#the old married couple bickering makes my heart happy

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

[la-petite-lapin]

Double the Love | Part Four

Double the Love masterlist

Simon "Ghost" Riley x Johnny "Soap" MacTavish x female civilian!OC Word Count: 2.1k Series warnings (may change between chapters): 18+ Minors DNI, angst, mentions of death, mentions of violence, injury description, eventual explicit sexual content, polyamory, M/M/F, FMC is bad at feelings, Johnny and Ghost bicker like an old married couple

An argument and a conversation

After the game ends, Gaz and John don't immediately leave.

Instead, we start watching a comedy action series about an American SWAT team. Listening to them laugh and point out all of the inaccuracies brings a smile to my face and it stays there until my cheeks ache.

By the end of the third episode, darkness is settling outside the windows. Gaz hits the stop button before the fourth one can start, slowly rising up from his seat on the floor with a loud yawn.

"I should probably get going," he says, stooping down to collect his empty cans. "Need to stock up on my beauty sleep before the big day next week." There's a pause as he stretches, purposefully knocking into the side of John's head with his elbow. "Still coming with us, Ghost?"

I look up, brow furrowing as Ghost shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Johnny looks up too, equally confused.

"I dunno," he growls, eyes finding Johnny's. There's no small amount of guilt there. "Depends if you're happy with me going. Don't want to leave you here on your own when you're injured."

Wow okay. I cringe internally. He's gone from not being too keen on me to completely ignoring my existence in the space of a single day. And just when I though that - maybe - we were starting to make some headway. That has to be some sort of record.

Maybe it was stupid of me to think that we could be friends.

Johnny tilts his head. "What big day?"

"We're flying back to Russia to try and find some intel on the group that ambushed us," John supplies, shooting me a look. It's more than clear that this isn't information I should be privy to. It makes me wonder just how many rules and laws he's breaking by letting me be in the room for this conversation. "We won't be gone long. It should only take a few days."

"And, like I said," Ghost continues dryly, "I don't even know if I'm going yet."

"Well it's not like I'd be on my own. Tali is here." An edge creeps into Johnny's tone as he adds, "But it'd be nice to be told about things. I mean, it's not like I'm yer boyfriend or anything."

Now it's Ghost's turn to cringe. "It wasn't like that. I just forgot to mention it."

"Oh, ye forgot-" Johnny's voice is drenched in bitter sarcasm.

The previously light-hearted atmosphere in the room dies. All of the comfortable banter and humour that filled the apartment earlier is gone, giving way to awkward glances and stony silence. John rubs his hands along the lengths of his thighs, gaze flickering from me to Gaz - the aforementioned soldier not looking the least bit phased by the unfolding domestic. Instead, he takes a slow walk into the kitchen, depositing his empties into the recycling bin.

"I think you should go." Johnny's tone is full of certainty, and one look at his face shows me as much. His jaw is set; his usually happy eyes steely and full of something colder than I've seen from him before.

Ghost's mouth quivers before settling into a deep frown. "Johnny-"

"I think we should get going," John says softly, cutting off whatever else Ghost was about to say. He hooks a thumb in Gaz's direction. "Come on. I'll drive you home."

As Gaz walks back to the front door, putting his trainers on at a leisurely pace, Johnny excuses himself to the bathroom. Ghost remains on the sofa, his head in his hands as his back rises and falls with his quicker-than-usual breaths.

John surveys the unfolding scene with watchful eyes before turning to me, pulling me into another bearhug, and leaning into my ear to say, "Are you sure you're going to be okay with them? I don't want them causing you any hassle with their bickering."

I lean up onto my tiptoes to reciprocate the gesture. "I'll be fine, John. Send Marcella my love and stay safe, okay? When you come back, we're having that dinner you keep banging on about."

John chuckles as he pulls away, a broad smile on his face. "I will, and I will. You take care of yourself too, Tali. I'll message you whenever I can."

I exchange a brief goodbye with Gaz - him promising that I'll see him again very soon, and me giving him my phone number to arrange another movie night - before I'm alone in the apartment with the bickering lovers once again. Though, it doesn't stay that way for long. After about ten minutes, Ghost stands up. He whips around the apartment, grabbing his coat, his balaclava, and his shoes, then mumbling something about going for a walk. I'm still clearing up the bowls when I hear the front door open then slam shut.

"Has he gone out?" Johnny's voice rings out from the hallway just seconds later.

"Yeah."

"Okay." He walks out from the hallway leading to the bedrooms and the bathroom, coming to stand with me in the kitchen. "I'm sorry ye had to see that. Ghost and me... sometimes we argue. A lot."

I shrug. "Don't worry about it. As long as you don't start screaming at each other, it's all good."

Johnny nods, leaning back against the counters. "Do ye need a hand tidying up?"

Before I can tell him to leave it, Johnny's standing right next to me, drying the dishes that I'm just starting to wash. We're elbow-to-elbow in front of the sink. Every once and a while, his arm brushes against mine, sending tingles down my spine.

Even though I know I shouldn't, I catch myself sneaking glances at him while we do the dishes. I can see more details up close; a small pearlescent scar across the top of the bridge of his nose, a tiny fleck of scar tissue under one bright blue eye, a cluster of freckles along one side of his jaw. There's no denying that he's a beautiful man, even with the tiny imperfections scattered across his skin - which has regained it's colour since we first met.

And I know that I shouldn't keep looking, but I can't help it.

We work in comfortable silence until the dishes are done. It's been about half an hour since Ghost left but neither of us mention that as we take up our usual positions in the living room.

"Want to watch a movie?" Johnny asks, his voice soft and hopeful in that heart-melting way of his.

"Only if you pick something."

"Rom-com?"

I nod in confirmation. "Rom-com."

We're about twenty minutes into the movie when Johnny catches my attention. Silently, he motions to the stretch of sofa beside him, tilting his head to one side. The question is implied: come sit with me. I hop up from the armchair and sink down next to him, leaving a gap between us in case he isn't comfortable with physical contact.

"Mind if I lie down?" Johnny's words are a gentle hum over the montage happening on the screen.

There's a tightness in my chest at the way he looks at me, and I try my best to ignore it. "Sure. Go for it."

He lays down, placing his head in my lap. It instantly reminds me of the way he lies down with Ghost when they watch TV.

After a minute, I let my hand tangle in the longer hair of his mohawk, toying with the strands. He lets out a sound that's as close to a purr that I've ever heard a human make; a low rumbling sound that emanates from deep within his chest. I can feel the warmth of his skin as he nuzzles his cheek against my thigh, the prickle of his stubble biting at my skin through the fabric of my linen pants.

"This okay?" he asks in the same low, soft tone.

My breath catches in my throat. Even though I know he's in a relationship with Ghost - I know - a traitorous part of me still asks one damned question. What if?

"Tali?"

"Yeah." Even over that one, simple word, my voice quivers.

Johnny doesn't seem to notice. "If I fall asleep, wake me up. Okay?"

I don't reply. Not verbally. Instead, I just card my fingers through his hair, running my nails along his scalp as he melts even deeper into my lap.

I wake up when the front door opens. The TV is still playing; filling the apartment with a soft, constant ebb of noise. The remote is next to my free hand, the other still tangled in Johnny's hair. Consciousness returns to me in bits and pieces, but I don't fully remember the hour directly before I fell asleep until Ghost is standing right in front of me.

His face is covered by his hood and the black balaclava as he towers over me, eyes trained on Johnny, who is still sleeping peacefully with his head in my lap.

I half expect Ghost to shout at me; to accuse me of something or tell me to get away from his boyfriend. Instead, he drops down onto the couch cushion beside me - the side of the sofa not occupied by Johnny's legs - and drapes his arm along the back behind me.

When he finally speaks, it's to say, "Is he still mad at me?"

I shake my head. "I don't think so." My fingers continue to draw patterns on the shaved section of Johnny's head, twirling swirls and simple patterns in it. "We didn't really talk about what happened. We watched a movie then fell asleep."

Ghost grunts. "Johnny isn't like me. He's a good man; he trusts people with his whole heart. He's quick to let people in."

A moment passes and, just when I think he's done talking, he adds, "If I leave for Russia with John and Gaz, will you take care of him for me? Please." He taps me on the shoulder and my gaze lifts from Johnny's face to his. His expression is serious, readable even with the mask; his hazel eyes dark and full of emotion. "I won't be able to focus unless I know he's safe and being taken care of. And I... I think I can trust you, Tali."

I don't know Ghost; I don't know him at all. But he seems like a man who very rarely says those words.

"You're a friend of Price's and - quite frankly - Johnny could kill you if you tried shit," he elaborates, negating some of the sentiment from that previous statement.

I choke out a laugh so abruptly that I immediately check to see if I've woken Johnny up. He's still sound asleep. "I don't doubt it." My gaze returns to Ghost's face, and I make an effort to hold his gaze as I say, "But I would never try anything with Johnny. He's like the human equivalent of a Golden Retriever, and I actually like having him around. I like having both of you around."

Ghost's eyes soften at the edges. All of a sudden, there's a bashfulness to him that I haven't seen before. Hell, I don't think anyone other than Johnny has. "Really? Even though I'm a right prick to you sometimes?"

I let out a breathy laugh. "Yeah, I guess. You know, I see some of myself in you. Being scared to trust others; distancing yourself from people so you can't get left behind." Ghost's eyes darken even more and he shifts almost imperceptibly, moving closer to me until his side is pressed against mine. "I understand it more than you think. But I also do agree that you could be a little friendlier with me sometimes. Maybe even tell me your actual name instead of keeping me at arm's length with your callsign."

He nods slowly. "Not my name; not yet, anyway. I'll be nicer though." There's a beat of silence as Johnny stirs. Again, he doesn't wake up. "So, who hurt you? And am I allowed to hunt them down?"

He says it so deadpan that I whole-heartedly believe he would given the chance.

"No names necessary. My parents are dead. They were killed in a car accident when I was young. And then my brother died last year." It physically pains me to voice that last part aloud. It runs over a raised, sore part of me, rubbing against raw nerves.

"I... fuck, I'm so sorry, Tali. I had no idea." Ghost's voice is rough, the usual gravel tinged with regret.

I frown. "It's not like you could've. John knows, but we don't talk about it. I... I don't really like talking about it."

He hums. "Understandable." There's a long pause, filled by the low hum of the TV. "I'm the last one left from my family too."

I don't ask him to elaborate, and he doesn't. We just sit in the moment and let it pass.

With Johnny's head in my lap as he sleeps soundly, and the warmth of Ghost's body against my side, for once, I don't feel so alone.

a/n: hey guys! from here on out, I'm going to try and post once a week at the least unless something in my personal life means I can't university is starting up again next week so I'm going to try my best :) - hope to see you all next week for part five, lapetitelapin :)

[litrumi]

Dumb DayNap Thoughts #8

*Bit of a long one. Crafty is feeling quite glum, so Dogday volunteered himself and Catnap to put on a puppet show to cheer her up! (For some reason, this was the song I was listening to the entire time)*

Dogday, explaining everything to Catnap: I'll be the knight puppet. And... you can be the princess puppet!

Catnap, blinking unamused: ...I'm the princess?

Dogday, just trying to be cooperative: Er... I mean, it doesn't really matter to me, you know.

