#this was due to tiredness and passing out in about two seconds

[clerc16]

sleepless nights

pairing: charles leclerc x fem!reader

summary: who knew the lack of sleep could bring two people together?

warnings: none, just a brief description of not being able to sleep due to “stress” but nothing too major.

Your eyes opened for the umpteenth time this night. You seriously had lost count.

Your chest heaved as you sighed and turned around, grabbing your phone again to check the time.

02:51, it read. Another sigh escaped your lips as you placed down your phone on your nightstand again. You have been tossing and turning in bed for the past few hours, your body simply just unable to rest. The only active feeling you felt at the moment was stress ─ not even tiredness or exhaustion. Just stress. And it made you want to rip your hair out.

Truth be told, you couldn’t exactly figure out what was making you feel like this. Too much has happened recently for you to be able to pinpoint one exact thing.

You let out a huff as you tossed around in bed once more, your restless body unable to stop moving.

After a few more minutes of the same thing over and over, you decided to get out of bed. You found yourself grabbing a coat, car keys, your phone and leaving your house. You weren’t even half aware of what you were doing; it just happened.

The cold breeze of the Monaco air hit your cheeks once you stepped outside, making you feel at peace, slightly. The tree leaves rustled quietly, like a kind gesture, in the gentle breeze.

You unlocked your car and entered, playing a random Spotify playlist of yours, driving off to nowhere. You hummed along with the song as some of the soft wind escaped your half-opened window, making your car slightly chilly. Not that you minded it, actually.

You decided to stop at a casual gas station, one that was open 24 hours ─ might as well get yourself some gum, or a snack, if you won’t be getting any proper sleep at that time. While you were parking your car, you noticed someone else walking into the station.

It made you laugh a little, and was somewhat comforting. At least someone else was not asleep and roaming the city right now, not just you.

You locked your car as you walked inside the station, the lady by the cashier shooting you a small smile. You smiled back as you walked through the aisles; it wasn’t roomy, but it had a variety of products.

You found your go-to gum packet, just one left ─ your luck was perfect.

“Sorry, could you pass me that?” A voice said from behind you. You turned around slightly, unsure if they were talking to you.

They were. He was.

“Pardon?” You say, unfocused.

“The gum packet, well, unless you want it.” He replies, chuckling a little.

You wanted to protest, but you opted against it. You could get another type, anyway. But before you could hand him the packet, he sensed your hesitation.

“Nevermind, you have it. I’ll get another,” he smiles as he reaches for another random packet behind you. He was dangerously close, and you even had to admit he was a little good-looking.

“It’s fine, I don’t really mind,” you say, but he brushes it off.

“No worries. You can have it.”

You smile sweetly for a few moments, quite unsure of what to do or say. As if he heard your thoughts, he talks again.

“I’m Charles,” he introduces himself, smiling again, his dimples very clear.

“I’m Y/N,” you respond, returning the smile. Not many more words were shared after that as you both paid and made your way back out, gum acquired.

“So... why are you awake this late?” He asks you.

“I could ask you the same thing,” you laugh as you open your pack of gum and pop one into your mouth.

“It’s a long story,” he sighs. You look up at him, and for a split-second, you want to tell him to go ahead. Talk about it, because, well... you couldn’t sleep, you had nowhere to be, so what was the point? Then again, he was a total stranger you just met.

You didn’t care though.

“Well, I have all night.” You say. He smiles a little at your response as you both subconsciously walked off, your cars being left behind in the parking lot.

“Well ... I don’t want to go into much detail so I don’t bore you. Itʼs just work stuff. I stay up very late at night, seeing my mistakes, working on them, then the engineers mess everything up,” he explains, sighing.

“I don’t really mind details. Also, that sucks, I’m sorry. It’s really discouraging ... I hate wasted potential,” you mutter as you placed a loose hair behind your ear to prevent it from going into your eyes.

“I really do hate it too. Really drains all your motivation. And no need to apologise, not your fault. It’s really stupid, actually.” He breathes. There is a moment of silence between you two before you talk again.

“I don’t think it’s stupid.” You say quietly.

He pauses and looks at you, his cheeks turning a slight shade of crimson as the corners of his mouth turned upwards into a small smile again.

“Thank you. It’s nice knowing someone else cares. At least a little.” He stated. “And, what about you? Why are you awake this late?” He questions.

“Well... I don’t know, actually. Been stressed out about a few things recently. Don’t know what exactly, though, but it sure is annoying.” You laugh.

He gestures at you to go on, continue speaking. He’s here to listen, he has all night too.

“I don’t really... know. The dreadful feeling of... dread, I guess. Takes over you. Doesn’t want to let go. It sucks.” You breathe.

“At times, it just... it feels like it is the strongest thing in the universe. The biggest, the most dangerous. Similar to the sun, actually.” You continue, your heart feeling slightly heavy after letting it out.

“At other times though, it will feel like the weakest. The smallest, the tiniest. Like it can never cause you harm. Like just a measly pair of shades can block it out. Which they might, just for a ridiculously small amount of time, until they no longer serve a purpose. And then, it begins to gain its strength yet once again. And you just... don’t have any control over anything,” you ramble. If this wasn’t a stranger you just met, you would have been bawling by now.

He doesn’t respond, and for a second, you think he’s already tired of you.

“But... sometimes, you just have to remember the sun isnʼt, and never will be, the biggest and strongest thing in the universe. And so, that is this feeling. It can haunt you for a while. And that is okay. But... reach out to others, you know? Don’t go through it alone.” He replies.

You properly turn your head around and look at him. His watercolour eyes were twinkling in the moonlight, his face flushed from the cold. Yet he had this genuine look on his face that made your heart warm up to him so much. You knew him for less than a few hours, but it feels like ages.

“Thank you. I never actually thought of it that way. So... thank you.” You mumble, looking back down at your feet as you walked.

The rest of the night was like this. You walked for a while to a random area where all the shops were closed, then turned back around and walked to the gas station again, talking about random nonsense. That random nonsense also included you finding out that he is a very famous F1 driver, which made you feel stupid ─ but it didn’t make you treat him any differently. Which he was really thankful about.

The sun had already began to rise as you both bid your goodbyes, back at the gas station.

“Thanks for this. It truly was quite calming,” he says, smiling gratefully at you.

“It really was. Thank you, too,” you say, returning the smile.

He wanted to ask for your number, but he chickened out last minute; not really his proudest moment. As you both began to drive off, you just hoped you could both somehow get in touch again.

To each other, you were both a breath of fresh air.

[littlemissmentallyunstable]

title: waiting for love

pairing: grayson hawthorne x reader

synopsis: grayson has been away on a business trip and you’re staying up late to wait for him to come home

warnings: fluff

a/n: thank you for reading it means a lot 🤍

tag list: there is no tag list but let me know if you want to be on it :)

Her eyes drooped down, but she fought of sleep with a highly caffeinated sword. She’d actually lost count of how many mugs of coffee she had consumed in the last few hours. But she did know that they didn’t seem to be working but she refused to let her eyes slip completely shut.

“Still up?” a voice says, jolting her up from her half-sleep.

Y/N looks up to see the eldest Hawthorne brother leaning in the doorway, cowboy hat tilted forwards slightly. She nodded slowly, too lazy to reply with her voice, inhaling another swig of hot coffee.

“You know, you don’t have to,” Nash says, walking over and sitting in the armchair opposite her.

“I know but I’m too committed now,” she shrugs, “if I fall asleep all this coffee would’ve gone to waste.”

She jerks her head towards the several mugs sat on the little table beside her, indicting her caffeine intake.

“Grayson would probably want you to go to sleep,” he urges.

“Exactly and then he wouldn’t wake me up and I want to see him,” she explains.

“Okay, okay,” Nash says, giving up slightly, “but if it gets to 4AM you have to sleep. Okay?”

“Yes dad,” she teases.

“Hey!” he exclaims in mock offence putting a sarcastic hand over his heart.

She pokes her tongue out at him sleepily. He chuckles slightly and then returns her actions.

“I’m gonna get some sleep of my own tonight, Lib is waiting for me, are you gonna be okay on your own?” He asks.

“I’ll be fine, besides I won’t be alone when Grayson gets back,” she replies.

“Okay, goodnight Y/N,” he nods.

“Night Nash,” she murmurs.

Grayson had been off in a business trip in Paris. He’d been expected to arrive back earlier but his flight had been delayed. After twelve long days without him Y/N wanted to see him as soon as he walked through the door. She’d missed him so much and admitted to no one, not even herself really, how hard it had ben without him. The nights felt colder, the days felt longer and her heart felt heavier. It wasn’t even like she’d gotten to talk to him that much over the phone, due to the time difference it proved difficult to find a good time to call. A couple of time Grayson woke in the middle of the night just to get a conversation in, but Y/N knew he needed his sleep if he were to function in all of the business meetings he was included in, so it didn’t last long.

To pass the time she began to think about a beautiful time when the two of them were on a beach in some foreign country. She couldn’t remember which one as she’d been lucky enough to go so several. She remembers laying on his chest and gazing up into his eyes, the sounds of the waves keeping them company, having conversations of sweet nothings and just enjoying each others company.

Reeling her from that memory, Y/N hears the door handle and gets a wave of shock and panic rush over her. She stands up suddenly as the door swings open. And there he is. Grayson Hawthorne. Nothing else mattered in that moment other than him. She looked at him for a few seconds, noticing the tiredness in his eyes and the aches in his limbs. He looked the same and yet so so different. Their eyes connected and it was like the first time all over again. Deja vu washes over them both.

“Grayson!” Y/N exclaims, using what was left of her energy to run towards him and wrap her arms around him.

She practically falls into his body, finally feeling at home after twelve long and hard days of being so lost. She inhales his scent, brining her a sense of comfort and familiarity.

“Sweetheart,” he murmurs into her hair, arms tightly wrapped around her torso, bringing her further into his chest, “you didn’t have to stay awake for me.”

“I wanted to,” she whispers, “and this is making it so worth it.”

Y/N melts deeper into his arms and clings to him as if she intends never to let go. She wishes time could stands still for a few more moments and this moment could be frozen. She is suddenly hit with a crashing wave of intense emotion that makes her eyes tear up. He’s here, he’s home, he’s with her.

Grayson suddenly pulls away and look at her tear stained face, “Why are you crying my love?”

“You’re home,” she chokes out, “and I’m really happy.”

Something tugs at the left side of Grayson’s chest, “sweetheart…”

“I’m fine,” she sniffs, “really.”

He takes his thumb and gently brushes away the tears, staring into her eyes.

“I’d almost forgotten how gorgeous you were,” he says, kissing her forehead.

“Even when I’ve got zero sleep and I’m crying,” Y/N challenges.

“Of course,” he replies as if the answer is obvious.

He tucks the loose strands of hair out of her eyes and cups her face in his gentle palms. He plants a slow, sweet, delicate kiss on her lips.

“You taste like coffee,” he smiles as she pulls away.

“Sorry,” she laughs sheepishly, a tinge of red in her cheeks

“I like coffee,” he reassures her.

Suddenly a tinge of red becomes a lot more prominent before she says “I think you’d be positively concerned for my well-being if you knew how much I’ve drunken tonight,”

“I’m always positively concerned for you wellbeing, love,” he murmurs.

“Oh Gray,” she says, her voice contorted with sadness and a sort of depression mixed with a dash of love and desire.

“What?” he asks gently taking her hands into his.

“I’ve missed you…” she tells him, “I’ve missed this.”

“I’ve missed you so much more, every day without you was like hell,” Grayson replies.

She chuckles softly

“I’m serious,” he presses, “it’s like nothing else matters when you’re not around. Like night and day just merge into one mess of time and sounds don’t sound right. Things that are supposed to be beautiful are just underwhelming and feeling happy just feels like an illusion of being happy because you’re not there to share it with me.”

“Grayson…” she trails off, in shock that he too felt lost without her by his side.

“Don’t ever forget that,” he tells her seriously, “that when you’re not around I go crazy.”

“I like crazy,” Y/N says, mirroring his words a few moments prior.

He smiles and then quickly takes a box out of his jacket pocket and hands it to her.

“I got this for you,” he whispers.

Y/N analyses the box skeptically. Her boyfriend was the type of person to remember the thing you said you liked the look of once and then go out and find it. Her mind races over endless possibilities of what it might be but she decides to put herself out of the misery and open the box. She gasps and stares at him, wide eyed.

How had he remembered?

Inside the box, sat on top of a layer of velvet was a breathtaking crystal butterfly.

“Do you remember when we were in Sicily together and you were talking about that book you were reading, ‘même les papillons tuent’,” he asks.

“I loved that book,” she recalls.

“I know and I saw this crystal butterfly in Paris and it reminded me of how you’d mentioned it so got one for you,” he explains

“Gray this is so beautiful,” she exclaims awestruck, gently running her fingertips across the crystal too scared to maybe breathe too harshly towards it.

“Do you like it? Because I know it isn’t the exact-“

“I love it, I love it so much,” she cuts him off, pulling him into a tight hug, so he could feel her gratitude, “I can’t believe you remembered.”

“Of course I did, my love,” he replies, kissing the top of her nose.

“But it must’ve been so expensive,” Y/N tells him, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt in her stomach.

“I don’t care how much it was, you deserve to be spoilt,” Grayson shrugs.

Heat rises in her cheek once again and she looks up at him shyly, “thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She gazes at the butterfly for a few moments longer, not wanting to tear her eyes from something so perfect and unique. Grayson watches her, in love with the way she is in love with the gift he’s brought back for her, in love with that twinkle in her bright eyes, in love with the smile dancing on her perfectly kissable lips. When their eyes meet again Y/N yawns a little and tries to mask the fact that she’s tired, but fails. Grayson smiles and sits down, pulling her into his lap. She curls up comfortably in his arms and slowly traces invisible drawing of various shapes on his torso. They began to discuss all of the things they’d missed about each other, venting about random encounters they’d had without the other and laughing over stupid things his brothers had done. She didn’t know how long they talked for or what they really talked about, she didn’t even remember falling asleep in his arms. But exhaustion overtook her system at some point and she drifted off.

***

Grayson awoke to the sun streaming through the curtains. He looks down to see her sleeping on his chest. She was perfection, his little ray of sunshine. He takes this moment to analyse her face. The way her eyelashes curled a little, naturally at the ends or the freckles dotted across her face he’s counted a thousand times or the just simply the way she looked so gorgeous. When he had been gone he’d envisage her features, they were fully memorised and etched into his brain but her being here in real life was so different. So much more beautiful than his mind credited her for.

He slowly takes a few strands of her hair into his hands and begins to play with it. Twisting and turning it, feeling the softness in contract with his corse fingers. He attempts a small plait, which half worked until it all fell out.

A smile danced on his lips as he used his finger tips to draw circles on her back. She makes a small sound, telling him she’d awoken from her much needed rest. She looks up at him, doe-eyed and still sleepy.

“Good morning sleeping beauty,” he smiles, tucking a chunk of her beautifully messed up hair behind her ear.

“Good morning Gray,” she replies with tired eyes and dopey smile.

