#this first chapter also sets up some things so it's not the most exciting thing I've written but

[starlitplayground]

18+, MDNI

Crossed Wires and Corroded Steel (Sun/Moon x Reader) - Part One; 'First Impressions'.

(afab, gender neutral pronouns)

warnings/content; nothing quite yet, but eventual gore, suggestive/potentially NSFW, major character death. i'll keep this properly updated as needed.

word count; 12,570

full chapter below as well!

⋆⁺₊⋆ 𖤓☽ ⋆⁺₊⋆

You didn't really think you'd ever be in the position that you were in.

Hundreds of miles away from home, in an empty parking lot, staring up at the large building containing your future. Uncertainty tries to course through you, but you shake it away. You need this, you told yourself- but that didn't make your reality any sweeter; you stood in front of the newest Fazbear Entertainment location, Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex. It was no secret that the CEO of the company was potentially sketchy as all hell, but it was hard to ignore the 'Advanced Robotics Technician' job opening you found online.

Not many places needed a technician as skilled as you, but that didn't mean you were necessarily short on job opportunities. Were they worth it? No, not really. You made an alright amount of money, but you were downright miserable. You lacked mental stimulation- fixing WIFI routers and cell phones was not cutting it. Maybe moving half-way across the country was a bit of an impulsive thing to do, but you desperately wanted to do something new and exciting. You were most definitely excited- but you were quite nervous, too.

The comfortable night air silently whispered around you as you inhaled and exhaled deeply, rubbing your palms together as you approached the automatic glass doors. They slid open and you walked through, raising your eyebrows as you looked around at the bright, retro 80's themed interior of the building. Sure, you'd done a bit of research on the place- but, it was just that. A bit.

You knew about the Glamrocks and their popularity, but you couldn't find much of anything regarding the animatronics' mechanical structure, so you didn't find a need to do anymore digging. You didn't get a master's degree in Advanced Robotics Engineering for nothing, so you decided to take it as some what of a challenge.

You didn't make it further than four feet into the building when a blur of white came flying at you from the side, and you jumped back with a startled yelp.

"Welcome to Freddy Faz-Faz-Fazbear's Meg-eg-ega Piz-izaple-e-ex, home of the Gla-am-am-rocks! Please-ease-ease head to-o the service-ervice desk for-or admission and par-ar-arty passes."

Your eyebrows furrowed at the small white bot invading your personal space, glitching terribly through it's greeting. "Good god- I doubt that's right.." You muttered and trailed off, looking it over. It was a basic design; likely a part of a set based on the number '16' on its chest in small black lettering.

You walked around the bot, looking at it's back panel. It didn't move, and you began reading the small sticker underneath the base of it's neck. You squinted as you read the small words, but your focus was broken by a slight chuckle from behind you. You whipped around, eyes widening.

Somewhat shockingly, it was William Afton himself.

You'd seen him online before; articles of Fazbear Entertainment locations burning down, and a few missing child articles as well. You also saw him featured in a few robotic engineering forums, so it wasn't too terribly far off to say he was almost idolized by techy 'nerds' like you. It was still a shock to see him in the flesh; his deep purple suit was ironed and smooth, and he wore a bright yellow tie with a Freddy enamel pin towards the top. His hand was in his pocket and he had an amused smile on his face, the purple and blue neon lights reflecting softly off of his hair, which was slicked back.

He looked expensive.

You stepped away from the bot, a nervous smile making it's way to your face. "Ah, hi, sorry." You apologized, but he waved you off. "Nonsense; your eagerness shows. I take it you're (y/n)?" He asked, approaching you. You nodded, looking back at the bot. "Yes, sir. I noticed that this lil' guy had an issue, so I figured I'd give it a teensy look." You replied, and the bot looked from Afton to you.

"Oh? I'm not here often; I'm unfortunately quite busy, and so I entrust management to my daughter. I came to personally meet you and guide you through the innerworkings of my animatronics- as mentioned in the email you received, we've been struggling to find someone capable of doing such intricate work." He said, tilting his head at the small bot. "How long has it been since they've been serviced? The animatronics, I mean." You asked, and he clicked his tongue.

"They have small work done here and there thanks to a program I built to help Vanessa- my daughter- keep things running until we found someone to handle the bigger issues. I've had to drop everything and come fix some more extreme situations a few times now, so your presence is definitely appreciated. Assuming, that is, that you're able to fully understand said intricacies of my work." He added, and you resisted snorting at the comment.

You weren't one to boast, but you definitely weren't one to discredit yourself either.

"I make no promises, but I can assure you that I wouldn't be here if I wasn't confident in myself and my abilities." You said, respectfully, and he gave you a challenging smile. "Well, let's get to it then." He replied, pulling his hand from his pocket, a yellow, bear shaped smart watch in his hand. He gave it to you, and you put it on as he began walking. "That watch is very important; it might as well be your employee ID itself. You'll need it for a lot of things, so make sure you keep track of it. You only get one replacement before termination, for the company's protection." He said, you following him closely.

The two of you approached a door and he gestured to it, dipping his head slightly. You reached out, the sight of the yellow watch around your wrist unfamiliar as you grabbed the handle. There was a small, audible click as your hand made contact and you turned the handle, pulling the door open. "Ah, keycard watch." You said, and Afton nodded as he walked through the threshold. "Basically."

"Well, I can understand the severity of losing them now." You replied, tilting your head expressively.

You followed him into a messy, unfinished hallway with a janitorial cart and a few stacks of boxes strewn about. "This needs to be cleaned by one of the S.T.A.F.F. bots, but this hall is probably going to be one of your most used paths. It's the fastest way to Parts and Services from the building's entrance, and that's where you'll be quite often- though I'm sure there will be other things to work on, such as broken attractions, malfunctioning arcade machines, etcetera." He explained as the two of you walked ahead.

He stopped at an elevator and pressed the call button. The door shuddered open and he walked in, followed by you. He pointed at the button on the bottom of the directional console, which had a small wrench and gear icon on it. You pressed it and the doors shuddered harder as they closed, grinding against their track.

"Tch." Afton clicked in disapproval at the door as the elevator began it's thankfully smooth descent. "I'd like you to do basic maintenance on each of the Glamrocks, the Daycare Attendant, the DJ, and at least one S.T.A.F.F bot- preferably the unfortunate one you've already met- before you're let loose to explore. We like to let new employees familiarize themselves with this understandably overwhelming workplace before expecting them to perform their work well. Although, your position is a bit more sophisticated." He explained and finished with an uplifted tone, but you puffed your cheeks out. That's a bit more work than you were expecting to do on your first night, though it made sense. Best to see how they all work before you're thrown into this job without much help.

It didn't really sound like Vanessa was the most capable.

Afton must've seen the hesitation on your face and gave a small chuckle. "Nothing to worry about- it sounds intimidating, but basic maintenance is quite easy, and fairly quick. The DJ and Daycare Attendant are quite a bit more advanced, but we'll get to that later. We should be done with that all of them by around three." He said, and you glanced down at the watch on your wrist.

11:14pm.

You were pulled out of your thoughts by the elevator gently jutting to a stop, the doors shuddering open once more. You followed Afton out of the elevator and down the hall to the left, continuing down the hall for a moment before stopping in front of a large door. The same wrench and gear icon from the elevator button was above an unexpectedly large, metal door with adequately sized windows. "This is Parts and Services. This door is off limits to everyone except you, the animatronics, and Vanessa. The animatronics are only to be down here when requested." He explained, and you nodded.

You reached out and opened the door, raising your eyebrows as you scanned the room. There was a large, metal and glass cylinder in the middle of the room, an inhumanly large chair inside. Behind the cylinder on a raised walkway were four doors, each representing a Glamrock. On the left side of the Glamrocks' doors, there was a human-sized door with a music note icon on it, and on the far right of the doors was another door, the same size as the Glamrocks', with celestial icons representing the sun and the moon on it.

Must be for the Daycare Attendant.

You walked further into the room, looking to your left. There was a wall of multiple tools, toolboxes stacked beneath it, and a large workbench. On the wall to the right of you, there was a door labeled 'Replacement Parts', and you wondered how big it was inside.

You looked back just as Afton pressed something on the face of his watch, then lowered his hand. "We'll do this one-by-one, Freddy will be here shortly. In the meantime; this is the repair chamber, although it's where all animatronics- save for DJ Music Man- are to be serviced. Except in severe circumstances, you are not to service them anywhere else- for the safety of you and others." He explained as he approached the cylinder.

"Noted, will do- although, if one were to become unresponsive or immobile, how would I get them down here?" You asked, and he gave a small nod. "That would be considered severe, as their systems can overload quickly when in distress." You nodded as he looked down to the computer in front of the chamber. "That's the Quick-Repair and Coding console, but I highly doubt you'll be using it for much. You'll be notified through your FazWatch when any upgrades or repairs need completed and you'll notice that instructions for the procedure via the QRC, but feel free to handle any issues hands-on if you'd prefer." He finished as heavy, metal thumps came into earshot. You bent your neck around the chamber, looking up at the doors as the footsteps got louder.

Suddenly, Freddy's door lifted and the large, golden bear walked through. Your breath caught in your throat, and you suddenly felt incredibly small, and incredibly out of your element. Bright blue eyes landed on Afton, and then you. He smiled, warm and inviting as he walked down the ramp. "Freddy, right on time." Afton said, grinning at the large bear. "It is so good to see you, Mr. Afton. How have you been?" Freddy asked, and your jaw went slack.

Did he just autonomously respond?

"I've been quite well, thank you for asking. This is (y/n), the new technician. They're going to do some basic maintenance on you and the rest of the animatronics. I'm just walking them through a few things." Afton said, glancing over to you once before returning his attention to Freddy.

"Ah, no problem at all." Freddy replied, flashing you a smile. You gave him an awed smile in return, watching as Afton walked over to the cylinder. He pressed a large button and there was a subtle hiss, the heavy cylinder door dragging up slowly. Freddy walked ahead, entering the cylinder and sitting down in the chair. Afton gestured to the chamber and you sucked in a short breath, walking under the door. Your footsteps echoed off of the glass, followed by Afton's as he followed you into the cylinder.

There was another soft hiss of air and the door slowly shut, closing the three of you inside. As the door shut, there were four heavy clinks of metal. You furrowed your brows and looked down to find metal cuffs wrapped around Freddy's wrists and ankles. They restricted their limbs, but their hands were still moveable.

"Don't worry, Superstar; it's to keep you safe!" Freddy assured, his voice uplifted.

You nodded and Afton shifted behind you. He got close to Freddy, who towered over the grown man even in his relaxed position. "There's a small button that opens the chest cavity underneath his bowtie." He stood with his hands resting behind his back and you nodded. You removed Freddy's bowtie, which appeared to be attached by a strong magnet. "You'll need a screwdriver to reach the button." Afton explained, pointing to a small tray sitting next to the chair. You reached over and grabbed the thinnest Philips head screwdriver on the tray, then walked up to Freddy. It felt a bit odd; he was watching you, which was unnerving to say the least, but there was a softness in his gaze that put you at ease a bit.

It kind of felt like you were about to perform a surgery on an awake patient. You might as well have been.

You looked at the small hole just under Freddy's neck, then got up on your tip-toes and leaned over, lifting the screwdriver. Your eyes flicked to Freddy, who gave a friendly wink. You bit the inside of your lip as you pressed the screwdriver into the hole, then you let out a small yelp as his chest plate popped open, exposing his wires and endoskeleton.

"Good. Now I want you to take a moment and observe the wires; familiarize yourself with them. All of the Glamrocks have practically the same wiring." Afton said, stepping back. You did as you were told, but not just because you were instructed to.

The wires were set meticulously, and there were so many. They twisted around each other in a fluid, intricate mess of organized chaos, though it was quite easy to tell which ones were the most important. Most of them connected to a box about the size of your hand, which had its own wires stretching up and into Freddy's neck. You'd seen plenty of those; they condensed large amounts of wires and connected them to the motherboard without overloading it.

There was one cable, however, deep inside of Freddy's chest that was practically hidden by the collection of wires and cables above it. Unfortunately, everything was coated in a thin layer of dust.

"This is.." You let out a disbelieving chuckle. This was going to be fun.

Afton gave a quiet laugh, then stepped close to you. "Tell me what you see, and point out any issues you may find." He said, looking at you. Your brows furrowed as you began thoroughly examining the wires and cables within Freddy's chest cavity. You reached your small hands into the chassis, carefully pointing at a small cluster of wires that were tied into a neat bundle.

"Well, this is the central system." You said, pointing to the box in Freddy's chest. "If I had to guess, I'd say that this is audio processing and most likely attached to his voice box as well." You said, following the wires further up into the animatronic's chassis. A few of the wires from the group split off and twisted underneath a larger bundle of wires closer to Freddy's throat, and you very gently moved them a touch to the left. You nodded to yourself as the few wires you were tracking were fed into a small, black box with a speaker on the surface.

Freddy's voice was very strong for how unexpectedly small his voice box was. The efficiency was unbelievable.

"Hm. Please continue." He said, watching your hands. You pointed at another bundle of wires, furrowing your brows deeper in focus. "I recognize those ones; those are for optics and video processing." You said, a bit quieter now as you focused on task in front of you. Afton didn't respond that time, but you knew to continue.

"These are for motor function, and these little ones are for more precise movements on smaller parts, such as fingers or eyelids.." You said, trailing off as you continued your examination. "This is the most impressive, advanced piece of technology I've ever seen." You mumbled, and Afton chuckled as he stepped closer. "These are the harder ones to access," He gently moved a few handfuls of wires to the side, exposing more thinner ones deeper in the chassis.

He took a few moments to explain their function to you, pointing as he talked and you intently listened. Finally, the thickest wire deep within the chassis was visible. "This is the powerline, connected to the motherboards- which is located in their heads. Damage to these cords is-" He let out a scoff, though there was no malice. "they're the hardest pieces of these machines to repair, closely seconded by the motherboards. Unexpected power loss can result in a corrupted motherboard, which risks entire memory loss." Your eyebrows raised and you pressed your lips into a thin line. Definitely take care of those, then.

Once he was done, he walked over to the cart. "Here, take this and carefully get rid of the dust." He said, handing you a small hose. He pressed a small button on the cart holding the tool tray, and a soft rush of air began blowing out of the hose.

You carefully fanned it back and forth over Freddy's wiring, blowing the dust off of his cables and out of his chest cavity. He let out a small, deep laugh and you glanced up at him. He gave a sheepish smile and you apologized with your expression, returning focus to your work.

It must've tickled, you thought.

Once you got the dust dealt with, you removed your hands from his chest to lay the hose on the cart. "Close the chassis, just gently push it." Afton instructed and you did as told, placing your palm on the front of Freddy's open chest. There was a bit of resistance, but after a second it gave a small jerk, and began to close. You furrowed your eyebrows again. "Should I do something about that? WD-40, maybe?" You asked, and Afton's hand appeared next to you- already holding a can of multi-purpose lubricant. It was off-brand, but it worked just the same.

"Thank ya, thank ya." You said, leaning over to aim the can at the slightly rusted hinge on the side of Freddy's chest plate. After applying a decent coating of the lubricant, you placed the can on the tray and grabbed the chest plate, gently moving it back and forth to work it in. It became increasingly easier to open and close, so you slowly pressed it down, giving it a gently, firm press until you heard a heavy click.

"This is the last thing; just a little cleaning." Afton said, handing you a folded rag and a bottle of cleaning solution. You nodded and looked Freddy over, spraying and wiping away any smudges and small, greasy handprints. You also took care to get any residual lubricant from around the near-invisible line where his chest plate opened.

Once you were done, Afton nodded. "Good job; you did rather well." Afton said, pressing a green button on the underside of the chair. The cuffs around Freddy's wrists and ankles popped open and the animatronic sat up, giving you a gentle pat on the head. "Welcome to the team, Superstar. You're gonna do great, I can just tell." Freddy complimented, and you gave him a smile.

"Thanks. Freddy. I look forward to working with you." You said, and he reached out a large, yellow paw. You reached your hand out, and his nearly engulfed yours.

He was exiting the cylinder when another door opened with a quiet metallic screech and the three of you looked over, Roxy walking through the door. You blinked a few times, the wolf animatronic squinting at you as she walked down the ramp with a hand on her hip. "Ah, Roxanne. Thank you for coming, I know you're not particularly fond of maintenance." Afton greeted as the animatronic approached. Freddy waved as he walked back to his designated door and walked through, letting it shut behind him.

"Eh. Not my favorite, but I've been itching for some decent work. Been long enough." She said, a small growl in her voice. "Who are you?" She asked, looking down at you. Afton didn't answer, looking at you expectantly. There was a small pause between the three of you, and Roxy raised an eyebrow.

You realized a tad late that Afton wanted you to introduce yourself this time, which should've been obvious since she asked you directly.

"Oh, uh- my name is (y/n), I'm the new technician." You said, breaking the short silence. Roxanne nodded, tilting her head back a bit as you attempted to read her. The AI's heightened awareness in both her and Freddy was intriguing at best, and unnerving at worst. Her eyes flicked over your small form before she returned eye contact and snickered. "Alright, pipsqueak. Let's do it then." She said, taking her pawed hand off of her hip as she walked into the chamber and sat where Freddy previously did. You followed, and Afton closed the chamber door behind the three of you.

The cuffs shut around Roxy's wrists and ankles, and her ears flicked in annoyance.

Roxy's wiring was similar, although the wires were closer together due to the smaller size of her chassis and there were a few extra wires for her tail mobility that Freddy didn't have. You assumed Monty would be the same, but you quickly refocused as you gave her a good look over, a thorough dusting, and a good wipe-down. It was, as Afton said it would be, much quicker than you thought it'd be.

You also didn't think you'd be able to understand Afton's wiring method as well as you did. It wasn't like anything you'd seen before, but despite the unfamiliarity, it practically came to you naturally.

When you finished with Roxy, she rubbed her wrists as she got out of the chair. "Not half bad, kid." She said, giving Afton a small nod as she walked back to her designated door.

Monty was late by nearly ten minutes, and Afton was not pleased. You subconsciously gulped as the nearly eleven foot animatronic approached the two of you. "My bad, I just got caught up in somethin'." Monty apologized, and Afton hummed flatly. "This is (y/n), they'll be doing basic maintenance on you." He said, giving a sharp nod towards the cylinder. Monty nodded, walking under the door with a small huff.

His wiring was nearly identical to Freddy's, save for the ones attached to his tail- as you'd expected. Despite his initially alarming appearance, he was actually quite relaxed and unphased as you dusted his chassis, his eyes trained on you through his purple, star shaped sunglasses. When you were done, Monty gave you an unexpected head pat. "Thanks, runt." He said, flashing you a sharp grin. You nodded, rubbing the back of your neck as he walked away.

Chica's door opened, and she walked in with an ever-so-slightly noticeable limp. "Hiya, chickpeas!" She exclaimed in a cheerfully lifted voice, though there was a nervousness mixed in somewhere. "Everything alright, Chica?" Afton asked, walking over to her as she made it down the ramp. "Ah, not really? I've had this issue for a few weeks where my foot locks up randomly, and I've almost fallen a few times. It's pretty bad today, let me see if I can show ya!" She explained, the cheeriness coating her probably uncharacteristic nervousness as she began walking in a line.

You and Afton watched her, eyes on her feet as she walked. After about fifteen steps, her foot locked up and she jolted forward from the sudden stop. There was a sharp crack and she went down further as the metal on the back of her right leg casing, near her ankle, cracked and split. She let out a pained cry as her knee made hard contact with the cement floor, the vibration from her weight travelling through the floor and up your calf.

"Woah- are you okay??" You blurted, rushing towards her without much thought. Afton was next to you only a second later. The crack travelled a quarter way up the back of her calf, a thick wire pinched between the gap near the ankle. "That hurt- really back, actually!" She said, though it almost sounded like she spoke through clenched teeth.

"Help me stand her up." Afton instructed, and you walked around her. You placed your arm under her forearm and the other around her midsection, which wasn't too terribly difficult. She was definitely the smallest Glamrock- although she did still tower above you by at least three feet.

Afton was on the other side of her doing the same, and she used the two of you as leverage to stand back up on one leg. Her weight pushed you down a bit, but you focused on keeping your frame sturdy as she straightened herself out. She hobbled and slightly hopped towards the cylinder, Afton and yourself steadying her as she moved. When the three of you made it, she turned her body on one leg and landed heavily in the chair. Despite the crack being on the back of her leg, it was easily accessible from your height as you leaned down and gently pushed the cloth leg warmer out of the way, assessing at the damage.

"There's a wire pinched in this crack, and it's shredded to Hell and back. I'm surprised she's been able to walk this long- you said it's been locking up for weeks?" You asked, initially speaking to Afton. "Yeah, it started after a really fast-paced fitness warm-up, I wanna say it was about three weeks ago." She answered, and you hummed. "There's a good chance that this wire's been the issue the whole time then- especially with how chewed up it is." You replied.

Afton's brow furrowed. "Did Vanessa not try to repair it?" He asked Chica, and she shrugged. "She said the console didn't have a procedure that would fix it and that I'd have to wait until she found a real technician." She explained, and Afton let out a heavy exhale.

"Thank you. I'll need to speak with her about that, though I suppose we can.. use this, for lack of a better term." He said, though the irritation in his voice was evident. You sighed at the shredded wire, then stood straight. "Come with me, we need a replacement casing and a new wire." Afton said, walking towards the door with the 'Replacement Parts' sign. You followed as he opened the door, walking in. You walked in after him, looking around in the large room. Large, steel shelves held the impossible weight of multiple animatronic parts. Each shelf system contained parts for one animatronic, though you were focused on the cluster of white, pink, and green on the second shelf to the left.

You walked over, following Afton as he pointed gestured at the shelves. "I was planning on giving you a coordinated tour of this room, but I suppose this will do. These are the replacement and spare parts. You can put in orders from your Fazwatch if you ever run out of something, and it'll arrive next-day." He explained, then pointed at a white leg casing with a green, leopard print leg warmer. You reached out, unsure of yourself as you wrapped your arms around the leg. It was a little over quarter of your entire body, but it wasn't as heavy as you were expecting.

The weight must come from their endoskeleton, then. You tore your attention from your thoughts back to the leg casing as Afton began to walk away.

You grabbed the leg, following Afton to another door within the room. There were walls lined with wires and cables, and a large glass box with a lock on it. Afton pointed at it as he walked past, "Those are the powerlines. You'll need a physical key to get into that, although I keep it in a different location. You should, hopefully, never need to access that box." He said as he walked to a section of wires. Above it were the icons of each Glamrock, and you nodded to yourself.

The organization would make it easy to find what you'd need for future repairs, so that was nice. Without saying anything, Afton picked a wire from the wall and nodded towards the door, gesturing for you to head back to the cylinder. You carried the leg casing out of the rooms, Afton following as he closed the doors behind him.

You carried the leg into the chamber, placing it on a metal counter attached to the wall. "In order to replace the wire, her foot casing must come off, her chest chassis needs to be open and her upper leg casing needs to come off, as well as the damaged lower leg." Afton explained as he closed the cylinder door, and you nodded. He began explaining what to do, pointing at tiny holes on the sides of her ankle and under her heel. "Wait- they stay conscious? Or- well, awake?" You asked, noticing how odd it sounded to refer to animatronics as 'conscious'. Afton nodded, "Yes, unless the procedure is on their coding or motherboard." He handed you a long, incredibly thin tool with a rounded end and you quickly got to work, pressing the tool into the buttons. The webbed foot casing loosened and you lifted it off with ease, placing it on a metal counter behind you.

You moved onto the tiny holes on her lower leg casing, pressing them all with quick precision. There was a click, and you placed the tool down on the tray. You leaned over, then furrowed your brows. "I need to either disconnect this wire or cut it; it's just going to pull whatever else it's wrapped up with." You said, and Afton handed you a pair of wire cutters. "It'll be easier to cut it; we wont be able to see what's happening in her thigh when we pull the wire through if we can't get the casing off." You nodded, thanking him as you took the cutters and gently lifted the crack, going up under the casing to snip the wire just above it.

Chica let out a small, mechanical gasp as the wire was severed, and your face twisted with worry. "I'm sor-" You started, but she cut you off. "No, no- you're fine, this is totally minor compared to some other stuff I've had done. Don't mind me, sweetpea!" She assured, but you were now very aware that they really could feel.

After you returned the wire cutters to the table, you wrapped your arms around the lower casing and gave it a sharp twist to the left. There was another click and the casing slid off, a short, limp wire still wedged in the crack. You placed it behind you on a shelf, turning back as Afton showed you the release buttons for her upper legs.

After a few more buttons, you removed the other casing to expose her thin, dark steel leg frame. You nodded triumphantly, but the limp wire laying against the rest left an odd feeling in your chest, so you moved on to opening her chest chassis. It was easy, but the wires inside were much more compacted and fit tightly together in the circumstantially small cavity. You let out an inaudible exhale and moved to her lower half, grabbing the loose wire. You traced it with your eyes, following it as it weaved through a few different clusters of wires before attaching to her central system.

You gently grasped the wire where it connected, and then gave a small tug. It popped out of the socket easily, and you grabbed the bottom of the wire as you gently pulled it down and out of the organized wires. Chica let out a small giggle, and the tension in your shoulders that you hadn't noticed was there released. Afton wordlessly handed you the new wire, and you attached it to the central system where it belonged. Without further instruction, you began to weave the wire around the others, the same way the other one was. You gently laid it over the others down the length of her leg, and let it rest in place.

This felt right. This felt like you, and what you were supposed to do.

You reached behind you, observing the tools until you found the one you needed. You turned and began working at the wire attached to the center of the joint where her foot connected with her ankle. Once the severed wire was removed, you replaced the tool on the tray and began fixing the wire to the joint, where the other one had been. When it was attached, you looked up at Chica. "Can you move your foot?" You asked, and she looked down at her foot as it twitched to the left, then right, before finally moving in a fluid motion as she rolled it.

"Feels right to me!" She answered, and you nodded with a smile. Walking to the metal counter behind you, you grabbed her upper leg casing and walked back to Chica. You slid it over her foot and up her calf before setting it in place against her hip with a sharp twist to the right. There was a heavy click, and you tested the connection. Nothing moved at all, so you moved onto the replacement leg.

It took you a moment to realize you'd gotten carried away and did everything- hopefully correctly- without instruction. You slowly turned around, finding an amused Afton. "Do you realize that you just replaced that wire quicker than I usually do?" He said, and your jaw fell slack for just a second. "I- wait, really?" You asked, and he nodded. "It took you five minutes- it takes me about ten." He said, and you really couldn't find a hint of dishonesty in his demeanor.

"Now that, is impressive." He added, and you let out a small laugh. "Thank you, Sir."

After the cylinder door was open, Chica gave you a happy, beaked smile. "Thank you, sweetpea! I feel good as new." She thanked you, and you politely waved it off. "Anytime! I'm just glad I was actually able to help; this is a little new for me." You admitted, and Chica giggled. "You seemed right at home fixin' me up, if I do say so myself."

You gave her another smile as she went on her way, and Afton turned towards you. "You're shaping up to be much more experienced than I expected." He said, and you let out a heavy exhale. "Honestly, I didn't expect it to come this easily to me; these are the most complex machines I've ever seen." You admitted, and Afton chuckled. "We'll move on to the DJ next as the Daycare Attendant is busy at the moment. He's bigger than the rest of the animatronics, so we'll have to go to his maintenance room." He explained, and pointed to the wall of tools.