Crafty, meekly observing as the only audience member: U- Um... You two don't really need to go through this much trouble for me...

Dogday, obliging to Crafty: Nonsense! Just sit back and relax! Enjoy the heart-warming story!

Dogday, smiling at Catnap: Here. I'll be the princess then! Just follow the script, okay? Ahem...

Dogday, narrating: The knight sets off on his grand journey to rescue the beautiful princess!

Catnap, lingering on the idea of being 'rescued,' suddenly changing his mind: Wait... I want to be the princess then.

Dogday, internally sighing, but being patient: Catnap... Please, just pick a puppet so we can start.

Catnap, childishly: Don't rush me!

Catnap, thinking about it seriously: Hm... Which will be the most fulfilling and satisfactory role for me...?

Dogday, reminding him: ...Try not to forget that we're doing this for Crafty.

Dogday, thinking about the cat's ulterior motives: Either way, we're gonna kiss at the end, so-

Catnap, embarrassed: I- In front of Crafty?! How bold have you gotten?! That's indecent!

Dogday, clearing up the confusion spontaneously: Not "we" us! I meant with the puppets! Geez...

Catnap, thinking about it some more:

Catnap, slightly offended: Wait... why NOT "us"?

Dogday, getting a little irritated by this point: Which is it...?! Are you mad about kissing or not kissing?!

Catnap, quietly brooding, but still passive-aggressively: ...Doesn't matter to me.

Dogday, seeing through his lies: It so does! Ugh... Just stop getting jealous of some silly puppets...

Catnap, defensively: Who's getting jealous?!

Dogday, shouting: You! Seriously?! Why are you so jealous of some inanimate objects?!

Catnap, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms: Oh, you're one to talk...

Dogday, his face is now bright red, steaming: W- What does that mean?!

The two continue to bicker like an old married couple. Crafty is still sitting quietly the entire time. But she begins to smile as she listens to them, forgetting the weary thoughts that were bringing her down. Unintentionally, they were doing a great job with distracting her busy mind. And she really appreciated that.

She won't ever forget this.

(Bonus)

Dogday had no other choice but to play two roles, the knight and the princess puppet. Catnap was saddled with the monster puppet.

Dogday, dramatically as the knight puppet: Don't worry, my galaxy! I will smite this monster and rescue you!

Catnap, half-heartedly, as the monster puppet: It's either you or me.

Dogday, also dramatically as the princess puppet: Oh, my brave knight! I cannot wait to run away with you and get married!

Catnap, getting jealous of the plot:

The cat then very quickly makes the monster eat the princess puppet before anyone can register what even happened.

Dogday:

Dogday, upset: Wait! What're you doing?! This is supposed to have a happy ending!

Catnap, trying to hide his bitterness and not succeeding at all: Then let the knight and monster fall in love if you want a happy ending so badly...

Dogday, flustered: Stop being ridiculous! This is just pretend! Pretend, I tell you!

Crafty, silently watching and feeling awkward, like some kind of third wheel:

Now she REALLY won't ever forget this...

-

[fatuismooches]

HAHXHDHSHS FRAGILE!READER GAME PLAY HUT WHEN SHE THROWS A PUFFTORRE IT EXPLODES INTO CONFETTI 😭😭 (it was dottore's idea, you were very upset at this!!!)

ALSO JXHDKFHDKEHKCDHI 💥💥💥💥💥 THE THE.. IDEA I GOT... WHAT IFFFF dottore n fragile!reader are 2 characters as 1 unit? Like Clara n Svarog in HSR... Dottore is main dps while ur doing healing on one skill, which is using the Pufftorres/Foxttores JDHDKHDKEE IDK I JUST THINK IT'S SOOO CUTE n one idle is just them being silly together.... Hfjdekgrke dottore holding reader's cheek and reader gigglinh before he huffs and turns cuz u gotta fight and all!!! If reader gets hit n hp goes below like what, 40%? 50%? Immediately switches to dottore n he gets buffs cuz no body hurts his beloved and gets away with it!!! 😡😡😡 reader having favoritism with characters... Fatui and dottore almost getting huge number healing while others get almost none (esp the archons 💀) :33

ALSO VISIONLESS CHARACTERS!!! I need that too... Dottore with a vision is SOOO off putting

Also my voice lines. I'm OBSESSED... maybe... in game interactions when in battle together??? 💥💥💥💥💥💥I can't.... Officially my Roman Empire 💔😭

IM GOING INSANEEEE RAHHHH THIS IS SO FLIPPING CUTE I CANT- Not the confetti!! The poor Puffttores didn't consent to this!! 😭 BUT BEWJDE IT WOULD BE SO FUNNY... imagine you have a Treasure Hoarder or someone cowering in fear because you're playing around with the Puffttores in your hands menacingly... and you throw it at them ready to end the guy but!! Instead both of you are freaked out by the confetti floating everywhere! Dottore gets a very passionate rant from you later that day >:((

But like. Let's not forget about how many other possibilities there are. FRAGILE READER TEASER. It is mostly scenes of them and Zandik during the Akademiya. Except, current fragile reader is there in the background, forlornly watching their former self and Zandik's memories. With every new scene, fragile reader walks behind them, their gaze growing sadder and sadder the whole time, but they do not say a word. Until, it gets to a point where their former self starts to fade away, and in a panic they run after themselves, only to be met with nothingness. They have to accept that they'll no longer ever go back to their old self. (Kind of like Raiden's teaser)

DEMO. I imagine it's kind of like Furina's in a way. Because fragile reader's demo is all in their head/a dream. It begins deceptively happy at first, bright sunlight, joyful music, and smiles. They are finally doing the things they wanted, traveling to other nations, doing things that any normal person would do. Showing Foxttore the world too. The segments are there as well, bickering as usual while fragile reader looks on happily, interrupting them and pulling them to see all the sights the world has to offer. There are no worries, nothing bad happening at all... which makes it all the more unsettling. And at the end- fragile reader wakes up with a start, in complete and utter darkness. For it was all a dream.

COLLECTED MISCELLANY. Dainsleif introducing you, but surprise surprise! Dottore takes over instead to describe his beloved!! EBWDIEWB him explaining all of the silly moves you do with Foxttore and Puffttores... 😭 all with a straight tone. You guys are so married couple 😭

AND YESSSS BRO IM LOVING THEM BEING A 2 IN 1.... do NOT separate them!! In reality... Dottore doesn't really need your support skills (he's incredibly strong after all) but!! He doesn't have the heart when you're so excited to finally be near him... :( AND OH MY GOSH A SHARED IDLE WITH BOTH OF THEM... also consider: Dottore playfully ignoring reader by looking at his notes and clipboard... and you get all pouty until you snatch it out of his hands and he chuckles... ugh so many possibilities...

Immediately getting swapped out when you get too hurt 🥺 i was thinking that happens when you're about to take a killing hit but!! That's more accurate because he'd never let it reach that point! OKAY BUT ALSO REAL. I always thought it'd be cool if certain characters got special buffs based on their in-game relationship with others (like members of the Qixing, or the Knights, Lyney and Lynette etc) We love fragile reader doting on their fellow Fatuis and shitting on the Archons!! They can stay on life support for all you care!!

AND THE BATTLE INTERACTIONS- okay hear me out. For the 2 in 1 character, you get two different ultimates depending on who your active character is. If it's fragile reader, it starts with Dottore ready to do the job for you, but you valiantly put your arm out in front of him, because you wanna protect him!! He watches on with amusement as you assault the screen with tons of Puffttores :3 (they're unlimited) If Dottore is the one on the field, before he brutally annihilates the enemies, you give him a little kiss for good luck and jump around in the background cheering him on totally ignoring how those guys are completely dead!! :3

Okay and your death voice line too - "Zandik... save me..." <3

[lazyneonrabbitt]

Sick day

You woke up feeling like absolute shit. Today was you three's day off and now this crazy headache was ruining the fun.

After your painkillers were deemed useless the boys decided yo treat you even more like a princess. You were already their everything but today it was even worse.

"Gonna have to stay in all day and I cam't even continue my game because of this freaking headache.." you whined dramatically, rolling onto your back with a loud sigh.

"I'm sure you'll feel good enough tonight to play some more." Lip came walking towards you and set a fresh pot of tea and an empty mug on the coffee table. "Now quit whining and drink something, yeah? You're probably starting your period soon, you always get these headaches before it."

Meanwhile, Carmy laughed to himself at how easily Lip shut you up. Taking some mental notes since he still always folded easily when it came to you. "Treating her like a princess, huh?"

"What. Princess is just a fancy word for a spoiled brat, which she is. ..which is also our fault for spoiling her so much." They both looked over at you. Sitting there in their clothes, blowing the steam off your hut mug of fresh brewed tea. You hadn't lifted a single finger today. The painkillers were brought to you in bed by Lip. Carmy made you a smoothie to get your strenght up and brewed you a pot of tea without you having to ask for any of it.

After a moment Lip returned to the couch with a large mug of coffee and sat down next to you. He snatched the TV remote and controller off the side table, reaching rudely past you in doing so and booted up your game. "Hey!" You protested until he opened a new save slot on the title screen. "You can't play, so you'll have to live with watching me fail at playing."

"What? You hate this game." You point at the TV to make a point. "You say it's unfair and it sucks because it has no difficulty settings and you 'die way too easily'" you air quote that last bit to recall his earlier statement on your new game when you were playing the week before.

"I know, baby. But I know how badly you want to stare at the pretty goth twink puppet kill other, less pretty evil puppets." His mocking tone was hard to miss.

Carmen walked past behind the couch and ducked down to kiss both of you on the cheek in passing by. "Alright, I'll be making a grocery run if you two are gonna be bickering like an old married couple." With his bag slung over his shoulder he grabbed his keys from the bowl and headed out the door. "See you in a bit, Bear!" You waved bye and made kissy noises as he closed the door behind him.

Carmen couldn't get the smile off his face.his two partners being idiots did that to him. You three were happy, in love and things were good. He felt good.

His quick grocery trip turned into a larger run, getting the freshest ingredients from local markets and stopping by the herbs shop to get some more tea blends for you. He knew your favorite store bought flavors and worked with the seller to mix up a few different bags for you to try.

On his way back he stopped at the local smoke shop and picked up some of the expensive brand cigarettes Lip loved to smoke but only got on special occasions because they're so pricey.

Carmen's love language has always been acts of service, and usually came together with gift giving as soon as he learned his partners' interests. And now with his bags full of items for dinner and his little surprise gifts he made his way back home.

"Oh motherfucker. I clearly dodged that!"

"You clearly didn't. He hit you on that last swing, else you wouldn't be dead now."

Lip's cursing and your arguments could be heard through the front door, having that fond smile creep back on Carmy's face as he walked back into the apartment.

"Hey babe, how was shopping?" "Welcome back, Bear!" The joined welcomes warmed his heart as he walked up to them and kiss them both, "Brought you something." ans hands them their gifts.

"What's the occasion? We got something to celebrate?" Lip was truly curious as to why he was given these cigarettes. "You never got them when we first started dating."

"Carmy, these teas smell amazing. Did you mix these yourself? That's your writing on the labels." You held a bag to your nose and breathed in the blend of red fruits. "Yeah. I know how much you love your fruit teas, so I went to that herb place to check out their stuff. Thought you'd like some personal blends."