“You’re so gorgeous,” he whispered, tapping the tip of her nose tentatively with a finger.

Y/N giggles softly, blushing slightly. Grayson’s smile widens admiring how sweet she looks with the pink colour now added to her cheeks. He leans in to kiss her but she turns away, so he only gets her cheeks.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth,” she complains, pushing his face away.

“Neither have I,” he shrugs.

“Still it’s gross,” she shakes her head.

“Right now I don’t care,” he whispers.”

“Woah woah woah,” she says, sitting up properly in shock, “Grayson Hawthorne not caring about hygiene… are you okay sweetheart?”

“I want to kiss you,” he replies bluntly, simply, honestly.

“Then kiss me,” she whispers, also now not caring about her unbrushed teeth.

He kisses her slowly

“God I missed this,” she whispers.

“Me too,” he murmurs.

“Tell me everything about your trip…” she says, laying her head on his bare chest and gazing up and him, her eyes wide with anticipation, love and happiness.

a/n: can’t get enough of grayson (yeah, me neither)… find more on my TIG masterlist

[clementinecleo]

Know how

young Ford + Reader

Summary..

You and Ford are working on a research paper, and you comfort him about his 'weirdness'

non genderd reader

💫

You and Ford first met in college due to having the same morning lecture. He was nervous and slightly confused when you decided to start a conversation with him about Constellations, and soon It was small things here and there. A walk n talk, or just a quick wave around campus. Eventually, you guys became acquaintances. Getting coffee and reading together, he was always nose deep in his books.

And one day during class, your professor announced a project for your midterm. Telling you all to form into groups of however many people, and you turned your head to look at Ford, who was sitting next to you. He was chewing on his pen before he noticed you staring at him.

You looked at his eyes, smiling gently as you spoke up. “Partners?” with a tilt of your head. He nodded. The rest of the class consisted of the professor explaining what to do and how to, and then let everyone go.

As you packed up and got ready to go back to your dorm to absolutely pass out, Ford cleared his throat. You shook the tiredness out of your head and glanced at him. “should we go to yours? For the project, I mean.” You interrupted him with a chuckle and replied. “Yeah, sure dude. Follow me” you gestured, walking down the steps with him trailing behind you like a stray dog.

As you both walked, you spoke up. "Hey, do you have any other friends? Not in a mean way- just I only ever see you walking alone."

Ford rubbed the back of his neck and replied solemnly. "Well my only close friend is fiddleford. He's my roommate. But he's in a lot of different programs so we don't see eachother much on campus other than in our shared dorm"

You grin, "Fiddleford? I remember him! He was the one who fell asleep in the fountain after a party right?"

Ford chuckled and nodded "I had to carry him back to our dorm. Woke up the next day not remembering anything from the night before."

You both walked in comfortable silence through the winding hallways. footsteps echoed and voices boomed as people passed by. At one point going down an elevator a girl giggled at Ford and murmured something crude about him. Immediately Ford shrunk back, shoving his hands in his pockets. You gave the girl a disgusted look before trying to walk up to her and ask why she was being a bitch but you felt a hesitant tug of your sleeve.

Ford had an unreadable look on his face as he shoved his hands into his pockets. muttering a small “it's fine, really. Don't worry about her.” you gave him a ‘are you sure?’ and he just nodded, then looked away.

The second week of you two casually hanging out, Ford asked looked up from his notebook and looked at you. "Why did you approach me, y/n?" he asked, curious about your reasoning.

And you awnserd truthfully. "Well, I actually thought you were really smart for someone going to..this college. And it fascinated me. What nade you want to come here? Whats your backstory.-" but halfway through talking you can see a very confused and surprised look on his face. And before you could even ask, he opened his mouth. “and..not for my fingers?”

He lifted both his hands towards you. wiggling them, really trying to prove that you supposedly faking it. This was his way if trying to freak you out and drive you away. But it back fired horribly.

You looked at him bewilderd, and as he held his hand up you counted. 1..2..3..4..5..6!

You gave him an excited smile and basically shouted at him. “Oh my god! I didn't even notice- that's so cool man!” after asking your 7th question about his hands you realized you had just made him extremely uncomfortable. And you apologized profusely. he didn't talk to you for a couple days after that. So you never dared to mention them again. Even going as far as to not look at his hands at all.

You guys got to your dorm and as you opened your door he was hit with the scent of your favorite candle and the cool air conditioning. His body relaxed, before he gently closed the door and sat on a nearby chair. Looking out of place while pulling out his note book in your very..interestingly decorated dorm.

“So, we should get started on the research first and make sure every source is as factual as possible-” He took his nose out of his book to look over at you to see if you were listening to him but your eyes were trained on his fingers.

"can I see your hand?" you ask with a blank face.

Oh.

He sighed. Why would he ever think he'd make a friend as popular as you? He went straight to overthinking. Imagining you laughing at him or running out the door to go gossip with your multitude of friends across campus. He gave up. Might aswell show you, he's never better for anything else but his weirdness.

You grabbed his hands so gently he barely noticed you even touched them. You handled them with such care as if you breathed the wrong way he'd shatter. Your hands were smooth and warm.

A shiver crawled down his back as you ran your index finger up and down each and every six of his fingers. Circling around every knuckle and especially his thumbs. Lifting his hand up so you could see his palm. Tracing the lines and indents across it- and it reminded him of when his mother would give him palm readings. and suddenly, he wasn't so afraid of you anymore. It all washed away.

You were absolutely and utterly mesmerized. You'd never seen such beautiful hands.

“Stanford, your hands are divine.”

You muttered out.

His heart jumped up into his throat and his face turned as pink as bubblegum, stammering and watching you fiddle with his middle finger..or well one of them. He watches in amazement, his heart beating through his chest. Butterflies galore, how could one ever handle holding hands with someone? Gosh he was overthinking- you're hands are so reassuring. This is too new, you're so gentle and any time your finger runs up his hand he tries not to let out an embarrassing gasp.

"Ford?" You speak up. "You still there?"

"Yes! of course. Why do you ask?" His hands are so sweaty now and suddenly he can smell his bo and gets self conscious on the one empty pizza box he left out.

"Everything about you is so intriguing and weird..but in a good way. Your hands- your fingers. They're amazing." you say in awe.

Fords cheeks go a deep red and he starts coughing, nodding along. And he froze when you said his fingers were amazing. "You really think so?" he says, locking eyes with you.

"Of course. I've never seen something so..stunning. You're such a oddball, Stanford Pines." you chuckled.

the rest of the night was filled with you and Ford having a deep conversation about things, almost forgetting you had a paper to work on.

You both smiled at eachother fondly and the night went on.

💫

[oneshots-heaven]

“Sleeping Mates" — Timothée Chalamet

What are you supposed to do when your best friend answers to your ’Can't sleep' text with a cheeky ’Come sleep with me' but you refuse due to your feelings for him?

WARNING True heartfelt fluff with some spice and angst Timothée Chalamet x Reader

You were tossing and turning in your bed, the sheets already stripped down to your hips as the city lights flooded your room. Your body felt on fire, and while your limbs felt tired and begged your mind to find some rest, it didn’t. You were wide awake, grasping your pillowcase, quietly groaning into it. 

It had been the third night this week you struggled to fall asleep, and by now you knew you couldn’t blame it on the weather, neither on the city lights. It had thundered on the first night you couldn’t sleep and spent the entire next day blaming it on the weather. The second night, it had been chilly and rained all day, perfect temperature to have a good sleep, but instead you had stayed up almost the entire night. 

You knew it must be another reason for you to be so restless lately, but you couldn’t explain to yourself what it was. There was nothing wrong in your life right now, literally not a single thing you had to worry about. While of course, there were the usual ups and downs life had to offer, you were doing good. 

Turning back onto your back, you sighed as your hands searched for your phone, laying somewhere close by in your bed. Blinking against the bright screen, you checked the time. 

2:38 AM. 

Your tired arms gave in, laying the phone back down as you stared at the ceiling. The street lights brought the tiniest bit of light into the darkness of your room. There was only that, darkness filled with tiredness and admittedly, a bit of loneliness, as you felt like the only person awake around your block. 

Grabbing your phone again, you checked the time once again. Not even a minute had passed, and it would only become more painful if you kept staring at it. Your finger hovered over the touchscreen, having no clue what to do. No solution came to your mind, everything only seemed to make it worse. 

Unconsciously, you opened the messages, seeing the last chat with your best friend. You had sent him a video of his sister and you mocking his last fit, to which he had answered with some angry emojis. It still made you smile as you knew how eager he had become with his fashion looks, he liked making a statement and trying new things.

You stared at the chat, swiping upwards, reading some of your older texts. Timothée and you had been best friends for years now after having met more or less by pure coincidence. It was the easiest friendship you’ve ever had in your entire life, and somehow neither of you had ever questioned it, what you truly were, what you were supposed to be. It was just easy, he could focus on his movie career and you on your degree. Sometimes you didn’t hear from each other for weeks or even months, and yet you still always knew you had a friend for life. It felt like a lifeline. 

One that you felt the need for now. 

To: Timothée

Can’t sleep

This was stupid, he probably wouldn’t answer anyway. Knowing him, he was knocked out since 11 PM, peacefully sleeping in his bed two streets down the block. 

Just as you wanted to put your phone away again, it buzzed in your hand. You blinked in surprise, yet frowned as you checked it. 

From: Timothée 

come sleep with me

You slightly sat up in bed, your eyes still fixed on his response, your hand clutched hard around your phone, as if you could lose it any second. Your chest suddenly felt like a panicked void, completely caught off-guard. You blinked and read the text again. For a second you weren’t sure if this wasn’t just a fever dream, however it was very much real, it was right there. 

And yet it still felt surreal, although there was no reason to be surprised like that. Timothée and you were as close as the text hinted, saying stuff like that wasn’t a rarity. From the day you’d met, there had been this unspoken closeness between you two, a space where you could be whatever you wanted to be. It felt so natural that you had never questioned it, not until now. While you had had sleepovers at each other’s places and shared hotel rooms multiple times in the past, it just never was as intimate as inviting someone to purposely sleep besides you. 

This had to be a joke. 

All of the sudden, after whatever much time had passed, your phone buzzed again. 

From: Timothée

are you there or asleep already?

You pressed your lips together, your fingers itching to type an answer. 

To: Timothée

No, I’m here. Still can’t fall asleep.

Seconds later, your phone buzzed once more. 

From: Timothée 

open your door then

Disbelief kept you right where you were, hesitating. He wasn’t at your door, that was ridiculous. Why would he come over in the middle of the night? You tried to fight it, but the what if in your head was much louder. You let go of your phone, pushing the blanket aside before you stumbled through the dark hallways of your apartment. You must look like an absolute mess, but with the force you unlocked your door and pulled it open, it was clear you didn’t care at all. All your heart desired was to see if he was actually there. 

Clothed in a hoodie despite the nightly freezing temperatures outside, Timothée stood in front of your apartment door, his eyes flying up to meet yours. His face softened as he caught sight of you. “Hey,“ he mumbled, still sounding groggy from his previous sleep. 

Overwhelmed by the fact that he was actually here, you glanced at him wordlessly for a brief moment, before replying a soft ’Hey’. 

“Can I come in?“ 

You nodded, unable to form any words with your numbed tongue. It felt like your brain had stopped working, a complete malfunction of basic behavior. You remained standing in the doorway before ever so slowly stepping aside for Timothée to step in. You hadn’t expected this, you hadn’t expected to see him at this hour. 

Timothée walked further in your apartment as you closed the door behind him, starring at his back, right until he turned back around to you. “You okay?“ he questioned, making you feel caught. 

“Yes,“ you breathed. 

Pushing his hands in the pockets of his loose fitted sweatpants, he said, “Just can’t sleep, hm?“ 

Pressing your lips together, you leaned against the kitchen counter, nodding. You felt so out of place. What was this? Why did this feel not like usual, not like any other situation in your friendship and instead so different?

“Have had trouble sleeping for some days now. I don’t know why, I just can’t seem to find any rest.“ 

“Want me to make some tea? Talk you tired?“ he offered. “No offense, but you do look pretty exhausted.“ 

You chuckled quietly. “Well, I am pretty exhausted. But you don’t have to do all that. I just need to finally fall asleep.“ 

“Let’s go to bed, then.“ 

There were a million questions in your head, putting in question all sort of things. Go to bed, together? What will happen then? Will you sleep next to me? But first and foremost, why are you here now? While all of this was highly confusing to you, you didn’t stop yourself from following him to your bedroom. Your bed was the proof of your restless nights. The covers laid crumbled aside, pillows were laying everywhere, but were they fit right. Nothing about your bed looked comfy right now, but rather like a chaotic, stressful mess.

Timothée, without another word, made the space his own, grabbing one of the bigger pillows and fluffed it out before doing the same to the other. Stripping his sweater and throwing it on the ground, he stood on the other side of the bed, looking at you. He was still clothed in his low hanging sweatpants and a t-shirt, yet your cheeks flushed at the sight of him. 

It was the ease with how he did things. Without hesitation, without fear, because that was what your friendship had always been about—safety without any doubt. His smile offered the same comfort that you’d always known, and although the confusion didn’t leave you, you felt a little more relaxed to get into bed, just as he did too. 

This was just like any other sleepover, this didn’t mean anything more than any other time before, or at least that was what you told yourself. Timothée laid next to you, hauling under the same blanket as you, feeling so close yet far away in your queen sized bed.

The city lights brought enough light into your bedroom to see the contours of his face as you took a glimpse at him. Your fingertips tickled in desperate desire to touch his face, to draw your finger along his strong jaw over to his soft lips, but you denied yourself to give into that desire. Your hands stayed where they should be, laying to close to your body on either side. You laid in your own bed like a corpse, paralyzed to move or make yourself more comfortable, because you felt so fearful to get too close to him, and he seemed to notice. 

“Relax,“ he whispered into the dark. 

“I am relaxed,“ you assured him, lying through your gritted teeth. 

He snorted quietly, suddenly you felt his hand shaking your shoulder lightly. “No, don’t lie,“ he said, his voice sounding like a true beg. “You’re tensed as hell, no wonder why you can’t sleep like that. You need to let your body loose, like you’re sleeping in a hammock.“

“In a hammock, you say?“ you laughed. “I don’t think—“ 

“Yes, don’t think. Don’t overthink anything right now, that’s too much brain activity.“ 

At this point, you felt like he was mumbling bullshit, you could hear it in his voice. Before you texted him, he must’ve been asleep or close to sleeping already, he sounded groggy, yet ever so concentrated on making you feel just as sleepy. 

“I cannot not think. That feels impossible.“ you argued, which was the truth, especially now with him next to you in bed at this late hour. It was in the middle of the night, he should’ve been fast asleep and instead he had been suddenly standing in front of your door. You couldn’t concentrate on sleeping when your body was so hyperaware of his. 

“Why?“

The worst possible question because you had no answer to that, or rather you feared the answer to that. 

