#this is sarcasm if u couldn’t tell
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mackonfire · 8 months ago
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ah how I love crying at school
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theredch3rry · 13 days ago
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I think it’s really funny when everyone focuses on the smaller unimportant or really obvious details instead of the actually plot changing ones… it makes explaining everything so much fun!
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ghostlycamil4 · 3 months ago
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𝐵𝑎𝑘𝑢𝑔𝑜: 𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑊𝑒'𝑟𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒
a lil something soft and chaotic: bakugo wakes up convinced ur pregnant… just because he dreamed it. it’s exactly as unhinged and sweet as it sounds, hope u enjoy this one 🕸️ ghostly tag guide
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Bakugo jolted awake, heart hammering in his chest like he’d been running. Sweat clung to his forehead—cold, sticky—and his breathing was ragged. His mouth was dry, throat tight with a mix of anxiety and a strange kind of euphoria he couldn’t explain yet. He blinked several times, trying to focus in the dim light of the room. The clock read 3:48 a.m.
He stared at you for several seconds, swallowing hard, eyes burning with intensity.
He couldn’t hold back. He lifted a trembling hand and gently placed it on your shoulder.
"T/n…" he whispered, his voice still rough with sleep. He gave you a gentle shake, like he didn’t want to break something fragile.
You didn’t respond.
He frowned, and this time shook you a little harder.
"T/n, wake up!"
You let out a sleepy groan, frowning, shifting under the blankets.
"Katsuki… stop," you murmured, voice raspy and soaked in sleep.
"Wake up. I need to tell you something."
"Katsuki…" you huffed, barely cracking your eyes open. "Are you serious right now? It’s three in the morning…"
"I know, damn it, I know. But I can’t wait," he said, with more force than he meant to. He sat up beside you, elbows resting on his knees, back tense.
You sighed, annoyed, voice dragging as you forced your eyes open.
"It better be good…" you muttered, propping yourself up on one elbow, hair tangled and falling into your sleepy face.
Bakugo swallowed. His eyes were shining with something different… emotion, anxiety, a flicker of fear.
"Listen… I think it happened."
You frowned.
"What happened?"
"You are."
"I’m what?"
And then he blurted it out, like the words had punched their way out of his chest.
"You’re pregnant."
You stared at him, unblinking.
"You’re insane," you said, starting to roll over and settle back under the covers. But then you heard him.
"I dreamt about him! I dreamt about the baby!"
You froze, your hand halfway to the blanket.
"You what?"
Bakugo leaned in toward you, eyes wide, lit up—so intense it almost scared you.
"Yeah. I dreamt you had this big belly. You looked gorgeous. You were walking around the house, laughing… I swear to god, it felt so real. Then… I was holding him. A boy. He had my hair. And his eyes… they were like yours and mine. He was so warm. I felt it. I fucking felt it, Y/n!"
This wasn’t the Bakugo who made fun of his own emotions. It wasn’t the one who hid his feelings behind grunts and sarcasm. This was someone else—hopeful. Raw.
And then you got it.
It had been seven months of trying. Seven months of tests, calendars, anxiety at every delay, quiet tears with every negative. And now him… he was convinced he felt it. That something, somehow, was already growing inside you.
"Get up," he said firmly, reaching for your hand. "Take a test."
"Right now?"
"Yeah. I can’t sleep ‘til I know. Please."
The bathroom light hit you hard. You walked barefoot across the cold tile, Bakugo close behind. Your hands trembled as you pulled the test from the drawer. He kept his distance while you did what you had to, and then you both waited.
Now it was you leaning against the wall, arms crossed, biting the inside of your cheek to keep from getting your hopes up. Bakugo held the test in his hand, staring at it like he could will it to answer faster.
"It’s not gonna go any quicker just because you’re starin’ at it," you muttered, trying to cut the tension, though your voice cracked more than you wanted.
He didn’t answer at first. Just stood there, still. When he finally looked down at the test… everything went quiet.
You straightened, tense.
"Katsuki…?"
He blinked. Slowly lowered the test and looked at you. For the first time since you stepped into the bathroom, he let out a deep breath. Then looked at the tiny device again… and turned it toward you.
Two lines.
Clear. Bold. Undeniable.
"It’s there," Bakugo said softly. Almost a whisper. But his voice didn’t shake. There was no doubt. Just emotion, thick in his throat, on the edge of breaking.
Your knees buckled. You brought a hand to your mouth, eyes going wide.
"Are you serious?"
He nodded, eyes shining.
"Two lines, Y/n. Two fuckin’ lines."
And then you laughed. A choked laugh that sounded more like a sob, tumbling from your lips as your legs gave out and you slid to the cold floor. The tears spilled before you could stop them—warm, overwhelming. You covered your face with both hands.
Bakugo crouched in front of you instantly, carefully setting the test aside. His hands found yours, gently pulling them away from your face.
"Hey," he murmured, eyes locked on yours. "We did it."
You only nodded, unable to speak. You looked at him like it was the first time. Like you couldn’t believe the man in front of you—the same one who once swore he wouldn’t get attached, wouldn’t need anything more than his job—was now holding you like this, eyes burning with fierce, unspoken love.
"Told you I wasn’t insane," he added with a crooked little smile.
"You weren’t, love..." you whispered through your tears.
He held you tight, face tucked into your neck, clutching you like he still couldn’t believe it. He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. Everything had already been said.
And there, sitting on the cold bathroom floor—you, crying with joy, him barely holding back his smile—you both knew:
The dream wasn’t just a dream anymore.
It was real now.
Now you were three.
Content @ghostlycamil4 2025. Do not copy or modify.
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byhuenii · 3 months ago
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Dye Me a Lie
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Pairing Bucky Barnes x F!reader
Syonpsis You’re just a girl. an Avenger with a mind-reading gift, hair that changes when the heart breaks too loudly, and feelings for Bucky Barnes that you’ve done everything to bury. But the silence between you is loud. Misread glances, inside jokes that don’t feel like yours, and insane jealousy. He doesn't know how to love you. You’re not sure how to stop.
Word Count 9.5k
Tags + Warnings MISCOMMUNICATION. Warnings emotional repression, heartbreak, unspoken mutual pining, JEALOUSY, identity struggle, suppression of feelings, mild combat scenes, brief injury mention (non-graphic), sarcasm, mental health undertones (burnout, escapism via hair symbolism), language (mild), crying (a lot of it tbh), healing, deep character vulnerability. SEMI TOWER FIC AY AY AY! Not proofread lmfao
Readers playlist/Songs mentioned “I Like U” — NIKI “Normal Girl” — SZA “Party 4 You” — Charli XCX “Love Me Not” — Ravyn Lenae “Get You” — Daniel Caesar “Ribs” — Lorde
— Dye Me a Lie a girl going through everything with hair dye
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You were just a girl.
That was the line you repeated in your head like a mantra. It sounded simple, grounding, honest. It helped keep you tethered when the world around you spun too fast, when your mind stretched too far into thoughts that didn’t belong to you, when the ache in your chest sharpened from unspoken feelings that had nowhere to go.
A girl. That was all.
You weren’t a god, or a super soldier, or a billionaire in a flying suit. You didn’t control the elements or conjure magic from your fingertips. You weren’t anyone’s chosen anything. You were born with a mind that never shut up, honed in the field to be quick, quiet, deadly. Your talents have earned you a place on the team. Your training made sure you stayed there.
But you were still just a girl.
Just a girl who couldn’t stop noticing the way Bucky Barnes stirred his coffee like it had done something to him personally. Just a girl who couldn’t help but flinch every time he smiled at Natasha like she was the only person in the room.
Just a girl who knew how to bury feelings, but didn’t know how to kill them.
Today had started like any other. Mission debrief at 0700. Training drills by 0900. Bruised ribs by 0935.
And now? Lunch in the compound cafeteria, pretending like everything inside you wasn’t unraveling one look at a time.
Sam sat across from you, slapping his tray down like a man without a single ounce of subtlety. “You’re gonna stare a hole through him, y’know.”
You didn’t even try to pretend. “Who?”
Sam gave you a long, slow blink. “Seriously?”
You followed his gaze. Bucky, in the corner. His hair pulled back, dressed down in a soft black tee, sleeves pushed up to the elbows. Standing next to Natasha — again.
It was the way they leaned into each other. Comfortable. Familiar. Easy.
You tore your eyes away, heart twisting like it wanted to hide.
Sam didn’t tease this time. He just watched you quietly.
“Don’t,” you whispered.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
You forked a piece of food you couldn’t taste. The buzz of thoughts around you was white noise. Background static. None of them mattered. None of them reached you, because all you could feel was the weight of something that hadn’t even happened.
He didn’t look at you like that.
He never had.
And God, you wished you could shut that part of yourself off. The one that kept hoping anyway.
You had read his mind once. Years ago. On accident. Or maybe on purpose — you couldn’t tell anymore. It was right after a mission, blood still drying under your nails. You’d reach for him when he looked like he might collapse, tried to ground him with your voice, your presence — and your power slipped.
There was nothing there.
Just silence.
A wall of steel, reinforced by years of training, trauma, pain. Not just unreadable — unreachable.
You never tried again.
Since then, Bucky has been kind. Polite. Distant.
And you? You filled the space between you with wishes and wariness, and wore your feelings like armor you couldn’t take off.
You were still watching him when he glanced over.
Just a flicker. A second.
Your eyes met.
His brows twitched. His lips parted like he was about to say something.
Then Natasha nudged him, and he looked away.
You turned back to your tray and tried not to look like you were falling apart.
Sam exhaled softly. “So. Still think they’re just friends?”
“I don’t know,” you said. “Does it matter?”
“Only if you keep looking at him like that.”
You laughed, short and humorless. “I’m not looking at him like anything.”
Sam arched an eyebrow. “Lying to a telepath is one thing. Lying as a telepath? Bold move.”
You didn’t answer. You didn’t have to.
Silence stretched between you. Companionable, at least. Sam didn’t push, and you didn’t explain. He just peeled the label off his water bottle and you picked at your food until the moment passed.
Later, when you walked the halls of the compound alone, you thought about what Sam said. You thought about the way Bucky looked at Natasha, and the way he didn’t look at you. You thought about the quiet.
You wondered if he would ever notice you the way you wanted him to.
You told yourself again: you were just a girl.
But you didn’t believe it as much this time.
You’d trained for this.
The sparring. The infiltration. The telepathic silence. The part where your heart learned to harden so your body could do what it was told.
But you hadn’t trained for being paired with Bucky Barnes for a two-week stealth recon mission in the middle of nowhere. Alone. Just the two of you.
No Natasha. No Steve. No emotional buffer or easy distraction.
And no escaping proximity.
It was a Stark-funded, S.H.I.E.L.D.-monitored “contain and assess” op on a black site suspected of trafficking experimental tech. Simple in theory. Dangerous in practice. Which is why they sent in two of the most capable people they had.
Unfortunately for you, those people were you — and Bucky.
“Try not to kill each other,” Sam had said with a smirk before you boarded the jet.
You didn’t even have it in you to glare at him. Not when your stomach was already doing cartwheels from the weight of Bucky’s quiet presence at your side.
He hadn’t said much since the briefing. A few nods. One “copy that.” A slight brush of his hand against yours when you passed him a file — accidental, definitely, and burned into your memory like wildfire.
The silence between you was deafening, but not cold.
Worse — it was careful.
The safehouse was tucked between jagged cliffs and dense forest, half-crumbled but wired with J.A.R.V.I.S. security. Two rooms. One bath. Zero excuses not to talk.
You unpacked your gear in silence, sorting through blades and dampening cuffs like they could distract you from how much you felt him behind you. How the hum of his brain — always too quiet to read — still managed to fill the room like fog.
You were hyper-aware of him. The way he moved. The way he didn’t speak unless spoken to. The way his shirt clung to his back as he adjusted the surveillance monitors, flexing with the motion.
You hated yourself a little bit for noticing.
“Dinner?” he asked, finally breaking the silence.
You blinked, startled. “What?”
He looked over his shoulder. “You need food. Fuel. We both do.”
You stared for a beat too long. “Yeah. Right. Fuel.”
Fuel. Not a shared moment. Not anything.
Just survival.
Dinner was quiet. Rice, lentils, and a hard-boiled egg each, like this was prison and not a recon site. You sat across from him at the makeshift table, chewing slowly, watching him when you thought he wasn’t looking.
You thought you were being subtle. You always thought that.
“You okay?” he asked, not looking up.
Your fork froze mid-bite. “What?”
He glanced up then, eyes meeting yours.
You froze under the weight of it — not the blue, not the sharpness. The softness. The question behind the question.
“I’m fine,” you lied, because it was muscle memory by now.
He nodded. “Just seemed… off.”
You shrugged. “Guess I’m just not used to silence.”
A beat.
Then he surprised you.
“You always seemed quiet to me.”
You blinked. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
His lips twitched — not quite a smile, but something close. “Fair.”
You hated how much that tiny expression meant to you. Like it was proof of something you didn’t have the words for.
The next few days passed in patterns.
Surveillance. Night shifts. Radio intercepts. Late-night debriefs in low voices, shoulder-to-shoulder in front of screens flickering with static.
You began to move in rhythm — clearing rooms in tandem, anticipating each other’s body language, syncing like you were meant to do this forever. Like your minds were linked even if he was locked to your power.
You didn’t need to read Bucky’s mind to feel it — the pull. The glances held a second too long. The silence before he said your name. The way his eyes softened when he thought you weren’t looking.
But he never acted on it. Never stepped past that invisible line.
And so, neither did you.
At night, you lay awake in your bunk, replaying every moment. Every almost. Every look that could mean something — or nothing.
You hated the uncertainty. Hated how much you ached for clarity. For closeness.
And the worst part?
You were starting to think you weren’t imagining it.
It all fell apart on the fifth night.
You were coming back from a perimeter check, soaked from the rain, hoodie clinging to your skin, hair plastered to your face. You hadn’t spoken in hours. The mission had been tense — too quiet, too many variables.
You walked through the door, and Bucky was waiting.
His eyes scanned you instantly. The way your shoulders slumped. The way your hands trembled. He stood without a word, grabbing a towel from the rack and moving toward you like instinct.
He reached out — but paused.
Hold it there. Between you.
You took it slowly, fingers brushing his.
“Thanks,” you said, voice barely above a whisper.
He didn’t move away.
His eyes searched yours like they were trying to read a language he never learned.
You swallowed. “What?”
“Why do you flinch when I get close?” he asked, voice low.
You blinked. “I don’t.”
“You do.”
The towel in your hand suddenly felt too heavy.
“Is it because of Natasha?” he asked quietly. “Because if you think—”
You laughed, bitter. “I don’t think anything. You’re allowed to be close to whoever you want.”
His brows drew in. “That’s not what I—”
“I don’t need an explanation, Bucky.” You stepped back. “You don’t owe me anything.”
He stared at you like you’d just said something in a language he didn’t understand.
You wished you could explain. Wished you could say: It’s not about Natasha. It’s about how much it hurts to want you when you don’t want me.
But you didn’t say anything.
You dried your face. Turned. Walked away before he could answer.
That night, you lay awake again.
But now, his voice echoed in your mind:
“Why do you flinch when I get close?”
Because I want you too much, you thought. Because I know you don’t want me back. Because I’m just a girl — and you’ll always be Bucky Barnes.
You were avoiding him.
Not well — you trained in evasion, not subtlety — but enough that it was noticeable. You took solo shifts for recon. Ate at odd hours. Slept on the couch instead of the bunk. You had your reasons, even if they were all cowardly.
Reason #1: You couldn’t stand another almost-touch.
Reason #2: You couldn’t hear your own heart breaking every time he looked at you with concern but not want.
Reason #3: You were tired of pretending you didn’t want more.
But Bucky Barnes wasn’t oblivious. He wasn’t stupid. He noticed. And more importantly — it got to him.
He started snapping more. Being colder. Less patient in briefings. His words clipped. His tone was sharp.
You knew what he was doing. He was trying to push you into talking. You’d trained with spies — you knew a pressure point when you felt it.
But you were stubborn, too. So you pushed back by pretending it didn’t bother you.
Until it finally did.
It started in the field.
You were on a covert sweep through the eastern corridor of the compound’s target sight — the first major breach of the mission. Bucky was on point. You were covered. You’d done this a dozen times before.
Only this time, you didn’t hear his callout in time. You hesitated.
And in that second of pause — a motion sensor was tripped.
The alarm blared. You scrambled for cover. Bucky yanked you down behind a wall, a metal arm pressed hard against your chest as bullets ripped through the space you’d just been standing in.
“Jesus, focus!” he snapped.
“I was focusing—”
“You were zoning out. Again.”
The words hit harder than any shrapnel.
You stared at him, breath catching.
He didn’t let up. “This isn’t just about your feelings anymore. You could’ve gotten us both killed.”
Your hands curled into fists. “You think I don’t know that?”
“Then act like it!” His eyes burned. “Whatever’s going on with you — the distance, the cold shoulders — figure it out. Fast.”
That was it. The spark. The break.
You shoved him back. “You don’t get to lecture me about distance.”
His mouth opened. “What—?”
“You think I’ve been distant? Try looking in a mirror, Barnes.” You weren’t yelling — but it was close. “You’ve been keeping me at arm’s length for months. Smiling at Natasha like she’s the only one who gets you. Acting like I’m invisible unless we’re on a mission.”
He looked stunned. Not by your anger — but by the words.
You kept going. “I’ve watched you look at her like she matters. Like she’s something to hold onto. I get it. She’s perfect. She gets you. I’m just—”
“Don’t.”
You blinked. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t put words in my mouth. Or feelings.”
You stared at him, trembling. “You didn’t have to say anything, Bucky. I see it.”
He stepped toward you — too close. “You think me being close to Nat means I don’t care about you?”
“You’ve never once given me a reason to think you do.”
The silence that followed was worse than the shouting.
And then — his voice dropped.
“I notice you, y’know.”
You froze.
His tone was different now. Quieter. Angrier. Not at you — at himself.
“I notice when you laugh at things no one else hears. I notice when you change the way you move depending on who’s in the room. I notice the way your eyes stay on the exit, always calculating. And yeah — I noticed you stopped sitting next to me. Stopped smiling. Stopped trying.”
You didn’t breathe.
“I thought…” He swallowed. “I thought you were pulling away because I made you uncomfortable. Because I said or did something wrong. I didn’t know it was because you thought I didn’t care.”
Your voice came out small. “Do you?”
His jaw clenched. “Every damn day.”
Your heart squeezed. “Then why—”
“Because I didn’t think I was allowed to.” His voice cracked, barely audible. “You don’t even let me in.”
“That’s rich,” you whispered. “Coming from the guy I can’t even read.”
He blinked. You hadn’t meant to say that. It just slipped — years of restraint breaking open like a fault line.
You stepped back, eyes stinging. “I tried. Once. After Sokovia. You were shut off. So I shut off, too.”
Bucky’s expression cracked right down the middle.
The mission was still live. The alarms had died, but the consequences hadn’t. You both knew it. Still, neither of you moved.
“I didn’t know,” he said.
You nodded. “I didn’t want you to.”
A beat. Two.
Then he spoke again.
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
And finally — finally — something in you broke.
Tears burned your eyes. You didn’t let them fall. You just nodded again. Swallowed the hurt. Pressed it down into the same box where you kept all the almosts.
“I know,” you said.
And this time, you were the one who walked away.
The mission ended three days later.
No casualties. Data secured. A win on paper — but you didn’t feel victorious. You felt emptied out. Like a building left standing after a fire, charred beams and all.
You barely spoke to Bucky on the ride back. Just gave your report, nodded when needed, and stared out the quinjet window like the sky had answers you didn’t.
He didn’t try to talk to you either. And maybe that hurt worst of all.
You didn’t mean to dye your hair. Not really.
It wasn’t even premeditated. You got home, stood in the shower for forty-five minutes, and when you looked in the mirror, you didn’t recognize yourself.
You didn’t look heartbroken. You looked fine. And that made you furious.
So you drove to the nearest drugstore in sweats and sunglasses, grabbed whatever boxes your hands landed on, and spent the rest of the night in your bathroom.
Pink. Brown. Cream. Strawberry. Chocolate. Vanilla.
By sunrise, your hair was a swirling mess of Neapolitan.
It wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t delicate. It was loud and bright and stupid and so obviously the kind of thing someone does when they’re trying not to cry again.
You stared at yourself. A stranger in the mirror — but one who looked closer to you than the “fine” version did.
This was your war paint. This was your screw it hair. This was your “I’m still here and I feel too much and I don’t know how to stop” signal.
Wanda came by first. She didn’t ask, just hugged you like you were made of glass and said:
“You look powerful.” And that almost made you cry.
Sam was next.
He walked into the rec room, did a full double take, and then grinned like a menace.
“Alright, Neapolitan. Who broke your heart and where’s the body?”
You threw a pillow at him. He dodged. Barely.
“I’m fine,” you said, which fooled no one.
Then came Bucky.
You hadn’t expected him to be in the common area. You especially hadn’t expected to run right into him while balancing a cup of hot tea and your frayed dignity.
He stopped cold when he saw you.
You froze, too.
His eyes scanned your face — and then your hair. You could see the exact moment it registered. His jaw tensed. His expression softened in the same breath.
“You changed your hair,” he said quietly.
You blinked. “Good observation, Barnes.”
A pause.
“I like it,” he added.
You scoffed. “You don’t even know what it means.”
His voice dropped. “Try me.”
You didn’t say anything. You didn’t have to.
Because in that second, he looked at you — really looked — and you saw it in his face: He got it.
He saw the war you’d been fighting with yourself. The colors you’d wrapped around your grief. The piece of your identity you’d painted just loud enough for someone to finally notice.
And maybe — maybe — he’d start noticing more than just your hair.
You started keeping your door closed again.
Not locked — because that would mean you were trying. Closing was enough. Closed said “I’m here, but don’t.” It said you were keeping it together.
It said:
“This room is Switzerland. No one gets in unless I let them.”
The team noticed. Of course they did. You were never the aloof one. You were the one who asked how people liked their coffee. Who made dumb nicknames. Who wore three different colors in your hair like it was armor.
And now? Now, you weren’t even you.
Wanda didn’t push. She just brought takeout and sat near you with music playing low and didn’t say anything about your red-rimmed eyes. Sam made sure to crack jokes loud enough for you to laugh at from the hallway. Tony upgraded your room tech. You didn’t ask. He didn’t mention it.
Clint just looked at you once over breakfast and went,
“Ah. That kind of heartbreak.” Then handed you the last donut. No questions asked.
But Bucky? Bucky was quiet.
He didn’t come to your room. Didn’t seek you out. But he also… didn’t keep his distance. Not really.
Because suddenly — suddenly — he and Nat were everywhere.
Laughing low near the mission board. Whispering in the hallway. Sitting close during briefings.
You told yourself it was nothing. They were old friends. Partners in the field. Comfortable.
But then you saw the way he looked at her — the kind of soft familiarity that you didn’t have. The kind you’d wanted.
And it broke something in you that hadn’t been cracked before.
You didn’t confront him. You just… vanished.
Not physically. You still showed up to train. To plan. You spoke when spoken to. You were competent. You were a professional.
But emotionally? You shut every door.
You stopped making jokes. Stopped sitting at the kitchen counter in the morning where he always found you. You avoided any room he was in longer than necessary.
And when he said “Hey” once in the hall, testing the waters, your “Hi” came out cold enough to frost a window.
He didn’t try again after that.
“Y’know,” Sam said one night, flopping onto your couch, “you’re allowed to be pissed.”
You didn’t look up from your screen. “I’m not pissed.”
“You’re right. You’re livid.”
You sighed. “He can do what he wants.”
Sam tilted his head. “But can you?”
That shut you up.
You thought it would stop hurting. It didn’t.
Because every time he laughed at something she said, a tiny part of you splintered. Every quiet smile he gave her felt like another door slammed in your face. And the worst part?
You weren’t even mad at her.
She was kind. Brilliant. Brave. She deserved the world.
You were just… a girl. A mind reader. A combat expert. A bleeding heart with Neapolitan hair and no one looking.
So you distanced yourself harder.
And that’s when Bucky noticed. Noticed in a way that made him ache.
Because you weren’t just cold — you were gone. You didn’t laugh around him. Didn’t look him in the eye. Didn’t even think toward him anymore.
You just became… quiet.
And that silence? It haunted him.
You didn’t mean to dye it again.
But Neapolitan started to feel… childish. Loud in a way that didn’t protect you anymore. It didn’t say, “I’m healing.” It said, “I’m stuck.” And you were tired of being stuck.