You lifted your arm to catch his head as he leaned on the backrest and pull him into a loving kiss. "Thanks, Carmy."

When you pulled apart Lip took the oportunity to grab hold of him too and repeat the affectionate kisses. "Yeah, thanks, Bear."

Carmen took off to the kitchen to prepare soup and some sides for dinner while Lip kept you occupied with his failed attempts of playing your game again.

Dinner was set up beautifully on the kitchen island. Three sets of beautifully plated sides next to bowls of steaming soup, stuffed to the brim with veggies and meat.

Every little detail about this dinner was praised by you and Lip, thanking Carmy with every first bite of every bit of food on the table. You shared details of your couch hanging time, video game frustrations and shopping trip until every last bite of food was gone.

You and Lip insisted on cleaning up so Carmy could relax, but he kept swooping in to carefully clean his expensive knives that he disn't allow anyone else to use. Apologising constantly and immediately making excuses to help clean afterwards.

By the time you were done cleaning and standing in each others' way the sun had set and you found yourselves moving back to the couch. You draped yourself over the boys' laps to watch a movie of their choosing.

~~☆☆☆~~

A/N: Who knows what game Lip is playing?

[smytherines]

Tumblr won't let me post this from my drafts, but @uhhhitsme this is me responding to what you wrote yesterday!

I think that's right though. This is a long distance relationship. They live an ocean apart, they only get to see each other when their countries deem it necessary to work together. They have to have their entire relationship in secret because it is illegal. And probably treason because they work for two different countries. It is super turbo illegal.

I mean, long distance couples who don't have all those additional issues, who can call or video chat or whatever every day if they choose to, who have support networks there for them to lean on, (who aren't gay spies in the 1950s), most of the time they still don't make it because the distance is just too much to overcome. But Curt and Owen made it work. Even if it was messy and they were both assholes and nothing about it was rational. They made it work.

We don't know how long Curt and Owen were together before the fall, but I'm guessing it was at least a couple of years? They work incredibly well together, they're bantering and giving these goofy lovesick grins to each other (they make me sick)

Even when they bicker it feels like an old married couple. And it has to be that way for the show to make sense. We get less than ten minutes to establish their relationship, and this little section of the show is what gives the staircase scene true dramatic weight. Because there is so much fucking chemistry in that first ten minutes, such a sense of intimacy between them, that when Curt says "the feelings we had" the audience is already there. We don't need to be convinced (especially queer viewers who clocked this shit right away) because yeah of course these two were together.

They were able to keep this thing going off of maybe a couple of days together every few months? Days where they were mostly risking their lives and killing people and getting shot/stabbed/tortured and then hooking up in a hotel room or safe house or whatever.

One thing I think about a lot is if they were able to be that close to each other, function that well together, be so fucking familiar and warm with each other with just those little scraps of time together, I can't even imagine what they'd be like if they actually had time to just be together. Time to learn to be in a relationship. There's a line from Black Box that goes like "a real relationship- the kind of thing with a permanent address," and that's what Curt and Owen never got to have, and its the kind of thing you have to learn, you have to practice.

That's tough though, because I also think Curt's inherent restlessness would make it very difficult for him to settle down into a comfortable quiet life away from everything. I think he's the kind of guy who theoretically wants the comfort and happiness of a happy little domestic situation, wants to be loved and wanted, but it would be torture for him to have to stay in the same place for very long. At least as a younger man. He wants the idea of it. He wants it emotionally, but couldn't handle it practically. What he truly wants is for he and Owen to eternally live out their glory days together as the world's greatest spies- constant adrenaline and pressure and excitement.

This is pure headcanon, but I picture Owen as the kind of guy who has never wanted any of that. Home is where he keeps his shit in between missions. He doesn't want a happy little domestic life, he wants to do the job he's good at until he dies. Until he meets Curt. Then he starts wanting all sorts of things he knows he can never have. He wants to keep Curt safe, wants to know that they'll be able to see each other whenever they want, they'd have control of their own lives instead of being controlled by their agencies. He wants to stop having to work so hard and think so much and constantly constantly plan for the worst.

So it's difficult to say, but in my heart I do think that if they had more time, both in the pre-fall relationship and, y'know, Curt not putting a bullet in Owen's head, I think they could have figured it out. I think if they were able to sustain the feelings they had for so long on so little actual contact, then it would be difficult and painful and even more messy than before, but eventually they could move on to something better.

I think they loved each other enough to try, but after everything they had each been through in their four years apart, after the ways they had hurt each other and broken each other's trust, they just... couldn't see that in the moment. Which is pretty tragic to me.

[kazoo-world]

I’ve been in this fandom since March 2022. If you’re like me, you’ve read a good chunk of the fanfic that’s been published, and you have a hard time finding new stuff that’s to your taste. In honour of this, here is my rec list of the fics you definitely want to read but may not have come across!

✨My Gentlebeard/Blackbonnet Fic Rec List✨

Smutty (E)

Short (<4k)

The Good Plan by TheMewsAtTen: Stede treats Ed to some devoted stress relief, including hair brushing. A good cozy read. (4k)

Only You by gayasstheythem: Stede plunders a fancy blindfold in a raid and the sex is kinky but also really wholesome. Lots of tears and laughter and healing. (3.9k)

Mid length (4-8k)

Are You Lonesome Tonight? by RoughWinds: Ed and Stede have some kinky married roleplay sex where Stede plays a neglected housewife and Ed plays the next door neighbor that stepped up. They are achingly in love. (6.5k)

Smoke Signals by Spicy_Soldiers: Ed seduces Stede with some sensual cigar smoking. The imagery is so sexy and vivid that it’s almost dreamlike. (4.7k)

Won’t Rush It Along by camerasparring: Ed and Stede have marathon sex to figure out just how many times Stede’s magic dick can go. Very hot and silly. (6.9k (nice))

Of Oils & Jealousy by @kipli: Stede starts a line of scented olive oils (as he would) and the two of them go to the Republic of Pirates in search of a seller. They meet a pirate that’s a little too happy to meet Stede; Stede is blissfully ignorant of the man’s advances. Insanity ensues—including wild possessive sex. (4.7k)

Friendly Competition (Blackbeard Always Wins) by @cufeilidh: Stede and Ed disagree on who’s turn it is to service top and make the decision with a sex game. This fic makes me laugh every time because it’s so on brand. (4.9k)

sunflowers in the kitchen by dardreamcrash: Ed and Stede pretend to bicker like a married couple in a home goods store and then they go home and fuck nasty about it. Totally absurd and extremely cute, classic over the top in character insanity. (7k)

Long (>8k)

It Was Yellow and Pink by Bazzle: Ed confides that he misses when things were easier and simpler between them, so Stede stages a roleplay to fulfill his desire. Sweetest most healing sex ever (warning tho: undernegotiated kink). (14.9k)

A Sunday Kind of Love by WellSussed: Stede keeps trying to propose but Ed’s busy work schedule gets in the way; when their time tables finally align, Stede spoils Ed with a New Year’s to remember. Another one that makes my heart explode. (8.8k)

Spicy and Swearful

The Kissing Game by veeagainst: Set after s2ep5, Ed comes up with a kissing game as a way to take things slow with Stede. It works until it doesn’t, complete with lots of pining. (8k, M)

Other Delicacies and Delights by reddiegays: Stede and Ed spice up their married life by flirting across the bar they co-own. (1.3k, T)

Continue to Continue to Pretend by skeletonsandroundabouts: reunion fic written pre s2, but in tune with s2 tone. Stede stumbles upon a sulking Ed in a bar and they pretend not to know each other. Stede is a bombastic menace who thinks the ruse is working, but Ed is also a dumbass. Makes me laugh out loud every time I read it, and the character voices are perfect. (4.8k, T)

Fluff

Permanent Ink by insidethevoid: Ed is the cool distinctly tattooed step dad. Hijinks ensure when Alma wants to be cool like him. (5.2k, G)

Thy, Sweet, Love Remembered by @kazoo-world: Ed and Stede promise to always go to sleep together. It’s always the perfect remedy for the day’s frustrations. Look, yes, I wrote this and I’m biased, but every time I read it I can’t stop thinking about how mind blowingly cute it is. (1.1k, T)

Modern AU Meetcutes

Our Tesco Means Death by shipmates: Stede gets a job at Tesco after leaving his old life and notices and is noticed by his kind and smoking manager, Ed. Reading about Stede trying very hard to impress Ed by shoplifting makes me laugh rambunctiously. (21k, G)

the happiest place on earth is here (with you) by @medievill: Stede and Ed strike up a whirlwind romance at Disney World with Ed showing Stede around his usual haunts. Equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming. (33k, M)

Unlocked by @festiveferret: Newly divorced Stede accidentally breaks into rockstar Ed’s apartment thinking it’s his own. They fall in love as they hang out together. Ed has two beautiful and perfect guard cats and Stede is perfectly in character levels of insane. (15.5k, T)

[roamingtigress]

The Merry Misadventures of Hosea and The Mustached Idiot

Chapter One -

The Matthews Mattress

I feel the warmth of the morning sun on my face, and a heavy feeling blanketing, weighting down my form. I sigh. There's some 6'1 tall idiot with a mustache and a silly soul patch lying on top of me, wrapping a strong arm around me, the other draped off the bed. There was a pair of long legs sprawled out over the edge of the bed, which was only made for one, but Mustached Idiot here -- all 185 pounds of him -- decided that was only a suggestion.

But he's MY Mustached Idiot. Brilliant and stupid and frustrating and a pain in the ass all at the same time; Dutch can read the direction from the sky, but can't or won't follow a line on a map, but someone has to look after him. And we love each other, oh so much, bickering and all like the old couple that we are. Some fellow, Reverend Joe Swanson, got us married. And ol' Dutch isn't half bad to look at, either. When he shuts up, he can say a lot with his face when it isn't in a book, or doing some odd job that I get myself into now and then with him. Sometimes Arthur, and sometimes John with some convincing comes along (John always fights with Dutch over the issue of direction and Dutch is convinced he's heading in the right direction and that John simply can't be correct because that's not what the moon is telling him). Occasionally Sadie and Sean come along on our bounty missions or even on just a trail ride, and there's always some sort of chaos that erupts; a bounty usually dies, and a wild animal completely redirects us off course, particularly wolves; I don't know what it is, but the wolves come out of the woodwork when that man is out and about.

On that subject of books, Dutch and I have a nightly routine where we would get a book and read a chapter of it before bedtime . . . Something we've been doing since we first dated all those years ago. Sometimes we don't get sleep well into the night because sometimes we stop and end up discussing whatever is happening in the chapter.

"Dutch, I need to breathe -- "

I hear some clanking around. A somewhat, heavyset, tall fellow (even taller than the human blanket on top of me), well dressed considering his occupation working with tanning fluids, with a grey beard, half talking to himself about someone named Maggie Fike, half talking to me because he heard my sigh. The gentleman, none other than J.B Cripps. We agreed on a business deal with him; for a campsite that he'd move around here and there, we could have a good steady cash flow involving the sale of furs, feathers and hides. Cripps is . . . An interesting fellow with some strange stories to tell. One involved him being an acrobat in Portugal. Another involved a failed bank job in Tennessee with someone named Phil the Crab and Limpy Pete. Cripps doesn't care much for dogs, though. Poor Matilda! What a lovely Labrador she is, with her shiny black coat, always happy nature. She does her best.

