#this shit is like actually fucking insane

[thebluehue22]

I love KP; love her music. But I do not understand why she felt it was empowering to go on an insanely expensive parabolic ride. When there are actual REAL female astronauts that have degrees, are insanely intelligent, and have been to real space. Like...I've watched a woman try to wash her hair in space. It's insanely difficult. I do not blame those that shave it all off; I sure would. But she managed. That shit's based af. Shampoo bubbles just glopping everywhere, you gotta catch them and maneuver them to your hair... What the fuck.

"empowering women by sending katy perry to space for 2 minutes" shut the fuck up. samantha cristoforetti was the first female commander of the international space station and she became an astronaut because of star trek. and there is a real chance she is a kirk/spock shipper

[abbotfan]

FUZZY PINK HANDCUFFS

jack abbot x reader (AFAB)

based on this request: "Handcuffing him to the bed while you sit on top of him, taking him insanely slow as he loses his mind 😊😊😊"

note: i blacked out when i wrote this dont ask me any questions this is my first time posting smut and i hate it but here we are

warnings: mdni, handcuffed s3x lmao, p in v, uhh idk what ppl usually put here i will probably edit more in later

"you sure about this?"

he was too kind for his own good. you wanted to absolutely ruin this man the way you had been imagining for months on end and here he was asking if you were sure. he was actually worried you had changed your mind.

you laughed, reaching into your nightstand drawer and pulling out a pair of handcuffs, "are you?"

he watched the pieces of metal with pink fuzz around the outside dangle from your index finger.

your heart jumped at the way he looked back at you— lust filled his hazel gaze. you loved every second of it... but that wasn't enough.

"i need a verbal conf-"

he pulled you against his body, a hand holding your waist to keep you pressed against his crotch. he was rock hard already, it was enough to make you smile.

"yes, i'm sure."

"good, because i am too. now strip."

-

jack was putty in your hands and you both knew it. he was straining against the handcuffs keeping him cuffed to the bed every time you touched him.

you were taking things slow, savoring every second you had him like this; it was potent. you had the object of all your desires practically dying just to touch you.

"sweetheart, please."

"please, what?"

"let me touch you."

you smiled. he was begging and you were smiling.

"i'm not above begging," he added, patience running thin, "please."

you dragged a hand over the taught muscles of his stomach, watching them jump under his skin, "you know the safe word, jack. if you want out, just say it."

and oh, wasn't that an interesting expression. jack abbot, rugged veteran with more demons than you could count, pained by something so simple. he could get out of those handcuffs in seconds if he just said the word, but he refused.

you fucking loved it... how could you not?

you pulled down your red lace panties and sat on his sturdy thighs. you couldn't miss the way he groaned as you grazed his dick, giving you another head rush. he leaned up to kiss you hungrily, his mouth almost bruising your soft lips. you almost caved and un-cuffed him yourself just so you could feel his needy hands on your body.

you pulled away, your forehead resting against his, "color?"

"green."

he stared at you with a determined look that told you he had meant what he said.

"good, because i wanna ride you... is that okay?"

"jesus, yes, yeah that's- that's great."

God, he could be such a dork.

you wasted no time putting the condom on his already leaking cock— as much as you hated to admit it, you were starting to get impatient too.

you lined yourself up and started sinking down onto his length when he first whimpered.

"fuck, you feel so good, sweetheart."

your head fell on his shoulder as he bottomed out, "shit, jack."

you could feel him sucking on the skin at your shoulder as he left a hickey.

when you finally started moving, you took it slow; your hips slowly ground against his so you could memorize how he felt.

"sweetheart, please."

"so needy," you hummed, gasping when he bucked up, "and impatient."

jack was putting his mouth on any skin he could reach, tugging against the handcuffs to leave little kisses everywhere.

you started riding him properly now, keeping a slow pace as his breathing got more and more ragged.

"you're doing great for me, jack," you mused with a particularly slow grind, making him let out another pained whine.

your hips started rolling at a much faster pace, now chasing your own pleasure, and he took that opportunity to start bucking into you too.

"

"yeah? me too, sweetheart."

you rolled your hips in the exact way that made him go breathless just a few more times and he came with a string of expletives flying out of his mouth. you continued riding him until you came too, your whole body feeling the release at once.

you were out of it, still a bit woozy from your orgasm when you hear him say it.

"tapestry."

you grab the key from the nightstand and rush to unlock the cuffs, "you okay? fuck, i'm sorry."

he stared at you with intense sincerity, "you did nothing wrong, why are you apologizing?"

"you said the safe word...?"

he smiled, rolling out his arms, "i wanted to help you clean up."

"oh."

jack went to the connected bathroom and came back with a wet hand towel and lotion. you massaged him with the lotion while he clean off your body with the damp towel. it was comfortable, pleasant, and incredibly easy.

when it was all said and done, he saved you a spot next to him on the bed. you curled up next to him and started drifting into sleep.

"next time, you're getting cuffed," he murmured.

[mintyys-blog]

COD WITH THE BOYS | wally west x reader

dc masterlist

warnings ; fingering, dirty talk, sexual themes, swearing

Kindly respect my work. No reposts, translations, or rewrites — AI-generated or not — without my consent. © @mintyys-blog

You were perched on Wally West’s lap, facing the glowing screen in front of you, your back against his chest and his arms bracketing your sides as he gripped his controller like it was life or death. His legs were spread comfortably on the edge of his gaming chair, feet planted, and you were tucked perfectly into that space—exactly where he wanted you.

The headset sat crooked on his head, one ear exposed so he could hear you while still barking commands into the mic like a drill sergeant on Red Bull. His friends were all online—Dick, Roy, some guys from his dorm—and you could hear the chatter, the cursing, the trash talk bleeding through the speakers.

“Push up! No—Dick, left! Are you lagging or just stupid, bro?!”

You rolled your eyes and squirmed in his lap, more than a little annoyed. He hadn’t given you any attention all week. Between midterms, hero work, and his hyperfixation on Call of Duty, you’d started to feel like his accessory more than his girlfriend.

So you’d asked—no, demanded—a compromise.

“Fine,” Wally had said, eyes never leaving the screen, “but you can’t distract me.”

Now here you were, half in his lap, hoodie riding up, shorts barely staying on your ankles, and his hand? Oh, his hand had slowly worked its way into your underwear during a respawn timer like it was nothing. Like this was just another Tuesday night to him.

You were facing away, straddling his thighs, heart thudding in your chest as you tried not to let the slick pressure of his fingers break your concentration. Not that you were actually playing—you were staring blankly at the screen, trying to focus on anything other than the fast, teasing circles he was rubbing against your clit.

And then he leaned in, his breath hot against your ear. “You gonna cum for me like this?” he murmured, voice so low and thick it made you twitch. “Right here? While I carry this match and make you fall apart? Damn, babe, talk about multitasking.”

You shivered, biting your lip to stop the moan that almost broke free. Your nails dug into his forearm as you shifted on his lap, grinding into the heel of his palm without even meaning to.

He chuckled darkly, clearly loving every second of your unraveling. “You look so fucking good like this. All worked up and quiet. Can’t even make a sound, can you? Gotta be my good girl while I wreck you and this lobby at the same time.” You were about to cum, his fingers vibrating against your clit. Your pussy was dipping on his lap, throwing your head back— legs shaking.

Your head dropped back onto his shoulder, mouth open in a silent gasp. You didn’t even care about the game anymore. Didn’t care about the noises in your headset. You were too far gone, too focused on the sweet, relentless drag of his finger— “Wally.”

Dick’s voice cut through the headset.

You blinked.

“Wally.”

“Dude.”

“YOUR MIC’S STILL ON.”

Your blood ran cold.

Wally froze—literally froze mid-match, hand stopping against you as the last sentence he’d spoken replayed in your head:

“Gotta be my good girl while I wreck you and this lobby at the same time.”

And oh God. Oh God. Oh no.

“Shit,” he breathed, eyes wide as saucers. “Shitshitshit.”

He fumbled for the mute button like it was a fire alarm, but it was already too late.

“Bro. We heard everything,” one of the guys muttered, scandalized.

“Is she literally on your lap right now? Oh my God.”

“That’s actually insane,” Roy chimed in. “Who dirty talks during a TDM? Who does that?!”

You wanted to disappear. Melt into the floor. Crawl into a black hole and never come out.

You slapped a hand over your mouth, mortified beyond belief.

“Oh my god,” you whispered. “Wally—I swear—I’m gonna kill you—”

“I thought I hit mute!” he hissed, bright red and sweaty. “I always mute!”

Dick wheezed over the mic, laughing so hard you could hear him choking.

“Bro, you basically narrated porn into a group chat. I have AirPods in. My RA walked by. She’s staring at me.”

“I need therapy,” another voice groaned. “I need therapy now.”

You tried to clamber off Wally’s lap in horror, but he grabbed you by the hips and kept you there, burying his face in your shoulder with a groan.

“Please kill me,” he mumbled. “Please just end it.”

You swatted his chest. “Oh, now you’re embarrassed?”

“I wasn’t expecting a live audience!”

From the mic, Dick chimed in again, absolutely giddy: “Tell her I said good job, though. Girl’s got the patience of a saint. If someone put super speed fingers on me mid-match, I’d have screamed.”

“DICK—!”

[catsushinyakajima]

Asterika's Spring Sem fic recs!

The Promise by drschnz | 67.6k | College AU | Summer Vacation

Gets into Keith's anxiety and paranoia soooo well. You see how his problems cause problems and how his fears and actions are percieved by others and atdghdhdd. Beach house fic on top. Sooo much build up with such a satisfying confrontation. Loved it.

Bang by vanitashaze | 18.9k | Smut | Autism/ADHD

Holy shit you guys. First off, the author has the funniest language ever, they write totally the way Lance would think. Second off, this fic addresses ideas like consent, body image, capabilities of enforcing boundaries, and self-respect so well! This is fully a smut, but it's a very autistic smut (smut between autistic people, focuses more of the autism). So fucking realistic and good.

Part Time Soulmate, Full Time Problem by StillKicking/@still--kicking | 54.8k+ | Soulmate AU | Canon-Compliant

THIS FIC IS SO ARGHH! Soulmate au with both POVs?? Sign me tf up. Love seeing how they affect each other and how they think the other perceives them (only to be dead wrong). There is sooo much teamwork in this (CUZ THEY MAKE A GOOD TEAM AND THE AUTHOR KNOWS IT). This fic is beyond beautiful and I'm so excited to see where it goes.

Walk With Me by bluemantics/@bluemantics | 15.7k+ (2/3) | Post-Canon | Mutual Pining

Post canon Klance...dumbasses Klance...WHAT MORE CAN I SAY? These folks got their baggage they refuse to talk about and a bunch of unsaid romance and background adashi im dead. im dead. Im on the floor.THEY JUST GET EACH OTHER!!

love me to my bones (all this time) by ShatterinSeconds/@shatterinseconds | 8k | Post-Canon | Ace!Keith

So any ace fic at all deserves to be put in the hall of fame, but an ace fic from the allosexual POV? AUGH! It's so indulgent to see Lance talk about Keith so respectfully and love him and try his best. And he's never giving up anything to stay with Keith. Also they're dumbasses.

Grin and Bear It by loadingboy/@loadingboy | 192k+ | Brainwashing | Heavy Angst with an eventual comfort

So no list of mine is complete without a fic that induces psychological warfare on the mind. you guys. I read 10 chaps of this fic in four hours. That's how into it I got. I got sooo much tension reading this. Zack is the king of pacing a story. You always recieve snippets of information, but never the full picture, and I ALWAYS WANT MOREEEE. The parts that hurt hurt soo much and the parts that are normal somehow hurt too! I'm not a very emotional reader, but if you are, you will cry reading this EL O EL

vicodin on sunday nights by lykak | 118k | High school AU | Homophobia

You guys. This is the real enemies to lovers. Like! ARGH, Lance has sooo many issues it's not even funny and Keith's existence hurts him it's not even a rival thing. And somehow something beautiful blossoms out of it. Lots of fights, realizations, bonds being made, so much! Truly shows the ups and downs of a closeted high school jock.

been living in a lonesome galaxy by Katranga | 25.1k+ (4/5) | College AU | Friends with Benefits

If someone tells you I have over twenty rereads of this fic no I fucking don't definitely not! Ha! Haha...but fr. This is one of my FAV college aus. First off: Love autistic keith. LOVE HIM. Love Keith and Lance being good for each other. Every interaction with them is so cute. Indescribably so. And Keith, this guy is navigating through so many life issues! People do him dirty smh. I LOVE THIS FIC!!

kick at the darkness by ilgaksu | 61.2k | Dirty Dancing AU | 1960s US issues

I fucking love learning things from a fic. Actual educational fic. Love an author who knows things, so much things, to the point that the fic is deadly accurate. Also, the prose is insane. Beautiful. This fic deals with real life issues during the 1960s in US. We see issues with money, power, race, gender, sexuality, etc. It's all explored. Also...dirty dancing au!

I'd Love to See Me From Your Point of View (For All of My Pretty and All of My Ugly, Too) by mothmanavenue/@mothmanavenue | 5.9k | Fluff | Pining

So much fucking pining. Lance is so down bad. Almost as down bad as I am for this fic. God, they're so cute. They're so couple-y. We really see how Keith makes Lance feel cared for. Ykw, I'm actually about to go reread this NOW. PEACE YALL.

[deathspeaker]

LOL I'm sorry but it's hilarious that you think that they even NEED that person. Oh sure, they trot out a version of that occasionally but they absolutely, fundamentally, at this point in time, do not need that.

Trump says X, Fox repeats it, the other right-leaning news orgs who love to lie repeat it even louder and with fewer dog whistles.

The republican voters buy it. Completely. With virtually zero thought.

I used to live in a very red area, and listened to these people talk, my mother is one of them and it's endlessly hilarious listening to her talk about these things. like the 'They're eating the pets!' even SHE was aware of how insane that sounded and all she said was 'I don't know why he's saying that.' It influenced her opinion of him in absolutely no way at all. She didn't like it, she didn't believe it, but it fundamentally didn't even slightly alter her voting choices or even opinion of him!

The tariffs? 'He knows what he's doing.' or 'It'll work out in the end, you'll see!'

Endless excuses, endless acceptance of the insanity. I'm old enough to remember when the right actually pretended to give a shit about truth. Oh they absolutely fucking DIDN'T but they at least pretended to. They gave up on that the second Obama came into office.

They invent strawmen and don't even need to bring one out anymore. It's all fiction, all lies, they're fuckers.

Do Trump and Musk understand how hypocritical and, frankly, racist they sound being so moved by the plight of white South Africans while gleefully telling pretty much every other asylum seeker in our country to get the fuck out?