So you dyed it at 3AM, half-asleep and half-desperate, staring at the dye boxes like they were mood rings.
You picked black, copper, and blonde.
Messy. Bold. Uneven. A little wild.
Calico.
A patchwork of colors that didn’t make sense to anyone but you. A kaleidoscope of chaos. But this time, there was no symbolism spelled out. This time, it was messy on purpose.
Sam took one look the next morning and raised a brow.
“So we’re in our feral girl era, huh?”
You sipped your coffee. “Apparently.”
Bucky didn’t comment at all. Just stared. Longer than he should’ve. Then looked away like it burned.
He finally cornered you in the gym. No audience. No mission. No excuses.
You were mid-set, gloves on, sweat slick on your brow, and there he was — standing like an apology without a mouth.
“Are you ignoring me forever?”
You didn’t pause. “I’m not ignoring you.”
He tilted his head. “Could’ve fooled me.”
You slammed the gloves into the mat and stood.
“Do you want a fight?” you snapped.
His brow furrowed. “No. I want to talk.”
You exhaled, sharp. “About what? You and Nat? About how I’m supposed to smile while you two play secret spy whisper games and pretend like it doesn’t feel like knives every time I walk into a room?”
He looked like you slapped him. “It’s not like that—”
“Then explain it, Barnes.”
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “She’s helping me with something. It’s not— I didn’t know it looked like that.”
“You didn’t know?” Your voice cracked. “You didn’t know it would hurt watching you give someone else the softness I wanted from you?”
He went still.
You took a breath, voice quieter now. “I’m not mad you’re close to her. I’m mad you didn’t even notice it was breaking me.”
Then — the worst part.
He stepped closer. Guilt written across every inch of him. “I didn’t mean to push you away. I was scared.”
You blinked. “Of what?”
“Of you. Of how much I care. Of the fact that you look at me like I’m someone worth loving and I don’t— I don’t know if I can be that.”
Silence.
For a moment, it almost sounded like honesty. Almost felt like something soft was trying to bloom.
But then he added, “And I didn’t think it was fair to ask you to love someone like me.”
And that?
That undid it.
You flinched. “Then you should’ve left me alone. Instead of giving me almost.”
He froze.
“I would've almost taken the silence over.”
And you walked past him. Left him in the echo of his own cowardice.
Sam found him twenty minutes later.
Didn’t ask. Just threw a towel at him and said:
“You messed that up real good.”
Bucky didn’t respond.
Sam continued. “You don’t get to be scared and selfish. Pick one.”
Bucky’s jaw clenched.
“She was finally pulling herself together,” Sam said. “Then you hit her with just enough hope to wreck her all over again.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“No one ever does,” Sam cut in. “But it still hurts the same.”
Silence stretched.
Then Sam looked him dead in the eye.
“You want her back? Do better. Or let her go for real.
You don’t shut down. You evolve.
That’s the worst part.
You don’t cry in corners anymore. Don’t hide away or stay quiet. You show up. You spar again. You make breakfast and snarky comments and laugh like nothing’s wrong. You’re back to being the one who can level Tony with a single dry remark, who can out-quip Sam, who makes Wanda snort-laugh during debriefings.
You’re fine.
You’re so fine, it’s starting to terrify the people closest to you.
Because your hair is still calico — wild, a little chaotic, like it doesn’t care — but you’re brushing it like you’ve got nothing to hide.
And that? That means you’re hiding everything.
Bucky notices. But it’s too late.
You’re friendly. Polite. You greet him when necessary. You hold doors open. You speak during missions.
But you don’t look at him like you used to.
No soft eyes. No quiet smiles. No mental whispers of “please just say something.” You treat him like anyone else.
Like he’s no one special.
And it kills him.
Because he still looks at you like you hung constellations in the sky and he forgot how to read them. Because now that he knows what it felt like to almost have you, the silence is unbearable.
But you?
You just keep going.
“Thinking of changing it again?”
It’s late. You’re on the rooftop with Sam and Wanda, drinking something hot, watching the city glitter below.
Your fingers tug at a copper strand, thoughtful. “Maybe. I’ve been thinking red. Like cherry soda red.”
Wanda hums. “You only go red when you want someone to notice.”
You smirk. “Well, someone should.”
Sam glances sideways. “Are you trying to make someone jealous again?”
You exhale slowly. “No. I’m trying to forget someone who didn’t choose me.”
They don’t say anything after that. They don’t have to.
He tries again — too late, too little.
You’re walking back to your room when you see him — leaning against the wall like he’s been waiting.
He doesn’t speak right away.
You stop a few feet away, arms crossed. “If this is another almost-apology—”
“It’s not,” he says quickly. “I just… I wanted to ask how you’ve been.”
You blink. “Seriously?”
He frowns. “I mean it.”
You smile — sharp, not soft. “I’ve been incredible. My hair looks like fire, I’ve been sleeping eight hours, and I haven’t cried over you in at least a week.”
His jaw twitches.
You tilt your head. “Anything else?”
He wants to say yes. You see it in him. He wants to say everything. But he doesn’t.
And that’s when you know: he’s still scared.
You nod once, like that’s all the closure you’ll ever get. “Good talk, Barnes.”
Then you walk away.
The breaking starts small.
Wanda sees it first — in the way you stare at your own reflection like it’s a stranger you’ve almost learned how to mimic. In the way your laugh is just a little too loud, a little too sharp.
“You know he looks at you like he’s drowning,” she says one day, mixing dye with gentle hands.
You shrug. “Let him. I already swam to shore.”
She hums. “And yet you’re still dyeing your hair over him.”
You look down.
The bowl is full of warm brown and honey blonde.
Less armor. Less noise. More… you. But the kind of you who wants to be chosen. The kind of you who wants someone to say,
“I see you, even when you’re quiet. Especially then.”
When she finishes, you blink at the mirror. You look soft. Normal.
You look like a girl who wants to be loved. Not survived.
Sam doesn’t ask. He just throws an arm around you.
He finds you in the common room, staring out the window like you’re trying to read omens in the traffic.
“You okay?” he says.
You nod.
He hums. “Liar.”
You smile — brittle. “Getting better at that.”
He squeezes your shoulder. “Don’t get too good. We need the honest version of you around.”
You nod, trying not to cry.
He pauses. “You know he’s gonna show up too late, right?”
Your throat tightens.
Sam looks at you with soft, clear eyes.
“Don’t let him take the best parts of you with him.”
Tony’s advice is sharp, but not unkind.
“You’re not hard to love,” he tells you, passing you your tablet.
You blink. “What?”
“You’re not hard to love. He’s just bad at directions.”
“…I don’t—”
Tony sighs. “Look, kid. People like us — we shine weird. And some people need a damn map to find the light.”
You look down.
He pats your shoulder, softer now. “Someone will find you and say, ‘There you are.’ Not ‘What do you do’ or ‘Who did you save.’ Just… you.”
And Clint? He hits you where it hurts, but it’s exactly what you needed.
You’re sitting beside him on the roof, legs swinging over the edge.
He doesn’t look at you when he says it.
“I saw you pull away,” he murmurs. “From him. From yourself.”
You sniff. “Wasn’t my choice.”
“No,” he says. “But it’s your choice now.”
You turn.
Clint finally looks at you.
“You don’t have to be the cool one. The unbothered one. The just-a-girl one. You’re allowed to want something. Even if it scares him.”
You blink fast.
He adds, “And you’re allowed to walk away if he never stops being scared.”
But when the collapse comes, it’s because of him.
Because Bucky sees your hair and something in him shatters.
You look soft. New. Real.
You look like someone trying.
And it kills him. Because he knows it’s not for him anymore.
But he still tries. God, he still tries.
“You dyed it again,” he says, voice raw.
You don’t look at him. “Yeah.”
“You look—”
“Don’t.”
That shuts him up.
You turn, eyes bright with too much. “Don’t you dare say something kind. Not after what you didn’t say.”
He stares. You stare back.
Then you break.
“You made me feel crazy,” you whisper. “Like I was seeing things that weren’t there. Like I was asking too much for wanting someone to choose me back.”
He’s quiet.
You laugh bitterly. “I changed everything about myself trying to be easier to love. Calico hair, Neapolitan, brown with gold — none of it made you see me.”
Then your voice cracks.
“I would’ve loved you with everything I had.”
And he— He finally breaks, too.
“I know,” he chokes. “I know. And I’m sorry. I was scared. You make me want to be someone I’m not sure I can be.”
You step back.
“That’s not my problem anymore.”
He flinches.
You add, softer now, “But I hope one day it’s not yours either.”
And you walk away.
It starts with a song.
It’s nearly midnight. You’re stretched out on the floor of your room, headphones on, staring up at the ceiling fan spinning slowly. Your new hair — soft brown with streaks of honey — is spread out across the floor like it’s trying to be gentle with you.
“I wish I was a normal girl...” —SZA in your ears.
You close your eyes and breathe in the sound.
You’ve never been normal. Not with your powers. Not with the chaos in your chest. Not with the way you feel everything is too hard, too much, too loud.
But for three minutes and twenty-eight seconds, you pretend you are. You imagine a life where love isn’t complicated. Where Bucky Barnes isn’t a question mark branded into your ribs.
You picture someone — anyone — choosing you without flinching.
Then the next track rolls in.
“We can talk it so good…We can make it so divine” —Lorde, sharp, aching.
You laugh under your breath.
Because yeah. You still like him. You’re just done bleeding for it.
The mission comes at just the right time.
It’s a low-stakes one: intel retrieval, some clean-up, a detour through Prague. You go with Sam and Wanda. Just the three of you — the trio of the “don’t-ask-me-about-Bucky” club.
Wanda notices immediately. “You’re smiling more.”
You stretch your arms, crack your back. “I’m emotionally reborn.”
Sam snorts. “You say that like you didn’t cry to a Charli XCX remix two nights ago.”
You grin. “It was ‘Party 4 You’. Show some respect.”
“and crying to Lorde?” Sam raised an eyebrow a small smirk at the corner, 
“That counts plus it was ribs!” You scoffed light, “and don't act like you didnt cry either sam!”
Wanda rolls her eyes, but you catch the way she watches you carefully — how she’s waiting to see if you’ll fall apart again.
You don’t.
Even when a group of Hydra stragglers trap you in a narrow alley, even when your comms buzz with static, even when Wanda loses line of sight — You still don’t break.
You let your fists talk. You let your mind twist one of their thoughts into mush just long enough for Sam to dive in from above.
You’re fast. Efficient. Ruthless.
But you’re also laughing by the end of it — bloodied but breathing, alive.
Sam claps you on the back. “There’s my girl.”
And something in you eases. Because yeah.
Maybe you’re still aching. Still haunted by a pair of stupid blue eyes. But you're still you.
And that’s something.
Coming home is harder.
Bucky doesn’t say anything when you walk through the compound doors.
But he looks.
Hard.
You don’t meet his gaze. You joke with Tony, high-five Client, make fun of Sam’s flying posture.
But when you pass him — your shoulder brushing his just slightly — you feel it
That familiar pull.
The yearning hasn’t left.
It’s just quieter now.
You listen to one more song that night.
You’re in your room, hair still damp from a long shower, skin smelling like lavender and fire.
“I only threw this party for you…” —Charli XCX again, soft and glittering in your headphones.
You stare at yourself in the mirror.
Not a normal girl.
Not his girl.
Just a girl.
And somehow, that’s enough. At least for tonight.
It starts with silence.
He doesn’t say your name. He just shows up at your door at 2:17 a.m., soaked from rain, like the universe itself couldn’t keep him away.
You don’t open it at first. You stand on the other side, forehead pressed against the wood.
Your heart’s thudding. Loud.
He knocks again.
“Do you love me or love me not?” The lyric filters through your Bluetooth speaker, too soft to blame but too honest to ignore.
You open the door. And there he is — raw and real and ruined.
“Can I talk to you?” His voice cracks. He swallows. “Please.”
You say nothing. Just step aside.
He doesn’t look at you at first. He just paces. Wet boots on hardwood. Dripping guilt across your room like it’s a confession.
“I keep seeing you in every corner of this place,” he says. “And it kills me that I don’t know how to reach you anymore.”
You stay quiet.
He runs a hand through his hair, frustrated. “I messed it up. I know I messed it up. But you have to understand, I didn’t know what to do with what I felt.”
You flinch. “So you ignored it?”
He stops pacing.
You whisper, throat caught in a ball “Or did you just ignore me?”
His jaw tightens. “I didn’t think I deserved it. You. Any of it.”
You let out a small, tired laugh. “That’s the thing, Bucky. You don’t get to decide that for me.” tears threatening to spill eyes glossy.
He steps closer. The room gets smaller. The air gets louder.
“I think about you all the time,” he breathes. “When you dyed your hair brown, I thought—God, I thought I lost you. Like I finally saw you trying to be someone else because I made you feel invisible.”
You look up. “You did.”
Silence.
“Don’t you come back no more… don’t you come back at all…” Ravyn Lenae’s voice whispers in the corner.
His breath hitches. “I don’t want to lose you.”
You stare at him.
Then—quiet, calm, steady:
“Then why did you spend so long acting like I wasn’t something to hold onto?”
He doesn’t answer.
He can’t.
Because now? You’re the one walking away.
You sign up for the next mission within the hour.
High-risk, high-speed. Undercover extraction. Wanda signs on first. Then Nat.
She meets your eyes across the mission board and says nothing. Just nods — like she knows exactly why you’re doing this.
Like she knows the sound of a girl trying to outrun a heartbreak that won’t stay quiet.
Nat doesn’t hold grudges. You never did either.
She leans against the helicarrier wall before the jump, eyes on you.
“You okay?”
You nod. “I’m tired.”
She hums. “He’s trying.”
You look away. “So am I.”
Nat studies you for a long second.
Then she says, “Sometimes, trying isn’t enough.”
You almost break again.
But then Wanda walks up and slides her hand into yours — steady and sure.
“You ready?” she asks softly.
You nod. “Let’s burn it down.”
The mission is brutal. So are your thoughts.
You don’t think about him when you’re fighting. You think about breathing.
About surviving.
About being something other than a girl with a bleeding heart.
But when you’re alone, during a lull in fire, perched on the rooftop with sweat on your brow and blood on your hands—
You think about the look in his eyes when you walked away.
You think about the question that song whispered:
“Do you love me, or love me not?”
And the answer he never gave.
You come back different.
The bruises bloom yellow on your arms. Your heart’s still cracked in that delicate way — not broken, but echoing every step.
You come home to the Compound late at night, your hair tied up, hoodie too big, eyes too quiet. Wanda gives your shoulder a squeeze. Nat doesn't say much, just offers a tight smile.
You pass Bucky in the hallway. He freezes. You do too.
He looks at you like he’s about to say something. His mouth opens.
But then Nat calls his name from the common room.
And he turns away.
Again.
The laugh comes out of you sharp.
In your room, alone, you laugh bitter and quiet. Because of course. Of course.
You almost died, and he still couldn’t say anything.
You strip out of your tac suit, stare at yourself in the mirror. The brown and honey-blonde hair is still there. Still soft, still trying.
But your eyes are starting to look like someone you don’t recognize. Like a girl who doesn’t believe anymore.
He tries. But too softly.
The next day, there’s a coffee cup waiting on the kitchen counter.
It’s your order.
You know it’s from him — he’s the only one who remembers the stupid oat milk and one pump of cinnamon.
You pick it up. You sip it.
But you don’t say thank you. You don’t go looking for him. Because what’s the point of breadcrumbs when you’re starving?
Sam watches you with narrowed eyes.
“He’s a damn idiot,” he mutters.
You smile without humor. “Yeah. Well. I’m done waiting for geniuses.”
He corners you later. Too late.
In the training room. Just you, the punching bag, and the ghosts.
He walks in slowly. You feel him before you hear him. The way the air shifts. The way your ribs lock.
“I didn’t know how to say it,” he says softly.
You land another punch. And another. “Say what?”
He’s behind you now. “That I didn’t mean to make you feel invisible.”
You stop.
Turn.
You’re sweaty. Tired. Raw.
“I don’t need you to apologize for the past,” you say. “I need you to show up in the present.”
His face cracks. “I’m here now.”
You nod slowly. “But I’m not sure I am.”
You grab your bag and walk past him — shoulder brushing him again.
But this time, you don’t look back.
The final twist comes from Clint.
Later that night, Clint finds you on the roof, eating ice cream straight from the tub.
He sits next to you with a grunt.
“You know,” he says, “I’ve seen Bucky fight gods and aliens. Never seen him look more scared than when you stopped talking to him.”
You snort. “Well. He should be scared. I’m terrified.”
Clint grins. “You are. But you’re also a girl who deserves to be loved right. Loudly.”
You go quiet.
Then: “Do you think he ever will?”
Clint sighs. “I think some men have to lose the best thing in their lives before they realize it was the best thing.”
You say nothing.
The wind whips your hair around your face.
Brown and gold. Still soft. Still burning.
And that night, you dream of the sea — and you wonder what it feels like to be wanted without fear.
It starts in the hallway. Of course it does.
You're just walking. Sweatpants. Hoodie. Hair pinned back.
The kind of morning where the coffee tastes like survival, and your soul feels heavier than your bones.
And then he’s there. Bucky.
Leaning against the hallway wall like a question with no answer.
And your phone’s still playing softly through one earbud—
“Every summertime / Every now and then you cross my mind…” — and he hears it. You know he does. You both freeze.
You keep walking. He doesn’t let you pass.
He gently reaches for the earbud cord, slides it out. His hand lingers for a second too long.
You whisper, “Don’t do this if you’re not gonna finish it.”
He looks at you.
“Finish what?”
You blink hard. “This half-version of you. The breadcrumb kindness. The Almost. I’m tired.”
His voice drops to a crackling whisper. “So am I.”
You stare at him. “Then why did you wait until I changed my whole self just to survive you?”
He sees it now — the hair.
It’s midnight purple, thick and soft and unreadable.
He opens his mouth like he might ask what it means.
But I don't.
Because he doesn’t need to. Not if he’s really paying attention.
It means this:
It means longing. It means a bruised kind of hope. It means the kind of hurt that’s grown roots.
It means: you’re still here, but you’ve built a castle of silence around your heart.
He knows he can’t knock it down this time. He’ll have to ask for a key.
Later, you’re sitting on the edge of the beach.
Sunset bleeds across the sky like someone split open a ripe peach. Sam invited everyone for a “team reset” and bonfire. You're surprised when Bucky shows.
Even more surprised when he sits next to you.
Neither of you speaks.
Then: “I never told you about the first time I noticed you.”
You blink at him.
“I really noticed you.”
You raise an eyebrow. “Was it when I knocked you flat in training?”
He gives a crooked smile. “No. That was when I fell in love with you.”
Silence.
“It was the time before that. You were walking out of a mission briefing. Hair all cotton candy and chaos. I remember thinking… ‘God, she looks like she doesn’t even know she’s the most alive thing in the room.’”
You don’t respond.
Because how do you respond to that?
So you say what you’ve never said.
“Do you even know how badly you hurt me?” Your voice cracks. Just barely.
“I used to think your silence was mysterious. But it was just cowardice, wasn’t it?”
He doesn’t deny it. Just look at the water.
“I wanted you to choose me,” you whisper. “But I guess I wanted it to matter to you first.”
Bucky finally turns. Eyes full of something that looks too much like an ache.
“It did matter. I just… didn’t know how to love you in a way that didn’t end with me losing you.”
You nod slowly.
“Well. You lost me anyway.”
And still…
There’s no yelling. No grand kiss in the sand.
Just quiet.
The kind that says: We’re not fixed. But we’re not broken beyond repair either.
His fingers graze yours.
You don’t pull away.
But you don’t hold on either.
After the beach, the next morning:
You walk into the kitchen. Tony is making something suspicious with a blowtorch. Wanda’s sipping tea. Sam’s already grinning when he sees your hair.
Everyone stares.
It’s no longer calico.
Not brown with honey.
Not Neapolitan.
Not soft.
It’s midnight purple, and no one can read what it means.
Except Bucky, who finally doesn’t try to guess.
He just meets your eyes with something like understanding.
And you…?
You just sip your coffee and say, “Morning.”
Like maybe — just maybe — being “just a girl” is enough.
You don’t ignore him. But you don’t invite him in.
It’s a quiet sort of standoff.
You train with Sam. You spar with Nat. You do recon reports with Steve. Debriefs with Tony. Quiet nights with Wanda and the occasional drink with Clint.
But Bucky?
Bucky gets the version of you that’s polite, efficient, and unreadable.
You laugh at Sam’s jokes. You tease Clint. You roll your eyes at Tony.
But Bucky? You barely look at him.
And it’s killing him.
The compound feels too small sometimes.
You pass him in the hallway. You’re carrying a box of gear. He holds the door open. You nod. He doesn’t move.
Then softly:
“You’ve changed your hair again.”
“You noticed?”
“I always do.”
You say nothing. Walk past.
His voice breaks slightly.
“What does this one mean?”
You pause. Then: “If you have to ask, you’re not ready to know.”
That stings. But you mean it.
You spar with Nat one morning. She doesn’t pull her punches.
Not physically. Not emotionally.
“Y’know,” she says between strikes, “he talks about you like he’s trying not to. Which means he is.”
You duck a punch, spin her to the mat.
“Then why hasn’t he said anything?”
Nat breathes hard beneath you. “Because he’s scared. He thinks if he touches it, it’ll break.”
You get off her. Offer a hand up. “It already did.”
She takes your hand. Hold it for just a beat too long. “He doesn’t know that.”
That night, you hear him outside your room.
Not knocking.
Just standing there.
Maybe for thirty seconds. Maybe longer.
You hold your breath.
He never knocks.
He walks away.
Wanda corners you in the library.
You’re curled on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, headphones in, pretending.
She taps your shoulder. Her powers buzz against your skin gently.
“I didn’t read your mind,” she says. “But I felt it.”
You take out one earbud. “Felt what?”
“You feel like you’re one hallway away from a scream.”
You say nothing.
Wanda sits beside you, gently braiding a loose strand of purple behind your ear.
“You’re trying so hard not to hope,” she says. “But it still leaks out of you.”
You laugh, soft and bitter. “I’m tired of wanting what won’t come.”
Wanda leans her head on your shoulder. “Maybe he just hasn’t figured out how to come the right way yet.”
Mission prep. One week out. Just you, Sam, and Bucky.
Tension like a live wire.
Sam fills the space with banter, but you and Bucky keep dodging glances like they’re weapons.
During gear check, he stands too close. His hand brushes yours.
You don’t pull away.
He doesn’t apologize.
That night, you lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, wondering why almost-love hurts more than heartbreak.
Because at least heartbreak ends.
You sneak out with Wanda and Sam to sit by the water. You don’t speak.
Wanda brings wine. Sam brings music. You bring the version of you that’s holding it together.
They don’t press you. They just exist beside you.
And in the waves, under the stars, your hair catches the moonlight. Midnight purple that looks almost black, almost soft, almost real.
Sam finally says it:
“He’s drowning in you. And he doesn’t know how to swim.”
You whisper:
“I’m not asking him to. I’m just asking him to stop pretending he’s not in the water.”
It starts with your hair. Because of course it does.
You hand the dye box to Wanda without a word. Sam’s sitting backwards on a chair behind you, watching like it’s a ritual. Because it is. It always has been.
Wanda hums as she parts your hair. Her fingers are gentle, reverent. Sam starts reading the instructions even though you both know you won’t follow them.
“You sure?” Wanda murmurs, already knowing the answer.
You nod. But it’s not about the dye.
It’s about surrender. About saying: “I’ve tried everything else and I’m tired of hurting quiet.”
The color bleeds in like sunlight cracking through
It’s coral red—not firetruck, not crimson. Softer. Warmer. A glow from within. And the money pieces? Soft blonde. Like forgiveness at your temples. Like a whisper of light you didn’t think you deserved.
Wanda helps you rinse. Sam holds the towel for you. You stare in the mirror when it’s done, and for once—you don’t try to decode it.
This isn’t a message.
It’s just a version of you who finally took back her voice.
And then you see him.
You’re walking back to your room, headphones in, the chorus of “I Like U” playing like a secret you’re too tired to guard.
“I want you / I want you / I want you / I want you to have me too…”
And he’s there. Bucky. Leaning against your doorframe. Not running this time.
He sees the hair.
His mouth opens, but he doesn’t ask what it means.
He just says:
“You always change your hair when you crash. What’s this one mean?”