The coffee he was brewing smelled good though and the smell of bacon and eggs was wafting in the air. The food came from the stockyard in Valentine in some high-risk, high-reward job that actually worked according to, er, plan. The pigs that he killed in the middle of the night were located right behind the police station; whom he also collects bounties for. What he hadn't used were sold to the butcher who took the remains without question. Nobody said that Dutch isn't a complex character. I accompanied him because adult supervision is required from time to time, and I needed to get a cold drink for a change.

Dutch still hasn't stirred too much from his sleep and he's making some sort of odd sound of contentment; something of a mew, something of a growl. He has a stupid crooked smile on his face as he uses my chest as a pillow and I don't have the heart to wake him; he looks at once ridiculous and gorgeous. I gently petted his cheek, a little rough from a day's missed shave. We went on a long-distance delivery from Cumberland Forest to Blackwater, and when he came home he had only a few hours of rest before the stockyard raid, giving him very little time for a shave, which is more than just a quick chore, it was a venture. He normally slept in his Union suit but the business of slaughtering pigs in rain-soaked slop is a messy business and he hadn't wanted to come to bed smelling like muck and shit, so he stripped himself down after a quick dip in the river, and put on some pants he used for some chores; nothing he'd wear out into town, but did its job. Sleeping in the nude is something he's also not above doing, but it was a bit nippy for that tonight and as he's gotten older the cold is something we've both grown more intolerant to.

I want to breathe and feel circulation in my body again, but . . . I still don't have the heart to wake him just yet. I want to just admire him for a moment longer. I traced a finger around that wonderful Roman nose of his, and after he let his arm slip off of me, which helped me move a bit, and then move my finger along the shape his mustache and that soulpatch. I run a hand through his lovely hair of his up a bit. I've long been a fan of how his hair looks in the morning before he puts on the pomade. Satisfied with my work, I slid my hand over a shoulder and down his back, which had been aching a bit after that long delivery run. Judy is a lovely Suffolk Punch mare -- under the saddle -- but a bitch in the hitch and will take the bit and run with it, and his poor back was suffering from it. I lean in and kiss his forehead, and just lightly, work a light massage into his lower back. There was a particularly nasty knot there and I worked on it with gradually firming touch. I felt the muscle twitching underneath my touch and then, subside.

I hear Cripps moving about still, doing odd jobs. Matilda barked at something, and Dynformer, that fine Thoroughbred stallion, snorted, and pawed at the dirt, eager to get the day started. Usually, he would be going out for a ride about now but someone decided to sleep in (or rather sleep on).

"I don't want to interrupt anythin', but breakfast is ready. I'll keep it warm over the fire."

It was a nice bonus to work with someone who had been accepting us as a couple; we didn't need to hide away when we camp; sure we could sneak out, and we still do for fun, but, that wasn't needed. You can say what you want to say about Cripps, but he even set up a nice little area for us a candle on a table for a romantic night setup by the cauldron, though we normally had our place at the bonfire. It was a nice thought and we have been there for reading while Cripps popped out in town.

My stomach nagged me. Breakfast did smell good. But I still had this Mustached Idiot on top of me. What am I to do?

Dutch's stupid smile widened as I traced my hand through his touseled hair again, and let a finger slip along his soft jawline; my other wasn't free just yet. Dutch was manipulating me in his sleep, just by being adorable. As I thought of a plan, I absentmindedly moved my hand down to his sensitive ribs. I didn't even realize I was doing it, but I was petting him like I do with Matilda and I felt him squirm under my touch, a happy sigh escaping from him. He was slowly waking; it was masterful manipulation, or so he likely thought, just so that he lay on me longer. But this wasn't my first rodeo and I had a trick up my sleeve, and my smirk that I had since I woke up, widened.

"Mmf!" Dutch squeaks out, initially trying to muffle it but it snuck out when I slipped a finger just under the hem of his pants, finding that sweet spot on his right hip, and he squirms. God, I love that waist of his, strangely serpentine, with a certain feminine quality to it. And I know it's one of his soft spots, particularly the right hip.

"Waking up are we, babygirl?" I grin, and then sigh again as he simply turns over onto me like I'm a fucking mattress. What did I get myself into?

Dutch let out a low whimpering growl, his head tilted back. Purring, he was fucking purring! "Mrr . . . " That stupid smile just grew.

"I know you're awake, Duchess."

I caught the glimpse of an eye fluttering open as I snaked a hand towards his belly, another sensitive spot. My other hand is rested over his heart and I feel him lightly placing his hand over mine, and then taking it, lightly, so lightly just kissing it. It was a silent 'I love you'; a nice little morning routine before whatever lays ahead for us for that day.

"How long have you been awake?" I tap that nose of his.

I refuse to touch him again until I get an answer, but that sonofabitch arches his back and presses his midriff into my hands, and I dance them away again. He pouts and gives me puppy dog eyes as he flops back down on me again, but those eyes are smiling. I do love seeing this playful side of him; it reminds me of the old days so much. And with that, I feel younger.

"Oh . . . About an hour." The twinkle in his eyes showed in his voice.

I give him a slap on the belly; there's a tiny bit of a thud, and he lets out this wheezy chortle. There's a chance we'll likely get in finer shape (there's a tinge of softness on both in both of us old dads but looking pretty damn good, mind) soon enough with all that we've signed up for.

"You shit -- "

Dutch just laughs, placing a hand over my other hand that's over his heart, he gives it a light squeeze. A sort of squeeze that he'd do to pacify me whenever I got upset in a silent plea to not be angry; he knows I'm not upset, but he plays the part, and I play along.

"You was pettin' me, 'sea -- " He answers coyly, and repositioned himself slightly; no, not for my comfort, but so that he can kiss me on the neck as he does to get out of trouble, even in our arguments when he wants to get back on my good graces.

Dutch got one over me! The boy needs to be put in his place! "You -- " I break from my stern expression though and I just laugh, lightly tickling him; as per usual he tries not to laugh and tries to stay stoic, but, it sneaks out. I take delight in that laugh, feeling him squirming under my touch. I slow my fingers down to a gentle stroke and then, with my free hand, I hold him tight, and I bury my face into that lovely, tousled hair.

"I think I love you . . ." Dutch murmured as he moves up into my touch, and in return, he kisses me, touching me, wherever he can. I realize I'm not helping my situation and only encouraging him.

"I think I love you too, you know . . . " I smile. And that smartass side of his sneaks out.

"Someone's got to."

I kiss that idiot, and for that moment, I don't want him to get up. We'll eventually get up and have our breakfast; Matilda is getting a little needy, but for just a few or more minutes, he'll remain in my arms.

"You got me that time, but there will be another."

[csphire]

Meet Anna

Legal Name: Anna Smith

Nickname / Aliases: My Sweet, My Dear or Button (Astarion), Cuzzyl, Sweetums or Oury (Dammon), Cuddlebug, Oury and Kitten (Karlach), Dear Heart, My Lady and Pixie (Wyll)

Background: Artisan (Jeweler/Enchanter)

Age: Unknown estimated around 30s?

Pronouns: She / Her / They

Race/Subrace: High Half-Elf

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Deities: It's complicated. Tymora, she prays to the most followed by extending respects to Jergal, Lathander, Ilmater, Loviatar, and Corellon Larethian too.

Class / Subclass: Warlock (Archfey) / Cleric (Tymora Light Domain)

Instruments of Choice: Humming? Flute?

(She's not really musically inclined.)

Weapons of Choice: Shortbow, Crossbows, Hand Crossbows, Daggers, Staves, Mace, Trident and Shield

Love Interest(s): (She's Polyamorous Semi-Closed)

No randos on a whim, only good friends, basically. She's all about full discloure if she wants to pursue someone new. But she's at a place where she feels rather settled and happy in the polycule she's a part of now. Spouses and lovers are listed in chronological order.

Spouses:

Astarion (Star & You): Their relationship is a rocky one. Both of them have some serious baggage from past trauma. Their respective experiences both help understand one another's more prickly moods and defensive moments. But it sometimes causes problems between them too as they can rub each other raw. Since Anna is a survivor of domestic abuse by her first lover over a decade ago "bite night" and the idea of Astarion feeding off of her is not something she thinks is sexy or enjoys. The first time she permitted it because he said he needed it. Second time again she was trying to figure out if she could tolerate continuing to help keep him in that way. But afterwards she found the courage to admit it deep down bothered her. They settled upon a compromise of sorts. She has no issue with him literally licking her wounds and taking advantage of other opportunities to enjoy her blood that naturally occur. True they bicker like an old married couple often but do love one another greatly. She gifts him sketches and drawings of him and he often gifts her all kinds of treats to indulge her sweet tooth.

Dammon (Sunshine & Hun): Is the one she cuddles with and is the most fiercely protective over, which is warranted given he's only got 8 hp. She does her best to not have favorites and love all her spouses equally but... Dammon she gets along and has the most in common with compared to all the others. They rarely argue and at most lightly tease one another. It's never been bumpy with him only smooth sailing since they realized and acted on their feelings for one another. Their flirting is more honest and sincere. They are very gentle with one another. Both artisans, after the defeat of the Elder brain, they end up spending the most time at home together working side by side while the others all work outside of the home. He with his weapons and armor and her creating and enchanting jewelry as well as some of his stock. Although Dammon can get distracted in a project he's usually the first if not the second to notice if something is bothering her that she's in denial of or is trying to shrug off. Also out of all of her spouses, he's the one who knows how to get her to calm down and check her temper the quickest. Astarion, much to his vexation, still doesn't know how Dammon does this.

Karlach (Beautiful & Wifey): These two can wind one another up and get rather excitable and loud quick. Together they can turn into absolute cussing goofballs much to Dammon, Wyll, and Astarion's woe but usual delight. Even though she's out most of the day when she comes home Karlach has a knack for making up for it and brightening up any evening. I think the only things she and Anna only really quarrel about now are Karlach being a touch messy and Anna "getting too much of a stick up her ass." Do they help one another with their hair, yes. Hair and horn care they all help one another with, it's a bonding thing for all of them. Right behind Dammon, Karlach usually ends up with most cuddles from Anna than anyone.

Lovers:

Wyll (Handsome & Honey): Wyll is honestly more Karlach's main spouse than Anna's or the others. Karlach and he share a deep bond after all the trials they faced in Avernus together. Although Anna and him don't spend much time together they get along well, flirt, and cuddle with one another when they can. Anna has two left feet but with Karlach and Wyll's help, she's getting better at dancing. With Astarion and Karlach, Wyll is often away from home. The trio are deeply engaged in the politics of the city and trying to help manage it. Often this leaves Anna and him only able to write some rather romantic and risqué letters to one another.

Halsin & Shadowheart: We all know Halsin likes to roam and he's not one for the city. So his visits are rare but delightful all the same. It's usually Astarion and Anna who pounce him first to give him a big warm welcome to the city together.

With Shadowheart, she visits a little more often than Halsin does. But usually, Halsin will join her. They're sorta an item as after everything has settled down in Baldur's Gate Shadowheart and her parents decide to follow Halsin to the former shadowcursed lands and work to continue to heal them. Rolan: To put it simply Dammon and her usually do their best to team up to help prevent the wizard from working too hard. All three of them share a business and personal relationship. Both Dammon and Anna sell a majority of their work to Rolan to help keep Sorcerous Sundries stocked with quality enchanted goods. He's in the running to become a fourth spouse for Anna and Dammon.

