#to say it in Tays words: “Gun is not as cute as you think” | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

crazychaoticizzy · 1 year ago

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TAY WHAT THE FUCK

THINGS JUST KEPT COMING LIKE BAM BAM BAM IM SO ILL

I texted my friend every single reaction so I might decide to add screenshots later but for now I’ll sum up my thoughts (spoilers under the cut)

first of all.

that opening scene had me CONVINCED it was Armin’s baby. CONVINCED. And i was convinced the entire chapter but i wouldn’t believe it until the words “Armin is the father” appeared somewhere

^this. broke me.

I’m team Armin but like he’s kind of too good for her 💀

second:

THIS.

i almost threw my damn phone. i knew from the BEGINNING IT WAS ALL GONNA GET FUCKED UP

this is also when I started questioning who the father was and I was STRESSING over that bro

I was that clip of Jennifer Lawrence crying and saying “what do you mean??” for like five minutes after “Little did he know you were pregnant for far longer than he believed.”

When Eren pulled up with his truck bro I felt it in my BONES. I called my friend and was flipping out like “oh my god [redacted] someone’s gonna fucking die.” and I was SO CLOSE TO CRYING

(no one died yet but I still felt in my soul that someone was going to die and I felt like it was going to be Armin)

YALL AND THEN EREN PULLED OUT THAT GUN.

anyways

at this point I was telling my friend that if Armin wasn’t the father I was gonna twist my neck because he was acting suspicious and I FELT IT

BUT THEN I WAS LIKE OMG WHAT IF ITS A RED HERRING BECAUSE LOGICALLY WHEN WOULD THEY HAVE DONE THAT????

and I got lost thinking about it so I gaslit myself into thinking Armin was the father 😭

and these these:

I broke again.

AND THEN TAY CASUALLY CAME IN WITH “She wasn’t your one true love but you were hers” AND ALL THE CREATURES OF THE EARTH STOPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND CAME TOGETHER TO MOURN

that is my honest reaction. I was screaming crying throwing up all of it

I stood in shock for a bit at the fact that Y/n baby trapped Connie 💀 (that was my only moment of joy this entire thing I was laughing my ass off with my friend cause she kept making jokes)

Literally so unimportant but when Jean got Eren a burrito I almost cried because that was so seeet and I just want to hold them to my chest and protect them

AND SHE TEXTED ARMIN AND I WAS P O S I T I V E THAT BABY WAS ARMINS

and then at the motel. i loved everything. it was so immaculate and NO ONE CAN TELL ME SHE DOESNT LOVE ARMIN BECAUSE WHY WOULD SHE TEXT HIM AND NOT THE ACTUAL FATHER OF HER CHILD????? OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER

“she didn’t want to be famous so she chose the least-” SHUT UP. SHE COULD HAVE MOVED ANYWHERE AND NOT BEEN KNOWN. SHE COULD HAVE PLUCKED SOME RANDOM GUY OFF THE STREET BUT SHE CHOSE ARMIN

anyways

y’all my jaw fucking dropped when she miscarried. I had to take a break from reading and drink some water cause istg I felt lightheaded after that

and then I returned and everything went downhill again, the only moment of reprieve was when Eren gave her the soft little kiss it was so cute

BUT THEN.

FUCKING CONNIE AND TAY RUINED MY HAPPINESS

AND WHILE EREN AND ARMIN WERE HAVING A JOLLY OLD TIME CONNIE SHOT BOTH OF THEM AND I WANTED TO COMMIT HOMICIDE AS WELL. I WANTED TO SHOOT CONNIE MULTIPLE TIMES

guys I cried when Y/n left the car and was crying with Armin and Eren and it made me wish the world's law enforcement had a better response time just in general and that people put these buildings in more convenient spots but then- (that's a whole other thing sorry)

I thought they both died bro. I was adding periods to the ends of my sentences to my friend and everything I was so pissed

AND THE CHAPTER STILL WASN'T OVER AND I WAS CRYING BECAUSE WHAT ELSE IS THERE????????

And then Levi got called and I wanted to perish. Eren lived but Armin died and even though Tay literally told me that was going to happen when she thought she was deactivating I GASLIT MYSELF INTO THINKING SHE CHANGED THE PLOT FOR SOME REASON????? I WAS SO CONVINCED LIKE OH SHE WOULDN'T DO THAT BUT SHE DID

Y'all and I didn't even get into Levi being the father. At that point my only reaction to anything was oh my god and I stared at the wall and had to stop reading cause I got lightheaded again it was not good

In short: Tay. If you live in a hot state I hope your bed is always criminally warm when you lay in it. If you live in a cold state I hope your sheets give you frostbite with how cold they are and I also hope you step in water with socks on. (I love you <3)

BUT ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: for some reason this started giving me ideas to flesh out an au I had??? Like a Daisy Jones inspired idea with these characters I had at the very end of 2022

Anyways. Burn. (jk <3)

FIVE HUSBANDS

˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐈 || 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗

˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗

˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 || 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗

♡ — 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: eren, armin, connie, jean, levi, & reiner x celebrity reader

♡ — 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: With a big change coming into your life — and after shocking your old lovers with an unexpected decision — not all of them are ready to let go of you just yet, except for one person.

The celebrity lifestyle is a deadly game of love, manipulation, secrets, wealth, and nosy paparazzi, and not everyone can win. However, there’s one person you need to watch out for more than anything: the obsessed one.

WARNING: THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THIS CHAPTER IN THE CONTENT WARNINGS BELOW.

♡ — 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓: 18+ ONLY || MINORS DNI || DARK CONTENT — fem reader, modern au, slight smut, heavy angst, marriage, cheating, major violence & blood, gun mentions, pregnancy, miscarriage, false imprisonment, toxic relationship, manipulation, stalking, murder talk, suicide ideation, drinking, character struggles to eat, illness, hospitalization, vomiting, & major character death.

♡ — 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓: 15k

♡ — 𝐀/𝐍: Hi folks! This is a long chapter, I’m sorry, but out of all parts, this one I have enjoyed writing the most. I can’t believe the series is almost over! We have one more part after this!

— YEARS AGO - NEW YORK CITY —

When walking into the bakery, one was often greeted by the sweet smell of freshly baked pastries and desserts. Cakes and cobblers, brownies and pies — every mouth-watering treat a customer with a sweet tooth could ever want.

The sugary scents would often stay with the employees, too. Armin Arlert in particular always smelled like cinnamon rolls after spending hours upon hours preparing them throughout the day. No matter how many times he washed his clothes or lathered his body in soap, the hard-working baker’s natural scent was bread and cinnamon.

Around the bakery, the joke of the century was that when Armin would sweat, he’d sweat sugar.

At work, the only time he wasn’t spreading the brown sugar mixture onto the dough, rolling it, and shoving it into the oven was when he had to work the cash register.

Oh, how the customers gawked at that gorgeous baker.

More sweets were often sold when Armin was leading the sales, as he could convince anyone to buy anything with his kind customer-service smile and big ocean-blue eyes.

What caught your attention one day was the sight of him interacting with the curious, wide-eyed children who’d often waddle into the bakery.

“See somethin’ you want, honey?” A young mother once said to her son on a Christmas Eve night, holding the little boy’s hand as they darted their eyes between every baked item behind the glass display beneath the countertop.

“Uhhh,” the child frowned. He wanted everything. It was such an overwhelming decision.

“Too many options to choose from, huh?” Armin looked down at the young boy from over the cash register, smiling kindly. “Do you like chocolate?”

The boy shook his head as a way of saying no.

“What about icing? Or frosting?”

The boy shrugged shyly.

“Alright, give me a second,” Armin started to walk away, then hesitated, turning around to face the boy’s brown-haired mother. “He’s not allergic to anything, is he?”

“He’s not,” she smiled, speaking with a bit of a southern accent despite being in New York City. They must have been traveling and wanted a sweet treat that reminded them of home.

Armin nodded, and suddenly, he appeared over your shoulder, where you were mixing brownie batter in a big silver bowl.

“Hey,” speaking softly, he said, “have any extra cinnamon rolls?”

You turned around to face him, and when you did, he ran his thumb across your cheek, wiping off a line of frosting.

“Yeah, they’re over there,” you quickly pointed at the extra cinnamon rolls sitting on the stainless steel prep table, next to an extra batch of chocolate chip cookies.

“You’re a mess,” he teased, walking toward the sink to wash his hands.

“I’d like to see you stay clean after baking this many desserts by yourself,” with a teasing tone of your own, you grinned and said, “I know we’re short-staffed, but I can’t believe they let you work the cash register. Can you even count?”

“Says the person who made almost double the amount of cinnamon rolls. Can you read? The recipe, I mean?”

“Shut up.”

“You shut up,” Armin suddenly flicked his wet hand at you, dots of water sprinkling onto your skin.

Your little shriek made his heart swell. As he dried off his hands and grabbed a spare cinnamon roll, he saw that the young mother was grinning as she watched the interaction between you two.

After all, she knew what love looked like.

“Alright little guy,” Stepping from behind the counter, Armin kneeled in front of the shy child with messy, brown hair, and he held out a cinnamon roll. “Wanna break off a piece and try this? I think you’d really like it. If not, we can try some cake, okay?”

The child nodded, and hesitantly, he broke off a piece with his little fingers, and bit into it.

His big brown eyes widened with childlike wonder, and the goofy grin that suddenly appeared on his face was a telltale sign that Armin helped this kid create a cherishable memory.

Armin couldn’t help but smile too.

“It’s good!” The kid instantly broke off another piece — and rather quickly, as he almost knocked the cinnamon roll out of Armin’s hand.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Can we get one cinnamon roll then, please?” The mother asked Armin with a smile.

“Of course,” Armin rose to his feet and went behind the register. “Would you like anything for yourself, ma’am?”

“No thank you.”

Armin looked into the woman’s eyes. She was young, not much older than he was, but the bags under her eyes from utter exhaustion made her seem much older. Then, Armin glanced down at her hands.

He instantly recognized those hands.

Pale skin that was rough and scarred from working hard — they looked just like his own hands.

Finally, Armin looked at her clothes.

Her son was dressed perfectly for the chilly New York City weather, bundled up from head to toe in a blue, thick coat and warming pants, but she simply wore a thin grey cardigan — one that was obviously worn out.

The mother and son had also walked into the bakery with three bags of luggage.

And while Armin couldn’t and wouldn’t know their entire backstory, if they were homeless, on the run from someone, or anything of the sort — he knew one thing.

That woman desperately needed a little bit of joy.

“We have a buy one get one free sale going on today,” Armin lied. “So, if you buy the cinnamon roll, you can get something else to go with it. Anything you’d like.”

“For real?” The woman smiled brightly. “Then, I guess I’ll have . . . an apple turnover. I haven’t had one of those in years.”

The woman was beaming as brightly as her son was when he bit into the cinnamon roll.

“Alright, give me just a minute and I’ll have that right out of you.”

When Armin turned around, you gave him a peculiar look as you put two trays of brownie mix into the bakery oven. There wasn’t any sort of sale going on, and you both knew that.

When Armin packed their bag, he gave them two cinnamon rolls and two apple turnovers instead of one of each.

Armin returned to the counter with a bag that was much heavier than it should have been.

“Alright, that’ll be $3.75,” Armin said.