You sigh. Pull one earbud out. Step forward.
“It means I’m done waiting for you to catch up.”
And Bucky—finally, finally—breaks.
The confession isn’t neat. It never could be.
“You think I didn’t feel it?” he says, voice rough. “Every joke you told that I couldn’t laugh at because I was too busy memorizing the sound? Every time you walked out of the room I felt like gravity left you?”
You blink. This is too much. Or maybe it’s just enough.
He steps forward. Hands shaking. “I’ve been in love with you since the first time you looked at me like I was more than my past.”
You say nothing.
Because if you speak, the dam might break too loud.
So you do what you’ve always done: You put your headphones back in. Turn the volume up.
“I like you / I like you / I like you / Sorry I never meant to…”
And he sees it.
Take the earbud from your ear. Puts it on his own.
And just says, soft:
“Me too.”
You laugh. It cracks like thunder through silence.
“That’s it? After all that, you just—‘me too’?”
He grins. Eyes shining, ruined, real.
“What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner? That I was scared? That I thought I didn’t deserve you? I am. I was. But I’m here now.”
You look at him.
And finally, finally, you let yourself believe it.
It’s not perfect. It’s not tied with a bow.
But he takes your hand.
And this time? You hold on.
Hard.
You’re on a Quinjet again.
The seat beside you is taken—by him, now. Always by him.
Sam flies. Wanda reads. The clouds roll like waves beneath you, soft and silent.
You're on a low-stakes recon mission in Norway. Just a supply sweep. Easy. Quick.
The kind they give to agents who deserve a breath. The kind they give to people in love, who need time to just be.
You lean your head on Bucky’s shoulder. Your coral red strands fall against his black jacket. His gloved thumb traces idle shapes on your knee.
You don't talk. You don't need to.
This is peace.
And you earned it.
You land just after dusk.
The mission is routine. Wanda takes points. You and Bucky sweep the perimeter.
But there’s a moment—just before you enter the outpost—when he grabs your wrist.
“Wait.”
You blink up at him. He looks nervous.
“I just…” He clears his throat. “You’ve changed again. Not your hair. You. I mean—not changed like—God, I’m screwing this up.”
You laugh softly.
“I get it,” you say. “I feel it too.”
He exhales. Relieved.
“I just didn’t know someone could feel so much and still keep standing.”
You shrug. “I didn’t know someone could love me exactly as I am. Not as a hero. Not as a mind reader. Just...”
“Just a girl?”
“Yeah.”
And he leans in.
This time, the kiss is soft. Like rain. Like recognition.
The mission ends. But the softness stays.
Back on the jet, Sam grins but says nothing.
Wanda nudges your foot with hers and whispers, “I told you. He just didn’t know how to come the right way yet.”
You laugh.
Later, in your room, you find a note on your pillow in his handwriting:
“You were never just a girl. But I love you like one. Simply. Deeply. Without question. -B”
You tuck it under your pillow.
You let your hair fall in messy waves.
And for the first time in a long time—
You don’t wonder what the color means.
You don’t think about what people see.
You don’t need to read anyone’s mind.
Because finally, finally—
Being you is enough.
Just a girl. Just a heart. Just this.
And he chooses you anyway.
Always.
It’s late.
The compound is quiet, lights low, windows open to a summer night breeze.
You’re curled on the couch, legs across Bucky’s lap, your fingers idly playing with the cuff of his sleeve.
The TV hums with some old black-and-white movie Sam insisted you’d both like. You stopped watching ten minutes ago.
Because Bucky hasn’t stopped looking at you.
And you can feel it.
That low hum behind your ribcage. That frequency only you can hear.
So you do it.
You slip quietly into his mind—not digging, not forcing—just listening to what spills over when his guard is down and you’re close and his heart is too loud to hide.
And you hear it.
“She’s gonna see it. She always sees it. God, say something, say something—”
“I’d give her everything if I could just figure out how to say it out loud.”
“I don’t know what she sees in me but I want to be what she keeps looking for.”
“Please don’t stop looking.”
And then, softer—
“I love her. I don’t know how to not love her.”
You blink once.
Your chest aches in that way it always does when someone tells you the truth without meaning to.
He sees it—he feels it. You don’t hide the fact that you’re in there.
He reaches up, brushing your cheek gently with his thumb.
“Caught me,” he whispers, a little crooked smile on his lips. “Didn’t mean for all that to spill out.”
You lean your forehead against his.
“I’m glad it did.”
Because it’s not a grand speech. It’s not a perfect line from a movie. It’s not fireworks or confetti.
It’s just him.
Raw. Real. Yours.
And his mind is no longer a maze of doubt and silence— It’s a love letter.
One you were always meant to read.
He doesn’t say "I love you" again. He doesn’t have to.
It’s in the way he pulls you closer. The way his hand settles over your heart like he’s memorizing the rhythm.
Outside, it’s raining. The windows fog.
And in your headphones, just barely audible—
“Through drought and famine, natural disasters / My baby has been around for me…”
You press a kiss to his jaw.
And for the first time, you don’t feel like you’re too much. Or not enough.
You’re just a girl.
And for him?
That’s everything.
Wanda watches you from the hallway. Sam nods once when Bucky walks past holding your hand.
Clint mutters, “Took ‘em long enough.”
Tony raises a brow. “Called it.”
Steve? Steve just smiles quietly and doesn’t say a damn thing.Because he knows— Sometimes, the best stories take time to burn right.
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(You've got mail!) OH MY GOD IM SO NERVOUS TO POST THISS I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND I WANTED TO GET THIS DONR BEFORE MY TRIP SO ITS A LITTLE BIT OF THIS A LITTLE BIT OF THATT AND IM LIKE RAAAAA
Tags @bbsbrina
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cheriecoke · 2 months ago
Text
˚₊‧꒰ა GIRL'S NIGHT OUT ! — bucky barnes
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𝓈𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎. you go out for a girls night with yelena and ava, drink more than you can handle, and remember how much love you have in your life.
𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈. f!reader, avenger!reader, takes place between thunderbolts and post credit scene, new avengers, found family, tower fic adjacent let’s goooo, established relationship, references to depression, reader is the same age as yelena, very light moments of angst but mostly fluff, pet names (baby, sweetheart), alcohol, non-descriptive scene of vomiting, drunk!reader who is kind of a lightweight lol, bucky (+ the others hehe) take care of her, honestly idk what this is it’s kind of silly goofy — 8.3k words
𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒. making my official comeback to the mcu after a few years, i am a bit rusty pls be nice to me <3 reader is based off my self-insert/oc, who was taken in by tony when she was a teenager and he’s like her older brother. so there are mentions of that, as well as being in the og avengers. also references to her having powers but feel free to imagine them as whatever you want :) also thank u to my lovely aimsies for reading over it for me mwah!! <33
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You blinked down at your glass, feeling your vision already beginning to go in and out of focus, a camera trying to capture a moving image. But the longer you stared down at the alcohol, the more uncertain you became that the liquid was actually sloshing around the rim — the ice seemed rather stagnant. 
Perhaps it was just your head that spun.
You weren’t sure how you’d already drank enough to feel so disoriented. It was still early in the night. Moonbeams filtered through the few windows, but they were fresh, luminescent balls of light that had only just arrived. 
The club, wherever it was that Yelena had chosen to take the three of you, was obnoxiously loud, a heavy rhythm playing over the speakers. Although you’d never really minded the way music drowned out your own thoughts, the flashing, hazy lights made it difficult to focus on anything at all. 
A hand curled around your bicep, dragging your attention away from the drink below you, back towards the face of your friend. 
“Come on,” Yelena said, a laugh bubbling up out of her, choppy from the alcohol. Her accent sounded thicker, sticking harder to the syllables, as the words left her lips. “Don’t tell me you’re quitting already.” 
You made a face, but before Yelena could criticize your inability to hold your liquor any further, Ava had already interjected. 
“Right, so unlike you, the rest of us don’t consider Vodka to be our closest companion,” Ava snorted, rolling her eyes. Always getting a jab in, even though, half the time, she didn’t really mean the unkind words. She just couldn’t help herself. 
Yelena smiled, but there was sarcasm dripping from the corners of her lips, her eyes squinting with annoyance. She lifted her hand, flipping Ava off, as her rings reflected the neon lights of the interior. Then, without looking away, she took another shot. 
It made you laugh – the sound of your own humor was already beginning to grate at your ears, loud and off-putting. It said enough — you were tipsy, if not edging past it. 
Despite your strengths, of which there were many, you were not good at drinking. A talent that did not seem to improve upon with time, nor did it impress Yelena.
At the sound of your laughter, Yelena turned, and made a face, one that seemed dark and overdramatized in the blue tint of the club. “It wasn’t that funny,” she said, though it was without any surprise. “Bucky wasn’t kidding when he said you were a lightweight.” 
You pouted. “I’m not.” The objection was weak, even to you, and an exaggeration, at best, to the other two. “It’s just…” For a few, long seconds, you tried to think up an excuse, but nothing came. Straightening, you sobered your face, and took the shot in front of you. “Forget it.” 
“Okay,” Yelena snorted, drawing out the first syllable. “You’re a wonderful liar. Remind us to rely on you next time we’re in a bind.” 
The damn alcohol was already infecting your brain, and where you normally could muster up a witty remark, you felt slow, and horribly incompetent. “I’ve helped you out plenty of times,” you said, humming, “like…” 
You drummed your fingers against the counter, trying to think of a time where you’d actually needed to lie on a mission. Even before you’d become the New Avengers, your face was too recognizable, too famous, for you to be undercover in any capacity. 
“Give her some time. I’m sure she’ll think of something tomorrow,” Ava said, amused. “You two are already giving me a headache. I’m getting another drink.” 
“Is that it?” Yelena spared a quick glance at the glass in Ava’s hands, one which was only halfway empty. “Or are you going to go flirt with the bartender?” 
That sent you into another fit of giggles, to which Ava glared, her expression souring. “Well, we can’t all be lucky enough to be in happy, loving relationships, now can we?”
This was directed at you, and you only smiled in return, gesturing her away with the back of your palm. 
“Good luck!” Yelena called, smiling to herself. “Let us know if you need any help!” 
“I’ll manage,” Ava said, mouth in a thin line, before she disappeared into the crowd, a few people out of your line of sight. 
“Wonderful. I’m sure we’ll have to break up a fight soon.” Yelena’s face fell into resignation, as she sighed. “As usual. I don’t know why we ever invite Ava, anyway.” 
Ava’s attempts at flirting were usually laced with the undertone of sarcasm and cruelty, and though you had learned to see the fondness wrought within her words, it wasn’t something many accepted easily. 
Most people – men, in particular – reacted to it with a shade of aggression, one Ava never seemed to like. Nights like this often ended with you and Yelena intervening in tense interactions, gently reminding Ava that she was now a public figure, whether she liked it or not. 
“Well, we are your only friends,” you said, softly teasing Yelena as you leaned against her, already starting to become clingy in your intoxicated state. 
You weren’t sure why the alcohol brought that out of you – normally, you held everyone at a distance, awkward with physical contact.
Maybe what you really wanted was to be closer to them all, you just let yourself when you were drunk. 
“Besides, I think Ava invites herself half of the time. Better than hanging out with John and Alexei.” 
Yelena eyebrows raised, like she hadn’t considered the alternative. “You’re right. I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone,” she said, suddenly serious. “Come on, we should go dance.” 
You laughed, and stumbled after her, grabbing her wrist, in an attempt not to lose her in the crowd. 
The music, paired with the alcohol in your bloodstream, made you feel lighter, like you were walking on a cloud. It infected every ounce of your being, rattling your brain, energizing you in a way so different from the adrenaline you normally felt on missions. 
There’d been a point, in recent years, where fun had been a foreign word to you, perhaps, as it had, with Yelena. But, being friends with her, even for a short while, had brightened some part of you that had dimmed. 
In other ways, before, you’d been fulfilled; whole, even. You loved Bucky, loved him more than you’d ever thought you’d be capable of loving anyone. You loved your job, most of the time. You loved yourself, on occasion. 
That was more than you could’ve asked for, after everything with Thanos had happened. 
Yet, you’d lost most of your friends, some of the people you’d called family, and that had left a gaping hole inside of you that you had ignored, for months. 
Pepper, who had always been there for you, tried her best. But she was a grieving wife, and a mother to a child who would never see her father again — she couldn’t be what you needed anymore, and you didn’t want to bother her, even if you had lost Tony, too. 
So, perhaps it was because Yelena understood, that had caused you to form a fast friendship. She’d lost someone who wasn’t quite her family, but was the only family she’d ever had. 
Whether you’d known it or not, you both had needed your friendship more than anything.
For a while, the two of you danced, letting your worries drift away, catch on the wind and leave the club behind. 
The air was smoky, the scent stagnant in the air, along with the smell of sweat that continued to accumulate. A song played, then another, and after a few more, you’d begun to feel more sober, no longer as light on your feet as you’d once been. 
“I’m going to get another drink!” you yelled to Yelena, over the music, and she gave you a thumbs up, glancing over at you for just a moment. A song she liked was on, and she was in her own world. 
You smiled, and pushed your way through people, hoping Yelena wouldn’t drift too far from where she was. It might be impossible to find her later, if she let the crowd carry her deeper into the dancefloor. 
As you made your way to the bar, you couldn’t tell if you were stumbling, or if people were just that clumsy, as you knocked into one after the other. A young woman nearly spilled her drink on you, apologizing profusely. 
You laughed it off and righted her carefully, before reaching the bar, and ordering the first thing you could think of. 
The bartender gave you a look — she recognized you, but couldn’t quite place you. But she didn’t comment on it, instead, turning back around to the bottles. 
As you waited, chin tucked into your palm, you felt someone come up beside you, far too close for comfort. The cologne on his collar was heavy, curling around you in a suppressive cloud, nearly making you cough. 
You did your best to ignore him, and it worked, for a few moments. Until a hand crept up on your back, gently brushing your shoulder, and you jerked away, shooting your gaze over to the man, a mix of surprise and disgust. 
“Woah,” he said, hands held up in surrender, though he looked anything but guilty. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I was trying to get your attention, but I guess you didn’t hear me.” 
He was older — much older than the majority of people here. His beard was grey, trimmed nicely, but there was something unkempt about him. The clothes he wore were expensive, but they fit poorly, and his watch was far too flashy for the rest of his attire. His smile was bright, teeth all the color of a shiny pearl, but he reeked of sharp whiskey and the overabundance of aftershave.
You held your tongue; as much as you would’ve loved to tell him you’d been ignoring him on purpose, he didn’t seem like the type of person who would take that very kindly. You didn’t feel like getting in a fight, tonight. 
“I guess not,” you said, coldly, instead. “Can I help you?” 
The bartender came over, placing the drink in front of you, before sliding her eyes between you and the man beside you. 
Gently, you smiled, assuring her you had everything under control. She really must not have recognized you, if she thought he would be an actual threat to you.
The man looked at your drink, voice going lower. “I just wanted to talk. Buy you a drink. You looked lonely over here.” 
“My friend is waiting for me,” you smiled, tightly, though a hint of poisoned sweetness seeped through. Although Yelena had a tab running, and you weren’t planning on leaving soon, you slid a card out of your wallet, wanting to make a point. “I’ll take care of the drink. Thanks for the offer.” 
You turned to the bartender, beginning to hand your card over to her. “You can close out the tab–” you said, but the stranger stopped you, a large, hot hand curling around your wrist tightly. 
It burned where he touched you, the grip tight and possessive, even though he had no claim on you. A sour taste swelled up in your mouth, anger flashing hot in your chest. 
“Come on, I insist. A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t have to pay for her own drinks.” 
Your jaw tightened, and you yanked your hand away, eyes cold. Although you’d been content to play nice, he wasn’t making things easy for you. “I’m not,” you said. “It’s my fiancé’s card.”
While your connection to Tony Stark meant you had, and would always have, more money than probably everyone in the club, you thought pulling the fiancé card might deter the man. Instead, he seemed to enjoy playing the game. His grin widened, like you were merely teasing him.
“Well, don’t you think your fiancé would appreciate having someone else take the bill off his hands?” The man placed his hand on top of your own, trapping the card beneath your palm, where you’d tried to slide it across the countertop.
Exhaling hot air through your nose, you looked up at him, narrowing your eyes.
“Hey, man, she’s not interested–” The bartender began, but quickly, you cut her off, not wanting the man to turn any anger onto an innocent employee, who was only trying to help. 
“I really don’t think he’ll mind,” you said, shrugging with indifference. “He used to be in Congress, up until recently. It was a whole mess. Not really his fault.” You stopped yourself before you could go any further, waxing poetry about your beloved. “Anyway. I’m sure he won’t even notice the charges.” 
With that, you gave him a satisfied smile, noticing that the comment ruffled his feathers, if only marginally. Men like that always hated when their material possessions did little to impress others. 
“Congress, huh?” He tried his best to remain unfazed, indifferent. “What’s his name?” 
You brightened. 
It was almost too easy, getting him to fall right where you wanted him. You supposed you could’ve gone the easy way, the I’m an Avenger way, the You know Tony Stark? way. But, you loved Bucky Barnes with every ounce of your being, and a part of you was always just waiting for the opportunity to bring him up 
“James Barnes – Bucky. Do you know him?” 
The man laughed, loud and exaggerated, a gut reaction without any thought. He pressed his hand to his stomach and shook his head, waiting for the punchline. “Hilarious. The Winter Soldier?” 
You tilted your head to the side, blinking up at him innocently. “What’s funny about that?” 
“Nothing. It’s just… That would mean–” Then, he squinted, regarding you carefully, eyes flitting from your irises to the curl of your lip, from ear to ear, down your body. Within a second, horror began to bloom in his dark eyes, even as he tried his best to subdue it. “Oh. Oh, shit–”
Maybe all those ridiculous superhero movies were right – putting someone in a baseball cap and glasses really could hide you from the world. You’d only done your makeup and hair differently this evening. It was hardly enough to look like a new person, but for some reason, people were finding it difficult to place you without your usual uniform. 
“Hey, is everything okay here?” Yelena came up behind you, eyebrows pinched together as she looked between the three of you. 
“Oh. Fuck. I’m– Fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. Shit.” The man was still rambling like a fool, before he looked at Yelena, then back at you, combing his hand through his hair. His cheeks were flushed, visible even in the dim light of the club. “I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you.” 
“Clearly,” you said, frowning as you leaned against the counter. “Lucky for you, I’m not in a bad mood tonight. I’ll let it slide.” 
You thought it would be enough to encourage him away, but for a moment longer, he stood where he was, chewing the inside of his cheek. 
Yelena, beside you, looked annoyed with the entire ordeal. It wasn’t the first time you’d been forcefully hit on, and it usually went something like this. 
“You’re not gonna– you’re not gonna send someone after me, are you?” 
You frowned. “Why would I do that? You think I can’t pick my own battles?”
“Oh, here we go,” Yelena said, under her breath. 
“No!” He said quickly, his voice growing louder. “I didn’t mean that. I just… You know…” The man stuttered through the words, afraid to say what you knew he was thinking. 
You narrowed your eyes. The pull of your powers swirled in your chest as you stared into the frightened gaze of the stranger. Fear curled around him, a chill sliding up his spine as he remained frozen in place, gaze locked onto yours. 
“First of all, I would never send someone else to do my dirty work,” you said, pointing a finger square into his chest. “The only person you should be worried about coming after you, is me.”
He nodded, his hands up in surrender, lips sealed together; a promise that he would leave you alone, after all this. It didn’t give you as much satisfaction as you would’ve liked.
Sighing, you deflated, a frown taking over your features. “Secondly,” you said, feeling fiercely protective, “Bucky doesn’t do that. I wouldn’t ask him to do that.” 
No matter how many years passed, no matter how many things changed, there would always be people who still hated Bucky for the things he could not control. Maybe he had accepted that, acknowledged that he couldn’t change everyone’s opinion, but you never would. 
“I-I know. Of course not. I’m sorry.”
“You are now,” you said, huffing. “Not that it matters.” 
The man opened his mouth, jaw going slack as he fumbled for something more to say. But you’d already grown bored of the conversation, and Yelena could tell. 
Swiftly, she cut in, patting the man on the shoulder, ushering him away with a few quick, steely words. 
Finally, he was gone.
“So dramatic,” Yelena said, rolling her eyes. “Can we be normal anywhere we go? You could’ve just punched him and been done with it.” 
Ignoring her, you slid the card back into your wallet, exhaling wearily. “You don’t actually have to close the tab,” you said to the bartender, apologetically. “Sorry for the trouble. I might need something stronger than what I ordered, though.” 
The bartender laughed. “Don’t apologize. I’ll get you something else – on the house. Not because you’re an Avenger, by the way, but that is pretty cool that you came here.” 
“Thank you.” 
You smiled as she turned away, but it was small, sad, as it formed on your lips. 
Still being an Avenger, using that title – it’d never felt right, not with half of your original team dead or gone. How many times would you see The Avengers rise and fall? How many people would die, and you’d still be alive? 
Yelena called your name, snapping you out of your haze, and you glanced over, right into her knowing eyes. She was like your reflection, sometimes. All the loved ones you’d lost, all the emotions you shared, all right in the glass of her dark eyes, shining back onto you. 
You shook your head, putting the smile back onto your face. “I’m okay,” you promised, squeezing her hand. “Come on, let’s dance.” 
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It was hard to pinpoint the moment you went from being tipsy, to nearly throwing-up on the dance floor. 
You’d never been good at drinking in moderation, nor were you good at pacing yourself. You weren’t good at a lot of things which included alcohol, if you were being honest with yourself, and yet, you were too stupid to stay away from the stuff. 
Yelena, unlike you, had noticed when a queasy look had begun to form on your face, and had taken you outside before you could spill your dinner down the front of her shirt.
“Alright, we’re done,” she said, pushing you towards the door. “Time to go home.”
“I don’t wanna leave,” you complained, whining softly, but Yelena ignored you, too busy searching for something on her phone. You stumbled along with her outside, unwilling, and yet, complacent, as she sat you down on the curb. 
“Stay right there,” she said, a finger outstretched, like she was scolding a child. 
You frowned, but couldn’t think of the right words to say, and gave up. 
Yelena’s voice was hushed as she spoke into the phone, taking a few steps further down the sidewalk, to peek back inside the club. Aimlessly, you stared across to the other side, where a few people kept to themselves, blowing smoke out their lips. They paid you no attention. 
It felt like only moments you’d sat there, when Ava emerged from the doors, and Yelena said. “Finally. Bob’s here.” She shoved her phone back in her pocket, squinting down the street. “That was fast.” 
“Too fast,” Ava said, flatly. “I almost would’ve rather you called John. At least he could get us back in one piece.” 
“Well, I could’ve called Alexei.” Yelena’s voice grew closer as she bent over, grabbing one of your arms and throwing it over her shoulder. “None of our options are great.” 
You’d been zoning in and out, until she lifted you, pulling you to your feet. The conversation, though muddled, slowly but surely reached your ears, as you leaned against Yelena, letting her take most of your weight.
“You could’ve called Bucky,” you said, slurring your words together.
“Hmm,” Yelena said, huffing, as she practically carried you down the street. “He’s not home.” 
“Really?” you frowned, blinking heavy eyelids at her. That was news to you. “Where did he go? He didn’t tell me.”
“Emergency,” Ava said, waving it off. “Pointless meeting. Don’t worry about it.”
It didn’t make sense, but nothing really made sense then, with your brain so blissfully empty. You were certain that you’d talked to Bucky just minutes ago, sending him a mess of letters that probably spelled nothing, but neither of them seemed concerned about it, so you decided you wouldn’t be either. 
“Okay,” you shrugged, walking alongside the two of them, lazily. “I’m tired. I want to go home.”
“You just said you wanted to stay.” 
“I don’t anymore.” 
Yelena gave you an appraising look. “Well, trust me. We’re going home.” A pair of headlights blinked. “See, there’s Bob. Let’s go.”
You followed her and Ava, finally pushing off of Yelena to walk on your own, even if it was mostly stumbling. She remained just inches away, in case you tripped over your own feet. Which it took all of fifteen seconds to do. 
Another loud laugh escaped you as you grabbed Ava’s wrist, catching your fall. The two of them had both jumped for you, arms outstretched, which was even more ridiculous, considering you had powers. 
You didn’t need their help, even if you had almost landed face-first.
“Please don’t crack your head open,” Yelena said, lips pursed. “That would be such a mess.”
“Like Humpty Dumpty,” you said, pointing to your head with a wide, lazy grin. 
