#they’re a believable couple because they BOTH carried

[magebastard]

when i’ve slept so soft against her

ship: neve gallus x rook ‘tula’ ingellvar

wc: 791

rating: g

notes: gay thoughts wouldn’t leave my gay brain

Neve realizes, eventually.

An understated gold ring on her middle finger becomes, three on her right hand. A subtle jeweled earring—too ornate, too fine to wear on the job—dangles from her left ear. She’s acquired a small collection of thin, gold bracelets.

(“They won’t jingle. If you ever want to wear them while you’re out on a case.”)

She has. A few times.

They’ve collected kisses and precious trinkets alike since that late afternoon at the docks. Tula isn’t versed in flirtation, only a wind-chilled honesty. It all sprouts like mint—the attachment, the fondness. What’s worse; this thing between them doesn’t feel a thing like the heady romances Neve is used to. There are no midnight trysts under the mage lights in Dock Town. There’s no dark mystery of a person to crack. It’s a dangerous unknown.

Tula throws herself like a blanket over the flames of Neve’s doubt. She’s honest because she cannot help it. It touches the bruise of Neve’s heart when she explains—lectures on—all of the reasons why it makes sense for them to be together.

“You’re a detective, I’m a scholar. We have a shared passion for understanding.”

“You love bad coffee, and I am uniquely horrible at making it. I can provide a valuable service.”

“You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, and I’m a great admirer of beautiful things. We’re very clearly two halves of a whole.”

“If we’re having an academic discussion about size and softness, it’s obvious to me that your hands and mine are remarkably suited to hold one another.”

The debates are weak and only growing weaker as they carry on. Rook makes a compelling argument.

And when the gifts start…

Wordlessly she slides a thin golden band up to rest just above Neve’s knuckle. There’s no fuss or explanation. The detective in her cows at the fear of discovering why, so suddenly, Tula decided to give her this. But her own hands are bejeweled so haphazardly. Must be a Nevarran thing.

She’ll go with that.

Softly, softly steady hands gently adorn her in discreet, complimentary jewelry. Neve tuts.

It‘a all very sweet and exasperating. She could believe it entirely benign. If only it weren’t for her pesky propensity to put the pieces together.

“This is your grave dowry, isn’t it?”

Her dark eyes instantly betray her excitement.

“It was! The practice of Watchers hoarding gold is customary and—in my opinion—darling. It’s expected within the Mourn Watch but there are greater intentions for the wearer in death. At some point, I suppose I just-,” she stops short with a soft ‘hm’ as if only just realizing her own thoughts.

She gazes off for a moment. Tula will do this. Some errant idea will seize her, some undeniable fact will flit about, wisp-like in her mind and take her far from the conversation she was just a participant in. Neve is intimately familiar with both sides of this happening.

“I only wanted you to have them. I imagined you wearing them.”

Tula reaches for Neve’s hand and she gives it. They’re sat limbs akimbo, facing each other on Neve’s cot. They try not to think about the groaning effort of the wood beneath them.

“If it makes you uncomfortable-,”

“Not uncomfortable. I’m not much of a jewelry kind of girl, usually. An earring, at most. I’ve never thought to wear bracelets. I don’t tend to collect anything, save evidence. I don’t know if you’ve caught on—I have quite a case of tunnel vision when it comes to the job.” Her thumbs skate over Tula’s own set of rings. (Sparser, now.) “It’s a nice change.”

“They suit you.” Imploring fingers trace the thin chain resting in the dip between her collar bones. The soft touch, the chill of her skin sends a thrill up Neve’s spine. She wants to flatten her palm over that hand, pressing the print of the other woman firmly into her chest.

“It’s usually a practice for married couples. Parceling and sharing a dowry like this. I’m sorry. Again, I wasn’t-,”

“Trouble,” around a stone in her throat.

It was a mistake. A honest mistake. They haven’t been in the most reliable state of mind—neither of them have, since all of this began. And this is just one of many missteps they’ve taken so far. It isn’t even so terrible of a thing to forgive.

It was a silly mistake. No hidden meaning to be found. Tula wanted Neve to wear her jewelry and that itself was a sweet thing. It was enough and it still is. She desperately tries to catch the kite-string of her thoughts before they fly too far too fast.

I would share them. The rings, the bracelets. Say we’ll stay. Prove me wrong.

Neve loosens only one ring on her index finger, gently pulls the hand from her neck and presses it, reluctantly into Rook’s open palm. She swallows.

“No harm done.”

[doomed2repeat]

I’m actually tired of Luke Newton not getting his full credit for the success of selling the season. This is not discounting that Nicola is a powerhouse when it comes to PR, but Luke sold that chemistry HARD during the promo run. Polin took off among non-shippers when they both came out for that first event way back on Valentine’s Day, with Luke looking hot AF and people became locked in on the way he looked at her. Every single social media post had comments about how HE looked at HER, and people getting curious because of it. That was HUGE to what made them popular, and it never let up, he helped sell their chemistry - to the degree of some fans placing unhealthy expectations on it, but that’s another story. During interviews, even when Nicola did most of the talking, Luke served up delicious fanservice by often being the one who would say the most unhinged bits that sent the fans spiraling- talking about how tiny their intimacy wear was, being comfortable naked, blushing and giggling. People loved it. On and off the screen Luke has been responsible for half the magic that’s made Polin so beloved, he deserves to be acknowledged right alongside Nic.

[p1utofairy]

🕸 WHAT DOES YOUR PERSON WANT TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW?

NOTE — for entertainment purposes only. take what resonates & leave what doesn't. y’all i can’t believe october is almost over already, like woah?! ugh this took me a couple days to finish but here’s a treat for you all <3 my lil boo bears. 🎃👻

PILE ONE.

heyyyy pile 1 i just wanna start by saying WHEWWW your person does not play about you! they have such high regard for you it’s honestly so cute. they see you as the full package. if not you, than who? is just how they feel. it’s honestly weighing on them so heavy that they’re not in connection with you right now in the 3D – they feel like something in their life is missing and they can’t quite put their finger on it but on a soul-level they know it’s you. their soul craves your warm touch, your genuine love and affection. nothing/no-one could ever come close to the way that you love them and vice versa.

you both are like two peas in a pod lol ‘birds of a feather’ by billie eilish just started playing in my head. your person has a very child-like/mercurial energy to them that they suppress, but it comes out whenever you’re in their presence. they can’t help but feel giddy inside, because your smile is just so sweet and cute. they want me to tell you that you heal a part of them that they never knew was wounded. you have a knack for picking up on people’s unspoken feelings/trauma/baggage that they carry heavy on their heart, and you make them feel seen and heard. that is one of the things that your person loves about you the most, pile 1. your compassion and empathy – you know what to say and how to say it. your person probably had to become independent at a really young age, and they’re telling me that it wasn’t easy but they look at life so much differently when it comes to you. you give them motivation and strength to confidently take on anything that life throws at them.

they’re used to putting on a mask and pretending like they have everything together when they really don’t, but this connection with you is really going to make them sit and reflect on their own inner child wounds and work through it. this connection with you will allow them to feel the joy and love that they never truly received in their childhood. they’ve spent a lot of their time moving from one meaningless connection to the next, searching for something that could fill the void but nothing has worked.

for some of you, your person could struggle with substance abuse or overindulging in things that aren’t good for them. it might not be so extreme but they could smoke a lot of weed or cigarettes. for others of you, your person might be on again/off again with a karmic ex but i see them leaving this all behind and getting their bad habits under control before they come into contact with you. it’s not even like they truly want to indulge in those things/situations, but something triggered them to the point of needing some type of escape. when they feel scared or hurt they feel like a child again, searching for some sort of a comfort and safe space. they’re not proud of it but they want me to tell you that they’re just really overwhelmed right now.

however, there’s quite literally nothing they wouldn’t do for you, pile 1. they always want to make you smile and laugh no matter what. right now they don’t feel like they’re in the right position to move towards you because there’s a few external influences that are halting y’alls connection right now, but trust me their spirit guides are working on it. this person might not have the greatest reputation but they’re actively trying to do better, especially for you. they’re tired of falling into the same situations and cycles with the same karmic people. your person wants me to tell you that they can’t wait to be with you and to finally hold you in their arms. they want you to know that you’ll always be safe with them and that they will always have your back no matter what. your wish is their command, pile 1. TOO CUTE. ahhhhh 11:11 on the clock wow.

other channeled messages:

leave you alone jeezy ft. ne-yo, needy by ariana grande, wifey material, you already know this person, there’s somebody in your inner circle you need to cut off, bianca and cameron from 10 things i hate about you, air sign venus, 11H placements.

PILE TWO.

pile 222 what’s up! my mind over matter pile, i dig it lol. you have no problem revoking your energy back from anyone or any situation that doesn’t serve you any good, and your person genuinely loves that about you so much. you know your worth, and even if it comes down to someone or something you truly value and care for, if it’s not in alignment with you, you’re out the door! i’m hearing ‘deuces’ by [redacted redacted] i’m moving on to somethin' better, better, better. no more tryna make it work. YEAH very much that.

your person does want me to tell you that you need to step out of your comfort zone and stop playing things so safe – let loose and have a little fun. i feel like you guard your heart and could possibly have some trust issues – it’s like your flight or fight kicks in when it comes to intimacy/romance. some of you that picked this pile might have capricorn placements? it’s like you’re a lover at heart but not everyone gets to see that side of you, especially people that pursue you romantically. you’re like AHT AHT hold it right there! now ‘motive’ by ariana grande ft. doja cat is coming to mind lol cause i see you tryin', subliminally tryin' to see if i’m gon' be the one that's in your arms. i admit it's exciting, parts of me kinda like it. but before i lead you on…baby, tell me, what's your motive? mhm that’s your vibe, pile 2. whereas your person is more action-based and just jumps right in and goes for it with no hesitation. whatever they feel/think, they act on.

there’s gonna be a bit of a push and pull energy between you two lol you might not know how to take your person at first. you might be like ummm….what is this? LMAOOO honestly this is amusing because both you and your person’s energies compliment each other so well but y’alls approach to love is completely different. you’re more of a “well why would i waste my time?” type of a person whereas they look at it like “if it works out it works out, if not…life goes on.” your person could have prominent aries and/or aquarius placements as well. 1:11 on the clock omg.

i think this person will check all the boxes that you want in a partner though. they may not seem that way in terms of their approach, but they will be a real devoted and dependable partner when it comes to you. currently there is a flighty energy about them, they seem to be a bit all over the place. for some of you, your person is dealing with a situationship/ex and trying to close out that cycle. also picking up a very specific message (for a very small group of y’all) that this person could already have a kid or have a kid on the way which was kind of unexpected and has created some sort of emotional turmoil for them. either way, whatever situation your person is currently facing, it’s ultimately pushing them to mature and take responsibility so that when they approach you they can really show you that they want the real deal and they’re not just playing games. they’re gonna come all the way correct lol they know you deserve the best and that’s exactly how they’re going to show up and out for you.

other channeled messages:

temperature by sean paul, i wanna be down by brandi, having deep conversations, stay ready by jhené aiko ft kendrick, no by meghan trainor, 10:10.

PILE THREE.

hiii pile 3! if you feel called to it, check out pile 2 as well there might be messages in there for you too. your person wants me to tell you that they feel a little bit restless right now lol like they’re from one thing to the next. they’ve been feeling really bored and stagnant and now they’re ready for something new. ooo ‘something new’ by zendaya ft [redacted redacted] is coming to mind don’t know your name, but i guess i really don't care. i probably should wait, but i wanna let you go there. right now your person is undergoing a big transformation, emotionally and spiritually. they’re shedding a lot of their past toxic behaviors and limited beliefs so that they can be more grounded and take responsibility for their own lives.

they’ve been through a lot this past year, but no more of the blame game, they’re taking ownership. i’m ngl you’re gonna have your person sprung lol they want me to tell you that they find you sexy af and you’re exactly the type of partner they want/dream of. you have a very commanding presence, whether you know that or not, and you’re gonna have them entranced like OMG wrapped around your finger.

for some of you, you might feel insecure about your body or wish you had less of this and more of that but guess what?! they’re gonna love you DOWN like they can’t believe someone as enticing as you actually exists. ‘down on me’ by jeremih ft 50 cent just started playing in my mind lol your person is so funny (and horny for you) BYE lmaooooo. they’re a very straightforward person, but they want you to know that they respect you so fucking much and they’d never dream of making you feel uncomfortable or objectified.

i’m also getting that you two could meet at a party/club of some kind and/or meet through mutual friends possibly. there’s gonna be sparks between you two right off the bat, but you might play hard to get in the beginning just for the fuck of it lol that’s just gonna make your person want you even more. ngl things might move fast between y’all hehe some of y’all might just hookup with your person off the rip cause they’re just soooo charming, pile 2. like even if you do hold out on them in the beginning, you’re gonna eventually fold cause the chemistry between y’all is HOT AF like i’m sweating. just randomly thought of mr and mrs smith, whew!

other channeled messages:

caught up by usher, wanna be by glorilla & megan thee stallion, cocky af by megan thee stallion, new car, don’t tell everything you know, shravana, touch my body by mariah carey, boyfriend by justin bieber, sex on the beach by partynextdoor, klaus & caroline from the vampire diaries, prominent mars, moon-mars synastry.

PILE FOUR.

pile 4, omg. i feel so warm and fuzzy like wow your person wants you to know that they don’t see anyone else but you. that don’t want to be with anyone else but you. they’re drawn to you like a moth to a flame. ‘closer’ by ne-yo immediately came to mind lol turn the lights off in this place and she shines just like a star. and i swear i know her face…i just don't know who you are. they find you so mesmerizing it’s honestly so adorable. your person is gonna go the extra mile to court you, pile 4. they feel like you deserve all the finer things in life and they will give that to you.

your person is proof that chivalry is not dead because WOW when i tell you that this person is so respectful, kind, generous and dependable…i truly mean it. they see you for what you are, a star. they want me to tell you that they’re going to be so devoted to you and they’re going to show you that there is so much more to life than just work work work work. you’re a busy bee, pile 4. you’re constantly working and pushing yourself to achieve your goals to the point that you sometimes forget to just relax and allow yourself to just be.

your person wants me to tell you that they’re coming into your life sooner than you think. 11:11 on the clock wow. they’re gonna bring so much joy and abundance into your life! you’re going to be so happy and at peace whenever you’re with them, it’s like they just make everything easier. your person loves how wise you are and how you never fold under pressure – that to them is sooo incredibly sexy.

they’re a go-getter as well, so you two together is truly gonna be a force to be reckoned with – it’s giving power couple. your person could have prominent 10H placements and you could have cancer/4h placements. i’m seeing so much yellow, wow. they really embody solar plexus energy and will help you to be more confident and unapologetic with the way you look and feel. you both elevate each other in so many ways it’s amazing, pile 4. i feel like they’re going to open you up to trying new things & you’re really going to feel liberated.

your person isn’t used to settling down and being in a committed relationship for long, but they want the whole 9 with you. they’re telling me that they will really work hard to make things right with you. they can admit that they’ve been selfish and have been putting themselves first in this connection, but they’re putting their best foot forward now to be the partner that you need them to be. they were being greedy and inconsiderate in the past, and they truly regret that but accountability is the first step for them and now they know how to move accordingly to come into this connection with a healthy mindset and genuine love.

they want me to tell you that you’re a diamond and they’re aware that you don’t go for just anything so they are not going to approach you with just anything lol they are getting their shit together so that they can give you everything plus more. you’ll see ;) your person is so amazing pile 4 i love this for you eeeekkk.

other channeled messages:

shawty is da sh*! by the dream & fabolous, diva by beyoncé, 420, dangerous woman by ariana grande, numb by rihanna ft. eminem, initials J N B or C, ex lingering, 4th house.

[nimrahs]

Arcane High School AU Headcannons-Ship Edition!!

Timebomb

-Jinx drags Ekko out of the school to skip class with her

-Jinx will randomly jump onto his back in the hallways when he’s talking to other people and just expects him to carry her around like that (he does because he’s down bad)

-Jinx almost never brings a bag to school so Ekko will go out of his way to carry things he knows she’ll need in his bag (such as hair ties, little contraptions for her to play with, extra pens and pencils, etc.

-When they’re bored they draw on each other, more so Jinx than Ekko, but he walks around with little monkeys and her name drawn on him in bright pink paint marker half the time with no complaints

-They got together in their freshman year but hid their relationship until they got caught

-Ekko liked her since they were kids but was too afraid to say anything, Jinx started liking him around middle school and had to make the first move

-One time they pulled the fire alarm and got the whole school evacuated but somehow never got caught

-When they’re not around each other their teachers will ask “where’s the other one”

-Whenever Ekko accidentally blows something up in chemistry he blames it on Jinx and everyone believes him because she always does stuff like that

-Silco absolutely HATES Ekko and likewise so whenever Jinx invites him over they just glare at each other but don’t say anything for her sake

-Vander however LOVES that Ekko and Jinx are dating and always claims he knew it would happen eventually (also I hc that Silco is Jinx’s full time guardian but she also stays with Vi and Vander a lot since he raised her)

Violyn/Caitvi

-When Caitlyn and Vi first met, Vi was so nervous to talk to her that she accidentally insulted her

-Consequently, Caitlyn hated her for a full year until Vi found out why and apologized

-They started to get closer because Vi would make excuses to talk to Caitlyn

-Their first date was at an amusement park and Vi pretended to be tough but she and Caitlyn were both screaming on the biggest ride and ended up holding hands, they just didn’t let go afterwards

-Before they dated, nobody knew Caitlyn was even into girls (or anyone at all)

-Vi constantly copies off of Caitlyn’s work when she isn’t looking and thinks she doesn’t know about it (she does)

-Vi started calling Caitlyn cupcake because she sold cupcakes at their schools bake sale to raise money for student activities as part of the school council

-Vi bought ten of said cupcakes claiming it was for her family

-The one time Vi convinced Caitlyn to skip class with her they ran into Ekko and Jinx and they all ended up getting caught because Jinx tried to fight Caitlyn

-Vi spams Caitlyn with messages and memes 24/7 but Caitlyn texts like a grandma and replies every 3 hours

Jayvik

-They met in elementary and have been inseparable ever since

-Viktor was INSANELY jealous when Jayce and Mel were dating but didn’t let it effect his relationship with her

-These idiots didn’t start dating until the end of high school because it took Jayce that long to get his head out of his ass and realize Viktor was his soulmate

-Jayce constantly worries about Viktor and asks him if he needs help which Viktor always denies but is secretly giddy about it

-Viktor has to get Jayce out of trouble all the time and it only works because the teachers love him

-It’s Viktor who gets them into those situations in the first place but he doesn’t get caught

-For their first official date they went back to the playground near their old elementary school after getting ice cream

-Viktor is a Mastermind ™ and Jayce is a Mastermind but Stupider ™

-Viktor became really close with Jayce’s mom through the years and she was always gunning for their relationship

Bonus: Jaymel (is that what they’re called?)