"That tool bag should have everything you need for his maintenance, but it's always a good idea to double check." He said, walking over to a tool bag hanging on the wall. It was striped with bright colors and there was a large, black music note on the side. Next to it, there were three other bags; one with the Glamrock Icon on it, one with the sun and moon icons, and the last one had an icon depicting one of the S.T.A.F.F bots.

You walked up to Afton as he grabbed the bag and placed it on the work bench. "There's a list for each of the bags so you know what needs to be there. Go ahead and check it." He instructed, and you pulled it closer to you as you opened it. You looked up to the laminated piece of paper tacked to the wall, which was directly under the spot for the bag, and mentally listed off the tools as you shifted through the bag.

Your brows furrowed and you dug around in the bag some more, then leaned back, looking at the tool wall. "It's missing wire cutters and needle-nose pliers." You said, looking to Afton. He let out an unsatisfied hum and looked to the tool wall as well. "I'll need to find those; these bags are to always be correctly stocked, and all tools are ALWAYS to come back to this room." He said, frustration in his voice. It wasn't towards you, but it was unnerving regardless.

He reached over and grabbed a pair of pliers and wire cutters, placing them in the bag. He gestured to it, and you picked it up as he began walking to the ramp for the doors. You followed closely as he approached the door with the music note, and it lifted as the two of you walked through.

The two of you approached another elevator, and you wondered if there was one for each of the animatronics. The building was unfathomably large, you began to realize. This elevator was in much better condition, though there were only two buttons. Afton pressed the button with a small wrench over a music note, and the doors slid shut. "I doubt it'll help much, but try not to be too alarmed when you see the DJ. He can be a lot the first time you see him, but he's incredibly friendly and entirely harmless." Afton warned, and your brows furrowed.

How big is this thing?

The ride was short as the doors slid back open, and it felt as if your heart fell to the bottom of your ribcage.

The animatronic was absolutely massive, easily fifty feet tall with six long, thin limbs that stretched from the sides of his white, spider-like abdomen. The first four limbs had gloved hands attached to the ends, and the last two had shoed feet. His face was locked in some sort of grin- although it looked more akin to a cringe, with his large teeth checkered like piano keys. Large green headphones sat atop his head, and his black eyes- easily the size of your head- flicked over to you and Afton.

"I- wh- holy shit." You blabbered, and Afton laughed. You weren't as scared as you thought you would be when the initial shock hit you, and awe quickly washed over you. "Wow, I- he is insanely cool." You muttered, walking out of the elevator before Afton. The room was almost twice the size of Parts and Services, with six huge metal cuffs attached to the ground. The DJ shuffled his feet as her turned to face you better, leaning down to see you better.

"Hello, little one."

His voice caught you off guard; he spoke through broken, short audio clips of different songs. "Woah- hi!" You waved, and Afton walked up next to you. "DJ, this is (y/n). They're the new technician, but we're just going to do some basic maintenance. Nothing too serious, but have you had any specific issues lately?" Afton asked, and DJ let out a mechanical hum. "Yes. Songs freezing and glitching during performances. Couldn't fix it myself." The gigantic animatronic responded, and you pursed your lips. Afton nodded and crossed his arms. "Alright. Let's get that looked at first, go ahead and lock up." He instructed, and the DJ nodded with a slight metallic grind.

Based on that and the rust around his joints, it was blindingly obvious that DJ had be practically neglected. His movements were creaky as he lay flat against the floor, off center. He brought his limbs close to his body like a deceased arachnid, and rolled over onto his back. He landed in the center with a heavy thud, the floor vibrating from the weight. He stretched his limbs out, placing them in the cuffs. Afton walked over to a control panel with a multitude of buttons next to the elevator, then pressed one with a padlock icon. There was a loud, metallic clank as all six cuffs snapped close around DJ's wrists and ankles. He looked a bit comical stretched out the way he was, but the size of his chest hatch filled you with overwhelm.

There's no way in Hell I'm opening that.

"Come here." Afton instructed, you did so. "This controls the wiring system and helps with repairs. It's impossible to carry his replacement parts and open his chassis by one's self." He explained, then pressed a button with a torso icon. There was a heavy, loud grinding overhead as a metal 'hand' reached down, a thin spike extending from the tip as it pressed small buttons around the animatronics torso. There was a heavy pop, and the large chassis flung open. The hand retracted back into the ceiling, then deep into shadows.

"You'll need a ladder for this next part." Afton explained, and pointed to a button with a ladder icon. You pressed it, and more mechanical grinding from above sounded out as a tall, thin ladder descended from the ceiling. The ladder was taller than DJ, clicking into place on the floor next to him. "Good. Now, climb inside of the chassis."

Your mouth fell open, and you quickly snapped it shut. "Inside?" You asked for clarification, and Afton nodded. "You'll understand when you see it." He said, and nodded towards the ladder. You mentally shook away the doubts nipping at your nerves and walked to the ladder, letting the handles of the bag slip down around your wrist as you used both hands to climb. As you got high enough to see the inside of the chassis, you let out an inaudible, 'Ah.'

There was enough space to walk around inside of his chest, a flat platform underneath a built-in ladder to get to the bottom of the chassis. You climbed off of the tall ladder onto the one built into his chassis, the climbed down into the animatronic's body. You shuddered; this felt much more invasive than with the Glamrocks. As you got deeper, your footsteps on the latter echoed off of the metal chassis. Relatively loud, mechanical whirring filled the air around you as you looked around at the animatronics innerworkings. The wires were as thick as your forearm, suspended just below your head level as you stepped off of the ladder- but, his endoskeleton was absolutely massive.

You walked up his chest, towards his voice box. It was much larger than the other ones, but you expected that everything would be. There was a small set of steps screwed into the side of the box and the floor to keep it in place when DJ was upright and moving. You walked around it, ducking underneath thick wires as you checked their connections. You were checking the last one when you felt someone watching you.

You glanced up and behind you, Afton's small form leaning over the side of the chassis observing you. "How's it looking?" He called down, his voice echoing around you. "Good, really. Everything is connected right, nothing is frayed or split. Unless the issue is inside of his voice box." You called back, and you saw him nod before climbing over, using the ladder the descend into the chest cavity.

He walked over to you, his hands in his pockets. "Take the top panel off, a regular screwdriver will do." He instructed, and you got up on your tip toes, leaning over to check the screws. Small 'x's were etched into the heads, and you sat the tool bag down to dig around and grab a Philips-head screwdriver. You climbed up the small staircase, undoing all of the screws and putting them in your pocket. Once the last one was out, the panel lifted slightly and you were able to wrap your hands around the edge of it. You stood on the edge of the box and gave a strong pull upwards on the panel, grunting as it lifted to the side. It's hinges prevented it from falling to the side and off of the box as you shave another heavy shove.

You let out a heavy exhale, and Afton gave a soft clap. "Nicely done- though there is a leverage tool for future reference." He said, and amused looked on his face as he reached out and lifted a metal bar that flattened into a thin edge at the end to wedge under the panel. It was hanging right next to the staircase, and you let out a sheepish laugh. "Noted, my bad." You apologized, and he waved it off. "No worries; just don't want you to throw your back out at your age." He jested, though it was a real possibility.

You turned your attention to his voice box, and cringed. "Christ, it's a mess in here." You said, reaching into the box. You barely saw the bright red caution icon with the words 'high voltage' as your fingers nearly brushed a wire. Without warning, there was a heavy step behind you on the stairs and Afton's hand clamped around your forearm. "Stop! Don't touch anything yet." He said, his voice loud and concerned. Your eyes widened and you yanked your arms out of the box. "What? What is it?" You asked, though it was rather obvious with the 'high voltage' sign.

"This voice box has significantly more power running through them than any of the other animatronics. Honestly, I should've warned you previously; that's my fault. The outer wires, these ones, aren't a threat nearly as severe." He said, gesturing to the thick wires. "I haven't worked on him in quite some time and nearly forgot. I apologize for startling you." He apologized, and you shook your head. "No, no! I greatly appreciate you not letting me fry myself to a crisp." You said, gesturing to the warning sign.

Afton stepped off of the staircase, waving you down from the box. You climbed down the stairs, then saw the smaller box with a dial pad attached to the side. He reached out and entered a code, the front panel of the box popping open. It was similar to a breaker box, but there was only one switch. "There's a main panel next to the chassis ladder, but this one controls the voice box itself." He explained, flicking the switch off. There was a staticky pop from the voice box as it powered down, and you climbed back up onto it.

The wires were all tangled, with a few mangled and shredding. "How does this even happen?" You asked. "The vibration of his voice combined with his sometimes sporadic movements cause them to move around and rub together, which causes degrading over time. It never should've gotten this bad, though. This is going to need an entire rewire." Afton said, examining the damage from the bottom step. You nodded, then stepped down after him.

"The console will do that, but we'll need to power DJ down to do the repair. Any 'rogue' power through the repair machine can overload it, which is not fun to fix." He explained, and you nodded as you followed him to the main power box. He typed in the code, which was different from the voice box code. Once the box was open, there was another single switch on the inside. "We're going to power you down, prepare yourself." Afton called out, and there was a single, heavy thunk against the ground outside of the chassis. Most likely a knuckle in acknowledgement, since his voice box was currently out of commission. Afton waited about three seconds before giving you a nod. You reached out, then flicked the switch to the left. The whirring faded into silence, almost like he fell asleep.

Or died.

Either way, everything was now much more echoey as Afton began to climb back up the ladder. You glanced back to the voice box, mumbling a curse as you quickly half-ran back to it, grabbing the screwdriver you left on the step and shoving it into the tool bag. You picked it up and ran back to the ladder, where Afton was watching you from the top. You gave a jokingly nervous grin as you quickly climbed up it. He was on the ground by the time you made it onto the main ladder, then got down. The two of you walked over to the control panel, and Afton gestured to it. "Press the one with the voice box on it, then the one with wires." You did as told, and a line of wires popped up on a small screen above the buttons with small boxes below each one.

"Go ahead and check all of them, then press the 'Start Procedure' button." He instructed, adn you pressed the boxes on the screen. When you were done, you pressed the start button on the bottom right of the panel. Mechanical whirring started above you, and the two of you turned around to watch. The hand extended down, a few different tools attached to the end. It reached down inside of the chassis and began the procedure. After a moment of subtle movement, it retracted, a bundle of dull, shredded, multicolored wires in the mouth of some pliers. That hand lifted into the ceiling as another reached down, vibrant wires in it's grasp.

It continued, and the entire process was over in less than ten minutes.

At least the actual repairs are still quick.

Once it was done, Afton pointed at the console again. "The repair arms have already closed the voice box, but basic maintenance is still needed." He explained, then pointed at a button with with a wrench over a heart. You pressed the button and a menu popped up on the screen. There were a few options to click. You pressed the three that said, 'Rust Removal - Joints', 'Joint Care', and 'Cosmetic Work-up'. When Afton didn't say anything, you trusted your gut and pressed the start button.

Multiple arms stretched down at once; one held a large hose, another held a rag, and another had a spray nozzle attached to the end. They began working all at once; the hose began to blow out dust from the cavity while another began to wipe down the outside of DJ's casing. There was a heavy click as the cuffs came undone, and the nozzle hand began to spray a solution on all of DJ's joints, coating them in the liquid. More hands stretched down from the ceiling, grabbing DJ's wrists and ankles to bend them back and forth, working the solution in. When the limbs were bending with zero resistance or grinding, the hands lay DJ's limbs back into the cuffs, which closed back around him.

The hand with the rag moved to the joints, wiping the excess fluid from the joints. Another arm stretched down; a soldering iron . The other arms moved out of the way as another smaller one extended from the ceiling, a thin brick of metal in it's grasp. The two worked in sync as they began soldering over the rusted metal, covering it with a silver plating. After it finished, another arm stretched down. It began filing the rough edges of the solder, then all of the arms retracted as one more came down; an airbrush. It sprayed a layer of white paint over the now repaired joints. You could see how fast it dried, and you let out an impressed, 'Huh.' The arm reached over and the airbrush tool slid into the arm, which changed into an actual hand-like shape. It pressed the chassis hatch closed with a few loud clicks.

When all of the arms retracted into the ceiling, Afton nodded. "Don't worry about the voice box panel; they've put new screws in it." You hadn't even thought about the screws in your pocket and you mentally facepalmed, though Afton seemed entirely unbothered. "I can imagine he'll feel much better now, thanks to you. Now, be warned; being powered on has an alarming effect on all of the animatronics, but DJ's is arguably the worst." Afton said, gesturing at a small power button. You cringed a bit at the thought of what that entailed, but you reached over and pressed the button.

There was a click from within DJ's chest and he began whirring back to life- then he started violently fighting against the restraints. He lifted his torso up and slammed it against the ground, then stopped.

The entire room shook, and your legs failed you as you ended up on the ground with a heavy clank, the tool bag hitting the floor. Afton reached out a hand, pulling you up. "Welcome back, DJ. You're all set." Afton said, hitting the button next to the lock command. It was an unlocked padlock. The restraints clicked open, which made you just a tad nervous.

Definitely not harmless.

You didn't feel personally threatened in any way, but you stored it in the back of your mind that he was capable of some serious damage. DJ curled his limbs back in on himself and rolled onto his stomach, extending his arms out as he stood up. "I apologize for the fit- it's out of my control. Thank you for the maintenance, (y/n)." DJ spoke, giving you a friendly nod. You smiled, "No problem, happy to help." You replied. "Head back down to your stage, and let them know if you have any more issues." Afton spoke to DJ, who nodded and reached out to the with one of his hands. He pressed a large green button and the floor around him began to slowly descend. "Ooh, helpful." You thought out loud, and Afton nodded. "Yes, very. Now, onto the Daycare Attendant."

You nodded, confirming that the tool bag was in your hand before following Afton back into the elevator. "You can only get to this room through this elevator or the lift, but you shouldn't need to work on him too often." He explained, pressing the button down to Parts and Services. Once back in Parts and Services, you instinctively brought the bag to the work bench, setting it down and double checking the contents before hanging it back up in its spot.

"Good. Now, the Daycare Attendant is different than anyone you've seen yet. They're special; three animatronics in one." He explained, and your interest was immediately peaked. "Three? How does that work?" You asked curiously. "It's a bit hard to explain entirely, but they switch out with each other based on light level. Sun and Moon are very likely the only two that you'll see, as Eclipse is a safety protocol to keep the children safe in the event of a threat." He explained. "Their structure is different as well; when either of them are in control, their chassis will shift and certain components will only be accessible then; such as Sun's rays or Moon's LEDs."

You nodded as a door shifted open, and you looked over. There was a bright yellow, celestial animatronic with poofy jester pants and ruffles around his ankles, wrist, and collar. Large, bright sun rays protruded from his head, which ticked to the left slowly. He looked a bit nervous, if you were honest. He walked over to Afton, who was near the cylinder, softly jingling bells accompanied by mechanical clicking as he took steps. He didn't seem to notice you.

"Hello, Mr. Afton! I saw that you put in an order for maintenance, is everything okay?" Sun asked, his voice uplifted, but quick and hyper with anxious undertones. "Yes, everything is fine, Sundrop. This is (y/n), they'll just be giving you a bit of a check-up, if you will." Afton explained, gesturing to you over by the work bench. Sun looked over to you, and his rays ticked once to the right before continuing to flick to the left. "Oh- a new friend! Hello, I'm Sun!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms up and out in a theatrical pose. He didn't seem too terribly nervous anymore.

You smiled at him and waved, "Nice to meet you, Sun!" You replied. He gave you an ecstatic wave, the bells around his wrist jingling intensely. You chuckled, then walked over towards them. The animatronic was taller than Freddy, who was the tallest of the Glamrocks. He stood at about seven feet tall, and absolutely towered over you. Afton was around six feet tall, that much you knew, but you barely reached five feet and three inches on a good day. You were practically eye level with Sun's stomach, and you looked up at the animatronic.

"Let's get started." Afton said, gesturing to the cylinder. Sun's nervousness came back and he started twisting his hands together as he turned around and entered the cylinder, hesitantly sitting in the seat. You followed behind him, giving him a reassuring smile.

I wonder why he's so nervous..

The cylinder door closed, and you turned around. Afton was on the outside of the chamber, and gave you a thumbs up. You furrowed your brows; was he testing you to see if you could do it alone?

You shook your head and turned back to Sun, who's bright, white eyes were on you. "Nervous, are you?" You asked softly, and Sun let out a forced, playful laugh. "Terrified, what gave it away?" He asked, and you chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be just fine." You reassured. "Go ahead and put your hands at your sides for me, please." You asked, and Sun did so- albeit with a small tremor in his hands. He places his wrists and ankles inside of the cuffs, and you pressed the button to lock them.

Sun flinched at the noise, and your eyebrows furrowed. This was beginning to look like a trauma response.

"I'm gonna open your chassis now, okay?" You asked. You hoped that talking him through it would help ease his obvious fear. He nodded, and you grabbed a screwdriver from the tool tray on the cart. You used the small stepstool underneath the chair to stand up taller, reaching over to find the buttons. They were a bit harder to find, and you were only able to find one. "I'm so sorry- where's your other button at?" You asked, and he lifted his chin up. "Under the ruffles, Sunshine."

You nearly dropped the screwdriver and blinked rapidly a few times. His voice was nervous and slightly shaky, but the nickname caught you way off-guard and you nodded quickly, reaching up to move his ruffled collar out of the way. You pressed the button with the screwdriver and his chest popped open. It didn't open all of the way, so you used your hands to push it open the rest of the way.

The innerworkings themselves were very similar to the Glamrocks, though there were quite a few different wires that the others didn't have. The set-up was similar, but it was definitely more intricate and most likely delicate as well. It was odd, really, to think that there were more than one animatronic in Sun's body- or, 'their' body, since Sun shared it. "I'm gonna make sure everything is connected right before I start, alright?" You explained, and Sun nodded again. You rolled up your sleeves and reached your hands in, a little nervous without Afton next to you.

You felt around the wires, testing their connection. Everything seemed to be in place good, and you gave him a smile. "All good in there. Just a little dusty, but I'll get that taken care of." You said, and grabbed the air hose. You clicked the button on the cart and the air flow started, blowing right at Sun. "Oh, sorry!" You moved the hose away from his face, and he let out a small laugh. "No worries at all!" He said, and you began to dust inside of his chassis. Once it was cleaned out, you placed a hand on his chest hatch to close it, but there was a knock on the window. You turned to see Afton, who shook his head. You tilted your head, but nodded as you grab the rag and spray bottle. You cleaned Sun's casing, removing small, greasy handprints and crayon markings. When you were done, he broke the silence.

"He's going to bring Moonie out, I think. He likes to let the techs see us change on the inside." He said, though it sounded odd and you both grimaced a bit. "I- probably could've worded that better, but you know what I mean." He said, and you laughed. "I gotcha." Your laugh was cut short by sudden darkness, the only light in the chamber coming from a small beam above the chair, pointed at the open chassis. You quickly turned, watching as the animatronics mechanical innards shifted, rotating around the 'ribcage' until an entirely different chassis was exposed. You looked up at Sun as his rays shrunk into his head and the left side of his face rotated, a darker faceplate taking place. He metal of their arms, impossibly, shifted from yellow to blue. You let out a gasp of disbelief, though you saw the way the casing pieces slipped underneath the others, switching out with each other. It was unbelievable regardless.

You instinctively touched the now blue metal, and a dark chuckle came from above you. You dropped the hose, jumping back a bit. "Shi- hi, sorry!" You stammered, putting your hands behind your back like a child caught getting into something. Moon's eyes were bright red- the LEDs Afton mentioned- and his mouth was curved into a sharp grin. There was a starry nightcap on his head, a bell attached to the end. "No need to apologize." He spoke, his voice deeper and more gravelly than Sun's. You cleared your throat, trying to rid yourself of the embarrassing pink dusting your face. "I'm (y/n), the new technician. Just doing some basic maintenance, if that's okay." You said, and Moon used his hand to gesture to himself.

You internally smacked yourself. So, not only do they share a body, but they're polar opposites.

You grabbed the hose from the cart, feeling down to the end of it. The nozzle had popped off when it hit the floor. You knelt down, feeling around for the nozzle in the dark. After a moment, you let out a frustrated huff. "Next to the cart." Moon said, and you nearly jumped out of your skin. Why? You had no idea. The DJ was easily scarier in the traditional sense, but something about the dark and his cool, calm demeanor was just such a stark contrast to Sun's personality just a moment ago. It was like whiplash.

You hovered your hand over the floor, feeling around the cart. Just as he'd said, the hose nozzle was by the back right wheel. "Thank you." You replied, standing up and reconnecting it before placing the hose back into it's spot. You walked back over to Moon despite your nerves, and you looked into his chassis. It was much dustier than Sun's, but everything looked like it was connected well. "Well, everything looks good- but, when was the last time you were worked on?' You asked, your focus shifting back to your job.

"Mm, about two months." He said, and you looked up at him. "Two months? Wh-" You scoffed. "That's way too long. The dust is starting to compact together." You muttered, grabbing the hose. You shook your head as you began blowing out the dust, which took more effort than you'd had to use yet. You were too caught up in cleaning him up to notice that Moon was staring at you, his eyebrow raised at your sudden attitude.

When you finally got all of the dust off of him, you let out a small cough from the particles in the air. "Alrighty, time to close you up." You said, closing his chassis hatch. You grabbed the rag and cleaning solution from the cart and cleaned his hands and arms, then his chest where there were small, greasy hand prints as well. There were no drawings on him, though it wasn't surprising. You'd come to assume by now that he was the naptime half of the Daycare Attendant.

When you were done, you looked up at him. "Good as new, I think!" You said triumphantly. Moon didn't say anything, but his grin widened and he tilted his head. You went to say something as the lights flicked on, and the switch happened. The nightcap spun and slipped into the crevice between the front and back of his rotating faceplate, where rays popped out. The metal shifted back to yellow and Sun grinned as he took control.

"AAAND I'm back!" He exclaimed and you chuckled, pressing the button to free Sun from the restraints. He sat up with a bounce, leaning forward. "Thank you! We feel much better, and it wasn't bad at all!" He said, and you gave him a warm smile. "I'm glad I could help, really. You did great, too." You said, and his rays ticked once to the right. "Thank you, Sunshine!" He responded, hopping out of the chair. You stumbled back a bit, slightly overwhelmed by his height.

The chamber door opened with a hiss, and Afton stood with a satisfied smile. "You did just as well as I thought you would. Congratulations; you're the most capable technician I've ever met."

Your jaw tried to fall slack, but you kept yourself together as you internalized the compliment. "You have no idea how much that means to me." You said, and let out an exhale. Sun grinned next to you, and clasped his hands together. "Sooo.. am I all good? The Daycare could use a little TLC." He asked, and Afton nodded. "Yes, you're free to go. It was good to see you, Sun." Afton replied, and Sun nodded. "You too!" He said before flashing you another grin and skipping off towards his door.

"Last order of business is the S.T.A.F.F. bot, but I've unfortunately been requested in Minnesota by nine in the morning, so I'm going to have to cut this a bit short. The S.T.A.F.F. bots are the easiest; they're nowhere near as complex as the Glamrocks, and you handled them phenomenally. S.T.A.F.F. spare parts are in the same room as the Glamrocks' and Daycare Attendants'." He explained, patting his pockets down as he went through a mental checklist of things that he came with. As if summoned, the broken S.T.A.F.F. bot entered the room through a small door that you hadn't noticed, next to the DJ's door.

"Oh- okay." You replied, looking around the room again. "I do apologize. Again, you'll be notified of any repairs or upgrades via your FazWatch. You can also message me directly from it, but I cannot guarantee that I'll reply in a timely manner, though I'll do my best." He said, then turned to the tool wall. "I cannot believe I forgot- these are keys to access the lifts. There's one on the main stage and one in DJ's arcade. I trust that you've got everything handled, but you can reach out to Vanessa for any help you may need. She's here, though she'll be busy until about 3am. On that night, I've got a plane to catch. Have a lovely night, (y/n)." He explained, and you nodded. "Okay, thank you for everything, Mr. Afton." You said as he left the room, and you exhaled deeply.

You turned, the STAFF bot now next to you. "Heya, little dude. Let's see what's up with you, huh?" You said, and gestured to the cylinder. The bot got the hint, turning and rolling into the chamber. You walked to the spare parts room, finding the STAFF bot parts. You grabbed a voice box, then exited the room and went to the cylinder. The bot was rather short, a bit shorter than you as it looked up at the chair, then to you, back, and then to you again. "Oh, sorry." You walked over, furrowing your brows. It turned towards you, and slightly lifted it's arms.

You awkwardly leaned down, wrapping your arms around the bot. You lifted with you legs, your eyebrows raising as the bot rather easily lifted off of the ground. You leaned forward, setting the bot on the chair as easily as possible. It rotated itself, lying on its back as it looked up at you. "Let's see what's up with ya." You mumbled, grabbing the screwdriver. You didn't see any buttons, but there were screws in places where you'd think buttons would be, so you removed the screws. When you were done, you placed the screws on the tray and popped the panel off.

It was definitely simple; there were less wires than any of the Glamrocks and everything was color coordinated. It didn't take you long to find it's voice box, which you disconnected entirely. You brought it out of the bot's chest, then used the screwdriver to take it apart on the tray. It was a generic voice box, and you clicked your tongue. Like you'd thought, it needed replacing, but you knew that wouldn't fix the personal space issue it had. You grabbed the replacement voice box and installed it, placing the wires in the order that they were in before.

"Can you say your greeting for me?" You asked, and it stopped moving for a second. "Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex, home of the Glamrocks! Please head to the service desk for admission and party passes." It spoke fluently, but it's body tried to jolt forward. You'd forgotten the restraints, and you quickly shoved the bot back down with a palm to it's chest. "Woah- okay! Something is definitely wrong with you." You said, a bit snappy from adrenaline, and the bot just looked at you.

"Sorry." It said. Your eyes snapped to it's face, and your face softened. "I- no, you're okay. It's not your fault, I just got spooked. It's my fault, really." It's hands had been sitting in the cuffs the entire time, you just forgot to lock them- like an idiot, you berated yourself. Good thing Afton left.

You walked to the button and pushed it, metallic cuffs clicking together. You shook your head and walked back over. "This seems like a behavioral processing issue, if I had to guess." You thought out loud. You opened the airlock door and walked around to the computer, sitting at the desk. "Alright, let's figure this out." You mumbled, waking the computer. There were three options; Repair, Upgrade, and Code. You clicked the 'Code' option, and a 'FazID needed' message popped up.

You furrowed your brows and looked at your FazWatch, then the computer. There was a small, flashing Freddy icon and you touched the face of your watch to it. There was a beep, and the pop-up disappeared. There was another button, with 'Connect to Animatronic' written above it. You glanced over to the STAFF bot, then clicked the button. There was a small metallic arm underneath the chair that shifted to the back of the bot's head, and then attached itself to the base of their neck. Three loading dots appeared, and then gave way to a large thread of code.

name: S.T.A.F.F. [16]

status: [on]

functionality: [83%]-moderate

program: [STAFF HVEMND]>?[FZBRENT]>?[ARLLC]

task: [greet]>location?>[main entrance]>[8a-10p]>performance?>[failure]

system: >/?[classified]<

behavior: [move.forward]>?[error]>[move.left]>?[error]>[move.right]>?[error]>[move.backward]>?[error]>functionality?>[12%]>performance?>[near-failure]

vocal: [greeting]>performance?>[failure]>cause>[corrupt data]>[solution]?>[recode]>[virusblock]

You furrowed your brows and you began rewriting the code. You didn't know what corrupted the data and you couldn't find any traces of a virus, but you installed a blocker after fixing the code. When you finished, you went over it again and made sure there were no mistakes. When you were positive, you pressed the 'Confirm' button, then the one labeled 'Reboot'. The bot powered down, and the mechanical arm moved away from it's neck.

