#the way he's crouching a bit down and holding her like he's trying to steady himself because he's so overwhelmed

[mssorceressupreme]

Wanna Be Yours | F.W

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Pairing: Fred Weasley x reader

Summary: helping a younger student resulted in you and the first-year walking into a prank not meant for you, and as you do so, you catch Fred's attention. the next day he tries to apologise with another prank and it backfires, but this only resulted in him falling even harder for you, he just knew wanted to be yours.

Warnings/tags: hufflepuff!reader (well it suits anyone really :D), love at first sight, he fell first and HARD, fred needs you so bad, pranks gone wrong, teasing, fluffy and cute, fred's a simp a/n: inspired by "Wanna be Yours by Arctic Monkeys"

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The courtyard was alive with the soft hum of spring—branches swaying in the breeze, birds chirping from the castle walls, and a few students milling about on the cobblestones. Fred crouched behind a large stone pillar, his mischievous grin matching the one plastered across his twin’s face.

Huddled in a corner, the four of them—Fred, George, Lee and Oliver, were planning a revenge prank on Marcus Flint and Draco Malfoy for their obnoxious antics during the Quidditch match earlier.

“Are you sure about this?” Oliver Wood asked, trying to sound stern but failing as he bit back a chuckle.

Malfoy had spent most of the game taunting Harry, and Flint’s borderline dirty play had cost Gryffindor two near-goals. That didn’t sit well with Fred and George, so what better way to get back at them than with a prank.

“Hundred percent.” Fred said, smirking as he held up a pouch of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. “Alright, we rig this near the tree. As soon as they walk by, poof! Total chaos. Then, George, you release the Dungbombs—”

“Already got ‘em primed,” George said, patting his pocket with a devilish grin.

“Don't forget the slime and feathers!” Lee added, holding up a jar of fluorescent green goop in one hand, and a bag of feathers in the other.

Oliver, who had reluctantly joined but couldn’t resist some payback, frowned. “Let’s make sure they’re the only ones who get caught in this mess though, yeah?”

“Relax Wood,” Fred said, waving a hand dismissively. “It’s a foolproof plan. Nothing can go wrong.”

“Trust us,” George said, “We’ve calculated everything.”

“Right,” Lee affirmed, “It's simple charm, a bit of instant darkness powder, and—bam! Feathers, slime, and a nice little puff of stink powder for good measure.”

George cackled, clapping his twin on the back. “Beautiful. They’ll be too busy cleaning slime and plucking feathers off their robes to bother us for weeks.”

“That's what they deserve for acting like twits during the match.” Lee chimed in. "S'pose they do deserve it." Oliver chuckled, his reluctance turning into enthusiasm.

The trap was simple but effective: a hidden tripwire enchanted to release darkness powder, then a rain of slime and feathers from above, followed by the dungbombs. All they had to do now was wait for their targets. "Now, they're supposed to walk pass here any moment..." Fred told the others, as the four of them watched eagerly.

Fred’s eyes glinted as he nodded toward the enchanted tripwire stretched across the cobblestones, ready to unleash chaos on Flint and Malfoy the moment they stepped on it.

Everything was perfect. Until it wasn't.

From behind a stone archway, you appeared with a small Ravenclaw first-year in tow.

It wasn’t Malfoy or Flint who walked into the courtyard first.

It was you.

You were laughing softly, your eyes crinkling with warmth as you guided a nervous-looking first-year Ravenclaw girl who clutched her books tightly to their chest. The poor kid had taken a wrong turn, and you volunteered to show her the way to the library.

In your arms, you helped carry some of her load, making it easier for the first-year.

“Don’t worry,” you were saying, your voice kind and steady. “The library isn’t far. Just through the next hall and up the staircase."

Fred’s eyes locked onto you, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down. He didn’t hear anything else. It was like the world had narrowed to just you—the way your hair caught the sunlight, the easy grace in your step, and the way your smile seemed to light up the entire courtyard.

How had he not noticed you before?

“Is Fred broken?” George whispered to Lee.

“Looks like it. Never seen him go this quiet before,” Lee replied, smirking.

Oliver elbowed Fred, snapping him out of his trance. “Mate, you’re staring.”

“Shut up,” Fred muttered, his eyes never leaving you.

"Who is she?..." He continued, holding true to Oliver's statement.

“Who?” Lee asked, following his gaze. He snorted when he saw you. “Her? Oh no. Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft, Fred.”

Fred didn’t respond. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from you but he was quickly snapped out of his trance as you approached the tree.

Oh shit. "Not the tree, don't walk past the tree..." He muttered to himself, hoping you would somehow magically hear him.

It was no use. Disaster struck.

You were met with instant darkness, coughing slightly as the powder released a thick fog around you and the first year.

Before you could grasp the full situation, a torrent of green slime and feathers rained down from above, coating you and the first-year from head to toe. The Dungbombs exploded seconds later, filling the courtyard with an awful stench.

The first-year yelped, clutching her books as the slime dripped down her robes. You froze for a moment, stunned, before shaking your head with a soft laugh.

Fred winced, guilt twisting in his chest.

“Oops,” George muttered, though he didn’t sound all that sorry.

Lee burst out laughing, "Merlin, did we just traumatise a first year?!"

“Poor kid,” Oliver said, though his lips twitched with suppressed laughter.

Fred, however, barely heard them. He was too busy watching you. Instead of panicking or getting angry, you crouched down immediately, brushing feathers off the first-year’s face.

“Hey, it’s okay,” you said gently, your voice soothing. “It’s just a bit of slime and feathers. Another tip, beware of silly pranks, it's all part and parcel of the Hogwarts culture." You comfort the kid, trying to lighten the situation by laughing softly, "Let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?”

The first-year nodded, her lower lip trembling, and you smiled, guiding her toward a nearby fountain.

Fred couldn’t stop staring. He didn't know who you were, but he did know this, he wanted to be yours.

You were covered in slime and feathers, an absolute mess, yet you still looked radiant.

There was something about the way you put the first-year first, your patience and kindness shining through, that made his heart thud in the best way.

You helped her cleaned as much as you could off her robes, murmuring reassurances the entire time before chanting, "Scourgify!", instantly her robes were as good as new.

Only after she was cleaned up did you finally turn your attention to yourself. With the help of the cleaning spell, the feathers were out of your hair and the slime off your sleeves in no time.

“Merlin! Fred, you’ve got it bad,” Lee said, smirking.

“Oh, leave him,” George teased. “He’s clearly in love.” Fred’s ears turned pink, but he didn’t care. For once, he was speechless.

“How come I’ve never noticed her before?” The red head murmured, more to himself than anyone else. He was certain he would’ve remembered someone like you. “Maybe because you’re too busy pranking people,” Oliver said dryly. "Who is she?" Fred asked, ignoring Oliver's remark. "Seen her around a couple of times, especially in the library, she's in Ron's year." Oliver hummed, watching as you conversed with the first-year.

“That explains it,” George quipped. “She’s too smart to bother with Fred’s idiocy.”

Fred scowled, but his gaze remained fixed on you. There was something magnetic about the way you carried yourself, and he felt like everyone had disappeared, you were the only one in sight, to him.

He knew he had to make this right. He needed an excuse to approach you. Right! An apology. And of course, he had to impress you.

The Ravenclaw girl finally gave a small laugh as you finished off explaining the pranking culture at Hogwarts. “Thank you, I-..I think I know my way to the library from here now.” she said softly before hurrying off. ___

The next day, Fred had a plan. A proper one.

Breakfast in the Great Hall hummed with the usual morning chaos: the clink of cutlery, the murmur of conversation, and the occasional bursts of laughter from each houses' table.

Fred stood at the entrance, trying to look nonchalant but failing miserably. In his hands, he clutched a bouquet of enchanted flowers—slime-free this time—that were charmed to sing a cheerful apology tune when presented.

He wiped his palm against his robes for what felt like the hundredth time. “This is foolproof,” Fred muttered under his breath.

“You say that every time,” George pointed out, his tone dripping with amusement. He nudged Lee, who was barely containing his laughter. “What do you reckon? Will he get through two words before tripping over himself?”

“Five Galleons says he’ll combust,” Lee said, grinning.

“Will you two shut it?” Fred snapped, though the tips of his ears turned red. “This is serious.”

“Serious,” George repeated, mocking Fred’s tone. “You’re holding a singing bouquet, mate. Nothing about this screams ‘serious.’”

“Just watch,” Fred said, his voice low but determined.

That’s when you walked in, and Fred’s stomach flipped.

You were laughing as you entered, your head tilted toward one of your friends. That laugh—light, carefree, and far too distracting—was etched into Fred’s memory, playing on a loop since the previous day.

The sunlight streaming through the tall windows hit you at just the right angle, illuminating your smile. You were radiant.

Fred’s heart thumped in his chest as he stepped forward, the bouquet held out like a peace offering. “Hey!” he called, catching your attention.

You turned to him, eyes widening slightly in surprise. “Yes?” you said, the corners of your mouth quirking up into a curious smile. What did he want from you?

Fred grinned, his confidence teetering on the edge of unraveling. “Listen, about yesterday—”

But before he could finish, the bouquet let out a sudden pop. A puff of pink smoke erupted, followed by an earsplittingly off-key version of “I’m Sorry About The Slime” that echoed through the Great Hall.

Fred barely had time to react before the bouquet detonated in a second burst, showering him in glitter and knocking him flat on his back.

The Hall erupted into laughter.

Fred groaned, staring at the enchanted ceiling, which now looked even farther away than usual. He could hear George’s loud, obnoxious cackling somewhere to his left.

“Five Galleons,” Lee said smugly.

Fred grimaced, but before he could even begin to think about recovering, a familiar voice broke through the laughter.

“Guess I’m not the only casualty this time.”

Fred turned his head, blinking in disbelief. You had flopped down beside him, lying flat on your back on the floor as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Glitter sparkled in your hair, and your grin was wide and unapologetic.

“What are you doing?” Fred asked, his voice caught somewhere between bewilderment and awe.

“Making sure you’re not the only one who looks ridiculous,” you replied, shrugging as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s only fair.”

Fred let out a breathless laugh, his embarrassment momentarily forgotten. “You’re mental.” But he loved it.

“Takes one to know one,” you shot back, glancing at him with a teasing smile.

From across the Hall, George shouted, “Right on, Romeooo!!” His voice was exaggerated and dramatic, and Fred could practically feel the heat rising in his face.

“Oi shut it, George!” Fred yelled, though his tone lacked bite.

You laughed again, and Fred swore his heart might actually burst. “You’ve got quite the fan club,” you said, gesturing toward the group of students, particularly, Fred's 'boys', who were now openly watching the scene unfold and chortling.

“They’re a bunch of idiots,” Fred muttered, though his lips twitched into a reluctant smile.

You tilted your head, studying him for a moment. “You know,” you said thoughtfully, “for someone who’s usually so good at pranks, this was a spectacular disaster.”

Fred groaned, running a hand through his now glitter-covered hair. “Tell me about it.”

“But,” you added, your voice softening, “I appreciate the effort and the apology.”

Fred looked at you, his heart stuttering. “You do?”

“Yeah.” You leaned closer, lowering your voice conspiratorially. “And between you and me, I think you pull off the glitter look better than anyone else here.”

Fred laughed, the sound loud and genuine, and for a moment, the rest of the hall faded away. “I reckon you pull it off better than I do.”

“Why thank you, it's actually my dream to be covered in glitter. Shining as bright as a quidditch trophy is the goal." You joked, but Fred smiled warmly.

You do shine bright, he thought.

As you stood up, you reached out a hand to help him up. Fred took it without hesitation, warmth spreading through him at the simple gesture.

“Come on, glitter boy,” you said, your tone teasing but fond. “Let’s get you sitting somewhere before you injure yourself again.”

Fred let you lead him to a bench at the side of the hall, his hand still tingling from where yours had been.

As you both sat down, he turned to face you, his usual confidence returning in a slow, steady wave, “I’m Fred, by the way."

You laughed, tucking a strand of glitter-dusted hair behind your ear. “I know. You and George are kind of hard to miss.”

Fred’s grin widened, his chest fluttering at the sound of your laugh. “Yeah? Well, you’re kind of hard to forget...uh?" As if on cue, you told him your name. "Y/N." You smiled. "Y/N..." He repeated back, how fitting, a pretty name for a pretty girl.

Your eyes softened, and for a moment, you studied Fred's features. He did the same, glancing at your lips occasionally.

You'd always seen him from afar, to you he was just a prankster, a jokester, busy with his schemes, you'd never thought you'd actually come face to face with him.

But now that you did, you saw him in a different light, almost.

“If this is how you usually apologise,” you said, your voice light again, “I’m scared to see what happens when you’re not sorry.”

Fred chuckled, shaking his head. “Stick around, and I’ll show you.”

You leaned back slightly, your smile lingering. “I just might.”

And in that moment, Fred knew—he didn’t just want to impress you. He wanted you, all of you, your wit, your laughter, your sparkling eyes.

He just wanted to be yours.

[4linos]

the future in his eyes.

seo changbin x fem!reader

synopsis: after accidentally catching the bouquet at a wedding, changbin opens up about his feelings, revealing his quiet hopes for a future with you, no pressure, just love.

warnings: fluff, marriage/wedding talks, smut (towards the end), MDNI.

wc: 3374

The lights in the reception hall glow like soft stars, strung overhead in warm arcs that blur against the laughter and sparkle of champagne flutes. You're holding Changbin’s hand under the table, tracing slow circles on his palm while he listens to the groom's brother make an overly long, questionably sober speech.

You’re not really listening. Neither is Changbin, not fully.

He leans in close, murmuring in your ear, “If he starts crying again I’m going to cry, too. Out of secondhand embarrassment.”

You snort quietly. “You’re such a hater.”

He grins, cheek pressed against yours. “He used a metaphor about steering ships in storms for love. That’s a hate crime.”

You bite your lip to hold back your laugh, but it bubbles up anyway, full and bright, and he looks so pleased with himself for making you laugh like that, you can’t help but lean into him more. It's been like this all evening, stolen moments, shared glances, inside jokes spoken in half-whispers. The rest of the room blurs. You’re here together, like always.

Dating Changbin has always felt a little bit like that: like finding the eye of the storm and deciding to live there. He’s loud and chaotic and funny in every possible way, but with you, he’s soft. Constant. Safe.

So when the bride stands up and shouts, “Alright! Bouquet toss, let’s go!” you don’t think anything of it.

Until your best friend, the bride marches across the dance floor, grabs you by the wrist, and yanks you up from your seat like a woman on a mission.

You blink, startled. “Wait, what are you—”

She grins at Changbin across the table. “Borrowing her for a sec!”

You shoot him a panicked look, but he just raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. He lifts his wine glass toward you like he’s toasting your sudden kidnapping.

Your friend doesn’t even slow down. “You’re coming up front,” she says, pulling you toward the growing crowd of women forming a semi-circle behind her.

“I’m not catching that thing,” you protest, laughing nervously. “That’s not—seriously, I don’t need—”

“Oh shut up, it’s tradition,” she says, spinning to face you. “And besides, it’ll be funny. Just pretend to try.”

You freeze. “Funny?”

She gives you a pointed look. “You’ve been dating Changbin for 3 years. You think people aren’t already talking?”

Your stomach does something tight and wild. “That’s not—what does that have to do with anything?”

She shrugs, devilish. “Nothing. But imagine the look on his face if you caught it.”

You don’t know what to say to that. You know she’s teasing. Sort of. But it touches a nerve you didn’t expect to feel so exposed tonight.

You step into the circle of bouquet-hopefuls, half-laughing and half-nauseous. The bride turns her back, bouquet in hand, hyping up the crowd as someone starts a drumroll on the back of a chair.

You haven’t really talked about forever with Changbin. Not directly. There’s a rhythm to your relationship, steady, cozy, full of little rituals. Friday takeout. Sunday mornings spent making pancakes and fighting over what music to play. You say I love you like it’s breathing. You’ve built a world together.

But neither of you has dared crack that door open further. Not yet.

And across the room, you see him.

Changbin.

He’s now watching from the side of the dance floor with his jacket off, sleeves rolled up, hands in his pockets, dangerously attractive in that effortless way he always is when he’s not thinking about how good he looks.

“Alright, ladies! On three!” your best friend shouts, her back to you all, bouquet held high like a trophy.

“One!”

A wave of tension.

“Two!”

A few people crouch, arms ready.

“THREE!”

The bouquet flies into the air and you don’t move. You take a literal step back.

And it still lands in your hands.

It’s a perfect catch. Unintentional. A total accident.

Everyone screams.

You stare down at the bouquet in your hands like it personally betrayed you.

“Oh my god!” someone shrieks. “She caught it!”

Laughter erupts. A few of the other girls groan dramatically, one pretending to faint. There’s a chorus of oohs and claps and joking shouts about wedding bells, and you just stand there, frozen, cheeks flushed, bouquet clutched against your chest.

You don’t know what to do with your hands. You don’t know what to do with your face.

And then you look up and your eyes find Changbin.

He’s still standing on the edge of the dance floor.

Still staring at you.

But he’s not laughing.

His expression isn’t teasing, or smug, or even surprised.

He’s just… looking at you. Quietly. Like he’s seeing something he didn’t expect. Something that hit him harder than he thought it would.

And it’s not panic in his eyes.

It’s not even fear.

It’s something else.

Wonder, maybe.

A little awe.

And something warm.

Someone elbows him. and Changbin finally blinks like he’s just remembered how to move, laughing as he gets shoved from behind teasingly.

You feel like you’re burning. You hold the bouquet like it’s about to detonate and wave off the attention as best you can, ducking out of the circle, finding a quiet edge of the reception hall where people are more distracted with cake than your accidental brush with fate.

You’re halfway through convincing yourself that this doesn’t mean anything you’re dating, yes, but that doesn’t mean a flying bouquet from your best friend should cause this much emotional static, when you hear footsteps behind you.

You don’t turn around.

You don’t have to.

“You ran away,” Changbin says softly, just behind your shoulder.

You glance back at him. “I panicked.”

He smiles. “You looked cute.”

You roll your eyes, but your face is warm. “I looked like I caught something I wasn’t supposed to.”

He takes another step closer. You can feel the heat from his body even before he touches you, but then his hand grazes the small of your back just enough to ground you.

He looks down at the bouquet still in your hands. “You didn’t even try to catch it.”

“I know.”

“And yet…”

You raise an eyebrow. “I’m telling you, it just flew at me.”

He grins. Then he goes quiet.

And for a few seconds, neither of you says anything.

You look down at the bouquet. It's a little frayed now from the fall, one flower slightly squished, the ribbon twisted, but still beautiful. Classic. Soft.

You don't realize you're fidgeting with it until he gently covers your hands with his.

“Hey,” he says, voice quieter now. “Can I tell you something weird?”

You glance up. “Since when do you ask first?”

That earns a small, lopsided smile. But he’s serious underneath.

“I liked it,” he says.

Your breath stutters. “Liked what?”

He nods toward the bouquet. “The sight of you. Holding that.”

You blink. The world slows.

He doesn’t look away. “I wasn’t expecting it. But it did something to me.”

You swallow. “Like… gave you a heart attack?”

“No.” He laughs softly, then shakes his head. “More like… it made something real.”

You’re not breathing.

He continues, gently, “I didn’t know I’d react like that. But when I saw you with it, it wasn’t like, ‘Oh no, we have to get married now.’” He meets your eyes. “It was more like… ‘Yeah. I’d be lucky as hell if someday, it was you.’”

Your heart cracks open like lightning down the middle of your chest.

Changbin keeps talking, like the words have been sitting heavy on his tongue for a while now, waiting for a moment to spill out.

“I think part of me’s been afraid to say anything because… what we have right now is so good. So easy. And I didn’t want to scare you. Or jinx it. Or make it heavier than it needs to be.”

You grip the bouquet tighter.

“But,” he adds, “seeing you with that stupid bundle of flowers made me realize… I do think about it. Not in some rushed way. Just… in the way you do when you’re really happy. When you can see it. A future. Not in sharp detail. Just… in feelings.”

He smiles, shy and small. “I liked how it looked on you. That kind of future.”

You’re quiet for a moment. The music in the background fades to a slow, romantic hum, barely a heartbeat above silence.

Then you whisper, “You didn’t scare me.”

He blinks. “No?”

You shake your head. “You kind of… undid me. But not scared.”

He exhales, relief warm on your cheek. You lean your forehead against his shoulder, bouquet still clutched between you.

After a moment, you add, “You’re right. It’s not rushed. It’s not even about marriage right now. It’s just… knowing we’re headed somewhere. Together.”

He wraps his arms around you. “Yeah. That.”

You let yourself melt into him, into the warmth, the scent of his cologne, the familiar way he holds you like you fit just right. People move around you. Music drifts. The night keeps going.

But here, right here, it’s still.

-

The reception has faded into the cozy kind of chaos that only happens after midnight. A few people are still dancing barefoot on the floor, someone’s passed out on a couch with a dessert plate balanced on their chest, and the DJ’s resorted to a late-night playlist of slow R&B and guilty pleasure pop.

You and Changbin have retreated outside, away from the buzz, onto a little stone terrace strung with fairy lights. The air’s cool, crisp, the kind that makes your skin hum after being warm all evening. You’re sitting on a bench, legs tucked under you, shoes long since abandoned. Changbin’s next to you, shoulder brushing yours, both of you wrapped in a silence that’s thick but comfortable.

He’s still holding the bouquet.

You had tried to joke about it earlier “You can’t just steal bridal flowers, you’re going to get cursed.” but he just smiled and kept it tucked under his arm like it belonged to him.

Now, he glances over at you and bumps your knee with his.

“You okay?” he asks again, voice soft. The fifth time tonight.

You smile, resting your cheek against the top of the bench. “I’m good.”

“Tired?”

“Happy.”

He hums. “Good.”

There’s a pause, and then, because your heart’s been fluttering all night and you want to make sure you didn’t imagine all of it, you say, “You meant what you said earlier? About… liking the way I looked? Holding it?”

He turns to you, eyes searching your face. “Yeah. I meant it.”

You shift to face him more fully, pulling your knees up, hoodie sleeves covering your hands. “I liked it too.”

He blinks. “You liked how you looked?”

You shake your head. “No. I liked what it made me feel.”

His eyebrows lift, just a little. “What’d it make you feel?”

You let out a breath, soft and real. “Like we were further along in life than we are. Like… I’d already walked down the aisle and you were waiting. And I wasn’t scared. I was just… calm.”

He goes still, gaze flicking to your mouth, your eyes, then back down to the bouquet in his lap. “That’s exactly how it felt for me,” he says. “Like something snapped into place in my brain and went, ‘Oh. So that’s what it looks like. That’s what it feels like.’”

He’s quiet for a second, thoughtful. “I’ve never felt that before. Not in a way that felt… safe.”

You reach over and take his hand in yours. His thumb immediately starts rubbing lazy circles across your palm.

The silence stretches. The air is cooler now, wind brushing against your skin, but you don’t shiver. His presence is warm enough.

Then, quietly, he adds, “I think part of me’s always felt like I had to earn the right to want something like that. Like I had to become something more before I was allowed to dream that big.”

You look at him. “You don’t have to earn love, Binnie.”

He doesn’t look at you right away. “I know. But… wanting forever with someone? That’s a big want. And you—” He swallows. “You’re the kind of person people imagine forever with. I’ve known that since the first time you stayed the night and stole all the covers.”

