#the joys of the transfer window!!

[reijndeers]

12 years 😭😭 he's been here for most of his life 😭😭😭

i remember when they all wore shirts for him after his acl last april before i even knew that was his injury </3 i was so happy when he came back but every lineup being without him killed me until he got subbed on and everyone chanted for him 🤧💗 i was so happy and you could tell how much everyone loved him and wanted him to stay.

it's so unfair that he only got to play one match in the eredivisie in 5 seasons <//3 he deserved more than anyone to play for us in the first league. it's beyond depressing to me that he leaves just as we get promoted, but he deserves to start every match, which he's not done since he returned.

i hoped for a while that the new coach might convince him to stay, but he announced his departure just as the new coach was announced, so i guess that's never happening. i can barely see it as ending on a high note because he didn't get to play a minute in the playoffs anyway. (not the time to criticise, but can't you sub him on if we're winning 5-0??) he barely got a proper goodbye.

this hurts right now, and it probably will hurt worse later lol but if i can't draw i have to write something!

bedankt voor alles, boris uit breda 💗

[maiteo]

watching arsenal rn just makes me so🥴 agsjska i hate the idea of some our players getting sidelined with no real explanation & arteta n all his shit is just….yeah

[leah-lover]

Sketches. Mapi x Ingrid x Reader.

Part 1 part 2

Even though the three of you confessed to liking one another the voices inside your head create new problems.

Angsty fic with mention of anxiety.

You were many things but reactive wasn't one of them. Closed off was your usual demeanor because all you were doing all day everyday was bury your emotions whether it was sadness , joy, anger, or disappointment. You learned from a very young age that showing emotion meant that you were annoying and that it would make people uncomfortable. you didn't want to be that or make the people around you uncomfortable so you created walls inside you that would shield the world from who you truly were.

Your teammates found that out since you first joined barca. You would visibly look overwhelmed and curl into a little ball whenever you were celebrating after a win or being sad and disappointed after a loss. You kept to yourself not hugging or dancing or celebrating with anyone. The team thought that you weren't a loud person and they respected that little did they know that the reason behind your reactions was much darker.

If there was anybody on the team that cared for you like a sister it was Alexia. She was your saving grace. She pushed you gently to be better and she helped you deal with the emotions that came with leaving England, and the newly found spotlight directed at you because of your talent. She knew your limits and your mannerisms really well. You didn't have to talk for her to know that you were sad , anxious or happy. So when she saw your shoulders slaking when you walked into the training facility she knew that mapi and ingrid didn't fix the problem they said they would and she was truly really mad. She called mapi and ingrid to the field before everybody to talk to them in private.

“ senoritas you said you would fix the problem with nena. Why is she still sad? “ asked alexia trying to keep her tone calm.

“ What are you talking about? Capi, she is fine. We talked to her and she isn't leaving in the transfer window. “ answered ingrid witha confused look on her face.

“ No she is not. She doesn't say much but her body language tells me she is very much sad and anxious. She is very dear to me. I want to respect her privacy so I am not gonna ask about the details. You two better fix this or so help me god you wont like what's to come.” Alexia then stormed off not leaving them a chance to respond.

Ingrid and mapi trusted alexia’s judgment so they observed you quite closely in training, and so they indeed found out that you were not doing okay. So they invited you to their house after training and you complied.

You went home after training, changed, and headed to their house straight away. You stood in front of the door for 10 minutes battling the voices inside your head that stopped you from knocking on the door. Suddenly, the door opened.

“ nena why didn't you know we saw your car parked on the street a while ago?” asked ingrid witha concerned look on her face. You froze trying to come up with a logical explanation but when ingrid saw the expressions on your face she ushered you in without a word.

Mapi was putting finishing touches on a well decorated table. Candles were lit, the house smelled cosy and comfortable, flowers were everywhere and the couple was dressed very fashionably. You suddenly were very aware of what this was and what you were wearing.

“ Sorry I came dressed like this. “ you mumbled.

“ You have nothing to be sorry for, we really like the way you are dressed. right mapi?” asked ingrid to which mapi hummed since she was still busy with the plates. You stood awkwardly for a few seconds before mapi was done and she came to give you a proper look.

“ Well you look very hot .” she said to make you blush. She then pulled a seat out of you and invited you to sit at the table.

The first few minutes of the conversation were awkward as you only gave limited answers and were shaking your leg the entire time.

“ nena are you okay with this?” asked mapi. She sat across from you and Ingrid was next to you. You immediately looked down and mumbled an apology.

“ nena if you don't want this you can just say. it would be totally fine you are not yourself anymore and that is scary we don't want you to be sad because of us. you are so important to us we can do anything you want us to.” said mapi.

“ I am so sorry I made you feel scared. I didn't mean to. it's just “ you hesitated. saying your thoughts out loud was scary but ingrid gave an encouraging look that helped you go on.

“ I can't say.” you succumb to your fears and get up to leave.

“ Then draw it if it makes you feel any better.” offered ingrid softly handing you a brand new ipad.

You had two choices; you would either leave and feel miserable or quiet your brain with a drawing. You choose the second option, sit on the couch and start to draw.

Time went by quickly when you were drawing minutes and hours blended as you expressed everything that had been hurting you ona the blank sheet on your screen. Mapi and ingrid were sitting at the table, then moved to the couch after the hour mark. They did not disturbed you or hover over you; they just sat quietly and watched tv.

After 2 hours you dried your cheeks from your tears and handed ingrid the tablet while looking at the ground.

The picture who had drawn was the couple looking tired while lifting a faceless you on their shoulders with scary figures around you. They looked bloody and exhausted. Around the picture were words like worthless, annoying, creepy, and homewrecker. The sight left both mapi and ingrid speechless with tears in their eyes. You were basically folded over yourself scared of their reaction.

Mapi was the first to talk “ remember the day you first case in you were wearing a black outfit and you hair was down, you kept looking at the floor all shy and blushing but on the girl you were fierce and competitive that day on the drive home i said to ingrid that it would be a dream to hang out with you and pick your brain because you seemed interesting. We kept adding more words to describe you after each drive home. We added the words sweet, kind, lovely, loving and then hot. We kept thinking about you when we got home. We thought about you when we were eating dinner and imagined what it would be like to have you here. And last week when you slept between us it was the happiest we ever felt in a long time.” she was not crouching in front of you.

“ You wouldn't be able to handle me. I am difficult i would ruin everything i have voices in my head that ruin every experience and i can't say anything about it plus the team would laugh at you if they knew you are with me since they all hate me” you mumbled again.

“ No one in the team hates you sweetheart, they don't like overwhelming you, that's why they don't come to you. And even if they do, we don't care because we have the most precious girl in the world. “ said ingrid to try and win you over. You close your eyes forcibly.

“ How about we just think about you for a second? Do you like hanging around with us.” asked mapi.

“ very much so. “ you answer quietly. “ So why don't we just limit our thinking to us, okay.” she added while wiping the tears off your face.

“ Do you think it would be okay if I kiss you,” asked ingrid. You looked at mapi with a red face.

“ It's okay. just answer the question without thinking .” reminded mapi.

“ yes.” you answer.

Ingrid then moves closer to you and gives a soft kiss that shuts the tornado in your head immediately. Once you two separated, mapi waited a second before asking for her to turn her kiss harsher than ingrid’s.

“ you can touch us, kiss us, talk to us, hang out with us, come to this house or do anything with us without thinking we are open to everything that you are open to.” offered ingrid.

“ Can I kiss you again.” you asked. To which she responded straight away with a longer, dirtier kiss. You then turned to mapi .Your heart beating loudly in your throat while you looked at the floor. . “ Can you kiss each other ?” mapi then smiled and grabbed Ingrid's face. But before she kissed her she gently guided your face towards them and proceeded to kiss her girlfriend. Once they were done Ingrid turned to you . “ We made quite a lot of baby steps on an empty stomach, don't you think?”. "Sorry it's my fault.” you apologised." Please don't apologize if you have done nothing wrong. I am gonna go heat up the food okay .” said mapi. As soon as she got out of sight you turned to ingrid “ can i kiss you again?” you asked. “ a few ground rules first. No more apologizing and no more asking for permission if you want to kiss me just do it. “

You hesitate then grab her face and kiss her. “ Baby steps are going well I see?” commented mapi once she was the two of you kissing. You blushed and buried your face in Ingrid's neck.

All three of you knew that the journey ahead was long but you were all content with the place you were at now.

[changbunnies]

Mint (18+)

♡ Pairing: Changbin x Fem!Reader

♡ Genre: fluff, smut, pwp

♡ Word Count: 2.7k

♡ Summary: It's the little things your boyfriend says and does that fills you with love for him; and you'll take any opportunity, no matter how small and mundane, to shower him with the love he deserves.

♡ Smut Warnings: light d/s dynamics (switch!bin and reader), vaguely plus size reader (because i am nothing if not self indulgent), light nipple play, oral (m rec), some begging from bin because i literally cannot stop myself from writing it lmfao

♡ Notes: this was supposed to just be a binnie drabble because it's been too long since i last wrote for him and i miss him, but i got a lil carried away as usual :') this is valentine's day fic in spirit only, there's really nothing thematically that makes it suit vday lol i truly just wanted to write something fluffy for bin even if it was small and plotless <3

♡ Disclaimer: please read responsibly, and remember that this work is fiction and meant strictly for imaginative fun. the idols used in fics are more accurately faceclaims and personality outlines for imaginary characters, and should not be interpreted as factual representations of existing people.

It starts with a giggle; the bashful kind Changbin always fails to suppress when you start kissing him stupid. They’re simple, repeated little pecks, and you can feel him trying not to smile too hard, lest you end up kissing his teeth instead of his lips.

His lips are as sticky as they are plump and soft, the result of a combination of indulging in strawberries & cream hard candies, and his healing mint chapstick. The taste is pleasant, and your own lips tingle from the healing mint transferring to you, as well as growing sufficiently sticky from having a candy of your own before kissing him.

He doesn't know what brought the kiss attack on, but there's nothing he loves more than being doted on and feeling your affection, so he happily (and greedily) takes all the kisses you offer him.

Still, Changbin's curious– so when there's a small lapse in the kisses due to your need to take a breath, he asks; "Why are you attacking me, baby?"

The question is spoken with evident joy, the hints of his previous giggles still lingering in his voice. And there's no "reason" per se– all he'd done was sit there on the couch with you, in his cute cable-knit sweater with his tamed (but still ever so fluffy) hair and wire-frame glasses, eating candy.

It wasn't so much a particular action he took, or a special instance out of the norm that caused you to bombard him with love. There was no grand gesture of affection, no pre-planned romantic intent, no shameless display of affection. Changbin loves to do those things, certainly, but this wasn't that kind of moment.

You were simply in your shared apartment, cuddling under your couch's designated throw blanket as you watched a movie together post-dinner, snow falling peacefully on the cityscape outside your windows. When you were shopping for ingredients to make dinner tonight, he couldn't resist grabbing a bag of candy when he noticed it on sale– because who doesn't love a treat when it's discounted?

And it was all made better by knowing they were a favorite of yours too– so when he tore open the bag, full to the brim of small, individually wrapped candies, he took one for himself before eagerly tilting the bag in your direction to take one. Changbin watched you take it with a sweet smile, turning back to the tv before unwrapping another candy to pop into his mouth; and the simple domesticity of his affection was reason enough.

He turned to you when you called his name, a question lingering on his lips as he felt you inch closer; did you want another candy? Did he accidentally leave the bag too far out of your reach? But within seconds, you were surprising him with a kiss.

It took him off guard, you could easily tell by the squeak he let out, but the corners of his mouth curling into a smile before he returned the kiss told you he was more than happy with it.

"Because I love you," you answer his question earnestly; it was all you thought as you pulled yourself closer to him, the only words lingering in your mind as you hastily pressed your lips to his.

A tiny blush crawls over Changbin's features as he smiles, as full and radiant as it ever is when you dote on him. His eyes squint beneath his glasses, his adorably round nose scrunching, and you can't help but smile too; his joy is infectious, after all.

And perhaps in some ways it's silly, but it's always the small actions he takes that remind you of how in love you are with him. It's always moments like now, when you're relaxing together, at peace and comfortable in his presence in a way you are with no other, that your heart swells with love for your boyfriend the most.

Slow moments, where you can really appreciate the man beside you, when the full weight of your affection for him can settle over you like a warm, fuzzy blanket. Moments where any problem you have melts away, fading to the background because Changbin is with you, and that's all you need to be okay. 

And for Changbin, it doesn’t matter if it’s the 1st, 100th, or 1000th time you’re kissing him– it always sparks something in him. He isn’t greedy about many things, but when it comes to you– that’s a different story entirely; he’ll hold you tight and endlessly drink in all you're willing to give him. 

Your lips taste similar to his– a more muted, subtle version of strawberries, cream, and mint; he indulges in it, his hands finding their way to you and leaving the bag of candies forgotten to the side. He hums pleasantly when you crawl your way onto his lap, obediently parting his lips when he feels your tongue slide against them.

It doesn’t take long for him to start chubbing up beneath his cream-colored pants– and how could he not? You’re in his lap, kissing him deep and slow, with your fingers in his hair. They glide easily through his soft, straightened hair, and while you can’t help but miss his natural curls, you do appreciate your fingers not tangling in them and pulling. 

Changbin would like it, you know– he’s strong enough to manhandle you without breaking a sweat, can flip you and hold you into any position and make you take it with ease; but in the same breath, he’s pliable, ready and eager to be molded into whatever you need him to be. He loves his body, and his strength, and the squeals he can draw out of you by using it– but what he loves even more is being good to you. 

But this moment isn’t about that– you aren’t looking to take control, nor to make your lover meek and pliant; it’s about showing him the depth of your love for him in the only way you can when words fail you. What else can you do when saying “I love you” doesn’t feel like enough? When the heat that’s building in your chest will burst if you don’t kiss him and kiss him and kiss him?

He isn’t hard enough for his erection to quite be “obvious” in his loose pants yet, but you’ve been with Changbin long enough to see when he’s getting worked up. His breaths come out harsher, and the pink tint to his cheeks spreading to his ears paired with the quickened beating of his heart you can feel just beneath your fingertips tell you all you need to know.

He has a dazed, lovesick look in his eyes when you pull away from him, paired with a goofy, beaming smile. “I’m so lucky,” he breathes as he hugs you, the squeeze so tight it almost feels like it could crush you– but Changbin knows the limit. “I’m crazy about you– you know that right? I love you so much.” 

You’re effectively trapped in his arms, but that’s no problem for you– you return his hug, giggling as he returns your affections. Your soft laugh delights him, and he shows it by peppering your cheeks in chaste kisses before moving on to your neck. 

“Bin, that tickles,” you whine between your laughter, his hands squeezing you as you squirm in his grasp. He laughs too, lifting his head to meet your eyes with the downturned smirk that tells you he’s amused.

He thinks to tease you; playfully peck you over and over whilst saying you attacked him first, so it’s only fair– but it melts away when you tenderly reach to his face, cupping it in your hands. Your thumbs resting on his full cheeks, you kiss him again, soft and sweet. It effectively turns him to putty, a content sound rising from his throat as his squeeze on you loosens. 

You take the opportunity to slip a hand into his sweater, caressing his plush stomach for just a moment before bringing it to his chest. You love the way he feels– bulking muscles under soft skin, pecs strong and well-defined but so easy to squeeze in your palms. He shivers under your diligent touch, your fingers always so soft and motions so purposeful.

He keens when you tweak his nipple just the way you know he likes, and he has to make a conscious effort to stop himself from unconsciously bucking his hips up. You can feel him, fully hard beneath you now and pressing into the fat of your ass.

On another day, you might tease him about it; coo over how sensitive he is, watch him squirm as his face burns deep red. But the way Changbin looks at you, so reverent and adoring with a haze of lust, never fails to fill your stomach with butterflies.

It's obvious with just a look that he's becoming needy; he’s expectant, wordlessly pleading, skin tingling with anticipation for what you’ll do next– and you’ve decided from the very start that you’ll give him anything he wants. 

“Ah–” his brain lags when you ask what he wants, if there's anything at all he'd like you to do, the air suddenly feeling heavy and thick around him. And it’s not because he’s shy, necessarily– it’s just that the loving gaze you hold for him while waiting for him to answer is making his mind feel fuzzy.

He swallows, and in the end his words are less than eloquent, but they're enough. “Your mouth– please?”

You smile at him sweetly, a shudder traveling the length of his spine when you dip your hand between your bodies to palm his cock over his pants. He sucks in a breath, shivering as you make quick work of freeing his erection from the fabric. The inside of his underwear is sticky-wet, the result of pre-cum steadily leaking from his sensitive tip.

His fists are clenched, breaths labored as he watches and waits for you to deliver on his request. You shift carefully off his lap, letting the blanket covering you both fall to the floor– along with the plastic bag of strawberries & cream candies that you entirely forgot were still there next to you. 

The clatter of them falling to the hardwood almost makes you jump, and you watch as some of the candies roll out of the bag, scattering in all directions. You stare for a moment, blink before you turn to Changbin and laugh. “I forgot,” is all you say, and he giggles with you, leaning over the couch to assess the damage. 

“We can clean it later,” he assures, grabbing your hand so you focus on him instead of on the mess. If there’s one saving grace, it’s that the candies are all individually wrapped– and you’re certain that getting your boyfriend's dick in your mouth is of much higher priority than picking up some spilled, but otherwise perfectly fine, candy. 

“Wait,” Changbin says after you sink to your knees, grabbing a cushion to place under them, “don’t want you to get hurt.” You smile and thank him warmly, getting yourself comfortable on the cushion– and he’s quick to reach to the floor where the blanket fell, wrapping it around your shoulders snuggly. 

“Changbin,” you giggle as he secures the blanket around you.

“What? I don’t want you to get cold either,” he says, and it’s so endearing you can think of nothing else to do but kiss him, just as before.

“What about you?” you ask, and he simply smiles while assuring you he’ll be perfectly fine. And you’re sure it’s true enough; Changbin tends to run hot, after all. Still, you get as much of his legs in the blanket as you can as you inch closer and settle in between his muscular thighs. 

You take his cock into your hand once more, the length short but impossibly thick in your comparably small fingers. The sight of it, leaking and throbbing as it silently pleads for stimulation, is always mouth-watering to you, and the change in your eyes is enough to make him squirm in his seat. 

You take your time planting slow, lingering kisses to his steadily leaking tip, coat your lips in his arousal and trail it down his length before slowly licking back up. You repeat– enough times to have him biting his lip and tensing his thighs, desperate pleas for something more just a breath away from being uttered. 

It’s a little cruel to tease him this way considering you said you’d give him anything he wants, but how could you resist? Still, a promise is a promise; so just before you think the thread keeping his restraint together is about to snap, and he’s ready to string together a babble of begs and pleads, you engulf his tip in your mouth. 

The relief is instant– a loud, shuddering whine leaving his lips as you lower your head, sliding the entirety of his length into your mouth. It’s always a stretch, even just for your mouth, but you’ve grown used to ignoring the ache in your jaw. He’s heavy on your tongue, but you’ve always liked that– and the moans you’re met with as you bob your head make any tenderness you’ll feel later entirely worth it. 

You can feel him tremble, the sound of your saliva pooling and dripping down his cock enough to make his head spin. Needing something to hold and ground himself, he desperately searches for one of your hands; you offer one to him quickly, let him squeeze as much as he needs once your fingers are intertwined. 

Your other hand caresses and squeezes over the meat of Changbin’s inner thigh, and his head falls back against the couch cushion, eyes closing as he releases another high pitched whine. Suddenly he feels much too hot, sweat threatening to drip from where it builds on his brow. You swirl your tongue around his cock to the best of your ability as you take it to the base, and it nearly makes him sob.

“S-So close, please–” he manages to choke out through a whimper, shivering when you hum and quicken your efforts. It’s utterly dizzying– how good your mouth feels, the salacious sounds that pour from it, the heady cry of his desperate, pleasured voice; overwhelming and baffling, almost, how a man as big and strong as him can be a weak puddle in your hands.

“Gonna cum– ‘m cumming, c-cumming for you,” he manages to stutter out just moments before his thighs and stomach clench and his eyes roll back. His back arches off the cushion as he writhes, his cum spilling down your throat, thick and pleasantly salty. The overstimulation as you continue to lick over his now softening length makes him gasp and squirm until you inevitably release his cock from your mouth with a pop, satisfied with your efforts cleaning him up.

Changbin is utterly breathless, but still quick to help you back to the couch when you move to rise; your knees ache from being stuck in the same position for so long, but it’s certainly not as bad as it would’ve been if he hadn’t offered you the cushion to rest them on. He smiles at you as you wipe the accumulated sweat from his brow, a sweet thing full of awe and adoration. 

“I love you,” he reminds you with a sappy, downturned smile and you giggle before offering him another kiss. “And,” he quickly adds, effortlessly scooping you up into his arms now that his strength has returned and his body no longer feels like jello, “we’re not done yet.” 

“Binnie!” you can’t help but squeal, clinging to him tightly as he rises from the couch with you in his arms, as if you're light as a feather. He kicks the bag of fallen candy as he walks, and you giggle as you hear more pieces rattle and roll around on the floor and out of his path; you almost want to playfully scold him for worsening the mess. 

“We can clean it later,” he repeats, as he enters your shared bedroom. He carefully lays you down on the bed, crawls over you and kisses you with all the passion and ardor he can muster. His hand traveling slowly, purposefully down your body, until it finds its home between your thighs.

There’s a whispered promise then; that you’re not leaving the bed until he makes you cum again and again.

[zoofzoofxx]

—The art of eyecontact—

Pairings ; Axel Kovacevic x fem!reader

Summary ; After the night Axel helped you, it’s evident he regrets his harsh words and is ready to apologize, eager to mend what was broken between you. However, someone has stepped forward, admitting their jealousy and confessing they can’t bear to see the bond between you and Axel rekindling.

Warnings ; mention of alcohol & alcohol usage

Pt. 4

୨୧・・・・♡・・・・୨୧

‘Oh my goodness, yes!’ Sam cried out, bursting into our room with uncontainable energy. Startled by the sudden commotion, I stood up quickly, my gaze darting around the space as golden sunlight poured through the window, illuminating everything in its path and landing squarely on my face.

‘What’s going on?’ I asked, my fingers absentmindedly combing through my tousled hair, still heavy with the haze of sleep.

‘They’ve rescheduled the semi-finals—by two whole days!’ she exclaimed, gripping my shoulders with unrestrained enthusiasm. Her excitement was palpable as she began to shake me, almost as though trying to transfer her joy through sheer force.

A laugh escaped me, light and unguarded. I felt as if I had awakened from the most peaceful, restorative rest I could remember, and her jubilant announcement only elevated the sense of ease and delight lingering in the air.

‘So, what’s the plan?’ I asked, sitting upright in bed, my fingers lightly brushing over the edge of the blanket as I smoothed it out. My mind wandered to my wardrobe, already strategizing the perfect outfit for the day. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Sam at her vanity, meticulously applying her makeup. Her movements were quick but precise, the kind of efficiency that came with years of practice.

‘Breakfast, beach, bonfire, and then sleep,’ she replied, clapping her hands together in satisfaction as she stepped out of the bathroom, her beach outfit perfectly chosen and accessorized. It suited her effortlessly confident demeanor. ‘Tomorrow, we’ll explore Barcelona. Properly this time.’

‘Sounds perfect,’ I said, standing and stretching with a calm, deliberate movement. I wandered to the window, briefly letting the sunlight warm my face, before turning my attention back to my bedside table, tidying the few things that were out of place.

A knock interrupted the moment, and I turned my head toward the door. Sam shot me a glance, with a quick nod, she strode to the door.

I couldn’t hear the conversation clearly, but the tone was unmistakable—coolly polite, with an undertone of tension. When Sam returned, Tory and Kwon followed closely behind her, their presence instantly changing the energy in the room.

‘Tory!’ I greeted warmly, my voice genuine as I crossed the room to hug her. Though our dynamic had been competitive lately, I still couldn’t help but feel a soft spot for her charm.

‘Whoa, hey, Y/n,’ Tory said with a light laugh, hugging me back tightly before stepping away. Her ever-sunny demeanor masked the sharpness in her eyes, which flicked around the room as if cataloging every detail.

I turned to Kwon next, his tall figure leaning casually against the doorframe as though he owned the space. His expression was as smug as ever, and in his hand, he held a small paper bag, which he tossed onto the nearby table with a calculated nonchalance.

‘For you,’ he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. ‘You went a little overboard last night. Figured you’d need this to recover. Electrolytes, aspirin, green tea. You’re welcome.’

I arched a brow, stepping forward to inspect the bag. ‘Thoughtful of you,’ I replied, my tone measured and neutral, refusing to rise to the bait. ‘Though I’m perfectly fine this morning, thank you.’

He let out a quiet scoff, his smirk widening. ‘Right. Because chugging cocktails like they’re water doesn’t have consequences. Try to pace yourself today, or are you planning to make a habit of needing my help?’

‘Don’t flatter yourself, Kwon,’ Sam cut in, her voice sharp as she moved to my side. Her gaze was icy as it flicked between the two of them. ‘We’re perfectly capable of managing our day without your… oversight.’

I could see Tory nudge Kwon lightly with her elbow, clearly trying to break the tension. He merely rolled his eyes, the picture of indifference.

‘Don’t mind him, Y/n. He’s just trying to be helpful… in his own special way,’ she said with a grin, her voice carrying that easy charm she always relied on to smooth things over.

‘I’m glad we caught you before you headed out,’ Tory added cheerfully, brushing her hair over one shoulder as she surveyed the room.

I offered a calm smile, effortlessly dismissing Kwon’s air of arrogance. ‘It’s always a pleasure to see you both,’ I replied smoothly, maintaining my composure.

My gaze shifted to the clock on the wall before I turned back to them. ‘Have you eaten yet? If not, you should join us for breakfast. We’re heading out soon.’ I reached for my bag and began pulling out my neatly folded clothes, carefully laying them on the chair beside me.

Tory’s face lit up as she nodded enthusiastically. ‘Breakfast sounds perfect!’ she said, her energy contagious as always.

Kwon, on the other hand, gave a dismissive shrug, his posture still lazy and unbothered as he leaned against the doorframe. ‘Sure, why not?’ he muttered, though his tone made it sound like he was doing us a favor by agreeing.