“I don’t know, I just can’t.“ 

His fingers brushed back and forth over your arm, creasing it, as he said, “Everything’s ok, Y/N. You’re fine, you can rest.“ 

You gulped, tensing more up if that was even possible. Why would he say such thing? Your mind spun around, and by now you were sure that you were losing yourself in absently overthinking about the meaning of your friendship. Timothée was the greatest friend you’d ever had, there was no argument in that, and you would do anything for this boy, and still you wondered. 

He pushed himself up on his elbows as he noticed how you still couldn’t relax and rather laid rigged up beside him. “Come here,“ he said, ever so quietly, as he opened up his arms for you to move closer. 

For a brief moment, you simply starred at him and the small space between the two of you. In the briefness of it all, Timothée looked like he may regretted his words, yet held his arms wide open. The confusion yelled loudly in your head, trying to draw further attention to itself but you had ignored it, already having pushed yourself over the mattress into his welcoming arms. They came around you, holding you against him. 

His fingers continued to brush over your shoulder down your arm as you snuggled deeper into his arms, face on his chest, and closed your eyes. This felt like peace, and that was all you had longed for in a very, very long time. Yet the question didn’t leave your mind, perhaps bothering you until you would free it from your soul. 

“Why did you come here, Timmy?“ 

The movement of his fingers stopped abruptly, his breathing becoming rigged, as you had definitely caught him slightly off-guard with that question. His chest moved up as he breathed in deeply, your head moving with it. What a dangerous, little question. 

“You texted me in the middle of the night, and I just—“ he mumbled, you could feel his lips brushing your head that was laying in the crook of his shoulder. You hung on every word he said, desperately waiting for him to finish his sentence and as he did, you swore you felt like you’d just died. “I just thought you needed me.“

You breathed out, feeling his hand brushing gently over your head. The darkness was your savior, it did not let Timothée read your thoughts out loud as they were written all over it. As confusing as this was, it warmed your heart that he had made his way blocks over in the middle of the night, just because he thought you needed him. 

And you did. 

All you were lacking for the past few nights was the sense of comfort that perhaps only he could bring back with ease. A gesture like this, God knows a smile from him even, was enough to give you peace, and that realization was scary. When did you put all your source of true comfort into one person? Especially one that was so close, yet never yours? Why did you do that? 

“I did,“ you whispered. “I had hoped you’d answer.“ 

His arms around your body tightened, pulling you even closer to him, if that was even possible. “I’m glad you texted me.“ 

“Why?“ 

You felt his head falling back deeper into the pillow he was laying on. “I was glad to be or even feel like the person you’d call in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep.“ 

Take your entire hand and crush my heart in it, it’s yours, that is all it ever was. 

Your thoughts spun with every continuing breath as the airy silence crawled over you two, and in that moment, everything halted in time, or at least that was how it felt like to you. A painfully long moment filled with even more questions, more confusion and longing. For days, your body had craved to finally find some rest and just as you possibly could get it, you wanted to do anything but to fall asleep. Although this may didn’t mean as much as your heart interpreted in his words, you wanted this to last forever.

“Timmy?“ 

He hummed in response, his fingertips running gently up your back, caressing it until you leaned onto your elbow to properly look at him. He loosened his embrace around you, yet refused to fully let you go. His gaze went up, meeting yours, you could barely make it out in the almost pitch-black darkness. 

“I wouldn’t want anyone else to be that person but you.“ 

“Really?“ 

Disbelief resounded in his voice. What a fool he was for not believing you. If he only knew what he did to you—for years. How much you cared, how much you wanted him to care. How much you needed this, and how much you wanted him to need you as well. It tore you apart that he couldn’t see that, and it felt like torture even thinking further about this. Why hadn’t you never act on this? Why had you always denied yourself the truth, especially when it was right in front of your eyes? 

Why even, why still? 

Timothée’s hand rushed forward, catching the strand of hair that was about to fall into your face, slowly brushing it behind your ear as you went against all fears and doubts and leaned forward, connecting your lips together without further hesitation. You felt his body stiffen, his mouth not moving a bit, not even responding. Just as reality came crushing down onto you and you hasted to move away from him, his hand pulled your face closer again as his lips crushed harder onto yours. You gasped into the kiss by the sudden surprise, leaning more on him. 

Blood rushed in your head, making you feel dizzy in his embrace. Your heart stumbled over its own beat as he pulled you even closer, those soft lips brushed over your bottom lip, luring a moan out of your mouth as his tongue slipped in, brushing against yours. 

Was this even real? 

His hands traveled carefully, almost a bit fearful down your waist to your hips while you melted into his touch, longing for it even more now than ever before. You’d always been close, but not once had you crossed this line, it always had felt taboo. You had believed Timothée could never like you in this way, more than just a friend, but the way how he moaned into your mouth as you gently bit his bottom lip proved you otherwise. He may desired you, too, at least a bit. 

Your hands found the collar of his shirt that you grabbed and pulled him on top of you, desperate to feel his weight on you. He chuckled against your mouth, “Stop it, I’m going to crush you.“ 

“Don’t be silly, Tim,“ you breathed, before he placed one hand on each side of your head and leaned down to kiss you once more. 

“I really don’t wanna crush you,“ he whispered in-between each kiss he planted on your lips, “because that would be a terrible way of ever losing you.“ 

Suddenly, the lightness got a little swept away by the serious undertone of his voice. Had he ever feared to lose you? 

“You’ll never lose me if you only keep kissing me like that.“ 

His mouth twitched to a smile that made him look so gentle and wholesome, yet his dark eyes told a different story. They had changed into a deeper hue, longing gazing, eyeing every inch of you in the dark night. Leaning down on his elbow, he used his other hand to brush with his finger along the lines of your jaw, his gaze following the movement, until he reached your lips. As he brushed over your lips, you opened your mouth, letting it dip in, and wrapped your lips around it to suck it. 

His breath hitched in the very moment of it, as he let out an airy laugh. “Don’t do that,“ 

You frowned, insecurity overwhelming you within seconds. “Why not? Sorry—you didn’t like that, did you?“ 

“No,“ he said, “I wanted for you to finally sleep, but if you keep doing stuff like that, I will most definitely try to keep you from sleeping.“ 

Shivers crept up on you, tingling all over your body, as your brain immediately shifted to imagine the reality of his words, and all you were left with was the desperate need to make it happen. Suddenly, every part of your body uncovered its aching for closeness that you had denied yourselves for too long. All those forbidden glances at each other, all those feelings that you couldn’t ignore, all the built up through the years of friendship finally found its purpose, and you would be damned if you let that chance slip. 

Your hand carefully reached forward, brushing aside the brown curls that fell into his face, caressing his cheek, “For once, I don’t wanna sleep.“ 

“Good,“ he breathed, and your lips met in the perfect middle of it all. Your hands grabbed after his face, pulling him closer down to you—him still on his elbows in his ridiculous fear to crush you, as he seemingly forgot that he was rather a lightweight, but you adored his wariness. He’s always been like that, taking care of you, looking out for you, wherever you went. Your mind had been attracted to him, before your body did. 

His lips began to wander to your cheek slowly down your neck, which you recked unconsciously to offer him even more space, marking every inch with a kiss. Just as your hands wandered, too, trailering down his sides to the hem of his shirt. You’d seen him shirtless before, many times, this, however, would be different. You’d pull off his shirt with intention, and he let you. Breaking away from your neck, leaving you whimper for a second, he kneeled in-between your spread legs. You followed his suit, hands still on the hem of his shirt, as he held up his arms, letting you pull it off in one swift movement. Your chest tightened at the sight of him shirtless. There was something that kick off serotonin in your head as soon as you saw him like this. 

“Don’t look at me like that.“ 

You met his eyes. “Like what?“ 

“As if I’ve got anything good to offer you. I don’t—I’m not—“

Your shoulders sunk in, face softening. “I like you just the way you are, Timmy.“ 

Chest heaving, his gaze also softened at your words. His hands found your face again, as he whispered against your lips, “God, you’re too good to be true.“ 

You melted in that kiss, as you never felt closer to him than in this random night that you wished would last forever. Morning shouldn’t come too soon, who knew how long this would actually last, but until then you would believe his words as the truth. 

“Can I take your shirt off, too?“

You nodded, wildly, offering him your arms in the air as he did the same to you, undressing you. You hadn’t worn a bra or anything underneath your oversized shirt, so you were instantly exposed to him, much to his surprise. His adam’s apple hitched visibly, as he took in the sight of you for a moment. “You’re so beautiful,“ he hushed, crushing his lips back onto yours, bringing you down on the bed again. “So damn beautiful.“  

And he proved his words. You felt him all over your body, appreciating it with his mouth and his hands, showered you in kisses and intense waves of shivers. He sucked on the softest parts of your breasts as he lightly flicked the nipple of the other, sending your brain into another dimension. Who would’ve ever thought of this happening? 

As his head hovered over the lower part of your body, hands on your sweatpants, he glanced up, meeting your eyes. “Is this real?“ you questioned. 

Timothée came back up to you. “Yes,“ he replied. “It’s always been real.“

Please do not come at me for not writing smut in this. I wanted to keep it wholesome. 😭

[bewiiitched]

⟩ Sexdoll (chapter eight)

• Autor's note: I had a hard time getting inspired the last few days and this isn't what I planned at all but then it did come to my mind how is supposed to be two Logan's (and two Laura's) in Deadpool timeline since Logan is still alive in 2024. And well, things are gonna get bittersweet.

Warnings: none.

/////////

It's no small victory that Logan has decided to sleep next to her again. And the mutant can't ignore how, in small steps, the alcohol in her life is diminishing.

There was no part of him that would have dared to broach the subject, not when the amount of alcohol she ingested was minimal compared to his own, but being aware of the inferior healing factor in her was a constant torment, so he is caught completely off guard when the bottles are not replenished in the wooden display case where she kept them. The pack of beer she bought was only replenished on Tuesdays, and now her extra pay was only based on money. Nightmares are cured by the warmth of his chest instead of the burning in her throat from cheap liquor. The same bottle of Vodka remains half full for weeks even though she can't sleep, and when worries plague her, they take a backseat as her fingers wrap around his hair and the tips of her fingers make small circles on his scalp.

However, it's not the only achievement, since despite her initial reluctance, Logan ended up accepting to work with Wade on some of his missions. The idea was not foreign to her, since she had received the same offer from the mercenary in the past and could count on the fingers of one hand the times she had accepted, given that she refused to use her powers on others and although the type of criminals had varied considerably, in her case she always focused on attacking organized crime gangs, getting some information and letting Wilson finish the job.

The sound of the hands of the clock hanging on the wall is her only company when cleaning, and she unconsciously hums a song to motivate herself, that is until she hears a light tapping on the window that faces the street. She doesn't need to look to know what it is about him since his smell is enough, and when she turns to see him over her shoulder, his grumpy expression makes it clear that he is rethinking his decision.

“Has it gone that badly?” She asks, trying to hide the hint of amusement in her tone. Her last “job” had been half a year ago, but she couldn't blame the mutant for getting exasperated when Wade didn't take the situation seriously. Her hand goes to a bottle of Jack Daniels that is on top of the shelf, when his hand grabs her wrist, stopping her from standing on her toes to grab it.

“No need. ” He answers, his tone is a little rougher due to tiredness, but his touch is just as gentle as ever as his hand positions itself on her lower back. “I thought he wasn't serious during our time in the void. In comparison, I was wrong.”

He growls, and can't help but laugh at it, he breaks off with a light hum and his hands position themselves over hers, gently pushing them away as he turns around, both of them face to face, she can't help but glance at his suit.

“ So you're the hero of the city now?” She murmurs, her hand runs down his chest, and Logan clenches his jaw with his hand closing on her wrist, stopping her.

“ I'm not hero, doll. ” His response is instantaneous and she gives him a guilty look, but that doesn't mean she agrees, she had believed that they had gotten out of that pit of guilt and rejection, but obviously she was wrong. “ Even if I saved your timeline, it's the least I could do. ”

He adds, his expression more tense than before as he sees the challenge in her gaze, but she doesn't answer. His brow furrows more and more as the seconds pass and the words are on the tip of her tongue. “He told me how you were about to sacrifice yourself, not just anyone is willing to die for strangers.”

She emphasizes, and his wrist twists free of her grip to wrap both hands around his neck. His brown gaze darkens as he remembers the event, how Wade had cataloged him as the best Wolverine shortly after and yet, the events of his past still haunted him.

She is not the best example to get him out of that pit of darkness, but she tries to move the subject away.

“You know how Wade wasn't born mutated...” she begins, only to stop when he sees her expression, and realizes that in reality, he didn't know that detail. Her lips turn into a line as she senses that this isn’t territory she needs to be talking about, so despite the confusion on the mutant’s face, she continues speaking, putting a finger to her lips when he opened his mouth to interrupt her. “Well, now you know. None of the victims did it, actually. There was this whole process to create a mutation, and I spent months sabotaging the creation of new mutants.”

Something clicks in Logan’s brain and she can see the understanding in his expression, it’s almost adorable how she can see the gears in his head turning and connecting the dots. “He told me how you took over in the torture.”

She hums in response, a look of regret crossing her face. “I didn’t always do it because I could get caught, but in the absence of a regenerative factor, I would turn off the nerves so they wouldn’t feel pain and interrupt the whole process, but they always ended up dying…”

The dismay is written on her face and hee lower lip trembles slightly at the memory. Even worse when she has the shadow of Francis’ hands on her neck after discovering what she had been doing.

“You had good intentions…” Her snort cuts him off.

“Hell is full of good intentions.” She answers dryly, brushing the hair from her face. “If I had never been taken out of the base and sent on all those missions, everything would still be the same, I would still be torturing innocent people or sabotaging their progress, but I would be still killing people.”

But it would all end the same, with death or dozens of supersoldiers. They learned from Stryker, controlling mutants is deadly, but mutating humans is unstable.”

The frustration is obvious, but her small outburst doesn't let the mutant's flinch go unnoticed at the mention of Stryker. And although Wilson had vaguely given her details of the multiverse, she hadn't been able to help but wonder if all of its variants got the adamantium claws and ended up being a heavyweight through the same process.

They both try to get rid of each other's wounds but it's like putting out a fire with gasoline. “I'm not like you, or Wade. I brought on everything that happened to me.”

She finishes, and silence is all she finds from the mutant, his gaze goes to his own suit, the only memory he had of his own universe, he remembers the screams in the same way that the young woman remembers the only two times she fought against Francis.

“I lost control when I got back to the mansion. “He starts, but his voice shakes. “All I could focus on was the smell of blood, I could still smell the traces of fear and worry that were in the rooms, and they were all gone.” He says through gritted teeth, his gaze filled with helplessness as he continues. “They were still looking for more mutants when I killed them, every single one of them… I started losing control more often.”

His voice sounds thick, and he sees her nod slightly, understanding written all over her face as she looks away, a shaky sigh. “Alcohol was the only thing that could keep me distracted, I needed to drown that rage, but I could barely contain it. ”

Looking up, she swallows, confirming in that instant how he had followed her in her attempt to quit alcohol, although theirs had been a gradual process, part of her was tempted to tell him that there was no need for him to join her sobriety but she could barely imagine the frustration it must be that his regenerative factor would eliminate the alcohol in his body when he wanted to forget the memories and she only used it to fight a few nightmares. “Don’t do it…”

She murmurs without hiding her concern, her gaze focusing on one of the many bottles that had been left on the bar, and despite the bitter taste in their mouths that they both shared from their experiences, his expression softens in understanding and a growl rumbles in his throat.

