#this is just a dream: lucas (oc) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ahundredtimesover · 2 years ago

Text

Belong (01) | MYG

Pairing: Yoongi x (f.) Reader

Genre/Tags: exes-to-lovers-to-exes-to-lovers; actress!OC x basketball coach!Yoongi; summer romance; “long” distance relationship; parallel timelines; angst, fluff, smut

Chapter (Series) Warnings: foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption & passing out, family drama, sport injury; dreams & moving away; implied depression; basketball and acting talk; 2014 and 2022 Yoongi; shy and nonchalant cocky whipped Yoongi; explicit sexual content (specific warnings stated per chapter (18+)

Chapter Word count: 14.2k

Series Masterlist

Status: Complete

Series summary: Being an actor has always been your dream. Pursuing it meant many things - leaving the town where you grew up, distancing yourself from your family that had fallen apart, and saying goodbye to the man who made you feel what home was like. When you decide to finally return after being away for so long, you meet Min Yoongi again, and you’re reminded of the summer romance from 8 years ago with the college basketball superstar whose broken dream pushed you away. As you find yourself spending time with him, you’re left to wonder if love changes, if it gives second chances, or if it’s just another illusion that will hurt the both of you the second time around.

Listen to: Boston by Augustana; Shelter by Luca Fogale || Playlist 🎶

A/N: Posting this today to celebrate People pt.2 and D-Day! Here’s a little piece I’ve had for a while. It felt fitting to write something about dreams and finding your purpose through Yoongi and at a time when I’m going through something similar. There’s nothing like his wisdom and his warmth so I hope this could mean something to you somehow. 💕 Please enjoy! And 🫡 to NBA Ambassador Suga! Now that’s his 🏀 dream in another form.

Present Day

There’s always something magical whenever you watch yourself on screen.

It’s not due to some narcissistic reason or an insatiable desire for the spotlight; it’s not even because you think you’re really talented. Sure, you like the attention and just like anyone who’s spent years of their lives perfecting their craft, you want to be pretty great at it, but all those thoughts become suspended whenever it’s your scene.

During these instances, it’s only about your character and her emotions, and that’s what you think is remarkable about it - watching yourself is just like being there, in that moment, on that set, feeling it all.

Most actors would say they love acting because it gives them a variety of roles and personalities to play. You like that bit, too, but it’s the character’s emotions that you commit yourself to the most; it’s being able to immerse yourself in the feelings of joy and anger, of contempt and fear, of envy and admiration, of guilt and love. You like the finiteness of it, that with acting comes the feeling, and you know at some point, it’s going to end.

Once the scene is over, so is the emotion; you’re able to let go of it right away with one breath. You’re good at that, you think - holding onto something for as long as it’s yours, and then letting it go when it no longer is.

The collective gasp of the people around you breaks your bubble only a little; you release a breath yourself as the last scene unfolds. And with the final shot and the succeeding transition to the end credits, you let go of the sadness.

“I can’t believe that only took one shot,” your best friend, Taehyung, says in awe. “I would’ve been crying already knowing how it ends.”

“Jin and I challenged each other,” you proudly say. “We said we’d do our absolute best for that first try and the director thought it was that good. Seriously, not crying until that last second was so hard; I didn’t think I could do it.”

The Kim Seokjin, your co-actor and good friend, looks at you from the other side of the couch with that soft and proud look that you only ever get from him once a project is over. You return the sentiment, knowing that you wouldn’t have survived your first lead role in a drama series if he wasn’t acting alongside you.

He’d been your senior at university where you both took your major in acting. He was already modeling then and snagged a major role in a movie right after graduation; he became a household name after that.

You watched from the sidelines as he achieved his dreams while you took the occasional 30-second roles given to the students, but he didn’t forget you. He called regularly to know how you were doing, gave tips when you asked, and informed you of upcoming auditions.

It was the type of friendship that challenged you, given that you both wanted to one day star in a series or movie together, a culmination of all the long hours of rehearsals and line-reading and classes that you both did. He had already made a name for himself; you wanted to be good enough to have yours be opposite his.

It would take a few years, but after a supporting role in a romcom movie that saw people wanting more of you, you and Jin finally got cast in a series about a mortal woman falling in love with a celestial being, which, at the beginning, reflected your respective statuses in the industry. You expected the show to do well - everything that Kim Seokjin touches turns to gold, as the saying goes - but you didn’t expect for the public to love you both as a pair as much as they do, given that they want you to star in another show right away.

“I cried as I turned around,” Jin says of the scene where he had to go back to his world and leave you behind. “That was heavy and even I’m impressed we did it in one shot.”

“Well, the sadness and grief would have dwindled by the third or fourth time,” you chuckle. “I’m not good enough yet to maintain all the emotions after so many takes.”

“Not that you aren’t good enough,” Jin counters. “You just haven’t been in the industry that long yet. That kind of experience makes a difference. I’d say I wouldn’t have been able to sustain the same emotion for long, too. It was a difficult one. I mean, what goodbye scene isn’t?”

It’s a rhetorical question, of course, but much of why it was difficult for you to keep the emotions in was because it was your first goodbye scene. You have a feeling that the succeeding ones wouldn’t be any easier, though. You’d like to think you’re okay with goodbyes and that says a lot, but then again, you don’t know anyone who’s actually good at it.

Or maybe you do. But you’d rather not think about it.

It’s silent for a few more seconds. You suppose that the rest of your co-actors who are here with you are still processing the end of a series that’s been their source of comfort for the past few months, too. It had been your weekly routine to watch the episode together in Jin’s house, not wanting to let go of each other just yet after filming wrapped up a few weeks ago.

“Well, that was amazing, wasn’t it?” He finally speaks up. “It was a good run and thank god that ___ insisted on these watch parties. Or else I’d be crying by myself in my room after the finale,” he laughs. “This better not be the last time we see each other.”

“Because it isn’t,” you reply. “We still have that cast and crew dinner and a couple more filming stuff for promo. That’s easily another 3 more weeks of being together. Which is really 3 weeks too short.”

“So… does anyone want to go on a trip after that?” Hyun-seung, one of the actors, excitedly suggests. “It’d be a good way to unwind and use up what we’ll earn.”

You laugh along with everyone but you’re the only one who passes up on it.

“I can’t,” you sigh. “I have a trip to Daegu at the end of the month and I can’t move it.”

Disappointed sighs echo throughout the living room, and you insist that they should continue with the trip without you. Most of them don’t want to, but you eye Jin so that he would make the call to push through with it even if you won’t be around, so he does. It’s rare to find such good company with other actors, and you truly want them to maintain the friendships they built here way beyond the series.

Your friends make general plans as you listen in, wishing you could be there instead of home, which is where you’ll be for the next 2 months as you promised your family. Or more like, as they guiltripped you into doing.

You haven’t been home in years and for good reason. After your parents separated and you were the lone child who didn’t harbor anger towards your mother who wanted to pursue her dreams elsewhere, you promised yourself you’d leave that place, too.

Visits during summer had been fine. But after the most painful goodbye you ever made, you’d stopped going back altogether, reasoning that your up and coming career required all your time. You doubt that your family knew the truth, and despite their remarks of you following in the footsteps of your mother, those weren’t enough for you to open up about something so heartbreaking, knowing it hit too close to home. Their bitterness wasn’t a reason for you to keep going back either.

“Daegu, really?” Jin asks after everyone else has left, save for Taehyung and Jimin, your personal assistant whose glassy eyes say he’s not yet over the season finale. “You haven’t been home in 6 years.”

“Four, actually,” you correct him. “I had a filming there sometime ago.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t actually go home,” he clarifies. “You went to the shoot then back to your hotel. I remember that; I kept asking Tae how you were doing.”

“I was fine,” you shrug. “How was I supposed to be? I was good, just couldn’t wait to get back here. I had a boyfriend, remember?”

“Andrew was a fling, not a boyfriend,” Jin rolls his eyes, and you confirm that the model is his least favorite of your exes. “And if I remember correctly, you broke it off days later.”

“Well, it stops being good when it stops being fun,” Taehyung says, mocking your usual statement whenever your friends ask why you broke things off with your partners. “She shut down when she came back. I guess going home does that to her.”

“You know how places just naturally comfort you? Daegu isn’t that place,” you try to explain. “I had to get it off my system for the one week I was there and Andrew acted out. I just didn’t want the drama.”

Everyone nods, knowing it’s how you usually are. You always viewed relationships as a complement to your job. Being an actor is tough work with its own complications and you definitely don’t want it from your partner. It was always easy for you to fall into that honeymoon hole with someone, but you always walked away from it just as quick once the rainbows and butterflies had subsided. Whether it’s jealousy over your leading men or not having enough time, or just wanting to be by yourself to regroup, your exes always found a reason to argue. And you were always good at walking away when you needed to.

It was like that with every person. Except one. Your friends don’t know if he’s the reason why, or if he’s the exception.

“So what made you decide to go home? And for how long?” Jin queries, feeling a little worried because of what he knows is out there for you. He’s always been a little protective like that.

“About 2 months?” You respond, to the surprise of the older man. “My dad wants me to celebrate his wedding anniversary with them. And spend time with my sisters’ kids and my grandparents and shit.”

“And spend time with my parents,” Taehyung adds, knowing it’s probably the only thing you’re excited about, given how much they adore you and vice versa. “They can’t wait to see you.”

“Same here,” you finally smile. “We’re definitely seeing them first.”

“Anyone else you’re going to see there?” Jin asks some more.

“You can say his name, you know?” You nudge your friend’s knee. “I know he’s who you mean.”

“Well then. Are you going to see Yoongi?”

“I don’t plan on seeing him but I probably will. It’s a big city but it’s a small town. Plus, I’m with Daegu’s Prince right here,” you say, pointing to your best friend who’s made a name for himself as a ballad singer. “Tae will be dragging me around so I won’t be surprised if I encounter Yoongi somehow, somewhere.”

“And what happens when you see him?” Jimin now asks, wanting to know if he’d need to drive to you in case you decide to come home early.

“Then I see him. We’re… fine,” you state, earning you an eye roll from each man, so you clarify. “I mean, I’m perfectly fine living my dream in Seoul. And he’s a college basketball coach in Daegu, which is the closest to his dream he could get, and I heard his team’s doing really well. It’s been 6 years. He let me go. And I’ve moved on. Who knows how it’s gonna be like? But I’m civil with each one of my exes and it won’t be any different with him.”

“He’s different, though,” Jimin points out. “You actually loved him; you can’t say the same for all your exes. And you can’t argue that,” he adds, seeing your shaking head and disagreeing face. “Drunk and hungover you told me all that more than once and I trust that version of you over the sober one when it comes to your love life.”

“Okay, Mr. Know-It-All,” you frown at him. “I wasn’t going to deny that but it was the naive, impulsive, hopeless romantic version of me who loved him. That’s not me anymore. I’ve grown up. I know what I want from my partner, and Yoongi is just the small town boy who’ll always think that his broken dreams will keep him from loving me the way I deserve. And maybe he’s right.”

It’s quiet for a while, as your friends take in your words since you rarely ever talk about the man unless you’re in an inebriated state or recovering from it. But it’s the first time that the possibility of seeing him looms over you, knowing that within those 2 months, you’re bound to run into him somehow.

Now it’s too quiet, and you realize that none of you know what to say since you’re all sober. Truth be told, you don’t remember anything that Jimin’s ever told you during those times that you opened up, and Jin never really said much, knowing how hard that breakup hit you. And Taehyung, well… the man was there before, during, and after it all, yet he never really said much, always choosing to let the silence engulf both of you.

“Look, I’m touched you all seem to be worried,” you finally speak up. “But I’m going to be fine. I found a house I’m renting that’s nice and private. I’m actually excited to eat at my favorite restaurants and visit places I’ve missed. I can’t do anything about my family but at least Tae will be with me the whole time and save me from their madness if he needs to. And Yoongi, well… he’s a closed chapter in my book. There’s no reason to revisit that. Hi, goodbye - that’ll be it, just like before.”

You sigh to yourself, hoping that your friends would take your word for it, though you don’t really blame them if they don’t. They’ve seen you barely bat an eye after calling it quits with your exes but they’ve heard of how broken you were because of that breakup; seeing Yoongi again might just bring up old memories that you might not be ready for. And they won’t all be there to lift you up like they’d want to.

“Okay then, if you say so,” Jin finally smiles. “But if something comes up… you know I can always drive there and bring you back here.”

“And add to the already existing rumors about us being a thing?” You laugh, referring to all the social media fodder about your chemistry that’s too good, it might be real.

“So? Then we let it,” he shrugs.

“Does the Kim Seokjin not care about dating rumors?” You gasp. “You always complained about it. Don’t tell me you like me.”

Jin sits next to you and cups your face in his hands. “I… love you. The way a dear friend who dreamed with you and who gets to live that out with you does. We all love you. We’d do anything for you. You know that, right?”

“I do,” you say, humming once he plants a soft kiss on your forehead, just like all the times he’d done before - when you graduated university, when you didn’t get callbacks, and when you landed your first major role. “Thank you.”

You decide to head out after a long evening. Jimin lists your activities for the next day before he’s dropped off at his apartment. Taehyung lets you listen to his new single for his upcoming album, and you get emotional over his soulful sound and the fact that he gets to live out his dream with you, too.

He walks you to your front door and hugs you tightly, just like all the times he’d done before - when you cried about your family, when Yoongi broke up with you, and when you found out he was dating someone new.

“I love you, okay?” Your best friend whispers.

He says it in that soft, comforting voice of his. The one that always told you that things were gonna be fine, as if love solves all things, and at one point, you believed it did.

Your hometown of Daegu looks very different from the last time you were really here. It changed a lot. And it changed pretty quickly.

But some things about it stay the same - family-run restaurants, streets lined with little shops passed down from generations, the parks and the temples, the playground in your old neighborhood with the basketball court that you know all too well.

They make the place home, Mrs. Kim says. That doesn’t change no matter how far or how long you’ve been away.

You want to disagree. This place was never home. It felt like bits of it during the times you used to watch ballet performances at the Opera House with your mom or when your dad used to grill makchang on Friday nights.

But when she decided to leave and then he remarried, you had just memories of home left. Your sisters’ resentment over your happiness for your mother as she achieved her dreams took all that was remaining, and coming here reminds you more than what you lost; it reminds you of what you can never have - that space to dream, the place of safety, the love that would endure time and distance.

You enjoy the best short ribs dish over Mr. Kim’s recordings of his saxophone performances. Mrs. Kim dotes on you like her own daughter, and Taehyung announces all the things you’ll be doing now that you’re both back home, taking your respective breaks that you deserve, and spending the money that you worked hard for.

You eventually leave for some rest. The house you’re staying at is far from the buzz of the city. It’s private and secure, a little too spacious for one, and boasts of the views of the mountains. Jimin had found it, knowing you’d need the peace and quiet amidst all that would be taking place during your short time here.

Taehyung will be staying over at his parents’ place, but they insist that it’s open for you to visit anytime you want. You think you need the time for yourself, though. Your job often requires you to be around people, and you’re thankful for the choice you have now to be away from them. For some time, at least.

[From: Manager Jung] Are you settled? I’ve got a script for you to go through. Sending it now

Your agent-slash-manager’s message disrupts your moment of tranquility as you sit out at the garden, watching the sun set. You’d arrived from Seoul in time for lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon at Taehyung’s parents’ house before heading to yours.

[To: Manager Jung] Yeah, all good. But give me a week until I read the script. Don’t want to think much about work yet

[From: Manager Jung] Fine. Just don’t take too long

You sigh, knowing that though you promised Jin and Jimin that you won’t be thinking about work while you’re here - you need a break from it all, they told you - your manager won’t really let you. And much as you want to complain about him pushing you real hard, you’re thankful that Jung Hoseok always does.

He was the one who saw your talent and insisted you’ve got a bright future after one casting call that you were almost late for. He was strategic in which roles to pitch you for as a rookie actor, and which ones would get you ahead of the game, no matter how challenging it was. During the times you wondered if you were meant for this industry, he always assured you that you were. There was always going to be a bigger break after the last, he believed, and he promised you he’d go searching for that role until you got the biggest break of your career.

And every time you think he’ll cross the line of pressuring you too much, he says something sweet, brotherly, friendly.

[From: Manager Jung] But take care of yourself there, ok? Don’t let them talk down on you. Don’t let them crush your dreams

You’d cry if his words came with a hug.

[From: Manager Jung] And guard your heart. Don’t let him hurt you again

You pretend he means your father; he let your sisters’ resentment of you go on after all, and his inaction made you feel unloved in your own home.

You don’t want to think that Hoseok means someone else because it would mean that for all the times you questioned if everything you gave up to chase your dream was worth it, then he knew it was because of the man who broke your heart 6 years ago. You don’t want to think that all these years, Hoseok knew that your buzz-worthy dating life, whose aftermath he always had to manage, was just your futile attempt at getting over the first and only man you ever loved.

Being in any sports facility unsettles you. You always claim that the buzz of sporting events just isn’t your cup of tea - you prefer the noise of a film or television set, or of a theater right before the movie starts. It wasn’t always like that, of course. You used to enjoy the screams and heckles of sports fans; you used to be one of them.

But you found out the hard way that losing someone means you lose the parts of you that you’d adopted because of them, that you fall out of love with the things you used to love because of them.

Basketball is one of those things. It’s why Taehyung used to not invite you whenever there were Thunders games at Jamsil despite the free tickets always available for you; he knew you’d say no and he hates rejection.

But Mr. Song is a man you can’t say no to. Not only is he the city’s mayor, he’s also a good friend of your father’s, which is how the chief official got wind of your return.

Your trip isn’t meant to be publicized. Actors take breaks and visit their hometowns regularly without attracting the media, and oftentimes, that’s thanks to the local government, who employs their political will and own security to ensure that celebrities aren’t disturbed while they’re on vacation or just visiting family. It’s good for them, of course, but it also sometimes comes with small favors, like a private dinner with some of their close friends and some photos or autographs. You don’t really mind, especially since the same is extended to Taehyung, hence why the lunch earlier at the mayor’s residence wasn’t all that bad. It was only slightly awkward with your father because you chose to meet up with Taehyung’s family first before yours, but your dad didn’t dwell on it.