-That one cringe ass couple you see in the halls

-Mel would ignore anyone who brought up Jayce around her when he wasn’t around

-Had insta story highlights of each other

-Mel dumped Jayce because he “didn’t spend enough time with her” (guess who he was spending that time with)

-Power couple

-They had everyone drooling over them

-They would fight over the stupidest things and then get over it five minutes later

-When they broke up like 10 different guys tried to get w/ Mel

If you liked this, check out my original post->

[86espresso]

💌 roommate!jack pt. 2

part 1. part 3

( ignore me yearning for an ounce of a healthy relationship. I got cheated on my junior year of high school )

absolutely entirely babies you. i’m talking cleaning up after you, feeding you (this is so underrated fr), wiping off your makeup when you get home, forehead pecks before either of you leaves in the morning, packing lunch, always comforting you when you get overwhelmed.

^ is so so in love with the way you scrunch your nose in disgust when you try a new smoothie and automatically hand it over to him, letting him deal with it because you’re so used to him

simple things that come with intertwined lives: communication is always there, but there’s a deeper more important sense of knowing exactly what’s going on with each other without ever communicating.

^ knowing telltale signs of the other when they’re overstimulated, stressed, upset, uneasy, etc. a special kind of love language jack has for you, and that makes you fall hard.

gifts you cds and vinyls of artists you blast in your room

cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day!! after the party he throws at your shared space the previous night, he’s picking up trash and organizing everything back to its place while you wipe down the counters with whatever liquid that was on there. you collapse on the couch together and sleep the whole day, entangled in a mess of limbs but comfortable with eachother

softly knocks on your bedroom door one night, wondering why it was so quiet and sees you slumped over your desk and textbooks, fast asleep. his heart clenches at the sight; you look adorable but he doesn’t like how you overwork yourself and how you were still tense despite your unconscious state. he gently lifts you up from your desk and carries you over to your bed, laying you down. ^but he stops when you yank on the collar of his shirt, slowly opening your eyes. “thank you. stay?” you’ve stayed over in his room a few times but he’s never slept in yours. “sure, sweets.” he’d murmur in a low voice (🤭) and tuck himself in next to you, a safe distance away. ofc you wake up to his arm securely around your waist and it has you internally screeching.

lets out a indignant gasp when you approach him with eyebrow tweezers and tells you to ‘keep that torture device far away from him’ but a couple of pleases and a pout had him like putty in your hands as he begrudgingly accepted. he asks you to do his eyebrows often after that moment because he gets the opportunity to put his hands on your waist and stare at your face without making it weird.

^ also you when you accidentally let slip that you don’t take birth control pills he’s like wtf?? then you show him the implant in your upper arm. he screams, mortified, when he touches it and says “I thought that was for diabetes.”

the fear of telling eachother the strong feelings you both have grows everyday. when you’re put into a forced proximity like that and that person ultimately becomes your safe haven, literally lives with you, you just know there’s so much that could go wrong. you both toe the line carefully, trying not to harm the special bond you’ve grown over the years.

sleepovers in each others rooms !! pillow forts, romcoms on laptops, fingers brushing together when you reach for the popcorn bowl at the same time, huddling together for warmth (dear god when is it going to be my turn)

your first kiss would be slow and sweet. then you pull away breathless from the adrenaline and you look at him as if you don’t believe that just happened and his resolve crumbles. He wraps a strong arm around you body, pulling you close, and tangles the other through your hair, tilting your head. a year or two of pent up frustrations and raw love makes him pull your mouth to his roughly, him immediately going in with his tongue. He’s held you and hugged you before, but never like this. This was so much more passionate and intimate than anything he’d ever experienced.

def talks you through it 🙂‍↕️

his closet is yours!! he goes crazy seeing you in his big shirts and looking like you don’t have anything on underneath

whenever there’s blackouts through the building you both scramble around the place looking for candles with your phone lights. you bump into eachother a few times and there’s an unspoken rule to stick together while the lights are out. nothing but a scented candlelight illuminating your faces.

he declares a deep clean day which ends up in both of you soaked in bubbles after a soap fight

“we should shower together.. remember the water bill last month? :/”

roommates to lovers. goated trope.

i split this into two parts bc tumblr hates me. getting the other one out in a few mins :)

I want to talk about this more !! make it into a little series maybe?? send in what you think pleasee :)

[strangemaleswaps]

Strange Spellbook Swap

I've always wondered how couples stay together so long. My husband, Derek, and I had been married for 3 years now and while we get along great and support each other through everything, the sex had been pretty stale for awhile. Half the time he's not really in the mood and when he is, we usually just jerk off next to each other. I was getting tired of it and craved something more. But Derek was still so cute, him being a socially awkward nerd, and I was scared to tell him how I feel because he might cry.

That afternoon, I was on my way to pick him up from work. We only had one car, but since both our jobs typically had the same shift, I always headed over to pick him up at his job at the library. I didn't actually have work today so I went a little earlier to look at some books. When I arrived, Derek noticed me and smiled real big.

“Hey! You're early!”

“Yeah, thought I'd browse a bit.”

“Ah ok. I just organized it all so you get to see my work!” He smiled again and continued helping customers in line.

I browsed through my favorite genre - fantasy. I always loved ones that involved magic, spells, and amazing worlds. I noticed one book that kinda stuck out a bit amongst the shelf. It was some kind of spellbook with a brown leather cover, and had a bit of dust on it, which seemed strange because the rest of the shelf was perfectly clean. I opened it up and found that it was indeed a spellbook. I wasn't the most superstitious person ever, but I did believe there was some kind of magical force out there that could do incredible things.

I flipped through the table of contents and noticed there was a category called “relationships”. I turned the pages to the section and saw a bunch of spells - ones to make someone fall in love with you, ones to get promoted at work, ones to impress your family, things like that. I was about to close the book when I found one page - how to spice up your sex life. That was just what I needed! Even if it didn't work, it couldn't hurt to try.

I walked over to the counter right as another guy started talking to Derek. He was a real muscular guy wearing a white shirt and tan hat. His pants left absolutely nothing to the imagination with the way they were tight fitting around his ass. A mustache covered his thick face, which complemented his bright green eyes. He was carrying a tote bag.

“Hey can I help you?” He greeted the man with an eager attitude. “Need a book recommendation or anything?”

“Oh no I don't read.” The man spoke with a deep manly voice. “I mean, who has time to when you could be working out?” I could see the rare irritated look on Derek's face.

“Then…what do you need from the library?” He replied, much less eager than before.

“Just dropping off some books for the wife. We're going on vacation and they’re due tomorrow.” He took a couple books out of the tote bag.

“Allright. I can take them.” The man handed him the books and immediately turned around and left. Derek's smile returned when he saw me with a book in my hand.

“Hey! What'd you get?”

“It's a book of spells.”

“Of spells? Like real ones?”

“No way,” I laughed. “Just some dumb thing. Looks fun to read though.”

“Allright. Gotcha.” He checked me out and I sat down, waiting for him to finish the rest of the closing.

That evening after dinner I tried to seduce him but he wasn't having it once again.

“Sorry, work has me so exhausted you know?” I wish that I wanted to, but…well I just don't want to. Sorry.” I stood there defeated.

“Ok.” I let out an emotionless reply. As Derek brushed his teeth and got ready to head into bed, I flipped through the pages of the spellbook. I found the “spice up your sex life” spell and read the instructions. I needed to recite the incantation while looking at a picture of the two of us. I took out my phone, and scrolled through my gallery until I found the perfect picture. Then I started to recite the spell. Nothing happened. I tried again. Still nothing. At that point I was mad at him and now mad at the spellbook for wasting my time, so I headed into the bedroom. There I found Derek waiting for me.

“Hey…look I'm sorry. How about tomorrow morning we have some fun? I promise I'll go through with it!” Maybe the spell did work afterall! We both had a day off tomorrow so that was perfect. I was so excited that I could barely sleep.

The next morning I woke up to Derek nudging me awake. Excitedly, I turned over. But to my surprise, it wasn't him smiling at me, but a hairy guy with a mustache. He was giving me a sexy smile.

“Hey…you ready?” He gave me a look of uncertainty and cleared his throat. I didn't even know what to say but I was so confused that there was total stranger in my bed, so I had to say something.

“Who are…you?” He frowned beneath his mustache.

“What do you mean? Oh no, am I having an allergic reaction somehow? That would explain my voice and why my eyesight is blurry even with my glasses on. It's me though! My face must be so puffy…oh god."

”Holy fuck. It's Derek! But this was far beyond an allergic reaction. He's an entirely different person! He pushed the covers off and was about to get out of bed, probably to take a look at himself in the mirror, when he glanced down at his body. This was definitely not normal. He was muscular, tan, and hairy - a stark contrast to what he normally looked like. He made a terrified face, which was a strange sight on such a macho guy.

“What? What's happening? I-I…” He looked at me with worry in his eyes, and it was then that I realized WHY this was happening. It must've been the spell. I guess turning your boyfriend into a muscle hunk would definitely spice up our sex lives. But I couldn't leave him in the dark.

“I-I,” I started. “It was my fault. That spellbook I got, I used it on you. I didn't expect this though!”

It was then that I realized WHO he was. That guy we saw at the library yesterday. He somehow swapped bodies with him!

“What? What spell was it?”

“Spice up your sex life. I just…was getting bored. And you were never in the mood.”

“Oh…but it turned me into this?” He then rushed to the bathroom. I followed. He immediately recognized himself as soon as he looked into the mirror.

“Hey! I'm that guy from yesterday!? Why did it turn me into him?”

“I-I don't know! Maybe it picked someone from a recent memory?”

He gazed at himself in the mirror with an open mouth, and touched all around his face, pinching and feeling his mustache.He gazed down and admired his new muscles, feeling all around his pecs and the chest hair growing from them. He then turned around and stared at the mirror again, this time making a variety of expressions.

“What am I supposed to do? I can't stay like this!”

“I don't know! There must be something about a reverse spell in the book.” Flipping through the book, I once again found the page I needed. I read every word but didn't find anything about a reverse spell. Could he be stuck like this?

“Maybe if we see like a professional?”

“What, like a fortune teller witch lady or whatever?”

“Exactly.”

“Well. I do remember seeing something like that close to town. A psychic. Maybe they can help?”

“We could try.” I looked up fortune tellers and found Madam Cleo - Psychic. It was a short drive away. I was hoping we would find our answers there.

“I got it.”

“One problem,” Derek said doubtfully.

“What?” He stared down at himself and then answered.

“I don't think anything will fit me now…” I couldn't help but laugh out loud.“I think we can find something at least.”

We dug through the closet and eventually found the Lakers jersey that my uncle gifted me a few years back. I wasn't even into basketball and it was a few sizes too big, but at least it helped us in the end! Derek slipped it on and gazed at himself in the mirror. It fit pretty nicely.

“Not really my style…but it'll do for now.” He put his finger on his chin and then rubbed his head. He froze when he grazed the back of it.

“What’s wrong?”

“I'm…balding.” He turned around and tilted his head up to show me. He definitely had a bad case of male pattern baldness. I thought it was pretty hot, but he looked terrified.

“Hmm…well. That's something we can just fix with a hat. I walked into the bedroom, grabbed one of my hats, and put it on his head. It completed the look well.

“I guess this'll work. Maybe.” I laughed again.

“You'll be fine.”

We got to the car, Derek struggling a bit to fit in the passenger seat with his new frame, and headed over to the fortune teller. It was a warehouse-like building, although much smaller. As we were about to walk in, someone else walked out. He was a young looking guy around my age, but at least 200 lbs heavier. He looked like he made absolutely no effort to control his weight.

“Hey! That lady is awesome!” He said excitedly. “She told my fortune and said that I would lose weight very soon! I can't wait!” He then ran off, his gross looking belly jiggling up and down, and drove away.

I kinda felt bad for people like that, that actually believe that sort of thing…what am I saying? We're the ones going to a fortune teller for help. I just really hoped she was legit then.

We walked in and found that the interior was nicely decorated, completely different from the outside. Shiny wooden floors, a chandelier, and LED lights hanging from the walls. All of that surrounded a crystal ball in the center. Within a few seconds a woman dressed in a typical fortune teller outfit appeared from a curtain in the back.

“What does the future hold for you two today? Let's find out,” she said with an ominous tone to her voice.

“Actually we're not here to get our fortunes told. We need your help.”

“What do you mean? She asked, dropping the ominous tone.

“Well my husband here is a victim to a body swapping spell gone wrong.” I showed her the book, flipping to the page.

“Oh my,” she said with a concerned look on her face. “This is very powerful magic indeed.”

“But how do we reverse it?”

“I don't know for sure. But the victim should try to recite it instead.

“Victim? You mean Derek? How would that work?”

“Do not question why things are the way they are. Now go!” She said suddenly. With that, we hurried back home to recite the spell.

“Ok how do I do this now?” Derek asked.

“Just recite the spell, and focus on a picture of us.” He recited the incantation.

“Nothing happened…how was it last time?”

“Same as this time. I guess it took awhile to take effect. What should we do in the meantime?” He didn't reply, but instead stared at himself in the mirror.

“You know, now that this face actually has a brain behind it, it's actually kinda hot.” He then walked over to me and got real close. I'd never been intimidated by Derek before for obvious reasons, but this time I couldn't help but feel dominated by his brawny self.

“The spell picked this guy because you thought he was so hot didn't it? That's gotta be it.” He said with a low voice.

“Y-yeah. I admit it. He seemed dumb at the library but hey, he was a hunk.”

“And now I'm that hunk.” He started feeling all around his body again. He then glanced at his dick and began to stroke it. I knew exactly where this was going and I was all for it.

“Well then Mr. Muscle Hunk, why don't you show off that body a bit more?”

“I'd like nothing more…but I'm gonna go shower first. Who knows where this guy's been?”

“Yeah good idea. I'll be in the room.”

I was so excited! This was gonna be the hottest thing ever! I headed toward the closet to find something sexy to put on. Suddenly I felt a bit dizzy. I noticed my skin seemed to be glowing somehow. Within seconds it turned ghostly white, and then became so bright, it hurt to look at. Why was I glowing? It seemed to be just my body though, nothing was happening to my clothes. As quickly as it came, the glowing stopped and the dizziness returned. I didn't have time to see what happened, because as soon as the glow stopped I lost my balance and fell onto the nearby chair.

My clothes felt incredibly tight, but it wasn't long before I realized why. I was fat! My shirt didn't even fit over my large belly. My pants must've popped a button as my gut hung over them. I tried to get up but the weight of my gut kept pushing me backwards. How do fat guys even do this?

When I finally got up and onto my feet, I rushed to the mirror, my hanging belly flopping up and down. My face looked familiar…oh shit. I was that guy we saw at the fortune teller's! Did the spell do this? How did this happen?!

I heard the shower stop, meaning Derek was going to meet me here any minute now. I couldn't believe the hottest night of my life was about to be ruined! Why did this have to happen?

The door opened and there he was, standing there in a pair of briefs. They were always a little big on him, but with his new body, they were pretty tight. It looked like he shaved his head too. He stared at me, at first he looked shocked but then his expression changed. Was that a look of lust?

“So the spell did something to you too?”

“Yeah…look at me! I'm a mess!” I jiggled my flabby moobs to prove my point.

“Well…”

“Well?”

“It's not so bad.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I mean…well you know how you said I look hot like this? And that the spell probably made me like this for that reason?”

“Yeah. What are you getting at…wait.”

“Mhm.” He mumbled with a sexy smirk.

“Y-you think I'm hot like this?!" He got real close and started making out with me. It was the most intense make out session I'd ever had. The feeling of his thick mustache rubbing against my face was a sensation I would've never expected could feel so good.

“Does that answer your question?”

“Yep,” I said with a smirk.

[elektrantchios]

How about a request where Anthony is head over heels for the reader because of her motherly nature. First, he sees how she would play with Daphne’s son, and he just feels how great it’s like to be taken care of (like the reader would take care of him when he’s sick and help him with all the family duties) since all this time he took care of his siblings. The Bridgertons (and Simon) sees how in love Anthony is with the reader and they help with the proposal plan.

falling for ya | a.b

pairing: anthony bridgerton x gn!reader

warnings: none just fluff

word count: 1.2k

a/n: this has took me an embarrassing amount of time to get to but here it is! Anthony being an idiot in love

The season was over and you had been invited to the Bridgerton country home, Aubrey Hall. At this time in the year it was just the family and close friends. Eloise had invited her close friend, Penelope Featherington. Your invite had come from Benedict, you had met him at the Royal Academy of Art and became fast friends.

Of course you knew that his and your own families wished for an offer, your own mama was sure you’d come home with such news but it wouldn’t happen. He was a friend and nothing more. Besides, you were in love with his older brother.

Over the course of your friendship, you had also grown closer to the other Brigerton siblings, and their own children.

Small giggled laugher followed you, as you ran across the lawn, you turned seeing two small Bassett children running after you on small chubby legs, both holding small play swords. “You’ll never catch me” You declared, waving your own sword in the air.

The laughing increased, as they hit back.

You gave a cry of dismay and carried on running, over by the house, under the refreshment tent, the older siblings sat, the children were off begging Violet for something sweet.

“They’re quite good with them, don't you think?” Daphne asked the others, Simon gave an agreeable nod. Benedict and Colin were too busy in an argument over something unimportant, Eloise and Penelope were discussing the latest Lady Whistledown. 

Anthony though was watching with alarming personal interest, he had never seen you in this light before, you were Benedict’s art friend. Always off with him painting or looking at paintings or discussing paintings. 

Then he saw himself as a young boy, playing with his siblings when he carried the weight of everything on him. He had never blamed them for that, he loved his family with all his heart. But he couldn’t deny how he’d like to be taken care of for once. 

For the first time, he longed to fall ill, nothing series of course, just a head cold or something like that. Where you would sit by his bedside, reading to him and holding a cold cloth to his head. Maybe you’d sit by his bed and draw. 

Just this morning, very early in the morning, he had left the house to have a walk through the gardens and had found you sitting on the wet grass, in your dressing gown and slippers. Coloured pencil spread across the ground around you, on your lap the most beautiful sunrise he had ever seen. 

Anthony felt a blush spread across his neck. 

The day he had first met you, you had been a bundle of nerves. Meeting his family had been the easy part but the head of the household, meant moving up. He had made some comment or joke over dinner and  you laughed and laughed. 

And then there was that time, he had run into you in the park. 

With a cousin, the second you spotted him you beelined for him, leaving your poor cousin to tail behind.