When the woman placed the money in his hand, he didn’t put it into the register. Instead, he slickly grabbed a handful of napkins from underneath the counter, covered her money with it, and put it right into her bag.

And with that, the woman and her son left with four free desserts, and Armin said, “Happy holidays.”

Perhaps, he would lose his job for giving away free food, and end up in an even worse position than that woman herself, but he didn’t care that much.

He could only imagine the smile that would grace her freckled cheeks once she realized that he didn’t take any of her money and gave her and her boy free sweet treats for Christmas.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” You said, snapping Armin out of his thoughts.

Armin leaned across the counter a bit to make sure that the little brown bakery was empty, and then he turned to face you.

“Are you gonna rat me out?”

“I didn’t see a thing,” you grinned, then suddenly, your smile faded. “But if you get caught, you’ll get-”

“I know,” stepping towards you, he smiled down at your face, which had somehow managed to get another line of white frosting across it.

“The bakery needs me though, so I think it’ll be fine. It was worth the risk.” Once again, Armin wiped off your cheek with his thumb. “How are you always getting frosting on your face?”

This time, Armin licked the frosting off of his thumb, smearing the small bit of glaze across his tongue.

“It’s good, though. Nice job,” he said, staring into your eyes.

“That’s nasty,” a playful grimace appeared across your face, and you stepped away.

Softly, classic Christmas songs played through the cheap speaker.

After having to hear the same ten ballads repeatedly throughout the holiday season, you had quickly gotten sick of every verse.

Every melody.

But, for some reason, you didn’t mind it today.

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra was currently playing. What a beautiful song it was.

Perhaps, one would even say it was the only Christmas song you hadn’t grown tired of hearing just yet.

“You like this song?” Armin asked, grabbing a rag and wiping down your baking station. “You started smiling when it came on.”

“Yeah, but that’s not why I’m smiling,” your soft grin only grew wider. “I was just thinking about how nice you were with that kid earlier. You’d make a great father someday.”

“You think so?” Tossing the rag over his shoulder, Armin turned to face you as he leaned against the prep table.

“Mhm. Do you plan on having kids one day?”

“Maybe, I don’t know. I mean, I’d like to, but only if I could actually afford to have a family.” Armin paused. “I wouldn’t wanna subject my future children to poverty. No way would I purposely let them go through what I’ve gone through. What about you?”

“If I met the right person, then yeah. And if I could afford it. Same as you.” Looking up at Armin with an expression he couldn’t quite recognize, despite having known you for years, you said, “I’d have kids with you, I think.”

Armin couldn’t tell if you were joking or not.

Your friendship had always revolved around playful flirting, and being comfortable enough with each other to say such thought-provoking things that always made his heart skip a beat, but this time, he wasn’t certain if your spoken words were something he should take seriously.

Even in the face of uncertainty, Armin laughed softly. But he couldn’t control the faint dust of pink that appeared across his cheeks.

“Two bakers having a kid would be something else. All of their friends would wanna come to our house all the time to get free desserts and stuff.”

“That’s true.”

Suddenly, Armin grabbed the rag from off of his shoulder, tossed it on the counter, and grabbed ahold of your wrist.

“What are you doing?” You questioned.

“I don’t know. I’m bored. Dance with me.” He pulled you closer. Placing your hand on his shoulder, he moved his own hand to your waist. With his other hand, he held yours and raised it, as you both slowly started to dance.

“This is so embarrassing,” you said with a sheepish grin. “Why are we dancing in the middle of a bakery? You’re gonna make me burn the brownies.”

“Be quiet for once, please. And we have plenty of brownies because you already made double what the recipe required. I had a feeling you couldn’t read.”

Together, you both swayed and waltz rather casually and playfully, nearly stepping on each other’s toes multiple times, but none of that mattered. You both filled the air with warm laughter as Armin spun you around.

As the beautiful song came to an end, Armin looked into the eyes of the only woman he would ever want to have kids with, and silently, he hoped that someday, his dream would come true.

—

— BEFORE THE MEETING - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA —

Five phone calls were made — all short, to the point, and lacking any sense of warmth or danger that your old lovers had expected when they all saw your caller ID flash across their cell phone screens.

Everyone received the same instructions.

CS Records. Ten o’clock.

Your thumb pressed the red button to end the very last phone call.

A few seconds later, that horrifically familiar swirl of nausea started to bubble within your gut. Black high heels clicked against the gorgeous natural stone marble floor of Connie Springer’s mansion. You rushed to the nearest bathroom — not fully running. Drawing any attention to yourself was the last thing you wanted.

You puked into the incredibly expensive smart toilet with an auto-opening lid.

Right now, the auto-cleaning feature would come in handy too, but perhaps, trying to be discreet was pointless.

After all, your morning sickness wasn’t the quietest noise in the entire world, and at this time of day, one of Connie’s maids — Bernice — would have been close by. Close enough to hear it.

In fact, the middle-aged woman was standing right outside of the bathroom door with her cart of cleaning supplies.

“Good morning,” the short lady greeted once you stepped out into the hallway.

“Good morning,” you replied, a hint of nervousness in your voice.

The woman’s eyes scanned you from head to toe. You shifted nervously.

After all, she had three children of her own.

While you weren’t showing just yet — perhaps a bit bloated — you still wore baggier clothes. Took more trips to the bathroom. Appetite started to change. More exhausted than usual.

And, of course, the morning sickness.

“Are you alright? Do you need anything?” The woman tilted her head a bit.

“I’m fine,” you lied. “Just ate something I shouldn’t have.”

“Alright, well, have a good day,” the woman smiled softly, pulling her cart along with her once you stepped to the side, letting her enter the bathroom. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you had a bun in the oven.”

You weren’t shocked by her statement. Instead, you felt rather pissed.

“Well, it’s a good thing you know better.”

The clicking of your heels against the floor filled the silence as you walked away.

Being pregnant right now would ruin everything. Your career — a lifestyle that only a few extraordinarily lucky people would ever achieve — would cease to exist the minute your pregnancy would hit the news.

Well, not immediately, perhaps.

Your name would appear in every eye-catching headline as articles and entertainment news channels would gossip about your infamous love life, and who the baby could potentially belong to.

But, then, the news would die down, drowned out by the next biggest celebrity scandal.

No one would like the idea of a pregnant woman going on tour and performing concerts. Filmmakers certainly wouldn’t want to cast you at a certain point, either.

And not every celebrity can successfully make a comeback after giving birth. Especially one well known for their scandals more so than their talent.

You didn’t care about fame — not truly. If you lost it, then being in the spotlight would become a distant, unpleasant memory.

But you did care about money.

But, just maybe, having a child was the one way you could guarantee an abundance of wealth for the rest of your life.

It was a sick and twisted plan, but that was why the only person in the world who knew about your pregnancy was the incredibly wealthy entrepreneur, Connie Springer.

And you were determined to make him your next husband.

—

When you told your old lovers to no longer chase after you, their reactions were exactly what you had expected. The scenario of tonight had replayed in your mind over and over again, and the real deal was just as accurate as it was in your imagination.

Except for one thing.

Wrapping your arms around Levi Ackerman, and telling him that you were pregnant.

The confession fell from between your lips before you knew it.

At the time, you only wanted to do anything to discourage your lovers from continuing to chase after you, and you had hoped he would keep your secret and somehow convince the others that you were no longer worth pursuing.

However, there was a lot of potential conflict that you had now created.

For all you know, he would run in front of the flashing cameras and invasive microphones and air out your business to the nosy, gossiping Hollywood streets to reclaim his lost relevancy before you had the chance to secure your own wealth for the future.

No.

He wouldn’t do something like that.

He wasn’t the type of man who would tell someone.

But, even so, there was still the fact that he knew.

And him knowing could ruin everything.

After the short meeting with your past lovers, the car ride back home with Connie in the driver’s seat was completely silent aside from the background noise of the streets of Los Angeles that occurred outside of your rolled-up passenger seat window.

The occasional sound of a booming radio from cars that drove by. A honk or two once the red lights changed to green. The sound of laughter or shouts from pedestrians on the street.

All of it filled the deafening silence that existed between you and Connie, but, for the first time, you weren’t worried about what that quietness had meant.

You already knew.

Connie was in shock. It was obvious from the way he constantly changed his grip on the black steering wheel — holding it with one hand, then two, then back to one.

He just didn’t expect that you would stay with him, that this time, when you were riding in his car on the way to his mansion, it was your own choice.

The bubbling noise associated with the infamous L.A. streets dwindled into comforting quietness — the sort of silence that only incredibly wealthy people could afford — as you both arrived closer and closer to Connie’s home.

On this side of town, where billionaires and millionaires alike lived in peace, their homes were big enough to house several families and not have to deal with annoying neighbors. Even you, despite the bit of wealth you had accumulated in your career so far, couldn’t easily afford to rent a room in one of their homes.

But, perhaps, you soon would.

Soon, you would be able to call one of the biggest houses on this side of town your own, as Connie pulled up to it, and drove through the entrance gate.

When you and Connie rode the elevator up to the main floor of his home, you turned your head in every direction and happened to notice none of his overpaid servants rushing over to tend to you and him.

“Where is everyone?” You questioned, your words followed by three soft coughs.

Some of his staff had certainly gone home for the night — as they worked a seven to five shift Monday through Friday — but some of them were live-in employees, such as his chef and security — or, rather, his Silent Men.

“I sent everyone home,” Connie admitted casually.

“Why?”

Connie made his way into the lavish living room and collapsed down on the couch. He rubbed his eyes tiredly.

“‘Cause I know your crazy ass exes are probably gonna follow us here.”

“They’re not going to do that,” you frowned, standing to the side of the couch, but not bothering to sit down just yet.

“Don’t be stupid,” Connie rested his hand over his mouth as he spoke. His hazel eyes were glistening with concern. “You think they’re just gonna believe you suddenly wanna stay here? I was even surprised when you got back in my car, and I know the reason. You should’ve told them. They’re gonna find out anyway.”

Little did he know, you did. One of them, at least.

“We can’t tell them yet,” you sat down on the couch and ran your hand across Connie’s thigh in a comforting way.

Connie was silent for a moment, paying no mind to your hand on his thigh. A comforting touch did little to soothe the neverending worries and unsettling thoughts racing through his scattered mind.

He thought about who he was as a human being. Everything he had done in the past. Everything he was currently doing, along with what he could see himself doing in the future.

Connie turned his head, his eyes meeting yours.

“I can’t become a father.”

You sighed softly, not out of irritation, but understanding.

“Listen to me.” You grabbed ahold of his hand, speaking as if you were playing a part in a film. Connie, however, was unaware of the figurative camera. “It’s not too late to become a good person. I want to have this baby, and I want you to be in our lives. All the money in the world can’t compare to the love of a family.”

Connie looked at you out of the corner of his eye, frowning in disbelief.

“Please shut up. You don’t have to try and sound all poetic. I’m not ready to be a father and that won’t change.”

Suddenly, Connie snatched his hand away from yours, and he got off of the couch and started to walk away.

“Wait,” you called out. “So what am I supposed to do, then? Raise it by myself? You know how Hollywood treats pregnant women. If I lose everything, then I’ll become a failed artist associated with your company and your name. I’d also hate for your reputation to get ruined because everyone would know that you fucked one of your artists, and left the mother of your child and your baby all alone. There’s also the fact that you kept me locked away and under your control, too. You can get rid of me somehow if you want, but too many people know the truth about you now, and someone will say something.”