Other than privacy, one other thing you get are free courtside Korean Basketball League tickets. The Pegasus just recently moved to Daegu from Incheon and there’d been a lot of promotion to get the city to give their full support to their new hometown team. Mr. Song thinks that photos of you and Taehyung attending the game will be the publicity that the team needs, and while your best friend genuinely agrees to the arrangement, you only do so half-heartedly. You’ll at least see your friends who are playing for the other team, but even the thought of Jungkook and Namjoon being back home and the party they’ll throw after is making you even more unsettled.

“Hmm, number 16 was pretty cute,” you whisper to Taehyung as you head out of the locker room after some photos with the home team. “I wonder if he’ll be at the party tonight.”

“No, he won’t,” your best friend responds.

“Why not? Because he’s from the other team? I’m sure that Jungkook won’t mind, right? I mean, yeah it’s his house but—”

“Tonight is for college friends only.”

“We didn’t even go to their university,” you point out, given that you and Taehyung studied in Seoul and had met there, instantly clicking after finding out you both hailed from the same city. “Why are we going?”

“We are honorary members,” he replies. “I went to high school with them and you…” he trails, trying to figure out how to phrase how you became an honorary member of their group of friends without bringing him up.

“Are the ex of one of their friends,” you finish for him. “You can say it, you know?”

“I don’t know, can I?” He arches a brow.

“Yes. I don’t deny the fact that Yoongi and I dated.”

“You just deny how much it affected you.”

“You mistake my amazing ability of moving on for denial,” you groan. “But oh shit. Wait. Does this mean that he’ll be there at the party?”

Taehyung huffs as he settles in his seat and looks at your worried eyes. “For someone who doesn’t seem to be in denial, you sure look a bit anxious that he might be there tonight. Didn’t you say you can be civil with your exes?”

“Yeah, I can,” you reply defensively. “I don’t know about him. But then again, he moved on first, so I doubt seeing me would affect him much.”

Your best friend lets out a breath, not wanting to argue. He’s learned long ago that when it comes to Yoongi, you’re dead set on many things - like the narrative that he moved on first, that he was so much happier without you, that dreams were always more important for him, whether it was yours or his. Taehyung tried to help you process that whole experience, especially the aftermath, as you went on dating one man after another after you found out about Yoongi dating some local musician.

But you always had a default answer, that you’ve always been that way - quick to fall in love and quick to fall out of it, and Yoongi was no exception. You met, fell in love, and while you technically didn’t fall out of love, the breakup left you no choice but to do just that; he was the one who insisted that you leave, after all, and you’d been the one too heartbroken that he didn’t love you enough to make you stay.

“Well then let’s just see what happens,” Taehyung shrugs. “We’ve got a game to watch, a party to go to, and friends to catch up with.”

“And a nice, peaceful home to retire to after tonight. I’ll need all the good energy before I see the rest of my family tomorrow,” you sigh.

Right, there’s that, Taehyung frowns. Your family’s too complicated that you insist you don’t want him to get sucked into the drama, hence why you don’t want him to go with you. But between that and the possibility of seeing your ex, he could only hope that during this trip, you won’t get your heart broken too early, too quickly, or too hard.

“How is it that the Pegasus have been playing here for months but it’s the first time we’re watching their game live?” Geumjae asks incredulously as he sips his beer.

“Because it’s the first home game of the season against the Thunders when I’m home and when Jungkook and Namjoon don’t have girlfriends to give their tickets to,” Yoongi explains to his older brother. “And well, I never asked before.”

“Well, good on us that you’re here and your friends currently don’t have girlfriends,” Geumjae laughs. “Also, you could totally ask. They’re your friends; I don’t think it would be that hard for them to get extra seats for us.”

“I’m not their only friend here. I’m sure a bunch of the guys from college would ask,” Yoongi shrugs.

“You’re not just their friend, Yoon,” his brother groans. “You played with them, you captained them, and led them to college championships.”

“Yeah, yet I’m the one hustling it out as a college coach while they’re playing pro,” the younger man huffs.

He doesn’t mean to be bitter. He loves those guys, hustled it out with them until the late evenings just to get the proper training and workout in almost a decade ago. He couldn't be any prouder when Jungkook and Namjoon got drafted to professional teams and then reunited as teammates with the Seoul Samsung Thunders just 2 years ago. Yoongi had been the encouraging senior who messaged them right away, happy for his peers for being together again just like old times. He won’t lie and say it didn’t sting a bit to be left out from the life they all dreamed of having, with him being the only one who didn’t get to achieve it alongside them.

“Well, if it matters at all, you’re doing amazing,” Geumjae tries to cheer his brother up. “I read online that many are calling your team to win it all this year. Imagine being the only person in your school’s history to be a champion player and coach? Not just anyone can say that.”

Yoongi hums, trying to let the thought comfort him. It doesn’t do much; coaching a college basketball team is leagues away from playing professionally. The energy is different, so is the hustle. Shooting hoops with the kids during training isn’t the same. The lights and the cheers as he sits on the bench calling plays isn’t the same either. He can at least say that with coaching, he’s able to shape and mentor the young ones, direct them to better paths, encourage them to reach their dreams, and to not settle for a life they’re not happy with or proud of. He’s got a bunch of players who got drafted last year and dedicated their first professional game to him, and that’s an indescribable feeling he’ll always hold onto. It reminds him that even if it wasn’t him, it was at least someone he cared about.

He watches as the players do their warmups on court before the start of the game. This isn’t the first time he’s watched live, but it’s the first time with Jungkook and Namjoon as teammates, so seeing them goof around and do the handshake that they used to do warms his heart a little. Maybe it’s this bit of joy that he needs to remind him that it’s okay, that even if life turned out differently for him, at least basketball is still part of his life. There’s more he wants, of course, but this is way better than nothing. He reminds himself at one point, he didn’t think he could ever set foot on a basketball court again.

The game finally starts and though he’s usually quiet whenever he watches games, he can’t help the small small cheer he makes whenever Jungkook or Namjoon scores or makes crucial plays. He still knows their moves, can still read Jungkook’s pump-fake, and can still tell by Namjoon’s stance if he’s gonna make that rare three. Though he was a shooting guard during his glory days, Yoongi still prides himself in his playmaking skills and knowing his teammates well, something that scouts used to rave about.

Yoongi sips his beer, no doubt enjoying the exciting match. He obviously wants the Thunders to win, but the Pegasus aren’t backing down, not letting themselves trail by more than 8 points. He’s in a bit of a trance, as he lets himself drown in the cheers of the crowd, imagining that it’s him leaving it all out on the court.

But as he looks up on the big screen during timeout, he feels like the air is being sucked out of him. His ears don’t betray them either, as the announcer calls on your name and Taehyung’s - “celebrity sightings,” he says, while you and your best friend wave to the camera and smile like the superstars that you both are. The cheers get louder and Geumjae joins them until he realizes.

“Shit, that’s your ex-girlfriend,” he whisper-shouts. He laughs at the scene of his brother practically choking on his drink. “Wow, she still has that effect on you, huh?”

“No, she doesn’t,” Yoongi says nonchalantly, desperately forcing his heart to slow its beating.

“Did you know she’s gonna be here?”

“I don’t keep tabs on her whereabouts, Geumjae,” he replies, suddenly sounding hard, defensive.

“Do you think she’s gonna be at the party?”

Fuck, the party, Yoongi slightly panics. Jungkook talked about the sort of reunion he’s throwing at his house after the game. Their old teammates will be there, as well as some other friends from college who are still in the city. You and Taehyung were honorary members of that group and Yoongi knows that you’re both invited, too.

“I guess,” he merely shrugs, looking like it doesn’t bother him much.

It shouldn’t. It’s been 6 years, and while he’d been the one to break it off, you’re the one who’s dated a lot since then, something he can’t fault you for. You’d obviously catch a lot of attention - you did catch his - not just for your charm and unbelievable beauty but for your talent as well. He’s not surprised that you’re rumored to be dating Kim Seokjin, said to be this decade’s most desired leading man and who also happens to be your good friend, the one who’d helped you out a lot during your years in university. Yoongi used to be a little jealous then, something he never told you, and well, he guesses it’s meant to be with you and Seokjin now, a man he could probably never live up to.

“Are you gonna be okay?” Geumjae breaks through his thoughts.

“Yeah. Why won’t I be?” Yoongi huffs, sinking back to his seat to watch the game that suddenly isn’t so interesting anymore.

His question is left unanswered and his brother resumes his cheers, no doubt invested in this match that’s now tied. But Yoongi drifts in and out, his eyes following the players up and down the court then mindlessly landing on you. You’re seated in a relaxed manner, the opposite to how you used to watch his games. He sees you silently cheer for the Thunders, too, and you giggle at Taehyung when you scream louder than you intended, your hand covering your mouth as you lean on your friend and he laughs along.

He could hear the sound of your laughter from across the gymnasium, as if the way the dulcet tone of your voice used to send shivers down his spine whenever you giggled in his ears was just yesterday. He shakes off the goosebumps he feels and tries to sit comfortably on the chair.

“Are you nervous?” Geumjae asks. “You’re awfully quiet.”

“Since when was I ever loud during a basketball game?” He shoots his brother an incredulous look.

“You may not make a sound but your body does,” the older man points out. “I could feel you buzzing earlier and cheering in that Yoongi way of yours but now,” he eyes him up and down, “your legs are just bouncing. And you're biting your nails again.”

Yoongi catches himself. He forces his leg to be still and tucks his hand under it. It’s a tell he has, and he has no doubt that his brother has caught on. Still, he lies. “The game’s close. I want the Thunders to win.”

“Really? That’s what you’re going with?”

“Yes, now can we just focus on the game?” Yoongi chides, not wanting to confirm whatever his brother’s suspicions are.

“Fine, but for the record, I know exactly why you’re nervous.”

“I don’t really care.”

Geumjae sighs as he watches his brother’s gaze go to you once more, unknowingly, perhaps, as Yoongi seems to shake himself off after every time he realizes that his eyes were locked on your direction. But he can’t blame the younger man. You entered his life and he fell, extremely hard, and letting you go was the most difficult thing he ever had to do. Yoongi doesn’t need to tell him though, but there’s enough of his younger brother’s broken pieces lying around for Geumjae to know that it was also something he regretted doing, and he wishes his brother was at least brave enough to admit all that.

The Thunders win by 5 points. It was nail-biting until the very end. It was Namjoon’s crucial offensive rebound and Jungkook’s 3-point shot that sealed the game for them, and Yoongi was present enough to witness those last few plays. He decides to enjoy this moment with his friends, knowing they’d be asking him about it later. If he’ll still go to the party. Somehow, seeing you again made him a little dizzy. It was still on the screen, but now he’s not sure he’ll know what to do when he sees you in person.

He and his brother let the crowds go before heading out separately. Geumjae’s car is parked elsewhere, and Yoongi decides to head to the washroom and pace his walk to the parking lot. Hands on his pockets and eyes glued to the floor, he hears a gasp, and he releases one himself when he sees you, hiding behind one of the vending machines as a group of fans at the end of the hallways starts walking towards your direction, wondering aloud where you went.

He sees the panicked look in your eyes and decides to stop the crowd before they come any closer.

“She headed that way,” he announces, pointing to the right. “There’s an exit there. She probably left already.”

You hear the disappointed sighs, and much as you don’t want to let your fans down - you’re not one to deny them autographs - there have been too many of them this afternoon and you weren’t mentally prepared to accommodate each one of them. The footsteps disappear not long after and you let out a sigh of relief. That was close, but you didn’t expect Yoongi, of all people, to be the one to stir them away.

You turn to him, about to say your thanks, but somehow the words get stuck in your throat. You recall being a giddy mess the very first time you saw him, with nibbled lips and palpitating heart as you watched him shoot baskets and dribble the ball like no one’s business, and you’d been a goner since then. But he was a lot thinner during that time. His hair was cut short and his eyes had this sharp, confident gaze that usually intimidated people. You eventually saw how they softened only for you, though, but you’ll always remember that summer and how he had you wanting him at first glance.

This man before you isn’t all that different. He still has the same sharp eyes, with his look penetrating right through your soul like he knows you and well, he does, which is also why he was quick to misdirect the crowd after he perhaps saw the look of worry on your face. His tiny nose is the same, so is his pale skin. But his hair is now long, pushed back in the middle as it softly reaches close to his shoulders. He’s a lot leaner; you can easily tell from what’s hiding behind his thin white shirt underneath his blue jacket. You recall him dressing mostly in monotone colors, so seeing him in something a little more striking is new. He’s gorgeous just like before, and you don’t really know why you expected that he wouldn’t render you speechless this time around.

“___,” he calls out. “Were they bothering you?”

“No, uh…” you stutter, hating yourself for suddenly being nervous. “There were just too many of them and they were getting quite close, I kind of panicked. Stupid, really. I should be used to it by now. More of them came and I just…”

“If they were invading your personal space then that’s not right,” he says, his tone so serious you mistake it for worry. “Did they touch you or anything?”

“Oh no! Nothing like that. I just got a bit overwhelmed.”

“Where’s Taehyung?” He asks, as you watch him walk to the vending machine where you’re hiding, tap his card, and then get the bottled water that falls out. He opens it and hands it to you as if he’d done this so many times before, and well, he actually has.

“He met up with a couple of friends,” you explain. “The crowd got to me right after and I kinda lost him, but I told him I’ll meet him outside, somewhere near where the players come out.”

“Hmm, okay,” Yoongi hums, looking away.

He should’ve expected you to look way more beautiful up close but he tends to underestimate his ability to be entranced by you. He’s surprised he even got any word out, but the worry crept in the moment he saw you look a little winded and he just wanted to make sure you were alright. You’re a celebrity, after all, and the city’s “Princess,” as they claim.

You look a little nervous though, and a part of him just wants to scold Taehyung for leaving you behind, seeing as neither of you looked like you had security with you earlier. But that shouldn’t be his responsibility anymore, he reminds himself.

“Thanks for the water, by the way,” you speak up. “How much was it?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks again,” you smile shyly. “So, uhm, do you know where the other exit is? I’m kind of lost.”

“Oh, uh… the one close to where the players go out is there,” he cocks his head to the left, towards a hallway behind swinging doors. “I can uh, I can show you where.”

“Ah, that would be great. Did you park close there, too?”

No.

“Yeah,” he lies. “Let’s go before more people see you.”

He opens the door and walks after you. It doesn’t help that the hallway suddenly feels much smaller and closed off because now, Yoongi has to listen to your footsteps and nothing else, since neither one of you chooses to talk.

What does he say to the woman he broke up with 6 years ago? Maybe he can say something about your recently concluded series. He thought it was really good. Is it weird to ask what your next project is? Perhaps. You probably can’t even tell him. How was it like being the leading lady this time? Fuck, he’s not a talk show host or anything like that.

He sees the end of the hallway before his mind can come up with another stupid question, and he rushes to the door before you do, catching you by surprise.

“Just wanted to make sure there’s no one to bother you,” he explains, as you exit the building with questioning eyes.

“Oh, thanks,” you smile shyly again.

He’s not used to it. He remembers the way your eyes used to gaze at him constantly, how your smile and laughter were all cheeky and flirty, how the tone of your voice was always so confident, so charming. He thinks that maybe like him, you’re just as surprised and unsure about seeing each other after so long. He doesn’t know what to make of things beyond that.

“Do you have someone to pick you up?” he asks, needing to prepare himself if, as a last resort, he’d need to drive you somewhere.

“Yeah, Tae and I were supposed to ride together but,” you pause, checking your phone for your best friend’s text message, “he rode off with his friends and said he’d meet me at Jungkook’s instead so I’m just waiting for the guys. There’s the—”

Party, Yoongi says in his head.

“___!” Jungkook’s loud voice cuts you off. He jogs up to you and puts an arm around your shoulders, unaware of the man in front of you who’s being blocked by a wall. “You ready to go? Tae said he went ahead.”

Yoongi makes his presence known with a low grunt, his eyes pacing from his friend to you. You both look a lot closer than he remembers, and Yoongi’s mind goes to that first time you all met, how Jungkook had announced during their team celebration that the “girl with the yellow scarf on her hair is so pretty” and that he’d wanted to ask you out. Of course, things turned out differently - you weren’t interested in the younger man. But that was years ago. Jungkook has had an impressive professional career and he lives in Seoul. Maybe things have changed for you.

You follow Yoongi’s eyes. Despite many people claiming that he’s difficult to read because of the default unconcerned, almost detached look he has for every situation, you think he’s actually pretty transparent.

Or maybe that’s just you. You’ve spent enough time with him to know his sound of annoyance and the meaning of his body language. You’ve memorized that pretty face of his at one point that you can tell the slightest parting of his lips and the tiniest drop of his eyes, which could mean that he’s confused, sad, or disappointed. Maybe all.

“Oh, we’re not…” you exclaim, surprising yourself, to the amusement of Namjoon, who suddenly appears next to you. “I mean, Jungkook and I aren’t… a thing.”

You promptly remove the man’s arm from your shoulder and try to decipher Yoongi’s look now. Is it relief? Does he believe you? Does he think it’s silly that you had to clarify that, which you’re wondering why you did?

“Okay,” Yoongi says.

Perhaps you’re wrong. You can’t tell right now what he’s feeling.

“We just… got to hanging out when I got drafted by the Thunders,” Jungkook now clarifies, which he quickly realizes is maybe making this awkward situation a lot worse.

You’re Yoongi’s ex-girlfriend after all, and Jungkook had been the one to reach out to you when he moved to Seoul, but not once did he try to pursue you all these years. He respects his captain too much and cares for what you both had, which is why he maintained his friendship with you even after the breakup.

“That’s nice to know,” Yoongi replies, his tone nonchalant like always.