Yelena just blinked at you, preparing a response, though whatever she was planning on saying fell away, as Bob pulled up to the curb, idling beside the three of you. 
“Hi Bob!” you shouted, waving enthusiastically at him, your voice much louder than you’d meant it to be. “Look, it’s Bob, Yelena!” 
She shushed you, even though there was no one else on the street, and pushed you forward, towards the car. 
“Very observant,” Yelena’s words were full of sarcasm that you missed completely.
Stupidly unaware, you smiled back, proud of yourself. 
Bob stuck his head out the window, dark waves of hair falling onto his cheeks. “Hi,” he said, watching as you waved again, with even more enthusiasm. A few, slurred phrases of nonsense left your lips, and Bob’s eyebrows raised, eyes wider. “Oh, wow. How much did you drink?” 
“Not as much as you’d think,” Yelena answered for you. “Come on, in you go.”
Ava opened the back door, and the two of them practically pushed you into the car, causing you to land on the seat, flat on your face. It was cold, and the leather was rough against your skin, but you still laughed, rubbing your cheek as you righted yourself. 
Another loud sigh came from Ava, as she climbed in next to you. 
“You made it look easy,” you said, blinking at her as you slumped down, resting your head on her shoulder. The hint of a soft, sweet perfume still lingered on Ava’s skin, even under all the layers of sweat and grime from the club.
Ava stiffened, but then relaxed, humming to herself. “What, getting in the car?” 
You nodded, slowly, your cheek pressed into her shoulder.
“Well, it’s not exactly rocket science.” 
Yelena slammed the door behind you, shocking you back to attention. You watched as she made her way around the front of the car, into the passenger seat next to Bob. 
“Okay,” Bob said, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. “Does everyone have their seatbelts on?” 
“Just drive, Robert,” Ava said, rolling her eyes. 
Bob hesitated as he looked at you through the mirror, concern flashing through his eyes. “Are you sure she’s okay? She looks like she might be sick.” 
“She’s fine,” Ava snapped, exhaustion becoming evident in her voice. “And if she throws up, it’ll be all over me. Just drive.” 
“No need to be so rude. Bob came to pick us up out of the kindness of his heart,” Yelena said, fumbling with the music, intent on picking the perfect song, even for such a short distance. 
Outside, New York became a blur as you began to move, and you returned your attention to the front of the car, watching Bob focus on each turn and stoplight.
“That’s so nice, Bob,” you said, each syllable being drawn out carefully, slowly. “You’re such a good friend.” 
The words hung in the air. It made you emotional, all of the sudden. A wave of sadness washed over you, dousing you in an ice bath that brought you back to a semblance of sobriety. There was a time, once, when it would have been Tony’s shoulder you rested on, Natasha adjusting the radio, Steve driving you home. 
Now, they’re all dead. 
An ache, like a blade piercing straight through your chest, carved out that empty, lonely part of your heart. You’d offered it to the other three, not a replacement for your old friends, but something new, something different. A risk, to be so vulnerable, but not one without the greatest reward.
“Oh,” Yelena said, and it was the softness of her voice, her eyes pinned on you with understanding, that made you realize tears were streaming down your cheeks, coating Ava’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?” 
“You’re all good friends,” you wailed, rubbing your eyes. “It’s nice… to have friends again.” The words hung there, before you were bursting into tears, profusely scraping at them like a child, apologizing over and over again. 
Ava put a soft hand on your forehead, brushing the stray hairs away from your face, sticking to your skin from your tears. As hard as she was on the outside, there was kindness, underneath it all, cased in the armor that had been crafted by a hurt girl who hadn’t had the chance to love. 
“You’re a good friend too,” Yelena promised, leaning over the backseat to squeeze your hand. “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize.” 
She was understanding like that, so caring and warm, even when she thought she wasn’t. It only made you cry more, which made you feel more guilty, and had you curling in on yourself, shrinking away from the others. 
Drinking was always fine, until it wasn’t. Bucky would have never swayed you from doing anything you wanted to do, but he had reminded you, gently, that all the emotions you tended to bottle up were released when you mixed them with alcohol.
You probably should’ve listened to him. After all, he knew you better than anyone. 
“It’s stupid. I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m sorry. I’m ruining everything.” The optimistic evening had been lit on fire, burning into a pile of ash that wouldn’t die out with your tears, which only kept flowing, even as you tried your best to suppress them. 
“It’s okay,” Bob said, looking at you through the rearview mirror. He offered a self-deprecating smile, face wrinkling at the edges. “Remember when I had a bad day and made half of New York disappear? That was ruining the evening.” 
Despite yourself, you laughed through your tears, a hiccup erupting from your chest. Ava squeezed your arm, the most affectionate embrace she could offer you. 
“But now we’re all–” you choked through your own tears, “friends.” 
“Exactly.” 
You thought there was a message in there, somewhere, hidden beneath the letters strung together to make the word. But exhaustion was wearing on you, and your sadness had drained you, leaving you a mopey mess to seek comfort in Ava’s subtle embrace.
“Hey, Bob?”
“Hmm?” 
“Where’s Bucky? Ava said he had a–” you pinched your face together, trying to remember what she had said. Something… about a, “meeting. When will he be home?” 
“What? Bucky’s not–” Bob began, confused, before Yelena slapped him on the bicep, effectively shutting him up. They shared a glance, one you didn’t understand, before he exhaled, and continued. “Oh. A meeting. Right. I’m sure he’ll be back. It’s late now, anyway.” 
“Okay,” you said, satisfied. At some point, you’d stopped crying. What a relief. “I miss him.”
“You saw him, like, three hours ago.” Yelena wore a barely-contained grin. 
“Well. It feels like a long time,” you frowned, dramatically, your lips pulling down in a curve. “Maybe I can call him. Do you think he’ll answer?” You started to pull out your phone, though it was caught, somewhere in between you and Ava, wedged far enough into the seat that you quickly gave up. “I can’t reach my phone.” 
“We’ll get it when we get out,” Ava promised. 
“But I want to call Bucky,” you said, trying again for your phone. “Tell him I love him.”
“I think he knows, darling.” 
“What if he doesn’t? What if he thinks I went to the bar to find someone else.” A burst of panic sprouted in your chest, matched with an endless sadness that alcohol seemed to free in you. “What if he hates me?” you said, squeezing Ava’s arm, nails forming small, crescent indents. “What if–”
“Oh, for god’s sake, Bucky would rather die than leave you. You don’t need to worry about that,” Ava grabbed your hand, the one digging between the seats, almost stuck, as you searched for your phone. “Just – close your eyes.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Of course I am. I’m always right.”
For a moment, you considered arguing more, but she was so stern in her words that the fight died out of you quickly. “Okay, fine. I believe you.”
You weren’t sure when Ava, of all people, had gotten so soft, but she seemed to have something in her heart that had latched onto you, in the way Yelena had with Bob. 
“You know, I love all of you too,” you mumbled, quietly. For not sharing an ounce of blood with Tony, you sure shared the Stark gene of being unable to effectively shut up. “You’re like my family, now. My best friends.” 
None of them replied, but you could feel the heavy blanket of emotion that settled over the car, a gift that came with the knowledge that they were loved.
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You did, in fact, fall asleep on the ride back to the tower, and when you awoke, you were groggy and disoriented, all of the past few minutes a blur. All you wanted was your bed, yet it felt so far and out of reach.
“Alright. Here we go,” Yelena groaned, yanking you out of the car with all her strength. 
Bob helped her haul you up, the three of them lugging you into the tower. 
“Maybe you should stop her earlier, next time,” Bob mumbled, as your head lolled against his bicep, feet clumsily going in a jagged line. 
A small crowd of guards watched the four of you, but didn’t move a muscle as Yelena glared daggers at them, daring them to comment on your drunken state. 
Finally, the elevator stopped at your level, and you climbed into it, taking the ride to the top floor. 
Within seconds, the elevator dinged, and you were graced with a view of Manhattan glittering beneath you. You stumbled out, doing your best to hold up your own weight. With the three of them hovering around you, though, it was hard to move at all. 
It was still bright on the floor, but the lights had been dimmed, leaving an atmospheric glow to the room. John was sitting in front of the television, the images casting shadows on his face when he paused it, causing the room to go quiet.
Amused, he watched the three of you return home in a miserable state. “Jesus,” John said, laughing loudly as he leaned forward, elbows on his thighs. “Did you drink the whole bar? You look like shit.” 
Of course, the shit in question was you, but you were too dazed to realize who he was talking to. 
“Shut up, Walker,” Ava scowled. “You can thank Yelena for that.” 
That, for some reason, resonated in your brain. You looked up, smiling, before saying in a quick, clipped succession, “Thanks, Yelena.” Another fit of laughter erupted from your chest.
John’s eyebrows lifted. “That was rhetorical, genius.” 
“Rhetorical…” you frowned, trying to sound out the syllables. “That’s a long word.”
“Is it? I never noticed.” 
“Fuck off, Walker. If you’re not going to be useful, I’ll start a fire under your ass to make you evacuate the room.” Ava guided you to the couch, pushing you down into the cushion, right as John stood, regarding you with a thinly veiled uncertainty.
“Always resorting to violence.” John tucked his phone into his pocket, watching you move to lay down on the cushions, still warm from where he’d been sitting. “I’ll go get the lover boy. Surprised he wasn’t waiting by the door.” 
You perked up. “Bucky’s here?” 
John snorted. “Yeah, he’s been here all night.” He ignored Ava and Yelena’s gestures at him to stop. “They didn’t call him because they didn’t want to get in a crash – which would happen because you try to make out with him, in front of us, every time you’re drunk.”
“I don’t.” 
“Yes, you do.”
You frowned, but you were too relieved at the prospect of your fiancé being home that you forgot to be mad at your friends for lying. “Hm. I’ll go with you.” 
As you started to stand, the blood rushed to your head, and you took one step forward, knocking into the coffee table, before you nearly fell onto it, catching yourself.
“I think you should stay right there,” John said, amused, as a small smirk pulled at his lips. 
“But–” you knocked something off the table, then something else, glass shattering by your feet. “Oh no. I’m sorry,” your frown deepened, the frustrated tears rising to the surface again. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Don’t move,” Bob screeched, grabbing your wrist before you could reach for the glass. “It’s okay. It’s just water. Not a big deal.” 
“I’m sorry, Bob,” you frowned. “I’m–”
“It’s okay,” he promised again, trying to force you back onto the couch. “We’ll clean it up.” Bob turned to the other three, his smile helpless. “Can one of you just go get–”
The elevator dinged again. 
“Hey, Walker, have you heard from–” Bucky stepped off the elevator, dressed in casual clothes, a pair of dark sweatpants and a regular t-shirt. He was freshly washed from a shower, wet strands pushed out of his face, falling around his jaw. There were a few damp spots around the neck of his shirt, droplets dripping from his hair. “Oh.” 
He looked at the floor, the mess of water and glass, then back up to your tear-streaked face, hazy eyes. 
“Jesus. Yelena, I told you.”
“Hey, it isn’t my fault!” Yelena said, defensively, hands raised. “She bought her own drinks.” 
“I’m sorry,” your lip stuck out, eyes blinking back the tears. “It was an accident. Are you mad?”
“What?” Bucky stared back, confused, before he realized you were talking about the glass – or maybe the state of your intoxication, and shook his head quickly, beside you in a second. “No, of course not, baby. It’s fine. Just a glass. Are you okay?” 
You nodded, slowly, as he came around the side of the couch, guiding you away from the mess of glass and into his arm. The scent of his body wash, still lingering from the recent shower, relaxed you immediately, evaporating your tears as you fell against him. 
“I’m okay. Tired,” you mumbled into his chest. “Love you. Did you know that?” You tilted your head, making to kiss him, but you missed his lips completely, landing somewhere between his cheek and his chin. “I wanted to tell you on the phone, but Ava said that was stupid, because you already know.” 
Bucky laughed, his eyes so soft as he smiled at you. How lucky you were, to still have the brilliant smile that took over his face, even after everything he’d suffered through. 
He took your head in his hands, thumbs gently caressing your cheekbones. One warm against your skin, the other, cool metal. “I do know. Doesn’t mean I don’t wanna hear it again.”
“Okay. I love you,” you drawled out, extenuating the letters, satisfied by his reaction. 
You stood tall to kiss him again, but that time, he dodged it on purpose, kissing your forehead instead as he pulled you back into him.
“Gross,” Yelena said behind you, but you could hear the affection in her voice, happy to see the two of you so in love.
Bucky laughed again, a small one this time, as he took your hand and kissed it. “Come on, pretty. You can barely stand up.”
“I’m fine,” you slurred, but you let him lift you anyway, one arm under your knees, the other against your back. “I can walk.” 
“I’m sure you can,” he agreed, but made no move to put you down. 
Bucky kissed the top of your head again, unable to keep his lips from pecking you gently, with a warmth that spread across your body. He said a few more words to Yelena, something about cleaning up the glass, but she promised she didn’t mind, and sent the two of you away, back down to the floor you shared. 
Technically, Bucky had his own floor – a product of Valentina’s ridiculous idea to discourage the two of you from acting like a normal couple. 
The Watchtower might have been your workplace, but it was also your home. It had been before, when it was Stark Tower, Avengers Tower, and now it was again, after it’d been renamed and renamed. 
Despite the challenges that never stopped coming, you weren’t going to keep yourself away from the man you’d loved for years, just because Valentina thought it would cause problems.
“Maybe I should buy the tower back,” you said, not to anyone in particular. “Tony would want that.” 
“Do you want that?” Bucky seemed unsurprised by the question. You’d mentioned it in passing, a few times, when Valentina had tried to enforce rules you didn’t approve of, paired with frustrated remarks of, “How could Tony sell it to her?” 
You’d already made a few deals with Valentina, all but forcing her to let you take over renovations, return some of the suites to exactly how they’d been before. You couldn’t bring Tony back, but you wouldn’t forget about him, any of them, just because it hurt.
“Yeah. I think so.”
At first, you’d wanted to stay far from the tower and the memories that haunted these walls, darkened by the lives that had been lost. Now, though, there were new ones, and it didn’t seem so scary to live in a place that had always, really, belonged to you. 
Bucky hummed, thoughtful. “How about we talk about it when you’re sober?” 
“Okay.” You made a face, uncertain if he was just humoring you. “I’m not kidding. I’m being serious.”
He smiled. “Oh, I know. I’m not going to try and talk you out of it.”
You searched his face for any hint of a lie, and when you found none, you relaxed back against him, satisfied. A peaceful calm began to wash over you, and you closed your eyes, the edges of rest reaching for you.
“Anyone hit on you at the bar?” Bucky asked, an effort to keep you from falling asleep in his arms. 
You opened your eyes, processing the question, before thinking hard on your answer. It had just been a couple hours ago, but it felt like a long time. “Just one person. An old man–”
“Hmm. Older than me?”
You laughed again, girlishly, as your grip around his neck tightened. “No one’s older than you.” A kiss landed on his cheek – somehow, some of your lipstick still remained, and it smeared on his skin. “I told him I was getting married. He didn’t care.” You yawned. “I scared him away, though.”
“I can imagine.” You’d never been good at accepting criticism of your relationship, or your lover, from anyone. Bucky had never thought he was worth all the trouble, but time was beginning to convince him otherwise. “You sure you still wanna marry me? I’m sure he’d forgive you if you called him, let him know you dumped your boyfriend.”
“You’re not funny, Bucky.” 
“No? I think I’m a little funny.” 
You hadn’t noticed that you’d gotten into your apartment until Bucky was sitting you down on the sink, kissing your forehead one more time. “I’ll be right back. Stay there, okay?” 
“Why?” You said, stumbling after him, rubbing your eyes. “I’m tired.” 
“Because you’re going to kill me tomorrow if I let you pass out like this.” Bucky lifted you back onto the counter, pushing you forward until you rested against the mirror. His eyes narrowed, serious. “Will you please listen? I’ll be right back.”
You glared at him, but felt too lazy to move, letting your head drop against the mirror. “Fine,” you relented, without much of a fight at all. Then, feeling stupidly childish, you stuck your tongue out at him.
Bucky rolled his eyes, before turning back around, leaving you. 
Exhausted, your eyes closed once you rested against the mirror. For a moment, you waited, attention fading in and out, before the room started to feel a little tilted, and your stomach lurched. 
You stumbled off the sink, suddenly feeling awful, before you covered your mouth quickly and took the two, quick steps to the toilet. It was only a moment before you were spilling the contents of your stomach, all the alcohol you’d drank, out into the toilet, head bent over your forearm as you heaved. 
A hand roamed over your back, pulling your hair away from your face as you waited a few more seconds, before you vomited again, tears pricking at your eyes from the taste. 
“Sorry,” you said, perhaps for the last time, the word tasting familiar on your tongue. “This is gross.”
“Sweetheart, I’ve seen a lot of gross things — this is nothing. I’m impressed you made it to the toilet,” Bucky’s expression was completely neutral, unfazed, when you tilted your head to look at him. “Feel better?” 
You nodded, a small movement, with wide, sparkling eyes, despite the disgust lingering from your actions. Every day, you thought it was impossible to love him any more, and yet, here you were, falling for him all over again. 
Bucky took a few squares of toilet paper, wiping your mouth before he flushed the toilet. When he stood, your head fell onto his thigh, the muscle hard against your cheek. 
“Come on,” he said, dragging you to your feet. “Back to the sink.” 
This time, you let him pull you along wherever, his hands gentle against your hips, as he settled you back down on the countertop. The granite was cool against your skin, a nice feeling after the hot flash that had come from spilling your insides. 
You slumped down, running on fumes of energy as you watched Bucky squeeze toothpaste onto a toothbrush, before attempting to poke it between your lips. 
Your eyes widened, and you swatted him away, groaning, even as he insisted. “I don’t want to,” you said, falling forward, in an attempt to sneak past him. 
But Bucky was stronger than you, and you were barely able to hold yourself up. He blocked your movements easily, releasing a heavy sigh. “Would you just let me help you?” 
“I’m not a baby,” you started to say, but the minute you’d opened your mouth, he’d stuck the bristles against your teeth, scrubbing quickly, worried you might reject the movements altogether.  
“I know you’re not, but you’ll feel better in the morning,” he promised, focusing on his task as he placed a thumb on your chin, gently forcing your mouth open a little wider. Reluctant, you let him, and he smiled, caressing your jaw affectionately. “Thank you.” 
You endured the toothbrush in your mouth for a solid thirty seconds, before you finally swatted him away, spitting in the sink next to you. Amused, Bucky handed you a glass of water, which you also fought, but managed to swallow down a few sips. 
“You were supposed to–” He stopped himself, giving up. “You know what, never mind. Drink the rest of it.” 
Bucky rinsed off the toothbrush and the sink, before reaching over to a drawer and pulling a singular wipe from a violet-covered package. He dragged it against your skin, careful not to scrub too hard, but made sure he got as much makeup off as possible. 
“Are you done now?” you asked, blinking at him, feeling dizzy and off-kilter. 
Your fiancé threw the cloth away, assessing your appearance before he yielded to your requests. “Alright. Come on.” 
Finally, you thought, as you hopped off the counter, practically falling into him as you staggered on your feet.  
Bucky let you rest against him as he slid a cool, metal hand down your back, unzipping your dress. It fell around your ankles in a pool of dark, burgundy tones, one he helped you step right out of. With a look of endless adoration, he pressed his lips to your shoulder, dipping around your collarbone, before slipping a soft, black t-shirt over your head, one that was warm and smelled like him.
“There,” Bucky said, kissing you, for the first time all evening, on the mouth. “All done.” 
You chased after his lips, but he didn’t indulge you as he dragged you to the bedroom, making a comment about how you were far too gone to do anything more than sleep. The sheets had already been pulled down, the pillows organized exactly how you wanted them.
Without another thought, you fell on the mattress, eyes closing as soon as your head hit the pillow.
The bed dipped beside you. Bucky slipped off both your heels, his lips lingering around your ankle. “My gorgeous girl,” he said against your leg, the words tickling your skin.
You hummed softly to yourself, feeling like you were floating on a cloud as he squeezed your calf, before retreating back into the bathroom.
Bucky was only gone for a few minutes, organizing the mess you’d left behind, before the lights went out, and he was back in the bed beside you, pulling you into his chest. You went easily, tucking your head under his chin, one arm draped across his stomach. 
Although sleep called for you, you were kept awake by a lingering regret that you’d spoiled the evening by being such a mess. You tilted your head, propping your chin up on his chest, before whispering his name in the darkened room.
Bucky made a small sound, barely an acknowledgement. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry.” 
This time, he cracked open his eyes, sharply blue in the moonlight, before sighing. “What can you possibly be sorry about now?” 
“I feel bad.” It was difficult to form the right words for the horrible ache that struck your chest at that moment.
Bucky shifted, a warm palm resting on your cheek as he turned his head to face you. The tip of your nose brushed his own. “Why?”
“I’m… stupid.” 
His eyebrows raised, and then he laughed, hot breath ghosting the bridge of your nose. “Well you’re not stupid, you’re just drunk, and no one gives a shit about that. Pretty sure they all just think it’s funny.” 
Somehow, that calmed you. It must have been exactly what you needed to hear, the words soothing over that anxious knot in your mind. “And you?” 
Bucky’s face softened, knowingly, like this wasn’t the first time you’d had this conversation. “Yeah, it’s funny, but I also think it’s nice that you trust me so much – and them.” He squeezed your hand that was lodged between the two of you. “Besides, we’ve been through a lot worse than this, and I still asked you to marry me, didn’t I?”
“I guess,” you said, mumbling, but you were running out of arguments that he couldn’t refute.
Your stomach was beginning to ache, a weird feeling in your gut, paired with a growing headache that was a mixture of exhaustion and the effects of intoxication. A few more incoherent words left your lips, and Bucky listened for a while longer, blinking back in exhausted confusion, before he finally pressed one last kiss between your brows.
“Go to sleep, baby,” he said, closing his eyes wearily. “You can tell me in the morning.” 
Despite another anecdote on your tongue, you gave into the wave of exhaustion that rolled over you, your mind finally beginning to still. You let the heavy wave of rest curl around you, a blissful comfort, before, at last, you were asleep.
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thank you so much for reading! please consider leaving a or reblog if you enjoyed it ❤︎ feedback is greatly appreciated!!!
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mmatchadd · 2 months ago
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Can u do tsukishima fluff but a lil nsfw hc where he act nonchalant all the time but once he w her, he's all soft and love to tease her anywhere
Would whisper dirty things to her with a blank face in public
ofc !! ^.^, ty for the request anon! Sorry if I took a while to write this. I was looking for a j*b 🫩
warnings/tags: fluff, suggestive content, fondling, fingering
It was pretty much known that you and tsuki were dating but sometimes other people couldn’t really tell because of how he acts in public. Avoidant of any touch or affection, you know it’s just him and he’s awkward and pretty much masks the fact that he’s a little bit of a loser behind his sarcasm and height.
So you obviously grew accustomed to it and would give him little to no affection in public. Holding hands in crowds, leaning on him and just being by him in general was enough for him and you.
He loves you he swears, and scoffs whenever you feel like he’s doesn’t. Cause even though he may not tell you verbally, he loves you. Even though he stiffly rejects any type of physical affection in public— it’s the small things that matter. Like him letting you borrow his charger or jacket (sometimes). Him buying you food and doing your homework/schoolwork when you were out sick. He’s not boastful and loud about his love in PUBLIC..but in private it’s another thing.
He’s probably more materialistic and a quality time spent person than he his words of affirmation. But he does send you texts out the blue letting you know he’s still thinking about you and wants to see you often.
The only lingering touch you’ll get out of him in public is him fixing your hair, clothes and rearranging your jewelry. I just feel like he does “downlow” physical affection. Where it’s infront of people but not totally out there(??) where people can see it and talk about it.
Offers to do so much for you and sometimes just does it “just because” like how he shows up to your house every Saturday with something for you “just because” he has extra or money or “just because” he felt like it (he obviously wants your room to be flooded in his gifts and money)
but just because he doesn’t hug you in front of everyone doesn’t mean he can’t get a kick out of teasing you right?? Well this is somewhat of a rare or common occurrence to him the way he whispers in your ear about how pretty your tits look in that blouse or the way he tells you to get a good enough rest tonight because you’re “gonna need it” (he was seeing how far he could go)
Once in a blue moon when it’s just you and him walking home after practice..he will pull you closer and grab you. He’d definitely make sure the coast is clear before he starts to slip a hand beneath your skirt and fondle your ass or thigh and looks down at you with a smirk on his face to see your expression (he’s gonna poke you about it later)
When the room is empty he is teasing you relentlessly, verbally and physically (physically with consent of course) you two prode back and forth at each other for the longest and it’s quite hilarious (according to yams)
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maxtermind · 1 year ago
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fuck buddy finding out u went on a date ?
fuckbuddy!f1 drivers getting jealous
★ : feat :: max verstappen, charles leclerc, carlos sainz, lando norris, oscar piastri, lewis hamilton, george russell, alex albon
( misc. masterlist \ main masterlist \ drop a request )
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⤷.>ᗜ<.MAX VERSTAPPEN !
max’s expression hardens slightly when you accidentally mention the date, but he tries to keep his tone light.