I raised my eyebrows slightly at his nonchalance but didn’t comment. Instead, I gestured toward my clothes with a small smile. ‘Give me ten minutes to change, and we can head out.’

Tory sat down on the edge of my bed, making herself comfortable as she kicked her legs lightly. ‘Take your time, Y/n. We’re in no rush,’ she said, her tone warm and inviting.

Kwon, still stationed at the doorframe, crossed his arms and watched the room with that same unreadable expression. His eyes lingered on my methodical movements as I gathered my things, but his expression betrayed nothing beyond his usual air of aloofness. I ignored him, focused on maintaining the order and ease I carried through my morning.

As I stepped toward the bathroom, I glanced over my shoulder at Tory. ‘Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be ready soon.’

‘Always do,’ she replied with a wink, and I couldn’t help but chuckle softly before disappearing behind the door to change.

—

After stepping out of the shower, the faint sound of Tory and Sam talking drifted through the door. Their voices were surprisingly calm, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought. The tension between them had been far from positive for a while now—ever since Tory joined Cobra Kai. But seeing them exchange words without hostility gave me a glimmer of hope.

I wrapped a towel around myself, wiping the steam from the mirror as I thought about Tory. Despite everything, I understood her choices. Her life hadn’t been easy, and joining Cobra Kai must have felt like her only option at the time. Still, it had put a rift between her and the rest of us.

I was happy to see Sam, in her own way, making an effort to bridge the gap. I knew it wasn’t easy for her. Sam had been hurt too, in ways that she didn’t often talk about, and trusting Tory again wasn’t something that could happen overnight. But even this small conversation felt like progress.

After Tory left our dojo, I had tried to reach out to her more times than I could count. Texts, calls, even dropping by her place—most went unanswered. For days, it had felt like she’d shut me out completely. I told myself it was just her way of coping, but it didn’t make the silence sting any less.

Hearing her voice now, though, talking with Sam instead of arguing, gave me hope. Maybe this trip was a chance for all of us to start over—not perfectly, not easily, but step by step. I smiled to myself as I slipped into my clothes, feeling a flicker of optimism.

By the time I opened the door and stepped back into the room, the air felt lighter. Tory was perched on the edge of my bed, gesturing animatedly as she spoke. Sam, leaning casually against the window, listened with a look of cautious interest. The sight made me pause for a moment, appreciating the delicate balance we were all trying to maintain. Maybe today would surprise us all.

I let Tory and Sam continue their conversation, their voices blending into the background as I shifted my attention toward Kwon. He stood near the doorframe, his posture as casual and self-assured as ever, his arms loosely crossed. As I moved about the room, gathering a few essentials into my bag, I decided to make an effort at small talk, even if Kwon’s usual attitude made it a challenge.

Leaning lightly against the wall beside him, I turned my head and smiled politely. ‘So, Kwon, are you excited for the semi-finals?’ I asked, keeping my tone warm and conversational.

His eyes flicked toward me, the familiar glint of arrogance unmistakable as he smirked faintly. He leaned slightly closer, as if to make his next words more pointed. ‘Excited?’ he echoed, his voice dripping with condescension. ‘More like prepared. Excitement’s for people who aren’t confident in their chances.’

I raised an eyebrow at his response but kept my expression composed, refusing to let his bravado faze me. ‘Well, confidence is a good thing,’ I said smoothly, tilting my head slightly. ‘But even the most prepared fighters can use a little excitement to keep them sharp. Don’t you think?’

He gave a quiet scoff, his gaze briefly flicking to Sam and Tory before returning to me. ‘Maybe for some. But I don’t rely on adrenaline to win.’

I smiled faintly at his predictable response, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder. ‘Good to know,’ I said lightly. ‘Though I’d say a balance of both doesn’t hurt. Keeps things… interesting.’

Kwon’s smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me. ‘Interesting, huh? You seem awfully calm for someone who’s about to face some serious competition.’

I straightened up and met his gaze, my expression unshaken. ‘Calm doesn’t mean unprepared,’ I replied with an even tone. ‘It just means I trust in the work I’ve put in. There’s no need to overcompensate.’

The faintest flicker of something unreadable crossed his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual air of superiority. ‘We’ll see about that,’ he said with a shrug, his voice low.

I simply nodded, a serene smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I stepped away to give him space. As I moved toward Sam and Tory, I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. Kwon’s arrogance might be his armor, but I wasn’t about to let it pierce through my calm.

After joining Sam and Tory, I exchanged a few pleasantries before we all left the room together. The morning sunlight streamed through the hallway as we walked, chatting about our plans for the day. It was decided that after breakfast, we’d split up to enjoy the day in our own ways and regroup at the bonfire that evening. Apparently, one of the teams eliminated from the Sekai Taikai had decided to host a massive gathering on the beach—a gesture to let loose and connect after all the intensity of the competition.

At breakfast, we found a table near the window. I slid into the chair closest to the sunlight, with Sam taking the seat next to me. Across the table, Kwon sat directly opposite me, while Tory casually took the spot across from Sam. It was a comfortable arrangement, though Kwon’s piercing, ever-analyzing gaze was hard to ignore.

I pulled out my phone, letting the easy banter around me fade into the background as I scrolled through my notifications. Nothing unusual caught my eye at first—just the usual updates and a few texts—until a new one popped up, stopping me mid-scroll. It was from Axel.

I tapped on it hesitantly, the memory of last night already creeping back into my mind. The message was simple but sent a wave of unease and something unspoken through me: Meet me after breakfast?

I stared at the words, my thoughts racing. The events of the previous night rushed back with startling clarity—the way Axel had put me to bed after my near-embarrassing state, the softness of his voice, the warmth of his touch as he made sure I was comfortable. My cheeks grew hot at the thought, and I could feel my heartbeat quicken.

Glancing around the room, I scanned for him, unsure of whether to respond right away. It didn’t take long to spot him—sitting a few tables away, hunched slightly as he poked at his food. His expression was unreadable, his focus firmly fixed on the table in front of him. Next to him, Zara appeared to be in the middle of a rant, her voice just loud enough to carry snippets of complaint. She waved her phone in his face, rolling her eyes dramatically, but he didn’t seem to care.

I bit my lip, feeling a mix of embarrassment and curiosity as my gaze lingered on him. For a moment, I wondered if he even remembered everything from last night. Did it mean anything to him? Or was it just a matter of responsibility, making sure a opponent didn’t pass out on the spot?

The sudden snap of fingers jolted me out of my thoughts. My eyes darted up, meeting Kwon’s expectant, mildly annoyed expression.

‘You awake over there, or did your phone just suck your soul out?’ he asked dryly, leaning back in his chair with a smirk that bordered on condescending.

I blinked, tucking my phone away quickly to hide the message. ‘Sorry,’ I replied smoothly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear

His smirk was as insufferable as ever, one eyebrow raised in mock concern. ‘Are you going to join us, or are you plotting your next move over there?’

My posture straightened, offering him a calm smile despite his condescending tone. ‘Just catching up on a few things,’ I replied evenly.

‘Must be important,’ he quipped, loosens up in his chair

‘I like to stay prepared,’ I said, keeping my voice light.

His smirk deepened, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I turned my attention back to Sam and Tory, who were now discussing the best way to navigate the city.

But as I reached for my cup of tea, my thoughts drifted back to Axel. He had already made it clear that this competition wasn’t just about skill for him—it was personal. And whether I wanted it or not, we were locked in a rivalry that neither of us could walk away from.

The question now was whether meeting him after breakfast was worth the risk.

—

After breakfast, Kwon and I were walking behind Sam and Tory as we left the cafeteria, still laughing about Kwon’s ridiculous plans for what he would do if he won Sekai Taikai. His ideas were completely over the top, imagining himself hosting grand celebrations and making impossible demands. I couldn’t help but laugh along, even though part of me knew he was just being his usual, confident self.

But then, I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and there he was—Axel. A mixture of stress and a strange happiness washed over me at the sight of him. I couldn’t help but feel both uneasy and relieved. I wasn’t sure if it was the nervousness from our rivalry or just his presence, but something about him always left me feeling conflicted.

I sighed softly, forcing a smile, and waved at Kwon and Tory, signaling I’d be stepping aside for a moment. Kwon, not looking thrilled at the interruption, offered me a small, almost reluctant smile in return before turning his attention back to Tory.

Sam, sensing the tension, had already made an exit. ‘I’ll give you two some time,’ she said casually, heading for a nearby convenience store to grab snacks for the beach. It was almost as if she knew I’d need some space to handle Axel, though I wasn’t sure if I was ready for whatever conversation was about to unfold between us.

With Sam and Tory gone, it was just me and Axel now, and I couldn’t deny the mix of emotions bubbling up inside me.

Axel stood there in silence for a moment, his gaze fixed on me, and I could feel the familiar tension hanging in the air. Though on the outside I tried to appear calm, inside I was anything but. My heart raced, and my thoughts were a whirlwind, but I kept my posture relaxed, my expression composed.

‘So… what’s up?’ I asked, offering a soft smile, hoping to sound as casual as possible. I folded my arms gently, but there was a nervous flutter inside me that I couldn’t quite shake.

Axel raised an eyebrow, taking his time before responding. He looked around briefly, almost like he was deciding whether or not to speak at all. When he finally did, his voice was steady, though there was an edge to it. ‘We need to talk.’

His words hit me with a jolt, and despite the calm tone, I felt a knot form in my stomach. It wasn’t the friendliest invitation, but it wasn’t exactly a confrontation either. With Axel, it always felt like there was something unsaid lingering between us, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking now.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay composed. ‘About what?’ I asked, my voice as steady as I could manage.

Axel exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing for a moment before softening slightly. ‘About what happened yesterday.’

The mention of yesterday made my pulse quicken, but I forced myself to remain outwardly calm. The memory of what had transpired was still fresh—unclear and confusing—and I had hoped we could just move past it without bringing it up. But now that he’d said something, I realized there was no easy way around it.

‘I’m not sure there’s much to say,’ I replied softly, trying to keep my tone light yet truthful. ‘I remember how you helped me get home safely, and I’m grateful for that. But the words you said a few days ago still sting. You said I’m your opponent, and that there’s nothing between us.’ As soon as the words left my mouth, I instantly regretted them.

He didn’t respond immediately, his expression growing more intense. I knew that was probably not the answer he wanted to hear, but I wasn’t about to add fuel to a fire that didn’t need to burn.

‘It’s not that simple,’ Axel said, his tone firm, but there was something in his eyes that made it hard to ignore. He took a step closer, his presence unavoidable, and I could feel the tension between us rise. ‘You can’t just act like the last few days didn’t mean anything,’ he said, his voice carrying an edge of frustration.

I took a moment to collect myself. Though inside, my mind was racing, I remained still on the outside, careful not to let him see how affected I was. I didn’t want to make this more complicated than it had to be.

‘I’m not pretending anything,’ I said softly, meeting his gaze with calm clarity. ‘I just don’t think we need to make a bigger deal out of it. We’re rivals, Axel. It’s complicated enough as it is.’

Axel studied me for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. He seemed to be searching for something, trying to figure out if I was hiding something or if I truly meant what I was saying. But no matter how hard he looked, I didn’t let him see the storm brewing inside me.

The silence stretched between us, thick with unsaid words. Then, Axel spoke again, his voice quieter this time, but still resolute.

‘I think we both know this isn’t just about being rivals.’ His words hung in the air, and despite my best efforts to remain composed, a part of me felt exposed.

Axel stood in front of me, his expression conflicted as the tension between us hung heavy in the air. His gaze flickered between my eyes and the ground, as if searching for the right words. The soft sounds of the world around us seemed distant, as though it was just the two of us in that moment, suspended in time.

He exhaled, his shoulders dropping as if he’d finally come to a realization. ‘Y/n,’ he began, his voice quieter, more vulnerable than I’d ever heard it before. ‘I regret what I said. I… I didn’t mean it.’

I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him right. My heart raced, a mix of confusion and hope swirling inside me. ‘What do you mean?’ I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, not sure if I was ready for the answer.

Axel took a step closer, his eyes locking onto mine with a level of sincerity I hadn’t seen from him before. ‘I said there was nothing between us. But that was a lie. I pushed you away, and I can’t stand the thought of you thinking that I didn’t care.’ His hand gently brushed against my arm, the contact sending a shock of warmth through me. ‘I care, Y/n. More than I should.’

The words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, neither of us moved. I was frozen, unsure of what to say or do, my emotions swirling in a chaotic dance. But his honesty left no room for doubt. I saw it in his eyes—regret, longing, something that was far beyond rivalry.

Before I could respond, Axel took another step forward, closing the distance between us. His hand reached up, cupping my face gently, as if afraid I might pull away. I didn’t. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up at him, my heart pounding.

‘I was scared,’ he admitted, his voice low and raw. ‘Scared of what it meant, scared of how it might change everything. But I can’t deny it anymore.’

I could feel the tension in the air shifting, the walls we’d both built around ourselves crumbling with every word. My chest tightened as his face drew closer, the heat from his body mingling with mine. Then, before I could think, Axel leaned in, his lips brushing against mine with a softness that took my breath away.

The kiss was gentle at first, like he was testing the waters, waiting for me to pull away. But I didn’t. Instead, I found myself melting into the kiss, my hands instinctively reaching up to thread through his hair as I deepened it. Axel’s arms encircled me, pulling me closer, and the world outside us disappeared completely.

In that moment, there was no rivalry, no past mistakes. There was only the warmth of his touch and the truth that had finally been spoken between us. And as we pulled away, I knew things between us would never be the same again.

Axel’s voice was a soft murmur as he spoke against my lips. ‘I’m sorry for pushing you away, Y/n. I should have never said that.’

I smiled, my heart still racing but my mind at ease. ‘It’s okay, Axel. We’re here now.’

Axel gave me a tight smile, his eyes softening, but there was still an unreadable edge to his expression. ‘I guess… I’ll see you later,’ he said quietly, his voice betraying a trace of uncertainty.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat, unsure of how to respond. As Axel turned and walked away, my thoughts swirled—conflicted, confused, but somehow clearer. It was as though a door had cracked open, and I wasn’t sure what was on the other side. I stood there for a moment longer, watching him disappear into the distance, before I took a deep breath and turned toward the hotel’s main entrance.

The lobby felt quieter than usual as I walked through it, the weight of the conversation still lingering in my chest. I could hear the soft hum of distant voices, but they didn’t register, my mind too focused on what had just happened. I made my way to the exit, pushing the heavy door open.

As soon as I stepped outside, the warm air hit me, and I saw Sam waiting by the railing outside the hotel. She was casually leaning against it, a small bag of snacks in her hands, but it was the way she looked at me that told me she had already noticed something wasn’t quite right. Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying me, and I felt a twinge of guilt. She could tell something had happened, even if I hadn’t said a word yet.

‘Everything okay?’ Sam asked, her tone light but with a hint of concern.

I offered a small smile, still feeling the warmth of Axel’s words lingering in my chest. ‘Yeah, everything’s fine. Let’s just go to the beach,’ I said, not quite ready to dive into the details yet.

We walked side by side as we made our way toward the beach, the sounds of the bustling city fading into the background. The salty air filled my lungs as I tried to collect my thoughts, but it was hard to ignore the rush of emotions. Sam didn’t push me to explain right away, though I could tell she was waiting for me to speak.

As we neared the shore, the waves crashing softly in the distance, I finally spoke, my voice low. ‘I… talked to Axel,’ I started, unsure of how to put it all into words. ‘We cleared the air. Kind of.’

Sam raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. ‘Cleared the air? What does that mean exactly?’

I sighed, my fingers brushing through my hair as I looked out at the ocean. ‘He admitted he was wrong—about what he said a few days ago, how he acted. He regrets saying that there was nothing between us, that I’m just his opponent. It was… a lot, Sam. But I don’t know if I can believe everything he said yet. It’s confusing.’

Sam nodded, her expression softening as she gave me a sympathetic look. ‘That sounds like a lot to process. But, hey, at least he owned up to it, right? I guess it’s a step in the right direction.’

I nodded slowly, still unsure of what all of it meant. ‘Yeah, I guess. But I’m not sure what to do with it. I’m still trying to figure out where we stand—if things are even going to change between us at all.’

We reached the edge of the beach, the cool sand beneath our feet grounding me, though my thoughts were anything but calm. Sam walked beside me, silent for a moment, before she spoke again, her voice quiet but knowing.

‘You don’t have to have it all figured out right now, Y/n. Just take it one step at a time. And if Axel really means what he said, he’ll show it. Words are one thing, but actions speak louder.’

I looked over at Sam, her words offering a small sense of comfort. She was right, of course. I didn’t need to have all the answers right now. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could handle it. With the ocean in front of us and the warmth of the sun on our backs, I took a deep breath and let the moment wash over me. Whatever came next, I would face it head-on.

With a soft smile, I turned to Sam. ‘Thanks. Let’s just enjoy the day, yeah?’

We continued walking, the soft sand beneath our feet as we searched for a spot to leave our things. After a few moments, we found a quiet area near the shore, away from the crowds, where we could set our bags down. Sam quickly spread out a towel while I placed the snacks beside us.

Once our things were settled, we turned toward the water, the cool waves lapping at the shoreline. The weight of the conversation with Axel seemed to drift away with each step we took toward the sea. As we waded into the water, the salty breeze lifted my spirits, and the sound of the waves drowned out everything else. Whatever had happened with Axel, whatever came next, I knew I wasn’t alone in this. And that thought brought a quiet sense of peace, at least for now.

—

‘Hmm, actually, I’m craving some carbonara,’ I murmur, glancing at Sam. Her eyes light up immediately.

‘I was thinking about chicken Alfredo pasta!’ she says excitedly, clapping her hands together.

‘Oh my god, let’s go home, change, head to a restaurant, and then after dinner, we can go to the bonfire!’ She practically bounces up, her enthusiasm contagious.

‘Great idea!’ I smile, already standing and gathering my things. Together, we headed back, excited for what the rest of the day would bring.

—

As I stood before the mirror, meticulously blow-drying my hair and carefully placing each section into rollers to achieve the perfect blowout effect, Sam’s voice cut through the sound of the dryer. ‘There’s a rather upscale restaurant nearby. Should I secure a reservation?’ she inquired with an air of casual consideration.

I peeked my head from behind the bathroom door, offering her a warm smile and a thumbs-up in approval. Her eyes brightened instantly, and she clapped her hands together in delight before quickly retrieving her phone. The soft sound of her dialing the restaurant reached my ears as I turned my attention back to the task at hand, carefully selecting my outfit for the evening. I moved to the closet, my fingers brushing over the fabric of my beige trousers, before settling on the white off-the-shoulder long-sleeve top I had in mind.

Through the sound of Sam’s conversation, I could hear her thanking the restaurant and concluding the call with a polite farewell, placing the phone down on the nearby counter.

‘We have thirty minutes,’ Sam announced, her voice tinged with urgency as she hurriedly began to sift through her own wardrobe. She was clearly eager to be on our way.

In the meantime, I scanned the room for my brown leather bag, which I quickly located beside the dresser. I moved purposefully to grab it, my fingers instinctively reaching for a few essentials—lip balm, a compact mirror, and my phone—before stowing them away with precision. Every movement, though rushed, was deliberate, and the anticipation of the evening ahead added a sense of excitement to the otherwise ordinary act of getting ready.

—

‘Mmm, that was absolutely delicious,’ Samantha exclaimed, placing her fork and knife neatly on her plate. She leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. I was still savoring the last bite of my meal, enjoying every mouthful, but Sam was already thinking ahead.

‘I’m going for a tiramisu,’ I said, setting my cutlery down gently on the plate. Sam’s eyes lit up as she made a mental note of her own dessert choice.

‘I think I’ll go with the cheesecake,’ she replied with a grin, clearly excited about the sweet treat ahead. The waiter passed by, and Sam quickly flagged him down, placing our dessert orders with a touch of enthusiasm.

As we waited for our desserts, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. We discussed the things we might do when we returned to Los Angeles—the places we’d visit, the activities we’d try, and all the adventures we would inevitably have once we were back in familiar surroundings.

‘We should definitely go to the beach as soon as we’re back,’ Sam suggested, her tone dreamy as she stared out the window at the darkening sky. ‘It’s been way too long since we’ve just relaxed, you know? No schedule, no obligations… just the sun and sand.’

I nodded in agreement. ‘And maybe we can check out that new art exhibit downtown. I’ve heard great things about it.’

Sam tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully. ‘That sounds perfect. A little culture mixed with some chill beach time… who wouldn’t love that?’

The waiter soon returned with our desserts, placing the rich, creamy tiramisu in front of me and the decadent cheesecake in front of Sam. We both smiled at the sight of our treats before diving in, the conversation briefly taking a backseat as we indulged in the sweet, velvety desserts. For now, there was no rush, no pressing plans—just the simple joy of good food and even better company.

—

After we ate, we didn’t head back to the hotel but instead made our way straight to the beach. The warm evening air felt refreshing, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was calming. I found myself hoping that I might run into Axel again and get the chance to talk to him, to clear the air after everything that had happened.

As we walked, I suddenly felt a presence beside me, and before I could react, a familiar arm draped around my shoulders. I froze for a moment, instinctively recognizing the clean, woodsy scent of cologne I knew all too well. I turned to find Kwon smiling down at me, his face slightly flushed and his movements a bit unsteady. I could already smell the alcohol on him, and it made me wary.

‘Hey, Y/n,’ he said, his voice a little slurred. He stopped walking, and I followed suit, feeling Sam tense beside me.

‘Kwon, what do you want?’ Sam asked, crossing her arms over her chest, her tone already laced with annoyance. She had never been a fan of his presence, and it was obvious she wasn’t happy to see him now either.

Kwon ignored Sam’s cold response and focused his attention on me. ‘Y/n… I have a question…’ he said, his words dragging a little as he reached for my hand. His hands were warm and soft, but the unsteady way he held it made me hesitate for a moment.

I tilted my head slightly, waiting for him to finish.

‘Can you pleaseee give me a hug?’ he asked, his voice almost childlike. His words were slurred, but there was something in his expression that caught me off guard. It wasn’t the usual confident arrogance or teasing I’d seen from him before. No, this was different. He looked… vulnerable, maybe even a little desperate.

Sam burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but giggle as well. Kwon’s face remained earnest, though, and despite the humor of the situation, I couldn’t ignore the underlying sadness in his eyes.

I softened, realizing that, despite his arrogance, he was in some kind of emotional state—one that probably wasn’t all that different from mine in moments like this. So, with a small smile, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him in a hug.

The warmth of his embrace was brief but surprising, and when I pulled away, Kwon didn’t say anything. He simply looked at me for a moment, almost as if he was processing something. Sam was still chuckling beside us, but there was a sense of quiet tension between Kwon and me, one that I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret.

‘Can we talk, please? Alone?’ Kwon’s voice was low, and he looked at Sam, almost pleading with his eyes. Sam, sensing the shift in his tone, raised her hands in mock surrender.

‘I’ll be by the bonfire,’ she said, pointing to a group of people gathered around the crackling flames a short distance away. I gave her a quick nod and a thumbs up, signaling that everything was fine. She walked off, leaving Kwon and me standing in the quiet space between the noise of the beach and the bonfire.

I turned my attention back to Kwon, who seemed less confident than usual. He was pacing slightly, his hands shoved into his pockets, eyes darting around as if he wasn’t sure what to say. There was an unusual tension in his posture, something different from the usual cocky swagger he wore so effortlessly.

‘So… have you ever heard of “drunk words are sober thoughts?”’ Kwon asked, his words slow and deliberate as if he was choosing each one carefully. There was a hint of vulnerability in his voice, something I hadn’t expected from him.

I nodded, unsure of what to say next. I had heard the saying before, but this time it felt different—more significant. Kwon wasn’t the type to share much, especially when it came to emotions. His usual bravado seemed to have taken a backseat, and for a moment, I could see the struggle in his eyes.

‘Yeah, I’ve heard of it,’ I replied, keeping my voice calm, trying to read him. ‘What does that have to do with this?’

Kwon took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the sand beneath our feet. He seemed almost lost in his thoughts before looking back up at me. There was a quiet sincerity in his eyes now, something raw and honest that I hadn’t seen before.

‘By that, I really want to say that…’ Kwon trailed off, his words stuck in his throat as if he couldn’t quite find the right way to finish his sentence.

‘Fuck, Y/n, you’re making this extra difficult,’ he muttered under his breath, his frustration evident. He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair, his gaze darting around as if looking for some kind of escape. It was clear he wasn’t used to being vulnerable, and it was making him uncomfortable.

I frowned, sensing the shift in his mood. He had always been so confident, so sure of himself, but now he seemed like he was struggling to find his footing. Before I could say anything, Kwon suddenly grabbed my shoulder, his touch firm but not aggressive. He looked at me, his expression tense but also filled with something else—maybe desperation, maybe hope.

‘Do you want to go for a walk?’ he asked, his voice quieter now, a hint of uncertainty in it that I hadn’t heard before.

I hesitated for a moment, but then I nodded. There was something about the way he was looking at me, something that made me want to hear him out, even if I didn’t entirely understand what was going on.

‘Yeah,’ I said softly. ‘Let’s go for a walk.’

He let out a breath of relief, as though my answer gave him a small sense of peace. Without another word, he guided me away from the spot we had been standing, the tension between us still lingering in the air but not as heavy as before. We began walking along the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the silence between us.

There was a long silence between us, a thick, suffocating pause that seemed to stretch on forever. The air between us felt charged, uncomfortable, like something unsaid was hanging there, waiting to be acknowledged. I could feel the tension in his posture, the way he was walking just a little too close, but not close enough.

Then, as if it couldn’t stay quiet any longer, Kwon broke the silence. His voice was low, almost hesitant, but there was an edge to it.

‘I hate the feeling when I see you with Axel,’ he said suddenly, his words slicing through the air like a confession he hadn’t meant to make.

I stopped walking, my heart skipping a beat. I turned to him, trying to read his expression, but it was unreadable—like he was fighting some internal battle, the one I hadn’t been prepared for. My stomach twisted as I tried to figure out what he meant, but before I could ask, he looked away, his jaw clenched.

And then, without warning, he took a deep breath and said something that completely threw me off balance.

