“Harry, please, let’s just go. I’m fine,” I beg, taking his hand and pulling on it. He doesn’t move an inch, and neither do his eyes from Jennings.

“I tried, if you hadn’t noticed, but you were always too fucking busy for me, weren’t you? ‘Cause apparently, the only people who can get your bleeding attention as of late are those who are sucking your prick,” Jennings shrugs matter of factly. The surprise morphing my features and shaking my body is nothing compared to the shift in Harry’s demeanor.

“Harry,” I begin when his fingers slip from mine. “No, don’t!” I exclaim, stepping forward and grabbing onto his arm, but my fingers only grasp at air.

“A li’l fookin’ jealous, are we? Would ya rather it be you suckin’ me dick?” he jests at Jennings who steps closer to him.

“Jealous of that? Fucking, hell no. I can’t believe you even call her a lawyer,” Jennings retorts, pushing his glasses off his nose and into his hair. “I see now why you hired her, she must be pretty fucking good at giving head and-.”

“Harry!” I almost shout, wanting to step forward and instead backing up when I watch his fist fly. A wrenched sound escapes my lips when I see it connect with Jennings’ face, but it shrinks in comparison to the tear that splits my heart when Harry’s knocked back by Jennings’ swing. “Stop it! Now!” I nearly scream through a curtain of tears, my throat burning. Only then, does Harry lift his head of messy curls to look at me, wiping his fist against his nose that comes back red.

Muttered curses fall from Jennings as he leaves hastily clutching his cheek, and I remain frozen until I see the blood gush from his nose.

“You idiot! What were you thinking?” I cry, rushing forward and surrounding his face with my hands.

“What was I thinkin’? I was thinkin’ I was standin’ up fer you, I wasn’t gonna let him say one mo’ nasty word ‘bout you, Becks. I could do with a thank you, y’know,” he sighs, eyeing the scarlet plummeting to the marbled floor with silent plops.

“Harry,” I sob with a dismissive shake of my head, brushing back his hair to find the shock of red skin surrounding his nose below his eye.

“Oh, baby, ‘m so sorry,” he huffs, grabbing a handful of tissues from a shelf and shoving them against his nose. At last, he yanks me into his arms and there I shed my tears into his cream button down that’s already marred by his sudden bloody nose. “I didn’t mean t’ frighten you, it jus’ happened so fast . . But I don’t regret it, standin’ up fer you . . I can’t believe tha mouth on him . . ‘m so sorry he said those things t’ you, none o’ them are true, I hope y’know.”

Sniffling, I move away and find his eyes that beg for me, “Don’t let what he said get t’ you fer one second, e’rythin’ he said was lies, Becks. Every li’l thing, I promise you that,” he says firmly, pulling away a strand of hair that sticks to my cheek slick with tears. “‘d never let sumbody hurt you like that . . never ever.”

“I haven’t even sucked your dick yet,” I giggle from beneath him, and then, can I start to relax when his giggle graces the air.

“Ya, ‘d rather we keep that info’ t’ ourselves, wouldn’t you?” he snickers with that breathy laugh I love so dearly. “Don’t need tha whole bloody firm knowin’ I haven’t even gotten me dicked properly sucked yet.”

“Hey!” I shoot back, slapping at his chest ever so faintly.

“‘m kiddin’, bug. Y’know I don’t care it hasn’t happened yet, e’rythin’ in good time,” he insists, pulling me back against his front. I relent, but remain with my eyes pointed skywards. “I mean it, don’t worry yer pretty li’l head ‘bout inconsequential shit like that, or what he said.”

“You’re still an idiot,” I sigh, caressing his cheek that tickles my hand with its stubble.

“Why, ‘cuz ‘ll have a bruised up face fer our lunch with Skye and her mum t’day, or fer brekky with mine?” he jokes with a grin half hidden by his handful of Kleenex.

“Yes, and no. Wait- you will. Harry!” I whine, only making him laugh against my hair when he kisses the top of my head. “No, you idiot, you’re not going to get it to stop bleeding like that. Sit down.”