“so what, you’re moving on from us now?” he asks, his voice laced with disbelief.
you hesitate, trying to explain but panicking inside because what the actual fuck was he on about? his jaw tightens as he stands up from his spot.
“we were never official, but still…” he’s pacing now, running a hand through his hair in frustration. the hurt in his eyes is clear, even though he’s trying to hide it behind sarcasm. it makes your heart hurt.
“you can’t just kiss someone else and then act hurt over it!” he snaps, his hands flying all around him as he talks. it finally brings tears to your eyes and it makes max stop dead in his tracks.
you step closer, trying to reach out to him, but he shakes his head, feeling disgusted with himself for even being rude to you.
“i came back home to you, max. to you.” you say softly, and after a moment, he sighs, pulling you into his arms. a sudden coldness spreading over his chest, making him relax instantly that he decided to unpack later.
“don't know what i would've done if you hadn't,” max murmurs anyway, his voice softer now, his hold on you tightening as if to keep you from slipping away.
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⤷.>ᗜ<.CHARLES LECLERC !
charles’s smile falters when you mention the date, but he quickly recovers, trying to keep things light. “you guys look good together,” he says, his tone casual, but you can see his tight jaw.
you open your mouth to reply, but he cuts you off, stepping closer and tilting your chin up to meet his gaze. “really?” he repeats, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable.
you can see the tension in his jaw as he waits for your response, his fingers gently brushing against your cheek. it goes on for a while, the back and forth tensing, though there’s a possessive glint in his eyes.
he’s sitting on the edge of the bed, arms crossed, watching you with a mix of curiosity and amusement. “did he wine and dine you? sweep you off your feet?” he asks, his tone light but with a subtle edge.
you chuckle at his attempt to keep things playful. “he tried,” you reply with a shrug, and charles’s smirk widens. “tried?” he repeats, clearly pleased that your date wasn’t all that after all.
“i bet he couldn’t even hold a candle to me,” he says confidently, standing up and walking over to you when you shrug it off,“come on, admit it,” he murmurs, wrapping his arms around your waist, his lips brushing against your neck.
“you know i’m the one who really gets your heart racing,” he whispers, his breath hot against your skin, making it clear that no one else compares.
“charles, it wasn’t even serious,” you say quietly, and his expression softens slightly, tightening the arm he had around you.
“i just… i care about you, that’s all,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing against your skin as if reassuring himself that you’re still his. you smile, leaning into his touch.
“i know,” you whisper, and he finally pulls you into his arms, his hold on you protective and secure.
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⤷.>ᗜ<.CARLOS SAINZ !
carlos’s eyes flash with jealousy when he hears about the date through someone else, but he keeps his voice steady. deciding to discuss it with you later.
“you like them… more? is that it? am i the second choice?” he asks as soon as he meets you, his tone deceptively calm, though his eyes betray his emotions.
you shake your head quickly, taken aback because you were hoping to tell him what happened yourself. despite that instead of calming yourself you started trying to reassure him. “that’s not true, carlos…” but he steps closer, his gaze intense.
“then you should choose me. choose us,” he demands, his voice low and serious. there’s a long pause as you take in the weight of his words, the tension thick in the air.
finally, you nod, and a small, relieved smile tugs at his lips. “good,” he whispers, wrapping his arms around you.
letting himself finally loosen up as he actually let's himself accept what he was actually feeling. not knowing how he in return helped you wind down too with just a touch.
“i’m not letting you go without a fight,” he adds, his voice fierce with determination. “because you're mine.”
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⤷.>ᗜ<.LANDO NORRIS !
lando’s expression falters when catches a glimpse of your face on one of your mutual friend's instagram. feeling sick to his stomach while jumping to the worst case scenarios when he picks up his car keys to drive your apartment
when he sees you open the door with a smile, a flicker of something dark crosses his face, but he quickly hides it behind a half-hearted smile. feeling light headed and fairly delighted to find you all alone
“how will your date feel if he saw you with someone else?” he asks, trying to keep his voice light, though the underlying hurt is clear. it made a laugh fall out of your mouth.
you can see he’s wrestling with the emotions bubbling beneath the surface, trying to keep his cool despite the jealousy gnawing at him.
“lando, stop being hilarious,” you say softly, moving closer to him, but he’s already looking away, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt— a clear sign he’s feeling insecure. it made your face drop as your heart clenched in your chest.
“it just… it doesn’t feel great, you know?” he finally admits, his voice quieter now, tinged with vulnerability. you gently take his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
“let me make you feel better,” you whisper, and after a moment, he looks back at you, his eyes softening.
he gives you a small, almost shy smile before pulling you into a tight embrace, holding you close as if to reassure himself that you’re really his.
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⤷.>ᗜ<.OSCAR PIASTRI !
oscar’s face remains calm and neutral when you casually slip out of the restaurant where you were with your date.
it was a pure coincidence that oscar saw you here and despite of how much he wanted to, he couldn't just walk away without shooting you a text.
but there’s a slight tightening around his eyes that you almost miss once you see him. “so this is interesting,” he says, nodding as if he doesn’t mind at all.
he’s focused on something else— his phone, a book, anything to distract himself from the sudden twist in his stomach. regretting not just walking away but how could he?
“hope you are having fun,” he adds, his tone light but with a hint of distance. you notice, of course, and decide to test the waters. “yeah, it is nice… different.”
oscar nods again, a subtle stabbing pain shooting up his spin. not looking at you, and you realize he’s trying really hard to act like it doesn’t bother him.
“different how?” he finally gives in, his voice casual, but you catch the tight fists he was supporting as he asked.
you smile softly, leaning over to kiss his cheek. “just different,” you say, “but not better.” he finally looks at you, his eyes softening, and a small smile tugs at his lips. “good,” he murmurs, pulling you closer to him, his tension easing as he wraps his arms around you.
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⤷.>ᗜ<.LEWIS HAMILTON !
lewis raises an eyebrow when you mention the date, giving you a cool, unreadable look. “cool. a real date? cool. that’s cool,” he says, his voice casual, almost too casual but his voice tight and words feel forced.
he’s lounging on the couch, his gaze drifting away from you as if he’s suddenly very interested in something else before he sighs because what right did he have to even be hostile about something like that?
“hope you had a good time,” he adds, trying to make peace but there’s a slight edge to his tone that tells you he’s not as unbothered as he’s trying to seem. you nod, watching him carefully.
“o-kay,” you reply, keeping your voice light. lewis just nods, not looking at you, and the silence that follows feels heavy before suddenly he snorts and your head snaps towards his direction.
“you’re not mad, are you?” you ask after a moment, and he finally looks at you, his expression softening a little.
“no, not mad,” he says, but there’s a flicker of something else in his eyes—maybe jealousy, maybe something more. “just… don’t expect me to be thrilled about it,” he adds, his voice softer now. you move closer to him, sitting beside him on the couch.
“sure,” you say gently, and he sighs, his shoulders relaxing as he finally wraps an arm around you. the air shifts and he pulls you even closer.
“alright, i am mad and maybe it's because...,” he murmurs, running his tongue over his lip while staring at yours. a gasp leaves your mouth when his hands wrap behind your neck, leaning in to a closer proximity
"i haven't made it clear enough and i apologise tot that but you're mine."
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⤷.>ᗜ<.GEORGE RUSSELL !
george’s eyes widen slightly when he sees a guy on your story, and for a moment, he looks genuinely surprised before he takes a deep breath, immediately calling you over. feeling overly at ease because you agree in a single second.
“oh… you went on a date?” he asks, his voice soft and a little unsure and he looks so small. he’s sitting at the table, his hand resting on the mug in front of him, and you can see the flicker of hurt in his eyes, though he tries to hide it.
“i didn’t realize… we were seeing other people,” he adds quietly, his gaze dropping to the table.
you instantly feel a pang of guilt, realizing that he might have thought things between you were more exclusive.
“it wasn’t serious,” you quickly say, stepping closer to him, liking this more than you could admit to yourself. “i just… i didn’t think it would bother you.”
george looks up at you, his eyes soft but a little sad. “i guess i didn’t either,” he admits, giving you a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
you reach out to take his hand, squeezing it gently. “i don't think i honestly want to go on dates if not with you, george,” you say softly, and his smile becomes a bit more genuine, a shine covering his eyes.
“yeah… thank god,” he murmurs, holding your hand a little tighter as he pulls you into his lap.
who knew mutually deciding to be 'not serious,' could actually be this serious.
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⤷.>ᗜ<.ALEX ALBON !
alex’s reaction is instant—he lets out a short laugh that’s more snarky as if in disbelief than amused when you tell me that you went on a date.
“oh, so that’s how it is?” he says, raising an eyebrow as he gives you a sideways glance. his tone is playful, but you can sense the underlying jealousy as you watch him crack his knuckles and tighten his jaw.
“did he pick you up in a fancy car and take you to a five-star restaurant?” he continues, his voice dripping with sarcasm. you roll your eyes at his dramatics, knowing he’s trying to cover up how much it actually bothers him.
“no, it was just a normal date,” you say, trying to downplay it. but alex isn’t letting it go that easily. “well, i hope he was worth it,” he says, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall, his eyes narrowing slightly.
you sigh, stepping closer to him, knowing he was close to shutting down completely. his eyes lowered as you put a hand on his chest, his fast heartbeat giving his nerves away
“alex, it wasn’t a big deal. i’m here with you now,” you say, hoping to ease his baffling anxiety. he looks at you for a long moment, his expression softening slightly.
“yeah, you better be,” he mutters, but there’s a small smile tugging at his lips. he pulls you into his arms, resting his forehead against yours. “because you deserve better than 'normal dates',” he whispers, his voice softer now, letting the unspoken words hang in between you two.
it fucking sucks that you went out with someone else, especially when he couldn't place why he was so fucking upset over it but for now, he’s glad you’re with him.
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©maxtermind // do not copy, rewrite or translate any of my work on any platforms.
★ : a/n :: nor proofread. feedback and reblogs are appreciated!
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sirxaibs · 4 months ago
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PUH LEASE write a sal x fem!reader where they all go to the lake, (larry, sal, ash, todd, etc) and sal is ogling the reader. then larry gives one of his motivational speeches where he talks him up to confess to her. and make it SUPES fluffy please 🤑🤑 i’ll give u my kidney
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SAL FISHER X READER
🂾𓂉🂾 AHHHHHHHHHHH 🂾𓂉🂾I
I want to point out that I changed it up a bit. Larry is still supportive and learns about it all and encourages it like a guy best friend. (so a little immature but all in good health) and uh i couldn’t think of a title
masterlist
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🂾𓂉🂾 The low hum of the Deftones spun through the battered speakers in Larry’s room, the gentle, distorted riffs of “Teenager” lacing the air with a strangely melodic chords. The posters on the wall seemed to flicker with the candlelight, smoke curling from the incense stick Larry had lazily propped in an old soda can. He lay across his bed, head resting on his folded arms, eyes half lidded. Sal sat on the floor with his back against the dresser, mask on, fingers toying with a frayed string from the hem of his hoodie. Larry let out a long sigh, kicking one foot lazily.
“So,” he said, dragging the word out with that signature Larry Young drawl, “you sure you don’t wanna tell them how you feel, dude?”
Sal let out a breath part exasperated, part defeated. “Yeah. I’m sure.” A pause. “It’s not like it matters. She’s just… her. Carefree. Like nothing in the world can ever shake her. And I’m… me.”
Larry raised an eyebrow, a shit eating grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Right, except she’s been into all your weird ghost shit since day one. That doesn’t strike you as a little suspicious?”
Sal rolled his eyes, though behind the mask, Larry only caught the tilt of his head and the sound of sarcasm lining his voice. “Oooookay, bud.” But even as he said it, his mind started drifting unwelcome but persistent, soft as the music playing in the background.
🂾𓂉🂾 It was one of those October evenings where the sky was bruised purple, the kind of night where the Addison Apartments looked especially like they were hiding something. “Let’s break into the basement,” you’d said with a grin, adjusting your flannel around your waist, boots crunching leaves beneath them. You tapped your chin, head tilting mischievously. “You and your little ghost gizmo thingy what’s it called again?”
“The Gear Boy,” Sal said, holding it up.
You snorted. “Right. Very cool very awesome demure or whatever .” Then you nudged him with your elbow. “C’mon, Sally Face. Let’s go find some demons.” You didn’t even flinch at the dark, or the cold, or the smell of mold in the stairwell. He remembered watching you run ahead, flashlight in hand, hair bouncing as you turned back and grinned at him like this was the best place in the world.
🂾𓂉🂾 Back in Larry’s room, Sal’s voice was quieter now. “She could’ve run screaming like most people. But she didn’t. Which I know she was your friend before anything but her crazy matches my crazy.”
Larry stretched, his joints popping. “Well she just likes creepy shit. Doesn’t mean she’s in love with you, dude.” Sal didn’t respond. But the next memory hit him anyway.
🂾𓂉🂾 They were sitting on the rooftop. You had a ripped black hoodie, sleeves cut into jagged edges, and a collection of safety pins holding one shoulder seam together. A cigarette dangled between your fingers, the smoke drifting in the cold air. You were talking about how your mom didn’t trust the apartments. “Says they give her the heebie jeebies,” you’d said, mocking the voice. “Can’t blame her though. The walls here feel like they’re listening.”
Sal chuckled under his breath. Then you turned toward him, all seriousness for a moment. “You ever think you might be too good for this place?”
He blinked. “What?”
You shrugged. “You’re, like, stupid kind. you might be into everyones business here, but you’re the gentlest person I know. Sometimes I wonder if you even see yourself clearly.” He looked down at the edge of the roof, heart thumping awkwardly. He thought maybe he misheard. But then you flicked your cigarette, stretched your arms behind your head, and looked back up at the stars like it hadn’t been a big deal at all.
🂾𓂉🂾 Back in the room, Larry sat up slightly, now curious. “You really think she meant something by that?”
Sal scoffed. “No. Maybe. I don’t know. She always say stuff like that. You know how she is.”
Larry gave him a skeptical look. “Yeah, and you always brush it off like it doesn’t eat you alive.”
Sal shook his head, reaching for one of Larry’s sketchpads absentmindedly, flipping it open but not really seeing the pages.
“Shes so weird? Like, nothing could tie her down. She’d walk into hell with a smile and offer the devil a light. I’m not sure I’d ever be enough to keep someone like that interested.”
🂾𓂉🂾 It was raining, and you were soaked to the bone, hair sticking to your face as you stood in the apartment hallway, laughing. “Okay,” you said between breaths, “next time you distract the teacher while I pick the lock. My ass is not cut out for this kind of stealth.” Sal had watched you giggle like a maniac, water dripping from your sleeves, eyeliner smudged like a grunge music video, and thought, I’m completely screwed. Then, you looked up at him, eyes bright, lips parted like you were about to say something else but then you stopped. Just smiled. A quiet, knowing kind of smile.
“You’re really fun to get in trouble with, Sally Face.”
🂾𓂉🂾 Larry whistled low. “That’s… okay, yeah, that one’s suspicious.”
Sal grumbled. “You think?”
Larry shrugged, lying back down again. “Sounds like she’s been flirting with you for, like, months.”
Sal leaned his head back against the dresser with a soft thump. “Or she’s just like that with everyone.” The Deftones track shifted, a more intense guitar swell starting as Digital Bath played. The room filled with its pulsing rhythm, washing over the silence between the boys. “I just…” Sal muttered, “I don’t wanna screw it up. If I say something, and I’m wrong, I lose her. And even if I’m right… someone like her, with someone like me?”
Larry stared at the ceiling. “Sal… sometimes you sound like the pieces of fart in romance movies”
Sal laughed under his breath, dry and unamused. “Thanks.”
But still, the memories pressed on him. The way your eyes lingered when you thought he wasn’t looking. The times you leaned against him when you didn’t have to. The way your laughter always came easier around him than anyone else. And the stupid, tiny, impossible hope that maybe just maybe you saw him the way he saw you. He didn’t know what to do with any of it. So instead, he stayed silent. Let the music play a little louder. Let the ghosts wait in the walls of Addison Apartments. Because maybe the scariest thing wasn’t the dead. it was the living. And how deeply they could get under your skin without even trying.
“You gotta do something, man,” Larry said, pointing a lazy finger at him. “Like, soon.”
Sal shot him a sideways glance. “Do what?”
“You know what. Confess. Or flirt. Or, I don’t know, do something with your weird little ghost boy charm. They’re basically throwing hints like they’re in a punk rock rom com, and you’re just sitting here like it’s algebra class.” Sal leaned his head back against the dresser again, letting out a groan. “I can’t, man. That’d be like… opening Pandora’s box with a note that says ‘Hey, I hope this doesn’t ruin everything!’” His voice was muffled but undeniably dry. “Also? What even is ghost boy charm?”
Larry laughed, grabbing a guitar pick from his nightstand and flicking it across the room. “You’ve got that quiet, mysterious thing going on. she eats that shit up.”
“I highly doubt that,” Sal mumbled, tugging at the sleeve of his hoodie.
Larry smirked. “Your loss, man. I’ll be sure to let you wallow in your tragic love story all by yourself while everyone else is making out by the lake.”
Just as Sal opened his mouth to counter with the fact that basically no one in the group is attracted to each other for a multitude of reasons, a loud slam echoed through the room, the door flinging open as you barreled in with a chaotic whirlwind of energy. “WENDIGO LAKE, BABYYYY!” you shouted, practically bouncing on your heels. You wore a pair of scuffed up combat boots and ripped fishnets under a patched up pair of shorts. Your backpack was a canvas battlefield blazing with sewn on patches, painted slogans, and safety pins holding together loose fabric. The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, a big bold patch reading “Only Anarchists Are Pretty”, and another featuring Vivienne Westwood’s face all clashed together like a punk rock museum on your back.
Larry blinked. “You sew all that yourself?”
You gave a proud little hum. “Hell yeah. Don’t trust machines for the good stuff.”
Sal swore his heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, you plopped down behind Sal, your legs bracketing either side of him. You didn’t say anything at first, just casually reached around to start playing with the collar of his shirt like it was the most natural thing in the world. Twisting it between your fingers, tugging slightly, smoothing it out, then ruffling it again.
“Piercing’s new, right?” Larry asked, tilting his head and nodding toward your septum ring. “Should you even be going into the lake?” You gave him a wicked grin and then dragged your palm slowly across his face in a dramatic shhhh, your fingers smudging his cheek with the soft scent of tobacco and clove. “Shhhh,” you whispered, voice dipped low in mock seriousness. “Let me be irresponsible, Lawrence.”
Larry wiped his face off with the back of his hand, laughing. You leaned forward a bit, resting your chin on Sal’s shoulder. “I’m just stoked to have everyone out. Senior year’s been, like, a slow death. No bars around here worth anything, no good gigs nearby. It’s like the universe forgot how to throw a party.”
You pulled back slightly, hand resting on Sal’s shoulder now. “Oh by the way, I brought you some extra snacks. And a book.” You said it casually, but the words hung in the air. “Figured you weren’t going in the water.”
Sal blinked under his mask, throat tight. “You didn’t have to”
“I wanted to.” You smiled, then hopped up again, grabbing your bag. “Alright. Cigarette break. Don’t get all broody without me.” You shot a finger gun toward Sal and winked before disappearing out the back door.
The second the door closed, Larry launched himself from the bed. Sal yelped as Larry practically straddled him, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him wildly. “DUDE.”
Sal struggled, awkward and panicked. “What the Larry!”
“I SEE IT. I FREAKING SEE IT!” Larry’s grin was wide enough to split his face. “That was not lowkey! That was highkey! High effort! Extra snacks and a book? Who does that? For you?”
“Why are you sitting on me!?”
“Because this is an emergency! We’re in Defcon 1, Sal! You’ve got a hardcore punk goddess out there who’s literally playing with your clothes and giving you personalized gifts like it’s Valentine’s Day for the emotionally suppressed!”
Sal flushed so deeply even the tips of his ears went pink. “She’s just That’s just how she is!”
Larry leaned in closer, eyes wide. “You are so deep in denial. Ive know her since we were shit stains. If you go one more day without at least flirting back, I swear when I die, I’m going to ghost haunt your dreams until you cry.”
Sal grumbled, face buried in his hands. Then the door creaked open again. You stood there in the doorway, one hand on the frame, a smile tugging at your lips. “Well? You boys gonna keep cuddling, or are we heading to the lake?” Sal froze. Larry grinned. You tilted your head, amusement glittering in your eyes. “C’mon. I wanna see who gets wet the fastest when we get there. I say its between Ash or me”
Larry grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “You’re actually the gross ome,” he said, walking past you. You flipped him off with a grin. Sal stood slowly, heart still racing. You looked at him over your shoulder, a little smile playing at your lips again.
“Hey. You coming, Sally Face?”
He nodded, almost dumbly. “Yeah. I’m coming.” You waited as the Deftones shifted into “Change (In the House of Flies)”, the screen door creaked shut behind you all.
🂾𓂉🂾 The lake shimmered beneath a hazy midafternoon sun, the surface rippling gently under the occasional breeze. Trees surrounded Wendigo Lake like tall, crooked teeth perfect for the vibe of this weird little friend group. The air carried the scent of water, pine, and whatever patchouli heavy perfume you’d doused yourself in before leaving. Something about that smell made Sal’s stomach twist not in a bad way. Just in that weird, you’re kinda in love with someone but don’t wanna deal with it yet sort of way. You were crouched down near the shore, a slightly beat up picnic blanket in your arms as Todd helped you flatten it out over the grass. You had insisted on bringing it, even though only you, Larry, and Sal were sharing it. Ash and Todd, for some ungodly reason, had shown up with just towels like this was a beach day. The contrast was already hilarious.
“Really going full domestic over there,” Larry muttered under his breath with a snicker, elbowing Sal, who was standing stiffly to the side, arms crossed. “You seeing this?”
Sal glanced at you and couldn’t help it he smiled. You were teasing Todd about something, fingers poking at the hem of his hoodie. He couldn’t hear you from this distance, but knowing you, it was probably something like “Bro, you hang out with emos all day. Why are you dressed like an NPR intern?” Todd just looked mildly amused, adjusting his glasses, letting you mess with him like a human fashion victim. Sal felt his cheeks heat, even under the mask. He looked away quickly. Ash, sitting cross legged nearby with her towel stretched out like a lazy cat, clocked it immediately.
“Oh my god.” She slapped a hand on Sal’s shoulder, feigning an emotional gasp. “My little boy… my son… he’s growing up so fast. He’s starting to like girls now.”
Sal groaned. “Ash, shut the hell up.”
She cackled, draping herself over his back dramatically. “Just one girl. That girl made my boy a man”
He practically peeled her off him. “Do you want me to throw you into the lake?”
Ash grinned wickedly. “Do you want me to tell her you were staring at her like she was a sexy alien sent to save the world?”
Sal grabbed her towel and yeeted it into the grass. “That’s it. Exorcism time.”
Meanwhile, you and Todd finally made your way over, you bouncing slightly on your heels as you looked at the mess unfolding. “Damn,” you said, “did we miss the hug session or did it turn into a wrestling match?”
“Sal wouldn’t mind another session,” Larry said instantly, not missing a beat, throwing a sly grin in your direction.
Ash volleyed, eyes sparkling with evil glee. “Especially if it’s with you.”
Larry followed up like the demon duo they were. “You know, he’s really into long hugs. Like, full body contact. horizontally. moving back and forth. Really intimate.”
Sal practically lunged at Larry with a “You are so dead!” as the taller boy yelped and tried to scramble out of the way, laughing the whole time.
You laughed so hard your whole body curled forward, grabbing Ash’s hand to steady yourself. “fuck man, I think they were both already stoned when i picked them up” you wheezed. “The party has officially started!” Ash was laughing too, but she still gave Sal a knowing look behind your back, mouthing the words do something already. Sal pretended not to see it.