He’s glad he can keep his cool that well, even if his heart was just about to explode at the thought of you possibly dating his friend. He doesn’t know why he cares, though, as he never really thought much about the so-called code that stated that exes were off-limits to friends.

He’s just about to turn around when Namjoon calls out. “Min, you’re still going to the party, right?”

Yoongi looks at you, who promptly looks away. Up until 10 minutes ago, he was about 80% sure he would. He didn’t think that being in close proximity to you would make him remember all sorts of things, and that itself is enough for him to run for the hills and avoid you. He won’t claim he did his best to forget about you - he at least tried, and that still counts - but he didn’t expect he’d ever get a chance to be near you, much less talk to you and be in the same place as you. Again.

But he looks at his friends’ eyes, both pairs unsure yet practically begging him to still go. He remembers these looks, and he swears it’s because he doesn’t want to let both of them down that he battles with the inner part of himself and decides to still go. It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with somehow finding out for how long you’re staying, and why you’re here in the first place.

“Yeah. I’ll see you guys there,” he replies, turning around now and heading towards his car on the opposite side of the parking lot.

You watch Yoongi walk away, unsure of why your heart is beating as fast as it is. It had been like that since you saw him after hiding from the fans, and even more so when you walked silently in the hallway to head outside.

You knew you were gonna see him, maybe even at the party, but not in the way you did. And all your confidence at not being bothered or affected with seeing him again melts away.

You weren’t prepared for how good he’d look, for how concerned he’d be over your safety, and for that hint of disappointment on his face at the thought of you being with Jungkook. Neither were you prepared for that incredibly tiny part of you that wants to know how he’s doing and if he’d managed to piece together the broken parts of himself and his dream that he so adamantly chose over you.

You survive the car ride by glaring at Namjoon every time he starts teasing you about panicking over Yoongi thinking that you were dating Jungkook, while the latter curses as he drives, claiming he survived one of the scariest moments of his life.

You arrive in Jungkook’s house in half an hour, a nice place he bought for himself because he said that Daegu will always be home for him. The sliding doors to the patio give it a spacious feel, and you see that a couple of his friends had already prepped the space, complete with beer kegs and beer pong tables, the way you remember they always used to party.

The 3 of you spot Taehyung who greets you, and the 2 men next to you proceed to narrate what happened, to your best friend’s shock and amusement. You also fill all of them in with the first part of the story about Yoongi finding you as you hid away from the crowd.

“How… symbolic,” Namjoon hums. “You meet at a basketball court in Daegu after a game while you were hiding from fans because you’re such a bigtime actress now. I mean, it’s quite ironic. The universe is out to tease you or something.”

You agree, it is. It’s times like this when you wish you didn’t believe in fate and destiny because doing so would just give you false hope that you and Yoongi may be meant for more than just those 2 years together. And you absolutely hate it because you can’t fall into that trap of thinking that you’re meant for a happy ending that includes him. That ship sailed a long time ago - 6 years and about 5 partners later.

But as Yoongi enters the house, his bowed head turning up to search the area before daintily tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, you start to think that maybe that ship decided to turn back around and sail towards you once again. He briefly meets your eyes before someone calls out to him, and you’re left to admire him from afar, cute button nose and impeccable side profile and all.

Taehyung pulls you by the arm and whispers in your ear. “Okay, so what’s our plan?”

“What do you mean, our plan?” You ask, realizing you’ve lost Yoongi as you glance in the direction of where he was, no longer finding him there. “Plan for what?”

“Yoongi, obviously,” Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Do we avoid him, be civil, pretend you don’t think about him anymore, or act like the past 8 years didn’t happen and we don’t actually know him?”

“None of the above,” you groan. “What kinds of options are those?”

“Decent ones?”

“Nope. You’ve already had a lot to drink and I don’t trust you when you’re drunk.”

“Except you should. This is when I don’t hold back when it comes to you,” Taehyung answers.

“And you hold back otherwise?” You frown.

“Just when it’s about him. It was tough for a long time. I know sometimes it still is.”

You don’t have the heart to disagree. This man has been your best friend for a decade and he knows how you are, knows which pains of yours you’re willing to talk about and which ones you’d rather hide away. Your acting skills may be good but you know that Taehyung can see behind all the smiles and the detachment and the effort to look okay, and whatever it is he’s thinking, there’s a good chance he might be right. You’ve just never been brave enough to admit them.

The look of understanding you both share gets disrupted when cheers erupt in the middle of the living room, seeing that Seungkwan had just beaten Jungkook in beer pong. The pro player demands a rematch and the entire house cheers in agreement. Jungkook takes the next game but Seungkwan won’t back down.

“Let’s do it in pairs,” he challenges. “I take Joon.”

“Fine,” Jungkook says, his game face on, knowing there’s one other person he knows could win this with him. “I take the Captain.”

Cheers erupt once more as people push Yoongi to the center where the rest of the guys are. He shakes his head, seemingly uninterested in partaking in tonight’s festivities but goes anyway after much coaxing from everyone. He then does his handshake with Jungkook to the younger man’s insistence, and you watch Yoongi’s soft, shy smile appear.

And just like the very first time you saw that, you feel your heart thrum in excitement. There was always something special about it, and back then it was because he rarely did it, but he did it a lot when he was with you. It’s nice to see it during a moment like this - surrounded by his old friends while having fun with them. You’re glad he shows more of it now, and you wonder how many people fell harder for him because of it.

You watch from the sideline as the Jungkook-Yoongi pair score 4 straight. Seungkwan complains that Namjoon isn’t making any shots, prompting the older man to claim that he’s way better at dunking than shooting tiny balls like they’re jumpers. They eventually lose after all the theatrics but it’s enough to get the guests going, as you find yourself teasing both men as well.

You remember their house parties being this rowdy and this loud, given all the energy and testosterone that these athletes had so much of. That obviously hasn’t changed, and despite all of them having grown up, looking all mature and much more respectable, the naughtiness remains, especially once they’ve had too much to drink.

It’s why you find yourself surrounded by a bunch of the guys, asking for a photo with you to show off to their friends and families.

“I’m showing this to the guys at the office,” Seungkwan announces as he gets your approval over the selfie picture he took of you both. “They’re not gonna believe I went to college with an actress.”

“Uh, I didn’t go to college with you,” you laugh along with the others. “I studied in Seoul.”

“Then how the fuck do we know you?” He exclaims, no doubt drunk out of his mind at this point. You remember him having a short-term memory every time.

“He’s the Captain’s ex, dumbo!” Soon-young reminds him, another one of the younger guys who hasn’t drank as much but was never good at knowing what not to say. “Remember the summer before his final year? She was with us all the time.”

“Oh right. They were inseparable and looked so in love,” Seungkwan giggles, and at this point, the rest of the people just go with what he’s saying.

Not you though, neither does Yoongi, and neither does Namjoon, who slaps the back of Seungkwan’s head to loud-whisper that the ex-couple in question is right there.

“Shit, did they hear me?” Seungkwan wonders out loud and looks around before sipping his beer. “I meant it though.”

He laughs drunkenly, so do many others. There’s really only a handful of you who aren’t intoxicated, but right now you wish you were.

“Wait, they’re both here?” Seungkwan recovers, eyes now glassy.

He gasps when his gaze turns to you and then Yoongi, and he puts his arm over your shoulder and slightly drags you to the right so he could put his arm over Yoongi, too.

“I found them!” Seungkwan squeals, pushing both of you to face him. “Shit, you still look good together.”

“Alright, dude, that’s enough,” Namjoon finally steps in, pulling the inebriated man away. “Sorry,” he turns to you. “Don’t mind anything he said.”

Too late, you want to say, but you release an awkward laugh instead.

“They haven’t changed since college, huh,” Yoongi says, surprising you. “They still put us on the spot then leave us to deal with the aftermath,” he continues, watching as the group disperses to go drink and chat again.

You turn towards him and sigh in relief over the small smile he has on. You swear the tension was so thick earlier that you could cut it with a knife, but Yoongi doesn’t seem bothered. He looks calm like he always does, and just like those first few times, you take your cue from him. You try to release the tension from your body and smile.

“They should be banned from drinking when there are ex-lovers in the building,” you chuckle. “But I’m pretty sure he’ll be apologizing to you like crazy once he’s sober. Wish I could see that.”

“I can’t wait for that, too,” Yoongi hums.

A wave of silence envelopes you both. The sounds of your friends seem like white noise now, and with the background music on and the man next to you just sipping his drink, it’s oddly comforting.

You learned long ago that he has this amazing ability to do that - make people around them feel calm. There’s something so reassuring about him that remarks about your past don’t faze him, and now that’s rubbing off on you, as you feel the awkwardness slowly melt away.

You and Yoongi stand by the couch while the world around you continues. You’d stay in this bubble with him if it wasn’t so familiar, only because the familiarity scares you a little. You don’t want to know if anything else feels the same.

“I’m gonna look for Tae,” you say, breaking the silence.

You only need to look to your left at the sound of someone hooting to find your best friend downing another cup of some concoction, and by the sound of his laugh, you know this is the one that will do it for him. This is his point of no return. Anything he does after is not meant for many people to see; he has an image to protect, after all.

“Alright, that’s my cue,” you say, walking towards him.

You cup Taehyung’s face in your hands and tell him that the party’s over and you’ll take him home. He argues, but you remind him that he’s a celebrity and that he can’t have drunk pictures of him circulating online. His inebriated mind sort of gets it, and you take him in your arms and start looking around, trying to see which of the guys are the most stable one to drive.

“How are you going home?”

“Uh…” you turn to face Yoongi. “One of… them? Jungkook, Wooz, Soon-young all offered.”

“And they’ve all had a lot to drink,” he replies.

“Who here hasn’t?” You chuckle, eyes still searching the room. You don’t want to ask your safest option, which is the man in front of you. You’re not quite sure how your heart can handle that.

“Me,” he says so casually. “I just had one bottle.”

You know what he means, even more when he goes to Taehyung’s side to help you assist your drunk best friend. Yoongi doesn’t say anything else though; he just stands there while waiting for your reply. This is about safety, you remind yourself, and it has nothing to do with suddenly wanting to be in his presence just a little longer.

“Okay,” you reply, knowing he knows what you mean, too.

“Okay.”

All three of you say goodbye to your friends, all of whom give you smug looks, passing up on the teasing now given Yoongi’s displeased face after someone remarks that “mom and dad are taking care of their kid again.” This isn’t a new scene for them, either. Taehyung just tends to have a lot of genuine fun when he’s with his friends; it’s something you relate with after being in the industry you’re in.

You and Yoongi help Taehyung in the backseat where you sit, with your best friend’s head securely on your lap because he’s now complaining of a migraine. Your designated driver starts the car shortly after he checks on both of you.

“Neither of you took your cars?” He asks.

“Tae did but passed up on driving tonight,” you say. “I would’ve driven, had I known he won’t be able to control himself. I’m still waiting for my requested rental car.”

Yoongi merely hums and focuses on the road while you… well, while you sort of focus on him. Your position behind the passenger seat allows you a view from the side - from how his fingers drum the steering wheel to how he nibbles his lips. His eyes are focused on the road but you can tell he’s focused on both of you, too, with the way he turns to the back whenever Taehyung makes some garbled sound or just to ask you if you’re okay.

You watched him do this so many times before with you next to him, holding his hand and kissing his cheek at every stoplight. For someone who loves music, he never put the radio on when he drove you. He said it allowed him to focus on you, and that memory isn’t one that you really want to think of right now, especially since it’s silent in the car. You don’t know which ones you’d rather remember, though - the good ones or the bad. You suppose either would hurt regardless, and this wasn’t something that you prepared for.

You make it to your best friend’s house as you and Yoongi assist him to the gate to Mrs. Kim’s shock. She scolds a barely-awake Taehyung and apologizes profusely to Yoongi, who says she’s happy to see him in their home once again. As Mr. Kim takes his son up to his room, Yoongi turns to you and asks if you need a ride home.

“I’m sleeping over,” you say in a panic. “Someone’s got to take care of his drunk ass.”

“Okay,” Yoongi says, briefly meeting your eyes before nodding towards his car. “I’ll go ahead. It was nice seeing you again, ___.”

They’re simple words that any old friend would tell another after seeing them in years, but somehow they hit you differently. This entire evening hasn’t been a dream or some made up scenario in your head where you meet the man you loved after so long.

He’s here. With you. Looking at you in a way you’re very unfamiliar with - with a calmness in his eyes and a hint of care and acceptance, as if he’s glad you’re here but that he’s well aware of the years between you, of the years that passed by, of the years that changed you both.

You don’t respond fast enough because before you know it, he’s turning around, ready to head out the door.

“It was nice seeing you, too, Yoongi,” you say softly.

But he hears it, stops walking for a while, and then opens the door and walks out.

You wonder if he’d said something the day you left, would you have stopped and turned around? Or would you have kept walking?

But thinking about that won’t do you any good, so you turn away as well and head upstairs.

Outside, Yoongi steps on the gas, turns to the next corner, and then stops the car. He clasps his hands together so they’d stop shaking, and he lets himself breathe for the first time tonight. He’s kept his cool long enough, but after everything - the party, the teasing, the car ride - he doesn’t think he can hold the emotions in any longer, and he doesn’t even know what they are.

Longing? Sadness? Regret? Is it the unspeakable feeling of fear at the thought of you dating one of his friends who might actually be good for you? Is it relief at the idea that letting you go was the best thing that he could’ve ever done for you? Is it confusion over wanting so badly to take you in his arms but not wanting to feel your touch, knowing it would remind him of everything he’s tried to forget?

Yoongi lays his head on the headrest and takes a breath. You’re so beautiful, as if some light shines on you wherever you go. It’s probably the glow you emit; he’s told you that before but you always said he was just teasing. He sees it even more now.

But it’s also the crinkle of your eyes when you smile that sweet smile of yours that makes things feel familiar, and because of that, uneasy. It’s that honey sound of your voice; he heard it as you laughed during the party and joked around with everyone. It’s that captivating look you have, the one that says you know something but you want to know more; he felt that look when he entered the house and as he drove you earlier.

He wonders if you saw past him, past his nonchalance and calm demeanor. You were always so good at that - knowing there was more behind his passiveness, knowing how to get a reaction from him, knowing which buttons to push so he’d open up and let you in.

He doesn’t know if he should be afraid that you still know how to do it, or if he should revel in it because he’s missed you, more than he could ever say and more than he’d ever care to admit.

But beyond all that, he’s sure that one of his emotions is happiness. Every time you talked about work and being able to watch yourself on screen - he swears he didn’t eavesdrop but that he just happened to be there - there was that excitement that felt like the continuation from when you used to talk about your big dreams with him.

You got what you wanted and you worked hard to get to where you are and he knows you’re proud of yourself and that’s all he’s ever wanted. Seeing that smile - he knows. Letting you go was the best thing he’s ever done for you.

“What are you doing here?”

Taehyung’s hoarse voice forces your eyes off the ceiling onto your side where he’s currently hugging his pillow, messy hair and pouty lips on display.

“Trying to get some rest after I saved your drunk ass last night,” you bitterly respond. “I got to you before any compromising photos or videos were taken. You’re welcome.”

“Hmm, thanks,” he groans. “But uh, why are you here? Didn’t you say you wanted proper rest in your house before seeing your family today?”

“Right, uh… you see. Yoongi drove us here, and then he asked if I wanted a ride home but I kinda panicked and said I’m sleeping over so… Here I am!” You laugh, unconvincingly. “My rental car’s on the way here. I’ll drive to my house and then go to my dad’s.”

“Ugh, you’re so dumb,” he says, sinking into his comforter. You gasp in response. “That was your chance to be alone with him but you didn’t take the offer. We both know you wanted to.”

“Tae, being drunk and not holding anything back doesn’t mean you can just assume things like that,” you respond, sitting up and frowning at him. “I didn’t want to be alone with him, that’s why I’m here!”

“Why didn’t you want to be alone with him?” He answers back.

“Uhm, why would I want to?” You ask incredulously. “Since when was getting in a car alone with an ex ever a good idea?”

“Why? You’re afraid you’d kiss him if you did?”

You scowl at your best friend. “I should’ve left you there drunk with possible penis drawings on your face.”

“Just being honest. It’s not like you’ve never done that with him before,” he shrugs.

“I hate you.”

“I know. But you’ll love me later on. At least I’m still half asleep.”

You push him awake, the stress heightening now as the previous night plays in your head.

“Tae! What happened to my hi, goodbye plan?!” You groan. “I was literally just supposed to say hi and then be civil, like, acknowledge his presence but not be affected by it. But then we had some small talk and he drove us home.”

“We all know it was a denial plan,” he huffs. “It was bound to fail.”

“Gee, thanks. You’re being incredibly helpful right now,” you frown again.

“Fine,” he grumbles, sitting now. “You had small talk, he drove you here. How are those affecting you and why are you making it a big deal?”

“I’m not making it a big deal,” you point out.

“You kinda are.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You are because that’s how things started before. And you’re afraid that one small misstep will cause you to fall for him all over again, fast and hard, because that’s how you are when it comes to him.”

“You’re hungover and tired so your judgment is impaired,” you say, crossing your arms. “You remember what happened after all that. I’ll be perpetually grateful that you never pushed me to talk about it unless I was drunk and couldn’t remember things but I was heartbroken, Tae. And then I was numb. It took a while before I started to feel again.”

“I know,” he says, taking you in his arms now as he holds you like a baby - a rare occurrence, as this often happens the other way around. “And I can never fault you for it because even if it was like that summer fling that only happened in the movies, I know you loved him, genuinely and intensely, and a love like that stays with you. But he’s got a good life here, ___, and you’ve got an amazing one in Seoul. You just have to remember why it didn’t work out in the first place and make sure you don’t fall into that trap again. Just… acknowledge that. For your sake. And then do what you need to do so you don’t make the same mistakes again.”

Enveloped in his warmth, you take in your best friend’s words. He may still be hungover and may also be confused but his comfort never seizes, and it’s one of the reasons why you love him dearly.