“Yes, m’am. I always knew I had a thing fer in charge women,” he snickers with a click of his tongue, stealing a kiss from my cheek before dragging over a chair against the wall.

“Okay, give me the tissues. Thanks, now- No, you’ll only swallow blood that way. What, are you stupid?” I instruct, leaving him one to manage the nosebleed by himself as I fold up the rest. “Here, you need to hold them against your nose and with your other hand, pinch the bridge of your nose as you look down. Do that for, I dunno, five or ten minutes until it stops bleeding. Let me go and get you some ice for that shiner of yours.”

“‘m fine, Becks. Really. All I want ‘s fer you t’ stay,” he says, grabbing hold of my hand when I turn away to leave. His expressive eyebrows near his hairline when he raises them at me in a near dare, but all I can see is the man I love and those eyelashes I’m so jealous of. “And t’ apologize, even tho’ ‘m not even really sorry for what I did.”

“Apology accepted,” I concur sarcastically, stepping back to lean against the counter. “I’ll let you be an idiot this one time.”

“Hey, don’t get yer hopes up too high now,” the sound of his giggle floats away and then my eyes are lulled to our hands that he laces together with a squeeze.

“Thank you, Harry,” I tell him sincerely, finding those greens hidden amongst his obnoxious curls.

“You’re sure?” she asks in between the noises that sound like bubbles trickling from her lips.

“Yes, ‘m sure. Dunno how many times I hafta tell ya.”

“You know it’ll never be enough,” she giggles below me, her face screwed up in absolute happiness. “Harry!” she yelps, shoving at my chest weakly.

“I know it won’t, yer stubborn as a bloody bull, you are,” I tsk with a click of my tongue, her body jolting with every stroke of my fingers across her ribs. Chuckling, I back up and watch how the laughs still peel off of her lips. “What’re you laughin’ at now, hmm? ‘m not even ticklin’ you anymo’ and yer still laughin’, li’l one.”

The crinkles around her eyes remain and so does the divot in her left cheek that I love almost as much as her eyes, but not quite. Speaking of, those very blues open up and land on me with a glitter to them, only to flee when the chime of the doorbell rings throughout the house. I watch how the skin of her throat is disrupted by a nervous swallow, followed by the automatic twirling of her ring around her pointer finger.

“Coming!” I call behind me, glancing to the door and then her. The way her dark waves are splayed across the sofa cushions. The glittery opal that sits perfectly above the scoop of her maroon blouse. The pink seeping through in her cheeks that I could kiss until I taste their sweetness.

“You’re really sure, Harry?” Becks asks softly, her eyes wandering nervously to the front door and then me.

“Yes, ‘m absolutely positive she’ll love you. Now, take a deep breath and let’s go answer tha door.”

A small ‘okay’ greets the air as her fingers fall between mine that I reassuringly squeeze. My steps come to a halt in front of the cherry oak, but I’m not quite there. Looking up, my thoughts are confirmed when I see my arm outstretched holding onto her where she stands, much too far away.

“C’mere,” I laugh in a whisper, tugging on her arm until she arrives at my side. The smell of orange blossoms and vanilla flood my senses as I pull away from the forehead kiss.

“You know, she’s going to be mad, don’t you?” I pose, ghosting my thumb over the concoction of purple and blue painted below his eye.

“Hush, li’l one, I already have one mum. I don’t need anotha,” he chirps with a teasing wink, twisting open the door.

“What is this I’m going to be mad about?” a voice pipes up with a curious accusatory sound to their voice. “Harry Edward!” she exclaims, not even one foot in the door. “What’d you do to your beautiful face?”

“I uh, ran into a door. Y’know, my sunglasses were really dark and-,” he begins, but much to my surprise and happiness, his mother doesn’t let him get away with the terrible lie. I’m liking her already.