🂾𓂉🂾 You flopped down on the blanket between Sal and Larry, reaching into your bag and pulling out a crinkled pack of gum and a mini speaker. “Alright, mild sun poisoning anyone? you pasty mofos need it”
Larry grinned. “your ass better be talking about anyone else here because I know you’re not talking to me”
Sal, still flushed under his mask and recovering from that last comment, watched you out of the corner of his eye as you started queuing up music, chatting with Ash and Todd about whether The Damned were better than The Buzzcocks. He didn’t say it out loud, but he could’ve watched you do that forever. he didn’t mind the teasing if it meant being this close to you. Even if he was the only one too chicken to do anything about it.
🂾𓂉🂾 It was a little later in the afternoon now, the heat softening as shadows stretched longer across the ground. The smell of warm grass and lake water mixed with the faint burn of something herbal someone had definitely brought a little something to pass around, and judging by the lazy laughter and general haze of good vibes, it had been shared liberally. You were half leaning on Sal’s shoulder, one leg sprawled over the other, ankle gently nudging his shin as you talked nonsense in that way you always did.
“So, like,” you murmured, voice heavy with drowsy amusement, “if fish could scream, do you think people would still go swimming?”
Sal blinked. “…What?”
You nodded like this was deeply important. “Like, you’re just chilling in the lake and suddenlyAAHHHH ” You mimicked a fish shrieking, limbs flailing, nearly smacking him in the face with your elbow.
“I think that argument gave god the entire reason for fish to not scream,” Sal said, dry but fond.
“Okay, but would you still swim?”
“…Probably not,” he admitted, then turned to glance at you. You were close. Like always. Close enough that your cheek was brushing against the edge of his shoulder. Close enough that your hand was resting by his on the blanket, pinkies nearly touching. It wasn’t unusual. You’d always been like that with him. Ever since you started hanging around, you’d just been comfortable. Always invading his space without a second thought, always bumping shoulders or leaning into him when you laughed. He’d never had the nerve to ask what it meant. Maybe it was just you. But damn it if he didn’t want it to mean something. The world swayed with a low thrum of music from your little speaker something with a steady, almost hypnotic beat. The Deftones, again. They’d been the soundtrack to the day. Dreamy. Fuzzy. A little too perfect.
“I feel like I’m melting,” you mumbled, staring up at the sky. “Let’s go swimming. Let’s go be weird little lake freaks.”
Without waiting for an answer, you kicked up from your spot, stumbling slightly with a laugh, then turned to Ash, grabbing her wrist. “Come on. Water nymph time.”
Ash groaned playfully, letting herself be dragged. “Do I have to be a nymph? Can’t I just be a vaguely damp woman?”
“Nope. Nymph or nothing.” You stuck your tongue out and reached for the hem of your shirt, tugging it up with an easy flourish.
for Sal, the world just stopped. The chatter, the breeze, the soft laughter from Todd and Larry. Gone. Even the music faded into something distant and orchestral, as if a full string section had taken over his brain. You stood in the golden light of the sun, the curve of your shoulders catching the warmth like a halo, your skin kissed in amber and the softest shadows. Your shirt slipped off, and it was like time dilated just for him.
Your body. Your posture. The way your hair caught the wind. The shimmer of sweat on your collarbone. Everything about you in that moment was art. He stared. He couldn’t not and he wasn’t even being creepy about it he wasn’t ogling for ogling’s sake. He just… forgot how to breathe. He looked at you like you were some ancient deity pulled from a forgotten shrine, like you’d stepped out of some punk rock myth, wild and grinning and just a little dangerous. And maybe, somewhere deep down, he’d always thought you looked like this. Always felt it when you leaned on him or laughed into his ear or stood with your boots planted like you owned every inch of space you took up.
You were beautiful. Sal whispered it without thinking. A breathless, soft little exhale behind his mask. “…You’re beautiful.”
You turned. Caught it. And flashed a grin so wicked and knowing he wanted to melt into the damn earth. “Thanks,” you said, stretching dramatically. “I do it for the girls” you jerked a thumb toward Ash, “and the gays” now to Todd, who gave you a sarcastic bow in return.
Larry’s voice shot out like a gunshot. “What about Sal and me?!”
You gave him a slow once over, clearly unimpressed. “You’re a perv, dickwad,” you said sweetly. “Sal can look I’ll allow it. You, as a man, should start groveling.”
The entire group burst into laughter. Ash doubled over, Todd adjusted his glasses to hide his grin, and Larry threw hand to you. flipping you off with pride. like you’d mortally wounded him. Sal, for his part, sat there utterly flustered. Frozen. A little dazed. You had heard him. And instead of teasing him, instead of making it weird, you just let him look. it was maybe even… wanted?
You turned, already skipping toward the lake with Ash in tow, your punk patched shorts low on your hips when you all first got there, you ripped your tights so they were ling gone now. a new glint catching the light from your eyes.
“Don’t take too long, losers!” you called. “Water’s waiting!”
And just like that, you were gone sprinting into the shallows, laughing as you splashed Ash and dared her to dunk you. Sal was left sitting on the blanket, staring after you, heart pounding, mind full of sun and music and your laugh. “…Holy shit,” he muttered.
Sal was still watching the lake. The way the water shimmered around you as you threw yourself backward into it, the arc of your arms as you splashed Ash there was something dizzying about the whole thing. Something surreal. Maybe it was the buzz from earlier or just the heat of the day, but it felt like the world had shifted, just a little, like the axis tilted and gravity decided to be kinder.
You looked over your shoulder once mid laugh, you knew exactly where Sal would be, you were making sure he saw you. The grin on your face could’ve been carved from rebellion and starlight. He felt like he was dying. In the good way. Larry had been quiet beside him for a few seconds too long. That should’ve been Sal’s first warning.
Then he felt it. That slow, creeping grin. He turned his head and yep. Larry was looking at him like the cat who got the cream, the rat, the last donut, and possibly a Grammy.
Larry leaned in, eyebrows raised, his voice low and drawling. “Dude,” he said with a smile far too smug for one face. “She basically just asked you to fuck.”
Sal’s brain short circuited. “What?!”
“I mean,” Larry shrugged, tossing a pebble toward the lake, “she said you could look. That’s, like, stage one. Next thing she’ll be asking you to carry her to bed like a Victorian ghost bride.”
“You are so gross,” came Todd’s voice from behind them, utterly unimpressed. He adjusted his glasses with a sigh, setting down a bottle of sunscreen. “That kind of take is exactly why she called you a perv. She knew.”
Larry threw up his hands, grinning wider. “Hey, I am a perv! I embrace the perv. But I’m also right.”
Sal pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to will his soul back into his body. “Yeah, nothing says romance like ‘she’ll haunt you if you don’t rail her.’ Totally the dream.” Todd let out a snort, and Larry cackled, falling back onto the blanket. “Y’all are dumb,” Sal muttered, but he was smiling behind the mask. He couldn’t help it. The warm buzz of your laugh in the distance, the afterglow of your flirtation (which was totally flirtation, right?), and his friends acting like idiots it all wrapped around him like a blanket fresh from the dryer.
🂾𓂉🂾 Golden hour washed the world in amber. Everything looked softer, warmer, even the worn edges of the ghost gang out in the water. Their laughter echoed across Wendigo Lake, distant and muffled like a memory being recalled in real time. Sal sat on the blanket you and Todd had set up, the spine of the book you’d brought him resting comfortably in his palms. He’d tried to focus. Really, he had. He even read the same paragraph four times.
But every few seconds, his eyes would wander first toward the water, then toward you. You were laughing as Ash tried to climb onto Todd’s shoulders for some impromptu chicken fight. Larry was egging both of you on from the sidelines, flinging water like an excited Labrador. It was stupid. Wild. Loud. But Sal could only sit there, book in hand, and watch. Not because he didn’t want to join. because he couldn’t. Even with all of you people who had seen the real him, scarred and broken and still trying he couldn’t do it. Couldn’t take off the mask. Couldn’t risk the way you’d all look at him one day if something in your brains shifted and the wrong thought took hold. He could still hear echoes of old kids, of freak and monster. He kept the mask on. Always. Even when he wanted to be a part of things. Even when you looked back at him with a smile that seemed to say, Come on, blue boy. The world’s warmer over here. He looked down at the page again. A line about borrowed time. About choices made in secret.
Then a splash, a laugh, water footsteps on grass. He looked up, the air left his lungs. You were walking toward him, golden hour catching every drop of water clinging to your skin, each one like a star strung along your body. You were soaked and radiant and barefoot in the dirt, and you were wearing a two piece that could’ve been forged by some divine hand to ruin his entire week. Sal felt like a little boy discovering women for the first time. Like, oh. Oh, that’s what this feeling is. Your hair stuck to your cheeks, your septum ring catching the light just so. A punk Venus. A grungy dream. You were all sunburnt mischief and unapologetic beauty. He didn’t even realize he was staring until you plopped down beside him with a hum, rubbing water from your eyes.
“Hey,” you said, grinning. “How’s it goin’?”
Sal shifted slightly, trying not to sound too affected. “Oh, y’know. Just enjoying my career as the local cryptid.”
You snorted and fished out a towel from nearby, shaking it before folding it and draping it over his lap. Then, without warning, you laid down right across the towel, your damp hair spilling slightly onto his hoodie sleeve. Sal looked down at you, eyes wide, book hovering midair.
“Do I even get a warning before you invade my lap?” he deadpanned.
You smirked up at him, cheek pressed to the towel. “Nope. Felt like it. Problem?”
He exhaled through his nose. “Just trying not to die of cardiac arrest. Thanks.”
You poked his side gently. “That’s what the mask is for, right? To keep all your panic internal?”
“Exactly. It’s the emotional equivalent of a paper bag.”
You smiled, head tilted up so you could meet his eyes. “You start the book yet?”
He glanced at the open pages in his lap. “I’ve been trying.”
“‘Trying,’ huh?” You gave him a knowing look. “What’s the verdict? Worth my very cool, carefully curated recommendation?”
Sal paused for a moment. Then nodded, honest. “It’s good. Actually. Weird good. You’ve got disturbingly good taste.” You lit up at the compliment
“Okay, okay,” you said, turning slightly more onto your back, your arm flopping lazily over his legs. “Read it out loud. I wanna hear you read it.”
Sal blinked. “Seriously?”
“Mhm,” you hummed. “You’ve got a nice voice. It’s like… if sarcasm were smooth jazz.”
He stared down at you, heart hammering in his chest. “You’re lucky I can’t blush through this mask.”
“You’re lucky I don’t make you take it off and prove it.”
Sal scoffed lightly, looked down at the book again, then cleared his throat. You looked up at him like he hung the damn stars. so, under the waning gold light of the evening, with your head against his legs and your hand absentmindedly brushing his knee, Sal began to read. His voice steadying, even if the words on the page danced between lines of wonder and disbelief.
He couldn’t focus on the text. Not really. But it didn’t matter. Because in that moment with you next to him, comfortable and unafraid Sal felt a little more seen.
🂾𓂉🂾 On the other side of the lake, the water rippled gently around Ash, Todd, and Larry as they floated or waded just deep enough to stay cool. They were watching from a safe, absolutely not suspicious distance though their not so subtle gawking was giving the game away hard.
Ash narrowed her eyes like a sniper sighting her target. “She’s laying on his lap. She’s laying on his lap, you guys.”
“No, no,” Larry whispered like he was in church. “We all know she kinda flirty with everyone thats her personality but who flirts in such a casual way like her?.”
Todd adjusted his glasses, blinking once. “They’re always physically close. But this is different.”
Ash looked at him. “Right?! This is intentional closeness. This is I could’ve sat anywhere but I chose the throne.”
Larry, in the middle of floating on his back, suddenly stood straight up in the water like he’d been struck by lightning. “Wait. WAIT. Is she touching his leg right now?”
“Yes,” Todd and Ash said in perfect sync.
Larry, unable to cope, flung himself backward dramatically into the lake. Water splashed everywhere as he sank into the shallows like a fallen hero.
“I can’t they’re gonna fall in love and get married and we’re going to have to wear matching suits for the wedding,” he cried from below the surface before sitting back up with a sputter.
Ash was cackling, half drowning in laughter. “Do you think he’s sweating under that mask? Like. Frying.”
Todd, always a little more composed, was still clutching his towel like a war fan. “It’s the quiet ones that fall the hardest. You see that stare? That man’s reading a book and still found time to look at her like she’s the damn sun.”
All three of them turned into rubbernecking witnesses as Sal, still on the blanket, did the unthinkable. He moved his hand. Delicately. Softly. brushed a piece of hair out of your face.
“OH MY GOD!” Ash shrieked.
“IT’S HAPPENING!” Todd gasped, dropping his towel like it betrayed him.
Larry slapped both hands over his mouth, eyes wide. “I knew he liked her, but this this is outta a movie, bro.”
Ash practically threw herself at the water’s surface, splashing Larry in the process. “I mean, I know he’s got the mask on, but that boy’s soul just ascended.”
Todd was now pacing in knee deep water like a dad preparing a PowerPoint. “That gesture was too tender.”
“I’m gonna cry,” Ash said, wiping fake tears from her face. “Look at her. She’s probably asleep and doesn’t even know she’s got Sal acting like the love interest in a coming of age drama.”
Larry leaned into the dramatic energy immediately, tossing his arms out wide. “HE MOVED HER HAIR, GUYS. THE HAIR. The hair”
Todd nodded solemnly. “The ancient texts foretold this moment.”
Ash, not to be outdone, fell to her knees in the shallows and lifted her hands to the sky. “Sal Fisher is in LOVE and it’s SOFT and GENTLE and she’s probably gonna wake up and say something weird and philosophical and I just I love this stupid, freakish group of friends.”
Larry wiped an invisible tear from his cheek, then suddenly smirked. “You think if we all walk over there right now, he’d panic and fling the book across the lake?”
Ash chuckled, climbing to her feet. “Let them have their moment. Sal’s being brave in his own way.”
Todd added, “It’s kind of beautiful. He’s letting himself feel something.”
“God,” Larry muttered. “If she kisses him later, I might just explode.”
Ash nodded gravely. “Then we explode together.”
Todd sighed with a small smile. “They don’t even know we’re over here narrating their love story like omniscient gods.”
“And we will not tell them either,” Larry said. “This is sacred. This is ours.”
And so the trio stood (or waded), eyes fixed on the quiet scene playing out across the shoreline Sal carefully reading with you resting on his lap, the lake breeze brushing through your hair, a piece of peace they all felt lucky to witness. No one spoke for a minute. Then Ash whispered, “She better ask him out before graduation or I’m staging an intervention.”
🂾𓂉🂾 The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting golden hour across Wendigo Lake like it was something out of a dream everything warm and slow and humming. The world had turned syrup thick, still and heavy with late summer heat and the haze of the day. On the picnic blanket, Sal sat nearly frozen in place, a book long forgotten in his lap, cradled now beneath the soft rise and fall of your sleeping frame. The towel you’d laid down between your soaked body and his jeans was doing exactly jack shit to keep the water from seeping through. He’d given up on caring about the damp chill a while ago sometime after you’d curled up on top of his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Your arms tucked beneath your chin, your breathing slow and even. His own hoodie now rested over your back, cocooning you with a softness he hoped might make up for how still he was forcing himself to be. He didn’t dare move. Not yet. God, you were beautiful.
Sal’s breath caught when he looked down at you. The way your septum ring caught the light. The wet strands of hair pressed against your cheek. The slope of your nose. Your eyelashes looked longer like this, somehow. Relaxed. Innocent. Peaceful.
And all he could think all he could think was I have to tell you. I have to. If I don’t do it now, I never will.
His heart pounded so hard he was sure Todd could probably feel it from the other side of the lake. Every nerve in his body buzzed with static. His stomach churned in knots, and the voice in his head that mean little bastard voice kept whispering, You’re gonna ruin everything.
But then he looked at you again. Still sleeping. Still peaceful. Still here. On his lap. He reached out, moving a lock of hair from your face again slow, careful, like if he went too fast, you’d vanish into mist. His pinky brushed against your cheekbone as he did, light as air.
You stirred gently, eyelids fluttering open. The slow, lazy blink of someone waking from a warm nap, like a cat. You didn’t move from your spot. Your face turned slightly up toward him, hair fanned out under his hoodie. Sal felt his throat go dry. But it was now or never.
“Pspspsps,” he whispered playfully, soft and dumb and completely him.
You blinked again, brows slightly furrowing as you woke more fully. “Hmm?”
He smiled nervously. “Hey… do you think you’d be willing to give me a chance?”
You stared at him for a second. The sleep still lingering in your expression gave way to a flicker of surprise. Eyes widening just slightly. Your lips parted in a little “oh,” before curling up into a lazy grin. Your tone was smooth, but playful light teasing laced with real meaning. “Alright, pretty boy…” you hummed, voice still sticky with sleep, “…I will.”
Sal’s heart skipped at least two full beats.
“But,” you added, one eye narrowing mischievously, “if you mess with me, I’ll make sure you never hear the end of it.” A beat of silence passed. then Sal laughed soft and low and real. It wasn’t sarcastic or bitter or guarded. It was warm. Nervous. Happy.
He nodded, breathless. “Fair enough.”
You yawned, stretching slightly but didn’t move off his lap. Your hand reached up and lazily tugged the edge of his hoodie closer around your shoulder. “Good. Now shut up and keep reading. Your voice is nice.”
Sal swallowed. “Right. Okay. Reading.”
But his hands shook a little as he picked up the book again, smile hidden behind his mask, heart screaming from inside his chest. even though the towel underneath was still soaked through, and his jeans were a wet mess, and the rest of the group was definitely watching from the lake with wide eyes and zero chill. Sal felt like he’d just won something huge. He had you. Or at least, now… he had a chance.
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himasgod · 6 months ago
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Hi, this is my first time writing a request but I really like your writing style 🥳
Do u mind writing a sort of like self-harm/ or depressed reader x Wanderer or Scaramouche? I couldn’t find any writer that wrote a lot. PLEASE AND TY IF U DO IT
ANGST Reader x Scaramouche
Where he finds you self-harming.
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Where he finds the person he cares about most in the world, self-harming.
WARNING!: Self-harm is an extremely serious topic that should not be romanticized or taken lightly, and should be given the importance it deserves. Please, if you know someone who is going through this or something else,or you are going through it yourself, you are not alone. You always have someone you can trust, helplines, and many other resources watching over you.
That being said, this reading is not for everyone.
I never deal with these topics harshly and always from a point of view of supporting, but even so it can be a delicate subject that, if it affects you, it would be better if you did not read.
Likewise, I have other similar one shots on my profile.
The sound of the wind against the window is the only thing that breaks the silence. Outside, the world keeps spinning, indifferent, while you remain there, locked in a room that feels more like a cell.
It's a day like any other. Or maybe not. Maybe this time it's worse. Because this time, the pressure in your chest doesn't let up, the lump in your throat doesn't go away, and the weight of existing feels unbearable.
The razor in your hand is cold. Inert. A meaningless object until you press it against your skin, until the burning and blood stain your skin. It's a twisted comfort, a punishment you think you deserve without being able to explain it.
You didn't expect him to come in.
The door swings open and there's Scaramouche, his silhouette silhouetted against the light of the hallway. He doesn't speak at first, but the way his eyes lock on you says more than any words could ever express. His gaze slowly lowers to the mess around you: the red stains on the fabric of your clothes, the razor in your shaking hand, the broken skin. His expression changes. It’s a contained storm.
“What do you think you’re doing?” His voice is low, sharp as a knife. It’s not rage in his tone, but it’s not tenderness either. It’s something deeper. Something more terrifying.
You can’t answer.
“Give me that.” It’s not a request. He comes closer, taking the razor from you with firm fingers, never taking his eyes off you. You don’t let go right away; maybe because you don’t want to or because you don’t have the strength. But he insists, his grip firm, relentless. Finally, you give in.
The metal falls to the floor with a hollow sound. But that doesn’t change anything. Because the wound is still there. Because the pain is still there.
Because nothing changes.
He crouches in front of you, resting his elbows on his knees. He doesn’t say anything for a moment, like he’s choosing his words carefully, like he knows that anything he says could make you break even more. His face is inscrutable, but there’s something in his eyes. Something you didn’t expect to see in him.
Fear.
“You’re an idiot.” His words lack venom. Usually they’re filled with mockery, sarcasm, disdain. But not this time. This time, his voice is low. Quiet.
Scared.
You can’t look him in the eyes. You don’t want to see what’s in them, because if you do, the guilt will be unbearable.
“Why?” he finally asks. “Tell me.”
You can’t.
There’s no answer that can make him understand what even you can’t explain.
The sadness for no reason, the emptiness that’s never filled, the feeling of being trapped in a darkness that grows thicker every day.
It’s not something that can be put into words.
But he waits. Because for the first time, he’s not running. He’s not walking away. He’s here. With you. Seeing you at your worst and refusing to look away.
And that’s scary.
You shiver. “I don’t know.”
Scaramouche exhales. He lets out a tired sigh, as if your words confirm something he fears. Then, with deliberate slowness, he takes off his hat and sets it in your head.
His hands, always so steady, now tremble slightly as he brings them to your wrists, observing the marks on your skin. He runs his fingers gently over them, barely brushing them, as if he’s afraid to hurt you more.
He doesn’t say everything will be okay. He doesn’t say it will pass. He doesn’t say you have to be strong or that things will get better.
Because Scaramouche isn’t like that.
He’s not someone who sugarcoats reality, or someone who offers false promises.
But he’s here. And sometimes, that’s enough.
His grip on your wrists tightens, not with force. Like he’s making sure you’re still here, that you’re not going to disappear any moment now.
“If you do this again…” His voice cracks just a little, so lightly you almost miss him. He swallows. “If you do this again, I swear I’ll—”
He stops, clenching his jaw. There’s no threat in his voice, just desperation disguised as hardness. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
That promise, spoken with so much weight, so much truth, makes you finally look up at him. And in that instant, something in your chest cracks in a different way.
Because for the first time in a long time, someone is here.
Someone is staying.
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kxsagi · 5 months ago
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hii i love ur writing !! Can i request smth for nagi like where hes insecure cus yk how its canon that people at his school think of him as weird and a loner and they say that reader is too good for him and can do better, so reader just comforts him and stuff n hes super clingy!! thankyou❤️❤️
“𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮”
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a/n: thank you so much lovey! i hope you enjoy this cute nagi fluff, especially after what happened to him 😔
i love those comments where it’s like “did you know i scored the first goal in the blue lock vs. U–” “just put the fries in the bag bro”
(don't know art credits sorry)
nagi’s fingers tugged at the sleeve of your shirt, his head resting on your shoulder as you sat on the couch in your room. something was off about him today. he’d been much more quiet, his usual chill energy completely drained. you could tell something was wrong. 
“hey,” you asked softly, running your fingers through his hair. “what’s up? you’ve been all... gloomy.” 
nagi sighed dramatically, his body sinking further into the couch as if the weight of the world had fallen on him. “people at school... they think i’m weird.” he said it like it was the most tragic thing ever. “and... they said you’re too good for me. that you could do better.” 
you raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by his sudden insecurity. “are they serious? who are these people, and why are they so wrong?” 
nagi nodded solemnly, not looking up. “they said you could do better. like, i’m just... weird and a loner and... i can’t even play normal games with them without... showing off.” 
you gave him an exaggerated pout. “aw, poor nagi. who cares what they think? they probably can’t even spell 'normal.'” 
he peeked up at you, blinking like a confused kitten. “what do you mean?” 
“it’s just, like... school people are lame. i’m with you because you’re you.” you grinned. “and to be honest, they’re just upset that you’re crushing their egos and humbling them. it’s endearing.” 
nagi scrunched his face up. “endearing?” 
“yeah! like, i’d totally choose a weird, clingy boyfriend over a regular, ‘normal’ guy any day.” 
he frowned, but his eyes softened just a little, a hint of a smile threatening at the corner of his mouth. “so... i’m your weird clingy boyfriend, huh?” 
“yep.” you poked his side. “and if anyone’s got a problem with that, i’ll tell them to fight me.” you paused, then smirked. “but i’ll probably lose. though that won’t stop me from trying!” 
nagi snorted, his grip tightening on your arm like you were his lifeline. “you’d lose? seriously?” 