It had been about two months since their first meeting, but that's when Logan realizes how his heartbeat is pounding in his ears at the gleam in her eyes, a mix of guilt and devotion as if he were worthy of something more than perpetuating the path of violence he had always followed, as if she had decided to stay with him despite everything, as if her hands could be used for something more than getting blood on themselves. The faith he perceives from her dries his throat, although the sensation is not entirely unknown, he had felt the same rejection with Laura and Wade at their expectations, how they believed it could be something better than what it was, as they knew it was from the beginning.

He keeps thinking about how little he really knows about the situation, how Wade barely detailed how Ajax and her came to confront each other at some point, being the background of her being removed to external missions and in turn, the little he knows about his own roommate, it's not that he completely trusts the mercenary's versions when she had made it clear that there were certain aspects that she was hiding from him. And he can't help but think of the scene as Wade had told him, how it had been a matter of time before it was discovered, so being present in the fight alone was like watching two divorced parents argue.

It had happened days before his escape, Wilson was no stranger to what the female had been doing for weeks, and it had become a sort of silent pact between them that she was relieving him of torture even after he had mutated. So she found himself visiting him more often, gravitating around him and ignoring his jokes and questions, being more like a puppet that appeared and disappeared for nothing more than trying to repair the damage she helped to create.

Not that it was any different that time, entering the basement where they kept him she barely gave a nod to greet him, but she still found it difficult to adjust to the idea that his body did not show the signs of torture to which they continued to subject it. Sometimes she was tempted to answer him, but she always kept silent since she knew how constant Ajax's presence was on both of them, and the special interest he had developed in testing his limits.

A syringe of her blood preceded the familiar tickle on her fingertips, how they wave through his body, noticing the previous pain under her touch only to see the spasms in his body as she forcefully calms it, his muscles relaxing, his skin tickling and his breathing regulating.

“I’ll be back in a bit.” is all she says, but she can barely get out of the place and into the hallway when a hand closes on her neck, lifting her up, the figure of Ajax stopping her in his iron grip giving her no room to speak.

“Of course you will.” he hisses, everything in him screams danger and Wilson’s voice in the background reaches her ears, but she can barely pay attention to it when Everything around her sounds distant. And then she feels it, the burning in her body that makes her fingers curl, every muscle in her body tensing and like an electric current, she hears him growl, his grip losing strength as her powers take over. Panic won’t let her think clearly, and she goes all out when her hand closes on his arm, the spasms in his body beginning and her feet hitting the ground again. Years of holding back makes losing strength in her senses and reflexes feel like sinking into quicksand, and it only makes her more alert, since the only advantage she has is that she can paralyze him, that not hurting him.

“Don’t even think about telling them,” she threatens, and her tone is relentless, her hand traveling to her lower back, pulling out a gun that she places on his forehead. “No feeling pain and no having nerves are two different things.”

She reminds him and there is a dangerous edge to it, one that makes her see how the cornered animal she is and that she won’t stop once she snaps, but it’s not just the certainty in her words that creates fire in his gaze, but how even though he wants to tear her apart, his body is numb and it only gets worse, his legs ending up giving out.

Despite the situation, she is reluctant to kill him, making it obvious that she feels pushed to do so so even when she puts the safety back on the gun, her powers still affect him, and the look he gives them both from the floor when she leaves the room is promising.

(...)

“Logan?” Her voice, shy and worried, brings him out of his thoughts, and he clears his throat. She doesn’t realize it, but he remembers the mercenary’s words and there is no past destructive enough that can make him think of her as nothing more than a victim of circumstances.

“You held back. “He murmurs, more to himself than to her and she sees his brow furrow in confusion. His tongue moistening his lips as she sits up and her arms leave his neck.

“with who?” she asks, a slow blink that could be almost comical.

“Him.” He answers seriously, and the tension in her body is immediate, no need to name his original version. But he is not wrong and she gives a slight nod in response as she waits for him to continue, to make his point clear so when he doesn’t, it is she who falters in her speech.

“It’s different.” Her words come out halting but she is defensive as she looks at him. “I didn’t want to hurt him, I guess I subconsciously didn’t go all in. Francis, though…”

The last time she faces him, she can't recognise herself, blood boiling at the recent news and both aware of each other, what their actions had meant for the project, both on a tight rope as Ajax was seen as the one esponsible for the escape of the now called Deadpool and the burning of the former lab.

Her comings and goings to the base are becoming more and more spaced out in time, the missions becoming more constant and she tries not to think too much when her main purpose is based on attracting more helpless people who can mutate while Francis cleaned up the mess.

So when her new purpose reaches her ears, everything around her explodes. — AJAX!

Her scream echoes, the sound of her heels resonating on the floor as she searches for him, door by door and hallway by hallway, ignoring how the rest of the staff evaporates as she walks, everything in her trembles and she sees red when she finally finds him coming out of a torture room, his white coat splattered with blood.

She advances towards him in giant steps before launching herself at him, fueled by fury, helplessness written on her face that only grows when he dodges her fist and grabs her wrist only to receive a kick to the stomach that sends him against the door frame and drags her with him, in response her wrist creaks, but there is no scream that follows the breaking of the joint.

His gaze darkens as a satisfied smile grows on her face, the understanding that they both feel no pain now, so forcing her damaged limb, she twists it free of his hold but Ajax is faster and grabs her hair, slamming her face into the wall, again and again, the crack of her nose preceding the shudder that indicated her control over her own body was failing so she doesn't even consider using her fluids. The third time he goes to hit her, her foot hits the wall hard creating distance as she pushes her body back, her hand grabbing the one that was pulling her hair and they both give in, for different reasons, taking a while to process that he has frozen behind her, a moan escaping her lips as her power returns to its original state. And when she finally recovers, the tension in her body is evident, the pain being fuel for her burning gaze.

She turns sharply, still holding her hair in his hand, and pulls a knife from her thigh sheath, stabbing his chest until all her frustration comes out, she just growls and gasps, seeing his body covered in blood as they both fall to the ground, her power over him and her fury only growing at the thought that it doesn't hurt him.

She registers Angel’s voice screaming her name, but when she looks up seeing her approaching from the end of the hallway, the bloodlust written on her face makes her stop halfway. The wariness in her gaze because it’s clear her powers have been unleashed if Ajax is like this.

“Back off.” She grunts, not stopping herself from attacking him, abandoning the knife and hitting the back of his head over and over again like moments before he had broken her nose. Out of the corner of her eye he sees her approach, and her expression turns condescending when the mutated woman’s hand closes on her forearm.

“Wait for me there, sweetheart.” She murmurs to Francis in disgust before focusing on her new problem, watching her squirm listlessly and her touch abandons him to focus on her, grabbing her arm and making her feel nothing but pain until she finally passes out, falling with a thud.

“I thought you’d like the new position.” He scoffs, spitting blood and her foot slams into his stomach in anger, the tip of her heel digging into his flesh.

“I’m not a fucking whore.” She hisses, still shaken by the thought of having to face the damn wolverine. And the laughter that follows lets her know he doesn’t agree, but it’s cut short when she grabs him by the neck, kneeling down and lowering herself to his height as his body obeys her. “I don’t know how you convinced them but you better get this shit sorted while I’m gone. Because if I die, you’re Wilson’s whore.” ”

(...)

To this day, she still blamed the mercenary for not having recorded Francis' death but it was something she had learned to live with until her birthday came around and she remembered it again.

“ That was the last time I lost control like that, and well, you know the rest.” She speaks, but she can't hide the satisfaction she felt at having unleashed on him after so long. “ The only reason we didn't kill each other was because we were both crucial...”

His expression is unreadable as he looks at her, but his gaze softens as he remembers the incident that had occurred at the bar during his absence, understanding the reluctance to lose control, and he can't say he disagrees, the murderous rage he had felt after the death of the group had shaken him to the bone.

“ Let's go home. ” She whispers, her voice vibrating low as she tries to ignore how her heartbeat is racing, the discomfort she felt after having opened up to him like so many other times and him still not judging her, not seeing her as the monster she felt she was, the one she had become after activating her powers having isolated herself from all physical contact at the risk of harming others, how she had stained her hands with blood for never being able to control herself, how even after managing to suppress herself her powers were still a danger, despite being studied by the project as if to conclude that her fluids could be useful even if she wasn't involved, specifically, her blood.

/////

Taglist: @bontensbabygirl @twinky-wink

[freakingholland]

"Law of attraction" – Asher Millstone x gn!reader

A/N: There aren’t enough HTGAWM fics here on tumblr so here I am with this little something for Asher! If you want to talk about the show or if you have ideas for some imagines feel free to slide into my asks 😊

Warnings: swearing, mentions of exam-related stress

Summary: The Keating 5 and reader are preparing for exams. Who would have thought that exam anxiety could give somebody enough courage to express their romantic feelings?

Set around season 3, post vacation but pre-jail era.

Word count: 1K +

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-

September meant no more partying, but more preparations for the fall exams. You were stuck in the evening-lit library alongside Laurel, Asher, Michaela, and Connor. Wes did not take part in the study session since he was stolen by Annalise. They were preparing for a particular case with the help of Bonnie at Annalise’s place.

You could feel your eyelids becoming heavier and heavier. It was an nth hour of staring at your books, scrolling through documents and researching papers. The palms of your hands were stained with yellow and pink highlighters. You were sat between Laurel and Asher.

You glanced up from your notes to visually check on your friends, not wanting to disrupt them. Laurel’s eyes met yours and she smiled slightly. Tiredness was visible on her face as smudged mascara created a shadow underneath her eyes.

You looked to your right, heart skipping a beat as you caught sight of Asher, hunched over his notes, his posture sagged from exhaustion. The gentle blue light from his laptop’s screen reflected in his pretty brown eyes, giving them a shimmering hue that accentuated his warmth. His usually well-groomed hair was tousled and slightly disheveled.

His presence had a soothing effect on you, managing to lift your spirits even though he looked visibly tired. You couldn’t help but wish you could retreat to the comfort of your apartment with him. Yet, despite the butterflies in your stomach, you couldn’t muster the courage to admit your true feelings for Asher, leaving you trapped in longing for something more.

What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if saying something changes everything between you two? The thought of losing the closeness you have—of turning something so natural and easy into something complicated—keeps you quiet, even as your feelings for him grow stronger.

“So… I’m trying to remember this definition of Res Ipsa Loquitur and I keep messing it up. It’s so fucking long. Mind if I recite it to you and see if it sounds right?” Ash asked whispering, leaning into your ear.

“Go ahead.” you responded.

“Okay, here it goes: the thing speaks for itself, it refers to situations where the nature of an accident-- implies negligence due to the mere occurrence of the event.” he paused for a second.

“The doctrine—umm… allows a plaintiff to establish a presumption of negligence without direct evidence… provided the event is of a type that does not normally happen without negligence, and the instrumentality causing harm was under the-- defendant's control.”

You nodded with a grin.

“That sounds pretty solid.”

“Thanks.”

He exhaled heavily and leaned back in his chair crossing his muscular arms over his chest.

He shook his head no.

“Dude I’m so tired.” He murmured.

“I can tell. Me too. I could really use a nap.” You also leaned back in your chair.

“Mmm… a nap.” Asher reached out to grab his cup of now cold coffee. After taking a sip or two he turned back to you.

He laughed at his own thought.

“Remember that damned Civ Pro final?” He said.

“Oh yeah, you came out looking pale as fuck.”

“Seriously, I thought I was about to pass out right there in the exam room…”

“I’m starting to freak the fuck out if I’m being honest.” He exclaimed.

Michaela overheard the conversation and chuckled slightly.

“And what is that supposed to mean!”

“I told you to start reading that a week ago. But you guys were too busy with Annalise’s cases.”

“Aaaas alwaaays.” She added mockingly.

Ash only rolled his eyes in response to her remark.

“You’re not the only one who’s stressed out, but we got this.” You tried to reassure him.

He spaced out for a couple of seconds.

“You are right angel. We got this.”

He stood up abruptly and reached out to grab both your mugs.

“Anyone else wants some more coffee?”

You could feel your cheeks burning up. You eyed Ash up and down as he was making his way out of the room when your eyes met with Michaela’s. She gave you a wink and smiled.

*

The hours ticked by, and the evening grew darker.

The silence was suddenly interrupted when Oliver burst into the library, a cheerful grin spreading across his face as he carried a plastic container full of freshly baked cookies.

“There is absolutely nooooo way in hell that you made those!” Laurel said jumping up from her seat and walking towards Oli.

Oliver tilted his head pretending to be offended and smiled at her.

“It’s good to see you too! I did. You all look like you could use some glucose.”  he said with sympathy in his tone.

She quickly took one of the cookies and bit into it.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and locked their gazes on Laurel to see her reaction.

“Okaaay these are… not too bad actually.”

“Gimme one I got to try!”

Michaela reluctantly bit into a cookie. She started nodding after taking two more bites.

“Not too bad huh?”

“Okay alright… pretty good Oli. Good job hun.”

He walked towards her and embraced her in a hug, making sure not to spill the cookies.

*

As the study session wrapped up and everyone started packing their bags, Asher turned to you, his eyes a mix of exhaustion and excitement.

"You know," he began, his voice softer now.

"Once we get through these exams, I think we deserve a break." You looked up, curious, as Asher continued.

"How about we celebrate with dinner? Just the two of us?"

The sudden invitation made your tiredness fade slightly as you quickly considered the offer.

"Dinner sounds nice. "

Asher's grin widened, clearly pleased with your response.

"Great, it’s a date then” he said, his tone playful yet sincere.

The others exchanged quick glances but pretended not to hear, letting the moment pass without interruption. With that, you headed out of the library, finally chatting about other, less boring matters.

You delicately poked Ash’s side. He looked down at you and hummed.

“Sooo do we have a plan for the dinner or-?”

“Mmm… I was thinking of something low-key, maybe just some good food at my place and no textbooks in sight?”

“That would be perfect.”

-

A/N 2: Part 2 soon? Yes? No? :)

[awrestlinggirlwholoves80sbands]

Hey, i am the one who requested the slaxl story: yea I meant axl telling Izzy about slash, sorry if that was unclear😅 I respond you this way cause I'm sure how I can comment under your post😭 (new on Tumblr)

Okay so a year has passed since this ask (ops) and I am so sorry, but between uni and anything I've never got the chance to finish it until now. I hope you'll enjoy it :)

Izzy's POV

The clock read 3 a.m when a loud bang on the door woke Izzy up. The guitarist almost wanted to laugh, considering that he decided to go to sleep earlier for once but destiny had other plans for him. He settled on ignoring the noise however it just kept going.

“Go away!” He yelled, hoping that the fucker would give up.

“Izzy, pleaseeee open up!” Axl's voice pleaded.