Please note: that the sex in this polycule is not as wild or as frequent as one thinks. It's more swapping bedmates on occasion than anything. Wyll and Karlach tend to sleep together. Anna and Dammon tend to pair up too when it comes to resting and having sex. Astarion likes to split his time between his spouses and will occasionally go off to visit Sebastian. Shadowheart and Halsin again visit rarely and are warmly welcomed by most. Threesomes and foursomes might happen once every few months. Orgies, more than four participants, are never really planned and might only occur once a year if that.

Did she really screw the Dream Guardian? Technically... um yes. I did not save it, but it still counts according to Steam. Best Friends: Gale, Lae'zel, Jaheira, Alfira and Lakrissa. Personality: Anna can cuss and be blunt as a sailor and get just as loud and excitable as Karlach, but most of the time she's demure and prefers to keep a low profile about strangers. She seems to be kind, polite, and a quiet type of person. One you'd least expect to draw in close, slip a blade into one's ribs, and twist with perfectly calm and collected look. Although she was usually her companion's defacto leader most who met them were unable to tell who was in charge until she stepped forward and started the talking. The kind of intimidation she pulls is all in the eyes and calm actions rather than size or muscles. She rarely uses that method and prefers deception and more charismatic approaches. If there is a problem she tends to grin, bear it, and will try to tackle it herself. Her greatest flaw? She's an expert in bottling up some of her emotions. She struggles with vulnerability and asking for help. But it's something she's working on with the help of her spouses and friends. It also sometimes takes her a while to process her feelings. If she gets upset, angry, or frustrated, she tends to retreat when overwhelmed to sort or cry them out. However, she rarely now spurns any of her spouses or friends who follow to offer comfort or a sympathetic ear to help her resolve an internal or external turmoil.

Bio: There are around two versions of Anna actually. One born on Toril and just your average half-elf artisan warlock. The other is a former human from Earth who woke up in a pod, realized she wasn't in her bed or human anymore, had a tiny freak out but proceeded to suck it up and use her meta knowledge of the game to keep herself and her companions alive. A whole MGIT (Modern Girl In Toril) because I'm a sucker for that troupe and I want to have fun.

Now Earth Anna is a little admittedly self insert-ish. I can't afford to travel and I'm currently not well enough for it so... vacationing in my fan fics. Some things about Anna are based on me and others are not depending on the fic.

Simply put both start off being an artisan warlock half-elf with some emotional baggage that pales in comparison to Astarion's. But it’s enough to help them understand one another better than those who have not been so deeply hurt and controlled.

Before she was abducted Toril Anna was a jeweler in Baldur’s Gate who years earlier secured a pact with an archfey of the Seelie court. Her last name is a pretty common one for humans. Although her human father came from a long line of blacksmiths for decades he served as a Flaming Fist. Anna learned her trade of jewelry-making from her elven mother. What's become of them both is unknown at this time. Anna hopes they fled the city to relatives in Neverwinter.

Her Patron: The assumption they’re from the Seelie court is based on some in-game dialogue we can get when trying to get into the circus. Between you and me I lowkey loath how a Tav or Durge’s patron is barely acknowledged, and we get crumbs of information about them, absolute crumbs.

Toril Anna entered into a pact shortly after fleeing an abusive lover. It was not the best of plans, to just leave him and Baldur’s Gate as fast as possible for another city where she could start over but she feared for her life. How she met her patron one could say was a whole lucky meet-cute story. She literally stumbled over them and profusely apologized. Charmed by her sweet nature, good manners and also finding out why she was in such a hurry, the fey extended to her a bargain to give her power and also taught her how to give her goods a stronger enchantment with a small cost. Now all of Anna’s enchantments always turn out to have a tiny bit of chaos to them but nothing her customers will ever notice… usually.

Unlike Wyll, Anna and her patron have a mostly respectful, sometimes chaotic, very protective, and loving relationship. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Anna is well aware fey can be fickle, easily offended, and therefore dangerous. For starters, she suspects her patron is behind her abusive lover’s untimely and grisly demise. Something she found out years later after her patron coaxed her into returning to Baldur’s Gate with assurances that with her new powers, she would not need to leave and she could disappear easily enough in the large city.

Currently, her patron on occasion only asks her to do some odd and seemingly harmless things to set off a little chaos in the world. What seems like a few setups for pranks or displacing a stone from a circle of them in some forest. Some of these things lead to disastrous results but nothing fatal for anyone… usually. Her patron loves chaos like most fey and was tickled pink when she stole the Blood of Lathander mace. Anna is also obligated to help other fey in need from the Seelie court like the pixie in the lamp. Killing fey from the Unseelie court such as hags and redcaps also delights her patron as well.

Thanks for reading this far and bear in mind this is a work in progress. I may or may not edit this a bit more in the future.

[shipcestuous-two]

Tfw you're at work and this old man and woman come in, bickering affectionately the entire time you're helping them. We were making small talk as they were wrapping up. They keep making references to decades ago, so I'm like, oh, an old married couple! I ask how long they've been together, and she goes, "Since he was born. ...He's my brother." We all laugh it off, but it always warms my heart to see siblings who are so close, even when they're probably 70+

jfkajkfjda

So cute!!!

Shipping totally aside, this makes me so happy. I just love siblings as friends/close, especially the later along they are in life.

[nellie-elizabeth]

Grey's Anatomy: Love Don't Cost a Thing (19x09)

Ughh... Teddy and Owen are the worst.

Cons:

The thing is, I like drama. I like melodrama. I also like realistic depictions of marital troubles, that's fine. But there's something just oppressively, overwhelmingly negative and exhausting about Owen and Teddy. Especially since we've got the Maggie and Winston drama, then all the shit going on with Simone and Lucas and her boyfriend back in town. There's just too much of everyone being unhappy and in distress and Owen and Teddy take the cake for being the most annoying about it. Grey's has famously funny and enjoyable dinner party episodes, but this one was just insufferable to watch, as Ben and Bailey are forced to witness Owen and Teddy's constant bickering over the Chief of Trauma position.

And not only do we see them snipping about work stuff, we then we see Ben and Bailey snipping about work/family stuff too. Like: leave them out of this! Can't we have one married couple who I don't want to strangle? Ben was the worst for saying he resented Bailey for going back to work! Like, dude, how dare you!

Also, I get that love triangle drama is an inevitability on this show, but Trey just... doesn't have much interesting going on, he seems like a total asshole, with the way he talked about Simone's friends, and putting her on the spot by re-proposing like that. Jeez. Steer clear.

(Obligatory note that I don't like Link/Jo as a romance thing and I wish they'd cut it out. But they're not going to. Sigh.)

Pros:

I still really like our newer resident characters. I like the vibes of them all in the house, eager to throw a party. I like the various relationship vibes, even though some of it might become insufferable before too long.

On the romance front, setting aside all the clusterfucks and drama, we get to check in with Amelia and Kai who seem happy and cute: I love the FaceTime calls, the two of them joking around and eager to be together. Then there's Helm and Yasuda, who seem to have vibes. Would not be mad about that. And Schmitt, one of my favorites... I'm happy for him getting some action! Although I do still wish we'd gotten some sort of more definitive end for Nico and him? Maybe he'll come back and cause more drama at a later point. Who can say. The best part was seeing Helm and Mika dance it out with Lucas: bringing back old traditions! Making me emotional!

In the hospital, we see Blue getting worked up about a young couple who are going to be plunged into serious medical debts due to the wife's cancer. He suggests they get a divorce as that could open them up to more benefits and won't saddle the husband with the debts. The couple have an emotional divorce ceremony in the hospital. I like how Blue was introduced to us as cold and practical and now we see how much he's been through and all the different aspects of his past that have led him here. I also liked that Jules was there for him, and Maggie was sympathetic but still stern about him crossing a boundary with patients.

Link and Jo's subplot felt a little out of left pocket, but I enjoyed them spending time together as friends, and wish Jo wasn't having heart eyes about it all. It was pretty cute, watching Link and Scout hang out with Jo while they delivered a baby. A nice, uncomplicated medical situation where nothing horrible happened to anybody. Poor Link is being targeted by the community for his involvement in his patient's death last week, the beloved football player, and Teddy is having to field questions about what happened, so that seems like it'll continue to haunt us...

And I'll stop there. I know I didn't go into a ton of detail, but suffice to say I'm hanging in there, I'm willing to see where certain things are going, and I'm annoyed about pretty much every relationship currently on the show. Helm and Mika, fall in love and give me something to root for please...

7/10

[theloverscardtarot]

Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan July 6, 2024

Please remember this is for entertainment purposes only. I do not claim to know anybody personally.

I felt like doing a quick reading on these two. Here goes!

Lovers: I literally just started shuffling and this card flew out. It seemed like it wanted to show itself. The lovers card indicates a strong bond, a solid foundation, mutual goals and values. It's the strongest card in the deck. My book says "Do I hear wedding bells?" It's really the best card for love.

King of Wands: The king represents a strong masculine energy. A leader who is optimistic, loyal and confident. In love this indicates things are going very well and you are looking to a future with a positive outcome.

9 of Wands: This card can indicate a period of fatigue due to a challenging road. Someone is having trust issues but it could be due to past heartbreak. I know Barry has a child. He may just be tired. Maybe this is him. He has to go through a lot to keep this relationship alive. But he has the strength to do it.

9 of Cups: Wishes are coming true. You feel an abundance of love and contentment. "Whatever is in your heart is coming your way" For outcomes this is a strong yes card. Positive outcomes!!

2 of Pents R: This means "dropping the ball". Who is? Indicates struggle balancing your relationship with other aspects like career or family. There's a lot going on in this person's life, juggling multiple things. Make sure you are prioritizing. Maintain a good balance or you will burn out. I know more about Barry than I do Sabrina, so I think of him but, it could be both. Does anybody know if they live together? This card also represents making financial choices together. Maybe they are thinking of buying a house or investing in something as a couple.

The Emperor:This card signifies a stable and long lasting relationship. Relationships with the emperor tend to be more traditional and conventional. This also represents a father or husband. Maybe they will end up getting married? Having children together?

5 of Wands: This card represents conflicts or tension. But also standing up for what is important to you. Relationship wise it could mean a lot of passion. Whether that's a desire for each other or arguments. I also get cleansing of a rough day and moving forward. Which to me might signify that if they do argue, they are able to let it go easily. Which hopefully means more bickering about petty things than arguing over life changing issues. Aww, like an old married couple.

10 of Wands: This is such a a joyous card that I feel like my heart might burst just looking at it. Joy, abundance, happy family, a stable and long lasting relationship. Harmony and alignment. For love this is a welcoming card. A happy family life. Could represent marriage and children in the future. I asked for one more card and I wasn't getting any so I looked at the bottom of my stack and this card was there. So, we shall see! I get a good feeling just looking at these two together. And, I mean, that's how it should be, right? 😉

[daggryet]

idk much about fontaine, though I did see the trailer but for now I'm just like. Vibing.