[pseudophan]

im sooo interested in what they could possibly be wanting to upload so bad after the rebrand like i was off podcast hill but now im back on and all i can wonder is what the hell will be the official dan and phil content like wtf are they cooking up what do they want to start posting that they felt like they couldn't until the rebrand AHHHHH like i need to know and I cant believe me from like 3 months from now will know

I KNOWWWW it's always so difficult to tell with those two because with the exception of the comeback in general, which they keep saying was very unplanned and casual, they're allergic to just doing something. they have to plan it out and make it a THING. to be fair i get it because i feel like 90% of the things they've started on a whim or just said they might do they end up dropping, and so now they're very careful not to tell us shit until they're 100% sure, but oh my god my blood pressure...

i've always thought a podcast would make a lot of sense for them, and there are definitely been plenty of hints that that's a possibility, but idek if that would tell us that much because that's just a slightly different format, the actual content could be anything. they could also do something that's podcast-esque in that it's longer and has some more casual bants/less editing but that's still heavily video focused, so instead of 2-3 shorter videos a week it's one long one that incorporates different segments. basically still a podcast but just enough to the left that dan doesn't have to call himself a podcaster lol

another option is they do different series of sorts, if they want to try out different types of videos without committing exclusively to one (likely thing for them to do lmao). kind of similar to the podcast idea but different videos, either one thing at a time (10 episodes of one thing then 10 episodes of another, a limited series but it's youtube videos if you get what i mean) or more of a like an 'on tuesday we post this and on fridays we post this' kind of vibe, except again i don't necessarily trust their ability to stick to a schedule

i feel like this is all over the place, i keep rambling for several hundred words and deleting it all because it's entirely nonsensical MAN I JUST DON'T KNOW. I NEED TO KNOW. i guess i just have very few guesses as to what specifically the content could be, but i keep wondering about exactly what you just said like, why does it have to be a New Era. they already post non-gaming on the gaming channel so it really does say format change more than anything, but what's the format!!!! and most of all what the fuck are they going to do with it!!!!!!! i'm going insane

[jefth3kilr]

naruto boys and one of their random and insanely specific kinks (lol) 🍃🎋

Includes: Kakashi; Gai; Jiraiya; naruto; sasuke; kiba; shino; neji; lee; shikamaru; gaara; kankuro

warnings: NSFW (MINORS DNI) bit of bdsm and rougher topics all charecters are aged up!! naruto and students are around 19-20

not proof read! requests are open!!!

Kakashi

power play.

I know it might seem a little ooc, but trust, I feel like he'd be really into power play.

and while yes he loves it when you call him master and get all obedient for him; I also think he would really like calling you mistress and submitting to you.

Like yes he will definitely get on his knees and kiss your legs and 'earn' your permission to fuck you. He's down for all that freaky shit.

but if you tell anyone about this he'd probably jump off the nearest building LMAO he would get so embarrassed.

Gai

praise praise praise.

please praise him LMAO.

Gai already likes praise in general, but praise from you!? he's already nutting in his pants.

Also I'm giving him another: fake rivalry.

Clearly Gai is obsessed with having a rival (cough cough Kakashi)

So if y'all kinda role-play and pretend to be rivals while fucking, he will be so hype. He would feel accomplished lolll

Jiraiya

Exhibitionism

I mean like what the hell doesn't turn Jiraiya on?

I think that he definitely likes being a little public with it, it exciting and it also turns him on knowing he's the only who can do this to you.

I don't think he'd like having full on naked sex out int he open, but he would definitely like teasing you and stuff.

Jiraiya would definitely put one of those wireless remote control vibrators in your before taking a 'nice' walk around the village at night. He would random turn it on, messing with the intensity constantly before turning it off again. It would suck for you, but he loves watching you fall apart and have trouble walking.

He also makes out with you in public. sorry not sorry. He doesn't care who tf y'all are in front of off, he will kiss you silly wherever and whenever he wants.

Oh in bar bathrooms...for get about it. You've probably been bent over evert bathroom counter int he village at least twice by now. You'd think because of his age he wouldn't have so much stamina....but trust he does.

Naruto

Breathing

Naruto is so happy that you chose him a lover, so it only makes sense that he obsessed with everything about you. And the loves listening to you breathe.

While yes, it helps him fall asleep and night to hear your sleepy breathing and listen to your heart beat in your chest.

But it also heavily turns him on when he sees your chest deeply heave after your coming down from your high And it definitely turns him on to hear your breathy, desperate, little gasps when your trying to reach that said high.

Like yes please make out with him and breathe in his ear while your hump this shit out of him. He goes crazy for stuff like that.

After your done with a training session, and your breathing all heard and your chest is going up and down, expect Naruto to drag you to the nearest bathroom LMAO.

Sasuke

his ears

hear me out

Sasuke's ears are sooo sensitive, but he would rather die than admit it.

One day you decide to test out something you read; something about how licking the other shell of someone's ear can be hot. So while you and Sasuke are making out, you test it out. And he will dead ass cum in his pants. From then on, you do it all the time.

If your want to tease him, whisper something in his ear, even if it's super casual. Just feeling your lips by his ear and listening to your soft voice is enough to drive him up the wall.

And if you nip his ear...he's a goner.

Shikamaru

Sexting

I mean Shikamaru is like super lazy, so texting each other becomes a very common thing. Even if y'all are in the same house, cuddling each other on the same damn bed, he will still text you instead of actually talking. (he claims it saves his energy)

Surprisingly, Shika is really good at dirty talk, he just doesn't do it because he's lazy. But texting you all that dirty talk...he can def do that.

You'll be in class and get a text from him, expecting just a casual 'wyd' message and instead get a whole paragraph like: 'when your get home I'm gonna ******* and the I'm gonna ******** you're so fucking **** I can't wait to *****.' you can never catch a break with this guy.

And if you lock eyes with him in class after reading that, he will look super casual LMAO

Kiba

scent.

i mean we all know Kiba has a crazy sense of smell, so obviously he would be able to track your scent no matter where you are. so he knows what you smell like. he knows how your natural musk is and what your perfume smells like too.

Kiba would definitely know right away if you switched perfumes. he’d probably pout about it at first because he liked the other one but after a couple of days he’ll get used to it. also if you wear too much of it, expect him to sneeze A LOT.

but anyway, he loves to smell you during sex. wether that be shoving his face into the crook of your neck and taking in your scent, or being all gross and sniffing your panties (which you always yell at him for but you secretly like it) he LOVES your scent.

sometimes, when he’s really desperate for you, he’ll beg you to let him smell you.

“Just a sniff baby, i need it. I need you.”

how can you say no to him when he’s looking at you with those sad puppy eyes? 🥺

Shino

hickeys

since no one can really see his neck because of his big ass coat, feel free to leave as many as possible.

I think he finds it very romantic to be able to mark each other like that. He also finds the feeling very sensual to kiss and suck on someone's neck. He also enjoys that's feeling on himself.

If you were to ever to show off your hickeys, wearing nothing but a tank top outside in public. He would pass tf out LMAO he loves it.

He's secretly very possessive.

Neji

hair pulling.

this goes both ways.

First of all, he has that long ass hair. I also feel like Neji can get a bit bossy sometimes, so if you want him to shut the hell up, just pull him by his hair.

The first time you did it, it was probably an accident. But when you saw his blushing face and a tent forming in his pants, you knew you had to do that again.

I also feel like Neji is a bit quiet during sex, but trust if you pull on his hair, he will start moaning like a girl.

But second; he also loves to pull your hair. When he's feeling extra dominant and he wants you to submit, he will definitely pull your head back by your hair while giving your the nastiest back shots known to man kind.

He is also the type to put your hair into a makeshift ponytail while you blow him.

Lee

Overstimulation.

I think Lee really likes it when you guys treat sex like training. (I read a fic about this lmao)

Like please let him finger you into oblivion, it gives him a good arm workout. But don't expect to be done after he's made you cum 5 times on his fingers, he still needs to work out the other arm too!

Lee is someone who can NEVVERRR do a quickie, since he has so much stamina from training, he can go round and round after round.

Literally, you could have done like 9 rounds and he is still amped up on energy.

And do NOT squirt around him, he be determined to make your squirt at least 6 more times before letting you take a break.

But of course, if you really need a break or want to stop, he will gladly give you as much time as you need, he's still a sweet boy. (call him sweet boy and he will nut instantly)

Gaara

dry humping

sometimes it just takes so much energy to get fully unclothed and actually commit to having sex. Also since Gaara isn't a super sexual person in the sense that he doesn't really like to get undress and all that other stuff, dry humping is such a good alternative.

I also HC that Gaara is a bit submissive, I mean he will def Dom you sometimes but regular he will usually submit to you and listen to you (bc you love him and he feels like this is a way he can prove that he loves u too)

Imagine after a long day, your both exhausted but still so pent up. So your just in his lap, grinding away while your heavily makeout and pull at each other's hair. Trust he will be nutting in his pants.

And if you also whisper sweet nothings to him...he's done for.

Kankuro

bondage

need i say more?

trust he will tie you up with his chakra strings and eat you out until your sobbing....

He definitely finds it hot that your comfortable enough with him to allow him to tie you up and be at his mercy (he also lokey has a power complex soooo)

[kathlare]

make them bond

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: Amelie and Lando navigate a tricky reunion with old friends while trying to leave recent drama behind.

Wordcount: 6.5 k

Warnings: none

full masterlist // request over here!

May 12th, 2025 - Los Cabos, Mexico

The water was warm, the kind of perfect that made you forget the world outside the pool even existed. Amelie floated lazily on a pink donut float, sunglasses on, legs dangling in the water. Lando stood beside her, half-submerged, arms crossed on the float’s edge, watching her with a shit-eating grin that gave away exactly how smitten he was.

—You’re staring again,— she said without looking at him, lips twitching.

—Can you blame me?— he replied, voice low and teasing, fingertips dragging lightly along her thigh. —You look stupidly good in that bikini, Ames. I’m just admiring the view.—

—You’re such a simp,— she laughed, nudging his chest with her foot. —And this is your third time complimenting my bikini. I’m counting now.—

—And yet, I’m still under-doing it. You deserve ten more. Maybe twenty.—

She finally looked at him, raising her sunglasses. —You’re so whipped.—

—Only for you.— He winked. —Actually, that’s not true. Benny’s got me wrapped around his paw too. And your cooking. And the way your nose scrunches when you’re annoyed. And the way you say "fuck off" with that cute accent.—

—You’re disgusting,— she said with a grin, even as her heart melted. —I hate you.—

—You love me.—

She opened her mouth to retort when she heard the sound of a car rolling up the driveway. Her whole body stiffened, the air suddenly feeling ten degrees hotter. Lando followed her gaze.

—That’s them?— he asked quietly.

She nodded. The float squeaked under her as she sat up straighter, adjusting her bikini top unnecessarily.

—Yup. That’s them.—

Lando gave her knee a reassuring squeeze. —We’ve got this, babe. It’ll be fine. Awkward, but fine.—

They watched as Max Fewtrell stepped out of the car first, his usual lazy grin slightly strained. He opened the door for Pietra, who followed in oversized sunglasses, denim shorts, and a very neutral expression.

Amelie took a breath. She hadn’t seen Pietra since Miami. Not properly. And while none of the rumors were their fault, it was still… weird. Max had gone to Comporta with Magui and Pietra and some other people, and that had stirred shit online. Shit she hadn’t been prepared for, especially not when it came to rumors of Lando cheating—especially not with Magui of all people.

She pulled herself out of the pool, wrapping a towel around her waist and squeezing water from her braid. Lando joined her, brushing droplets off his chest with a shake like a golden retriever.

—Max! Pietra!— he called out with a smile that was just a little too bright.

Max offered a small wave as they approached the edge of the patio.

—Hey, mate. Nice tan.—

—Jealous?— Lando smirked.

—Absolutely. Brazil's been rainy as fuck.—

Amelie offered Max a quick side-hug, which was awkward, for them at least. They’d been close once—really close. Max had been her video game partner during lockdown, the one who’d tease her endlessly on Discord and send her memes at 2 a.m. And now… things were different. Not bad. But not the same.

—Hi Pietra,— Amelie said politely, pulling off her sunglasses.

—Hi,— Pietra replied with a soft smile, glancing around the villa. —This place is insane.—

—It’s my mum’s, technically. She bought it years ago and forced my dad into early retirement here,— Amelie said, voice light, trying.

—Well, she has great taste,— Pietra added, gaze flickering between her and Lando quickly before settling on the ocean view.

—You guys want a drink? We’ve got palomas, mojitos… Lando made some horrifying attempt at sangria earlier,— Amelie offered, slipping back into host mode.

—Hey! It was decent.— Lando frowned. —I followed a recipe. Ish.—

Max chuckled. —I’ll take a mojito, Ames. You still make the good ones?—

She arched a brow. —Is that your way of trying to charm your way back into my good graces?—

—Shit, is it working?— he grinned.

She didn’t answer, but she gave a tiny smile and disappeared inside the kitchen, leaving Lando alone with the couple for a moment. The air was thick with unsaid things.

—Look, about Comporta,— Max started.

—Mate, it’s done,— Lando cut him off, voice firm but calm. —You don’t need to explain. Ames knows it wasn’t you, or Pietra. It was just bad optics.—

Pietra spoke up, voice soft. —Still, I should’ve thought it through. It was a dumb oversight, and I’m really sorry for the heat you guys got because of it.—

Lando nodded once. —It’s all good. You’re here now, so let’s just… enjoy the next two days, yeah? Golf, pool, bad dancing. No drama.—

Pietra nodded, but it was clear she still felt the weight of the tension hanging in the warm coastal air. She gave Lando a small, grateful smile before Max slung an arm around her shoulders and tugged her toward the house.

—C’mon,— Lando said, grabbing their duffel bags with ease. —I’ll show you your room. Got the best view in the house after ours.—

—Is that supposed to make me feel better or worse?— Max muttered with a smirk, following Lando up the stone steps.

Inside the villa, the air was cooler, scented faintly with salt, sunscreen, and a hint of lime from the half-prepped drinks in the kitchen. The place was airy, all whitewashed wood and glass, with sliding doors open to the ocean breeze. Lando led them down the hall to the guest suite at the far end, dropping the bags at the door.

—King bed, your own little patio, ocean view, and that bathroom’s the size of Max’s ego,— he said, pointing toward the en-suite.

Pietra let out a soft laugh as she stepped in, already digging into her bag. —I’m gonna change into my swimsuit real quick. I feel like I’ve been in jeans for forty-eight hours.—

—Take your time,— Max said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before she disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

The moment it clicked shut, Lando turned to Max, dropping the polite act.