As it rebooted, you reentered the cylinder and closed the door as it powered back on. Once it looked over to you, you nodded. "Welcome back, little dude. Let's hear that greeting."

"Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex, home of the Glamrocks! Please head to the service desk for admission and party passes." It spoke, and it didn't lunge. "Hell yeah. Alright, lets get you closed and cleaned up." You said, and got to work. When you were finished, you unlocked the cuffs and helped the bot onto the floor. It looked up at you, gave a thumbs up, and then said a small, "Thank you." You nodded at it and smiled, "Anytime, just let me know." The bot nodded slowly and you opened the door, letting it out. It left Parts and Services the way it'd entered, and you cleaned up the inside of the cylinder.

Now that everything on Afton's list had been taken care of, you figured it was about time to familiarize yourself with the building. You rubbed your palms together and exhaled, looking over to the tool wall. Your eyes landed on the brown tool bag and you walked over, pulling it down from its hook. You opened it, shifting through it as you went through the checklist attached to the wall. 

You let out a frustrated groan; the vice grips and screw box was missing, but you shook the feeling away. You pulled the extra pair off of the wall, stuffing it into your bag before walking to a different part of the table. You looked at a few boxes of screws before finding the right ones and you put them in the bag, the grabbed one of the few cans of joint lubricant and stuck it in the bag as well. You picked the bag up, humming to yourself as you walked through the doors of Parts and Services. 

Let's do this.

⋆⁺₊⋆ 𖤓☽ ⋆⁺₊⋆

aaaaa hi!! i hope you guys liked this, please let me know if you did! reblogs are always hella appreciated<3

taglist; @machopeach, @coolerthemanplz, @missdreamyhead

[prodbyton]

જ⁀➴ dirty little secret chapter 5: i don’t bite

half smau, half written wc. idk sorry😭 warnings: smut!!! +18 mdni!! smut can be read on its own but if you want to read the rest of the story here’s the mlist! id still recommend reading the whole story bc yes 🙂‍↕️

tomorrow comes around a lot faster than you expected. you dont know why, but you’re almost nervous.

you dont know what it is about anton, but he was different than other guys you pursued. you were never the type to chase, never the type to be so bold and be the one to call the shots. something about anton being so shy in your presence excited you, and you knew you could use that to your advantage since he was already wrapped around your finger after only talking to you once.

so you dont understand why you’re hesitant to knock on the door to his apartment.

you stare at the door, thinking of all the possible outcomes of what will happen once you step foot into his space.

you’re here to study, you tell yourself, but you know that you can’t focus on that when you’re too focused on your attraction to the boy. he obviously is into you, but you don’t know if he’s into you enough to do the things that you were thinking about. what if he does just want to study, and you make him uncomfortable by trying to make a move on him? what if giselle was right about him being a virgin, not that it would be an issue but you don’t want this to be his first time. or even worse, what if he’s not good in bed?

just worry about studying, thats the most important thing here. you continue to tell yourself, still staring at his door.

right as you lift your arm to finally knock, the door swings open and reveals the tall boy you were here to see. he looks at you and smiles softly, and you smile back before taking in his appearance. he looks good, and he seems a little less nervous than he seemed the day before.

you thank yourself for not dressing up too much for today, seeing that he was in a loose tshirt and some shorts. you wore something nice but casual, a low cut shirt and a pair of leggings. easy to take off, just in case. right when you were done looking anton up & down, his eyes quickly darted back up to your face and your smile grows wider when you realize he was probably looking down your shirt when you weren’t looking.

“sorry if i startled you,”

“its okay, i was just about to knock”

anton moves to the side so you can come in, and your eyes scan the room as you take off your shoes. it was pretty clean for an apartment with college student boys, and you wonder if it always looks this clean or if anton cleaned up for you. and you smile trying to imagine anton frantically cleaning around the house knowing that you could be over any minute.

you let anton lead the way to his living room, where he already has some papers spread across the coffee table along with his laptop. you admire his efforts into making sure that you were comfortable in his space, since he also had various snacks and drinks on the table along with a few blankets and pillows on the floor.

“i don’t know what kind of snacks or drinks you like, so i just bought a bunch of stuff” he lied, he asked seunghan this morning what stuff you like. you stare at the various snacks, smiling when you realize it was filled with snacks you actually like. not like you would’ve declined anything he offered, you’re sure he had good taste. maybe you both just have the same favorites.

“did you wanna study physics again or another subject?” you set your bag on the couch, sitting down on the floor on top of the blankets anton had laid out, and pulling out your laptop once anton sat on the ground next to you.

“you’re really smart, anton” you nudge his arm, and he shyly looks away from you at your praise.

“thanks,” antons voice was so soft, and you hoped that you could break that nervous shell off of him soon. you could tell he wanted to talk more, but it was like he was holding himself back.

“im kinda bored of studying now, can we take a break?”

“yeah, of course"

anton is surprisingly easy to talk to, and you wish that he wasn't so shy because you could have realized how much you two had in common. you stare at his face while he talks, going back to make eye contact with him every few words so he knew you were still listening. you look at his lips, liking the way they curve into a smile while he speaks and the way his lips purse out when he says certain words. you stare a little harder at his lips, and anton notices, and he tries to ignore it but he's starting to forget what he was talking about. you only look back at his face when you hear him stumbling over his words and stops talking.

"why'd you stop talking?"

"sorry," anton gulps, his ears turning red as he tries to come up with a reason, but he couldn't lie to you when you were still staring at him like that. "you were staring"

"you're so cute. do i really make you that nervous?"

"y-yeah"

"can i tell you something?" your words were just above a whisper, and anton nods nervously when he sees you looking at his lips again. "i really want to kiss you right now"

and with that anton was leaning in, pressing his lips onto yours without any further question. you were taken aback by his sudden action, not expecting him to be so bold all of a sudden with you. you couldn't complain though, his lips felt so soft and perfect against yours. you kiss him back faster than you could process the situation, holding on to the back of his neck to kiss him harder. his hands that were nervously playing in his lap move so he could grab your waist, pulling your body closer to his.

anton shifts his body so he could face you better, his other hand that wasn't on your waist rests on the ground to stabilize himself as he kisses you. you pull away for a brief second to take a breath, quickly going back to kissing anton and sliding your tongue against his bottom lip.

it takes a moment for him to get the hint, and you have to bite his lip softly in order for him to open his mouth so you could slide your tongue inside.

anton feels like fireworks are going off in his mind. you were kissing him right now. he couldn't believe it. and you're the one who wanted to kiss him, whatever anton did in his past life he thanks himself internally, because he would never believe that he could ever be in this situation.

you two groan into each others mouths, tongues clashing against each others and spit is dribbling down both of your chins. when you two finally pull away, anton is almost as red as a tomato. you were breathing hard, bottom lip tucked between your teeth as you took in antons appearance. he looked so attractive like this, lips swollen and parted, a little shiny from a mix of spit and your lip gloss. he was so kissable. you wanted to kiss him again, and again, and again.

so you do. you kiss the breath out of him over and over, you somehow end up in his lap, kissing him even more. you kiss down his face, down his neck, you even bite him a little bit just to hear his breath hitch. antons hands still lay on your waist, gripping onto the skin a little harder whenever you lick or bite a sensitive part of his neck. you were in your own world, and you only realize how much this is effecting anton when he tries (and fails) at subtly pushing you down onto his clothed crotch and you can feel his boner pressing against your core. you remove your lips from him and sit up, staring at his flushed face then down to where your bodies met.

"you're hard" you say it bluntly, still staring at the bulge in his pants from what you can see from the angle you were sitting in.

"you're really pretty" anton talks in the same tone you spoke in, no point in being shameful when you both clearly wanted each other. it was your time to be shy, you knew anton liked you to some degree, but hearing him compliment you as well as getting this hard from just kissing you has you flustered. you feel your core throb the longer you stare, and your mouth feels empty without antons lips on yours.

you run your fingers through antons hair, smiling at the sight of his eyes shutting at the feeling of your nails slightly scratching his scalp. you give his hair a small tug, and before anton can even react your tugging him again so your lips could connect again.

this kiss was somehow even more desperate, teeth clashing and tongues colling more than lips locking. it was messy, but it only made you feel hotter. you experimentally grind your hips down on anton and he groans, holding your hips harder as you make the same movement again. you let out a small whimper when you move just right enough to feel the pressure on your clit, repeating the same movement until you find a steady rhythm.

anton looked an absolute wreck when you pulled your lips off of him. he threw his head back against the couch, eyes barely open as he watched you grind against him. he looked like he was 3 seconds away from cumming in his pants, and you honestly wanted him to. so you move a bit faster, and you lean down to re attach your lips to his neck.

the moans that leave the both of you fill up the living room, and you forget that anton has roomates that could possibly walk in at any given moment. anton seems to forget too, because he's slipping his hands under your shirt and trailing them up to cup your breasts over your bra. antons boldness has you pressing harder against him, moaning against the skin of his neck which makes him shudder.

"wait- im gonna cum-" anton warns, hands that fondle your boobs under your shirt grabbing onto you tighter as he feels his orgasm build up embarrassingly fast. he hopes that you stop moving, but you keep going, and when he feels you smirk against his skin he knows that it was fine.

without any warning anton was moving his hands back to your waist, holding you down as he thrusted against you while his orgasm hit. he was silent, only a string of small whimpers leaving his mouth as he kept you moving while he rode out his high.

watching him cum in his pants was truly a sight, and you felt yourself growing wetter as you watched. he was almost trembling, and it made you clench around nothing before you started to move your hips again. anton was still sensitive and he whine at the feeling of you still grinding down on him, weakly attempting to push your hips off of him.

you quickly move yourself so you were sitting on his thigh, desperately moving against the thick muscle while you chased your own orgasm

"are you close?" you can only nod your head as you move faster, your clit rubbing against antons thigh so deliciously you knew it wouldn't take much more for you to reach your peak.

"kiss me, please-" anton had his lips on you as fast as possible, kissing away the pout you had on your lips. you moan softly when you feel his tongue slip into your mouth, and you feel your orgasm hit you hard when he sucks on your tongue.

you shake on top of anton, body going limp as you feel the aftershocks of your orgasm. you both stay quiet for a moment while you try to get your breathing back to normal, and anton shifts slightly, the feeling of sitting in his cum stained underwear starting to set in and feel uncomfortable.

"im gonna change my pants- ill bring you a pair too" he was so considerate, feeling that you were probably just as uncomfortable in your soaked through underwear. anton helps you move off his thigh, and helps you stand up as well before he's telling you he'll be right back. you sit on the couch while you wait for him, checking your phone while you wait and seeing that your brother texted you a few minutes ago about your whereabouts. you roll your eyes, not wanting to leave antons right after you both just came in your pants, but not wanting to have to deal with your brother nagging you about how late its getting.

"here, you can change in my room" anton turns the corner and hands you a pair of his sweats, and you take them and follow him back down the hall to where his room was. he closes the door and waits outside for you, and you take your time taking off your leggings and your underwear that was uncomfortable and sticky, slipping his pants on and making tying the strings to make sure they don't fall down. you also take in antons bedroom as quick as possible so it doesn't seem like you were snooping.

the boy is smiling at you like a dork when you open the door, and you smile too before his smile drops at the words that leave your mouth.

"my brothers blowing up my phone, so i have to go, but um, today was nice" his heart thumps in his chest, and he swallows in hopes that the feeling subsides and he hopes that it was only loud in his head and that you couldn't hear his heartbeat from where you were standing.

"yeah, it was. i can walk you to your car, its getting kinda dark." anton helps you collect your things, and you two silently make your way down to where you parked.

the walk from antons apartment to your car was awkward, and you wish that it wasn't. you didn't really know what to say, or what to do in this situation. usually guys you hook up with don't go out of their way to give you some of their clothes, or walk you back to your car, or have good conversation with you. but anton was different, and you felt it the moment you decided to give him attention, because you really don't want to go home, and you really don't want this to be the last time you two fool around.

anton stays outside until your car pulls off and until he cant see you anymore before he starts his walk back to his apartment, and he can't stop the wave of thoughts that run through his mind now.

he's praying internally that you really do text him, and that you enjoyed today as much as he did, and that him cumming in his pants didn't throw you off and that you'd never want to speak to him again. he hopes you text him and that you want to see him again.

all of his internal prayers seem to come true faster than he thought when he enters his room and sees your soaked through panties on his bed.

m.list | prev | next

a/n: sorry for posting this so late !! anyways hope you guys like it hehe haha

synopsis: living with your older brother had its perks, including easy access to his hot best friend

taglist is closed !!

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[azzifuddslover]

UNRAVEL — chapter one

paige bueckers x azzi fudd

trope: best friends to lovers

tw: light swearing, think that’s all

themes: fluff

word count: 4.1k

a/n: my second series YAY! i absolutely adore reading best friends to lovers, it’s honestly my favorite trope, so i figured i’d make one of my own. i love this so far lowkey, they’re my literal babies 😭 also merry christmas to those who celebrate! please lemme know how u like it, and if i should continue. enjoy my pookies 𝜗𝜚

the gym echoes with the sound of squeaky sneakers and the rhythmic bounce of basketballs. it was the first day of USA basketball tryouts, and azzi felt a rush of excitement and anxiety as she stands silently in the corner, watching other girls around her age begin to fill in the open room. some began to practice shooting to pass time. at 14, she was nervous yet determined to make the team.

once all the young girls make their way into the gym, azzi scans the room, curious to know if she recognizes anyone. when she comes up with no familiar faces, she begins fiddling with her own fingers, her nerves becoming more evident. she absolutely hates doing new things alone, especially something as scary as this.

“let’s go ladies! time to get warmed up!” the coach announces his presence, a clipboard in his hands.

azzi, along with the other girls, form a line, starting to stretch out their limbs. her eyes dance over her future teammates, but when she makes swift eye contact a tall blonde unintentionally, she tears her eyes away, focusing on the ground instead.

warm ups quickly end; the girls break into teams of five, bustling with energy. azzi stands a little off to the side, watching everyone find their friends and form tight-knit circles. she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, feeling the familiar pang of anxiety in her stomach. she feels out of place, unsure if she really belongs here.

just as she contemplates stepping away, she notices the blonde she made eye contact with earlier lingering nearby, alone, like herself. the blue eyed blonde takes a steady, deep breath before wryly approaching the curly headed brunette.

her expression is friendly but obviously hesitant, maybe slightly shy as well. “hey, um.. do you have a group?”

azzi’s heart races in her chest, heat covering her cheeks as embarrassment sets in. “no, not yet. do you?”

the blonde’s face lights up just a tad, although her nerves are still apparent. “not yet. i was wondering if.. you wanna be in mine? not that i have one, but we can find one together..?”

azzi feels a rush of relief as any lingering nerves in her stomach instantly settle. “i’d love that.”

“great! i’m paige, by the way,” the blonde, paige, says, a wide smile appearing on her face.

“azzi,” the brunette replies, matching paige’s grin with one of her own.

as they walk together, navigating their way through the crowd of girls, paige steals glances at azzi’s frame, a mix admiration and awe in her eyes. she’s possibly one of the most beautiful girls she’s ever laid eyes on.

“i’m so nervous,” azzi whispers, a soft, stressed smile tugging at her lips.

paige chuckles lightly, “same here. it’s hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed with all of these girls who seem to know each other already.”

“right?” azzi replies, her gaze drifting to the formed teams, “i just wanna make a good impression.”

paige turns to azzi, “you totally will!” she reassures her, nudging her gently. “you just gotta remember we’re all trying to figure this out together. everyone’s nervous,” she wears a soft grin. “i’m sure you’ll be just fine— i saw your warm ups, you got some serious skills.”

a noticeable blush covers azzi’s cheeks at paige’s kind words. “thank you, that means a lot.”

paige’s lips tug into a wider smirk at azzi’s red face. shortly after, the pair finds a spot in a group with only three players, finally forming a group of five. the other girls greet paige and azzi warmly.

“alright, let’s get this started!” the head coach shouts, shutting down any side conversations the players were having. “we’ll start we 5v5s, then finish with a scrimmage.”

as each player in their small team break into their desired positions, paige throws yet another quick glance at the brunette she’s quickly growing fond of. she already feels a connection between them— like they’re meant to be friends.

only a couple minutes into the 5v5, azzi becomes highly aware of the kind of player paige is. a selfless passer, always willing to give up the ball to an open teammate in the corner, now including herself. but it’s not just her passing that sticks out to azzi— no, it’s the effortless shots she doesn’t hesitate to take that almost always goes in. it doesn’t matter where she’s positioned— whether it be the 3 point line, midrange, or a simple layup, it always swishes through the net.

as azzi digests paige’s skill set, paige takes in the curly headed brunette’s at the same time, in a similar state of awe. her 3 point shooting ability was undeniably impressive; she swears she never seems to miss. everytime she’d pass the ball to an open azzi in the corner, she had full confidence it’d go in, she didn’t even bother to look. she was that good.

the short 5v5 match comes to a close, leaving azzi feeling more herself, more comfortable and confident in her abilities. paige feels good about her performance, too, but more so in azzi’s.

“holy shit, you were so good out there!” paige exclaims once they’re allowed a short break for water.

azzi lets out an airy laugh, clearly out of breath from the previous 5v5. “thank you, so were you.”

paige shakes her head, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “i mean it, i’ve never seen anyone hit so many threes in a row. what was it, like six?”

azzi feels a sudden rush of pride at paige’s words. “more like five, but i get what you’re saying. thanks again.” azzi takes a swig from her water bottle, “it really helps when i have someone like you passing me the ball.”

the corners of paige’s lips quirk up as an unrecognizable feeling travels throughout her chest. “i guess we make a pretty good team.”

azzi tries to hide her smile, but ultimately fails. “i guess so.”

paige glances at the ground, fidgeting with the water bottle in her hands. “i was so nervous to come here, genuinely. i try to appear as confident as possible, but on the inside i’m an anxious wreck.”

azzi smiles in a reassuring manner as she suddenly reaches out, gently patting paige’s arm to somewhat comfort the girl in front of her. “i understand. i was nervous too, until you talked to me, that is.”

paige beams at azzi’s comment. “really?” when the brunette nods, she continues, “i’m glad i approached you then. it’s nice to know i’m not the only one feeling this way.”

azzi feels the connection between the two of them deepen as they share a vulnerable moment. “i think we all put on a brave, tough act, but it’s always nice to find someone who gets it.”

“exactly!” paige says, her excitement bubbling over. “i’m so glad we’re on the same team. you’ve made this whole experience way more enjoyable.”

azzi’s cheeks grow warm at the sincerity of the blonde’s choice of words. “me too. i don’t think i could’ve done this without you.”

now it was paige’s turn to blush— way more pigmented than azzi’s, that is. paige turns her gaze away from the curly brunette’s, desperately trying to hide her inflamed cheeks.

the two girls continue to chat, discussing their high school teams and other random interests outside of basketball. paige already knows, with time, azzi has the potential to become the best friend she’s never had.

paige and azzi’s conversation quickly fades away once the head coach orders them to break into two large groups, in preparation for the scrimmage. paige doesn’t hesitate to stay rooted besides azzi, keeping their distance close to indicate they’re on a team together.

the players surrounding them occasionally brush into the pair, separating them more and more. it isn’t until azzi rushes over to the older girl, gently gripping her forearm, mere inches away from her hand, that they get placed into a team together. paige feels instant sparks scramble within her chest at azzi’s touch— she’s brave enough to move her hand, grabbing azzi’s hand with her own, yet not interlacing their fingers— just letting her know she’s here.

the coach blows the whistle, signaling for everyone to get settled. as the two teams are finalized, paige and azzi find themselves on the same side, as expected but still, relief washing over the two girls.

the coach picks a starting five from the opposing team first, choosing the obvious top players with the highest skill sets out of everyone there. the coach then makes his way to paige and azzi’s team, scanning the girls one by one.

“aliyah, cameron, azzi, paige, caitlin,” he voices before turning around, casually walking to the side.

paige turns her head to look at azzi, who seems equally as shocked, but pleased with his picks. anxiety floods the brunette’s features— out of everyone on the team, he chooses her? she couldn’t believe it.

“we got this,” paige nods at azzi, reassuring the younger girl, “you got this.”

azzi hesitates, but shares the nod, trying to mask her nervousness with a quiet pride expression.

once the scrimmage starts up, the atmosphere shifts. the gym fills with the sound of sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor, and the shouts of encouragement from teammates. paige feels a rush of adrenaline, her confidence bolstered by azzi’s presence.

throughout the game, they fall into a rhythm, passing the basketball back and forth with ease. azzi’s sharp shooting is as impressive as ever, landing each 3 pointer with precision, while paige’s passes are spot on, giving azzi the chance to shine. they communicate seamlessly, each play reflecting their undeniable chemistry.

as the scrimmage progresses, the score tightens, and both of the two teams push harder. paige spots azzi’s competitive spirit ignite, only fueling her own drive. with every successful shot and assist, they exchange swift glances filled with passion and excitement.

eventually, the whistle blows, indicating the end of the scrimmage. both teams gather for a quick huddle, breathing heavily but exhilarated.

“nice work everyone!” the head coach praises, “you all showed fantastic teamwork out there.”

paige turns her body to azzi, her heart racing, not just from the game, but also from the connection they’ve built in such a short period of time. “damn, we really do work good together.”

“i know, right?” azzi smiles, exposing her dimples on each one of her cheeks.

the girls begin packing up their bags, stuffing their now empty water bottles in the pockets. paige’s gaze shifts to the brunette’s, then back at her bag, then once again, back to azzi.

azzi quickly notices paige’s wandering eyes, “everything okay?”

paige’s eyes widen, embarrassed of her previous actions. “yeah, sorry. i was wondering if i could get your number, though? just so we can keep in touch throughout the tryouts, y’know.”

azzi swears her heart skips a beat at the request, a gentle smile spreading across her face. “is this your way of asking me out on a date?”

paige is taken aback at azzi’s comment, her cheeks becoming noticeably red. “what— no, that’s not—“

azzi nudges her shoulder, letting out a laugh at her reaction. “i’m only kidding, paige. of course i’ll give it to you. i’d love that.”

paige shuts her eyes, embarrassment still lingering, yet she pulls out her phone. azzi masks the older girl’s movement, taking her own phone out as well.

azzi hands paige her phone, to which she punches in the brunette’s number, labeling her in her personal contact list. as she hands the phone back, their fingers brush, the moment growing electric.

the two throw their own bags over their shoulders, barely making any movements to leave quite yet. azzi feels a ding come from her phone— it’s a text message from her mother, katie, letting her know they might be a couple minutes late to pick her up.

azzi lets out a groan, loud enough for the blonde beside her to hear. paige glances at azzi, curious as to what’s got her frustrated.

“what? everything good?” paige asks.

azzi meets her gaze, “my parents are gonna be late. i have nothing to do besides sit here for like, 20 minutes.”

paige scrunches her eyebrows, feeling slightly bad for the brunette. an idea forms in paige’s head, not bothering to think about her own mother waiting outside to pick her up.

paige suddenly reaches for azzi’s hand, interlocking their fingers and tugging her towards the gym door.

“um, where are you taking me?”

a grin tugs at paige’s lips, excitement glistening in her bright blue eyes. “just trust me, will you?”

“not like i just met you,” azzi mutters, although its laced with sarcasm. surprisedly, azzi’s trust for paige grows every minute she’s with her.

walking out the door, into the chilly weather with a slight breeze, paige’s grip on azzi’s hand remains tight and secure. she spots her mother’s car, noticing a confused expression on her face— she holds up her finger, telling her one minute, although she has no intentions of leaving azzi alone until her parents arrive.

she leads the younger girl into a nearby smoothie shop, dropping into an open table, hinting for azzi to take the spot in front of her.

as the two girls settle in their chairs, directly facing each other, the hum of the smoothie shop surrounds them, blending with the chatter of other customers. azzi glances around, intrigued at the colorful menu board. “okay, i’m curious. why’d you take me here?”

paige leans back, eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “i just discovered this place the other day, their smoothies are so good. and plus i figured i’d wait with you until your parents get here.”

a faint blush covers the brunette’s cheeks, which she quickly hides with her hands. “thanks, that’s really sweet of you.”

“anytime,” paige beams. “do you want anything? i know i do.”

“oh, i don’t have any money with me,” azzi shrugs.

paige’s lips form a line, “no worries, it’s on me. now, what do you want?”

azzi’s face breaks out into a huge grin, exposing her dimples once again. the blonde masks her expression, wearing a grin of her own at the sight of azzi’s cute dimples. as she scans the menu, paige takes the time to really look at azzi. god, she’s unreal. her soft, brown curls pulled into a bun, brown, wandering eyes paired with long lashes, deep dimples paige already adores. her heart races at her beauty.

“i’ll take the pineapple one,” azzi announces, “thank you, paige. really,” she adds, gratefully.

paige simply nods, then walks up to the counter to order their smoothies. only a minute later, she brings them back to the table, setting azzi’s pineapple one in front of her.

azzi takes a long sip, followed by another when she realizes she really enjoys the taste. paige does the same with her own strawberry banana, downing half the drink.

“you’re right, they are really good,” azzi agrees as she shallows.

“told you so,” paige says, taking another fast swig.

the girls silently sit there, making no effort to converse. “so, do you think you’ll make the team?” azzi questions the older girl, eventually breaking the comfort silence.

paige shrugs, “i mean, i think i have a good chance. you’ll definitely make it, though.”

azzi’s heart quickens in her chest, beating at an erratic pace. “you’ll make it. do you have any idea how good you are?”

paige bites back a grin, avoiding eye contact with the younger girl. “stop gettin’ soft on me.”

azzi rolls her eyes at the blondes comment, “i mean it, though. i’ve never seen anyone with the ability to pass as perfect as you.”

pink floods paige’s cheeks, warmth spreading throughout her body. “look in the mirror, azzi. your form is literally textbook perfect.”

azzi chuckles, a mix of embarrassment and pride flooding her. “thanks. that means a lot coming from you.”

paige nods before taking another sip of her fruity smoothie. “so, what do you do outside of basketball?”

the two girls fall into a flowing conversation, discussing anything but basketball— getting to know each other better. they share laughs and wide grins as the conversation develops.

paige feels weird— she cannot understand how quickly azzi and her have bonded over such a short period of time. she feels like she’s known her forever.

azzi’s phone vibrates mid laugh; it’s a text from her mom, saying she’s here.

“my moms here,” azzi says, gaze lingering on paige’s figure. a wave of sadness floods her features— she’s sort of wishing she could stay here longer, with paige.

“oh, alright,” paige nods, sharing a similar disappointment. she stands with azzi, pulls on her backpack, and moves for the door.

the wind has pickin’ up, causing goosebumps to form on both young girls arms.

“see you tomorrow?”

“duh,” azzi replies, an effortless smirk appearing on her face. she waves paige goodbye, before heading around the corner to where her mom is parked, waiting for her.

paige watches azzi leave, the lingering flash of sadness noticeable on her face. she begins walking over to her mom, her steps slow but steady.

she greets her mother with a quick smile, setting down her backpack.

“who was that?” her mom questions, her tone light.

“a girl i met at tryouts,” she doesn’t bother to hide her beam, “she’s so cool, i swear. she’s so good at basketball, too. i’ve never seen anyone hit so many threes.”

paige rants on and on about azzi, talking about her impressive basketball skills and about how they clicked so instantly.

paige eyes her mom’s knowing smile, to which she scrunches her eyebrows down. “what?”