I kinda want tighnari if I'm honest he's cute and also having another dendro would be good (I have Yao Yao and collei, cause abyss,

I pulled characters I wanted sort of by luck without really aiming at it like when I first started playing and pulled bei dou and ningguang on accident, because I didn't know how primogems worked and saved up a decent amount (that was so gay of them actually to show up together lmao). I pulled for tohma because hes my boy and for now I am very happy with what I have (got razor in that same time which I didn't expect but am very happy about cause he uses a two-handed weapon and also electro which is my fave element and is also a wolfboy)

So yeah. I don't actually know, I might try for alhaitham when he shows up again and kaveh (cause yeah I'm one of those people. I am not immune to bickering old married couple vibes), but it's far away for now and idk. I'll see how the wind blows or whatever the saying is

I rambled on huh. so yeah. also thank you for the offer of help I might take you up on it sometime later. I am in eu but our timezones are still pretty different and I'm currently starting a three day shift so I'll be out like a light when it's evening for me and somewhere in the day for you, so yeah. we'll see. Thank you though again it's very sweet of you!!!

❤💛

same!! trying very hard to avoid leaks, but for now i'm vibing with neuvillette. i don't know what his deal if, if he's gonna be good, if i'll even be able to use him, but rn i have my heart set on him.

maybe it has to do with fyodor from bsd being his english va. Whooo knows

wishing as a newbie is a lot of fun because when you don't have a really good understanding of the system, you just pull for fun. even standard's great fun in the beginning

i have kaveh and alhaitham, and if i ever get a solid electro character that isn't a bow user (i can only handle one bow user per team... Charged attacks characters are not my favorite, but i will learn properly for tighnari), they'd be able to make a good team. in my head anyway

alhaitham is a very fun to play, so if you have the primos i'd definitely recommend him. and if your cousin gets her yae miko, that's 50% of a g-d tier team right there. kaveh was SO tough to get, i think i got him after like 70 pulls on the baizhu banner where he was featured 😭 a good investment tho because i had him as a main from that day till the day i pulled kazuha. through sheer force of will, anyone can be a good main

and of course, any time! work that changes your entire schedule is awful, just had my own two 5am starts, but i hope you made it through your shifts!

[annesthaeticc]

Jealous, Love? | Sherlock x Fem!Reader

Jealous, Love? | Sherlock x Fem!Reader [Rated 18+]

| a smut fic

| 3772 words

| RATED 18+. PWP; porn with some plot. light BDSM, unprotected sex, creampie, dirty talking

| NOTE: HELLO! this one's a sherlock smut one. and it's long like sherlock's 🍆! i loved writing this and yeah i hope you do too. AS WARNING AS I ALWAYS DO; this is a smut fic, so if it's not for u and if u shouldn't be reading this, please stay away. comments, hearts, REBLOGS are greatly appreciated! actual content after the 'keep reding' cut!

“Honestly, if you two want people to stop suspecting you’re a gay couple, you need to stop bickering like an old married couple. You’re definitely worse than Mrs. Turner’s tenants.” your voice echoed through the living room of 221B. You plopped down the worn sofa and the two men finally stopped their heated discussion.

“I’m not gay, Y/N. I don’t know about him though.” John joked and hugged you briefly before offering you a cuppa.

“Oh, I know you’re not gay, John. And I’m definitely not so sure about Sherlock.” you winked at the curly-haired man and in response, he rolled his eyes at you, deeming it useless to reply to your remark with a sarcastic one. Sherlock turned away, focusing back on the case files scattered on the table. John served tea and you settled on one of the chairs, making yourself comfortable.

You took a sip of tea before asking what’s the latest case about. Sherlock was all too happy to indulge you. The suspect was a rich and grimy criminal, holding multiple suspicions of theft and sexual assault charges. The case was plain as day, Sherlock managed to crack it within a day, but he took the case nonetheless, he couldn’t pass up the challenge. Now, the criminal was smart to outrun the authorities, he was never caught. Sherlock emphasized he was a ‘filthy bastard’. You snickered at his label.

“So, what’s the problem?” you asked. John sighed as Sherlock suggested the blogger should break it to her.

“He wants you to be the bait.” John sighed heavily and you know he’s against that plan. You and John were fond of each other, treated each other as siblings, and this is him being protective of you.

“Bait?” you reiterated just so you could clear it out what it entails. Sherlock sat in font of you and crossed his legs.

“I need you to seduce him, get a confession out of him.” Sherlock said as if it was the most normal thing to say. You looked at him and squinted your eyes at him.

“Y/N, you don’t have to do this. We’ll come up with a better plan, Sherlock’s idea is totally rubbish—” John said but you cut him off.

“I’ll do it.” you said with a smirk. Sherlock raised his eyebrow at you, obviously annoyed and you know the very reason why. He doesn’t want you to agree.

“What? Y/N, it’s not safe. This is just Sherlock’s idea of a sick joke…” John trailed off, and you shrugged.

“Why not? It’ll help you solve this case quicker; you can stamp a big ‘SOLVED’ on the case folder. Besides, it could be fun, just like those spy films we watch? You know, like Charlie’s Angels?” you giggled. Suddenly, Sherlock stood up, buttoned up his jacket and started to pace around the room.

“Here’s his schedule. Let’s work out your moves.” Sherlock said and grabbed another folder, tossing it on the coffee table in front of you. The two of you started to discuss the specifics, then John excused himself, saying his farewell as he needs to pick up Rosie from the daycare. When John was finally out of the door, Sherlock abruptly closed the folder, blocking your view from the criminal’s schedule.

“I know what you’re doing.” he said, his voice tough and commanding. You know that voice so well.

“Do you, Sherlock?” you leaned forward.

“I do. And I’m telling you, it’s not going to end well. Especially for you.”

“Then why suggest it in the first place? Oh my god, are you actually concerned for me?” you smirked at him and he scowled.

“Again, my idea of a sick joke. Didn’t know you’d take the challenge. And no, I’m not. If I’m actually concerned for you, I wouldn’t have suggested it in the first place.” he said, his voice fading as he went towards the window.

“You’re spinning in circles here, Sherlock. What do you really want me to do?” you stepped closer to him, invading his space. He turned and looked at you, taking a moment to just breathe in your sight; hair shining against the morning light, bright and challenging eyes, and soft pink lips.

He doesn’t want you to do it. He can’t bear to watch you galivant around and do nasty things with that slimy bastard. He doesn’t want to see you with another man, because you, you’re all his. He’s the only one who should touch you and bring you to heaven and back, and you feel all the same.

Your relationship with him was not conventional. But who cares about that, it’s the 21st century already. Sex. That’s it. The two of you enjoy copious amount of sex. Behind close doors, of course. What the two of you have is a secret. As time moved on, you developed fondness and maybe a little bit of sentiment for him. And him, just the same. He’ll deny it for all he wants, of course, but he feels something for you, something more than just what the two of you have. He’ll never say it out loud, but you can feel it in his secret touches and stolen kisses.

“I don’t want you to do it, but you should. I’m saying I’m not going to like it.” he finally said, then brushed a stray hair away from your face, tucking it behind your ear. You gave him a small smile and traced the lapel of his jacket, before placing your hand on his chest. He cupped your jaw and leaned in, brushing his lips against yours, kissing you softly.

When the kiss broke, you looked up at him and said, “I’m not going to like it either, but the things we do for the greater good, right?” In reply, he gave you a small nod before kissing your temple. He walked away and offered you tea. It was going to be fun, indeed.

As weeks progressed, the plan did too. You’ve successfully managed to ‘seduce’ Vincent, the slimy and filthy bastard who preys on women and steals paintings for fun. How did the police not manage to capture the man, you have no idea. Maybe Sherlock was right after all, they were right out idiots.

You began to spend more time with Vincent. Almost every night you were out with him, dancing in some club or having dinner at hotels. But nothing happened of course, that’s just it. You’ve always turned down his advances, promising to save it on the night of the ball. Sherlock on the other hand, was playing pleased with your progress. You were actually helping the case; he’ll give you that. But then, deep inside, he wasn’t at all happy to hear your stories about dinner dates and club hopping. His imagination would run wild and it drove him up the wall. He silently hoped it would all be over.

Ah yes, the Mayfair Charity Ball. It wasn’t listed on his schedule as it was an all-of-a-sudden invitation. You agreed to be his date and busied yourself on that afternoon to pamper yourself. By seven in the evening, you were dressed to the nines, wearing a deep red gown, black heels, and flawless makeup. You walked around the crowded room; your hand loosely tucked on your partner’s arm. Sherlock wasn’t aware of the event, and how wrong of you to think of that when you spotted his mop of curly hair in the corner of the dancefloor.

You sticked with Vincent for the majority of the night, dodging his drinks and winking at him whenever he suggested that the two of you will have all night to romp in the sheets. Internally, you gagged whenever he said something about that. The band started the song and the dance commenced. You and Vincent swayed around. He was drunk, and it’s an understatement. As the third song came to its crescendo, Vincent said something that finally closed the case.

“I’ll tell you something, darling. All they’re saying were true. Women are just playthings for me. When I’m done with them, I give them reasons to leave, I hurt them. But it’s all fine now, innit? They can’t catch me. And you, my darling, you’re different. I’m not going to hurt you; I want to keep you.” he said, the last words falling from his lips, you smirked.

Across the room, Sherlock spotted the two of you and his anger was starting to bubble. You, being you, provoked him. You leaned in closer to Vincent and whispered something in his ear. Your eyes locked gaze with Sherlock before you kissed Vincent’s jaw, leaving a red kiss mark. Sherlock watched the scene and closed his fist. He glared at you, keeping his gaze on you. The song finally ended, you and Vincent broke apart. You excused yourself and went towards the ladies’ room. It was surprisingly empty. You quickly did your business but before you could leave, Sherlock closed the door and locked it.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he said and leaned against the door.

“That’s just acting, Sherlock. You should know that.” you rolled your eyes at him.

“Really? Not letting me know about this ball is also acting? You’re a rubbish actor, Y/N.”

“Oh my god, Sherlock. Are you jealous?” you said, faux surprised.

“I’m not jealous, Y/N.”

“Oh! You so are!” you pointed at him. Sherlock caught your wrist and spun you around, pinning you against the bathroom door. All of a sudden, you could feel him everywhere. His gentle but firm grasp on your wrist, his cologne, his breath against your ear, and the growing tightness in his slacks against your thigh.

“Why would I be jealous, Y/N? I know I’m the only one who could touch you like this.” he whispered in your ear. You closed your eyes and you could feel his hand travel down your gown. He hitched up the hem of your gown up to your thigh and his hand left a burning blaze across your skin. He found your lace underwear and pushed it aside, then taking you by surprise, he slipped his middle finger inside you. Slowly and surely, he massaged your walls while you contained your whimpers.

“I’m the only one who could make you scream, love.” he growled in your ear, before biting your earlobe. The sensation made you grip on his bicep, your grip almost too desperate.

With only his middle finger fucking you, you can’t help yourself feel the familiar build-up of your orgasm. His voice wasn’t helping too. He was relentless. Sherlock wanted to take you to the edge, but just right at the edge. At that point where you’ll beg him to fuck you so hard that the secret that you two had would be revealed. The neighbors would find out that the two of you were fucking after all, and how did they find out? You screamed down the flat with Sherlock’s name. That’s what he wanted.