“So yeah, good on you I guess for not taking that ride with him. Maybe staying away and keeping your distance might be good,” he adds.

Your silence somehow alarms him, so he nudges you. “It’s a good idea, right?”

“I don’t know. Suddenly I feel like staying away and keeping my distance will let him know that it still affects me. He’ll always know me like that,” you sigh, hugging him tightly for more comfort. “And there’s this part of me that wants to show him that I’m fine, you know? That even with everything that happened between us, I walked away from it knowing what I deserve, and that’s someone who’ll fight through life with me. He didn’t and that’s on him but he had his reasons, and looking back, maybe he was right. Maybe he had to let me go, and maybe - because I loved him genuinely and intensely - I want to show him that it wasn’t all in vain. And that I’m happy. Even without him.”

“You don’t need to prove anything to him, you know?”

Maybe I want to prove it to myself, you don’t say. There’s a stubbornness in you that doesn’t go away.

“This isn’t about him, is it?” Taehyung levels his head with you.

For someone hungover, he still knows you pretty well.

You just sigh and fall back in his arms. He doesn’t push you. He just hugs you again until you both fall back in bed and he can comfortably curl his body all over you because it’s Taehyung and he likes to do this.

“Just be careful, alright?” He pleads.

“You know I also kinda don’t have a choice,” you reply. “It’s a small town and we’re bound to see each other. Jungkook and Namjoon have a game here again in a few weeks and that means another get together.”

“Yeah, but you know what I mean.”

You hum. “Promise me you’ll be by my side whatever happens?”

“Always, you stubborn woman. I’m the one person who’ll never leave you even if you push me away.”

The lunch with your family is how you expect it to go - with your older sisters making some backhanded comments about your fame and how you’ve been “too busy” to even visit, and your father trying to dissolve the tension. He’s at least genuinely curious about how you’ve been, asking if you’re eating well and getting enough rest. Your stepmom raves about your drama series and shares that she cried during the finale.

“Why did he have to go back to his planet?” Garam’s 7-year old asks after your stepmom narrates what happened.

“His time on earth was up,” you explain. “He finished his mission and he had to leave.”

“But why didn’t he stay if he was happy?”

“Because he had a responsibility in his home,” you smile. “He wasn’t made for this world.”

“He didn’t have a choice, sweetie,” Garam adds after her daughter comments that it was sad. “That’s understandable. Some people leave because they’re no longer happy with those around them. Or because their dreams are more important than those they supposedly love. Isn’t that sadder?”

“It is. Don’t leave me, Mama,” the little one pouts.

“Oh sweetie, I never will. I don’t leave people that I love,” Garam responds, glancing at you to make a statement.

You zone out after that, not wanting to engage with your sisters anymore. You play with their kids, though, who get excited when they see you on TV. You don’t want to treat them like you hold a grudge against them even if you do so with their mothers. Your sisters continue to do that with you - resent you when it’s your mom they’re really angry at for leaving your already unhappy family after she got her dream job in Paris. You were never angry though but you did sort of follow in her footsteps, and your sisters hated you even more because of that.

“Are you staying for dinner?” Your father asks, the hope in his eyes hurting you.

Things weren’t going well with your parents for a while, giving your mom more reason to leave, but you always wished that he had done more for you to feel loved in the home that started to become toxic after it fell apart, but you suppose he was just trying to heal his own broken heart after his wife left. It felt like your sisters weren’t going to forgive you when you decided to leave yourself, and he just let you walk away without making sure you knew he still loved you despite your decision.

He’s moved on now, though, and happy with someone who prioritizes him and his needs. But too much time and distance can pull people apart - you can see them without the desire of being with them. That’s the reality with you and him now and there’s not much you can do about it.

“No, I’ve got other plans,” you respond, glancing at your sisters who return your look with bitterness. “I’ll see you at grandpa’s tomorrow.”

You drive around for half an hour with no destination in mind. It’s nice to see how much this place has changed and discover which parts of it still feel the same.

You pass by an antique shop - the antique shop, a generations-old family-run store that used to be the hub of imported furniture that the townspeople once flocked to. It’s now a speciality store that still sells one-of-a-kind items but it also refurbishes old pieces. You see a poster on the window that’s promoting woodworking workshops. You won’t be surprised to find out whose idea that was.

A man briefly exits, and you stop near the front, wanting to just take it in. He’s got more gray hair now and walks a little slower but he looks just like you remembered - soft crinkled eyes, comforting smile, a look that you know all too well. You decide to enter, as you’re desperate for something - anything - that feels more like home than the one you just came from.

“May I help you?” The man asks.

“A greeting and a hug would do,” you look up at him and smile.

“___?!” He gasps, walking outside the counter to get closer to you. “Is that really you, my dear?”

“Yes it is, Mr. Min,” you smile, returning the hug that you requested. “Just passing by my favorite antique shop in town. How are you doing?”

“Great! Business is stable and I’ve still got a lot of fight in me to continue,” he chuckles. “How about you? The big city treating you good?”

“It is,” you reply. “I think I’m doing quite okay there.”

“Ah, well it should be treating you amazingly. That’s what you deserve.”

You continue the conversation, with you asking about his latest projects and him, talking about his furniture and wood like his children, pride laced in his voice every time. He asks you about your latest series and if you’ve met his favorite actors and you indulge him. His laughter is music to your ears. You remember spending time here where he worked on his pieces while you talked about your favorite movies.

“Does my son know you’re here?” He asks after a beat of silence.

“He does. I saw him last night. He looks well.”

“He does, doesn’t he? It took a while but he’s doing much better than before - smiling, joking around, helping me at the shop, talking about basketball again. It’s nice to see.”

The words hit you in ways you didn’t expect. Breaking up with Yoongi was tough to get over. Those last few months had been incredibly hard and so many times you thought that maybe if you’d been more patient, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.

But you remember how during those last days with him, he’d lost the glimmer in his eyes and the softness of his smile. Not even you could bring those back. His passion for things just dwindled; he stopped wanting more, stopped wanting you, stopped thinking that things could still work out for him after what he suffered through.

You’d kept in touch with Namjoon and Jungkook at their insistence, and they’d been the one to update you on how Yoongi was doing. Not a lot of details but just general things like the jobs he took and that he was keeping himself busy and that he was trying to get back on the court. It wasn’t with unpleasant stories, though - you learned about his new girlfriend from them, and that he didn’t play basketball for awhile, and that during the toughest days, he considered giving it up altogether.

You knew he’d done well. You learned that from the guys, too. But hearing it from his father is different; you can’t imagine how it must’ve been like for Mr. Min to see his son start to change from what he used to be. But you know that as the good father that he is, he made sure that Yoongi knew he wasn’t alone.

“And that’s good to hear,” you say. “Yoongi deserves all the happiness this world can give. I’m glad that he’s found his joy in basketball again it seems. And that he found it here.”

“He has, but I guess something will always be missing. He’s a lot better but he’s not the same. A parent would know, you know? The flame doesn’t shine as bright,” Mr. Min answers, the tinge of sadness in his eyes hurting you a little.

But you just nod. His words seem to mean more but you don’t want to know what it is.

“Dad, what did you want me to look at?”

Yoongi’s voice echoes in the shop and you can’t help but turn to him who’s just entered and looks as shocked as his father was earlier.

You have a soft smile on, and Mr. Min knows not to intervene.

“Oh, nothing,” he says, thinking that the new wood he acquired could wait. “Just watch over the counter for me while I check something inside, alright Son?”

He doesn’t let the younger man answer and just heads to the back, leaving you and Yoongi alone. He walks closer but keeps his distance. It’s enough for you to appreciate the softness of his face, though. His presence had always been reassuring; you see him twice and you’ve felt more comfort with him than you have in months. You don’t know how he does it, but that shouldn’t surprise you anymore. This isn’t the first time anyway.

“Is Taehyung alright?” He breaks the silence.

“Recovering, but more from his parents giving him shit for drinking too much,” you chuckle. “He got an earful and Mrs. Kim said she won’t let him in the house next time he gets that drunk. He’s doing chores as punishment.”

“Ah, well it’s been a while. It was nice to spend time with everyone again.”

“It was,” you smile now.

“And you? Are you okay?” He asks, sincerity laced in his low voice.

“Yeah, of course.”

It’s the hesitant nod and the way your eyes look at anything but him, and he knows that whatever happened after last night is something you want to forget or seek comfort for. So he asks.

“So what made you come here? To the shop, I mean.”

“I was driving around. It didn’t register to me right away that I was in the area,” you respond. “And this place was always so calming for me, you know? The smell of wood, your dad’s stories…”

You.

“So I thought I’d come in”, you continue. “He hasn’t changed. It’s nice to see him.”

Yoongi always wondered what parts of you remained the same and which parts didn’t.

Perhaps the playfulness tempered a bit. You seem a little more anxious than he remembers, too. There’s this sophistication about you that was always too good for this small town, and he sees that even more now. Your smile is still soft but it isn’t as bright. He won’t deny that it still makes his heart race, though.

You have a habit of going somewhere familiar to seek comfort. You always looked for it in places, he noticed - in that dingy convenience store near your school, in your town’s secondhand bookstore even if you don’t like reading, in the Opera House where you and your mom used to go to. Yoongi learns now that that hasn’t changed at all. You’re in his dad’s store, a place you always wanted to go to after spending time with your family, and he supposes that’s where you came from.

He doesn’t know if he’s still someone you find comfort in and he doesn’t know if you even want to spend time with him after all these years, but he doesn’t have the heart to just let you walk out of here not knowing if you’re truly okay.

He hated leaving you alone then when things weren’t good. You didn’t always want to talk but you said once that just hearing him breathing on the other end of the phone or just having his hand over yours made you feel better. He may not be the right person now but he’s still someone, and that’s always better than no one.

You eye the door, ready to leave, but his call of your name prompts you to look back at him.

“Do you have somewhere to be?” He asks.

“No, not really,” you reply.

“Would you like to grab some coffee?”

The words are familiar. You hate that you remember everything about it.

“Just coffee?” You ask, almost teasingly.

He chuckles softly and meets your eyes, and somehow a part of you thinks that you shouldn’t do this. But you’re glad he asked in the first place.

“Yes, ___. Just coffee.”

Series Masterlist

Permanent Taglist: @sherlynxx @di0rgguk @thequeen-kat @fan-ati--c @cravingforhotchocolate @adoraminie @helenazbmrskai @weasleyswizarding-wheezes @preciouschimine @gukssunshine @nch327 @kookxin @petuliii @yoursthv @libra04 @fancycollectormoon @twixxxpie @ignoretheskies @ohmydarlin-g @bids97 @minyoongiboongi @main-bangtansmauyeondan @bora-bae7 @investedreader @petalsofink @jvngkooker

#yoongi fic #yoongi angst #yoongi fluff #yoongi smut #yoongi x reader #yoongi x you #min yoongi #yoongi fanfic #bts suga #yoongi fanfiction #exes to lovers #exes au

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pkmoth · 5 months ago

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THE ASK-A-PALOOZA HAS STARTED!!! [AUGUST 4th–31st]

Happy asking, and happy answering!!! Askers, make sure to read people's intros/FAQs before asking stuff, and participants, make sure to have fun and pace yourselves!! If you're an artist, make sure to take breaks and stretch regularly :]

Also, in case you missed it (because it was kind of spontaneous and recent), I will be reblogging all event related posts to @motherbound-askapalooza!! If you don't want me archiving your posts, just let me know!!

ALSO also, if you're not on the list but decide you want to participate, you can still join mid-event!! All are welcome :D

PARTICIPANTS:

(I tried summarizing your intros in 1-2 sentences, let me know if anything seems off!!)

FULL MONTH:

*@defector-commander [INTRO] - A canon divergent AU where Claus malfunctions two years into the timeskip and breaks free of his brainwashing, going into hiding inside the chimera lab.

*@askmagicantprince [INTRO] - Magicant!Ninten AU! Everything is perfect in Magicant :)

@pk-ghost [INTRO] - Ness and Lucas take a break from SSB to visit different worlds!

*@commandernachos (most weekends + fridays) [INTRO] - A Chimera Ness and Porky AU!

@turnaboutfromnowhere [INTRO] - A Mother 3 x Ace Attorney crossover AU, where askers take the role of Phoenix Wright in Claus's trial for the murder of "Mr. Pig".

*@jefferson-earthbound [INTRO] - A Jeff RP account!

*@stearix-ask-magikin [INTRO] - An AU where Lucas is raised by Locria after Hinawa goes missing and Flint spends all his time trying to find her.

@kerushi-lemonz [INTRO] - Their Reliving the 80s AU! Tatsuro (Ness) and his friends are having strange dreams where they have different identities (their mother series counterparts).

@nucas-roof [INTRO] - Ness, Lucas, and the OMINOUS HOLE IN THE CEILING?!

@askfuelcas [INTRO] - Lucas and Fuel, featuring Claus as well!

*@ask-commander-arild [INTRO] - Post-Mother 3, the pigmask army is repurposed by Claus in he name of peace. Arild, a former captain of the old army, is now the commander of the new army.

@ghostbox99 [INTRO] - Porky wakes up in an abandoned city one day, with only an old computer (and you, the askers) to keep him company.

*@theworldreturning [INTRO] - A post-Mother 3 AU, where the new world takes place in an alternate post-Mother 2 universe (with the inclusion of the Nowhere Islands).

@quirkyearthboundinspireddinner [INTRO] - The protagonist of eggnogisdead's comic! Ten years after the events of Earthbound, Giegue's planet wages war against earth.

@butacyanide [INTRO] -The Earthbound characters!

*@daily-dose-of-lucas [INTRO TBA] - Ask Lucas!

NOT FULL MONTH (in order of week(s) participating):

@misticfog (week 1) [INTRO] - Li'l Miss Marshmallow!

@tonys-room (weeks 1-2) [INTRO] - Mostly canon compliant, except Tony has PSI and the ability to see through the fourth wall.

@twothpaste (weeks 1-2) [INTRO] - Their Intermission AU! A modern AU of the Earthbound/Mother 3 casts in college, dealing with real-world problems (and, of course, playing D&D).

*@judgment-days (weeks 1-2) [INTRO] - Corruption AU trio! King Lucas and a severely mushroomized Ness are brought in by Giygas and Cosmic Commander Ninten for questioning.

*@kellanzy (weeks 2-3) [INTRO] - Lovebound AU: a post-Mother 3 AU where all the protagonists (and Giegue) meet in the newly made world.

@projectc-114 (weeks 2-3) [INTRO] - Takes place after Claus is kidnapped and brainwashed, but before he becomes the commander. The scientists at the lab call him C-114.

*@pkmoth (weeks 2-4) [INTRO] - Swap AU Claus and Lucas in Smash Mansion! (intro TBA)

*@tanejineri (week 4) [INTRO] - An AU Claus called Commander Samuel!

PRE-EXISTING ASKBLOGS JOINING:

*@plutothenotdwarfplanet [INTRO] - A gieeg OC!

*@masterporky [INTRO] - A Pokey/Porky Minch RP blog!

*@ask-the-fever-four [INTRO] - Mayhem AU!

*@ask-clausten [INTRO] - Clausten! >:D

*up for rp

#YIPPEEEEE SO EXCITED #HAVE FUN EVERYONE!!#motherbound-askapalooza #motherbound askapalooza #mother series #mother 1 #earthbound beginnings #earthbound #mother 3 #update: ok fyi i cannot edit this post on mobile or else the bullet points break #so erm. thats gonna suck when im away from my computer

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strangersteddierthings · 1 year ago

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No Regrets - Part Two

TW: OC Character Death (dude doesn't even get a name). Steve reflects on killing both demo-creatures and humans with detachment. Mentions of Major Character Deaths but as a reminder, they don't stay dead! (Well, Chrissy and Fred do)

Part One🦇 Part Two🦇Part Three🦇Part Four🦇Part Five🦇Part Six

Maybe he should feel bad about watching Robin grow smaller in the rear-view mirror, her face a mixture of disbelief and anger. Maybe he should feel regret for his actions, for the betrayal Robin probably feels right now.

He doesn't.

Looking at the bigger picture, at the regrets he actually does have in the waking world, this is small potatoes. A non-issue. Robin will forgive him in the end.

War Zone is like a ghost town compared to the first time Steve was here. Though, that should have been expected. The panic hasn't swept through town yet. So far, it's just one dead girl. Fred'll join her sometime this afternoon. Evening? Sometime later today.

Nineteen-year-old Steve would hate himself for not trying to help. For not doing his best to save Fred.

But.

Well, Fred dying will help Dustin, in the long run. Will help Eddie. And that's more important. That's the goal. The dream, if he's allowing himself to be cheeky in his own mind.

Steve's not heartless, or anything like that. Robin, his Robin in the waking world, still calls him a softy and worries his kindness will get him killed on the daily. He always puts the safety of the group above himself. The first to volunteer on supply runs or for scouting or taking watch through the night. He knows he can run on empty for much longer than anyone else he knows.

The end of the world has a way of skewing what kindness and softness are, though. Those first few months were the hardest. Steve wanted to save everyone they came across. Help as many people as possible, but rations run dangerously low that way. Clean water can become contaminated quickly by ignorant people. Not everyone handled the apocalypse with grace.

The first harsh lesson Steve had learned was two months into the end of the world. They'd ventured to Indy to find supplies. Medicines. Try and stock up on things they didn't need yet but wanted around for the just in case of it all. They'd found some survivors, which wasn't surprising in itself. The surprising bit was that these guys had made it on complete luck it seemed. They were loud. Jumpy. Panicky.

When Lucas and Mike, on scout duty, had reported back demogorgon activities nearby, one guy started to panic. Got loud and couldn't bring himself back down. Steve was closest, tried to shush him but he wouldn't be quiet.