Then at the last ball of the season, his mother had made him dance with you, he believed your mother did the same to you. The whole dance you played a game where he and you would guess what the other couples were discussing and the way you smiled when you had made him laugh.

By god he loved you, he, Anthony Bridgerton, he who swore he’d never love, had fallen in love with you. 

“I give in, I give in” you exhaled, dropping the sword, the children giggled, you picked up a glass of lemonade, “God they can run fast on those little legs”.

The others laughed, Simon seemed to straighten his back with pride, Daphne was looking at Anthony smirking. Someone at the house called your name, “Dear, a letter for you has just arrived”

“It will be from my mama” you roll your eyes, “Better hurry and write something back”. You left the group and thanked Violet. 

The second you had entered the house, Daphne grabbed her brother so fast he jumped, “You’re in love with them, aren’t you! I knew it”.

Anthony blushed harder, failing to speak, Colin and Benedict looked uninterested. Then Anthony realised he was the last to know. Each one of his siblings knew and  just didn’t care enough to tell him. 

After afternoon tea you had found the most puzzling note, attached to your door. Asking you to meet someone in the gardens. 

Across the grass was a blanket and two drawing pads, “Hello?” you called out. As you walked closer you found Anthony waiting, “Anthony?” you asked, kneeling to sit beside him, “What is this?”.

He smiled, handing you a pad and some pencils, “Let’s call it a private art lesson”.

“Why not ask your brother?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t tell him I said this but you’re the better artist”.

A warm feeling spread across your face and down your neck, you flipped open the pad, “Well draw something and we’ll see what needs work”. 

You looked up from your drawing, Anthony was frowning, the pencil working hard, it was sweet you had to admit.

“No no its…..” you gave up, you think he tried to draw a flower, “It’s a start” you smiled. 

“What did you draw?” he asked.

Damn

You hadn’t planned on showing him, you didn’t plan on showing everyone, but he was looking at you and waiting and it just felt rude not to. Slowly and feeling more heat all over, you turned the pad around. 

“Is that me?” he asked.

You closed the pad hard, “It means nothing.. You were there and- I” you couldn’t find the right words and felt more flushed as you went on. 

“It’s beautiful, you’re beautiful” 

Your mouth dropped open. 

“I know this may seem like it’s coming out of nowhere but I didn’t know how I felt until now. You see I have felt something for you ever since you laughed at my joke during the first dinner, and then today when I saw you playing with Daphens children it made me see things for how they really are”

Your mouth was still open, his words coming as a complete shock but not unwanted. He was everything you could want, he made you laugh, he talked with you with real interest not the half listening other men did, he was an amazing dancer and now this, trying to do something you loved.

His art was poor but still he had tried for this moment. 

He said your name and you swore your heart skipped. “I- I did not mean to overstep”

“Anthony” you smiled. 

He looked hopeful, “yes?”.

“I think I should be the one saying that” you said, unable to stop grinning. 

“Yes?”.

“Yes!” 

You leaped into his arms, he caught you right away. 

Without a second thought you kissed him, falling deeper into love with him. 

After the kiss and the ones that followed, you lay in his arms. “We’ll have to thank everyone, they helped set this up” Anthony said. 

“Benedict will call himself cupid until the end of time” you laughed. 

Anthony linked his hand with yours, “As long as I’m with you, I can face my brother”.

[on-my-vigilante-sht]

Sparring Matches

Aaron Hotchner x Reader

Summary: The BAU undergoes PT evaluations, that includes sparring matches. And in the ring will be the secret couple, tipping off the rest of the team.

Warnings: Canon level violence secret relationship, slight suggestive language

Word Count: 2.7k

Masterlist

The BAU were all sat in the bullpen trying to get work done when their Unit Chief, and Y/N’s secret boyfriend, walked out of his office, overseeing his team. “I have some bad news,” he announced, catching everyone’s attention.

“Another case?” Rossi guessed, coming out of his own office.

“No, the new Section Chief wants us to perform physical evaluations.” That earned groans from Spencer and Garcia. Meanwhile Derek and Emily were already placing bets about how each other would perform in each activity.

“But we haven’t had to do physical training in years because of field hours!” Reid protested.

Internally Aaron chucked at the doctor’s childlike protest, reminding him of Jack when he didn’t want to do something. “I’m sorry but he’s insistent and won’t be allowing waivers for any of you… except Rossi as well as Garcia because she’s never in the field.”

“Whoo!” she cheered, earning another groan from Spencer.

“And due to a recent incident… we will also be evaluated in hand to hand combat.” Everyone on the team turned to look at Y/N.

“He snuck up on me!” she defended for the millionth time. “I still beat him.”

“Still got a broken rib out of it,” Derek informed tauntingly.

“You’re one to talk,” she scoffed. “You throw yourself through doors even if they’re unlocked.”

“Oh yeah? We’ll see who fairs better in the ring.”

Before Y/N could get another jab in her boyfriend spoke. “Seeing as we are one of the most hands on units the Section Leader wants us to compete with each other so he can get an idea of our capabilities and because we are the most evenly matched. Thank you,” he dismissed, promptly walking back into his office so he didn’t have to witness anymore bickering. As much as Aaron loved the team, especially Y/N, he didn’t enjoy their bickering for prolonged periods of time.

Later that night at home, Aaron and Y/N were discussing the upcoming PT tests. “Why does he want us to fight each other?” she asked, plating their dinners.

“He said that based on reports we end up in physical combat a little too often,” he answered, setting the table. “He said that if we struggle too much then he’ll make it mandatory for us to have SWAT more often and no one will be allowed to move in on an unsub without SWAT presence.”

“That’s absolutely ridiculous,” Y/N cried, carrying over the food. “Stupid bureaucrats thinking their ideas are god’s gift to the FBI without even being in the field within the past five years.”

Aaron chucked, taking his seat across from her. “Well an evaluation isn’t too bad of an idea considering…” his voice trailed off as both recalled the weeks Y/N spent lying in bed waiting for her rib to mend itself enough so she could walk.

Y/N blushed, always getting intensely embarrassed whenever anyone brought that up. “He was twice my size and snuck up on me. And then I still managed to pin him with a broken rib,” she pointed out.

“Yes you did,” Aaron agreed, admiring her scowl.

“So do you know who will be fighting who?”

“Yes, it’s a mix of someone you’re fairly evenly matched with and someone who’s very different. You and Prentiss will spar, as will JJ and Reid, then I’ll be against Morgan. As for the opposites I believe it will be Prentiss and Reid, JJ and Morgan, and then you and I?”

“You and I will spar?”

“Yes, don’t worry I won’t blindside you,” he chuckled.

“Oh I’m not worried about that,” she smirked coyly. “I’m a bit younger than you, a bit more spry if you will.”

“Well I don’t know that I can call you younger considering you just used the word ‘spry.’ Besides it’s not a competition.”

“Sure,” she hummed sarcastically.

That only egged on the normally cool Unit Chief. He put his utensils down, forgetting his meal before hardening his expression. The same look he gave the team when he needed them to stop behaving like children, causing Y/N to squirm. “I guarantee you I’ll have you pinned by the end of it. I’ve never had difficulty pinning you before.” Y/N choked on the sip of wine she was drinking at that comment. Before she could say anything her boyfriend was at her side with a napkin. “Be careful, Y/N,” he said slyly, bringing the napkin under her chin. She stared at him in disbelief at his ostentatiousness as he backed away, trailing the napkin across her skin with a smirk.

~

After a week of intense sexual tension it was sparring day. Everyone was stretching in the FBI wrestling room except for Spencer who looked like he’d pass out. “Don’t worry Spence, I’ll go easy on you tomorrow,” Emily smirked.

He looked dissatisfied but took it with a sarcastic “Thanks.”

JJ and Spencer were the first to get in the circle but as soon as the whistle blew and JJ started advancing at him he dropped to the ground. “I yield,” he pled, raising his hands.

“C’mon pretty boy, you gotta do better than that,” Derek called. But Reid was completely unwilling to fight if there was no real danger so JJ was declared the winner.

Next up were Y/N and Emily. “Be careful, Y/N. I’m kind of infamous for hand to hand combat,” Emily bragged.

“I was a marine for four years,” Y/N shrugged arrogantly.

“Whoo girl fight,” Derek jeered from the sidelines.

“Shut up, Derek,” both women called, not moving their gazes from each other.

Also from the sidelines Aaron was resisting the urge to tell Prentiss to go easy on Y/N. Not only would it infuriate Y/N, it would clue the team into their relationship. Hiding a relationship from profilers was difficult but so far Aaron felt that they had managed. As the whistle was blown, Aaron watched in mild horror, keeping his expression hardened, as his girlfriend fought another very highly trained FBI agent.

Derek and Reid came to their boss’ side. “My money’s on Prentiss, she’s stronger,” Derek bet.

Aaron stayed silent, worried he’d betray some sensitive information while being so focused on the fight. Fortunately for him, Reid chimed in with his analysis. “While Emily was a part of Interpol, a very specialized group of agents, Y/N’s younger and more agile. Her training in the marines, while not having as much focus on hand to hand combat, will help her and I’d argue makes her stronger than Emily considering the amount of carbo loading they do.”

Before Morgan could disagree Aaron watched as Y/N pinned Prentiss by literally sitting on her back and pulling Emily’s arm behind her back up in the air. When the whistle blew, declaring Y/N the winner she simply stood up, helped her teammate stand, and went to the bench for her water bottle without a word, not wanting to humiliate her teammate anymore.

Next it was Aaron and Derek stepping onto the mat. Y/N watched them with unwavering eyes, hoping her expression wasn’t too worried. Aaron was tough, he got into more than his fair share of scraps with unsubs and he was still strong and fit. But Derek was well… Derek. He practically lived at the gym when we weren’t on missions and had the most takedowns on the team, preferring to throw himself at the unsub rather than shoot.

Y/N forced herself to look away from the mat, turning her attention to JJ who was approaching. “This should be interesting,” she commented, observing the flurry of fists.

Y/N hummed in agreement, busying herself with the objects in her bag. “Yeah but Derek’s got him. Hotch is tough but Derek’s favorite pastime is taking down unsubs.” Looking up Y/N couldn’t help but cringe as Derek landed a punch on Aaron’s face but he took it like a champ, barely even flinching before pushing Derek back.

The match was long and bitter but it ended with Morgan pinning his boss to the mat. Both were exhausted with labored breaths as the whistle blew. The second it did, Derek moved off of Aaron, sitting at his side trying to catch his breath. Emily went over to Morgan, leaving Y/N the opportunity to go over to her boyfriend without making it too obvious.

“C’mon,” she said as casually as possible, helping him off the mat. Helping him over to the bench she brought him his water bottle, as did Emily for Morgan.

“We’ll continue onto the next portion tomorrow,” the ref informed us before taking his leave.

At Aaron’s house, Y/N was trying to treat his cuts and bruises as best she could. “Are you sure you’re up to sparring tomorrow?” she asked, placing an ice pack against his bruised jaw.

“I’m fine, just some superficial cuts and bruises,” he dismissed.

“Still that was pretty brutal, I could hardly watch.”

Aaron took the cold compress she had been using on him earlier, pressing it to her visibly bruised collarbone. “Was hard to watch you too,” he murmured, feeling a little embarrassed about being so sentimental and protective.

Y/N smiled softly, trying her best to hide it so her boyfriend wouldn’t get too embarrassed. “Let’s get you to bed,” she suggested, helping him up. “This is the longest we’ve gone without a case in a while. You should enjoy it.”

“By sleeping?”

“Yes, sleep is one of my favorite things.”

~

By the next morning Aaron’s face was mostly healed and it was time for the other sparring matches. First up: JJ and Morgan.

While JJ was far more agile and quicker than Derek, all it took was him getting a grip on her and she was pinned.

Next up were Reid and Prentiss. Spencer didn’t immediately collapse but after she swept his leg he never got back up.

And finally it was the two secret lovers. “Don’t worry, L/N, I won’t blindside you,” Aaron smirked just like he did when he first told her they’d be fighting. This was also the first instance of teasing the team had ever seen from their stoic boss.

“You couldn’t move fast enough,” Y/N sneered in return.

With the blow of the whistle both advanced, trying to gain the upper hand. As Aaron tried to grab Y/N she dropped down, kicking him in the legs. It wasn’t enough to knock him down though, only sending him stumbling a few steps. As Y/N was scrambling up, Aaron had already regained his footing. Approaching her again he grabbed her wrist giving him the opportunity to punch her in the face but he hesitated, not wanting to hit a woman much less the woman he loved. His hesitation gave her enough time to twist her arm from his grip. Taking the opportunity once again, she kicked at his legs, sending him sprawling on the ground. She then straddled his abdomen, smirking in victory. But Aaron wasn’t done yet, easily flipped her so now she laid on the mat with him straddling her hips. He watched in amusement as her eyes widened in shock and she tried to struggle free but it was no use seeing as Aaron was twice her size.

The whistle blew again bringing both back to the present. Keenly aware of the position they were in in front of the entire team, Aaron immediately scrambled up onto his feet. Reaching a friendly, professional hand down, he helped Y/N up. “Good match,” he said awkwardly before scurrying off to the bench where his water bottle sat.

Y/N took a second to catch her breath, trying to figure out what would be the least awkward and obvious next move. Fortunately for her, JJ was already bringing her her water bottle. “Thanks,” she wheezed.

“Yeah, how’re you feeling?” JJ sympathized, also just having taken a bit of a beating.

“Aside from having the wind knocked out of me? Fine. I’ll just need a few minutes,” Y/N coughed out.

On the other side of the gym Derek had the biggest grin on his face, very much enjoying teasing his boss. “That was quite the match. Interesting method of pinning L/N.”

Hotch was trying to quickly think of a way to dismiss Morgan without drawing too much attention to him and Y/N. So he just gave him the stern Unit Chief look that instantly shut everyone up. “That’s not appropriate,” was all he said before exiting towards the locker rooms, eager to be back in the safe authority of his suits.

On his way out it took most of his willpower not to think too much about the way he had his girlfriend pinned.

~

The sound of Aaron’s ringtone jolted the two FBI agents up. Aaron grabbed the phone from his nightstand, keeping an arm wrapped around Y/N as she pulled the sheets tighter, cuddling into his chest. She let out a soft groan at being woken up as Aaron answered it. “Hello?” he answered in his groggy morning voice. After a few seconds of muffled information from Garcia he spoke again. “Okay call the rest of the team. I’ll be right there.”

“Another case?” Y/N asked, not even thinking.

“Yeah, sounds like a serial killer in SoHo,” Aaron informed as he hung up. Realizing what just happened he cursed. “Shit.”

“What?” Y/N asked, still gaining her bearings.

“I hadn’t hung up yet.”

“Shit,” Y/N cursed as well. “Okay it’s fine, if anyone says anything you fell asleep on the couch with Jack.”

“Yeah, okay,” Aaron agreed beginning to get dressed in the dark.

Y/N’s phone then went off. “Hello?” she answered, already knowing who would be on the other line.

“Good news, we’re going to New York City, bad news there’s a serial killer,” Penelope announced.

“Okay, I’ll-”

“Ow!” Aaron deep yell and a crash cut Y/N off.

“Was that Hotch?” Penelope gasped in shock.

“No!” Y/N answered too quickly. “Uh no,” she tried to answer more nonchalantly, “it was a guy but definitely not Hotch.” She cringed at her words.

“Ooh details,” Garcia begged.

“Another time,” she promised. “I have to get dressed. See you in 15.” And with that she hung up. She groaned, throwing herself back onto the pillows. “They’re definitely going to figure it out. I don’t have my car and I live on the other side of town we won’t make it.”

“We’ll walk in a few minutes separated. We still have plausible deniability,” Aaron tried to soothe Y/N. “It’ll be fine.”

“You’re surprisingly calm about this,” she observed, getting up to find her clothes.

“Would it be such a bad thing if they found out?” he asked shyly.

“No,” she answered, “not the team. I worry about the Section Chief and others.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it if I have to,” Aaron promised, wrapping his girlfriend in his arms before pressing a kiss to her temple.

Once they pulled into one of the far parking lots, the couple scoped out the other cars as best they could from their seats. “I think we’re good,” Y/N informed. “Follow me in like 3 minutes later?”

Aaron nodded as Y/N opened her door but the second she opened the door, Derek’s car pulled up with Garcia in the passenger seat. “I knew that was Hotch’s voice!” she yelled.

The couple groaned. “Not a word to anyone outside the team, got it?” Y/N immediately demanded.

“Of course, of course,” Derek promised.

“When did you know?” Aaron asked.

“We all had our suspicions but we knew during your sparring match. You were way too comfortable sitting on top of each other. And then my lovely Ms. Garcia’s phone calls confirmed you spent the night together,” Derek smirked.

Meanwhile Garcia was already group calling Emily, Spencer, JJ, and Rossi. “Hotch and L/N confirmed,” she squealed.

Masterlist

[angelshadowsinger]

oh my fucking god your work is incredible! holy literal shit balls i have never felt that entranced by a fanfiction until reading yours. thank u thank u thank u your azriel is PERFECT.

also i’m totally gonna need your thoughts on azriel sharing with his shadows 👀

re: ummmmmmm call me parmesan bc u got me CHEESIN!?!?!! that is literally sO sweet of you to say, i am touched 🥺 as a fic author you always worry if you’re making the character OOC and, it just makes me so happy to hear your praise!! thank you so much anon~ ♥︎ This HC is a bit more than what you’ve asked for, but it does includes it, so pls enjoy!

Azriel’s Shadows Around his Mate Headcanons

･ ゜゜・．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･

ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ: ʙʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴇʀᴛɪꜰʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ 18 ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴍɪɴᴏʀ. ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴍᴀʏ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴ ɴꜱꜰᴡ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇꜱ. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴅɪꜱᴄʀᴇᴛɪᴏɴ.

･ ゜゜・．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･．｡ ･ ゜゜・．｡･ﾟﾟ･

In my eyes, Azriel’s shadows are a part of him. There hasn’t been much insight that Maas has given us with shadowsingers and their capabilities in general, but this is what I choose to believe~

Since Azriel’s shadows were perhaps the first of his powers, and the first entity to treat him with some kindness/obedience, I think he would be very in tune with them and he himself would consider them a part of him. He has had over 500 years to develop his relationship with them and therefore, I believe once he found his mate, his shadows would be just as captivated with her as he himself.

Obviously, Azriel is a total simp for his girl (but that’s another hc in its own), so that means his shadows are too. Honestly, it could be viewed as annoying how often at least a few of his shadows are constantly at your side. He’s used to having them totally loyal to him, so now that he has to share them with you… well, it’s not really actually that cumbersome, because he knows that even when you two are apart, he’ll be sure to know if you need him/his help. Though he has a couple less to send out on his spymaster business, technically, the ones with you are acting as his spies anyway. Just, with a far more interesting and important subject.