As you approach your orgasm, Sherlock abruptly stopped his ministrations. He pulled out his finger out of you and tugged your underwear down your legs. You tried to draw him close, hungry for friction, but he pulled away. He stuffed your underwear in his pocket, and sucked off his middle finger. Right then and there, you would’ve come so hard and so blindingly fast. But you stood frozen against the door, panting and wanting for more. Expecting for a kiss, he leaned in your ear instead and whispered, “See you at home, love.” One last wink, he went outside and closed the door.

With a triumphant smirk painted on his lips, Sherlock coolly walked around the party before settling to stand in a corner to contact Lestrade. With the arrangements of the arrest made, before the commotion could start, he left. Sherlock left the event. His coat collar turned up and his scarf wound around his pale neck. The walk was long enough so he could process his thoughts, especially his feelings for you.

To say he is confused is an understatement. You. You made him feel unexplainable things, and not only chemicals felt during arousal and attraction. You caused a riot between his mind and his heart and he was getting tired of it. For once, he decided he’ll give into what he really wants.

He wants you. Just you.

He wants to see you smile, feel and hear your laugh. And he wants to be the sole cause of that. He wants you, anytime and anywhere. He wants to see you and feel you before he drifts of to sleep, and he wants you to be the very first face he sees in the morning.

He wants you, big time.

And seeing you with another man made him angry. It also made him feel helpless, like his gut was being sucker punched repeatedly. With this, he wants to put a stop on your rendezvous, finally hold your hand and call you his.

It was around midnight when you arrived at 221 Baker Street. You quietly trudged up the stairs, hoping the detective would be asleep. But there he was in the living room, standing immaculate in his suit, his bowtie untied and hanging loosely on his neck. As if he was waiting for you.

“What was that all about, Sherlock?” you hissed at him, seething in anger and pent-up arousal.

“I just wanted to remind you, Y/N.” he replied, turning to face you. The light from the fireplace highlighting his features.

“Remind me what exactly, Sherlock? That I’m yours? You think all that sex we had equates to a relationship of sorts, Sherlock? Fuck, no. You know what, I’m done.” you put up your hands, in gesture of defense. You too, you were tired of screwing and fooling around. You want to stop this ridiculous game you two were playing.

“And I’m done too, Y/N. Let’s stop this bullshit.” he said, his voice piercing through you. He rarely cursed, so you know he’s serious. You misunderstand and so, with a sharp inhale, you backed against the wall, looking for the door handle to make your leave. He stopped you, pacing to your spot and gently grasping your wrist.

“Let’s do this properly this time, Y/N. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine.” he gazed at you, gauging your response. You watched each other’s pupils blow in desire and hear each other’s breath hitch. Sherlock took in the speed of your pulse; he could feel your heartbeat thrum in his fingers. And you could hear his heartbeat, pounding loudly, almost as if it is trying to break out of his ribcage.

You made the first move, answering him with a searing kiss. He responded in the same passion, cupping your jaw while you wrapped your hands around his arms. The two of you stumbled further into the hallway, the kiss getting more and more heated in every stumbling step. Sherlock guided you into his room, closing the door shut with his foot. He caught your bottom lip, sucked it before breaking the kiss for a breather.

“I want you. So much.” he whispered against your lips, then planting his forehead against yours.

“And you have me, Holmes. Ever since you fucked the living daylights out of me.” you giggled. He gifted you his throaty chuckle and connected his lips with yours.

You managed to chuck of his jacket, it landed on the floor. Soon followed his tight white shirt. The two of you ended on the bed with him above you. Hands feeling and breathings hard and fast. Sherlock can’t decide if he should fuck you in your pretty dress, he loved feeling the material on your skin and his. But he chose to tug off the straps of your gown, he found that little tie the bound the dress to your body and in one swift hand movement, you were naked lying on his bed, save for your heels. Suddenly, his pants got too uncomfortable.

Feeling incredibly sexy under his gaze, you started to touch yourself. You bit your lip and traced light circles on your sensitive flesh. It was such a sight and Sherlock couldn’t take it anymore. Finally free of any clothes, Sherlock fished out his discarded bowtie and held it up. He raised his eyebrow at you in silent confirmation and you nodded. He crawled up to your body, leaving a trail of kisses across your stomach. He massaged your breasts, pinching and twisting your peaked nipples. He took one into his mouth and you arched your back, your hands holding on to the sheets and onto his hair.

Sherlock let out a groan, your hands on his head caused a shiver to run down his spine. He wanted more and so he switched to your other breast, treating it with the same affection. Then he sat up and grabbed his bowtie. You offered your wrists and he made a quick work of binding your hands together. He helped you to a more comfortable position, you gripped the sheets above your head, anticipating for more.

Sherlock never wanted this moment to end, he wanted this scene of you and him painted and framed, posted on the walls of your room in his Mind Palace. He slowly lowered himself to you, body to body for a second. He held your hips and positioned it against his. You wrapped legs around his waist, then you felt him. He teased you at first and moans escaped yours and his lips.

Sherlock guided his cock inside your cunt and groaned in relief. You were so warm, so tight and so wet, and it was all for him. For a moment it made his head spin. He pulled back and he could feel your heels dig touch his ass. It was painfully delicious. He pushed himself inside you, deeper this time and your eyes rolled back.

“Fuck, that’s so deep.” you gasped. He kissed you and braced himself on the bed so he could properly time and angle his thrusts. One hand on the bed, one hand on your hips, Sherlock began to make love to you.

With your hands tied, all you could do was watch him, moan and curse, and clench your muscles around him. You gazed at his flexing muscles and his face etched in pleasure. His jaw slack and nostrils flaring, breathing heavy, and his hair falling and curling on his forehead. Sometimes he would kiss you and let out a sharp ‘fuck’ every time he felt you contract around him so tight. Such vision to behold. He angled your hips, bringing your legs on his shoulders and that sent him deeper into you. This time, he varied his thrusts, instead of thrusting in and out of you, he moved his hips up and down and that hit the spot, every time. You writhed in pleasure and soon, Sherlock brought out your first orgasm out of you.

You screamed as you felt your sudden orgasm flow through your body, ecstasy coursing through you. Sherlock slowed his thrusts and let you ride out your high. Panting and sweating, Sherlock watched you while he brought your legs from his shoulders. Planting kisses on your legs and finally removed your high heels. Then he untied his bowtie from your wrists, placing a kiss on your hand. As you caught your breath, you also caught the mischievous glint in his eyes. He wasn’t done with you.

“Got your breath back?” he asked, and kissed the pulse point on your neck.

“I think so.” you grinned at him and stole a kiss.

“Good, ‘cause I want to try something.” he replied and helped you into a kneeling position. He directed you to kneel on a certain side of the bed, that side that faced his closet, that side that faced the mirror. There you could see yourself, and looked beautifully fucked.

He positioned himself behind you and sat back on his haunches. He pumped his dick a few times before he let you sink into him. A different position, a different angle. This time, you know you’ll come just after a few seconds. He was buried into you balls-deep and you feel him poke that spot.

The two of you moved in synchrony; you lifting your hips and sitting back down on his length, and him thrusting up to meet you. With your hands free to roam, you brought your arm and linked it on his neck, making you arch your back.

“Fuck, you’re so tight and wet like this.” Sherlock gasped in your ear. He let his hands wander too. You saw in the mirror how his graceful hands mapped your body, caressing your skin. One hand gripped your hips, guiding your thrusts, while his other hand stayed on your belly. He pressed on that spot where his cock is and you felt gloriously full. You shrieked in surprise.

“You feel that love? That’s me, deep inside you.” he said. Pressing into that spot once more.

“Oh god, Sherlock. I’m coming!” you cried.

“Come on, love. Come for me. Let’s come together.” he whispered harshly. He double timed and gave more force into his thrust. Every time he entered you and slid through your walls, you moaned.

“Now! Y/N, come with me!” he grunted and you finally felt warm liquid coat your walls. You came just in time, squeezing his cum out of his cock into your cunt. You felt every twitch of his cock and Sherlock felt every spasm. He held you against his body, steadying you. Helping you not fall into the bed and become a trembling mess. He traced your shoulder with kisses as you ran your hands on his thighs, helping each other to calm down.

“What just happened?” you giggled.

“I believe we just had the ‘we’re now a couple’ type of sex.” he chuckled.

“Oh, Sherlock, you’re such a romantic.” you laughed, and held up his hand to place a kiss on his knuckle.

“Only for you, love.” he said, his sweet baritone voice vibrated through him and you. He placed a kiss on your temple and hummed.

Against your back, you could feel his heartbeat and his slick skin. And never, never in your life, you felt safer and more loved than in his arms, in his presence. You smiled to yourself at the thought. Sherlock sharply drew in a breath, released it, and smiled. You saw his smile in the mirror. The two of you looked so well fucked but all the same happy, and finally free from restrained love.

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( hope you liked that! i've always wanted to write a steamy piece with sherlock so yeah. again; comments, hearts, especially reblogs are special to me. stay safe and sane u lovely! )

[buckybarnessunflower]

The Spectacular N O W

Summary: You and Bucky have feelings for one another, that everyone can plainly see but the two of you. A mission goes horribly wrong and Bucky is faced with the reality that he may have waited too late. But when lovers are destined to be together something spectacular happens.

Pairing: Bucky X Reader

Word Count: 2335

Warnings: Steve Rogers says I should warn about bad language.

Sweat dripped from your hairline into your eyes as you and Nat stared each other down in the boxing ring. You were both currently tied and fighting to see who would come out on top this week, it was a weekly tradition that you had started shortly after joining the team.

"I'm stronger than you now red" You claimed triumphantly while holding your fist in the air, as you had Nat pinned to the mat beneath you. Your head snapped up to look at the doors as they opened, the sound of a familiar laugh catching your attention. The moment you saw Bucky walk through the door, his head thrown back as he laughed at something Sam said you felt your heart race for a completely different reason than training.

Nat took the opportunity of your weakened grip to flip you. You winced at the dull ache in your spine as Nat smiled at you. "Nope. I'm still stronger. I don't get distracted by a certain tall Super Soldier that goes by Sergeant Barnes" Her smile only grew as your face turned red.

"Nat he'll hear you" you whispered, glancing over to make sure he was still talking to Sam.

"Oh my God he's looking over here" you groaned, if possible your face turning an even deeper shade of red. Nat rolled her eyes as she got off of you and held her hand out to help you up.

"Honestly the two of you are impossible. He likes you just as much as you like him, if not more. But neither of you will ever admit it to one another. You and Bucky deserve to be happy, after everything you’ve been through. Why not allow yourselves to be happy? You spend every minute together that you're not on missions with the team. All the signs are there for the both of you to see but you tip-toe around one another" She said after a sigh.

"We do not spend every minute together" was the only thing you chose to respond to. You ignored the way your stomach fluttered at the thought that Bucky may possibly return your feelings. It sounded too good to be true even coming from Nat, who you trusted with your life and knew would never lie to you,

"Oh yeah? where were you last night"? she asked, a perfectly arched brow raising.

You sputtered and tried to think of an answer.

"Steve saw you go into Bucky's room" she whispered in your ear, a smirk lifting the corner of her lips. The hair on the back of your neck stood up, a shiver running down your spine and your eyes widened in horror at the thought that Steve would confront Bucky about it.