‘I… I can’t just stand by and watch anymore.’

¡Important!

A/n : Sorry for the cliffhanger, everyone! I’m sad to announce that my posting schedule might become a bit less frequent in the coming weeks. With exam week just around the corner, I have a lot on my plate—I’ll be preparing for a total of nine exams, one for each subject, and I really want to do my best to pass them all.

But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean I’ll stop posting altogether! It just means updates will be spaced out a little more—probably every 4-5 days instead of the usual 1-2 days. I hope you can understand and bear with me during this time.

I’m excited to share that I’m now posting my story on Wattpad as well! You can find me there under the username @zochya. If you prefer reading on Wattpad, the story is available for you to enjoy there too!

Thank you so much for your support and for following along with my story. It means the world to me! Also, apologies for any grammar mistakes—I’m doing my best! I hope you continue to enjoy the story, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon!

[fuckitupfelix]

ANON. LET ME COOK WITH THIS ANON.

third time's the charm !?

miya atsumu x male reader

word count: 1.8k

atsumu's self proclaimed "flirting" doesn't get him very far when the guy he's crushing on is absolutely clueless.

FEM ALIGNED DNI

atsumu miya is a fairly popular student. he’s quite well known among his classmates, and generally well liked. as a result, he’s grown a bit cocky. he considered himself a chick magnet— osamu jokes that he’s actually just a manwhore, to atsumu’s dismay— but the fact remains that he was attractive and he knew it, even if he never really acted on it. sure, he liked the attention, but when it came down to it, and osamu or suna ever prodded on why he didn’t get with any of the countless people leaving love letters in his locker, he would simply say they were ‘distractions’. his main focus was volleyball! he’d mess around here and there, but he would never take any of his little flings seriously. that’s what he’s been telling himself. he knows he could get with anyone, and he prides himself on that. it gives him a sense of power; a sense of control— until a certain (name) (surname) joined his class.

the teen had transferred into inarizaki in the middle of second year, and while he knew of the ‘wonder twins’ (he so aptly nicknamed them in his head) through friends and bits he’d seen online, he didn’t care much for them. as far as he was concerned, they were just teenagers. athletes with admirable skill, sure, but teenagers nonetheless. just the same as he was.

atsumu’s been pulling his hair out over the past few weeks because of (name)— his previous logic going straight out the window with the new transfer student. any and all attempts that the setter made to drop hints were futile. the guy was, to put it simply, far too dense.

ATTEMPT ONE: HOMEROOM.

upon (name’s) initial arrival, atsumu’s hooked immediately. it’s not like his introduction was anything crazy; the teacher called him in, he introduced himself, and sat down in the free seat next to suna and behind atsumu. but there’s something so appealing about the teen that draws atsumu in. the setter turns around in his seat, his usual lazy grin sprawled across his face.

“hey there. name’s miya atsumu,” he hums, before jutting a thumb towards the seat to (name’s) left. “that there’s suna rintaro.”

the expected reaction, if you know who he is— and he’s offended at the notion someone at his school potentially wouldn’t— would be absolute joy and surprise. instead, the new student responds with a, “oh. you’re the volleyball guys, right? nice to meet you two.”

suna has to bite back a snort at atsumu’s expression— his jaw dropped, his eye twitching. that’s it? “ya know who i am, yeah?” he asks, regaining his composure immediately. “ain’t i impressive?” he drawls.

“i guess? yeah. you’ve got impressive skill.” (name) responds, seemingly missing the way atsumu bristles at the lack of praise. he decides to flirt a little, wanting to throw this guy off his game.

“since ya missed some of the curriculum already, i can help ya study. get ya caught up.” atsumu says. he catches the way (name’s) face lights up and feels the pride bubbling in his chest. “really? that’d be such a big help! where should we meet up?”

“i was thinkin’ we could study at my place,” atsumu hums, voice a bit lower.

“. . . wouldn’t it be more productive if we went to a library or cafe? i also don’t wanna disturb your parents at all.” (name) replies. suna barks out a laugh, and atsumu shoves his shoulder. “shut it, suna!” he sputters.

“i’m definitely tellin’ ‘samu this later,” the teen snickers, leaning back in his chair. “‘n turn around, ‘tsumu, the lesson’s startin’.”

with a grumble, atsumu turns back to face the front, his arms crossed. there’s no way he just got blown off like that . .

ATTEMPT TWO: VENDING MACHINE.

atsumu refused to give up, even after the relentless nagging from suna to ‘quit being a pussy’ lasted for weeks on end. the two of them sat together with osamu and ginjima on their lunch, a figure slumped over the table, groaning dramatically; the person being atsumu, of course.

“could ya whine a lil quieter? i’ve gotta finish my history assignment and yer bein’ distractin’,” suna says, prodding at atsumu’s crunchy hair— which only prompted another, longer, louder groan.

“i don’t get it! how oblivious is this guy gonna be?!” atsumu whines, his cheek pressed against the cool table. his teammates were going to comment on how none of his attempts were straightforward in the slightest, but decided to let him wallow a bit longer. with a sigh, atsumu stands from his seat, shoving his hands into his pockets. he just needs to clear his head.

“d’you guys want anything from the vending machine?” he asks. they tell him their respective requests, and he exits the cafeteria to find a free vending machine. as he’s wandering about, mind filled with thoughts and plans to get (name) to give in to his ‘flirting’, lo and behold, he’s right there, crouched in front of the vending machine. a pretty face contorted into a hardened expression, eyebrows furrowed as he scans the contents, before letting out a sigh and standing. he turns in the direction of atsumu, and he jumps a little.

“oh! miya-san, hey.” he hums. atsumu scoffs lightly at that, walking closer and leaning an arm against the edge of the vending machine. at this angle, he can see (name’s) face perfectly, the light from the window on the other wall shining beautifully against his skin. it makes him feel giddy.

“i told ya, you can jus’ call me atsumu. drop the honorifics already, (name),” he drawls, his signature smirk on his face. “ya grabbin’ a drink?” (name) nods. he frowns slightly, turning back to look at the vending machine. “i can’t decide what to get, though. any suggestions?”

it’s almost like a lightbulb sparks above atsumu’s head. he has a perfect idea. leaning over (name), he comes closer to the glass dividing them and the drinks, purposefully drawing his face inches away from (name).

“hm,” he narrows his eyes, pretending to think about it, before pointing to a peach tea can, letting that same arm loosely wrap above the other teen’s shoulder. “this peach tea’s pretty good. it’s sweet, just like you,” he says, adding that last part a little quieter.

this has to be it. (name) has to hear that and take the hint, atsumu thinks to himself. so when (name) turns, his face lighting up with joy, and he responds with, “that sounds perfect, man! thank you!” he gawks at the teen's obliviousness as he punches in ‘D-3’ on the keypad, sliding the coins in. the can falls down with a thud, and he takes it, walking off as he cracks it open and takes a sip.

atsumu really cannot catch a break.

ATTEMPT THREE: NATIONALS.

atsumu's been going at it in the gym for the entirety of his lunch break, practicing his serves, sending ball after ball over the net.

“i’m done!” atsumu sputters, his shoes squeaking as he jumps up, arms stretched out as he slams another volleyball across the court. it lands out, and he grits his teeth. “he's impossible! he keeps actin' all buddy-buddy with me!”

osamu snorts at his brother's pouting. “so you'd rather (name) hate yer guts?” “that's not what i meant!” he huffs childishly, kicking at the floor. “fuck it. i’m tellin’ ‘im! ‘samu,” he whirls around to face his twin, jostling him by the shoulders.

“where would (name) be right now?” “why would i know that? it's lunch, check the classrooms.” osamu says dryly, shoving atsumu off of himself.

atsumu just nods, ignoring the action. like his life depends on it, he sprints out of the gym and towards the main building. through the side doors, past the lockers, up the stairs, to the very end of the hall, until he reaches their classroom.

“(name)!” he all but yells, sliding the door open with too much force. students whisper and murmur around the room, girls huddled up in the corners, eyes wide and hands cupped over their cheeks as they practically marvel at the sight of atsumu. (name), however, looks a bit concerned. placing his lunchbox onto his desk, his fork laid gently beside it, he stands and walks over to the door, not noticing the stares from all over the classroom. as he steps out, he shuts the door behind him.

“atsumu? are you alright?” he asks, eyebrows furrowed. “you look like you just ran a marathon—”

“we're goin’ to nationals tomorrow,” atsumu pants. (name) knew that— he's heard him and the others on the team talk about it in the halls, or when they have lunch at atsumu's desk.

“right, yeah. goodluck with that. you guys are gonna do amazing, obviously,” (name) chuckles. god, the sound makes atsumu's heart ache. he needs to get it out already, he's wasted far too much time dawdling.

“right, yeah. words don't mean much, though,” atsumu leans an arm against the wall, right next to (name). “a goodluck kiss would work wonders, though.” he says smoothly. this was his final attempt for (name).

the teen stiffens up at that. “what?” he laughs, wondering if he even heard atsumu correctly. “ya heard me. it’d be pretty motivatin’ if the pretty boy i’ve been likin’ gave me a lil goodluck kiss. just a lil peck.”

what?

“. . . you like me?” (name) asks. “since when?” atsumu huffs at that. “since forever! yer just too dense, i’ve been tryna hint at it for months now!” at that, the realization dawns on him. oh. “i thought you were just being nice!” (name) sputters, clearly trying to defend himself. atsumu lets out a choked noise.

“am i that bad at flirting?” he asks weakly. “no! i don't think so? i didn't realize you liked me at all! you should have said something!”

yes. he should have. he knows that, god knows osamu does as well. he just leans in a little closer. “so, how about that goodluck kiss, hm?” he asks after a beat of silence.

with a light scoff, (name) plants his hands on atsumu's shoulders, gripping at the fabric of his uniform shirt. it’s crumpled and smells slightly like sweat, but he decides to overlook that detail. he leans in, capturing atsumu's lips with his own. the kiss was brief, but atsumu's hands had already flown to cup the back of (name's) neck, gently tugging him forward. (name) lets out a startled noise, but doesn't move back until a few seconds later.

“so. you'll be watchin’ me at nationals, yeah?” atsumu drawls, his fingers carding through (name's) hair, idly twisting a strand.

“of course i will.”

this was so fun to write omg!!! also my reqs are open if you wanna drop any ideas for any fics !!

divider by @/plutism !!

[literaryvein-reblogs]

more notes on: writer's block

It is an anxiety we feel when we are unable to transfer ideas from our heads to the page.

It is a feeling of inadequacy—that whatever we write will be unoriginal, unimaginative, or have very little value.

It is a temporary state in which we are so overwhelmed with the expectations of an assignment, instructor, ourselves (inner editor) that we can’t get started.

Techniques to Combat Writer's Block

Stream of consciousness writing

There are variations to this type of writing. In general, the ideas are the same: writing freely without considering grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.

The most important aspect of this exercise is to just write.

Variations include: write what comes to your mind as you focus on your topic; write with your eyes closed; cover your computer screen and type freely; write slowly while focusing on each shaping of the letters; or set a timer/alarm and write non-stop for 10-15 minutes.

Change your location

If you usually write at a computer, try the kitchen or dining room table.

If you usually write at a desk, try a seat by a window. Or how about a coffee shop, a park, or the library?

Relaxation techniques

Take a break from trying to write. This will help you to rejuvenate (but come back soon)!

Take some deep breaths. People who tell you that physical exercise is important for mental activity are telling the truth.

If nothing's happening on the computer screen or paper, take a walk around the block. Hit the treadmill or tennis courts or drive to the gym. But take your notebook with you.

Fresh blood will be flowing through your brain and jogging might just jog something loose in your head. It happens.

Start in the middle of your writing project

Avoid the problem of getting started by starting on a part of the project that interests you more and then come back to the introductory matter later.

After all, your readers will never know you wrote the introduction last (another joy of word-processing technology!).

Talking aloud

Talk over your paper with a friend, or just blab away into a tape recorder (even better).

Play the tape back and write down what you hear in clusters of ideas or free write about them.

Accountability & community

Set up a time and place to write with someone else or a few other writers.

Start by talking about what you are working on, your struggle, and what needs to be done.

You can set a specific amount of time for everyone to write silently (an hour or a few).

Then come back together in the end to vocalize what you accomplished (and what you still want to accomplish if more needs to be done).

This goal setting, accountability, and community are highly valuable for the writing process.

more on: writer's block

[woso-story]

Tattoo

Georgia Stanway x Reader

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon in Munich, and the light coming through the windows of your apartment illuminated the cozy room you and Georgia had made your own. You could hear the faint hum of the city outside, the distant sound of pedestrians chatting and the occasional car passing by. Everything felt like it was in its place, and life, in all its simplicity, was perfect.

Georgia, your beautiful and talented girlfriend, was sitting across from you, her brow furrowed in concentration. You’d been looking forward to this moment for a while now. Today, she was going to give you your first tattoo.

You had always wanted to be inked by her, but every time you brought it up, she would laugh it off, saying she wasn’t ready yet, that she needed more practice. You never pushed her; you respected her decision. But now, the day had finally arrived. She was going to give you a tattoo.

You had been through a lot together since Georgia moved from Manchester to Munich. Her transfer had been a big change for both of you, but it felt like everything clicked when she arrived in Munich. The city was beautiful, the people were warm, and although the German language had posed a challenge at first, Georgia had found her place. She had found her second family with Bayern, and you, her constant support, had become her home away from home.

She had even found a new hobby here, a little tattoo studio called Pardon Paris, where she spent time with new friends and got better at her craft. It had become one of the places where she felt completely herself. And watching her tattoo others—like your teammates—was always a moment of joy for you. It was like seeing her in her element, just like when she was on the pitch. The focus, the concentration, the way she moved with such grace… it was mesmerizing.

Today, though, it was your turn.

You were laying on a lounger, your arm stretched out for her. She kept glancing over at you, a mix of excitement and nerves on her face. You knew how she was, how she had nerves of steel when it came to big matches—Champions League matches, league cup finals, even the Euro final—but now? She looked genuinely terrified.

You couldn't help but find it endearing. "G,” you called softly, your voice reassuring. “It’s going to be perfect. I know it will. You’ve got this.”

She met your gaze, a smile tugging at her lips. The nervousness didn’t fade, but you could see the gratitude in her eyes. “Thanks,” she murmured, taking a deep breath as she got up and moved to her tattoo station. She adjusted her gloves, setting her tools in place.

You relaxed, watching her with admiration. As much as she was nervous, you could see how focused she became once she started working. It was the same way she was on the field—intense, passionate, and fully committed. You had no doubt that this would be a work of art.

Half an hour later, it was done.

You sat up slowly, your gaze falling on your new tattoo. It was simple, yet meaningful. The year 2022, written in Roman numerals. MMXXII. It wasn’t just a number; it was the year that meant so much to both of you.

2022 had been a year full of highs and lows. It had been the year you started your first full season with the first team at Bayern, which ended with the title win. The year you earned your place within the team. It had also been the year of the Euro final, your first big tournament, where you had suffered the pain of loss—but you had also learned and grown. And most importantly, 2022 had been the year you met Georgia—the woman who had turned your life into something even more beautiful than you could have imagined.

You looked at her, still holding your arm up, waiting for her reaction. She was sitting back, her face shy, almost apprehensive. “What do you think?” she asked quietly.

Without hesitation, you leaned over and kissed her, your lips pressing softly to hers. When you pulled away, you smiled, the words coming easily. “It’s amazing. Exactly what I wanted.”

Her smile widened, and her eyes sparkled with pride. “Really?”

You nodded, your heart full. “Absolutely. And you’re definitely allowed to give me more tattoos in the future. You’re not that bad,” you teased with a grin.

She laughed, a soft, genuine sound that filled the room with warmth. “Well, I’m glad you like it. And I’m glad you trust me enough to let me do this.”

“I trust you with everything,” you said, your voice soft but firm. “Especially this.”

The smile she gave you made your heart skip a beat, and in that moment, you knew she felt the same way. She was your person, the one who made everything better. Life was perfect because of her. And no matter what happened in the future, you’d be by her side—on and off the pitch, in every tattoo, in every game, and in every moment.

She leaned in for another kiss, and as your lips met, you couldn’t help but think that this, this life, was exactly where you were meant to be.

And as she pulled away, still holding you close, you whispered, “You’re my home, Georgia. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Her smile was everything. “And you’re mine.”

[adore-laur]

the girls asking Harry & their mom how they fell in love ?

——

With the kids’ bath time done, you fall onto the couch like a rag doll. Your eldest daughter is in your arms, wearing a fluffy white robe. She's about to get the princess treatment, which consists of her favorite thing—you gently combing through her curls with apple-scented detangling spray. Harry holds your youngest daughter and steadily walks around the living room to make her sleepy. She's in zip-up pajamas, and she smells like fresh lavender. Her eyes aren’t closed yet, but Harry knows what tricks to use. Before long, she'll drift off and be transferred to her crib, all clean and fed.

As you yawn and stretch, the little arm tucked in your embrace wiggles free. It'll take significantly longer for her to tire, so you're hoping some snuggles and soothing hair brushing under the dim lights will speed up the process.

She points aimlessly toward the fireplace, her eyes tracking above it. The artificial plant? The pillar candle? The row of picture frames?

"What, baby?" you ask, kissing her damp curls while equipping the comb and spray.

"Pretty dress," she says, aiming her finger more precisely. You follow it and smile. On the mantel shelf, there’s a photograph in an elegant gold frame. It has been proudly displayed there for nearly five years as a keepsake from one of the most euphoric days of your life. It's an eight-by-ten photo of you and Harry after your marriage ceremony, sitting in the sleek black limousine that chauffeured you both to the reception venue. Through the open window, the hired photographer captured the moment Harry tried to unclip your lace bridal veil. Your legs, covered by the lush and heavy silhouette of your gown, were thrown over his lap even when there was plenty of space to spread out.

The reason that particular photo is the chosen one for the living room is because of how you and Harry are looking at each other in it. His fingers, one in particular the forever home of a gold wedding band, were tangled in your intricately styled hair, working to unclasp the plethora of pins lost in the strands. His eyes, though, were feasting on you—captivated, ecstatic, and soaking you in like you were the only thing that existed. His smile was the brightest part of the photo. He was mid-laugh, with his dimples deep, nose scrunched, and cheeks pushed up so that crinkles formed near his eyes. You can hardly remember what he was laughing at. He was giddier than a kid in a candy store, with unrestrained hands and excitement. He never did end up successfully removing your veil. His mother later helped him out, and it's now packed away in a storage box in the back of your closet.

Your expression in the photo is quite similar to his—irrepressible joy mixed with fierce love for your better half. The high resolution captured the residual tears in your eyes, which were caused by the overwhelming emotions from when you greeted family and friends after the ceremony concluded. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. The afternoon sunshine poured into the limousine and accentuated the details of your exquisite gown and Harry's traditional tuxedo. You parsed through countless photos after the honeymoon, and Harry agreed that this one encapsulated the intimate love you shared with each other the best. It always brought you back to that day and that indescribable feeling. It still makes your heart pound. You would marry him a million times over just to cherish every second again.

When you and Harry started a family together, the mantle shelf was filled with more precious photographs over the years. Now, with two children, anniversary milestones, and vacation memories under your belt, it's a beautiful display of the life you built with Harry. It's a reminder of what life’s experiences are all about.

"That's Mommy's wedding dress," you say, beginning to comb through her hair. Harry pauses his laps around the rug and stares at the photo.

"You wore it when you met Daddy?" she replies, a cute sense of curiosity quieting her voice.

You laugh and catch Harry's gaze just as a crooked smile breaks loose on his lips. "No, I wore it when I married him."

"Oh. What did you wear when you met Daddy?"

"Gosh, I don't think I remember," you reply, searching your brain for that night at the dive bar. It was a late-night encounter, and you were tipsy.

Harry, still staring at the photo, says, "An open-back dress. Black, short, and form-fitting." He shakes his head, lost in thought. "Effortlessly gorgeous."

"How in the world do you remember that?" you ask, a heated blush crawling up your neck.

"The disco lights were dancing across your skin." He shrugs, like the memory is permanently stamped inside his brain. "I'll never forget that sight."

"It was a funeral dress?" your daughter asks, piecing together the visual her father verbally painted.

"Definitely not," Harry says, sending a secret smirk your way.

"Where did you see Mommy in the black dress?" She lets you move her head around as you spritz her curls with detangling spray.

"We were at the same... restaurant," you say slowly, being careful not to mention bars around her. Better to keep her innocence alive as long as possible.

"What did you eat?"

"We didn't eat," you reply. "We had strawberry and lemon drinks." You intentionally leave out the infused with alcohol part.

"What did Daddy say?"

You smile sweetly, loving her endless questions. "He asked me questions about myself. Made me feel comfortable and special. Unfortunately, our conversation didn't last very long. Mommy was tired and had to go home."

"And Daddy thought he was never going to see her again," Harry added theatrically. "He was really bummed out about it, but by some magical force, he crossed paths with her a month later."

"Magic?" Your daughter whispers the word, her eyes wide with interest.

"It sure seemed like it," Harry says, gently sitting beside you so as not to wake the baby. He looks at you, and somehow, his eyes transport you right back to the start of it all. "Took us three tries to finally get things right."

You lean forward and kiss him tenderly. "Look at us now."

He reciprocates the kiss—his is a bit more urgent and sentimental. He then admires his daughters, both on the verge of sleep, and rubs his palm over where his heart is. "Thank you for choosing me, baby," he says to you. There seems to be emotion lodging in his throat, but he clears it away and breathes in deeply. "I'm yours every day. And I love you for infinite reasons, but growing our little family has the number one spot in my heart."

You toss the comb aside and hug him, your daughters cocooned by two souls that somehow found each other more than once. By magic, fate, or simply coincidence, you truly lucked out.

——

[fishfooddude]

To Chicago and Beyond

Carmy Beratto x Reader

Long distance becomes short distance- so short you're within arm's reach of each other.

The Bear MasterList

Directory

Long-distance relationships take a lot of work. Carmy needed to go back to Chicago, and as much as you wanted to go with him, you couldn’t just walk away from your job like Carmy had. The two of you were making it work. He’d tried his best to update you about The Beef and his plans to make The Bear a reality, and you tried your best to keep him at least semi-sane. 

“Hey- I got good news for you.” you heard a voice say from behind you. Looking over your shoulder, you saw one of the HR guys you weren’t too familiar with. “What’s up?” you asked, minimizing the window on your computer, “Congrats, your transfer request was approved. You should get a call from the Chicago office this afternoon to discuss the details. You’ll be very missed, Y/N. Working with you all these years was a pleasure and an honor. The Chicago office is lucky.” he grinned before walking out of your cubicle.

“Hey baby- I’m in the middle of somethin’. Can I call you back?” you could hear the stress coming through the speaker as he spoke. You nodded before quickly explaining, “I got the transfer approved. I should be in Chicago for Friends and Family- I love you very much. Call me when you can, babe.” 

“Wait- you’re c-comin’?” Carmy’s voice cracked as he asked, finally feeling a weight fall from his shoulders. He heard you say mmhmm, but then his ears turned off. Friends and Family needed to be perfect. If you were going to be there, everything had to be perfect. Carmy couldn’t disappoint you after how supportive you’d been. He was spiraling at the thought of you coming into the restaurant. The Beef was a gross, run-down sandwich shop, but Carmy saw the potential. If he wanted Mikey’s legacy to continue, The Bear needed to be everything he wanted- everything that he and Mikey dreamed of. 

“You can pick me up, right Bear?” you asked hopefully as you nervously played with the hem of your blouse. “Of course… of course… I gotta go- bye baby, I love you.” you could tell he was in his head about what you’d told him. You chuckled, “Bear? Everything is going to be okay. I love you too, bye.”

The following weeks were filled with packing and mailing boxes from New York to Chicago, saying goodbye to your friends and family, and questioning whether this was a good idea. But amidst the nerves and goodbyes, there was an undeniable sense of excitement for the new beginning. Moving in together and meeting his family for the first time was a big step for both of you. The nerves passed when you walked toward baggage claim and saw Carmy sitting on a bench.

“Carmy!” you squealed involuntarily as you got within earshot of where he sat. He looked up and quickly scanned the area surrounding him before his eyes landed on you. The relief and joy were observable as he scrambled to his feet and met you halfway. You threw your arms around his neck. Carmy chuckled and wrapped his arms around your waist. 

“Hi, baby.” Carmy greeted before you smashed your lips into his, catching him off guard. He kissed you back and pulled you closer to his body. Begrudgingly, you separated your lips from Carmy’s and smiled up at him, quickly blinking away the happy tears that began pooling in your eyes, “Carmy. Take me back to our place before we get charged for indecent exposure.”

[jaylver]

MIDNIGHT RAIN (BACK TO YOU) — S.JY

SYNOPSIS: You declared to the world that this summer will be yours. Ever since you’ve left home to chase your dream further in Europe, you never dared to look back, leaving your friends and family along with the precious memories there, including your silent love for your closest friend. Years passed, you were making a name for yourself and chasing that fame, settling in perfectly fine and eventually moved on with life. All was well until the transfer window came, announcing a new addition to the men’s first team, who also happened to be your childhood best friend, Jake Sim. Summer in Spain wouldn’t be what it is without experiencing lots of rekindling, heartbreaks, fallout but also a shot at love.

PAIRINGS: pro-footballer!jake x pro-footballer afab!reader

GENRE: childhood friends to lovers, college/professional sports au, romance, angst, pining, (slight) slow burn

WARNING(S): mentions of alcohol, drinking, parties, profanities, miscommunication, jake being a dense asshole at times, both are confused about their feelings, hee being the group therapist again, slight suggestiveness

WC: 18k

AUTHOR NOTES: for my people who don't know which football this is, it's kickball football aka soccer 🫶 this is dedicated to my jake (enha stans in general) enthusiasts who happens to love football just like me! like always, feedbacks are greatly, HUGELY appreciated! it'll genuinely motivate me <3 enjoy :)

part 3 of 'no competition' series | series masterlist | masterlist

© jaylver 2023 all rights reserved.

‘Y/N L/N TO JOIN FC BARCELONA FEMENI ON A FIVE YEAR DEAL. HERE WE GO.’

Sometimes, chasing your dreams meant leaving everything you loved behind and sacrificing a shit ton just to get to where you want to be. 