You blink. Your throat’s tight. “You really think that about me?”

He nods. “Yeah. And tonight just… confirmed it.”

You lean your head on his shoulder, heart full and aching in the best way. “It’s not just you. I’ve thought about it too. Quietly. In the back of my mind. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to ruin what we have now.”

He shifts to kiss the top of your head. “You wouldn’t ruin anything. Even if we’re not ready this second, it’s still… something we can want. Together.”

You smile. “You sound like a Hallmark card.”

“I’m trying to be vulnerable,” he groans, playfully dramatic.

“I like it,” you giggle, tugging his hand. “Keep going.”

He glances down at the bouquet again. “Alright. Here's my Hallmark moment. You know what I liked most about seeing you holding this?”

“What?”

He turns toward you, completely, one hand still in yours, the other resting against your cheek. “It didn’t feel like a hint. Or pressure. Or even a milestone. It just looked… right. Like watching someone pick up their coffee mug in the morning. Familiar. Easy.”

Your chest caves in a little at that. The simplicity. The truth of it.

You whisper, “I don’t think anyone’s ever made me feel that known before.”

He leans forward until his forehead rests against yours. “I want to know all of it. What forever looks like. With you.”

You kiss him, soft and slow and sweet because it’s too much, and not enough, and exactly what needs to happen.

When you pull back, he’s smiling. “So… can we keep the bouquet?”

You laugh. “It’s literally in your lap. You already claimed it.”

“I’m just saying,” he says, faux-casual, “we could dry it. Hang it upside down, press some petals. Make a whole thing of it. You know. A symbolic memory.”

You look at him, amused. “And when people ask why you have a dried bouquet on your bookshelf?”

“I’ll say it’s the first time I saw the future.”

You groan. “Now you’re the one being cheesy.”

“I’m romantic, babe,” he says, leaning back with a smug little grin. “Get it right.”

You roll your eyes. But you don’t let go of his hand.

-

You're both quiet on the ride home.

Not awkward quiet. Loaded quiet.

Changbin's hand is on your thigh the whole drive, thumb rubbing slow, hypnotic circles into your skin through the slit of your dress. His jaw is tight. Focused. But every red light makes his hand climb higher.

You feel like you're sitting on a secret.

Not just the teasing from the wedding, or the looks he gave you across the dance floor.

It's something heavier.

He liked the sight of you holding it.

He said that. And he meant it.

You don't say much once you're inside your apartment.

Shoes fall off at the door. The bouquet, still in your hand, gets set gently on the kitchen counter, like a piece of the night you're not ready to let go of yet.

He watches you from the doorway.

One hand in his pocket. Shirt half-untucked. Tie loose around his neck, just like it was when he gave you that look across the dance floor-the one that said I'm thinking things I shouldn't say in front of your friends.

You meet his eyes.

He's not smirking.

He's watching.

Like he's memorizing something.

And when you finally speak, it's just above a whisper.

"You've been quiet.”

He shrugs once, smile soft. "I'm thinking."

You step closer. "About what?"

"You."

The way he says it, it stops you.

"I keep thinking about how you looked," he continues.

"In that dress. Holding that bouquet like it wasn't meant for anyone else."

You look down, suddenly shy. "It was just a silly tradition."

"Maybe." He steps in. "But it didn't feel silly."

His fingers brush your arm, barely there. You feel it everywhere.

"It felt..." He hesitates, then settles on, "Right."

You swallow. The air between you buzzes with electricity.

And then, gently, he reaches for the zipper of your dress.

"Can I?"

You nod.

He doesn't tug. He lowers it slowly, carefully, like he's unwrapping something fragile. His fingers trail down your spine as the fabric loosens, and your body warms under his touch, your chest rising and falling in anticipation.

When he finally slips the dress from your shoulders, it pools at your feet.

You don't move.

You just watch him.

His eyes linger, not with lust, but with reverence.

As if he's trying to commit this moment to memory, not just the sight of your skin, but the softness in your face. The trust.

He exhales through his nose. "You're so beautiful."

You reach for his shirt, undoing the buttons slowly. One by one. Your fingers are shaking, but not from nerves.

From want.

From feeling too much all at once.

When his shirt hits the floor, you let your hands wander over his chest, his stomach, the curve of his waist. He shivers under your touch, but doesn't stop you.

He just murmurs, "Come here."

You fall into him like gravity.

His arms wrap around your bare back, and your mouth finds his with aching softness. The kiss is warm. Slow.

His lips part against yours like they've been waiting all night, and you sigh into him, deepening it naturally.

There's no rush.

No fumbling.

Just heat.

The kind that builds under your skin, steady and pulsing.

His hands explore like he's memorizing every dip and curve. Yours drag up his arms, into his hair, pulling him closer as your bodies press together, skin to skin, mouths moving in rhythm.

And all the while, you feel it: The undercurrent.

That electric, emotional weight between you-the unspoken I want yous, the quiet I love yous, the possibility of forever that neither of you is pretending not to feel anymore.

He kisses you like he's telling the truth with every breath.

He lifts you slowly, carries you to the bedroom, lays you down with a kind of reverence that makes your heart ache. His eyes never leave yours. Even as the last layers come off. Even as he slides in close, breath trembling, voice wrecked.

"This feels different," he whispers.

You nod. "It is different."

And it is.

It's not just sex tonight.

It's you and him, completely open. Stripped bare, not just in body but in everything that matters.

Your hands exploring. Your mouths rediscovering.

Your hearts steady beneath each touch.

It's slow.

And deep.

And full.

He moves inside you with care, with purpose. No rush.

No frantic pace. Just rhythm and breath and the overwhelming closeness of someone choosing you, again and again, in every slow thrust, every whispered word, every desperate kiss between moans.

You hold onto him like he's the only thing tethering you to the earth.

And when you both finally break-together, trembling and breathless, it's quiet. A sharp inhale. A soft cry. His forehead pressed to yours.

And after, he doesn't move.

He just stays wrapped around you, tangled in sheets and warmth, one hand stroking slow lines down your spine.

"You looked like the future tonight," he says softly.

You smile, cheek pressed to his shoulder. "You made it feel real."

It's late.

The room is still. But neither of you sleeps.

Because tonight is about something else entirely.

It's about wanting each other.

Not just physically, but in every single way that matters.

And neither of you is holding back anymore.

//

masterlist.

❌proofread

[unconventional-lawnchair]

Hi I love your fics and was hoping you’d like this request:)) I was thinking a fic with James x fem!reader where she’s a slytherin but not in the stereotypical way that James and the marauders typically see them as. She’s not cold hearted or prejudice, rather quite friendly and very artsy. I was thinking an enemies to lovers where James just generalizes her with the slytherin she doesn’t like so he’s not the kindest to her, but maybe she gets paired up for an assignment with Remus so James ends up having to be around her a bit and realizes she doesn’t suck lol. Think he would definitely have to work for her affection after fumbling the ball so hard but im a sucker for a happy ending!

I hope this sounds like something you’d enjoy writing, if not that’s totally ok too❤️

Masterpiece

James Potter x Slytherin!Reader

Summary: (see above) James Potter goes a little too far with a girl everyone happens to like.

AN: I am so sorry this took so long! I hope you enjoy it <3

CW: not proof read, use of {Y/N}, Jealous and Stupid James, sexual implied ending, Protective salty Remus, self indulgent, cursing, very slight angst, fem reader, not cannon complacent, sexual innuendo,

WC: ~9k

The sky was overcast and the wind was blowing rapidly, causing your sleeves to billow as the very stool you perched on teetered from side to side. You grabbed the seat and tried to steady your perch, holding up your paint brush away from your portrait as the creamy white shade dripped down on your bare legs. 

Dressed in casual clothes, your paint stained denim short overalls and a striped shirt that hid evidence of handprint smears from your absentminded messes. Sleeves rolled up to show your speckled skin already decorated with splotches of white and browns, fresh hazy grays that resembled the foggy ground of Hogwarts and its students. 

“{Y/N} {L/N}?” A voice so calm and careful called out from behind you. You turned and smiled on instinct, your eyes landing on the tall figure. He was also in more casual clothes, a brown cable knit sweater vest over a simple white button down shirt. He was holding up a piece of paper to his eyes before he put it in his pocket. Smiling so kindly, where the corners of his eyes crinkled and his scarred lip curled up to reveal perfectly uneven teeth.

Ballet white.

“Remus Lupin?” You called out to him and he chuckled, taking a few long steps to stand beside you. 

“You were meant to wait for me, you know.” He teased and slipped his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah, I know, I know. But this was the perfect time for it.” You lifted your hands to gesture to the sky and he looked around to try and find what exactly made this 'perfect.’

“How’d you even manage to get in here?” He quizzed and took a seat on the railing. Looking around at the castle grounds from the top of RavenClaw’s tower, you got the perfect view of the astronomy tower, what you were currently painting. 

“There wasn't much convincing involved. Barty Crouch walked me up here.” You smirked and he looked bewildered.

“You know Crouch?” 

“Yeah, I do.”

Remus furrowed his brow as he tried to piece together how he hadn't heard of you before. Seeing as he was meant to be escorting you two and from each Hogwarts house for your own personal study, it seemed unlikely he wouldn't of known of you, getting this particular form of special treatment from the headmaster himself.

Remus walked around you and took a peak at what you were painting. The air so familiar, and comforting, both of you had forgotten you had just met.

“What are you painting?”

“Magical paintings.” You hummed and he furrowed his brow further.

“Don't you usually need a subject?”

“Traditionally.” You muttered and gestured for him to sit down. He listened almost instantly, sitting down on the floor next to you, laying his crutch across his lap. After a moment of pause you shrugged and set your paint aside, shifting to sit beside him on the floor, making him chuckle.

“Do you know how they work?”

“Not a clue.” He shifted to sit and face you fully. Both of you crossed your legs, like tots ready to swap unearthing secrets in the school yard. 

“Well. What you're thinking of is magical portraits. The art of bringing the life of the subject to the painting.” You declared almost breathless. “But that's amature work.” 

He gave a delighted and startled laugh at your bold declaration, but it didn't impede you.

“The true magic is being able to bring life that isn't visible to the naked eye, to visual art forms.” You declared and gestured to your painting. Remus’s eyes flickered up and widened a bit. You gave an excitable bright smile as you both watched the misty fog in your painting shift, the faint stars in the background twinkle against the backdrop, and even the few faint sketches of students within the distant tower moving about. 

“Woah.” He whispered and you nodded eagerly. 

“Isn't it inspiring?” 

“It is.” He agreed instantly before he looked back at you. “But, doesn't it typically take magic from the subject for it to work effectively? How does this work?”

“Well, don't you think Hogwarts is possibly the most magical place in the world?” You argued and he chuckled at how easily you brushed off the question. 

Of course, no one truly knew how it worked. Not that the creator of the art method ever documented his findings. The only clear part of it was not everyone had the knack for it. You were lucky, since you were young, to be able to produce the art even before you got your magic.

You turned to Remus, who was watching with rapt attention.

“Do you want to try?” You offered, a mischievous smile taking over your features that looked startlingly familiar to Remus.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Me? Paint?”

“Why not? You might find you have a hidden talent!” You encouraged, handing him a brush and a palette. 

Reluctantly, he took the brush, glancing at the canvas as if it were a daunting task. Exaggerative hesitation to defile such a beautiful painting. You grinned, ready to guide him through it. Little did you know that in that moment, you had endeared yourself to Remus in a way not many people were able to. 

For the next few hours, well after curfew, you and Remus stayed perched on the RavenClaw tower, as you instructed him on what colors and paints to use. He was doing his best not to ‘ruin it’, which quickly went out the window when, in a moment of playful determination, you covered your hands in black paint and began to stamp your canvas. Convincing him that you truly didn't care what he did to the painting as long as it was fun.

Finally, you both snuck out of the RavenClaw tower as quietly as possible, trying not to wake anyone. Leading to you two in the halls, laughing and joking as he carried your canvas for you. 

“So, you're self taught?” He prodded and you nodded. 

“Yup! Have been doing this since I was.. four? Likely. My mother showed me.” You hummed and he gave a delighted laugh. 

“Really? So you're studying in your free time?”

“Mhm! It's not something that can really be.. taught. So Hogwarts doesn't have classes on it quite yet.” You waved your hand vaguely and he nodded. 

“You're telling me this now, after all that time trying? You got my hopes up, {L/N}.”

You giggled and he put his hand over his heart in fake anguish. 

“I was this close to changing career paths, you know.”

“Oh, I'm sure you were. I could see the headline now: 'Remus Lupin, Future Auror, Turns Painter After One Magical Evening.'” You laughed, nudging him playfully with your elbow. 

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I think I’ll stick to Defense Against the Dark Arts, thank you very much. But this-” He gestured to the covered painting with a soft look. “You turned this mess into something amazing. You're truly talented.”

“I know.” You sang and he laughed, nudging you. 

“I'm serious, you know.”

“Sirius? I thought you were his boyfriend?”

“Oh Merlin, you're as bad as they are.”

You gave a laugh of your own and shoved him back. “Oh, you Marauders? Please tell me you're joking.” 

“No, no, truly. I think you'd get along. Gryffindor tower is next, right?” He prodded as you both entered the hall and stopped just before the dungeons’ entrance.

“Mhm.” 

“I'll see you tomorrow then?” He offered and held out his hand. You took it with a firm shake and you both said your goodbyes, hurrying over to the Slytherin common room.

~~~

“She's quite fun, showed me how to match pallets colors.” Remus rambled on to Lily who gave a delighted laugh at how excited he was to show her his new found artistic ability. They were sitting on the couch together, and he was exposing to her why his newest sweater vest was absolutely ruined 

“She sounds lovely.” Lily hummed, Sirius smirking from his spot between Remus’s knees, looking up at him. Eyes closed as one of the werewolf’s hands tangled in his loches of hair. 

“So lovely you should just marry her.” Sirius teased and Remus glared at him, giving a particularly rough tug at his boyfriend's hair. Sirius giving a chuckle and biting his lip. “I see no punishment here.”

“You-”

“Whose getting hitched?” James piped up from the stairs, jogging over and hopping onto the couch. Making the cushions bounce a bit as he got comfortable. “Evans, how can you let this happen? A Hogwarts marriage that's not our own?”

Lily gave a sigh and rolled her eyes, gathering her things and saying her goodbyes to Remus and Sirius, giving James the cold shoulder with a simple ‘Potter’ as he put his hand over his chest and sunk further into the cushions. 

“She says that name like it won't be hers someday.” He sighed fondly before he turned to look at the other two. “Where's Wormy?”

“He's on a date with a Hufflepuff.” Sirius snickered. “Some seventh year dude.”

“Huh.” James muttered and looked at the ceiling. “Didn't think he'd be the type to date older.”

“Yeah well-” Before Sirius could continue, Remus’s head peaked up from the couch when there was a knock on the portrait door. 

“That her?” Sirius asked as Remus slugged out of his seat to get around his clingy boyfriend. 

“Likely!” He shouted back and James tilted his head like a confused puppy.

“Who?” He quizzed Sirius and he smirked up at James.

“{Y/N} {L/N}, the artist extraordinaire.” Sirius replied with mock seriousness, adjusting his position to climb onto the couch. “Remus has been raving about her all evening.”

“{Y/N} {L/N}? Where have I heard of her before?” James leaned in, his curiosity piqued. “Oh! That paint girl? One who has been doing those weird paint studies around school?”

“Yeah, that’s her.” Sirius replied, grinning. “Apparently, she's doing some self study. Remus was practically glowing when he talked about her.”

James’s eyes widened with intrigue. “That’s brilliant! I’ve heard whispers about her- it’s supposed to be absolutely mesmerizing.”

“I wouldn't go that far.” You interjected, stepping through the portrait hole just in time to catch the end of the conversation. You were slightly out of breath, having hurried from the Slytherin dungeons to the Gryffindor tower, your paint-stained overalls still evidence of your artistic endeavors from yesterday. Looking around at the beautiful common room. A very faded almost gray-green scarf around your neck.

Burnt Scarlet and Butterscotch

The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward you. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” You teased with a playful grin, glancing around at the familiar faces of the infamous boys. Sirius was looking you over curiously, with his typical sleazy grin, but James seemed absolutely slack jawed. After a moment of a wait you gave a small laugh, snapping James out of whatever trance he was in. Turning to look at Remus who had his eyes locked on your paints, making you smile.

His eyes flicked up to yours and he grinned back cheekily. “Where should I set up?”

“Over here, near the window.” He gestured over to a small nook. You hurried over and set your things down. Starting of course with a small tarp to set up your painting area without having to worry about ruining the flooring.

You set up two canvas this time and Remus helped you, confused at first before you set another pallet and paint brush down. “Alright, my student. Do you remember what I taught you?” You teased and he laughed, walking over to pick up the paint.

“You didn't have the bring this just for me.”

“Oh I know, how great am I, right?” You teased and sat down. Remus was still getting used to your deflective personality. Shrugging as he sat down and watched as you worked. Doing his best to copy your movements.

Meanwhile, Sirius and James were watching the scene curiously. Sirius couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the attention his boyfriend was giving this new girl, and James was unable to get over the fading color of your scarf. His jaw clenched a bit as he watched Lily walk over to introduce herself, also somehow roped in by your charm and even sitting down with you two to watch you paint.

James leaned back on the couch, arms crossed as he watched the interaction unfold before him. The sight of you, animated and joyful as you explained your artistic process to Remus and Lily, stirred something in him. It wasn't just the way you wielded your paintbrush with such confidence; it was the warmth that radiated from you. You were a Slytherin, so obviously, but you held the room like a Gryffindor. You worked with the precision of a RavenClaw. You were patient and thoughtful with Remus and his questions, like a HufflePuff.

He didn't get it.

“Oi, Prongs, you look like you’ve just swallowed a lemon.” Sirius whispered, nudging James with his elbow. “What’s got you all broody?”

“Nothin.” James replied, too quickly, his eyes still fixed on you. “Just… watching.”

Sirius followed his eyes and slowly smirked to himself. “She's getting under your skin too, huh?” 

James glanced at Sirius before his glare locked back on you as you instructed Lily to take your paintbrush and gestured to the canvas he couldn't see. “What's her deal? Why's she so.. smiley?” 

The ‘as a Slytherin’ part came unspoken to both of the boys.

“You know, Remus says she knows Crouch.” 

“Of course she does.” He muttered, eyes locked on the way you rolled up your sleeve and cuffed them. How you loosened your collar, and leaned down, showing the upper valley to your-

And suddenly the floor was a bit more interesting. He turned to look at Sirius who’s lip twitched as he watched Remus rub his thumb across his cheek and smudge some black paint on himself.

“... Merlin, he's bloody fit, ain't he?” Sirius muttered and James gave a loud exaggerated groan.

“I'm shocked Remus is entertaining her at all.” James finally muttered and sunk deeper into his sheet like a pouty child. Sirius nodded.

James watched with narrowed eyes as you laughed along with Remus and Lily, his annoyance bubbling up to the surface. Without really thinking it through, he pushed himself up from the couch, making his way over to where you were sitting with the paintbrushes and palettes laid out neatly.

He made it look casual, like he was just getting a better view, but as he stepped closer, his foot "accidentally" caught the jar of paint water perched near the edge of the table. It tipped, and time seemed to slow as the murky water splashed all over your leggings that just peaked form under your overalls, staining the fabric a dark, ugly color.

"Oh! Whoops, sorry 'bout that," James said, not quite managing to hide the smirk tugging at his lips. His tone was just on the edge of sincere, but the glint in his eyes gave him away.

You glanced down at the mess, then up at James, and for a moment it seemed like the whole room held its breath. James just waiting for the snake to snap its jaws at him. But instead of getting angry, instead of snapping at him like he expected, you just smiled- a bright, genuine smile that made James's stomach twist uncomfortably.

"No worries, Potter.” You mused, brushing it off as if nothing had happened. "A bit of extra color never hurt anyone."

James blinked, taken aback. He hadn’t expected that. He muttered something that might have been an apology, but the way you smiled at him; completely unbothered- only made his irritation flare up more. He turned sharply on his heel, stalking back to the couch where Sirius was watching with an amused expression.

"Smooth, mate," Sirius drawled, arching an eyebrow.

"Shut it," James muttered, sinking back into his seat, his eyes flicking back to you as you continued painting like nothing had happened.

---

Over the next few days, James found himself increasingly irked by you. No matter what he did, you never seemed fazed. He "accidentally" knocked over your brushes during lunch one day, scattering them across the floor. You just laughed, picking them up without complaint. He charmed your canvas to keep sliding down whenever you set it up, but you only adjusted it each time, humming to yourself as if it were all just part of the process. He even tried to charm the colors in your palette to mix into a murky brown- but you simply shrugged, saying something about it being a "happy little accident" and turned it into a whole new painting.

Each time, you just smiled at him, that infuriatingly calm smile that made James feel like he was the one being childish. It was driving him mad, and Sirius, for one, found the whole thing endlessly entertaining.

One morning, James was sitting in the Great Hall, absently poking at his breakfast, when he heard a determined set of footsteps approaching. He looked up just in time to see you standing over him, hands on your hips, your eyes sharp. If James was a smarter boy, he would of been able to see the faint red rims around your eye sockets and the twitch of your lip.

"Potter.” You huffed, your voice carrying just enough edge to catch the attention of the surrounding students. "Give it back."

James blinked, feigning innocence. "Give what back?"

"Don't play dumb.” You snapped, leaning over the table, your face inches from his. "My paintbrush. The one with the silver handle. I know you took it."

James opened his mouth to deny it, but the look in your eyes made him hesitate. There was something different today- a fire that hadn’t been there before. He was finally getting a reaction from you. He felt his resolve waver, and before he could stop himself, he found his hand reaching into his robes, to pull out the paintbrush in question. Only.. it wasn't there.

James blinked, his smirk faltering as he patted the pocket where he thought he’d stashed your paintbrush. It wasn’t there. A pang of unease settled in his chest as he searched through the other pockets of his robes, the smirk fading completely as he came up empty-handed.

“Are you kidding me?” You straightened, your eyes narrowing. “Potter, don’t play games right now. That brush… it’s important to me.”

There was a crack in your voice, something raw that caught James off guard. The confidence you always carried seemed to waver, your voice betraying a vulnerability that made James's stomach sink with guilt.

“I… I swear it was right here,” James muttered, now frantically checking every inch of his robes, his face growing paler with each empty pocket. The students around them had grown quiet, sensing the sudden seriousness of the situation.

Remus was glaring daggers into his very soul, even Sirius hid his face away in his hand.

You stood there, arms crossed tightly over your chest, your lips pressed together as you fought to maintain composure. You looked away from him, swallowing hard. “Potter, that was my mother’s. She gave it to me before…” You trailed off, your voice breaking slightly before you cleared your throat, trying to regain control.

James’s heart sank. He hadn’t known. He hadn’t thought. All he’d wanted was to rile you up, to see you react. He hadn’t meant for this.

“Alright,” He said quickly, standing up from the table. His voice was more earnest now, the usual cockiness gone. “I’ll help you find it. It must have fallen out somewhere. Let’s go check my dorm.”

You didn’t say anything, just nodded stiffly, blinking rapidly as you turned on your heel and started walking, James trailing after you. The Great Hall was eerily quiet as they left, whispers following in their wake.

“She's too damn nice.” Remus muttered and Sirius sighed. About to say something, before he earned a glare from Remus too. 

Lily tutted. “As if you weren't involved in anything he's done to her so far.”