Bucky and Sam had just made their way over to you and Nat. Bucky's smile was gone when he saw the look on your face. He looked at you concerned, "Everything okay"? The question was short but you could hear the underlying uneasiness behind it.

"I'm good" was all you said and instantly felt bad as a look of hurt passed over Bucky's face.

"Well ladies if you don't mind we need to have a REAL workout. We don't go easy on each other like you do" Sam said, getting into the ring.

"Watch it Wilson, I can take you down in under a minute" Nat playfully glared at him.

"I go easy on you all the time" Bucky spoke up, making You and Nat laugh.

"You do not" 

"Yeah I do, I don't use all the power in my arm" Bucky flexed his vibranium arm, black and gold shining brightly from the fluorescent lighting overhead. 

"As much as we would love to stand here and watch you two bicker like an old married couple, we actually have something important to do," Nat said, grabbing your forearm and pulling you away.

You looked back in time to see Bucky give you a small smile and a wave.

It was around one am when you heard a soft knock on your door. 

Bucky stood there, running his flesh hand down the back of his neck, it was something you noticed he did when he was nervous.

"Buck"? You questioned when he had not looked up when you opened

the door.

"Yeah. Oh.... Uh I'm sorry Doll." Bucky stammered out, a light blush on his cheeks. 

You hoped he didn’t notice how you always got lost looking in his eyes, they always reminded you of the sky on a cloudless day, clear and blue. 

"It's fine, Bucky. Come in" You moved out the way to let him in, he immediately went to sit on a plush chair that you had.

"Is something wrong"? He had been acting strange for the past few weeks. He always looked like he wanted to ask you something and he always looked slightly nervous around you. He had never acted like this before and you couldn't help but worry about your best friend.

"I uh....... I....... I wanted to ask you something" Bucky looked down at his feet, his blush darkening as he struggled to get out what he had so desperately been wanting to say to you.

He wished he was the same man back in the 1940's. The one that had no problems talking to a pretty girl. The one that didn't stammer over every word like a school boy talking to his first crush.

But

He couldn't help it. 

You were you. 

There would never be enough words in the dictionary to help him explain how much you meant to him and how much he lov-...... he was so scared to admit it. To admit that he whole heartily loved you. He was scared of rejection, of the way you may balk at the idea of being with him. Nothing scared him more than the thought that you would stop talking to him -  that whatever was going on between the two of you would stop, that he would lose his best friend.

God he could feel his cheeks start to redden even more. 

You probably thought he was an idiot.

"Bucky please. What's wrong?" He finally looked up, your eyes held nothing but concern in them. You didn't look annoyed or frustrated. He felt stupid for even thinking that you would look at him in disgust. You were the kindest person he knew.

"I-" He began, ready to confess but was cut off by your phone ringing.

"Bucky, I'm so sorry. Just give me one minute" You said, only answering after he nodded his head.

Bucky glanced around your room as you talked, taking in the soft periwinkle blue. All around your room were pictures of you and the rest of the team.

One with Steve at the New York City Parade, you pointing to a balloon that was supposed to be Captain America, a smile on your face as Steve blushed.

One with Sam at the local VA, your face painted as a butterfly, his as a tiger, and a huge grin on both of your faces.

One with Tony at one of his infamous gala's. You were wearing a low-cut black dress that clung to you in all the right places, Tony in a three piece black suit and your arms around one another as you laughed at something.

One with Nat at a local Children's hospital, the both of you taking turns reading a story.

But most of your pictures were of you and Bucky. He had been hesitant at first to take pictures but you assured him you would give him a copy.

One taken after you finally talked him into having something called a Caramel Frappa- something Bucky couldn't really remember the name of but you had laughed after he had taken the first sip and spit it out. Your laugh, a sweet melody that he never got tired of hearing.

One taken during a picnic together. You said he had to go because he couldn't stay in all day when it was so nice outside. The blades of grass had been itchy, the sun beaming down had made him sweat but it had all been worth it seeing you pull out his favorite foods with a blush on your face.

One taken at a butterfly festival - at least that's what he thinks you called it, a dozen butterflies had landed on his arm at once. It was back when he was scared to have it visible in public but you had convinced him to. The picture captured the moment you had told him "See Buck even they think your arm is beautiful". It was then -  It was at that moment he had fallen hopelessly in love with you. You had been so carefree, where he had been sure people would stare at him like he was a freak or a monster.

"Bucky I'm so sorry but Fury just assigned me to a mission. I leave in an hour" you huffed out a breath, he couldn't help but notice you looked tired.

This would be the third mission in less than two weeks. SHIELD had been getting intel on new Hydra bases so the team was busy.

"I guess we need to get ready then" He said, already heading for the door to pack his bag.

"No, Fury is sending me and some new SHIELD agents. He said it will be easy and a good experience for them" You said throwing clothes in a bag.

Bucky frowned, he never liked when anyone went into a Hydra base alone.

You technically wouldn't be alone but new SHIELD agents weren't as  prepared to handle things that may unexpectedly happen in the field.

"Bucky I'll be fine, I'll be back before you know it and we can finish our conversation" You said giving his stubbly cheek a kiss.

"Just promise me you'll be my eyes out there. You know how Sam is, he's always flirting with Nat instead of paying attention". 

Bucky's smile didn't reach his eyes but he promised you he would, he always would.

When you made it back to the compound the first thing you were going to do was hug Bucky, the second thing was call Fury and yell at him for having the sheer audacity to make John Walker second in command.

He was undermining you about everything! It was driving you crazy.

It took a lot of planning to take down a Hydra base, Steve said the intel was good, that the informant had given good information on the past three raids. 

John insisted he knew better, not to go in through the back but through the front because according to the informant there weren't that many Hydra agents. He insisted on using weapons that the new agents had not even got briefed on yet because according to him hands on learning is the best way to learn.

Well according to you John Walker was a piece of shit.

According to Bucky, who was talking to you through your ear piece, John was a dead man when your team made it back to the compound.

You held in your chuckle, but couldn't stop the smile forming on your face from hearing his voice through your earpiece.

"We see that smile Y/n, you aren't slick" Sam said, cutting off Bucky who was still ranting about you being on a mission with John.

Sam's words made you blush, and you were seriously considering moving hitting Sam up on your to-do list.

"Get Red Wing out of my face Sam or it's coming back in a box" You said, glaring at the machine.

You shivered, the Hydra base was located in the icy tundras of Siberia, it was carefully hidden away between the slopes of mountains making access to it incredibly difficult.

John was grumbling behind you about how you should have gone with his plan but you didn’t want to take any risk.

Red Wing flew overhead scanning the structure to see how many agents were inside. 

“Guys we’ve got a problem” Sam said and you could hear the seriousness in his voice.

“Talk to me, what did you see?” You asked, already getting ready to think of a new plan of action.

“Well there’s a hell of a lot more Hydra agents than what we were initially told by that informant” after Sam spoke the line went quiet, you knew the team was looking at whatever Red Wing was able to capture and trying to think of what to do.

“I don’t like it. Come back” Bucky said, no playfulness in his tone.

“Buck we’re already here” You said with a sigh, you didn’t want to go back without completing the mission.

“I don’t care. This isn’t good. It’s dangerous and we shouldn’t risk it” Bucky had so badly wanted to say that he wasn’t willing to risk you, that you were too important but he couldn’t. Not when the whole team was listening in and he hadn’t told you his feelings yet, It needed to be a private conversation.

He could feel a knot forming in his stomach. 

It just didn’t feel right and he could feel Steve watching him. He knew that look all too well. 

He trusted Bucky’s judgment but on the other hand he didn’t want to lose this chance just because of Bucky being overprotective.

Steve trusted you, trusted that you could ultimately get the job done so he made the call, the captain’s call to move forward with the plan even when Bucky looked at him like he betrayed him. 

He would have left right then but he couldn’t, not with your life on the line and so far away from where he could protect you from the same group that had kept him captive for over seventy years and brainwashed him into an assassin. 

You looked at Red Wing’s camera knowing Bucky would be looking at the screen, you hoped you helped calm him down a little.

Next Chap>

A/N:: Bucky dividers by: @maysdigitalarts

[levisbrainrot]

imagining erwin being the ultimate dilf. like he grew out his hair nicely, chiseled body, wears rounded glasses, a bit of stubble sometimes and sometimes a visible shirt to outline his pecks.

even with two kids, you’d somehow catch yourself staring at him with a mixture of adoration and lust. maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones swelling inside your body along with your guys third child. your face turning pink whenever erwin catches you looking, geez I’m like a high-schooler again you’d think.

but like you can’t really help it… erwin’s helping your eldest with their kiddy homework on Sunday morning, so he’s in his sunday pj’s with a robe tied around his waist.

his golden hair is kinda messy with a cup of coffee in his left, his other hand adjusting his glasses as he squints at the basic equation on the paper as your eldest son is mimicking him.

you couldn’t help but stifle a giggle at them; both of your children resembling more of erwin than you and you’d hope this third baby would look a little more like you.

“good morning mommy!” your oldest son would chirp as erwin glanced at you also in your Sunday morning gown with your second son on the side of your hip.

he puts his cup down on the table, heading towards you for a gentle morning kiss. his hand softly grazing your pregnant belly as he asked if you slept okay and fretting he didn’t wake you up.

he takes your youngest son off of you, his strong arms lifting your three year old into his own.

“I think he’s a bit clingy this morning” you mumbled to erwin as your three year old son starts waking up, gurgling to have himself back in your arms.

erwin pats his back as your three year old starts sniffling, eagerly wanting to be back in your arms even making your little heart swoon. erwin kisses his head, gently bouncing him around like he did when your son was a newborn. it makes you nearly speechless at how sexy erwin looks.

“let mommy rest” he cooed to your son who has given in to dad, wrapping his little arms around erwin’s neck.

god dilf erwin would also be mowing the lawn on a warm spring day. your two little boys are trying to help, taking off their shirts like their dad, wearing oversized gumboots and stomping around after erwin as he pushes the lawn mower across the yard.

your sitting on the patio with your daughter who’s a couple months old now, nestling against your breast as you give her afternoon feed. erwin turns off the lawn mower, his chiselled chest is getting a tan from the spring sun.

you even caught a few of the neighbourhood old wives stealing glances over the fence. but you chuckled knowing you would too if your neighbour had a hot husband.

erwin sits next to you, tired and relieved to finish cutting the lawn like you asked. sweat glistening down his gorgeous body and neck making you bite your bottom lip. he glances, noticing before shooting a smile.

his eyes trail down to the new little bundle in your arms. his hands softly stroking the top of her hair and you see the way his eyes soften. full of love.

you both chat about normal things like wife and husband do. watching as your two sons play fight but you know at least one of them is going to end up crying soon. erwin talks about taking more time off to spend with you, the boys and baby-girl. a sweet comfortable silence overcomes the both of you as you watched your children laugh and bicker.

“I’m so thankful for what you have given me” he utters making you quirk an eyebrow in surprise as you glanced at him.

his face softens as he takes in the view.

“you’ve given me three beautiful children all while still being the same person I had married all those years ago”.

those sweet words and the wind that’s tussling through his hair now got you thinking about having another baby.

a / n : GODDAMIT WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN TO BE HAPPY ;-;

—🧁