“hey, i’ve never thrown hands before. besides, i’d just distract them with my charm and incredible sarcasm.” you made a dramatic gesture. “it’s a talent.” 
nagi’s head fell against your shoulder, his breath a little shaky as if he’d been holding back a sigh of relief. “so, you’re not going anywhere, right?” 
you chuckled softly, ruffling his hair. “nah. i’m stuck with you. you’re just too cute when you get all clingy. i wouldn’t trade you for the world.” 
“promise?” 
“promise.” 
he immediately wrapped both arms around you like he was trying to turn into a human octopus. “good. because if you leave, i’ll... i’ll eat everything in the fridge and not share any with you.” 
you gasped dramatically, clutching your chest. “that’s a threat, nagi. i don’t know if i can forgive that.” 
he grinned mischievously, his hands tightening even more around you. “i’m serious. no chips. no candy. no cake. no bread. nothing.” 
“you wouldn’t.” you raised an eyebrow, trying to sound serious. 
he smirked. “watch me.” 
you both burst into laughter, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered. nagi was still clingy, still insecure, but his usual playful, carefree self was starting to shine through again. as he buried his face back into your neck, you couldn’t help but smile at how ridiculous the whole situation was. 
“i’m never leaving you,” you promised, pulling him closer. 
“good.” he mumbled, his voice already muffled as he tried to get even closer. “because i’m not letting go.” 
you grinned, feeling the weight of the moment lift off your shoulders. “alright, clingy boyfriend. but i’m not sharing my snacks.” 
“deal.”
© 𝐤𝐱𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐢
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ellswritings · 8 months ago
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Hiii love! I was wondering if u could u could do a c bing imagine where the reader and him are best friends but then chandler gets feelings for her and thinks about confessing but she gets a boyfriend then her boyfriend breaks up with her then chandler tells her how she feels and lotss of fluffy thx alot!
I took some creative liberties with this, but I do hope it lives up to your expectations 🫶🫶
We Can’t Be Friends
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Chandler Bing x reader
TW: Idiots in love, Chandler pining, angsty fluff, reader is oblivious.
            »»————- ⚜ ————-««
“Is there a reason you’re standing on a ladder in the middle of my apartment building, or is this just a regular Wednesday afternoon for you?” Chandler Bing’s sarcastic voice rings out as he sets the groceries down on his kitchen table.
He finds the scene in front of him highly amusing. His best friend, Y/N L/N, on a seven foot ladder, arms outstretched in the air with a lightbulb in her mouth. She freezes at the sound of his voice, her eyes widening which only makes her position much more funny. Chandler chuckles at her ‘deer in the headlights’ look.
She stops what she’s doing, removing the bulb from her mouth, “Joey said you had a messed up light bulb. I thought I could come and replace it for you guys,” she answers like it’s not a big deal.
Chandler smiles, walking over to her. He cranes his neck up as she’s still pretty high above him, “And what would you have done if said ladder would’ve toppled over and neither of us were home?”
“Called for Monica,” Y/N shrugs. “She says her ears are permanently equipped to hear my voice because I’ve been talking her ear off since the day we met in the second grade,” she says with a devilish grin.
“Why don’t you let me do that?” He holds his hand out for her to come down. “It is my apartment.”
“No,” Y/N replies stubbornly, turning back to the task at hand. “I came over here to do this before either of you would get home. It was supposed to be a surprise, but you coming home early ruined it.”
“I’m sorry my presence is such a burden,” he places a hand on his chest in mock offense.
“If I was a couple steps lower, I’d kick you.”
Chandler smirked, shaking his head. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Impossible in a 'thank you for replacing our lightbulb' way or a 'please get off the ladder before you break your neck' way?" Y/N quipped, expertly twisting the new bulb into place.
"Somewhere in between," Chandler muttered, stepping back as she climbed down the ladder with practiced ease.
Y/N hopped off the last rung and turned to face him, a triumphant grin lighting up her face. "See? No neck-breaking required. Light’s fixed, and you didn’t even have to lift a finger. You’re welcome."
Chandler let out a soft laugh, folding his arms across his chest. "Thank you, Florence Nightingale of home maintenance. How can I ever repay you? I mean, the heroism it must’ve taken to risk your life for our dim kitchen—truly inspiring."
"You're welcome," she replied, her grin turning devilish. "And as for payment, I’ll take a lifetime supply of sarcasm. Oh, wait—you’ve already got me covered there."
"Touché," Chandler said, a mock-serious expression on his face. "But really, how does someone like you even know how to change a lightbulb? This feels suspiciously like you’re trying to one-up me."
"Someone like me?" Y/N raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly toward him. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Someone who claims they can’t even put furniture together without an emotional breakdown," he teased, tilting his head.
"That’s different," she argued, her tone playful. "Furniture comes with instructions that read like a secret code. Lightbulbs? They’re simple. Unscrew the bad, screw in the good. Even Joey could manage it."
"Low bar," Chandler said, chuckling.
Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. "Anyway, maybe I’m just full of surprises. Ever think of that?"
Chandler’s smile faltered slightly, his gaze softening. "Yeah," he said quietly. "You definitely are."
Y/N didn’t notice the sudden change in his tone, too busy gathering her bag from the counter. But Chandler noticed. He always noticed. It was part of the problem.
She wasn’t just full of surprises. She was full of life. Full of little quirks and moments that made his chest tighten in the best—and worst—way. Like the way she scrunched her nose when she laughed at one of her own jokes or how her eyes lit up when she talked about something she loved.
And it wasn’t just her quirks. It was the way she made him feel like the most important person in the room, even when she was just teasing him about his bad hair days or his overuse of sarcasm. With Y/N, he didn’t have to try to be someone else. She just got him.
But she’d never see him as more than her goofy best friend. Why would she? She was Y/N—gorgeous, funny, brilliant Y/N. And he was just... Chandler.
He shook the thought away as she turned back to him, her expression teasing.
"Alright, Mr. Bing, I’m off to save the world one lightbulb at a time," she said, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Don’t let the fame go to your head," he replied, smirking.
"Too late." She paused, her eyes narrowing playfully as she looked at him. "You’re staring at me again. Should I be concerned?"
Chandler blinked, startled. "What? No, I wasn’t staring. I was, uh... admiring your ladder-climbing technique. Very professional."
"Uh-huh," she said, clearly not buying it. "Well, if you need anything else fixed, you know who to call."
"Yeah, I’ll just dial 1-800-WONDER-WOMAN," he joked.
"Exactly," she said with a wink before heading for the door.
Chandler watched her go, his heart doing that annoying flutter thing it always did when she was around. It wasn’t fair. She didn’t even have to try, and she had him completely undone.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Chandler sank onto the couch with a heavy sigh.
She made his heart race. Every look, every smile, every sarcastic jab—it all sent his mind spinning. And it wasn’t just physical, though he’d be lying if he said he didn’t notice how beautiful she was. It was everything about her.
The way she always remembered the little things, like his favorite kind of coffee or the exact way he liked his popcorn during a movie night. The way she could make him laugh even when he felt like the world was falling apart. The way she believed in him, even when he couldn’t believe in himself.
And then there was the way she flirted with him—or at least, what he thought might be flirting. He wasn’t sure. She could just be naturally charming. Either way, it drove him crazy.
"You’re impossible," he muttered under his breath, echoing his earlier words.
But the truth was, he didn’t want her to change. He loved her just the way she was—completely impossible and entirely unforgettable.
He just wished she’d see him the way he saw her.
            »»————- ⚜ ————-««
Chandler was lounging on his recliner, flipping through a magazine without much interest, when the door to the apartment burst open. Y/N strolled in, her face practically glowing with excitement.
"Guess what!" she announced, practically bouncing on her heels.
Chandler glanced up lazily. "You’ve finally realized that standing on a ladder unsupervised was reckless and are here to formally apologize?"
She rolled her eyes, dropping her bag onto the counter. "Nope. Try again."
He arched an eyebrow. "You’ve decided to give up your lifelong dream of replacing lightbulbs professionally?"
"Wrong again," Y/N said, plopping down onto the couch with a grin so wide it made Chandler’s stomach twist in a way he tried to ignore. "I have a date tonight!"
The words hit Chandler like a bucket of ice water. His mouth went dry, and his grip tightened on the magazine. He forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "Oh," he said, his voice slightly higher than usual. "That’s... great."
Y/N, oblivious as always, missed the strain in his voice. She tucked her legs under her and beamed at him. "I know, right? I met him at the coffee shop yesterday while I was waiting for Rachel. He was ahead of me in line, and we started chatting because he noticed I was humming along to the music playing. Turns out, he’s a fan of musicals too!"
"Musicals," Chandler repeated, his tone laced with a sarcasm she didn’t catch. "Sounds like Prince Charming."
"Doesn’t he?" she said, her eyes lighting up. "And get this—he didn’t just know Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera. He brought up Funny Girl! Like, how many guys know Funny Girl?"
"Well, I guess he’s a real unicorn," Chandler muttered under his breath, glancing toward Joey for backup.
Joey, seated at the kitchen counter eating a sandwich, shot Chandler a wide-eyed look that clearly said, What is happening right now? But he stayed quiet, watching the scene unfold like it was the latest episode of a drama he couldn’t look away from.
Y/N kept talking, oblivious to the growing tension in Chandler’s posture. "We ended up talking for like twenty minutes! His name’s Ryan, and he’s a graphic designer. He’s super funny and really easy to talk to. Oh, and he loves coffee almost as much as I do, so that’s already a win."
Chandler forced another smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "Wow. Coffee, musicals, and he’s funny. Did you also find out if he rescues puppies in his free time?"
Y/N laughed, missing the bitterness beneath his words. "I don’t know about puppies, but he did mention volunteering at a local art center. How cool is that?"
"Very cool," Chandler said through gritted teeth, staring down at his magazine like it might offer some kind of distraction.
Y/N leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. "I mean, I know it’s just one date, but he seems... different, you know? Like, maybe he could actually be someone worth getting to know."
Chandler swallowed hard, the knot in his chest tightening with every word she said. He hated how much he cared. Hated how his chest ached at the thought of her with someone else. But most of all, he hated how obvious it probably was to everyone but her.
"Well, I hope he’s everything you’re looking for," Chandler said, his voice dripping with forced cheerfulness.
"Thanks, Chan," Y/N said, smiling at him. "I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m meeting him at that little Italian place down the street. You know, the one with the candles and the live music? It’s so cute!"
Chandler nodded, barely listening now. His mind was too busy imagining this Ryan guy sitting across from Y/N, making her laugh, holding her hand. The thought made his stomach churn.
Y/N glanced at the clock and jumped up. "I should get going if I want to change and do something with my hair before tonight. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck," Chandler said, his voice flat.
"Not too much luck," Joey added with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.
Y/N laughed and waved them off before heading out the door, leaving the apartment far too quiet in her absence.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Joey turned to Chandler, his eyebrows raised. "Really, dude?"
"What?" Chandler snapped, tossing the magazine onto the coffee table.
"That was brutal," Joey said, shaking his head. "You looked like you were gonna explode every time she said his name."
"I did not," Chandler argued, though his flushed face said otherwise.
Joey pointed a finger at him. "You like her."
Chandler’s jaw tightened. "I do not like her. She’s my best friend. I’m happy for her."
"Yeah, sure," Joey said, leaning back in his chair. "That’s why you were practically growling every time she talked about this Ryan guy."
Chandler groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, fine. Maybe I do like her. But what am I supposed to do? She’s already going on a date with this... graphic designer, coffee-drinking, musical-loving saint."
"Tell her how you feel," Joey said simply.
"Yeah, because that’s worked out so well for me in the past," Chandler muttered.
Joey shrugged. "What’s the worst that could happen? She doesn’t feel the same way? At least you’d know instead of sitting here, torturing yourself."
Chandler sighed, slumping back in his chair. "Yeah, well, I think I’ll stick with torturing myself for now. Thanks for the advice, Dr. Phil."
Joey rolled his eyes, but the conversation ended there. Chandler’s thoughts, however, were far from over.
He didn’t know how long he could keep pretending he didn’t care. But for now, he’d fake a smile and hope she didn’t notice the cracks forming underneath.
            »»————- ⚜ ————-««
Chandler stood frozen, his jaw clenched as the laughter from the kitchen spilled into the living room. Rachel and Joey exchanged looks, both of them clearly bracing for the inevitable fallout.
"Seriously, dude," Joey whispered, leaning closer. "You gotta get it together. You’re about one snarky comment away from making things weird."
Chandler ignored him, glaring at the kitchen door like it had personally offended him. When Y/N returned, her date trailing behind her, Chandler’s fake smile reappeared.
"Well, Ryan," he said, crossing his arms, "looks like you’ve survived the first outing with the Great and Wonderful Y/N. How’s it feel? Like scaling Everest?"
Ryan blinked, clearly unsure if that was a joke or not. "Uh... it was great, actually. She’s amazing."
Chandler’s jaw tightened further, but he forced a laugh. "Amazing, right. Of course, she is."
Y/N frowned, catching the edge in his tone. "What’s your problem, Chandler?"
"My problem?" Chandler said, raising his eyebrows in mock innocence. "Oh, I don’t have a problem. I’m thrilled. Ecstatic. Overjoyed that you’ve found someone who appreciates your encyclopedic knowledge of musicals."
Ryan chuckled nervously, glancing between them. "Um... maybe I should—"
"No, you’re fine," Y/N interrupted, turning her glare back to Chandler. "Chandler’s just being... Chandler."
"Yep," Chandler said, his voice tight. "That’s me. Just being me. The guy who’s always here. Always around. Always—"
"Chandler," Rachel hissed from the couch, cutting him off.
Ryan took a cautious step back. "I think I should probably head out. It’s getting late, and..." He gestured vaguely toward the door.
Y/N sighed, her frustration with Chandler momentarily giving way to an apologetic smile for Ryan. "I’ll walk you out."
As soon as the door closed behind them, Rachel smacked Chandler’s arm. "What is wrong with you?"
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Chandler said, feigning nonchalance.
Joey snorted. "Dude, you basically growled at the guy. You’re acting like a jealous ex-boyfriend, except you’ve never even dated her."
Before Chandler could respond, the door opened again, and Y/N stormed back in.
"Okay, what the hell was that?" she demanded, hands on her hips.
Chandler threw up his hands. "What was what? I was perfectly polite."
"Polite?" Y/N repeated, her voice rising. "You were rude, Chandler. Snarky and rude for no reason!"
"I wasn’t being rude," he argued, though even he didn’t sound convinced. "I was just... making conversation."
"Right," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Because making someone feel uncomfortable in my home is your version of small talk?"
"Well, excuse me for not rolling out the red carpet for Mr. Perfect Coffee Shop Guy!" Chandler snapped, his frustration bubbling over.
Y/N froze, staring at him in disbelief. "Are you serious right now? What is your problem with Ryan?"
"I don’t have a problem with him!" Chandler shot back. "I have a problem with... this whole thing!"
She blinked, clearly taken aback. "What thing?"
"This thing where you meet some random guy, and suddenly he’s all you can talk about, like he’s God’s gift to humanity, and—and—" Chandler faltered, running a hand through his hair.
"And what, Chandler?" Y/N demanded, her voice softer now but no less intense. "What are you trying to say?"
Chandler hesitated, the words caught in his throat. He wanted to tell her. Wanted to lay it all out there, to finally say how he felt. But the fear of ruining everything—of losing her—was too strong.
"Nothing," he said finally, his voice flat. "It’s nothing."
Y/N scoffed, throwing her hands in the air. "Unbelievable. You’re acting like a child, Chandler. A jealous, immature child."
"Jealous?" he said, laughing bitterly. "I’m not jealous. I just think maybe you should be a little more careful about who you bring into your life."
Her eyes narrowed, and her voice turned icy. "Thanks for the unsolicited advice, Dad. I think I can handle my own life."
"Fine," Chandler snapped. "Then go ahead. Date him. Marry him. Have his stupid little musical-loving babies. See if I care!"
Y/N’s face flushed with anger. "You know what, Chandler? Forget it. I don’t have the energy for this." She turned on her heel and stormed toward her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
The apartment was silent for a moment before Rachel let out a low whistle. "Wow. That was... something."
Chandler groaned, collapsing onto the couch. "I blew it, didn’t I?"
Joey nodded solemnly. "Oh yeah. Big time."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "You are such an idiot, Chandler. Why didn’t you just tell her how you feel?"
"Because it’s not that simple!" he protested.
"Actually, it kind of is," Joey said. "You like her. She likes you. But instead of saying something, you just make everything awkward."
"She doesn’t like me," Chandler said, his voice defeated.
"How do you know?" Rachel challenged.
"Because she’s out there, dating other people!"
Rachel sighed, sitting next to him. "Chandler, she’s dating other people because she doesn’t think you’re interested. You hide behind sarcasm and jokes, but she’s not a mind reader. If you don’t tell her, how is she supposed to know?"
Joey nodded. "She’s not gonna wait around forever, man."
Chandler leaned back, closing his eyes. He knew they were right, but that didn’t make it any easier. He’d spent so long convincing himself that Y/N could never feel the same way, and now he didn’t know how to undo it.
"Maybe tomorrow," he said finally.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "You keep saying that, and one day, tomorrow’s going to be too late."
But Chandler didn’t respond. Instead, he stared at Y/N’s closed door, wishing he had the courage to knock and finally tell her the truth.
            »»————- ⚜ ————-««
The apartment was quiet except for the hum of the TV, where Joey was flipping through channels aimlessly. Chandler sat slouched in his recliner, arms crossed, looking miserable.
Y/N stood outside the door, clutching a tin of cookies to her chest. She had spent hours baking them—a peace offering after their blowout argument last week. It wasn’t like her to let things fester, especially with Chandler. But every time she thought about his weird behavior and the biting sarcasm that had set her off, she’d hesitated.
Finally, though, she decided enough was enough. Taking a deep breath, Y/N pushed the door open and stepped inside. She opened her mouth to announce her arrival but froze when she heard Chandler’s voice.
"You know, Joey, I really screwed this up," Chandler was saying, his voice low and defeated.
Joey glanced up from the TV, alarm flashing across his face when he saw Y/N by the door. He gestured wildly, trying to signal Chandler, but Chandler was too lost in his thoughts to notice.
"I mean, what was I supposed to do?" Chandler continued, throwing up his hands. "She comes in here, all perfect and funny and amazing, and I just... freak out. I can’t be around her without feeling like my heart’s going to explode. And then she goes on a date, and I act like a total jerk because I’m—" He stopped, groaning. "Because I’m in love with her. There, I said it. I’m in love with her, and it’s the absolute worst."
Y/N’s breath caught in her throat, her grip tightening on the tin of cookies.
Joey, still frantically gesturing, tried again. "Uh, dude—"
"What, Joey?" Chandler snapped, glancing over.
Joey’s eyes widened even further, darting toward Y/N.
It clicked. Chandler’s face drained of color, his expression twisting in horror. "She’s right behind me, isn’t she?"
Joey nodded rapidly.
Chandler turned slowly, like a man bracing for impact. When his eyes landed on Y/N, who stood frozen in the doorway, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide, he let out a weak laugh. "Uh... surprise?"
Y/N stepped closer, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You’re in love with me?"
Chandler’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. "I, uh... okay, yes. But before you say anything, let me just explain—"
"Explain what, Chandler?" she interrupted, her voice surprisingly soft. "That you’ve been acting weird because you have feelings for me?"
"Yes! Exactly!" he said, seizing on her words like a lifeline. "I’ve been avoiding you because I didn’t want to mess things up, and then you started dating Ryan, and I lost it, and—"
Y/N didn’t let him finish.
She closed the distance between them in two quick strides, grabbed his face with both hands, and kissed him.
For a moment, Chandler was too stunned to respond. But then, as the realization hit, he melted into the kiss, his hands hesitantly coming up to rest on her waist.
When they finally broke apart, Y/N smirked up at him. "You know," she said, her voice teasing, "we could’ve saved a lot of time and effort if you’d just told me this sooner."
Chandler blinked at her, still trying to process what had just happened. "Yeah, ditto."
From the couch, Joey let out an enthusiastic clap. "Finally!"
Chandler and Y/N turned to glare at him in unison.
"Shut up, Joey," they said together before bursting into laughter.
Chandler rested his forehead against Y/N’s, his smile soft and genuine. "So, you’re not mad?"
"Mad?" Y/N asked, raising an eyebrow. "Chandler, I’ve been waiting for you to say something for months. Do you have any idea how many times I almost kissed you first?"
"You almost kissed me?" Chandler repeated, his eyes wide. "When?"
"Remember the night we stayed up watching bad horror movies, and you let me fall asleep on your shoulder?"
Chandler nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Wait—you wanted to kiss me then?"
Y/N shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Maybe."
He laughed, pulling her closer. "Well, I guess I’ll have to make up for lost time."
Y/N smiled, leaning into him. "You better."
Joey cleared his throat loudly, reminding them he was still there. "So, uh, are we gonna talk about how you’ve been in love with each other this whole time, or...?"
Chandler groaned, burying his face in Y/N’s shoulder. "Why is he like this?"
Y/N chuckled, wrapping an arm around him. "He’s got a point."
"Of course he does," Chandler mumbled.
"Thanks, man!" Joey said brightly.
Y/N shook her head, looking up at Chandler. "So, now what?"
Chandler grinned. "Now, I stop being an idiot and take you out on a real date."
She raised an eyebrow. "Does this real date involve cookies?"
He glanced at the tin still sitting on the counter. "It does now."
Joey stood, clapping them both on the shoulder. "I’m proud of you, man. And just so you know, I called dibs on being your best man at the wedding."
"Joey!" Chandler said, his face turning red.
Y/N just laughed, lacing her fingers through Chandler’s. "One step at a time."
Chandler smiled down at her, feeling a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time. "Yeah. One step at a time."
As they sat on the couch together, sharing cookies and teasing Joey, Chandler realized that for the first time in months, everything felt right
297 notes · View notes
thedivinereverie · 2 years ago
Text
Ring | Joel Miller
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pairing: husband!joel x wife!reader
warnings: tommy’s being a little shit lol, marriage, reader is unintentionally oblivious for a bit, no outbreak, reader is depicted to be shorter than joel, au where ellie is joel and reader’s adopted daughter but she’s only very briefly mentioned, smut (bathroom quickie), slight jealousy, no use of y/n. 18+, minors dni.
word count: 2k
synopsis: Tommy teases Joel about you and him having marriage problems when he notices you aren’t wearing your ring.
quick one shot in honor of 700 followers??? oh my god?? i love u all sm thank you!!!
this was honestly kinda poorly written. forgive me :’)
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“Hey big brother, what’s up with you and your girl?” Tommy asks, brows furrowed as he leans up against the counter next to Joel.
“Hell are ya talkin’ about, Tommy?” Joel continues to chop onions for the barbecue you guys were throwing today.
“Are you guys, I dunno, having marriage problems?” Tommy quirks a brow, and Joel halts his movements. He sets the knife down on the counter while averting his gaze up to his brother, expression clearly displaying pure annoyance.
Tommy might’ve bugged the shit out of Joel, but he knew he had good intentions. So why the hell would he be asking this?
“What makes you say that?” Joel crosses his arms over his chest now, waiting for Tommy to spew some bullshit at him.
“She’s not wearin’ her ring.” Tommy shrugs, and Joel’s permanent furrowed brow lines deepen even further.
“The hell she ain’t. She always wears her ring.” Joel argues back.
“Go see for yourself big brother.” Tommy gestures outside, where Joel pushes past him and slides open the glass door to find you at the cooler talking with some random new guy from the neighborhood. Joel noticed that he was trying to flirt with you, and being the naturally kindhearted and welcoming person you were, you didn’t catch on.
Joel also noticed that Tommy was right—you weren’t wearing your ring.
If there was one thing that Joel learned from you over the years you’ve been together and three years married, it was how to properly communicate his feelings. He used to be so closed off and would bottle everything up, letting stuff bother him until he became so distant.
You weren’t having any of that, though, so you sat him down one day and told him that you needed proper communication between you both. You were a saint with Joel, being so patient and kind to him as he was trying to unlearn his previous ways of shutting himself out from everyone around him when he didn’t exactly know how to communicate something.
Some days were harder than others, but ever the sweetheart you are, you never rushed him or got irritated when he couldn’t exactly seem to form his words to you. You just held him and kissed him repeatedly, letting him know it was okay and he could take his time.
This time around, he didn’t seem to have a single bit of a problem telling you what he was feeling. So, he walked up to you and wrapped his arms around your waist, kissing your temple to show the man that was so clearly interested in you that you were taken.
“Hey darlin’.” Joel rasps into your ear, kissing your shoulder afterward.