~~~

The walk to the Gryffindor common room felt like it took forever, the silence between the two of you heavy. James kept glancing at you out of the corner of his eye, the way your jaw was clenched, the way you kept your eyes straight ahead, refusing to meet his gaze.

When they reached the boys' dormitory, James immediately began tearing through his things, searching every nook and cranny. He pulled open drawers, checked under his bed, even rummaged through the pockets of his other robes. But the paintbrush was nowhere to be found.

He turned to you, his hands dropping to his sides in defeat. “I… I’m so sorry, {Y/N}, I can’t find it. Maybe it fell somewhere else, maybe-”

“Stop,” You cut him off, your voice barely a whisper. Your eyes were glassy, tears welling up as you looked at him. The fight you’d been trying to keep inside seemed to crumble all at once, your shoulders sagging as you sank down onto the edge of his bed. “It’s gone, isn’t it?”

James stared at you, his heart aching at the sight of you like this. He’d never imagined he’d see you cry, and knowing he was the cause of it made him feel worse than he ever thought possible. Suddenly all those weeks of trying to get under your skin seemed more of a success, if this was the result of a truly damaging prank.

“I…” He didn’t know what to say, how to fix this. He knelt down in front of you, his voice gentle. “I’ll find it, I promise. I’ll look everywhere, I’ll…”

You shook your head, a tear slipping down your cheek. “It’s not just a paintbrush, Potter. It was hers. It was all I had left of her.”

James’s chest tightened, and he reached out, hesitating for a moment before placing a hand on your knee. “I’m so sorry. I… I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I’ll find it. I swear I will.”

You looked down at his hand, then back at him, your eyes filled with a mixture of pain and exhaustion. “Just… don’t,” You whispered, your voice breaking. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Potter.”

And with that, you stood up, wiping at your eyes as you turned and left the dormitory, leaving James there, staring after you, feeling more helpless than he ever had before.

~~~

James had never felt guilt like this. It gnawed at him, making his usual swagger feel empty. Over the next few days, he found himself constantly scanning the corridors, the classrooms, even the common rooms, hoping to catch a glimpse of you but you were always just out of reach. Each time he spotted you, you either turned and walked the other way or simply looked right through him as if he didn't exist.

It wasn't long before the whole school knew what had happened. How James Potter had lost something precious of yours, something irreplaceable. And unlike other times, where his mischief had earned him admiration or laughter, this time he received disapproving glares and whispers behind his back. How he hurt the only Slytherin everyone seemed to adore. Even Remus had given him the cold shoulder for a while, and Lily refused to talk to him outright.

One day, after Transfiguration, James caught sight of you slipping out of the classroom. He hurried to catch up, weaving through the crowd of students, his heart pounding in his chest. When he finally reached you, he touched your arm gently.

“{Y/N}, please, just give me a second.”

You turned slowly, your eyes meeting his. There was a guardedness there that hadn’t been before, a wall that you had built between yourself and him. It hurt more than James could put into words.

Even then, you took time to notice; Cinnamon Brown in his eyes.

 James Potter was used to rejection, Lily Evans ran him like it was a damned sport, but something about your usually positive beaming face turning to a frown at the sight of him wrecked him.

“What do you want, Potter?” You asked, your voice tired, as if dealing with him was just another chore.

He swallowed, struggling to find the right words. “I’m sorry. Really. I never meant for things to go this far. I’ve been looking for your brush, I swear it. I… I just want to make it up to you.”

You sighed, crossing your arms over your chest. “There’s nothing you can do, alright? Just leave it, Potter.”

“But-”

“No,” You said firmly. “I don’t want anything to do with you. You’ve done enough. I- I thought you were funny, that you could tell a good joke. Take one too. But this- no. No, just leave me be, Potter.”

James flinched at your words, the finality of them cutting deeper than he expected. He watched as you turned and walked away, the distance between you growing with every step.

~~~

James's heart sank deeper with each day that passed without a sign of the lost paintbrush. He had scoured the castle, enlisted the help of some of his housemates, and even tried asking around discreetly in other houses, but to no avail. It was as if the brush had vanished into thin air, leaving behind a growing rift between him and you.

Sitting in the Gryffindor common room, James slumped on a couch, staring blankly at the fire crackling in the hearth. Sirius and Remus were there too, the latter still showing signs of his displeasure over the whole ordeal.

"I messed up, didn't I?" James murmured, not really expecting an answer.

"You did.” Remus deadpanned, not looking up from his book. "And you know it's not just about the brush. It's about how you've been treating her from the start."

Sirius, lounging with his back against the armrest, watched James closely. "You've been a right prat, Prongs- even I gave in after the first prank.” He remarked and avoided Remus’s slight glare. “You didn't just step on her toes, you danced the bloody Tango on them."

James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I just wanted to get a rise out of her, see her react. But now... I can't stop thinking about how I made her feel. It's like I'm seeing myself for the first time and it's not a pretty picture."

"Sounds like you've got it bad," Sirius said with a smirk.

Remus closed his book, finally giving James his full attention, not exactly happy with what he was hearing. "It's not just guilt, James. It's empathy. You're finally understanding the impact of your actions on others."

James looked from Sirius to Remus, the realization slowly dawning on him. "It's not like I like her. She's just.. pretty. You know, I hate to see a pretty face so upset.” He scoffed and looked back to Sirius who arched his eyebrow and smirked wider as he realized his remark wasn't as playful as he intended.

“That right?” Sirius pushed and James huffed. 

“That’s right.”

“When was the last time you bothered poor Evans?” Sirius challenged and Remus gave a low groan. Great, James just couldn't leave his friends alone. 

He watched in a bit of sympathy as the dumb boys jaw slowly went limp and his eyes widened. “Merlin, I think I like her.” He mumbled in absolute dread. “Like really like her. And I've gone and ruined it before it could even start."

"Well, you can't undo what you've done, but you can start making amends," Remus advised, a softer tone replacing his earlier reprimand.

"How? She doesn’t even want to see me," James lamented.

"Give her time and show her you've changed.. And Merlin, don't do this just to win her over." Remus huffed.

James pondered, his gaze drifting toward the flickering fire. "What if she never forgives me?"

"Then you’ll learn a valuable lesson in respect, won't you?" Remus said sternly. "You can't force forgiveness, James. All you can do is prove that you're better than your worst mistake."

“Does Merlin speak straight through you?” James muttered to Remus who swatted him with the book across his lap, before standing. 

“I need new friends.” He mumbled as he walked away.

Sirius laughed and James pouted, sinking back into the cushions of the couch. Pondering what would be the next best move when earning your forgiveness. He could live with never being with you, he always found the concept of lost love romantic. 

What he couldn't do was live knowing he hurt you without even trying for your forgiveness.

~~~

For the next few weeks, Hogwarts transformed into an entirely different realm for James. Determined to right his wrongs, he threw himself into the role of a repentant suitor with the zeal of a true 70s romantic hero; one who was more often clumsy than charming.

One morning at breakfast, armed with an armful of apology notes penned in his best handwriting (which still looked suspiciously like chicken scratch), James tried to navigate the treacherous waters of your friends’ skepticism and Barty’s disdain. He handed out his notes, his voice tinged with hopeful earnestness that made a few of your friends stifle their giggles. “Could you- um, would you make sure {Y/N} gets these? They’re, well, important.” His cheeks flamed red as he stumbled over his words, but the sincerity in his eyes earned him a few nods. The stuttering and foolish boy even earning a smile from Pandora Rosier who assured him she'd ‘do her best.’

He was getting desperate, at every shred of attention you spared him. During potions class, James attempted to be your knight in shining armor, which, predictably, went about as well as a troll in a ballet shop. When he noticed you struggling to reach a vial of newt eyes on a high shelf, he leapt up, nearly knocking over his own cauldron in his eagerness to assist. “Allow me!” 

But his overly enthusiastic grab sent the vial spinning into the air, only to crash down right next to Slughorn’s feet, splattering the hem of his robes with an unsightly goo. 

“Sorry, Professor!” James winced, while you suppressed a snicker at the sheer absurdity of his gallantry. Graveling even as he was sentenced to detention.

Now, James knew that if he wanted to be truthful with you it started with his behaviors. Which, started with him being truly himself. So, much to Remus’s annoyance, James turned to grander gestures. 

He managed to convince the house elves to let him borrow the kitchens for an evening to bake you a peace offering. Armed with sugar, flour, and an overabundance of misplaced confidence, he set about creating what he envisioned would be a culinary masterpiece. The result was a lopsided cake with icing that read, "Forgive me?" in wobbly letters. Only, half of the cake was callapsed, making it seem much more like a command of “give me”. 

He presented it to you during dinner, his hands shaking slightly as he placed it on the table. The entire Great Hall watched in anticipation as you took a bite. The cake was oddly salty, but when your lips twitched into a reluctant smile, James felt a surge of pure elation. Maybe, just maybe, his efforts were thawing your icy regard.

He even tried serenading you one evening in the common room, guitar in hand- a skill he had hastily learned over the past week. His voice cracked more than once, and the guitar was slightly out of tune, but he sang with such heartfelt passion that even the portraits along the walls seemed to listen in. He crooned to you, mangling the melody as he went. You watched, half-amused and half-astonished, as this boy who’d never shown an interest in music before butchered the song with endearing enthusiasm. Everyone in your common room appalled.

Through it all, James's exploits became the talk of Hogwarts. Whispers followed him everywhere- some mocking, others admiring. Some even amused that his attention had switched from Lily Evans, to you after years of pining. But beneath the laughter and the rumors, a thread of respect grew among his peers. Here was James Potter, chasing redemption as doggedly as he’d once chased after mischief.

Late one night, as James sat by the fire reflecting on his recent life choices, Sirius plopped down next to him, slinging an arm over his shoulders. “Prongs, you’re a bleeding heart wrapped in a jester’s cloak,” Sirius shook his head with a grin.

James laughed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “I just need to know she forgives me, Padfoot. That I’ve made things right.”

“Well, mate, at the very least, you’ve given the whole school a good show,” Sirius chuckled. “And who knows? Maybe our little Slytherin is writing her own notes now; ‘How to Tame Your Marauder’ or something more poetic.”

James smiled, gazing into the flickering flames, hopeful and a bit wiser. In his quest to win your forgiveness, he’d stumbled across something unexpected. Something worth it. Not just you, but a desire- no, need- to better himself. Every time he saw you smile, made you laugh, roll your eyes, he wanted to be someone better. Someone who deserved to find themselves feeling the magic of being in love with a girl like {Y/N} {L/N}.

And maybe he'd even find himself worthy of her affection in return.

~~~

It all came to a head one day when he was scouring the school once again for your paintbrush. He had lost track of time in his mindless routine and forgotten about potions class. He was a half hour late, dashing into the classroom in a ruffled mess.

His breathless arrival didn’t go unnoticed, especially by you, who eyed him warily from your spot at the potions bench. Professor Slughorn eyed him with a mixture of irritation and curiosity. 

“Mr. Potter, so kind of you to join us,” Slughorn boomed, sarcasm heavy in his tone. “Twenty points from Gryffindor for your tardiness, it's almost as if you left to miss my instruction specifically.” 

James grimaced but still tried to flash his playful smile that usually meant a clap back or snark. Instead, it was his form of a hesitant apology. “Sorry Professor-”

“I am not going over the instructions for Amortentia a third time today, is anyone willing to assist Mr. Potter?” Slughorn announced form the front of the class. There was a long moment of silence. Even with everyone slowly growing fond of him, no one was willing to drag down such an important project for the foolish boy.

Then, from across the room, your voice cut through the tension. "I can help him, Professor," you said, your voice calm but with an edge that didn’t entirely mask your reluctance. Everyone's heads turned towards you, including a visibly surprised James.

"Very well, {Y/N}. Please ensure Mr. Potter catches up without disrupting the rest of the class," Slughorn replied with a nod, turning back to his notes.

James approached your bench, a mix of gratitude and nervousness evident on his face. As he took the seat next to you, he whispered, "Thank you, I really mean it."

As James settled beside you at the potions bench, his hands fumbled slightly with the equipment. Slughorn, having returned to the front of the class, continued with his lecture, oblivious to the dramatic love story unfolding at the back.

James cleared his throat softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Really, {Y/N}, thanks for helping me out here. I know I've been... well, less than admirable lately."

You didn't look at him immediately, focusing instead on measuring out rose thorns with precision. "Just start by adding these to the cauldron slowly.” You instructed, handing him the thorns. "And stir- don't let it settle."

As he followed your instructions, his movements were careful, mirroring the cautious tone he was taking with you. After a moment, you finally met his gaze. "You've been trying hard, haven't you?" You muttered, not unkindly. Your eyes drifting over his focused expression and having to fight a smile.

James paused, the stirring rod in his hand still. "I have. I want to make things right, not just with you but... well, I've been thinking a lot about things I've done. I'm sorry, truly."

You watched him, the sincerity in his eyes striking a chord that made your heart ache. What had you done to the famous James Potter? His efforts over the past few weeks hadn’t gone unnoticed- it was quite entertaining. From the awkwardly presented cake to his out-of-tune serenades, his actions spoke far more than his words ever did. "I've noticed.” You whispered. "It's been hard to miss, really. Hogwarts hasn't been this entertaining in years."

A small smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. "I guess I've made a bit of a spectacle of myself."

"Just a bit.” You chuckled, the tension easing between you as the familiar rhythm of your banter found its footing again.

Encouraged by that sweet sound of your laugh and the pretty way your lips curled into a smile he just adored-, James continued, "If there’s any chance I could, you know, maybe start over? I’d understand if not but-"

"You're really laying it on thick with the humility, Potter. It’s a good look on you.” You teased gently, turning back to the potion, which was now bubbling contentedly. "Let's just take it one day at a time. But, yeah, we can start with being friends."

James let out a breath he seemed to have been holding, relief washing over him. "Friends, right. And if you ever want to throw more paint at me, just say when."

"Be careful, I might take you up on that.” You warned with a playful grin.

As the class progressed, you both fell into an easy rhythm, the earlier awkwardness replaced by a budding conversation. James was surprisingly adept once he focused, and you found yourself laughing more genuinely than you had in a while at his self-deprecating jokes and clumsy yet earnest attempts at potion-making.

By the end of the class, not only had you two successfully brewed a passable batch of Amortentia, which thankfully didn't smell like sweat and regret. James had shown you a different side of himself, one that was humbly trying to make amends and move forward. And as you packed up your supplies, sharing a light joke about the day's mishaps, it felt like a fresh start was truly possible.

James took the chance to smile back at Remus and Sirius. Sirius seemed delighted for him, and Remus seemed hesitant. But it was okay, because you hadn't just forgiven him. You were willing to be his friend.

~~~

James slowly realised that being your friend was likely one of the best feelings he's had in a while. He thought everyone you had met were your friends, considering how sweet and lovely you were with everyone. 

But he was wrong.

There was a crazy side to you that only a small few saw. He learned it quickly, that you were sweet, kind, understanding- yes.

But you were an absolute gremlin when you wanted to be.

James discovered this one evening when you invited him to join you for a late-night painting session- a tradition you shared with a select few. Remus told him about them, but he never really understood just how amazing it felt to have your full attention like this. He had anticipated a serene evening, maybe learning a bit more about your magical painting techniques. Instead, he found himself in the middle of a chaotic spree of creativity that involved more prank-like antics than actual painting.

How in the bloody hell had he not known you properly?

As James entered the room, he was immediately hit by a flying glob of paint. It splattered across his face, dripping down his cheek. He stood, stunned for a moment, before hearing your laughter from behind an easel.

“Oh Potter, rule one. Never let your guard down.” You taunted and quickly hurried over to your canvas. Able to notice how the bright pink paint clung to his Jet Black hair.

Wiping the paint off with a sleeve, James couldn’t help but laugh, feeling a spark of challenge light up within him. "Oh, it’s on, {Y/N}." He responded, grabbing a palette loaded with vibrant colors.

What ensued was a wild mess of laughter, artistic ‘attacks,’ and impromptu paint duels that left both of you covered in every hue imaginable. Hindsight is 20/20- he shouldn't of worn his school robes. It was during these moments, dodging your playful ambushes and crafting hasty shields out of canvas boards, that James realized how comfortable he felt around you. Your laughter became a soundtrack he looked forward to, and your approving nods at his clumsy attempts at art warmed him more than he expected.

“It's humiliating how good you're getting at this.” You teased from your perch on a stool, James chuckled and playfully flipped you off.

“So much sass. And if I credited this to my teacher?”

“You should, I'm bloody good.” You laughed, wiping your nose before sneezing away some of the wet paint you forgot was on your hand.

That night became a normal accurance, it was like you two never fought. You two would find yourself laying on a tarp full of paint. You were laying on your back with your legs against the wall, and he was sitting with his back against said wall. Both of you looking off into dead space as you both talked about the most random and ridiculous things; from the controversial taste of pasties to the value and control one had over each other's fates.

“You know, everytime I come here, I remember why I've fallen for you.”

His words came out before he could stop himself. His jaw dropped at his own broken honesty, horrified that he had ruined the moment. 

After a moment of silence, he looked down to see you smiling at the ceiling. 

“Is that so?”

James swallowed thick and clenched his jaw a bit.

“Yeah.”

“That's awfully sweet of you.”

Your words were light, but they carried a weight that settled over James with an unexpected warmth. He watched you, admiring the serene expression on your face, highlighted by the ambient light that filtered through the scattered paint jars around you. He welcomed the twist of his gut like an old friend.

"I mean it, though," James continued, a hint of vulnerability in his voice as he leaned his head back against the wall, his gaze still fixed on you. "You make it easy to be myself, to be better. You've turned what started as a mess into something... pretty great."

“And isn't that just life?” You teased softly. “Sappy, messy, and yet an absolute masterpiece.”

“Is that what you truly believe?”

“Maybe. Or maybe I just say what makes sense to me in the moment.”

“You're a pain.” He chuckled and looked down, seeing your smile had grown tenfold. Your nose scrunching up and the corners of your eyes wrinkling.

James couldn't resist the infectious energy of your smile. It pulled a laugh from deep within him, a genuine, carefree sound that filled the room- he was screwed. "You're brilliant, you know that? Absolutely infuriating, but brilliant."

You shifted to sit up, leaning against the wall next to him, paint smears marking both your faces and clothes. "I'll take that as a compliment, Potter. Coming from you, it means quite a lot."

And that was all. James hadn't even registered your soft rejection, just relieved you seemed to accept him regardless. He leaned his head on your shoulder and you flicked off some stray pain from his nose. He smiled, all teeth, before he got up and forced you to your feet. Pulling you into a dance that made you cackle like a proper witch. And that was enough. To see you so bloody happy was enough.

~~~

James learned to share you quickly. With Barty always on your heel or Pandora hovering listlessly at your side. 

He even grew accustomed to seeing you draped in the easy camaraderie of Ravenclaws and your fellow Slytherins, your infectious laugh filling the spaces you all occupied together. It was during these times that James learned to appreciate you in a new light- not just as a friend or a fleeting crush, but as a vibrant part of his Hogwarts experience.

It wasn’t always easy, of course. The sting of his previous actions lingered like a shadow at the edge of his thoughts, a reminder of the consequences of his thoughtlessness. Yet, each shared smile and each shared conversation with you wove a new thread of respect and affection into the fabric of his daily life.

As winter deepened and the snow began to blanket Hogwarts, bringing with it the festive buzz of the upcoming holiday season, James found himself more reflective. The common room was often aglow with the warm light of the fire, students gathered around in cozy clusters, and it was here that James found a new sense of belonging. Not just as a Marauder, but as a friend among a wider circle that included you.

One chilly evening, as the wind howled outside and the frost painted delicate patterns on the castle windows, James approached you with a tentative peace offering- a sketchbook. Its cover was a simple, deep blue, but inside, he had taken the time to fill the first page with a clumsy yet earnest attempt at a magical painting. It wasn’t animated like yours, but the colors were vibrant, a silent testament to his efforts to understand your world.

You accepted the sketchbook with a surprised chuckle, flipping through the blank pages before pausing at his painting. “This is for me?” You asked, a softness in your voice that hadn’t been there before.

“Yeah,” James nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets, looking uncharacteristically shy. “I thought… well, I thought you could use it to capture the winter. I know it’s not magical like yours, but-”

“It’s perfect, James,” You interrupted, a sincere smile breaking across your face. “Really. Thank you.”

That smile, that simple moment, seemed to close a chapter on the earlier tensions between you two.

“Of course, it's not free.”

“Id expect nothing less.” You teased and he chuckled. 

“Quiddich. You never go to the games. All I ask, next week, come and cheer me on?” He offered and you couldn't up but laugh. “Are you asking for a lucky charm, Potter?”

