#the fact that both of them were olivia rodrigo songs 😭

[thesecrimsonstrings-if]

6 and 23 for the spotify wrapped ask? 👀🤲🏼

6) driver's licence // olivia rodrigo

ronan bennett

“why are you doing this to me,” he asks and oh, your heart breaks. it aches from the unbearable crack that threatens to pull you down to your knees and tell him that you didn't mean any of it.

but you have to do this. you have to keep ronan safe, and unfortunately that includes breaking his heart. yours is just one of the casualties in the process too.

“i know i haven't been the perfect partner for you, but please give me a chance again. what did i do wrong?” he pleads, doe eyes on the verge of tears.

‘nothing,’ you want to tell him. ‘you did nothing wrong, my love.’

but you can't tell him that, can't tell him that you're only doing this for his own good. you shake your head silently for the last time and ronan's desperate hands try to hold you close, just a sense of security to know that you aren't leaving. that maybe this is all just a bad dream.

but you've already left the car, and ronan is left staring at the place where you once sat and broke it off with him. the red lights and stop signs do a show of mocking him. he can't even close his eyes without seeing your somber face as you tell him that you've fell out of love.

his friends always told him that you weren't right for him, too secretive and moody. but none of them knew you like ronan did. they wouldn't have understood.

how is he supposed to move on from this now? you said ‘forever’, but it all seems like empty promises now that he drives alone through the streets where you used to walk together. where you laughed at each other's jokes and first held hands.

“i guess you didn't mean what you wrote in those poems about me,” he smiles bitterly.

23) traitor // olivia rodrigo

i tachibana

their eyes flicker between you and the person you were just in the diner with, all smiles and lingering touches. {$I_name} knew that it was a bad idea to eavesdrop on you two. They were just supposed to grab something to eat and leave before their commander found out that they'd sneaked off.

when they saw you sitting alone, they'd psyched themself up and nonchalantly try to greet you. maybe even try to sit next to you. but they had to stop when a person came into the diner and greeted you with an enthusiasm of an old friend. their pointy ears aren't hard to miss for {$I_name}'s eyes, probably an elf.

okay great, so you were just here to meet with one of your supernatural friends. big deal! they roll their eyes to themself, and yet can't seem to squash down the insecure whispers in the back of their head as they stare at you two.

the person with you laughs especially hard when you tell them a corny joke and {$I_name) almost crushes the glass of dr. pepper in their hand. you weren't that funny.

then it happens. the person leans in towards you, as if to steal a kiss. a kiss that {$I_name} had frustratingly dreamt of stealing for themself. this time they do crush the can of soda in their hands and everyone in the restaurant turns to look at them.

but {$I_name} could care less about all of them. they're only looking at you, as your eyes widen in surprise and quickly the expression turns into guilt. glancing between them and the elf you were talking to, you stand up to move towards them.

{$I_name} decides they've had enough of the shit show they had just witnessed. it was their fault for being too nosy anyway. and why does it hurt so much? you weren't theirs to begin with. you could kiss anyone you'd like. be with anyone you wish.

they ignore the way their heart clenches painfully at the thought of you and someone else together.

“you didn't even cheat in any way, vampyr. but oh, why do i feel like you betrayed me.” they clutch their heart, laughing mournfully at their own pathetic self.

“god i wish i would've thought this through, before i fell in love with you.”