Connie’s footsteps came to a halt. At that moment, when your words seeped into his brain until his fists clenched at his side, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was how Eren felt that day when Connie forced him to divorce you and told him the consequences of not doing what he wanted.

At the time, Connie had power over Eren.

Now, you had power over Connie, all in the form of that fetus growing in your belly.

“It’s your choice,” you added on, your tone both soft and yet, threatening as well. “When you manipulate someone, you inevitably end up teaching them all of your tricks.”

Connie bit into the flesh inside of his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. His fists started to tremble.

He’d kill you.

He’d do it.

He didn’t care who you were.

He didn’t care who would find out.

No one would ever have him on a leash like a dog.

But, then, he couldn’t. Even if he could toss money into the hands of the justice system to get himself out of trouble, you were right. Too many people knew what kind of man he was.

Eren Yeager. Jean Kirstein. Levi Ackerman. Reiner Braun. Armin Arlert. Mikasa Ackerman. Erwin Smith.

He couldn’t kill all of them.

He didn’t want to, either. Murder was not a fun little hobby of his, but something to be done when necessary.

No amount of money would be able to clean his hands of that much blood.

But, there was a part of him that truly didn’t mind being with you. It was that small piece of desperation and loneliness that drove him to sleep with you, to begin with.

It was a warm and vibrant Saturday night, and Connie had returned home from a party to find you in the rec room playing air hockey by yourself. He decided to join you for a couple of games — much to your surprise — and you couldn’t be certain, but you had sworn a smile appeared upon his face for a brief second.

Laughing together in the entertaining rec room led to making out in his opulent bedroom. Eventually, you were lying on your back in his thick bed, gripping the soft grey sheets while moaning softly as Connie thrust in and out of you. He was the gentle sort, which was rather shocking. Every slightly drunken moan that escaped from between his lips — every buck of his hips as he chased his sweet release — was the inevitable result of loneliness.

Now, tonight, as if he was suddenly possessed by not only his logic — he knew he didn’t have much of a choice — but that desperate piece of himself that craved love and connection, he turned around to face you, and he said, “Alright. You win.”

You smiled brightly. God, even a sinister grin looked beautiful upon your angelic face.

“You’re going to be a great father, Connie.”

Connie sat back down on the couch but leaned as far away from you as he could get.

All he could think about was his child.

You ran a hand across your belly, feeling rather grateful that Connie Springer was truly, incredibly stupid.

Little did he know that you were pregnant for far longer than he believed — and certainly not from that foolish night when your despondency had driven you both to fuck in his bedroom.

He could never know the truth.

That the baby in your stomach wasn’t his.

Not if you wanted to marry into that billionaire status associated with the Springer name.

The righteous side of you — buried underneath the torturous experiences of media training, interviews, award shows, parties, and paparazzi — held a little bit of guilt regarding your actions, but Connie had put you through hell, a specific kind of torture that a lifetime of therapy wouldn’t erase.

Trapping you in your room, depriving you of your rights as a human being while forcing you into the spotlight as the physical embodiment of perfection had ruined your mind, body, and soul, and now, you’d drain his overstuffed wallets, snatch every last penny away from him.

In your eyes, it was what he deserved.

Suddenly, your smile faded. You were truly, incredibly stupid as well.

After all, revealing your pregnancy to Levi Ackerman wasn’t just a decision you made to scare off your past old flames, but a decision made out of fear — a subconscious choice that made you wonder if, despite having him on a leash, you were truly still afraid of Connie, and wanted to be taken away from him by any means necessary.

Perhaps, you told him, because a small part of you still wanted freedom.

At least you didn’t tell Levi who the real father was.

No one could ever know.

Especially Connie Springer.

—

Eren Yeager was the crazy ex-husband whom Connie feared the most.

He was the biggest threat, perhaps because he didn’t particularly care about developing critical thinking skills, unlike Levi Ackerman.

Even when they were young teenagers and Connie was on trial for accidentally murdering his own best friend, Marco Bodt, Connie knew that Eren had a couple of screws loose back then.

Only an insane person would sit in an interrogation room with intimidating police officers for hours without saying a word, all to protect their friend from the harsh and unfair justice system. Along with that, he refused to testify as a witness against Connie despite being threatened with legal charges of his own and had to physically be dragged by his parents into a vehicle and taken to the courthouse.

Only someone like Eren Yeager would publically beat up his bandmate for fingering his wife, and would happily do it over and over again.

He hit a disrespectful fan with his guitar once, too.

Ignored security protocols to hang out with his groupies, despite the risk to his safety. Always drove too fast. Wasn’t afraid of sky-diving, bungee-jumping, or death.

He was the kind of person who smiled in their mugshots.

That was the fool that Connie Springer was waiting on to walk through his door, and that fool was on his way.

Eren was the one leading the rest of the group toward Connie’s house. But, that red, expensive vehicle was zooming down the L.A. streets, engine roaring as he refused to ease off of the gas pedal.

When Eren flew past a stoplight just as it turned red — other drivers honked at him, and understandably so — Reiner slammed on his brakes, watching Eren’s car fly down the road.

Looking at his mirror, he saw Jean’s arm hanging out of the driver’s seat window in the car behind him.

He turned his head to look past Mikasa and through the passenger seat window. Levi was in the car next to him, left waiting at the red light as well.

He couldn’t see Armin, but he figured that the blonde boy was in the vehicle behind Jean.

“Eren’s driving too damn fast,” Reiner said, frowning in annoyance. “He left all of us behind. At this rate, he’s either gonna wreck or get pulled over before any of us make it to Connie’s house.”

“I’ll call him and tell him to slow down,” Mikasa said, reaching forward to press the contacts button on the navigation screen.

However, before her black polished finger could touch the screen, a message suddenly flashed across it.

Reiner’s eyes darted down, and silently, both he and Mikasa read the message that Eren had sent to everyone.

I’m stopping by my house first to switch cars.

“Is that idiot texting and driving?” Reiner’s frown deepened.

A frown appeared across Mikasa’s face as well as she asked, “What does he need to switch cars for anyway?”

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Eren pulled into his massive 15-car garage. He ran to grab another set of car keys and hopped into a different car.

When Eren left his mansion this time, it wasn’t in his sleek red Ferrari, but in his big, black truck.

—

The sudden, loud crash coming from outside made you hop off of the couch.

Connie could hear the loud, revving engine, and in his gut, he knew exactly what — or, rather, who — it was.

Even so, he pulled out his phone and checked his outdoor security cameras.

He clicked to enlarge the screen, witnessing the crystal clear surveillance footage of the chaos taking place at the entrance gate to his home.

His gate no longer existed.

Eren crashed through it with his heavy-duty truck.

Based on the footage, his vehicle was destroyed, but Eren didn’t care, hoping out of the smoking, damaged vehicle with a bloody nose and a loaded gun, heading for Connie’s front door as the cars belonging to everyone else in the group pulled into the driveway.

“It’s them, isn’t it?” You asked.

“Yeah,” Connie replied casually, as if an angry mob of people with weapons weren’t currently making their way for him.

“So you were right,” you darted your eyes down to your shoes. “If you knew they’d come, why did you send your little minions away? You would’ve stood a chance if you had your Silent Men with you.”

“Because I don’t want your ass, so why would I put up a fight?” Connie shrugged. “I don’t know what those people see in you, but-”

“But what?” A soft chuckle escaped from between your lips. “You’re the one who held me hostage, Connie. And now, you suddenly don’t want me? All because your pull-out game was-” “Go to hell. Me locking your ass up was a form of punishment, not because I’m attracted to you like those crazy motherfuckers trying to break in here right now.”

“Right,” you said sarcastically. “So why’d you have sex with me in the first place, then?”

Connie didn’t respond. He stared at you with daggers in his eyes. His cold glare was only interrupted when three gunshots were fired, and the front double doors flew open.

When storming Connie Springer’s house, Levi Ackerman expected Connie and his Silent Men to be standing in the living room with their weapons drawn.

But, what he saw was nothing of the sort.

He and everyone else stepped into that enormous, modern room to see you standing there, while Connie sat on the couch, frowning with tired eyes.

“What the hell?” Levi mumbled to himself.

He looked to his right, exchanging a confused look with Armin.

“What’s going on?” Reiner broke the silence first, staring at you as he spoke.

“I could ask you the same thing,” you responded with a vexed glare. “None of you should be here. I already told you to leave me alone.”

“We know, but-”

“There’s no way you meant it.” Eren suddenly interrupted Armin, not intentionally, but he couldn’t help it. “There’s no way you want to stay with someone who treated you like shit.”

“Me and Connie are working through it. Besides, it’s none of your business. I’m not married to any of you anymore, so just move on and forget about me.”

“He really messed with your head, didn’t he?” Eren’s jaw clenched. He turned away from you, looking down at Connie, who had his head in his hand. “Anything you wanna say, Connie?”

“Nope.”

“Are you sure?” Eren adjusted the grip on the gun in his right hand. “Because I can’t think of any reason why you don’t deserve a bullet in your fucking skull.”

You suddenly made your way in front of Eren, and when his eyes darted down to you, his gaze softened.

“Can’t you just back off, Eren? Can’t all of you just back the fuck off? I want to stay here, and I want to be with Connie. If you want me to leave, then you’ll have to drag me away, and at that point, you’re all no better than Connie. You’d all be the ones holding me hostage.”

Everyone was silent.

No one could say for certain if you were being forced to say such a thing, or if you were suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, or, perhaps, whether or not you truly meant what you said.

But, even if they did manage to successfully get you away from Connie, whether the businessman gave you up freely or if they had to put a bullet through his chest, what next? Who would you go home with, and would everyone respect that decision?

Suddenly, an idea popped into your head.

It went against your plan of secrecy and put everything you were working hard to build at risk. You didn’t want this many people to know about your pregnancy until you could secure a lifetime of wealth, but maybe, it would send your old lovers back home and away from you forever. If solely telling Levi couldn’t achieve that, then perhaps, telling all of them would.

“I’m pregnant,” you confessed.

The look of shock written on everyone’s faces broke your heart more than you’d like to admit. You couldn’t stand the sight of heartbreak glistening in their eyes. Even so, you pushed through it.

“Me and Connie are having a baby. I want to stay with him. He’s going to get therapy, and he’s sorry for all the pain he caused all of you. That’s why he’s not fighting back right now, okay? So, please, just-”

“Why’d you tell me?” Levi suddenly interrupted you. “I don’t get it.”

“You told him?” Connie spoke up, raising his head. “Why?”

Everyone’s eyes were on you, seeking the same answer to Levi’s question, and other questions running rampant in their overwhelmed minds.

And, there you were, faced with the aftermath of your incredibly stupid decision.

“I was hoping you’d convince everyone else to leave me alone without also telling everyone my business, but clearly, that didn’t work. I didn’t want to tell everyone because I didn’t want to risk my pregnancy becoming public news before I was ready, but I have no other choice than to tell you all now, so maybe you’d all understand and go away,” you replied, your face expressionless.

“You’re lying,” Armin’s soft voice made everyone look back at him. “She’s lying.”