”Not any Lucky charm. Mine.” 

~~~

The day of the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin arrived with the usual buzz of excitement and rivalry. The stands were packed, a sea of red and green as students cheered boisterously for their respective houses. James, his nerves on edge, had been secretly looking forward to seeing you in the crowd, especially after your promise to wear Gryffindor red. It was a small victory, but for him, it meant the world.

However, as he scanned the crowd from his broom high above, his heart sank a little. There you were, indeed wrapped in a bold, red scarf, but still cheering enthusiastically for Slytherin. The sight was confusing and, if he was honest with himself, a bit disappointing. Throughout the match, James tried to focus on the game, but his eyes inevitably kept drifting back to you. Each cheer for Slytherin felt like a playful taunt, and his competitive spirit took a hit each time.

Despite his best efforts, the game didn't go well for Gryffindor. Slytherin was sharp, coordinated, and relentless. When the Slytherin seeker caught the Snitch, sealing their victory, a wave of green cheers swept the stands. James landed his broom with a tight expression, his disappointment not just in the loss, but in the mixed signals you seemed to be sending.

The teams made their way back to the locker rooms amidst mixed reactions from the crowd. While his team consoled each other and talked about what went wrong, James couldn’t shake off his gloom. He avoided the usual post-game mingling, instead heading straight for the Gryffindor common room, his mood as dark as the clouds above.

As he slumped into an armchair by the fire, the common room mostly empty due to the ongoing celebrations outside, Remus and Sirius walked in. They took one look at him and exchanged a glance.

“Tough game, Prongs,” Sirius said, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Yeah. And I guess the whole wearing-red thing didn’t mean what I thought it did,” James muttered, not meeting his friends' eyes.

Remus, ever the perceptive one, added softly, “Maybe there’s more to it, James. Did you ask her about it?”

Before James could respond, the portrait hole opened, and you stepped in, still wearing the red scarf, your expression a mix of concern and determination. Seeing you, Sirius and Remus excused themselves with knowing smiles, leaving the two of you alone.

James, as avoidant as ever and riddled with emotions he didn't want to confront, stood sharply and turned towards his dormitory. You gawked at him before furrowing your eyebrows in annoyance, a pout taking over your expression. You hurried after him.

“What's wrong, Jamie?”

Oh Merlin.

“I don't want to talk to you.” James hissed out and shoved his way into his room. You huffed and shoved the door open and walked in, closing the door behind yourself.

“You're not being very fair right now. I'm sorry I couldn't win the game for you but-”

“Do not make this about the win.” 

“What is this about then, Jamie? I don't get it!” 

“Stop calling me that.” He hissed and turned to face you, making you flinch. 

“What's gotten into you?” You pushed cautiously and James scoffed.

“I can't do this! I don't get you!” He strained. “I tell you I've fallen for you and you brushed it off. I ask you to cheer for me and you show up in red, cheering for Slytherin!”

“James, it's my house.” You muttered softly and you saw his shoulders sag.

“Yeah but- I just figured-” He gave a long shaky sigh. Turning around and sitting on the bed, running his hands over his face.

You moved closer, taking a seat next to him on the bed, your own emotions swirling. Even then you were able to take notice. His teeth were strained by his jaw, yet they held the same Ballet White. His robes shimmering with Burnt Scarlet and Butterscotch. His eyes that locked onto yours so vulnerable, giving that perfect Cinnamon Brown. Then the way his hair shagged over his Jet Black lochs. You couldn't look away. Not from all your favorite colors.

“James, I wore red because you asked me to. I thought it was a way to show you that... that I care. But I'm still a Slytherin, and my friends were down there on that field too. I was cheering for them, not against you."

James looked at you, the frustration softening in his eyes as he processed your words. "I know, I know. It's just... everything got mixed up in my head. Seeing you there, in red, but not for Gryffindor. It felt like you were there, but not really with me."

You took his hand gently, squeezing it. "I was there for you, James. Maybe not in the way you expected, but I was there because you matter to me. I cheered for Slytherin, but I wore your favorite color. Can't I support both?"

James let out a small laugh, the tension easing from his shoulders. "When you put it like that, it sounds perfectly reasonable. I just... I guess I let the game get to me more than I should have."

"You're passionate, that's not a bad thing. But sometimes, you might see competition where there's just... affection." You offered him a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood further.

He returned your smile, this time with more warmth. "Affection, huh? So, you admit there’s something?" James teased, trying to shift back to his usual playful demeanor.

"Maybe I do.” You teased back, nudging him lightly. "But don't let it go to your head. We still have a lot to figure out, starting with how to handle house rivalries during Quidditch matches."

James chuckled, his spirits visibly lifted. "We'll figure it out. As long as it means I get to see you in Gryffindor red, maybe I can even cheer for Slytherin once in a while."

"That’s a deal.” You agreed, feeling the gap between you closing as the misunderstanding cleared up.

Just then, the door burst open, and Sirius poked his head in, a mischievous grin on his face. "Are we all forgiven and friendly now? Because there’s a victory party for Slytherin, and I was hoping to steal your girl for a dance, Prongs."

James rolled his eyes, but his smile was genuine. "Only if you promise to bring her back, Padfoot."

You laughed, standing up and offering James a hand up. "Let’s go then. And maybe we can start a new tradition- dancing together, no matter who wins the match."

James took your hand, standing and pulling you into a quick, grateful hug. "Sounds like a perfect plan."

Before he could pull away fully, you stole a quick kiss against his cheek. He gave a startled huff, staring at you with wide eyes. Before he could scamper out any response, or even kiss you back, you pulled away and sent him a wink. Hurrying after a laughing Sirius as he took your arm like a gentleman would.

It took James two to three business days for his system to turn back on. “H-hey, wait!” He shouted after you, stumbling over himself and hitting his foot against the bed. Giving a small curse before he stumbled back after you, not hearing the soft clank of something falling from between his head board and the dresser. 

Later that night, you two would find your mother's paintbrush, nestled between his bed posts and pillows. 

What were you doing in James Potter’s bed so late? 

Experiencing a masterpiece.

[fullscoreshenanigans]

@goldiipond

Doodles

[sakkiichi]

COVER ME IN SUNSHINE.

Ways in which your kid calls his dad. Will he get to hear a ‘papa’?

ft. Scaramouche/Wanderer, Albedo, Xiao, Childe, Kaeya, Neuvillette x gn! reader.

cw/genre: pure fluff. Reader is referred to as ‘mama’, you and the character have a child. They’re all girl dads.

a birthday present for my dearest @bunny-rambles 🩵 i’m wishing you the best day today and always, hun ! ilysm, thank you for always being by my side. I hope we can celebrate many many more birthdays together, mwah <3

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ note: about this fic… i struggled quite a little with it, and i’m sorry it’s not my best piece… this was a totally new concept to write for me, but i still hope you can enjoy, bunbun, dear ♡

if you enjoy this, reblogs and comments help more than likes !

✧ SCARAMOUCHE

Wide indigo orbs meet his furrowed gaze.

Scaramouche is not amused.

Or at least that’s what he wants whoever sees him right now to believe. Namely, you.

Tiny hands cup the Wanderer’s cheeks, big eyes, so similar to his, staring up at him in wonder. The little girl in his arms squeezes his face, a pout forming on her father’s lips. Giggles erupt from her smiling lips, the corners of Scaramouche’s mouth unconsciously tilting upwards.

“You’re amused, huh?” Your husband asks, rocking the baby in his hold. She stares at him, her little arms flailing upward, giggling happily.

“Moochie!” She babbles, trying to stand on the wanderer’s knees, her hands reaching for his hat.

“Hey, hey, now!” Kunikuzushi pouts, securing his hat. “That is not a toy and I’m not Moochie…”

“Moochie!” His daughter repeats, poking his cheek.

He sighs.

“Not Moochie…” Scaramouche’s ears take on a rather rosy tone, especially when your giggles are not exactly inconspicuous, your attempt at keeping hidden just outside the living room, obviously half-assed.

“Pa-pa. Not Moochie.” He repeats, bopping his little one’s nose. “And here, play with this.” He offers, handing his baby a doll curiously identical to himself.

Your eyes soften from your spot when you observe the fond smile on your lover’s face. He might feign annoyance, but when it came to your baby, all the facade was scattered to the winds. Storm clouds and lightning seemed so far away when he was surrounded by the blue skies and birdsong that dawned with your daughter’s hand grabbing his finger.

“Pa..” The little one begins, lifting the doll, as if indicating that it indeed represents her father.

“Pa…” Your wanderer prompts, as he points to the cloth mini version of himself.

Then, the girl’s eyes focus somewhere beyond her dad, tiny hands wiggling and waving, the plush doll still in her grasp.

“Mama!” She exclaims, making to reach for you, trying to climb over the sofa’s backrest, where it not for your partner’s protective hold.

Finally stepping out from your hideout, you walk towards them.

Familiar warm arms wrap around the no longer broken puppet, as your precious baby rests between your two heartbeats. Yours, steady, undeniably human. His, bloomed anew, thanks to you; with a newfound tune, sweeter, gentler, thanks to his little one.

Scaramouche closes his eyes, lashes of now starlit midnights resting on his perfect cheekbones. His head leans on your shoulder, your lips feather-light on his dusky hair, as your hands gently lift his hat a bit.

Your girl grabs one of her father’s fingers once more, the handmade mini wanderer kept close to her chest.

Yes, storms were definitely over for days to come.

✧ ALBEDO

A tug on the leg of his pants and familiar unintelligible noises pull the alchemist out of his task.

Albedo’s features soften when he spots the cause of his distraction.

Putting the notebook he was currently scribbling on aside, he crouches down.

“And who do we have here?” The chalk prince asks, smoothing the golden locks on his baby’s small head.

“Mama?” She replies, her tiny hand pulling on her dad’s clothes.

The gesture is followed by one of Albedo’s gentle chuckles, eyes like northern stars on clear nights bright at the sight of his daughter.

“Mama’s not here now, little princess.” He explains, as he picks the baby up. “They will get home soon, though.” Your child stares at him as if unsatisfied with the answer, head slightly tilted to the side. “How about we have some fun in the meantime?”

Giggles that always reminded Albedo of sunshine days at dragonspine are the answer that follows.

Taking his little one’s two hands in his, the chief alchemist helps his daughter take a few trembling steps, the baby happily padding on the wooden floor.

“There we go, princess!” Your lover chuckles, sitting the girl securely on the beige couch. Teal eyes flecked in emerald follow your partner’s movements, as he rummages through your living room’s drawers.

A few seconds later, more incomprehensible joyful babbles follow, when he sits by your daughter’s side, his hands expertely setting the supplies he retrieved on the low table. She stares at him intently, her gaze drawn to the vibrant crayons cluttering the tabletop’s surface.

“What should we draw today, my princess?” Are Albedo’s words, as he hands his child a light blue pencil, its tip dulled so she can’t hurt herself.

“Snow!” She exclaims, her tiny feet kicking back and forth in excitement, eliciting chuckles from her dad.

“You want to paint snow, my little cecilia?” He asks, combing through her blonde strands. “Alright, how about we paint you, mama and papa building a snowman?”

“Yay!” Your baby reaches for the blank paper, wonder and excitement written all over her rounded features, her tongue sticking out the corner of her small mouth. She always loved to draw and paint, especially when it was with Albedo. And even if her pictures often ended up turning out as just criss-crossing lines or messy splotches, you and your husband always kept every single one of them, displayed as priceless masterpieces on the fridge’s door, the living room walls or your study.

After a few minutes of focused work, three figures start taking form over a background of messily drawn blue snowflakes.

“Look, dearie.” Albedo calls. “Who are these?”

His girl looks up at him, a huge smile on her face as she bites the pencil.

“Mama! Me! And Papa!” She answers proudly, pointing at each of the figures.

Albedo’s eyes widen, gilded sparks reflected in the cloudless skies of his irises at his daughter’s words.

Those last two syllables.

His own pencil falls out of his grasp, clattering to the carpeted floor. In this moment, nothing else exists, save for the jingling echo of his daughter’s angelic tone.

“Papa?” She asks, tugging on his sleeve.

Albedo picks the little girl up, rising her as she laughs, unaware.

“Can you say it again, little princess? ‘Papa’.”

“Papa! Papa!” Giggles leave her throat.

Softly, Albedo places a kiss on her kid’s forehead, hugging her as the both of them lay down on the sofa.

When you got home, silence greets you, broken only by even breaths. Smiling to yourself, you brush a kiss against your husband’s and your daughter’s hair, a new painting adorning the walls after you gently throw a blanket over the sleeping figures of your two treasures.

✧ XIAO

“Do you want to hold her, Xiao? She’s been looking at you for a while.” You chuckle, your gaze softened when it sets upon your yaksha.

Golden eyes, not unlike the child’s currently on your arms, shadow in fear and shame for a moment.

What if he hurts the baby? What if his karma taints her somehow? What if-

“Xiao.” Your hand finds his gloved one, centuries of bloodshed written in the concealed scars. “She’ll be okay.” You reassure, a gentle squeeze, as your fingers slot between his.

The adeptus glances in his daughter’s direction, her round amber eyes curiously observing him.

Your husband’s jaw sets, his lips drawn in a taut line. If someone were to look at him now, they may think he’s sulking, the furrow of his brow apparently an indication to steer clear.

You, however, know better.

“Here, I’m with you, love.” You softly utter, placing your daughter in her father’s arms.

The baby stares up at her dad in awe, her little hands fiddling with the necklace he always wears.

She’s so small… such a pure and precious being… will she be safe with him?

Just as these thoughts plague his mind, the girl curls up in his embrace, nuzzling against his toned torso.

“See? She adores you, Xiao…” You tell him, knuckles brushing against your baby’s soft full cheek. “Isn’t that right, sweetie?” She turns around, a smile drawing on her lips, as she buries herself further into Xiao, whose cheeks have gone as red as the carmine lining his eyes.

“H-hello, little qingxin…” Xiao greets her, awkwardly rubbing her back.

In response, his baby tilts her head slightly backwards, the molten suns in her stare illuminating her father’s rusted gold gaze.

“Papa!” She goes, a little clumsy, it sounding more like ‘dada’.

The vigilant yaksha’s eyes widen, his heart feeling like a million bright lanterns floating towards a starry sky.

“Xiao! She said ‘papa’! See? She loves you!” You excitedly chant, hugging your husband’s waist, as you pepper kisses all over his face. “You are her first word, dear, our baby adores her dad so much. I knew she would!” A smile tugs at your lips, lids fluttering closed as you rest your cheek on Xiao’s shoulder.

His hands hover around his daughter, his hold on her delicate, as if she was a newly bloomed flower whose petals could vanish if the wind blew too strongly.

“Papa…” The girl repeats, her chubby cheek squished against’s Xiao’s form. Her eyes are droopy, a little yawn escaping her as she settles more comfortably in her father’s embrace.

Your adeptus heaves out a sigh of relief, the warmth of a familiar fireplace swarming all around him, as if candid candle flames were running through his veins when the soft snores of his daughter reach his ears.

The conqueror of demons’ mask would be shed for tonight.

✧ CHILDE

Small hands are glued to the window’s glass panes, a pair of bright blue eyes staring awestruck at the image currently taking place in your garden.

Flashes of crystalline cyan flit across the air as Childe wields his double blades, merging them into a spear, his muscles taut at the effort.

The little girl’s tiny hands curl into fists, as she leans forward in anticipation, marine gaze following her father’s movements.

He reminds her of the illustrations she’s seen in the picture books Teucer has shown her before.

She must get closer.

Looking over her shoulder, your daughter makes sure you’re busy with something in the kitchen.

Her plan can be put into action now.

Crawling towards the door on all fours, she realizes she’s nowhere near tall enough to reach the handle.

Oh, but she takes after you, and will not be deterred by something like this.

Silently, the baby makes her way towards the dog you took in. He’s big and fluffy and very peaceful, often keeping company to the little girl. With a gentle pat to his side, she looks up at him with those big blue eyes and, despite his instinct to keep her safe, the puppy obliges to her demand.

Folding his paws, the animal lowers himself to the ground, allowing your daugher to climb. A vivid spark flashes through her ocean eyes, tiny hands securing on her companion’s fur.

And just as she was about to reach the door opening to the garden, a familiar voice that’s lulled her to sleep many a night stops her in her tracks.

“And just what do you think you’re doing, little lady.” You stand a couple feet away from her, hands on your hips, your concern masked with masterfully feigned anger.

Your baby stares up at you, that oceanic gaze puppy-like, much like her father did when you were mad at him.

“Mama…” She mumbles, her little hands signaling to where Childe is training outside, sounds you can’t understand leaving her pouty lips.

You sigh, kneeling to pick her up, rubbing your dog’s chin gently.

“So you want to see papa training, don’t you, little troublemaker?” You prompt, smiling as you tickle her belly. She giggles, wiggling her legs in your hold. “Alright, just this once, and because he’s almost finished with his routine.” You warn, softly pinching her cheek.

Once outside, you both stare at the harbinger, you, with heating cheeks; your daughter, in admiration and wonder.

Then:

“Papa!” She calls, energetically waving to her father, as you have to struggle so she doesn’t fall out of your grasp.

Suddenly, Ajax’s hydro blades vanish, a rare glow present in the eyes that are so like his daughter’s. A wide grin spreads across his sun-kissed features, arms opening as he runs towards you and his baby.

“Papa! Papa!” His daughter repeats, as your husband hugs the both of you.

No matter how cold Snezhnaya’s blizzards blew, Ajax would always have his personal patch of sunshine in you two.

✧ KAEYA

Calla lilies surround the scene, their russet-hued petals aglow in the blue shimmer of the statue of the seven standing amidst the lake.

Dusk approaches, the sky still dyed in shades of tangerine and cherry blossom, the sun, a glimmering halo right above the horizon.

Over frondous grass spotted in sun and shadow, a blanket lies, its baby blue pattern fading into the multiple colors of the snacks scattered above it: portions of cake you baked the afternoon prior; sandwitches carefully cut in triangle shapes; handpicked apples and sunsettias, cut and placed into plates by your lover.

But perhaps the most vivid color of them all was that of the couple sitting atop it.

A couple and their daughter.

“You really liked this pie, didn’t you, little lily?” Kaeya coos at his baby, her chubby cheeks littered with crumbs of the soft cake she’s been devouring all afternoon. Two pairs of ice blue eyes meet each other beneath the setting sun, the girl’s giggles eliciting a chuckle from her father’s lips as he carefully wipes her face. “Mama will be mad if you stain your dress, little princess.” The cavalry captain points out, in mock scolding.

His reprimand is met with a bashful smile and his kid cuddling into him, her tiny hands clutching his clothes.

“Kaeya, don’t tease her!” You swat at his arm playfully, soft laughter leaving the both of you as your husband smooths over your girl’s hair, placing a soft kiss on her head.

“Don’t pay any mind to papa, now.” You reassure her, tenderly brushing over her chubby hands. “He’s a little silly sometimes.”

The girl looks up at you, those iceberg toned eyes wide in wonder at the world that she still has to discover around her.

You ruffle her hair, as she turns around in Kaeya’s embrace, settling on top of his legs, staring up at him.

“Papa!” She announces, taking ahold of Kaeya’s long braid, playing with it. “Papa… prince!” She points out, as she grabs one of the dolls she brought: a boy wearing a crown.

With a knowing grin, you shift closer to your lover, leaning against his side.

“Yes, little sweetheart, you’re right, papa is a prince.” Kaeya’s hand locks with yours over his shoulder, fingers laced together, the warmth of his touch so paradoxical, given the freeze he commands.

“And that is why you’re our little princess.” The knight tells your baby, as he places a stray calla lily on her hair.

“Princess!” She happily babbles, rising her arms.

Instances like this… they truly stoked gentle flames around the captain’s heart, oftentimes concealed behind apparently crystalline walls of frost. As long as he had the two of you, at least during brief moments like this, there would be no need for practiced facades.

Across the distant horizon, even dusk seemed to delay, allowing a few more seconds of luminous skies for the family sitting below it, a flickering smile crossing the anemo archon’s face of stone.

✧ NEUVILLETTE

Slate skies expand above him, his opal eyes restless oceans in the tears they contain, painted lashes dripping in midnight droplets.

Rainbow roses seem to weep too, their petals downcast, the sunrise shades of their blossoms muted in the downpour.

Neuvillette stands alone, the garden of your shared home melancholy; the trees too bare, the grass ashen, the flowers wilting.

Save for the pitter-patter of rusted silver droplets, silence reigns the scene.

The hydro dragon’s mood had a tendency to be mirrored in the heavens over Fontaine, after all.

Sighing, the Chief Justice takes a sit by a bush of lumidouce bells. Fitting, for someone whose shoulders slump not unlike the petals of the periwinkle hued blooms.

“Neuvi, love.” A familiar voice calls him, gently. “What are you doing out there in this weather, dear?”

Long argent locks of hair shift, like seafoam by moonlight, when he turns around, water, from the rain, or his tears, or both, running down his cheeks.

“Someone has come to see you, my love.” You softly utter, beckoning your husband towards the porch, the impending cacophony of his racing mind and falling downpour partially silencing.

Neuvillette’s features warm up a bit the moment he realizes who you’re talking about.

A little girl placidly rests between your arms, eyes of crystalline dusk looking up at her father. Unlike his, hers are rounded, lacking the dark circles frequently etched under your lover’s.

“Look who’s here, little rainbow.” You coo at your daughter, who tries chasing after your wiggling fingers, right as you playfully poke her belly. “Papa is here, do you perhaps want to play with him?”

The baby looks at you, one of her tiny fists on her mouth, as her eyes crinkle up in crescents. Then, she turns towards her dad, arms reaching out.

“Papa! Papa!” She laughs, inclining her flexible small torso towards him.

Neuvillette’s gaze widens, placing his hands around his little girl, protectively cradling her in his embrace.

“Papa is here, sunshine.” Your lover assures her, as he leans down to kiss her nose.

In the distance, a familiar arch shoots across the heavens, the violet of goodbyes and separations shifting into rosy affection.

Golden replaces dull steel, flecks of it dotting the grass, remnants of rain clinging like emeralds to the verdant stems.

The sun is out. The hydro dragon cries no more.

[paarksunghoon]

omg imagine heeseung and reader shopping tgt in a mall when suddenly reader decided to hop into victorias secret?? heeseung gets so horny n needy in the changing rooms whenever reader tried on lingeries infront of him so he just fucks her in the changing rooms 💗

this made me go crazy….wrote this last night but forgot to hit publish so here we are

***

Heeseung doesn’t understands why guys don’t like stepping into lingerie shops. His friends always lament about going into a store that’s frilly and too girly, but Heeseung can’t see their point of view. Going to Victoria’s Secret is less of an embarrassment and more of a fantasy to him because every time you hold up a piece of fabric and ask for his opinion, he imagines you wearing it while he’s got you in his bedroom in all kinds of positions.

“Babe?” You call out for him and wave the set in front of his face. “What about this green one? Do you think it would look good on me?”

Heeseung licks his lips. “Yeah, I think so. You should try it on just to make sure.” You light up.

“Good idea! Let me find the dressing rooms.”

He follows behind you and notes the people in the store. There are a few shoppers and a small handful of employees around. He watches you disappear into one of the fitting rooms and hears the door lock. He lets his mind wander as you change.

“Heeseung, you can come in now.”

Your boyfriend stands up and feels his dick straining in his pants at the mere thought of you but the way you look in the lacy fabric makes his mouth drool. He locks the door as you look at yourself in the mirror.

“What do you think? It’s a bit more skimpy than I’m used to…”

“You look sexy.”

You pout. “You always say that.”

Heeseung brings his hands to your hips and toys with the band of the panties, rubbing the pads of his finger against the fabric. “You always look sexy but fuck.” He kisses your shoulder and slides his index finger below the band. “This set barely covers your pussy or your tits.”

He notes the way you look at him through the mirror as if to contemplate. Heeseung’s right, though. The panties don’t cover much. One wrong move and your folds will slip out. He’s right about the bra, too. It offers almost no support and the cups are designed to be so small that the rest of your breasts start to spill out, even when you’re standing still.

Heeseung moves his hand to cup them and brushes his thumbs over your nipples. “I could eat you up.”

“So I should get it?” He nods and keeps flicking your nipples when his lips touch your neck.

“Put it on my card.” Heeseung laughs against your neck when you gasp after he’s slotted his hardened dick against your asscheeks.

“Not in here!” You scold him in a whisper-yell and push his hands off of your breasts. You watch him pout through the mirror and wriggle to free yourself from him but your boyfriend’s arms wrap around you to keep you steady while he grinds himself against you.

“Why not? Thought you loved public sex.”

Your cheeks warm up. “This is different.”

“Yeah? How so?”

“I don’t want to get these dirty before I pay!”

Heeseung chuckles and skips his hand down your panties as he crouches down to his knees. “When I pay. I don’t mind if the see a little wet patch.”