"Move," Murray (may he rest in peace) whispered, seeming to have appeared from nowhere, shoving Steve away, nudging him out of the way. Murray stepped behind the guy, one hand covering his nose and mouth, the other arm around his neck. It made the guy panic more, fighting Murray and then Murray just-

Steve remembers he flinched at the noise, turning away to cover his mouth and calm his own panic. The noises stopped though. Steve had shot a horrified look to Hopper, but Hopper wasn't looking at Steve. He was looking beyond, at Murray and what he'd done, nodding his approval.

The demogorgons didn't find them that day.

"You can't help everyone, Steve," Murray said, once they'd started the trek back to Hawkins. "The safety of the group comes first, over just one person."

Lesson heard. Lesson learned. Lesson put to use four months later.

So. Fred must die, for the good of the group. Patrick, too, if Steve can't get to Vecna in time. He should be able to. Vecna will try and take Max first, tomorrow. Patrick the day after. If everything stays the same.

The clerk doesn't even blink at what Steve buys, or the quantity of what he buys, but his eyebrows do go up a little at the total.

Steve hesitates just a bit over the checkbook his parents gave him the first time they'd left him home alone at fourteen. For emergencies only, Steven. It's been sitting in his glove box, unused, since he turned sixteen. He's never wanted to have to explain what he'd used it for. Nothing had ever seemed like enough of an emergency to warrant explaining it to Richard Harrington.

He does find it a little odd that his mind is conjuring up the concept of money. Of all the little things to think about while he sleeps, he really didn't think his subconscious would bring capitalism back.

Steve rips the little check out of the booklet and hands it over. The clerk looks it over before giving a nod and finishing the cash out. Steve takes the receipt when it's offered, shoving it into the checkbook before shoving that into his back pocket.

The parking lot has one other person in it, who Steve is aware of the entire time he's loading the trunk of his car with gallons of lighter fluid, weapons, and padded camouflage. It's only after Steve's slammed the trunk closed and shoved the cart back towards the front of the store that the guy watching him speaks.

"Must be some bonfire you're planning."

Steve rounds his car and opens the door before answering. "It's spring break, man." He slides in, the door falling closed after him. He buckles up, starts the car, and heads home. The house will be empty, he knows.

He works in silence, unloading the car and organizing his haul in the dining room, eyes flicking to the clock. There's still a couple of hours before dark. Before he should go check if Eddie's still in the boathouse, or if the police did go find him.

He sets the timer on the stove for an hour and flops onto his couch and sighs. Just as comfy as he remembers. He can have a nap before making sure Eddie's in jail. Surely his dream will allow him that?

"Mmhm," Steve mumbles as his neck protests movement. He's slow to wake. His head feels like white noise. He thinks he was dreaming but he can't quite grasp at what it was... oh. Family Video and War Zone. Reliving a memory. He wonders if Robin is still mad at him for that day, ditching her with Dustin and Max. It'd been for a good reason and- Steve wrinkles his nose as he sits up, head still static-y. Was it for a good reason? He can't remember what else happened after that....

"He rises," Robin whispers next to him, spooking him. She comes into focus as he sits up straight, leaning out of her space to look at her. She gives him a smile, judging by the crinkle around her eyes and her cheeks rounding. The gas mask prevents him seeing her real smile and he misses it. He thinks about his dream, and getting to see all of Robin's face again.

Dreaming is bittersweet.

"I miss anything?" He asks, because it's a safe question.

"Scouts radioed. The way should be clear in another," Robin grabs his wrist and twists so she can see the time on his watch, "another twenty minutes or so."

The mention of the radio makes him think of Dustin, and how much he misses him. And thinking of Dustin makes him think of Eddie. Steve knows it's irrational for him to miss someone he never knew but that doesn't stop the ache. The almost of it all sits heavy in his chest.

"Right," Steve says. "Want to see how many rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors we can get through in twenty minutes?"

Robin shuffles sideways to be facing him and holds her hands up. "You always lose but okay."

They get about twelve rounds into it before Steve finds himself asking, "Hey Robbie. Do you remember Spring Break?"

Her hands freeze in the air, an aborted motion to make paper to beat Steve's rock. She locks eyes with him for a moment and he can see the worry there. "I- Steve. Is it- did you take a hit? Is it your head? Should I not have let you nap?"

No. No, he doesn't think he got hurt on this run. Well, his shoulder hurts from when he stumbled and slammed into wall during the last loading of the truck, but he hadn't hit his head. He thinks. "I don't know... I hit the wall hard, shoulder hurts, but I didn't hit my head. I don't remember hitting my head."

Robin stands immediately and begins jabbing her fingers around his skull. "Anything tender?"

"Nope. Just a messed up hairdo," Steve swats her hands away.

"Well, you can never be too sure. You are precious cargo. Why did you ask about the start of the apocalypse?"

Steve shrugs. What can he say? That he's forgetting the start of all their horrors? He can't say that, not without coming across like he's either crazy or bragging. Remember the week that ruined our lives and gave us all enough trauma to fill an ocean? Yeah, well, I don't so ha!

He can't be sure but he thinks Robin frowns beneath her mask. "We'll have to have someone look you over when we get back. Steve, if you're losing your memories..."

"I'm not losing memories," Steve lies. Head trauma is serious and he knows he can't take one more hit to the head. He won't be able to continue helping with supply runs or patrols if he is getting worse. If he starts getting migraines, they'll reassign him for sure. Something that doesn't let him leave the safety of their home base at the high school.

"Steve," she warns. He knows it's a warning.

He shakes his head. "I just. I had a dream about Saturday. Very vivid. Just made me think about it, is all."

Robin softens, sinking back down to sit beside him. She finally answers, "yeah. I remember Spring Break."

"I miss everyone," he confesses, because it's true. Because it's safe.

"Me too," Robin says, leaning her mask against his.

They wait in silence until the scouts call the all clear and they can head back home.

They make it back to Hawkins before night falls but just barely. The gates get rolled shut behind them and the unpacking gets started. The whole community has gathered for their return. This is their longest run to date with how far they had to go this time and Steve doesn't blame anyone for needing to see their loved ones as soon as possible.

"Robin!"

Steve turns just in time to watch Vickie launch herself at Robin. Robin must have seen her running, though, because she's already braced for impact and catches Vickie easily, arms grabbing at Vickie's thighs to support her weight as she wraps them around Robin's waist. Vickie places her forehead to Robin's as their excitement switches to tenderness and Steve averts his eyes to give them privacy in this moment.

"Steve, here," Ted Wheeler offers up a box to Steve, who takes it without question. "For the Daycare."

"You got it."

The Daycare is actually a wing of the school that used to be where the language arts classes were held. Daycare doesn't quite sum up what they use the area for, but calling it the Orphanage was too dark. Steve waits through the decontamination process. Once through, he takes the time to pull his mask off and enjoy the feeling of an artificial breeze on his face before heading to the Daycare.

"Please tell me there's something useful in that box," Annie Click says when Steve pushes his way into one of the rooms they use for school. Another room is dedicated to being a daycare, kids too little for learning, another is schooling for kids who would be in middle school, and the last room is lines with beds.

"Sorry, Mrs. Click, but I didn't pack it," Steve says apologetically.

"My problem to sort out then," she stands and Steve can see the determination in her through the weariness. She'd been a bitter old lady as his teacher but the world ending must have shifted her priorities. There's no one better suited to look after the kids than her, here.

Except maybe Joyce, but she's got bigger things to deal with.

He heads for the door when Annie calls out to him, "Since you're here, would you mind checking on the kids for me? Holly's supervising bedtime but she's lenient with her friends."

"Will do."

He heads across the hall and down a door to the sleeping room. The lights are dimmed and peeking in he sees a lot of kids sleeping, or pretending their best to be. Holly is sitting in a rolling chair near the door, one leg bend and pulled up on the seat as she rests her head on it.

Steve clears his throat to get her attention. She must have heard his footsteps because she doesn't spook. Just uses the foot on the ground to spin the chair to face the door. "Oh. Hi Steve."

"All good here?" He whispers.

"Yeah. Everyone's asleep."

"You can probably head home now. Your dad's back."

Holly shrugs one shoulder at him, spinning the chair back away. "Maybe later."

Steve takes the hint and backs away. His chest aches for Holly. All the kids had to grow up fast, given the state of the world, but Holly's hurts him most. He knew her in the Before, and she was there when Karen... Well, she's got a lot of weight on her shoulders at barely eleven years old.

To think. If they'd have been faster on that Spring Break. More diligent, thorough. Holly might have never known about the Upside Down at all.

More regret he can carry, he thinks, as he shoves his mask back on and heads back to the truck. There's more to be unloaded, and always work around to keep him so busy he doesn't have to think of the regrets.

He works so late into the night that once he gets back to his cot and collapses into it, there are no thoughts let in his mind as sleep claims him.

@i-less-than-three-you @nburkhardt @afewproblems @skepsiss @music9009 @apomaro-mellow @soaringornithopter @reighnofdreams @eddie-munsons-lunchbox @sirsnacksalot @livelifeliketheresnotomorow @sageclipse @schnukiputz @mbloggotdeletedsothisismybackup @lumoschildextra @juleswashere3 @yet-still-more-banched @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @yearningagain @starlight-archer @andrew-mini-ard @chaosgremlinmunson @aol19 @goodolefashionedloverboi @gutterflower77 @moomkin77

#steddie #my fic #time travel au #apocalypse au #it's both #is steve dreaming? time traveling while he sleeps? will his changes matter?#i mean im pretty sure we all know the answers to that but im pretending i can be cheeky about it all #also if u think i made a mistake in my plot or that ive forgotten my own lore just know... that maybe that was on purpose #butterfly effect AU might be a better thing to call this

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callsign-magnolia · 11 months ago

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Love In The Dark // Ch. 2

Mature Content 18+

Summary: Iris never realized how much she truly depended on her eyesight until it was gone. But it never really stopped her, just another hurdle to jump over in life. Depending on people was never something she got used to, she still attempts to do things herself. Eventually, her roommate and best friend let's her down, but a tall, sandy brown haired aviator catches her.

Rooster x Blind!OC

Warnings: angst, alcohol, deception? I think that's it, if I missed any let me know!

Word Count: 3.7k

Chapter 1 | Masterlist

The next three weeks were awkward. Mandi avoided Iris like the plague and Iris didn't push her. "I still wish you had called me." Emily, Iris' assistant said as she sat on the opposite side of her desk. "I thought about it, but I knew Lucas was in bed." She scoffed. "Josh could've taken care of him if he woke up, or I could've sent Josh to get you. Just please don't take rides from strangers. It's dangerous for anyone, blind or not." Iris bit her lip. "Iris." Emily scolded. "Well he's not a stranger any more!" Emily looks at her in shock. "You still don't know him! What's his real name? Where does he work?" Iris stayed quiet because she didn't have the answers. “Exactly. He's still a stranger so if there is a next time, no matter how late it is, call me?" Iris huffed, sitting back in her executive chair. "Yes mom." She laughed at her just as a notification sounded on Iris' computer. "We have fifteen minutes till our meeting with the Lee's." Iris had just set out some water bottles when Emily brought the Lee's in. "Iris, this is Julia and Hank Lee.” Iris turned towards Emily and gave a wide smile. "Mister and Misses Lee." She took a single step forward and held out her hand. "It's wonderful to meet you." The calloused hand of Hank Lee met hers before the smaller and softer one of Julia. "Why don't we have a seat?" The couple nodded before remembering. "Of course." Hank said. They took their seats as Iris sat across from them. "I have to say, we were nervous to use you." Julia said, and Iris gave her a wide smile. "It's understandable.” They felt relieved at her words. "But we took so many chances with this house, and they've paid off. So we decided we wanted to take one with you." Iris nodded, excitement building in her chest.

"Well, I really think you'll like what we came up with." Iris turned towards the screen as Emily used her laptop to cast the live prints onto the large tv. Hank and Julia's jaws dropped. "Wha-how. It's beautiful.” Julia gasped. "It's just what we imagined! How did you know?” Iris grinned at them. “You told me what you wanted. I just wrote it all down and I got an image in my head. I described it to Emily and she drew the blueprints. You talked about the house being in the middle of the woods and how you loved natural light so I wanted there to be plenty of windows.” Iris explained and Julia nodded. “You also have a semi open floor plan. So your kitchen is split from the living room, but you only have a divider, not a whole wall.” Iris told them and went over the rest of the floor plans. “We absolutely love it.” Julia said and Iris smiled at them. “I’m glad you do. We strive to ensure that you get everything you want out of these plans.” Emily nodded. “So if you like them, we can go into my office and get some paperwork filled out.” Emily said, standing and Iris joined her. “We’d love to.” Hank said and turned to Iris. “Thank you for making our dreams a reality.” He said, shaking Iris’ hand one last time. “I’m grateful you gave me the opportunity to do it.” She replied and they smiled at her. “This paperwork won’t take long. Follow me.” Emily said, leading the Lee’s out of the conference room.

By the time Emily dropped Iris at home, she felt exhausted. She punched in the code to the door and walked in. She could hear Mandi in the kitchen so she made her way upstairs, opting to shower before she did anything else. She set her purse down and gathered some comfy clothes to take into the bathroom. As she stepped out of her room she heard footsteps. “Iris?” Mandi spoke, standing at the top of the stairs. “Yes?” Iris asked. “Um, I made dinner.” She said and Iris raised a brow in her direction. “Okay.” She said and Mandi sighed. “Can we talk at dinner?” She asked and Iris stilled for a moment before nodding. “Sure.” She said before disappearing into the bathroom, leaving Mandi standing alone in the hallway. After her shower Iris towel dried her hair before slipping into some pajamas and making her way downstairs.

“Smells good.” She said as she slowly approached the kitchen. Mandi nodded, smiling at Iris as she pulled the pasta off the stove. “It’s your favorite.” Iris gave her a small smile, feeling very odd at their current situation. “Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta?” She asked and Mandi nodded. “Yeah, why don’t you go sit down. I’ve already put some wine on the table.” Iris nodded and made her way to the table. Once she sat down she slowly reached for the wine bottle, the cold glass meeting her hand as she wrapped her fingers around the neck of the bottle. She pulled her glass close, touching the bottle to the glass and turning it up. “Stop.” Mandi said and Iris smiled, stopping. “Did you let me pour your kind of glass or my kind of glass?” She asked. “Your kind. It’s practically full.” She said and Iris chuckled. Soon Mandi put food on their plates and they started eating. “I want to apologize.” Mandi interrupted and Iris stopped eating, a little surprised by Mandi’s words. “Thank you.” Iris said, wiping her mouth with her napkin. “It was very selfish and very wrong of me to do what I did, and to react the way I did as well.” She said and Iris sat there quietly, unsure of what to say. “You left me stranded, Mandi.” Iris said when she found her words. Mandi nodded, acknowledging her words. “I know, and Iris, you have no idea how bad I feel.” Mandi said and she saw Iris fold into herself. Mandi saw Iris do this many times in college and she knew she was losing Iris’ trust. “Let me make it up to you.” Mandi said catching Iris’ attention. “How?” Iris asked. “Jake, the guy I left with is having a barbecue tomorrow and he invited me.” She said and Iris sighed. “Invited you not me.” Iris specified. She didn’t want to be the person who crashed the party. She was not explicitly invited so she wouldn’t go. “Oh come on Iris! It’ll be fun and I’ll tell you what, I will text Jake right now and ask him.” Mandi said and Iris sighed. “As long as he says it’s okay.” Iris said, propping her chin on her fist. “You know how awkward it is when you aren’t invited.” Mandi thought back to college and all of the parties she crashed. But it was never awkward. Mandi grabbed her phone and text Jake quickly. She thought it would be a while before she heard from him but she was shocked when he texted her back immediately.

‘I thought you said she was annoying?’

Mandi pursed her lips. She did say that, didn’t she. Iris did get on her nerves when she needed her, but that wasn’t often. Mandi really was a bad friend last weekend and she needed to make it up to Iris.

‘She can be. But she’s been down for a few days and I think it would make her feel better.’

They made small talk through dinner until Jake texted back. “He said it’s okay.” Mandi said, smiling at Iris who still looked uncomfortable. “What time do I need to be ready tomorrow?” She asked. “He said to be there by one, so like twelve-thirty.” Iris nodded, getting up and grabbing her plate. “Oh, I got it.” Mandi said, standing and taking the plate. “I can help you clean up.” Iris tried to offer but Mandi shook her head. “No, I got it.” She said and took the plate from Iris’ hands. “Okay. I’m just gonna go upstairs and dry my hair.” Mandi nodded, turning for the kitchen. “Okay! Goodnight!” She said and Iris headed upstairs. Iris thought about Mandi’s invite. Usually Mandi just went to these things alone. She’s invited Iris to these things before and she’s gone but it’s been a few years since that happened. Now they do their own things now, not needing to be with each other all the time anymore. So it felt odd that Mandi wanted her to go. After Iris dried her hair, she called Emily. “Hey.” Emily said and Iris flopped on her bed. “Tell me if this is weird.” Iris said and Emily chuckled. “Ooh! I love this game!” Emily said. “Mandi invited me to a barbecue tomorrow, hosted by the guy she left with when she abandoned me at that bar.” Iris was startled by the noise that came from the other side of the phone. “No way.” Iris nodded. “What did you say?” She asked and Iris sighed, climbing under her covers. “I told her I'd go.” She said and could practically feel the disappointment from the other side of the phone. “Really?”

“Yeah, she texted him and everything and he said I could come.” Iris wanted to go, to give Mandi the chance to prove that Iris could trust her, but she also didn’t want to go, scared it would just be a repeat. “After last time I don’t know how I feel about you going out with her. I’m not your mom, and I can’t tell you what to do but please call me if you need me. I’d feel better knowing you would call me if something happened.” Emily said and Iris nodded. “I will.” She said. “I guess I’m gonna go to bed. The last few weeks have made me so exhausted, mentally and emotionally.” Iris said, rolling onto her back. “Okay, well keep me updated. I have your location so if you need me, I’ll come get you, okay?” Iris nodded. “Okay, goodnight Em.” With that they both hung up and Iris put her phone on the charger before laying on her back again. She faced the ceiling, nerves making her stomach roll. She would know nobody there besides Mandi, and if Mandi left her stranded again that was it. She would tell Mandi she’d have to find somewhere else to live. A part of Iris felt like she should’ve told Mandi that the first time, and maybe she should have, but she knew Mandi could be a good person. Mandi just had to prove it to her.