You might have been an actress, but Armin was your childhood best friend.

“No, I’m not.” You shifted awkwardly as you stood there. A chill ran down your spine as you tried to avoid Armin’s invasive gaze. “Listen, I’m sorry to break your hearts, I really am, but please try to understand.”

But Armin knew.

Of course, he would.

“Tell the truth,” Armin said. He took a step forward. He stared into your eyes.

The truth was complicated because nothing was completely true, but nothing was entirely a lie.

You wanted to stay with Connie and marry into all of his wealth in case your career plummeted. That was true.

You wanted to be rescued and taken away from Connie, who still frightened you, even though you pretended he didn’t. That was also true.

Two things could be true at once.

“You know what’s funny?” Connie’s voice suddenly caught everyone’s attention. “You’re all breaking into my house with guns, threatening to kill me because I’m the bad guy, right? ‘Cause I control your careers, and I took everyone’s girl. But you’re all on the verge of kidnapping her ass right now. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. One of you idiots was stalking her in the first place, right? Calling her phone? Breaking into her house? Taking pictures of her and Levi?”

“Shut up,” Eren grimaced. “We already pieced it together that it was you. It only makes sense for the person who was stalking her to be the person holding her hostage.”

“Don’t deny it,” Jean added on.

Connie stared up at Eren.

When he spoke, no one could ignore the unshaken honesty within his voice, as it was devastatingly clear that he wasn’t lying.

“That wasn’t me. That was one of you.”

The entire group stared at each other, confusion written on their faces, and among the individuals, one of them was rather excellent when it came to acting, as they pretended to be just as shocked as everyone else.

Even you had assumed that your stalker was Connie. Just as Eren said, it made sense.

Connie got off the couch.

“Believe it or not, I don’t want her ass here anymore,” Connie paused. “But we’re gonna have a baby, and apparently, one of you is just as bad as I am, so she’s safer here, as fucked up as that is. So, you guys should figure out who in your weird group is probably keeping female singers in their basement or some shit before you rush into my fucking house again. Now get the hell out.”

Connie wanted you to get the hell out of his life. He didn’t care how, but he was tired of seeing your perfect little face. That was true.

Connie also wanted you to stay, because you were carrying his baby, and when you weren’t pissing him off, you drove away that devastating feeling of loneliness that almost made him put a bullet through his skull and beat Eren to his wish of shooting him in the head. That was also true.

Two things could be true at once.

“Just go,” you avoided eye contact with any of them. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re all dangerous. Just as dangerous as Connie.”

The group couldn’t argue. Deep within themselves, everyone had a gut feeling that not every individual in their group could be trusted.

It was the reason why Reiner left their little meeting in Armin’s living room that day — that overwhelming feeling.

As it turns out, he was right all along.

Along with that, if they had killed Connie and forced you out of his home against your will, could they truly say that they were any better than the man they had taken you from?

But, even if you had decided to leave with the group, then the stalker would have had direct access to you.

Who knows what would happen.

In the end, the group had done the one thing they couldn’t foresee themselves doing: they started to leave.

Not because they had given up — heading out of the door was torture, more painful than any of them could have imagined it would have been — but they left because you insisted upon it, and you weren’t safe anywhere.

But Armin didn’t stay in Los Angeles for nothing.

Levi didn’t lose his job for nothing.

Jean didn’t ruin his own reputation and friendships for nothing.

Eren didn’t break through Connie’s gate for nothing.

Reiner didn’t lose his family home for nothing.

This wasn’t over — they were sure of it.

One way or another, they would come back. They could see it in your eyes, how — despite your words — the former version of yourself that they had all fallen in love with still sought freedom. Still sought love.

But one person was truly finished. They were done fighting.

“Wait, Mikasa.”

The girl paused. Her shoulders stiffened as she froze — the rest of the group had no choice but to move around her on their way out of the broken front doors.

Mikasa couldn't turn around and face you. Hearing you call her name sent a chill up her spine.

“Why’d you come here?” You questioned, stepping in front of her, giving her no choice but to look at you. “How’d you get caught up in all this?”

Mikasa’s dark eyes were glassy with tears that threatened to fall.

“Do you really have to ask?”

You didn’t respond.

Mikasa stared at you for a moment longer, scanned over you with her eyes — trying to look at you one last time — and she walked out of the door as well.

Soon, she’d catch a flight to Bora Bora or Switzerland — any place would work, as long as it wasn’t Los Angeles. She was done with this city. She was done with you; she wasn’t fighting for love to begin with, but for your freedom, and she had lost.

The adventurous woman would no longer continue to chase a person. She’d go back to chasing the thrill of exploring unknown countries and diverse cultures around the world.

Even so, as she walked out of that door, the tears that she didn’t want to let fall ended up streaming down her cheeks anyway.

She didn’t want a romance story with you. Only a fool would dream of having a happy ending with a heartbreaker. But, perhaps, she wanted more good memories with you.

Her heart ached for the old version of you that made everyone laugh while playing cards and drinking beer. She missed who you were before Hollywood destroyed you — before the light in your eyes completely flickered out.

It was her fault, at the end of the day. She was the one who introduced you to Levi, which, in turn, started all of this.

Maybe that was why she wanted to save you from the soul-sucking lifestyle that fame and wealth brought.

She felt silly imagining it, but she often daydreamed about taking you to her favorite countries one day, the two of you creating your own adventure together.

Hiking through sacred forests.

Swimming in the ocean with gentle sea animals.

Taking photos in front of historical locations.

Trying new foods together, prepared by locals who cooked with love.

Admiring landmarks until night time would arrive.

She’d have given you one of her flannels if it had gotten cold, or held your hand for warmth.

Honestly, if you grabbed her wrist as she walked away, and told her that somehow, someway, she was the one you truly loved and wanted to be with, she’d do anything to make it happen.

The idea of raising your baby together even crossed her mind briefly, but she shook away the thought.

As she looked at you one last time, she couldn’t help but wonder why she had hoped for you to end up in her life, even as a friend.

After all, she stood there with her short black hair in a messy low ponytail, wearing an open, faded black denim shirt-jacket — matching her black jeans — and the backpack she always took with her everywhere.

Meanwhile, you were wearing clothing brands she couldn’t even pronounce, even if technically, thanks to Eren’s money, she could afford them as well.

Either way, it wasn’t meant to be. As lovers, or as friends.

She couldn’t save the girl from New York with a beautiful voice, terrible cooking skills, and a loud, heartwarming laugh. But she missed her — she missed you.

“Goodbye,” Mikasa turned to face you one last time, smiling sadly.

You gave her a polite smile, one that indicated that you had no idea she meant forever.

Suddenly, you approached her and wrapped your arms around her.

“Thanks for being such a good friend,” you softly rubbed her back as you hugged her, and she died a little inside.

She carried a faint scent of dove soap and smoke, and her body was as warm as the cozy herbaceous bonfires that she smelled like.

“I’ll see you later,” you said.

Mikasa pulled away. She gave you one last smile.

It was painfully obvious that you concluded that she was only here to try and help out a friend, not free the girl she was painfully in love with.

Mikasa walked away.

Nothing could ease the pain of feeling unloved, but she’d treasure the memory of having known the old you.

It certainly was nice.

But it was time to go now, and for good.

She wasn’t your one true love, but you were hers.

—

— ONE MONTH LATER —

Every day, every night, Connie Springer watched you, the pregnant woman he was struggling to love, walk around his mansion with sugary words and shifting eyes.

It had driven him to drink, downing glass bottles of alcohol that his poor maid had to toss out constantly.

During both his drunken and sober moments, you were there, wrapping your arms around him and whispering sweet, meaningless words into his ear, telling him how much you needed him to protect you and your baby, how wedding preparations were being made so he would never be lonely again, and about all the horrific secrets you could spill. And if he stopped you from telling them, you happily mentioned how someone else would.

Being wealthy tended to grant the fortunate the ability to do almost anything and everything.

That included being able to toss together a luxurious wedding in only a month, whereas a poorer person would have had to wait a year to achieve such organization and class — not that a poorer person would have been able to afford it all to begin with.

The wedding took place in Europe, held in a beautiful historical castle decorated with gorgeous flowers and candle chandeliers.

Your dress alone was more expensive than the average house. The breathtaking ball gown wedding dress graced the camera lens of the respectable paparazzi teams who attended your wedding and would later showcase your memorable event all over every form of mass media.

Connie was lucky.

He was getting the chance to marry you, and unlike your last marriages, you both had something that would keep you bound beyond a ring.

A child.

He had to protect you.

He had to.

He was the only one who could do it.

Even now, as you tried to prepare for your wedding and to give birth in several months, your phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Random photographs taken by your stalker would appear across the internet.

No one could hurt the woman carrying his baby.

You were like a precious gem. Gorgeous — a sight for sore eyes — and desired by those who were greedy and insatiable. There would always be someone who would want to date you. Someone who would want to be you.

But, right now, there was someone who wanted to harm you, Connie’s sweet little thing, and it wasn’t a stranger, but someone who once smiled in your face and kissed you sweetly. Someone you once trusted.

Connie had to protect you from that person — whoever it was — parading around like an old, heartfelt lover of yours when in reality, they called your phone from an unknown number over and over again. They lurked in the shadows, watching you visit your favorite places. They broke into your house. They stood outside of Levi’s home and took photos of your scandalous one-night stand.

He had to protect you, even if it meant killing every single one of your old lovers.

But, as a start, this was the only way he could keep you safe for now.

By standing in front of a crowd of prestige guests, exchanging vows that meant he’d get your love and your silence, and you’d get his money and protection.

“I do,” you said happily, blinking up at your newest husband with teary, yet blank, soulless eyes.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

—

— ONTARIO, CANADA —

Every day, it seemed as if Eldian Devils was one scandal away from falling apart as a band.

Half of it was due to losing Levi as a manager.

Another contributing factor was the fact that the band no longer had a sense of unity. Jean and Eren were at each other’s throats more often than not, videos of their public arguments and — rarely, but notably — fist fights would circulate around the internet at the speed of lightning.

Connie still tried to punish them for it, too.

It was pointless — making his Silent Men beat them up until they coughed up blood and then forcing them to sit in the uncomfortable chair of a makeup artist who could skillfully cover the scars and bruises.

Even when Eren and Jean managed to keep their hands off of each other, they both still would need stitches, bandages, and more makeup, because they weren’t just being punished for not being perfect celebrities.

They were being punished for breaking into Connie’s house, threatening him with weapons, and potentially being one of your stalkers.

After the night they appeared on The Nights With Flint Show and Connie threatened to hurt Eren’s mom, Eren sent his family — along with Jean’s mom — across the country for safety reasons, just like Levi had sent Erwin and Hange.

That left Connie with no choice but to continue to harm the band members directly.

Not all of the punishments were beatings, either.

Some of them were vile, inhumane, and undoubtedly a result of Connie’s unjustified and brutal time in adult prison when he was just a teenage boy.

What he had put them through was cruel enough to make both Jean and Eren not believe in a god anymore. And, if there was a god that truly existed, then he would owe them an apology for allowing their suffering to continue.

Eventually, the owner of CS Records just shoved the band on a tour bus at the very last minute and sold their gifted minds and ruined bodies to the screaming fangirls and rock-loving fanboys in the form of high-priced tickets to concerts and meet-and-greets.