“Go harass Duff, he’s probably still awake.”

He might have been Axl’s childhood best friend but it didn’t mean he had to deal with his shit, especially when he just wanted to sleep and nothing would change that not even the grip forming in his heart due the guilt.

“Please Izzy, I need your help.”

Izzy wanted to say no and go back to sleep or pretend to until Axl would have left him alone, but something inside him urged him to listen to his friend. More than once he found himself calming the redhead back to sleep or allowing him to let his emotions out, especially for Axl and the whole band’s sake.

Reluctantly he stood up, his hands curled up in fists for a second and promising himself that he would make sure to let the other man know he owned him. When he opened the door, he was relieved to see Axl's face still intact however his glossy eyes had some red in them that couldn’t only be because of the alcohol.

“What do you want, shithead?” He asked unceremoniously.

“I need your help, Izzy.”

“Yeah, you kind of said that already. So are you going to repeat that all night or are you giving a good enough reason why you’re knocking on my door at 3 a.m.?”

“Okay, so do you know Slash?” Axl sounded completely serious which made Izzy almost let out a hysterical laugh. He couldn't help but arch his eyebrows at how Axl was tiptoeing around the subject, even if he was more surprised about how he still hadn't pushed him out of his room. His stomach lurched at the thought he was becoming soft.

“You mean Slash, our guitarist, the one we have known for a year now?” His sarcasm was bitter but it didn’t seem to faze Axl.

“Yeah.. me and Slash did something…”

Izzy rolled his eyes. As much as he wanted to strangle Axl to make him spill the beans, a part of him didn’t want to know what those idiots did because it meant getting involved and he wasn't ready to bail Slash out of jail again, even if deep down he loved them. Before saying anything he sighed, letting out all the anger from his voice because he had learned long ago that it was pointless.

“Something illegal?”

“No, well maybe it’s immoral for some people. My step dad would have found it such but technically it’s not illegal.”

The guitarist forgot that if Axl normally would talk for hours, while drunk he would do that even more while making zero sense. Something so wonderful when he just wanted to sleep.

“Axl, please just tell me what the hell you two have done!”

“Me and Slash went on a date, okay?!”

Izzy’s eyes widened in surprise. The sexual tension between Axl and Slash was obvious, the two were constantly hugging and teasing each other, however he didn’t think they would actually act on those feelings. Probably his tiredness didn't only close his eyes but his brain too, because he felt genuinely happy for them, even if the redhead’s tone told him the date didn’t go as planned.

“On a date? Damn, did you bite the bullet and ask him?”

“Well it wasn’t officially a date but we both knew it was.” Axl said, sounding just like a teenager.

Izzy's head started pulsing in anticipation of the cheesy story that was about to unfold, he would rather eat sand than having to listen to that but he doubted that pretending to faint could get away with not hearing the story. However, making his eyebrows arch was the reason Axl decided to come to him, usually Duff was the love advisor. Was it because he trusted him more? Or was it karma deciding to kick his ass by not making him able to get a good night of sleep?

“What’s wrong with the date?”

“Everything was cool and then he kissed me!” The singer spat those words almost like they were poison.

“You weren’t okay with that?” Izzy 's heart started to beat faster as rage slowly crept close to the surface. He was well aware of Axl’s past and how he didn’t take lightly people forcing on him, so it was only expected for him to go into his protective mode. Hell, if he discovered Slash had done something to Axl, he would have killed himself with his hands.

“No no, I wanted to but then I freak out because it made everything real! Because I really like him but we agreed to be friends with benefits and I don’t know what to do.” The redhead sniffled, hiding his face with his hair.

The guitarist's brain just shut down, unable to process a correct answer to give, he knew he needed to be honest but not too harsh, sympathetic yet realist. He just stayed silent for what seemed the longest time, Axl's eyes fixed on him like he had the answer to every problem of the universe, while Izzy was just digging through his brain for possible outcomes.

“Well isn’t it pointless to not be together if he likes you?”

"Well, you are already having sex. What's the problem?"

“Don’t worry about it, true love always wins.”

“Fucking hell Axl, it’s 3 in the morning and I just want to sleep.”

“Why don’t you talk with him tomorrow? When you are sober and not a crying mess. Just tell him you want to take things slow and time will tell.” He decided to set on, hoping it would work.

Axl tilted his head, pondering what Izzy said like a big truth about the secrets of the universe, and eventually he nodded in agreement. The other man's shoulder relaxed, maybe the universe was really rooting his way and spared him more Axl's tears and possible screams.

“You’re right. I just gotta wait and I’ll tell him and if doesn’t accept him, well fuck him!”

“Great, now why don’t you go back to your room and just sleep on all of this?” The black haired man suggested, almost taking his arm to direct him to the door. However a knock to the door made him groan in frustration, every ounce of diplomacy leaving his body at the prospect of having to deal with another of his bandmates.

“Whoever you are, you better get lost in the next five seconds or I will murder you.”

“Izzyyyy, I need your help.” Slash’s intoxicated voice replied.

Another drunk friend, as dealing with Axl wasn’t enough for him. The redhead’s eyes widened were a big tell that he was about to freak out and the guitarist didn’t know if he could handle him. Pinching his nose, he decided to take matters into his own hands before he had to bash his head against the wall, after all his hotel room wasn't a therapist's office.

“Slash, go to Duff. It isn’t really a good moment.” He yelled sternly.

“But I need you!”

“I’m going out of here.” Axl said, moving towards the window and prompting Izzy to throw his arm to block him.

“Fuck no! You will stay here and I’ll try to keep him out.” Izzy squeezed his shoulders in a calming way.

He opened the door just enough to see his band mate: clearly intoxicated, his eyes weren't red but they were darting all around and his fingers were playing with one of the bracelets he always wore. It was another prime example of a band mate in crisis, but to make everything worse, he didn't know Slash as much as he knew Axl.

"Slash, why don't you go to Duff?" He crossed his arms, hoping to scare him enough to discourage him from staying there.

"Because he can't understand... you know him better." Slash's curls automatically covered his face, but that didn't fool Izzy and only made his heart drop in defeat.

"Know who better?" He sounded as vague as possible, as if he couldn't hear Axl crawling on the floor and hiding in the bathroom.

"Axl. Look, I'm afraid that I freaked him out. I'm scared too, I get it but I need to gain his trust back."

Izzy rubbed his temples, the headache slapping him with such a force that he wished he could make him pass out, giving him a way out of this mess. He had another choice to make: should he tell Slash that Axl was there, and let them solve their problems? Or should he protect his friend and keep his mouth shut?

He tasted his pockets for cigarettes, probably they could have cleared his mind and corrupted Slash, making him gain some time. All of a sudden a loud noise made his hand fall against his side and a small curse came out his mouth, even Slash in his drunken stupor was attracted by the unusual sound.

"What's that noise?" A look of puzzlement crossed Slash's face.

"I was busy before you interrupted me." Izzy gestured vaguely, hopefully the other man was too drunk to question his lie.

"You never bring a girl into your room."

"Now what? Do you think you know what I do in my free time?" His face contorted in an annoyed expression.

It took all his self control to not ran outside the room and leave the two idiots with themselves, all this diplomacy was making him sick to his stomach. Slash's glossy eyes stared at him for a second, but he was too out of it to argue back, however right when he thought the situation was diffused, he heard the bathroom door opening.

Axl seemed to have sober up a bit, his face was clean of any sign of tears however his eyes quickly went down as soon as he caught a glimpse of Slash. On the other hand Slash seemed awkward, his mouth opened in slight surprise as Izzy could clearly see the gears in the other man's brain trying to come up with something but only resorting to silence.

"Hi Slash." The redhead said shyly.

"Were you hiding in the bathroom?"

Axl's face scrunched up for a moment and Izzy saw a familiar fire in his eyes that made him ready to step in if needed, but apparently the redhead's rational side seemed to win so he just took a deep breath and did not break Slash's nose to the delight of Izzy.

"I guess we need to talk."

Izzy's eyes bolted to both men as the tension was filling the air: Axl's confidence was gone as he kept looking around the room while Slash just stood still as he was waiting for the Earth to swallow him alive. Izzy wanted to leave the room but a look from childhood best friend's told him to stay.

"Look Axl, if you didn't like the kiss it's fine. I know we said to keep things casual-" Slash started but he was quickly interrupted.

"No, I liked the kiss. It's just a bit more complicated than that." Axl started to play with his bracelets, trying to find the right words.

"Oh..."

Izzy's hands hitched to butt the heads of his friends together, maybe that could help them be less oblivious. A sense of discomfort took over as he realized that he was just standing here, watching two people talking about their deepest feelings in front of a bandmate. He needed to do something so he headed towards the only window in his room to lit up a cigarette.

"I... I like you Slash, okay? But this shit ain't easy! I've never had feelings for a guy, I've been taught it was a sin."

"You like me?" Slash asked, with such a surprised tone that Izzy had to turn around to watch both of them.

"Yeah. I know I said "no feelings involved" but it happened."

Izzy watched Slash stumbling towards Axl and gently kissing him. For a moment Izzy's heartbeat got faster but Axl quickly reciprocated the kiss, making shame invade the guitarist's body.

"I'll be outside... try to not use my bed for "fun times" " He said but the other two man were too busy eating their faces to acknowledge him in any way.

Axl POV

Axl barely heard the door closing, he was too focused on how Slash's lip tasted like a whole bottle of Jack and a pack of cigarettes or how his hands were buried in the other man's curls, making Slash purring in his mouth. Quickly their lips weren't gently touching anymore but smashing against each other, the air uncomfortably getting trapped in his lungs and his cheeks turning red.

"I'm taking this forward, okay? Tell me to stop whenever you don't feel up to it anymore." Slash said and Axl nodded, his face relaxing at the thought of having a choice.

Slash's hand traveled to Axl's shirt, his finger played with the hems without actually lifting it while their feet were subconsciously leading them towards the bed. The same bed Izzy forbidden them to touch. Axl tugged Slash's shirt, hating his moment of clarity because he wanted nothing more than to keep kissing, but the other man didn't budge.

"Slash?"

"Mh?" He said, interrupting the kiss.

"Izzy would kill us if we touched his bed." Slash sighed and stepped away from Axl. "But maybe we can continue in your room." The redhead added.

Slash's lips immediately turned into a smirk but he hesitated for a minute.

"So we are officially more than fuck buddies? Because I can't deal with another run like the one we had before, I thought you were going to take a plane or kill me!"

"Yes, we are. I might take some time but I promise."

Axl felt Slash's hand on his, squeezing it reassuringly and the cold metal of his ring gave him a weird sense of comfort, he couldn't explain it but it just felt like Slash. He let him guide him to the door as fear slowly left his body.

Izzy's POV

He sat against the door, his head pounding and his eyes tired which was so fucking stupid because everything was solved, there was no need for his body to be so dramatic. He pondered about resting,not sleeping, just to see if it eased the pain of his head.

"Izzy?" The voice was far away but he just ignored it. He was so close to drift away when the voice came back again and louder.

"Izzy!" It sounded familiar but his brain was too exhausted to match any face to the voice.

"I'm sleeping, leave me alone." He replied.

The sound of steps only lasted a couple of seconds before he felt someone sitting next to him, all his reflexes were apparently dull because he didn't react at all. A strong smell of cigarettes and a very specific cologne hit his nostrils and revealed the mysterious man.

"Duff, what are you doing here?" He said, giving up and opening his eyes.

Duff's shoulder dropped in relief, his red eyes holding all the remaining anxiety running through his body. Izzy had no idea if he was about to laugh or cry because having to babysit him sounded like a nightmare.

"Oh thank God you're alive. I was smoking outside the bar and then I noticed Slash running towards the hotel, I thought he was in trouble until I watched him get inside your room."

"Yeah, he is okay. He was just very drunk and he and Axl had to sort something out."

"Is Axl going to kill him? What's going on?"

Izzy's hands started to play with the pack of matches in his hands, he looked Duff right into his eyes with a blank expression while his mind was traveling as fast as light. He didn't want to harm Axl or Slash in any way, even if he always had a good amount of trust in Duff's open mind.

"No. I'm about to say something and it has to stay between us, okay? Axl and Slash are dating.

Duff started laughing and then it turned into wheezing, so much that he had to hold his stomach from it and his eyes started to water with tears. Rage shot through Izzy's body, making his face twist into the scariest impassible expression he was capable of, the one that usually meant he was about to throw hands.

" God, I thought Slash upset Axl or something. I mean, are we even surprised? Those two are behaving like a married couple all the time, fucking finally!"

Izzy didn't even realize he clutched his hands until he relaxed them, Duff's supportive nature came handy once again and he found it hard to suppress the smallest hint of a smile. As much as the bassist was a piece of work, but Izzy couldn't really say anything since he was one too, moments like this reminded him of the weird bond they had about making sure the rest of the band was okay.

Suddenly the door next to him opened, revealing a certain drummer with blonde hair staring at Duff and Izzy with the widest smile.

"Axl and Slash are together?" Steven squealed with excitement.

"Steven, what the hell? You scared me!" Duff said, holding a hand over his heart.

The drummer ignored him to instead close his door and sat across Izzy, eyes full of joy and his body vibrating with energy.

"It's almost 4am why are you awake?" Izzy hoped to distract him.

"I couldn't sleep. So, are Axl and Slash together? How did that happen?"

The guitarist sighed, he pondered if he should have ignored Steven all together but the angel on his shoulder seemed to win, his face softened as he looked at the other man. He went over the story again, his calm voice in total contrast with Steven's continuous face expression even if in a way it made him feel validated in having to deal with those two idiots.

"Wow, I've never knew they were fuck buddies. I mean, one time I saw Slash and a redhead in bed but I thought it was a chick!" Steven said, making Duff laugh again.

Before he could stop it, Izzy felt a small laughter escaping his body as the image of a very naked and dramatic Axl screaming plagued his head. His head moved closer to the door but he couldn't hear much so Izzy returned to focus on Duff and Steven and their very important argument about pizza toppings, but soon their voice became only a background noise and his eyes dropped.

Maybe he was finally able to get some sleep...

The door slammed open, making Izzy's eyes immediately snap open, he turned his body around and he saw Slash's guilty eyes shooting an apology, quickly followed by Axl's confused face. Irritated wasn't even enough to describe the pure heat radiating through his body, but he would have lied if he said that he wasn't relieved by their two friends holding hands.

" What are Duff and Steven doing here?" Axl tilted his head quizzically.

"Duff thought you would kill Slash and Steven wanted a sleepover." Izzy explained and that seemed enough for Slash, who tugged Axl towards their room before the redhead could say anything.

The doorknob almost lured Izzy like a siren as his tired body screamed for some rest, he barely realized his feet moving towards his room before he was distracted by Steven's cheerful voice.

"Wanna join me and Duff in our sleepover?"

"No." He said, closing the door right in his friends' face and falling flat on his bed.

[the-heaminator]

Ooh i can't pick a number but idk something with Lithuania because he gets two hours of sleep a week and I want cringe because I'm bored.

What are potatoes, why are potatoes, how are potatoes, what's Feliks doing with a cucumber? Did he deepthroat a cucumber?? Did Latvia multiply, the fuck???