The next day, Iris made sure she was ready early. Denim shorts, a white tank top and a sage button down seemed good enough for a barbecue. It was simple and casual. Iris left her hair down, but made sure a clip was in her purse in case she got hot later. “Alexa, what time is it?” Iris asked and the device answered her. “The time is twelve oh five p.m.” She nodded, making sure she had her phone and everything before making her way downstairs to wait on Mandi. Mandi usually takes a while to get ready so Iris turned on the book she had been listening to to pass the time. Soon half an hour goes by of Iris sitting on the couch before Mandi finally makes her way downstairs. “Is that what you're wearing?” Mandi asked and Iris rolled her eyes before turning off her book and standing. “Is there a problem with what I’m wearing?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “No! It’s cute, just very casual.” Mandi said quickly. “Well what are you wearing?” Iris asked as she made her way towards the front door. “Oh, just a dress and some heels.” Typical Mandi. Always dressed to the nines wherever she goes.”Cute.” Iris said as Mandi grabbed her purse and followed after her. “Thanks.” With that they walked out the door and towards Mandi’s Infinity.

Things felt like they were normal in the car. Like they were back to being best friends and Iris enjoyed it. It gave her hope that things could go back to how they were. Iris didn’t want to lose Mandi as a best friend, but she couldn’t keep her as one if she couldn’t trust her with something as simple as taking her home from a place she dragged her too. Once they arrived Iris slid out of the car, walking towards the front of the car to wait on Mandi. “You feeling okay?” Mandi asked as she walked towards Iris, gently linking her arm with Iris’. “A little nervous, but I’m okay for the most part.” Iris told her and Mandi nodded. “It’ll be okay.” She said, gently squeezing Iris’ arm as they walked up to the front door. Mandi could see in through the glass door and she noticed everyone was out back so she rang the doorbell.

Within a few seconds, Jake’s head peeked out of the kitchen and smiled when he saw Mandi. He used a towel to wipe off his hands and walked towards the door. “Hey come on in.” He said as he pushed the glass door open. Mandi let Iris go in first before she followed. “Hi darlin’.” Jake said, leaning in and kissing Mandi’s cheek. “Hi Jake.” She said before turning to Iris. “Jake, this is my friend Iris. Iris, this is Jake.” Iris immediately stuck her hand out, allowing Jake to meet her in the middle. “It’s nice to meet you.” She said and he nodded, observing the girl who still had her sunglasses on. “It’s nice to meet you too.” He responded. “Well I’m just finishing up some of the food, everyone else is outside. I'll introduce you.” He said, leading Mandi and Iris out the back door and onto the large deck. “Hey guys, most of you probably remember Mandi.” He said and she waved as everyone greeted her. “And this is her roommate, Iris.” He said and Iris gave a small wave as well. “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be back.” With that, Jake turned around, kissing Mandi before he went back inside. “Hi guys.” Mandi said, walking with Iris over towards the long table where everyone else was. “Hey Mandi, good to see you're still around.” Coyote said as he pulled two chairs out. “Yeah, he can’t get rid of me that easily.” Mandi said. “So Iris, is it?” Coyote asked, catching the woman's attention. “Yeah and you are?” She asked, listening to his voice closely. “Javy, but everyone calls me Coyote.” He said and Iris held out her hand and he shook it. “Nice to meet you Coyote.”

Everyone at the table introduced themselves and Iris listened very closely to their voices, hoping she could keep from mixing them up. So far she has pinpointed three women minus Mandi and many, many men. “I’m gonna go grab a drink, want anything?” Mandi asked Iris and she faced Mandi. Normally she’d be opposed to Mandi drinking, but Iris wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. “Um yeah, anything with vodka.” Mandi smiled at her and nodded before getting up and going inside. “So Iris, what do you do?” The woman who introduced herself as Halo asked. “Oh I have an interior design business.” She said and Penny sat up. “Really?” Penny asked and Iris nodded, facing her. “I do.” She said. “I have been considering remodeling my house and I have some ideas but I’ve been needing some help.” Penny said and she nodded. “Sure, just get with me later and I’ll give you my card and we can schedule an appointment.” She said. She didn’t want to tell everyone just yet that she was blind. She found that letting people get to know her before she told them was the better way to go.

Rooster huffed as he pulled into Jake’s driveway. He had been here all of ten minutes before Jake asked him to go back out and get two bags of ice. Of course it was also a weekend where everyone else in southern California needed ice. Rooster hauled the two bags inside and glared at Jake as he walked into the kitchen. “I went to four different gas stations and three grocery stores for these bags of ice, so pay up.” He said as he set the bags in the two coolers Jake set out. Jake just laughed and pulled out his wallet, handing Rooster a twenty for the gas. “Thanks for getting them man, I really do appreciate it.” Rooster just nodded, stuffing the twenty into his own wallet. “Want me to put the beers in?” He asked and Jake nodded, "Do you mind?” Rooster shook his head and headed for the garage where he knew all the cases of beer were. “Oh, sorry!” A feminine voice said as he swung the door open and almost ran into her. Rooster stopped for a second and stared at the woman before it all clicked in his head. “Hey, you’re uh Mandi right?” He asked, stepping past her in the doorway. “Yeah, Rooster right?” He nodded. It was weird seeing her sober. But all he could think about was her roommate and how she just left her at the bar with no way home. “Yeah.” He muttered before turning away from her and grabbed the cases.

When he walked back into the house he caught a glimpse of everyone on the back deck, and he froze when he saw a familiar face. “Who’s the other drink for?” Jake asked Mandi. “Iris. She said anything with vodka and she loves a good vodka soda.” She said as she made her drink. Bradley heard Iris’ name and his heart sped up. “What the hell?” He muttered to himself. “I thought she didn’t drink?” Jake asked and Mandi shook her head. “She does occasionally. It’s not something she does often so it’s nice to see her letting loose a little.” Mandi said as she started on her own drink. “As long as she doesn’t start clinging to you because I have plans for you later.” Jake said as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Rooster rolled his eyes at them before he looked back outside and saw Iris laughing at something Payback had said. “She won’t. She’ll relax, I’ll take her home and then I’ll come back.” Mandi said. “You could just get her an uber.” Jake said and Rooster scoffed to himself. “No. I left her stranded that night I went home with you, and this is me making it up to her.” She said and Jake sighed.

“Well why don’t we go upstairs for like five minutes-” Bradley had heard enough and cut Jake off. “I don’t want to hear any of that.” He said, making a disgusted face at them. “I’m going to put the beers in the cooler and then go outside with everyone else.” He said, immediately pulling the beers out and putting them into the cooler. Once he was done he turned for the door but stopped and turned back to Mandi. “Can I have that?” He asked and she furrowed her brows. “Um why?” She asked, picking up the drink and holding it close. “It’s okay, darlin’. Rooster’s cool.” He said and Mandi visibly relaxed. “Wait, Rooster…” Mandi thought to herself, closing her eyes before she opened them and looked at him. “That’s right. You brought Iris home that night I left the bar with Jake.” She said and Jake turned to him. “What?” He asked, thoroughly confused. “I did.” Rooster bit back the venom he wanted to spew at her and Mandi could tell. “Um yeah, she’ll appreciate you bringing it to her.” She said, handing him the drink. “Thanks.” He muttered, turning for the back door.

“Hangman is a great guy and he does like Mandi, he can just be real cock sure sometimes and he comes off as an asshole sometimes.” Phoenix said to Iris who nodded. Iris was asking about Jake because she wasn’t so sure about him. But Phoenix definitely made her feel better. Iris felt someone pull out the chair next to her and sit down. “One vodka soda extra lime for the lady.” Iris immediately recognized that voice. She could pinpoint it anywhere in a crowd because it was so distinct. She turned to face him, a large smile on her face. “Rooster.” She said and he smiled at her. “Hi I-oof.” He was caught off guard when she sat up, pulling him into a tight hug. He squeezed her back smelling her lavender and sage soap. “How’ve you been?” She asked, pulling away. “Good. Kind of kicking myself for not getting your number.” He said and he was glad she couldn’t see him because a blush crept up his neck, almost matching the one on her own cheeks. “Well you can definitely have my number.” She said and Rooster smiled at her. “I’m sorry, am I missing something here?” Phoenix asked and Rooster nodded. “The night Mandi left with Jake, Rooster took me back to my place since Mandi was supposed to be my ride.” She said and Phoenix’s eyebrows shot up, looking at Rooster.

“Oh? And how did that go?” She asked. “Pretty good, he was sweet enough to wait till he heard me lock my door before walking away.” Iris said, her hand reaching out and resting on his arm and she grinned at him. Man, Rooster was so glad she couldn’t see what she was doing to him. “I didn’t think you heard that.” He admitted and Iris giggled at him. “Of course I heard it, and it was really sweet Rooster.” He’d been a mess the last three weeks, wondering how to get back in touch with her. He certainly didn’t want to show up at her house unannounced. “Um Rooster is my callsign in the navy. My name is actually Bradley. Bradley Bradshaw.” Iris laughed loudly as she slowly grabbed her drink from where he placed it in front of her. “Bradley Bradshaw? Did your parents want you to get picked on your whole life?” She asked before taking a sip and Rooster chuckled as he smiled. Oh yeah, he had to get her number.

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Taglist: @roosterforme @mygyn @kmc1989 @briseisgone @lyn-js @shanimallina87 @dizzybee03 @lilylilyyyyyy

#maverick top gun #topgun #top gun imagine #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw fic #rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw #rooster fanfic #rooster top gun #rooster imagine #rooster #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley bradshaw x named reader #Rooster x Blind! OC #Love In The Dark #Blind!OC

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justrainandcoffee · 11 months ago

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Dream of me (Luca Changretta x fem!poc!oc)

Summary: When you are Luca Changretta, happiness isn't something you're used to. Business always comes first. But when happiness has the form of a black woman, even less. Luca deserves something better, his mother says. She hates the singer. But not him. In a world ruled by white vs black, Luca and Aveline are hiding in a hotel room, enjoying their true but forbidden love.

Warnings: Racism. Hurt/comfort. Typical violence. Slightly mentions of smut. || Unlike my fics in modern times, here they don't have a happy ending, although this fic somehow is happy.

Words: 900. || Valentine's day masterlist || Thanks for the help @evita-shelby

The word forbidden is not strong enough to describe the love that bonds Luca Changretta and Aveline Young.

It's not just forbidden, it's risky, it's dangerous for her and his reputation could be damaged forever.

Luca Changretta knows very well that people ready to kill women like her. Beautiful, for sure, but black skinned.

Luca sees her when he goes to the restaurant where she sings. New York is a big city and has a lot of places like that but he has chosen that one for a very specific reason.

His mother knows and it's not happy, she for over the rest of the family, thinks that Aveline is worthless. Because, of course, she was not made to be with a Changretta like Luca.

But Audrey does not know what his son thinks every time he's with her.

Aveline is now singing in his ear. It sounds like a lullaby to him. Aveline is black siren that captivates him with her voice. And her long legs.

His fingers caress her jawline.

"I'm a monster and you're a fragile doll," he plants kisses on her neck. Like a butterfly visiting flowers. "The most beautiful woman I ever met."

"I'm not a fragile doll, Mr. Changretta."

Luca humms against her neck. He loves when she calls him by his last name. His cursed last name.

"No, you're not, it's true. You're strong woman but still I'm a monster."

Aveline knows that. She still remembers that night when he appeared in her apartment covered by blood. She helped him to take a bath and stitched his wounds. Another mafia leader had paid the maximum price for his betrayal. Luca does not stand betrayal.

"That fucker…"

But Aveline shut him up with a kiss. And Luca accepted it. He always accepted her kisses but especially when he was upset. People didn't know how difficult was being like him. Normal people went to work but at the end of the day they found comfort with their family, pets or just alone. But people like Luca… mafia never rest. He didn't know when he was going to be betray or sold to the police. He needed to be alert all day.

And now that they're alone in that hotel room it's the same. Luca thinks that somewhere in the city there's an enemy waiting for him. Chasing his body and soul. Aveline feels how his body is tense once more. So she starts to sing again. Her mother used to sing that song when she and her brother were little kids. It talks about hope and a bright future. And love.

Luca closes his eyes. In a perfect world she's with him side by side, but that perfect world it doesn't exist. He never mentioned it in front of her but her mother made some comments about Aveline that made his blood boil. "Black women are nothing but…" Luca shakes his head trying to forget those words.

"Luca?"

"Mmh?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"About you, amore mio" Luca can see her smile and smiles too.

In a quick movement, he grabs her by the waist and lays her down on the mattress. "I always think about you, bella."

"You're such a poet, Mr. Changretta."

"You inspire me, Linnie."

The woman kisses him. Linnie is a nickname that Luca invented and none except him call her that way. Luca kisses her back. They are the singer and the gangster madly in love in a world that wasn't made for that love.

Opening her legs, she allows him to take her. Once and once again.

"Ti amo…" Luca whispers feeling her warmth around his masculinity.

"I love you, too."

Those hands, full of blood of innocent and guilty people, caresses her delicate skin. Somewhere the bells of a distant church announce that it's midnight. It's February 14 and like any other couple they're loving each other.

Audrey Changretta is a distant memory in Luca's mind while he holds Aveline next to him. He loves her mother but she's wrong. His woman is a perfect person, she's not worthless. Aveline Young is a fucking treasure. Her brown eyes are full of love and it's a miracle that someone can love him in such way.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Mr. Changretta."

"Happy Valentine's day, Linnie."

She smiles and Luca closes his eyes. "Dream a little dream of me," Aveline says.

"As always, doll."

The woman watches him finally rest. He's not a good man, she knows that. She also knows what his family thinks of her but she also knows that Luca loves her. In such a deeply way that no one else but them could understand.

She caresses his hair. One day, maybe, they'll be allowed to be happy together.

#luca changretta #luca changretta x oc #peaky blinders #adrien brody #peaky blinders x oc #luca changretta fanfic

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redrawthecolorlessworld · 1 month ago

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plz save me the rain is trapping me in my school sob

#(art)hesia #arthesias ocs #rhymix: artwork #accept every part of you: ars cantate (oc)#another me: ana (oc)#this is just a dream(?): lucas (oc)#a warzone in the galaxy: galactic (oc)#i don't give a f***: destonio (oc)#our fates are distorted: fate (oc)#darkest night i'll confront you here: testify (oc)

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fizzyxcustard · 9 months ago

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Covert Eyes (24)

Masterlist of fan fiction

Fandom: Spooks

Pairings: Lucas North x OC (Amy Holland)

Warnings: Stalking behaviour, anxiety, language, sexual references, angst, smut, heartbreak, gunshot wounds and recovery, abduction, hostage situation.

Summary: Lucas takes notice of a young woman, Amy, but his obsession and want to get to know her begin to spiral out of control. Amy is now working for MI-5, after being recruited by Ros. But will her involvement with Lucas cause even more problems and heartbreak?

When Amy's parents get involved, how will things pan out for Amy and Lucas?

Official soundtrack list: here

Comments/Notes: If you wish to be tagged in any of my tag lists for fics or characters, please let me know, and stipulate what you want to be tagged in.

This fic does have an ending in sight...finally. :)

Feedback, comments and suggestions are always very valuable. My messages and ask box (including anons!) are open.

It had been a month now since Amy had returned to Coventry, and every day felt listless and lifeless. She’d had long conversations with Ros, who was technically her direct manager and would have been in charge of all HR work. Amy had explained everything and had been met with the words, “We can’t keep the position open for you for long. You’ll need to make a definite decision on this. You’ve been compromised in a serious way.” It all felt like it was her direct fault, the more that Amy mused on it.

Amy’s brother in law had been kind enough to do a run to the flat back in London, taking a rental van, to pick up her belongings. Matt had been told what to pick up and Lucas had made himself scarce ahead of the visit after Amy’s notice.

After Amy’s departure from the flat, she had not spoken with Lucas at all. The only communication had been through texts, and this was to organise Matt’s arrival for her belongings. Lucas had agreed to keep the tenancy of the flat in just his name.

Furniture remained behind. But all of Amy’s personal items such as remainder of clothing, her television set and DVD player, books, ornaments and even some of her cooking utensils and crockery, came back to Coventry. The majority of it was now back in her old room. The guest bed that she had shared with Lucas over new year was now her bed, and opposite it on a small bookcase was her Samsung flatscreen television.

The last month had been a whirlwind of feeling depressed, numb, anxious and angry. Most of her dreams were her sitting in a dark room, trying to scream, but no sound came. She often woke with a tension headache, and ibuprofen had become a friend of late.

However, as Amy entered the fifth week of being with her parents, she noticed that her period was late. Normally she had been like clockwork, always being on time and maintaining the same number of days for the period portion of her cycle. Maybe the stress of all the recent upheaval had caused it? She was sure she had heard that before, that stress and anxiety could mess with menstrual cycles. Just to be sure, Amy made her way into town one morning. Partly she needed to get out of the house and breathe. Ever since being home, her parents had been overly generous with her and kept treating her like she was a child again, and it was beginning to make her uncomfortable.

She used up all three tests, and all of them came back positive. Amy was pregnant.

The realisation didn’t hit her immediately, and she sat with the thought for a couple of days, trying to comprehend what was happening. Finally, two days after finding out, she approached her mum. It was an overcast Saturday morning, and her mum was sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee.

“Do you want me to get you a drink?” Sharon asked.

“No. I…um…I need to talk to you about something.” Amy sat down opposite her mum and as soon as she looked into Sharon’s dark gaze, she broke down into tears.

“Love,” Sharon cooed. She grabbed Amy’s hand from across the table. “You’ll get through this, darling. You’ll heal, I promise.”

“I’m pregnant.”

The words were like lead, heavy. Sharon was stunned, rendered rigid in her seat. “A…Are you sure?”