Unlike their forced tours in the past, Eren truly didn’t mind it this time around, mainly because it kept him distracted.

Those fans of his could easily tell when something was wrong, though.

But that didn’t mean they cared.

Most of them only focused on the sweat dripping off of his beautiful skin, the visible veins in his arms that were flexed as he played his guitar, or the way his shoulder-length brown hair would fall out of that low manbun during his shows. However, some of them noticed how he and Jean were always on opposite sides of the stage.

Or how he could never look out into the crowd whenever they performed the songs they were forced to write about you.

No one ever said anything. A few concerned fans would post about it on social media — how the Handsome Man seemed to have drastically changed, but no one truly cared about what was going on in his chaotic life.

No one questioned where the bruises decorating his skin had come from, nor the sad look in his emerald eyes.

No one noticed the physical and mental torture that the beautiful Eren Yeager had gone through, nor the hidden messages within his song lyrics that were a cry for help.

Perhaps, a conspiracy theorist online would take apart his songs if his own record label decided to kill him someday, or if he threw himself off of a bridge like he had thought about doing more often than he’d willingly admit.

Then everyone would cry and whine about not noticing the signs sooner. The big, bright, unavoidable signs.

As long as he wrote decent Billboard charting songs, as long as the world wanted to sleep with him, then nothing else mattered.

Before performing yet another soulless show, Eren sat on the couch in his dark, spacious backstage dressing room with a cold, wet towel on his forehead.

He was wearing all-black, grungy clothes, complete with a bit of black eyeliner that made his fans go crazy.

His head was aching terribly.

His right ear wouldn’t stop ringing from a devastating encounter he had earlier with a group of obnoxious fangirls.

They were waiting outside of his hotel room all day and all night, and when he stepped out of that hotel lobby to sneak into his awaiting vehicle and head to tonight’s arena, the screams erupted. But that was nothing compared to the mob of people rushing toward him.

The fact that his “security team” was made up of Connie’s Silent Men — people who were hired to hurt him — certainly didn’t help either.

As long as they didn’t kill him, no one cared about who put their hands on Eren.

With a small sigh, Eren leaned forward and grabbed the nearly empty bottle of Aspirin sitting on the coffee table in front of him. He dumped a few of the tiny circular pills into his hand — not bothering to count how many — and tossed them into his mouth.

Suddenly, three gentle knocks occurred at the door of his dressing room, which Eren found odd, as most people just walked in.

“Come in,” he called out softly.

The door opened, and Jean entered.

The last time Eren had seen him, they were arguing over a pointless chord progression in a pointless song.

“The hell do you want?” Eren said, but not with an angry tone, but rather, an exhausted one.

Jean shut the door behind him with one hand. With the other, he held a big burrito wrapped in foil.

“I brought you some food.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Eren,” Jean sighed, rolling his eyes a bit — at least, as best as he could with an enormous bruise around it. “I know you haven’t eaten anything, man. I know it’s hard, but can you at least try?” Eren didn’t move. Nor did he say a word.

“If you don’t eat, then your ass will just end up passing out right on stage, and then Connie will-”

“Give it here,” Eren interrupted.

Jean passed his bandmate the burrito, and he sat down in a chair next to the couch.

“I put everything you like in it. Rice, beef, lettuce-”

“Did you put guacamole?”

“Hell no,” Jean grinned gently as Eren unwrapped his food. “I know you can’t stand it.”

“Okay. Good. I was just testing you.”

Eren took a small bite of the stuffed burrito. He was pleasantly surprised that not only did Jean remember what he did and didn’t like, but also to ask for extra sour cream.

A small grin almost graced Eren’s face as he thought about how, despite everything, Jean still remembered those little details, but then again, Connie remembered little things about Eren too, such as how he liked to drink coffee.

“Don’t be surprised if I’m not around once the show’s over,” Jean suddenly said.

His tone was humorous as he spoke, but Eren noticed the unshakable fear and worry visible within the man’s eyes — even if his right pupil was blown.

“What do you mean?” Eren recovered his burrito — three bites was more than enough right now.

“You know I can’t do the show with you tonight. They can cover my black eye with makeup, but they can’t do shit about my blown pupil. If people see it, they might start asking questions. So, since the band is one member short, they’re gonna issue free merchandise or discounts or something, especially for the people who paid for a meet-and-greet. I basically fucked up the entire night for everyone, and I just . . . wouldn’t be surprised if I get killed over this.”

“It’s not your fault,” Eren frowned. “Why would Connie’s men kill you for an injury they gave you? And how do they expect you to get better if they won’t let you fucking rest? If you’re not performing, you should be in your hotel room sleeping.”

“Yeah, well . . .”

Jean didn’t need to finish his sentence. It was silly to expect CS Records to let Jean recover from an injury they caused.

For a moment, the two bandmates sat in silence, internally debating whether or not Connie would actually take their lives someday.

Then, Jean spoke.

“You think she knows what he’s doing to us?” He asked hesitantly. It was a question that was bothering him, but also a question he truly didn’t want an answer to.

“I don’t see why she wouldn’t,” Eren spoke rather casually, easily able to hide the pain he felt whenever you appeared in his cluttered mind. “She knows how he’s always treated us. Only difference now is she’s not getting mistreated either. Guess she lied when she said he was gonna get therapy. That, or his therapist is doing a shit job.”

“But Eren,” Jean’s voice was haunting as he spoke, filled with terror that Eren understood all too well. “He’s never treated us this badly before. Some of the shit he’s done goes beyond any . . . any beating or publicity stunt. You know that. There’s no way she’d let him do all of this to us.”

Eren leaned back on the couch, placing the towel back over his head as he folded his arms across his chest. “You wanna tell her? You think that’ll make a difference?”

“No, I guess not. Considering someone has been stalking her and we don’t know who, I bet she wouldn’t lift a finger to help any of us.” Jean paused. “That reminds me. Is everyone else doing alright? Or are they suffering like we are?”

“It’s mainly just us, far as I know,” Eren shrugged. “Connie can only do so much considering they don’t work for CS Records. Mikasa’s left the country, but she’s safe. Reiner moved his country-ass family somewhere Connie can’t find them, and he’s hired his own bodyguards. Uh . . . I think Connie’s kinda scared of Levi, because that man’s actually crazy as hell when you think about it, and Armin just has nothing to lose. He doesn’t have any family or meaningful career for Connie to target, and I guess if Connie wanted to kill him, he would’ve done it by now. Guess he just doesn’t see him as a threat.”

Jean chuckled in disbelief.

“What shit have we gotten ourselves into?”

“I don’t know, but I hope it’ll be over soon,” Eren said.

Looking down at his watch, Jean got out of the chair. He started to leave the room.

“I hope so too,” Jean mumbled as he walked out of the door. “I’ll see you later. Have a nice show.”

—

— LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA —

Most nights, Armin Arlert walked home alone after his exhausting work shifts as a waiter. It was a short distance away, and the gas was rather high.

His feet ached terribly. The corners of his mouth were often sore from flashing customer-service-friendly grins all day long in hopes of receiving a decent tip.

Unlike the wealthy celebrities he had gotten to know lately, the blonde-haired boy lived in one of the more dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

No one had bothered him yet, truth be told. He was wise enough to walk down the street with his head hung low, maintain personal space, and not stare at anyone for too long.

Eren and Levi were more worried for his safety than he was.

It didn’t matter where Eldian Devils were performing that night — in Japan, Australia, France, or anywhere — Eren would always check in on his new best friend, making sure that he had gotten home safely.

Sometimes he’d call. Other times, he’d send a quick text message.

But he’d always reach out.

Armin often chalked it up to another attempt at trying to ease the guilt of ruining his relationship with you, just as he did whenever Eren tried to give him money or a house.

Either way, it was nice to have a friend.

As Armin’s apartment came into view, his phone dinged, undoubtedly a text message from Eren.

The former New Yorker wasn’t stupid enough to pull out his phone and check it now — as anyone could decide to shove a gun in his face for it, even if it was a cheap little piece of technology.

Armin made his way into his cold, tiny apartment, locking the doors behind him. When he turned around, he saw that his favorite blanket was draped messily along the couch, and his opened copy of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton had tumbled to the ground.

He was running late for work this morning, as he had gotten caught up in his novel, and because he spent the night worrying about Eren.

His friend looked absolutely miserable in every photo that had popped up online during his tour. It made him wonder what CS Records was doing to him and Jean, and why no one bothered to ask any questions.

With a small sigh, Armin pulled his phone out of his back pocket, and when the contact name that had appeared on his screen wasn’t Eren’s, a lump of worry started to form in his throat.

That was, at least, until he noticed that it was you who had texted him.

It must have been some sort of trap. It must have been a trick. What could you possibly want after pushing everyone away? Did it have something to do with that look of regret in your eyes when everyone walked out of the door that day?

Armin read the text message.

Meet me at the motel.

He frowned. He knew exactly what motel you had meant. After all, he knew you. But he didn’t appreciate your lack of greeting or any other information that could have made all of this less frightening.

Only a fool would trust Connie Springer’s wife, right?

Armin leaned against his front door, and he texted back.

Why?

He glanced away from his phone, assuming that he wouldn’t receive a response immediately, but as soon as his eyes darted away from the screen, his phone dinged again.

Because I need to talk to you.

Just as he was getting ready to respond, you sent him another message.

I made a big mistake.

— SEVERAL HOURS EARLIER —

When one lived in a rather enormous house, walking around it constantly was often exhausting, especially when trying to locate something lost.

While trying to find you, Connie had gotten in an entire workout session without needing to go into his two-story home gym.

He sighed in frustration as he paused in the hallway.

You were someone who followed a daily schedule, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he couldn’t tell, but around this late afternoon hour, you were typically in the pool, or enjoying the recreational activities within the pool house.

Connie had walked through the pool house twice. You weren’t there, nor were you in the pool itself.

Were you hiding from him?

He did notice that you often disappeared whenever the alcohol bottles were handed to him as if it wasn’t you who had driven him to drink this much.

But, right now, he was sober and simply wanted to check in on the pregnant wife he both loved and despised.

As Connie leaned against the wall, he raised his fist to his lips, his cold, black ring touching his skin. After taking a moment to think, he hadn’t seen you at all today. Not at breakfast, even though French toast, eggs, and fruit were prepared.

Not when workers were moving furniture into the new nursery — Connie thought that it was too early to decorate, but you were rather excited.

So, with that knowledge, Connie made his way to your bedroom.

Just as he approached your door, one of his staff members stepped out of your room.

It was Lacy, a young woman with brown hair who was hired to look after you and make sure both you and your baby were in great health.

“Something wrong?” Connie asked.

The woman pulled down her face mask with her gloved hand. Her green eyes were shiny with worry — but one could only guess if it was related to your health, or because she was talking the Connie Springer.

“She, um . . . she has the flu.” The woman awkwardly adjusted her bag of medical supplies across her shoulder, her fingers fidgeting with the straps. “I’d like to keep a close eye on her if that’s alright. Pregnant women are at higher risk for other serious illnesses if they catch the flu.”

“Fine. Pick a guest room.”

Connie started to open the door, but the doctor suddenly said, “Wait, don’t go in there yet.”