[hollandorks]

hi bestie i was seeing HAIM in concert!! my friends and i somehow were in the front row (it was all general admission) and it was fucking amazing! 🥰 lots of waiting around before the opener (which was faye webster and i saw that someone suggested one of her songs to u which is so cool!) and in between so motn got me through the waiting thank u!! 😅

i’m literally obsessed with all the song recs people are sending in to u bc i’m going and listening to them ALLLL i can’t get enough of motn ahaha

SHELBY WAS THIS THE CHAPTER THAT AFTERGLOW REMINDED U OF?? BECAUSE SHIT

i absolutely adore the way you describe bruce sometimes having very batman-specific mannerisms and also just the way he acts around her. “Bruce went very still but didn’t turn around to look at her.” he’s so calculated and in complete control when he’s around other people (especially when he’s fighting and stuff ofc) but he does not know how to act around her!! i love it.

i also really love that she immediately promised that she would never tell anyone his secret even after she left; it shows how much she loves him (and if he weren’t a silly little dumbass he would see how much she loves him 😭)

“ “You can–” Bruce started. Paused for a long moment. “You can work here as long as you’d like.” “ in moments like this one and others when he takes his time to think about what to say to her i always wonder if a part of him is about to confess his feelings to her. i wonder how many times he has considered just confessing because like… he must’ve at least considered it a few times!!

“She deflated a bit. Ask me to stay, she thought to his back. Ask me to stay with you.” JDKSHSKS… shit like that gets me. i love afterglow by taylor swift (u know this 😂) and this is that same vibe! it makes me feral. i love the way she keeps on remembering what he said, “You keep getting in the way” it just soooo wonderfully shows her anxieties of their relationship and how much everything he says holds so much value to her. now i need him to tell her she’s perfect and that he wants her and to just ask her to stay 😅

i love y/n telling on bruce to alfred HAHAH

i also really love the descriptions of the nightmares! “As soon as her eyes closed and the darkness settled in, that fear came and ripped her to shreds.” This line is *chef’s kiss*

i love how we can see the progression and then subsequent regression of their relationship. she had started sleeping on his floor again, even after he had previously told her to just sleep on the bed. he reminded her again to just use the bed and she felt bad about the fact that she was in there in the first place. it reminds me a bit of the song 1 step forward, 3 steps back by olivia rodrigo 🥺

“All he did was stare at her for a long moment, and then roll on his side to face away from her.” i imagine bruce is thinking about what to say and eventually decides on saying nothing because he’s scared to admit his feelings, he doesn’t want to upset her more, and i think he realizes that he kinda fucked up back when he said what he said to her. (again, Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls is sooo their song and idk why but this scene reminds me of it so much)

I LOVEEEE their interaction down in the batcave omg like the banter and the “spar?” moment and i love the description that he seemed more comfortable at home. he’s obviously teasing her more and more openly allowing himself to actually smile and make jokes!!

“One of his hands had caught her so she didn’t knock her head on the floor on the way down.” tell me why this line had me in shambles lmaoo i just love the detail because it’s so in character for bruce; he really is so aware of things like that and considerate!

“Pulled her so her back was against his chest. Captured her other hand and held both wrists in one strong, calloused hand.” 👀 Listen… i am reading respectfully… “His breathing hitched. Her head tilted back, just a little, as she felt him breathe against her neck. His grip on her wrists loosened. He inhaled shakily and she suddenly wanted. Wanted him. All of him. Every secret, every shadow, every smile and laugh and kiss. She wanted him to pull her closer and kiss her until she saw stars. Until she couldn’t breathe.” i love how this is written! it’s so perfect. the way that it’s suddenly interrupted by the intrusive thought that’s the memory of him saying “You keep getting in the way” is just so good. it’s so realistic and heartbreaking and AGH idiots to lovers!!

“Something was aching in her chest. She rubbed at it absently.” she’s just like bruce fr!