Football has always been your passion since you were barely walking or even talking. The icons you’ve watched on TV every weekend such as Maradona, Messi and Pele only gave you more drive to chase that dream of yours, even when relatives disregarded it as a so-called ‘impossible childish  dream’. Growing up, you joined your local youth team, where the boys and girls played together regardless, sharing the equal amount of joy and love for the sport.

Being barely five, you found yourself having a hard time mixing around with a bunch of kids that were one, two years older, feeling greatly out of place. Look, you were immensely grateful that you were regarded as a wonder kid that was significantly more talented than a whole load of your peers, but getting placed into a den full of kids taller and older than you? That was scary. 

That was until a boy approached you out of the blue, confidently reaching his hand out for introductions. He was the cutest boy you’ve ever laid your eyes on and you swore he was miles better than the boys at your kindergarten. The boy who had a smile that resembled the sun and energy that reflected a jumpy golden retriever puppy was a year older than you, and he introduced himself as Jake Sim or Sim Jaeyun, volunteering to be your partner in practice. Since then, you’ve only gotten closer to Jake, not knowing he was about to be a permanent figure in your life.

The moment you’ve reached seven, the team was splitted into girls and boys, which meant you were unable to play with Jake anymore, but that didn't stop you from meeting up and practising together.

"You've gotten taller," you remembered yourself telling him that one afternoon.

Jake looked up from the ball under his foot, sweaty strands of hair clinging onto his forehead. "Really?"

"No." 

Banter and jokes were frequent between you two, you loved pulling pranks on him and vice versa. It was common knowledge that you and Jake were inseparable leading up till highschool where everyone thought you and him were a couple, could you believe that? Okay, maybe living in the same neighbourhood, hanging out 24/7, constantly in the park playing football, having dinner almost every night together, studying in the same college and getting accepted into the national team at the same time were quite off putting for some people … right? You were in denial.

Safe to say you and Jake grew up to be great footballers and even better people. College was undeniably an obstacle for you, but as long as there was a football team, you were going to be fine, and fine you were, great even, when you joined the college football team while Jake joined the men’s team, representing your college to tournaments. 

You would go to his games and watch him score goals while he would do the same and cheer you on. Soon enough, at freshly eighteen and nineteen, both of you were approached by widely known clubs from all over Europe for your signatures on a professional contract. This was it, college could wait, this was what mattered, you didn’t work your ass off for nothing.

"Bayern contacted you? You're kidding!"

It was a Saturday night at your place, a basic tradition that you and Jake had every weekend if there weren't any training or matches going on. A random low budget film in the background, a bowl of popcorn in the middle, you and your best friend laid on the ground of your bedroom, sharing the latest insight of your lives.

"I can't imagine myself in Germany though," Jake pouted, pulling the blanket closer to his chin. "What about you? Anything new?"

"Not much. There's the Arsenal Women's team that contacted me, they're good too," you shrugged.

"But you love the sun! Heard England's a bit gloomy,"

"You're not wrong," you snorted, shaking your leg a little, and soon it fell into silence, a pensive one.

You glanced over at Jake, the sparks in his brown eyes never left, the quirk tugged at the edge of his lips remained, he never changed, not at all. "Jake?"

"Hm?" He hummed in response, his gaze trained at the TV screen, gradually getting engrossed.

"What if we end up on different sides of the world? You know, with our future clubs and all,"

“I don’t think anything would ever change between us no matter what happens,” his words were filled with absolute confidence, saying it as if he had a clear idea of what the future might look, whereas you were overwhelmed just from thinking about it. 

“Really?”

“You’ll still be my forever person, Y/N. Swear.”

You remembered those exact words from months ago, not expecting everything to turn sour almost immediately when you showed up on Jake’s doorstep right after you just signed your first contract. Endless thoughts swarmed your head, you prepared yourself for every reaction you could imagine from Jake. He had just returned from a training camp overseas, he must've been tired and this was bad timing, but you didn't have a choice either.

"Y/N?" The sun was already beginning to set by the time you reached his house by foot. The moment Jake opened the door, his face morphed into confusion as you tried your best to not break into cold sweat. "What're you doing here? I just got back and there's too much to unpack—the way there's college still is making me go nuts, I’m not going to be surviving in class—I promise I'll spill everything soon—"

"Jake," his name poured out of your lips naturally, except this time it had a dreadful undertone to it that you failed to mask. "I'm leaving,"

He blinked. One. Two. Two beats. "Leaving? To the camp you were saying? So soon—?"

"No, Jake, I–I'm leaving forever. Not forever and never returning kind of 'forever' but I'm moving away and I don't know when I'll be back. I know this is such a bad time to tell you since you just got back and I feel like such a jerk for dumping it all on you suddenly, but I wanted to break the news before you found it out from the tabloids—"

"Y/N, breathe," Jake reminded, instantly knowing your quirks which included this aka rambling whenever you got panicky, giving you a reassuring smile that felt like a ray of sunshine beaming on you. He was not making you feel better, instead he had you wishing you were staying instead. 

"I'm moving to Spain, Jake," you swallowed, just saying it was absolutely surreal, you couldn't grasp the concept of moving from your hometown, you were about to be on your own and you were scared, petrified. 

"You signed with Barcelona?" Jake gasped, a smile itching at the corner of his lips. 

"I did," you said quietly, nodding.

"That's amazing! You've been dreaming of this. It’s such a big deal! Looks like you’ll be playing pro-football instead of collegiate football now, should I get your signature first?" Jake reached out to squeeze your shoulder, attempting at a joke but he immediately caught onto the solemn look on your face, leaning in to stare at you closer. This shouldn't be making your heart beat. "You don't seem happy,"

"It's not that, it's just that I—"

I like you. 

"I will miss you … like crazy. I'm just not ready for change and I don't want to leave you back here," you stumbled on your words, making sure to not slip and ruin everything. Obviously saying 'I like you' and leaving afterwards was such a douche move, so what else was there to do but shutting up?

Jake let out a guttural sigh, and that alone definitely spoke more than words ever could. You furrowed your eyebrows, nervousness crept into your stomach. "Are you mad? Are you … angry?"

“Angry?” Jake repeated, disbelief evident in his voice, as if he couldn’t believe what you were accusing him of. His gaze softened, a glaze of affection taking over his brown irises. “How can I be mad at you for chasing your dreams? No way. I'm happy you're getting a shot at what you love,”

The boy that was standing in front of you was trying his best to remain optimistic, the smile on his face never faded, but you, on the other hand, were holding back tears. He was a sunshine, your sunshine, the one you soon had to let go. 

"Jake…" your voice was weak, you took a step closer, then another, until you closed the space between and engulfed him into your arms. His body tensed for a moment, taken off guard by your sudden action, but he eventually wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you in. He felt like home, his familiar cologne was something you would never forget, the way his eyes crinkled whenever he smiled, his small giggles, the times you and he had walked around the tiny local football stadium, you couldn’t believe you were leaving all that behind.

"You're going to go far, Y/N, I've known that since the day we met," Jake whispered, his hand caressing the back of your head. 

"I'll miss you … so so much," you repeated those words again, squeezing him tighter. You never wanted to let him go, and unknowingly, he felt the same.

"I'll miss you too," he pressed a kiss against the side of your head, and it felt as if it was a last goodbye. 

You pulled away slowly, though reluctant to do so. His eyes locked with yours, longing and unwillingness hung in the air. “Will you come and send me off?” 

“That’s a no brainer,” he laughed quietly, nodding enthusiastically. 

“You better turn up.”

That was one of the last things you remembered saying to him before you left and everything turned into a blur. You were beginning to be a mess, the tears were eventually flowing out and it turned into big sobs. Thank the heavens no one was around when you walked home, or else they would be absolutely mortified to see a girl who was crying as if she was heartbroken. Well, quite? 

What you didn’t and would never know was the fact that after you’ve left and the door slammed shut, Jake broke down into tears. In his nineteen years of living and winning tournaments, he swore he only cried a few times, all that was countable by hand. But this time, he felt worse than before. 

Unbeknownst to you, you continued on your last few days thinking Jake was doing fine while you tried your best to seem sane. Saying your goodbyes to coaches from your college football team to your childhood club and even to your teammates, friends and relatives was hard, leaving your whole childhood here and moving away was too much of a big girl move, one that you weren’t fully prepared for. 

Bags and luggages were packed, you fitted half of your life into those cramped spaces and you were loading them into the counter, your passport and flight ticket in one hand, your phone in the other. You were feverishly scrolling through many unread messages, not caring about them, you were just looking for one. No matter how many times you’ve refreshed, Jake never left you any messages, nor was he present to send you off.

“Honey, you good?” your mother checked in on you, noticing the fall in your expression.

“Huh?” you glanced up from your phone, shutting it off and shoving it into your back pocket. “I’m okay,” 

“Is it Jake?”

At the mention of his name, your frown deepened and your mother sighed quietly, wrapping an arm around your waist and leading you to the waiting area. “I’m sure he’ll turn up, you’re leaving and there’s no way he’s letting you leave without saying a goodbye,”

“You think so? The flight’s leaving in an one or two,”

“It’s you. Jake cares about you a lot, you know that?”

There was no doubt about that. You knew so. You merely hummed, a slight hope sparked in you, but you said nothing, deciding to plug your earphones in and wait patiently instead, occasionally checking your phone for any notifications from said man, but there was none.

Those short hours eventually slipped past your fingers. The times you’ve glanced around were uncountable, the man you longed for to appear was nowhere to be seen, to say to were deflated was a given. 

“Honey…” your mother rubbed your back gently and in comfort. You brushed off the feeling that was eating you and replaced your frown with your best smile, hoping to be able to reassure your mother that everything was fine, even if you felt the opposite of it.

“It’s okay, we should get going,” 

Once you’ve located your boarding gate, you and your mother hugged in goodbye, exchanging final words, her constant reminders rung in your ears as you tried to suppress the oncoming anxiety and sadness that was gradually swallowing you wholly. Just as you said your last goodbye, turning around and ready to walk through your gate, you heard footsteps running behind you. You assumed it was someone rushing for their flight, that was until somebody had shouted your name. 

“Y/N!”

Time stood still at that moment. The voice you wanted to hear for so long finally sounded in your ears. You were wondering if the tiredness had eventually gotten to you and you were hallucinating, but you weren't. He was real, right in front of you.

"Jake?" You whipped your head around, but before you could register anything else, Jake had thrown himself onto you, hands wrapped around your figure. His body crushed you and the warmth from him made you feel ten times better.

"I'm so sorry," he said profusely, rocking you side to side in his arms. "I was scared that I wouldn't be able to send you off. Something came up and I tried my best to rush here. Not to mention my phone fucking died on me too, I was panicking—"

"Jakey, all it matters is that you're here right now and nothing else," you reassured, relief filling you. “I’m just really happy to see you now,” you rubbed his back gently, hearing his ragged breathing by your ear.

Neither one of you wanted to let go, just letting time pass in each other’s arms and hoping that maybe all of this was a dream. Time was ticking agonisingly quick, you wished it was those moments where everything moved slow, but alas, you can’t have it entirely your way, can’t it? Soon, you had no choice but to pull away from Jake, praying he wasn’t an illusion tricking you.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” your voice came out weaker than expected and Jake seemed to notice it, his gaze softening significantly.

His callous hands cupped your cheek, his thumb grazing against the side of your eye softly. “Hey, you’re finally achieving your dreams. Think of that instead of me,”

You let out a choke that was meant to be a scoff, narrowing your eyes at him. “How could I possibly not think of you? You’re important to me, Jake,”

“And you’re important to me too, Y/N. I want to see you shine, and you will, I believe in you,” Jake squeezed your cheek slightly before removing his hand and reaching it to the back of his neck, unclasping the necklace he’s always worn. “I want you to have this,” he placed the necklace into your hands, the moon pendant shone bright under the bright lights.

“I can’t take this, you’ve always had it with you, it’s your lucky charm during matches—”

“I want to have it, genuinely,” Jake closed your hand around the chain, giving you one of his signature calming smiles. “Take care of it for me, the next time we meet I better see it around your neck okay?”

“I promise,”

“Don’t break it,” he laughed softly, his hand still holding onto yours.

You glanced at the time, cursing under your breath, realising this was it. This was the moment you were finally leaving to chase the dream you’ve always longed for. Jake probably understood that it was the time to let go, his gaze falling to the ground and he heaved a big breath. 

“It’s time for you to go, Y/N,”

“It is,” you held your breath, longing for Jake’s touch to never leave, but time had to be a sore, leaving you no more extra minutes to spend and you had to let go, feeling the warmth of his hand no longer on yours. “Goodbye, Jake.”

“Goodbye, Y/N.”

That was where everything melted into a blur, the last waves of goodbye faint in your mind as you entered the plane, squeezing along the isles to locate your seat. You prepared for a long flight, closing your eyes and picturing the things that were awaiting you, but the thought of him eventually slipped in, haunting you.

Everything was about to change, and you didn’t know if it was for the best or for the worst.

RISING TO FAME WASN'T ON YOUR CHECKLIST.

Your first season was great, but the second and third were better, stellar even. This caught many eyes of football fans and Barcelona fans loved you with their hearts. Awards were won, achievements were made, but promises were broken.

It has been almost three years since that day in the airport. Crazy, huh? At the start, you had a hard time coping in a foreign country with zero knowledge of the local culture and the language. Not to mention, going to classes in your new college was challenging, you couldn’t even ask for directions. It was a blessing you opted not to share a dorm there and live on your own in the city instead, who knows what sabotages the language barrier and differences were going to do to you?

Thankfully, your teammates were kind enough to let you room with them and drive you to campus. One of them was able to communicate with you, but the other only spoke Spanish. Though the messy language barrier created confusions and misunderstandings, you somehow managed to not get evicted in the end and your Spanish was progressing positively. 

Jake was a recurring appearance in your life. He often facetimes you, making sure to tell you his day from start to bottom, sharing about the parties he went to, his new hockey friends, the fresh discovery on the crazy world of college ice hockey, it was refreshing to hear him babble about everything from football to his college life after a long day, rolling around in bed giggling like a high school girl all over again. But that was all during what people called the ‘honeymoon era’, not knowing the eventual changes that you soon had to face.

Each year passed by in a blur. In the first, you constantly talked and kept in contact, but during the second year when Jake signed with Bayern Munich from the German league, his schedule was too packed and yours were the same, resulting in less communication. Occasional ‘congrats’ and ‘you did amazing’ were exchanged, but that was all. On your twenty-first birthday, you spent it with your friends and teammates, having a great time, but you were too caught up wishing Jake would text you a ‘happy birthday’ instead.

Drifting from someone was too easy, but letting them go entirely was hard. You were twenty one, winning awards and on the top of the league, but you still missed your day one, and you wondered if he felt the same or if it was just you. Yet, you couldn't be mad at him, unable to hold a grudge despite the fact that he hadn't tried enough, because you did the same.

“Can’t believe the season ended just like that,” Alexia, your captain and roommate slipped next to you, casually scrolling on her phone. 

“It’s already been a few months, Alexia, it’s time for us to rest,” you smiled, understanding her love for playing especially since she had just recovered from a months-long injury and was craving for more play time. “There’s still a month left until the next season,”

“You’re right,” she hummed, her eyebrows furrowing as she glanced closer at her phone. “Barca has been investing a lot on new players lately,”

“There’s a number of new additions to the men's team,” you noted, scrolling on Twitter for any fresh news as well. “It’s valid since some of them left,”

“There’s a new addition today too, look it up. It’s an asian player,” 

You raised your eyebrows in surprise. It’s not new that asian players were underrepresented in European football, the only one who was currently widely known was Son Heung Min, so hearing this was promising. Filled with curiosity, you typed into the search bar, wondering who this mystery player was. 

No way.

What you didn’t expect was the picture of your childhood best friend, Jake Sim, popping up, his name littered all over the timeline, a load of news articles written about his latest transfer to Spain, specifically Barcelona, not Madrid. The other thing that totally set you off was a specific line he said in an interview about his transfer to Barcelona, ‘I’m ready for Spain and I know someone well who’s there right now, I hope to be able to see them.’ Unprovoked?

“Transferring from Bayern,” Alexia continued, cooing under her breath. “He’ll fit in well with Lewandowski in no time,” she glanced up from your phone, seeing your stunned expression and your rigid body. “Y/N?” 

“Y–Yeah?” you stuttered, heartbeat rising gradually. You couldn’t believe this. After months of not talking, not even a slight update, he decided to move to the city you lived in without any notice. Worse of all, you couldn’t even avoid him. “Yes—no, not doing well actually,”

“Why?”

“Remember that friend who I kinda drifted off with?”

“The one who’s also a footballer—?” Alexia gasped upon realisation, eyes widened and her hands on her mouth. “You’re kidding. That’s him? The guy you called almost every night?”

“Bingo,” you clicked your tongue, crossing your arms and wishing how you could just scream into a pillow now. 

The front door unlocked, twisted open and revealed Natalia, your other roommate, who happened to be holding bags of grocery in her hands. “What did I miss?” She said slowly, noticing the frazzled expressions of you and Alexia.

“The guy Y/N talks to every night is joining the men's team,”

“Jake Sim? He's the one who you grew up with?” Natalia dropped the bags, her keys and everything she had on hand, scooting over to join you on the couch. 

“Yeah … him,”

“Tell me more.”

The new season for the women’s league was starting in a month and you certainly did a great job in avoiding Jake. You would applaud yourself at one point.

Barcelona might’ve been a big city, but with almost every Barcelona player staying in the same area, you would occasionally run into them, which meant the chances of seeing Jake was high. Not to mention, some of your training sessions at the training grounds would be either before or after the men’s team, and you made obvious efforts to run away quickly. You weren’t scared of Jake, no, never, but were you ready to face him after years of not seeing each other? Not really …

Through the help of Twitter, you found out that he had already completed his medicals, the announcement was out and he had given an interview. With the first game for the men's team coming up soon, the official account posted a training video and your eyes could only linger on him. His hair was freshly dyed blond and he seemed healthier, happier. 

Everything was well and at peace until the news for you broke out. With the women's league starting later than the men's, you were apparently invited to be a special broadcaster for the men’s first league game, live, and by the pitch, meaning you were going to interview the players, Jake Sim included. For all the effort you’ve given to avoid Jake, the world seemed to have other plans for you. It was as if the universe was rooting for you to meet him again.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Natalia was seated on your bed as Alexia rummaged through your closet, picking out any presenter's appropriate outfit, dresses, shirts, skirts and pants all splayed out on your bed and floor.

“Fuck no,” you groaned, picking up a shirt that fell to ground. “I know I shouldn’t be avoiding him, we’ve been friends since we were kids, but the changes between us is drastic,”

“Drastic?” Alexia hummed, shoving back some pieces that weren’t in her criteria. 

“After he transferred to Bayern, we talked less. He was the same, but something between us wasn’t. He said I changed,” you sighed, still remembering the conversation clearly. 

“What did he even mean by that?” Natalia scoffed.

“No idea. I don’t think I’ve changed,” 

“Does he think the 'fame' or something changed you in some ways?” Alexia's eyes sparked at the sight of a long black dress, a sly smile on her face.

“No clue, it's not like I can just hop into his mind,” you groaned, biting your lips nervously. “You’ve got the one already?”

“Duh,” Alexia said proudly, handing you a black midi silk dress that you haven't worn in a long time.

“Really?” You raised a questioning eyebrow at her and she shrugged.

“Hey, it's professional and eye-catching, totally appropriate,” Natalia chimed in, nudging you slightly.

“I'm sure someone will appreciate it.” Alexia winked and you were about to throw a pillow at her, but due to the limited time you have before kickoff, you might have to delay that.

You arrived early to the stadium, greeting the staff and hoping you made a good impression. Football was much easier than broadcasting on live television, even if it meant you were just a special presenter, you were still anxious. Fans were already filing in and you were done setting up, the pregame show had started and it was your cue to join. 

“Here we have Y/N from the women’s team to join us this evening,” your co-presenter welcomed you. “How are you doing?”

“Great, thank you,” you smiled at the latter.

“Today marks the first league game of the season at home, fans are excited, what are your score predictions?”

You gave it a thought for a moment, choosing your words right in case of offending any Barcelona fans lurking on Twitter. “It’s hard to say, but I’m confident in Barca, and I’m sure the team will want to win the game, so I’ll say 1-0,”

“I’ll say the same too,” your co-presenter laughed, nodding in agreement. “As for the latest transfers from this summer window, there’s been a number but the one that caught my eye is the young prospect, Jake Sim, I’m excited to see him playing today,”

At the mention of his name, something inside you churned. A mix of butterflies and overwhelming pining washed over you, as much as you’ve avoided him, you equally missed his presence. “He’s a great player, I’m sure about that,”

“We’ll look forward to his performance later on. The game shall be starting after a short break. Until then.” 

The prematch segment was done, but you weren’t entirely free, having to fulfil your position for the post match interview at the end. It wasn’t entirely bad, you were actually anticipating to watch Jake on the pitch in person after years. The clips on YouTube weren't enough, but you definitely noticed his vast growth and improvement.

The match started off slow, both team's defence were too strong and none were able to go past one another's territory. It was getting closer to halftime with no goals scored, your attention eventually shifted to the bench, your eyes immediately spotting a certain blond. Despite him being almost half a football pitch away from you, your eyes weren't fooling you that it was in fact Jake, and he was breathtaking, and real.

Before you gave him the chance to realise you're staring, you made sure to turn away. Maybe you were the problem, you were scared to face him, and you didn't know why, probably the awkwardness was the main reason. Did he feel the same?

After giving a short interview and accessing the first half, the second half started with a couple players getting substituted off. Jake was among the few players being substituted on, making his first match debut for the club. Your heart thumped, this was deja vu to the time you watched him make his debut for his first club. It was similar, and you were there too.

Watching him play live was different compared to the videos you've watched, he was phenomenal. No wonder many European clubs were on his tail trying to get him to sign for them. His time in Germany definitely made him grow a lot as a player.

"He's good," your co-presented mused, his eyes trained on the game that was 2-0 up, Barcelona leading without any doubt.

"Which?"

"The new transfer. Number five," he nodded towards Jake, his jersey number shining brightly under the sun as he dribbled past defenders, kicking the ball and assisting another goal.

"Wow! Another assist," your co-presenter jumped out his seat cheering, and you smiled, sure that he was about to receive 'man of the match' today. "He's a future star,"

"He's already a star."

The match ended with a win, starting the new season in a pop and letting fans travel home with a happy heart. You and your co-presenter went through the highlights of the match, soon it was time for the interview.

It wasn't pressuring as you knew most of the players, laughing and cracking jokes in between some questions, congratulating on the win and what not. Until it was Jake's turn, he was approaching slowly as people around him were throwing praises and clapping him on the back, his laughter was no stranger to you, you didn’t need a second thought to know that it was him at once, then he stumbled into your sight, those familiar brown eyes met yours, unblinking as if he was figuring out who you were.

"Jake," 

Now that he was closer, you were able to see him clearly. He never changed, he still radiates the same sunshine puppy energy that you've missed. The pictures you’ve seen online didn’t do him any justice either, he was insanely pretty, jaw dropping and mind blowing, the blond hair was a great addition.

"Hi," his voice came out in a whisper, as if he couldn't believe you were right in front of him at that moment. "Y/N," your name left his lips with a spark of fascination, until now you never forgot his voice and the way he said your name.

"Great game today for your debut," you tried shaking off the tension in the air, remaining as professional as you could be, but it was faltering.

"Thank you. I'm glad I didn't mess up," he bowed his head with a small smile. 

"Congrats on getting 'Man of the Match', your assists were top," 

"You think so?"

"Of course I do," you nodded instantly. "I'm sure the fans thought so too,"

"I'm glad," he hummed, and it reminded you of those times he would seek your reassurance in practice or after games. Guess old habits are hard to die.

"Thanks for joining us for the interview, Jake. Congrats once again." 

You ended the segment with a few more additions before wrapping up and calling it a day officially. As you walked down the tunnel, you thought of your short-lived interaction with Jake, wondering if this was the only moment you'd get with him before you two continue on straying apart again, but it seemed life had other plans.

You let out a yelp as you turned a corner, feeling someone tug at your wrist, pulling you into their chest and you took a solid ten seconds to realise it was Jake, staring up at him with your hands on his chest, to which you quickly removed along with your body in general.

"What are you doing?" You hissed out, glancing around in case of any camera recording. 

"I just wanted to say hi," Jake shrugged and you gave him an unamused stare. "Maybe more than a 'hi', I wanted to see you, talk to you," he paused, his eyes flickering. "You look great," 

"Huh?"

Jake coughed, his gaze sweeping over your body to your face. "You look amazing, seriously,"

A small laugh of amusement escaped your lips. "Thank you, you look … great as well. I love what you did to your hair,"

His hands flew to his blond strands, smiling sweetly. "I'm glad you like it, it's a bold change,"

"It is," you nodded, a sudden silence settled between you and Jake, the awkwardness you feared was somehow present.

"I miss you," those three words poured out of Jake's lips without any warning.

You could feel your heart twist and jump, his words settled heavily in your mind. "I miss you too, Jake," 

"I'm sorry," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry for the times where I … I let go too easily. It wasn't easy being in a new country and I guess I let it get to my head, and I ended up throwing you aside too much. I should've been there for your 21st just as you did for mine,"

You didn't expect a direct confrontation today, maybe a small reconciliation but that was all, not a full blown apology. 

"It's alright," closure was what you needed … right? "I didn't try to fix the gap between us then too, so … it wasn't entirely you," your hands were unconsciously fidgeting. "Now that you're here, maybe we can patch things up a little, what do you say?"

"I'd love to," Jake smiled, a wave of relief seemed to have washed over you two, the awkwardness and frigidity faded away and it was you and him again, just like always. "I haven't toured Barcelona at all ever since I got here. Would you have the honour to be my tour guide?"

"I'm not the best at it but I'll try," you laughed. "My Spanish is still in the works,"

"I need a head start too," Jake noted thoughtfully. "I got to change and freshen up. I'm sure you're tired too and you're dying to get home so I won't bother you further,"

"It's fine, I'll always have time for you," you reassured, unbeknownst to you his eyes lighting up at your words. "I'll give you a call or a text. Maybe we can arrange that tour soon,"

"Sweet. I'll wait for it,"

"You better."

jakey: free tomorrow?

you: i am :) 

jakey: great! let’s have that tour tomorrow?

you: i’m down

“GOING OUT?”