She pulled a face mask out of her brown leather bag and handed it to him.

“You should wear a mask along with everyone else in this house. I’d also recommend temporarily reducing your staff. I’d like to check everyone’s temperature, because someone here gave it to her, more than likely.”

“Do what you gotta do.” Connie put on the face mask and stepped into your bedroom.

It was truly a wonder — how you knew Connie had entered your bedroom without looking over your thick cream-colored comforter.

It wasn’t his cologne, which was never overpowering, nor was it the sound of his footsteps, but perhaps, the shiver that ran up your spine once the door opened — a shiver that wasn’t caused by the flu.

The small space on the side of your bed, next to your bent legs, dipped as Connie sat there.

“I knew something was wrong,” Connie looked down at you. “But I didn’t know if you were just avoiding me. I guess you’re always doing that though, right? Considering we don’t even share the same fucking bedroom. You can’t stand the sight of me, can you?”

Connie reached out, placing a hand against your sweaty cheek.

“Go away,” you mumbled weakly.

“I guess I should let you rest,” Connie ran his thumb across your quivering lips. “The doctor said pregnant women and the flu are a bad combination. She didn’t give me that much detail, but I’m guessing our baby could die. You could die. Who knows.”

“And I’m guessing you’d like that.”

Connie didn’t respond immediately.

He was conflicted, those two opposing parts of him sending mixed signals to his mind.

The lonely part of him that loved you, that wanted to protect you from your stalker and other threats in your unholy world, well, it made him want to rent out an entire hospital for you and get on his hands and knees and pray for your recovery.

The part of him that hated you, that wanted you six feet under, was hoping your flu would progress into something more serious. Then, you’d get out of his life for good without him having to get his hands dirty.

“I think I’d be happy either way,” he said emotionlessly.

Connie pulled down his face mask. He leaned over, and pressed a soft kiss against your lips, one that could have him lying in his own bed with your illness as well.

But he didn’t care.

Connie pulled away, mumbling against your lips, “Get some rest. Or don’t. I don’t give a damn.”

As Connie started to leave the bedroom, he looked back at you as he stepped through the doorway, and he said, “Just remember that if our baby doesn’t survive, I don’t have any use for you anymore.”

Connie shut the door.

You were left with nothing but his words running through your clouded mind, and you could only guess what that meant.

Divorce, or murder.

Having all the money in the world wasn’t worth the fear.

There was an element of danger that you didn’t consider when trying to force yourself into that abundance of wealth associated with the Springer name, and it was the fact that, assuming you and your baby pulled through your pregnancy, Connie would certainly end your life if he found out he wasn’t the father.

With your history of relationships, he would be an utter fool not to ask for a DNA test.

Or, what if the baby came out as a spitting image of his father?

What if . . .

Your new husband was too dangerous, even though your manipulative plan worked. It only made him someone to be feared even more, which was something you didn’t foresee.

The money wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t worth your life.

With a trembling arm, you grabbed your phone off of your nightstand and opened your contacts. It didn’t take long to find the one person you wanted to reach, whose first and last name both started with an “A,” and was, perhaps, the perfect person to go to for comfort.

Maybe it was stupid.

Maybe Armin was your stalker, just like you suspected a while ago.

He fit the mold of one — you broke his heart. He knew your old address without you telling him. He refused to leave Los Angeles and go back to New York.

But the same could be said about any of your old lovers, truthfully. They were all heartbroken. They all refused to leave you alone at one point. They all knew where you used to live.

Either way, with Connie’s threatening words looming over your head, you rested your trembling hand against your stomach, and you pressed Armin’s contact.

—

Armin arrived at the devastatingly familiar motel. Cheap and rather old-fashioned, but a bittersweet feeling ran through his veins as he stared up at the building. It was the same motel you both stayed at a long time ago, the day he first brought you to Los Angeles.

At the time, it was better than sleeping in the car.

After confirming that he was standing outside of the right room by glancing down at your recent text message repeatedly, he knocked softly at the door.

A wave of relief washed over him when that raggedy wooden door slowly opened — and it was just you.

As soon as he sighed and stepped into the tiny, yellowish, dated room that hadn’t seen a spec of cosmetic work in decades, his big blue eyes scanned over you, and the corners of his mouth fell into a frown. His eyes then darted to the backpack in the corner of the room.

“Are you okay? You don’t look well.”

“I’m not,” you said through your face mask.

You sat down on the edge of the squeaky bed, and Armin took the spot next to you.

“I have the flu,” you admitted.

“Oh.” Glancing down at his feet, Armin said, “Is that why you texted me?”

“No.” You turned your head and looked at Armin with red, exhausted eyes. “I just . . . I don’t know. I made a huge mistake. I shouldn’t have married Connie.”

“You just wanted to have a family with the father of your child. I understand that.”

“He’s not the father,” You gave Armin a knowing look. “You of all people should know that.”

“Then why’d you-”

“Money,” you interrupted, knowing exactly what he was going to ask: Why did you marry him?

“Connie has the kind of wealth that most celebrities will never achieve, especially ones who get pregnant and are mainly known for their scandals more than anything else. So, I just tried to trick him into thinking that this was his baby, and manipulated him into marrying me. I know that makes me a horrible person, but after what he put me through, I guess I just wanted some revenge.”

“What changed?” Armin asked softly — and, god, you missed that voice of his. “What made you regret your decision?”

A look of fear flashed across your face.

“He’s a dangerous man, and what I’ve done — what all of us have done, actually — has only made him worse. There’s no point in having any money if I’m too dead to spend it.” You paused. “It’s like he’s losing his mind, you know? One second, he wants me gone, and the next . . . he’s willing to hunt all of you down just to protect me-”

You erupted into a fit of dry coughs. Armin worriedly placed a hand on your back.

“You should lay down,” Armin said.

“I’m fine,” you sniffled. “Anyway, I’m telling you all of this because . . . I’m leaving Los Angeles.”

Armin’s ocean eyes widened a bit.

“Really? Where are you going?”

“Wherever you’ll take me.”

“You-” Armin abruptly cut his sentence short, as he was in a state of shock. “Me? Why me?”

You started coughing once again. Armin started to rub your back with his hand. His worried frown deepened.

“I know I’m not mother or wife material,” you said once your coughing fit ended, “ but I want my baby, and I can’t raise a kid in Hollywood. That place is evil. Look what it did to me. I’d rather go back to New York, work in that bakery, and split sandwiches with you.”

“No.”

You were starting to shiver. Armin wrapped his arms around you.

“Being a celebrity in Hollywood or being a baker in New York aren’t your only options. We can go wherever you want, and with all the connections you have now, I bet you could become a very successful writer without the fuss of also being super famous. That was your dream, wasn’t it? Where would you like to go?”

You thought about one of the moments in your bittersweet life in which you were truly happy.

It was when you visited Tennessee with Reiner’s family. You missed that man, as he truly treated you well, but as you thought about the pain your existence had caused his loving family, who had their family home burned down by Silent Men and were forced to relocate across the country, you had to let your love for Reiner Braun go.

But, you didn’t have to let go of the memories.

In the South, having a plate stuffed with warm food was normal. Most people were so polite — so welcoming. Loving.

“Maybe . . . the South. I think I like the South. I’m not sure what state, but I just wanna get out of here.”

“Okay,” a soft grin graced Armin’s face. “We’ll leave tomorrow. Get some rest.”

Armin pulled the covers of the bed back, and he helped you lay down as he recovered your shivering body.

“Goodnight,” he mumbled.

Your childhood friend started to walk away, getting ready to make an uncomfortable sleeping spot for himself on the floor when suddenly, you called his name.

“Armin?” You said weakly.

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry for breaking your heart.”

“It’s okay,” he smiled softly once again. “And I’m sorry for bringing you to Los Angeles. I’ll make up for it by being the one who helps you leave.”

“Okay,” a weak, but wholesome smile graced your face. “Well, I’ll make up for what I did by loving you properly this time.”

Armin smiled happily, blushing a bit as he looked down at the ground.

At that moment, Armin had hoped the flu shot he had received would protect him, as he couldn’t help but lean down, and kiss your cheek softly.

Afterward, with the excitement over the chance to start anew yet again both running through your veins, you both drifted off to sleep.

—

The sky was a beautiful canvas of purple, orange, and blue as the sun hadn’t yet risen entirely. It was an early morning hour when Armin’s eyes shot open.

He was awakened by the sound of painful groaning.

Startled, he pushed himself off of the ground, and fumbled around in the dark room, hoping his fingers would run across a light switch.

Once the worn-out light flickered on, the first thing he saw was blood.

It coated the beige sheets that you had yanked off of your body.

It covered your trembling hands and thighs.

What frightened him even more than the blood was your appearance. Sweat coated the parts of your skin that weren’t covered in blood. Your chest fell and rose unevenly as if it were painful to breathe. Groans of pain fell from between your lips, which only stopped whenever a coughing fit had occurred.

Your stomach was cramping horrifically. Armin could tell based on the way you were curled up in a circle, your hands against your stomach.

When he rushed over and touched your shoulder, you suddenly vomited off the side of the bed.

Your skin was burning up underneath his fingertips, and your own fingertips — as well as your lips — had started to turn to a bluish shade.

Armin didn’t waste any time trying to get you to speak and tell him what was wrong.

He scooped you up and took you to the emergency room.

—

Armin sat in the spacious, light brown waiting room of the hospital with your blood on his clothes. And that blood had told him what had happened before the doctor did.

You lost your baby.

Armin could hear your cries from the waiting room.

The doctor told Armin the news with a pained look in his eyes, assuming that he was the father as he went on and on about the flu, infections such as pneumonia, and admitting you into the hospital as a patient so you could be treated right away.

Armin couldn’t begin to process the knowledge that he could lose you too, not when the big, crowded waiting room had started to slowly become infiltrated with invasive fans and paparazzi, all of whom wanted to locate your whereabouts, or at the very least, bombard Armin with questions.

Hours later, police officers had to rush to the hospital and control the crowd, holding back groups of emotional men and women standing in the nauseatingly bright, white hallways.

Your name — and what was happening to you — became headlining news rather instantly.

Night time had arrived. There wasn’t any news.

Armin was still sitting in an uncomfortable chair in the now blocked-off waiting room, all by himself, worry consuming him as he could hear the loud shouts and irritating voices of police officers going back and forth with the fans and paparazzi a few feet away.

That was when Connie stepped into the waiting room with two of his Silent Men.

Armin’s heart fell into the pit of his stomach. For a while, the two of them simply stared at each other. Connie’s face was unreadable.

“Is she dead?” Connie casually asked.

“No,” Armin replied nervously. “She’s not dead, but the baby . . . uh, your baby . . . didn’t make it. Y/N’s sick with an inf-”

“What are you doing here?” Connie suddenly interrupted, yawning. “You brought her to the hospital? Were you with her? Or are you her damn stalker, and found out she was here?”

Armin didn’t know how to respond to such a drastic accusation, but the truth was no better. Both potential answers were too dangerous to give.

“We weren’t together,” Armin lied. “I guess she forgot to change her emergency contact because the hospital called me for some reason, and I don’t have your number, so I just showed up.”

Connie stared at Armin coldly. The waiter couldn’t tell if the entrepreneur bought his story or not.