This was Lithuania's inner monologue in the EU meeting, he could scarcely keep his eyes open and nothing made near as much sense as it should, hell he was contemplating potatoes like Descartes waffling about the human conscience, or lack thereof in his case because who in their right mind would try and survive a week on no more than two hours of sleep.

This bitch, who else, actually don't answer that, the list is probably longer than it should be.

And yes Poland did deepthroat a cucumber, its Poland, questioning it is going to get you more questions than answers, and Latvia did not in fact multiply, as much as Latvia himself wanted to do as much, no Liets fucky vision and tiredness gave out and there were like 3 Latvias.

He didn't particularly register it due to the sleep deprivation but even Germany looked concerned, Finland almost always looked concerned in his presence but now looked like he was ready to bury this bitch, whether in covers or in hard dead ground was not known to anybody at this moment, Tolys didn't register this but Finland had a palpable aura of menace about him, Estonia was far past concerned and was trying to stop Finland, he wished to find a more calm, or at least less reliant on blunt force trauma way to get Lithuania to sleep.

Latvia was restraining Poland, who knew that if he got cuddled a bit he would be out like a light, but they needed to be in a good place in a good time for that, and this was neither.

Finland was ready to use his fists.

The fuck is a potato, why are so dependant on a new world crop, Russia looks shorter or something idk someones about to die though, probably Alfie, speaking of, there was a space jam movie was there not, released a few years ago, I should ask him about that.

And was mistaken for Russia by Tolys' sleep deprived state.

The meeting was adjourned finally, and through some miracle of habit, he got up and started walking out of the meeting room, a little stumbly and not completely there, but he hadn't fallen over yet, whether that was good or bad was anyone's guess, and he somehow managed not to walk into anybody either, but as soon as he got out into the rather bright sunshine he seemed to hiss like a vampire. Or Gilbert, same thing really.

He got caught up to by the gang + finny, who in the nicest possible way, pretty much abducted him, Fin knocked him out, Raivis dispelled questions like a pro, Eduard had the key card, fished from his ass pocket while Feliks carried him, bemoaning his crusty back and that Lithuania had put on weight recently, most of it being his fault because he made sure he took seconds at every meal, like a mum would, and Liet didn't mind, but that also made him kinda heavy for Feliks' poor back.

He was passed onto Finland to carry, he was quite a hit younger than Poland whose back audibly cracked as he stretched, and was carried by him for the rest of the walk to his hotel room, whence he was dumped onto the bed and tucked in, Finland and Latvia were left in guard, Finland to guard Lithuania and Latvia to guard Lithuania from finland if that makes any sense, the other three fucked off somewhere to get food.

Food was good, and it wasn't too likely that Liet would wake up anytime soon, and if he did there was not much of a likelihood that he'd stay awake for any long period of time. But even then they brought food for him, like true homies do.

Absentmindedly Latvja stroked Liets hair, it was thick and luscious and there were little flecks of grey throughout it, he was getting kind of old now and him pushing his body like he still did wasn't good for him.

"Idiot." Said with nothing but affection .

[2af-afterdark]

Due to being a medical anomaly I have some annoying things going on

BUT FLUFF WILL SAVE THE DAY (I think)

MC coming back to one of the four demons (Mammon, Satan, Leviathan, Beelzelbub), and they’re just tired (a grumpy/angry tired) and they can sense it a mile away and try their best to help cheer up MC

I would ask who would be the best with helping MC going to the doctors (cough cough Paradise Lost) but another day

🦩

Honestly? I feel being tired. Take your devils doing their best and doing whatever they think will work.

Satan

Mood. He is also angry and tired (not always in that order).

You know what? Satan is actually probably surprisingly good at helping with MC's tiredness because he can relate. Man is overworked and always two seconds from putting a hole through the nearest wall.

You know what? Time for MC to join one of his nightly outings. The lower devils know how to have a good time (and get drunk af). It's honestly just a bunch of people hanging out and having fun. They can go until the entire bar passes out! The rounds are on Satan tonight because MC is an important guest.

Mammon

The best way (for MC) to cheer up it clearly to get the rest they so clearly need. Totally not using their tiredness as an excuse to cuddle. Look at his tiddies! They are pillows! Use his massive man tiddies to relax and recline in comfort.

They will not have to do a thing or lift a finger. He literally will not let them. It's time for them to enjoy having an entire kingdom at their beck and call.

Beelzebub

Oh look! He made them a nice meal to comfort them 🙃 Come on, MC. Have a bite. RUN! DO NOT CONSUME!

Honestly? Man doesn't know what it means to be tired or chill, so I think he would be the least helpful person in this situation. The fastest way to cheer up is to party, after all.

That means he is dragging them to the nearest rave and/or orgy no matter how they may feel about it. Even if they are protesting, he's sure the atmosphere will be enough to pick up their mood eventually.

Leviathan

He's tired too. Time to be anti-social!

Would probably give MC space after checking on them. If MC goes to take a nap, they will wake up with Leviathan next to them later. He is very embarrassed that they caught him.

He's pretty down to let MC make the choice about how they spend the night (as long as the plan isn't going out).

[slyshyfoxy]

4 November 2023

Hello, i have been recently feeling overwhelmed or smtg due to my period? and tiredness, anyways, i think the thing that is boggling me the most is probably not getting enough rest or time for myself , but i am glad i will be able to do it today, as recently i have took two insurance examinations and i passed one, i thought i will probably fail 2 ngl, but when i failed the first one i actually felt abit disappointed. And luckily i managed to pass the second paper which is BCP.

And then i book the papers for PGI on 15th and COMGI for 29th. I think these days been overwhelmed because i resigned from AIA which makes it irrational for me to take the papers, but honestly i think it is because it is for next time sake where i will be doing my insurance side by side with construction. But its okay to take also because i will at least be more aware of whats going on with insurance and what to claim on it when i buy, and especially it taught me and gave me trips that i could probably not afford it myself. And finally i probably could get some cash from my dad if i would to pass it ma, so i dont have to worry so much. Recently, i was going to work and my attendance was not very good too like i am late too often and i think this month i'll try my best not to take any more MCs as there is not much left, most importantly to take care of my mental and PHYSICAL well-being the most. As i have been taking MCs, i realise my PHYISCAL well-being is kinda bad so i should really take care of it, another thing i have to take care of is the relationship between me and jolyn where i should be putting more effort into meeting her and all, and i think I will, but not too much that i lose myself, i will also encourage her to do more of her work too, so we can meet in between and compromise in-between.

Honestly, there are fears that me and her will not last long, but in the end i believe i am gonna try to make it last as long as it could go because she is a precious person in my life. Through my actions of course. Think nowadays i am also just emotional stressed? Cause of work stuffs where i keep getting pushed to do more than my limit especially pressing me when i having my period is a no go. Think i will be fine , although there is a lot of things to do, i still wanna be able to do it, slowly and steadily i will , even though slow, progress is still progress, jiayous jenny u can do it !! This is not as difficult as it seems. And i think about the work that is stressing me out especially ayeaye and the aunties, i think what i can do is not take it to heart or like count how many mistakes i have made, and just move on with it, the lesser i think the better, the only thing i can work on is on myself and i will be doing that, i just need to clock in attendance everyday, do work dont have to be very quickly, do at ur own pace, as at night you still need to do other stuffs, sleep more, meet jolyn frequent. You are actually doing better than you think, why are u doubting yourself? and i think especially about the future part, u have already been setting out the things u want do and is doing it. Dont worry u will be fine, god aint blind, you will be able to do the things u always wanted to do, which is the travel in the end with goal in mind. Just complete the tasks and take care of ur own physical and mental health first is the most important thing in the world and your happiness with yourself and others too, everything is manageable, jiayous jenny. You are doing great! So what are you gonna do today? I think today i will try to study COMGI like lock in 2 chapters at least then move on to making PGI notes. But first do abit of work for construction first. And wanna mediate now abit too. You can do it !!! Dont worry u are doing just fine. 4 Nov 2023. With love and staying the best to survival, Jenny Tan.

[super-famicom-star-inactive]

Throwback Tuesday

January 5, 2021

For this week's episode, we will be talking about the sequel to one of the most iconic games of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise (and quite frankly, a personal favorite of yours truly).

Just a heads-up, this is a two-parter as we looked at Sonic Adventure 1 last week! Here’s the post if you wanna check it out!

May I present

Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)

Production History

Original Release: June 23, 2001 (Dreamcast, WW)

Future Releases:  February 11, 2002 (Gamecube, NA), October 2, 2012 (PS3, XBox 360, Windows, WW), November 19, 2012 (Steam, NA)

Developer: Sonic Team USA

Publisher: SEGA

Director: Takashi Iizuka

Producer: Yuji Naka

Artist(s): Kazuyuki Hoshino, Yuji Uekawa

Programmer: Tetsu Katano

Writer: Shiro Maekawa

Composer(s): Jun Senoue, Kenichi Tokoi, Fumie Kumatani, Tomoya Ohtani

Inspiration

After the success of Sonic Adventure, SEGA wasted no time at getting a sequel in order. By this point in time, however, Sonic Team had split into two teams, Sonic Team Japan and Sonic Team USA (which relocated its offices to San Francisco) for Sonic Adventure in order for the USA Team to localize it. Sonic Adventure 2 was made by Sonic Team USA (and it is the first Sonic game to be made by Sonic Team USA as Sonic Team Japan was working on other titles like Phantasy Star Online), who used their new surrounding home of San Francisco, California as inspiration for their level design (The famous City Escape and Radical Highway levels are some of the biggest examples of this) as well as Yosemite National Park for their scenery and game environments. 

Story

In the game, there are two (technically three) story arcs, which are Hero, Dark, and Final Story, which can only be completed once the initial two arcs are completed first.

For the Hero Arc, the story begins with Sonic busting out of a military helicopter and escaping into the city below due being a wanted criminal. His crime? Nothing, as he was framed for a “look-a-like” hedgehog called Shadow, who had causing a ruckus all over the city. He knows that Eggman has something behind this, so he gathers his friends in helping to defeat Eggman and whoever this Shadow guy is...

For the Dark Arc, the story begins as Eggman discovers his long-passed grandfather’s secret weapon Shadow the Hedgehog a.k.a “The Ultimate Lifeform”. Using this new ally, Eggman has plans for world domination and all he needs are the Chaos Emeralds to fire the Eclipse Cannon from the space colony ARK. He brings on Rouge the Bat, world-renowned treasure hunter to help with the Emerald collecting.

For the Final Arc, both sides meet up at the ARK to discover some final transmissions from Eggman’s grandfather himself, and how he wanted to get back at G.U.N. for taking everything away from him, including his ill granddaughter Maria, who was a casualty on that fateful day. He also goes into why he designed Shadow the way he did. Eggman still goes along with the plan anyway to use the Eclipse Cannon. To stop him, Sonic and Shadow both go Super with the power of the Chaos Emeralds. They win the fight but Shadow falls to Earth, assumed to be dead. 

Gameplay

Like the first game, it is a 3D platformer where you run around a specific environment in order to achieve the giant floating ring at the end of the level or the boss fight. In order to stay alive, you have keep up with your ring intake before letting it drop to zero. While not playing the main game, there are other features such as one-on-one mini games and the Chao Garden as well as missions you can complete. 

Reception

Like the first game, Sonic Adventure 2 was well-received by fans and critics alike for the visuals, music, and gameplay. Like the last game however, the camera was still a problem (partially fixed in later ports like the Gamecube port, though the weird 3D camera in a lot of earlier games was a common issue) and the dialogue was a little awkward (it was down to a sound mixing problem). The Gamecube version received mixed reviews when it was released six months later. 

Legacy

Sonic Adventure 2 is arguably one of the most iconic and well-remembered games for the franchise and although it was the last Sonic game for the Dreamcast before it went under, many played the game thanks to the GameCube port, which was more widely available at the time. Also like the first one in its own right, the stellar OST helped pave the way for Crush 40, which would help to create the franchises best known music. It also introduced us to Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat, who would end up being regulars in the series. 

Thoughts from the Head

If you were to ask me what were some of the games that defined my childhood, Sonic Adventure 2 would my first response off the bat. Alongside Unleased, it’s one of my favorite Sonic games to play and replay. I played the GameCube version first (as did many my age since more people had a GameCube than a Dreamcast at this point and this was the late 2000s/early 2010s at this point). Was is a masterpiece? Not quite, but it still holds a special place in my heart even with the awkward sound mixing and the story. 

Despite everything, I would recommend the game to any Sonic fan who hasn’t tried it. The soundtrack is outstanding, the gameplay is great and you will become addicted to the Chao Garden faster than you can snap your fingers (seriously). Which version is best, you ask? For the most accessibility, i would go the one on Steam. It has the best graphics and controls, and it’s $10. Plus with this being a much older title, you can pretty much run this on anything. If you want the console experience, go with the Dreamcast version. The Gamecube version isn’t bad (go for that one if you don’t have a Dreamcast), especially with the extra content, but the graphics aren’t super great and the controls are kinda wonky.

Wanna learn some cool facts about the game and its development? Longtime favorite YouTube channel Did You Know Gaming? has your back with this neat video below:

Check them out, some of the facts might surprise you!

[definitelynotafurinasimp]

Having Ningguang as a regular at your Coffee Shop

Characters: Ningguang x gn!reader

AU: Barista!AU

Warnings: none, just fluff

a/n: The original request by @bluesandpiper contained 6-7 AUs with different characters, but since I don’t want to keep you waiting until I’m finished with all of them, I’m just going to post them separately whenever I’m done with one.

I hope I got Ningguang right, she's not exactly a character that's too easy for me to write, so if I did something wrong, just tell me and I'll try again

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Ningguang

While you couldn’t exactly remember when or why you started making small-talk with Ningguang each morning as she ordered something to drink, it quickly became part of your morning-routine, your chats starting to resemble small-talk less and less with each day until they turned into actual conversations.

Before long, days where Ningguang didn’t visit the Coffee-shop started to feel like they were missing something—or rather someone. Your co-workers, not missing your less happy behaviour, quickly put two and two together, causing them to tease you about your “crush” while trying to persuade you to do something about it. And while you weren’t too sure if they did it because they cared or simply due to the lack of other interesting things happening, their words started echoing in your head every time Ningguang walked through the door.

As you finally finished setting up everything and flipped the sign outside of the door, signalling to whoever passed the building that the shop had opened, you let out a long-drawn yawn. While staring your shifts early wasn’t something you weren’t used to, you still couldn’t help but wonder why your boss was so stubborn about opening at least an hour before the competition. Sure, the amount of customers was large enough to justify continuing to do so, but they still weren’t comparable to the number of visitors later in the morning.

While you were still too busy silently wishing you had went to bed earlier the night before, you almost didn’t notice the door open, only to let out a small sigh of relief when you saw that it was Ningguang.

“Oh, good morning, Ningguang! You’re here earlier than expected”, you greeted, trying your best to cover your tiredness up with a smile, only for Ningguang’s silent stare to make you realise that she had long noticed.