“Don’t lie to your mother, son,” she tuts with a shake of her head, lightly smacking the back of his head that he mutters an ‘ow!’ at. The oddly cold Spring day rushes in with her first steps, but my insides warm at the sigh she shares with me when our eyes meet. “I thought you were old enough to know better to avoid fist fights.”

“Pete started it, not me!”

“I don’t care who started it, you’re a grown man, Harry.”

“That’s what I tried to tell him,” I groan, watching him take her coat to hang in the closet beside the stairs.

“Bloody hell, I see you two are gettin’ on already. Who’s side are you on, anyways?” Harry scoffs, closing the dark cherry wood door.

“Yes, I see we are. It’s so wonderful to finally meet you, Becky. I’ll just blame it on me son keeping you away from me,” Harry’s mum croons, her lips painted with lipstick spreading into a cheery smile. Chuckling, I ignore Harry’s arguing ‘hey!’ as I step forward into her outreached arms. “I think I have a bone to pick with him, you’re prettier than he ever said you were.”

“So are you,” I chortle, picking up on the geranium and amber notes of her perfume before I step away to find her cobalt blue eyes smiling at me.

“I do like her!” she chuckles to Harry, squeezing my opposite arm that she still holds onto.

“What’d I tell ya?” Harry pipes up, nodding at me. “Two peas inna pod already, you lot are. Talkin’ shit ‘bout me and motherin’ me togetha in tha first bleedin’ minute ya’ve met,” he sighs, taking down three white plates from the cabinets that he reaches easily with his height.

“That’s good, I need somebody else here to mother you while ‘m away. I reckon it doesn’t help much when you’re too stubborn to avoid boyish fist fights,” she returns, turning to me with a joking look in her eyes. Our laughs echo the others as she leads me over to the oval wooden table on the other side of the kitchen island, against the sliding patio door. “Who better than your girlfriend and colleague?”

“I guess so,” Harry groans, pulling back a chair for her to sit, soon falling into the chair across from me. “Neither o’ you even let me get t’ tha introductions, you women and yer talkin,’” he grunts, pulling himself closer to the table. With a calming breath, he runs a hand through his hair and pushes up the sleeves of his olive green knitted jumper. “Mum, this ‘s me girlfriend, Becky, but I like t’ call her Becks. And bug, this ‘s me mum, Anne. Shall we finally have that brekky togetha we’ve been talkin’ ‘bout fer months?”

“Yes, let’s dig in,” Anne chuckles, a sliver of Harry’s song heard in her voice. “Oooo, ‘s this apple bread by the famous chef I’ve heard so much about?”

“Yes, she doesn’t disappoint, never ever,” Harry winks, licking a crumb off of his thumb after grabbing a slice of the bread. A pink sits in his cheeks that I’m sure is mirrored in my own, and perhaps greater. I look away with a small smile, shoveling the egg bake onto my plate. “Not in tha court room, with baking, or with how good o’ job she does takin’ care o’ me,” he muses with a glint in his eye and cheeks rounder than I’ve ever seen.

I go on and listen to the stories, I even help tell some of them. Some of them make me tear up, whether it be from laughing, the wetness in Harry’s, or the love shining through in his and in hers.

“I told ya so.”

“Yeah, when don’t you?” I bite back, and immediately regret it when I feel his fingers along my ribs, eliciting laughs from my lips.

“Hey, watch it, li’l one. I have you inna compromisin’ situation here, so ya betta watch yerself,” Harry giggles, the words tickling my ear. The sounds continue from my lips and I hear them shadowed in his, and how they play off of each other while his hands keep my stomach warm. “I told ya she’d love you, and she did. Couldn’t shutup ‘bout you at Gemma’s last night, ‘specially tha fact you gave her a whole loaf o’ yer apple bread. You made her bloody day, ‘m sure. Speakin’ of, ya ready t’ meet me sista properly fer lunch t’morrow?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I groan, the words whisked away with a sound that my lips, I sometimes think, hold just for him. His stubbly face is itchy against my temple, but he remedies it with soft pecks to the skin.