His shadows do a variety of things for you, making your everyday life easier and more pleasant. Just as their master, the shadows like to give you princess treatment.

For example, they go out of their way to help you with mundane things. If you’re making dinner and a tomato rolls off the cutting board, they’re pushing it back to you. When you’re putting on a dress, they’re helping you with the zip and clasp. If you’re writing something and your pen runs out of ink, somehow they’ve procured a new one that matches your exact preferences.

Both Az and his shadows notice the small things. They take notes of your likes and dislikes, what makes you giggle, cry, or provides you comfort.

At times when he’s away for a long while, and you’re missing him, they will deliver small gifts to you. A couple flowers tied with twine, native to the strange lands he’s currently working in. A special spice he knows you love to use in the foods you share with him. An especially-delicious pastry made with your favorite fruit/flavor. Though the shadows themselves do not find you gifts, they are happy to deliver whatever Az requests they send.

They also will take anything you wish to send him. Whether he’s in another country, or simply training at the House of Wind with his brothers, his shadows will deliver your every gift. Most of the time it’s little sweets or a lunch you’ve packed. Sometimes when you’re feeling cheekier, a receipt from the lingerie store informing him of your latest purchase. If you’re really feeling brazen, sometimes the panties themselves. His shadows are perhaps happiest to carry those items, either to get into contact with them or to see their master’s red cheeks as he shoves them out of his brothers’ view.

His shadows are your caretaker when he is not with you. When you’ve fallen asleep staying up for your mate’s return from yet another mission, his shadows will tuck you under your favorite blanket, taking off your reading glasses and ensuring your spot in the open book on your lap is not lost. Az nearly melts when he comes back to the sight, you dead asleep on the couch in front of the blazing hearth, his shadows perched dutifully there, guarding you.

However, they grow attached to you and even when he is with you, they will not leave you alone unless he commands them.

Azriel likes to take full advantage of his time alone with you. There is nothing he finds more comfort and pleasure in than being in your embrace. Sometimes that’s hard to do, though, when his shadows steal away your attention, or beat him to helping you with the zip of your dress.

It’s a very endearing sight to see him get jealous of his own shadows. He’d have a scowl on his face as he glared at them, silently ordering them to leave your side so he could have you all to himself. The shadows would melt onto the floor, gloomy in a way, whisper once more around your ankle before they go off to fulfill their master’s instruction.

Most of the time, you manage to guilt your mate into letting a few of them come back. And as soon as he calls them, they appear and shoot right for you. Az rolls his eyes but of course he understands. How could they not fall in love with you?

Azriel is actually very good with sharing. This usually applies to you when his shadows are involved, though sometimes he just needs to be alone with you. Whether it’s to have his way with you or just to snuggle up and bask in his mate’s presence. When he needs time like that, he will have his shadows guard your quarters and they will do so without question— fiercely protecting the only two beings they care for.

~spicy hc’s begin ;)~

Most of the time, Azriel will take the lead in pleasuring you— as he should, as your mate— but he’s likely to let his shadows watch or join his efforts if they play a supporting role.

For example, his favorite thing is to be between your legs, feasting on your sweet cunt and making sure you know you are his, while his shadows hold you down so you can’t move an inch. This way, you have to take the pleasure in the exact way he desires, unable to greedily chase your high or buck your hips or push him away.

Usually he plays with you for a while like this, teasing you and edging you a handful of times before he’s ruthless, unstopping even after you’ve come. He does cease his ravishing after you’ve come again, only to ensure he doesn’t overstimulate you before he’s had a chance to fuck you like you both want.

His shadows are happy to shackle you and render you helpless to his onslaught of pleasure; they love hearing your wanton cries and will dry away any tears of pleasure that escape with a cool, ghostly caress.

Speaking of their caress, one of his favorite uses for them is to soothe your skin when he’s done marking it up. Meaning, after every spank or particularly hard bite, the shadows will rove over the irritated flesh, kissing you with their cooling tendrils.

Since the shadows are slightly cold, sending them to curl around your nipples while he fucks you from behind is also another favorite. The temperature-play heightens everything— especially when they move down your curves to tease at your clit or your ass, depending on your preference…

Sometimes he lets them fuck you as part of your foreplay— usually while you’re sucking his cock. He just loves the surprise that flickers in your eyes when you’re choking on the length of him deep in your throat, how your lashes flutter when that familiar cool touch tickles your inner thighs and pushes your wet panties aside, how your moan feels vibrating around him when they thrust inside of you. He savors how your rhythm gets thrown, how you struggle to continue when his shadows are running over every sensitive crevice of your most intimate parts.

On rarer occasions, Azriel will let the shadows have their way with you. He’d sit back in a comfortable, wing-friendly armchair, darkened hazel eyes drinking in every movement before him— you with your eyes rolled back in ecstasy, the darkness holding your legs spread and fondling every inch of you— cupping your tender breasts, tweaking those pert, hard nipples… stroking your face, your hair, your hips and thighs… flowing over your puffy clit, slipping between your dripping folds and even wandering inside of you, perhaps just as deep as Azriel’s cock could reach. He would jerk his leaking shaft at the sight before him, lip held prisoner in his feral snarl. He wouldn’t be able to last very long, the sight before him too much for him to keep his composure.

When you’re both spent and panting for breath, the shadows will run up and down your moistened back, taking away the heat that lingers there and helping to lull you to sleep.

Only when you’re unconscious do they return to Azriel, curling around his shoulders in thanks. They know they are lucky to be the sole creature/presence with which he shares his mate, and any time spent with you is valued payment for the many services they provide their master with.

[bkdk-prophet]

Ochaco Uraraka and Katsuki Bakugou: Who saves heroes when they’re the ones in trouble?

Do ya’ll every think abt how Katsuki took over the “who supports/saves heroes when they’re the ones in trouble” plotline in the current arc, which Ochaco originally had? Yes, that question came to her first when she saved Izuku from the Blackwhip rampage with the help of Shinsou, and once more reflected on that said question with her speech to let Izuku in UA.

But the thing is, her attention has shifted from saving heroes (Izuku) to villains (Toga); even during her speech to save Izuku, she thinks of Toga’s smile and ever since then couldn’t stop pondering it—so much so that she had to voice out this dilemma to Izuku which, after talking to a bit, had her arrive at the same conclusion to save their respective villains.

Where does Katsuki come in this? Well, as seen from his development in the JT arc, a lot of it is centred around being willing to “be saved” and “save” as a hero towards other heroes. He acknowledged the save aspect of “win to save, save to win” and had therefore improved on his ability to lead a team and find compatibility in working with them (Also notice the placement of the texts lmao).

This is a huge sign of improvement, as he used to despise the idea of being saved/helped cause he believed it to be a sign of weakness and vulnerability. Also, the “saving” aspect of heroism wasn’t something that came naturally to him, so instead he put most his energy into winning in order to compensate for it. It was huge character flaw that held him back in a number of ways. However, that flaw had began to unravel bit by bit as early as the final exam arc when he and Izuku had to work together, then the Kamino arc (where he took Kirishima’s hand), the provisional license exam arc (where he trusted Kirishima and Kaminari to win and save him) and had since been accelerated after Deku vs Kacchan pt. 2.

Further down the line, we have seen him grow into the belief that heroes save everyone, even other heroes. But as he’s been opening up to this idea, Izuku’s been closing himself off from this idea in relation to himself. His self-sacrificial tendencies, something Katsuki’s already aware of, were now worsened due to the duty and weight of carrying OFA. As he allowed himself to worry, it became clear to him that Izuku will not share his burdens unless someone insists their presence. Because of that, he’s made it his personal job to follow Izuku to war, catch up to his pace and match him, and make sure he doesn’t endanger himself (this is true before, during, and after Katsuki Bakugou rising).

Going back to Ochaco, it’s clear that both she and Katsuki’s focal point in the “saving other heroes as heroes” plot line is Izuku. The idea of them also being heroes who save heroes had been introduced in the same arc, which was during the JT arc. The difference is that Ochaco had mostly diverged from this plot line, while Katsuki has made it his main priority alongside winning (save to win), cause saving people is what paves the path to absolute victory. He even singles himself out as being the person who steps in when Izuku can’t handle it all on his own. Furthermore, he worked together with Izuku in saving All Might (both their childhood hero) to win against AFO.

So what gives? Why was Ochaco the person to introduce the question of who saves heroes, when Katsuki’s the one to pedal it in the final arc? Why didn’t Horikoshi stick with this motivation for Ochaco when it could’ve been used as an opportunity to make leeway for more romantic tropes concerning the main couple? Where the presumed heroine wants to save the hero, is closest to the hero, and becomes targeted by the villains. The answer is simple.

Horokoshi isn’t following a formula, and loves subverting our expectations.

Ochaco’s crush towards Izuku and former motivation of being the one to support/save heroes acted as a red herring to Toga. Her crush introduced the conflict of how to love others and yourself authentically, a conflict that’s central to Toga and Ochako’s fights all the way up to their final confrontation. Then the “who saves heroes” plot line is what put a crack in her imagine of hero society, a society who views heroes as infallible and abuses their selflessness, making people such as Deku—someone she had idolised for his heart and self-sacrificial traits—buckle under the weight of unrealistic expectations. Although this was important to the development of Izuku and Ochaco’s relationship itself, considering her speech which emphasised that she was one of the first people to truly support Izuku, it also made leeway for her to reflect on how hero society views villains, too. Then there she discovers that she wants to see Toga smile again, and find her among the crowd of happy faces in front of her.

Katsuki, on the other hand, takes on the roles that were expected to be given to Ochaco on account of her ‘love interest’ status. He’s the person whose consistently been saving/supporting Izuku from the first to the last war, the person targeted by ShigAFO cause of his closeness to Izuku, the person that has known about OFA longer than his peers, and the person at the center of Izuku’s “control your heart” plot line. The choice for Katsuki to take on these roles weren’t made willy nilly, as the narrative makes sure time and time again to emphasise that his relationship with Izuku is unique, complementary, deeply personal, and intimate; they are two people who complete each other’s brand of heroism by having what the other doesn’t.

Anywho, that doesn’t mean his individuality as a character is diminished cause these roles are typically associated with lazer-focused-on-the-mc heroines. Remember, his biggest character flaw had to do with being too independent and hyper focused on winning. He was a hero who formerly had trouble with the concept of being saved and saving others, especially towards the person he had refused the hand of and despised all these years, so it’s impactful and telling of his character development to now be the one who outstretches his own hand to other heroes, notably to his classmates and All Might, and most importantly Izuku.

His journey is of reaching an understanding with the person he wronged and couldn’t understand due to the views hero society ingrained in him, and to save that person from themselves. It’s understanding that heroes such as him, Izuku, and All Might, no matter how much power they hold, won’t always win if they refuse saving and support; so far, his arc focuses on the humanisation of heroes. It’s not unlike Ochaco’s, Izuku’s, and Shoto’s, who want/wanted to reach an understanding and save the people they had despised and couldn’t understand due to the views hero society ingrained in them; their arc focuses on the humanisation of villains.

That’s why I’m hopeful about DvK3 happening, where it’s Katsuki’s turn to see and respond to Izuku’s inner turmoil, and save him by his words.

Anyways, I’m sure by now we’ve all reflected on the romantic implications the roles Katsuki takes on, so I think bkdk being implied canon isn’t far off. However, I’m still not sure on what kind of deconstruction/subversion Hori is aiming for—does he want to say that the tropes usually applied to love interests can be platonic? As to say that romantic relationships aren’t always the closest? Or is the rival the actual love interest, and the perceived love interest is not. We’re not sure yet.

[redroomreflections]

Meet The Family

Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader (Black Reader)

The Loud House Universe

Summary: Natasha meets R's family for the first time

W/c: 7k

"Babe, I have no idea what you are so nervous about." You shook your head. You grabbed onto your luggage as you deboarded the plane. "They're going to love you."

"I don't doubt that," Natasha said as she slipped the sunglasses onto her face. It's not like it's her first time flying economy before. She insisted that the two of you act as normal as a couple. That's what she craved. Normalcy. Someone not into the lights and cameras and the novelty of her being a hero. That is why she was excited to do the typical thing of meeting your family.

"Sure doesn’t seem like it,” you teased, nudging her lightly with your elbow as the two of you made your way through the terminal. Natasha’s calm exterior might fool anyone else, but you caught the subtle way she fiddled with the strap of her carry-on, her usual poise betraying just a hint of unease.

“I’m just... being cautious,” Natasha replied with a smirk, though you could hear the sincerity in her tone. “Your family is important to you. That means they’re important to me.”

Her words warmed your heart even as you rolled your eyes playfully. “That’s sweet, but they’re just regular people, babe. You're not meeting the president. Just eat good food, laugh at my mom's jokes, and pretend we haven't had premarital sex. Which is interesting of a hill to die on for my mom, but..."

Natasha let out a laugh. "I think I can handle that."

"And don't feel intimidated if they ask you many questions about your job," you continued. "I already warned them about keeping the interrogation to a minimum, but my family is the worst when it comes to asking about every little detail."

Natasha stopped, turning towards you with a serious expression. "I am more than prepared for an interrogation. That's my job description."

The two of you continued walking to baggage claim, keeping up with the traffic flow as you talked.

“Okay,” she said suddenly, tilting her head toward you. “Anything I should know before we get there? Any family secrets or rules I should avoid breaking?”

You snorted. “Well, for starters, don’t say you don’t eat pork. My mom might take that as a personal attack on her cooking.”

Natasha raised an eyebrow. “Good to know. What else?”

“Let’s see,” you mused, counting off on your fingers. “Peyton’s going to act like she runs the world because she’s the oldest, Quincy will probably crack a million dad jokes, and Brandon’s baby's mother… well, don’t take it personally if she doesn’t say much. She’s not big on conversation.”

"She's 17, right?" Natasha asked, her eyes widening as you walked through the airport.

"They both are," You nodded. "Everything I've told you about my family before, believe it."

"That's a lot of people," Natasha smiled softly. She'd always been more comfortable being around small groups. The bigger the group, the more uncomfortable she was.

"Yeah," You grinned. "My parents were great at making babies. There's four of us."

"Hmm," Natasha nodded. "Let me guess that's your brother over there with the sign." She gestured with a raise of her chin to the teenaged boy with a toddler in one arm and a sign that read "Welcome back from the Convent."

You burst out laughing as soon as you spotted the sign. "Of course he did," you muttered, shaking your head in disbelief. Natasha chuckled beside you, the corner of her mouth quirking up in amusement.

"That's Brandon for you," you confirmed as you adjusted your bag and walked toward him. "Always a comedian."

Brandon caught sight of you as you approached and broke into a grin. "Hey, sis!" he called out, holding the baby with one arm while waving enthusiastically with the other. The baby, a chubby-cheeked little girl with curly hair, looked unimpressed but content in his hold.

"Really, Brandon?" you said, gesturing to the sign as Natasha raised an eyebrow. "A convent? That’s what you went with?"

"What? It’s funny," he replied, shrugging with a smirk. "Gotta keep you humble."

You rolled your eyes, stepping forward to hug him while Natasha stood back, observing the interaction with quiet interest. "And what about me screams ‘convent,’ exactly?"

"Law school, late nights studying, no time for fun—sounds like a convent to me," Brandon teased before shifting his attention to Natasha. "So, this must be the famous Natasha. Welcome to the family."

"Oh, we're not..." Natasha's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she looked at you. "We're not married or anything."

"Yet," He finished with a smile, reaching out to shake her hand. "The way she talks about you, I'd have thought you had already put a ring on it."

"Brandon, stop," You groaned, your cheeks reddening. Natasha looked at you curiously, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"What? It's true. I mean, the whole family's heard all about your girl—"

"Give me my niece. She's getting fussy," You interrupted before he could embarrass you. You and Natasha had been dating for almost a year and a half. She knows practically everything there is to know. But hearing your family's opinion of her made you nervous.

"Fine," Brandon sighed. "You'll have to catch up on all the drama once we're in the car anyway. It's crazy at home."

"Oh? Why's that?" You asked, reaching out to take the toddler in your arms.

"I'll take the bags," He offered to Natasha. He didn't find offense when she declined. He simply kept the conversation going.

"Mom's pissed about Tori," He said, referring to his current girlfriend. "Her parents still won't let her move back home. Also, Peyton and Ross are having some issues. You didn't hear it from me, though. Oh- I parked over here."

He led the three of you to the car, where he opened the trunk and tossed all of your bags in there.

"Hey, that's Gucci," You warned him. "That bag has my laptop."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be careful." He waved you off. "Can you buckle her in?" He asked.

Buckling Willow into her car seat was a feat. It was a new experience that you were excited to have, but she was a wiggler. You were glad to be an aunt and help her dad. You knew Natasha was watching the interaction with interest. Once everyone was seated, Brandon backed the car onto the road and out of the airport parking lot. You were terrified of his driving.

"Mom, let you drive the car," You thought aloud. "That's a first. Peyton and I had to beg her to let us drive practically."

"Well, I'm the baby. I get special privileges," He bragged. "Miss Natasha, you're quiet back there."

"She's fine," You defended her.

"I'm just listening," She replied.

Brandon glanced at Natasha through the rearview mirror as he navigated the freeway. His curiosity was written on his face, and you braced yourself for whatever line of questioning he was about to launch into.

“So,” he started one hand on the wheel and the other drumming lightly on the console. “What’s it like being an Avenger? Do y’all just fight aliens and save the world all day, or is it mostly paperwork?”

Natasha chuckled softly, the sound surprising you a little. She leaned forward just enough to meet Brandon’s gaze in the mirror. “A lot less glamorous than you’d think. Fighting aliens happens occasionally, but it’s mostly meetings, training, and arguing over whose turn it is to clean the kitchen.”

"Wait, you mean to tell me y'all don't have maids or a team to do that stuff?"

"Not for personal stuff, no," Natasha explained.

"And I'm gonna assume there are no benefits, insurance, or anything like that."

"It's government-funded," Natasha said. "So there's plenty of benefits and health insurance."

"Do you get to fly around in a spaceship, or is that reserved for Captain America and Iron Man?"

"There's a jet," Natasha replied.

"Brandon, can we not?" You asked.

"Oh, come on," he protested. "You didn't warn her about the third degree? Besides, it's not like you've seen any action."

"Not directly," You corrected. "But I've watched the news."

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I'm not trying to pry. I just want to make sure you're safe. The rest of the fam is going to want to know."

"That's understandable," Natasha said.

"So, what are the chances I'll get a ride in one of those Avengers planes?" He joked.

"Brandon!" You groaned.