“W-Well I do,” you stutter.

“Mm, okay. In that case, I think we should take these off so you don’t ruin them, don’t you think?”

You watch him slide the green panties down your legs and stand on your toes when he forces your asscheeks apart after you’ve stepped out of them. He tosses it on the provided bench and admires your convulsing hole. Heeseung leans forward and gives you a lick.

Your hand catches the wall as your back arches out. Your chest pushes against the surface to balance yourself out as his big hands stretches your ass apart.

“Such a pretty pussy,” he mutters when he brings his thumb to stroke your folds. “Wish I could’ve pulled them to the side instead of take them off.”

You turn around to look down at him, “After we pay.”

He looks up at you. “Right, right. We should take off this bra too, right? So you don’t ruin it?” Heeseung stands up right and pulls your body back to him to unclip it until it falls to the floor. “There. Problem solved.”

Heeseung pulls his dick out, listening to the sounds of people walking just outside. He’s sure that if anybody pays attention to the shadows underneath the open gap from the door, they’d see two shadows. Not that he minds.

“Can’t wait.” His voice is clipped. He pushes your back until you’re gripping the clothing rack for stability as he pushes inside of you. “Need you.”

[0omillo0]

angst to comfort

The fluorescent lights of the practice room buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished floor. Han Jisung sat hunched over his laptop, headphones clamped tightly over his ears, his fingers furiously tapping against the keyboard as he tried to squeeze out the perfect verse. But the words weren’t coming.

They hadn’t been coming for hours.

Frustration built in his chest like a balloon about to burst. His mind replayed the same beat on a torturous loop, but no matter how many times he rewrote the lyrics, they sounded wrong. Offbeat. Flat. The pressure of deadlines, expectations from fans, and his own perfectionism felt like a vice around his heart.

The door creaked open softly behind him, but he barely registered it through the fog of his irritation.

You stepped into the room quietly, hoping not to disturb him. You’d noticed the signs—missed calls, one-word texts, and the dark circles deepening under his eyes. So you decided to surprise him with his favorite meal from the little street vendor he loved near your apartment. Maybe it wasn’t much, but you thought a little comfort could go a long way.

“Jisung?” you called out softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

That one word snapped the last thread of his patience.

“Wtf are you doing here?” he snapped, whipping around in his chair. His voice echoed sharply off the walls, harsher than he intended, but he was too wound up to pull it back.

You blinked, startled by his sudden outburst. “I—I brought you something to eat. I thought you might be hungry,” you said quietly, lifting the bag as if the sight of his favorite food would soften him.

But it didn’t.

“I don’t need food right now! And I don’t need you up my ass everytime!” he shouted, standing up abruptly. His chair scraped loudly against the floor. “I need to focus! Why can’t you just leave me alone for once?”

Your heart dropped. The warmth and excitement you’d felt on the way here evaporated, replaced by a cold ache in your chest. You stood frozen for a moment, then nodded silently, setting the bag down on the nearest table.

“Okay,” you whispered, your voice barely holding steady. Without another word, you turned and walked out, your eyes stinging as you fought back tears. You didn’t want him to see you cry. Not after that.

The door clicked shut behind you, leaving Jisung alone in the suffocating silence.

For a moment, he felt justified. He needed to concentrate, and you had interrupted him. But as the echo of his own words settled in the room, guilt began to gnaw at his chest. His eyes drifted to the bag of food sitting untouched on the table. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks—you had just been trying to help. To care for him.

A quiet cough from the doorway snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Chan standing there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“What the hell was that, Jisung?” Chan’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made Jisung’s stomach twist.

“I just—she interrupted—I was trying to focus,” Jisung muttered defensively, but even to his own ears, the excuse sounded weak.

Chan raised an eyebrow. “She brought you food, man. Food. Because she cares about you. And you blew up on her like she was the problem?” He shook his head, disappointment clear in his eyes. “You need to fix this. Now.”

Jisung’s chest tightened painfully. The weight of what he’d done finally settled fully on his shoulders, and before he knew it, his knees buckled beneath him. He sank to the floor, burying his face in his hands as hot tears spilled over his cheeks.

“I messed up,” he choked out, his voice breaking. “I messed up so bad.”

Chan crouched down beside him, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. “Then go fix it before it’s too late.”

-

The sky had darkened by the time Jisung reached your apartment. The cool night air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. His mind was a whirlwind of regret and anxiety. What if you didn’t forgive him? What if this was the final straw?

His heart pounded painfully in his chest as he raised his hand to knock. For a moment, he hesitated, his knuckles hovering just inches from the door. But then he took a deep breath and knocked softly, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway.

It took a few moments, but eventually, the door creaked open.

You stood there, wrapped in one of his old hoodies, your eyes red and puffy from crying. The sight of you like that—hurt because of him—shattered whatever was left of Jisung’s fragile composure. His breath hitched, and tears welled up in his eyes again.

“Y/N…” he whispered, his voice hoarse and trembling. “I’m so sorry.”

You stared at him, unsure of what to say. Part of you wanted to slam the door in his face, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain he’d caused you. But seeing him standing there, eyes swollen and full of regret, your heart softened against your better judgment.

Before you could say anything, he stepped forward, his voice breaking as he continued.

“I didn’t mean it. Any of it. I was just… I was so stressed, and I took it out on you, and that wasn’t fair. You were just trying to help, and I—I was an idiot. I don’t deserve you, but I’m begging you, please don’t hate me.”

His words tumbled out in a desperate rush, and when he finally stopped, the hallway fell into silence. You looked at him for a long moment, searching his face for sincerity. And it was there, plain as day—raw, aching regret.

Without a word, you stepped aside, opening the door wider. He let out a shaky breath of relief and stepped inside, kicking off his shoes as you closed the door behind him.

The moment the door clicked shut, he turned and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into a desperate, trembling hug. His face buried in your shoulder, and you felt his tears soaking into the fabric of his hoodie.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered again, over and over, his voice muffled against your skin.

You stood still for a moment, letting his words sink in, before slowly wrapping your arms around him. The warmth of his body, the way he clung to you like you were his anchor—it melted the last remnants of your anger.

“I know,” you whispered softly, running your fingers through his hair. “But you can’t shut me out like that, Jisung. I’m here for you. Let me be here for you.”

He pulled back just enough to look into your eyes, his own filled with tears. “I will. I promise. I just… I can’t lose you.”

“You’re not going to lose me,” you whispered, brushing your thumb gently across his cheek. “But we need to talk when things get hard, okay?”

He nodded, sniffling as he leaned his forehead against yours. “I love you,” he whispered, his voice raw but full of sincerity.

“I love you too,” you replied, your heart swelling with warmth.

You led him to the couch, pulling him down beside you. He curled into your side like a lost puppy, his arms wrapped tightly around your waist, his face still buried in your shoulder. You ran your fingers through his hair, feeling the tension slowly melt away from his body as his breathing evened out.

After a while, he shifted slightly, resting his head in your lap. His eyes were still red and puffy, but there was a softness in them now, a quiet vulnerability that made your heart ache. You traced gentle patterns along his temple, watching as his eyelids fluttered closed.

“You’re my safe place, you know that?” he murmured sleepily, his voice barely audible.

“And you’re mine,” you whispered back, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his forehead.

As the night stretched on, you stayed there, wrapped up in each other’s warmth, the weight of the earlier argument fading into the background. His arms tightened around you in his sleep, and you smiled softly, knowing that no matter how hard things got, you’d always find your way back to each other.

Because love wasn’t perfect—it was messy and complicated and sometimes full of mistakes. But in the end, it was also forgiveness, understanding, and holding on even when things felt like they were falling apart.

And as you drifted off to sleep with Jisung’s steady breathing in your ear, you knew that you’d both be okay. Together.

@intartaruginha @hannamoon143 @omgsecretsecret @inlovewithstraykids @whoa-jo @madirye062 @vixensss @sseawavee @emilyywhyy @halfwinterhalfuniverse @velvetmoonlght @flourishmoon @hyunjiiza

[regressionschool]

going full toddler part 9:

Find all other Chapters [here]

Marie still felt warm and flustered from all the teasing, her fingers gripping her bunny so tightly that the soft fabric wrinkled under her touch. She didn’t dare look at Steve or Mommy—not when they were both so clearly amused by her reaction.

Tim, of course, was still giggling, practically bouncing in place as he nudged her playfully with his foot. “You love ‘em,” he sing-songed again, grinning.

Marie pouted, her cheeks puffing up in frustration. “Do not.”

Tim smirked. “Do too.”

Before Marie could huff out a response, Mommy clapped her hands lightly. “Alright, babies,” she announced in that tone that immediately shut down any more squabbling. “I think it’s time for two very sleepy little ones to go down for a nap.”

Marie’s stomach flipped.

Nap?

Already?

She was sleepy—Tim had pointed that out earlier, and she had definitely felt it. But now that it was being decided for her, something about it made her squirm.

Her pout deepened. “I’m not sleepy…” she mumbled, hugging her bunny tighter.

Steve chuckled from behind her. “Oh, princess,” he murmured, crouching down beside her again. His hand was warm as he brushed her hair back, fingers gently scratching her scalp in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. “You’ve been yawning nonstop, sweetheart.”

Marie whined softly, ducking her head, but—okay.

Maybe she had been yawning a little bit.

Tim, however, wasn’t arguing.

“Nap time!” he cheered, bouncing excitedly on the playmat, his fresh diaper crinkling beneath him.

Marie gawked at him.

Was he actually happy about this?

Like—genuinely excited to go down for a nap?

Her cheeks burned as he popped his pacifier into his mouth, his thumb rubbing the fabric of his dragon plush absentmindedly as he looked expectantly at Mommy.

“I wanna go up!” he chirped, holding his arms out.

Marie blinked.

Up?

And then—

Mommy lifted him.

Just like that.

Like it was nothing.

Like he was an actual baby, being effortlessly scooped into her arms.

Tim giggled as she settled him against her hip, nuzzling into her like it was second nature. His legs wrapped around her waist, his arms slung lazily over her shoulder, completely at ease.

Marie stared.

He didn’t just accept it—he wanted it.

The way he clung to her, the way his fingers idly curled against the fabric of her sundress, the way his body melted against hers the moment he was picked up—Marie’s tummy twisted in a way she didn’t understand.

She was still trying to process it when she felt herself being lifted, too.

“Ah—!” she squeaked softly, her breath hitching as Steve’s hands slipped effortlessly under her arms.

Her whole body stiffened for just a second—

Then she was up.

High off the ground.

Cradled against Steve’s chest.

Her lips parted in surprise, her bunny squished between them as Steve adjusted his hold, securing her with ease. One of his arms wrapped under her bottom, his palm pressing against the slightly soggy bulk of her diaper as he supported her weight.

Marie froze.

She wasn’t used to this.

Not really.

She had been carried before, but not often. Not like this.

Not so effortlessly.

Not so completely.

Her legs instinctively curled around his waist, mirroring the way Tim clung to Mommy.

Steve smirked at her reaction, bouncing her lightly in his hold. “There we go,” he murmured, rubbing slow, lazy circles against her back. “See? Just like my little princess deserves.”

Marie’s face burned.

She should have protested.

She should have wiggled away.

But instead…

Her body melted.

The second he bounced her, the second his hand rubbed slow, soothing circles over her back, she sagged against him, her cheek pressing into the crook of his neck.

Her bunny was still squeezed between them, warm and comforting.

She felt so small.

So helpless.

So—

So safe.

She barely even noticed when they reached the crib.

Her eyelids were drooping by the time she was lowered down, Steve’s hands steady as he settled her onto the soft mattress.

Marie whined softly at the loss of his warmth, her fingers automatically reaching out—

Only for Steve to smirk down at her.

“Oh, don’t worry, sweetheart,” he teased, tucking her in gently. “You’re not sleeping alone.”

Marie blinked.

And then—

Tim was plopped down right beside her.

Marie squeaked, scooting over instinctively as the mattress dipped from the added weight.

Tim flopped onto his back, his pacifier still in his mouth, his dragon tucked firmly under his arm.

Marie stared at him.

And he—

Didn’t even seem to care.

He was already snuggling in, already settling, already shifting onto his side with a soft, sleepy hum.

Steve adjusted the blankets, making sure they were tucked in just right, while Mommy smoothed Tim’s hair, humming softly.

Marie swallowed, still feeling a little too awake, a little too hyper-aware of how… close they were.

She fidgeted slightly, shifting under the blanket—

Only for Steve’s hand to suddenly press down on her tummy.

Marie froze.

He didn’t press hard—just firm enough to keep her still.

“Shhh, princess,” he murmured, his voice gentle. “Close your eyes.”

Marie whimpered softly, feeling herself flush all over again.

She didn’t argue.

Didn’t protest.

Didn’t even move.

She just… obeyed.

Her eyes fluttered shut, her breath slow and steady.

She barely even noticed when her thumb slipped into her mouth.

Didn’t even realize it was happening.

She only faintly heard Mommy giggle, a soft, amused hum following after.

“Awww,” she murmured. “Look at that, Steve.”

Steve chuckled, rubbing her tummy slowly, soothingly.

“That’s my good girl,” he murmured.

Marie barely processed the words.

She was already slipping.

Already sinking.

Already drifting.

And just before she completely let go…

Just before the world faded away into warmth and softness…

She felt it.

The softest little nudge.

A tiny, warm hand brushing against hers under the blanket.

Tim.

He didn’t say anything.

Didn’t look at her.

Didn’t even open his eyes.

Just scooted closer.

Just curled up beside her.

Just held her hand.

Marie shivered.

But she didn’t let go.

She just sighed softly…

And slept.

Interlude : Adult Conversation

The nursery was quiet, save for the soft, rhythmic breaths of the two littles curled up together in the crib. The faint scent of baby powder and warm blankets lingered in the air, mingling with the occasional rustle of crinkling padding beneath the covers.

Lilly lingered by the crib, her eyes fond as she brushed Tim’s soft hair back from his forehead. He barely stirred, his pacifier bobbing lazily between his lips, his dragon clutched tightly against his chest. His other hand was still curled loosely around Marie’s beneath the blanket, their tiny fingers intertwined.

Marie had settled too.

The tension she’d carried all day had melted away the moment sleep had claimed her, her little thumb still resting between her lips, her bunny tucked close against her. The small rise and fall of her chest was slow, steady, peaceful.

Lilly smiled.

“They look cute together,” she murmured.

Steve smirked as he leaned against the doorway, watching them. His little girl—who had spent the morning still clinging to whatever was left of her big-girl self—was now curled up in a crib, sucking her thumb, her diaper thick and crinkly beneath her blanket, lost in the same kind of sleep that only littles knew.

He chuckled softly. “Yeah,” he agreed, his voice low. “She’s adjusting faster than I thought she would.”

Lilly hummed thoughtfully, her fingers tracing the edge of the crib rail. “And does she know yet?”

Steve glanced at her, raising a brow. “Know what?”

Lilly grinned.

“That you’ll never let her go back?”

Steve’s smirk deepened. He exhaled slowly, watching the two sleeping littles for a long moment before turning back toward the main room, gesturing for Lilly to follow.

She did, stepping lightly across the floor as she grabbed her wine glass from the counter. Steve poured himself a fresh drink, swirling the amber liquid in his glass as he leaned against the counter, his expression unreadable.

Lilly studied him, tapping a single manicured nail against the glass. “And you?” she asked, tilting her head. “How far do you plan to take her?”

Steve took a slow sip of his drink, savoring it before replying.

“As far as she’ll let me.”

Lilly’s lips curled.

“Oh, she’ll let you, darling,” she mused, taking a lazy sip of her wine. “Sooner or later, she won’t have a choice.”

Steve chuckled. He knew that.

He’d always known that.

Marie thought she still had control, thought she was still choosing this. But bit by bit, he was stripping that choice away, guiding her deeper into her little space, into complete dependence.

She wasn’t quite there yet.

But soon, she would be.

Lilly’s eyes gleamed. “Tell me,” she purred, twirling her glass between her fingers. “Did you help her along today?”

Steve smirked.

“Oh, absolutely.”

Lilly chuckled. “Oh?”

Steve set his glass down, rolling his sleeves up slightly. “She had her first messy diaper today,” he admitted, his tone laced with satisfaction. “And she still thinks it just happened.”

Lilly’s eyebrows lifted slightly, intrigued. “Oh, Stevie,” she cooed, a teasing lilt in her voice. “Did you put something in her bottle?”

Steve’s smirk widened.

“A little something to help her relax,” he confirmed, crossing his arms. “She was hesitant about it before, but when the moment came… she didn’t even try to stop it.”

Lilly let out a soft hum of approval. “Good boy,” she praised, amusement twinkling in her eyes. “That’s how you do it. You make them think they still have control—until suddenly, they don’t.”

Steve exhaled, pleased. “Exactly.”

Lilly swirled her wine, watching him. “And how did she take it?”

Steve’s smirk softened into something deeper.

“She whimpered. Got all flustered. But she let it happen.” He took another sip of his drink. “And after? She was so overwhelmed, so deep in little space, she let me hold her like a baby. Didn’t fight it. Just let me take care of her.”

Lilly chuckled. “Poor thing,” she teased, though there was no sympathy in her tone. “She really thought she had a say in it, didn’t she?”

Steve hummed, setting his glass down with a soft clink. “Not for much longer.”

Lilly smirked behind her wine glass, taking another sip. “And tomorrow?”

Steve leaned against the counter, arms crossed.

Marie had no idea what was waiting for her.

Right now, she was warm and sleepy, safely curled up in her crib, still thinking she was just playing baby for a weekend.

But tomorrow…

Tomorrow would change everything.

His smirk darkened.

“She’ll learn,” he murmured.

Lilly sipped her wine, pleased. “I have to admit,” she mused, “I was skeptical about your little girlfriend at first.”

Steve glanced at her.

Lilly grinned.

“But I think she’s exactly where she belongs.”

Steve chuckled, tipping his glass toward her in a silent toast.

“She just doesn’t know it yet.”

Lilly smirked. “She will soon.”

They clinked their glasses together.

And in the nursery, in the quiet warmth of her crib, Marie slept soundly—unaware that tomorrow, her world was about to change forever.

[littlelamy]

anxious!reader has a big panic attack and it takes her ages to finally calm down?

you can't even remember what set it off. one minute, you were fine—or fine enough, the usual storm of worry tucked neatly behind your ribs, manageable, ignorable if you just focused hard enough on anything else. the next minute, something snapped, like a fault line giving way beneath you, and now you're here. or not here. somewhere else entirely, lost in the hurricane of your own mind.

your breathing is too fast. way too fast. shallow, sharp, like a trapped animal. your chest won't expand right, like someone's wrapped a belt around your ribs and pulled it too tight, and no matter how much air you drag in, it's not enough, never enough. your fingers are tingling. your vision keeps narrowing, like the walls are closing in, like the whole room is shrinking around you, and your pulse is a drumline in your skull.

"hey, hey, look at me."

his voice barely breaks through the static in your head. it's distant, muffled, like he's talking to you from underwater. rafe crouches in front of you, close but not touching, and his brows are furrowed, mouth set in something that isn't quite a frown but definitely isn't relaxed.

"breathe," he says, slow and deliberate. his voice is steady, like he's anchoring himself so you have something to hold onto. "deep breath. c'mon. in through your nose. just copy me."

but you can't. you can't. it doesn't work like that, it never works like that, and you shake your head frantically because it's useless, because it's not fucking working, and your hands are shaking and you think you're gonna throw up, your stomach twisting itself into impossible knots.

his hands twitch, like he wants to reach for you, but he doesn't. not yet. he just shifts a little closer, moving slow, careful, like he's dealing with something skittish. you are skittish. you can barely think past the panic clawing up your throat.

"okay. okay, that's fine. you don't have to breathe deep, just—just try to slow it down. a little bit. here, hold my hand."

you hesitate, your fingers curled into useless fists against your lap, but he doesn’t rush you. he just waits. and when you finally force your hands to move, slipping your fingers into his, his grip is firm, warm, solid. grounding. you squeeze too hard, but he doesn’t flinch, doesn’t complain. just squeezes back, steady, reassuring.

"good. that's good."

you don’t believe him. your heart is still trying to claw its way out of your chest. but the room isn’t spinning quite as violently anymore, and you can hear him a little clearer, and you’re still here. still real. even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.

rafe rubs his thumb over the back of your hand, slow, rhythmic. he doesn’t say anything else for a while. just sits there with you, quiet and patient, as your breaths start evening out, as the crushing weight of panic starts to loosen its grip.

it takes ages. it takes forever. but eventually, you start to feel like yourself again. fragile, exhausted, but real.

and rafe is still there. still holding your hand. still waiting.

lamy notes: please please please correct me if i am not portraying anxious!reader properly!

taglist: @namelesslosers @maybanksangel @averyoceanblvd @iknowdatsrightbih @rafesheaven @anamiad00msday @ivysprophecy @wearemadeofstardust0 @rafesangelita @rafedaddy01 @bakugouswaif @skywalker0809 @vanessa-rafesgirl @evermorx89 @outerhills @ditzyzombiesblog @slavicangelmuah @alivinggirl @rafesgreasycurtainbangs @rafesbabygirlx @drewsephrry @lil-sparklqueen

[bowsnstrings]

Diamond Boy (DTM)!

Onyankopon x Black Coded Character✌️🏾

Summary: After realizing that she has feelings for her handsome plug, Milana decides to give in to her rapidly growing crush for him, but what happens when things get a bit too intimate too fast?

Warning MDNI!: First date fluff mostly! Mentions of thigh riding, Praise and Dirty Talk, Mentions of smoking weed, Mentions of food, Original character with original descriptions.

Masterlist:🍃

Word Count: 6.8k

First kisses were supposed to be awkward, a little disappointing, and definitely nerve wracking. Too much tongue, or not enough passion, at least something that you could go and tell your friends about so you don’t sound like you’re already falling for a person you’ve only kissed. At least a little funny cringey moment to keep it lighthearted and easy, nothing like the kiss Milana and Ony shared.

It started so sweet, his lips pressing so softly over hers that she questioned if this was actually happening. Her first kiss, clutching the most gorgeous flowers she’d ever received, holding onto an even more beautiful boy. Her hand, shaky with anxiousness, raised to rest over the side of his face, thumb sliding over his cheek to feel his warm skin and ground her enough to savor every second.

Something about that made everything change in an instant, Ony pressing forward with determined movements, practiced ease getting the best of her. He easily took the lead, capturing her again and again, using a hand on her chin to help her keep pace with him. Her other hand held onto his bicep, feeling like she was going to topple over if they continued, neither of them thinking about anything else in the moment besides the electric feeling that came when they connected.

Moving in sync to deepen it further, until they pulled apart with nasty smack, both taking large breaths to cool down. It seemed like Ony couldn’t get enough though, giving her two quick pecks to her pursed lips, her eyes dreamy and looked like they were swirling with hearts.

“Fuck.” He groaned, purring low right in her face, biting down on his lip to contain himself from doing too much in public. His eyes scanned around to make sure no one was looking, lazily combing the area until they landed back on hers, another smile on his face that made her feel a lot lighter. “You be getting niggas caught up, huh?”

Her face scrunched up, smacking her lips as Ony laughed, a hand coming to cover up his smile as Milana pushed him away. “No.” She rolled her eyes at him, joining in on his sniggering, not being able to hold back her joy for long. “I don’t even date.” The admission wasn’t as bitter as she thought it would be, just a shrug off that she wasn’t so concerned about.

“This is a date, Ma. What ‘you think I’ve been trying to do all day?” He wiggled his brows at her suggestively, standing up to get out of his crouched position, moving back to sit and actually start eating.

“What? This is not a date. You have to ask a girl first, Ony.” She exclaimed as he dropped down, not knowing if he was eyeing her or his ribeye in hunger. “Besides, how do you know I wanna go on a date?” Deciding it was better to join him instead of staring, she laid her flowers down to pick up her silverware with a teasing remark.

He couldn’t even hide his happiness at her burst of confidence, chuckling at the way her lips twisted to hide her smile, determined to hold her face steady. That’s alright, he knew exactly what to say to make her crack. “Mama, with the way you kiss we're for sure going on a date.”

Oh Ony was good alright, that low drawn out humm while thinking of the memory was a nice added touch, her legs clamping shut as soon as the deep sound left him. She had to admit, he had game, but she wasn’t going to just let him have all the fun. “Still didn’t hear you ask me…” Milana sighed, playing up her uninterested look by sitting back, mimicking his nonchalant face that he puts on.