“you really like her, don’t you?”

paige’s eyes widen at the comment, “i mean, yeah, she’s my friend. but if you mean like that, then no.”

paige’s mother, amy, pulls her lips into a line, clearly not believing her daughter, although she doesn’t push.

the entire car ride home, paige has yet to stop thinking about azzi. her excitement about seeing her tomorrow basically buzzes off her, it’s that strong. she contemplates texting the brunette, but shuts that thought down immediately, considering it’s only been ten minutes.

back at paige’s house, in her room, she lays silently on her comfortable bed, scrolling mindlessly on her phone. azzi continues to linger within her mind— she eventually decides to text her, in hopes to settle the obsessive thoughts.

hey azzi, she types and sends quickly, without the chance to overthink her words.

a minute passes with no response— paige bites at her nails, an anxious habit of hers. her phone buzzes with a text message from, of course, azzi.

hi paige!! azzi’s text reads. paige’s lips tug into a small smile.

what are u up to?

only seconds later, azzi responds. not much, u?

same. wanna ft? paige works up the courage to ask, looking away from her phone out of fear.

three minutes pass with no answer from the brunette. just as thoughts like what if i did something wrong develop in paige’s mind, an incoming facetime call from azzi covers her screen.

the first thing paige sees is azzi, messy curls framing her face, laying in bed, looking directly into the camera.

“hey,” azzi smiles into her phone at the blonde.

“hi,” paige answers, mimicking her expression.

the two girls settle into a steady conversation, each smiling shyly at one another throughout. paige can’t help but admire azzi’s nature beauty, the way her curls fall effortlessly around her face.

“it’s so weird, i feel like i’ve known you forever,” paige announces in the middle of a collective laugh.

azzi falls silence, but her grin stays put on her face. “me too— i’ve never met anyone like you.”

heat, yet again, covers paige’s face, her heart speeding up at azzi’s soft words. “really? i feel the same way.”

azzi’s eyes sparkle with warmth. “yes, really. i mean it, too. you’re just so… genuine. i love that about you.”

paige bites her lip, both flattered and a little shy. “thanks, azzi. i appreciate that.”

they exchange more laughter, sharing stories and favorite moments about the tryouts. as the conversation flows, paige feels a growing sense of comfort, like she can be completely, undeniably herself around azzi. she hasn’t felt that way in a long time— if ever.

paige and azzi’s facetime lasts for hours on end, filled with continuous chuckles and getting to know one another. katie, azzi’s mom, eventually barges into her dark room, suggesting she heads off to bed, considering another day of tryouts is approaching.

“talk to you tomorrow,” azzi says to paige through her phone.

“talk tomorrow!” paige squeals, her excitement for the next day peaking through. she shuts off her phone after ending the facetime, her room fills with darkness and complete silent at azzi’s absence.

she lets out a quiet sigh, already missing talking with azzi, although it was only moments prior. she cannot help but feel an extreme pull towards the curly brunette— like they’re meant to meet, meant to be best friends.

throughout the night, into the next morning, paige desperately tries to ignore the warm feelings that bubble up just thinking about azzi. she distracts herself with homework, scrolling on her phone, yet nothing seems to quiet said feelings.

as the sun rises, filling her room with soft light, paige can’t shake the thought swirling in her mind. do i have a crush on azzi? she remembers back to azzi’s dimply smile, the way her laughter lit up her phone screen, how easy it is to talk to her.

before she spends another minute questioning her feelings, she forces them out of her mind, trying to focus her attention on the next day of tryouts instead.

the day both paige and azzi dreaded was finally here. the championship— the game the USA basketball team worked so desperately hard to reach. regardless of their excitement to win, the two girls couldn’t fathom leaving one another for god knows how long.

paige and azzi, over the last couple of months, have grown inseparable. the pair would spend every minute their downtime together, barely leaving one another’s side. they share laughter and secrets, bonding over late night talks and all throughout practice. the chemistry between the girls was undeniable, yet neither of them had the courage to question if it was purely friendship, or something more.

as the game approaches, paige feels a swirl of anticipation and anxiety. the team has trained so hard for this moment, yet all she could think about was what it would mean to leave azzi. after the game ends, they would be separated by hundreds of miles— azzi being in virginia and paige living in minnesota.

in the locker room before the championship game, the atmosphere buzzes with enthusiasm and energy. azzi sits down next to paige, a smile plastered on her face. for a moment, the world already them seems to fade.

“you ready for this, p?” azzi asks, her voice steady but with an underlying hint of nerves.

paige takes a deep breath, glancing at the younger girl. “ready as i’ll ever be.” she tries her best at a smile, although her sadness is evident to azzi.

azzi scrunches her eyebrows in concern for paige, “everything okay?”

“yeah, i’m good. i’m just kinda sad to leave you, y’know?”

azzi meets her gaze, her expression softening. “don’t think about that right now. let’s focus on the game first, then deal with that later, okay?”

paige bites her lips, her nerves still swirling in her stomach. she tries her best to ignore those thoughts and nods in agreement.

as soon as the championship game starts, the crowd roars, both girls feeling the weight of their training and dedication bearing down on them. every little play is a testament of their hard work, and as the minutes tick by, they find themselves in sync, communicating effortlessly on the court.

throughout the game, azzi continues to drain threes, one after another, as paige racks up assists unlike anyone else on their team.

with just seconds left on the clock, paige and azzi exchange a quick, soft glance filled with determination but also a hint of admiration for the other. the USA team is up by 30, so paige, as the point guard, dribbles the ball with no effort to move, running the clock. the buzzer goes off as the crowd erupts into cheers.

players belonging to the team rush each other, pulling one another into quick hugs, filled with laughter and pride. as azzi pats the back of aliyah, one of their teammates, in a gentle hug, she catches her favorite blonde’s eye, knowing exactly where she’s headed off to next.

the two girls approach each other, a look of longing flooding their eyes with small smirks planted on their lips. to close their distance, paige reaches out, pulling azzi by her jersey into a fierce hug that encapsulates everything they’ve shared over the past few months. azzi chuckles softly, her arms wrapping tightly around the older girl’s frame as paige nuzzles her face into azzi’s neck, breathing in her scent.

against azzi’s exposed neck, paige murmurs, “you did so well, az.”

azzi doesn’t dare to hide her growing smile, gripping paige’s shirt to keep her close. “thanks, but you were the one who really made it happen,” the brunette replies, her voice warm. “you were amazing out there.”

paige pulls back just enough to meet azzi’s line of sight, her heart swelling with pride at her meaningful compliment. “we really do make a great team.”

“couldn’t of asked for a better teammate,” azzi agrees, her genuine grin brightening even more.

as the celebration around them continues, the reality of their impending separation begins to fully sink in. their teammates cheer and take photos, while dread lingers in the two young girls stomachs for what’s to come.

azzi hasn’t left paige’s side since the championship game ended, practically binded hip to hip. she didn’t want to miss any singular moment with her best friend before they would soon separate.

the two girls were eventually forced to pack their bags, ready to head off to the airport to catch different planes. a mix of sadness and disappointment clouds their minds, not wanting to leave one another. they’ve grow so unexplainably close throughout this entire experience, that the thought of separating was heart-wrenching.

arriving at the airport, paige’s brain is still buzzing with dread at the thought of leaving her best friend behind. as she approaches azzi, her expression in a similar state, she tries her best to keep her tears at bay.

“this feels surreal,” azzi breaks the silence suffocating them, “i don’t wanna leave you.”

paige carefully sits her bag down, rushing over to the brunette she’s grown very fond of. the affectionate, touchy person she is, paige wraps her arms tightly around azzi, holding her close. “i don’t want to leave you, either.”

azzi doesn’t hesitate to hug the older girl back, her attention never wavering from paige. she feels her eyes begin to water, so she drops her head, resting it on paige’s shoulder.

paige’s heart speeds at azzi’s doing, making her want to keep the young girl close forever. eventually, however, their tight embrace comes to an end, yet azzi’s hand lingers on paige’s arm.

“please promise me we’ll stay in touch. preferably, like, everyday,” paige whispers, only loud enough for azzi to hear.

“i wouldn’t have it any other way.”

a slow smile creeps onto paige’s face, yet her melancholy is still apparent. “you’re my best friend, az.”

a lone tear spills out of the corner of azzi’s eye at paige’s words. “and you’re mine,” she tugs the blonde back in for a second hug, already missing her comforting warmth.

with azzi being so close, everything around paige seems to fade away— and before she has time to consider whether this is a good idea, she presses her lips just under azzi’s ear, a soft, fleeting gesture that conveys all the unspoken words spiraling between the two.

azzi’s breath hitches in her throat, although her expression remains light, a mix of surprise and understanding. they stand there, in the airport, for a heartbeat, the weight of their connection hanging in the air. but then the airport intercom crackles to life, calling for the minnesota flight boarding, pulling them back into reality.

“guess i should get going,” paige says, her voice breathless.

azzi nods, “please take care of yourself, paige.”

the older blonde gives azzi’s hand one last squeeze, before letting go, leaving azzi behind.

as they walk towards their respective gates, each step feels heavy with the knowledge that they won’t be seeing each other everyday now. they don’t even know the next time they’ll get a change to hangout. yet, both girls know their bond is strong enough to withstand the distance between them.

[aettuddae]

business matter — chapter 131.

a christmas special.

↳ synopsis: two of the most important kpop companies covet a partnership with a huge global brand, only to be surprised when the deal is extended to both labels. fearing potential sabotage and cynical strategies to secure exclusivity for just one of them, both CEOs resort to desperate measures. in a bid to maintain trust and prevent betrayal before the signing, they come up with a pact: forcing a fake relationship between the leaders of their star girlgroups. if one side attempted to fail the other, they threaten to expose it all to the conservative south korea.

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[written chapter]

december 25, christmas had arrived.

for many ordinary families it was a special holiday spent together, where they ate delicious things and showered each other with attention and gifts, for other ordinary families it was perhaps a day like any other. but if there was one certainty it was that if your job is to be an idol and during the year you released even minimally relevant music, then december 25 was just another workday, and a very exhaustive one at that.

all the groups that played on the radios during the year today were at the sbs stations recording the christmas special. a compilation of pre-recorded performances of the same songs they had sung over and over again the past twelve months, and some special ones among the most relevant celebrities.

karina had arrived earlier than the rest of the members that day as she had a collaboration with other groups to film, and then wandered around the station waiting for her bandmates and her turn to take the stage as a group. every year she would have liked to spend that date with her family, but instead she had to be cooped up for hours in that building surrounded by people she hardly knew who were in her same situation, bored and uncomfortable with her wardrobe, waiting for the time when everyone would come out on stage at the end of the event to greet their fans.

after trying to kill time walking around the venue interacting with her industry friends, making content together, playing games on her phone and anything else interesting she could find, it was finally time to go up to say goodbye and she headed her members excited as it meant she would soon be going home. so quickly she reached to the entrance to the set that aespa ended up among the first in line, ahead of everyone, and while waiting to be signaled to enter, the girl got distracted looking around the room they were in.

she was confronted with many familiar faces, even making eye contact with some and having to greet them, while many others she didn't recognize from anywhere. as she moved her eyes through the crowd, she ended up bumping into a figure she identified.

trying to keep herself entertained and with all the work she had to do, she had forgotten that HeAVEN would also be showing up there.

she met chaeyoung's back and couldn't help but stare as if the girl, who clearly couldn't stand her, was going to feel her attention on her and turn around to greet her. but it wasn't the taller one she wanted, it was the presence of the group that captivated her because it made serim, even though she wasn't there because of her hiatus, feel closer.

ningning followed her gaze back to what had her so transfixed, meeting the people with whom she had already formed a bond of friendship and raised her hand to greet minnie who was the only one standing there facing her side. the older one noticed the movement on the girl's part and when she realized it was yizhuo, she returned the greeting cheerfully, tapping yves' shoulder, giving her a strange look and causing her to wave back too, though more shyly. yujin and chaeyoung joined in last as they saw their companions, turning to see who they had met to also say hello. out of nowhere, chaeyoung, just looking at ningning, pointed to the side, telling her to look, and both she and jimin, who was witnessing the entire interaction, turned their heads in that direction, finding serim leaning against a wall with her manager, eyes lost in the screen of her phone.

the girl was so bored that she had gone to support her teammates to at least spend christmas with them instead of at home alone with her porcupine, and now she had to wait for the others to come back from the closing.

when jimin saw her, she became anxious. they had been talking through chat these days, but as it happened lately, they didn't have time to meet because of the younger girl's busy schedule. serim was surprisingly more friendly and that made jimin not hesitate to interact with her. when she knew they were in the same place, she wanted to run out to be with her, but as she started moving people out of her way to get to her, yizhuo stopped her.

"they are about to tell us to come up." she warned her.

"but namu..." a small pout formed on her lips, she really wanted to go talk to her.

"namu will still be there when we go down." she reaffirmed.

and as if they had heard her, a group of staff appeared to order them, putting the groups in line and making them pass slowly in an organized way. aespa passed among the first ones, staying in the front row.

other than posing for the fans' cameras and waiting for the conductors in charge to say the last words, there wasn't much more to that part of the show. they would also receive christmas, although it really only consisted of a confetti explosion and, actually, the day was almost over. it was all performative, but for a part, if anything, they had something special to do during the holidays and they could spend time with their fans.

one of the mcs started to speak, reading his letters full of formal words and superficial questions to ask some of the guest acts, while the idols greeted the audience as they had been trained to do. but karina's head wasn't there, as much as she loved interacting with her fandom and wanted to show respect for the hard work of the narrators, her mind kept going back to the backstage.

she was trying to be patient, but it seemed like every word they said came out slower. she just wanted to go be with her who was sure lonely and bored on christmas eve. just wanted to spend all the christmases that followed with her.

her senses came back to work when she noticed that they were saying the final words, the last words of the speech they had prepared, welcoming christmas and allowing all the groups to start wandering around the stage for a while before letting them go.

but jimin wouldn't stay for that,

jimin wanted to spend christmas with serim.

at least she could say she thought twice about it and both times thought it was a great idea to run off the stage, passing through a bunch of colleagues who, if they didn't clear a path for her, tried to hold her back to ask if she was okay.

and she was fine, almost, just losing her head a little over a woman.

when she got to the stairs leading to the staff area, her own team rushed towards her to help her with whatever she needed, but jimin pushed them away, passing them and running to where the aisles were, reading the names on all the doors looking for the one that read HeAVEN.

hell, there were an eternity of groups present.

she walked past so many doors, bumping into a world of people, her managers chasing her with intentions of finding a reason for all the chaos as she frantically ran the sbs dressing rooms. until she found it, she found herself face to face with the sign indicating what she was looking for and knocked desperately on the door, but didn't wait for anyone to open it, she opened it herself, almost falling inside where serim, sitting on a chair, looked at her dumbfounded, as well as the whole team of the group who didn't expect a member of aespa to throw herself towards the leader of the group they managed, landing on her lap, taking her face in her hands and pulling her to look her in the eyes.

"merry christmas." spoke jimin while from the monitor showing the transmission the exact same words could be heard from the conductor. "merry christmas, my namu." she repeated, leaning over her, who was now holding her waist to help her keep her balance. "i love you."

she dared to admit it and also to kiss her. drawing her face up to hers, shortening the distance, joining in a desperate, but somewhat shy kiss charged with tenderness and need. it had been so long since they kissed that it was like rediscovering something you knew you were addicted to, falling back into the vice. they were looking for more closeness, contact, for their bodies to intertwine like roots of a tree that grow without direction and belong to the same system. karina's arms clung to the older girl's neck, while she stood up, pushing the chair a little out of the way, so she could occupy the space her legs took up with the girl's presence, without letting her lips come loose even by accident.

"are you sure?" serim broke contact for a moment, opening her eyes to show desperation and illusion in these. "do you love me?"

"i love you." she left a short kiss on her lips. "i love you, i love you." she gave a peck each time she said it. "i love you." the girl kissed again. "and i'm sorry for not saying it sooner." she leaned her forehead against hers. "but after your birthday and seeing you sick, thinking about the possibility of something happening to you and the need i had to be me and no one else to take care of you..." the sentences came like waterfalls from her mouth, intraquilly trying to express her emotions. "i was afraid of being wrong, but nothing was ever so certain in my life."

serim wrapped her arms around karina's torso. "do you love me?" she asked once again.

"i love you." she confirmed, a flirtatious smile on her face.

the older one lifted her into the air taking advantage of the hold she had established on her, causing her to bend her knees, lifting her legs, and hold tighter to her. "i love you too!" she reciprocated in an exclamation, making them spin, looking genuinely joyful for the first time in months. "and merry christmas." she set her down again, accompanied with a chaste brush of their lips. "please, don't ruin this." she pleaded, a little jokingly, but you could see the sincerity in her eyes.

"i'll be good." she caressed her cheeks. "we'll be fine." she assured.

"oh my god, how beautiful." a gangly voice filled the room making everyone turn to look at aespa's manager who was choking back tears admiring the whole scene as he futilely wiped his tears with a handkerchief.

"slut!" appeared chaeyoung from the hallway.

"my manhwa lives!" celebrated ryujin with her head poking out from the door frame.

ningning was also among the accumulation of people, at the front of it all, next to the members of the staff who had tried to stop jimin, leaning against the doorframe, she said nothing, but gave them a genuine smile.

(!)

— taglist [CLOSED]: @yoontoonwhs @cwpiqwon @aliceiwk @xen248 @gtfoiydlyj @rinapomu @aeriuchinarga @multiliker @somedaydream @impossiblesharkcashrebel @yjiminswallet @nwjnsloona @yerimbrit @73vyn @dni-unavailable @yizhuobberi @sewiouslyz @yeetaberry127 @masuowo @yallatalla @aerithykly @chaenniefirst @minfolio @starrynini05 @hotluvlet @wmnrhot @mineige @lisaswifey @brocoliisscared @fae-the-wanderer

[haxkattpress]

Our Objective Remains Unchanged by @citrusses

"Harry Potter, returning member of the Oxford University Boat Club, has two goals for the spring of 2005: beat Cambridge, and beat Draco Malfoy. Perhaps not in that order."

This has to be one of the most creative and meticulously researched fics I have ever had the pleasure of reading. If you haven't read it yet, don't walk— run! Citrusses is an absolute genius, and kindly gave me permission to bind her masterpiece.

The cover of this bind is made out four different shades of Allure bookcloth cut by my Cameo 4, and the centerpiece is printed and hand foiled. The banners were machine foiled in gold and black with hand foiled rose gold shading. The endbands were hand sewn with Gutermann silk thread.

You can find more pictures and information about my process under the cut.

The amount of inspiration this fic gave me was overwhelming, and Citrusses' writing fully immersed me in the world of competitive rowing. While designing this bind, I was struck by the sheer wealth of Oxford rowing memorabilia available to me. I settled on this 1929 illustration from an official publication on the Oxford and Cambridge Centenary Boat Race for the cover.

"How hard could it possibly be?" I thought, foolishly. The answer was HARD, but I'll get into that later.

Due to the wealth of design options, I believe that this may be the best typeset I have created to date. Thanks to the help of my friend @tsurashi-bindery, I was able to learn the basics of InDesign (kicking and screaming all the way). There will be spoilers in the text of these photos, so try not to read them if you haven't finished the fic!

For the title page, I modified To See the Crews in Training by Charles Pears (1930). I believe that this was part of a series of advertisements for the race in the London Underground.

For the chapter headers, I redrew the crest from an Oxford Oars, Flags, and Arms postcard, presumably pre 1914. I also had some fun creating a mock email using La_Temperanza's How to Mimic Email Windows on Ao3. Cormac's email makes me laugh every time I read it, and Citrusses provided an appropriately pompous subject.

I also had lots of fun editing the oars from the official OUBC logo to serve as dividers and decorations for the page numbers.

Additionally, I got to edit a full newspaper page for the fic! I was very excited find an opportunity to slip Leyendecker's The Finish (1908) in.

The fic ended beautifully, so I wanted to include one last element at the end to capture the atmosphere. I settled on L'aviron (1932) by Milivoj Uzelac. It makes me feel as though Harry and Draco will continue rowing together long after I've closed the book.

I of course had lots of fun sewing the headbands, and got to do it with not one but TWO copies!

Things got tricky when I had to recreate the cover. I had a poor understanding of how vector images worked, and ended up having to redraw it three times. Once I finally cracked and taught myself how to use Illustrator, the program crashed...and I had to redraw it a fourth time!

I set the vector to cut on my Cameo 4, and I assembled the pieces together like a puzzle on my Silhouette mat. I used Allure's indigo, skylight, white, and black bookcloth in the process. I will be making a tutorial video on this method, so I will keep it brief here.

I also cut a piece of bookcloth to 8.5"x 11" and fed it through my inktank printer to print the center design. I then cut it out using the print and cut feature on my Cameo 4. Both of these methods were a first for me, and they were very scary!!

To be perfectly frank, the foiling was a nightmare and I don't want to get into it. I machine foiled the gold, and then foiled black lettering on top of it. I foiled the rose gold shading by hand, and then foiled a thin black outline along the edge of the banners to make them stand out more.

I hand foiled the spines (because I'm scared of measuring), painted the exposed board (to hide any gaps in the inlays), and used transfer tape to lift my design from the Silhouette mat and onto the cover.

One more fun detail— my copy and the author's copy are sisters! The dark blue and the light blue are inverted on the author's copy, making it distinguishable from mine. This is the first time I have made an author's copy for a fic, and I was admittedly incredibly nervous. I always worry about what authors will think of my work, but Citrusses gave me an incredible amount of encouragement and support throughout the process! Thank you for trusting me with your precious fic!

This story is a work of fanfiction and can be read on Ao3 for free. My bind and typeset are for personal use only and not for sale or profit. Keep fandom free!

[cupids-chamber]

— THE CONCUBINE GAME !! | chapter one . . . The first chapter, where you'll be able to catch a climpse of the inner dynamics between the emperor's y/n's secretary and their personal guard, a small entry and brief taste of what's to come, while learning a bit more about our beloved emperor and their staff . . .

— Themes ; Harem / historical au , Twisted wonderland , multiple characters x reader , royalty au , includes rsa + yuuka/yuuken. ♡

The wind was howling, the pitter patter sound of rain could be heard throughout the grand walls of the palace. The sound of heels clicking urgently on the wooden floors, echoing through the empty halls, as Yuuken rushed his way through to the emperor's chambers. It was late, yet he’d been overworked all week preparing the palace for the arrival of certain selected members of the Royal Harem, some were particularly demanding with the way they wanted things sorted out and Yuuken prided himself on never failing to impress. 

He banged on the door rather aggressively, “Your majesty, I have certain design plans I need you to finalize before Prince Leona’s arrival, and the first few concubines enter the palace, we don’t have much time!”, he yelled out trying to get the emperor’s attention, it was already late into the night and the palace staff were working overtime meeting every demand that they were given. 

Yuuken flinched feeling something touch his shoulder, and right before he could move back and attack, he heard an all too familiar voice—”Don’t bother trying to get their attention, Y/n’s at a meeting”—Yuuka spoke, a small grin on her face while she watched Yuuken try and collect himself, “This late?”, he asked confused, “also please try and address them by proper titles in public”; Yuuka shrugged in response, pausing for a moment before she spoke up once more, “I’d like to keep things the way it is, and you should probably take a break because they’re not coming out of the room at all, it’s something about politics . . . I wasn’t really paying attention”. 

Yuuken sighed, slumping his shoulders as he leaned onto the door of the Emperor's chamber, “I-i . .  just want everything to be perfect, everything’s been so . . hectic for their majes—y/n and I just really want to provide some stability, you know?”, he said softly, letting his exhaustion take over for a moment and Yuuka’s expression softened, “Hey—you’re doing great, there's a reason y/n gave you full creative liberty”, she ruffled his hair giving him a genuine smile, “don’t push yourself too hard alright? None of us are expecting you to be perfect, not even y/n . .” she finished, as Yuuken closed his eyes and whispered a small, “I know . . .”

Setting: Meeting room Location: The west wing. Time: 11:36pm 

You fiddle with your fingers, trying to shift the jewelry that you were covered in, in an attempt to feel more comfortable with the weight that the jewels provided, holding you down . . , as another argument ensues between the nobles, these past few days have felt like a choir, in fact most of the months since you ascended have felt terrible, nothings been exciting—from inheriting an empire doomed to fail, to trying to pick up the scraps of what was left of your fathers reckless decisions and fixing it into something at least palatable, the pressure of everything has left you in a bottomless pit, you needed freedom a refreshing start—something you lost—when you inherited the throne . . . 

“—Ah, your majesty?”, one of the nobles spoke up, and you bit your lip, how you hated that title, the moment you inherited this role, your friendships haven’t quite been the same, everyone who you’ve trusted in the past, have now become just another subject, trust is no longer something you earn, as loyalty and trust is to be expected when the crown is on your head.

Setting: Inner Cold Palace Garden Location: Rundown Gazebo Time: 12:46am 

"—and they never thanked me'', Yuuken hiccuped out, words slurring due to his alcohol intake, he waved the half finished bottle of some form of expensive imported wine in his hands, swinging it around dramatically; Yuuka chuckled, taking a sip from her glass as she looked around at the scenery of the garden—it used to be much prettier and well taken care of, way back before the previous emperor—y/n’s father—went haywire. . . 

"Hey Yuuken, remember when we used to play together here?" she asked without thinking, meeting his eyes for a brief moment all the while Yuuken took another big gulp from his wine bottle . . and then he spoke, "Yeah—you and y/n pushed me into the lake, I still hate the water", he slurred over his words slightly and Yuuka chuckled in response, if only things could've stayed as simple, but now Y/n didn't even have the time to maintain the garden where they're friendship once first blossomed, Yuuka sighed, leaning her head down on the table—which had seen better days— . .  the same could be said about their relationship with y/n themselves . . 

Masterlist | Introductions (being reworked) | Next chapter

♡. Synposis ; After many months of persuading, the emperor, Y/N L/N had finally agreed to take in a select few concubines and consorts—not an official partner.. but concubines. This caused an uproar in court; however the emperor promised to choose an official partner; amongst the crowd of concubines and consorts.. Who will the emperor choose?

— taglist ♡ (open) : . . tumblr is not letting me mention over 5 people per post, and the staff won't do anything about it, so I recommend just joining my server and picking out the new chapter ping role as it makes things easier for me.

© cupids-chamber, do not repost, plagiarize, translate, or adapt my work without prior permission and or confirmation.

[seraphinitegames]

The Wayhaven Chronicles—Update 27/Sept/2024 

I’ve finished the base writing for Chapter Four, and I’ve almost finished the first edits!!

As you might be able to tell, it’s been a very productive week, hehe! :D

Chapter Four came together sooo smoothly! There wasn’t as many scenes, which helped, but also a major chunk of it was just the MC and another character, which obviously helps keeps variations of scenes to a smaller amount with so few characters—though I still had to put a good amount in to account for some very important choices with this very important character…

But there was a really specific line I wanted this chapter to end on, as I finally got to write it I was like vibrating with excitement, lol! :D It sets up not only the next chapter on a fun, if intense, note, but also the rest of the story!

After I finished writing, I dove straight into the editing! There was an important bit of ‘mirroring’ I really wanted to get into this chapter at the beginning and end for the romances, so getting to read back through and make sure that was clear but also subtle was great to check on!

The romances really are progressing now, and although I want that to be obvious through dialogue and actions, I also want it to be there in the subtler, quieter moments too. I think that’s where deeper feelings can really shine the most! More of an instinctual thing than something the characters are actively doing.

Next week, I will easily finish of the edits and rewrites for this chapter, and then move onto social media days.