—Okay, real talk,— he said, arms crossed. —We can’t keep doing this weird split-trip bullshit. I’m not spending another summer where I have to choose between you or her because our girlfriends don’t talk.—

Max scrubbed a hand over his face. —God, yes. It’s exhausting. Pietra and Amelie are civil, sure, but they’re not friends. Like, not real friends. And it’s starting to get in the way.—

—Exactly. I swear, Ames would never say it out loud, but she’s tense as hell anytime Pietra’s around. And when she saw that Comporta thing with Magui… fuck, man, it messed her up. Even if she knows you didn’t mean anything by it.—

—Yeah, Pietra felt like shit for that too. She gets why it was a big deal now. I think it clicked when the rumor went viral. She hadn’t thought about how it’d look from Amelie’s end.—

Lando exhaled and sat on the edge of the bed. —We just need them to click. Properly. Like, if they become friends, Pietra stops hanging out with people who bring drama. And Ames will stop feeling like she’s always watching her back when we’re in the same room.—

Max pointed. —And we can start making actual plans again. Like double dates. Trips. You know, normal couple shit. Instead of this weird avoidance dance.—

Lando smirked. —Operation Make Them Bond starts now.—

-------------

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f1gossipgirl: 👀 SOOO Pietra and Max are officially in Cabo too… which means 👏 she’s 👏 with 👏 Lanmelie 👏 now 👏

looks like the friend group is BACK together?? 😳👀 wonder if the vibes are as chill as the drinks… or if someone’s still side-eyeing 👀💅

View all 59,119 comments

glamgptea: pietra and max in cabo too??? this trip just got messier 😭 → f1hotgirleras: @glamgptea i’m grabbing popcorn and sunscreen rn

lanmeliecentral: not them turning a cheating scandal into a double date vacation 💅 growth → wifeyforlan: @lanmeliecentral i would’ve held a grudge forever but amelie’s too classy for that → povurmom: @lanmeliecentral she’s giving mature queen and i’d be giving petty

lanmelliesimp13: max and pietra prob walked in like “can we talk?” and lando was already shirtless in the pool 💀 → babygrid: @lanmelliesimp13 amelie handed them a margarita before they finished “hi”

tropicwags: not pietra & max crashing the lanmelie honeymoon part 2 😭 → lanmelie4ever: @tropicwags they’re in their we forgive but we don’t forget era 😌✌️ → f1dramaqueen: @lanmelie4ever let’s just hope nobody mentions comporta or it’s over

lanxamelie: lando said “make peace or swim home” 😭

gridgirliee: pietra really went from comporta chaos to cabo redemption arc and i respect the hustle → landoisdownbad: @gridgirliee she said “lemme fix my PR and get a tan” 💅🏽

wifeydayman: i give it 2 margaritas before max says something and gets death stared by ames → chaosnferrari: @wifeydayman 2 is generous, i’m betting halfway through the chips 💀

letameliecook: not them on a forgiveness vacation while i’m crying over a man who can’t even text back

maxiebae: max got his boyfriend back and that’s all that matters 💔💅 → softlaunchsupreme: @maxiebae now kiss

sunburntcircuit: amelie really said “let’s be grown” and booked a villa 😭 queen → helmet4heels: @sunburntcircuit fr she’s too classy for this world

paddocktea: pietra showing up post-miami like “hey besties 💕 ignore the rumors” → queenamelz: @paddocktea she’s walking a fine line but honestly? brave → tyrepressure: @paddocktea she brought pão de queijo, she’s forgiven

-------------

After a lazy couple of hours by the pool filled with mocktails, sunburn threats, and a very unfortunate cannonball from Max that nearly soaked Pietra’s Kindle, everyone slowly peeled off into their corners of the villa. Pietra and Max disappeared to their guest room with murmurs of "nap time" that made Amelie roll her eyes, and Lando had slinked off to their bedroom to "change."

That was already suspicious. Because Lando never changed early unless he was going somewhere.

Which meant…

Amelie, still in her damp bikini, towel slung lazily around her waist, padded barefoot into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and pulled out a slice of leftover quiche—because fuck it, she'd swam and hosted and smiled politely through enough strained silences today to earn herself a snack.

She’d just taken a big bite, leaning back against the cool marble island with the fridge still cracked open behind her, when she heard his footsteps.

And then—of course—his voice.

—Hey, babe.—

Her eyes flicked up. And there he was.

Polo shirt tucked neatly into beige golf shorts, belt perfectly aligned, those stupid little no-show socks with pristine white golf shoes, and—God help her—a cap flipped backward over his curls like he was auditioning to be in a country club boyband.

Amelie stared, chewing slowly. Swallowed. Pointed her fork at him.

—No.—

Lando’s brows lifted in faux innocence, hands slipping into his pockets as he leaned against the doorway like he hadn’t just walked in looking like the human embodiment of her worst nightmare.

—No what?— he asked, voice syrupy.

Amelie tilted her head, narrowed her eyes.

—No. I know that outfit. I know that walk. I know that fake-ass casual greeting. You’re gonna say something like ‘we’re just gonna hit a few balls’ or ‘come on, babe, it’ll be fun’ and I am telling you now...no.—

Lando smirked, pushing off the doorframe and strolling toward her with the easy swagger of a man who had been plotting. Plotting for days.

—You don’t even know what I was going to say,— he said, reaching around her to close the fridge door.

She crossed her arms, the quiche plate balanced on one palm. —It’s golf, isn’t it? You’re gonna try and make me go. Don’t lie to me, Norris. You’re in uniform.—

—Technically, yes. But hear me out.—

She took another bite of her quiche, glaring at him like it was the only thing tethering her to sanity.

—There is no hearing out. I hate golf. It’s walking in the heat while pretending to care about something that makes paint drying look thrilling. And don't even start with the 'just a few easy holes' talk.—

—That’s the thing,— Lando said, now fully grinning, grabbing a grape from the fruit bowl and popping it in his mouth. —You’re not doing the hard ones. Max and I are. You and Pietra are just doing the, like… mini-golf equivalent. A few swings, a golf cart, some drinks. Vibes only.—

—So you’re leaving me alone with her?— Amelie asked flatly.

Lando shrugged, only slightly guilty. —Not alone. Just… not with us. Temporarily.—

—This is the worst idea you’ve ever had.—

—Oh, come on.— Lando’s voice dropped into that dangerous, boyish persuasion tone she hated because it always worked. —You’ll keep Pietra company, and Max and I’ll do the harder holes. Maybe you’ll even have fun. Stranger things have happened.—

Amelie scoffed. —Yeah? Name one.—

Lando’s smile widened as he slid closer, trapping her gently between the kitchen island and his very annoyingly toned, golf-ready body.

—Stranger things? Easy,— he murmured, hands finding her waist, fingertips brushing against the edge of her towel. —You dating me. You letting me see you first thing in the morning with your hair like a war zone. You crying during Finding Nemo. You surviving F1 weekends without committing homicide.—

She narrowed her eyes. —You’re dodging the question.—

—No, I’m sweetening the pitch,— he corrected, leaning in until his nose nearly grazed hers. —Plus…— His gaze dropped for a second, a lazy smile spreading across his lips. —I’ve been dying to see you in that golf set I got you. You know the one.—

Her eyes widened a fraction. —No.—

—Yes,— he said, almost reverently. —The little green skirt. The matching sleeveless top. The knee-high socks. The visor, Ames. You haven’t even touched it since I bought it for you in Monaco. And it’s just been sitting in the closet, all lonely, unloved, unworn.—

—I told you when you bought it, I wasn’t wearing it because I wasn’t going golfing. It was a statement.—

—And now look at us. The statement has circled back to bite you in the cute little ass I’m currently holding.—

—Lando,— she warned, trying not to smile, especially when he dipped his head and kissed her jaw, right beneath her ear.

—I’m not asking you to like golf,— he murmured against her skin. —I’m just asking you to fake it for, like, an hour. Maybe two. Pretend the cart is a Mario Kart. Drive Pietra around. Talk shit about Max’s swing. Hit one ball and dramatically scream like you’ve pulled a muscle.—

Amelie huffed. —That sounds like something you’d do.—

—Exactly. I’m setting the bar low here, Ames. Bare minimum energy. All vibes, no pressure. And maybe…— his hands slipped lower, tugging lightly at the towel, —maybe… if you wear that outfit… I’ll owe you a favor. Any favor. Cash it in whenever.—

Her brows lifted. —Any favor?—

His grin turned sinful. —Anything. Within reason. Or mildly outside of reason if I get to film it.—

Amelie groaned, tilting her head back against the fridge. —God, you’re the worst. The absolute worst.—

But her resolve was already crumbling.

Because she did remember the outfit. And she did know how Lando had looked when he’d picked it out—like he was imagining her in it before the hanger even hit the register. And she did want Pietra to feel included, like they were cool now, like she could trust Amelie to meet her halfway.

And also…

Lando’s hand had snuck up under her towel and was currently tracing small circles on her hip.

—Ugh,— she groaned dramatically. —If I say yes, you owe me a massage tonight. With oil. And music. And no whining about your hands getting tired.—

—Deal,— he said instantly. —And I’ll even light a candle. One of the sexy sandalwood ones you like.—

She sighed, finally pushing her plate onto the counter. —Fine. But if I get sunburned and have to go back to filming with a golfer’s tan, I’m writing a diss track about you.—

Lando leaned in and kissed her—slow, smug, and sweet. —As long as I’m the music video lead, I’m in.—

—God help me,— she muttered.

—Go put the outfit on,— he whispered against her lips. —Make my country club fantasies come true.—

—You’re disgusting.—

—You love me.—

And as she stalked off to the bedroom muttering curses under her breath, Lando turned and pumped a silent fist in the air. Phase One: complete. The girls were going. Which meant Phase Two—Get Them To Bond Over Mocking Golf—was officially a go.

-------------

liked by chaoticwags, f1.gamercrush, and others

landoupdates: Lando and Max went live on Twitch today while golfing in Cabo and when chat kept asking “where’s Amelie and Pietra???” these two idiots started laughing like 12-year-olds and said “we left them alone on purpose so they can trauma bond or whatever.” 😭😭

🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️💅 the girls better come back braided up like childhood besties or this experiment FAILED

View all 99,054 comments

chaoticwags: not lando forcing the girlies to bond like it’s couples therapy 💀

lando1simp: lando when the girls finally laugh at the same joke: 🧍‍♂️💅✨🥹 → maxielstan: @lando1simp bro acting like dr. phil with a golf club

traumabondingirlies: not max & lando golfing while the girls rework the alliance terms 😭 → brunchwags: @traumabondingirlies ceasefire secured over mimosas probably

chaoticwags: NOT THE DOUBLE DATE DETENTE LMFAOOO → norihottie: @chaoticwags peace in the lanmelie kingdom finally fr → cactussocks: @norihottie give them matching bracelets already 💅

ameliecore: if they come back from Cabo doing TikToks together I’m gonna scream → softlanmelie: @ameliecore “bestie vibes only 💋” and I’ll know it was all Lando’s doing 😭

wifeyamelie: Lando locked his girl down and got his boyfriend back. balance has been RESTORED. → maxnation: @wifeyamelie he missed Max more than the papaya team missed podiums 💀 → landoilover44: @maxnation be fr he probably cried after Comporta

pietraangel: I’m lowkey rooting for Pietra and Amelie to become unhinged besties → screamingformclaren: @pietraangel imagine them side-eyeing Max and Lando in sync… ICONIC

maguischilling: i know magui somewhere punching air rn 😭 → gossipgrill: @maguischilling don’t summon her pls we just got peace

lanmelieslay: this is the healing era. lanmelie nation… we won.

celebchaoscentral: not pietra and amelie entering their diplomatic relations era in cabo 😭😭 → lanfanclub: @celebchaoscentral the UN wishes they had this level of peacekeeping → softforlanmelie: @celebchaoscentral Lando and Max playing peace brokers like it’s a romcom subplot help 😭

lanmeliedaily: lando got his boyfriend and his girlfriend back i fear → pietraslittlegirl: @lanmeliedaily he really said double date or DIE

lanmelietok: max: “we left them alone to bond” — that man was scared for his LIFE 😭 → amsluvr: @lanmelietok max said “no drama no beef pls i just wanna golf and vibe”

tropigridgirlies: if they come back from this trip matching friendship bracelets i’m gonna SCREAM → cabokissesss: @tropigridgirlies enemies to brunch friends like we’ve never seen before → noforrealmax: @tropigridgirlies if pietra posts amelie i’m calling my mom idc

-------------

Amelie stepped out of the villa just as golden hour hit, the fading sun brushing her skin with a warm, forgiving glow. She adjusted the little green visor Lando had once dramatically tossed into their shared shopping cart in Monaco and tried not to think about how smug he’d looked earlier when she finally pulled the outfit out of the closet. Because now she understood why.

The skirt was short. Like, very short. The sleeveless top clung in just the right places.

She looked like every teenage boy’s fantasy of what golf should be. And judging by the way Lando turned his head so fast when she appeared, jaw slack and pupils dilated like he’d just seen a UFO, she was right.

—You’re staring,— she said flatly, shifting her weight to one leg, hip popping.

—No, I’m not,— Lando said, still staring, not even blinking. Max coughed a laugh behind him.

—Bro, you literally just walked into the umbrella stand.—

—Shut up,— Lando muttered, tugging at his collar like it was suddenly suffocating him.

They were all gathered by the stone steps that led down to the private golf course attached to the villa. Max was already loading clubs into the back of one of the two waiting golf carts, and Pietra stood off to the side, sipping from a bottle of water and eyeing Amelie with the kind of neutral appraisal that made Amelie’s neck itch. Not hostile. Not rude. Just... unreadable.

—Alright, teams,— Max called out, clapping his hands together. —Boys go tackle the manholes.—

—That’s not what they’re called,— Lando said distractedly, eyes still locked on Amelie.

—You sure? Because I’ve definitely heard you say something about 'checking your manhole' before.—

—Max.—

Amelie snorted. Pietra did not.

—And ladies,— Max continued, ignoring the death glare his girlfriend was now giving him, —you get the fun cart. Drinks, shade, easy holes. Don’t crash it.—

—You say that like you think we’re the problem,— Amelie said, walking toward the second cart, feeling Lando’s eyes burn into her legs the entire way.

—No, he says that because he once flipped a golf cart trying to impress Daniel Ricciardo,— Pietra muttered under her breath as she climbed into the passenger seat.

Amelie blinked. Oh.

Interesting.

Lando opened his mouth, clearly about to protest the seating arrangement—because obviously he wanted to be in a cart with Amelie, that much was written all over his red-eared, barely-holding-it-together face—but Max clapped a hand on his shoulder and dragged him to the other cart before he could say a word.

—C’mon, lover boy. Let the girls bond. We’ll reconvene in two hours with sweat stains and wounded pride.—

Lando looked back one more time, lower lip between his teeth, and Amelie knew that if he stayed any longer, he’d either say something inappropriate or try to drag her into the woods.

So she just gave him a little wave. Sweet. Innocent. Absolutely dripping in silent mockery.

He groaned audibly as the cart pulled away.

The first few minutes were… painful.

Amelie drove. Pietra fiddled with her phone. Silence hung in the cart like smog, thick and awkward and threatening to choke both of them. The breeze did nothing. The trees whispered uselessly. Somewhere in the distance, a bird chirped and Amelie considered asking it to peck her eyes out for entertainment.