You turned around, face-to-face with Alexia who had her typical questioning stare whenever something wasn’t right. It was early, quite unusual for you since you were always the late riser out of all three, but you had plans … with somebody.

You nodded sheepishly. 

“With who?”

“Jake,”

“Oh?” Alexia grinned, gradually getting invested. “He finally had the balls to ask you out?”

“It’s not like that,” you waved her off. “I’m just bringing him around the city. He texted me yesterday,”

“Is he taking you back to his after?”

“Alexia!” you gasped, a hand on your chest for more dramatics. 

“Kidding,” she chuckled, and finished fixing up her breakfast. “Be careful and if anything happens, God forbid, call me. If he’s a jerk, call me and I’ll pick you up,”

“I will … thank you,” you smiled warmly.

“No need to be, Nat and I will be here for you always.”

Jake was waiting right below your apartment complex, you were secretly jumping inside, taking bigger steps to get closer quickly. You didn’t realise how much you’ve missed him until now. He probably heard your oncoming footsteps, turned around and broke into his signature sweet smile. Jake surely knew how to swoon one over with his fashion, didn’t he? He was dressed in a casual loose white button up paired with straight jeans, making sure to have the first few buttons undone for some extra effect.

“Morning,” he pulled you into a short hug, his cologne entered your senses, the same cologne he had been wearing since forever. His gaze averted south, a familiar necklace was hanging around your neck, the moon pendant shining brightly under the sun. "You kept that?"

"Huh?" You followed his stare, glancing down to where your necklace sat, the one Jake had given you before your departure. "What? Of course I do," your hand absentmindedly reached for it. "Your good luck charm gives me good luck too,"

A smile etched onto Jake's face, a pleasant look painted his expressions, seemingly content as he switched the topic and continued on. 

“Had breakfast yet?” you shook your head. “Perfect. I’ve been dying to try this one spot nearby, let’s go,”

“We’re walking there?”

“Duh, walking is a must for tourist experience,” 

“I’m lazy,” you whined, huffing.

“You’re a professional athlete, a little walking won’t hurt,”

“I’m sure me beating you up will,” 

Jake let out an airy laugh, his hand on your back pushing you gently and you had no choice but to comply. It was a quiet walk over to the cafe he recommended, maybe it was still early, but you remained quiet and basked in the summer sun, your shoulders occasionally bumping along the way.

"So …" you started, sitting down on an empty spot at a table, doing your best at striking up a conversation. "Bayern, huh? I thought you couldn't picture yourself in Germany,"

Jake shrugged, pursing his lips. "Had no other options, they were one of the big clubs and I just agreed," he shook his head, smiling a little. "People change, thoughts change, you know?"

"Right," you nodded.

"Only thing I hated about it there is how far away I was from you," he added, his gaze never leaving yours, but he eventually changed the topic, diffusing the tension in between. “Going to classes in a German college is hard though,”

“You’re still studying engineering?” you weren’t surprised at all, aside from Jake’s footballing abilities, he was a smart guy, one who loved science and was a little nerdy. 

“I am,” he nodded with a small smile. “I think I’m going to the same college as you, right?”

“No way? I think you are,” you were a skilled hider at this point, not even bumping into him on campus was either great luck or just ill fate. “It’s hard holding up here, I might've been here a few years but everything’s still new. How are you even holding up with school here?”

Jake shrugged plainly, a nonchalant look on his face. “Had ups and downs but I don’t think I’ll give up easily. You seem to be doing fine so I think I’ll be equally fine here too … hopefully,”

“Nothing’s going to be too big of a challenge for a smart guy like you,” you teased, Jake rolling his eyes in response. 

"Anyway, what's Barcelona like for you? I've seen the things you've done so far and honestly, I'm not surprised at how good you are," Jake took a sip out of his drink. "I mean, you always are, always have been,"

You bite back the surprise, especially the words you wanted to say. "Thank you," you said slowly, "I saw your break out at Bayern too, and your first game here, you've improved a lot, you're too good,"

"Learn from the best," he nodded at you and you rolled your eyes at him.

“You're still such a jokester,” 

“Of course I am,” Jake raised his eyebrows, biting his lips as he pondered whether to ask the question lingering in his mind. Fuck it. “Any admirers here in Barcelona?”

It was your turn to raise your eyebrows, surprised at his up-frontness. Oh, now he’s suddenly interested in this part of your life? “I don't, unless you count the training ground as one,”

He laughed, shoulders visibly relaxing gradually. It was your turn to strike. “What about you? I definitely saw videos of you partying somewhere on Twitter before,” you didn’t mean it to sound a little jealousy laced when you said it, but the teeniest tiny bit of it was genuine, yet you wouldn’t admit it to yourself. 

“Seriously? Twitter? I was there hanging out with my friends, no funny business with girls by the way,” he shrugged and narrowed his gaze at your obvious teasing grin. “Currently single and available,”

“Really? The same man who claimed he has charms out of the world is still single all these years?”

“Hey, I could be waiting for someone else, or at least work up the courage to even bag them,” he defended, 

“Who?” you leaned in close, anticipating for some juicy intel, a sip of hot tea, anything. 

Jake smirked, his typical playful one that you were no stranger to. He wasn’t going to spill, was he? “They know … I hope,”

His gaze burned into yours, the vague answer only spurred you on further. Could it be a random girl on campus? A girl he met while partying? Could it be … you? Wake up, gosh, there’s no way your childhood best friend liked you too, right? You have yet to tell anyone or even admit it out loud that you somewhat liked Jake, the feelings you had from years ago, back before you left, continued burning internally, getting fainter and fainter each passing year, but it reignited gradually now that he was here. 

Soon, the morning melted into reminiscing of the past and sharing different stories that you both missed of each other. Walking around under the clear sky, you brought him around the city, to the famous landmarks, markets, and attractions. It was a blast, especially after years of not seeing one another face to face.

The sun eventually set and night came, the city coming to life at once. You and Jake somehow wound up at a beachside restaurant, enjoying a fancy meal before running towards the sandy beach, playing around just like the times you were kids, until you got too worn out and laid among the sands.

"I missed this," you panted, head turning over to see a heaving Jake who could only hum out in response.

"Us, running around, it was a long time since we've done this together," you waited for a beat, then continued. "I missed us, Jake,"

Jake looked over, locking eyes with you. "I'm here now, aren't I?" He chuckled, his hands reaching over to grasp yours. 

You were glad he was back in your life again, but it was evident that something had changed, and it wasn't going to be the same as always.

YOU FOUND YOURSELF BACK AT THE STADIUM ON ONE OF THE men's league games, personally invited by Jake as he somehow managed to convince you to come.

Ever since that day out in the city, you felt something spark between you and him, he was texting you frequently, exchanging stories and what not. You were glad that your friendship was rekindling, but the watered down feelings from over the years seemed to return, growing stronger gradually, which meant you were inevitably troubled.

"Y/N!" you didn't expect Jake to go out of his way before the game to show up at the lounge area, greeting you enthusiastically.

"Jake," you exchanged a hug and some 'how are you's. "Nervous?"

"You always know I am. Just a little less with you here, just like the old days,"

"You're going to do good," you assured.

"Not going to let you down," he saluted you, before catching the clock ticking and the game nearing. With a haste goodbye, he left and you made your way towards the stands. 

The game started off strongly, and Jake definitely stuck to his words, making his first start for the team and already performing astoundingly. His footwork, the way he passed through defenders, you were amazed every time you watched him play.

Barcelona had the advantage by leading first, but as the game passed, the opponent team somehow gained the momentum and scored a goal before half time, which deflated the home fans. 

Once the second half started, Barcelona was looking for a breakthrough, anything, seemingly desperate and increasingly frustrated. That was until a perfect pass to Jake where magic actually happened. A swift turn and a sharp kick were enough for Jake to score a beautiful goal into the net and the stadium erupted into cheers.

Your gaze was trained on Jake, standing up now as you joined supporters in cheering along. But what shocked you was what he did next. He was running the lengths of the field as usual footballers do in celebration, but his hands formed the initial of your name, showing the letter obviously and it was no doubt that he was dedicating this to you. At the same time, his eyes were searching for somebody, you. 

Once you met his gaze from above, he broke into a wide smile, blowing you a kiss before letting his teammates engulf him into hugs.

Everything melted into a blur. Did Jake Sim just dedicated his first goal and a celebration to you? He did, in front of thousands.

The game ended with a win. Jake, who had scored the winner, was getting cheers from fans all over. You were quick to exit the stands, making your way to the tunnel until you noticed Jake's approaching figure.

"Y/N!"

Just as always, he happily called your name, a smile so wide it had your knees weak. He was about to give you a hug before you backed away.

"You're sweaty,"

He pouted, resembling a sad puppy. "Don't be mean,"

"I'm not," you exclaimed, punching his shoulder lightheartedly. "You were so great, congrats on your first goal,"

"Thank you," he bowed his head pleasantly. "You're always my good luck charm, huh? Come to my games often,"

"As if," you huffed, but not completely opposed to it. Then, you got to the real deal. "Hey, what was that celebration for anyway?"

Jake simply shrugged, a knowing smirk on his face that told you he, in fact, meant something behind the celebration.

"What does that mean?" 

"It's for you to figure out," he said vaguely, something sparked in his gaze. "Anyway, did you know this guy on campus is throwing a party? Wanna come?"

"You're going?" You did hear of this party from one of your school mates, apparently that guy was a king at throwing parties and nobody misses it. 

"Yeah, one of my friends invited me so I wondered if you're coming too. Are you?"

"I think so?" You said with uncertainty.

"I can pick you up if you want to?" 

"I'd love that," 

"Sweet," Jake nodded, clapping his hand. "Is this a date—"

"Would you count this as a date—"

Both of you froze, realising you were sharing the same thoughts, and most likely the same feelings. A sense of pining filled the air between you two that you were oblivious to. You and Jake bursted out laughing at the silly occurrence.

"Maybe," you were the first to answer the question, a little shy.

"I would love to bring you out on a proper date though,"

"What about … some time after the party?" 

"I'll be glad to do so," Jake scratched the back of his neck, a red tinge coloured the tip of his ears. "So—uhm—this party date—more than friends or…?"

"Woah, maybe that's a big jump there," you didn't expect him to suddenly be so bold. "How about we take this one step at a time? Test the waters and what not,"

"Good idea," he smiled before hearing his teammates calling for him from afar. "Shit, I think I need to go freshen up,"

"It's alright, you've had a long day anyway, you should get some rest,"

"I will, I'll take a long, hot shower while I'm at it,"

"You should," you giggled, a small grin tugged at your lips at how endearing he was. "I'll go now, text me and we'll discuss the plans for the party, okay? You were amazing, Jake, I love seeing you play," you leaned over to press a kiss on his cheek, rendering him speechless.

"Bye," you said innocently, waving at him as you left and all he did was stare back with a dazed look while waving.

You chuckled a little. Despite the slight glitch in the relationship, somehow you managed to get back to him. All it took for the watered down feelings was a little push from him and yourself.

"YOU'RE ON TIME,"

Evening soon arrived and it was finally time for the party. You were dressed casually and you didn't regret any part of it. Jake had opened the door for you, quirking his eyebrow at your words as he leaned against his car.

"I'm always on time,"

"Sure," you said sarcastically as you entered the car, adjusting around in your seat.

The moment Jake got into the car and revved it to a start, he switched the radio on, and a specific song started playing. Your favourite song.

"This song?" You exclaimed, a small joy erupted in you.

"It's your favourite," Jake hummed, smiling slightly.

"You remembered?"

“How could I not?”

Those simple words somehow had a big effect on you, after all those years he still remembered the small things about you, not many were able to do that. 

The rest of the journey there was just casual chatter, flowing naturally like how it usually did when you were younger. You talked about your favourite things while Jake just listened, giving you his full attention and you were completely unaware of him smiling at your passionate rants.

Upon arriving at some house in a rich neighbourhood, you were already fascinated by the big yard space where a couple people were smoking. You heard the music blasting from inside the house and shared a look with Jake that totally conveyed 'let's get drunk'. He opened the door for you and the led lights blinded your sight momentarily.

Jake was immediately bombarded by a bunch of people, his reputation had skyrocketed overtime with his performance at the club, making him a well known person at the campus by now. Well, wasn't this awkward? You were squeezed to a side, unable to reach your date and standing alone, so all you could do was nod towards the drinks to let him know you would be there.

Filling your cup with some random alcoholic concoction sadly wasn't what you anticipated for tonight. As time passed, Jake was nowhere to be seen, having to send him million texts but getting no response from him. You managed to locate your friends and joined them for the rest of the night.

"I thought you came here with Jake?" One of your friends, Carla, asked, passing you some snacks.

"I did," you shoved the snack into your mouth rather aggressively. "He disappeared on me,"

"That's such a dick move!" She made a sour face, and honestly, you had to agree with her.

You soon excused yourself from your friends, exploring around the house to find a bathroom that wasn't locked or occupied, which was a big challenge. Going up and down stairs, in and out of rooms had you desperate, so once you saw a bathroom door left ajar, you did the stupidest thing by opening it.

Stupid it was, foolish you were.

The sight before you probably had you wanting to vomit out your breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was Jake, but he wasn't alone, he was with another girl, pressed against each other, making out. At least they weren't doing more that would possibly traumatise you further … right?

"Y/N?"

You snapped out of your dazed state once you heard your name. Suddenly your need to use the bathroom had disappeared and you just wanted to leave. 

"I—uh—ignore me!"

You turned around and bolted faster than your normal running speed in training. As you walked, you tried collecting yourself emotionally and mentally. You shouldn't be feeling this, whatever this sickening and punching feeling was, but you were. 

How could this turn sour so fast?

He was just talking about trying to move your relationship from just friends to more than that, but instead, he's here making out with some girl in a bathroom? The audacity.

"Y/N! Where are you going?"

Unbeknownst to you, he was actually following you this whole time. Almost like a switch, your confused emotions turned into frustration.

"Jake, stop,"

He reeked of alcohol, words slurring and eyes dazed, confused. Your eyes met his gaze, sighing deeply and wishing for the night to be over already.

"What—"

"I'm leaving, okay? I didn't come here for you to ditch me and make out with some chick you just met, alright?"

"I'm sorry," Jake mumbled, biting his lips. "I'll take you home,"

"You're drunk, Jake," you said, crossing your arms. "I'll drive,"

The tension in the car was heavily off. You were driving back to his apartment, having no choice but to make yourself a guest there overnight since it was too late into the night for any cabs to drive you back. Just great.

"I didn't mean to kiss her. I was just drunk," he suddenly spoke from the backseat, his words heavy and slurred.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I thought you should know. I hate misunderstandings,"

"We're not dating anyway, Jake, you don't need to explain it to me," your words came out harsher than expected, but wasn't reality harsh anyway?

"I am serious about you, Y/N,"

You blinked, muttering a few curses under your breath. Why was he so confusing? "You're drunk," you repeated, your grip on the steering wheel only tightened. "Think about this tomorrow instead, okay?"

Jake mumbled something incoherent before drifting off to sleep, leaving you to your own thoughts that continuously pestered you. Feelings were confusing, especially when it comes to your childhood best friend.

Getting him up to his apartment with the help of the security guard was strenuous work. He owed you more than an apology at this rate. Dumping him into bed and helping him out of his shoes almost had your back cracked in half, eventually you ended up falling into the couch and fell asleep at once. The physical work and emotional confusion were tiring.

Morning came sooner than expected, twisting and turning around, not wanting to get up, but realisation soon hit when you came to your senses. It wasn't the couch you're sleeping on anymore, it was a bed, Jake's bed.

Your eyes snapped open, feeling the soft sheets around you, but no one was there. Where was he?

You carefully stepped out of bed, wandered out into his living room that you were previously sleeping in and saw his figure on the couch, watching some television program. Messy bed hair and a coffee in hand, Jake somehow seemed magically cured from the curse of being hungover.

"You're awake?"

"I should be more surprised that you're awake instead," you sat down next to him, making sure to leave a gap in between.

"There's coffee, help yourself," he nodded over at the other cup of coffee he bought. "What happened last night?"

You glanced over at him, furrowed eyebrows mirroring the frustration in his eyes. "You don't remember?"

"No," he shook his head, rubbing his temples. "I got whisked away by this group of guys, I drank and drank, then I remembered some girl?"

"Oh," 

"What does that look on your face mean?"

"Jake, you made out with that girl,"

"What—"

"And I walked in on you two,"

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Jake rubbed his face callously, groaning deeply, head falling back onto the headrest. "I'm so sorry you had to see that,"

"It's fine,"

"It isn't fine. I kissed someone in front of you when I literally told you I wanted to bring you out on a date before," he buried his face into his hands. "I'm so stupid for this,"

"Hey, it's really fine, genuinely" you grabbed his hands, pulling them away. "I'm not mad—" admittedly, you were slightly hurt, "—honestly, it's not like we're actually together, right? We're not dating anyway, you're free to be with whoever you want. I have no control over you," you tried forcing out a small laugh to lessen the tension, but you only felt like dying instead.

"Right," Jake said, mirroring your laughter stiffly, his gaze falling to the ground. "We're not dating anyway."

"YOU WHAT?"

Training has been torturous. The new season was starting in the next few days, which meant the intensity only got higher, at the same time, your stress was equally skyrocketing. It was a few days since the incident with Jake and unfortunately, you haven’t spoken since. Anxiety gnawed at you, but neither you nor him dared to even make the first move of approaching one another.

Training sessions weren't what it was without some gossip and storytelling either, and you certainly didn't leave out what happened with Jake. 

"You slept over at his place after you saw him kiss another girl?" Alexia gasped, smacking your arm.

"That's hella scandalous," Natalia hissed as she did her stretching routine. 

"I said ‘we're not dating anyway’, could you believe that?" You huffed, unable to focus on your own routine. 

"Wow," both of your teammates said in unison, and that only made you shrink further into your small hole of wallow.

"Was it too far?"

"I admit I do feel bad for the man having to hear that," Alexia shrugged.

"But he did do what he did," Natalia continued, a slight frown etched on her face. 

“We haven’t talked since,” you stopped stretching, sitting with a saddened expression. “Do you think he hates me?”

“Hate you?” Alexia exclaimed incredulously, staring at you as if you’ve done some massive crime. “Y/N, that man likes you! Neither you nor him can see that, you guys are dumbasses,”

“He likes me?”

“Who dedicates their first goal to someone they hate? He likes you, period. There’s no way he dedicated a goal and a celebration meaninglessly,”

“Well…maybe he did it as an express of gratitude, you know, as friends,”

“God, you’re so blind.”

The short span of time in between the days from the first league game passed by quickly, fast forwarding to you sitting in the changing rooms, anxiously waiting for the game to start while you checked your phone for notifications. A fraction of you hoped for Jake to send a surprise message, at least giving some support for your first game of the season, but it just never came.

Disappointed you were indeed, but you weren’t letting it get to you and affect your performance, which only meant keeping on a brave face for the rest of the day. As you walked onto the pitch, your eyes automatically scanned the stands, spotting some of your friends from campus among the crowd. You waved at them, your anxiety lessening but somehow a specific someone stayed lingering in the back of your mind.

The whistle blew and off you went chasing after the ball for hopes of a goal. Everything was flowing smoothly, leading early in the first half and you were able to cool some steam off momentarily, glancing around once more. That’s when you noticed a figure in the front of the stands moving towards a seat. That person was oddly familiar, having to squint your eyes and run a little closer, you realised it was Jake.

You know those cliche moments described in romantic films where time stops and your breath stops? You didn’t believe those descriptions initially, until you actually experienced it firsthand. Right at that moment. 

You didn’t have many chances of focusing on him, constantly needing to remind yourself that you were in the middle of a game and you weren’t letting a man deter you from the victory in front of you. He resembled a bright sun that stood out among the crowd, shining brightly but instead of looking away, you couldn’t bear but to stare. 

The game ended in Barcelona’s favour, resulting in a great and high atmosphere, fans cheering loudly and everyone celebrating the first win of the season. All of your teammates made sure to go around the pitch to interact with fans and thank them, just post game basics. You did the same, except you couldn’t resist walking up to Jake’s side of the stand, spotting him at once and he happened to see your figure approaching, waving at you with a small smile.

“Hey!” you shouted, almost breathlessly, a wide smile unknowing creeping onto your face. “You came,”

His eyes sparked once it landed on you. “Surprise?”

“You didn’t tell me you’re coming today,”

Jake leaned on the barriers separating you two, his playful grin reciprocating your smile. “It’s a surprise for a reason,”

“Well, I am definitely surprised,”

Jake let out a quiet laugh, biting on his bottom lip, seemingly contemplating his next words carefully. “You played great today, congrats on the win,”

“Thank you,”

“You’ve always been amazing, Y/N, seeing you play for the first time in Barcelona made me so proud,”

Your heart swelled, hearing his words only made you go increasingly crazy. He can’t just show up, say the most simple sentences and make your feelings haywired! Then it hit you, realisation.

“I wouldn’t be here without you,”

“Likewise,”

“I’m really grateful for you, Y/N, genuinely,”

“Oh, Jake,” you reached over the barrier, tip toeing slightly and pulled the man before you into a hug, feeling him press a kiss on the side of your head. Were you really only friends with him?

Realisation. A full, concrete, affirmative realisation. 

You like him. Sim Jae Yun.

jakey: up for a party?

you: you’re looking to get drunk again?

jakey: no! >:( my friend’s from our old uni are coming over to visit and celebrate one of their birthdays! i’m pretty sure you’ve met them before

you: the hockey players? and yunjin? them right?

jakey: yup

you: count me in

SOMEHOW YOU’VE MANAGED YOURSELF AN INVITE AS JAKE'S PLUS ONE.

You’ve met Jake’s friends before back in your hometown. He had a variety of friends from the football team who happened to be jocks, and then there’s the hockey friends. Jake was closer to the hockey bunch, and you didn’t blame him for that, especially after having your own experiences with his then team. 

So, here you were, in Jake’s car, heading towards the club specially booked by Jake’s rich friend, Jay. Why a club? Apparently they liked partying. The hockey players were truly built differently. 

“You’re saying he booked the expensive room?” you blinked in shock, mouth hanging open. “Private rooms?”

“Yeah, he said he loves Barcelona and the clubs here, so he’s going all out,” Jake said nonchalantly, as if this was a daily occurrence that wasn’t surprising in any way.

“Can you give me his numb—”

“Absolutely not.”

The club was just like any other big club in the city. Flashing lights, pretty people and over the top atmosphere, it was such a great vibe. You wished you had more chances of partying but frankly, none of your friends were big party goers, you included.

Jake made sure to have you in front of him, his hand on your back guiding you slowly through the crowd towards the private room. He had given you a brief introduction of his friends to you previously during the drive here. You knew how his friends looked, being able to match faces to their names, but there was nothing you knew beyond that. 

Entering a room filled with people you're not close with makes your skin crawl, but Jake's friends proved otherwise, welcoming you at first glance. The hockey guys, Jay, Heeseung and Sunghoon along with Yunjin were there with their own plus ones. Every one of them were split into their own small groups, but you stuck to Jake, speaking to Yunjin and her date.

Jake was focused on whatever topic Yunjin's date was spewing, so Yunjin had you all to herself. "You and Jake?" She whispered quietly, so that it was only between you and her. Her eyebrows wavered, a knowing grin plastered on.

You simply shrugged, not trying to be lowkey but in actuality, you really didn't know. "Nothing's official,"

"Yet?"

"I don't know?"

"He hasn't asked you out on a date?" Yunjin gasped, eyes widened. 

"Nope, unless you count some random frat party where he left me hanging,"

"Oh God," she heaved a deep breath. "He's got a lot to do, but other than that, I'm pretty sure it's already settled,"

Your head tilted at her choice of words. "What do you mean settled?"

"He likes you, you like him! That's already settled,"

"What?"

"Y/N! Can't you tell how head over heels that boy is? You know he wouldn't shut up about you all these years, right? Even when you two were apart,"

"When we were apart?"

Yunjin chuckled, unable to hold back her smile of endearment. "He always told us about you, how he wants us to meet you and all that. When he went to Germany, we kept in contact, even visited him. I remembered clearly how he said he missed you, he wouldn't shut up about you, I'm serious,"

All those times you thought he had forgotten about you or not even given you a single thought, it was actually the opposite. As much as you have kept him in your thoughts, he has equally been doing the same.

"Give it a thought, Y/N, give him a thought," Yunjin patted your shoulder, giving you a smile of assurance.

Everyone eventually left the room in search of the bar and dance floor, you and Jake following behind. Along the way, he continued keeping his hand around you, not letting you go.

"You okay?" He passed you your drink, his eyes searching for yours in the dim lights.

"I'm alright, don't worry," you gave his arm a small squeeze of reassurance.

Most of the guys and Yunjin had already taken off into the dancefloor with their partners, leaving you and Jake by the bar alone. Yunjin's words from earlier still rang freshly in your mind, it was all you could think of whenever you stole glances of Jake.

"What are you thinking about?" He seemed to have caught on your strange behaviour and you resembled a deer caught in headlights at the sudden confrontation.

"Nothing," you shook your head, lying through your teeth. You were thinking about something, someone actually. Him.

"Really?"

"Really," you enunciated, thinking of a way to switch the topics. "So, why aren't you out there dancing?"

"I wanted to be here with you," 

That got you there. His words never failed to have you kicking your feet and giggling. 

"You could be out there—I don't know—dancing with someone else," 

"I'd choose you over that 'someone else'," he calmly took a sip out of his drink, his gaze never leaving yours. "In a heartbeat,"

You swore you could feel yourself flushing red, heat creeping up your neck to your face, the room suddenly seemed like it was spinning. "You can't just say things like that,"

Jake grinned, a playful look displayed on that charming face of his. "What? It's the truth!"

“You’re annoying” you jokingly punched his shoulder, downing your drink almost at once, it surely did help calm your nerves, but not your racing heart.

Your conversation with Jake soon dissolved when the others came back from the dance floor, all sweaty and craving for drinks, huddled around the bar ordering one by one before returning back to the room for a karaoke session. The overwhelming atmosphere had you excusing yourself to the restrooms, and you ended up giving a pep talk into the mirror as you fixed your makeup. 