Social media days will take a bit longer as I have the Autumnal Scenario Specials for Patreon to write, which is really going to get me in the autumnal mood…before jumping back into the heated summer going on for the next chapter, hehe! :D

Hope you all have the most amazing weekend! We’ll be offline as usual, so I’ll update you all again next week! <3

[cozycottagetarot]

Your First Getaway Together | The First Series

���️ Notes: I did use 'Future Spouse' in this reading but it applies to 'Your Person' or long term partners as well. This reading is a mix of a classic tarot reading and intuition.

🧳 Reading Contents:

Setting/General

The Between The Two of You

The Magic & Sweet Little Magic (extended)

A Romantic Surprise (extended)

Hinting At The Future (extended)

LINKS: Reading Masterlist | Dividers | Ko-Fi | Patreon | Patreon Masterlist | Paid Readings - OPEN | $10 and Under Readings - OPEN

A new chapter awaits with many mysteries in store! Get 25% off all readings when you use the code CCT2025 until January 31st 2025.

PILE 1

SETTING/GENERAL

Cards:The Adventurer, The Aspirant, The Captain, Ten of Pentacles, The Star, The Hanged Man

Your first vacation or getaway with your future spouse is something that has been in the works for a while, and you’ve been saving up for it. It’s a trip you’ve been dreaming about for quite some time now, and I think you’ve been feeling a bit impatient about how long it’s taking to finally happen.

It could be a place that either you or your future spouse have wanted to visit for a very long time—something meaningful or exciting. I don’t think it’s the typical relaxing vacation most people might imagine. Instead, there seems to be a sense of adventure and challenge tied to it.

The setting I’m picking up on feels active and dynamic—maybe a destination with mountains, volcanoes, or rugged landscapes. It makes me think of hiking, tour guides, and activities that get you moving. This feels more like an “active vacation,” where you’re building experiences and even honing certain skills, rather than just lounging around.

There’s also a sense that this trip might be connected to a deeper purpose. Perhaps it involves visiting a place tied to family roots—like if one of you has a grandparent or family history in a specific location. It may not necessarily be someone’s home country, but somewhere meaningful to your shared or individual heritage.

Overall, it feels like this getaway is deeply tied to nature and personal growth. It’s not just about spending time together; it also seems to help you both understand your relationship better. It could bring a renewed sense of hope and faith in yourselves and each other. So while it’s a vacation, it’s also about achieving something more meaningful—whether that’s personal growth, bonding, or fulfilling a long-held dream together.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU TWO

Cards:Seven of Pentacles, Four of Pentacles, Five of Wands, The Patron, The Walker, The Adventurer

Your connection with your future spouse during this vacation feels like it’s going to be tested. It seems like a lot of this experience will be about figuring out how to work together. Your first vacation as a couple can often reveal a lot about the other person, and I think this trip will do just that.

I feel like one of you may try to take the lead or feel like you have to lead the other. This could lead to a conversation where one of you reassures the other that it’s okay to step back and just enjoy the moment. There’s something about this trip that feels important to one of you—almost like they’re trying to prove something to themselves. The reassurance that they don’t need to control everything will be significant.

This experience will be an opportunity for you both to rely on each other. One person in the relationship will likely realize that they don’t have to do everything on their own—they can ask for help. This could be a big moment of growth for someone who tends to be hard on themselves.

This trip might also follow a challenging situation, making it an opportunity to reconnect and lean on each other. It will be a reminder that things don’t happen or heal overnight, but that doesn’t mean you’re alone or unsupported.

I appreciate you for making it through this reading! 🫶 And because I appreciate you, I'm doing a followers giveaway! Interested? Check It Out Here. Oh... and there's an extended reading to this pac. Afterall, who doesn't want to find out the sweet little details, magical moments and what your first getaway together hints at the future? 👀Available from the cozy corner and up. 😘

PILE 2

SETTING/GENERAL

Cards:The Thief, The Diviner, The Astronomer, Seven of Wands, Two of Wands, Nine of Cups

Your first getaway or vacation with your future spouse feels a bit impromptu. It’s not something meticulously planned. Instead, you two just decide on a whim, "Let’s go to XYZ," and off you go.

I’m getting a vibe of someplace like Iceland to see the Northern Lights—or somewhere you can stargaze or admire a lot of lights. It could be a destination known for its natural beauty, like a sky full of stars, or even somewhere with dazzling city lights that make people stop and marvel.

The trip will likely feel very intimate, just the two of you, and the experience itself will carry this magical quality. It might feel like something out of a storybook or as if it was written in the stars. That’s the energy surrounding this getaway.

Interestingly, this might happen during a time when you’re saving up for something important or have financial obligations waiting. You—or perhaps both of you—might decide to put those worries aside to take this trip because it feels worth it.

I sense your future spouse has a funny and encouraging side. They might say something like, "You’ve always wanted to do X, Y, and Z, so why not do it now? You can’t keep sitting around and letting life pass you by." This energy of urging you to seize the moment feels strong—like they want you to take action and make life happen. Of course, this could also be reversed, with you being the one inspiring them.

The trip might have a bit of a “friends to lovers” dynamic, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. It could also be a road trip—driving from coast to coast, heading to the beach, or just exploring someplace beautiful.

There’s an interesting dichotomy in the setting: either it’s somewhere with minimal light pollution (perfect for stargazing) or someplace with lots of lights (like a city or a festival). Either way, it feels incredibly fulfilling, leaving you happy and at ease throughout.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU TWO

Cards:Nine of Swords, Nine of Pentacles, Three of Swords, The Vengeance (Reversed), The Catalyst, The Captain

I’m picking up a specific scenario where something related to work or another stressor weighs heavily on your mind. You might feel anxious or preoccupied at the start of the trip, and your future spouse steps in, trying to reassure you.

However, it’s possible that their attempt to help might backfire a little. You could have a moment where the stress overwhelms you, leaving them feeling a bit panicked or frantic. They might think, “Oh no, this trip was supposed to make things better, not worse!” Regardless, they’ll be there to comfort you and help you relax.

Your future spouse doesn’t want the worries you’ve left behind to follow you into this space. They’ll gently encourage you to kick back, let go, and enjoy your time together. It’s a beautiful balance of supporting your mental health while also savoring the experience of being in a new place together.

I feel you two will collaborate really well during this getaway. You’ll see how great of a team you are and how seamlessly you complement each other. They’ll also hype you up, instilling this confidence in you—this “I can take on anything” energy.

The vibe is very uplifting, almost like a coming-of-age story—not necessarily in the sense of being young, but in the way it inspires personal growth and self-discovery. It feels like a transformative moment, where you find yourselves and deepen your connection, realizing just how well you balance and support one another.

This getaway has the potential to spark a new chapter in your relationship. If you were just friends before, this trip could mark the turning point where your dynamic shifts. Even if you’re already romantic, it still feels like a fresh start—something that strengthens your bond and sets the stage for an even deeper connection.

I appreciate you for making it through this reading! 🫶 And because I appreciate you, I'm doing a followers giveaway! Interested? Check It Out Here. Oh... and there's an extended reading to this pac. Afterall, who doesn't want to find out the sweet little details, magical moments and what your first getaway together hints at the future? 👀Available from the cozy corner and up. 😘

PILE 3

SETTING/GENERAL

Cards:Eight of Wands, Seven of Pentacles, The Moon, The Dancer, The Captain (reversed), The Assassin

Your first getaway with your future spouse could be an overnight trip—a short and quick excursion. It might involve other people or be to a location where there’s a lot of activity and people around.

There’s also a chance it could be a business or work trip, where one of you invites the other to tag along and spend the night in a new location.

It feels like the two of you will prioritize seclusion during this time. If you’re required to be around others, you’ll likely keep that time to a minimum. Once the obligations are done, you’ll focus on spending the rest of the trip together—just the two of you. No interruptions, thank you very much.

There may be tension either at the time of the trip or involving the other people present. This reinforces the sense that the getaway could be tied to an external obligation that one or both of you has to attend. Despite this, you’ll make the most of your time together—creating memories, deepening your connection, and getting to know each other better.

It could also be connected to a retreat, workshop, or activity that promotes self-discovery. Alternatively, it might involve taking a class together—possibly something creative like dance classes.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU TWO

Cards:Strength, Two of Cups, Seven of Swords, The Diviner, The Merchant, The Hound, The Tailor

During this getaway, you and your future spouse will share a strong connection. This trip will highlight not only how well you get along but also how you complement each other.

One of you might have invited the other for somewhat selfish reasons initially, but over the course of the trip, they’ll have a change of heart—realizing they’ve been undervaluing the relationship. There’s potential for one or both of you to recognize new possibilities in the connection, deepening the bond. It does feel like this getaway is more likely to happen before things are serious.

However, it also seems to play a pivotal role in your relationship. It marks a turning point where someone pays closer attention to the other, reflecting on their priorities and shifting their perspective.

In short, this trip is an opportunity to connect on a deeper level, offering insight into what you could mean to each other.

I appreciate you for making it through this reading! 🫶 And because I appreciate you, I'm doing a followers giveaway! Interested? Check It Out Here. Oh... and there's an extended reading to this pac. Afterall, who doesn't want to find out the sweet little details, magical moments and what your first getaway together hints at the future? 👀Available from the cozy corner and up. 😘

[fanfictiongirlie]

Twilight: Some Soulmate - Chapter One

Click here for masterlist

Parings: Paul Lahote x Reader

Description: Y/N a member of the Cullen family is imprinted on by one of the wolves, she is shocked, he is shocked. She is struggling with drinking animal blood over human, and he is disgusted by a vampire for a soulmate… But maybe it could work..?

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: None

Words: 1,819

"Good morning" I smiled as I skipped into the living room, I wiped the blood from my mouth, my hunt was successful, disgusting, but successful. Deer blood will never quench my thirst, but to stay with my family this was to stay part of my diet. 

"Good morning Y/N, how was your hunt?" Carlisle, my longest friend asked me. I smiled weakly, I was so hungry. Esme appeared behind me, before I could answer, she placed both her hands on my shoulders giving me a tight squeeze. I always felt so loved when she was around, it relaxed me. 

"It was okay, better than last time" I answered. I was lying of course. I missed human blood more than I could even explain. I suppose one good thing that comes from only drinking animal blood was my eye colour, I must preferred the amber over the red. Of course the Amber still didn't compare to my human blue eyes. 

"Are you ready Y/N?" Alice asked me. I nodded and followed him and the rest of my siblings out the door. Luckily we were taking Rosalie's car today, I preferred her driving over Edwards. Luckily Edward was out picking his human up and taking her to school. 

I hated how Edward always smelled like her now, her blood was intoxicating. Jasper struggles too, I suppose it makes me feel better that I'm not struggling alone. I'm not sure how Edward copes. I remember when I had a blood singer, only once it had happened to me. Of course I killed him, I hadn't been a vampire long. 

We spent most of the drive silently, as we normally did. Then Alice turned back to me, smirking. 

"Guess what?"

"What?" I asked, I had an inking to what she was going to say. 

"Mike's going to try again today" She giggled.

I groaned, ever since we started at this school, two years ago, Mike Newton had tried, every few weeks to ask me out, and even though I'd say no, every time, he continues to ask. I wonder if he'd ever get bored. 

"A few months and then it's over" I smile, thinking of never having to go back to that place, I had decided this was the last time I'd attend school, at least maybe for a while. Luckily I was in the same school year as Rose and Emmett, meaning I could escape sooner. I also couldn't wait for people to stop telling me I look way too old to be in High School. Physically I was 21, way over high school age, but I had a baby face. 

We arrived at school to see Edward with his arm over Bella, I thought they weren't going to become a official thing.  I climbed out of the car.

"I'll see you at lunch" I smiled at my siblings before I set off inside the school. I had English first, a class I didn't mind too much. But of course Mike was waiting outside of my classroom, I'm sure he knows my schedule better than I do. 

"Hey Y/N!" He grinned happily. 

I muttered a small hello, he smelt so strongly of his aftershave, it was burning my nose. 

"Prom's coming up, and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?" He asked, I pretended to take a deep breath. 

"No thank you Mike, I've said before I won't be going" I smiled sweetly, and then I pushed past him to get into my class.

~~~~~~~~

I didn't pay attention to the class, I knew everything that was being taught. Another reason why I was excited to leave, maybe I could get a job, or take another college course. I'm sure there's something I haven't read about yet. I found myself drifting into a daydream, I was excited for my life after school, but of course I'd have to stay close to the family, otherwise it would upset Carlisle and Esme, and I'd do anything for them. 

'It had been a few months since I had become a vampire, and I was leaving a long string of bodies behind me, it was so easy to keep going. No more would every suspect the woman who could easily bat her eyes and get away with whatever she wanted. It was the year 1887, I was 21. I was never meant to become a vampire, but one night, a man grabbed me, and started drinking my blood, he was going to kill me. But someone or something stopped him, and I was left to die in an alley. I was suppose to die in that alley, but a few hours late I woke up, changed. 

I was all alone, and so scared. 

Until a man found me, he was a strange man, I thought he was human at first, but just a second before I lunged I couldn't hear his heartbeat, couldn't feel the heat of his blood. I had never met another vampire. Not since I became one. 

"Who are you?" I hissed, my teeth bearing at him. 

"My name is Carlisle, if you'd let me, I'd like to help you" He smiled, I felt a warm feeling wash over me, maybe I could trust him?'

When I met Carlisle he took me in, tried to show me the vegetarian way. But I've struggled with it. After a few months with Carlisle, we realised I had a gift. Not a big one, but I can always tell what someone thinks of me, how they feel about me. It's how I could tell Carlisle was to be trusted. I can always tell if someone likes me, to dislikes me. It made hunting so fun, I could always tell if someone thought I was beautiful, it meant I could seduce them, and feed from them. 

It's how I can tell Mike only thinks I look nice, he doesn't care about anything else. 

Once class was over, and another class droned one, it was finally time for lunch. I had a blacked out water bottle full of animal blood. It was gross. 

I sat along side my siblings, except Edward, he chose to sit with Bella. I envied them almost.

Edward and I were the last two without mates. Now it was just me. 154 Years old, and I had never found someone who made me feel complete. My family had, and I endured seeing it everyday. I'm sure if my heart still worked it would be constantly breaking. 

I sipped my drink loudly, my siblings hated when I did that. I smirked at them and carried on..

~~~~~~~~

"Y/N" Esme called, I left my room and followed the noise coming from the kitchen, I walked in and was shocked. My family were cooking, actually cooking. 

"What's happening here?" I asked, watching them. I had no clue what they were even making.

"Edward is brining Bella here" Esme beamed, I rolled my eyes playfully at her, but then felt my throat burn.

"And I want everyone to be welcoming" She added. 

I put my hand to my throat and rubbed it absently. 

"Esme, I don't know if I can" I panicked "I'm worse than Jasper"

She pulled me into her arms and hugged me for a few seconds. 

"You'll be okay" I smiled at her, and stepped closer to Emmett. He was strong enough to stop me if needed. 

"Is she even Italian?" Rosalie asked. 

"Her names Bella" Emmett answered as if it was completely obvious. I started chucking at him, until I smelt it. 

Bella, her blood, it smelt amazing, intoxicating. I held onto the breakfast bar and tried concentrating. 

"Here comes the human" Rosalie sung. 

Edward and Bella walked in, Edward introduced her to Esme and Carlisle, and then brought Bella over to me. I wanted to kill him for bringing her closer. 

"This is Y/N, she's actually the third eldest in the family, after Carlisle and Jasper" He chuckled, but stopped when he saw my face. I'm sure he could hear me cursing him in my head. 

"Yes Edward, mention my age" I said grimly, but it gave me an excuse to walk out. I needed to hunt.

I left my house quick, and ran into the forest, I found something to feed on, and managed to get blood all over myself. I looked a complete state. I slumped against a tree, and sat. I sat and sat for hours, thinking, and making a weird little flower chain. I was quite content, and calming myself down. Until I heard a growl. 

I looked up, and jumped in fear, I jumped so I was clinging onto the tree a few feet off the ground. 

I heard the growl again, realising it was probably a animal, I jumped to the ground. I was still thirsty, perhaps I could find the source. Without a sound I slowly started walking towards the animal, I had picked up it's scent, it was foul smelling. No animal I had smelt before. 

I stopped, deciding to find a more appealing animal, until it jumped into the clearing. 

"Oh, it's one of you" I hissed, one of the shapeshifters. I hadn't seen this wolf before, not that I had seen many. He was dark silver, and was looking incredibly angry at me. 

I looked into its eyes, I wasn't sure if it was going to attack or not, but I wasn't going to make a move. Suddenly I felt something wash over me, a strong feeling of love and care, it confused me. I didn't understand what was happening, but the feeling was coming from him. 

"What's happening" I stutter at the wolf. The wolf looked scared now, he growled once more and ran off. I copied, and ran home, fast. 

"Carlisle" I screamed when I got close enough to the house. My family were outside the greet me, all of them worried.

"He imprinted on you" Edward suddenly said, I was still confused.

"What?" I screamed, they all flinched. 

"Imprinting is when a wolf finds their soulmate" Carlisle explained carefully 

"So a wolf is my soulmate? They hate us! They want us dead!" I yelled "Not to mention I'm not even allowed on their land"

I started walking towards the house, wanting to be away from everyone. 

"Some soulmate" I scoffed to myself, knowing the others could hear too. 

I walked into my room, shutting my door and locking it. 

I grabbed my laptop and started researching about the wolves, and their legends, and mostly about imprinting. Apparently it didn't happen very often, it was described as extremely rare. I didn't even know the wolf, I had no way of finding out who he was either. I wasn't allowed on their land, not that I was brave enough to even go close. 

To make matters even worse, I'm not sure there was anything I could even speak to about this.. 

Next Part

[buckysdollbarnes]

you are in love series - part one

one look, dark room

PAIRING: tfawts!bucky x grad student!reader

Summary: Moving to NYC to go to grad school, your friend's dad has a connection with the owner of a rental building in Brooklyn where you can live on your own, for cheaper than you could get anywhere else. On a student's budget, you strive to still make your place your own by thrifting as much decor as possible. Meeting your quiet and somewhat secretive neighbor, James, you gain some free labor to help you move the random stuff you buy, and with that he may be growing to love parts of the modern world he has been missing. With you in a big, new city feeling alone for the first time and Bucky wanting to make a connection with someone other than Sam and his therapist, maybe online marketplaces and a turntable will bring you both what you need most.

warnings: mild language

word count: 4.7k

a/n: this is my first time EVER writing fiction, usually I only ever write academic papers so this is fun. :) I read over and revised this chapter so many times, so I hope you enjoy it! Feedback is always welcomed and I'm excited to start on the next chapter.

a/n: also!! sorry for it being so long genuinely just so much had to happen in this chapter for it to be set up the way I wanted, which I think I did well enough. lmk what you think <3

Why did I think carrying this by myself was a good idea? It might be cute and a great deal, but I don’t think I'll be able to feel my arms tomorrow. I might need to hit the gym again before I find more bargains like this. Hell, maybe I'll even invest in a neck towel, because this heat is unbearable. I’ve been searching for some larger pieces to fill my apartment, and this vintage bar cart should fit perfectly. Just five more blocks to go.

Moving here alone has certainly come with its challenges: being on my own in such a big city, dealing with a lot of stress, and managing on a tight budget. But I’m determined to make it work though and prove everyone wrong. Growing up, you see so many romcoms where the heroine leaves everything behind to chase her dreams in NYC, landing a job at a magazine or fashion house, living in a gorgeous high-rise, and meeting the perfect guy. It’s a beautiful fantasy really, but the reality is much tougher. New York isn’t a movie set; it’s a real city with real people, and you have to work just as hard, if not harder, to be here. I know that, but it feels like a majority of my people back home DON’T know that I know that.

I came here for school. In about two months, I’ll be starting my Master’s program at NYU. I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud as when I received my acceptance email. I worked my ass off in undergrad to earn strong recommendations and good academic standing, and seeing it all come together was a huge relief—until the reality of the cost hit me.

Luckily, a friend's dad has a connection with a landlord in Brooklyn and got me a good deal on a place of my own. It’s incredible not to have a roommate in this market, especially in a place where your bed doesn’t touch your stove, though it can be a bit lonely.

Finally, reaching the stoop, out of breath, you set the cart down on the pavement. Wiping your brow, you notice the street is unusually quiet for this time of day. The city never truly sleeps, but the residential streets seem to take occasional naps. A little breath of air somewhere where it feels like oxygen is running out sometimes. Light filters through the trees, momentarily blinding you, and you turn back toward the building.

“How on earth am I going to get this up to my floor?”

Carrying it down the street was one thing, but hauling it up the stairs is a whole different challenge. Plus, who knows when the building's maintenance has last been here, the steps might not hold up under the cart’s weight. They usually feel like they could give away holding one person.

Deciding that falling to your death and being crushed isn’t really how you want to go, you open the double doors and drag the cart into the lobby, using the wheels on one side. Passing the main desk where the worker, who looks completely uninterested, engrossed in a crossword puzzle, you make your way to the end of the hall and start pulling the cart backwards up the incline of the stairwell.

“Nah, I can’t,” you say aloud, after struggling up two floors, letting the cart rest on the landing. There’s still three more floors to go, but your body is clearly telling you the cart belongs right here. Maybe the universe wants it to stay here—who knows, maybe the entire second floor needs a communal bar more than you do.

“Excuse me,” a quiet but rough male voice comes from behind me. You turn around to see him—a guy you’ve seen around your floor a few times, though you’ve never talked. One of the neighbors. You quickly realize you’re blocking the entire staircase.

“Sorry! Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I’ll move this um — just give me a second.”

You shove the cart closer to the wall to make some space for him to pass, but he stays put, his gloved hands in his pockets. He’s definitely handsome—tall and solid, but not intimidating. His furrowed brow and tight-lipped expression don’t exactly scream “welcome,” but he’s still got a certain charm.

He shifts a bit, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating. Feeling a bit awkward under his gaze, you decide to try talking to him again.

“You can just squeeze by if you want. It’s just really heavy, so I’m taking a quick break before I try lifting it up again.”

After a moment, he seems to make up his mind and asks, “Do you need help?”

Looking back at him, you consider saying no. You pride yourself on being independent and capable, and part of you wants to insist you can handle it. But then you think about the struggle of getting the cart up the last two flights of stairs—only this time, it's three—and decide against it.

“You wouldn’t mind? You’re headed down, I’m sure you’ve got somewhere else to be.”

He gives a little smirk that makes you feel a bit dizzy.

“Well, I’m already here so.”

You nod slowly, a small smile appearing on your face.

“Sure, you can take this end, and I’ll get this o—” you start to say, but before you can finish, he’s already in front of you, lifting the cart with ease and starting up the stairs without breaking a sweat.

“Hey! Be careful, uh—,” you pause, realizing you don’t know his name.

He picks up on your hesitation and hesitates himself, considering whether to give his name. He’s wary of how others might perceive him, potentially recognizing his name from past news broadcasts or papers, still dealing with the shadows of his past despite his efforts to make amends. Not wanting to be dishonest, he chooses the safe option.

“James.”

“Be careful, James. I don’t want you tripping and falling on my account.”

“Won’t happen, doll.”

“What-,” you start, caught off guard by the pet name, “what if it does?”

“It won’t, see?” With the last few steps, you and James arrive at your floor. “Already here.”

He must have seen you around before too, to know where you live.

He gives you a quick look and then carries the cart to your door.

“This is yours, right?” He turns and looks at you expectantly. You rush over, fumbling for your keys to unlock the door. If he’s willing to move it all the way, who are you to turn him down?

You lead James into your apartment, wondering if it looks anything like his. The layout can’t be that different; it’s not exactly a luxury building.

He strolls further into the room.

“You can set it right here,” you say quickly. “Thank you for bringing it up for me. I was honestly thinking about giving up when you showed up.”

Setting the cart where you indicated, he straightens up, rolls his shoulders back, and gives you a look that feels intense.

“It’s no problem.”

His gaze wanders around your apartment, taking in the mix of vintage furniture and eclectic decor. On a student’s budget, you’ve filled your space with secondhand finds. It’s more affordable and personal that way. The place might not be filled with new things, but it’s entirely curated by you. Finding beauty in the mix of old and new is something you do well, and now, thanks to James, you have one more piece to add.

James’s eyes land on your turntable setup. He seems intrigued by your collection of records but doesn’t say anything, turning his attention back to you.

“I have to go.”

Your eyebrows lift at his abruptness. Sensing your surprise, he quickly adds, “I’ve got an appointment.”

You nod vigorously, urging him to go and thanking him again for his kindness. Feeling a bit sad that this chance encounter with your new neighbor is ending so quickly, you call out as he heads for the door.

“I’ll see you around then? Since you live here too.”

He turns on his heel, giving you one last smirk.

“Yeah, you’ll see me.”

As he heads down the stairs, you shut your door and lock it behind you. Wandering over to where James’s gaze lingered, you pull an album from the shelf, lift the acrylic cover on your turntable, and set the record down. You close the cover, push play, and let the needle softly drop onto the vinyl. As the music starts, your mind drifts back to James.

Embarrassingly, you find yourself hoping this isn’t a one-time encounter. You don’t know much about him beyond his name, but there’s something about him that makes you want to see him again.

“Two hundred bucks for this is crazy,” you mutter to yourself, staring in disbelief at the sofa you’re eyeing on Facebook Marketplace.

“People are practically giving this stuff away.”

Not wanting to miss out on such a good deal, you message the seller to check if it’s still available.

Since you got the bar cart about a week and a half ago, you haven’t picked up anything else. With the July heat blasting, just thinking about moving a sofa in this weather makes you want to rip off your skin to cool down.

You can’t help but think of James, who you’ve seen briefly in the hallway since your last encounter. He just nodded as he passed by, and that was it.

Your phone dings, snapping you out of your thoughts. The seller confirms the sofa is still available and offers to deliver it since they have a truck.

Excited, you reply with a yes, and they let you know they’ll head your way soon.

You get up to rearrange your furniture, making space for the new sofa. You don’t have much to move since you’ve been slowly collecting things. As you shift the pieces around, your turntable stops, signaling it’s time to flip the record. After you do, you take a moment to picture how the sofa will fit in the space.

Then it hits you—moving a sofa is way heavier than the bar cart. If you struggled with that, how on earth will you manage this?

“Independent woman, my ass.”

With the delivery imminent, you decide on the only solution you can think of. Without hesitation, you head to the apartment across the hall and knock softly on the door. You wait, hoping James will answer. After a moment of shuffling and then silence, you start to wonder if you should just try something else.

Just then, the door cracks open, revealing half of James’s face. He looks curious but not annoyed—no one usually visits him.

“Hey! James! Great to see you again! I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but I was wondering if you could help me out a bit? I just bought a sofa from this marketplace deal, and the seller’s coming to drop it off right now. He said he’d deliver it, but didn’t offer to help get it up to my apartment. I realized a sofa is way heavier than a bar cart, and you saw me struggle with that, so I was kinda sorta hoping you could help me bring it up here?”

After your rambling, you offer him a hopeful smile, waiting for his response.

A few moments of silence later, that smirk you’ve been missing appears on his face. Opening the door wider, he comments with a grin.

“You bought another thing you knew you couldn’t get up the stairs?”

“I honestly didn’t think it through. The deal was too good to pass up. I’m really sorry for bothering you. I can try to find someone else if you’re busy.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t help, doll.”

The smile that blooms on your face is unavoidable.

As the delivery guy drives away, James shows you where to grab the sofa and effortlessly lifts the other end. He encourages you to take the lead, making sure the weight is on him as you both navigate the stairs. With minimal effort, you get the sofa up to your place.