They reached the first easy hole. Pietra got out, stretched, and swung her club with robotic precision. It wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t relaxed either.

Amelie sighed. Picked up her club. Took a lazy swing. The ball rolled a whopping ten feet.

—Wow,— Pietra deadpanned. —Incredible display of raw athleticism.—

Amelie smirked. —Thank you. I trained with Tiger Woods once. He said I was too powerful for the sport.—

Pietra cracked a smile. Barely, but it was there. The first dent in the silence.

They moved on. Hole two. Pietra drove this time. Her posture behind the wheel was almost surgical—straight-backed, two hands, full concentration like they were navigating a Formula 1 track instead of a perfectly paved golf path with butterflies crossing like it was a Disney movie.

—So,— Amelie said, voice overly casual. —You always this serious about sports that don’t matter?—

Pietra exhaled through her nose, turning the wheel with a little more force than necessary. —I just don’t like looking stupid at things. Especially things Max is good at.—

—Fair,— Amelie said, adjusting the strap of her visor. —Although if “not looking stupid” was the bar, I wouldn’t have agreed to this at all.—

Pietra let out a huff that might’ve been a laugh. Still clipped. But less icy.

They reached the third hole. It had one of those annoyingly placed sand traps, like someone had designed it specifically to ruin your self-esteem. Pietra got out and sized it up like she was about to perform surgery on it.

Amelie, meanwhile, slumped dramatically over the steering wheel. —You think if I pretend to faint, they’ll let us go home?—

Pietra’s lips twitched. —Only if you commit to the bit. Foam at the mouth or something.—

—Too far. I’m method, not deranged.—

That got a real laugh. Quick and surprised, like it snuck out before Pietra could decide whether or not she wanted it to.

—Max always foams at the mouth when he sleeps,— Pietra said, stretching her back with a faint grimace. —I swear to God, he’ll roll over, open his mouth like a dying fish, and it’s like a damn waterfall. I nearly drowned last week.—

Amelie blinked. Then blinked again.

Then snorted so hard she nearly choked on her spit. —Wait, what?—

Pietra shook her head, face serious but eyes a little brighter now. —Dead serious. We stayed at this hotel in Lisbon, and I woke up thinking it was raining. Nope. Just Max, sleeping face-up like a cartoon character, drooling like his jaw forgot how gravity works.—

Amelie wheezed. Bent over the steering wheel. —Oh my God. That’s so foul. Lando snores. Like, whistles. Through his nose. It’s like sleeping next to a dying kettle.—

Pietra’s eyes widened, then narrowed like she was trying to picture it. —That actually makes so much sense.—

—Right? I love him, but every time I get woken up at 3 a.m. by Steam Engine Norris, I start making mental hit lists.—

Pietra laughed again—louder this time. Amelie grinned, surprised at how easy it suddenly felt. Like they’d cracked something. Or maybe just realized they were both dating deeply stupid, occasionally disgusting boys who somehow made it worth it.

—Max takes, like, forty-five minutes to pick a movie,— Pietra said, hopping back into the cart. —And then he falls asleep twenty minutes in.—

Amelie gasped. —Lando does the exact same thing. Swears up and down he wants to watch something, spends ages making a whole thing of it: lights off, snacks, makes me pause trailers to “really analyze them”... and then he’s out like a light. Head back. Mouth open. Whole performance, gone.—

—And then tries to recap it the next day like he was awake the entire time.—

—“Yeah, yeah, the bit with the guy in the suit... crazy, right?”— Amelie mimicked, rolling her eyes. —Sir, you were unconscious before the title card.—

They both dissolved into laughter, the tension finally shedding like an old coat.

The cart bumped slightly as Pietra hit a root, but neither of them cared. They were too busy making a list of their boyfriends’ most criminal habits.

—Max has this thing where he talks in his sleep,— Pietra added, smirking.

Amelie’s eyes lit up. —No. What does he say?—

—Mostly nonsense. One time he said, “Tell Lando the penguin has the codes.” I didn’t sleep after that. I thought it was a warning.—

Amelie nearly dropped her club. —That’s a spy movie. That’s not even his real life! Why is he dreaming in fake espionage plots?!—

—Don’t ask me. I think he watched Mission: Impossible and it rewired his brain.—

They were still laughing when they pulled up to the fifth hole—an easy one, with a wide green and zero traps—but neither made a move to get out.

Instead, they just sat there, the cart idling, the sun sinking lower over the rolling hills, painting everything in a soft golden haze. A light breeze swept Pietra’s ponytail to one side, and Amelie leaned her elbow on the steering wheel, suddenly aware of how different this felt than she expected.

Not forced. Not fake. Just… warm.

Pietra glanced at her, expression shifting, the humor fading just enough for something more honest to slip in. —Hey,— she said, tone softer now. —About what happened. With Comporta. And the rumors.—

Amelie straightened a little. The mention of Comporta tightened something in her stomach—an echo of that week in May when she’d woken up to her name trending, paired with cheating and Lando and Magui, all because of one stupid photo.

—It wasn’t our fault,— Pietra continued, —but I should’ve said something. Reached out. I didn’t realize it would blow up the way it did, and when it did, it was already too messy. I didn’t know if I should text you or leave it alone. And by the time Max tried to explain it all, it just… felt too late.—

Amelie didn’t answer right away. She stared out at the course, tapping a finger against the wheel. —Yeah,— she said finally. —It sucked.—

—I know.—

—It really fucking sucked.—

Pietra nodded. —I know.—

Amelie glanced at her, searching her face. —Did she know I’d see those pictures? Magui, I mean.—

Pietra hesitated. Just a beat. But that was enough.

Pietra hesitated. Just a beat. But that was enough.

—That’s what I thought,— Amelie muttered.

—She didn’t do it maliciously. At least not...— Pietra stopped. Winced. —Okay. No. I don’t know that. But I do know Max was furious. He genuinely had no idea she’d be there, and it caused a whole thing between us. Like… a real fight.—

Amelie blinked. That part she didn’t know.

—I’m not saying this to get points,— Pietra added. —I just want you to know that we didn’t... I didn’t...cosign any of it. Max wouldn’t do that to you. Neither would I. Not intentionally.—

—I know Max wouldn’t,— Amelie said quietly. —And I guess… I know you wouldn’t either. Not now, anyway.—

A silence settled between them. Not tense, just thoughtful.

Pietra pulled at a loose thread on her polo. —I was kind of nervous inviting you to come out here. I thought you’d say no.—

—I almost did,— Amelie admitted. —But Lando bribed me with a massage.—

Pietra barked a laugh. —Sounds about right.—

—He also promised to light a sexy candle.—

—Jesus Christ.—

—I know. It’s tragic.—

They grinned at each other. And suddenly, it wasn’t awkward anymore.

They played a few more holes. Hit balls into bushes. Got mildly yelled at by an old man in plaid pants. Shared a can of sparkling lemonade from the cooler. Amelie showed Pietra how to swing like a “drunk aunt at a wedding,” and Pietra showed Amelie how to restart the cart when she accidentally flooded the engine. They were not good at golf, but they were getting better at this—whatever this fragile, hesitant friendship thing was turning into.

By the ninth hole, they were sun-flushed and laughing again, legs kicked up on the dash while they waited for the boys to reappear.

Amelie leaned her head back and sighed. —Honestly? You’re a lot cooler than I thought you’d be.—

Pietra raised a brow. —That’s either the best or worst compliment I’ve ever gotten.—

—I mean it. We’ve just… never really hung out. Outside of group stuff.—

—That’s because you’re famous and terrifying and I thought you hated me.—

—I don’t hate you.—

—Good. Because I think we’re in a codependent support group now. For Girlfriends of Stupid Men.—

Amelie laughed. —God. You’re right.—

-------------

liked by amelzbackup, norisbaby, and others

daymangallery: AMELIE JUST POSTED PIETRA ON HER STORY?? 😭😭

View all 39,011 comments

f1gftrash: amelie posting pietra on her story… peace has been restored🙏 → lanlover44: @f1gftrash fr the girlies are HEALING → wagwatcher_98: @lanlover44 max and lando probably high-fived after that story went up 😭

chaoticwags: lando and max sending their girls off like “go bond babes” while they go play golf is so boyfriend-coded → norisimp: @chaoticwags literally bromance + matchmaking in one trip → f1flirtz: @chaoticwags max was like “i want my boyfriend back, fix it queen”

ameliesfingertats: we went from “pietra unfollowed amelie??” to “pietra in amelie’s story looking like a vogue ad” like how did we get here → lilacformula: @ameliesfingertats idk but i’m living for this arc

lanmelieupdates: lando really said “you two are gonna get along even if it kills me” and honestly? king behavior → amelesbian: @lanmelieupdates he’s tired of group dinners being awkward 😭 → tiktoklanmelie: @lanmelieupdates lando’s in his peacekeeper era and it’s WORKING

formulababie: they better be sipping caipirinhas and trauma bonding rn i NEED this friendship → pietraluvbot: @formulababie if they come back with matching bracelets i’m gonna cry

hotlapshottie: be honest lando invited max just to fix his girlfriend’s beef with max’s gf so he can go back to being thirdwheeled in peace → daymansdaydream: @hotlapshottie the bromance agenda stays winning 😤 → amxln4: @daymansdaydream max missed his gossip sessions with amelie ok he’s suffering too

pietralover420: she in the golf cart like nothing happened... icon → wagsupreme: @pietralover420 she’s soft launching the redemption arc

maxiscat: max seeing amelie and pietra laughing like: finally. peace.

sunnyamelz: idc if it’s fake or not i love this new girlfriend alliance → y0uland0: @sunnyamelz honestly we needed this for the offseason content alone

pitwallprince: everyone talking about pietra and amelie making up but what about max getting his emotional support back

amelzbackup: remember when y’all said amelie was gonna throw hands?? now she’s throwing IG tags 💅 → wagsunite: @amelzbackup character development babes. we love to see it.

lanmelieslut: if pietra + amelie end up vibing??? iconic duo unlocked → gridgirlies: @lanmelieslut the fit pics will be out of control → pitwallpeach: @lanmelieslut we survived the cheating rumor arc for THIS

mclovinf1: wait… so this means double dates are back on the menu??? → tracksidewife: @mclovinf1 i’m manifesting dinner pics and chaotic uno nights → quadgirlszn: @mclovinf1 amelie dragging pietra into a skincare live in 3…2…1

norisbaby: Lando: "we left them alone to become friends" Me: refreshing stories every 5 seconds like a divorced parent on visitation weekend → kartingchaos: @norisbaby real the way i’m INVESTED

softlaunchlegend: i can’t believe pietra got promoted from ✨tension✨ to ✨instagram story✨ → ameliesbangs: @softlaunchlegend she passed the vibe check. welcome to the team.

-------------

By the time the sun dipped fully behind the hills, casting the Cabo sky in hues of burnt orange and cotton-candy pink, the two golf carts rumbled their way back up the path to the villa. Amelie and Pietra were both flushed from the heat, slightly sweaty, and—shockingly—laughing about something Max had done during a bachelor party in Ibiza that involved a pineapple, a karaoke machine, and a mysterious allergic reaction.

Lando and Max, waiting by the stone steps where they’d started, perked up like puppies hearing their owner’s car pull into the driveway.

—They’re smiling,— Max whispered under his breath, eyes wide with disbelief.

Lando clutched his chest dramatically. —Bro. They’re laughing. Laughing. Like... together.—

—That’s not just tolerance. That’s banter.—

—That’s progress! We’re heroes.—

As the girls climbed out of the cart—Amelie adjusting her visor, Pietra pulling her hair off her neck—the boys barely resisted the urge to sprint over.

Instead, they played it cool.

For about two seconds.

—Oh my God, you’re back!— Lando gasped, jogging dramatically like Amelie had just returned from war. —I missed you so much. I almost died.—

—We saw each other two hours ago,— Amelie deadpanned, ducking when he tried to spin her.

—Two very long hours.—

—He cried twice,— Max added, sidling up to Pietra with a dopey grin. —Once because his ball went into a bush, and once because he found a leaf that looked like Amelie.—

—Okay, it really did look like her ponytail from behind!—

Pietra raised a brow, but her lips twitched. Amelie just rolled her eyes and gave Lando a lazy kiss on the cheek before stepping back.

—You boys are idiots.—

—But we’re your idiots,— Max said, already looping his arm around Pietra’s waist.

She snorted. —Barely.—

As they reached the villa, Pietra slipped off toward her room with a muttered, —Shower. I feel like I’ve been attacked by the sun.— Amelie, still holding her water bottle, veered toward the kitchen.

And that left the boys blessedly alone in the breezy, sun-warmed entryway.

The second the girls were out of sight, Max and Lando turned to each other with synchronized grins.

HIGH-FIVE.

VICTORY DANCE.

It was stupid. It was off-beat. Max attempted a moonwalk that looked more like a seizure, and Lando did this weird chest shimmy that made absolutely no sense. But it was triumphant.

—They’re friends! They’re actual friends now!— Lando whisper-shouted, fist-pumping like he’d just won a Grand Prix.

—Operation ‘Get Them To Bond Over Mocking Golf’ was a success,— Max nodded solemnly, still panting from the dance. —I feel like I just won an Oscar for Best Boyfriend Scheme.—

And then...

—Are you two done being morons?— came Amelie’s dry voice from the kitchen entrance.

They both froze.

Amelie leaned against the doorframe, sipping her water. Her golf outfit—short skirt, clingy top, visor still perched atop messy hair—should’ve looked ridiculous. But it didn’t. It looked devastating.

Lando straightened, looking sheepish. —Hey, love. I...uh...—

—You’re such idiots,— she said, walking over to him. She kissed him square on the mouth, slow, with a teasing little hum like she knew what it did to him.

When she pulled back, Lando’s brain short-circuited a little.

Then she leaned up and whispered, —I’m gonna go take a shower. Hope you join me.—

Lando blinked. Mouth parted. Soul left his body.

—Right. Water. Yes. I’ll just… hydrate first.—

Amelie smirked and sauntered away, hips swaying just enough to be illegal in several countries.

Once she disappeared down the hallway, Max let out a long, low whistle.

—Damn. She’s gonna kill you.—

—Happily,— Lando muttered, grabbing a bottle from the fridge and chugging half of it like it could extinguish the fire blazing under his skin.

When he finally came up for air, he turned to Max, quieter now. —I haven’t told you yet… but she said yes.—

Max blinked. —To?—

—To moving in. With me. In Monaco.—

Max grinned, eyes wide. —No way. She actually said yes?—

Lando nodded, practically glowing. —Yeah. After the tour ends. She said she’s ready. Said it feels right.—

—Bro, that’s huge.—

—I know. I haven’t shown her the apartment yet. Not since the remodel. I figured I’d surprise her when she comes out for the Monaco Grand Prix. Give her the full “welcome home” moment.—

Max clapped him on the shoulder. —You hopeless, lovesick idiot. Show me. I want to see what you did to the place.—

Lando grabbed his iPad from the coffee table and pulled up a folder marked “Monaco Nest 🐣.” Max choked on his laugh.