"What? Can't blame a guy for dreaming," he laughed. "Okay, I have a real question—do you guys like to hang out? Play cards? Do movie nights? Or is it all business?”

“Depends on the day,” Natasha answered, her voice relaxed. “We’ve had our share of poker nights, but Thor’s terrible at bluffing, and Clint’s too good. Movie nights are better unless someone picks Star Wars. That always ends in arguments about the ‘proper’ order to watch them in.”

“Man, I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall for some of that,” Brandon said, shaking his head. “You ever bring her to the tower?” he asked, jerking his thumb in your direction.

“A few times,” Natasha said, glancing at you with a small smile. “We mostly hang out at her apartment with Karen. She keeps saying she doesn’t want to ‘cramp my style.’”

“Excuse me for wanting to keep a low profile,” you said, feigning indignation. “Unlike you, Brandon, I’m not trying to be best friends with everyone.”

Brandon shot you a look of mock outrage, pressing one hand against his chest.

"You wound me, sister. Truly."

"I'll do worse than that if you don't focus on the road," You warned him.

"Fine, fine." He raised his hands in surrender.

It would be long if the rest of the day would be like Brandon's questioning.

**********

As Brandon hoisted Willow out of her car seat, she babbled happily, grabbing his hair as he balanced her on his hip. “Alright, ladies, this is where I leave you to fend for yourselves,” he said with a teasing grin, holding open the front door with his foot.

“We can manage,” you shot back with a smirk, lugging your bags from the trunk.

“You sure? I can carry the fancy bag,” Brandon said, eyeing your Gucci luggage again.

“Get inside, Brandon,” you said firmly, laughing despite yourself.

Brandon shrugged and disappeared into the house with Willow, leaving you and Natasha standing by the car.

You turned to Natasha, who was sliding her sunglasses off and tucking them into the neckline of her sweater. “Hey,” you said softly, touching her arm. “You good? I know my family can be  a lot.”

"Baby, I'm fine," Natasha said. "Trust me. This is what I do."

"I can't pretend I don't love it when you call me baby." You sighed.

"Well, then maybe I should use it more often," She said. "Also, relax. It's Thanksgiving."

"You're right," You said. "But still, if it gets overwhelming, just let me know."

Natasha nodded, and the two of you headed into the house. As soon as the door opened, the sounds and smells of Thanksgiving Day swarmed around you. Loud, chattering voices, the clatter of dishes, and the mouthwatering scent of roasting turkey filled the house, and you took a moment to close your eyes and soak it in.

"Is that my daughter, I hear?" Your mother's voice rang out from the kitchen.

"Yes, Mama, it's me." You called back. You kicked your shoes off and placed them neatly inside the coat closet. Natasha followed suit.

"Are you the famous girlfriend we've heard so much about?" Your mom asked.

"Yes, ma'am. My name is Natasha."

"Come here, girl, and hug me," your mom ordered, appearing from the kitchen and wiping her hands on a dish towel. "My name's Vivian. It's nice to meet you finally."

Natasha initially hugged Vivian, a bit hesitant, but the older woman’s firm and affectionate embrace quickly put her at ease. “It’s so nice to meet you, ma’am,” Natasha said, stepping back with a warm smile. “You have an incredible daughter. I’ve been hearing nothing but great things about you.”

Vivian chuckled, her sharp eyes twinkling as she gave Natasha a once-over. “Well, flattery will get you everywhere,” she teased. “But please, don’t call me ma’am. It makes me feel old. Vivian or Mama Viv will do just fine.”

“Mama Viv, then,” Natasha said with a slight nod, her voice smooth and respectful.

“Good. Now tell me, Natasha,” Vivian said, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe, “what exactly are your intentions with my baby?”

Your eyes widened as you fumbled for words. “Mama!”

Natasha didn’t miss a beat, though. She clasped her hands together, her expression sincere. “To love her, respect her, and make her proud, ma’am—uh, Mama Viv. And to eat as much of your cooking as you’ll let me,” she added with a playful smirk.

Vivian broke into a laugh, shaking her head. “Oh, she’s good,” she said, glancing at you. “I see why you like her. Alright, Natasha, you’re off to a good start. Come help me in the kitchen, and we’ll see if you can hold your own in there.”

Natasha glanced at you for confirmation, and you gave her a subtle nod. She followed Vivian into the kitchen without hesitation. You followed behind, though, at a slower pace. The next few moments were crucial for first impressions.

"I'll warn you, I'm not a great cook," She said.

"That's alright," Vivian said. "I'll put you to work peeling potatoes or something. Wanna see if you'll pull your weight around here."

You smiled, hearing them chat back and forth. It was a good sign. You were sure your mom would find something Natasha could do.

"You made it," Quincy's voice boomed from behind you. He didn't give you time to react before he pulled you into a bear hug. "And you brought Natasha."

"Of course," You laughed.

"Good." He nodded. "I was worried you were going to bail on us. You never come home anymore."

"Don't start, Quincy," You rolled your eyes. "I was home last Thanksgiving."

"Yeah, after not coming home for a whole year," He said. "Introduce me to your girlfriend." He grinned. He was starstruck.

"She's helping Mom cook," You informed him. You both walked into the kitchen and saw Natasha shaking hands with your sister, Peyton. Brandon was at the counter feeding a few strawberries to Willow as his girlfriend Tori sat beside him on her phone. She seemed completely unaware of the world around her.

"So, you're an Avenger," Peyton said, her tone a little skeptical. "I must admit we didn't believe y/n when she said she was dating you."

"Oh really," Natasha said, quirking an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Well, it's not every day a girl claims she's dating the Black Widow," Peyton pointed out.

"Yeah, but y/n isn't exactly the type to make shit up," Quincy interrupted.

"Language, boy," Vivian warned from her place at the stove.

Natasha chuckled, her eyes flickering to Peyton and then to Vivian, who had her back turned to the stove. "Don’t worry, I’ve heard worse," she said, giving Quincy a playful wink.

"See?" Quincy smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Told ya."

Vivian turned from the stove, placing a wooden spoon on the counter. "Alright, enough with the show, everyone. Peyton, get the table set. Quincy, stop trying to embarrass your sister. And you," she pointed at Natasha, "come help me with this cornbread."

Natasha nodded and stepped over to Vivian, who seemed confident in her kitchen. "What can I do?" Natasha asked, her hands instinctively moving to help without waiting for an answer.

"First things first," Vivian said, pushing a bowl of ingredients toward her, "you’re going to stir this batter, but carefully. I like a nice smooth texture for the cornbread."

Natasha rolled up her sleeves, already comfortable in the space. "I’ve got it. I’ll make it the best cornbread you’ve ever had."

Vivian, clearly pleased, gave her a once-over before speaking again. "You’re making good impressions so far, Natasha. Y/n deserves someone who knows their way around the kitchen." She eyed Natasha for a moment, her smile warm. "You do all your cooking, or is someone else handling that?"

"I do a bit of both," Natasha replied, gently mixing the batter. "But I’m always down for new recipes, especially if they come from someone who knows what they’re doing. I'm not a great cook but a fast learner."

"Well, we'll see how you do here," Vivian said.

"I guess I'll start on the pies," You rolled up your sleeves to wash your hands. A perk of flying in on Thanksgiving day was being late to the party. It was a last-minute decision to come home.

"You better be making a chocolate one," Peyton warned.

"Peyton, hush." Vivian shushed her.

"I can't wait to try it," Brandon said, his attention still on his daughter.

"I think the last thing that kid needs is sugar," Peyton teased, poking the little girl's belly. She squealed, kicking her chubby little legs.

"The sugar is the best part," Brandon retorted, kissing his daughter.

"She's getting big," You observed. "Is she talking yet?"

"No," Brandon said. "Not yet. She'll get there eventually. I can't believe she's a year old. Feels like just yesterday she was born."

"Yeah," You nodded. "Hi, Tori." You said to Brandon's girlfriend.

"Hi," She had the decency to look up from her phone.

You sat at the kitchen table, a soft smile tugging at your lips as you glanced at Tori. Finding someone like her who kept to themselves was rare, but you knew it was essential to show interest. "So, Tori, how's school and everything? I mean, besides, you know, trying to avoid getting caught in the middle of this chaotic family," you teased lightly, gesturing around the room.

Tori blinked, clearly surprised by the question, but then she seemed to soften, a hint of relief in her eyes. "Well, school is fine. I've been attending every day. I want to be a nurse," she said, her voice quieter than usual but more animated than you'd seen before. "I’ve always liked the idea of helping people, you know? I’ve been thinking about moving to Louisiana after high school to study. My aunt lives there, and she’s been telling me to come stay with her while I figure things out."

"That’s awesome," you said, genuinely interested. "Is it something you’ve wanted to do for a while?"

"Yeah," she nodded, looking down at her hands briefly. "I’ve always kind of gravitated toward taking care of people. And... I don’t know. Louisiana feels like a place where I could start fresh, away from all the stuff back here." She paused, her eyes flicking briefly to Brandon, who was still sitting with Willow. "I just... I think I could do more there. Maybe even learn some things to help me get my life on track."

You nodded thoughtfully, respecting her quiet resolve. "I think you’ll do great."

Brandon, listening in from across the room, chimed in with a knowing smile. "Yeah, we're still figuring it all out. Tori's been thinking about it, but we're also trying to figure out how to ensure Willow stays close to family." His expression softened as he glanced at his daughter. "I’m not sure how I feel about taking her away from everyone... but Tori’s excited, and it’s a big opportunity for her."

Tori shot Brandon a small, appreciative smile, though she didn’t say anything.

You could tell there was a lot of unspoken tension around it. You nodded in understanding. "It's a big decision. But I know Willow’s lucky to have you both looking out for her."

"That's so sweet," Tori said.

"I only have to put the collard greens on," Vivian began. "Natasha, do you eat pork?"

"Yes," Natasha answered.

"Good," Vivian nodded.

"What else can I do, Mama Viv?" Natasha asked.

"You're gonna make the biscuits," Vivian ordered.

"Yes, ma'am." Natasha nodded.

Things were going well. Your mom putting Natasha to work meant she was interested in her, which was a plus in your book.

As Natasha busied herself with biscuit-making under Vivian’s watchful eye, Peyton followed you into one of the bedrooms upstairs. You knew by her closeness she was about to say something. Peyton rarely held back when it came to her opinions.

“So,” she began, her tone casual but pointed, “is this thing with Natasha serious? Or is she just another quest, like Melinda?”

You paused, barely glancing at her, placing your bags in the closet. Peyton had always had a knack for finding the most loaded questions to ask, and this was no exception. You took a breath, willing yourself to stay composed.

“First of all,” you said calmly, “Natasha is not a ‘thing.’ She’s my girlfriend, Peyton. And yeah, we’re serious. Also, Melinda wasn't a quest. We were in a relationship for two years."

Peyton shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I’m just saying. You’ve always had a type, you know? Strong, intense, probably a little emotionally unavailable,” she added with a smirk. “And we all know how that turned out last time.”

You shot her a warning look. “Wow, Peyton. Thank you so much for your insight into my love life. Maybe next time, you can try delivering it without the shade.”

“What? I’m just asking the questions everyone else is thinking,” she said, raising her hands defensively. “I mean, you’ve got a history. Don’t you think it’s fair to wonder how long this one will last?”

"Are you going to start? Dinner is less than three hours away," You sighed. "I came to be with family. You didn't even hug me when I came in the door."

"Because you've been here ten minutes," Peyton argued. "Look, I'm not trying to start anything, y/n. I'm just curious. It's not like we see or talk to you very much."

"Well, I've been busy," You retorted.

"You could've called more," Peyton insisted. "The girls miss you."

"I'm sorry," You shook your head. "Law school has been intense."

Peyton’s eyes flicked to the Gucci bag you’d set neatly by the door, her expression shifting into something slightly amused but undeniably pointed. “That’s a nice bag you’ve got there,” she remarked, her tone light but laced with something else. “Designer, right?”

You bristled, sensing where this was going. “Yeah, it’s a gift,” you replied curtly, refusing to elaborate. You’d learned that giving Peyton more information was like throwing fuel on a fire.

“Must be nice,” she said, her voice slightly more severe. “Meanwhile, Mom’s been stressing over the laundromat. She doesn’t say it outright, but I know things have been tight lately.”

You froze, your jaw tightening. “Peyton—”

“She’s paying your tuition,” Peyton continued, folding her arms. “So, I just think, you know, maybe she deserves to know if you’re spending money on fancy bags.”

“It’s a gift,” you repeated, your voice sharper now. “And last I checked, my education was something Mom was proud to support, not some burden she needed you to fight about.”

Peyton shrugged, unfazed by your defensiveness. “I’m not saying it’s a burden. I’m just saying she’s doing a lot. And maybe you could... I don’t know; check in a little more. Be more aware of what’s going on back home.”

“Wow, Peyton. Thanks for the lecture,” you shot back. “I had no idea you were Mom’s financial advisor now.”

“I’m just saying,” Peyton countered. “You’re out there living your life, and we’re holding things down. It wouldn’t hurt to pick up the phone or swing by more often. The girls miss you, Mom misses you, and whether you want to hear it or not, things aren’t easy around here.”

You exhaled sharply, crossing your arms. “Look, I get it, okay? I know I’ve been caught up with school and everything else. But you don’t need to guilt-trip me about it. I’m doing the best I can.”

Peyton’s face softened, if only slightly. “I’m not trying to guilt-trip you, y/n. I just... I worry about Mama, and I worry about you too. You’ve got this shiny new life now, and it’s great, but don’t forget where you came from. That’s all I’m saying.”

You shook your head, annoyance and regret swirling in your gut. Part of you wanted to defend yourself, but another part felt like it was too little, too late. Instead, you breathed and tried to let the frustration melt away. Paying your tuition was something your mother did for each of her children. Quincy had gone to get his mechanical engineering degree and became a product engineer. You're still determining exactly what he does, but he earns an excellent salary. Peyton had gone to college and ultimately dropped out after becoming pregnant with the twins in her junior year. Now it was your turn.

You felt that despite how much your mom wanted you to attend law school, the money was tighter than she'd initially let on. It wasn't that she was stingy. Your mom was the most generous person you knew. But she had her pride. You knew you had to pay her back one day.

"Okay, okay," You said, rubbing your temples. "I've been working a lot. I can take out loans if I have to. Just let me talk to Mom. See what she says."

Peyton didn't look entirely convinced. "If you say so."

"Look, it's been a long trip, and I wanted to see everyone and have a good time," You explained. "Are you going to treat me like this the whole time?"

"No," Peyton rolled her eyes. "We can pretend we're normal and get along for one day."

"Good," You said. "Now, can we please just go hang out with everyone? I didn't come from New York to spend the holiday with you lecturing me."

"I love you, little sister," Peyton said as you began to walk past her. "I apologize for coming across that way."

"I know, Peyton," You sighed.

The two of you walked back downstairs, and you returned to the kitchen to see Natasha holding Willow in her arms. You paused in the doorway, your steps slowing as your gaze landed on Natasha. She held Willow close, her movements careful yet natural, like she’d been doing this forever. Willow babbled happily, one tiny hand clutching at Natasha’s necklace and the other reaching up to pat her cheek. Natasha smiled, a soft, genuine curve of her lips that you didn’t get to see often.

It was... endearing. Unexpected but endearing.

Natasha had always struck you as someone who thrived in control, her precision and composure unshakeable. But here she was, rocking a squirmy, giggling baby in her arms with a quiet patience that made your chest ache the best way.

She caught you watching, her green eyes meeting yours over Willow’s head. “Hey,” she said softly, a trace of shyness in her voice. “She’s a natural charmer, isn’t she?”

“Yeah,” you replied, your voice catching just a bit. “She likes you.”

Natasha chuckled, shifting Willow so the baby rested more securely against her shoulder. “I like her too,” she admitted. “But, full disclosure, I have no idea what I’m doing. I think she’s just being nice to me.”

You smiled, stepping closer. “You’re doing fine,” you said, your tone warm. “Better than fine. She doesn’t let just anyone hold her without pitching a fit.”

Willow reached for Natasha’s face again, her little fingers brushing against her cheek. Natasha didn’t flinch, just gently caught the baby’s hand and kissed her tiny palm. The sight was almost too much—tenderness wrapped up in someone so unrelentingly strong.

“Do you want her ?” Natasha asked, her voice light but filled with a bit of hesitation like maybe she didn’t want to let go just yet.

You shook your head, leaning against the counter. “Nah, you’re doing great. Besides, I think she’s already picked a favorite.”

Natasha gave a soft laugh, the sound low and genuine. “Guess I’ll have to live up to it, then.”

Vivian came in a moment later. "Everything's all ready," She said.

"Mom, did you make mac and cheese?" Peyton asked.

"Yes," Vivian nodded. "Your daughter requested it."

"Thanks, Mama," Peyton said.

Vivian glanced at you and Peyton, her eyes narrowing. "Y'all weren't fighting, were you?"

"No, ma'am," You and Peyton said in unison.

"Don't lie," Vivian scolded.

"We're fine," You insisted.

"We can save the arguing after Thanksgiving dinner," Peyton added.

"Alright," Vivian shrugged. "I'm not going to pretend to understand you two."

Natasha glanced between you and your sister, but you did not indicate that you were bothered by what had happened.

"Twins are back," Ross called from the front door as he entered the house with Deyjah and Diamond. All you heard was the pitter-patter of little feet as they kicked off their shoes and ran toward the kitchen.

"There's the troublemakers," You joked, ruffling their heads.

"You're back," Diamond exclaimed, pulling you into a hug.

"I am," You laughed, squeezing her back.

"Did you bring presents?" Deyjah asked, looking up at you expectantly.

"I didn't," You said. "It's not Christmas just yet. Girls, there's someone I want you to meet. This is my girlfriend, Natasha."

Diamond and Deyjah eyed Natasha curiously, their matching gazes assessing her with an unnerving and impressive sharpness.

"Why's your hair red?" Deyjah asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Well, I was born with red hair," Natasha explained. "Just like how y/n was born with dark hair."

"I was born first," Diamond announced proudly, puffing out her chest. "But I don't remember."

"Duh, 'cause you were a baby," Deyjah scoffed.

"Girls," Vivian scolded, "don't be rude. Why don't you go wash up for dinner?"

They did as they were told, rushing off to the bathroom.

"They're pretty cute," Natasha began. "How do you tell them apart?" She directed her question to Peyton.

"There are a few subtle differences," Peyton began. "Diamond has slightly better speech than Deyjah. Deyjah always has some sort of bracelet or necklace on. Though if you look closely, Diamond has a tiny mole on the left side of her neck."

Natasha nodded, seeming satisfied. "So, how old are they?"

"Six," Peyton answered.