After some awkward maneuvering, you finally get the sofa into your apartment through the thin door and set it down. You put your hands on your hips and exhale deeply, only to find James already looking at you with that same intense gaze from before. It makes you a little nervous.

You can’t help but feel grateful—there’s no way you would have managed this on your own.

“I could have handled the bar cart,” you say, nodding toward the cart now adorned with bottles in the corner, “but this? No chance. Thanks so much for your help.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he replies. “I wasn’t busy.”

As you look at him, you start to feel like you know him from somewhere beyond being just a neighbor. Maybe you’ve seen him around the city before you moved?

Brushing off the thought, you offer, “You’ve helped me out twice now, and it doesn’t feel right not to return the favor. If your whole evening consists of not being busy, why not stay for dinner? I promise I’ll cook something totally good and not poisonous.”

James looks surprised by your offer but quickly hides it.

“You don’t need to do that. You don’t owe me anything,” he says, not wanting you to feel obligated or uncomfortable. He worries that his presence might not be enjoyable.

He wishes he could be as charming as he was back in the 40s. Being friendly used to come easily, and if he were still the same person he was at 26, he wouldn’t have left so quickly after helping you on the stairs the first time. He wouldn’t have had a therapists appointment to go to and he wouldn’t have a hidden arm made of metal. He’d have asked you to dinner or for you to let him take you dancing instead in return for his brawn. Now, he struggles to make new connections beyond a few familiar faces, like Sam, and asking someone for a dance feels out of reach.

“No, no! Stay, I insist! It gets kind of lonely around here, doesn’t it? Why not have a friend dinner?” you press, hoping he’ll take you up on the offer.

Seeing your sincerity, though still feeling a bit miffed, he finally agrees.

“Yeah, sure. I can stay.”

James settles onto the sofa while you work in the kitchen. You’ve decided on making some stuffed ravioli and garlic bread—easy, delicious, hard to mess up.

Before getting into cooking, you switch out the record, letting new music drift softly through the space. Unbeknownst to you, James watches closely, paying attention to how you handle the records and the turntable. The care you take when putting a record back in its slip, taking a new one out of its dust cover, and gently putting it on.

Seeing you focused on cooking, James gets up and strolls over to your setup. He runs his fingers lightly across the spines of the record sleeves, feeling a surprising sense of comfort. He hadn’t realized people still used record players so often.

The setup looks quite familiar to him, with many aspects reminiscent of the record players he used back in his earlier days. In his life before this one.

As you finish preparing the pasta and pull the bread from the oven, you call out, “Hey, food’s ready!”

You glance back to see James hovering by the turntable. He quickly moves to the table and sits down.

Over dinner, the conversation flows comfortably. James seems to be relaxing a bit, his initial reserve fading. He’s still somewhat guarded, but what he does share is genuinely interesting. You sense that opening up is challenging for him, so you respect his pace and take whatever he is willing to give. Laughing with each other a few times and getting through some odd topics, he mentions that he hasn’t had a home-cooked meal in quite a while and thanks you with a smile.

After a pleasant dinner, you decide to bring up something you’d been curious about.

“You like records?”

Caught off guard by the question, James tries to answer without revealing too much about himself. It feels strange to be here, knowing you don’t really know who he is, but he worries that being too open might scare you away. He decides to keep his secrets for now, selfishly hoping to get to know you better before revealing more.

“Yeah, I used to have quite a few records as a kid. My ma would play them too, especially when she was cooking, just like you. I didn’t realize they were still so popular.”

Excited by this glimpse into his past, you push further.

“Oh, there’s definitely a huge market for vinyl. Lots of people who think it makes them superior, but also a lot who just love the physical aspect of it.”

“So which one are you?” he asks.

You laugh and reply, “Maybe a bit of both.”

You glance up at him from beneath your lashes, catching his rare smile.

“But really, I just like having it. There’s something different about the listening experience. It requires more effort than just hitting play on a playlist. It’s about choosing a full album and actually sitting down to listen. That feels more intentional to me, and that’s why I do it.”

James seems to ponder your answer, his expression softer than before. He then turns his gaze back to the turntable.

“So, since you mentioned you had records as a kid, do you not have any now?” you ask.

He shakes his head.

“Haven’t had any for a long time. Talking about it makes me miss them. Everything these days feels so complicated. I like simple things like that.”

Watching him as he looks away, you hesitate but notice the nostalgic shine in his eyes. You sense he might appreciate physical music even more than you do.

“If you ever get any and don’t have a place to play them, you’re welcome to use mine.”

He turns to face you, his expression unreadable.

“I mean, I know it’s not the most convenient offer, but it’s there. One record lover to another,” you add with a smile.

He returns your smile, saying, “Okay… thank you. I’ll keep that in mind, Doll.”

That night, Bucky lies on his makeshift bed on the floor, staring up at the ceiling and replaying the events of the day. You knocking on his door for help with the couch, inviting him over for dinner, and all the easygoing conversation you shared. It was such a stark contrast to his usual rigidity. He'd let his guard down just a little—letting himself smile or flirt ever so slightly.

He wishes he were better at this. It used to come so naturally. Hell, before he left for war, he’d gone dancing with both his own date and Steve’s at the same time. Now, he finds himself listening to you talk while struggling to share anything of his own.

He doesn’t want to pass up your invitation, especially since you’re inviting him into your space again. Clearly, his reserve hasn’t put you off too much.

“What would I even bring?” he wonders aloud.

All he’s ever listened to is 40’s music and big band. He doubts that’s readily available these days.

Rolling onto his side, he grabs the cell phone Steve had insisted he get before he went back in time to live his real life, without Bucky.

“You can do anything on here, Buck!”

Scrolling through the three contacts he has, he taps on the name of the guy who’s been trying to reach him for weeks.

“So, is there a valid reason why you haven’t picked up my damn calls?” Sam’s voice comes through.

“Sam, hi.”

“Did you finally learn how to click the screen? Is that why I’m hearing from you now, old man?”

“Look, I’m sorry. I just don’t like the thing. Too confusing,” Bucky says, grimacing as he fiddles with the phone.

“Okay, okay, what’s going on, man? You doing alright?”

“I’m fine. I just have a question and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t harass me about it.”

“Is it about wizards?”

“What?”

“Wizards. Is the question about wizards?”

“No, what the hell. Look, I had dinner with one of my neighbors tonight—”

“Was it a girl?”

“Does it matter?”

“Hell yes, it matters. And from that response, I KNOW it was a girl, so—”

“It doesn’t matter. She has a record player, which I didn’t know people still used, and she offered to let me use it, but I don’t have anything to play on it.”

“I’m not getting the problem.”

“I only like the stuff from the 40’s and—”

“Did you listen to that Marvin Gaye playlist I sent you?”

“Not interested.”

“C’mon, man, it’s good stuff. Give it a listen.”

“Not feeling it.”

“Alright, your loss, I guess. Still not seeing the problem though.”

“What do I bring? I can’t just bring around the stuff I know because where would I even get it?”

“Whoa, man, what do you mean, where would you get it? Just go to a record store and hit up the vintage section or something.”

Bucky pauses, mulling over Sam’s words.

“They have that?”

“Duh. You know, you could answer these questions a lot easier if you just looked them up on your phone—”

“Thanks, Sam. Talk to you later.”

Lying back down, Bucky decides that the next time he’s out to see his therapist, he’ll first stop by a record store to find something to bring over to your place.

Your easygoing presence was so comforting, and he found himself longing for it as he drifted off to sleep. He’d see you again soon enough.

Later in the week, as you wind down from a busy day, you focus on making your space as calming as possible.

You light some candles and turn on an orange floor lamp, the soft glow wrapping around you and setting the perfect mood to sink into your sofa with the book you’ve been neglecting.

You’ve just started settling into your reading when you’re jolted out of your half-nap by the sound of someone knocking on your door.

You get up and peer through the peephole, and there’s your dinner guest from earlier in the week.

Opening the door with a smile, you greet him.

“Hey James, unexpected visit! What’s up?”

His eyes linger on you for a moment before he speaks. You glance down and realize your outfit—shorts that really lived up to their name and a tank top—might not be the most guest-appropriate.

Brushing off your embarrassment, you look back up at him.

“I’ve got something I’d like to play, if that’s alright?”

Bucky’s mind races. Standing at your door, he worries maybe you only offered your place to be nice, and now he’s making a fool of himself. Of course, you didn’t want him there—he could barely talk.

Just as he’s about to get lost in his own head, your bright smile pulls him out of it.

“Oh my gosh, please, come in. What do you have?”

His doubt fades away as he sees your genuine excitement.

“Brought some Sinatra. Not sure if you’re into that, but I used to like his stuff when I was younger.”

You spin around abruptly, staring at him in disbelief.

“There’s no way you think I don’t know who Frank Sinatra is…”

Bucky stumbles over his words.

“Well, I mean, it’s not exactly new stuff so—”

“You think I wouldn’t know ‘Fly Me to the Moon’? ‘Singin’ in the Rain’? ‘New York, New York’? I mean, I even moved to New York—I had to get the romanticism from somewhere.”

“What are those?”

You pause, confused.

“Like, the most iconic Frank Sinatra songs. You are talking about Frank Sinatra, right? Not some other Sinatra I’ve never heard of?”

“No, you’re right, it’s Frank.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“I guess I don’t know those ones.” He admits.

“So, what era are we talking about?” You ask, reaching for the record.

As you grasp the sleeve, you notice a glint of light catching James’s bare hand. Realizing he’s not wearing gloves, confusion sets in before it clicks. You HAD seen James before.

Looking up at him, he seems frozen, obviously panicking. He planned to tell you eventually, but not like this. Not when you weren’t close enough yet.

He thought there is no way you are going to want anything to do with him now.

You thought there is no way was there's an actual Avenger in your apartment right now.

You’re frozen, just like him, but more in shock rather than fear.

“Do you… usually go by James?” you ask cautiously.

Hesitating, he shakes his head.

“What do you usually go by then?”

Bucky feels anxiety creeping up his back. You’re both still holding the record, and he can’t tell if you’re scared or just surprised.

“Bucky.”

You stay silent for a moment while Bucky’s nerves are on edge.

“So… metal hand…”

Clenching his jaw, he replies, “Arm.”

“You’re that Bucky.”

“Yes.”

After a long pause, you start again.

“You’re an Avenger and you didn’t tell me?”

Bucky hesitates, his discomfort visible. “I’m— I’m not an Avenger.”

“What do you mean? You’re totally an Avenger! Why wouldn’t you tell me? How did I not recognize you before?” you ask, laughing in disbelief.

Bucky’s taken aback. You really thought he was an Avenger? You’re not scared of him at all, which surprises him. You must not know much about his past if you’re still standing this close.

“No wonder you don’t know ‘New York, New York,’” you say, almost to yourself. “It’s from after your time! This is crazy, I—”

You’re interrupted by his response.

“Are you not scared?”

“Of course not.”

Bucky closes in on himself, panic evident. “If you really knew me, you’d want nothing to do with me. I’ve—”

“I might not know the version of you you’re talking about, but I’ve met James, who helped me not once, but twice  carry stuff he definitely didn’t have to up the stairs, stayed for dinner, has been very polite to me, and has given me zero reasons to be scared of him.”

He looks at you, his piercing blue eyes revealing an internal struggle. That one look holds more weight than his words. You can see the battle within him, torn between his past and the present moment.

“Listen,” you say, finally letting go of the record, “if you don’t want to stay, you don’t have to. But I’m not scared of you, and I actually like your company. So, regardless of whether you’re James, Bucky, or whoever, you’re still welcome here.”

You pause, adding, “And we can still play this if you’d like.”

Bucky struggles with his inner turmoil. The idea that you know who he is but still want him around is foreign to him. He doesn’t feel worthy of the kindness you’re offering, but it’s been so long since he’s received such warmth that it’s almost impossible to turn it down.

He’s not comfortable with his identity or his past, but in this moment, he wants to push it aside. If you don’t care, maybe he can allow himself not to care, even if just for a bit. Maybe he can prove something to himself, or even his therapist.

Handing you the record, he relaxes his face slightly. You’ve always thought him handsome, but in the dim light of the dark room, he looks almost ethereal.

You’re hoping he believes you because your excitement for his company tonight feels more significant than it probably should, but you’re okay with that.

“I’m Bucky.”

You smile warmly at this change. “Alright, Bucky. What do you want to do?”

He gazes at you deeply, his look sending a shiver down your spine and warming your chest. “Play it.”

a/n: well, hope this was alright. as I mentioned before, ive never wrote fiction before, but ive definitely read enough to get the gist.

[doumadono]

sorry if this sounds rude 😢 but you haven’t been posting a lot of stories lately and that’s like the only thing you have to do? just post something it’s not that big of a deal? dygwim? i think fanfic writers especially on the anime side like to exaggerate things too much and if you don’t post then just deactivate? there’s no point in staying if you’re not gonna do anything but reblog silly content all the time? i don't understand how so many ppl can follow you when you are not even trying to be grateful and you only write not what people request but what you find interesting (which is not, like vampier Shigaraki???? viking Dabi???? so silly stupid ideas imo 😒)? whoever finds your writing or you as a person nice is either blind or stupid. and even if you write something chaptered it takes you literally months to update which isn't fair to people?? but I guess you don't care at all. you must be a freaking entitled white woman to treat otherz the way you do.

(again sorry, didn't mean to sound rude) 😔

When I first read your message, I was completely speechless for a minute or two, anon.

Firstly, it seems there’s a misconception about what fanfiction writers, or any creative individuals for that matter, have to do. Let me clarify something important: creativity isn’t a tap that one can simply turn on and off at will. It’s a complex, often unpredictable process that cannot be rushed without compromising the integrity and quality of the work. Quality stories often require research, plotting, editing, and revising before they’re ready to share. My creative process isn’t a fast food joint, nonnie, and I'm not here to serve up reheated ideas just to fill the silence.

My blog belongs to no one but me. I post what I want, when I want. As for the content of my stories, I believe every writer has the right to explore subjects that excite them the most - even if that means delving into topics or settings others may find odd, like vampires or vikings. My goal is to write stories I’m passionate about and then offer them freely to anyone who might find them entertaining. Some people will, others won’t, and that’s absolutely okay.

Contrary to your belief, I don't exist solely to churn out stories at the speed you dictate. I write on my own time and for my own pleasure. The notion that I should be a content machine is, frankly, laughable. Writing takes time, creative energy, and often real-life circumstances can slow the process. I post when I’m ready, and if that doesn’t align with your desired schedule, you’re free to unfollow or seek out other writers who update more frequently. Suggesting I deactivate because I’m not constantly posting or because I reblog content I enjoy is dismissive at best. I'm not a streaming service like Netflix, darling🙄

Calling me an entitled white woman or implying I’m ungrateful crosses a line. You know nothing of my background or personal circumstances, and bringing race or entitlement into the conversation is neither accurate nor constructive. My ethnicity or personal identity, whatever it may be, does not diminish the value of my creative output, nor does it affect my commitment to my followers. I appreciate every person who visits my page - whether they come to enjoy what I reblog, to read stories I post or to offer critique.

It's also laughable that you think my followers are stupid. Just because their tastes don't align with yours doesn't make them any less intelligent. Diversity in fandoms exists because creativity resonates differently with everyone, something you seem incapable of recognizing.

In the end, I won’t apologize for taking the time I need to create or for following my own interests - that’s part of being a writer. I do, however, expect basic respect in return. If you can’t extend that courtesy, I hope you'll block me, step away from my blog, and never interact with any of my content again.

With all this in mind, it's precisely why I've stopped taking regular requests. Last year, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of requests and the rudeness in many messages, pushing me to my limits. That's why I've decided to concentrate on my own projects and only accept commissioned work.

I'm taking a few days off to gather my thoughts and concentrate on my writing projects.

[lovecrime2]

Hannibal Lecter x Reader

summary: you begin therapy with Dr. Lecter, a man who you quickly learn much from. from his intellectuality, to the darkness hidden in the furthest parts of his mind, you become enraptured with him. will he feel the same about you? therapy sessions turn into exchanging books with notes, cooking together, and seeing more of each other in ways you both never thought possible. a love story.

authors note: hello!! this fic will have multiple chapters and i’m so excited to start this! it’s also on a03. and im creating a playlist for this!!

Chapter I: Prima

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـ

“Dr. Lecter is ready to see you now, miss.” the polite receptionist says, with a smile sent your way. It’s no more than a flash of positivity before she turns back to her paper work, reflected by her thin framed glasses. As her eyes scanned over the work, turning back to frantically look over her desk, presumably searching for something, she gave off an obvious air of worry. Perhaps she was new.

You were too.

Your first day of therapy. Well, your first day of therapy with this new psychiatrist. It wasn’t something you were exactly frantically nervous about- as the poor polite receptionist was. You’d been to therapy before. You were accustomed to the shallow invasion and prodding of the mind. This time, your hope was that this new Dr. Lecter would be unique. Different.

You’d heard many good things about him. Ranging from his written work and studies, to his success with patients. And after the worsening state of your mind and the life you had built around you, you decided that it was time to try again. So far, you weren’t disappointed. The office was classy. Nice chairs were set in the waiting room, where you had sat for some time. There was tasteful art, quiet classical music in the background. Bach, you had guessed. Other than the receptionist, it had emitted an air of class and calmness.

You flashed a smile back at the receptionist, returning the politeness.

“Thank you very much,” you replied.

You weren’t sure if she heard given how diligently she was scanning her desk currently. But it was of no matter, you had been polite, it was the most you could do. You stepped up to a wooden door, unsure if you’d have to knock. Before you could, the door was opened, and Dr. Lecter was revealed to you.

He was handsome. You weren’t one to judge or weigh value off of looks, but you would give him that simple statement. Looks were not the most important thing to you, and you certainly were not meaning it in a romantic way. But he was handsome. The eyes that quickly met yours were brown, maybe with a hint of hazel. His hair was brown as well, it shone in the light from his office. He wore a navy blue plaid suit, giving him an obvious air of seriousness, of class and respect. His lips curled into a smile, and yours followed suit.

“Miss L/N, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” he spoke, his voice was rich and soothing.

“Dr. Lecter, I’ve heard many wonderful things about you and your work. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well.” you replied calmly, mirroring his niceties and charm. He had a quiet suave demeanor. As if on instinct, you both reached your hands out for a handshake. More niceties. This doctor was very formal. You appreciated that. As your hands touched you felt his eyes scan you quickly. Almost like an eagle searching a field for prey. Though, there wasn’t malice behind this look.

“Please, do come in.” he said, leading you into his large room. And what a large room it was.

It had a mostly grey color palette, with the exception of the one wall which was a dark red. To your right was a large wall, with two large red and white striped curtains. To your left, a desk, obviously a professional one. Lamps and books and art decorated the top. Further back to your left was another desk and a chair, but nothing was on this one. Behind that, a fireplace. The room was lined with cabinets and bookshelves, and art (specifically paintings) were anything but scarce. Right in front of you however, were two chairs facing each other. And there was a ladder, on the wall behind them, leading up to another level of the room. This one was lined with books of all shapes and sizes and colors. You took note of the other items in the room. Your eyes scanned from the couch against the back wall, to the couch in front of the windows. The room seemed lightly dull at first, but the more you gazed, the more points of color stood out to you.

After having visually scoured the room, you summarized that the collection of books, European furniture, and art was not simply the doing of the building’s hypothetical interior designer. By his outfit and the look of the room, Dr. Lecter was a man of intellectuality, power, curiosity, and ambition. He was impressive.

“Have a seat, Miss L/N.” he said, gesturing to the two seats in the middle of the room- each sat directly across from the other. Each had small tables next to them, but one had a book (presumably for taking notes on patients) and a box of tissues. You assumed the seat that the book and tissue box adorned table belonged to: was his. So you took the other seat, smoothing the bottom half of your clothing as you sat down. He took a seat across from you, crossing his legs and folding his hands neatly in his lap.

“I have no doubt you know why you’re here.” he said politely. He was direct, eyes still piercing into you. You were afraid to look away. You wanted to maintain the eye contact but at the same time, the socially nervous part of you longed to break it, longed to gaze around the sophisticated room instead of facing his perceptive gaze.

“Yes, Doctor.” you replied, finally working up the courage to break the mural stare and look down as you smiled at him. He returned a brief smile, and nodded once.

“So then, I hope you won’t mind if I list off the reasons you put for requesting my psychiatric assistance which led to us meeting today?” he inquired, taking his notebook from the small table next to him.

“Not at all, go ahead.” you gave him an encouraging nod and he opened his book. As he looked over a page, a realization came to you. You realized how intimate the placing of his chairs was. You mirrored him and put one leg over the other. You wondered if this was a tactic of his to create a sense of connection, equality. Interesting.

“You have emotional regulation issues, accompanied by social anxiety. Past traumas, which I’m sure are accompanied by self-image problems, am I correct?” he asked at the end of his statement.

“Yes,” you said, pausing a moment. There was some more, but this was only the first session. You hated the way it sounded so labeled when it was later out like that, so shallow. Realizing your answer might’ve seemed curt, you rushed to say more. “Yes, that’s all correct.”

He set his book down on the side table and looked at you for a moment. The thought crossed your mind that he might be waiting for you to speak, you were about to say something when he spoke at last.

“How do you feel right now, at this very particular moment, Miss L/N?” he asked you, eyes endlessly boring into you.

“I feel,” you hesitated, trying to come up with the right words. “Comfortable and welcomed. Yet nervous.”

“I’m glad you feel comfortable and welcomed, I try to provide sufficient hospitality for those in my care. Though, tell me, why do you feel nervous?” he asked.

“I’ve just met someone new. Someone who will be peering into my mind, learning the most personal parts of me. It’s an odd thought that a man I met a few minutes ago will come to know my mind so deeply.” you replied, watching Hannibal process your answer. He had a good poker face.

“Are you afraid of what I might uncover in the depths of your mind?” he asked.

“I think everyone’s a little afraid of what can be perceived in the most personal parts of their mentality. We all have only so much we express. To the eye it may seem to show enough, but there’s so much hidden where we store our deepest thoughts.” you replied. You liked the knowledgeable banter.

“Knowing those parts of you is a fundamental aspect to your treatment, as it is to any patient. I am not here to judge, or to exploit. I am here to come to know your being and attempt to help it in a way that is beneficial to your mental well-being.” he replied.

“You make a good point, Doctor.” you replied, flashing him a smile. He returned it, and opened his book.

“Well then, shall we begin?” he asked, his eyes still focused on yours.

“Of course.” you replied.

And so began your session with Hannibal Lecter, your new psychiatrist.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

[neptuneiris]

Behind the Scenes (05/05)

Behind the Success

pairing: actor!aemond × fem!reader

summary: you and Aenar finally meet Aemond's family, closing one chapter of your life and starting a new one with Aemond in it.

word counter: 8.7k

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it's here!🥳

I've finally finished the chapter and I'm so excited for you guys to read this!

and how is it possible that another story is going to end soon? because if you didn't read my previous message, there will be an epilogue, so it's not yet the definitive goodbye for this little family we have created🤭

also before reading I want to thank you for your support and please leave me your opinion, lately the comments have gone down and I wish to read you🙏🏻

oh I also want to make a small clarification before you reed:

in the second chapter it is mentioned how aemond at the end confessed everything to his family in a desperate attempt to find Y/N. but let's forget that hehe🤭 let's pretend that aemond never told them so you can enjoy this chapter and the light drama you are about to read.

now read and enjoy, ily all!

warnings: slight angst, aemond's family melting our hearts when they meet aenar.

Aemond immerses himself in the world of acting with the same fierce dedication with which he confronts his characters on screen. Every move, every word, everything is carefully rehearsed and executed.

Each project is a challenge, an opportunity to explore new roles and demonstrate his versatility as an actor.

The hustle and bustle of the film set fills the air as he immerses himself in his role. The bright lights illuminate his face, conveying the intensity of his character as he delivers his lines with palpable emotion.

But when the bell rings, as well as the director's shout of "cut!" is heard, Aemond is Aemond again.

Behind all those shots, scenes, interviews and awards, no one knows that Aemond is a father, at least no one outside his close circle. He only confided the news to a few close co-workers, some production people and his older sister, Rhaenyra.

He managed to persuade some rumors after some people at first saw him entertaining Aenar in the nursery on the set, because even though there is nothing wrong with it and Aenar is his most precious treasure and a pride of his life, he knows it is better to protect him from the public eye.

And now that Aenar has his own nanny at home, sometimes even then the whispers would start to get too much and he would make sure that some member of the production crew, known for their ability to spread harmless gossip, would plant the idea that it was simply a close family friend of the child they had seen him with.

And in the midst of all his work and everything he has to do, Aemond finds the precious time to be with his son.

Aenar, a whirlwind of laughter and childlike energy, fills every space where the two are together with light. Games, stories and hugs become routine and Aemond cherishes every moment he can spend with him on his days off.

He even reduces his own working hours and focuses entirely on filming his scenes, also attending one or two interviews per month, in order to have more quality time with Aenar, who is more important than having to please the press at every moment.

And as he balances the intensity of the job with his responsibility as a father, Aemond fights for to rebuild the trust you once placed in him.

Every gesture, every conversation, was an effort to demonstrate that he is fully committed to getting things right this time. Every encounter with you, he demonstrates a quiet determination to making amends for past mistakes.

With carefully chosen words and acts of genuine support, he tries to show you that he understands the pain he had caused and is willing to go out of his way to regain your trust.

And you accept this, because you see how he makes an effort to open up more, to share his thoughts, his fears and his hopes. But above all, you see how he is making an effort with Aenar, which is the most important thing.

And you also see how parental responsibility has changed his perspective and maturity. But still, Aemond knows that rebuilding trust takes time and forgiveness is not something that can or should be rushed.

Even if you decide never to forgive him, he's okay with that and is getting the idea from now on that you only allow him to be close to you because of Aenar and only because of Aenar.

So in the meantime, you immerse yourself in your own workday.

The makeup and wardrobe trailer is a world of constant motion and productivity in any given area, though your mind is always on Aenar and also on Aemond.

And even though you both carry separate jobs at the same place during the day, you both manage to create a balance between your jobs and raising Aenar.

Evenings were for you and Aenar if Aemond didn't finish recording at the same time as your shift ends. And almost at dusk is when Aemond comes from work and devotes every minute of his free afternoon to Aenar.

Instead if you both finished your shifts at the same time, you both spent time together with Aenar.

However, the nights brought calm.

Once Aenar fell asleep and before Aemond retired, you and he find your own space to talk, share thoughts, talk about work or more importantly about Aenar. And today just happens to be one of those nights.

You finish cleaning the kitchen, while Aemond is sitting on one of the stools, with a cup of coffee in his hands, looking out the large windows to the back garden, thoughtful.

While he has in front of him the IPad with the image of the camera in Aenar's crib that records him sleeping, attentive and making sure he is well.

"I've been thinking a lot lately," he says, breaking the silence in a soft voice, catching your attention.

You watch him from the sink, setting a clean, dry dish in the drainer, then drying your hands with a clean cloth.

"About what?" you ask him softly, attentively.

And he takes a moment before answering, thinking very carefully about his words and what he means, not wanting you to misunderstand him in any way.

"On Aenar and... us."

He confesses and you lean on the other side of the island that separates you both in front of him, giving him your full attention.

"At first..." he starts to say, slightly flustered, "You didn't want me to hide him from the world and I-I... well, I obviously disagreed with you."

He says and bites the inside of his cheek, lowering his gaze, feeling embarrassed.

"But now... I think it's not fair to him that no one has any idea that I have a son. It's also not fair for anyone to know that you're the mother of my child."

His gaze again meets yours and a sense of understanding envelops both him and you.