“Well, I’m here now, so get the hell out of here.” Connie paused. “If I ever see you come around her again, I’ll kill you, okay?”

—

Two weeks had passed.

Despite being in the hospital, Connie hadn’t stepped into your room at all.

The nurses had told you that your husband was in the waiting room — having a deadly, contagious infection was the reason why, according to the kind nurses who tried to comfort you about not being able to see him, but you knew the truth.

He didn’t give a damn about you.

And you were allowed to have visitors three days ago when your doctor no longer deemed you as contagious.

He was only here to scare off anyone else who might have given a damn about you, not to see you himself.

By now, the medication that the doctors had pumped you with had started to work. The news of both your illness and your miscarriage resulted in an overwhelming amount of support and love from your fans and disrespectful theories about who the father could have been from your haters.

Not everyone bought the story that it belonged to CS Records owner, Connie Springer.

Laying in your hospital bed with fuzzy blue socks on your feet and an IV in your arm, reruns of Family Feud continuously played on your television. You chuckled softly at one of Steve Harvey’s dirty jokes.

Someone suddenly knocked on your door.

It wasn’t the quick, friendly knock that doctors and nurses often did, but rather, the knock of someone trying to be discreet.

“Come in,” you said, grabbing the remote and muting the television.

Eren walked through the door.

“Eren?” Your eyes widened at the sight of him. “What are you doing here? How’d you get in here?”

“Had to sneak by some people and pay others,” he said, shutting the door behind him.

“What about your tour?”

Eren walked over and sat on the side of your bed.

“I found a jet as soon as I heard you were in the hospital. Those bastards tried to keep the news from me — took my phone away and everything. But I don’t care about that fucking tour,” Eren smiled sadly. “I know what you said about wanting all of us to go away, but I had to see if you were okay.”

You smiled at the Handsome Man, but as you really looked at him, and ran your eyes across his entire body, your grin slowly faded. “Are you okay?”

He was more pale than usual. Thinner than he was when you had last seen him. And, of course, there were bruises and scratches across the pieces of skin that weren’t covered with black clothes or a couple of tattoos.

“Are you?” He deflected.

Your frown only deepened. Your baby was gone. You were filled with fear over what that could have meant for you. Every night, you cried yourself to sleep about it. By now, you were practically out of tears.

“I was . . . gonna run away from Connie, but then I got sick,” you admitted. “I made a huge mistake by pushing all of you away. I tried to tell myself that I didn’t love any of you, but really, I love all of you. You, Armin, Reiner, Levi . . . even Jean, in a way.”

“You love me?” Eren smiled sweetly, warmth spreading across his cheeks. Then, suddenly, his smile faded.

“Do you know what he’s been up to?” Eren looked down at the floor. His jaw clenched. “You know what he’s been doing to me and Jean?”

“No,” you furrowed your brows in confusion. “What are you-”

Suddenly, your nurse knocked on your door and opened it.

“Sorry to interrupt, but you arrived pretty late, Mister Yeager. Visiting hours are over, I’m sorry. Please come back tomorrow.”

Eren nodded and turned his attention back to you. For a brief moment, the light in his eyes that had vanished long ago returned, and he stared at you softly and lovingly.

“I’ll see you later, okay?”

Eren placed his hand on your cheek, running his thumb across it. He leaned in and kissed your lips as gently as he could.

Eren left both your room and the hospital. As he did so, stepping through those automatic exit doors, Connie was watching him.

—

Getting discharged from the hospital a few days later was like losing your freedom.

You were rather shocked when Connie picked you up from the hospital that night, considering how he insisted upon you being worthless to him if there wasn’t a baby.

But, either way, he helped you into the car, holding onto the plastic bag filled with your belongings such as your toiletries, clothes, and your cell phone.

He shut your door and walked to the driver’s side.

Tomorrow night, you planned on trying it all over again: messaging Armin and running away with him.

But, tonight, you’d go home with your despicable husband.

Connie was quiet as he drove down the L.A. streets.

“Is everything okay?” You asked worriedly, looking at the side of his unreadable face.

He didn’t respond.

He only clenched the steering wheel, and thought about two things: your old lovers, and the little fact that the doctor had shared with him — you were at least eight weeks pregnant at the time of your miscarriage.

That rough estimate of how far along you were revealed to your dear husband that he was not the father.

Connie suddenly made a few unfamiliar turns, and eventually, you realized that he was not taking you home.

—

“How have you never had one before? Slushies are the best shit ever. You’ve been missing out.”

Eren sipped on his cold red beverage as he walked down the street with Armin.

They had spent the entire day together, hanging around Eren’s mansion and enjoying each other’s company.

“On rare occasions in which I could afford something sweet growing up, I always grabbed a pecan roll. So I guess I never bothered to try anything else.” Armin grinned as he mixed around his thick blue treat with his straw.

“A pecan roll?” Eren grimaced playfully. “You act like a seventy-year-old man sometimes. You probably like Raisin Bran too, don’t you?”

“It’s not bad,” Armin smiled, but then, his grin faded away slowly.

“What’s wrong?” Eren asked.

“Nothing, I’m alright-”

“No, you’re not. I know that face. ”

“Well,” Armin looked down at his feet as he walked slowly. “I was just wondering if the only reason the two of us are friends now is because you’re still trying to make up for what you did. I mean, do you honestly enjoy hanging out with me?”

“Yeah. Is that so hard to believe?” Eren frowned a bit as he spoke. “I wanted your forgiveness, but I didn’t befriend you for that reason. Would be kinda stupid to do that considering we’re still both chasing after the same woman. We’re friends because we’re friends.”

“Okay, I believe you,” Armin’s smile returned once again.

Armin couldn’t say for certain whether or not you would both try to leave Los Angeles once again, but he had hoped that his friendship with Eren would last no matter how far apart they were.

After all, the two of them had recently purchased plane tickets to the Bahamas — Eren’s decision after he had learned the other boy had never truly been on a real vacation.

As Armin thought about what the vacation might be like, an engine roared in the distance as a car sped down the street in their direction, the headlights bright and distracting.

Eren stopped walking and turned around.

Armin — who hadn’t turned around yet, noticed Eren’s face change from a comforting smile to a look of horrific dread.

Eren recognized that car.

There wasn’t enough time to react. By the time Armin had turned around to see what made his friend so visibly upset, Connie Springer had opened his car door.

He pulled out his gun and shot Armin in the chest.

As the hot lead poured through his body, he fell over, dropping his slushie. Eren caught him as best as he could, lowering him to the ground gently.

Blood gushed from his mouth — rendering him speechless — but his big, sad, and panicked eyes stared into Eren’s, and told him that he wasn’t ready to go. He didn’t want to die.

“What the hell?” Eren shouted.

His hands were soaked in blood.

Instantly, he was a teenage boy again, trying to scoop up bloodied pieces of Marco’s internal organs — pieces of his body that weren’t stuck to the road or the tire belonging to the car that hit him — and put him back together.

Marco was already dead. He had transitioned from that life and into the next before Eren even made it down the hill that day.

But Armin was still alive.

He could be saved.

He could be . . .

Armin suddenly coughed up blood. It spewed from his mouth, painting his lips and chin red, and he started to gag on it.

Eren wanted to tell his friend every single word that ran through his mind:

“Hold on just a little longer, I’ll call for help.”

“Don’t die. We still have to go on that trip together.”

“Don’t die, please don’t die. Just stay with me.”

But Eren couldn’t say a word, as his throat had dried to a crisp. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see two people moving frantically. He could hear your voice. Your cries.

You were trying to snatch Connie’s gun away from him.

Eren pulled out his phone with a trembling, bloody hand. He opened the dial screen.

One day, Armin’s hands wouldn’t be scratched up from working excessive heavy labor jobs.

They wouldn’t be covered in his own blood either.

They would be wrapped around a glass of piña colada as he relaxed on a beautiful beach in The Bahamas.

Eren promised.

Armin was too young to die, and he couldn’t die like this, bleeding out on the cold and dirty concrete from a painful gunshot wound.

No.

Eren refused to watch someone else die in front of him.

As Eren’s thumb pressed the nine on the keypad, a bullet blasted through his phone, through his index and middle finger, and lastly, through his chest.

You opened your car door.

You couldn’t say for certain whether or not you walked toward them, or if you ran, but you fell to your knees beside the two bleeding bodies.

Hot tears clouded your vision. Anger and sadness fogged your mind. With trembling hands, you tried to cover both the wound in Armin’s chest and the wound in Eren’s, but you couldn’t stop the bleeding.

You couldn’t stop their suffering.

You couldn’t even tell if they were both still alive.

You had only managed to soak your hands and clothes in their blood — your tears splattering onto their warm skin.

Eren Yeager didn’t deserve to die either.

He deserved peace — to be free from the suffocating spotlight for even just a day, and to smile without it being photographed for the obnoxious mass media.

All he had ever known was pain and performances.

Connie stepped away from his car and approached you with his gun aimed at your head.

“I didn’t plan on shooting you too,” Connie mumbled lowly. “But watching you cry and run over to these two bastards has pissed me off. And trying to wrestle me for a gun — are you fucking crazy?”

Even if you wanted to beg for your life, you couldn’t. Speaking was a skill you had lost as soon as he fired that second bullet.

Connie looked into your sad, teary eyes with his dark, emotionless ones.

“Stay the hell out of my life, you hear me? I don’t want you as a wife. I don’t want you as an artist. If I see your face again, I’ll put a bullet through it.”

And, with that, he lowered his gun. He got back into his car and sped away.

Maybe it was idiotic to leave a witness alive. He’d blame the part of himself that loved you a little, the human part that still existed, that instantly regretted firing a bullet through his childhood friend. That couldn’t stand the look of horror in your eyes.

But logically, it truly didn’t matter. Whether or not you were dead or alive, everything would come back to him either way.

He, at the very least, could count on Levi Ackerman to make sure of it.

Your loud, uncontrollable sobs erupted once Connie was truly gone.

You patted your own body with your blood-soaked hands, attempting to find your phone.

It was in Connie’s car.

You shifted over a bit in Eren’s direction, who was lying on his stomach.

You had to roll him over with your shaky arms and grab his phone from underneath his bleeding body. Your sobs made your ears ring.

His phone was destroyed by the bullet, half of the black device was missing while what remained was shattered and cracked all the way through.

There was no one else around who could help you, nothing surrounding you except complete and utter darkness.

Your knees scraped against the sidewalk as you shifted your body once again, facing Armin, and desperately, thoroughly, you searched his limp body for his phone.

When your fingers wrapped around the device in the pocket of his pants, you dialed 911 with shaky hands and spoke to the operator with a shrieking, croaking voice.

—

It took about eight minutes for an ambulance and a team of police officers to arrive. During that time, you couldn’t do anything except watch the two of them bleed out.

Watch them both die.

That next hour seemed as if someone else was living it, as if you weren’t inside of your own body. Blue and red lights were constantly flashing. Teams of paramedics gently tossed their bodies on stretchers and loaded them into the back of their ambulances.

They were rushed to the hospital, while you were taken to the police station.

Your clothes and skin were soaked in blood, including your hospital bracelet.

That was all that mattered — that was all that you could feel — their blood on your body.

The police questioned you inside of a grey, lifeless room for what felt like an eternity.

And you told them the truth.

You told them that they were shot by Connie Springer.