Jake liked you? The fact itself was hard to grasp. You couldn’t even swallow and accept that you had actual feelings for him, your childhood best friend, the one you experienced many embarrassing, happy and sad moments with, the same guy who believed in you more than anyone else. He wasn’t just a friend to you anymore, he was someone you wished for more with.  

Exiting the restroom with a heavy heart and question marks filled mind, you just needed a drink to pour your feelings into. You were making your way back to the room with a drink in hand now that everyone was done dancing, but before you could turn a corner, you heard voices and immediately stopped in your tracks. Hushed whispers that were clear and audible even with the music in the background filled the empty corridor. It didn’t take long to piece the voices of Jake and Heeseung. 

“So…what’s going on between you and Y/N?”

Your eyebrows quirked up at the mention of your name. Could this be it? Was Jake going to spill an answer you’ve been dying for? Let’s make this clear, you didn’t like overhearing other people’s business, but your current situation was a little hard for you to just walk boldly into the corridor, not when your curiosity got the best of you. 

“What do you mean?”

“What? You and Y/N, man, come on. There’s no way you don’t have feelings for her. You’ve been together since the time we met years back, and even further before we met, and you’ve never stopped talking about her, ever,”

“I–I don’t know, it’s complicated. We’re just friends,”

“Jake, are you serious?”

“I’ve never felt this way before, Hee,” Jake’s voice wavered, seemingly distressed. “I can’t have a relationship now, I’m just starting out and I don’t want to get distracted,”

“Jake, are you listening to yourself? Since when was Y/N a distraction to you? And you didn’t seem to care whenever you went out partying in Germany,”

“Look, Hee, maybe I just want to focus on my career for now,”

“Is that why you barely made the effort to talk to Y/N back in Germany?” Heeseung hissed, frustration evident in his tone. “Your lame excuses, were you just scared or in denial of your feelings?”

“Stop. I don't know if I like her like that. Fuck, I–I don't know, okay?”

“Y/N?” you whipped your head around, meeting the brown irises of Park Sunghoon, who was just returning from the restrooms as well. Perfect timing indeed. You were so busted.

Internally, you were panicking like crazy, heart beating in anxiety and your blood pumping insanely. You could feel three pairs of eyes staring at you, each one held different emotions. Heeseung and Jake stood frozen in their spots, their faces matching each other’s surprise, whereas Sunghoon remained confused.

You met Jake’s gaze, one filled with utmost guilt and sadness, but yours could only reflect anger and bewilderment. You didn’t bother waiting another second before storming away, only feeling suffocated by each of Jake’s words that stung just like a fresh wound. This was another night ruined by the man you liked, and you’re about to go home with a new broken heart. But you were the idiot here after all, willingly letting him break your heart in two, and once it healed, it’d beat for him again, because you would always go back to him. 

The moment you reached the outside of the club, you realised how fucked you were without a ride, having no choice but to wake your roommate to pick you up. You wondered how you landed yourself in this position, standing stranded in front of a club, blinking away the oncoming tears and just needing a hug of comfort.

“Y/N!”

Jake’s voice reached your ears, and soon, you were face to face with him. Wow, speaking of deja vu, this only reminded you of the unfortunate night you had with him, both ending sour. 

“I have nothing to say to you, Jake,”

“Hear me out—”

“Fuck off,”

“Please,”

You scoffed in disbelief. “You're really confusing, you know? One second you say some shit that gets my hopes up and my heart racing, then the next second you decide to crush everything! Make up your mind. I'm not someone for you to play around,”

“I’m not trying to play you!”

“Oh right? You said you wanted to start slow and bring me out on a proper date, then you're out here declaring you don't like me. Well, asshole, I like you!"

"What?"

You cursed at yourself and your bluntness, blinking harshly as you swallowed the lump building in your throat. "Forget it, forget whatever I said,"

“I do have feelings for you too, you know that!”

"No, no, no, you don't get to suddenly decide that, Jake, not after what you just said," you backed away from him, shaking your head incredulously. Hell, you were confused about your feelings, but Jake was miles worse. “You need to sort yourself out first before telling me you like me or not, you can’t just say that and then say you don’t know behind my back,”

“I know, God, I’m sorry,” he was a mess, a beautiful mess in creation. 

Silence befall on you both, the tension was killing you and you hated it. You didn’t want him to be a stranger, but you can’t bear being around him right now. Your eyes could only reflect disappointment and sadness as your gaze swept his face.

“You once said I changed, but you know what, Jake? Maybe it's you who's changed,” you spat every word out angrily, a mix of emotions overflowing. “I feel dumb for liking you,”

“Really? Do you regret it?” somehow, the two of you were equally mad now, the sadness turned into unresolved anger, showing the ugly side that neither you nor him have seen of each other before.

You swallowed, knowing damn well the answer that was going to leave your lips. “The worst part is that I don’t,”

Jake’s lips quivered, his eyes searching for anything but yours, unable to meet your eyes or even directly face you. “It has always been you. You’ve always been my number one,”

His words stung hard, harder than the times you’ve scraped your knees against hard surfaces, it hurt you, just as much as it did to him just from uttering those sentences. If this was what love was supposed to be like, you want nothing about it. 

“Go home, Jake. I'll see you soon.”

CRYING ON THE WAY HOME IN ALEXIA'S CAR WASN'T A PERFECT end to the supposed enjoyable night you wished to have. It took five different rom coms, one tub of ice cream and lots of girls talk to get you out of your slump. 

During the first few days since the incident, you did receive text messages from Jake, apologetic ones that were almost written like essays. But you couldn't bring a single ounce of you to reply back to him, leaving him on ‘delivered’ and switching your phone off.

Just when you thought the storm had calmed, you were proven wrong once more. 

"You've got to see this,"

On a morning not far from a prestigious award ceremony you were bound to attend in France, a controversy broke out, one that involved you in it, specifically, you and Jake.

'BARCELONA'S YOUNG STARS CAUGHT IN A HEATED FIGHT OUTSIDE OF NIGHTCLUB IN THE CITY'

You've got to be kidding.

The comments were the first thing you avoided, scrolling past to see blurred pictures taken of your altercation with Jake. Talk about double embarrassment. 

"No way they got this on camera," Natalia gasped, but Alexia snatched the phone from her grasp and switched it off.

"It'll pass, don't worry, Y/N."

Eventually, the day of the awards ceremony had arrived, you and your fellow nominees from Barcelona, Jake included, travelled to France together on a private plane. 

It was awkward to say the least. Avoiding one another, not making eye contact or even acknowledging each other's presence. The others were making sure to seem unfazed by this despite reading the news themselves, but what could they do? All they wanted was calm and serenity.

You were partnered up with a player from the men's team, Alejandro, who will be your date for the night. You didn't mind having him as your date, just wishing to get the whole thing done as soon as you could.

"You're not planning to talk it out with him?" Alexia said as she helped fix your makeup, dresses laid on the bed and heels strewn all over the floor. 

"What do I even say? 'Oh, I like you, yeah I said that already. But you don't like me—wait—you don't know!' Boohoo,"

"Y/N," 

You let out a deep sigh, getting up once Alexia finished her last touch ups. "Look, his confusion isn't something for me to deal with, you know. Either he makes up his mind and is ready for me, or he'll just never get me, that's it."

On the other side of the hotel room and specifically the floor below yours, presented the men's rooms. Jake happened to be getting ready along with his teammate and roommate, Mateo.

They were on the conversation of their assigned dates when Mateo's mind suddenly struck a thought. He didn't know if it was the right time to ask, but his mouth couldn't help slipping.

“Jake,”

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to apologise?”

Mateo didn't even need to mention any names and Jake already knew what he meant. 

“Why?”

“I just—I don't know—I don't like how you guys are fighting,”

“You're sweet, Mat, but she's probably too angry to even see me now anyway, I fucked up big time,”

“But do you want to apologise?”

“Of course I do! That's a no brainer. I just don't wish to fuck it up again,”

“You won't,” Mateo patted Jake’s shoulder sympathetically, both plopping down on the edge of the bed. “You like her, don’t you?”

“Well—”

“Not in a platonic way, but in a romantic way,”

“I do,” almost instantly, those words left his lips without any hesitation. 

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“Myself,” he groaned, rubbing the side of his face agonisingly. “I’m scared, Mat, I’m scared of ruining what we have,”

“Jake, you shouldn’t let your fears overcome you, or stop you from professing your love either,” Mateo sighed, wrapping his arm around the latter’s shoulder. “Y/N likes you, dumbass, there’s nothing to ruin. Instead, she’s probably thinking you hate her for not giving her a clear green light,”

“I know,”

“Talk to her. Maybe not tonight or tomorrow, but soon. The longer you drag this on, it would just create a distance.”

The evening eventually faded into bright lights and speeches, you and the others sitting among the crowd of distinguished footballers from different parts of the world. You couldn’t lie, it was hard keeping your eyes away from Jake when he was looking absolutely gorgeous. Hair slicked back, dressed in a sleek black suit paired with an expensive tie, he had your knees weak when you were supposed to be mad.

His gaze on you definitely didn’t go unnoticed either, taking the sight of you in and your attire for the night, a certain unspoken longing for one another hung in the air. 

It was towards the end of the night when you excused yourself to the restrooms, your usual escape plan. Exiting the theatre hall and getting to wander around the exquisite area gave you a slight peace of mind, it wasn’t everyday you got the chance to be in France anyway. But disaster just had to strike and ruin your brief tranquillity.

As you descended the stairs, you heard a snap, almost missing your balance, and you knew at once, your heel had taken an unfortunate turn of life. Glancing down at your heel, it indeed had snapped and was broken, and you had the misfortune of not having any super glue on you.

You tried taking a step, stupid mistake. The imbalance of your heels made you stumble, and just when you were ready to meet your fate of face planting into the expensive marble floors, a hand gripped your forearm. 

“Hey, you okay?”

It didn’t take much for you to realise that voice belonged to Jake, who was also holding onto your arm. You coughed, regaining your balance and swiftly yanked your arm from his hold. Jake took a step back, slipping his hands into his pockets. 

“I’m fine,” you said hastily, your head snapping up to meet his gaze. “Were you following me?”

“No!” he exclaimed, his hand travelling to the back of his neck, looking away from you. He was lying, you could see right through him. “Well—I—we saw you rushing out, so we just wanted to check up on you,”

“Right,” you nodded, biting your lips softly as you held in a small laugh at his blatant lie. “Tell the others I’m alright, I just wanted a stroll, but my heel broke,”

“Oh,” Jake’s gaze averted to the sight of your depressing heels. “I’ll let your manager know, I’m pretty sure they can get something else for you,”

“I’d really appreciate that,” 

“Okay,” Jake smiled slightly, nodding also, his body turning to leave but halted midway. “I never got to tell you how beautiful you looked tonight,”

You practically stilled momentarily, letting his words work its magic on you. In that moment, it felt as if the world had stopped and everyone had disappeared, and it was just you two, alone and vulnerable. Soon, you snapped back to reality, swallowing thickly. 

“Thank you, you look great too,”

He said nothing more, merely giving you one last friendly smile before turning away and continuing his way back to the theatre, leaving you to long for him, sadness welling up your heart and your eyes turned heavy. You wished he would run back to you now, telling you how sorry he was, whatever, you just needed him. But that wasn’t going to happen.

Cruel, hard reality reminded you that maybe this was probably one sided after all. 

You were over exhausted by the time you returned back to the hotel, the group was now scattered and everyone was either on their own or lingering somewhere else at the afterparty. At that moment, the pop of notification on your phone caught your attention, it was a message from Natalia. 

nat: meet me at my room! i have something for you ;)

Suspicions crept up internally, that winking emoji practically told you this wasn’t what it seemed. But you went either way, still dressed in your gown and sporting a pair of comfortable slippers, trudging along the halls of the hotel towards Natalia’s room. 

Three knocks was all it took for you to realise the room was unlocked, pushing it open and revealing a clean and spotless room, which was so Natalia. As for a sign of any human being in the room, there was actually none. Initially, you thought of something bad happening, lowkey panicked and rang up Natalia, only to realise a particular thing. Natalia was at the after party.

“Hello?”

You whipped your head towards the source of the voice, freezing at once when you saw who it was. The universe must be setting you up for further embarrassment at this point. Jake was standing in front of you, confused and lost.

“Where’s Natalia?”

“I would want to ask the same question too,” you glanced around the room helplessly. “She isn’t here. Did she text you?”

“She did,”

“Jake,” you started, walking to the door, a sinking feeling inside of you as you hoped whatever you were currently thinking wasn’t actually true. “Did you shut the door?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you realise we’re stuck in here now? We don’t have the keycard,”

The confusion on Jake’s face morphed into shock and horror, approaching the door and giving it a yank, but it was obviously not working. “This is ridiculous,” he groaned under his breath.

“Forget it, it’s already done,” you kicked your slippers off and made yourself comfortable on the bed, your back connecting to the soft covers and almost drifting off to sleep. 

Jake could only nod solemnly, sitting down on the other bed wordlessly. It didn’t take long for the uncomfortable silence to settle, both of you wanting to talk but having zero courage to even do so. You were hopeless and he was just the same.

"We should talk,"

You glanced over at his figure, slowly sitting up, a wary look painted your expressions. "About?"

"About us,"

You gulped, hating the thought of confrontations, but what you hated more was being a stranger with Jake. It pained you having to ignore him or pretend his existence wasn't there.

“What’s there to us? You broke my heart, Jake, and it hurts like a bitch. I heard you clearly in the club that night, and I don’t think I can forget it easily,” you sucked a breath in, being on the edge of combustion. “You know what? If the possibility of us being together is a distraction for you, then fine, forget I ever said I like you, then we can go on like nothing—”

“I don’t want to forget it,” he murmured, eyes flickering. “I don’t want to forget you or your words,”

A pause. 

"I'm sorry," he said slowly. "I shouldn't have said what I said. I shouldn't have treated you like that, I was a massive asshole,"

"You were,"

"I'm really sorry, for hurting you and causing you so much pain," Jake was fidgeting with his fingers, averting his gaze once in a while. “What I said in the club was stupid, it was immature. I wasn’t clear with my feelings then and I could only figure shit out after, I'm just scared of ruining what we have. I don't want to lose you if anything goes south, I don't want to lose you as a friend and a lover,”

"Jake," you began, eyebrows furrowed as your bottled up confusion and frustration slowly crept up. "You won't, your fears are only driving us apart, can't you see that? I–I just don't get you. Do you even like me? Or do you just say you do but you actually don't?"

"I do like you," his tone came out harsh, as though he had been holding it in forever and only getting the bottled up feelings out now.

"Then show me," your eyes pleading and his apologetic. "Show me that you want me, that you actually do. No second guessing or anything. I need you to need me back,"

“I do need you,” he said quietly under his breath, the tension in the room was absolutely cut throat. “I’ll do anything to gain your trust back,” he got up from his spot and walked over to your side, sitting next to you, barely any space between you and him as your shoulders grazed against each other. “I could give you the world if I had to,”

You turned your head and met Jake’s eyes at once, the wordless exchange through one another’s gazes was enough to express the amount of longing and pining harboured. You could feel his fingertips softly brushed against yours, sending slight electric shock into your system. 

“I like you. I like you. I like you,” those three words were poured out like a mantra, causing you to still momentarily, a frown etched onto your scrunched expressions. “I’ve liked you since forever, but I never came to terms with it. At one point, I wanted to tell you … but you moved away. I thought if I could do it all again, I would go back to you and tell you how I feel,”

“Those years when you were gone, I kept thinking about you, I wanted to hold you when I'm not supposed to, I wanted you close—I want you,"

Your breath hitched. 

"I couldn’t get you out of my head, you were all I could ever think of, everywhere I went, anyone I met, I saw a part of you in them, you were occupying my head, I can’t stop, and it’s because of how in love I am with you,”

Love. Not like, but love.

“Then don’t stop,” you said breathlessly, chest heaving heavily. “Don’t stop thinking about me, don’t stop letting me take over your head, don’t stop being in love me, ‘cause I never did. I’ve always loved you,”

Longing and yearning clung onto you and Jake desperately. The space between you two was getting smaller, the need for one another pulling one another together. The outpour of love confessions had you and him both speechless for a while, taking some time to process it all entirely. You loved him, he loved you.

Jake shook his head, swallowing thickly. “I can’t believe it took me all these years to realise my true feelings, I’m sorry for realising it too late,”

“You’re never too late,”

Before any of you could get further progress, the door burst open and revealed a drunken Natalia being supported by her roommate. You and Jake instinctively scooted apart from each other, pretending nothing was happening as you faced a confused roommate and a giggly Natalia.

“What are you two doing here?”

“Natalia sent us text messages saying she wanted to meet us here, but she wasn’t and we got locked in,”

Her roommate, Chelsea, nodded, dumping Natalia onto the other bed. “She probably drunk texted you, sorry about that. Well, I need to take care of her so—”

“Oh,” you took the hint, standing up. “We’ll leave you to it. Goodnight,”

Jake followed you out awkwardly after bidding Chelsea goodbye. Once you were out of the room, you turned around and noticed Jake looking like a helpless puppy. “You’re going back?”

“Yeah, I need to freshen up,” he chuckled, smoothing the fronts of his suit.

“Me too,” gosh, the stiffness and awkward tension was eating you up. “Bye,”

“I’m serious about gaining your apology back, you know?”

You couldn’t even escape when those words suddenly poured out from Jake, catching you immensely off guard and having you rooted to your spot. “I’ll prove it to you, and I'll make it up to you,” he continued, backing away gradually with a knowing grin. “Goodnight!”

“Goodnight, Jake.”

You were incredibly unprepared for what he has up his sleeves.

“I KNOW YOU WERE THE ONE PLOTTING IT,”

Fun didn’t last long after arriving back from France as the team was put to immediate training sessions. A special training session this time at the club’s stadium. You and Jake didn’t speak much after that night in the hotel, especially when you went separate ways with individual training schedules now. But that wasn’t all. Your suspicions with Natalia remained and even though you’ve pestered her ages since then, she has never spilled anything, until this fateful session.

Her widened eyes stared at you, coughing uncomfortably as she masked obliviousness, but you could see through her instantly.

“Natalia,” you narrowed your gaze at the latter, who only shied away. 

“I had that idea in mind…then I got drunk, and the alcohol controlled me to do stupid stuff like that,”

You rolled your eyes at her, passing the ball to her. “I’m not mad, by the way,”

“You’re not?”

“If I was, I would’ve been mad during the first few days, not now,”

“True,” Natalia shrugged, but you saw the playful spark in her gaze. “What did you do? Chelsea told me you two were … close,”

“We talked it out, nothing else,”

“Nothing else?”

“Nothing,” you repeated,  your voice slightly higher than before. 

The session was halted momentarily for some rest. Some were laying on the grassy surface, others scattered in groups either chatting or complaining about the hot weather. You were on the topic of dinner with your two roommates when the speakers suddenly made a shrill noise, causing everyone to flinch. 

“What’s up with the audio?”

A cough was heard through the speakers in the next second, the sound reverberated through the stadium. Everyone including you were looking around in confusion, those on the ground resting had gotten to their feet. All of a sudden, a familiar song started to play, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes off You’, the same song you always played whenever Jake came over when you were kids.  

“You're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off of you. You'd be like heaven to touch, I wanna hold you so much…” The Australian accent was heavy and recognisable, which meant it could only be that certain someone running through your mind.

“Jake?” you muttered under your breath in disbelief, seeing his figure appearing amongst the stands, a microphone in hand. A soft smile unknowingly crept onto your face, laughing quietly at his ridiculous efforts.

It was just the same as the day he dedicated the goal to you. In a crowd full of people, his focus was trained only on you and nobody else, it was all you. His gaze never left your figure as the iconic instrumental part of the song played, and it reminded you of the days you sang this song in karaoke with Jake, screaming the lyrics and humming the instrumentals. 

“I love you, baby, and if it's quite alright. I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night. I love you, baby, trust in me when I say—oh, pretty baby, don't bring me down, I pray,” he sang as he skipped down the steps of the stadium, getting closer to the front. Your teammates were passing you cheeky grins, some were even shoving you just like teenagers teasing their friends after seeing their crushes in the hallway. You yourself couldn’t even hold back a giddy look.

“Oh, pretty baby, now that I've found you, stay. And let me love you, baby, let me love you,” he extended his arm towards you, as if speaking these words just for you to hear. Before you could even accept his hand, your coach came right in time to stare at Jake, clearly unamused.

“Well, Mr Sim, what a performance that was,” Jonatan greeted Jake with a brief handshake. “Apologies for bursting your bubble but the training session is starting soon,”

Jake nodded, a pleased smile paraded on that face filled with confidence. “Got it. Sorry for interrupting. I’ll be leaving now then,” he peeked over your coach’s shoulder, waved and passed you one of his cheesy smiles before slipping away. When he was out of sight, Jonatan turned back and clapped his hands. 

“Back to business!” he shouted, followed by loud unsatisfied grunts. Just as he was passing by, he made sure to whisper quietly and closely to you. “What a man you’ve got there, L/N.”

That totally had you blushing red.

It didn’t take long for training to end. You were about to text Jake about his whole stunt but then you realised you didn’t need to do so, because he was standing directly in front of you at the carpark.

“Need a ride?” You didn’t drive, usually carpooling with the girls back to the apartment, but this might have to be an exception. 

Jake was leaning against his car, a grin stretched wide. You approached him with a curious gaze, eyebrow raised and arms crossed. “You’re still here?”

He nodded. “I thought I’ll just drop you home since I’m here anyway,”

“I’ll take your offer up,” 

Jake even made the effort to open the car door open for you, putting his hand above your head as you entered. The little things did matter to you. But the real question you’ve been waiting for an answer remained, and you were going to shoot.

“What was all that for?”

“What?” he sputtered distractedly as the car started, soon exiting the car park. “The performance, you mean?” a devious smirk appeared on that scheming face of his. “Did you like it?” 

“Well, yeah—but that’s so not the point,”

“That is definitely the point,”

“It isn’t!” you laughed, throwing your head back slightly, making contact with the headrest. “Seriously, Sim, why did you go all out for that? You could’ve been in trouble,”

“Remember the movie you loved when we were younger?”

“Which one? There’s too many,”

“That 2000s movie, something ten things something hate?”

“‘10 Things I Hate About You’!” 

“Yeah, that. The one you forced me to watch for millions of times,” 

“Did not,”

“You did,” Jake rolled his eyes, a small smile remained. “I remembered how much you loved that thing where he sang the song to her, and it happened to be our song, so I thought it would be a great way to apologise,”

“That’s sweet, Jake, really,”

“That’s not all,” He took a brief glance at you, letting the anticipation of his words sink in.“I’d like to take you out for dinner. I want to make it up to you,”

“You don’t have to,” your heart melted. 

“I want to, seriously,” he said as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, his face beaming. “You told me to prove myself to you, and that’s what I’m doing. I want to take you out on dates and show you how much I mean every way I feel. I’ll wait for an answer for as long as I can even if it’s a lifetime,”

“Jake,” you called out his name quietly, placing a hand on his forearm. He carefully took hold of your hand, slithering his palm against yours and entangled your fingers together. “You want to take me out on dates?”

“I’m taking it slow. I don’t want to fuck up again,” 

“You won’t, swear,” you reassured him, squeezing his hand gently. 

“I’ll pick you up tonight? Go rest and have a shower first, you stink,”

“Hey! I did shower before this,”

“You mean you lightly rinsed yourself?”

“Guilty.”

It has been ages since you’ve felt nervous before something. Being nervous for matches was nonexistent at this point, but going on your first date in years was stressing you out. Not to mention, it was a date with Jake. You were feverishly placing clothes and dresses on the front of your body as you looked into the mirror, taking hundreds of tries before settling for a new unworn black dress. 

You were glad to be just on time when you heard the sound of your notification, indicating Jake’s arrival below your apartment complex. The jitters were undeniable once you’ve reached the ground floor and walked towards the area he was at. The clicks of your heels against the hard floor gave your presence away and had Jake turning around, his eyes landing directly on you. His strong gaze took your figure in, his lips lazily pulled a playful smirk. 

“Wow,” 

“‘Wow’?” you chuckled, greeting him with a brief hug. He was dressed impressively well, nothing too much but not too minimal either. 

“You are ‘wow’,” he raised his eyebrows. “You’re gorgeous, you know that?”

A tinge of pink painted both of your cheeks lightly. Oh, you were so definitely and undeniably blushing from the effect of his words again. Damn him.

“Save the flirting for later, Sim,”

“So, you’re saying I can flirt however much I want with you?”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go now or else we’ll miss reservations,” Jake loved your promptness, always and forever putting up with it, unable to resist a smile when he opened the car door for you, feeling the way his heart twists lovingly. 

“Wait,” before he started the car, he reached to the backseat, reaching for something you couldn’t make out. That was until he pulled out a big bouquet of mixed flowers, one of every flower you loved. He remembered them all. “I got you flowers, and—” another bag of something, “—your favourite food and snacks. Some are from Germany, our hometown and even here,”

“No way, you got food from home?” you accepted his gifts way too enthusiastically. Your expressions lighting up immediately, legs shaking in anticipation as you went through the variety of snacks in the bag. All while it happened, Jake just remained silent, quietly watching you smile widely and eyes glinting brightly.

You looked up after a few moments, meeting his affectionate stare. “You’re staring!”

He shrugged, presenting you with a lopsided smile. “I love seeing you happy, sweets.”

You swore you almost fell onto the road when you saw how luxurious the place Jake had taken you to. The interior was exquisite and it had a nice ambience to it. A part of you was glad you had decided to dress up a little more than usual considering he had taken you to fine dining. 

Throughout the entire journey there, you were sharing random stories with each other, bringing up old memories and even going on the topic of Jake’s dog. It all flowed naturally, just as how it always did, and that was something nobody else could take away from neither you nor Jake.

“Hi, ready to order?” the waitress soon came by, but you noticed something odd to her vibe. There it was, her lingering gaze on Jake. She likes him!

Never once had she spared you a single glance when you said your order, focusing only on Jake. Annoyance and irk weren’t enough to amount to the feelings you had in the moment, your mood sinking lower as you witnessed her attempting to flirt with him. 