His eyes lit up in recognition, laughing at the way she bunched her eyebrows together like he did when he was annoyed. Damn, was he really that readable? She must’ve done her homework, seen him more than he thought she had. As flattering as it was, he still wasn’t going to let her win, licking over his bottom lip to bring in her focus as he dropped his voice to really play up his words.

“Please, Milana?”

That definitely did it, her hands jerking at his sultry plea, like he was begging to kiss her again. Fork accidentally clashing onto her plate noisily, face flushed in surprise, trying to collect herself under his steamy gaze. She realized that he was waiting on a response, actually asking in a way she’d never expect in a million years. “Okay…” Agreeing blindly, knowing that if he ever wanted her to do something, all he’d have to do was say is please.

“Tomorrow, it’s settled.”

“Ony!” She should’ve definitely seen that one coming, and yet she still dropped her mouth in shock, flowers nearly bumped off the table if it weren’t for her hands grabbing them as quickly as they did. “Are-you can’t be serious. So soon?”

He nodded enthusiastically, with almost childlike wonder like they were elementary crushes getting to sit together for the first time. “The only day it can happen is tomorrow. Promise if you go you’ll have fun.” With the way he said it, she definitely believed him, and why not throw caution to the wind. So far when she did it got her some action, no harm in that. So, she said yes, twirling a petal around her finger as she felt her flowers, smiling across from him as they talked about any and everything. They sat there for the longest breakfast in the world, getting to know each other like they were old friends meeting again. Laughing at their similarities, sharing their values, and trying to get Ony to spill any clues about their first date.

He wouldn’t budge at all, instead redirecting her with jokes and funny stories as they ate, showing such a rare side of him not a lot of people saw. It’s been such a long time since he felt like he could let loose around a girl, not having to put up a tough ass act, afraid that if he showed even a bit of vulnerability the fantasy of a relationship would just crumble. Provide, protect, and don’t be a pussy, the only things he was told about women really.

For once, he thought that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t always have to be so hard all the time. That Ony could take off that mask he wears, and not have to hold back from expressing himself because she was doing the same for him. He could see it, the way she was trying to be vulnerable like she couldn’t help but wear her heart on her sleeve, and all he wanted was to be the one to keep it safe for her.

Perhaps, that’s why he already couldn’t keep his hands off of her, a calloused palm sliding down her arm being cautious and gentle. Walking hand in hand underneath a lovely orange sun, the blue sky pushing wind to blow her hair around and make her look so pretty that he didn’t want to drop her back off. Clinging onto her hand as they made it to Milana’s front door again, knowing that the waiting was going to eat him alive.

“I had a good time.” She admitted, her shy attitude making it that much harder to go, his thumb rubbing over her knuckles to commit the feeling to memory. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” Hopeful excitement shining in her eyes as they looked up at him, his head falling down to lean in closer, eclipsing her view of everything besides him.

“Six o’clock, tomorrow. Give me until then, Mama.” He murmured to her, pressing a long lasting kiss to her lips, pulling her in by sliding his hand around her back. Letting out a squeal and scrambling hands to hold onto him, she made sure not to stumble over in her sandals from trying to get to him so fast, head spinning at the way he was able to take the reins like that.

Ony willed himself away from her, drawing her in a calming hug that let her rest into him for just a second longer before he started walking back to his car. Calling out a goodbye after him, voice breathless with a meek wave. Making him turn one last time to send her a coy wink as he ducked into the front seat, leaving her standing on her doorstep like she was in a dream.

The rest of the day moved as slowly as she did, barely wanting to do anything else besides write and stare at the lilies now sitting in her nightstand vase. Oh God, would it be bad if she told him she missed him while he was gone? Too much and too soon, right? Definitely too clingy already, but a part of her was just crushing too hard right now. Kicking her feet up while she laid in bed, journal filled with curly cursive words, gushing over him like she was talking to her best friend.

All her life she could only imagine what this would feel like, and now she was experiencing it firsthand. That warm bubbly feeling of romance that she'd been begging for, and the thrill of it all was just too exhilarating. Ony was suave, confident, so effortlessly in control of everything he did, being with him felt like being able to let go. Release all her worry and stress, and it was scary to her that he could throw her into a total state of compliance, maybe even scarier was the fact that she liked being able to be the docile and sweet one while he handled everything.

He paid for their breakfast like it was his job, didn't even let her see the check, let alone touch it. Milana had a feeling that he was always generous, that he had a good heart underneath all that intimidation. Maybe, he just showed it through gestures, his actions definitely grand, making her feel spoiled already. She thought about it all as she hugged onto Oreo, trying to receive a bit more affection, counting down the hours until the arms she’d be in wouldn't have fur or paws.

The entire day since Milana woke up, she'd been getting ready for their night out. Practically glued to her vanity as she tweezed her brows, applied a mud mask, watching housewives as she did her makeup. Her skin rubbed down in marshmallow body cream, spraying her favorite perfume as she watched herself in the mirror, rollers giving her a slight headache as she tried not to be so nervous.

Taking the time out to pamper herself was nice, it relaxed her down, the hour long bath was helpful getting her in the right headspace, but she just wanted to see him already. He might've said something nice or funny to get her to smile instead of worrying, or calm her nerves enough to stop freaking out inside.

She stood in the mirror for nearly an hour, trying on everything in her closet that would be a possibility for any date. Skirts, heels, shorts, tops, but none of them felt right until the last outfit. Ony never told her what they'd be doing when they went out, so she only could hope that her long, tight brown dress with a crochet green bolero matched the occasion. She paired it with tan sandals in case they'd be close to the beach or had to do some walking, and her chunky vintage coach shoulder bag.

Milana wanted to impress him, look special and pretty, imagining she was a princess for the night as she slid in her twisted gold hoop earrings. By the time she was finished, it was getting into the late afternoon, trying to drink some honey chamomile tea and have some fruit to quell her nerves. Hearing that knock at the door almost spooked her, a rush of anxiousness hitting her all at once as she stopped to look at herself one more time.

Fluffing her hair and finding an extra roller she accidentally left in, she quickly straightened up and made sure nothing was in her teeth before pulling the door open. “Hi, Ony.” Milana smiled, trying to appear effortless and nonchalant until she saw the bouquet of flowers he held in his hands. Pretty pink and white roses, all blooming gracefully, wrapped in green paper for her to receive. He looked just as perfect as they did. Loose fitting jeans and a hoodie that made his arms look even bigger, a heavy gold chain glittering from underneath.

“Hey, Mama. These are for you.” He must've gotten a shave, his facial hair looking sharper, hair covered by a fitted baseball bat. His cologne almost engulfed her as he passed her the roses, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she breathed him in.

“Ony, you already got me flowers.” She still cooed happily as he gifted them to her, letting him inside all giddy and giggly.

“These are for our date, thought you might like ‘em when I saw the pink.” He remembered her saying that was her favorite color yesterday when they had breakfast, so he knew it'd only be right for her to have them.

“Aww, thank you. Let me get something to put them in.” He closed the door for her, eagerly entering to breathe her home in further, smiling at the good feeling he had being inside. The candles she lit had the perfect scent of vanilla, but nothing rivaled her perfume that was floating everywhere. He stopped for a moment, just taking it in as he stopped at a particular photo on the wall.

“You a writer?” He asked, pausing specifically at a picture he saw when he spent the night, one where she stood in her graduation gown, neck covered in medals and holding awards. She looked so cute when she was younger, glasses thicker and hair a bit shorter in curls pouring out of her decorated cap.

“I am I guess. Won a scholarship for it, but I think I should probably start writing more often.” She hummed out as she tried finding another vase for the new bunch of flowers. His gaze getting stuck on her as she bent over, noticing just how tight her dress was. He nearly swore out loud as her hips wiggled trying to pull it from the cabinet, her ass shaking lightly enough to trap him in a daze. Guess he’ll just have to adjust himself all night while he silently suffers.

“Is that what you do for work?” He tore his eyes away, feeling a bit hot as he tried distracting himself. Ony watched her straighten back up, filling the glass with water as she answered.

“Yeah, freelance. Pays the bills and what not.” She was fixing up the petals of her roses, placing them down on the table as he approached her. Reaching into his hoodie pocket, he pulled out something once she turned around, letting her eyes zero in on it before explaining.

“Picked up a treat for us,” His palm opened to show her a sandwich bag full of nugs, shifting around in there, hypnotizing her into watching it. The smell of potent greenery filled the air as soon as he opened it, letting her get a whiff and laughing when she scrunched her face at the smell of straight weed. “Named it ‘Laid-back ‘Lana’.” She couldn’t contain the giggle that bubbled up her throat at the name, her hand trying to cover her mouth at his playfulness.

“Why’d you name it that?” Milana asked, their light and playful banter easing away any thoughts from earlier. This is definitely what she missed, just being around him, basking in the way he joked around.

“‘Cause this shit will have you laid back on that ass the same way you had me on your couch.” Ony chuckled as he watched her burst into a fit of laughter, the most relaxed she’d ever been around him, and the atmosphere was only getting less and less tense. “Here, you got papers?” He asked, handing the bag for her to inspect some more.

“I don’t know how to roll my own…” Her hands fumbled slightly as Milana tried not to sound pathetic, but at twenty-two she should probably know how to roll her own blunt. Or change a tire, or file taxes; maybe she should start with those first.

“Don’t sweat it, Ma. I got backwoods, but you’ve probably never smoked with ‘em before. I got some good ass flavors though.” Obviously coming prepared, he pulled out a packet of the cigar leaves, the purple package reflective under the light as she read the words, ‘Honey Bourbon’, written all over it. “We got to head out to make it before it gets hella dark, so we’ll smoke on the way.”

After grabbing everything and locking up they left to head out, Ony’s hand falling to her back as he went behind her. The walk to his car was dizzying, feeling so stiff with the touch of a man on her. He lead her without having to say a word, and she almost felt like she could float away if she let herself go a bit more, scared of what would happen if she did. Sliding into his car to drive wherever they were supposed to be going, just taking the time to watch Ony as he moved.

Given his occupation, it was no wonder how experienced he was with handling the eighth he was carrying. Grinding it down easily, dusting it gradually into the leaf, thick fingers squeezing and rolling it between each other. Licking it off with a smooth glide of the tongue, their eyes meeting as he did, making her flush and look away. By the time she looked back he was done, the fat blunt sitting between his lips as he lit it, puffing out smoke that danced in the air, wrapping around their heads in grey streaks.

He leaned his head back, letting it glide out then sucking it back in to blow a ghost, shifting slightly to look at her as he passed it. She took it, knowing it'd at least ease her up some more, generously taking it down her lungs until she pulled back coughing after her uncoordinated breath. “Don't smoke much?” Ony laughed at how her eyes narrowed, he knew that already, just was teasing.

“I’ve never had any this strong.” Milana admitted, taking a much smaller puff before handing it back. The effects hitting her almost immediately, eyes going lax and lips pressing together as she felt a rush of euphoria. Ony had to admire how sexy she looked like that, her lashes hanging lower in a sensual cateye. Driving was his only distraction, trying not to turn and glance at her every five seconds, but he was failing that miserably. She wasn't doing much better, the high making it just that more obvious so she faced the window instead, watching the beach waves in his music filled car driving down the highway. Thirty minutes of the most torturous drive for either of them, only wanting to jump each other's bones and forget the formalities.

They were looking forward to this though, especially with the way Ony was so proud of himself once he saw her reaction. Pulling in she could see all the bright shining lights, hues of blue, red, and yellow everywhere in the cartoonish displays. The rides flashing at her as people screamed with joy in every direction, and soon as she stepped out of the car with his help, she could smell popcorn and funnel cake in the air. “The fair?” Her face was just lit up, and it had him pausing as he took it all in. That face was going to be the end of him, because he knew already that he'd go to the ends of the Earth just to see her look at him like that.

“Today’s the last day it’s in town. Knew I had to take you.” Ony took her by the hand as they walked around, getting through the entrance to take in every exciting sight and decide what they wanted to do first. He left it in her hands, indifferent to it all as he just wanted to let her have all the fun she wanted, happily trailing a step behind as she pulled him by the hand. Milana turned to look at him every step of the way, scanning his face to see if anything caught his eye.

They stopped at the ticket counter first, Ony reaching into his pocket for a thick wad of cash inside, neatly folded bills that he grabbed and pulled apart. Counting each one silently in her head, she tried to ignore the mixed feeling of guilt and gratitude, but that was easy given how desirable he looked while being so gracious. She briefly wondered if she should be scared about them getting robbed, but when she took into account how strong he looked, there wasn't too much to be afraid of. His eyes lazy as he hid the rest in his pocket, passing the woman the cash as he asked her, “Where you want to go first, Mama?”

“I don't know… I think I want to do some games, but I’m scared we won’t win.” Milana looked down at the string of red tickets the woman gave her, all bunched together in her hands. “Maybe this one?” She stopped at the booth right in front of them, a fish pond game where they'd at least get a prize judging by how easy it looked. Even the little kids around it were doing well, but Ony only gave a noncommittal hum as he continued looking around, his arm coming to wrap around her shoulders from behind, stepping so close that her stomach clenched in anticipation.

“What about that one?” He turned them to face a little further down, another game table there with giant prizes hanging all at the top. She let him maneuver them towards it, a little unsure once they got closer. It was a BB gun challenge, having to shoot down the targets from a far distance away.

“Are you sure?” Milana looked up at him, holding onto their tickets skeptically. She didn't want to be wasteful, Ony already paid a bunch of money for them to be able to get inside and use the tokens for rides and such. Ultimately, it didn't matter though, not with the way he was seemingly so flippant about it, taking some from her hands to pass to the worker there waiting on them.

“Don’t sweat it, Ma. Have some faith in me.” He was confident, if not a little cocky as he picked up the rifle, resting it in his hands as he focused his sights on aiming it correctly. His feet shoulder with apart, thick finger on the trigger with one eye closed, not moving or even taking a breath.

*bang*

Maybe it was how high she was, but the first shot came out of nowhere, making her jump when she heard the pellet make contact with the painted wood, hitting the small red dot in the middle.

*bang*

*bang*

The last two were quicker, but still made her eyes widen in awe at how fast he’d done that, moving one by one down the line until all three had holes in the center. She didn’t even think a minute had passed by before he was done, sliding the gun down and handing it back to the guy at the stand.

“What did we win?” Ony asked, turning to Milana as the man pointed out the stuffed animals hanging at the top of the booth, giant, almost as tall as her, and all so pretty. Immediately, she narrowed in on a big brown bear, with dark fur and sparkly chestnut eyes. She pointed meekly to it, arms stretched open to let the cuddly animal fall into them as it was passed to her. “You like it?”

Nodding, all smiley as her nails raked through its fur, she couldn’t express how grateful she was, carrying it around as they went down the rows of attractions. Playing games, sharing the biggest plate of funnel cake she’d ever seen, and laughing when Ony got powdered sugar all over his nose, willingly letting her dust it off with her soft hands. He ended up carrying her bear as they made their way to their last ride, the Ferris wheel, helping her step up into the seat as it rocked slightly back and forth.

“Is this safe?” Milana’s eyebrow raised slightly as she sat down, looking around at all the other swinging chairs. It was his idea to go after he told her he’s never been on one before, but now it looked a bit too scary for her.

“Ain’t nothing gonna happen.” He was gruff about it, setting up her bear in the seat so it wouldn’t fall before sliding in the middle, throwing an arm on the back of her chair to wrap around her shoulders. As soon as their door closed the employee pulled the lever to let the ride start, her breath hitching in her chest as it moved mechanically.

“Are you just not afraid of anything?” She asked, not knowing if it was rhetorical or not as the wheel began turning, slowly bringing them higher and higher. She could only stare down at her toes as they got further from the ground.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Playfully, he rocked her by her shoulders to pull her away from fearfully looking at the floor. Getting her attention to focus on him instead, he figured getting her talking would get her to stop gripping the railing with white knuckles.

“Well for starters, how high up we are.” Her deadpan expression made him chuckle, laying back cool as could be once the ride stopped them at the very top, the world looking much prettier when you could see all the glowing lights in the distance.

“How can I be scared right now?” Ony truly was content, a man who had nothing to fear, only things to desire. Not for more things like money or a new car, he already had all that. He’s craving for something real, someone to share his life with, even someone who he could lean on too.

“I’m always scared,” Her voice was shaky as she tried to close her eyes and relax, vulnerable as she poured her heart out, getting it off her chest. “I think it’s just easier when you’re around though.” Their hands interlocking, his squeezing hers reassuringly at her admission. Just sitting for a second to look at the city from so high up, the breeze flying in their faces making her nose cold.

“Y’don’t have to be scared. I’ll be here, no matter what.” How could he not, stuck in a trance from her beautiful face. Bouncing between her round eyes, fluttering lashes covering the brown, then sliding to her cute button nose, and full pink lips. Committing each detail to memory, counting each beauty mark as her hair blew back in the wind.

“No matter what?” He nodded with determination, no empty promise in sight when they were at the top of the Ferris wheel, just the two of them together and their unwavering bond. “Just… promise me. Promise that you’ll tell me if it’s too much. If I’m too much.” She asked him, fear lacing her tone, afraid to be the one to ruin this for herself, to ruin them already. He didn’t give her the chance to allow the thought to take over, ducking his face down as he slid closer.

“You’ll never be too much. Just right to me.” He whispered, just to her, leaning over to kiss her, cupping the side of her face to keep them close as he groaned from her eagerness to kiss him back. This is what he’d been missing, his mouth moving with hers in sync, allowing those walls to come crumbling down. Hungry for it, craving the affection that being with one another provided, so caught up in their intimate moment to notice that the ride was descending until they were almost to the bottom.

Milana pulled away first, blinking up at him with her shy little smile as Ony’s fingers danced across her cheek, allowing him to lean down and press one last kiss to her lips before they stepped off. Holding each other as they walked back to his car, her head resting on his shoulder the entire way as he led them back to his car, both unable to stop laughing from how much fun they had just being together the entire weekend. She couldn’t even stare at anything else besides him the entire way, going down the highway at night but Ony still managed to shine brighter than the moon beaming down at them. His handsomeness was distracting enough, but getting to know him personally, in a way that most people don’t, was the icing on the cake in her eyes.

They just couldn’t let each other go, she was practically tripping over her feet trying to pull him by his heavy arm. Ony trailing behind, enjoying her more assertive side as she got him to come into her apartment rather easily. To be honest, she could’ve asked him anything and he would’ve done it in a heartbeat right now, too happy making this night perfect for her. The lights dim as they flopped down onto her couch, still reeling from all the excitement. “I can’t believe we just went on a date.” She sighed happily, tossing off her sandals as she faced him, seeing how he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her.

“Really? Thought it was only a matter of time.” He didn’t like feeling far away from her, hand itching to reach out, his willpower getting lower and lower. Grabbing her by the waist, an abundance of giggles rained out as she wiggled in his arms until he settled her down on his leg again, just like he’d done at the club.

They took a moment to take each other in, Milana shifting to sling her other leg over his body, unintentionally sitting flush on his thigh, but too wrapped up in how good it felt being close to him to notice. Shifting up to lean in, he cupped the side of her face, tender as he pulled her in to kiss her, a quick peck that had her slowly melting into him. Her hips moving to get closer until an unfamiliar feeling shot through her, making her go stiff in his hands. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t know at first, mind still trying to register the arousal that she felt pooling deep within, hands falling onto his shoulders as she unsurely ground down again. Call it virgin curiosity, but she couldn’t stop exploring after her first taste of pleasure. Her head spinning with confusing sensations, the heaviness of passion weighing her down to roll back and forth on his thigh another time until her eyes shifted up and saw his expression. Blank with disbelief, mouth agape as he watched her move, kick starting her into stopping her movement to explain herself.

“Sorry! I’m so sorry-I don’t-” Ony snatched her up in an instant, grabbing her by the hips to pull her into riding his thigh again. She never expected that, hands staying up in the air out of pure shock before he pulled them down, urging her to touch him back. Milana did so as she whimpered, trying to keep up with the way he was moving her.

“I tried.” He grunted, his body working with fervor as he helped her grind, eyes shut tight as he felt himself quickly hardening, his thigh tensing underneath her. “I really fucking tried, but I need you.” Big and burly arms locked tightly around her as he breathed her in, mind going fuzzy as he tuned out entirely, letting his actions speak for him. Adrenaline was pumping through them, hands gripping at each other, desperate to touch, feel, see everything they could. Everywhere her fingers grazed left him yearning for more, the realization that he’d been craving for this his entire life felt like cold water splashing over his heated skin. Too used to floating in and out of people’s lives to get the touch that he needed, the touch that only she seemed to provide, practically thriving after starving for it.

“You’re alright, Mama.” He reassured, hands sliding under her dress, Milana was spooked at first by the touch, but was relaxed down by his calming strokes. They moved so easily, bunching up her dress until it rose around her hips to give him more access to her, kisses trailed along her collarbone to keep her from retreating into her head.

He began moving upward, skimming her throat as his mind went blank, the only thing he could tangibly string together was her name over and over in his mind. Her hair, her voice, her scent, it made him feel dizzy just thinking about it, a burning feeling of greed taking over any rational thought. He needed her badly, running hot as he finally made it to her face, opening his eyes to meet hers as he pressed forward, taking her by surprise as he lowered her down slow into his lap, feeling her nearly bare skin meet his jeans.

Her mouth dropped open in the neediest moan he’d ever heard, long and whiney, eyes rolling to the back of her head as they closed. The expression was just too good, making his dick jump as he sat up, clutching her hips desperately. “Fuck, Milana.” He groaned out, slightly shifting to get her adjusted, quickly needing her to feel him too. “Don’t do that shit, Baby. Gonna stop my fucking heart.”

She couldn’t say anything, too busy trying to stop herself from shaking as Ony began moving her up and down his groin over his pants. Rocking her hips faster, steadier, with so much effort she almost thought they were actually having sex. The image made her knees try to close together, his hands shifting to grip under her thighs, forcing them open as he grunted curses in her ear.

Milana couldn’t stop herself from moving, like she was lit with fire for the first time, throwing her arms around Ony’s neck to clutch him closer. “Need me, Mama, don’t you?” Nodding and unable to hide small moans from escaping her, their lips met again, noisy and echoing around the room. She was so damp, Ony was starting to see her show up on his jeans, having to look away before he embarrassed himself in front of this girl.