“Hey baby. This is Dominic. He’s new to the neighborhood. Dominic, this is my husband, Joel.”
Joel sported a shit-eating grin when Dominic’s body went rigid at the word husband. Joel stuck his hand out to him, and Dominic apprehensively shook his hand. Joel’s grip was firmer than it regularly was, and Dominic flinched in the slightest.
“Thanks for keeping my beautiful wife some company while I got stuff ready for the grill.” Joel’s voice dripped with sarcasm, and you looked up at him with a quirked brow.
He offered you a tight-lipped smile when his gaze met yours, clearing his throat. “Can I steal you for a minute, baby?” He asks, arms possessively wrapping around your frame. You nod, confused as to why Joel was acting a bit strange suddenly.
He intertwines your hand with his, and you excuse yourself from Dominic as Joel led you into the house and up to your bedroom.
“What’s this about, Joel?” You question as he closes the bedroom door, locking it behind him.
“Where’s your wedding ring at, baby?” He asks, looking down at you. A glint of something flashes across his eyes, but you couldn’t put your finger on what.
“‘S in my jewelry box. I didn’t wanna lose it helping around the backyard today or swimming if I did, so I knew it would be safe in there instead. Why?” Your curiosity is piqued.
Joel slowly maneuvers himself past you and over to your jewelry box, opening the top of it to firstly find your wedding ring neatly placed.
He takes the ring out of the jewelry box and walks over to you, grabbing your left hand to slip it onto your ring finger once more. Right where it belongs, perfectly fitted. He brings your hand up to his mouth, kissing your knuckles softly.
“Tommy’s bein’ a little shit, as always. Came into the kitchen with assumptions that we were having ‘marriage problems’ because you weren’t wearing your ring.” He tsked, shaking his head.
You rolled your eyes and scoffed.
“Y’gotta stop letting Tommy get into your head, J. I love you, I’m yours, and I’m not going anywhere.” You reassured him, and his lips curled up in the slightest.
“I know baby, I just can’t help but feel jealous when I see another man flirting with my woman.”
“Jealous? Of who?” You were puzzled at Joel’s confession, resting a steady hand on his warm chest.
“That new neighbor. Dylan or whatever the fuck his name is.” Joel spat.
You had no idea Dominic was even flirting with you. You thought he was just being friendly. Fuck, maybe Joel was right. Maybe you are oblivious sometimes.
You wrap your hands around the back of his neck, pulling him down so his lips envelope yours. One hand of his is splayed over the small of your back while the other rests on the outside of your thigh, rubbing small circles into your exposed skin. The dress you were wearing today was just another distraction for Joel and a reminder that he needed to behave himself or else the whole neighborhood would hear you saying his name like a prayer on Sunday morning.
Joel’s cock stirred at the thought, and he groaned into the kiss. You pulled apart from him and moved your hands down to his chest again.
“C’mon cowboy, people are gonna wonder where we’re at.” You grin, going to the bedroom door to unlock it. You were about halfway down the hallway before Joel tugged you into the bathroom on your right side.
“They can wait.” He closed the door and pressed you up against it, locking the lock before smashing his lips to yours.
There was so much hunger behind his kiss. You felt slick start to pool onto your panties, the want in your core licking a flame up your body. You moan into the kiss, gripping the back of his head to mold yourself even further into him. It was nothing but teeth clashing, lips smacking, and fervor for one another as the kiss continued.
“Gotta make this quick, babydoll.” Joel finally broke the kiss as you softly whined, and he turned you around to move you in front of the wide mirror. You met his gaze through the reflection, nothing but hunger in his eyes.
He lifted up your dress and pulled your panties down your legs in one swift motion. His middle finger wasted no time in collecting the slick arousal between your legs, causing you to moan softly.
“Always so ready for me, baby.” Joel chuckled darkly as he brought his middle finger up to suck your arousal off of it. He looked you right into the reflection of your eyes as he did so. The sight was nearly pornographic.
You bite your lip and plead with your eyes; please please please just fuck me, Joel.
His middle finger made its way back down to your slick cunt before he pushed it into you, pumping languidly. He curled his thick finger to hit the spot that drove you wild, and you found yourself gripping onto the counter for dear life. You decided, though, that his finger just wasn’t enough in this moment.
“Please, J. I need you.”
“Need you too, baby.” Joel got the message clear as day, unbuckling his belt and undoing his zipper and jeans button in record time, pulling down the fabric along with his boxers. His painful erection sprung free, and he lined himself up with your throbbing, aching cunt.
He easily found home in you as he sunk to the hilt, groaning at how good you felt around him.
“Be a good girl for me and tell me who you belong to.” Joel’s voice was dark, teetering on the line of possessive. You found it hot, though.
“Y-Yours, Joel. ‘M all yours.” You can barely say your words as he starts to rock his hips, deliciously stretching you out every time his hips collided with your ass.
“That’s it, baby, mine. No one else’s. Perfect little pussy is mine, you’re mine, mine.” He gritted into your hair, pulling you back against him by your waist as he rocked his hips up into you. You leaned your head back on his shoulder, moaning his name softly.
“Gotta be quiet, baby, can’t have anyone hearin’ us now.” Joel kissed you sloppily to hide your lewd moans, hips snapping up into you.
“Fuck, Joel, feel s’good.” Your words start to mesh together like you’re absolutely cock drunk.
Joel bends you back down over the sink and gently wraps his hand around your throat, forcing you to look up into the mirror as he pounds into you from behind.
“So fuckin’ beautiful. Takin’ me so well, sweet girl. Been teasin’ me with this little dress on all day.” Joel lets go of your throat and slides his hand down to your front, rubbing your clit in fast, circular motions.
You barely have time to process that your body is about to give into Joel’s expert touch. You squeeze your eyes shut, jaw falling completely slack as you let out an accidental loud moan. Joel didn’t even stop you that time, because he himself was already on the brink of an orgasm.
“Cum with me, my love.” Joel groans into your ear. You both let go and just let it happen, praying that the music playing in the backyard is loud enough to cover your wanton moans as you both come down from your orgasms. Joel was reluctant to move out of you at first, but he couldn’t take the way you were clenched down on him anymore.
You were so fucking intoxicating and if it were his choice, he’d gladly be buried into your sweet, warm cunt all of the time.
Reality trickled back in around you both as he pulled out of you with a groan, both breathless and panting. After readjusting and redressing himself, he grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet above the toilet and wet it, wiping down the excess of his remnants on the apex of your inner thighs. He planted a kiss on the back of your thigh, pulling your panties up on you as he stood back up.
He helped fix your hair and readjusted you so you looked almost completely normal, albeit your face felt hot and you had a post-fuck look on your face.
He brought you into his chest, wrapping his arms around your shoulders as he kissed your hair.
“I love you, baby.” He murmurs softly, rocking you for a minute.
“I love you too.” Your reached your left hand up to hook onto his forearm that was wrapped around you, giving it a squeeze. Your ring glinted in the sunlight that pooled into the bathroom window, and Joel smiled happily.
“We’ll continue this later tonight, baby. Maybe Sarah and Ellie can spend the night at a friend’s house tonight.”
Your lips curl into a smile at his suggestion, and you lean up to kiss his cheek.
“Let’s get back out to the party.” He pats your ass and opens the door, coming out after you. You make your way down the stairs, Joel hot on your trail.
Tommy gives Joel a knowing look of ‘I know exactly what you two were up to.’
Joel scoffs at Tommy and grumbles as he moves past his younger brother.
“Marriage problems my ass.”
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tag list: @party-hearses ; @nostalxgic ; @ilovepedro ; @bastardmandennis ; @tinygarbage ; @cool-iguana
1K notes · View notes
carnatedrugs · 2 months ago
Text
Fix me.
part 1
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Simon "Ghost" Riley x Fem!Reader
SO! I didn't even think someone would read it tbh. But it makes me happi that someone actually liked it. T o T So here is part 2, im sorry again if there are any mistakes. Hope u enjoy <3
Chapter 2
Entering the windmill, my eyes widened at the details inside. I realized—this wasn’t a windmill anymore. At least, not in the traditional sense.
The interior was dim, lit by soft amber bulbs encased in brass cages, humming faintly with energy. The walls were lined with shelves stacked with glass tubes, copper coils, gears of every size, and mechanical parts I couldn’t even begin to name. Some glowed; others clicked quietly, like they had a heartbeat of their own.
The air smelled of hot metal, oil, and something sweeter—burnt ozone, maybe tobacco. The original wooden beams of the mill were still intact, but now reinforced with iron plates and laced with exposed wiring.
A giant engine—part turbine, part steam generator—stood where the grain mills once operated. Its pistons moved slowly, steadily, releasing bursts of steam through valves that hissed in protest. Dozens of pressure gauges blinked and ticked like anxious eyes.
On the workbench, scattered among oil-stained blueprints and half-finished projects, lay an array of custom-built tools. Somewhere above, a pulley system creaked as it moved something out of sight. The steady sound of gears turning overhead was oddly comforting. This place breathed on its own—chaotic, yet precise. Silent, yet alive.
And in the middle of it all—stood him.
“Do you actually live here?” I asked, eyes still full of awe. He just nodded, placing the engine down and starting to examine it. The silence around him didn’t feel awkward—it was strangely comforting. I was still trying to process everything, and my exhaustion didn’t help.
“Is it... completely fucked?” I asked after a moment. He turned to face me. “Sorry—I mean, is it possible to fix it?” I corrected myself quickly, glancing at the engine again. I could’ve sworn I heard him chuckle. Or maybe I just wanted to imagine he did—to make things less weird.
“It’s not completely fucked,” he said finally, eyes still on the engine. “But I need to examine it properly. It’s a complicated piece.”
“Yeah, that’s why I came all the way here to find the genius everyone keeps talking about,” I added with a small smile, trying to keep the conversation going.
He didn’t reply—just sighed and walked over to a shelf to look for something. Maybe I was annoying him. Maybe I should just leave. I had to figure out how to get back to the village anyway.
“How long will it take to fix?” I asked, slowly following him. “Can’t tell you yet. But for sure, it’ll take a while,” he said calmly, still rummaging.
“I don’t want to pressure you, but I—” “Where are you staying?” he interrupted.
I blinked, thrown off again by his voice. “In the village? Probably?” I answered, uncertain. “And how exactly were you planning to get back there?” he asked, a trace of sarcasm in his tone.
Was he messing with me?
I cleared my throat, and a small laugh escaped me. “Well, I thought of asking the old man who drove me here to come pick me up, but… that idea came to me right after he left.” I smiled awkwardly.
He sighed and finally turned to look at me. “I’ll drop you off. When I’m done with the engine, I’ll send word. You can come pick it up.”
“So… I don’t need to be here?” I asked, uncertain.
He tilted his head—maybe confused. Or judging. It was hard to read him with that skull mask in the way.
“I mean… to keep track of what you’re doing. Make sure everything’s going alright,” I added more seriously.
This time, his chuckle was unmistakable—and it did something strange to my stomach. “There’s no need for that, love,” he said calmly. “Your so-called ‘genius’ doesn’t need supervision.”
Okay, so he likes sarcasm.
By now, I was craving some sort of connection, but he wasn’t exactly making it easy. I felt a little ridiculous. I’d never met anyone like him. Maybe it was my curiosity—or maybe I was already hooked on his voice. Either way, I wasn’t ready to walk away just yet.
“First of all, I didn’t say that,” I replied, stepping closer. “Second, how can I be sure?”
He exhaled slowly. “You’ll just get in the way.” “No, you won’t even notice I’m here.” “So you’re just going to sit around while I work?” “Sounds perfect,” I grinned.
“You know I can just not open the door when you show up.” “I’m just curious. That engine—my dad built it. I want to see how you work with it. No one in my town even understood it, let alone tried to fix it. I guess… I just want to see someone at work like him again.” There was a note of something else in my voice. Sadness. Maybe desperation.
He let out a tired breath walking towards the door and opening it. “Fucking hell,” he muttered, voice raspy. “Fine. If it means that much to you—stay. Just don’t get in my way.”
“Thank you,” I said softly, stepping outside.
As I stepped outside, I caught a glimpse of him holding the door open just a second longer than needed. Not dramatically, but… aware. A small pause. Like he was still watching me, even when I wasn’t looking directly at him.
We walked side by side toward his car, not speaking. The crunch of gravel under our boots was the only sound for a moment.
I noticed how he moved—measured, solid, grounded. The kind of presence that filled a room without saying a word. He didn’t glance at me, but something about his stillness felt attentive. Like I was already being studied.
The air between us wasn’t warm, exactly—but charged. I wasn’t sure if I liked it or if it unnerved me. Maybe both. I pretended not to feel that little flutter in my chest. Pretended it didn’t matter. That I didn’t suddenly want to know what he looked like without the mask.
I just met him. But something about his quiet intensity made it hard to look away.
We walked toward his car, and I glanced around at the hills. It was peaceful here—so quiet it almost made me want to stay longer.
“Do you always wear the mask?” I asked without thinking.
“You like to chit-chat, don’t you?” he said, opening the car and getting in.
Okay. Maybe that was off-limits.
I got in and looked around. The car was like him—minimal, no distractions.
“Thank you, really,” I said in a quiet voice. “I was desperate. Getting here… felt like my last hope.”
“No need to thank me yet,” he replied, starting the engine.
The ride back to the village was silent—but not uncomfortable. I think he needed the quiet. And honestly, I was at my limit. Exhaustion weighed heavy on me, and even though I tried to stay awake, I couldn’t fight sleep anymore.
I heard the car stop, felt it shift. Then a surprisingly gentle tap on my shoulder. I opened my eyes slowly.
“Oh. We’re here,” I murmured, clearing my throat. “Wait—how did you even know where to drop me off?”
“Your stuff was with you. So, I assumed you came straight to me. Not many places to stay around here. I drove to the only one.” He turned away, heading back to the driver’s side.
“Wait!” I reached out instinctively but stopped short. “You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Simon,” he said simply, sliding into the car.
I smiled softly, watching as he drove away.
A long sigh escaped me as I turned toward the small, cozy hotel.
It felt strange… meeting someone new outside of work, outside of my usual life. Someone completely different. He looked intimidating—no, he was intimidating—but something in our short conversations felt… different.
The thought of seeing him again made my heart skip a beat.
I shook my head and sighed. Maybe my friends were right. Maybe I should’ve gone on dates more. At least then I wouldn’t feel this way after talking to a complete stranger.
“Hope I get to know you better, Simon,” I whispered to myself.
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pureasdrivensnoww · 19 days ago
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Busy woman . Sabrina carpenter (chance x reader)
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genre: fluff
character: chance
word count: 657
not proof read
he/they used on chance, user is a singer pretty much, I forgot if chance owns or runs a casino or something but he does both here, I guess reader is kinda fem here
this is part 1 because I didn’t know what to add but I didn’t want to delete it so. update from later in the day! added part 2
an: this was meant to be way longer and suggestive but it’s not really. update; it is longer now bc I added part 2
tw: a but suggestive at the end
tysm for reading and I hope u enjoy! <3
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“but if you want my kisses, I’ll be your perfect mrs—“
You were busy to say the least, all the time and so was Chance. Chance though took time off running his casino to be with you when he could. You on the other hand continued to write song after song, record them and then go on tours.
And don’t get me wrong, it’s not like you didn’t want to stay with Chance all day and cover him in kisses and such with your lipstick. But you enjoyed meeting fans and you couldn’t really pause in the middle of your tour to fly to see Chance on the other side of the country and just kiss him.
So, you planned to have a show near where you and Chance lived so you could see him when it was over, even if it was only for a day or two and then you guys would have to go back to calling once everyday or two for four months.
And that’s what you did!
You insisted; despite your manager’s arguments to go home with Chance and stay with him in your shared home.
The night looked breathtaking, lit up by the bright big city lights, signs and everything else that could be overstimulating to someone was calm today. It was just as loud as expected for a city but it felt peaceful, maybe because you missed being there, being with Chance and not doing tiring two hour long shows and flying every second day.
You peeked your head out the window as Chance gently warned you that it’s not safe to do so. You gently kiss his cheek as if telling them, ‘yes, I heard you but you only live once and I don’t really care about safety right now’
You hold your coat slightly tighter in your arms as the strong wind blows into your face. You look back at Chance.
Eventually after twenty or thirty minutes, you got to the penthouse and finally got to take your heels off, gods, how good it felt to not have your feet hurt.
You walk outside onto the balcony and lean against the railing, Chance gently wraps his arms around you from behind.
“You know,” they say, “you don’t have to keep on humming. You’re not on stage right now.”
You smile and giggle a tiny bit at that before turning around so your back is against the railing and leaning in to kiss him.
“Are you saying you don’t like my humming?” You tease.
“I can’t dislike it. I’m not tone deaf.”
“You are, just good to know you aren’t that tone deaf.” He shakes his head in amusement at your antics, smiling to themself.
“You know that’s not true,” he says.
“Not really at least, still a tiny bit true though but you can, at the very least recognise talent.” You smirk, “because I’m so talented, I’d be hurt if you couldn’t recognise that.” You add, sarcasm dripping from your tone as you lean your back against the balcony railing.
Noticing you leaning back, their grip on you tightens to pull you forward, making you closer to them.
“Anyone can recognise that, baby.” He says, leaning closer to you, you give in, feeling ‘bad’ for teasing him and kiss him.
“I don’t care about who recognises my talent as long as they recognise how important it is to me.” You mumble, smiling slightly from the kiss.
You lean in to kiss them again, trying to get your lipstick off his lips. That’s just a silly excuse though.
“What city are you in next?” He asks and then you remember that you are in fact on tour; it didn’t stop just because you were with him.
You pause. “Not sure,” you put your hands on their shoulders, “can’t it wait to be discussed tomorrow?” You whisper.
He nods, “may as well appreciate my time with you.” He sweetly says.
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an: will make part 2 today and probably edit this
added part 2!!
tysm for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
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kamwritesonvicodin · 2 months ago
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Five Bucks... a ficlet :)
It starts with Thirteen saying, “You couldn’t make Wilson blush if you tried.”
House looks up from his diagnostics board like a cat that’s just heard the can opener.
“Oh honey,” he purrs. “Watch me.”
She doesn’t flinch. “Five bucks says you can’t do it by 5 p.m. No touching. Just pure, weaponized charm.”
House grins like she just dared him to punch God.
Wilson is reviewing blood panels when his phone buzzes...
[House]: hey remember that tie you wore yesterday? you looked like the prom date i never had
He stares at it.
No response.
He opens the patient’s chart again. Tries to focus on lymphocyte counts.
Fails.
House appears like a cryptid.
“Dr. Wilson,” he drawls loudly. “Did you get my private and deeply emotional message?”
Wilson stops walking.
“I’m working.”
House leans on his cane, smirking. “So am I. Flirting is exhausting, James. The things I do for love.”
Behind them, a nurse snorts audibly.
Wilson keeps walking.
He returns from the bathroom to find a pastry on his desk.
It’s heart-shaped. It has his name spelled out in chocolate drizzle.
There’s no note, but he doesn’t need one. Only one person at Princeton-Plainsboro weaponizes sugar and sarcasm in equal measure.
He stares at the pastry.
Then at the ceiling.
Then at his own reflection in the microwave door.
“Do I… like this?” he whispers.
Around an hour later he’s writing a discharge summary. Trying to, anyway.
Then his intercom buzzes.
Receptionist (hesitantly): Dr. Wilson? There's a delivery for you. Uh… it’s a small plant? In a mug that says, ‘WORLD’S #1 WILSON-SEXUAL’?”
There is a pause.
A long one.
“...Send it in,” Wilson says, audibly dying inside.
House is leaning smugly in the doorway, holding his hand out.
Thirteen sighs, reaches into her coat pocket, and slaps a five-dollar bill into it.
“I hate you,” she says, not entirely without admiration.
“He turned red when he saw the mug,” House gloats. “Nurse had to sit him down. It was beautiful.”
Foreman doesn’t even look up. “You two are exhausting.”
[House]: u blushed
[Wilson]: You orchestrated a psychological warfare campaign in the middle of my work day.
[House]: for money. and love. mostly money. but like… also love.
[Wilson]: I can’t tell if this is harassment or a proposal.
[House]: Por qué no los dos?
[Wilson]: I hated the mug, by the way.
[House]: you watered the plant
[Wilson]: shut up
[House]: ok but… dinner?
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cutielights · 1 year ago
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Hey pookie!! I luv ur work sm and I was wondering if u could do a rottmnt boys x spider woman reader ab them reacting to her stopping a collider like miles did? Idek if u watched into the spider verse but maybe something like that if not u could wing it if you'd like tysm hope u have a good day/night! ❤️
>>:] yes. For the purposes of writing, im going to act as if you were a spider person for at least a year before this. Not supposed to be Miles’ story, but pretty similar (if that makes sense)
i waNT THE THIRD MOVIE. Frikin dying of miles morales deprivation over here, hand over the sunflower boy with in tact parents
@moonchhu THE OTHER SPIDER PERSON ONE TAG LIST
That Really Big Earthquake
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LEO
“Heyyyy, I haven’t seen you in twenty four hours which truly is a record for us, I missed you, did you miss me? I bet you did right? Go on tell me aaaalllll about it.”
“So, I was just kinda minding my own business, y’know, thwipping and thwapping and going about being an awesome hero when I bumped into myself? Kinda. They looked like me, but they were different, and didn’t look like me, but, I knew they were me! Because my spider sense went off and they could do stuff I could do, but also some different stuff! And then we freaked out for a little bit before I went to auntie May to show her and she showed me four more other me’s who were hiding out in her basement and then we tried getting them home and we had to sneak about in this fancy restaurant wearing bow ties, and we cried and they went into this collider thing, also it turns out my favourite cousin was working for the evil genius corporation and he’s dead now and it feels like my fault, I’m so totally fine don’t worry about me. Howwasyourday?”
“Haha, what.”
“Stopped the collapsing of the multiverse.”
“Oh it sounds so simple when you put it like that.” Yeah okay sarcasm queen
Made you some tea after that, let’s just, take a breath for a minute, m’kay?
He has decided it’s a self care day now, at least he did after thoroughly checking you for injuries
How you do not have a concussion will always escape him, not one broken bone? Seriously? After all that?
Please remind him you’re an actual super hero and not a pane of glass
“Wait what was that about your cousin?”
RAPH
“Hey! How was your weekend?”
“Crazier than yours.”
“Okay, Bet.”
One explanation later sponge bob narrator voice
“Wait, so you’re telling Raph, that huge earthquake that happened, happened because of you and five alternate versions of yourself?
“That’s excluding a lot of things I just told you but, I am telling Raph that, yes.”
Huge bone crushing hugs are in order, according to him at least. And I mean, is he wrong?
Not letting you out of his sight for ages, please, Raph, let them go home
“Why are you so worried? I did it, I won!”
“It’s more the fact that it happened and less the fact that you’re mostly fine.”
DONNIE
Othello Von Ryan: Stay home, S.H.E.L.LD.O.N has picked up on some strange (possibly universal fabric destroying) activity. Also there has been some earthquake activity in the area you were in yesterday, not that I have a tracker on you. Because I don’t.
Only Two Legs: I handled it don’t worry :D
Othello Von Ryan: ?
Othello Von Ryan: Traverse to My Lab.
“Heyyy Deee.”
“Stop. Explain. This better be your attempt at humor.”
There was silence for a long while after you had messily glued together words to describe the past 24 hours, before he took a deep breath.
“First, How dare you stop the multiverse from collapsing without me that’s incredible rude. Second, therapy. Third, that earthquake and power surge destroyed My Lab, thankfully I have backup backups to my backups, but I couldn’t use the internet for an hour straight.”
“Y- You’re more concerned about the internet?”
“Not what I said. Now let me check you for a concussion.”
MIKEY
“Hey they took down those art displays.”
“The what?”
“Oh you weren’t here, BUT there was these reaaaallllyyyyy cool art statues along this street! Look, hey, look, I took pics!”
“Oh cooollluuuhhh that’s not an art display that’s five different fire hydrants merged into each other.”
“Haha yeah it does kinda look like that doesn’t it? I thought it was supposed to be a dog.”
“Mikey, no-“ You pulled him aside into an empty alleyway, trying to explain what had happened over the past twenty four hours.
It was an interesting experience, but you got there eventually.
Best believe this boy is giving you the biggest hug ever, and then buying pizza.
Oh, and Dr Feelings is going to be paying you a visit. Multiple. You can’t escape him.
“So they weren’t art displays?”
Speedily bulk writing and scheduling rn bc im going on a holiday with zero internet.
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