—You named it that? What are you, a bird?—

—Shut up. Look.—

He swiped through photos of the apartment. Gone were the cold bachelor whites and the overly minimalist furniture. In their place: soft earth tones, plush couches, warm lighting, big windows framed with breezy curtains. A kitchen built for late-night snacks and chaotic baking attempts. A reading nook. Candles. A second closet for Amelie. Plants that weren’t fake.

Max stared, stunned. —Dude. This isn’t a bachelor pad anymore. This is like... a couple’s Pinterest board exploded in here.—

—That’s the point. I want her to feel like it’s hers too. Not like she’s just crashing at mine.—

Max looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

—She’s gonna love it. You did good, man.—

Lando smiled, already picturing the look on Amelie’s face when she walked through the door. Already counting the days until he could call her his roommate, his girlfriend, his everything—all under one roof.

Now all he had to do... was survive that shower.

[dragonridersandhighlords]

Chasing Shadows | E I G H T

masterlist | CS Masterlist

Summary: As Wren grapples with revelations about her past and the people she trusted, she must decide whether rebuilding broken bonds is worth the risk—especially when her own life hangs in the balance.

Notes: 

Warnings: emotional distress, trauma processing, mentions of parental loss, panic attack, dissociation, redemption arc, some fluff too

Word Count: 8.4k

previous part

X A D E N

I watch Wrenley spin in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief as she takes in the sight of the fully restored Riorson House. The once-crumbling facade now stands tall and proud, the familiar archways and intricately carved wooden doors gleaming in the afternoon light. Vines that once choked the walls have been painstakingly trimmed back, revealing the warm, earthy tones of the stone beneath. A gentle breeze carries the scent of fresh paint and newly turned earth, the remnants of construction still lingering in the air.

“Holy shit. How is it… How is it all here?” Wrenley breathes, her voice barely above a whisper, almost as if speaking too loudly might shatter the illusion before her.

“We started rebuilding when I returned,” I reply, feeling a mix of pride and trepidation as her gaze shifts toward me, searching for answers. “I never told you because I wanted to surprise you after you graduated.” I know that sharing one more secret might push her too far, yet the weight of the most difficult truth presses heavily on my chest. 

“He’s been very specific about every little detail just for you.” 

Fuck. Me. Does Harlow ever listen? 

Wrenley freezes in place, her breath hitching as she turns to the figure that now stands beside me, his presence commanding and warm. 

“Hey Little Bird.” 

“Oh shit.” Bodhi gasps, his eyes darting between us.

“Dad?” Her voice breaks, a cocktail of emotions swirling across her face—shock morphing into an exasperated scowl. I can see her mind racing, and I know she’s teetering on the edge of disbelief. “This is a joke. I’m actually going insane.”

I step towards her, my heart aching for her turmoil. “Wren—”

“No!” She snaps, cutting me off with an intensity that takes me aback, halting my steps. “I came to terms with my impending execution because I have no one! My boyfriend—who’s not even my boyfriend anymore—kissed my friend, and then that friend has been trying to get with him for almost a year! My cousin, who was supposed to be my last living relative, has been lying to me for years, along with my best friends! And the last person that I thought had my best interests at heart read my fucking memories and told his dad about my signets!” Her breaths quicken, each word a jagged knife cutting deeper into the growing turmoil within her.

“Signets?” Garrick calls out, his voice echoing the confusion in the air. I mentally facepalm, wishing he would just hold his tongue for a moment. 

“Desa is concerned about the Wise One.” Sgaeyl says through our bond.

Me fucking too.

“Oh yeah! No more secrets, I’m a fucking precog,” Wrenley declares, her voice an explosive mixture of defiance and anguish, as she throws her arms up in the air, her frustration radiating from her like heat waves on a scorching summer day. She turns to face our friends, the surprise on their faces mirroring the chaos roiling inside her. Then, just as swiftly, she pivots back to her father and me, her expression shifting from fury to desperation. “And an inntinnsic like mom! Did you know about that?”

“Wren.” I take another step forward, the distance between us closing, as tears begin to cascade down her cheeks, glistening like tiny diamonds against her flushed skin. She starts to rant, her breaths coming in ragged gasps, barely pausing as she paces back and forth, her movements erratic, each step a testament to the storm brewing within her.

“I saw Liam die twice and still couldn’t save him—” she gasps, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. “So I used my powers to let him die with happy memories, and I was fine, but I did it to Jeremish and I stopped breathing for a second.” 

“Wren?” Imogen’s voice is softer, a soothing melody in the cacophony of Wrenley’s turmoil, as she moves closer, her brows furrowed in concern.

“I’ve watched so many people die in a vision and could never save them. But Violet and I lived!” Wren begins to twist her hands together, the nervous tic she’s never had before, a manifestation of her unraveling. “Did you know my mom wasn’t killed in an accident?” A laugh escapes her lips, but it’s tinged with bitterness, her hands moving to tug at the hem of her shirt before returning to clasp tightly together. “Yeah, turns out Aetos intercepted a letter from you,” she says, her gaze darting to Harlow before sinking back to the ground, a weight of betrayal palpable in her voice, “to Fen about the rebellion.”

“Wren, take a breath.” Bodhi’s attempt to anchor her feels futile, the storm within her reaching a breaking point I’m not sure even Brennan could fix.

“They couldn’t easily send you to die, but mom was a rider!” Her laugh morphs, becoming less annoyed and more… maniacal, sending shivers down my spine. “So they sent mom to attack from behind, only the flyers were waiting for her and she’s dead now.” 

“Little Bird.” Harlow reaches for her, desperation etched across his face, as I sense the collective urge from everyone else to comfort her, but I know she’s about to unleash her powers, forcing herself into everyone’s minds.

“Stop!” she screams, both out loud and in the depths of our minds, the force of her emotions sending shockwaves through the air, causing everyone’s feet to stumble in the gravel, rooted in place. “I just—I—I can’t.” And in an instant, she’s gone, bolting away, leaving us in the heavy silence of her absence.

“You didn’t tell her, Riorson?” Harlow’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and seething, a storm brewing behind his eyes. His expression is one of fury, a tempest ready to unleash, and I can feel the weight of his disappointment pressing heavily against my chest.

“I was going to, and you decided to greet her at the door when I told you not to.” I retort, my words laced with venom as a sneer curls at the edges of my mouth. “Even Brennan listened.” My frustration bubbles to the surface, the memory of Harlow’s impulsive choice striking a nerve. 

“Brennan’s currently saving his sister, or would you prefer to die before you can fix things with my daughter?” Harlow’s words crash against me, a wave of guilt crashing over me.

“Sometimes I wish I kept my damn mouth shut at parapet,” I mutter under my breath, the regret heavy on my tongue. The moment I sense my feet freed from their forced roots, I take off, chasing after the only person who matters right now. She may be spiraling, losing pieces of herself in the process, but I made a promise, and I refuse to break another one.

The night air wraps around me as I navigate through the shadows cast by the house, my heart pounding in sync with the urgency of my steps. I find her on the hill behind the house, the familiar rise that I see when I ground. Memories of laughter, dreams, and innocence echo in my mind, taunting me with the stark contrast of the moment at hand.

“Go away, Xaden,” she snaps, her voice cracking under the weight of her tears, shoulders trembling like leaves in a storm. “I don’t want to talk.”

“Then don’t.” I answer honestly, my tone softening as I take a seat beside her. The chill of the earth seeps through my clothes, but I’m determined to stay. “I’ll talk, you listen.” I don’t wait for her to agree; I plunge into the depths of my thoughts, sharing the truths I’ve kept buried far too long.

I recount the state I found Aretia in, the chilling moment I first learned about the venin, what happened at Threshing. I describe how I stumbled upon her father during that first supply run, the joy mixed with anguish that nearly shattered me. And as I delve deeper, I reveal the parts of my life I had never dared to share, including the dark shadows of my betrothal to Cat. I poured out my fear, the dread of being nowhere near parapet the day she crossed, and the sickening panic that gripped me at the thought of losing her forever. Each revelation flows like a river, carrying the weight of my secrets, the urgency of my love, and the fear for her life with every word I utter.

I take a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill my lungs, and begin to unravel the tangled web of my thoughts. I talk about how I was going to tell her everything during that week between her first and second year, how Harlow begged me not to during that supply run. 

Each word feels heavy, a weight pressing down upon my chest. The truth sits precariously on the edge of my tongue, and I can almost taste the regret. Every time I had nearly spilled my secrets, I would catch a glimpse of the comfort that radiated from her—how she laughed and breathed in the innocence of those moments. It was in those fleeting glimpses that I felt myself spiraling deeper into the shadows of my hidden burdens.

With the stillness of the night surrounding us, I reveal the scars that mar my back—those unspoken burdens of lives I had taken responsibility for, and the shadow of her life, always looming. She remains silent, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the expanse of the star-studded sky, the darkness swallowing us whole as I pause. 

Eventually, her sigh pierces the silence. “You could’ve trusted me.” Her voice trembles with a mix of hurt and understanding. “That’s… it’s too much to carry on your own.” I nod, my heart sinking as I watch her. “I was supposed to be the one person you can trust without fail.” Her response is soft, laced with a bittersweet longing. 

“I wish I had. Would’ve saved us a world of trouble.” A rueful laugh escapes me, but the silence wraps around us again, thick and palpable. “I’m so sorry, Wren.”

“I want things to go back to how they were. Before death, before everyone leaving, the rebellion.” Her voice drifts like the gentle breeze, a whisper of nostalgia that makes my heart ache. 

“When we were just kids who ran through the tall grass and fell asleep by fires reading?” I ask, my memories blooming around us like wildflowers in spring. 

“Yeah.” The tension eases as she calms down, and I finally allow myself to breathe deeply, the weight of our shared past settling like a comforting blanket. “Is this what insanity feels like?” She asks.

“Are you doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result?” I respond, my lips curling into a smile, and her laughter bubbles up, infectious and bright. “You’ve been through a lot in the last 24 hours, Wren. On top of carrying so much by yourself because of your signets.” I reach up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, feeling the warmth radiating from her. “If you were perfectly okay right now, I’d be more concerned.” 

“He’s really there?” she asks, the question hanging between us and I know she’s asking about Harlow.. 

“I wanted to tell you, but it was safer for him to stay hidden until you were out of Basgiath. He was going to be part of your graduation gift.” My heart races at the thought, eager to share that sliver of hope with her.

The weight of the world seems to settle around us like a heavy blanket as Wren lays back on the grass, her voice laced with a blend of despair and humor. “Sucks that I’m dead when we get back.” She groans, the lush green blades whispering beneath her as she sinks into their embrace. “I can’t even enjoy him being alive because it’s all I can think about.” I let out a soft chuckle, trying to lighten the somber atmosphere. “Then let's live a lifetime before we go back.” I shift, mirroring her position and turning onto my side, the coolness of the earth seeping through my clothing as I lock my gaze onto hers. 

Her brow furrows slightly, curiosity igniting in her eyes. “How?”

A carefree shrug escapes me, yet the fervor bubbling within is genuine. “Make a list of what you had planned for your life, and let’s do it.” The challenge lingers in the air, a spark igniting between us as she rolls up to meet my gaze, her expression shifting from doubt to intrigue.

“Sunrise Flights?” she asks, her lips curving into a tentative smile.

“Done.” 

“Graduate?” she presses on, her spirit beginning to rise like the morning sun.

“We’ll throw you your own ceremony,” I assure her, our laughter mingling, brightening the shadows around us.

“Get married?” Her voice falters slightly, and I can sense the weight of the question, a stab to my chest. 

“Tell me when, where and who, and I’ll make sure it happens.” It's a stab to the chest to ask and I pray to Loial that the answer is still me.

“I only ever wanted you,” she whispers, vulnerability threading through her voice.

“Then marry me, Wren.” My words pour out before I can second-guess them. “I’d marry you even if you weren’t on the chopping block.” I tease, reaching for her sides, hoping to coax that melodic laughter from her once more.

“You’ve broken my heart so many times, Xaden. I can’t live my life like that.” There’s an ache in her tone, a lingering fear that pulls at my heartstrings. “Plus even if I do live beyond our arrival, you graduate in 6 days.”

“Then let's make a deal.” I pull her up gently, my fingers entwined with hers as I stand. “When you live—because I refuse to think of a world where you’ll be gone—we write letters until—”

“Threshing,” she interjects, the word bursting forth like a beacon of hope, illuminating the somber landscape of our conversation. Joy ignites in her eyes, a spark that scatters the clouds of despair hovering above us. “If we’re in a good place by threshing, then you can do a proper proposal.” 

I nod, my heart swelling with the promise of the future. Her words resonate with me; they are not just a glimmer of possibility but a commitment to the joys that life can still offer, a shared path we can walk together. “As you deserve,” I reply softly, the sincerity of my voice echoing in the silence that envelops us.

With a smile that could rival the sun breaking through the horizon, she proposes, “We seal it after my graduation.” Her hand extends towards me, the gesture a tangible manifestation of hope and determination. “One year, no full commitments until our decision at Threshing.”

I gaze at her outstretched palm, and for a fleeting moment, my heart races at the thought of sealing this promise. “No commitments,” I affirm, but instead of shaking her hand, I lift it gently, pressing a kiss against her skin. The warmth of her touch ignites a flame within me, and as I pull away, the weight of that kiss lingers like the fading light of day. “One year,” I promise, my voice steady, brimming with the conviction of my feelings.

With a soft sigh, I take a step back, the cool night air wrapping around me like an old friend. “Your old room is still available, or you can take mine and I’ll go find another room,” I offer, my heart urging her to find comfort and rest after the tumultuous events that have unfolded. “You should rest and then talk to your father in the morning. I think you both need it.” 

“Thank you, Xay,” she replies, her voice barely above a whisper, but it carries the weight of gratitude and trust. 

“Anything for you, Little Bird.”

Recovered Correspondence from Cadet Xaden Riorson to Cadet Wrenley Tavis

July 3, 634 AU

Little Bird,

It’s strange, writing to you after so long of always being around each other. It’s not the same, but it’s something. And I’ll take something over silence.

I saw you walking with your father today. You looked… lighter. Not because things are easy, but because maybe, for the first time in a while, something is right. You deserve that. Him, too. He never stopped asking about you. Even when he knew better than to expect answers.

He said he wasn't surprised you were the smartest in your year. Said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like your mother would’ve said the same and probably did—loudly, and more than once.

Garrick made us spar this morning. Claimed it was routine but he was going easy on me, which is insulting considering I still knocked him flat. He’s mad I didn’t tell him about your father. About Aretia. Probably still mad about you, too. I get it. I’m mad at myself, too.