"Six," Natasha echoed.

"Yep, six going on sixteen," Peyton joked. "They keep me busy most days."

"I can imagine," Natasha chuckled. "They're smart kids."

"Oh yeah," Peyton grinned. "They're smart."

You couldn't help but smile at Natasha's interest in the twins. She seemed genuinely curious and focused solely on Peyton as she talked about the girls. Seeing someone other than your mom and Brandon engaging with her was refreshing.

"This is my husband, Ross," Peyton introduced.

"Pleasure to meet you," Ross shook Natasha's hand. "Big fan."

"He's a fan," Peyton explained. "He loves all that superhero stuff. I'm not really into it, though."

"I can imagine," Natasha smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Ross."

"Yeah, likewise," he replied, clearly starstruck. "How was the flight?"

"It was alright," You answered. "It's good to be back home."

Indeed it was.

******

The dining room was packed, every seat around the table taken, and a few extra chairs were squeezed in to accommodate the crowd. The smell of collard greens, roasted turkey, and freshly baked cornbread filled the air, mingling with the soft strains of gospel music playing from a speaker in the corner. Laughter and chatter echoed through the room as plates and glasses were passed around.

You sat beside Natasha, her hand resting lightly on your knee beneath the table. She looked calm, but you could tell she was soaking everything in—the voices, the warmth, the energy. She wasn’t used to this world, but she fit into it better than you’d expected.

“Alright, y’all, quiet down!” Vivian’s voice rose above the din, commanding attention. The table settled almost instantly, everyone turning toward her.

She stood at the head of the table, a serene yet authoritative presence. “Before we dig in, we’re going to give thanks,” she said, glancing around the room. “Natasha, since this is your first time joining us, I want you to know how happy we are to have you here. Family is everything to us; today, you’re family too.”

Natasha’s eyes widened slightly, and she gave a small, grateful smile. “Thank you, Mama Viv. That means a lot.”

"Now, in our household, we start with a prayer before Thanksgiving dinner," Vivian said. "I understand that you may not want to participate."

"No, ma'am," Natasha said.

"Well, okay then," Vivian said. "Now, let's bow our heads."

"Bow our heads, everybody," Vivian instructed, and the room obeyed. You noticed that even Natasha bowed her head a little, though her eyes remained open. "Dear Lord, thank you for bringing our family together today."

Natasha observed the room as the prayer went on. This was like a culture study for her. Experiencing a different family dynamic was intriguing.

"I want to thank you for the food and the company. And I pray that our family continues to stay safe and healthy. Amen."

Everyone lifted their heads and said, "Amen."

"Thank you, Mama," Peyton spoke up.

"Thank you, Mom," Brandon agreed.

"Yeah, thank you, Mama," Your brother, Quincy, said.

"Thanks, Mom," You nodded. The food began to be passed around, with everyone choosing which dishes they wanted and didn't want.

"I don't think we've ever had a guest that didn't participate in the prayer," Peyton commented. "Natasha, you were born in Russia, right?"

"Yeah, well, it's not exactly my thing," Natasha said. "I was born in Russia."

"It's not mine either," you said, hoping to diffuse the tension. "I think we all have ways of being thankful, and it's not anyone else's place to judge."

Peyton gave a slight shrug. "I was just curious. No harm meant."

"I get it," Natasha replied.

"You're welcome here, whether or not you believe in God," Vivian assured. "We're all a little different. It's what makes us interesting."

Natasha flashed Vivian a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Mama Viv. I appreciate that."

As everyone dug into their plates, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Silverware scraping against plates filled the air, with only snippets of conversation breaking through the hum of family conversation. Your mom, ever the host, ensured no one went without refills, while your siblings kept things lively with playful banter. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Natasha enjoying the food. Some of the menu options were things she hadn't tasted before. It was endearing and a little heartwarming to see her want things.

"So, Natasha," Brandon leaned forward. "I gotta ask—who is the coolest person you've met?"

"Um..." Natasha's expression shifted into something thoughtful. "Well, I've met many interesting people in my life. I wouldn't say anyone was cooler than the other. Maybe the president?"

Brandon frowned. "I was hoping for someone a little more exciting."

"That is exciting," Quincy said.

"What?" Brandon protested.

"She's Black Widow, and you're asking her about who she's met," Quincy replied. "I want to know her stats. I mean, she's a spy. You must do some pretty cool stunts. What's your training regimen like?"

"Oh, come on," You lowered your fork. "Can we just not talk about work right now?"

"It's okay," Natasha smiled, patting your hand.

"I can answer a few questions," She said.

"Oh yeah," Brandon smirked. "How many push-ups can you do?"

"A lot," Natasha shrugged.

"Do you do chin-ups?" Quincy asked.

"Yes," Natasha said.

"I'd like to challenge you to a push-up contest," Quincy wiped his mouth. "You seem tough, but I bet I could take you."

"I could do the same," Brandon said. "We could all have a contest."

"I'm not going to do a push-up contest," Peyton shook her head. "It's Thanksgiving."

"Fine," Quincy shrugged. "Brandon and I can do it."

"I don't think you guys understand what you're challenging her to," You said. You knew firsthand how athletic Natasha was. Her stamina was out of this world both on and off the field.

"She's an Avenger," You said.

"So," Brandon shrugged.

"She's a trained assassin," You explained.

"I'm sure we could hold our own," Quincy countered.

"No, you can't," You shook your head.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Brandon put his hands up. "It sounds like you don't want us to take your girlfriend. Afraid she might fall in love with one of us?"

"I'm right here," Tori pinched Brandon. "Behave."

"Sorry, babe," Brandon muttered.

"No, I'm not worried," You rolled your eyes.

Natasha smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement as she leaned forward slightly. "Yeah, I think you guys should sit this one out," she said, her voice laced with humor but just enough seriousness to get her point across. "No offense, but I’ve been around some pretty intimidating people. I’m not exactly shaking in my boots here."

Quincy feigned a wounded expression. "Ouch. So, we’re not intimidating enough for you?"

"Not in the slightest," Natasha quipped, her smirk widening.

Brandon chuckled, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, fair enough. Guess we’ll stick to arm-wrestling each other and leave the assassin stuff to the pros."

Tori gave Brandon a side-eye but couldn’t help smiling. "Maybe you should worry about behaving before trying to impress Natasha."

You shook your head, unable to keep from laughing. "See? Even Tori knows you two would be hopeless."

Natasha reassured your thigh under the table, leaning in close enough that only you could hear. "I like your family," she murmured softly and sincerely.

You smiled at her, warmth blooming in your chest.

"We like you too," Vivian nodded. “It may be time for these boys to get put in their place.”

"I would like to see it," Peyton muttered.

"After dinner, then," Natasha smiled. "I have one condition if I win."

"What's that?" Quincy asked.

"You guys teach me how to play spades," Natasha suggested.

"Deal," Quincy nodded.

"And if you win, we can take some photos together," Brandon said.

"Fair enough," Natasha said.

"This will be interesting," Vivian commented.

"I know, right," Tori chuckled.

It was settled. Natasha would be challenging your brothers to a push-up contest. She was used to men challenging her to do things. It was in their nature almost.

After the meal, you helped clean up while your siblings gathered in the living room. They were ready for Natasha to kick their asses, and you could barely contain your excitement.

"Willow, you're about to watch your Daddy get beat," You whispered to the toddler.

"Don't count on it," Brandon said. "She won't be so confident when we're finished."

"We'll see," You said, setting the child on the couch.

Ross volunteered to be the referee, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Alright, everyone ready?" he asked, standing over the contestants with exaggerated authority.

Brandon and Quincy dropped to the floor with exaggerated confidence, flexing their arms dramatically to show off. Natasha joined them, calm and focused, her form perfect even before they started.

"Okay," Ross said, his voice booming for no reason. "On my count—one, two, three, go!"

The room filled with exaggerated grunts as your brothers enthusiastically attacked their push-ups, counting out each one loudly. "One, two, three—"

Natasha, meanwhile, moved effortlessly, her breathing even and controlled. You noticed she wasn’t counting out loud, focusing entirely on her form. By the fifteenth push-up, Brandon’s face turned red, and Quincy was already starting to slow down.

“That’s it?” Natasha teased, casually switching to one-handed push-ups without missing a beat.

The room erupted into gasps and laughter. Ross's jaw dropped. "Wait, wait, what?!"

"One hand?" Quincy groaned, struggling to keep his pace. "She’s showing off now."

"Is she even human?" Brandon muttered between labored breaths.

You couldn’t help but laugh, leaning against the back of the couch. “Don’t worry, Willow,” you told the toddler watching from her perch. “Your daddy’s about to learn a hard lesson.”

Despite their efforts, Natasha’s movements remained smooth and effortless. Not once did her arms so much as tremble. When Brandon and Quincy finally collapsed in a heap, Natasha was still going strong, with a slight smirk as she pushed through another set.

“Thirty-five… thirty-six…” Ross counted, shaking his head in disbelief.

When she finally stopped, Natasha rose gracefully and brushed herself off as if the entire thing had been a warm-up. "Good effort, boys," she said with a smirk, extending her hand to help Brandon.

"You didn’t even break a sweat!" Quincy protested, sprawled on the floor.

"Maybe next time," Natasha quipped, her tone light but undeniably victorious.

Brandon groaned dramatically, glancing at Willow, who was giggling. "Willow, Daddy did his best," he muttered, defeated.

“She’s my new favorite,” Ross declared, earning laughter from everyone in the room.

You walked over to Natasha, shaking your head with an affectionate smile. “Show-off,” you teased.

She leaned in close enough that only you could hear. “You love it.”

She wasn’t wrong.

**********

Later that night, everyone is tucked into their rooms as you help your mom with the dishes. Natasha had taken an early shower to decompress from such a busy day. She wasn't used to big family affairs like this and needed a moment alone. This gave you time to talk with your mom.

As she washed the dishes, you dried them.

"So, what do you think?" You asked as you placed another place in the cabinet. "Do you like her?"

"She's lovely," Vivian nodded. "You seem happy."

"I am," You confirmed.

"Good," Vivian continued washing the dishes.

"She seems to be fitting in well," You said.

"She is," Vivian said. "She's a sweet girl."

"She is," You agreed.

"Are you sleeping with her?"

"Whoa, Mom," You sputtered. She gave you a knowing look, and you sighed. "Why are you asking?"

"I'm your mother," Vivian said. "It's a valid question. Is she a good partner?"

"Yes, she is," You said.

"She doesn't treat you right; I will come and cut her," Vivian threatened.

"She does treat me right," You insisted.

"Then there shouldn't be a problem with my question," Vivian said.

"She does," You repeated.

"Well, I'm glad," Vivian said.

You nodded, continuing the routine of putting the dishes away.

"So, what's next for you two?"

"Next?" You asked, unsure of what she meant.

"Where do you see the relationship going?" Vivian asked.

"Um," You hadn't thought about it much. "I don't know. We're taking it slow. Just enjoying each other's company."

"But do you think it will be a long-term relationship?" Vivian asked.

"I hope so," You said. "I like her and hope the feeling is mutual."

"Well, if you like her and she likes you, I'm sure it will work out," Vivian said. There was a moment of silence. "I see the way she looks at you. The same way your daddy looked at me."

"You think so?"

"I know so," Vivian smiled. "He always had that twinkle in his eye when he talked about me."

You smiled, finishing the last of the dishes.

"I'm happy for you, baby," Vivian said. "You deserve someone who makes you feel special. Someone who puts a smile on your face."

"I'm glad you approve," You nodded. "She's a good person. I know people have their reservations about her past and..."

"People have their reasons for being judgmental," Vivian said. "You know as well as I do that a lot of the time, people are just scared and misguided."

"Yeah," You nodded.

"Besides, your daddy taught me something important."

"What's that?"

"It doesn't matter where a person came from, just who they are," Vivian answered.

"He taught me the same," You replied.

"I know," Vivian kissed your forehead.

You hugged her, feeling a wave of emotions wash over you.

"Mom," You began.

"Yeah, baby?"

"I miss him," You said.

"So do I," Vivian pulled away. "But, we have to carry on without him."

"You know, Peyton told me how things are going at the laundromat," You began. "If my tuition is too much."

"Baby, you're not giving up school because of me," Vivian said. "The laundromat is fine. We just had a bad few months, is all."

"I'm sure we can figure out a way to increase revenue," You suggested.

"Maybe, but not now," Vivian said. "It'll work itself out. I have a little savings if it comes down to it."

"Well, maybe I can talk to the admissions office," You said. "See about a payment plan or loans."

"We'll figure it out," Vivian reassured. "Don't you worry about it?"

"I'm not worried," You insisted.

"You're a horrible liar," Vivian chuckled. "Now, go check on your girlfriend. It's getting late."

You smiled. "Thanks, mom."

"Anytime," Vivian winked.

******

When you returned to your room, Natasha was out of the shower and curled under the covers. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was deep and even, suggesting she was already asleep.

You smiled, careful not to wake her, as you changed into a pair of pajamas and brushed your teeth. As you crawled into bed beside her, she stirred slightly, cracking one eye open.

"Sorry," you whispered, draping an arm across her waist. "Go back to sleep."

"Everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's fine," you reassured, resting your head on her shoulder.

"Okay," She closed her eyes.

You pressed a kiss to her jaw, snuggling closer. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," She replied. "Thanks for bringing me here."

"Of course," You whispered.

You lay in the darkness for a while, listening to her breathing and enjoying the warmth of her body. Gradually, your eyelids grew heavy, and you drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the safety of her arms.

[crystallinestars]

NSFW Alphabet - Diluc

Here you go @scarlettpebbles! I hope this meets your expectations. I ended up writing Diluc kinkier than intended, but I swear he's very gentle and romantic in bed 🥺 I just got a little carried away in some parts, please forgive me.

Diluc x fem!Reader

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Diluc is very diligent with aftercare. He always checks if you’re alright before fetching wet towels for both of you and will carry you to the bathtub if you’re too tired to walk. He likes to clean both of you up after sex because he’d rather not stay smelling of sweat and musk throughout the night, especially if he has unfinished business to take care of afterward.

After lovemaking, Diluc prefers to spend some time cuddling and basking in the afterglow, kissing your hands or face, running his fingers through your hair, or giving you a small massage on the areas of your body you say are sore. He’s very gentle towards you during these moments because he wants you to feel cared for and loved (though sex with him is already very passionate and loving).

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

On himself, Diluc likes his arms. They’re surprisingly muscular under that black coat, and the strength they’re capable of allows him to protect or to pick up and carry you, which he enjoys.

As for your body, he finds there’s something incredibly alluring about your neck. Diluc loves to kiss your neck. It can be simple, chaste little pecks of affection or wet, open-mouthed kisses in the heat of the moment. His mouth is simply drawn towards your neck. Diluc also loves the sight of your nape and feels the urge to nuzzle into and kiss it whenever it’s exposed. When he gets lost in the pleasure of making love to you, Diluc sometimes gently bites your nape in a primal, possessive sort of way. It’s not painful but can leave a little mark if he’s not careful.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

He cums an average amount. It’s thick, has no smell, and is a healthy white color.

Diluc prefers to come inside you for the added intimacy since he feels closer to you that way. It’s a perfect ending to the otherwise already great moment.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Diluc will never tell you this, but before you had become a couple, you once took a stroll with him around Dawn Winery, when it suddenly started raining. Both of you were soaking wet by the time you made it back to the manor, and the way your wet clothes clung to your figure caught his attention.

Diluc got an eyeful of your bra and cleavage showing through the see-through material of your soaked blouse, and that image seared itself into his brain. Though he quickly averted his gaze and covered you with his coat (“To prevent you from getting cold,” he said, and while true, it was also in part to preserve your modesty), the image never left his mind. It got to him more than he wanted to admit but didn’t show it. If you looked very closely, you would have noticed his reddened cheeks, but otherwise, he remained a cordial gentleman.

Afterward, whenever he masturbated to relieve stress, that memory of you in see-through, wet clothing would float up to the forefront of his mind, arousing him even more. He’s ashamed to admit he masturbated to such fantasies of you, but it would be a lie to say he didn’t enjoy it.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Diluc has no experience. As a young knight, he believed in saving himself for marriage, and after his father’s passing, he was simply too busy to find a partner. Moreover, he has a reputation to uphold as a Ragnvindr nobleman, so Diluc takes care to not tarnish it by sleeping around. As such, he has very little experience with sex, but he is knowledgeable about how to please a partner.

He’s naturally a thorough person, so his approach to sex is thorough, as well. He’s a quick learner and pays careful attention to your directions, so he will hone his bedroom skills fairly quickly. Everything from eating you out, to the type of foreplay you like, to how deep or fast you like it—Diluc will find out everything and take that information to heart. That said, he would love it if you directly told him what you liked and disliked so he could better cater to your needs.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Diluc is fond of positions where he can see your face and easily share kisses or hold your hand. His top favorite is missionary because it allows both those things, plus he enjoys feeling you cling to him during the act.

He also enjoys spooning and feeling your body pressed flush against him while leisurely thrusting inside you.

Diluc is also fond of hiking your legs up on his shoulders or pushing your knees to your chest for a deeper penetration and tighter squeeze around his cock.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Diluc takes sex seriously, so you won’t find him acting silly or cracking jokes. However, if you’re more on the goofy side, then he’ll play along with you and even engage in a tickle fight if he’s in the mood. Overall, he’s serious yet romantic during the act.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Diluc keeps himself well-groomed down there, so he occasionally trims his pubic hair to keep it tidy. If you ask, he’s willing to clean-shave, but otherwise will keep a patch down there. His pubic hair is a few shades darker than the hair on his head.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Diluc is a romantic by nature, so he falls into the category of men who view sex as more than just stress relief and a fun time. To him, it’s an act of making love where he can deepen his relationship with you on all levels. His motto is to woo you before even thinking of engaging in sex. He will wine and dine you, give you a massage, cuddle, take you on a date etc… basically, do all he can to create a relaxing and romantic atmosphere to deepen your connection.

Diluc’s goal is to make you feel loved and appreciated as his lover. He knows he’s not always the best boyfriend at making time for you due to his busy schedule, so he goes all out in trying to relay his romantic feelings and appreciation for you through sex. Sex is not just a physical connection to Diluc, but also an emotional one, and he works hard to maintain that bond.

He’s very gentle and sweet with you. You will be pampered and have your every whim catered to (provided it’s not something harmful). Diluc also whispers a lot of “I love yous” and praises about how beautiful you are. He’s very passionate and romantic during sex.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Diluc doesn’t masturbate often. He is very busy with his day and night jobs, so he doesn’t have a lot of free time. When he does have time to unwind, he prefers to do something more productive than getting himself off. However, there are days when he can’t ignore his sexual urges, so he succumbs to the desire and masturbates. When he does, it’s generally in the bath/shower where he has privacy and can easily clean up the mess from his orgasm. He’s good at staying quiet, but he doesn’t want to risk being caught doing something so improper by his servants.