“Fuck,” He cursed when her nails ran down the nape of his neck, his hips lifting off the couch to put force behind the thrusts he was giving her. Ony’s hands curving down to grip her ass, hissing as her clit caught perfectly over his bulge, pulling her all the way up, up, up, then back down until she felt like she was fraying at the seams. “Stay with me, Baby.” He urged, but her mind was too cloudy to sense that unfamiliar feeling at first, too busy asking the Lord to forgive her for praying to lose her virginity after a first date. Thoughts turning to mush before they could form and soon she found herself stuck in the feeling that she was going to burst.

Then her stomach wound tighter, eyes snapping open in panic as she felt a mix of emotions, wanting to go faster and run away from the feeling all at once. Tingles crawled up her body from her toes, moving with vigor to heighten the pressure as it all rushed to her head. Her hips trying to jump away from his, squealing as she tried to stop her impending orgasm before it made her lose control, hands pressing into his chest to push away.

“Gonna cum, Mama?” Calling Milana back as he forced her to sit flush down on him again. He was asking like he already knew that, and when she tried looking at him through teary eyes she was taken aback at the hungry glint in them. “Yeah, gonna make a fucking mess. Let that shit happen, ‘want you to soak my face after.”

Milana’s mouth dropped open, whining out as she clutched onto him, thrown headfirst into an orgasm she never expected. It felt like free falling right into his waiting arms, where he could bring her more pleasure than she ever thought possible, without even having to touch her. His kisses trailed from her jaw down her neck, toes curling and eyes watering in bliss as she tried to catch her breath. He let her settle slightly, then flipped them both over to lay her on the couch. Her head lying on the armrest as Milana looked at her ceiling, body sagging into the cushions while Ony took her legs and threw them over his shoulders.

“Damn, that was good, Baby. So fucking good. Gonna have you do that on my mouth then around me next, Mama.” He rambled out, planting long appreciative kisses over her inner thighs, getting closer and closer to her covered pussy. His head dipping down to press his lips right against her, surprised at how she shrieked and pushed herself up slightly to see him, eyebrow raising as he stopped to make sure she was alright. To be fair, she didn’t expect them to still keep going, not with how worn out she felt either.

“Uhh… Ony… think I should-probably should tell you some-something…” Her chest was still rising and falling rapidly, whole body thrown off kilter in a sensitive state that had her scrambling while trying to find her bearings. He nodded for her to continue, rubbing circles into her skin when he saw how she was still coming down into reality, thinking she was just a bit delicate in the moment. “I just never- that was my first time so-”

“What?” Ony practically threw himself off of her, legs falling off his body as he moved to sit across from her, a rush of indecipherable emotions written all over him. The sudden loss of touch made her feel a lot more hurt than he intended, but he was honestly so blindsided by her confession that he thought his heart stopped. “Are you saying that you're…” God, it all made sense now, why she was so nervous all the time, shying away from any hint of intimacy, why didn't he see it sooner? “Fuck, Milana.”

His head dropped into his hands, groaning out in an unmistakable tone of frustration as he sobered up, her stomach twisting in a not-so-pleasurable way after that. Once again, her big mouth strikes again, opening it just when things were going so well. Why did she have to stop him, why did that knawing feeling in the back of her mind have to tell her that they might've been moving too fast? Her face dropping with so much disappointment as she tried not to get weepy. “I’m sorry…” Voice tinged with pain as a hand rubbed at the corner of her eyes.

Ony didn't miss the way she sounded, head picking up to jump into action, pulling her back into him, tucked in his side. “Shit-No, Baby. I'm not upset with you. I'm mad at my damn self, should've known better than to be trying to push all up on you like that.” He explained, trying to blanket her with as much comfort as he could, hand a bit frantic as it moved up and down her back. “Fuck, shouldn’t have done that, it wasn't right. I just don't want to take advantage of you, Mama.”

His mind was rushed with guilt, feeling like he just pushed her too hard and definitely way too fast. A bad feeling erupting inside, thinking that he'd been too selfish in the moment, using his second head instead of the one resting on his shoulders. “Don't say that.” She mumbled, her sniffling getting quieter as she saw how upset he was. “I wanted to do that with you, I just didn't think you'd even like me.”

“What?” After all that he thought she'd at least realize he liked her little stubborn behind. “Of course I fucking like you. I don't take girls out and shit, did that ‘cause I want you to be mine.” He admitted it so truthfully, that it shocked her to the core, the revelation swaddling her in the tenderness of his words.

“Really?” Milana felt it, she really did this time. Her eyes were getting watery all over again as it came over her in waves, feeling just as good as his touch was.

“Yes, Milana. I really want you.” Ony felt a rush of relief, his body sagging down to lean against hers too, just needing to hold her for a while. They laid down together, arms wrapping around to hold each other with soothing light touches, side by side facing each other on her little sofa. Her hands sliding to cup his face as he buried his face in her neck, practically laying on top of him to make room, but it was the most comfortable she’d ever been. They would have a lot to talk about soon; her fears, his tough shell, their shared desires, but both were certain that together, it’d be alright.

Hello Everyone! Thank you for being so patient and for supporting my story! I can't believe Milana and Ony already had their first date! It only gets better from here for them, so keep tuning in to read! xoxo - Bow 🎀

Taglist:

@kxllanxtdoor

@rintcrous

@blackgirlmagicforever

@hidd3nbimbo

[signofspeed]

Hi love! I was wondering you’d be able to write a Lando fix where his gf got her period early and she’s really not feeling well so he’s super worried… definitely not inspired by a recent personal experience lmao :))

──── ⭑

The sun was dipping below the horizon when Lando let himself into the apartment, the comforting click of the door signaling his return. Normally, the space felt alive when he came home—your presence a quiet but palpable energy that greeted him like warmth on a cold day. Today, though, something was missing.

He set down the groceries, frowning slightly. The stillness in the air made his chest tighten. Your slippers were by the door, your jacket tossed over the back of a chair, but the usual sounds—music playing softly, or even the occasional clatter from the kitchen—weren’t there.

“Love?” he called out, his voice breaking the silence as he slipped off his shoes.

There was no response.

He found you in the bedroom, curled up beneath the duvet, your knees tucked to your chest. The dim light of the bedside lamp illuminated your face, pale and drawn, your usually bright eyes dull and half-lidded. The sight stopped him in his tracks.

“Hey,” he said softly, his worry sharpening as he approached the bed. He crouched down by the side, studying your face. “You okay?”

You blinked slowly, trying to focus on him, but even that small movement seemed to drain your energy. “It’s just my period,” you murmured, your voice scratchy and quiet.

“Your period?” His brow furrowed. “It’s not supposed to hurt this much, is it?”

You gave him a weak shrug, your face contorting as another wave of cramps hit you. “Sometimes it does. It just… came early, and I wasn’t ready for it.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, his gaze shifting to the tension in your curled frame, the way your hands pressed against your stomach like you were trying to hold yourself together.

“Stay here,” he said finally, his voice calm but firm.

He disappeared into the bathroom, rummaging through cabinets until he found the heating pad he vaguely remembered buying with you months ago. Plugging it in by the bed, he slid it under the covers and positioned it against your stomach. The warmth began to seep into your skin almost immediately, and a small sigh escaped your lips.

“Better?” he asked quietly, sitting down beside you.

You nodded, a hint of relief easing your features. “A bit. Thanks.”

But he wasn’t done. He slipped out of the room again, returning a few minutes later with a glass of water and a packet of painkillers. “Here,” he said, holding them out to you.

You hesitated, your fingers brushing against his as you took them. “You don’t have to fuss, Lando,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m not fussing,” he replied, his tone light but steady. “I just hate seeing you like this.”

You took the medicine, the water cooling your parched throat. He sat beside you while you drank, his hand finding yours under the covers. His thumb traced slow circles over your knuckles, a quiet reassurance that he was there.

“I’m going to make you something to eat,” he said after a while, standing up.

“Lando—”

“Don’t argue,” he interrupted gently. “You haven’t eaten, have you?”

You shook your head. He pressed a quick kiss to your forehead before heading to the kitchen.

The scent of soup wafted through the apartment soon after, the quiet clink of dishes oddly soothing in your haze. When he returned, he carried a tray with a steaming bowl, a mug of tea, and a small plate of crackers.

“You’re spoiling me,” you murmured, managing a faint smile as he set the tray down and helped you sit up against the pillows.

“Not spoiling,” he said, settling beside you and watching as you took a tentative sip of the soup. “Just taking care of you.”

You leaned against him after you finished, the warmth of his body a comfort that rivaled the heating pad. He shifted slightly, adjusting the blankets around you.

“Better?” he asked again, his voice soft.

You nodded, your head resting on his shoulder. “Much.”

He didn’t say anything, but his hand found yours again, holding it firmly, as if to remind you he wasn’t going anywhere.

[galaxy-stardust]

Simon Ghost Riley x you

Gift from Simon 🐾

Part 3

The days passed too quickly. It always felt like time slipped through your fingers whenever Simon was home. Before you knew it, he was standing in the hallway, his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, Shadow sitting obediently by your feet. She had grown surprisingly disciplined with Simon’s training, though you knew her progress was also thanks to the bond you’d been building with her.

Simon crouched down, scratching behind Shadow’s ears. “You take care of her, yeah?” he said to the puppy, who wagged her tail in response.

“She’s not the one you need to worry about,” you said softly, your arms crossed as you tried to keep your emotions in check.

Simon stood, his dark eyes locking onto yours. He reached out, his gloved hand brushing your cheek. “You’ll be fine, love. You’re stronger than you think.”

You swallowed hard, nodding. “I just wish you didn’t have to go.”

“I know,” he murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead. “But I’ll call when I can. And I’ll come back to you.”

With one last lingering look, he turned and walked out the door, leaving the apartment feeling colder and emptier than it had in weeks.

The first few days were the hardest. Shadow sensed your unease, staying close to you wherever you went. She’d curl up at your feet while you worked and nudge you with her nose when you seemed particularly down.

Late one night, as you sat on the couch scrolling through your phone, it buzzed with a new message.

Simon: Still awake, love?

Your heart leapt at the sight of his name. You quickly typed back.

You: Yeah. Couldn’t sleep. Are you okay?

There was a pause before his reply.

Simon: I’m fine. Long day, but I needed to hear from you.

You: I miss you.

Simon: I miss you too. Tell me about your day. How’s Shadow?

You smiled, glancing at the puppy snoozing beside you.

You: She’s doing great. She’s learned “stay” and “come” without treats now. But she keeps trying to steal my socks.

Simon: Smart girl. She’s keeping you on your toes.

You: She’s doing her best to fill the void you left.

The typing indicator blinked for a moment before his response came through.

Simon: I’m sorry I have to leave, love. You mean the world to me.

Your chest tightened, and you hesitated before typing back.

You: I know. Just come back to me in one piece, okay?

Simon: Always. Get some rest, yeah? I’ll call when I can.

Weeks passed, and Shadow grew more confident and skilled. You worked with her daily, reinforcing the commands Simon had taught her and adding new ones. She’d gone from a clumsy, playful puppy to a well-trained companion, though her mischievous streak still peeked through.

One evening, as you sat on the floor playing tug-of-war with Shadow, your phone buzzed with an incoming call. You scrambled to answer it, your heart racing when you saw Simon’s name.

“Hey,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

“Hey, love,” Simon’s deep voice rumbled through the phone. “How’re you holding up?”

“I’m okay. Just tired. Shadow’s been keeping me busy.”

“I’ll bet. She giving you trouble?”

“Only when she’s stealing my socks,” you said with a small laugh.

Simon chuckled. “She’s got good taste, then.”

There was a pause, the kind that felt heavy with unspoken words. Finally, you broke the silence. “How are you? Are you safe?”

“I’m fine,” he said, his voice softening. “Just tired like you. Long days, but thinking about you helps.”

Your cheeks flushed, and you bit your lip. “What do you think about?”

“You, in our bed. Curled up with Shadow. Or the way you look in the morning, hair all messy, wearing my shirt.” His voice dropped lower, sending a shiver down your spine. “I miss touching you, holding you. I miss your laugh, your smile… everything.”

Your breath hitched. “Simon…”

“I’ll be home soon,” he said, his tone filled with quiet promise. “And when I am, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

You smiled through the tears that pricked your eyes. “I’ll hold you to that.”

The next few weeks flew by as you focused on work and Shadow’s training. She’d grown noticeably larger, her once floppy ears now standing tall. She was fiercely loyal, sticking to your side during walks and alerting you to any strange sounds in the apartment.

One evening, as you prepared dinner, Shadow suddenly perked up, her tail wagging furiously as she ran to the door. You frowned, wiping your hands on a towel before following her.

The knock on the door made your heart leap. You rushed to open it, and there he was—Simon, his duffle bag at his feet, Shadow practically vibrating with excitement as she jumped up to greet him.

“Hey, love,” he said, his voice warm and tired.

You threw your arms around him, burying your face in his chest. “You’re home.”

“I told you I’d come back,” he murmured, holding you tightly.

Shadow barked happily at your feet, and Simon chuckled. “Missed me too, did you, girl?”

You pulled back just enough to look at him, your hands still gripping his jacket. “You’re staying for a while this time, right?”

“For as long as I can,” he promised, his dark eyes soft as they met yours.

In that moment, with Simon back and Shadow by your side, the loneliness that had haunted you disappeared. For now, you were whole again.

[httpsdana]

hiiii can i please request a joao felix fic where they do the ‘a boy who’s jacked and kind’ tiktok trend!! i think it’ll be really cute! love ur fics xx

Jacked and Kind~João Fèlix

・❥・prompt list

・❥・masterlist -> part 2

・❥・who I write for

João was lounging on the couch, scrolling through his TikTok fyp when he suddenly burst out laughing. “amor, you need to see this”

She glanced over, eyebrow raised, as he showed jer a video of a couple participating in the trending challenge to Sabrina Carpenter’s song.

The boyfriend lifts his girlfriend onto his shoulder with ease, flexing his muscles and looking ridiculously proud.

“Oh, no,” she groaned, already sensing what was coming. “You’re not going to make me do that, are you?”

João’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Oh, I’m absolutely going to make you do it. You’ve seen these arms, right?” He flexed dramatically, giving his bicep a quick squeeze.

She laughed, rolling her eyes. “Please, João. I’m not exactly lightweight, you know.”

“amor, I’m practically a superhero. I lift cars for fun.” He gave her a teasing look, clearly trying to be serious, but the way he said it made her giggle.

“Okay, Mr. Superhero,” she teased. “But if you drop me, I’m posting it to the internet, and you’ll never live it down.”

“I won’t drop you,” he said confidently, then added with a playful smirk, “But you’ll definitely post it, right? Gotta show off my muscles to the world.”

She raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. “You’re such a child.”

“oh shut up” João replied , leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “Now, come on, let’s make this video. We’re gonna go viral.”

She sighed dramatically but gave in, standing up from the couch. “Fine, but if I break my back, I’m blaming you.”

“You’ll be fine, princesa. Just trust me,” João said with a wink. “You ready?”

She grabbed her phone, adding the song and preparing to film as he positioned himself. He flexed his arms one last time and gave her a wink. “Okay, on three. Hold on tight, and don’t look scared.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not scared, just... cautious.”

“three...two...one” João counted with the TikTok counter

In one fluid motion, João crouched down, then lifted her effortlessly onto his broad shoulders.

She yelped in surprise at how quickly it happened, but João’s hand was already on her thigh, holding her steady, while the other arm flexed proudly in front of the camera.

“Whoa, you actually did it,” she said, half in shock, half in awe. She couldn’t stop smiling, though she was still a little unsure of the whole thing.

João looked up at her with that proud grin. “Told you, princesa. I’m jacked and kind. A perfect match for this trend.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, trying to keep her balance. “You look like you’re about to audition for a bodybuilding competition.”

He flashed her a teasing wink, flexing again for the camera. “All for you, meu amor. Look at these muscles. You’re lucky to have me.”

“Lucky? I’m more like terrified,” she joked, her grip tightening on his shoulders as he started moving around a bit.

“Oh, come on, you love it. Admit it,” he teased, giving her a wink. “The view from up here is pretty great, right?”

She smirked. “Well, I guess it is. But don’t get too cocky, okay?”

“Too late,” João said, his grin growing wider as he flexed once more. “This is how you do it, amor.”

“Okay, okay,” she laughed, rolling your eyes. “I’m impressed. Just put me down already the phone stopped filming ages ago.”

“you’re making me look good right now though.”

She laughed at his words before he gently lowered her back down, his hands sliding to her waist to steady her.

She stood there, grinning up at him. “Okay, I’ll admit it. You’re strong.”

He gave her a proud look, holding up his phone to check the video. “Told you! This is gonna get so many views.”

“You’re so full of yourself,” she teased, poking him in the chest.

“I’m full of you, meu amor,” João said with a wink, pulling her in for a kiss. “Now let’s post this before I start flexing again. Don’t want to break the internet with all this muscle.”

Dhe laughed against his lips. “Alright, alright. your fan girls are gonna love this video”

He pulled back, laughing at her words. “oh the edits will be amazing”

She smiled up at him, nodding head.

“Of course they'll be. your fans never miss”

João laughed, pulling her closer for another kiss. “I don't care about them. I just want everyone to know that I'm real boyfriend material”

She laughed at his words, leaning her head against his chest as they settled on the couch, their video long forgotten as they spent the rest of the evening in each other's arms.

my taglist: @barcapix @paucubarsisimp @spidybaby @mxryxmfooty (lmk if you want to be added!!)

[sansaorgana]

I just need to know how buck would react to his wife Breastfeeding! I feel like he is definitely a tits kind of man

oh, darling, let's be real – he's a ✨personality ✨ kind of man 🤭😂 but yeah, I agree 👀 also, I love him being a softie so much 😌 I didn't put any warnings but I assume you know already what to expect from this fic lol 🍼

🔞 THIS FIC IS 18+ 🔞

my requests are currently closed 🙅🏻‍♀️

Usually, it was Buck who would leave the bed in the middle of the night to bring the crying baby to you but today he seemed to be so deep in his sleep that no amount of your daughter’s screaming was waking him up. You sighed and caressed his hair softly without wanting to wake him up – he deserved his rest as well, after all, and it had been a long and tiring week for him at work.

You got out of the bed and put a robe loosely upon your nightgown as you slid your feet inside a pair of slippers waiting for you on the carpet. Softly and quietly you left the bedroom and hurried to the nursery where your little girl was crying her lungs out.

“Hey, shh, shh,” you cooed to her while picking her up after turning a small lamp on. It was not very bright and perfect for the nighttime when little Dolores was getting hungry.

You sat with her on the rocking chair by the window and kept shushing her softly, trying to unbutton your nightgown clumsily with your free hand while keeping her steady with your other arm.

“Don’t cry, little one, don’t wake daddy up, he needs his rest,” you smiled at her and adjusted her in your arms so she could finally get fed as you watched her tiny features in awe. You were still quite sleepy but you would never change anything. Sleep was not as important as spending time with your baby.

Lost in thoughts and Dolly’s sweet little face, you didn’t notice Buck leaning on the doorway and watching you with the same amount of love as you were staring at your babygirl with.

When you looked up for a second, you got startled at the sight of him and then you chuckled.

“Sorry,” he mumbled out. “I woke up and you weren’t there but there was a light coming from the hall so I knew where you went,” he explained with a soft smile.

“You should have stayed in bed, love,” you whispered to him.

“And miss this? No way,” your husband approached you and crouched down next to you so he could see Dolly’s face, too. She opened her eyes and looked at him as she kicked her little feet. Buck grabbed them and caressed them gently. “Isn’t she perfect?” He looked up at you and gasped.

“Yes, she is,” you nodded but you furrowed your brow at his gasp. “What is it?”

“You’re a goddess, really,” he admitted and you felt your cheeks heating up.

“Oh, Gale, please,” you dismissed that praise shyly.

“I mean it,” Buck whispered and gently let go of Dolly’s feet to caress your cheek with his finger. “After everything I’ve been through, all that death and darkness… You’re a beacon of light, a life-giver, a mother,” he explained. “And I will forever worship you for that.”

You cracked a smile at his words and fought the tears forming in your eyes.

“I wish you haven’t gone through any of that,” you confessed, nearly inaudibly.

“But I have and maybe thanks to that I can appreciate what I have even more,” Buck nodded.

“You’ve always been a good man,” you reminded him and it was true. Your husband had always been kind and generous and a gentleman. You had never complained about anything that actually mattered. He didn’t deserve any of the suffering he had been through and he certainly hadn’t needed it to help him shape his character because he had simply always been a good man.

Even in that dim light you could see your husband’s cheeks turning slightly pink. He was adorable, like a little boy. You wished you could hold him close and make all his pain go away, all the awful memories, all the nightmares, all the triggers. You just wanted him to relax, you wanted to give him peace.

Little Dolly squealed a bit and you looked down to see her mouth curling up in a small smile as droplets of milk were dripping down her chin. You chuckled at that and lifted her up as Buck took a tissue from the changing table to wipe her face gently.

“I’ll take her,” he offered and you let him take the baby. Buck started to carry her around while patting her back delicately and you wiped the milk leaking out of your breast swiftly before buttoning the nightgown up.

You kept sitting in the rocking chair and watching your lovely husband walking around the small nursery that he had prepared by himself before Dolly’s arrival to this world. And now was humming a lullaby to his little girl and everything seemed to be so perfect and cosy. You couldn’t be happier than that, you thought.

When Dolly could be placed back in her crib, Buck made sure to watch over her until she fell asleep. He told you to go back to the bedroom and even though you felt guilty that once again he was the one to stay up in the nursery, you were grateful for him telling you to rest instead.

You were still weak after the childbirth and all the pregnancy and he was just one of those husbands who actually appreciated their wives for carrying their children for them. He was tired after this previous week, too, but he knew his exhaustion was no match compared to yours.

So, you went back to the bedroom and you sat up with the pillows behind your back because you wanted to wait for him. You weren’t that sleepy anymore but you were grateful for the possibility of going back to bed – especially your spine was very happy about it.

Buck came back not so long after you since it never took Dolly long to fall asleep in the middle of the night after being fed. You hoped it would stay this way. In general, so far she had been a quite unproblematic child of a gentle nature and you suspected it was a trait she had after her father.

Buck went under the cover and laid down next to you, looking up at you with his pretty puppy eyes as he leaned in to kiss your tummy.

“You sleepy, darling? Want me to turn the light off?” You asked him and caressed his hair.

“It’s fine. I want to stay up and keep looking at you for a while,” he admitted and you giggled.

“You’re mad,” you pointed out playfully.

“Sure I am. Mad about you,” Buck answered and you rolled your eyes as you kept caressing his hair and face – gently, with your fingertips, tracing the outlines of the thin scars scattered all over his face.

“I love you,” you whispered with all seriousness.

“I love you, too,” he whispered back with a soft smile.

There were many other things that had been told between you two with those three words but you didn’t have to actually list them all out loud. Your “I love you” was enough to thank him for his sacrifice, for surviving the war and coming back to you. It was enough to let him know you would take it all away from him if it was possible. And his “I love you, too” was enough for you to know that he knew what you meant and he thanked you for understanding and for waiting for him, for always treating him so kind and soft – for giving him a baby, too.

Buck moved closer to you and buried his face in your nightgown, breathing in your scent. You kept playing with his hair and sighed softly when he looked up with a smile.

“It smells so sweet,” he whispered and you furrowed your brow because you hadn’t used any perfume before going to bed. “The milk, I assume,” he added and unbuttoned two of the small buttons of your nightgown to bury his face deeper into your chest and take a deep breath in. “Yeah, it’s the milk,” he nodded.

“It tastes sweet, too,” you told him with a smirk and Buck tilted his head as he kept looking up at your face.

“How do you know?” He chuckled.

“Sometimes, when it leaks out on my fingers, I am too lazy to wipe it off and I just lick it off of my fingers,” you confessed. “Well, I was pretty curious about it, too,” you told him, hoping he wouldn’t judge you.

But Buck would never judge you.

He swallowed a lump in his throat and looked down between your breasts as if he was contemplating on something. Finally, he looked up again and his cheeks were crimson red.