"Now things have changed," Aemond continues, his tone laden with sincerity, "And I know that you and I are n-not together but... maybe... I can announce the news, only if you want me to."

Silence fills the kitchen in its entirety for a moment, as Aemond holds his breath at your possible response, honestly feeling terrified to expect a bad reaction from you.

But none of that crosses your mind, on the contrary, you just digest his words. But your silence is what causes a mixture of expectation and anxiety in Aemond, who holds his gaze with yours, nervous.

And finally, with a serene sigh, you go around the island that separates the two of you and approach him, placing one of your hands on his shoulder gently and in an attempt to comfort and reassure him, instantly feeling his whole figure tense, while he watches you with his big healthy wide eye and his prosthetic eye remains the same as always.

"Aemond," you begin to say in a soft voice as he watches you completely attentively, "I always wanted you to recognize Aenar publicly, that was what I wanted most at first. But now...

You pause for a moment, thinking about your meditated words, as you sink for a second into your own thoughts and what you really want to say, as Aemond watches you intently, waiting for you to continue.

"I understand your world more now," you continue, "And, honestly, I can't blame you for not agreeing with me back then, only in this," you make clear, "Recognize him legally would have been the right thing to do and... enough," you say holding back the sadness in your tone of voice.

But Aemond catches that break in your voice, a moment of your vulnerability that makes him feel a sharp, simmering ache in his chest, as if every word you utter drops a weight on his shoulders, with shame again invading him, but this time with a mixture of deep remorse and regret.

A barely audible sigh escapes his lips, lowering his gaze, ashamed, feeling the burden of his past choices and he wonders amidst the brief silence if he will ever be able to fully redeem with himself.

But he doesn't have much time to think about it, as you gently squeeze his shoulder to bring his attention back to you.

"And now I understand that the press and people's opinions can be very dangerous and destructive," you say softly, "And I don't want that for Aenar, at least I don't want to deal with that yet," you confess, "I want him to grow up a little more and we can both enjoy his early years without having to worry about it."

An expression of surprise and also longing crosses Aemond's face, still watching you intently, processing your words.

"Are you sure?"

You place a soft smile on your lips.

"Very," you assure, "I just want him to grow up in a calm and safe place, without falling fame on him nor all this attention being so young," you explain, "I have no problem with it, but also your opinion counts."

"No, I-I... I want the same for him too," he agrees with you, nodding, with all the pressure and anxiety he felt being replaced by a mixture of gratitude and relief.

And you nod back at him, smiling softly in his direction.

"But..." he says with a slight urgency in his gaze and concern in his tone, "I just want you to know that when the time comes, I won't do it for attention or to be relevant."

He says seriously, softly and honestly.

""I'll do it because I know it's something I have to do, for him and for you, as in the beginning maybe it should have been. But for now I just want us to enjoy these moments and, when the time is right, make that decision together."

The room fills with the honesty of his words and you can feel the sincerity in each of them, as a sense of calm envelops you both and you share a soft, complicit smile.

"Sure," you nod to him, feeling a warmth wrap itself all over your chest.

Your gaze moves away from his for a moment, focusing on the iPad screen where Aenar is shown sleeping, while Aemond can't help but focus on the features of your face with an intensity that can't go unnoticed by you.

Deep longing is reflected in his gaze, with a palpable mix of regret and sadness that is projected beyond mere facial expression. And he feel that weight on his body and chest again, a burden he can't help but feel.

His healthy eye glides over your face as if searching for answers in every line of expression and in his gaze, you can perceive the longing to repair the irremediable, the need to know how much he regrets the decisions of the past.

"Y/N-

He starts to want to say, his voice laden with regret, but you turn your gaze to him and stop him.

"Aemond, we have already talked about this."

"But I'm sorry... I really am," he insists, with pain in his gaze, "And I know an apology isn't going to fix it, I know that, neither is anything else but... I am really sorry and you don't know how much I hate myself for everything I put you through."

"No," you shake your head, "There's no need for you to keep apologizing," you tell him softly, "It won't do either of us any good to keep bringing up the mistakes of the past. Nor will it serve you to keep punishing yourself for what has already happened," you say as tactfully as you can.

His expression reflects a mixture of gratitude and frustration with yourself.

"Yes, I know, I understand," he murmurs, lowering his gaze, "It's just... I feel like I have to say it."

"Aemond, what matters now is this, how we move forward from here now that we've both learned and grown. Aenar too," you add, "And that's all that matters."

He nods slowly in your direction, his gaze showing a mixture of appreciation and relief, even with the remorse within him, as you both then sink into a moment of silence, letting the unspoken words echo in the air, but you both know those words, they just don't need to be said.

The relationship dynamic between you and Aemond since then takes a new path, a less tense, more bearable path of total trust. And this is not lost when the two of you are together in Aenar's presence.

Until one day, on your day off precisely, Aemond after work, comes to you telling you some unexpected news.

"I told them."

You turn fully towards him, giving him your full attention, understanding but at the same time not what he really means.

The living room starts to feel tense, while Aenar completely oblivious to it continues to play on the floor with his toys, but you focus on his gaze, where there is a charge of confession in his eye and you notice his whole body in a position of determination but also nervousness.

"Come, sit down," you tell him in a soft voice, pointing to the couch, while at the same time getting up from the floor to take a seat next to him.

And he almost with a defeated expression and posture, does as you say, letting out a sigh.

"What happened?" you ask, watching him intently.

He inhales deeply, looking at Aenar on the floor, who is the only one who can make him feel a little calmer, as well as your presence next to him.

"I told them about everything that happened," he confesses to you, "Our relationship, your pregnancy, my team, the decision I made in the beginning, everything I caused and how much I hurt you," he says as he feels his heart knot, "Everything. Everything that happened from then until now... and Aenar."

His words leave a weight in the air, as you anticipate how bad and difficult that conversation must have gone with his family to see him this way, so serious and tense.

"And how did they react?"

Aemond closes his eye, lowering his gaze, his posture reflecting the emotional baggage he carries with him and how bad it definitely went with it.

"Just as I expected. Obviously they were disappointed in me."

He says without much emotion, but with slight pain in his tone

"My grandfather couldn't believe it and was shouting how come I kept all that from them. Hel was very shocked, Aegon and Daeron too. And mother said a few hurtful things, started crying and telling me how I could keep these things from her," he exhales deeply, "Rhaenyra and Daemon were the ones who helped me calm things down a bit, but still my grandfather and mother were upset with her for knowing and not saying anything."

The tension of what happened feels palpable, as if he is reliving his family's every reaction, with the heaviness of disappointment and pain reflected in his expression, as you beside hom, share the weight of that difficult moment.

You are both silent for a moment, only hearing the sounds of Aenar playing with his toys.

"I'm sorry," you whisper in his direction, placing your hand on top of his, as if trying to somehow ease the pain he feels, "It must have been very difficult for you."

"No, Y/N," he observes you instantly, speaking to you in a soft tone, "You don't have to apologize. I deserved this and I'm not saying it to cause pity or play the victim," he adds with earnest sincerity, "I'm saying it because it's true. This is the least I deserve after everything you had to go through because of me."

You decide not to say anything at this, just offer him your silent support, while he again seems lost in his own thoughts for a few long seconds, where neither of you say anything.

When suddenly, Aenar emits an infectious giggle, instantly attracting both of your attention.

His small hands hold a toy with enthusiasm, his smile and the tenderness he conveys bringing brightness to the living room and the state Aemond is in, who smiles softly at the scene, watching him with complete adoration.

He sighs and rises from the couch, moving towards him, holding him gently, needing the sensation at that moment of holding him in his arms.

Aenar squeals with excitement and joy, placing his small arms on his chest, moving energetically in his arms, smiling big at him with his blue eyes completely filled with a glow.

The scene makes you smile softly, especially when Aemond also takes one of his toys and begins to play with it in his arms as he starts to walk slowly around the living room, talking to it in a honeyed tone and causing Aenar to babble incomprehensible words but full of happiness in his tone.

And when Aenar entertains himself with his father's silver hair, Aemond speaks again, turning to you to observe you.

"Despite everything, they want to meet him," he says, watching Aenar in his arms, "And they also want to meet you, my mother more than anyone else."

And this also completely grabs your attention.

"Really?"

"Hmm," he nods, "But I didn't tell them yes or no," he lets you know, "I wanted to consult it with you first."

"But is this good or not?" you ask, looking to find positivity in the situation, "Or do you think they shouldn't know him yet?"

"Of course they should," he tells you softly, "I owe this to them, also to you. But as I tell you, I didn't know how you would react if I told you they would meet him soon, I wanted to check with you first."

You place a reassuring smile in his direction.

"Aemond, for me it's perfect for Aenar to meet his grandmother, his uncles and aunts. It's a great opportunity and will definitely be good for him," you assure him.

"Yes, it is," he nods, unconsciously beginning to imagine the moment, "They can come or we can go to them, whichever you decide."

"Either way is fine with me," you shrug, "When might that be?"

Aemond thinks for a moment before answering.

"We could arrange it next weekend. Sounds good?"

You nod with a reassuring little smile.

"Sounds good."

The Targaryen—Hightower family decides to come to you.

When Aemond gives you the news, even though at first you were totally fine and had no problem with it, inevitably knowing it instantly makes you nervous.

You've never met his family before, not even when you and Aemond were a couple for obvious reasons. And even though his family isn't involved within the entertainment and film industry, you've still heard enough about them to feel slightly intimidated.

About Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen more than anyone.

The uncertainty of how they will perceive you, especially after disappearing from Aemond's life without warning and also how they will treat you, that's what worries you the most.

But the fact that they will be coming to your house relieves you a little. Fortunately you won't be interacting with them in unfamiliar terrain and you're sure that the presence of Aenar, his toys and Aemond will go a long way to reassuring you.

"Do you need help?"

Aemond appears behind you, while you find yourself cleaning everything you can from your living room and Aenar, as usual, is sitting on the carpet with all his toys around him.

"I'm just cleaning up in here, then I'll go clean the kitchen."

"Don't worry, me and this little handsome will clean the kitchen."

He walks over to Aenar and takes him in his arms, who is already dressed in an outfit too cute for the occasion and smells like baby soap from the previous bath you gave him, ready to meet his family.

Aemond goes with him to the kitchen, sitting him in his perch, keeping an eye on him while at the same time starting to clean up.

You start moving some of Aenar's toys, organizing his play area a bit, to create a more orderly and cozy space in the living. You also mop the floor and arrange cushions.

Aemond washes a few dirty dishes and cleans all the shelves, also mops and spreads your favorite Lavender scent, which besides smelling amazing, calms your nerves.

You also ask him to help you tidy up the dining room while you clean the bathroom, wanting everything to look clean and spotless, while Aemond takes Aenar in his arms again to let him play in his play area and he watches him closely from that new distance.

"Maybe I should have cooked something?"

You walk over to him, slightly concerned.

"What? No," he turns to you, instantly, "Y/N, they're coming to meet Aenar, not to eat."

"I know, but..." you explain, nervously, "I thought maybe it would be a good idea to have something prepared, out of courtesy and.... I don't know. Won't it be rude of me if I don't have anything to offer them?"

"Of course not, you don't have to," he clarifies, more serious but with a soft tone, "If you want to have something prepared, let it be some drinks, nothing more."

Still you watch him hesitantly and worriedly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, very sure," he assures you, "In fact I'll prepare them. You rest and take care of Aenar. I'll finish cleaning up everything else."

"No, I-I-

"Rest," he repeats, interrupting you, placing a hand on your cheek gently, "I know this may be overwhelming, but they will come to meet Aenar and you too. And you don't have to put too much pressure on yourself. Everything will be fine."

Her warmth and understanding manage to comfort you a little, making you stop feeling so tense little by little.

"Now rest, okay?" he says softly to then walk past you and head towards the kitchen, not taking any argument back.

It's clear that he wants to lighten your load and make sure you feel comfortable about all this that's about to happen, with his actions conveying reassurance.

And finally after a while, you are ready and waiting in the living room with Aenar, playing with him, while Aemond is sitting on the single sofa and who a few minutes ago let you know that his family is on their way.

And after a few more long minutes, Aemond now lets you know that his family has already passed through the security gate that leads into the private neighborhood.

Knowing that fills you with nerves again, but Aenar's babbling as he hands you his currently favorite toys distracts you a bit.

"Are you okay?"

Aemond asks you from where he sits, watching you intently and noticing the tension all over your face and body, while you try to look completely calm and relaxed.

"Yeah, yeah, just... a little nervous," you say trying to place a genuine smile on your face as you distract yourself by touching Aenar's toys, "Who exactly is coming? Other than your mother and siblings," you can't help but ask.

"My grandfather."

You watch him expectantly, waiting for him to tell you more, but he doesn't.

"And that's everyone?"

"Well, Rhaenyra said my nephews wanted to come too, my uncle Daemon with his daughters too but I asked them to wait a little longer," he explains to you slightly concerned, "I didn't want you to feel nervous and overwhelmed if my whole family invaded your house. And Aenar sure would have felt scared too."

You bite the inside of your cheek and he rises from the couch to walk over to you, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry, okay? It's going to be fine. They're excited to meet you and Aenar."

You release a long breath through your nose, placing one of your hands on top of his, feeling your shoulders especially start to feel less tense.

"Yes... thank you," you tell him with gratitude in your gaze, appreciating his support.

And then the doorbell rings.

Aemond gives you one last reassuring glance, assuring you that everything will be fine, then turns and heads for the door to greet them, as you rise from the couch and take Aenar in your arms.

The tension in your shoulders gradually dissolves as you hold your baby in your arms, replaced by a sense of calm, as you watch the front door intently and finish mentally preparing yourself.

Aemond opens the door gently with a warm smile on his lips and the first to enter is his mother, Alicent Hightower, in a beautiful, elegant green dress, followed by who you assume is Otto Hightower, his grandfather.

His mother wraps her arms around him and leaves a loving kiss on his cheek which Aemond reciprocates, as he also greets his grandfather, who watches the entire interior of the house with an inspecting gaze.

Behind Otto enters Rhaenyra, who embraces Aemond.

"Thank you for coming," Aemond says to her, leaving a kiss on her cheek.

"Of course," she smiles at him, leaving a soft kiss on his cheek as well before pulling away from him.

"You guys too, thank you," she says to Aegon and the rest of her brothers, "Come on in."

Both brothers, Aegon and Daeron, embrace him, speaking words of assurance, leaving Helaena at last, who throws herself into his arms with obvious emotion, smiling with joy and longing, as Aemond leaves a kiss in her hair.

Then Aemond closes the door and before heading towards you, who are still standing very still near the couch with Aenar in his arms, his whole family finally notices you and especially the child in your arms.

"Thank you for coming, all of you," Aemond repeats as he turns to you, "Let me introduce you to Y/N," he points to you, "She works on the same recording set I am currently working on as well."

You put on the best friendly and kind smile possible, as Aemond takes Aenar in his arms so that you can meet his family. And the first to address you is Alicent, with her stunning elegance and a soft smile on a warm face.

"Nice to finally meet you, my dear. My son has spoken so much about you."

The tension almost completely leaves your body, feeling grateful and relieved by the welcoming tone of her voice, evaporating your fear about how everyone, especially her, would treat you.

"The pleasure is mine. I'm happy you're here."

You reach out your hand to her and, pleased, she takes it. But she takes you by surprise when she pulls you closer to her and wraps you in a gentle embrace, definitely not expecting that.

You freeze for a moment, then, a little hesitantly, return her embrace, grateful for the affectionate welcome. And when you both part, she has a smile that denotes sincerity and cordiality, then points you to Aemond's grandfather behind her.

"This is my father, Otto," Alicent introduces you as he watches you with an appraising expression, "He has also heard much about you and was very pleased to come here."

And though his look is somewhat... intimidating, you don't let that invade your nerves.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hightower," you tell him in a soft, polite voice, extending your hand to shake with his as well.

"The pleasure is mine, Y/N," he replies in a low, polite voice, shaking your hand briefly.

"And this is Rhaenyra," Alicent points you to the woman who is just as refined as she is and shares Aemond's same characteristic of silver hair, as do the rest of his siblings.

She smiles towards you and gracefully approaches, then embraces you in greeting mode, as does Alicent.

"It's nice to finally meet you," she tells you cheerfully, "Aemond told me so much about you and of course your little one," she tells you as she gives Aenar a loving look.

"The pleasure is all mine. Aemond also spoke a lot about you and was very excited to meet you," you tell her, as she holds your hands in a gentle grip.

"Well here we are," she tells you without wiping away her smile, then looks behind her, turning her attention to the rest of Aemond's siblings, "Oh and they are my siblings," she gestures you towards Aegon, Daeron and Helaena, who have friendly glances in your direction.

Aegon steps forward first, extending his hand.

"I am Aegon. I hope you're not feeling overwhelmed with so many silverheads invading your home."

"No, no, not at all," you laugh softly, taking his hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Aegon."

Daeron is next, greeting you with a friendly smile.

"Hello, nice to meet you, Y/N. I'm Daeron. Aemond told us a lot about you and Aenar."

"Pleasure to meet you, Daeron," you say, noting the sincere camaraderie emanating from both brothers.

And finally, Helaena gives a few towards you, with an expression of pure excitement on her face and hugs you effusively.

"At last we meet!" she exclaims happily, "I was so excited to see you."

"Oh," you respond to her hug also a little surprised and with gratitude, "It's nice to meet you. Aemond has also told me a lot about you.".

"Good things, I hope," she says with a smile, pulling away from you.

And gosh, you can just see how much her sisters and brothers resemble Aemond. Their beauties are otherworldly and even Alicent is truly beautiful, as much as Rhaenyra is.

"And this..." begins to announce Aemond with Aenar in his arms and a radiant smile lighting up his face as he approaches the center of the living room, where his entire family watches him intently, "This is our son, Aenar," he says with pride in his voice, finally introducing his son.

Everyone's gaze focuses on the baby in Aemond's arms, who oblivious to the situation, watches them back with his huge bright blue eyes curious and expectant, while you place a small smile, anticipating the magical meeting of your little one with the rest of his family.

Helaena, visibly moved, can't hold back tears and tries to calm herself, with happiness, longing and nostalgia in her eyes. Aegon smiles with pride and Rhaenyra with adoration.

And meanwhile, Daeron, Otto and Alicent barely finish processing the reality of having Aenar in front of them.

Until Alicent steps forward gently, his eyes and gaze shining with curiosity, slight surprise, longing and adoration as he watches the little one, his newly presented grandson.

"Is that my grandson?" she murmurs in disbelief with tears beginning to form in her eyes and a hand on her chest.

Aemond, with a warm smile, nods at the question.

"Yes, Mom," he gently observes her and seeing her condition, looks at her with complete understanding, "Do you want to hold him?" he offers, carefully extending Aenar to her, sharing in the joy of her holding her grandson.

Alicent, tears streaming down her cheeks and visibly moved, nods in a touched nod with her gaze reflecting all her emotions, joy and awe.

She takes another step forward and reaches out her arms, where Aemond carefully places Aenar in her arms, who now watches him adoringly and with a mixture of happiness and emotion reflected in her gaze.

Alicent can't help but let out a couple more tears as Aenar babbles and watches her with great wonder, moving his small hands to her brown hair, starting to play with her curls, making her laugh softly in the midst of her tears and all the emotions she feels.

Aemond watches his mother tenderly as she enjoys her first encounter with her grandson, while you can't help but feel moved as well and wipe away a few tears that have escaped your eyes, watching the moment with emotion and nostalgia.

"My little Aenar," Alicent whispers, tenderly kissing his forehead, cradling him in her arms.

Aemond, still smiling and holding back his tears, diverts his gaze to you and you watch him back, where you both share a small smile and a silent complicity, both feeling the same way and recognizing the happiness this moment has brought to your lives.

And then Helaena approaches together with Daeron towards her mother, to watch Aenar and share the joy of the moment.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" comments Helaena, smiling, as Daeron watches him with a small smile of adoration and strokes his silver hair tenderly.

"Absolutely beautiful," whispers Alicent, her eyes shining with tenderness, not taking her eyes off him for a second.

"He's lovely," Rhaenyra comments with her soft little smile.

And then Alicent lifts his gaze to Aemond.

"And he looks exactly like you, darling," she tells him tenderly, recognizing the familiar features on Aenar's face and creating a moment full of emotion and family connection.

Aemond, touched and grateful, smiles at his mother's words.

"I think he has a little bit of both," Aemond replies, sharing a proud look with you.

Aenar physically by hair and eyes resembles Aemond, but some features of his face he definitely inherited from you and you can't help but smile in his direction.

And then, within the next few minutes, the whole family continues to make affectionate moments with Aenar. Helaena being the most excited is the one who now holds Aenar tenderly in her arms, leaving a couple of loving kisses on her cheek, while Rhaenyra approaches her to observe Aenar with a motherly gaze.

The imposing figure of Otto Hightower stands watching with satisfaction the scene unfolding in front of him, especially as he sees the happiness and excitement of Alicent and his grandchildren.

He doesn't say much, but his presence exudes a sense of quiet approval and though he doesn't show it, he honestly feels proud of Aemond, this reunion of his family and the arrival of a new member to it.

As Aegon approaches towards Aemond with a friendly, warm smile, placing a hand on his shoulder where he shares his gesture of brotherhood and pride.

"Congratulations, brother," he tells him sincerely, "He is beautiful and a mini version of you."

Aemond nods gratefully, the smile on his lips and places one of his hands on top of his.

"Thank you, brother. I appreciate it."

Now it is Daeron who takes Aenar in his arms and carries him to his play area, followed by Helaena, Rhaenyra, Alicent and you.

Helaena also takes a seat on the carpet with Alicent and the three of them start playing with him, who shows his enthusiasm and fills the living room with his giggles, melting the hearts of everyone present.

The atmosphere definitely becomes livelier and warmer, transforming into a special moment for everyone, where both you and Aenar feel completely comfortable and happy.

And as a few long minutes pass, Aemond watches all the interaction, happy and completely pleased, seeing how you converse with Rhaenyra and the rest of his family is totally entertained by Aenar.

Even his mother asks to have her picture taken with him and slowly begins to fill a new photo album of her grandson on her phone reel, completely enchanted with him.

Such a sight and such a moment couldn't make him happier, being a moment he needed so much and couldn't be more proud of. And how could he not?

His watching his son integrate into his family. And you are definitely getting along great with all of them.

Aegon stands by his side, sharing the gesture of complicity as they watch Helaena and Daeron make sounds with Aenar's toys that make him laugh and squeal with happiness.

Absolutely beautiful.

"So..." Aegon begins to say beside him, catching his attention, "You're going to show him to the world?"

He watches him intently, as Aemond holds his gaze for a second to look back at Aenar with an affectionate gaze, smiling softly.

"That's what Y/N would have wanted at first, when she got pregnant," he says softly, remembering those painful moments, "But no, at least not yet," he replies, turning his gaze back to his brother, "We talk and want to give him a normal childhood as much as possible."

Aegon nods with understanding, listening to him with full attention, then lets out a sigh, watching Aenar.

"The world is going to go mad when they find out, little brother," he says with an amused smile.

"I don't care," he says with a shrug, "All I care about is him."

Aegon smiles warmly again, acknowledging Aemond's priority as a father and he couldn't be prouder of him. He may be the older brother but Aemond...he's the one who matured first, always cleaning up his shit and making sure everyone was okay.

And even though when Aemond told them about this, about you and Aenar, it turned out to be a complete disaster, Aegon is glad that right now his family is responding in this way, loving you and Aenar.

"And what happened to Criston?"

He decides to ask you, curious and attentive, as Aemond takes a moment and exhales deeply, he too being a person who brings back horrible memories of the past.

"I fired him," he replies with a disinterested wave of his hand, "And his entire team too," he adds, "That's what I should have done in the beginning with him."

"And he threatened you?"

Aemond lets out an amused smile, remembering those days as well.

"Yes but I hired a lawyer and they made him sign a confidentiality sheet," he explains, "He couldn't do anything against that."

Aegon nods, pleased to hear those words, as you both turn your gaze back to the family, where Aenar's laughter still echoes throughout the living room, Aemond smiling lovingly as he watches his mother assail him with soft kisses.

Your soft laughter catches your attention as well, watching you with almost the same adoration and love as he watches Aenar, watching you converse with Rhaenyra where you both let out soft giggles at whatever it is you are talking about.

And he can't help but watch you extra longingly, wistfully, happily and longingly, loving to see the smile on your lips and the look of joy you have, his perfect and beautiful Y/N.

He honestly doesn't know what would have become of him if he had never seen you again. He'll probably still be sunk in his misery, regretful and trapped. But with each passing day he thanks the Gods for this, again and again, this second chance.

And Aegon doesn't take this unnoticed, the way his brother is looking at you.

"You really fucked things up with her, didn't you?"

His words break the spell he was under and he bites his lips, averting his gaze from you, beginning to feel ashamed and also with that guilt simmering in his chest.

"Yeah," he replies in a low murmur.

"You still love her."

Aegon tells him watching him intently with a complicity and understanding, not asking any questions, as he is making a statement, affirming it.

And Aemond again speaks the truth, neither denying it nor hiding it.

"Never stop doing so."

Aegon lets out a long breath, honestly feeling bad for him, to place his hand on his shoulder again.

"Brother, we all make mistakes," he tells him softly, "People fuck up and fuck up badly. I'm sure you get that from a person like me," he points to himself, still speaking in a serious tone, "And the important thing is to learn from them and move on. And I'm sure she's seen that in you."

"No, Aegon," he says softly, shaking his head, "What happened between us was different and... unforgivable," he says with the slight pain in his tone, "This is all happening only for Aenar and his well-being."

"So you don't plan to do anything about it?"

"I don't know," he says regretfully, letting out a sigh, "Things are complicated. And with everything that happened surely Y/N doesn't feel that way about me anymore. Besides what really matters is Aenar and I want to be a good father to him."

"I understand that, brother. But maybe all is not lost and all you need to do is try," he tells him in an encouraging tone, "Life is unpredictable, you know? And who knows... maybe Y/N still has feelings for you."

Aemond grimaces.

"I don't know, bro. I don't think so."

Aegon decides to say no more, just nods, for after all, he understands the complexity of his situation. And inevitably, though he shouldn't, with the words he has spoken to him, Aemond feels a small glimmer of hope.

Meanwhile the inside of your house continues to fill with laughter and conversation as everyone enjoys family time. And in the middle of it all, Alicent notices you going to the kitchen for a moment, this catching her attention and being the opportunity to talk to you.

So, giving her attention away from her grandson since she arrived, without saying anything to anyone, she discreetly follows you into the kitchen.

As she passes through the frame, she sees you arranging the drinks that Aemond prepared for them on a tray, wanting to offer them. But when Alicent's figure entering the kitchen catches your attention, you immediately turn to her.

"I don't intend to take up too much of your time, my dear," Alicent hastens to speak with a small smile on her lips.

"Oh, yeah, yeah," you nod immediately, "Do you need something?"

"I just want to talk to you," she answers you softly, "And it's nothing bad, I just... want to thank you for welcoming us into your home," she says, showing the sincerity in her look and tone, "I honestly haven't felt this happy in my life in a long time. And meeting Aenar has definitely made me very happy," she pauses a little, "Thank you."

"No, no, you don't have to thank me," you reply, with a soft look, "It's a pleasure to have all of you here. And you have made Aenar very happy too."

"No, I really do thank you," she insists with a soft tone, "Your home is beautiful and definitely an excellent place for Aenar to grow up."

"Oh, thank you," you smile kindly at her, "Actually this house was bought by Aemond. He must have told them or at least you, I suppose."