When masturbating, he used to think about scenes in erotic books he once read or of scenarios he found hot, but after entering a romantic relationship with you, his thoughts gravitated toward you instead. He would remember the sounds of your moans and heated praises, your facial expressions during orgasm, how you tasted on his tongue, and how your mouth felt on his flesh. His memories of you are always effective at getting him to climax, though they come with the side effect of him wanting to experience these moments with you again, making him lust for you.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Diluc is mostly vanilla and is unlikely to try any hardcore BDSM kinks or something risky, but he does have a few kinks he likes. For example, he enjoys worshipping your body by giving you massages, kisses, and compliments. He also has a thin for seeing you in stockings. Whether thigh-highs or sheer tights, he loves them all if they’re on your legs. There’s something so appealing about fucking you with your legs on his shoulders and seeing them clad in stockings. If he gets frisky, Diluc is not above ripping your tights at the crotch to have better access to your pussy but will stop if you chastise him for it.

Diluc likes seeing you in fancy lingerie, the kind that has lace and frills. He thinks you look beautiful and sexy in it. Due to his affinity for your neck, he also enjoys seeing you wear chokers (not collars though). Additionally, Diluc likes to mark your skin in love bites in areas usually hidden by clothes, such as your chest, tummy, and thighs.

Aside from those kinks, Diluc is also intrigued by food and temperature play due to his love for sensuality. With food play, he likes the idea of decorating your body with fruits or drizzling chocolate or whipped cream on it and licking it off. For temperature play, he enjoys blindfolding you and keeps it vanilla and goes for safe options like ice cubes, sex toys, and his mouth and hands (his body temperature is higher than average due to his vision). If you’re interested, he’ll also play around with textures such as running a feather or paintbrush along your erogenous zones or touching your bare skin with gloved hands.

He can also be convinced to try light bondage by tying you up with silk scarves or rope (specially treated to avoid rope burns), and he’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover he enjoys having you at his mercy. He prefers to be in control of such play since he’s more on the dominant side, but he’s open to having you do all of the above to him as well and will find it refreshing to change up the dynamic and be showered in your attention.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

The only places Diluc feels comfortable having sex are your shared bedroom, bathroom, and his office. He values privacy (even more so for an intimate matter like intercourse) but because his manor employs a lot of servants, the only real privacy the two of you have is in your bedroom and bathroom. If Diluc is not expecting visitors or if it’s late at night, he will also fuck you on his office desk, though only once he’s certain the door is locked. His greatest preference is the bedroom, though, because it’s private and has the comfort of your large and extravagant bed.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

There are a number of things you can do to turn Diluc on, whether intentional or not. Dressing up in frilly lingerie, making a few tasteful innuendos, and pampering him with a sensual massage or a romantic bath can all get him in the mood.

Other things that get him going is seeing your curves. Whether display your ass by bending over to innocently pick up a thing you dropped, thereby reminding him of the spicy night before, or hug him from behind and press your boobs against his back—both things work to ignite his imagination and libido. Diluc refrains from acting on his urges because he’s a gentleman, but if you tease him like this enough throughout the day, he will seduce you into bed by nightfall.

Whether you turn him on intentionally or not, you’re the only one who has the power to stoke his lust. As his partner, you have the privilege of making Diluc yearn for you in a way nobody else can.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Diluc refuses to hurt you. The most he’s willing to do is give you light spanks, but otherwise don’t expect him to be rough towards you. He is also against degrading or humiliating you as that is a turn-off for him. He only wants to treat you with love and tenderness, so such demeaning play is not his thing.

Master and servant play is also not his thing, mainly because he has real servants under his employ, so the appeal is lost on him. Plus, he would feel like he’s taking advantage of an employee, which doesn’t sit right with him. He’s also against sharing you with anyone or engaging in exhibitionism.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Diluc is naturally a giving lover, so he prefers giving oral over receiving, though he greatly enjoys both. He loves to hold your hips down while burying his face between your thighs, lapping away at your folds, and attentively listening to every sound of pleasure you make in response. He uses auditory cues to determine what you like best, like which flick of the tongue causes you to buck against his face or which pressure makes you moan the loudest when sucking your clit.

In terms of receiving oral, Diluc will rarely say no, though if given the choice, he would much rather sheathe his cock in your pussy. Don’t get him wrong—he loves the oral you give. He finds it incredibly hot to see you on your knees with his dick in your mouth, and he comes quicker than he cares to admit when he feels the eager way in which you suck him off. There’s just something special about joining his body with yours and pleasing you that he can’t get enough of. Forgive him, he simply loves being intimate and making you feel good.

When you give him blowjobs, Diluc tends to gather hair out of your face so it doesn’t get in your way, or tenderly pets your head while praising your oral skills. Things such as “You’re taking me so well, good girl” or “Your mouth feels incredible around me. Can you take it a bit deeper?” or even “You look so beautiful like this” are a staple when you give him oral.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Diluc usually maintains a slow and steady pace, keeping your comfort in mind. He rarely engages in rough sex because he doesn’t want to accidentally hurt you, plus it detracts from the romance and intimacy of the experience, so he doesn’t enjoy it as much. He likes to take his time to experiment with different angles and depths, finding all the sweet spots that make you writhe in pleasure, and then zero in on them with firm and precise thrusts.

That said, if you get him worked up enough, Diluc will be less gentle and more selfish with his thrusts. His hips will snap to yours at a quicker and slightly rougher pace while pulling you into each thrust by your hips. These kinds of sessions will leave you a little sore afterward, and as an apology, Diluc will pamper you during aftercare, give you a massage, and carry you wherever you need until you feel stable enough to walk on your own.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Diluc is not a fan of quickies. As mentioned previously, he likes to take his time with sex, setting the mood and engaging in plenty of foreplay before diving into the good stuff.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Diluc is cautious regarding kinks, so he won’t suggest or do anything outlandish. He does enjoy experimenting in bed and will suggest things like food or temperature play, light bondage, and new positions you two haven’t tried yet. As long as it’s not something from the No section, he’s willing to discuss any new kink you want to introduce into your sex lives and will make preparations to realize it if it’s something you really want to try.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Diluc’s stamina is higher than average despite being a nobleman. He trained a lot back when he was a knight of Favonius and kept up his training when he began his nighttime vigilante activities, so he’s fit.

In bed, he can last for quite a while. If he really pushed himself to the limit, he could last for 5 rounds (with breaks), but on average, he goes anywhere from 1-3, depending on how much time he has and what you’re in the mood for. The amount of rounds you guys go for usually depends on you.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Diluc doesn’t own any toys and is unlikely to bring any into the bedroom himself. At most, he can bring silk scarves and rope, but things like spanking paddles, ball gags, and handcuffs get a no from him. If you want to try using toys on yourself or him, then he is open to experimenting, though he still prefers to have foreplay and sex without them.

He has no issues with you using dildos or vibrators to get off when he’s unavailable, but he will be upset if you use toys instead of going to him when the opportunity is there. It will make him think he’s not pleasing you enough if you’re resorting to sex toys instead of coming to him.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

As a rule, Diluc is often sweet and tender with you, wanting nothing more than to see you happy. That, combined with his straightforward nature, results in him rarely teasing you in the bedroom. If he’s feeling playful, he might verbally tease you by saying you’re very eager for him or that you look cute in your fucked-out state, but that’s about the extent of it.

He rarely edges or overstimulates you because he enjoys pleasing you too much to be mean, but he can if you’ve been a brat to him. As much as he caters to all your needs, he is no doormat. If you act like a brat, he will be firm and tame you.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Diluc has good control of his voice and can keep it down even when engaging in passionate sex with you. Nevertheless, he does vocalize his pleasure even if he tries to muffle it. Diluc tends to bury his face into the crook of your neck and let out low grunts and quiet moans beside your ear, loud enough for you to hear.

He is also generous with praises and compliments. He says sweet things to you, such as how beautiful you are, how much you mean to him, how good you feel around him, etc… his praises are great for boosting your confidence in the bedroom.

Diluc loves the sound of your moans, but he is wary of being too loud and disturbing the servants. If you moan too loudly, he will muffle your voice by kissing you.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Unless you take the initiative to be sexually intimate, Diluc will wait until marriage to have sex, most likely your honeymoon. Regardless of the circumstance, your first time with Diluc will be slow and tender. He’ll discuss everything with you beforehand and get your full permission before initiating anything. If you change your mind at any point during the session and want to stop, Diluc will stop everything and check if you’re alright. Your comfort and enjoyment during your first time are his top priority, so he doesn’t want to force you into anything you don’t want to do.

If you don’t want to go all the way yet, Diluc is content to explore each other’s bodies whether through oral sex or heavy petting. If you don’t want to have sex, that’s also fine. Diluc will be happy to cuddle with you. It ultimately depends on what you’re comfortable doing because Diluc will match you, no matter what you decide to do.

If you do go through with sex, Diluc will take everything nice and slow, giving both you and him ample time to explore and get used to new sensations. He’ll kiss you lots and give lots of reassurance that you’re doing wonderful, you’re beautiful, and it’s ok to stop at any time. Even though he spends the entire time catering to your needs, Diluc will be very happy that you want to take your intimacy to this level. Exploring these new sides of each other and bringing one another pleasure deepens your bond further, or so he thinks.

As a side note, I also think Diluc fantasizes about starting a family with you. Whether you want children or not is optional, but he hopes to make you his wife and live out the rest of his days with you by his side. Ever since his father passed away and Kaeya left the manor, he was left with the phantom of a family in the face of his oldest servants. However, he doesn’t feel as lonely with you, and it makes him recall what having a family felt like.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

12.5cm (4.9 inches) in length and 11cm (4.3 inches) in girth. His cock has several prominent veins running along the shaft (he loves it when you lick them), and a dark red tip.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Diluc’s sex drive is average, but due to how busy he is, he doesn’t have as much time to indulge in lovemaking as he’d like. Generally, he aims for 1-2 times per week, but if one of you is too busy or tired to have sex, he has no problem waiting until you’re both in the mood.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Since he has a lot of stamina and is generally a night owl, Diluc doesn’t fall asleep quickly after lovemaking. He helps clean up and then stays awake and cuddles with you until you fall asleep. If he has nothing else to take care of that night, he’ll keep one arm around you and follow you into dreamland. However, if he has a lot of paperwork or a planned excursion to patrol Mondstadt city, then he will reluctantly leave your side and quietly go about his business. He always makes sure to return to you by dawn so you would wake up beside him.

[the-offside-rule]

Trent Alexander - Arnold (Liverpool) - Interrupted

Day 20 of Christmas

Prompt: joint Christmas

25 Days Of Christmas

This was a mistake. All of this was a mistake. You see, back in November, Y/n and Trent made the decision to bring their families together for Christmas, so they didn't have to slend it apart again. They were determined to make this day special, despite the usual chaos that family gatherings entailed. On Christmas Eve, they spent the entire day shopping for food, ensuring they had enough to go around. They were tight for time, and Trent being stopped for photos every few minutes was nlt helping. He was a whirlwind of activity, dashing from shop to shop, while Y/n tried to keep up, chuckling at his determination. "We need to make this perfect." He insisted, grinning as he stacked boxes of decorations. "My mum will have a fit if she thinks we haven’t cleaned the house properly."

"Don’t worry, we’ll get it done." Y/n reassured him, grabbing some bread and chucking it into the trolley. "I don't know how you can be so calm. Your parents are coming over too, you know." Y/n nodded. "Believe me, I know. They've been keeping me updated on their whereabouts."

When they returned home, the couple dove into cleaning the house, ensuring everything was perfect. "Why dpes it feel like we’re hosting a royal banquet?" Y/n laughed as she hoovered the carpets. Trent smirked, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "Because we basically are! I mean, who else can say they’re hosting two families at once?"

Just as they were finishing up, the doorbell rang, much earlier than expected. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, and Y/n hurried to open the door. "Great! Just what we needed." Trent muttered, giving her a playful nudge as they rushed to the door. He opened it to reveal his mum, beaming brightly, followed closely by Y/n's parents. "Surprise!" Trent’s mum exclaimed, stepping inside with a basket of baked goods. "I brought some celebrtions, and quality streets and-"

"Thanks, Mum!" Trent replied, his face warming with embarrassment as he took in the state of their home. Y/n looked behind them to see her parents carrying a suitcase. Oh boy, this was a bad idea. As the families poured in, the house quickly filled with chaos. It was much louder than they liked, usually not shouting or speaking over one another, but what did they expect when they invited both families?

"Oh, I can help with the cleaning." Trent's mother offered, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. Y/n chuckled, watching Trent’s face turn crimson. “Uh, no, really! We’ve got it covered—” But before she could finish her sentence, Y/N’s mum chimed in. "Oh, I’ll help too! You two have been working all day, no doubt." Y/n's mum said taking the hoover from her. "Perfect." Trent said, trying to hide his mortification as the two mothers started organizing the kitchen.

The house soon transformed into a hub of activity. The kitchen was crowded with women chopping vegetables and preparing dishes, while children dashed around excitedly, their laughter ringing through the air. In the games room, the men gathered around the pool table, discussing strategy as they prepared for a few friendly games. As Y/n stirred a pot on the stove, Trent's mum leaned in, a nostalgic smile on her face. "Did I ever tell you about the time Trent used to want to lick the spoon after we baked Christmas biscuits?"

Y/n raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "No, you haven’t. Tell me more!" Y/n chuckled. "Every single time we baked, he’d try to sneak a lick! Such a cheeky boy." She laughed, shaking her head. Just then, the kitchen door swung open, and Trent stepped in, sporting a new scarlet jumper. With a mischievous grin, he grabbed the empty spoon from the bowl and scooped any excess icing left. "This is the best part." He declared, popping the spoon into his mouth. "Nothing goes to waste in this house." He said, smirking at Y/n and his mother. Y/n chuckled, shaking her head at him. "You never change, do you?"

Later that evening, after dinner had settled and the laughter of family echoed throughout the house, Y/n finally had a moment to breathe. She excused herself and headed to their en-suite bathroom for a long-awaited shower. As the warm water cascaded over her, she felt the tension of the day melt away. Just as she was settling into relaxation, Trent stepped in, a playful glint in his eyes. "Mind if I join?"

"Not at all." She replied, smiling as she turned to face him. "I’ll wash your hair for you. Just relax." He said, gently taking the shampoo from her hand. As he massaged her scalp, she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation. "Thank you." She whispered, leaning back against him. It felt so nice to finally be alone after the whirlwind of the day. "Anything for you." He murmured back, and their lips met softly, the kiss quickly growing deeper and more passionate. The moment grew more intimate, steam filling the bathroom as their kisses deepened, hearts racing. Trent's hands roamed her body as he nipped and kissed the skin of her neck, quirt moans leaving Y/n's mouth.

Just as they were lost in each other, a knock echoed through the door, breaking the spell. "Trent, where do you keep your towels? I need to shower!" His mum called out, making Trent pull her closer in case she decided to come in. Y/n couldn’t help but burst out laughing, while Trent groaned, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Of all the times. He muttered, shaking his head. "I forgot we’re not quite alone yet." Y/n giggled, trying to stifle her laughter. Trent opened the door slightly. "They’re in the cupboard next to the sink! Just, uh… give me a minute and I'll get you one!"

As his mum left, Y/n leaned against him, both of them chuckling at the sudden intrusion. "Well, that was unexpected." She said, looking up at him with playful eyes. Trent smirked, pulling her in for another quick kiss. "This is why we can’t have nice things!" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I swear, that was the least romantic interruption ever."

"Welcome to family Christmas." Trent groaned, as he pulled away reluctantly to go help his mum. "I guess we’re done for now?" She teased, trying to contain her giggles. "For now." He sighed, clearly reluctant to part from their moment. "Well, there's always next time." Y/n chuckled as she turned the water off. "Yeah, next time I’ll lock the door." He smirked as he hopped out and flinging a towel around him to go help his mother.

[writingtraumaforever]

Home Alone: Courtship Mini-Sequel

Notes: Just a crack oneshot I wrote out of pure boredom while waiting for the Sonadow Twitter Takeover to start. This is purely silly energy. Rated T for language and slight suggestiveness.

Summary: Sonic is left at the Wachowski house alone, and Shadow returns from a GUN mission early. Embarrassment ensues.

Read Courtship Here!

Link to my AO3!

Start:

Sonic has been talking about for weeks how he’s gonna finally get to have the house to himself a couple days. Maddie is taking Tails to an inventor’s convention a state away, and Tom is taking Knuckles to a wrestling match that Knuckles has been talking about for months. Sonic was invited to both but declared he’d rather dogsit Ozzy a couple days and just chill. 

“And no boyfriends allowed while we’re gone,” Tom had warned with narrowed eyes just before climbing into his truck.

“Can’t invite over what you don’t have~,” Sonic had cooed back teasingly, still in full denial that he and Shadow were exclusive even though quite literally everyone else pretty much had accepted it by now.

While they never made it official, ever since Shadow had had dinner with the Wachowski’s several months back, Shadow was a regular part of Sonic’s life. It was rare the two didn’t see one another at least once or twice a week. Only time there was an exception to this was when Shadow was away on a GUN operation— which he currently is. He’s pretty much their biggest asset these days.

“You know what I mean,” Tom warns through his rolled down window, eyeing his middle son with a stern look but a teasing smile as well.

“Yeah, yeah, I won’t have anyone over,” Sonic concedes with a little shrug, rubbing the dog’s head beside him. They’re standing in the front yard, seeing the remaining two members of his family off for their trip.

“Counting on you, Sonic,” Tom winks, “You’re the man of the house the next few days.”

“Only because I will not be there,” Knuckles can’t help but antagonize from the front passenger seat.

“Not my first time,” Sonic assures with a shrug.

“Yeah— and last time we left you alone, we came home to half our house demolished.”

“Hey! That was his fault! Not mine,” the blue blur defends, pointing accusingly at Knuckles peeking out from behind Tom.

“I was being misguided and used!” Knuckles argues immediately with a little furrow of his brow, “I can’t believe you would bring back such a clouded time of my past!”

“Whatever, dude, it was still your fault,” Sonic rolls his eyes to which Knuckles growls.

“Anyway! We’ll be back in three days,” Tom interrupts before the two’s bickering gets carried away, “Be safe and responsible,” he instructs, already slowly backing out of the driveway.

“When am I not??” Sonic grins, watching the truck back up into the street.

“We love you, kiddo! See you soon!” Tom calls, Knuckles waving begrudgingly behind him.

Sonic grins and waves back, “Love y’all too! You crazy kids have fun!”