“Work”, she stated, causing you to silently thank whatever gods were out there that had made her decide not to mention it while simply nodding in response. When Ningguang eventually made her order, you weren’t all too surprised by her ordering 2 cups of coffee—something she used to do from time to time—what you were surprised though, was her offering you one of them immediately after paying.

“You do look like you need it more than me, or am I wrong?”, she asked, although the small look of amusement on her face made it obvious enough that she already knew the answer.

“Thanks…”, you sheepishly answered while making a mental note to wash your face with cold water the next time you were on break, taking your first sip a few seconds after Ningguang, only for the two of you to quickly move on and have your usual chat. That was, until you were interrupted by the sound of the door opening as the next customer entered the shop, causing Ningguang to take a brief look at her watch before ordering another cup of coffee.

And while that would normally have been the end of your interaction until the next time you met, you couldn’t help but feel as if your conversation had been cut short, causing you to quickly scribble your phone number on the cup, something that’d probably cause you to lie awake at night and cringe later that day, handing it to her and receiving her money in turn.

But as Ningguang walked out of the shop and you were about to put the money into the cash register, you noticed a small piece of paper among the coins, slightly blushing once you made out the numbers written on it, realising that it also was a phone number, only for your thoughts to eventually get interrupted by an order.

And while you finished your shift as if nothing happened, the small piece of paper never left your mind.

[mxstas]

3:34 am - kazutora hanemiya

prompt: "I heard you talking in your sleep.”

genre: fluff

warnings: gn! reader, uses “pretty” to describe reader, established relationship, not proof read.

wc: 897

kazutora’s favorite thing was spending the night with you. he thinks you make it easier for him to fall asleep and that he feels more relaxed when he’s with you. so, of course, sleepovers happened often.

over the course of your relationship you started to notice that sometimes, when kazutora is extremely tired and on the verge of sleep, he’ll mumble something unconsciously. sometimes it’ll be nonsense about his day or a random thought he had, but sometimes, it’ll be about you.

things he might be too shy to tell you up front. but once sun goes down, he’s a sappy mess.

“is it alright if i spend the night?” you asked kazutora, who was seated next to you on his couch. with his arm draped over you and his head nuzzled into the back of you neck, he replies “hm? of course. you know you don’t have to ask right?”.

and with that, you too started to get ready for bed. he quickly crawled into bed and laid next to you. soon, you two have your legs tangled with one another, enjoying your guys presence as you both fall asleep.

you wake up a couple hours later, it still being dark outside. you reach over the bed side table to grab a cup of water but there was nothing there. *guess he doesn’t keep a cup of water with him before he sleeps*, you thought.

you got up to go get some water from his kitchen for a minute. upon your arrival back to his bedroom, your met with a very sleepy eyed kazutora. his eyes threatened to close but he didn’t let them.

“welcome back” he muttered. his voice was groggy and attractive, it was something that always seemed to make your stomach do cartwheels.

“you didn’t have to force yourself awake to wait for me.” you tell him as you crawl into the space next to him. his arms almost immediately wrap themselves around you, re-tangling your legs.

“cant sleep without you. not even for a second.” he mumbles into your neck. you laugh a little at his sappy little confession, but it’s barely noticeable. he places a kiss on your collar bone before sighing into it. and now the fun begins.

“hm you’re so pretty” he whispered. he traced his fingers along your back, making obscure shapes and signs as he kept talking. he continued to press damp, sleepy kisses along your neck.

“hehe kaz that tickles” you giggled as you attempt to free yourself from his grasp but he insists on keeping you there, keeping you close.

“that shirt you wore today was nice.” he spoke. “ you look amazing in it.” his words were slurring together as he traveled to press yet more kisses on your jaw. “mm so pretty”

you let him continue as you ran your fingers through his hair. he soon reached up to your face and captured your lips into a brief kiss. it was weak due to his tiredness, but it was sweet nonetheless.

“i love you” he mutters after the kiss. he lays his head down on the pillow next to you and quickly falls asleep. you scoot over and kiss the top of his head. “i love you too” you whisper, hoping that he heard that before he passed out.

the next morning you wake up to the smell of pancakes and some noises coming from the kitchen you stretch a bit before getting outta bed and walking out of kazutora’s room. upon walking into the kitchen, you spot your boyfriend, making pancakes. boxed pancakes of course, you know that boy can’t cook on his own.

“good morning” you chimed, walking up behind him. “morning” he says turning to you. “how’d you sleep?”

you wrap your arms around him as you watch him gently flip a pancake onto its other side. “great. you?”

“same here” he replied. you guys stayed like this for a couple more minutes in peaceful silence. after a while you start to remember the events of last night. you began to chuckle a bit as you remember the things kazutora had said to you. “what is it?” he asks, thinking he must’ve messed something up while making breakfast.

“it’s nothing, it’s nothing” you answer. he turns around and place his arms on the counter behind him. you let your arms loosen around him as you both are now facing each other.

“c’mon tell me” he insists with a grin on his face. you figured that it’s best if he finally finds out about his unconscious confession.

"I heard you talking in your sleep.” you respond. his eyes widened and his face turns a light shade of pink, nervous about what embarrassing thing he might’ve said. you proceed to tell him about what he said last night and the many nights before that.

he puts his hand over his eyes and lowers his head in embarrassment. you giggle before removing his hand and kissing his knuckles.

“you’re gonna kill me one day, you know that?” he says, still not looking at you.

“that would be a great way to go out wouldn’t it?” you smirked as you grab his face gently, making him look at you.

“i hate you”

“sleepy you would beg to differ”

“shut up” he says as he seals your lips together, effectively shutting you up.

a/n: you can really tell that i gave up at the end but wtvs. also posting is most def not gonna be a regular thing. i’ll probably only do these for fun or if i feel like it.

[ijustwant2write]

Causing A Fuss-Anthony Bridgerton x Reader

(GIF credit to @hvitserkk​)

Masterlist

Requested by @elennox03 : Can you write an imagine where Anthony’s wife is pregnant and she’s at the very end of her pregnancy and he is trying to make her stay in bed and rest but she refuses and she’s somewhere in the house and she goes into labor and Anthony freaks out and then after the baby is born a little cute dad Anthony fluff?

Characters: Anthony Bridgerton x Reader, Hyacinth Bridgerton x Reader (sister-in-law), Violet Bridgerton x Reader (mother-in-law)

Meanings: (Y/N)=Your name

Warnings: Pregnancy side effects, labour, mention of blood, fluff fluff fluff

                                     *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Anthony's strides were quick as he explored the house, desperately seeking his wife. Members of staff were ambushed with questions, startled by his tone. When he didn't get the answer he wanted, he would huff and storm off again. Where was his beloved? She wasn't where she was supposed to be.

(Y/N) laid back on the sofa as Hyacinth fanned her, the pregnant woman also fanning herself. She was just too hot, she was tired and her feet felt like they had been hit with a hammer. Her shoes were on the floor, it was far too painful to be wearing them.

"Thank you so much darling." (Y/N) said to her sister-in-law.

"Is it really that bad?" Hyacinth asked.

(Y/N) wanted to say yes. Despite pregnancy being an extraordinary feeling, the emotions and connections you made with your unborn child were confusing, there were quite a few downsides; the sickness, the tiredness, not being able to fit into your dresses or shoes, as well as feeling every single type of emotion everyday. But after seeing the young girls scared face, she knew she couldn't be entirely truthful.

"No, of course not." (Y/N) smiled, sitting up slightly."It can just get a little tiring sometimes. Have you ever held a baby?"

She nodded.

"It was heavier than you imagined, hm? Well, my baby is a little heavy right now. But they will be here soon."

"I'm very excited to meet them. I can't wait to be an auntie!"

(Y/N) melted at that."You'll be an amazing auntie."

"Here you are." Anthony entered the room, relieved to see (Y/N), until he saw what state she was in."What is wrong? Hyacinth, why didn't you fetch for me sooner?"

Anthony rushed to his wife's side, snatching the fan from his sister and fanning his wife. (Y/N) was irritated whenever Anthony was like this, it was sweet that he cared, but her fuse was short. She was resting, not bed ridden.

"I am not returning to bed Anthony. I do not wish to bicker with you." (Y/N) made it clear."I am just hot, that is all."

"The doctor advised that you stay in bed for most of the day-"

"Anthony, I cannot stay cooped up all day, laying down and doing nothing. I would go simply mad. And I have spoken to friends who are or have been pregnant, none of them did that."

"They are not professionally trained."

"That doctor has never carried a baby."

"(Y/N) said it isn't that heavy." Hyacinth spoke up.

Anthony slowly turned his head to his sister. "This is a matter for the grown ups. Go and...play somewhere."

Hyacinth knew better than to argue with Anthony, rolling her eyes before leaving. (Y/N) pursed her lips at her husband's behaviour.

"Did I ever mention how amazing you are with children?"

Anthony smirked."Well, it's a bit late to be getting lessons on childcare, isn't it?"

(Y/N) giggled, taking Anthony's hand and placing it on her bump. Anthony loved touching her growing bump. It had been strange to see his wife changing shape before his eyes. He was so used to her body having run his hands over every angle, seeing it every day from the time they were married. But it made him fall even more in love with her, if that was even possible. Anthony could write a hundred pages expressing his love for his wife, and it would still never be enough.

"I still can't believe we're having a baby." he breathed out.

(Y/N) scoffed."Are you saying I've always looked like this?"

Anthony laughed."Of course not. But no matter how much you talk about such a thing, no matter how much preparation you do, it just seems surreal."

(Y/N) hummed in response, putting her hand on top of his."I've loved carrying them, but it is time for them to come out into the world."

"Still not saying whether it's a boy or girl?"

(Y/N) shook her head."I just don't feel one way about it. Not that I care about that, as long as they're healthy."

"I still say boy."

"You would."

"You just said you didn't care."

"I don't."

"(Y/N), please can you just promise me one thing?"

"Anthony, I am not staying in bed-"

"Stay by my side as much as possible. The baby is due soon and I want to ensure you are safe when the time comes."

"Oh, Anthony, I'm with you for a majority of the day anyway."

"I know but, if there are moments where I am not present, I want to have a sound mind that you are in safe hands, such as family or a member of staff."

"Well, you know I'm not going to be leaving the house, much to my annoyance. So I will be guarded all day and night."

"You're making it sound like you're a prisoner."

"I'm just being dramatic. I just want to meet our child now."

"Well, I can't deny either of those statements."

Anthony wasn't exaggerating when he said he wanted (Y/N) beside him at all times. From then on, they were seen with each other anywhere they went in the house. Anthony didn't go out as much as he did, and he instructed there always be staff in every room and corridor. She didn't mind it, however, as her due date grew closer, the more nervous she became. Unfortunately, that meant her temper was shorter, she became more snappy and tired, and she didn't want everyone constantly reminding her that she was about to give birth. (Y/N) tried so hard to not take it out on her husband, but because he was the one always beside her, he was the only person she could lash out at.

"Anthony, I'm sorry but I just need a few moments alone. I'll return soon, just...let me calm down. I'm sorry." she apologised as she walked away from him, having screamed about how frustrated she was.

She didn't hide her deep breathing as she waddled down the corridors, passing by staff that worryingly watched her. (Y/N) wanted to calm her heart rate, try and clear her mind. Feeling too many eyes on her, (Y/N) escaped into the nearest room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"(Y/N)?" Hyacinth said behind her.

(Y/N) sighed. Would she ever be alone again?

"What are you doing in my playroom? I thought you would be with Anthony."

She was playing with her dolls, three propped up in mini chairs, as was she, as they indulged in an imaginary afternoon tea. (Y/N) couldn't help but smile at that, envisioning her child playing in this room.

"Sorry darling, I just...I needed some time away from the grown ups."

"Oh, alright. Would you like to join us for tea?" she gestured to the chair beside her, causing (Y/N) to laugh.

"I don't think I would fit in that chair, even if I wasn't with child. I'll take the rocking chair. You carry on darling, I'm sorry for the interruption."

Her aching feet carried her to the chair, cautiously lowering down onto it. She rocked her heels back and forth, though did so slowly in case it caused any nausea. Hyacinth continued her game as if (Y/N) wasn't there, but kept her voice quiet to be respectful. (Y/N) closed her eyes, finally feeling the stress lift for just a moment when a jolt of pain in her stomach startled her. It made her let out a cry, clutching onto her bump as she leaned forward. Hyacinth jumped at the sudden noise, suddenly frightened at the way (Y/N) sounded and looked.

(Y/N)'s breathing got faster and deeper, yelling out as an unbearable feeling coursed through her. Her hands wrapped around her torso, willing the feeling to stop. A shocked noise escaped her when she felt herself go wet in the chair, liquid dripping down her legs.

"Hyacinth, get Anthony!" (Y/N) groaned, thankful a staff member rushed in. Hyacinth didn't have to be told twice, running as quickly as she could to fetch her brother. She had never seen anyone in such a state, no one had ever mentioned this pain when having a baby. Tears were in her eyes as she finally found Anthony, who was standing with her two other brothers at the staircase.

"Hyacinth, what's wrong?" Benedict was the first to notice the little girl running towards him.

She immediately grabbed Anthony's hand, gripping tightly onto it."Quickly!"

"What's happened?" Anthony asked her her fretting.

"(Y/N)'s having the baby!"

A second of silence passed before Anthony sprinted in the direction his sister came from. He only had to follow the sound of screaming to find his wife. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen, she was meant to be upstairs in a comfortable position, surrounded by women staff that were prepared. He halted in the doorway when he saw her clutching onto the servant's arm as she struggled to stand from the chair. He snapped an order at another servant who followed him. The doctor had to get here as soon as possible, and the other students needed to prepare immediately.

"It's alright my love, I'm here. The doctor is on his way." Anthony reassured her as he took her other arm.

"I'm in so much pain Anthony." she wept."I can't do it, I can't do it, I don't have control over my own body. I'm frightened!"

Anthony's heart was shattering into a million pieces seeing his wife like this. He couldn't do anything to help. He couldn't ease the pain. If he could, he would take all of the pain she had and endure it himself. Anthony was a mix of emotions; fear for his wife, excitement to meet his child, terrified at (Y/N)'a reactions and noises. It was all too much, nothing would have prepared him for this.

"Anthony, you must leave!" Violet suddenly appeared.

"Mama, I can't leave her-"

"You wouldn’t want to see this Anthony. Go wait for the doctor, we all know what we’re doing here.”

Anthony knew of the steps to take in this event, it was not proper for a man to be present during the ordeal of birthing. But the love for (Y/N) was urging him to stay and protect her, that was what he was supposed to do as a husband, not abandon her. They went through everything together. Now he was being told to leave because of societies rules.

Benedict and Colin were able to pull away Anthony easier than they thought, due to him being frozen and confused about what he should do. He only registered that (Y/N) was calling for him after they left the room. Fighting against his brothers hold, he ignored their please for him to stop. They didn’t understand. They weren’t married, they had no idea what it was like to be bonded with someone in this way. However, he knew they were right, he had to stay away. All he could do now was help her from outside of the room.