"Yes, he did," she nods, "He also told us how much you refused at first but I understand you. It must have been a very meaningful but very overwhelming gesture for you."

You nod with understanding, biting your lips.

"Yes," you murmur, "Yes it was. But I only accepted for Aenar," you hasten to clarify, "I didn't do it for my own convenience, whether for money or fame. I accepted for Aenar, so that he could have his father in his life and together give him the best."

"Yes, sweetheart," she advances towards you and takes your hands between her gently, "I know," she assures you, "You don't have to explain anything, everything is more than understandable."

You let out a long breath.

"Thank you," you tell her sincerely.

"It's okay," she smiles softly at you, "And listen, I-I... I really don't want to make you uncomfortable nor do I want to make you feel bad, in fact Aemond asked me not to talk to you about this but..." she looks at you with some tenderness and longing, "I just want to tell you how very brave you are, Y/N."

You shudder at the sweetness of her unexpected words, feeling a warmth run through your chest as a mixture of gratitude and longing flashes across your face, suddenly feeling completely vulnerable.

"I didn't blame you for deciding to run away, no one judges you for it."

She lets you know by telling you in a soft voice and as tactfully as possible.

"As much as I would have loved to have met you sooner, Aemond's decisions were terrible and I can't imagine everything you had to go through on your own," she says with slight shock and sadness, holding your hand tighter, "Your pregnancy, living in a new unfamiliar place and trying to make it on your own."

You bite your lips, feeling a sharp pain in your chest and tears begin to form in your eyes, but you gather your strength and try not to let them fall despite the memories of painful moments.

Her words resonate with genuine understanding and her warm touch brings you a comfort you didn't expect but definitely needed.

"Yes," you whisper, feeling the lump in your throat, "It was very scary and very difficult," you confess, "But Aenar made every sacrifice worth it."

"Of course," she murmurs, with a sympathetic look.

"Oh and... it must have been hard for you too," you say, remembering, "In those days seeing Aemond so sad and desperate must have worried you a lot. It even almost put in danger his career and you had no idea about me and what had happened."

"Yes, that was very scary too," she nods with a sad smile, "We didn't know what had happened, he pushed everyone away, even Helaena and... I couldn't stand to see him like that, but he wouldn't accept our help either," she explains, "But now, just like me, I've never seen Aemond so happy in his life."

Her tone is genuine and you hold her gaze with appreciation and understanding, feeling completely grateful for this pleasant acceptance and welcome by Aemond's family.

And in that moment you can feel, as Alicent does, how your connection grows stronger in your shared understanding of past challenges and new hope.

"You are a strong woman, Y/N. And I also want you to know that regardless of the circumstances between you and Aemond, I want you to know that you are part of our family now and we are here to support you."

You feel a happiness and relief course through your body, grateful for her words and her total understanding, as you nod in her direction.

"Thank you, Alicent."

And Alicent unable to contain herself, wraps you in a hug full of tenderness that you reciprocate, with the atmosphere filling with a sense of mutual acceptance and support.

And from there, the rest of the afternoon is spent sharing laughter and creating special memories.

Aegon plays with Aenar while Daeron and Helaena join in the fun, making your little one laugh with every quip and funny face that Aegon especially makes.

Alicent and Rhaenyra also join in, creating a connection with Aenar and showing him affection, while Aemond and you watch it all sitting together on the couch, each with a smile on your lips.

Until the visit comes to an end and the family says goodbye with expressions of gratitude and affection. Helaena is the one who insists on exchanging numbers to stay in touch, while she along with Alicent and Aegon promise to visit again soon.

It's a bit hard for Alicent to want to let go of Aenar, but eventually she does and then Aemond and you finish picking up and sorting all of Aenar's scattered toys.

Until it's also time for Aemond to leave.

"Thank you for this day. It was amazing and better than I could have hoped for. Even mom loves you more than she ever loved me."

You smile in his direction sincerely, laughing softly.

"It was nothing, Aemond. It was all very nice. Your family was very kind and Aenar had a great time."

"Yes," he murmurs as he watches his little boy adoringly and then turns his gaze back to you, "Still, thank you... for everything."

You see the intent in his gaze, also in his body, the way he fights it, catching your attention and being a bit amused at it, then moving towards him and wrapping your arms around his neck, hugging him.

Surprised and definitely not expecting that, Aemond doesn't take long to reciprocate your embrace, a little hesitantly at first but he does, slipping his arms around your waist and pulling you close against him.

A sigh escapes his lips as he closes his eye, feeling that warmth in his body and that almost happiness at the sensation of having you close again.

He had missed it.

The embrace conveys a mutual support and understanding, also a kind of affection that Aemond can't quite decipher.

But honestly at that moment he doesn't mind and allows himself to enjoy and seize every moment of this feeling, knowing that he may not be able to have you again soon in this way, before you both part and he drives to his apartment.

Regular visits from the Aemond family to your home become a pleasant daily moment. Each encounter brings laughter, love and a sense of family unity.

Aenar, with his contagious laughter, becomes the center of attention, further strengthening family bonds.

The bond between Aenar and his relatives grows stronger over time, so his extended family becomes fully involved in his growth and development. Laughter and play fill the halls of your home, creating precious memories.

Eventually you also meet the rest of Aemond's family as well as Aenar, like Daemon Targaryen, who is definitely a bit more intimidating than Otto Hightower. But once Daemon feels confident, he's the coolest guy.

You also meet Aemond's cousins, the twins Baela and Rhaena, Daemon's daughters, who are extremely kind and sweet to you.

And you also meet Rhaenyra's sons, Jace, Luke and Joffrey, where eventually she also introduces you to her youngest children, Aegon and Viserys.

Your relationship with each member of the Targaryen-Hightower family develop into genuine friendships. Helaena, Rhaenyra and Alicent become confidants and allies to Aenar's shared upbringing.

The complicity between the women in the family is supportive and builds a safe and loving environment for Aenar and the rest of the children.

Until, on occasion, you decide to take Aenar to the majestic Targaryen-Hightower mansion. The incredible residence becomes a second home for him, who explores every corner with curiosity and becomes familiar with the new walls.

Aegon, as the older brother he is, becomes his second protective figure. Together they share adventures through the mansion's extensive gardens and enjoy playing with Legos blocks or his plastic carts.

With Helaena, she connects with Aenar through her charm and utterly beautiful aura, always playing with him, carrying him in her arms and telling him fantasy stories with gestures and figures.

And with Daeron, Aenar loves it when he watches his favorite cartoons with him. Also eventually Aenar becomes his weakness, as he always fills him with more toys and always thinks of him to give him everything that makes him happy, even food.

And when Aenar cries, Daeron is the first of the siblings to come to him, slightly concerned and immediately wanting to make him feel good.

Meanwhile, your relationship with Aemond, while not resuming the romance of the past, transforms into a serene, enjoyable and respectful one. Aenar's upbringing becomes the main point of building his future and lacking nothing.

Although memories of the painful past persist, both have learned to cope and accept it, in order to move forward.

And eventually, in a significant moment and one that lasted hours of conversation between Aemond and you, also one that was an arduous process of documentation and much waiting, a culmination of a stage of your life is realized that further solidifies the unique connection between Aenar, Aemond and you.

A recognition that brings with it a clear message of commitment and love for the future of your family. The significant moment when Aemond asks for your permission to legally recognize his child and you allow him to do so.

It was not something you had to think about too much, as Aemond has shown you so much and the emotion in his eyes through his tears when you said yes, only further confirmed the fact that you were not making a wrong decision.

And everyone in the family celebrates when Aemond's last name is added to your son's name and he is finally named Aenar Targaryen.

general taglist:

@imaegonstargaryenswife0 @bellstwd @gibbsgirl7 @toodlesxcuddles @imsoshygirl @croatianprincess @gemini-mama @a-little-roony-mara @mysteris-things @zenka69 @at-a-rax-ia @fan-goddess @duds31 @urmomsgirlfriend1 @eternally-passionate @bellaisasleep @ttkttt @aemshaircare @mellowdreamlandpost-blog @noodle81937 @mooncalvin @queenofshinigamis @n4tforlife @vexladin @dixie-elocin @wotcherpeak @watercolorskyy @shiny-trashs-blog @strangersunghoon @elysian0612 @skzenhalove @iloveallmyboys @cakescupcakesminicookies

[kaiser1ns]

KIKI'S CHARACTER ANALYSIS ON TAKIISHI CHIKA

BEFORE PROCEEDING TO READ i want to clarify that this is my opinion and my take on his character before we get to know more about him in the manga. i know that the way i write about him is not what he really is, and that can cause conflicts but i am trying my best! contains small spoilers ahead! anyway hope you will enjoy!

Written on August 9th 2024. Posted on August 10th 2024. Edited on

Takiishi Chika is expressive only when he wants to be, but most of the time he is with that bored expression making it look like he is some kind of robot or haunted doll. As already known his face changes when he feels anger or when he fights with someone at his level or higher, it's when he gets happy and excited, because there is someone who will not bore him and keep up with the adrenaline.

He will not listen to anyone in whom he finds no interest. People can talk to him, but he will pay no attention to them. He will listen, catch a sentence here and there, and when someone mentions something that intrudes on him, he will listen without hesitation wanting to know more.

Strikes me as a type who is also very observant. Not only in a fight but when around people in a calm setting. Also intelligent, may not show it because he acts on impulse but everything is calculated.

Likes to light up fireworks when there's nothing better to do or people to fight. It's nice and something he can do on his own.

He likes to sit on the rooftop of buildings and look down on everything and everyone, either enjoying the view or the feeling of power. We again don't know why. But in Chapter 134: The Moment Longed For, when Endo Yamato receives a punch to his face because he stopped Chika's sudden charge at Umeniya, the conversation goes as such "But hey, Umemiya told us to go to the roof with him. It's been ages since we have been there. You like the roof don't you?" and then Chika freezes agreeing with what Edno said "Right. That's true." Then he walks past Umemiya telling him to go there, leaving everyone behind.

The question here is why Chika likes roofs so much, and what exactly does Furin's rooftop that Umemiya wants to show him? My mind directly goes to the garden. Is it to see one's growth despite its roots? What if Chika used to take care of the garden too? I know, it's a laughable idea and seems impossible but what if? So many questions, but not many answers. This is normal, seeing as how their battle is just beginning and the characters' internal and external conflicts are yet to emerge.

As stated, he is violent and short-tempered, he would never let anyone or anything block him from doing what he wants, it doesn't matter if it was a friend or an enemy. He is capable of destroying everything in his path. But personally, I think he won't hit someone if there's no reason to or if he isn't provoked in some way.

He doesn't care about the others, he only cares for himself and his enjoyment.

Of course, he knows many people and many people know him. But he isn't close with anyone besides Endo Yamato, even if they are childhood friends and their friendship is weird, Chika just lets Endo do whatever he wants — buy him clothes, paint his nails, find him opponents. He probably never asked for him to do such things but Chika knows how devoted the tattooed fool is to him, and so he played along. That leads me to a theory that he was spoiled as a child, that's why he doesn't question Endo, because he is used to getting what he wants and if something goes in his way, he will eliminate it.

Endo stated that Takiishi "began to fizzle out when he left Furin" meaning he was slowly losing his spark and maybe fighting out of boredom and not excitement. Chika is "The Strongest Man in Furin History". Probably in his first year, there wasn't anyone worthy enough to keep up with his pace and cause that fervor to ignite his flames.

Two years later when he dropped out of Furin Highschool he became a shadow and it was a few in the school who knew the truth about him, including Umemiya, the person Chika probably wanted to fight from the start.

In Chapter 142: Revelation, we see Takiishi in Endo's memories, and he has always been so aggressive towards the world, but unfortunately, we still don't know the reason why — perhaps a family conflict that indicates him being abused as a child; himself being bullied and then turning into a bully, or he was a prodigy too doing everything before other kids his age making him develop faster and he took advantage of that. So many theories. Hope we know in the future! [this part will be edited once his backstory is out]

God complex which may also be associated with mania or a superiority complex. Someone with a god complex may exhibit no regard for the conventions and demands of society and may request special consideration or privileges. GD is linked to Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) with a diminished ability to empathize with other people's feelings. Even tho we don't see Takiishi being 'in love' with himself, he only cares about himself, and thus I will say he is probably narcissistic but not to such an extent.

But here I think the right word which should be used is Egoist — a self-centered, selfish person or arrogantly conceited person. Egoism comes in different forms as there are several reasons as to why someone may act in their own self-interest, such as ethics or rationality. The three main types of egoism are physical egoism, ethical egoism and rational egoism.

1. Physical Egoism

This type of egoism refers to the basic, instinctual drive for self-preservation and personal survival. It is often associated with natural instincts and physical needs, such as hunger, thirst, and the avoidance of pain. Physical egoism emphasizes the inherent tendency of living beings to prioritize their own physical well-being and survival above all else. In this view, self-interest is rooted in biological imperatives.

2. Ethical Egoism

Ethical egoism is a normative theory that suggests some individuals act in their own self-interest. It is a prescriptive approach, meaning it provides guidance on how people should behave. Ethical egoism posits that morally right actions are those that maximize one's own welfare. Unlike physical egoism, which is based on natural instincts, ethical egoism is a philosophical stance arguing that self-interest should be the guiding principle of moral decision-making.

3. Rational Egoism

Rational egoism posits that it is rational for individuals to act in their own self-interest because doing so leads to the best outcomes for themselves. This form of egoism is based on the idea that reason, rather than mere instinct or moral obligation, should guide self-interested behavior. Rational egoism suggests that acting in one's own long-term interest is not only logical but also the most reasonable course of action for achieving happiness and success. It often involves considering the consequences of actions and making choices that best serve one's goals in a rational, calculated manner.

In conclusion:

Takiishi Chika is impulsive, violent, and primarily concerned with his own physical needs and desires, aligning most closely with physical egoism. He doesn't seem to consider the long-term consequences of his actions, nor does he follow a moral code that dictates acting in his self-interest in a socially constructive way, which would be characteristic of ethical or rational egoism.

The behavior could be indicative of several potential mental health conditions or personality disorders, but it's important to note that diagnosing someone, especially when a real person requires a qualified mental health professional. However, I am not a professional and I am doing this only for my entertainment in the fictional world. There are a few possibilities that might align with the characteristics of Takiishi Chika.

1. Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD):

Individuals with ASPD often exhibit a disregard for the rights of others, lack of empathy, and can be prone to aggressive, violent behavior. They may engage in fights, show little concern for the safety or feelings of others, and may be manipulative or deceitful.

2. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):

While not always violent, people with BPD may experience intense emotional reactions, including anger and aggression. They can also have a pattern of unstable relationships, self-harming behaviors, and fear of abandonment, which might be linked to masochistic tendencies.

3. Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED):

This disorder is characterized by sudden, explosive outbursts of anger or violence that are disproportionate to the situation. The person might feel a sense of relief after the outburst but may also feel remorse or regret later.

4. Sadistic Personality Disorder:

Although not recognized in the DSM-5, some traits could align with what was previously considered Sadistic Personality Disorder. This involves deriving pleasure from the suffering of others, which could explain sadistic tendencies.

Chika's behaviour is explosive or volatile sadism. This type of sadism is characterized by sudden outbursts of aggression and violence, often triggered by frustration or when the person feels someone is in their way. Individuals with this type of sadism tend to lack empathy, and their violent behavior can be unpredictable and intense.

In addition, his potential sadomasochistic tendencies suggest he might derive some pleasure from both inflicting pain on others (sadism) and experiencing pain themselves (masochism). This combination can make his behavior particularly volatile, as he may be drawn to situations that allows him to express both these desires.

5. Conduct Disorder (in younger individuals):

If the individual is younger, this could be a sign of Conduct Disorder, characterized by aggressive behavior, a lack of empathy, and a disregard for rules or the rights of others. This condition in youth can sometimes progress to Antisocial Personality Disorder in adulthood.

6. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD):

While not typically associated with overt physical violence, individuals with NPD can display aggression when their ego is threatened. They may lack empathy and be manipulative or exploitative in relationships, only caring about others when it benefits them.

7. Psychopathy:

A more severe form of ASPD, psychopathy involves a profound lack of empathy, superficial charm, and often a tendency toward manipulative and violent behavior. Sadistic tendencies may also be present.

8. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Individuals with PTSD may experience anger as a response to trauma reminders or as part of the hyperarousal symptoms. Irritability and angry outbursts. Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled.

PTSD develops after exposure to a traumatic event, and anger can be a coping mechanism or reaction to perceived threats.

9. Trauma and Childhood Experiences:

Anger issues can also stem from unresolved trauma, especially if it occurred during childhood. People who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment may develop anger as a defense mechanism. Difficulty trusting others, leading to anger in relationships. Feeling easily threatened or provoked. Chronic irritability or anger without a clear cause.

This is all I can think of when I did my research. Chika definitely has something traumatic happened to him or he was someone's trauma.

But there can be a scenario with him just being born like that even if love and kindness were shown to him. We will know more once Satoru Nii drops his full backstory like he did with Endo and Umemiya.

TAKIISHI CHIKA'S CHARACTER IN MY WRITING STYLE

I don't want to make him too out of character for the sake of the people who like or will like him, as I want them to have the best experience while reading any of my works that includes him.

In many of my drabbles readers will get to see him being more soft towards the female character or his girlfriend as stated in the most scenarios. He is being vulnerable towards you. It is simply the way I imagine him when he gets to like someone who catches his attention: he wants to know everything, is being possessive, is more expressive, making space in his heart only for you, though his ego and pride would no go down but instead they will go up because he has something the others don't.

As I stated earlier, he will not listen or look at anyone in whom he finds no interest. That being said, and as a cliché as it sounds, you are different, he wants to have you to either a) play with you until you break or b) learn about the way you are making him feel, because his heartbeat only rises when he fights.

When Takiishi Chika learns to love, or at least tries, he realizes that he can tolerate people who get in his way, meaning he tolerates you and is extremely important for him to see you everyday. And if his nonchalant behaviour is due to a trauma, you are his free therapy.

I saw people who think he doesn't talk much, again he does, he chose to who, how and when. Even if it's one word, sentence or a punch, he will talk.

In my opinion the way he loves is unique, everyone has their own way to express their longing for the other. He doesn't know what love is, its a new term in his vocabulary, and you teach him the ways of being soft and tender.

He is protective of you, very fond by the way you show him how to do things and he acts on instinct. If he wants a kiss, he will get one no matter what. If he wants get intimate or just to initiate a physical touch, he without thinking twice would. Takiishi Chika is not a person who waits, unless necessary, because when he wants something he will make sure to have it. If he wants you he will get you. He is the living prime of "If he wanted, he would."

But then again he has another dark, manipulative and toxic side. Again he is not good or used to expressing his emotions that well, if he wanted to hurt you, unintentionally or not, he would. I know I'm repeating myself a lot with words, but it's true. Was it with a real or non-existent person, if they wanted to, they would do anything to or for you.

This is mostly what I have to say about him, in hopes of your understanding and if you got to the end of this long post, thank you! Takiishi Chika is not that complex of a character, he is pretty easy to understand in my opinion, as long you want to do it.

But it's my profile, my own way to express myself amd how i view a certain character. I would be happy if someone wants to discuss further issues with our blazing inferno Chika <3

And as the manga will continue and more will be understood, I will give it my best to describe and write not only about Chika, but also about all the other characters. I hope this was a hopeful guide to answer questions if you even had one.

Thank you Chika nation for the support, and thank you for reading and following through my writing journey! More is yet to come (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♡

[rwrbficrecs]

WIP Wednesday

A bit late but happy new year 🎊 starting the year off strong with 10 WIP recs - enjoy!! ❤️

the world forgetting, by the world forgot by @leaves-of-laurelin (book-verse)

@dot524: This is an extraordinarily sad and poignant story about the tragedy of a failed relationship and the efforts to bring it back together. Alex and Henry used to be together, but they grew apart. As part of their breakup, Henry underwent a procedure that caused him to forget Alex, and Alex decides to do the same thing. What will they do when they realize that it was a mistake? This is an Eternal Sunlight of the Spotless Mind AU, and I’m not familiar with that story, but the fic is engrossing and well-done. It’s also almost finished. Check it out!

Like Because, Love Despite by @aforgottennymph (book-verse)

@dot524: Alex and Henry are work rivals who are both working themselves to the bone. It turns out that they used to be together, but they broke up. Their assistants, Nora and Pez, have come up with a plan to get them together - mainly to make their own jobs tolerable. But Alex and Henry are working through a painful past, and things are not always as they seem. I was snorting reading the most recent chapter - this one is just fun, joyful, and hilarious. Plus there are some flashbacks to their relationship that make you feel all the feels. Can’t wait to see how the author gets these two together!

Break Out by @cricketnationrise (book/movie-verse)

@na-dineee: Ice hockey is the perfect setup for an MLM romance, right?! Novels like Time to Shine are a prime example, and there are already some amazing firstprince x ice hockey AUs out there. And now, cricketnationrise started one too – yay !! Humor, fluff, and eventual smut – ok, enough said, I’m in!

i'll be riding shotgun by @callmevenji (book-verse)

@na-dineee: As with ice hockey, road trips are just as popular setups for many beautiful rwrb fanfics. With this one, I’m able to tick off some of my favourite tropes, like enemies to lovers, oblivious Alex with abandonment issues, or found family. The author’s previous fics have always amazed me, and I’m sure this one will be no different – the setup is just too good!

tis the damn season by @littlemisskittentoes (book-verse)

@na-dineee: I think this is Sarah’s first multi-chap fic? Alex and Henry were childhood best friends, a friendship that meant the world to Alex. But that’s all in the past. Still, Alex’s stubborn heart never stopped loving Henry... The WiP is posted about halfway through, and it’s as beautifully poetic as you’d expect from Sarah. The small town setting gives off such cozy vibes – it’s just so lovely !!

The Love Lasts So Long by @chaa-kiao (book-verse)

@na-dineee: The Foxes are close friends of the Claremont-Diazes. However, Alex can’t stand Henry. Like, not at all !! Naturally he's kind of shocked/annoyed to find out that Henry will be spending Christmas with them. As usual, Alex is totally oblivious to his feelings, but they'll get there, won't they?! I love this author, and am so glad that they're posting again. A story about falling in love, discovering their feelings, and the magic of Christmas - even in January just perfect.

The Final Rose by @tinyarmedtrex (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Alex is the new Bachelor, and it's Henry's job to keep everything running smoothly. Of course, the whole thing gets off to a rocky start. Henry can't stand Alex and his easy charm, but as he gets to know him, he starts to warm up, realising his feelings are anything but professional. Are we here for this?!! Yes, we are, aren’t we?!

Sweet Little Lies by @celaestis1 (book-verse)

@dot524: Canon divergent AU where Alex misses the royal wedding and Cake-gate never happened, but a flirtation between June and Henry and a lavender relationship did instead. Alex is still obsessed with Henry and has to confront his own feelings as the situation unfolds. So excited to see where this goes, especially since I’ve loved this author’s other works!

Driven to Distraction by @happiness-of-the-pursuit (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Since last year’s photos of TZP and Nick at F1 events, we’ve all been waiting (okay, maybe just me … but you too, right?!) for this AU. And now it’s here, written by none other than happinessofthepursuit. It’s going to be 10 chapters, rated E, Enemies to Lovers—and chapter 1 already leaves you wanting more.

Married at First Sight by @omgcmere (book-verse)

@myheartalivewrites: If you heard squealing across the oceans on Sunday, it was probably me when I saw the email notification for this beloved author publishing her first fic in 3 years. Alex and Henry sign up to do a reality show (if you haven't watched it, don't worry. I haven't and I'm enjoying it all the same!) in which they are supposed to get married to a complete stranger--except it turns out they already know each other, and Alex has been nursing a grudge for years. We're only a chapter in but the tension has already built up to an excellent level and I can't wait to keep reading.

check out our past WIP recs here ❤️

[awkward-halfhug]

probably not the best sedative | eleventh doctor x reader

summary: insomnia leads the Doctor to daydreaming. He figures he should stick to counting sheep, but quickly finds out how wrong he is

chapter 1 2 3 4 5

contents: fluff, daydreaming

(also on my ao3)

0.7k

The Doctor heaves an almighty sigh as he once again adjusts his position on his favorite couch in the library. He is not tired in the least and he doesn't need nearly as much sleep as humans, as he told you earlier. You weren't hearing any of it, say you don't believe him but even if it is true, he does still need some rest, especially after your most recent adventure.

So here he is, not sleeping. Because he's not tired.

The Doctor takes a deep breath and closes his eyes; hopes thinking about something nice will lull him to unconsciousness.

He's wrong, of course. But he's always got some excuse to think about you. Because you're the nicest thing he's ever met-- and he's met a lot of things.

Your laugh is nice. You've got around 15 different laughs and he's always surprised when you invent a new one. But whether it's a light giggle or a hearty guffaw or some sort of animal noise he can’t identify, it makes him laugh along with you.

Your smile is nice. It's always so earnest and hopeful. The kind of hopeful the Doctor searches galaxies to find, and when he does, he makes sure to grab on tight and never let go.

Your heart is nice. The Doctor is pretty sure if he could run a scanner over your heart it would, in fact, read 100% nice. Actually, it would read 100% kind. Your explanation of the difference still rings in his ears. "Being nice is a natural automatic kind of thing. Kindness you do on purpose." And if that doesn't just sum you up.

Your words are nice. Usually. Sometimes, the Doctor has to admit, he pushes your buttons a little too hard. Which sounds awful since, as he's established you're the nicest person in the universe. But it is just too hard to resist at times. Winding you up just tight enough that you won't break, because when you unravel it sure is a sight to see. He loves hearing your honey-tipped tongue tinged with just a bit of poison. Your clever mind set to work on painting him a colorful picture of exactly why he's wrong, or insensitive, or mean. Afterwards, you'll splutter a mortified apology. Adorable.

Your hands are nice. You have the lightest touch, treating each and every life form they encountered with dignity and reverence. You have the remarkable ability to make others feel important, without even saying a word. The Doctor will be off giving some speech about his own brilliance or chastising some group of careless idiots, and you, his kind, gentle companion will be calming the locals he's forgotten about. Consoling a mother. Holding a child's hand. Reaching out for his.

Nice doesn't seem a strong enough word to describe your eyes. They're warm, so warm. Warm enough to chase away the lonely on even his worst nights. He'll look into them and somehow feel understood and comforted and reassured all at once. Even though he's over a thousand years old and you're in the first few decades of your life. Your eyes hold such empathy and wisdom and emotional depth, sometimes it takes him aback and he has to look somewhere else in case you actually can read his mind.

And then they twinkle when you smile, laughing because he's blushing.

And when you're angry. Well.

It's supposed to send a chill up his spine when your pretty eyes turn icy enough to freeze him in place. He's supposed to feel regret, or fear, or remorse. But all he can ever feel is excitement. A little twitch in his fingers, a buzz on his skin, and increased heart rates--but never regret. So if he earns himself the title 'insufferable' more often than not these days, the Doctor will inform anyone that asks, it is your fault, not his.

Your lips are--

The Doctor decides at this point that thinking about his companion is actually probably not the best sedative he could've tried. And also that sleep is pretty overrated in the grand scheme of things. He'll earn himself a look of disapproval and possibly you might not bake him those biscuits he was rather hoping for. But it's your fault he can't sleep anyway.

And actually, he forgot to mention to you, funny thing about Time Lords, they're social sleepers. Like cats really.

The Doctor decides right now is as good a time as any to impart to you that special Time Lord fun fact he just remembered.

And so he sets off to do just that.

thank you for reading! If you enjoyed, please consider reblogging/commenting, it means a lot! ♡