“You guess?!” he exclaims, squeezing me around the middle. My head knocks against his, and he keeps my fingers secure between his while the smells of greasy pizza and floor cleaner lull me with their familiarity. His argument dissolves into a soft chuckle muffled against my hair where he mouths kisses.

“You know who I wish you could meet?”

“Hmmm, who’s that, bug?” Harry replies. Gulping, my eyes fall away from the crowds of people mingling around at the their tables, sucking the last few drops from their soda or guzzling pints. The answer flees from my lips, but after I twirl it around my finger a few times, I think he knows after he nuzzles his head against mine. “I wish I coulda meet yer gran,’ too, y’know. I wish you coulda met my granddad as well. ‘m sad I didn’t get t’ meet yers eitha . . . You’ll have t’ come home t’ Cheshire one o’ these weekends and meet me Gran’ Clara- Claire, she likes t’ go by. She’s a real hoot and already knows ‘bout you, naturally. She reminds me loads o’ Skye’s mum- bloody hell, I see where Skye gets tha crazies from now.”

“I agree with you on that one,” I titter and he nods into my neck, but the sounds fall when he spins the ring around my finger before folding my hands inside of his own.

In a whisper against my cheek, he whispers words that take away the breath I didn’t know that I had left. “‘m so bloody glad that I met you, Becks, and that we’re here . . finally. Met me mum, met Skye’s tha other day, and meetin’ me sista t’morrow. Harper will be delighted t’ see you, I know, and tha baby ‘s gettin’ bigger e’ryday.”

I nod and any words I had wanted to say escape me with the squeal garnered by his fingers digging into my tummy, remedied by a kiss below my ear.

“You lot are fucking disgusting, y’know that, don’t you?” comes a voice with a disdainful scoff. “It’s been your turn for a good thirty seconds now, Ree. Get going, would you?!”

“I know, ‘s great, innit? Go on, babe. Show me how t’ get a strike,” Harry teases with a loud kiss to my cheek to annoy Robbie, pushing me off of his lap where his arms wrapped around me kept us arm. It’s drowned out by the sound of surprise I utter when he slaps my ass with his hand.

“My fricken God, you two are embarrassing me,” Robbie groans, walking past me to pick up his pint from the table, and taking a seat beside his muddy Wellies. Turning around in shock, I find Harry’s greens lit with a smirk that shines on his face. “C’mon, Ree, bowl already! You’re shit half of the time anyways, what’s the difference now?” he jokes and a loud scoff graces the air, much to Harry’s amusement.

Sighing, I step up to the little contraption that wheels forward Robbie’s glittery navy blue bowling ball. I lean over to grab my electric yellow one etched with a white ‘7’ and widen my eyes at Harry’s green ‘10.’ Threading my fingers into the three holes, my clown like shoes step onto the polished wood, and I try to remain cool and calm. Closing my eyes, I grimace at their teasing of me from behind, but Harry’s contagious breathy laugh propels me forward.

“Ya, that’s me girl! Three pins down, woohoo!” he shouts loudly in a squeaky and sarcastic voice, holding up his beer in a fake cheer. Shaking my head with red cheeks, I wait for my ball to return and to try again.

Slowly, I realize with the ball heavy in my hands and my score falling far behind theirs on the tv above, that just like any other time, I don’t care if I win or lose. This time is different, listening to how my boyfriend and my twin brother joke from behind me and laugh, their conversation quickly turning to football and then music.

Sometimes, I have a hard time believing this is a day in my life after everything, and it’s only one of the firsts.

A/N: Hello, friends! Thank you SO MUCH to those still reading, and also to new readers! Welcome, and I’m so glad you’re here! I’m so sorry that this blurb took awhile than I originally planned . . it boggles me how I spend basically every minute I’m not working and shadowing doing homework :/ I hope to have the next blurb out in two weeks, so I’ll keep you all posted! Enjoy and let me know what you think, please! I love you all and good luck with everything!

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