Bodhi says you’ve been training again. Said you’re finally using your signet like it was made for war, not hiding. I laughed when he told me you made him miss every hit until he got desperate. But the part where Garrick ate dirt? I wish I got to witness that.

If you’re up for it, I’ll be at the ridge before sunrise. No expectations but I'd be honored if you joined me for an early flight.

It’s good to see you smile, even if it’s not mine anymore.

—X

Recovered Correspondence from Cadet Wrenley Tavis to Cadet Xaden Riorson

July 4, 634 AU

Xaden,

It is strange—getting a letter from you again. 

I don’t know how to talk to him. My father. I spent years mourning a man who wasn’t dead, building walls around a hole that didn’t need to exist. Now he’s here, like he never left, trying to make up for time that passed like it didn’t rip both of us apart. I keep waiting for it to feel real. But sometimes it does. In the quiet. When he’s not trying so hard to fix what broke. Just existing. Being here. And then I see pieces of my mother in his eyes and I can breathe again.

You’re right—he does talk about her. And me. A lot. It’s infuriating and comforting all at once. Like most things in my life lately.

Bodhi exaggerates. I didn’t make him miss. He walked into a swing like he forgot how momentum works. And I definitely didn’t make Garrick face-plant. I made him stumble and gravity did most of the work. Still, it felt good to be… me again. Even if I’m still figuring out what that means.

As for the sunrise flight—I'm sorry I didn't show. Not because I didn’t want to. I did. But I think I needed to know if you’d offer again. (Petty? Probably. Worth it? Definitely.)

But if you're serious about trying us or trying whatever this is becoming, I was thinking something less dramatic. 

A picnic. Just like before. Just food, and the sky, and enough space between us to decide what comes next. I’ll bring the wine if you bring the bread this time. 

Let me know. Or don’t. I’ll still go.

—Wrenley

W R E N L E Y

The note was waiting just inside my–Xaden’s–door.

Downstairs. Sunset. – X

I stared at it for a long time, turning the parchment over like it might reveal more than those two words. No apology. No explanation. Just instructions.

And yet… I was already lacing up my boots before I realized it.

I made my way downstairs, expecting to find him waiting in that infuriating way he always did—arms crossed, leaning against the wall like he’d planned the whole world and was just waiting for it to catch up.

Instead, I found Garrick and Bodhi.

Which immediately felt like I was walking into a trap.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.

Bodhi just grinned like I’d already made his night. “You clean up well, Princess. Need a basket to match?”

He held it out like this was perfectly normal. The smell of warm bread and something sharp and sweet drifted up from the covered top.

“I swear, if this is some group bonding exercise disguised as a romantic stunt, I will force both of you to scrub the stone floors.”

“It’s not,” Garrick said, shoving a folded blanket into my arms like he wanted the interaction to be over with. “We’re just the forced delivery boys.”

“Volunteer delivery boys,” Bodhi corrected. “We’re sick of watching you two pretend you don’t care. So. Go.”

I eyed them both. “If I get stood up, I’ll find a way to make you regret helping.”

“He’s there,” Garrick said. “Trust me, he wouldn’t do this for just anyone. He's not playing games this time.”

The walk to the oak grove was slower than it needed to be. Every step kicked up old memories—training days, shared secrets, stashed letters under floorboards. We used to come here to escape the politics and the pressure. Before war made escape a myth.

I reached the grove just as the sun began its descent, painting everything in gold and shadow. The old oak tree was still there, thick and unmoving, like time hadn’t touched it even if it had leveled everything else.

I laid out the blanket in silence, setting the basket down carefully. I didn’t even have time to lift the lid before his voice slipped into the air behind me.

“Hey.”

“I didn’t think you’d come.” I didn’t turn right away but when I did, my breath caught in my lungs. 

Xaden stood a few paces away, hands tucked into his pockets, hair slightly damp like he’d just come from a shower. Shadows and sunlight warred across his face, but his eyes—those onyx eyes sparkling with golden flecks—are steady on me. He looked tired in the way people do when they’ve been carrying guilt for too long.

I turn back to the basket, shaking my head as I open the top and the full force of its contents greet me. “Trying to win me over with baked goods?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“That depends. Still like honeyed cheese?”

I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched. “You remembered?”

“I remember everything about you, Wren.” 

That silenced me. I busied myself pulling out our picnic as Xaden took a seat across from me and we ate in silence. 

Until Xaden spoke. “Do you remember the day my mom left?”

I paused for a second, then nodded. “You didn’t come to the stables after lunch. The boys thought you were sick.”

“I was.” His voice was level, but something flickered behind it. “Just not the kind of sick the medics could fix.”

I remembered. I remembered how I sent Garrick and Bodhi out on our usual ride and ran towards his room, the muffled cries that came from behind the door. I remembered how when he finally opened it and didn’t say a word—just looked like someone had carved out half his soul and left the wound open–I wrapped my arms around him and refused to let go.

“You were the only one who came looking,” he said.

“No one deserves to be alone on their birthday.” I murmur. “You always said nothing could hurt you. I think that was the first time I ever saw you cry.”

He huffed something like a laugh. “I cried harder a week later.”

I looked at him, startled. “What?”

“You saw me. I thought of you as Garrick’s annoying little cousin but you were still there for me.” he said simply. “I was really seeing how amazing you were and then a week later… you refused to leave with your parents until you said goodbye to me.”

My stomach twisted. “You already had your mom leave without a word. You didn’t deserve to lose someone else the same way.”

“I thought I lost everything that month,” he said. “But then your letter showed up. Ink-smudged, tear-stained, full of spelling errors.”

“You still remember that?”

“I memorized it.” He says. “I hate it here. I wish I was still in Aretia with you. Even if you, Garrick, and Bodhi tried to leave me behind most days, it’s better than not knowing anyone.” He recites and I just watch him in awe. “I remember telling you that you were capable of making friends with anyone.”

“I started hanging out with Violet and Dain after you wrote back.”  We sat in that memory like it was a shared language. Like neither of us needed to explain what that kind of connection had meant back then. “You were my safe place,” I try to explain anyways. “Even when we were just writing. Especially then.”

He nodded once. “That’s what made it worse. What I did.”

“You didn’t just hurt me,” I said, finally meeting his eyes. “You broke parts of me I didn’t know could break. I didn’t expect you to protect me from the world. I expected you not to become one more thing I had to survive.”

His throat worked around something unsaid. “I know. And I hate that I gave you another reason not to trust someone.”

“When did you realize it?” I asked. “That you’d gone too far with the secrets?”

He didn’t hesitate. “The day you looked at me like I was a stranger. After I kissed Violet. I saw it in your face—that I wasn’t someone you loved anymore. I was just another piece of rubble in the wreckage.” I swallowed hard. “But I never stopped choosing you. Even when it didn’t look like it.

“I’m not asking for all of you,” he says. “Just the part that remembers who we were. And maybe the part that still wonders who we could be.”

I don’t reach for his hand. That would’ve been too much. Instead, I hooked my pinky through his. Like we’re still those teenagers bouncing around how we really feel.

“You remember how to do that trick with the cheese?” I asked again, voice softer.

His smile was the kind I hadn’t seen in years—honest and unguarded. “More than I should.”

“Then do it,” I said, handing him a piece. “Earning your way back won’t be easy, but impressing me is a start.”

We didn’t talk much after that. Just ate, watched the stars appear, and let the silence sit between us without pressure. Without expectations. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t waiting for him to ruin it. And that… that felt like something real.

Recovered Correspondence from Cadet Xaden Riorson to Cadet Wrenley Tavis

July 5, 634 AU

Wren,

Thank you for joining me on that flight this morning. It was good–great. I had fun.

I’m not sure what all to write since we’ve spent most of the last twelve hours together so I figured I’d tell you about one of my favorite memories of us.

Do you remember that day you and your father returned to Aretia? Your Uncle and Garrick waited outside for you all day but you could have cared less, because instead of greeting your family, you ran into the middle of me and Bodhi sparring to hug me.

And in that moment, I knew I was already yours. In whatever way you wanted me because I only ever knew peace in your arms. (Even if you did cover my favorite shirt in snot because of how hard you were crying.)

Yesterday was the first time I felt peace like that moment in years. And it wasn’t the food, or the sky, or the fact that Bodhi packed three bottles of wine like we were going to war with sobriety.

It was you. 

Thank you for coming back to the sky with me.

If you want to do it again, I’ll be there. Same time. Same place.

I won’t ask, but I’ll always hope.

–Xay

Recovered Correspondence from Cadet Xaden Riorson to Cadet Wrenley Tavis

July 5, 634 AU

Xay,

Desa would like me to remind you (and Sgaeyl) that we definitely won that race. I know we didn’t. But she’s smug about it, so let her have it. Apparently “hitting the ground first counts as winning.” 

That day was probably the best and worst days of my life. I was so distraught over my mom’s death that I hadn’t slept, hadn’t eaten, I hardly spoke to anyone. But the minute I saw the silhouette of Aretia? It felt like life breathing into me.

I did skip past Garrick and my uncle, but it was because I knew you would understand better than anyone, and you wouldn’t pity me. You just held me while I cried (I’ve apologized for that shirt a hundred) and let me feel it with comfort.

I wouldn’t see anyone else because I only wanted you. Not to fix me. Not even to understand me. Just to hold me. And I knew—if I ever let someone own a part of me, it would be the boy who waited silently because he knew I’d come when I was ready.

So don’t pretend you didn’t already have me, too.

Now for the question I’ve been circling around…

How is Violet?

Is she still unconscious? I’ve been meaning to check, but I didn’t want to show up and make it a scene. I know she’s strong—no one bonds two dragons and throws lightning around like a party trick without being strong—but even strength breaks under the wrong kind of weight.

If you know anything, I trust you’ll tell me what you can.

Thank you for the flight. And the silence. And the letter. Maybe I’ll meet you at the ridge tomorrow. Or maybe you’ll have to wait again. (You’ve always been good at waiting.)

—Wrenley

I found my father leaning against the railing of the upper courtyard, his mug cradled in one hand, the other resting casually on the stone. He gazed down below, the familiar intensity of a healer turned commanding officer still etched in his posture, though now softened by the years. He looks more like the man I grew up looking up to at this moment, and it’s still weird.

He didn’t look over when I approached; he never does. It was as if the very fabric of our connection granted him the ability to sense my presence, a quiet understanding that needed no words. 

“Your mother would’ve told them all to shut up and sit down by now,” he said, nodding toward Garrick and Bodhi, whose playful bickering echoed off the stone walls as they circled each other in the makeshift sparring ring. The sight of them—lively and animated—brought a flicker of warmth to my heart, a reminder of the family we’d once had. “Probably thrown her boot at Garrick by now.” 

I leaned against the railing beside him, the cool stone a comforting anchor as I folded my arms. A brisk breeze danced around us, tousling my hair and inviting the scents of fresh earth and blooming flowers to fill my lungs. “The most impatient woman, and yet she married you, the most patient man alive.”

“We balance each other out.” He smirked, a glimmer of mischief lighting up his eyes. “How are things with Xaden?” 

I hesitated, feeling the weight of his words. “I’m not sure I know how to let him close again,” I admit, a tremor in my words. “But I’m also not sure I know how not to.”

“You don’t have to make a decision overnight,” he reassured me, his tone steady. “Love isn’t a battlefield, Wrenley.”

I turned to look at him, lifting an eyebrow in disbelief. “You’re quoting fairytales at me?” 

“Your mother loved that line,” he said, a wistful laugh escaping his lips. “Used it right before she kissed me in the infirmary after breaking a first year’s nose.” 

My heart twisted painfully at the thought. “I miss her, now more than ever.”

He met my gaze then, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that felt almost too much to bear. “She’d be proud of who you are, you know.” 

“Some days I’m not even sure who I am anymore,” I confessed quietly, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me like a heavy cloak.

He nodded, the warmth in his eyes a beacon of comfort. “That’s how I know she’d be proud. You’ve lost almost everything and still managed to stay soft where it mattered.” 

The words hung in the air, rich with unspoken truths, wrapping around me like a delicate thread that sought to mend the frayed edges of my heart. I blinked hard, fighting the sudden swell of emotion that threatened to spill over. “You always know what to say,” I murmured, my voice barely more than a whisper.

“Only because I know you, Little Bird.” His hand found my shoulder, a gentle touch that anchored me amid the rising tide of uncertainty. The familiar weight of his affection settled in my chest, warming the chill of doubt. As he withdrew his hand, I glanced toward the stone corridor just off the courtyard, an unspoken invitation to the world beyond our quiet moment. “I think you’re needed,” he urged, his gaze flickering with a hint of urgency. 

Before I could fully gather my thoughts, a voice called my name, sharp and insistent. 

“Wrenley!” Xaden’s voice cut through the serene atmosphere, his urgency almost tangible. He seemed to slide across the stone floor, his form a striking silhouette against the brilliance of the day. Reaching out, he gripped the railing for balance, a flicker of something intense burning in his dark gaze. “Violet’s awake." 

“That’s not going to work.” Brennan’s voice sliced through the thick tension in the Assembly room like a dagger, his words echoing against the cold stone walls. “Next suggestion.” 

We’ve been here for hours, and frustration swirled around me, heavy like the stale air that hung between the Assembly. My fingers drummed absently on the worn surface of the table, the scratches and nicks a testament to the countless discussions held within these walls. I was beyond weary of the endless cycle of proposals and rejections, feeling as if I were a prisoner to this ceaseless debate.

“Someone has to state the obvious,” Major Farris interjects from the far end of the table, leaning forward, his gaze sharp as he surveys the room with a predatory intensity. 

My attention drifted, caught between my father and Brennan, still reeling from the surreal reality that they were both alive, sitting together in this room. The sight was unsettling, a patchwork of relief and disbelief that clashed within me. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.

Xaden, perched above me to lean on the massive chair he had placed me in. “And what is the obvious thing you need to state, Major Farris?” His tone dripped with boredom, an unspoken disdain for the tedious nature of these diplomatic meetings hanging in the air. I could almost hear the sigh of frustration that accompanied his words.

“Returning is the only option,” Ferris continued, his voice unwavering as he leaned back, arms crossed, confident in his stance. “Not doing so risks everything we’re building here. Search patrols will come, and we don’t have enough riders—”

“It’s a little hard to recruit while trying to stay undetectable,” Trissa chimed in, her voice firm. I recognized her from before the rebellion, her fiery spirit unyielding even amidst the fraying tensions.

“Let’s not get off topic, Trissa,” my father added, the softness in his gaze lingering on her, a fleeting warmth amid the frost of strategy. A note to self: ask about that later.

“No point increasing our numbers without a working forge to arm them with weapons.” Ferris’s voice rose, breaking through the intertwining threads of conversation. “We’re still short a luminary, if you haven’t noticed.”

“And where are we in negotiations with Viscount Tecarus for his?” 

“Still working on a diplomatic solution,” Brennan replied, his tone carrying the weight of responsibility.