On the other hand, Jake was smart enough to catch onto the hint this time, actively avoiding her advances and rejecting her approaches, but it seemed she was the one who couldn’t take a hint. Just as you were ready to hand the menu over, little miss man stealer here batted her eyelashes and asked for Jake’s number. Hello? You were here too!

“I’m on a date here, can’t you see that?” he snapped, eventually reaching his own limits as well. “You’re disrespecting my girl and me,”

My girl, my girl, my girl.

That was spinning in your head even after Jake finished his small complaint, huffing and puffing in agitation. He was ready to face an unhappy face but it was actually quite the opposite. You were literally smiling giddily. 

“What are you so happy for?” he couldn’t help laughing a little after seeing your smile, but you waved it off, shaking your head.

“It’s nothing, just thought of something,”

Jake nodded slowly, reaching over for your hand. “Sorry about earlier. I requested for a different waiter,”

“It’s fine, Jake, she was being totally unprofessional anyway,” 

“Tell me about it, gosh,” he groaned, intertwining your hand with his, the spark in his eyes shining brighter. “I’m glad you’re here with me tonight,”

“Me too,”

“Thanks for giving me a chance again,”

“Always.”

You’d go back to him any day, any time, and frankly, he would do just the same.

EVER SINCE THAT NIGHT WITH JAKE, THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKING QUICK ADVANCEMENTS.

He brought you out on countless dates, whether it was casual ones or planned, he made the utmost effort to perfect them all, giving you great princess treatment everytime. Your football matches were something he hated missing out on, almost having perfect attendance and frequently being in the stands cheering you on. All in all, he has been nothing but a sweetheart, healing your heart gradually as time passed.

Nothing felt forced whenever you were with him, every moment together made you the happiest, and you couldn’t stop smiling around him and his silly jokes. You liked him, wait, no. You loved him. But there was an ongoing problem, you weren’t even official yet.

Waiting for Jake to ‘pop the question’ was something you didn’t want to think or stress about, but it was a passing thought once in a while. You appreciated the fact that he had indeed taken it slow and took baby steps during the past months of going on dates, but you were getting impatient. You knew you were ready.

Maybe things were meant to be unexpected, and that was the beauty of it.

Jake picking you up from training sessions became a frequent routine by now, proceeding to his house for some movies and hot dinner. This time around, he had other plans in mind that made you scratch your head curiously. 

“You want me to stay over?”

“Yeah,” he said nonchalantly, totally laid back as if this wasn't something new. However, it was actually super new and foreign. You've been to his place lots and uncountable times, but staying over? That's new. “What’s wrong?”

"Nothing," you quickly assured. "I never stayed over, that's all,"

"You stayed over all the time when we're kids!"

"That's different. It's different now,"

Something glinted in those brown irises of his, realising what your words meant. "You're right. It is different."

The long training had you falling asleep right away when you got back, giving Jake the chance to pull another scheme right out of his sleeve. Unbeknownst to you, he had been planning this all along, finding a right time to execute it. He was going to pop the question, the boyfriend girlfriend question that you and him had been waiting for too long.

Jake was nervous. He wasn't even asking you to marry him, but it felt almost like it from the way he was pacing around in the other room while you were sound asleep peacefully. Calling take out and preparing a movie were the usual things you'd do whenever you were over at his, so he tried maintaining his cool and kept collected as he ran through the normal routine.

Peace wasn't an option when you woke up soon after, hearing your footsteps and hoping his heart would calm down quickly before it burst. You were freshening up in the bathroom, then he saw you approaching, a lazy smile greeting him. God, his heart was weak for you.

"Hey," your body fell into the couch right next to him, letting his arm naturally wrap around your shoulder. "What's for today's take out?"

"The usual, from your favourite place," 

"Stop, really?" You squealed in excitement, loving yourself some good food with an even better company. "What movie are we watching?"

"I know you've been dying to rewatch 'Pretty Woman', haven't you?"

"Maybe …"

"'Pretty Woman' it is then." 

Everything seemed like how it always was, a movie playing in the background, the finished plates of food on the table, your head on Jake's shoulder, it was a normal day over at Jake's. Yet for him, it wasn't just a simple one this time around. He was going to finally say what he wanted to say, and he was going to be brave about it.

"Y/N, I've been meaning to ask you this—"

Your head snapped up from his shoulder, a look of worry written all over your face. "Is it about the last pizza slice you were saving?"

Jake blinked, being the one who's dumbfounded now. "What? Were you the one who ate it?" 

"No?"

He rolled his eyes lightheartedly, reaching to pinch your cheek gently. "You're lucky I like you," this was the time, Jake, say it! "Which explains why I'm about to ask you this—" he turned his body to face you, took a hold of your hands, pulling you slightly closer to him. 

"Let me be yours, Y/N. Can I be your boyfriend?"

Your momentary silence genuinely scared him a little, but the moment he saw your face lighting up with a wide cheesy grin, he knew that was it.

"Definitely—" you nodded almost too eagerly, your eyes wandering every part of his face, a swell of emotions erupted in the bottom pits of your abdomen. "—boyfriend,"

Upon hearing the word slipping from your lips, Jake couldn't get anymore giddy. "You're too cute. My girlfriend, my girl," he only got closer, inching towards you, his eyes occasionally flickering between you and your lips.

"Can I–I kiss you?"

At that moment, nothing felt real. The flashing lights from the television only made Jake's eyes gleam brighter in the dim room. You nodded, holding in your breath unknowingly. You were about to kiss Jake. Your boyfriend. Your best friend. 

"I need words, sweets," he mumbled, one hand still holding onto you, the other already travelling up the side of your neck up to your face. 

"Yeah, need you to kiss me," 

It didn't take Jake much more consideration after that, colliding his lips into yours electrifyingly, sealing unspoken desires and pent up frustrations, as if you and him had been waiting for this for too long. You reciprocated his desperation feverishly, the movie now completely out of sight and mind.

Jake was the first to pull away, both breathless and dazed, trying to catch his breath. You were most probably blushing, the dim light thankfully hiding it. Heart pumping heavily, feeling warm all over and a sense of excitement were overwhelming you suddenly, just from a kiss, which never happened before in the history of your love life.

"You're pretty, really pretty," his low voice brought you out of your brief trance, not realising how close he was to you and him observing your every feature. "Can I kiss you again?"

Something in you, probably the overflowing giddiness, brought out a light laugh from you, and being easily influenced by you, Jake started laughing too. The hand holding onto yours tugged you towards him, your body crashing into his, until you finally adjusted your body comfortably in his lap, you met his lips once more.

You could feel Jake grinning into the kiss, either of you breaking into small giggles here and there. The kiss was gentle this time, the love and affection from him were poured into his kiss, expressing something words aren't enough or able to.

"I can never resist you," you poked his chest lightly, your head now resting on Jake's shoulder just like before, your arms now wrapped around his torso, sitting in his lap and enjoying the intimacy.

"Of course you can't," he teased, earning a small punch to the shoulder from you. "I might need more kisses,"

"You're getting none,"

"You're so mean," 

"But you do love me for that, don't you?"

Jake wasn't able to resist an eye roll, tickling your side. "I do," his hand rubbing your back. "Hey, what do you think my mum would react after we tell them about us?"

"Is your mum going to kill me?"

"You're aware my mum loves you more than me, right? Her own child? She's going to be fine," he snorted, his fingers playing with your hair distractedly. "I'm really glad you're here with me now, genuinely. You've always been my strength, my number one, and I don't think I could even be here without you,"

"Jake…" you faltered, getting slightly emotional, the effect of his words getting to you again! " I'll literally kiss you again,"

"Really?"

"Later," you pushed your overly impatient boyfriend's face away, letting out a humorous laugh, only to face a pout from him after. "I'll always come back to you."

You knew heaven was a thing, you go there whenever you are with him. If this was what love felt like, maybe you would want it for a long time. 

No matter how hard you tried to fight it, he would always make you feel things others wouldn't be able to. Even after breaking your heart, then healing it wholly, it somehow only beats for him, and in the end, you knew you'd go back to him, you'll always do.

taglist: @1800-beomgyu @yawnzshit @shinrjj @skzenhalove @taekwondoes @lalalalawon @ce1ight @enhacqke @winteringdream @strvlveera @rikisly @rikakhai @renchai @sievenderz @fariylixie0915 @enhastolemyheart @ckline35 @eulris @yenqa @jayfrvr @tobiosbbyghorl @liikno @vizstars @kells5595 @heesluvrgirl @thepencilkorner @hajimelvr @heeflrs @starriesworlds @aefolrin @s00buwu @star4rin (bolded = can't be tagged)

[animehideout]

JJK Men Perfect First Date

Part 2

Check out part 1 here ✨

a/n: Part 3 will include Aoi Todo / Yuta Okkotsu / Mahito / Ino Takuma 💛

@itz-amani what do you think about Sukuna's first date 🫶🏻??

Divider credit: @cafekitsune 🧡

Itadori Yuuji: Cinema date

Yuuji loves movies, especially horror ones and that would be a reason for both of you to cling onto each other, in case you get scared easily.

But since it's your first date, Yuuji would let you suggest and choose what you'll be watching.

You'd share a large bucket of sweet popcorn and grab your favorite candies. Your hands would touch while grabbing the popcorn, making both of you blush.

Yuuji would definitely sneak extra snacks in case you got hungry during the movie.

You'd settle into your comfy seats and you won't pull up the armrest, fully enjoying the closeness of your bodies.

The atmosphere is so light and full of joy, Itadori is a ball of sunshine, he'd make you laugh a lot by cracking jokes.

During the movie, you'd repeatedly steal glances at each other, sharing smiles and subtle touches.

If there's a romantic scene both of you would feel extremely shy, turning into tomatoes.

You'd be the last ones to leave, you'd stay a bit longer, excitedly discussing your favorite scenes and plot twists.

Shared laugher would continue even after leaving the cinema, he would ask you on a second date for sure.

Would definitely walk you home, and offer you his jacket if the weather got chilly.

Would give you a big hug or a kiss on the cheek as a ' thank you ' , anticipating your shared future adventures.

“That was a great movie, but being here with you made it absolutely perfect”

Ryomen Sukuna: Late night drive

Your first date would be full of adrenaline.

Sukuna would arrive in a sleek sports car to pick you up, the roaring engine hinting at the adventure ahead.

Would open the door for you, to leave a good first impression.

His hand shamelessly would rest on your thigh the whole drive sending shivers down your spine.

The playlist basically consists of The Weeknd songs as they sync with the pulse of the night.

Once you hit the open road, the empty streets are inviting for a burst of speed.

The route includes sharp turns and twists adding to the excitement, your heart would be beating out of your chest but you completely trust that Sukuna would get you to your destination in one piece.

The city lights became blurry from how fast Sukuna was driving, landscapes became a dynamic backdrop as if you were traveling to another dimension.

Eventually Sukuna's, found a quiet spot to let the adrenaline settle.

You'd get out of the car to watch the breathtaking city light from the top of a hill, letting the cold night breeze bring you back to reality.

His arm would wrap around you pulling you closer to his chest to transfer his body heat to yours.

If you get extremely cold, you'd get back inside his car and chill there.

Would definitely make out with you in his car while After Hours- The Weeknd♪ is playing in the background.

“The thrill of the speed is matched only by the thrill of being here with you. It's like the universe conspired for us to have this moment”

Megumi Fushiguro: Library date

As you greet each other, Megumi would give you a single red rose, it would make your heart flutter and add a touch of romance. Who said Megumi can't be romantic?

You'd go to an aesthetic library, first you'd start your date by exploring the aisles together, checking the different genres of book that are filling the shelves.

The hushed atmosphere and the sound of pages turning soothed both of you.

Both of you would recommend different genres depending on your tastes.

After grabbing the books that you'll be reading, you'd find a cosy corner with cushions.

You'd sit there next to a big window, reading and watching as the droplets of rain fell on the glass.

You'd share occasional glances, blushing when you make eye contact, smiling softly.

You'd read your favorite lines to each other, and discuss the hidden meanings behind sentences.

There are silent moments where words aren't needed, just a comfortable silence shared between both of you, happily humming.

Megumi would walk you home, and promise you for a second date to visit another library with a different aesthetic, he would give you a warm hug.

You'd forever keep that rose that Megumi gave you, you'd use it as a bookmark.

Choso Kamo: Cooking together

Nothing is better than staying at home on rainy day, while enjoying home made food, especially with the man you love. ( pretend you and Choso live in the same building so he won't be soaked with rain)

You and Choso would plan a romantic menu for the night and brainstorm what recipes you'd try to cook.

The kitchen became a shared a space of creativity, fresh ingredients spread on the counter.

Before diving into the cooking, you would choose the perfect playlist.

The kitchen fills with your favorite tunes, and your giggles.

If he manages to pluck up the courage he would wrap his arms around you, engulfing you in a warm back hug.

You would take turns while cooking, chopping, stirring and tasting, you would use the same spoon to taste food making you kiss indirectly.

Once you feel comfortable enough, you'd share a lot of backhugs and include a lot of soft sweet touching.

Once your food is ready, you'd decorate the plate with it, taking it to the living room so both of you can eat while watching your comfort shows.

You'd settle on the comfy sofa, covering yourself with a warm blanket as the food is presented infront of you on the table.

He'd tuck strands of your hair behind your ear while you eat.

You'd feed each other, exchanging comforting smiles.

You'd conclude the night with a sweet dessert that Choso made.

He'd end up staying over, both of you cuddling in each other's arm slowly drifting off to sleep, peacefully sleeping in each other's embraces while rain is pouring outside.

“The warmth is this kitchen, mirrors the warmth in my heart when I'm with you”

[safination]

Partners in Death...and Life

After The Glimpse

|Masterlist| Ao3|

“You were taking too long,” you say, plain and simple. As if that would answer all his questions. Those eyes of yours land on his knuckles. There’s no reason to hide them from you, especially when you’re looking at him with that sad, sad, expression he painted across your face. It’s in the way your lips wobble, and it’s in the way your eyebrows furrowed together. “I would never leave you.” You press your cheek into his palm, nuzzling into it even as blood transfers to your skin. “Nothing will keep me from following after you.” Alastor swipes his thumb across your face. “Even to the depths of hell?” “Even past that, my dear.”

Pairings: Alastor x wife!Reader Tags: fem!Reader, AFAB, Established Relationship, Asexual! Alastor , being a simp for your partner, Asexual! Alastor, husband! Alastor. human! Alastor

THIS CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE Please read this. I'm begging you, but no pressure!

WELL, WELL, WELL. Here we are again. I'm doing three to four bonus chapters. If you want to be tagged, just tell me lol. I didn't think I would be adding a bonus chapter for this fic, but oh well, here we are again. I've missed you guys and I've missed writing my favorite married couple. This is also a special thank you to my friends from VoxTec (Yes, we're friends. I claim you as my friends.) I would have been done with my this fandom if it wasn't for them. Say thank you to them because I've been writing because of them

|Part 9: The Vows That Bind Me [Finale]| |Part 11: Before The Last [Bonus]|

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Alastor needs better car seats.

It’s official – your ass is numb from sitting too long. It spread down your thighs, and straight into your bones. A walk would certainly fix this problem, but you’ve already taken five in the past hour.

Maybe, this wouldn’t be an issue if Alastor invested in comfortable seats. All that money from being a celebrity, and yet, he drives a shit car!

You lean your head on the window, subtly stretching your legs to increase blood flow.

Moonlight illuminates the area around, painting shadows in the shape of trees. It’s the only source of light for miles because of course, it is.  The trees howl from the force of the wind, and the shadows dance against the car window.

Well . . . that totally does not bring a chill up your spine. There’s totally no reason to shrink deeper into the shitty car seats. Really, it’s not creepy – not one bit.

“Tired already?” Alastor peeks out an eye. He’s settled on the seat, hands folded across his stomach. “It would bring me great joy to say, ‘I told you so’ because I did tell you, dearest, these things take time.”

Something hoots from the forest, and you’ve had enough.

You lean away from the window, and straight into Alastor’s side. It’s funny, really, how the simple brush of his clothes, and maybe, just maybe, the darkness outside doesn’t seem as frightening as before.

“I haven’t said anything yet, but I didn’t think it would take this long,” you say, mumbling into him, and pull your legs up the seat to curl closer. “I told you I wasn’t going to complain. So, I won’t.”

Alastor pushes your knees, forcing your feet off the car seats.

You laugh into his chest, and settle deeper into him, with your feet staying where it should be—off his shitty car seat.

Alastor wraps an arm around you, tracing circles on your arm with a slight chuckle. The tips of his finger go round and round and round. It pulls you into the lull – eyes blinking to stay awake. A small tune escapes him, and the vibration of his chest forces your eyes to shut.

“I won’t make you wait too long,” Alastor says into your hair. “The drugs will wear off soon, remember. I’ll make quick work of him, and we can go home together.”

A small hum. “Is that a promi— ”

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Panicked roars of anger bounce against the small space of the trunk, startling you out of Alastor’s arms.

Fists bang into the trunk over and over and over and over again, but the thick metal muffles his desperate attempts to escape. How curious of him to try and fight back. Does he not know how much energy he’s wasting?

“Now, now, you should be resting.” Alastor pulls on your arm, crashing you back into him. “Give it a few minutes. He’ll calm down, eventually. Panicked animals are such a bother to deal with.”

“Al . . .,” you mumble as you settle back into his arms, and grip part of his shirt into your fist. “Is it always this loud?”

“Sometimes.” Alastor resumes tracing your arm. “It doesn’t happen often enough for it to become a problem for me.”

The pull of home calls out, tempting you with the soft allure of warmth and peace . . . but . . . but, all the warmth and peace you could ever need is right here, next to you, tracing circles into your arm with a small smile. You’re already home.

If Alastor continues to lull you to sleep, maybe you wouldn’t mind living inside this car with him, and only him, despite the shitty seats – regardless of the shitty seats, actually.

Like all things, that frightened panic ends, and so does Alastor’s tracing.

Alastor peels you off his chest, and grips your shoulders. Eyes stare right into your own. It commands your gaze. “This is important, dearest. Stay in the car, and whatever may happen—you are not to follow me.” His grip tightens. “If I take too long, I need you to leave me.”

“That . . . that wasn’t our deal, Alastor,” you say, frowning.  Something settles in your stomach. You don’t like this—not one bit. “We agreed I would be there to watch.”

“Now, now, stubbornness will get you nowhere.” Alastor pinches the bridge of his nose. “I allowed you to watch from the car— you watched as I drugged him, and watched as I stuffed him in the trunk. Be good, and promise me you will stay here.”

“Deare—”

Alastor places a finger on your lips, shushing you. That smile on his face makes you want to scowl. The absolute audacity!

“I’m not above putting my own wife inside a trunk,” he says, and flicks your nose. “It’s dark outside, and if I accidentally shoot you . . . well, it would be quite bothersome to have to bury you as well. Think about what the papers would say when you go missing!”

You slap his hand away. “Radio Star so Incompetent His Wife Leaves Him.”

“Hilarious.” Alastor rolls his eyes, showing off how he does so.

“I’ll stay up in the trees.” You play with the tips of his fingers. “Surely, your aim isn’t that horrid.”

“I’ll be running around and moving all over the place. You’re not familiar with this part of the forest.” Alasto presses a kiss on the edge of your lips. “I’ll return to you, but you need to stay here. Leave if you have to.”

One, single nod. It’s the only response you’re able to give.

Denying Alastor will never be an ability available to you, not when he’s looking at you with eyes that are oh, so soft.

Alastor tucks a stray strand of hair behind your ear, and steals one last kiss. “I won’t make you wait too long. That’s my promise to you.”

The car door opens with a click, and it’s not the icy air that chills your spine.

You . . . you don’t want him to go. It’s weird, actually. Why do you find yourself grabbing his hand? It stops Alastor before he can take a single step out of the car.

“Or, you can kill him right here. Shoot or slice him or whatever.” You squeeze his hand. There’s a nagging voice that tells you to keep him in your sight. “Just . . .  just . . .”

Just what?

Alastor squeezes back. “That would spoil all the fun!” he says, but the car door closes anyway. He settles back into the chair, and his thumb goes up and down your skin. “I have to give him hope that there’s still a chance to fight back.”

What exactly do you want to happen? What exactly do you want to tell him?

Don’t go where I can’t follow.

“I don’t like this,” you say, instead. “Al, I don’t like this at all—not one bit.”

“Ha!” His laughter bounces across the air. “Dearest, are you worried for me?”

“Yes, I am.” You play with the ring around Alastor’s finger, and place a small kiss against the metal band. “Don’t be so surprised—of course, I’m worried.”

Alastor pulls back his hand, and it takes everything not to reach out for him.

Three taps —Tap. Tap. Tap. That’s all it takes, and your fist open automatically. Alastor drops his ring into your open palm. It’s clean and polished as if it’s regularly maintained.

Oh . . . oh, he’s giving back his ring.

“What’s going through that head of yours?”

“Hopefully, something foolish,” you say, trying to give him a smile.

“That’s impossible. There’s nothing foolish about you.” Alastor pulls your hand closer, and he slips his own ring around your finger. “Don’t give me that look— I want this back.”

Alastor’s ring is bigger than your finger. It’s a bit loose, but it won’t slip out easily.

“Then I’ll give it back.”

“What a silly and ridiculous wife to exist with.” Alastor boos your nose. “It’s quite exciting to learn you’re capable of such worry. I’m honored that it’s me you’re worried about.”

“I . . . I’m capable of worrying about you.”

Alastor pulls his jacket around your shoulders, wrapping it like a blanket. “This world could burn around you, and I don’t think you would care.”

“It’s cold outside. You need this more than I do.” You push the jacket towards him. “ . . . This is me, caring about you.”

Alastor presses a kiss on your cheek, and re-wraps the jacket around you. “Silly and ridiculous!”

The urge to stop him, to grab on to him and never let go . . . it never fully disappears. You keep your hands busy. It plays and twirls with the two rings around your finger.

The car door opens, and this time, Alasto steps out.

The faint smell from Alastor’s jacket warms you with the scent of home, and your eyes shut.

Time passes, and you don’t know how long it does. But the truth sinks its unforgiving claws into you; Alastor is taking too long.

Moonlight reflect against the rings around your finger, and the decision is made.

Alastor didn’t want you to freeze. It’s why he left his jacket to warm you. So, you put it on, wrapping it closer around your body. The car door opens, and warmth and peace and home guard you against the chill.

There’s a shovel at the back seats . . . It’s better than nothing.

“Alastor . . . Oh, my love,” you call out into the wind. “Don’t go where I cannot follow.”

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Alastor.

Alastor? Tell me what’s happening right now.

The grip around his neck tightens, and Alastor knows he made a mistake. That nostalgic tase of boyhood hits him. It’s in that paralyzing tune of helplessness. It’s in that choke-hold of fear. A familiar friend—one he hasn’t seen since before Alastor took his first victim.

It’s not supposed to be like this.

Alastor lost track of him between the trees and their shadows. It only took one, single second. A slight miscalculation that won’t be happening next time.

You would need to be alive for there to be a next time, love.

That . . . that’s your voice. This should be impossible, yet Alastor knows it’s you who’s calling out to him. You should have left hours ago—that was the agreement. Great, he’s going insane from the lack of oxygen. His brain conjured up your voice from the deepest parts of him. Of course, it would be you projected during his crazed attempts to breathe.

Alastor.

Tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter. It . . . just . . . never ends.

Spots flood his teary vision as everything grows dimmer. Alastor can barely see the man’s desperate expression. Such a shame, too. You would love to hear about his pathetic whines, and Alastor would love to describe it to you.

Alastor?

That was you calling out for him and only him. The way you say his name . . . It’s in that oh, so soft voice of yours. His eyes flicker towards the side, and through the tears, and through the spots, Alastor sees you as clear as day.

There's that small smile on your face as you squat next to him. Oh, my dear. You might actually die soon if you don’t do something about this.

Alastor can’t breathe. Oh god, he can’t breathe. Everything loses its color. It bleeds into one big blank of nothingness.

Alastor . . . Alastor?

It’s too dizzying. The desire to breathe burns his lungs. It begs for any mercy, for any relief, for any air. What can he do? Nothing. Just like when he was a child. Nothing has changed. No, that’s not true! Alastor didn’t have you before, and that simple face means everything is different. He reaches out for you, trying to say that he can’t brea—

Alastor, what’s your plan now?

There are no plants. There’s nothing . . . except you. Of course, it’s you. His brain is reverting back into its most basic of instincts, and it decided that you were his most basic instinct.

Well, what do you know?

Seconds—that’s how long Alastor has.

There are seconds of consciousness left. Precious second before he stops seeing you. Death wasn’t a problem – it’s never scared him before – but Alastor is a man of his word, and currently, he’s breaking the promise he made to you.

You’re rolling your eyes at him.

Alastor wants to summon the energy to tell you to stop it. Even in his mind you were infuriating, but . . . but, you’re smiling at him, and those eyes of your crinkl—

WHACK!

Air forces itself into his lungs in quick breaths. Alastor gasps for air, each breathing burns his lungs. The man crumples away from him, and those large hands leave his neck. That paralyzing tune of helplessness disappears.

You said you wouldn’t make me wait for too long.”

It’s . . . It’s you.

There’s a shovel raised above your head, coated in the man’s blood. Alastor stares at you—he stares at that eerily calm expression on your face. It travels up his spine with a chill, but it’s warmth that settles into his cheeks. It strikes him then and there. Alastor has never told you how beautiful you are in his eyes.

Just a second, that’s all he nee—

Alastor doesn’t have a second.

The man rises, clutching his head with fury written all over his expression. His eyes land on you, then the shovel, and the man charges in your direction with a bellow.

You bring the shovel closer towards your chest, eyes widen with frozen legs.

One, single step back – that’s all you’re able to take. Even then, it’s just not enough. The distance grows shorter, and every second Alastor spends gasping for air . . . It brings you a second closer to danger.

Alastor made a mistake, and this world will set ablaze with his fury, burning everything and everyone around him, if he allows this animal to touch even the smallest smile on your lips. It’s that precious to him, and that makes him dangerous.

Alastor stumbles across the mud, pushing himself past his highest limit for you and only you. Fire burns his lungs as air forces itself into his body. It spreads to the very tips of his finger, but Alastor cannot stop. There’s a reason to keep going. There’s a reason to keep running.