“it was the middle of the night, and Bruce was watching y/n sleeping in his bed” MOTN mention!!! ik i mention it everytime i catch it but it’s like a fun little game for me 🥰

the misunderstanding of bruce not being able to convey his feelings verbally 😵‍💫🥺 i love the description of him being unable to think when he’s around her though! he just loves her so much that he totally short circuits 🥺

this bruce pov is totally heartbreaking but so beautifully written aghh! i love his conversation with alfred and bruce’s internal struggle because he knows he fucked up and he’s beating himself up over it! i so hope that he apologizes and confesses or something at the gala omg i can’t wait to see what happens!!

both bruce and y/n having the same thought about loving one another and having to let them go omg 🥲😭

ok lol i have another taylor swift song for you! Cornelia Street – it’s about anxieties over a relationship and leaving because you’re anxious about it and scared of what’s going to happen. it’s definitely not 100% bruce and y/n but i think the general vibe fits because of the way she’s planning on leaving! and the line “I get mystified by how this city screams your name” is just fitting :)

but i would say as a song for this chapter, Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy) by the 1975! the musical style is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but the lyrics are so!! “I think I fucked it royally” “So I’ll just lie awake” literally bruce in this chapter.

sorry if this ask was a mess; i’m sending it in at literally 2am because i’m hyped up after the concert but my brain is exhausted and not functioning properly! 😅 cannot wait for chapter 27! (and the gala finally omg ☺️) enjoy your sunday!! (i think you’d said it’s your husband’s birthday and you’re doing dinner so if so, happy birthday to him and enjoy your dinner!)

🖤

Hi bestie!! How amazing that you got to be front row!! And also how cool that the opener was one of my many song recs 😂 I miss going to concerts tbh, I should go to one soon

I am 100% going to put together a Spotify playlist of song recs! I'll share it once I actually get around to doing it 😅

AND YES THIS IS THE AFTERGLOW CHAPTER!!

Thank you re: the mannerisms 🥺 I try to include those because I am absolutely fascinated by them 😂 Like especially in the movie in the funeral scene. Bruce is 100% Batman during that whole part that I needed to include the overlap in the fic! Also yes every time he's near the reader he just short circuits, poor awkward guy. His brain reverts to fight or flight or freeze (aka Batman mode)

"If he weren't a silly little dumbass" yep exactly 😂

I think he's constantly on the verge of confessing to her but, again, his poor brain short circuits.

But yes afterglow is really the vibe for this chapter!! The second I listened to it the first time this whole chapter came to mind. I was so excited. Love when a song just fits

We love a snitch-y reader! I really want to keep this up in the sequel 😂

1 step forward 3 steps back in a good way to put it! (Looking up the song now too tbh, I am a fan of what I've heard of Olivia Rodrigo). And yes Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls fits so well!

Could not help myself with Bruce teasing and joking more! I feel like we get hints of this in the movie (like for some reason his delivery of the "thumb. drive" line just fucking sends me every time) and I needed to show him being funny!

Also it's canon that he does this--when I first saw the funeral scene I immediately noticed how he protects the kid's head when tackling him out of the way! Had to include that too. (Can you tell I've seen the movie like six times 😅)

"I am reading respectfully" 😂👀 We love a sexy sparring scene. Really tempted to include one in the sequel but give them actual smut. We'll see! 👀 also thank you, I really liked that passage 🥺 Intrusive thoughts can ruin everything!

Love everyone noticing the parallels of them rubbing their chests!! 🥺🥰 It literally makes me so happy when people notice those things I just toss in there! Also love when people notice the title 😉 even though I put it in there in like a million places 😂 glad you don't get tired of seeing it!

When I first reread this Bruce POV I was like damn Shelby give the man a break already. It was way sadder than I'd remembered 😂😅

That lyric though!! It really is fitting! I agree though, this song really gives the anxious vibe of not being certain about a relationship/ what will happen!

Okay the 1975 song!! The lyrics!! This really reminds me of this chapter in particular. Poor Bruce. He did fuck it royally 😂 (also the whole "run away from me" like...that is BRUCE!)

Hope you got some rest after the concert!! Remember to hydrate again today!! (This is from someone who almost died after a concert. Not really but I was so dehydrated the next day I got sick lol)

Working on ch 27 now to post in a few hours 😉

And thank you!! He says thank you too even though I know he's absolutely miffed about this whole tumblr thing 😂

Thanks as always bestie 🥰