“There’s no solution. Tecarus isn’t over the insult you delivered two years ago.” Kylynn's piercing gaze was locked on Xaden, a challenge hanging unspoken between them.

“He was never going to give it to us even if I did marry his niece.” Xaden’s voice, low and resolute, cut through the swirling tension that hung in the air like a storm cloud waiting to break. He rested a comforting hand on my shoulder, the warmth of his touch juxtaposed against the chill of uncertainty that gripped us. His fingers squeezed gently, a gesture meant to ground me in the chaos of our negotiations. “But I’ll say the same thing I did then. I have bigger priorities than selling myself for a worthless cause. Besides, everyone knows the man only collects things. He does not trade them.”

The corners of my mouth twitched at the absurdity of the situation, but the humor faded quickly as Kylynn’s voice sliced through my thoughts like a dagger. “Well, he’s definitely not going to trade with us now,” she retorted, her gaze narrowing, icy and unyielding. The tension in her posture radiated through the room, a palpable reminder of the stakes we faced. “Especially if you won’t even contemplate his latest offer.”

“He can fuck right off with his offer.” Xaden’s dismissal was heavy with disdain, and as he squeezed my shoulder once more.

“What offer?” My curiosity piqued, using this opportunity to see if Xaden was serious about always telling the truth.

“He wants to add Violet to his collection, but I refuse to trade in people. It’s too Navarrean.” A chuckle escaped my lips, the absurdity of the notion lighting a brief spark of levity in the grim atmosphere.

“There had better be a solution.” Felix’s voice echoed with urgency, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. “If we can’t supply the drifts with enough weaponry to really fight in the next year, the tide will shift too far to ever hope of holding the venin advance at bay.” His words hung ominously in the air. “This all will have been for nothing.”

A year already? The weight of his statement settled over me, a leaden realization that the war had crept far too close for comfort.

“As I said, I’m working on a diplomatic solution for the luminary, and we’re so wildly off topic I’m not sure this is the same meeting.” Brennan's voice was firm, laced with a thin thread of frustration as he glared at the elders around the table, their faces etched with worry.

“I vote we take Basgiath’s luminary,” Kylynn suggested, her voice rising in the thick silence, daring to challenge the status quo. “If we’re that close to losing this war, there’s no other option.”

“We’ve been over that,” Brennan said with finality, his tone brokering no argument. “If we take Basgiath’s forging device, Navarre can’t replenish their stores at the outposts. Countless civilians will die if those wards fall. Do any of you want to be responsible for that?” 

As his words fell, silence enveloped the room, a thick blanket that stifled the air and left us all grappling with the weight of our choices.

“Then we agree,” Ferris states, his voice steady yet heavy with the burden of their decision. The weight of responsibility hung in the air like a thick fog, permeating the room with an unshakeable tension. The shadows danced around the flickering candlelight, casting elongated shapes on the walls that mirrored the growing unease within the gathering.

“You’re uncharacteristically quiet, Suri.” My father’s gaze flickers to the last elder seated at the long, mahogany table, a sharp contrast to the rugged map that lay sprawled before us, its inked territories a chilling reminder of our fractured world. 

“I say we send all but the three.” Suri’s words slice through the tension with an alarming calmness. “Six cadets can lie as well as nine.”

My thoughts drift to the faces of Xaden, Garrick, Bodhi, Imogen, Violet, and the lingering absence of Liam and Soleil, their spirits overshadowing this meeting with their loss. 

“None of the none are expendable, Suri.” Felix’s tone takes on a sharp edge as he leans back on the rear two legs of his chair, an act of defiance that seemed to echo in the hearts of all present. His piercing gaze shifts to the expansive map behind Xaden, tracing the lines with an intensity that spoke volumes of our dire situation.

“What do you propose, Felix?” Suri counters, the subtle arch of her brow a challenge that seemed to hang in the air like a taut string, ready to snap. “Running our own war college with all our spare time? Most of them haven’t finished their education. They’re of no use to us yet.”

“As if any of you has a say in if we return,” Xaden interjects, his voice rising to capture the room’s attention. His presence, strong and unwavering, filled the space around him, a protective shield for those he cared for. “We will take the advice of the Assembly, but it will be taken as only that—advice.”

“We cannot afford to risk your life—” Suri’s argument spills forth, layered with concern and urgency. 

“My life is equal to any of theirs.” Xaden gestures toward the group gathered by the door, a quiet assertion that resonated with a touch of defiance. 

“Not every life,” Suri retorts, her gaze piercing as it lands on Violet. “How could you have stood there and let her overhear the conversation of the Assembly?” 

“If you didn’t want her to hear, you should have closed the door,” Bodhi responds, stepping into the room with an air of indignation that flickered like the flames casting shadows on the walls.

“She cannot be trusted!” Suri’s voice rises, anger twisting into a palpable fear that coursed through her. 

“Xaden has already taken responsibility for her.” Imogen steps forward, subtly shifting closer to Violet, her words a fragile barrier against the gathering storm. An uncomfortable feeling crawls up my spine as I realize the stakes at hand. “As brutal of a custom as it may be.” 

Don’t spiral, don’t spiral, don’t spiral. The mantra echoed in my mind as I tried not to think about my friends defending Violet.

“It’s just to keep her alive so you live, right?” 

“And for Brennan’s sake.” 

“I still don’t understand that particular decision,” Ferris interjected, his tone sharp as a blade. His eyes, dark and searching, flicked to me, and I felt a wave of pressure build in my chest, compelling me to sit up straighter, to brace myself against the scrutiny. “You let an inntinnsic into our meeting.”

“Please,” I said, summoning a steadiness I didn’t quite feel as Xaden’s warning flickered like a candle in the back of my mind. “Speak all of your transgressions with me.”

“Your mother was a loyalist,” Ferris declared, his voice low, each word a strike against my very identity.

“My father sits here, loyal to the revolution,” I countered, my pulse quickening, a sense of defiance swelling within me. 

“You’re an inntinnsic. You could be reading our secrets now.” His accusation hung heavy, a dark shadow cast over the table.

In a moment of reckless instinct, I reached into Ferris’s mind, a place filled with doubt and fear, and he reacted at my wil;, snapping the dagger from his hip across the table with a resonant clang that startled everyone. It landed with a thud directly in front of me, a stark reminder of the tension that crackled in the air. “I’m not that kind of inntinnsic,” I said, frustration mingling with indignation.

“How did you—” Ferris began, his surprise evident.

“She’s also a precog and extremely valuable.” Xaden’s voice interjected, authoritative and commanding as he reached for Ferris’s blade, slipping it smoothly into one of my empty sheaths, a gesture both protective and assertive. “To treat her as the enemy will make an enemy out of me.”

“Well—” Ferris faltered, the storm of emotions swirling around the table suddenly interrupted.

“Forget the Tavis girl.” Kylynn points back to Violet “She’s General Sorrengail’s daughter.”

“And I’m the general’s son,” Brennan countered, his voice firm yet tinged with unease.

“And you’ve more than proven your loyalty over the last six years!” Kylynn shouted, her voice rising above the murmur of dissent. “She hasn’t!”

“She fought at our side at Resson.” Bodhi’s tone was urgent, tension rippling through him as his voice climbed.

“She should be confined.” Suri’s face flushed crimson, the anger boiling within her as she pushed away from the table, the sound of her chair scraping against the floor sharp in the silence. “Both of them should. They can ruin us all with what they know.”

“Agreed.” Ferris regained his composure, his alliance with Suri solidifying as he echoed her sentiment. “They’re too dangerous not to keep prisoner.”

“I alone am responsible for Violet.” Xaden’s voice lowered, laced with malice as he glared at the gathering. “And if I’m not enough, there are not one but two dragons who have already vouched for her integrity.”

Violet's voice sliced through the air with a razor's edge, her frustration palpable. “She is standing right here,” she snapped, her eyes flashing with a mix of defiance and desperation. “So stop talking about me and try talking to me.” I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at her boldness, a flicker of light in the darkened chamber. The corner of Xaden’s mouth lifted ever so slightly, a ghost of a smile that illuminated his usually stoic demeanor. Yet, I felt the weight of tension coiling tighter around us, and I repeated my mental mantra like a lifeline: don’t spiral, don’t spiral, don’t spiral.

Violet continued, her voice shaking with anger and conviction. “What do you want from me? Want me to walk Parapet and prove my bravery? Done. Want me to betray my kingdom by defending Poromish citizens? Done. Want me to keep his secrets? Done. I kept every secret.” Each word resonated through the room, a challenge that ignited the air with electric intensity.

Suri's voice cut through the charged atmosphere like a knife, her eyebrow arching in skepticism. “Except the one that mattered.” The accusation hung heavily, a pall of judgment that seemed to settle on Violet’s shoulders. “We all know how you ended up in Athebyne.” 

I shifted in my chair, feeling an unsettling mix of sympathy and frustration for Violet. “She wasn’t the only one betrayed by a friend.” My voice was barely a whisper, but the sincerity behind it felt like a thunderclap in the tense silence. I slunk back into my chair, feeling the comforting weight of Xaden’s hand on my shoulder still—a small gesture, yet it grounded me amidst the turmoil.

“No first-year could withstand a memory reader, especially one considered a friend.” Felix turned his steely gaze on Violet. “But you have to know that you have enemies at Basgiath now. Should you return, you must know that Aetos will not be among your friends. He will do everything he can to kill you for what you’ve seen.” 

“I know,” Violet replied, her voice steady, though I could see the flicker of fear in her eyes—a spark that threatened to ignite into a full-blown blaze of panic.

Felix nodded, his expression softening just slightly as he concluded, “Then let this be a lesson learned.” 

Xaden’s voice rang out, firm and unwavering. “We are done here.” His gaze locked onto Suri’s and Ferris’s, a silent command that pulled their shoulders down in resignation. 

“I’ll expect an update on Zolya in the morning,” Brennan announced, his authority unmistakable. “Consider this Assembly meeting adjourned.” With that, the council members began to push in their chairs, the sound echoing like a distant thunderstorm as they filed out of the room, each of their faces etched with the weight of uncertainty.

As the last remnants of the council dispersed, I stood from my chair, and Xaden turned to meet my gaze, his dark eyes piercing through the tension that still clung to the air like fog. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low and filled with concern.

“Fine,” I replied, though the lie sat heavy on my tongue. “But I could use a flight.” 

Xaden’s grip tightened around my hand, a reassuring warmth that contrasted the chill of the room. As we turned to leave, we passed by Violet, who still stood at the table, her brow furrowed in contemplation.

“We’re headed up to the valley. Meet us when you’re done,” Xaden instructed her, his tone a blend of authority and gentleness.

“I’ll go with you now,” Violet protested, her urgency palpable, the need for connection evident in the desperation of her voice.

“Stay and talk to your brother,” Xaden countered softly. “Who knows when you’ll get another chance.” 

Xaden guided me out, with Garrick, Bodhi, and Imogen following closely behind, their presence a comforting reminder of our shared bonds amidst the chaos.

As we stepped outside the walls of Riorson House, I inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling my lungs, awakening the part of me that craved the thrill of flight. But as the words escaped my lips, I felt a surge of determination swelling within me. “We have to go back but I think I have a plan.” 

A fleeting shadow crossed his face, revealing the weight of concern that coiled tightly in his chest. “You do?” he ventured, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” I confirmed, my heart thrumming a frantic rhythm against my ribcage. “You won’t like it.” I could see the gears turning in Xaden’s mind, the way his brow furrowed deeper.

“What do you need?” he asked, his tone steady, yet laced with an undercurrent of trepidation. In that moment, I could sense that he already knew what I was planning to do.

“I have to detour to the Infantry Quadrant when we get back.” The admission felt like a declaration of war with the way Xaden's spine straightened. 

“That’s what I was afraid of.” 

next part

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Chasing Shadows Taglist: @hiraethjules @fangirling-galore @sande5098 @javden @littlepippilongstocking @what-will-be-your-verse @xadenstyles @daisydark @messageforthesmallestman @taleiaargenis @littleemissperfecttt @nesiris21

[sunshinereddie]

Do you have any like domestic, established relationship reddie headcanons? I have one where like after living together for a while Eddie starts this crazy beef with one of their neighbors in like a passive-aggressive midwestern way (kind of like Peggy and Minh, actually, if you've seen King of the Hill). Like theyre always smiling and chatting with each other but then Eddie gets home like 'I CANNOT believe her. She thinks she can put up her tacky ass Live Laugh Love garden rocks and then have the nerve to tell me my fescue is looking a little DRY????' And Richie is like 'uhuh thats nice dear' and its 100% going in his next special

LAAAAWWWRD YES THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT

i absolutely love eddie having insane passive aggressive beef with his neighbour that’s perfection. adding on to that, richie purposefully brings up stuff the neighbour did (“i saw her watering her lawn for like 20 minutes yesterday, what did she forget we’re in a drought or something???”) just to get eddie’s reaction 1. because richie loves the drama 2. it’s cute to see eddie get worked up over something so inconsequential and 3. he needs new material for his next show

in the same vein as eddie’s neighbour beef, love imagining the opposite where richie has a mad feud going on with the squirrel that keeps stealing all the bird seed richie puts out FOR THE BIRDS. he’s given the squirrel a name and everything and complains to eddie about it and now eddie is the one like “that’s nice dear. now let me fucking tell you what linda said about my tulips”

but more on domestic reddie hcs:

richie always makes eddie lunch when he can bc he knows that eddie won’t make lunch for himself and will be so busy at work that if he doesn’t have something to eat he’ll skip lunch all together or just drink 2 extra cups of coffee as a replacement and then be all hangry when he gets home. so richie meal preps him lunches or makes sure to pack him leftovers or even sometimes brings eddie lunch at work bc hangry eddie is scary eddie (also richie wants to make sure his husband is well fed and gets all his daily nutrients. but hangry eddie is scary too)

richie as a celebrity living in LA definitely has some……….. interesting interior decor choices. so after they move in together eddie’s like “please we have to go shopping. why the fuck do you have a statue of [insert weird modern art thing that richie bid way too much money on at an auction] in the living room. that couch is horrendous did you find it in the dumpster. when was the last time you vacuumed your carpet.” and so they go shopping together for furniture and decor and richie finds that it’s actually fun to design and create his and eddie’s home. like it’s their home. their home together. there are pieces of richie’s style and pieces of eddie’s style and pieces of richieandeddie’s style because it’s their home that they are creating together. he’s having a blast. meanwhile eddie is yelling at the furniture store employee because what do you mean you don’t have this couch in more than one colour, what kind of business are you running. also the colour you do have is ugly as shit, who made that choice.