The man charges at you with speed, but Alastor has a reason to be faster.

Alastor tackles the man into the tree. A cry of pain rattles the leaves. He doesn’t know who it belongs to. It doesn’t matter, not to him, as long as it wasn’t from you.

What is he doing?

How . . . curious. The sweet tune of violent anger calls out, tempting him to give into his fury. Alastor’s never heard such a call before.

His fists go up and down and up and down and up and down. Each strike burns. The pain of split knuckles cannot stop him. All Alastor knows is that he needs to make this man suffer. Such violence should scare him, but he isn’t afraid – not one bit.

How dare this . . . this animal try to touch you. How dare he. How fucking dare he. Alastor will break every bone in his body, relishing in the cries of his screams. No, that wouldn’t be enough. Nothing Alastor could do will ever be enough to quell this burn. Not even death will be able to keep Alastor from—

“Alastor.”

The way you call out for him . . . the way you say his name in that oh, so soft voice of yours . . . It cuts through the burning haze. Not once has he ever had the ability to deny your calls for him.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

That’s blood dripping down his fingers. Each drop falls to the ground, and sinks into the earth below. It's funny, really. Alastor doesn’t know who the blood belongs to – it could be from his split knuckles or it could be from the man’s broken body.

What expression is he making right now? Alastor can’t bear to face you, not right now.

“Dearest,” you call out for him, and reach out a hand for him. “Come on, now.”

He takes a single step closer, and you mirror his movements. It’s like a funny little dance – the more steps he takes, the more steps you take – and this dance ends when you’re a breath away.

Alastor grabs your wrist, pulling you closer. “You were supposed to leave,” he says, and fuck! The tone of his voice automatically softens because . . . because you’re gripping on to him with fingers that tremble. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

This small part of him wishes he left you in that trunk. You were supposed to be in the car – safe.

The breathing part of him is thankful he didn’t. Who knows what would have happened to you if he died, and left his wife inside a car trunk. Oh, you would be furious at him! He would never hear the end of it.

Alastor takes the shovel from your shaking fingers, peeling it off your hold, and replacing it with his hand.

Despite that eerily calm look on your face, the way you tighten your grip tells him everything he needs to know – you’re more rattled than you’re willing to admit. Alastor traces your hand with the gentles of touches, sliding his fingers across your knuckles and into the back of your hand.

He brings your fingers to his lips, giving it the smallest of kisses. “I would appreciate an answer, my love.” 

“You were taking too long,” you say, plain and simple. As if that would answer all his questions.

Those eyes of yours land on his knuckles. There’s no reason to hide them from you, especially when you’re looking at him with that sad, sad, expression he painted across your face. It’s in the way your lips wobble, and it’s in the way your eyebrows furrowed together.

“I would never leave you.” You press your cheek into his palm, nuzzling into it even as blood transfers to your skin. “Nothing will keep me from following after you.”

Alastor swipes his thumb across your face. “Even to the depths of hell?”

“Even past that, my dear.”

You bring out a handkerchief from your pocket. It’s simple work, really – automatic, even – to dab on his wound, and wrap his knuckles with the softest of touches. You press a light kiss on top of it as if doing so would make it feel better. (It does.)

The tips of your fingers reach out for him. It’s instinct for Alastor to bend down at your request, and you push his glasses up his nose, fixing it in place with a smile.

Alastor pulls you into a hug, cradling your head into the crook of his neck.

The way you were looking at him . . . with that oh, so soft smile on your lips. Oh, you were such a foul creature! A second longer, and all this anger would fizzle out. That wouldn’t do – there’s still a job that needs to be finished.

Still, Alastor holds you in his arms until your hands stop shaking, and that grip on him loosens.

“Thank you,” he says into your hair. “Go back to the car. I’ll meet you there in a couple of minutes. I just need to finish this.”

“Is that a promise, my dear?”

“If you’d like.” Alastor traces his rings across your fingers. “I’m still expecting you to return my ring to me.”

A small wheezing breath catches your attention.

You tilt your head towards the side, eyes locked onto the way the man struggles to breath. That shing of curiosity lights up your face. The edges of your lips quiver as you hold your smile, and there it is—the lust of wanting to know more, the lust of wanting to explore the entrail of this man.

“Al . . .” You’re tugging on his sleeve with an elated sigh. “Al!”

Alastor humors your curiosity, leaning down to study your expressions. How truly precious, indeed. “Yes, my dear?”

“Al, he’s a smoker!” you say with such a bright smile that can rival the stars themselves. “I saw him smoking before you drugged him.”

“Is this your way of saying you want me to smoke more, dearest?” Alastor presses a kiss on your cheek, right where that line of blood stains your skin “Maybe then you’ll always smile at me like this.”

“I want to see his lungs.” You’re tugging on his sleeve again with such a curious and innocent expression. “All that smoke . . . Oh, Al! I’m sure it’s done something to his lungs. You’ve never given me a smoker before – only alcoholics! I’ve already shown you their livers, right? I can show you his lungs.”

It’s almost . . . cute . . . to see you ramble on about livers. What a life he’s living! Married to the most ridiculous person in the world, who smiles so brightly when talking about a dead man’s liver.

“You have shown me all kinds of livers, my dear. My favorite is still the one with the black spots.” Alastor doesn’t really care about the different appearance of livers but you care for them . . . and that’s enough for him. “I’ve even made it a point to drink less.”

“I want to see his lungs.”

“This one isn’t worth your blade, dearest. I’ll find you another smoker. Maybe a smoker and an alcoholic, too. There are a dime a dozen.” Alastor takes a step towards you, blocking your view of the man. “Now, now. I think it’s time you go back to the car.”

“But Al— ”

“I won’t repeat myself a third time.” Alastor squeezes your hand. “I’ve indulged you for far too long.”

It’s clear that you’re disappointed—that bright smile doesn’t crinkle your eyes. “Alright,” you say, and squeeze back. “Much better?”

No, not at all. The smile on your face is meant to conceal a frown. How ridiculous of you to try and hide it from him. Did you not think that he wouldn’t know what a true smile from you looked like?

Alastor presses a kiss on your cheek, allowing it to linger. The next kiss goes on your forehead, then to your other cheek. He continues his barrage all over your face until your smile turns a little bit softer. Then, and only then, does he say, “Indeed.”

You walk towards the trees.

“Alastor.” You still for a moment, turning back to him. “Will he suffer?”

“My dear.” Alastor places a hand on his chest, and bows a performer’s bow. “I think you’re forgetting who exactly your husband is.”

There’s that gentle smile on your lips, and Alastor knows better than to mistake it for kindness. “That’s good.”

Oh, these eyes of his! It lingers on you until the trees hide you into their shadows, and even longer after that. Alastor runs his fingers across the handkerchief around his knuckles, tracing the music notes you’ve carefully embroidered. (Alastor knows a secret that you don’t seem to realize; you only embroider music notes when you’re thinking about him.)

Alastor turns back towards the man, laughing as he watches him try his best to crawl to freedom – it’s quite admirable. The attempt nearly succeeded if it wasn’t for his wife.

That’s good.

The way you said it . . . with such a gentle smile as well—it’s sickening. It also crawls up his stomach, and settles some kind of warmth in his face. Alastor brings the handkerchief to his cheek, pressing against it.

What a ridiculous person, indeed.

Alastor hums a small tune that’s carried by the night wind, and presses his foot on the man’s back, collapsing him to the dirt.

“That was a foolish mistake to make.” Alastor smiles at the handkerchief around his knuckles. If anyone was being foolish, it was him – his mistake drove you out of the safety of the car. “That goes for the both of us, I suppose.”

Alastor picks up the shovel, twirling it like a cane. It hits him, then and there; he doesn’t know the name of this man. It’s too late to ask, either way.

“Lucky for you, I promised not to take too long. Ha! But don’t worry, I won’t be leaving too soon.” Alastor aligns the tip of the shovel above the man’s knee. “Let’s take care of that nasty habit of running away. Do your best not to scream too loud! My wife has sensitive ears.”

The shovel goes down, and a scream rattles the birds.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Alastor returns to the car, a bloodied mess.

It’s all over his dress-shirt, and it stains his vest red. Oh dear, some even got onto his favorite bowtie. His clothes would need to go up in flames. There’s no saving it. Except the bowtie – never the bowtie.

It’s cheap fabric, and something he shouldn’t even be seen wearing. Yet . . . Alastor always finds himself putting it on. He would never throw it away. Especially when you make so little, and buying this bowtie took quite a dent on your paycheck. It would take you months of saving just to buy him another one of equal quality, and even longer for something better.

So, Alastor keeps the bowtie.

He didn’t bother dragging the man back with him like he usually does, but he does leave him scattered around in pieces for the animals.

Oh dear!

Alastor must be quite the mess after taking a tumble. That’s mud staining his sleeves, and blood mixing with it as well. The smell must be horrid as well. He takes a moment, and runs a hand through his hair, trying to tame the stands that stick out. It doesn’t work. An irritated click on his tongue – he can’t go back to you looking like this!

Surely, you would . . . you . . . oh, you were worried for him.

It hits him all at once.

A small, giddy laugh warms him to the core. Alastor presses his face into his arm, hiding a smile that you couldn’t even see. Fuck! He runs another hand over his hair, and now, there’s now way he can go back to you looking like such a mess.

Alastor traces the music notes around the handkerchief once more. Another laugh – it’s louder this time, and it echoes across the trees.

Dear gosh, he needs to keep it together.

Alastor runs a hand over his face, calming his expression, and enters the car.

The moment he settles into the seat, you crash into him, clutching tightly even as the blood on his clothes transfers to you. “Home.”

Alastor wants to say something rather silly. With you here . . . well, he’s already home.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

What are we thinking, people? I still got my writing chops. Alaso, this chapter is supposed to be one big chapter titled Between the Glimpse and The Last because it's between parts 5 and 6 ( |Part 5: Glimpse of Me and You: Part II| and |Part 6: Radio’s Last Broadcast|) Next chapter will be a continuation of this scene. WHERE MORE FLUFF WILL HAPPEN. So if you've liked this, follow along. I'm not done with the Hurt/Comfort. Emphasis on Comfort. Maybe a little bit more hurt as well because this is almost right before 1933

[gallaghersgal]

tell me about baseball because I know nothing but would like to learn!

FEVER PITCH pro baseball!lip headcanons

TAGS & WARNINGS: mature, 18+. sexual content but non explicit, drinking mention, emotional angst, pregnancy. but also fluff!! silly shenanigans, second chance romance, lip is stupid in love.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: this is my brain child omfg. tysm for sending this ask, honestly. i yapped!!! there was also more to this but i've been adding to it for days and its getting long for hcs so. lmk if anyone wants part 2 teehee

WC: 1.4k

when he was younger lip always played shortstop, his arm was powerful but not quite precise enough to pitch, but he never minded. pitchers have to remember too much, shortstop just falls into the rhythm; watching the pitch, listening to the crack of the bat, and tracking the ball as it rocketed through the field. the two of you met in college, lip played two seasons at university of chicago before transferring to a better athletic program. there was a mutual breakup before parting ways, but whenever he's in town you can't fight the urge to see each other.

he's picked up on the MLB draft straight out of college, after captaining the national championship team, and sent to an affilliate somewhere warm in the south, georgia or maybe louisiana. he calls you often to boast the climate, while you complain about the stress of your masters degree. over time the calls come less frequently, but each conversation feels like no time has passed at all.

it takes three years for lip to work his way up to the big leagues, where he joins the chicago cubs for his rookie season. now, lip plays centerfield. he's a quick runner, and his powerful arm sends balls to their respective bases at record speed. he's efficient, most teams don't stand a chance.

he doesn't know how to tell you he's coming home again, back to chicago. and back to you. you find out from your best friend, who overheard fiona talking about it at patsy's. you two along with fi & veronica find the money for tickets at centerfield, right where lip will be.

fiona whistles through her fingers the second she reaches her seat and waves down her brother, whose cheeks immediately turn bright pink. if a teammate pointed it out he'd surely brush it off as the chilled march wind, but you know him better than that. he greets the four of you nervously, opening up as he gets sight of the smiles you wear. no one cares he didn't tell, your joy at his homecoming tops any negative in your minds.

after the third inning a guest services rep brings the four of you a handful of meal and beverage vouchers, a gift from lip. later you'll learn he'd tried to have your seats upgraded but was denied, too low on the totem pole for that sort of request. so you pile your arms with hot dogs, pretzels, cheese fries, diet coke and fancy ipa brews.

the game flies by, you and fiona sit side by side and shout teases down to lip, watching his face light up. this is the first time you really see his talent, how he's developed as an athlete. he finally has somewhere to put all of that pent up energy he keeps inside, using it to jump up in the ivy wall for a catch, to react as quick as the ball and sprint in the same direction. when he catches the game-winning out, a fly ball straight to centerfield, he tosses it up into the stands. it sails directly to you, tipsy giggles spilling from your lips as you scrawl your phone number onto the white canvas before throwing it back down.

lip wants to fog up the windows of your honda right there in the parking lot but you have the presence of mind to drag him towards his own parked car while he trails sloppy kisses down your neck. the sex is amazing, it always is, but there’s something different in the way he holds you this time. you pretend not to notice it, until you have a reason to bring it up.

three weeks later, two pregnancy tests sit on the gallaghers bathroom counter. you'd only brought one along, but fiona dug another out of her bedside table drawer when you became anxious at the two pink lines. when the second test reads positive, v offers to call lip for you and you let her.

it's hours before he can get to you, even without a game there's still training, a players meeting, and dinner afterward with franchise sponsors. he's busy, you get it. fi gives you the spare key to his apartment—a studio unit in a high rise downtown, somewhere you couldn't imagine a gallagher living—and lip pays for a cab to take you there.

once you lay eyes on the space it becomes a little more believable that lip gallagher lives there. a box spring and mattress are stacked together in one corner, topped with the classic navy blue sheets and two pillows. he has a small couch (loveseat, more like) that you decide to wait on, favoring it over the bed. his tv sits on the floor against the wall, with the remote balanced precariously on top. flipping through channels is a nice, mind numbing activity to soothe you, and you fall asleep after landing on old sitcom reruns.

the sun has long set when lip comes in the door, eyeing your sleeping frame. he decides to let you sleep while he washes the grime of the day from his body. he kneels by you when he's clean and fresh, clothed in nothing but blue gingham boxers. "'ey kid, wake up," he mumbles, smoothing your hair away from your brow. when he sees you blink up at him he continues softly, "y'can live here with me, until the baby is born, m'kay? an' we can decide what we want to do." "about?" "about us."

you smile up at him, he offers you the bed and insists on taking the couch, not allowing himself too much of a good thing. he's already over the moon you want to keep the baby, his baby. he doesn't want to scare you away. he only makes it a week cramped up on that tiny couch. later in your relationship you have something funny to look back on, old photos of lip with his knees tucked up and one arm hanging awkwardly off the cushions.

when he can't stand the couch anymore he orders you a pregnancy pillow, and you order a bedframe, all on his card of course. you don't even need the pillow yet, most nights of your first trimester you're up and down, in and out of the bathroom. each time you come back to bed lip is on his stomach, arms curled around that damn pillow as he rests on it. he says it helps his sore muscles. whatever the reason is you don't really care, the toned expanse of his back makes a good pillow anyway.

you get into a habit of ordering furniture, decorations, and other home goods while lip is away. he doesn't mind, always makes sure you use his card, he wouldn't know what to do with all that money anyway. little by little the studio apartment starts to feel like home, and lip starts to feel more like a serious boyfriend than a hookup turned baby daddy, for lack of better wording.

before you know it the season is over, lip receives a large bonus after the cubs make the playoffs, and the two of you are kissing over a bottle of sparkling cider as you christen your new two-bedroom townhouse, complete with a downstairs office space and large backyard. october turns the leaves beautiful hues, and the calmness of this new neighborhood soothes your mind, your due date in december rapidly approaching.

between the new place, increased proximity during the off-season, and your pregnancy hormones, you find yourself bickering more and more with lip. it comes to a head one night when he shouts at you, and you feel the baby kick in response before you break down completely. the fight was about something small, insignificant. it had started with you talking about baby names. lip isn't sure how he let it spiral this way.

dutifully, with regret painted on his features, he kneels down beside your crumpled form on the bed. he takes your hand, muttering an apology and promising to make things work. then he says softly, "i like lucy. as a name for the baby?" you just stare at him, and he continues, "could be short for lucille. an' you liked olivia for a middle name, yeah?"

"lucille olivia gallagher. it's so pretty, lip, i love it." you smile in awe, reaching out to cup his cheek. "i love you," you say, and now it's lip's turn to stare. but a moment passes and he smiles, gathering your frame into his arms to pull you into his lap. "love you too, pretty girl."

by new years day you have a healthy baby girl in your arms, and a pretty diamond ring on your left hand.

© gallaghersgal, 2024. dividers © cafekitsune (x)

[cybershock24601]

Date Night

Rook had to check Maps three times to be sure she had the right address but the imposing wrought iron gates in front of her were apparently the right place even if Rook couldn’t even see a house behind them. Well, only one way to find out for sure, Rook thought as she leaned out the window to punch in the gate code Lucanis had texted her and thankfully it worked.

As Rook drove Bianca down the long cobblestone driveway she came to the firm conclusion that Lucanis definitely lived here and this sort of elegant opulence was exactly the sort of home she would expect a guy with the sort of firm opinions on artisanal coffee and proper thread count sheets to come from. Also that the landscaping here was absolutely immaculate. The hydrangeas were the just the perfect shade of blue and Rook knew from Harding’s trouble with them that it was tricky thing to do.

Finally, Rook reached what must have been Lucanis’ house which was less a house and more of a mansion and less of a mansion more of an actual fucking castle. Oh yeah, this place was explaining a whole lot about Lucanis’ odder idiosyncrasies.

Not that Rook cared too much about that as she put Bianca in park and hopped out of the car with the giant bouquet she dragged Harding with her to pick out. Rook had thought about getting something more original than some red roses but Lucanis appreciated the classics so two dozen red roses it was.

With a skip in her step and the accompanying jingle from the chains hanging off her belt, Rook approached the imposing carved wood double doors and took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. Rook didn’t even have time to start getting nervous standing outside in her scuffed up Docs and second hand outfit in front of such an imposing manor before the door was wrenched open to reveal Lucanis.

With Lucanis all dressed up with his hair slicked back, beard trimmed, and in a suit that did amazing things to his figure, Rook thought she could be forgiven for panicking and thrusting the bouquet right into his chest with a high pitched, “For you!”

Lucanis let out a soft little oof but took the roses with delicate care and looked at them with the softest, sappiest smile Rook had ever seen him wear before he looked right back at Rook with those lethally big, beautiful brown eyes of his eyes as he said in a gentle, quiet voice dripping with barely contained joy, “Rook, you shouldn’t have.”

Rook barely stopped herself from doing a little fist pump at Lucanis’ reaction because she clearly knocked it out of the park with the bouquet as she watched Lucanis gently stroke the petals of the roses. Instead of doing anything to embarrass herself, Rook managed to play it cool and say “Of course I should have. Would this have really been a proper date without flowers?”

Rook’s cheeky little grin disappeared quickly as Lucanis pulled Rook into a gentle kiss that had her closing her eyes and leaning into it as much as she could without crushing the flowers between them. It was far from their first kiss but it still tasted just as sweet, like honey and lavender cream.

Rook broke the kiss with a sweet little giggle and brought her hand up to Lucanis’ chest and ran a finger down the soft fabric of his suit, “You’re looking sharp tonight.”

“And yet I still don’t look nearly as radiant as you, mi vida.” Lucanis said as he took Rook’s hand in his own and brought the back of it up to his lips for a gentle kiss. Rook could only let out another lovesick giggle.

In one smooth motion, Lucanis transferred the roses to hold in the crook of his elbow, hooked his other arm with Rook’ own, and pulled the door closed with his foot before rushing them both out to the car, “I think it’s time we got out of here.”

Rook followed along easily as Lucanis lead them back to the car but couldn’t help teasing Lucanis, “What’s the rush? Are you just that excited to get me all alone?”

“Of course, Rook. However it would also be best if we got out of here before my family decides to make an appearance.” Lucanis said as he opened the side passenger door.

“What? Afraid I’ll embarrass you in front of them?” Rook asked teasingly as she walked around the front of the car to get to the driver side.

“No.” Lucanis said vehemently as if the idea of ever being embarrassed by Rook was anathema. “I just don’t want them scaring you off.”

“Lucky for you then I don’t scare easily,” Rook said with a wide grin as she plopped down in the drivers seat and stuck the key back into ignition. Do not embarrass me now, Bianca, Rook thought as she willed the worn down car to start as she turned the key. Luckily Bianca had her back and started up on the first try.

“You have not met my grandmother, Rook. She’s a scary woman.” Lucanis said as he settled into his seat, still softly clutching the roses to his chest. He probably should have put them right in a vase but he wasn’t willing to risk the chance of his family showing up by taking the time to do that.

“But you have met me, and trust me, it would take a whole hell of a lot more then one scary old lady to make me leave your side.” Rook said as she took Lucanis’ hand and laced their fingers together. She met Lucanis eyes with a brilliantly bright grin and gave their hands a squeeze before detangling their fingers to put her hand on gear shift. “So, are you ready to hit the town?”

Lucanis just let out a joyous laugh and said, “Yes. I am just hoping this place has a good selection.”

“It’s a wine bar. I feel like it should have something to satisfy even a wine snob like yourself.” Rook said as she started driving back down the cobblestone driveway.

“I am not a snob. I simply have high standards.” Lucanis said with an imperious sniff, “However seeing as Emmrich recommenced the place I am willing to give it the benefit of doubt.”

Rook only laughed and the two of them set off into the night.

--------

Meanwhile, the third floor music room of the Villa Dellamorte was completely silent except for two quiet clinks as its two inhabitants set down their opera glasses at the same time and shared a Look between themselves. The entryway of the house might have blocked their view of the door but they still got a clear look at Lucanis’ mysterious sweetheart and the... atrocity she rode around in.

No words were exchanged as the two stewed in silence at the scene they had just witnessed. Finally Illario simply could not take the silence and exclaimed, “What was that? Did Lucanis really put on Armani to ride around in some clunker that should have found it’s home in a junk yard a decade ago?”

“And that outfit! Who needs that many bracelets? I could practically hear the jingling from up here! And what sort of freak walks around wearing that many skulls on them? Mierda!” Illario said as he jumped up out of his chair to pace around the room, muttering under his breath all the while at every fashion faux pas and crime Rook committed in the less then five minutes he was saw them for.

“Oh my poor boy, where did I go wrong?” Caterina asked softly as she put her hand to her forehead and bemoaned her grandson’s taste. She had introduced him to so many well mannered and well bred boys and girls over the years and he went and picked one right out of a Hot Topic dumpster. Caterina just thought that Lucanis had high standards but it turned out he just had bade taste.

“And the car! Did you see those bumper stickers? Who slaps on a sticker that says ‘I eat sand’ on their car? I think I saw about six coexist bumper stickers on that thing!” Illario said as he whipped back around to Caterina to keep complaining. If Illario ever cared to ask Rook about that, she’d be able to tell him the very long story Varric told her about how Bianca ended up with covered with so many coexist stickers that involved at least two trips to the hospital over the span of six months, but Rook had no excuse for the I EAT SAND one, that one was all Rook.

Caterina held up a hand to halt Illario’s ranting mid stream and said, “We must do something about this. Do you know if Viago’s cousin is still single?”

“The fuck up? I would have to ask.” Illario said, a bit confused as he was sure Caterina could not stand the kid.

“Do so. Anyone would be better than that one for Lucanis.” Caterina said with finality as she stood up to retire to her room with what would likely be an entire bottle of wine to help her cope with the night’s revelations.

[anxiousnerdwritings]

y’all playing with the Bellatrix Lestrange meme 😂 we all know she’s taking a teaching job at Hogwarts to stay close

ain’t no way she’s gonna spend the next seven years only seeing her darling during summers and holiday breaks

Absolutely no doubt. First, can I say how much I love the idea of Professor!Bellatrix in general cause I do. So fucking much. She’ll be there at the train station causing the most dramatic/traumatizing scene ever only to apparate to Hogwarts and wait for her bby to arrive so she can happily greet them as if she hadn’t just got done seeing them off awhile ago. That, or she she’s riding the train with her bby all the way to Hogwarts. And you can bet, which ever option it is, it’ll be the same exact routine for the next six years.

Also, Yan!Mom!Professor!Bellatrix wholeheartedly plays favorites, she’s very open and blatant about it too. And her most favorite-est student is of course her bby, as if it could possibly be anyone else. You can bet the first few months of the school year, Bellatrix is escorting and overseeing her bby in their classes. And she’s watching like a hawk, scrutinizing everything the other professors do.

You can also bet Bellatrix is slippin’ her bby answers, both in her own class and the other ones as well. Like, I can imagine after all the countless times Bellatrix has been kicked out/banned from the other classrooms she finds ways to sneak in and help her bby out even if they don’t need it at all. Like, she’s just camped out on a banister like some kind of gargoyle watching everything or she’s outside the classroom peeking in from the window, sticking to the side of the castle like spiderman. Hell, she’d sneakin’ in just to slip her precious child some snacks or a spare quill just as an excuse to see and check on them. She knows her bby is well capable of getting through their classes on their own but Bellatrix can’t help her severe separation anxiety. Besides, she needs to know how the other professors and students are treating her bby when she isn’t around.

I can’t help but imagine Yan!mom!Bellatrix, Professor or not, if her child was on the quidditch team. I could see her starting out and coming off calm and collected when watching their first game only to become a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the whole thing. She’s a mess of excitement and nerves for her bby. She’s screaming and hollering for them, jumping with unabashed joy when they’re doing their thing. She and Narcissa are totally holding signs and representing the house colors of whatever house the Reader is in, same goes for Draco when he’s playing. Merlin forbid if Bellatrix’s bby gets hit with a bludger, she would need to be completely restrained from going off and cursing the player and their entire family. And when I say Bellatrix would hold a grudge against the student who did it, I mean it. She would make their life hell until they eventually graduated or transferred schools. Not to mention Draco and his posse are there to help too.