“Where is the doctor?!” he demanded to know from the nearest servant.

“H-he has b-been called upon, Lord Bridgerton.” they stuttered.

“As soon as he arrives, he is to be brought here, quickly! Gather pillows, as many as you can, and blankets, we must ensure my wife is as comfortable as she can be. She should have been giving birth in a bed!”

Benedict and Colin stood back in silence, shocked by the quick turn around in their brother’s behaviour. They didn’t dare say anything in case they were snapped at. 

(Y/N) was clinging onto Violet’s hand as she screamed, hating the way her body had taken over and she couldn’t take back control. Violet remained calm, knowing that (Y/N) could do this. She had birthed all of her children with no complications, she knew how much women had to endure, so Violet was equipped with the necessary grit and vigour to help her daughter-in-law. (Y/N) was grateful to have Violet there.

A gruelling eight hours passed, filled with (Y/N) screaming, crying, cursing, pleading and begging for Anthony. It took every ounce of his willpower to not dash back to her, he would never forgive himself for this. He wished he could change the rules so he could be beside her. He paced with a strong drink in his hand for those eight hours, his brothers sitting down, trying to support him. However, it was getting late, and they found themselves struggling to keep their eyes open. Anthony had got rid of his jacket, sleeves rolled up and shirt buttons undone as he got warm, fretting over what was happening to (Y/N). 

“Lord Bridgerton!” a servant exclaimed as they entered the room, trying to stay composed. 

The men perked up, suddenly awake. Anthony noticed the servant was smiling, which made him relieved.“What is it?”

“Lady Bridgerton has given birth.”

Anthony didn’t need to hear anything else. He instantly ran to where his poor wife had been in labour. Hyacinth would never step foot in that room again. He pushed past anyone that got in his way, halting at the open doors to the playroom. The first thing he saw was blood, a lot of it, alarmed at the sight. But as he entered the room, it was forgotten about when he saw (Y/N)’s grin aimed at the baby wriggling around in her arms. His steps were slow as he approached, scared that he would disturb the peace that had finally fallen in this room. 

“Anthony.” (Y/N) breathed out, clearly exhausted. 

“I’m sorry.” was all Anthony could manage, eyes still fixed on his child. 

“For what?”

“For not being here.”

“You’re here now, and I understand darling. Now come meet your son.”

Anthony’s eyes widened.“I-I have a son? We have a baby boy?”

The doctor who had been crouched beside (Y/N) smiled at the Lord, standing to give the couple their space.“Yes, Lord Bridgerton, you’re now a father and have a son, who is very healthy, just like his mother.”

Violet also backed away, beaming down at her eldest son. She had never imagined him married and settled down so quickly, she expected to have many more years of her son fooling around with women not of a certain standard. Once (Y/N) waltzed in, Violet had seen a change in Anthony, and hope was restored in the Viscount.

“He’s finally here.” (Y/N) smiled as Anthony sat beside her.

“He really is.” one of his arms wrapped around her shoulders, whilst the other supported her arms holding the baby.“You’re amazing. You did this (Y/N).”

“We did it.”

“No, no, you did this all by yourself. I’ll be with you every time form now on.”

“Every time? How many are you planning to have?”

He chuckled.“We’ll discuss that later.”

(Y/N) giggled, gently kissing the top of their baby’s forehead. Anthony couldn’t stop smiling, repeating (Y/N)’s actions to her. He had never envisioned this, he didn’t want to be trapped in this life at first. He had so many responsibilities dumped on him after his father died, he wanted to make sure his family was secure and have the freedom for himself; until he met (Y/N), and suddenly, he could see his entire future planned in front of him with this woman. He never fathomed that his heart could give anymore love for anyone else in this world, and he had been proven wrong. (Y/N) was the love of his life, as was his son, and he would protect and cherish them for the rest of his life. 

[lokiandbuckysdoll]

Surprise

Paring: Steve Rogers x Reader, 

Summary: You give Steve an unforgetable  birthday surprise 

Word count: 1,329

A/N: This was a last minute idea that popped into my head so sorry! if the fic is bad!! :)  Also I did not beta read before posting so all typos are my mistake! i will fic them when i can ;) 

July 4th is the day most people spend celebrating America's Independence. However the date has a very different and special meaning to you. That was the day  that your life changed forever, it was the day you met Steve Rogers.  You know that saying “Opposites Attract”  well that  describes yours and Steve's relationship. Steve was more outgoing and adventurous, as you were more of the quiet and shy type. As your friendship progressed Steve brought the fun and loveable side out of  you and you brought out the more laid back and relaxing side in him.  

So now here you are secretly planning a surprise for his birthday and your anniversary with the help of bucky. Steve had insisted  beforehand  not to wish him a happy birthday or make the day about him, but of course you're not going to listen to him.  He rather have the day be all about you due to your anniversary. 

“ Bucky more to the right, my right not your right!” you huff out trying to guide bucky to pin a birthday banner. 

“ Hey don't yell at me now, do you want my help or not sweets?” he smirks playfully. 

“ Sorry it's just I want this to be perfect for Steve, I want him to like it ”  you tilt your head a little to admire how the banner looks. 

“ It will be and if he doesn’t appreciate  all the hard work I'll kick his captain butt” you can’t help but laugh at Bucky's comment. 

“ I can't  with you bucky, but thank you I  appreciate you helping me” you pull him into a hug. 

“ Your welcome sweets, now i'll leave you be” he releases you from the hug and gives you a smile as he leaves. You change into more comfy clothes, then you make your way to the hanger to wait for Steve, You glance at your phone to see its 2 hours until it's Steve's birthday.  

Steve really didn't want to go on this Mission and leave you but Fury had insisted it was important and so Steve being the nobleman he was he took the mission. Once you see the quin jet land you couldn't  help contain your excitement. You greet the others as they pass by, when you look at Steve he's waiting with open arms. 

Running as if your life depends on it, you jump into Steve's arms. He's quick to wrap his arms around you, holding you tight. You place a soft yet sweet kiss to his lips and you can feel him smile. “ You missed me sunshine?” you pull away to admire him for a second. 

“ I always miss you” you lean in again before Tony scoffs for you two to stop. 

Both of you give him a playful glare before you make your way into the compound. 

As you reach the door to your shared room, you  tell Steve to close his eyes which he does and you guide him in  and place him in the middle of the big room. You tell him he can open his eyes, as he does his mouth opens a gap at what’s  in front of him. 

You had the room decorated from head to toe with all of his Favorite things from the 40’s and from the present Times. With the help of Tony you managed to get an original Brooklyn Dodgers Jersey before the team moved to LA.

 A new record player sat on the table by the Entrance of the door with a couple of records that he always talked about but could never find. The kitchen table was filled with his favorite snacks and food from brooklyn.  

“ Aww sunshine you really didn’t have to do all of this for me” he pulls you into a tight hug and kisses your temple. 

“I know but you deserve it because you're amazing”  you pull back and just admire his features, his crystal blue eyes filled furtively mixed with tiredness. Yet he still had that smile that caused butterflies in your stomach.  

“ Someone is zoning out on me” Steve’s soft voice pulled you out of your thoughts. 

“ Sorry, I'm just admiring what's mine” you tap his nose with your finger. 

He lets out a small laugh and picks you up bridal style to walk to the bedroom.  

“ As much as I love the effort and time  you and probably Bucky put into this, all I want is to sleep and cuddle up with you  Sunshine” he smiles as he places  you on the big bed and kisses your lips.  

“ As much as I would love to just lay in bed with your arms wrapped around me Cap, You have to shower and get on comfy clothes  because there's one more surprise I have you” you smirk as you can see his gears turning in his head to figure out what else you could possibly have planned.  

“ I swear if stark has that strip thing he always talks about i’m not interested because I have you” 

You let out the biggest laugh you think you ever could at Steve's confession. The way he has a brooding expression thinking about what Tony might have planned. His face quilt turns confusing as you're just laughing at him.  

“ I’m Sorry but Stevie that's really funny, however no Tony is not taking you to a strip club and second I'm flattered  you rather watch me strip tease you” You let out another burst of laughter as his eyes get big and his face turns flushed red at your confession. 

“ Geez you like a tomato just get into the shower your clothes are already on  the counter” you shake your head in amusement.  

An hour passes by and you and Steve are sitting on the rooftop of the compound as you wait to count down his birthday and anniversary.  

“ This is nice thank you” Steve pulls you into his lap as he wraps the fluffy blankets around you tighter. You hum in response as you place a kiss on his cheek. As the fireworks begin to go off, light up the sky with “ Happy Birthday Cap” 

You pull away as they continue to go off and Steve gives you a confused look.

“ We’re are you going?” He questions missing your warmth. 

“ I have a gift for you” you smile which causes him to look at you weird but nothing less he just nods. 

You take a black box with a hand made captain America start glued on top of it. You position you’re in your previous spot in his lap. 

“ A box? it’s lovely” he comments sarcastically as you place it in your lap. 

“ haha very funny but in all seriousness I want you to know that I love you so much Steve, this gift is something that we’ve both discussed about but never really decided on a weather or not we were ready”  Steve is confused as ever trying to think what you could’ve got him as you give him the gift to open.  

He takes off the top and is met with two postive pregnancy tesst with a note that  reads “You're going to be the best Super Daddy ever” and baby  onesies that read “Sidekick”  “Newest Avenger ” and your favortie “ Super baby”

Steve's expression is blank for a second as his mind is running a million miles a minute, this is everything he ever wanted. He could finlay have the life he always  dreamed of.

 It was even more amazing as he had you as his soon to be wife. He turns to you and your eyes are already filled with tears as you softly say “ Happy Birthday Stevie and happy anniversary” he carefully places the box beside  him and pulls you  close to his body as he places kisses all over your face and his own tears begin to flow out.  

He mutters small “ thank yous” and “ i'm going to be a dad” into your neck and the both of you could only cry more out of joy, you pull back to wipe his face and he has a look that’s full of admiration and devotion.

“ W-when did you find out?” He chokes out and he tries to gain his composure.

“ Last week, I realized I was late so i took a test and went to Dr.Cho to confirm” you smile remembering the moment Dr.Cho confirmed you were indeed  pregnant.

“ How far along are you? We haven’t ev-” Steve cuts himself off as he remembers what you both did at Clint’s party.

You laugh at his realization

“ According to Dr. Cho I’m 4 weeks along” you smile as Steve takes your hand a kisses it admiring the ring he’s placed on your finger.

“ You’re going to an amazing mother and soon to be Mrs.Rogers” you smiled at his comment and pulled him in for a kiss. You both turned your attention  back to the sky that was now clear as day with shining stars. you hum just enjoying the closeness of each other. 

[malulls]

Good night, witchling

Manorian fluffy

The corridors of the castle were dark and silent, which was understandable at that time of night. The cold wind of Adarlan's winter entered through the chinks in the windows, leaving the walls and stone floors chilled.

Dorian passed dozens of closed doors before he reached the one he was looking for, a little larger and taller than any other in the castle.

Silently, he turned the handle and entered the room, with the lights already faded. The only sound other than the crickets singing in the gardens was the slow, regular breathing of the Queen of Witches.

Manon did not move when he closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed, nor when he pulled the covers away. She was sleeping partially seated, leaning against a pile of pillows, with Asterin on her lap. The princess slept deeply with her cheek pressed against the queen's chest, holding a lock of her mother's hair between her fingers.

Dorian tried to take her, but the moment he pulled Asterin off, Manon closed her arms around her.

— Manon?

Slowly, her lids fluttered, as if opening her eyes was an effort. It took a few seconds before she sat up straighter and handed Asterin to him.

Dorian rose to carry her into the adjacent room and placed the princess in her crib. He watched her squirm for a few seconds due to the change, but as soon as she found something to hold on to — the tip of the pillow — her body relaxed, and she went back to sleep soundly.

The king placed a blanket over Asterin before returning to where Manon was. She had undone the pile of pillows and was now lying down, still awake as he laid beside her.

— Are you all right? Was she crying too much?

The queen waited for Dorian to put his arms around her and pull her close before answering.

— No more than usual. And yes, I'm fine. Just a little exhausted.

— I wish I could help more with it.

Adarlan had just closed a new commercial deal with Wendlyn, which meant that the two of them had countless meetings and endless documents to read and sign. Which was extremely complicated having a daughter who was only weeks born.

— We should rest and let Abraxos rule for a few weeks.

The thought of Abraxos with a crown snarling at the lords of Adarlan drew a smile from Dorian, despite the tiredness.

— I bet he would make a great king.

— Seriously. — Manon pulled her head away from his chest and laid it against the pillow. — It seems that I barely see you.

She was right. Dorian didn't know the last time he had spent time caring of Asterin, didn't know the last time he had just hugged Manon and talked to her. Much less when the two of them had last done anything in that bed other than sleep.

— I know, but it will get better. Once this Wendlyn mess is over, things will calm down.

— Okay — The witch murmured, though he could see the twinge of irritation she was trying to keep out of her voice. — I'll see you in ten years.

Dorian laughed.

— Then I am the dramatic.

— I'm not being dramatic. I'm thinking about how much work this will take, and that my daughter has strong lungs and indestructible vocal cords.

Dorian was forced to agree. Asterin was normally a quiet child, but when she cried she did it with dedication, screaming loud enough for Nesryn probably hear from the southern continent.

— She is grumpy. Just like you.

— Scandalous. Just like you.

She leaned her face against his chest again. Dorian could let the conversation end there. He could let her sleep and do the same. He could just not annoy her. But...

— I'm not scandalous. — He lazily wrapped a few strands of silver hair around his finger. — Usually you're the one who screams.

The witch's body stiffened and she lifted her face slowly, her eyes narrowed as if she was about to rip his head off.

— I don't scream. — Dorian raised his eyebrows ironically, but didn't dare disagree with her. —And don't think that I can't kick you just because I'm tired.

Instead of worrying about his wife's furious expression, the king was distracted by the way her white hair slid down and exposed her neck when she stood up.

— I know. — He laid her back on the mattress — but you're not going to do this.

She tilted her head back slightly as Dorian kissed her, right under her ear. Manon tangled her fingers in the soft locks of his black hair as the king left a trail of kisses along her skin, until he reached the space between her shoulder and neck and slowly ran his tongue there.

— Not now. — She agreed, her voice rough — but don't be surprised if you get punched in the middle of the night.

He smiled as he made his way back, trailing warm kisses down her jaw to her mouth. Dorian pressed his lips quickly against the queen's before pulling away, but Manon tilted her head and this time she kissed him for real. Dorian moved his hands to her waist, to her hips, feeling her heart, beating fast against his own chest, making them both forget how tired they were, just for a second. He ran his fingertips down to the silk camisole she was wearing, halfway down her thighs. He dragged his fingers across her skin, moving up the fabric a few inches, almost reaching her hips.

But he could feel her hands on his back moving slower and slower, his own eyes burning under his eyelids.

Then he pulled away, and this time Manon let him lie back down and put an arm around her waist.

Dorian kissed her forehead.

- Good night, witchling.

The king was almost asleep when Manon pushed him, so hard that he almost fell from the bed.