“I took three tests and they all came back positive. I was on the pill, but you know they reckon it’s not one hundred per cent effective. But…I’ve wanted a baby for a while now. It’s just….why now? I need to tell Lucas.”

Sharon’s eyebrows furrowed. “Amy, you need to keep as far away from him as possible.”

“He has every right to know, Mum. I’m not going to keep him in the dark about it, and if he wants to visit…”

“No, Amy. I’m putting my foot down there. Before we know for absolute certainty that you’re pregnant, as tests can sometimes be wrong, say that you are…If you let him have any contact, think of the risk. I know you love him, but you need to let him go and make a life of your own with the baby.”

Amy wept at the table, feeling so utterly consumed by sadness, frustration and confusion. “When will you and Dad let me have any control back?” she muttered. “You made me leave Lucas and now won’t let him have anything to do with his own child. When will you both allow me to actually make a decision for myself?”

A flash of anger passed across Sharon’s face. “I know you, Amy. No one knows someone better than their own mother. You are besotted with that man. I don’t know what kind of hold he had over you…”

“Hold?” Amy asked, her eyebrows knotting. “He had no hold over me. He’s the only man I’ve ever truly been in love with.”

“And you’ll find someone else.”

“Mum, I can’t carry on with this conversation because I’ll say something I regret,” Amy spat. She got up and shoved her seat back, the wooden legs screeching across the flooring. Amy stormed to the doorway and then turned back, glaring at her mum. “Imagine being rock bottom, and you feel like no one would ever look at you twice. You know you’re not beautiful and there’s very little about you that a man would want, but somehow one man sees you. I mean he really bloody seesyou. And he finally helps you to see that maybe you’re not as bad as you always thought; he helps you to actually feel loved. Would you want to throw that away?”

Sharon remained quiet, feeling a lump rise in her throat at Amy’s words. Of course she knew that Amy felt that way. She had seen it; the pain on Amy’s face, the loneliness in her posture, the desperation for love in her eyes. Sharon had felt all of that, too.

***

Lucas was at work, sat at Amy’s desk when he heard his phone ring. Amy’s number flashed across the screen and immediately a whole array of emotions that he couldn’t fathom seemed to spread through his chest. His hand began to shake and he accepted the call, whispering her name.

“Lucas. I’m sorry for bothering you. I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important,” she said.

Her voice wrapped around him, holding him so snug.

“Are you alright?” Lucas asked, immediately concerned for her wellbeing.

“I need to tell you something, and maybe it’s best we meet in person. Mum won’t like it, but I don’t care anymore. I’m sick of both of them telling me what to do…”

“Amy they’re keeping you safe. They’re not telling you what to do.”

“Why are you siding with them? Am I that bad that you’d happily just see me leave and we never…”

“Amy, for fuck sake,” Lucas growled. “I am not going over this with you again.”

“Okay, I’m pregnant. There you go! Happy? I’ll go and you never have to hear from me again.”

“Amy? Fuck….Amy?”

The line dropped.

Lucas’ head was spinning. He dashed out of the main office space and into a hallway, feeling heat rise high in his head. His heart was thundering so hard in his chest and he paced the same ten feet of hallway as he tried to call Amy again, but each time it just rang out and then went to her voicemail.

Up in Coventry, Amy grabbed her handbag and stormed out of the house. She tried so desperately hard not to break into tears, but it was too much, and she sobbed in the middle of the street. With her back against a tree, Amy bent her knees and hung her head, sobbing.

“Are you alright, dear?” a kind old lady asked, who was staggering past on a walking stick, while walking her small dog.

Amy looked at the kind lady through tears and nodded her head. The lady’s dog, a little black and white Jack Russell terrier sniffed Amy’s feet, its tail wagging in curiosity and excitement. Amy extended her arm down and stroked the dog, while smiling.

“See? He always has that reaction with people. He made you smile.”

Amy finally gathered the small slither of strength inside her and continued walking, passing one last smile to the dog and his kind owner. Trudging up the street, Amy pushed the tears away and head towards the small bakery and café which was on the corner of a small backstreet which joined on to the main high street.

The café was quiet, with the only sound being a radio playing from somewhere in the back room. Amy ordered herself a chai latte and a piece of lemon drizzle cake, then sat at the very back of the café, slipping out of sight.

On her phone, Amy found ten missed calls from Lucas, and three text messages. With a sigh and a sudden snap of her frayed self-control, she called him back.

“Aim, listen to me,” he begged frantically. “Please, angel.”

Hearing him call her ‘angel’ brought forward those horrible tears again.

“Why do you keep thinking I’m pushing you away because I want to? That’s the furthest thing from the truth. But a baby? Are you sure you’re pregnant?”

“I took three tests and they all showed positive. Lucas, we need to be together. I can’t be a mum without you. Don’t make me do this alone, please. I need you.”

“I know, angel.” He sighed loudly down the line. “Your parents won’t let me near you and the baby, we know that. And they have good reason.”

“This is our future. Not theirs.”

“I can’t risk the pair of you. I can’t.”

“So what are you saying? You’re abandoning me? You’re going to make me go to every scan on my own, bloat to the size of a whale and then give birth in agony, all on my own? Fucking hell, Lucas, I thought you were more of a man than that.” Amy was seething at his attitude. “You’re going to make me be a single mother?”

“Don’t you think I know what I’m saying, Aim?” Lucas growled. “Don’t you think I know that by doing this I’m making you go through it alone? But making you go through it alone will make sure you at least go through it and get out the other side alive.”

“I hate you, Lucas. I never thought you’d be this fucking cold!”

A lady with a severe bob placed Amy’s drink and cake down on the table, her eyes wide upon hearing her customer’s side of the conversation.

“All anyone does in my life is control me, and I’m sick of it. You’ve made the decision that we can’t be together without even considering me at all. My parents have got me back at home, treating me like a pathetic child. No one will let me stand on my own two feet and make my own decisions.”

“Because this is putting your life at risk, and now a child’s,” Lucas spat. “What kind of a man would I be to just let all these things keep happening to you? You’ve already been shot and taken hostage because of me and being connected to me.”

“And now you have a baby, Lucas. You don’t get to just walk away from that. I am not putting ‘father unknown’ on my baby’s birth certificate. I refuse to do that.”

“I’ll make sure you have enough money…”

“It’s not about the fucking money, Lucas!” Amy cried out. “I need you in my life. The baby needs you. Can’t you see that? I grew up with a dad, and I thank God every day for that. I can’t let my baby not have a dad. Lucas…” Amy began to weep. “I can’t carry on without you. Please. I still wear my engagement ring because I can’t face that this is over. It can’t be. Sarah and Simon got what they wanted: revenge. They wanted us apart, and they got that. They can’t hurt us any more than they already have.”

“Angel, we can’t.” Lucas voice was quiet but firm. “You have your family who’ll look after you. I’ll come to the scans and birth, but we can’t be together again.”

“Fuck you, then. Keep away. I’ll do this alone.”

Amy threw her phone down on the table and sobbed.

The lady who had served Amy looked on confused. “A…are you alright?” she asked.

***

Lucas sat with his head in his hands a short while later, gaining the attention of Ros who came onto the main floor. She approached him and perched on the edge of the desk. “What’s going on?” she asked, folding her arms.

With a sigh, Lucas rubbed his mouth with his hand and looked up at Ros. “Amy’s pregnant. I can’t put them at risk, no matter how much I want to be with her and raise the baby. I don’t think she realises how much danger I’ve put her in.”

“She does. Don’t underestimate her, Lucas. In the little time I’ve known her, I can see that in her. And can I be frank with you? I think you see her as immature to a degree, but she’s got a wise head on her shoulders. Far more than you know.” At that, Ros was staring straight at Lucas. Her gaze was piercing. “You’re like a lot of others in her life and you’ve taken advantage of her people pleasing nature, but when she kicks back, you see her as immature and not knowing what she wants.”

“No…”

“Yes. I’ve been in this job long enough now to know how people work. She’s let you take control for the entirety of the relationship and now she’s trying to do something for herself, you judge her as not knowing what she wants. You did it when we recruited her.”

“But she did do what she wanted in the end,” Lucas argued.

“With a little input from me, to try and help her make the right decision for her. Stop telling her what’s best, and let her make up her own mind.”

Ros disappeared into a side office and picked up her mobile, calling Amy.

“Hello, Ros,” Amy said softly. Then sniffed.

Ros immediately knew that Amy had been crying. “Is now a good time to talk?”

“Yes. I’ve just got home and I’m in my room out the way of anyone overhearing me.”

“How are you doing?”

“I’d be a complete liar if I said I’m doing well. I’m guessing you’re calling me because Lucas told you I’m pregnant.”

“You’re very perceptive,” Ros chuckled. “Yes, he told me. I believe congratulations are in order, despite the circumstances.”

“Thank you. I’m still considering the position, Ros. It’d be unfair of me to come back and then leave again. Maybe now that a baby is on the horizon, it’d be best for me to re-consider any future with MI5.”

“Don’t make a rash decision now. I know I said we can’t keep the position open, but there is the option of maternity leave and pulling that forward so you take leave earlier. Your role would only ever be analysis, so please don’t be concerned that field work might be something you’d have to do. Maybe we could have a face to face meeting in the next week or two. I can come and meet you so you won’t see Lucas.”

“How is he?”

“Quiet, although flies off the handle easily at times. Doesn’t like to be challenged. He misses you, Amy. He even sits at your desk and uses your mug.”

“I miss him, too,” Amy whispered. “I wish he’d let me come back.”

“Amy, you can come back. Your parents and Lucas don’t own you; you’re your own person. I know why he’s doing this, but he needs to give you control.”

“Everyone treats me like a child.”

Ros sighed. “I’ve noticed.”

***

Follow Forever tag list: @lathalea @middleearthpixie @xxbyimm @meganlpie @linasofia @knittastically @asgardianhobbit98 @rachel1959 @luna-redamancy @mrsdurin @quiall321 @missihart23 @lemond57 @evenstaredits @catthefearless @glassgulls @sazzlep @court-jobi @heilith @albionscastle @for-fuck-sake-im-alive @absentmindeduniverse @bookworm-with-coffee @danzalladaggers @ourlonelymountain @phantomessangel @estethell @windb3ll @protosslady

#Lucas North #Spooks #MI5 #Fanfiction #Richard Armitage #Lucas North x OC #Lucas North x OFC

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the-art-in-arthesia-is-loud · 1 year ago

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An Odd Night At The ThunderRiders' Base (Part 1)

i actually started writing this during like. the middle of september. but then i got lazy and now i'm just splitting it into parts. fuck

———

"And I'm sure, that 99% of you people here are a bunch of braindead idiots."

The time is approximately 10 PM. Why are there still people at ThunderRiders' base? Well, Trojan gathered everyone over here for...very weird business.

"What?! Hey! I'm not braindead nor am I an idiot! I'm smart! Trust me." He replied to Destonio's comment, crossing his arms and looking away from him in offense. "Well not my fault you came up with a really shitty idea." Destonio said, glancing away from the other man.

"Hmph, for real though, how DARE you call ME a 'braindead idiot'?!" Fate immediately chimed in, also seemingly offended by Destonio's comment. Lucas pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing in frustration (and stress, probably). "Alright, alright, shut up now. Let's just ask good 'ol Trojan over here why exactly he called us here to summon demons."

"Oh! Because! It's almost October!" Trojan replied happily, a smile making it's way back onto his face. "Trojan, September started two weeks ago. It's the 15th, get a grip." Galactic said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Eh.....yeah, but still! I wanna get into the spirit either way~" Trojan said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Well whether I like it or not, this summoning demon thing is interesting. I'd like to try it." Ars spoke up, and what he said definitely made everyone else perk up in surprise. "Huh?! What the hell?! Are you stupid?!" Destonio asked, eyes wide as he looks at the Cantate prince. "Uh....yeah? Why's that so bad? Trying something new doesn't exactly hurt, right...?"

Everyone was silent. On one hand, summoning a demon is...yikes. But on the other hand, it's something new, and some of them aren't afraid to try something new, especially Trojan...

"Hm, alright. I guess we can go with Trojan's idea." Tempo said, turning his head to look at the man in question, who's expression lit up instantly after hearing his statement. "Fuck yeah!"

———

"And then, I read up online that you have to sing a song."

On the floor of the ThunderRiders' Base's meeting room, is a pentagram of sorts, drawn onto the floor with chalk or something. Several candles are already around it, and in the middle of the pentagram, is a framed picture of...huh? Harry Styles from One Direction?

"Who even is this bitch in this picture, anyways?" Destonio asked, pointing at the picture in the middle of the pentagram. "...I don't know either, actually. B-but one thing for sure, he is an otherworldly creature! So surely this picture of him might be able to summon Mister—or Miss—Demon!" Trojan explained with a proud tone in his voice. Destonio just sighed.

"Well then, what does the song sound like?" Fate asked curiously, somehow genuinely looking interested in this song that Trojan's supposed to sing for this ritual. "Well! It goes something like this! Ahem, ahem, ahem...."

...

"Ooooohhhhhh!!!!!!!!! MR. DEMON COME SHIT ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!"

And that first lyric immediately alarmed everyone else in the room.

Everyone immediately went wild, commenting on how unhinged this whole deal is, and some even yelling at the other about random shit.

"THERE'S A BUCKET OVER THERE!!!!! SHIT ON IT TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"OHHHHHHHH MR. DEMON COME SHIT ON ME AND THAT FUCKIN' BUCKET OVER THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

*CRASH!*

And suddenly, the lights went out, because for some reason they didn't turned off the lights of the meeting room earlier.

"Huh?! What the?!" Ars' voice could be heard. "Oh, maybe the lights suddenly went out?" Tempo asked, looking around for a flashlight. Though, that's not needed anymore, because after the sound of a finger snap can be heard, multiple orbs of light appeared around the room.

"I knew you guys would need this somewhat." A voice said. "Oh, Hikaru, hi. You came at the right time." Fate greeted, her face more...neutral than beforehand (when she was yelling about the lyrics of the song Trojan sang). Hikaru sighed. "So, what happened here?"

"Trojan decided to be an idiot and tried to summon a demon." Destonio answered, clear irritation present in his voice as he gave Trojan a...rather intimidating enough glare. "I—eh..." That was the only response from him.

"What was that crash sound, though? I thought I heard something like that before the lights went out." Ars asked, looking around. Though, obviously he can't see anything else other than the other people in the room and Hikaru's light orbs. "Maybe it came from outside of this room? It's worth a shot to take a look, am I wrong?" Fate suggested, gesturing towards the room's door...for some reason.

"Good idea. C'mon, let's—"

And then the scene glitches, and then everything went black.

#arthesias writing (youre posting this on the wrong blog thesia)#arthesias ocs #i don't give a f***: destonio (oc)#this is all my fault: trojan (oc)#our fates are distorted: fate (oc)#this is just a dream: lucas (oc)#don't let him go: ars (oc)#where are you? please don't be dead: galactic (oc)#it's not your fault. don't blame it on yourself. please.: tempo (oc)#you are your very own light!: hikaru (oc)#original character #original characters #oc #ocs #oc writing #idk honestly #rgverse: writing

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kimmiessimmies · 10 months ago

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OC Questionnaire

Since I got tagged four times, I'm doing four of these! However, I had no problem deciding who my first three were going to be, but I doubted a little bit about my fourth. I decided to pick Finn, since he'll show his face again in the near future.

Name: Finn Marcus Richardson

Nickname: Finnegan (by his cousin Lucas), Finny (by Esme)

Gender: Male

Star Sign: Scorpio

Height: 177 cm

Orientation: Heterosexual

Favourite Fruit: Apple

Favourite Season: Summer

Favourite Flower: Sunflower

Favourite Scent: Freshly brewed coffee

Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate: Well, coffee

Average Hours of Sleep: 7

Dogs or Cats: Cats

Dream Trip: An Adventure! Climbing a mountain or something like that.

Number of Blankets: Just one

Random Fact: Finn's feelings for Sadie are very real, but sometimes, late at night, he can't help but wonder how Jada is doing. If she hadn't moved away, would they still be together?

Not tagging anyone to do this, because everyone already has.

#tag game #OC Questionnaire #my ocs #character development #ts3 #the sims 3 #sims 3 #finn richardson

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badwritinghabit · 1 year ago

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Chef's Kiss | Carmy x fem!OC x Luca | Chapter 9

Previous Chapter | Masterlist

Warnings: Explicit smut; soft, cheesy, ooey gooey romance; no actual conflict, just cuteness. This is hardly a story anymore-- just Luca being adorable. Word Count: 4,191 Summary: Sophie visits Luca in Copenhagen and they discuss their future.

Author's Note: I ended up rushing through to "the end" faster than I expected. But I still have one more chapter planned. I have ideas for a "visiting the family" chapter but I'm also tempted to write up a "moving in" chapter. So at least one of those will still be coming. Thanks everyone for the DMs and likes and reblogs. It means a lot. I hope you all enjoy.

Note part 2: I posted the wrong version last night! I somehow excluded the cutest part of the whole thing. Sorry about that!

Sophie sat, looking out the window of the plane. It had been eight weeks since Luca had visited. Six weeks since Luca had sent her a draft itinerary of all of the things he wanted to do with her in Copenhagen. And five and a half weeks since she had bought a plane ticket to visit him. She was going to visit for 7 days. She was excited to see him again. Excited to see Copenhagen too.

She walked off the plane feeling rumpled and in desperate need of a shower. She had never left the country before and the nine hour flight had been rough. But by the time she had made it to the arrivals gate, she was eagerly looking for Luca. She saw him holding a tiny sign with her name on it, a giant grin on his face when he met her eyes. She pulled her face mask off and rushed towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her in the air. She reached up and pulled his face to hers, kissing him again. Finally.

“I missed you.” she admitted, quietly. Lips parted for just a breath before pressing back to his.

“Me too.” he sighed, his hand reaching up to cup her cheek, keeping her close to him. Sophie slid her hands down to his shoulders, bracing herself against him and then pulling away with a smile.