“Can I… Can I taste it, too?” He asked.

You were taken aback by this question. Not that you found it obscene or disgusting but you definitely did not expect your husband to request such a thing.

“Yes, my love, of course,” you smiled at him with a nod and began to work on your buttons. You would never deny him anything.

“Only if… If it’s still gonna be enough for Dolly in the morning,” Buck interrupted you by placing his hand on top of yours.

“Don’t worry about that, sweetheart, she’s gonna have enough,” you assured him with a chuckle and he nodded.

Buck watched in awe when you kept unbuttoning your nightgown – a sight he had seen many times now but this time it was different. It was only for him and you were doing it slowly, which was done on purpose to give him a little show. It felt intimate on a level he had never been with you before although he had never thought it possible.

He nearly moaned at the sight of your swollen breasts jumping out of your nightgown. They had gotten so big due to your pregnancy and he was obsessed with them even more than usual now. A simple thought that they were swollen with milk for his baby was enough to make him have impure thoughts sometimes. He had always worshipped you and the ground you walked on but you becoming a mother of his child only intensified the feeling – he couldn’t believe his happiness, really. The woman he loved so much was loving him back and she wanted to give him a family even though she had to sacrifice so much and her body was a real miracle for actually being able to grow a child and give birth… For Buck you truly were a goddess and he couldn’t care less if it was a blasphemy or not.

Carefully, he touched your breasts and you hissed quietly because they were so sore and sensitive. But Buck knew that already so he was trying to be as gentle as possible when he softly massaged them and watched the milk leak out. He allowed it to flow for some time and only when your breasts were covered in white streamlets, he licked them up while peppering your skin with kisses.

“So sweet,” he said and looked up as you noticed his pupils darkening. You knew that look very well.

“Baby, it’s too early for us to…” You started.

“I know, don’t worry,” he interrupted you and moved up a little to get better access. “I won’t hurt you,” he assured you and you believed him because Buck would never do anything to harm you.

He attached his lip to your nipple and began to suck. You sighed out of relief and threw your head back while caressing his hair and feeling how his muscles relax under your touch. It was all you wanted for him – to finally rest and be at peace, to feel safe in your arms.

His soft, plump lips sucking on your sore nipples softly were making you feel warm all over your body. You were sighing and gasping with pleasure as the hardness of his cock grew, brushing your thigh under the fabric of his pyjama pants.

You felt bad for him because he wouldn’t be able to properly fuck you in two more weeks so you decided to please him in a different way. One of your hands wandered all the way down and under his pants to take his hard and swollen cock. You could already feel the leaking precum and you had to admit, you were pretty surprised that sucking your breasts could make him get so hard so fast but on the other hand you two hadn’t had sex in over a month now.

“Ooh, so heavy. Let me help you with that, baby,” you moaned at the feeling.

With your other hand you kept caressing the back of his head as you started to pump his cock. Buck moaned into your chest and attached his lips to the other nipple as his hands played with your free breast. He bucked his hips to help you jerk him off since he was so desperate to finally have his sweet release. He was nearly as desperate as he had been after coming back home from Europe but you didn’t mind that at all. In fact, you found it pretty hot that he was so needy for you and that it wasn’t taking much for him to finish because of you.

“Shh, you’re such a good boy for me,” you assured him in a whisper. “Let go, baby, don’t hold back.”

You picked up your pace and let your thumb circle around his tip to stimulate him even further and in a few chaotic thrusts of his hips, he came all over your hand while gasping and holding on to you. You kissed the top of his head with a soft smile and caressed his softening cock a few more times before reaching out to your nightstand for a tissue to clean up the mess.

“Did it feel good?” You asked, looking down at his face. His pretty baby blue eyes were hazy and his lips slightly parted. His flushed cheeks and messy hair were making him look even more adorable.

“It felt like heaven,” he breathed out.

You chuckled at that and wiped the corners of his mouth with another tissue to clean him up from your milk before cleaning up your breasts, too. Buck rolled over to lay on his back as he ran his hand through his hair and down his face.

“We can do it more often if you want to,” you told him after throwing the tissues away. “It felt nice… Such a relief,” you told him truthfully. “Sometimes she doesn’t drink enough and I am too full,” you added and rested your cheek on your elbow as you stared at his face lovingly.

Buck turned his face around to look into your eyes. He was still blushing slightly but he cracked a shy smile at you.

“Yeah, well, I’m your husband and it’s my duty to help you then, is it not?” He raised an eyebrow and you giggled before leaning in to kiss his cheek and then the top of his nose and lips.

“You’re an amazing husband, darling. Performing all of your duties so well that you should get a medal for that,” you teased him playfully.

“I don’t collect my medals,” he reminded you. He still didn’t collect the ones he had been given in Europe.

“Oh, this one you will,” you assured him with a wink. “Just give me two weeks.”

MASTERLIST || BUCK MASTERLIST

[brookaboo]

not without you

kei tsukishima x reader

summary: Tsukishima and his girlfriend get into a petty argument, leading her to sleep on the couch. Despite his salty attitude, Tsukishima can’t stand the distance

The apartment was quiet, save for the low hum of the refrigerator and the soft tick of the clock on the wall. Tsukishima sat on the couch, arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyes trained on his phone but not really seeing it. His mind replayed the argument from earlier—one of those petty disagreements that seemed to snowball for no reason at all.

You had said something about how he never listened to you, and he had snapped back, as always, with his usual sarcastic quip. It had escalated from there, the sharpness of his words cutting deeper than usual, both of you too stubborn to back down.

And now you were on the couch, lying on your side with your back to him, trying to make some kind of statement by not sharing the bed. The blanket you had pulled over yourself was twisted, not quite enough to keep you warm, but you weren't about to admit you were cold.

Tsukishima had been petty enough to let you sleep there. He wasn’t going to apologize, not right away. He’d let you cool off.

But the longer the silence stretched between the two of you, the more he felt that familiar, annoying tug at his chest. He hated being wrong, and he hated this distance between you even more.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know, you're really being childish about this," he muttered under his breath.

He glanced at you again, the curve of your back almost mocking him in its stillness. The truth was, he hated being apart from you, even for something as dumb as this. He wasn’t going to admit it, though. Not out loud.

Time passed. Tsukishima tried to distract himself, but all he could think about was how weird it felt, how uncomfortable it was to not be close to you. The couch was too big, the space between you and him too wide.

He couldn't sleep without you.

After a few more minutes, he gritted his teeth and stood up. His usual smoothness was replaced with a slight awkwardness, the realization that he hated the tension more than the argument itself sinking in. He walked over to the couch, trying to act like he wasn’t feeling anything—his usual “I don’t care” attitude kicking in.

You stayed still, though, pretending to sleep, your breathing steady, betraying the way your mind raced.

Tsukishima smirked to himself. "Pretending to sleep, huh? Real mature."

He could feel the warmth of the room, the familiar scent of your shampoo mixing with the cool air around him. And, despite the petty fight, his heart couldn't ignore the pull. He crouched down and, with a soft grunt, carefully scooped you up from the couch.

You opened one eye, but he was already looking at you with that sharp, unamused expression.

"What do you think you're doing?" you asked, trying to keep the bite out of your voice.

He didn't answer. He simply picked you up and walked toward the bedroom, carrying you as though it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Tsukishima," you muttered, a bit embarrassed now, even though you had been the one to act childish in the first place.

"Shut up," he replied gruffly, "I can't sleep without you either."

You let out a soft laugh, surprised that, despite his annoyance and sarcasm, he was still holding you like you meant everything to him.

When he finally reached the bed, he carefully laid you down, following you as you both settled beneath the covers. You moved closer, instinctively, and Tsukishima, too, slid closer, his arm wrapping around your waist. He sighed contentedly, the anger from earlier slipping away like water down a drain.

He wasn’t going to apologize, not in so many words, but in the way he rested his chin on your head, in the way he gently tugged you even closer.

"I don’t like sleeping without you," he muttered, his voice quieter now, softer.

You smiled, feeling the warmth of his body against yours, the familiar rhythm of his breathing easing the tension that had been between you both. "I know," you whispered. "Me neither."

He didn’t answer, but his grip around you tightened, pulling you into the embrace. You both finally closed your eyes, the argument already forgotten, drifting off to sleep in the comfort of each other's arms

[m4rv3l-girl]

Hi - Part 2

Warnings: lots of fluff. Some kisses..? 🤭

Y/N stood outside the small Italian restaurant, one hand gripping her purse strap a little too tightly, the other resting on Leo’s shoulder. He was squinting up at the lights in the window, a stuffed dinosaur clutched in his arms, and she could already hear his stomach grumbling.

“Do you think he’ll be mad?” She thought.

Leo blinked up at you. “Is Mr. Bucky still coming?”

“Yeah,” you smiled, though your heart twisted a little. “He’s… He’s coming.”

The truth was, she didn’t want to cancel. After all this time, after the slow, shy messages that turned warm and steady. After the phone calls that started awkward and ended with her laughing so hard she nearly cried. Bucky had asked her to dinner, and she’d been ready -until the sitter cancelled last-minute.

She texted Bucky, apologizing and saying she’d understand if he wanted to reschedule. But instead of brushing it off, he’d replied: Bring him. I'd love to see him again.

Her chest had swelled with emotion when she read it. And now, standing outside, nerves fluttered again.

Inside the restaurant, warm golden lighting made everything feel soft and intimate. She spotted Bucky right away, back corner booth, dark henley shirt stretched across his shoulders, fingers drumming nervously against his water glass. He looked up, caught her eye - and stood immediately.

“There they are,” he said, grinning wide.

Leo hesitated behind her leg for a short moment, until Bucky crouched a little and held out his flesh hand, like they were just two old friends meeting up again.

“Hey, pal,” Bucky said. “I missed you.”

Leo lit up like a firework, running toward him without hesitation. “I brought Dino!”

“That’s awesome,” Bucky laughed, sweeping him up in a one-armed hug before setting him gently down in the seat beside him. “Hope you’re hungry. I already asked if they had chicken nuggets for superheroes.”

Y/N stepped closer, heart in her throat, not quite sure what she expected, but certainly not this. Not the ease in which Bucky greeted her son. Not the way he looked up at her with warm eyes and said, “You okay, sweetheart?”

She nodded slowly, slipping into the booth across from them, watching as Bucky pulled an extra chair over so Leo could sit comfortably beside him. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Dinner was… easy.

Leo told him all about his dinosaur collection, the Lego tower he built last week, and his big plans to be a superhero, an astronaut and a “dinosaur doctor,” depending on the day. Bucky listened intently, nodding along like every word was gold. Y/N caught him smiling at her more than once - especially when Leo got sauce on his nose and Bucky gently wiped it off like he'd done it a thousand times before.

When the waitress came by to ask about dessert, Bucky raised his hand before Y/N could even brush it off. “Two bowls of vanilla with chocolate chips, please. And whatever Mom wants.”

She blinked. “Bucky, you don’t have to—”

“I want to,” he said gently. “I missed you both.”

Her heart squeezed, and she reached across the table, fingertips brushing against his. His hand turned to hold hers, calloused and warm.

“Bucky!” Leo interrupted, bouncing in his seat. “Can you come to our house and see my Lego collection? It’s so big! Bigger than a T-Rex!”

Y/N’s eyes widened, her grip on the menu tightening. She hadn’t prepared for this. But she watched as Bucky’s eyes lit up, his smile genuine. “I’d love to, buddy. Maybe after dessert, we could swing by, just for a little bit, if it’s okay with your mom?”

Leo’s grin was so wide it could have split the earth in two. “Yes! Mommy, can we?”

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to keep the surprise from her voice. Her mind racing back to the state her home was in currently… “Well, it is getting late, and you have school tomorrow, but if Mr. Bucky doesn’t mind a messy house, sure. Just for a bit.”

Bucky’s eyes never left hers as he nodded. “I don’t mind messes, not at all. Besides, I can help clean up, if you want.”

The kindness in his voice made her want to melt into the plush seat. She’d never had a partner who was so eager to be a part of Leo’s life. Some of the men she’d dated had looked at Leo as a burden, an inconvenience. Baggage. But not Bucky. He treated Leo as if he were the most important person in the world.

The dessert arrived, and Bucky made a show of sharing bites of his ice cream with Leo, making exaggerated yummy sounds that had the boy giggling. Y/N couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this at ease in public with someone other than Leo. Bucky’s presence was like a warm blanket she hadn’t realized she’d been missing.

As they stepped outside into the cool night air, Leo’s hand reached up and nudged Bucky’s. He was just testing the waters…seeing what would happen.

Bucky looked over, meeting Y/N’s gaze for permission, and then took Leo’s small hand in his. The gesture was so simple, so unassuming, yet it felt monumental to Y/N. “You okay, kiddo?” he asked, and the affection in his voice made something inside her crack open a little wider.

“Yup, I’m just really happy, Bucky.” Leo beamed, swinging their joined hands.

The walk to her apartment was short, but it felt like a mile as the gravity of the moment settled over them. Bucky talked to Leo about his favorite superheroes, the conversation a gentle reminder of how much he’d integrated himself into her world. His questions about Leo’s life weren’t probing but genuinely curious, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest that had nothing to do with the caffeine from her espresso.

When they reached the apartment building, she took a deep breath. "So, the apartment is a bit.. chaotic."

Bucky just chuckled. "I've seen worse," he assured her. "Remember, I've lived through two world wars and fought aliens. I can handle a few Legos."

The apartment was indeed a whirlwind of toys and art projects, but it was a lived-in warmth that greeted them rather than chaos. Bucky stepped in, eyes scanning the room before landing on a particularly impressive Lego structure. "Wow, Leo, this is like a castle for ants!"

Leo looked up from where he was rummaging through a bin, his cheeks red from the cold. "It's for my mini figures!"

Y/N felt a blush creep up her neck at the clutter. "He's got quite the imagination," she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Bucky crouched down to examine the castle closer. "It's incredible," he said, looking up at Leo with admiration. "You're a real architect, pal."

Leo beamed with pride, and Y/N felt a lump form in her throat. This was what she had hoped for, someone who could see the joy in her son’s creativity instead of just the mess it sometimes created.

“What’s an arpichect?”

Y/N looked up from the kitchen where she was putting the kettle on for tea. Leo’s question echoed through the hallway, a mix of curiosity and wonder. She watched as Bucky’s eyebrows shot up and he chuckled. “Architect, buddy. It means you design and make buildings.”

Leo nodded, his eyes wide. “Oh! Like Tony Stark!”

“Exactly like Tony Stark,” Bucky said, ruffling his hair. “But instead of iron suits, you build Lego cities. Which is much cooler.”

Leo’s eyes lit up even more, and Y/N couldn’t help but laugh. She hadn’t seen him this excited to show off his toys in a long time. As they moved into the living room, she saw the pile of laundry she hadn’t had time to fold and the books scattered on the floor. The place wasn’t a disaster, but it certainly wasn’t showroom ready.

“Buck, I’m sorry about the..mess,” she said, gesturing to the pile.

He waved a dismissive hand. “Life is messy, doll.”

They sat on the floor, the three of them, while Bucky listened to Leo’s elaborate narratives about the battles his mini figures faced every day in their Lego fortress. He nodded along, asking questions about the characters and the rules of their world, his genuine interest lighting up the room. Y/N found herself relaxing into the couch cushions.

“Okay, Honey, time to say goodnight to Bucky. It’s bedtime.” She picked Leo up into her arms. She turned to Bucky. “Do you, uh..mind waiting here for a minute while I put him down..?”

“Of course not,” Bucky said, his smile not wavering. “I’ll just keep an eye on the fortress, make sure the aliens don’t attack while the king is asleep.” Leo giggled, snuggling into his mother’s neck. “You’re the best, Bucky!”

Once Leo was tucked in, his eyes drooping with exhaustion from the excitement of the evening, Y/N stepped out of the bedroom and leaned against the doorframe, watching Bucky picking up stray Legos and placing them back into their respective containers. He glanced up at her, a question in his eyes.

“‘Thank you…” She hummed.

Bucky looked over his shoulder, his smile never fading. “For what?”

“For making him feel so special, for making me feel… seen. For not being bothered by the mess or the bedtime routines. For just being you,” she said, her voice thick with unshed emotion.

Bucky paused, his metal hand hovering over a half-constructed Lego spaceship. He turned to look at her, his eyes softening. “You and Leo, you’re special. Nothing to thank me for, I just want to be here for both of you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. In the quiet of the dimly lit hallway, she felt something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Gratitude, yes, but also something deeper, something that whispered of hope.

"You know," she began, "I wasn’t sure how this would go. I mean, dinner with a kiddo and all."

Bucky shrugged, his movements deliberate and gentle as he put the last of the Legos away. "I’ve had worse dinner dates," he quipped, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

Y/N rolled her eyes, a laugh bubbling from her chest. "You’re not so bad at this wooing thing, Bucky.”

He looked up, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It’s all just playing to the audience, doll,” he said, gesturing to the now organized Lego city.

The two of them sat in the quiet living room, the only sound the faint hum of the refrigerator in the background. She studied him as he leaned against the couch, his legs sprawled out in front of him. There was something about his ease in her space, his willingness to engage with Leo that made her feel like she’d known him forever.

“So, tell me about your day,” he said, changing the subject. “What’s new in the life of a superhero mom?”

Y/N couldn’t help but laugh at his teasing. “Well, it’s been full of snacks and cartoons, mostly.” She sat down next to him on the floor, her legs folding under her. “But nothing compared to fighting bad guys, I’m sure,” she added with a playful nudge.

Bucky chuckled, setting aside the last of the Legos. “You’d be surprised. Some parenting battles seem just as fierce, just with more spit-ups and bedtime stories.”

They shared a quiet moment, the weight of the world outside their door seemingly forgotten as they talked about the mundane and magical parts of her day. Bucky’s curiosity about her life was refreshing, and she found herself opening up more than she had with anyone in a long time. As the conversation flowed, she realized how much she enjoyed his company, not just because of the joy he brought to Leo, but because of the comfort he brought to her.

“You know, Bucky, I never thought I’d be here, doing this. Being a mom, I mean,” she said, her voice soft. “I always thought I’d have someone to share it with.”

He turned to her, his gaze earnest. “You’re doing an amazing job, Y/N. And Leo’s a lucky kid to have you. But maybe, you weren’t meant to do it alone.”

Her eyes searched his, looking for any hint of pity or condescension, but all she found was sincerity. She took a deep breath, letting the words wash over her like a gentle wave. It was the kind of thing people said all the time, but from Bucky, it felt like a declaration.

The silence grew, and she knew she had to respond, to tell him that she appreciated his words, but she was afraid of what admitting her feelings would mean. Before she could speak, Bucky leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know it’s not easy, raising a kid on your own. But you're not alone, not anymore." His hand reached out and took hers, the warmth from his touch seeping through the cold metal of his prosthetic.

Her heart thudded in her chest, and she swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. "Bucky, I don’t know what to say."

He squeezed her hand gently. "You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know that I’m here for you. For both of you." For the first time in a long time, Bucky felt like had purpose, had a life had..people.

Y/N felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back, not wanting to ruin the moment. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "Bucky, I…I don't know if I can do this."

He leaned closer, his grip on her hand tightening. "Do what, doll?"

"This," she whispered, gesturing between them. "Letting someone in, letting them love me and Leo. It's…it's been a long time since I've let anyone get this close."

Bucky nodded. "I understand," he said softly. "But I…I’m feeling things for you that I’ve never felt before. And Leo..I..he’s awesome.”

The words hung in the air, a declaration that seemed to fill the small room with warmth and promise. Y/N looked down at their joined hands, his metal thumb rubbing soothing circles on her knuckles. She felt the weight of his gaze, the quiet understanding in his eyes.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be perfect, but I want to try. For you, for him. For us, if…if you’ll have me,” he added, his voice barely audible.

Y/N took a shaky breath, feeling the gravity of the moment. This was the first time in years that she’d allowed someone to get this close to her and Leo. But with Bucky, it felt different. It felt right.

“I want that too,” she said, finally meetinghis gaze. “But I’m scared, Bucky. What if I mess it up?”

He reached over and placed a comforting hand on her knee. “We’ll figure it out together, sweetheart. I’ve got your back, no matter what.”

The sincerity in his eyes was like a beacon in the dark, guiding her through her fear. She leaned into his touch, feeling the warmth spread through her, melting the ice that had formed around her heart.

“Okay,” she murmured, taking another deep breath. “Let’s take it one day at a time. For Leo.”

Bucky nodded, his expression serious. “For Leo, and for us, if that’s what you want.”

The conversation lulled for a moment, the air thick with the promise of what might be. Y/N took a sip of her now lukewarm tea, the comforting warmth seeping into her chest. She watched as Bucky’s eyes searched hers, looking for any sign that she’d changed her mind.

“I want that,” she said, her voice a little stronger this time. “But I need you to be patient with us. Leo’s been through a lot, and I…I don’t want to rush into anything that might confuse or hurt him.”

Bucky’s thumb stroked her knuckles again, the gentle touch reassuring. “I understand. I’ve had a bit of experience with that myself.” His smile was sad, but it didn’t take away from the warmth in his eyes. “We’ll move at whatever pace you want to, Doll.”

The silence between them grew again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was like they were both standing at the edge of something big, something life-changing, and they were just taking a moment to appreciate the view before taking the leap.

Y/N leaned in, her heart racing as she placed her free hand on Bucky’s cheek. His skin was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the heat of his hand. She studied the lines of his face, the way his eyes crinkled when he talked about her son, the gentle curve of his mouth when he talked about the future.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and she kissed him. It was soft and tentative at first, a question and an answer all in one.

Bucky’s hand slid around the back of her neck, his touch firm but gentle, guiding her closer. He kissed her back, his lips moving against hers with a kind of tender desperation that made her toes curl. It was a promise and a plea, a declaration that he’d be here, that he wouldn’t leave. When they parted, she felt a little dizzy, the world tilting on its axis.

“I won’t rush you, Y/N. I’ll be here, as much or as little as you need me to be,” he murmured, his eyes searching hers. “But I’ve waited a long time for this, for you and Leo. And I’m not going anywhere.”

A small smile played on her lips, her heart fluttering in her chest. “Good to know,” she whispered, leaning her forehead against his.

They sat there for a few moments, just breathing together, their hands still intertwined. Then she pulled back, her gaze flicking towards the clock on the wall. It was later than she realized, the hands pointing almost accusingly at the time they’d lost in the warm cocoon of their conversation.

“I should probably get to bed, too,” she said, her voice a little shaky. “It’s been a big day for all of us.”

Bucky nodded, reluctantly letting her hand go. He stood up and offered her a hand to help her up from the floor. As they walked to the door, she couldn’t help but feel a little lightheaded. The night had taken a turn she hadn’t expected, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready for what might come next.

When she turned the lock, he stepped closer, his eyes searching hers one last time before he leaned in and kissed her cheek, a soft brush of warmth that made her eyelids flutter closed for a brief moment. "Thank you for tonight," he whispered.

"Thank you," she murmured back, the words feeling inadequate for what he had brought into her world. The warmth of his body lingered even after he’d stepped away, leaving a space she hadn’t noticed before. She watched him go, his form shrinking into the night until he was just a memory.

As the door clicked shut, she leaned against it, her breathing a little too fast. A massive smile painted on her face.

——————————————————————————————————

We’re just giving Bucky a fresh start and ignoring any spelling mistakes 😌