neither of them are good at dealing with the temporary long-distance whenever richie goes away on tour. sometimes eddie’s able to take a day or two off work and DIY a long weekend to go with richie when he can, sometimes eddie is able to fly out for the night if the show is close enough but most of the time when it’s time for tour richie is gone for days sometimes weeks and they are BOTH really grumpy about it. but even when they’re both tired after work, even when they’re in different time zones, even when they’re both busy, they make time to facetime every day, just to hear each other’s voices and see each other’s faces, even if they’re only chatting for 10 mins before richie goes on stage or right before eddie falls asleep, that 10 mins is the best part of their day. and whenever richie gets back, they are always super clingy with each other for the next few days. they love each other!!!!

i just think that they deserve to be happy forever and ever and ever and ever

[apenapaperandadoofus]

Gosh I just still find it to interesting how people keep demonizing the tgcf side characters (cough Feng Xin and Mu Qing cough cough) when the literal point of the book is everyone fucks up sometimes and has flaws 😭

Like god forbid these two people have had their struggles and have also gone through crap just like XL did (to the same extent? No. But just because XL went through something more traumatizing or harder doesn’t take away from the fact the others were suffering as well? Just because one suffered more doesn’t mean the rest were having a good and dandy time? 😭💀)

I mean it’s fine if you don’t like them cuz yknow sometimes characters just aren’t it for some people, but like that doesn’t mean their struggles weren’t real? They didn’t go through hell too? All of the Xianle trio was struggling and they all made bad decisions because of it bc they were dumb 20 year olds who don’t have their frontal lobes developed yet and are placed with way too much responsibility from a young age

god forbid young people make mistakes during a time period of their life where oh I don’t know THEIR COUNTRY GOT OBLITERATED amirite 👉👉

Feng Xin was worried about Jian Lang AND taking care of XLs parents. By himself. Even when XL was having his whole trauma thing FX still supported him and the rest when he could’ve easily left, a young guy taking care of 4 people (5 with baby?) and himself isn’t an easy endeavor give the poor man a b r e a k of course he was later frustrated like 😭😭 HES OVERWORKED AND SAD

MQ I’ve already talked about him and his whole situation so I’m not repeating myself again 💀

Can’t people just. Not hate characters cuz of mistakes blindly/blaming it all on them being a bad person and not actually see that the situation literally made them like this and guided their behavior? If we all did that we’d be Xie Lian and Hua Cheng haters, and even Qi Rong has fans (which I see more FX and MQ hate than QR and it’s so surprising) which like yeah bitch is funny af and it’s cute he adopts Guzi but uh- he literally dragged a child through a street in a carriage. A ten year old. (But we don’t see people shit on him bc of that do we)

Gosh re reading the whole series again reminded me of so many things like aaaah these poor guys and they were babies aaaaa they needed therapy not that bs 😭

I’d love to see anyone go through what MQ and FX went through and not go insane

[garkgatiss]

The Interstellar Song Content giving us two genocide survivors who respond to their experience either by a) singing in a song contest sponsored by the perpetrators of said genocide or b) plotting to kill one scrillion innocents in a terrorist attack doesn't really cut it when the show not only portrayed but had the Doctor embedded in/participating in an armed resistance movement as recently as The Robot Revolution. These two ludicrous caricatures paper over an entire spectrum of both violent and nonviolent resistance in the most insulting way possible, a spectrum that the show has shown they are absolutely capable of portraying.

Having the Doctor be "triggered" and start torturing Kid, when the Doctor agonized over but ultimately showed mercy to Davros, the inventor of the fucking Daleks of all people in The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar, is just wildly irresponsible. "Sometimes the Doctor goes too far!" well personally I would prefer it if he did that in an episode where it didn't instantly make him a stand-in for the state of Israel, current real world champion of going-too-far in torturing and murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent people it has uniformly smeared as terrorists, and to which people have responded, in part, by protesting, boycotting, and asking they be excluded from a certain international song contest.

And if that's too much to ask, if we need the Doctor to play Israel for a moment, I would at least prefer someone condemn the Doctor's behavior a little more forcefully than 'you scared me! but also you're wonderful!', especially someone who was comfortable scolding him just for scanning her DNA without consent.

Surely you can see how any possible 'murder is wrong' message falls hopelessly flat when the only actual irreversible murders in the episode -- the genocide of an entire planet committed by the Corporation -- result in literally no consequences for the perpetrator, and the few surviving victims we meet are shallow caricatures.

Even the imagery during the final song tribute to Hellia is impersonal -- a pretty green planet on fire and some flowers. No tender moment of Kid with his mom? A flash of Cora's horns being forcibly ground down? A glimpse of Cora and Wynn together on Hellia, or whatever Wynn went through when Cora had to abandon her? Did any human suffering happen on Hellia, or was it just the plants and air quality that suffered? Can I see any attempt to humanize this society, to get intimate with these characters, their past and their grief?

Meanwhile we are shown a whole montage of dozens of the individual people Kid would have killed celebrating being brought back to life so they can watch or perform in the song contest. It's chilling how this echoes the way Israeli victims and hostages are each known by name, while orders of magnitude more Palestinians have been killed in response whose names are barely reported and whose numbers are hardly acknowledged. Slaughter as many people as you need until you feel safe at a music festival again.

But even aside from the real life parallels, the writing of the episode itself is complicit in minimizing the genocide of Hellia. It is tonally insane of them to introduce a genocide of a whole planet with widespread racism against the survivors and then expect the emotional payoff of saving the non-Hellian audience from a Hellian terrorist attack and singing a previously forbidden song about the genocide to be satisfying. It's even crazier to think there's value in posing a choice between Cora singing a song in remembrance and Kid's senseless violence on an unimaginable scale. Like no shit Sherlock. What if you tried asking your audience to think about the choice between disruptive protests or demands for material reparations or proportionate armed resistance and violence against strategic targets or anything with at least a whiff of nuance. What if you tried portraying angry, traumatized, maligned genocide survivors doing something within two standard deviations of actual human behavior. What if you tried meeting the fucking moment.

[oneandonlystarshine]

i loved that series with the:

found family who commits crimes

animal motif

gangs!

ginger runaway with a shitty father 

knife person

perceived heartless psychopath who’s actually just pining over someone else in the group

girl who is religious and tries to stay faithful even while she is being/has been a gang member

blonde person 

one who came from a fucked up almost-cult that has Court in the name and is now trying to change their mentality after meeting the very types of people they’ve been conditioned against

gay

kidnapping and torture by previously mentioned shitty father

so many traumas. like, more than should be in a single series.

such as a trauma associated with water

plus mommy issues, daddy issues, AND sibling issues, so familial abandonment in general

definitely a lotttt of gore

and drugs

possibly the worst pickup lines in existence (calling your girl an investment 🤝 calling your man a hallucination)

black birds

dead group member

underdogs who go on to absolutely obliterate everyone else in their respective careers

overall a bunch of traumatized college-aged kids going out and doing some sketchy insane shit while forging deep connections with each other

am i talking about six of crows or all for the game

[bighominiglo]

Episode 9 of handmaid's tale season 6 could not have been crazier and more hateful. The characters have become completely Flanderized.

Nick supposedly got all those Jezebel women killed and June can't forgive him. But behold Lawrence. A man who hated women so much he created women only concentration camps where they die slowly of radiation. You seriously have to be a next level misogynist to even think of such a system let alone implement it. This is actual Nazi behavior. AND YET. This man gets redeemed. I'm supposed to believe he's some wholesome chungus after this episode since he now randomly gives a shit about his psuedo daughter of 1 month and June? This man has more or less fucked June over at many turns due to his own callousness and disregard for her. What kind of message does that send to the fans?

Aunt Lydia and Serena are both abusers and haters of women. Serena literally raped June and tortured her and Aunt Lydia made a career of treating women like cattle, breaking their spirits, and mutilating them, just to send them off to get raped and have their children stolen. Serena tried to steal June's child many times and happily would have had her husband not gotten her pregnant. Yet both of these characters got redeemed, and again, what kind of message does that send to the fans?

June is more willing to stick her neck out to redeem even WHARTON than Nick, you know, the actual murderer of the Jezebel women. Her entire conversation with him reads like a scrapped Nick redemption arc. "Choose love" except you didn't, June! But ignoring that, she didn't try to kill him or escape when he lets her out, which she totally would have had he been any other Gilead man. She killed many people for far less in this series and yet she tries to redeem this guy??? And they don't even MENTION Nick? Wharton was such a stupid villain, the most convenient plot device that they pulled out of their asses just for season 6. Lawrence should've been the big bad, at least it would have some narrative backing.

Neither Serena nor Lawrence think of Nick or to contact him when June is in danger. Wharton doesn't mention Nick. Lawrence confirmed he hated Nick all along by just letting him die even though he could have said "June is outside, it's not too late".

And June confirmed his life meant nothing to her by saying nothing and letting him die after she did nothing but use him for personal gain since season 3. Unbelievable. This is not a love letter to fans, this is a hate letter!

Nick was so out of character, with absolutely insane lines that even season 5 Nick would never say. And he only had like 10 lines the whole episode. How in the actual fuck is that Max's "best work". His character traits have now been redistributed to all the evil characters and the character left by episode 9 formerly known as Nick Blaine is nothing more than a convenient NPC.

I honestly could tell something was off the second Nick smashed the Tuello communicator and was even remotely influenced by what Wharton said. The Nick we know would've dismissed Wharton as easily as Fred and never given up his best chance of being with June. In fact, he was a good guy who was against Gilead. AND NOT ONCE, writers, did June EVER ASK HIM TO LEAVE. That line was just pure gaslighting. June would have happily sent him to the gallows if it meant using him for her own gains or getting closer to Hannah. God I'm so upset, I don't think a show has done me this dirty since Lost and even that was somehow better.

For any Osblaine fans who haven't watched, just save yourself and move on as fast as you can!

[bookinit02]

hi!! i was just wondering if you had any buddie fic recs? i've read all of yours, and i tried to sort through your bookmarks afterwards but it ended up really overwhelming me for some reason 😞 so i was just curious if there were any you'd recommend, like specifically? love your fics btw hope you have a great day/night 🫶

hi!! 1) thank you so much and 2) yes, definitely! i have too many buddie fics that i absolutely love tbh, which is probably why my bookmarks are overwhelming—i think i have almost 150 by now😭 but here are the ones on my god tier list, in no particular order!

failing up by derryfacts2 (10.7k): eddie confesses his love and buck is insane about it. i ADORE the writing of this, especially the dialogue. they are Best Friends For Real.

forwards beckon rebound by hyruling (9.7k): eddie’s coma dreams after a car accident en route to texas. an absolute gut-punch in the best way possible.

hope is the thing with feathers by effervescentwolf (29.5k): this one makes me CRAZYYYY!!!!! magical realism, buck gets turned into his kid self and eddie takes care of him. i remember crying so much at this one because. baby buck. ohhhhhhh he needs a hug so bad. and he gets them! thank god. need to reread this one again asap actually.

should we talk about the weather by trysetmeonfire (20k): basically takes the idea of drift compatibility from pacific rim (which is one of my all-time favorite tropes, despite never having seen a single minute of pacific rim), and brings it to the real, non-au world. buck and eddie are Linked. good shit.

the going water and the gone by trysetmeonfire (31.5k): eddie presumed dead fic where buck takes care of chris. these are my favoriteeeeeee angst fics of all time, but especially this one. they hurt so good.

theoretical corpses, laughing by amiril (25k): this is actually just one of my favorite fics like. Ever. (and its predecessor, which you should probably read first). it’s about the Aftermath of eddie getting stuck in a time loop, from buck’s perspective. if that doesn’t make you want to read it, i don’t know what will. also, this fic has, to date, the MOST ACCURATE depiction of adhd that i have ever seen in my life, as someone with very likely undiagnosed adhd. literally love this so bad like it’s not even funnyyyyyy.

no place like by clytemnestra (51.6k): buddie platonic hookup fic w/ angst. delicious. i loveeeee this trope and this one especially is just so well done. infinite kudos!!

good pretender by likeshipsonthesea (85k): THIS ONE OKAY. THIS IS MY RAVI FIC OF ALL TIME. basically starts as buckravi fwb (non-explicit), then turns to buddie. split povs between buck, ravi, and eddie. this is THEEEE depiction of canon ravi to me. it explores his family and his culture and his personality and his childhood like. so fucking well. every time i miss ravi i come back to this fic. on top of that, though, it explores buck and eddie just as well (including buck’s traumas/hang-ups about casual sex). just incrediblyyyyy well done like i cannot give this fic enough praise. please read it if you have not🙏🏼

let the world have its way with you by fleetinghearts (54.4k): buck and eddie work through buck’s bucket list after the lightning strike. soooooo sweet like genuinely heartwarming. i love this one a lot.

burn the straw house down by rarakiplin (40.2k): this is THE time loop fic to me. along with the amiril one. like these two fics together could actually keep me going for the rest of my life with nothing else to read. desert island shit. i am obsessed with this fic to the degree that i read it six (SIX) times in a row when i first discovered it. all 40k. like literally for days on end i did nothing but read this fic. in fact i think i will go read it again Right Now.

that’s not all the fics in my god tier list (and certainly not all the ones i’ve ever loved and/or bookmarked), but hopefully it gives you a good idea of where to start! i really recommend looking around for yourself, finding authors you love, and reading all their work. i wholeheartedly love every single author on this list, and many many more! happy reading💗💗💗

[brittany-and-lewis]

party 4 u (landoscar version)... i fear this one burns even more than the one anon sent

https://www.tiktok.com/@4cc44e/video/7497253617682943274

it hurts but it hurts so good and it matches perfectly w the point you made about this song 🤭

HOLY FUCKING SHIT

THIS FAPOFJAPSOFKJASPFKNASDKANFLKAJFAL'MCNLAKSVJALGTUJQAPWJNAGP DG

okay first of all THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING THIS TO ME BECAUSE OH MY GOD.

second of all huge props to the editor: @4cc44e on tiktok that was insane like actually

thirdly. oh my god this is exactly what i meant and I hadn't even thought of like. "partly on you" and the "you party on" as well???

like there's the party on you phase which is just all the smiles. all the giggles and the love eyes and everything. every team celebrations, oscar's hand on lando's waist, lando's hand slapping oscar's ass.

there's the part of you knew which is how even last year. in hungary, on the team radio, in monza after the race, in brazil and even qatar....and then this year. miami is the big one i can think of but also bahrain and all their jokes about multi 21 and prosenna and brocedes. part of them (imo) will always be giggly landoscar, but a part of both of them probably does recognize that even if they come out of it okay and they survive, inevitably a part of them will be corrupted by this- this is a very old story, there is no other version of this story.

and then this edit was SO creative because then-it's on both of them. as much as the 04's and 81's will rage on and on and blame one of them, it's on both. there is no stopping that, no blocking that. it's partly on both of them.

and neither is willing to slow down or stop for the other (ignoring qatar 24 i guess). they're going to keep pushing, keep fighting. keep partying.

oh my GOD-

i rate this edit a 10/10. PLEASE keep sending them i don't have access to tiktok and will otherwise miss out on these beautiful edits.