“I’m in Copenhagen,” Sophie said, biting her lip. She felt a little giddy, feeling like she was still catching up with herself. The past weeks had flown by and it all still felt a little like a dream.

“You are.” Luca’s warm response was followed by his arm wrapping around her.

She hugged him tightly, making him grin. When she pulled back, Luca grabbed her bags and carried them for her as he led her out of the airport.

“Did you eat?” he asked as he looked over to Sophie. She was looking out the window eagerly at the buildings they passed on their drive to Luca’s apartment.

“Not really. I can never eat on planes,” she said, before grabbing her purse and digging through it. “I did keep the cookies though,” she added with a grin. She pulled the package of biscoff out of her bag and opened it. “You want one? The plane cookies always taste better for some reason.” He grinned at her as she fed him a cookie.

“I’m feeding you real food when we get home.” Sophie blushed at him calling it home. She remembered her sister’s suggestion–

“While you’re visiting, you should figure out if you could see yourself living there,” Mallary encouraged as the two sat in Mallary’s kitchen. At her sister’s shocked silence, Mallary continued, “I can tell you really like him. I haven’t seen you like this in so long.” “Like what?” “Happy,” Mallary said, with a soft smile. “You deserve to be happy. Just think about it.” “It’s only been a month. And I’m happy here too! With you and the girls.” “But you deserve to have your own life. And if Luca is half as amazing as you say he is, I think you should go for it.” “But you live here,” Sophie said, quietly. “We’ll be okay. I promise.” “I can’t just move across the world–” she was hesitant, scared. “You moved across the country for me.” “That’s because it was you!” She was getting emotional, she could feel the tears, the sudden pressure in her sinuses, the pounding of her heart. “I didn’t just come here because I wanted to help you. You’re my sister, Mal. I wanted to live here. We spent years apart already. I want to be with you and the girls and Tim. I don’t want to leave you.” “Sophie–” “I like him. A lot. And I’ve never felt this way about someone before. Not this fast. But I don’t know if I’m ready to leave.” She admitted quietly, feeling scared. Mallary wrapped her in her arms, holding her tightly. “You can visit here. And I can visit you. And you still have time. I just want you to think about it.”

---

Their ride from the airport went by fast and Sophie found herself looking around Luca’s apartment. It was warm. Decorated simply. A cactus on the window ledge, a small bookshelf against the far wall. It was bright and cozy and very Luca. She grinned at him as he gave her a tour.

He offered to cook them dinner and Sophie leapt at the chance to take a shower. She walked out to a delicious meal prepared, Luca setting plates on the table for them. Sophie decided it would be all too easy to imagine herself here. With him.

—

“You have to keep me awake,” Sophie grumbled as the two were curled up on his couch. Sophie was tired and Luca was convinced she should just sleep. But she was insistent– adorably determined to stay up and go to sleep at a more reasonable hour in hopes of making jet lag easier for herself. He knew he wasn’t helping her. He had wrapped himself around her as they sat and talked on his sofa. He had spent the last few weeks looking forward to her arrival so he couldn’t be blamed for wanting to be as close to her as possible.

“You could just go to sleep early,” he said, softly, as he ran his hand up and down her arm. “I have to work tomorrow anyways so you’ll have the day to yourself.”

“Yeah but I need to be a tourist,” Sophie pushed herself up, turning so that she was facing him. “Besides, there is something I’ve been wanting to do.” She shifted onto her knees and climbed onto his lap, hands grasping onto his shoulders to steady herself. A small teasing smirk on her face.

“What’s that?” he asked, hands reaching up to her hips to hold her to him.

“Something I’ve been thinking a lot about,” she said, leaning forward and brushing the lightest kiss against his lips while her hands softly traced up, under the hem of his shirt. “Can I?”

He hummed. “Anything you want,” he responded. Her cheeks flushed as she looked down at him. She reached a hand up to tangle in his hair. “I’ve been thinking about you,” she said as she pulled his shirt up and over his head. He helped, lifting his arms. Her hands were on him immediately, trailing down from his shoulders, over his chest. “Every night. When I’m in bed,” voice trailing off, eyes burning into his own.

His breath caught in his chest. Having her here with him was better even than he imagined. “Was my girl lonely?” he asked. He felt her reaction to his words, thighs clenching on either side of his lap as she leaned forward to meet his lips, kissing him again. Harder. She pushed herself against him, chest pressed to his.

His hands slid under the cotton of her shorts, gripping her ass and pulling her flush against him. She moaned into his mouth and he gripped her tighter. Her name fell from his lips as he kissed down the column of her throat, nipping the skin gently. She ground down on him, gripping his shoulders tightly.

He shifted his hands so he could support her and then flipped her over, pulling her shorts and underwear off in one smooth motion. He pulled back to take his pants off too. Suddenly feverishly eager, needing to be on her. In her. It was too easy to get lost in how he felt when she was near. The warm, heady, sweet scent of her. The sound of her voice. The taste of her mouth.

His mouth was back on her and she arched into his touch. Fire shot down his spine. She hooked her right leg up around his back as he shifted to lay over her. Her hip brushed against him and he moaned at the feeling of her against him. She grasped his shoulders, nails biting into him as she pulled him closer. The little pinpricks of pain made him groan against her neck as he kissed her skin.

He knew he needed to slow down. Needed to go get a condom. Carry her to his bed. He had planned on spending hours learning how she liked to be touched, seeing how many of those beautiful noises he could pull from her. He’d spent a long time thinking about her visit. He hadn’t planned on making out with her on the couch like teenagers– too caught up in her to take his time.

“Luca please I need–” she said and he was lost in her again. He’d take his time later. He needed her now.

“So polite,” he groaned.

“Fuck please- I want you.”

He slid two fingers inside her with no warning and she gasped and bucked into him. “My girl always gets what she wants.” She keened in response and he groaned, a curse slipping out as he watched her in awe. “So wet for me.” He started pumping, slowly–curling inside her as she clenched around him. She whimpered as he pulled his fingers away, her hips pushing forward, chasing the feeling.

“I’m on birth control,” she gasped, still bucking her hips against him, needy. “If you want– you don’t need a condom.” Her pupils were blown wide, mouth open, looking at him with want in her eyes.

“Fuck, Sophie.” He leaned forward and kissed her, his hand moving down to her pelvis, his long fingers stretching up over her lower stomach as his thumb pressed against her clit with a firm pressure that had her writhing against him. “My pretty girl.”

“Let me know if you want me to stop yeah?” he said, making sure to meet her eyes before he went any further. She nodded eagerly.

He pulled her towards him. Lifted her leg up and over his shoulder, and then slid inside her. They both exhaled together, Sophie’s a soft whine that had Luca groaning. He leaned over her, pushing into her, a string of praises leaving his lips as he started to move. “So fucking good for me.”

“Pretty girl.”

“Mine– all mine.”

Sophie’s responding whines were barely intelligible needy sounds, asking for more, gasping his name. Luca slowed and grabbed her hips, realizing he was getting too close too quickly. She whined and bucked back into him.

“Let me take my time with you. Want you to feel good.”

“It would feel better if you moved,” she groaned, breathless but voice still full of attitude. He laughed in surprise, grinning.

“Heard,” he responded with a groan as he thrust back inside of her, harder. His hand slid down between them and he rubbed his thumb gently down, between her lips, over her clit, causing her to gasp and arch against him. He groaned and sped up, thumb moving faster, urging her towards her release before he found his own.

It didn’t take long for Sophie to clench around him, moaning his name out. And he followed her, leaning forward to bury his face in her neck as he thrust into her one last time.

---

Luca tried to sneak out of bed without waking Sophie but she sighed and rolled over, looking up at him with bleary eyes.

“Off to work?” she asked, voice still rough from sleep. She had propped herself up on an elbow to talk to him.

He nodded. “Go back to sleep,” he responded quietly, his hand reaching out to gently run through her hair. “I’ll be back in the afternoon.”

She grabbed his hand in her own and she pulled it to her mouth and kissed his palm. “Have a nice day,” she said, sleepily as she let his hand go. She laid back down with a sigh, burrowing back into the blankets.

Luca felt his chest warm. He had the urge to call in sick and spend the day with Sophie. Seeing her in his bed made the prospect of spending 8 hours away from her seem like torture. But he knew he was only working one more day and the rest of the week they’d spend together. So he turned to leave, a smile on his face at the thought of her in his apartment. Having her to come home to.

---

“Luca, your girl has you off your game,” Alex, Luca’s sous chef said to him in Danish as Luca put down the plate he was holding. Luca grabbed the tweezers so he could start plating the dish for the third time.

“Sorry, chef,” he sighed.

“No– I’m happy for you. You should leave early. We’ll be fine without you.”

“Especially if you keep messing things up,” Tess chimed in, grinning at him. He shook his head as he finally finished plating the dish correctly.

“We’re excited to meet her tomorrow,” Alex added as he set his own plate next to Luca’s for service. “Now get out of here.”

“Are you sure?” Luca asked, eager to leave but not wanting to ditch his colleagues. Alex laughed at him knowingly.

They kicked him out and Luca took their good natured ribbing in stride as he left.

He ran into Sophie on his way home, she was standing at a stall, speaking in stilted Danish to a man with a giant grin on his face. She was holding a bundle of sunflowers in one hand, a half eaten kanelsnegle in the other.

As Luca got closer, he realized she was asking the man about the dough for his pastry and he had already grabbed a card and was writing down notes for her.

Luca walked up and smiled as Sophie grinned widely at him in return. “Off work early?” she asked and he nodded.

“Did you learn Danish for your visit?” He smiled at her blush.

“Barely. I only learned the basics. And also how to ask for recipes. Of course."

Luca laughed.

“Oh I got you flowers,” she said, holding them out to Luca. His eyes lit up. “I saw them and thought of your tattoo and–” she stopped, cheeks still pink. “Thank you,” he smiled at her and took the flowers along with her bag so that she wouldn’t have to carry it.

“Sunflowers are my favorite too,” she said, hand reaching up to grasp his arm, thumb running over his tattoo. He pulled her to him a little tighter.

The man handed her the recipe card, telling her she should come back and he’d have new pastries the next day. She thanked him, her knowledge of Danish failing her as she tried to convey that she’d definitely be back. Luca helped her and the two set off back to their apartment.

Sophie put the sunflowers in a vase on the sill in his kitchen. “They look nice in your apartment. Sunflowers always make things brighter,” she smiled at Luca as she stepped back.

“You look nice in my apartment,” he said with a warm smile as his hands came to rest on her hips. She smiled up at him and leaned in for a kiss, her tongue teasing his lower lip, chest pressing against his. His plans of taking her for a walk around the neighborhood were pushed to the back of his mind as he picked her up and carried her to bed.

---

Luca brought Sophie to meet his friends at a chic little bar in Vesterbro. Sophie was nervous but Luca had assured her they would all get along.

Sophie anxiously fiddled with the sleeves of her sweater as they walked down a street lined with shops. The architecture helped distract her a little, the rows of buildings clumped together drew her interest, the lights from within spilled onto the slowly darkening street. There were bars and cafes and little stores. Some were closing for the night, others just opening. A steady stream of people walked down the streets. It felt alive. It reminded her a little of her old neighborhood in San Diego and she felt comforted by the surprise dose of familiarity.

They turned a corner and there seemed to be a street full of picnic tables laid out, clustered together near the adjoining businesses. A few groups of people were wandering around but two drew her eye immediately. A man with short dark hair in a blazer and a woman in a beautiful green dress had spotted them and waved them over. Sophie felt underdressed, nerves returning. Luca seemed to notice as he wrapped an arm around her back as they walked over.

“Nice to meet you Sophie, I’m Tess.” She introduced herself– in English, and pulled her into a hug. Sophie grinned and hugged her back.

Luca was embracing the man, clapping him on the back as he seemed to say something in his ear. When they stepped back, Luca introduced him as Alex. Alex pulled her into a quick hug as well.

Tess pulled her towards the bar while the two men talked.

“It’s really nice to meet you. Luca hasn’t stopped talking about you since he came back from his trip,” Tess smiled at her and Sophie tried to hide how happy that made her.

When they got up to the bar, Sophie nervously slid her notebook from her purse. She had taken notes on how to say certain things in Danish– how to order a drink at the bar was one of them.

“Did you bring translations with you?” Tess asked with a soft smile, looking over Sophie’s shoulder. Sophie blushed.

“I’ve been trying to practice but it’s hard to remember everything,” she admitted, flipping a few pages.

After Sophie ordered her drink, Tess looked over her notes and helped her practice a few phrases, complimenting her on her pronunciation. Sophie was pretty sure Tess was just being extra kind because she could hear how stilted her voice sounded. They ended up bonding over their shared love of stationery. Tess complimented her color coded highlighting system and the two talked about their college days.

They chatted about Copenhagen, Sophie learned that Tess had worked with Luca for the past three years and they had become good friends. Sophie could see why they were close, Tess was very kind and super smart.

Tess had flipped another page of her notebook curiously and looked up at Sophie with a grin. Sophie was confused for a second, unsure what she could have found until she remembered. Her cheeks burned and she grabbed the notebook back, feeling awkward. Tess laughed and grinned at Sophie. “Jeg elsker dig. It’s a good one to learn.”

Sophie had written down how to say I love you in Danish. She knew it was soon. Didn’t even think she’d use it– but something made her look it up. She did not intend to have one of Luca’s closest friends find it written down. Possibly with a pink heart drawn next to it.

Sophie groaned and put her face in her hands. Tess laughed and reached out to put a comforting hand on her arm. “Don’t worry, I think he feels the same way about you. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone he has dated before.”

Before Sophie could react to that, Luca and Alex had rejoined them and Sophie hid her notebook away quickly.

Their night was full of laughter. Tess and Alex were a lot of fun. Alex taught Sophie some Danish drinking words and told her all about Luca’s distracted day at work the day prior. Luca shoved him and the two bickered a little, making Tess roll her eyes fondly. Sophie was glad Luca had such good friends around– and happy she was able to meet them.

A few rounds of drinks later and Luca and Sophie were walking back to the train, Luca’s arm wrapped around Sophie’s waist. Sophie was talking about how much she liked Tess, she’d already followed her online and Tess gave Sophie a few recommendations for things to do in their last few days. Sophie was excitedly talking about a bakery Tess mentioned when Luca kissed Sophie softly on the crown of her head making Sophie’s heart race.

It was the perfect evening. Except–Sophie’s feet were starting to hurt. She had worn her cute sandals and the price of that was that her left heel had blistered. She tried to hide it but Luca noticed her favoring her right foot. He grabbed her hand to stop her from walking and squatted down in front of her. “Come on, climb up.” He patted his shoulder.

“What?” she asked, with a laugh. “A piggy back ride?”

He grinned up at her and she melted. His eyes shining from the reflected light off the street lamps, the soft smile on his face. She felt her heart skip a beat. She shook her head, smile still on her lips and walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He shifted his hands so they gripped her thighs as he stood. She wrapped her legs around his waist and clung onto his shoulders.

“We can’t have you hurting your feet. We have a lot of walking to do the next few days,” he said, voice soft and warm. She settled onto him, snuggling up to his shoulders.

“Thanks for everything,” she responded sweetly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He squeezed her thighs in reply, holding her tighter to him.

---

Their week together sped by.

Sophie had gotten along with his friends. She had already started chatting with Tess online, exchanging recipes and restaurant stories. Luca was impressed with her attempts at Danish but his friends were happy to speak with her in English. He was glad she seemed to fit in so effortlessly with the people most important to him. And every smile she sent him made him more confident in his feelings for her.

Their week was filled with exploring the city. Spending time with Sophie was fun. And he was not ready for her to leave.

He kept trying to get himself to ask her what was coming next. For them. He had been thinking about their options. About whether or not he could move to Chicago. He had even sent some feelers out to his colleagues, seeing if there might be a restaurant in need of a pastry chef.

He didn’t want to move too fast. Didn’t want to pressure Sophie when she already had so much going on in her own life. But he hadn’t felt like this about someone for so long, he didn’t want to lose her.

It was Sophie’s last night when Luca was preparing to bring up the conversation. He was surprised when Sophie got to it first.

They were sitting on his couch, Sophie’s second attempt to recreate the kanelsnegle–the Danish cinnamon roll– on his coffee table between them. She had turned to look at him, pulling her leg up under her.

She looked at him nervously before blurting, “Before I left, Mallary told me to try to imagine myself living here. To try to use the visit as a sort of test run.” She rushed to amend herself. “I know it’s early. I mean, it’s only been two months. So I don’t want to make things weird.”

Luca just grinned and shook his head, grabbing her hand in his. “No, I’ve been thinking about this too.”

“You have?” Sophie seemed to calm a little at his responding nod. “I really like it here,” she said, voice so warm and genuine that Luca felt his heart start to pound.

“You’re thinking about moving here?”

“I mean, not– not right away or anything,” she stuttered a little and Luca saw she was nervous, realized she had somehow not figured out how much he wanted her there. With him.

“I looked into moving to Chicago,” he admitted quickly. “Before you even visited. So I’ve been thinking about it too.”

Sophie looked at him in complete shock. “You did?”

“Of course I did.” And her responding smile lit up her face.

“I was so nervous to bring it up,” she admitted. “I mean, I do still want to take more time before we decide on anything. But I really like it here. In Copenhagen. And with you.”

Luca felt his heart skip a beat as she looked up at him with a shy smile. He leaned forward to kiss her sweetly. “I’d love you to move here, Sophie. But if you decide you want to stay in Chicago, I would move there instead.”

She smiled and shifted onto her knees so that she could get closer. She climbed onto his lap and kissed him, fingers tangling into his hair. He pulled away, hand cupping her cheek gently, needing her to understand what she meant to him. “I’d follow you anywhere, love.”

Jeg elsker dig. It was too soon to say it. But she could feel it– where this was headed. And suddenly she knew he must feel it too.

#chef luca x reader #the bear fanfic #the bear

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