And then they’re gone.

Sonic looks down at his favorite doggo, Ozzie looking back up at him.

“Let’s do this.”

And just like before, Sonic takes full advantage of his time alone. Bubble party in the living room, all the snacks he can eat, pizza and chilidogs galore, jumping on beds, grinding down the stair rails, the whole shebang.

Nothing he can’t undo in a few minutes with his speed.

He even goes into Knuckles’ shed and plays with some of his forbidden weights the echidna always declares he’s not allowed to touch. Just for shits and giggles.

Once the night befalls them, though, Sonic and Ozzie lounge on the couch covered in snacks and empty wrappers. He has a gaming headset on, trash talking some punk on Call of Duty named ‘Robots4Life623’.

Ozzie is snoozing beside him, obviously tuckered from their antics of the day. 

Ending the match to the competitor yelling angrily like a lunatic, Sonic snickers and turns off the game. Stretching his arms above his head, he then pats his dogs head and places a little kiss on his ear, “You’re the goodest boy that ever gooded, Oz.”

The dog just lifts his head to lick Sonic’s face before laying it back down.

Sonic chuckles and hops up from the couch. It’s not too late as of yet. About 8:45. He’s not tired, but he’s running out of ideas on what to do.

So.. walking over to the speaker system, he hooks up his phone and decides on a jam sesh. Turning on his ‘Gotta Go Fast’ playlist, the hero starts hopping and dancing around the room to his fast paced favorite songs to hype himself up. He does this for probably a good five songs: Don’t Stop Me Now, Speed Me Up, Stars In The Sky, Uptown Funk, and Barracuda. Once those are over, he finds himself very much re-amped for his next three days alone.

His gaze temporarily moves to his phone, picking it up off the speaker to make sure he hasn’t missed any calls or texts. There’s a new picture in the Wachowski Family Group Chat of Tails and their mother taking a selfie in front of the stage they’d be listening to some old guy Sonic forgot the name of speak at tomorrow. Sonic smiles and sends back a simple thumbs up.

Flipping over to his photos after saving the one just sent, he browses through them a moment. One of Knuckles drooling in his sleep during a nap on the couch. One of Ozzie with a vest on that made him look like a proper gentleman. One of a selfie of Tails and Sonic and Knuckles all at the top of separate trees in the forest at the end of one of their races. One of Tom and Maddie covered in cake batter after a baking incident.

And then there’s one of Sonic and Shadow..

Sonic taking the selfie with Shadow behind him, Sonic’s arm around Shadow’s shoulders and pulling him close with a wide grin and a peace sign at the camera, Shadow looking at Sonic with his arms crossed and a small hint of a smile.

Sonic sighs, staring at the picture a little too long before he locks his phone again and sets it back on the speaker. As This Is How We Do It starts playing, Sonic’s gaze falls on the black leather jacket hanging by the door. He wears it often when it gets a little chillier.. Or when he’s simply missing Shadow.

Now is one of those instances.

Moving to the jacket, he swipes it off the coat hanger and slides it onto his own arms.

Popping the collar up, he buries his nose into the leather and breathes in deep.. The distant scent of lavender still there. Subtle but not absent.

He smiles a little to himself and moves back into the living room, about to skip to the next song when he spots his mom’s iPod sitting on the shelf behind it.

His curiosity gets the better of him, eyeing it only for a moment before deciding to see what taste his mom prefers. Plugging the iPod up, he presses play on the playlist very eloquently titled ‘Slay’. 

The first song comes on, and it’s Water by Tyla. Sonic tries extra hard  to not think about what his mother might be thinking about while listening to this song, and instead just listens to the beat and starts moving. It’s not bad for a girly playlist. She has some nice tunes in here, and Sonic doesn’t discriminate music tastes based on what people deem mainstream or not. Music is music, and if it speaks to someone, so be it.

Though, he’d be lying if he didn’t say his mother’s playlist had him going from dancing with energetic bounces and headbangs and silly moves to smooth and suave dancing. Letting the music flow through him as he moves his hips and swayed his tail to the beat, a lot more fluid and possibly seductive. Oh well. It’s not like he’s dancing for anyone, so let him be a little raunchy! He’s nearly 18!

Little does he know, he soon will be dancing for someone, a certain ebony hedgehog pulling up on their motorcycle outside. 

His mission was long and boring, but Shadow is finally back in town. He’s honestly just thankful the op ran smoothly enough for it to finish early. He was going to go home and rest for the night, but his brain kept running to a certain blue hedgehog. And he figured he’d surprise him. The thought of the hero’s face lighting up like Christmas at his surprise appearance made him feel warm inside, and he frankly needed the positive turn after having to have zero contact while away.

Climbing off his bike, he sighs as he walks towards the front door of the Wachowski residence, running his hand back through his quills and fiddling with a small item in his pocket with the other hand. 

He took only two steps up to the front door before realization dawned on him.

The Wachowski vehicles were gone. He couldn’t see any lights on.

Was anyone home???

Frowning a bit, he tried to recall if Sonic had mentioned going away only to remember that he would be home alone. 

A slow smile forms on Shadow’s face, his quills resembling devil horns behind him.

He could hear the sound of muffled music coming from the side of the house, stepping back down the steps to walk around and peer through the window to see if he could spot the hedgehog.

Sure enough, there was Sonic. Wearing his jacket. Dancing very lewdly.

Shadow swallows hard and feels his body tense up a moment at the sight, unable to take his eyes away as he watches Sonic’s hips sway and his arms move fluidly around himself. Quite literally feeling himself. Shadow has never seen Sonic act such a way, though he supposes dancing is different  than acting. Still, it left his throat dry and his tail stiff for reasons he couldn’t quite name.

The song switches to a new one, Sonic grinning and jumping up and down excitedly since he seems to know this one. And much to Shadow’s surprise, Sonic doesn’t only dance to this one, but he sings. Swinging Shadow’s jacket off his shoulders, he places it on a nearby vacuum cleaner to make it stand on its own, placing a basketball on top of it to act as a head. 

“How can it be? You and me

Might be meant to be, can't unsee it

But I don't wanna 'cause no scene

I'm usually so unproblematic

So independent

Tell me why

'Cause the boy is mine, mine”

Sonic sings all playful and sweet, strutting over to the jacketed vacuum that Shadow can only assume is meant to be himself. And the way Sonic walks can only be described as seductive.

Swallowing again, Shadow leans a bit closer to the window, the glass fogging up due to his breath.

“Somethin' about him is made for somebody like me

Baby, come over, come over (over)

And God knows I'm tryin', but there's just no use in denying.”

Sonic slowly walks around the Shadow dummy, fingers trailing along the basketball only to grab onto the jacket collar when he’s back in front of it and tug it towards him,

“The boy is mine

I can't wait to try him

Le-let's get intertwined

The stars, they aligned

The boy is mine

Watch me take my time

I can't believe my mind

The boy is divine

Boy is mine”

Sonic turns around then, pressing his back to the jacket’s front and slowly sinking down while letting his hands rub down the leather. Shadow’s crimson eyes have never been wider, his heart pounding in his chest, and his stiff tail now slowly beginning to wage behind him without his consent. 

Swaying his hips, Sonic slowly comes back up with his tail rubbing against the front of the jacket, 

“Please know this ain't what I planned for

Probably wouldn't bet a dime or my life on

There's gotta be a reason why

My girls, they always come through in a sticky situation

Say, "It's fine"

Happens all the time–”

Sonic’s eyes open from their half-lidded daze and are locked directly with Shadow’s.

Immediately, the blue hedgehog lets out what can only be described as a mortified yelp, collapsing onto the ground with his hands over his head as if that’ll hide him from Shadow.

Shadow’s own lips part in a gasp at being caught staring like a creep, quickly backing away from the window with a “Shit!” and rushing around to the front again and straight to his bike.

He needs to go.

He needs to go now.

He only makes it to his bike, cranking it up before two large, gloved hands that don’t belong to him are landing firmly on the handlebars. 

Damn. Almost got away.

He looks up wide-eyed to find a glaring Sonic the Hedgehog standing in front of his bike, straddling the front wheel.

“Shadow! What the hell!?” “It-it’s not what it looks like,” Shadow tries, stuttering his defense only for Sonic to not be having it.

“Spying on someone through their window??? That’s way past not cool!” he looks quite perturbed, his cheeks glowing red with both humiliation and anger, Shadow is sure.

“I wasn’t spying, I was–” his ears fold back sheepishly as he mutters, “I was going to try and scare you. I forgot you were home alone, and came to visit because my mission ended early.” Sonic huffs at this, “That’s still no excuse to violate my privacy like that! You could’ve knocked instead of watching!”

“I know, I know, I–” Shadow blinks, his own shame slowly melting into something else. Something more smug. His lips slowly curl into a smirk as he looks back up at Sonic, “What exactly.. was I watching??”

Sonic’s eyes widen at that, tensing up and looking thrown off by the question only for his cheeks to go even more rosy, “Uhh..” “Because it looked to me like you were dirty dancing on my jacket..”

“...Wanna call a truce and never talk about it again?” “Truce,” Shadow nods, shaking Sonic’s hand in agreement. 

Sonic just offers a sheepish smile and sighs, speaking after a moment of silence and continuing to hold hands, “I’m glad you’re back safe, though..,” his eyes look down bashfully before looking back up to Shadow through heavy lashes, “I missed you..”

Shadow swallows hard again, feeling that familiar sense of tension swell in the pit of his stomach and pound at his chest, the soft thumping of his tail against the seat of his bike coming from behind him.

“You did?” “Of course, I did,” Sonic snickers, rubbing the back of his neck looking at their still interlocked hands, “I’d uh.. I’d invite you in, but Dad had a strict no visitors rule..” “Wanna go for a ride??” Shadow offers without giving it a single thought, eyes hopeful and locked on the blue hedgehog in front of him.

Sonic looks a bit surprised by this before he then gives a little grin, “Let me lock up.”

He dashes off to the house again to lock the doors and check on Ozzie before leaving, Shadow watching him with a little hummed chuckle.

That boy is his.

[theflagscene]

Let’s talk Jack and Joke’s perceived parental roles -

It’s laid out in plain words in episode ten so that there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever, Jack and Joke have taken Toi Ting in and have no plans on returning her to her deadbeat abusive bio-dad. I believe that it going to stay that way, so we’re going to keep to that assumption of her being adopted or fostered by them legally once everything is sorted.

Note: not looking for arguments about the legitimacy of blood relations verses found/chosen family. An adopted child is that person’s child, you do not need to have carried them in your body for them to be yours.

I adore that YinWar have been pushing back against the stereotypes around gay men and queer media in general about what roles a person takes in the relationship, they’ve mostly been focusing on the sexual aspect because that is the part that people tend to get the most hung up on.

Yet I find it wildly interesting how easily Jack and Joke fall into what would be considered the ‘heteronormative parental roles’ when it comes to Toi Ting. It’s not a bad thing! No, it’s actually quite nice to see. They’re not forcing any ‘husband/wife’ ideals into their relationship, they just naturally fall into the roles that are appropriate for them as a couple and a family unit.

Jack is very much in the ‘father’ role, remember, father does not instantly mean masculine or emotionally stunted. He is the protector, he is a trained martial artist and debt collector, he is physically intimidating. He is firm and chastising but also patient and forgiving, he is the one Toi Ting feels physically safe with the most, she runs to him for help, she learns her bravery and defiance from him. He absolutely will pat her back, smooth down her hair and allow himself be to dragged away by the hand to get ice cream. He is playing the role of not just a father figure, but a daddy. (stop giggling at that word, the internet has ruined us all 😝)

Meanwhile, Joke has one hundred percent filled the ‘mother’ role for Toi Ting. Again, not because he’s femme or whatever - side note, there’s nothing wrong with being femme! Joke is a natural carer, he wears his emotions on his sleeve because he never had anyone care about him before. He is gentle and a listener, both things that serve him well as a thief. When Toi Ting comes running to Jack for physical protection, it is Joke that offers emotional protection. He is the one that takes her into his arms and calms her down, he hugs her, reassures her and speaks with clam and loving words to bring her big scary emotions back down to a more manageable level. Joke can redirect her attention and is the one that sits and paints with her, Jack just ‘supervises’, aka is a big dope that’ll ruin the painting lol. But together Jack and Joke are able to offer Toi Ting what she needs, both a mother figure and a father figure, regardless of their genders.

Which leads me into the absolute heartbreak of a scene at the end of episode ten, where Jack and Joke find themselves in the one place no parent ever wants to find themselves. Stuck on the other side of those damnable white doors, unable to get to your child.

Joke has an emotional response, very much a mother’s response. Again, mothers tend to be the ‘emotional nurturers’ so them being more giving with their emotions is to be expected. And I would just like to point out how exceptional War plays that role, he is a mother waiting in terror to find out if his baby is dying or dead.

The blank horrified stare, the shaking hands and quivering movements, the fact that his legs fail him and he ends up curled up on the floor. Covering his mouth to keep the sobs in, yet unable to stop the silent flow of tears, barely even noticing when Hoy tries to comfort him. Joke doesn’t snap out of his shock until Jack shows up.

Jack on the other hand has a very ‘fatherly’ response, the pacing, the pinched expression, the heavy breathing and muttering before just exploding with anger, swearing loudly and looking for someone to blame. He can’t break down just yet, he’s too angry, too scared, he’s not the emotional support. He’s the protector, the provider and he hates himself for failing. Yin played that so well, how he kept moving to touch his head, putting his hands on his hips, fidgeting as he paced, forcing the camera to keep up with his near frantic movements.

Where Joke froze, Jack found movement.

Where Joke was quiet, Jack exclaimed loudly.

Where Joke allowed tears to flow, Jack held his pain tightly in.

Joke and Jack are Toi Ting’s mother and father, and that final hospital scene just proved it.

[natashaslesbian]

Far Apart, but Close In Heart |SJ|CJ

Summary: Your mom and dad have a new baby

Request: reader cosmo have a big age gap like 13/14 years and when scarlett found out she was pregnant she was nervous that the reader and cosmo wouldn’t get along

Word Count: 933

Warnings/Content: Discussion of pregnancy

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Scarlett’s leg bounced uncontrollably as she sat on the closed toilet lid “has it been 3 minutes yet?” Colin asked from his perch on the floor. “No only 2” Scarlett said. The couple weren’t expecting this, you were 8 when Scarlett had Rose and a few years later she met Colin, it was just the four of you. They’d never even thought about adding another kid to the equation.

An iPhone timer alerted the pair that 3 minuets had finally passed. “Ok, let’s look” Colin sighed, his nerves taking over. “Should we count down?” Scarlett asked “hell no I just waited 3 minutes on the bathroom floor” Colin said, reaching for the stick atop the counter. The couple held hands as they both took hold of one side of the test each. They turned it over slowly, despite their desperation to know.

“Oh my god!” Colin exclaimed. “I’m pregnant?” Scarlett said, not quite believing it. “Yeah, yeah you are! We’re having a baby!” Colin beamed. The couple couldn’t hold back their excitement as they lightly bounced up and down together. “Do you think the girls will be okay with it?” Scarlett asked, mentioning you and Rose. “Are you kidding! Rose has been dying for a little brother or sister” Colin smiled. “But what about y/n?”

~

“Are you kidding me?” You exclaimed when your mom shared the news. Scarlett was immediately worried that you were disappointed “are- are you okay with this?” Colin asked you. “I’m gonna be a big sister again?” You said as you began to tear up. “Of course I’m okay with it!” You beamed as you carefully threw yourself into Scarlett’s arms. “You promise you’re alright with it? I know you’ll have a big age gap bu-“ your mom said, wiping away her own tears of joy. “I promise mom!” You said, cutting her off.

Colin joined the cuddle session as a confused Rose suddenly appeared. “What’s going on?” She politely asked “sorry sweetie did we wake you?” Colin said as he opened his arms for his daughter, the little blonde shook her head no. “Y/n are you sad?” Your sister asked when she saw your damp cheeks. “No Rosie I’m happy, they’re happy tears” you smiled as you look over to your mom, unsure if you were sharing the news with Rose just yet.

“Can you keep a secret?” Scarlett asked her youngest daughter upon seeing her confused glances. “Yes mommy I can!” Rose beamed, excited to finally found what was going on. “Well, you’re going to be a big sister!” Scarlett smiled “because mommy is having a baby” she said. Roses little eyes lit up at the news “you have a baby in your tummy!” The young girl asked. “I do! Does that make you happy?” Your mom asked your sister. “Yeah!” Rose yelled in joy “I’m gonna be a good big sister, just like y/n!” She smiled. “Oh I bet you will sweetheart” Colin said, pulling all three of his girls closer.

~

You carried Rose carefully through the hospital corridor, she was convinced she was old enough to walk by herself but you knew how clumsy she was. “Y/n put me down!” Your little sister whined. “Rosie the second your feet touch the ground you’ll start running and knowing you you’ll trip over someone’s life support” you grinned. “Hey!” Rose pouted. You followed the directions plastered on the hospital walls until you finally reached your desired destination. “Ok here we are” you said as you let Rose slide back down the floor and knocked on the door to alert your dad to your presence.

“Hey my girls” Colin smiled as he hugged you both “are you ready to meet your little brother?” He asked. “Me first!” Rose yelled, patting her excited feet on the floor. “Okay come on then” Colin said as he welcomed you both into the recovery room. “Hi mommy, where is my brother!” Rose said, making her priorities clear. “He’s right here, would you like to hold him?” Scarlett asked. “Yes please” rose said. Colin helped to carefully place baby Cosmo into his sisters arms while you came to see your mother.

“How are you feeling mama?” You asked as you cautiously gave her a hug, one she reciprocated with a tight squeeze. “I’m ok sweetie, just a little sore” Scarlett said. You looked over to see Rose gently rocking your new brother, you couldn’t help the tears that welled up in your eyes. “Oh hunny” Scarlett softly giggled when she noticed you were crying. “Sorry I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I wasn’t like this when Rose was born” you laughed as you wiped at your damp eyes. “Well you were younger then, I think you understand it all better now” Scarlett said. “Can I hold him?” You asked. “Go meet Cosmo baby” your mom said as she squeezed your hands softly in her own.

~

Scarlett knew immediately that you were going to be the best big sister, she’s seen it already when Rose was younger. But now you were older, your mom noticed the intense passion of protectiveness you had over Cosmo and it only grew as he got older. All the time she spent worried about your age gap was washed away when she would come home to find you reading a story to Cosmo or helping both of your siblings with their homework. Scarlett was already dreading the day you would move out for college, she knew how much her youngest kids would miss you, especially Cosmo. To him, you were the entire world and more.

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A/N: eeeeeee I want to be a big sister now

- Astara Bell

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