You couldn’t say for certain what would happen next — to you, or him, or Eren, or Armin. All you could think about was the blood on your body.

There was no greater suffering than not knowing what was happening with those two, and not being able to sit by their side.

Not knowing what would happen.

When you were allowed to leave, you were greeted outside of the police station by flashing lights from an uncountable amount of cameras, and you were bombarded with horrific questions as microphones were shoved in your face.

All you could do was stand there and think about the blood on your body.

Suddenly, a man pushed through the crowd of soulless individuals.

It was Levi.

When you made eye contact with him, a tear rolled down your cheek.

“Come on, let’s go,” he said softly. Microphones were only inches away from his face, attempting to pick up the conversation between you both.

As he placed an arm around you and led you to his car, more cameras flashed.

The car ride with Levi was a silent one, and you were thankful for that. He cast a few concerned glances your way, but you could only stare out of the window and think about the blood.

His car pulled into that driveway of his modern mansion with a sophisticated black exterior, and he helped you inside, as your legs were insanely wobbly from recovering from your illness, and the recent trauma.

Despite the chilly, sterile, and sleek atmosphere of Levi’s home, stepping into it again felt like a small piece of your soul had been returned.

You felt safe.

Truth be told, Levi had planned on selling his home while he was staying with Hange, but as he saw the heartbreaking look of relief wash over your face once you stepped through his front doors, he was glad he didn’t.

“You should get cleaned up,” he said, shutting the front door behind you.

“I don’t think . . ." You couldn’t finish your sentence. Not with the way a sob was always everpresent, and the lump in your throat wouldn’t go away.

“I can help you. It’s okay.” Levi responded because he knew exactly what you were trying to say: that you didn’t have the energy or the nerves to do it yourself.

To wash off their blood.

Levi ran a warm bath to help break up the blood that had dried against your skin. He’d help you shower afterward as well, but for now, this was easier.

He collected your soaked, red-stained clothes and threw them away.

Once he helped you into his jetted bathtub, he poured some body wash onto a new, spare loofah and started to scrub your arm.

You both sat in silence, the only noise that could be heard was the sound of the soap suds spreading across your skin.

As he ran the loofah across your thighs, the water started to turn red.

He drained it and refilled the tub with more warm water.

Tears rolled down your cheeks again. He didn’t say a word. He knew you didn’t want him to.

“It was yours,” you suddenly said, your voice cracking as you spoke. “The baby. It was yours. That was why I told you.”

“I know.”

You turned your head, frowning as the tears continued to fall.

“You knew?” You sniffled. “Then why’d you disappear? Why didn’t you say or . . . or do anything?”

“Because you wanted to be rich, and I wanted you to be happy,” Levi replied softly. “I’m sorry for disappearing. I won’t do it ever again. I promise.”

Suddenly, Levi’s phone started to ring. He would have ignored it — taking care of you was more important — but in his gut, he knew that he needed to answer.

He got up and walked toward the sink, and grabbed his phone.

He looked at the caller ID.

“It’s the hospital,” he announced, tapping his phone to answer the call.

“Hello?” he said.

As he spoke, your heart sank.

Levi’s face shifted into a look of complete and utter despair.

He made eye contact with you, and those eyes of his — filled with sorrow — made you want to lay down in the tub, and drown yourself to stop the pain that started to overwhelm your body.

At first, Levi was told decent news, that one of your lovers had pulled through surgery, but he wasn��t out of the woods just yet, as he was in a coma.

The same could not be said for the other person.

Your other beloved had succumbed to his injuries on the operating table.

There was nothing they could do to save his life.

You knew exactly who it was without hearing the rest of Levi’s phone call, and you couldn’t breathe, choking on your own sobs.

If Eren Yeager had died, the hospital would have called his mother, not Levi Ackerman.

But . . . Armin Arlert’s emergency contact was Levi Ackerman.

He didn’t have anyone else.

When Levi hung up the phone, he reached across the bathtub, and wrapped his arms around you, trying his hardest to console the inconsolable.

But there was nothing anyone could do.

That kind-hearted, hard-working boy had passed away.

♡ — 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠!

🎟: @consuming-karma @lilvampirina @okaystopwhore @chrollohearttags @nanamochii @bunny2612 @cupids-soul @crazychaoticizzy @ramonathinks @averysmolbear @seishirogf @6sakusa @levin4nami @chaotic-on-main @sad-darksoul @gwapbby @katestrophes @ventdavi154 @lovelyless-fiction @svftackerman @musegonemad @moonmalice @inciteterr0r @honeybleed @zeninsbitch @purple-milk24 @itzgabz22 @mooomuu @micafecitoconpan @beaniebanby @anonymousme23 @theitchbbbb @skit-brentfaiyaz @princessos-blog @elliesbabygirl @the-mrs-steve-harrington @kittenbabe00 @magictrump @hetalia-tumbler @hon3y-c0mb @bol0-de-morang0 @thisisketchy @yoongirecs @allofffmypeaches @sasha-glass @getwaves @deluluvibes @p3nislawd @emery-333

#five husbands spoilers

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absolutebl · 2 years ago

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This Week in BL - It’s My Birthday!

April 2023 Wk 4

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Step By Step (Thai Tues WeTV & Gaga) ep 2 of 10 (MDL says 12, but Gaga says 10) - Baby made a friend! Yay. I hope they stay friends. Up looks so good. Also, drama with exes! Excellent. This is awful grown up for a BL, esp a pulp. I think it may be more just a gay office romance than BL, but I love it no matter what.

La Pluie (Sat iQIYI) ep 1 of 10 - I love it. Strange premise to get at the fated mates trope but it stars one of my top picks to get his own BL. Been waiting since TT2 for this boy to feature. Tai is cute. It’s good. Except the singing. But we can’t have it all.

Our Skyy 2 (Star in My Mind) eps 3-4 - Dao is THE MOST SPOILED. But clearly Kluen prefers it that way. This was cute, but frankly a little bit boring. Kluen is clearly Thai for whipped. 8/10

Future (Thai Sun YouTube & Gaga) ep 5 of 6 - they added an additional ep because, why not? It’s a soap not a story, it doesn’t matter. MOAR softness for usssss! Drama llama boys continue to be overdramatic to the point of melodramatic to the point of ludicrous-dramatic.

Pastsenger (Thai Weds Gaga) ep 8 of 12 eps - This is not as good as My Engineer but Marc makes for a much better pair with Cooper. It’s still not great but hey… and then HE PICKED UP A GUITAR. NOOOOOO!!!!!

A Boss and a Babe (Fri YouTube) ep 9 of 12 - Is that a character in a GMMTV show actually trying to communicate? Say it isn’t so! Did you notice in order to calm Cher down Gun dropped to pom to put them on a more equal footing? Sweet. Cher is a tiny idiot for taking the blame for some random other coworker. Why? Omg this show.

The Promise (Thai Weds YT & WeTV) ep 6 of 10 - So it was a real serious total kiss kiss with both very drunk. And that’s why he ran? Sigh. This show sucks. How can we root for this couple especially when the faen fatal (Boss) is THAT HOT and so sweet. (To be fair I can’t decide if I want Boss or his outfits more). Phu should just not come back, who needs him? So they really are going to just keep drawing this one premise out the whole show?

Tin Tam Jai (Tues Gaga & iQIYI) ep 9 of 10 - yawn

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Our Dining Table AKA Bokura no Shokutaku (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 4 of 10 - They are cutest EVER - charming and awkward and sweet. I love the way the state of the food is used as an illustration for the state of the emotions of the characters. The loneliness of heating up a solitary meal bought from a convenience store in the microwave. The joy of memory of shared meals. What a lovely show.

The Eighth Sense (Korea Weds Viki) eps 9-10fin - To be honest, I was dreading this one. JH is such a first-time love bebe. I liked how realistic everybody’s behavior was to the university age bracket. We even got some proper boyfriends phase which is too damn cute for words. I do not think that JW should have made up with his evil friend. I love the way JW’s shoulders relax the moment he sees JH. This was really good show...

One of the longest BLs Korea has given us and (like Blueming) it feels more atmospheric gay coming of age romance than strictly BL. It’s got a bit of an age gap, country boy/city boy, stellar acting, complex characters, and leads with good chemistry and tension. It’s a bit chewy and sticky and less perfect than most KBLs (do I detect a touch of Taiwan?). This one deployed BL tropes (messy eater, shoulder sleep, protective seme, there’s even some hyung-slinging) but front loaded them, with tons angst driving the 2nd half. This isn’t in the KBL bubble, there’s sharp edges and lots of triggers. For a BL the darkness of the content left me feeling unsettled but it did have a glorious ending and that counts for a lot. 9/10 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Happy Merry Ending (Korea Thurs Gaga) eps 1-2 of 8 - No shade (ha!) but I do think Leo would have been better in the role of the singer (SJ) but I’m okay with Dongwon. JH is a nice flirty bit of sunshine. SJ is clearly the most anxiety-riddled socially awkward broken baby evers. I’m not sure about this kinda angst, it’s not really my thing especially on the back of The Eighth Sense. Look, I’ve never been one for a fixer-upper. We shall see, I guess? This is the beauty of KBL, so short most of the time that it’s low commitment no matter my reservations.

My Story (Pinoy Sat YouTube) ep 3 of 10 - it’s fine I guess?

Naked Dinner AKA Zenra Meshi (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 3 of 12 - I guess the fetish matches are finding each other? How v Japan. Of course I like the conversation about names and protocols.

It’s Airing But ...

Love Syndrome (Thai Sat WeTV) stopped at ep 2 of 12 - I’m just not into any aspect of it (except Lee Long Shi and I can watch him in Tin Tem Jai) - saving to binge if the end is solid.

Venus in the Sky (Sat YouTube) pilot/tester?) 0 of 10 - not entirely sure what’s up with this one distribution-wise, but the pilot was classic university-set pulp. I hope it happens because the leads are cute with good chemsitry and I thought it was fun. However, this pilot holds together as its own little short too.

Make a Wish (Thai Weds ?) stars Fluke Natouch (OhmFluke UWMA etc...) & Judo (The Miracle Of Teddy Bear) in a medical-fantasy. About a doctor who sees ghosts and a deity who resides in a Bodhi tree that earns merits whenever he fulfills a wish, based on a y-novel by Sammon (Manner of Death, Triage). Same as above.

Stormy Honeymoon (Vietnam) - I’m tired of these characters

In Case You Missed It

Star Hunter dropped all their trailers for 2023 on their YT channel. Bit late in the year IMHO. Nothing really stuck out.

Big Dragon the movie = more of the same

True Moon = yet another loosely disguised attempt at the 2 Moons franchise?

Flirt Milk = standard pulp fodder, but they are cute

Acadex = The Eclipse + Destiny Seeker + Harry Potter 4 + The CW, as a movie that may not be BL

Sunset Vibes = Big Dragon pair as a one night stand but “uh-oh he’s my boss!” I’m game. Maybe it’ll have a better story? Maybe it will have a plot? Maybe... oh who am I kidding. It’ll be high heat and that’s about all we can hope for.

City of Stars AKA Fueangnakorn = An actor falls in love with a programmer and the narrative intends to “explore the ramifications of being public figure in the social network era who must endure critics, bullying, and defamation.” Looks like another Lovely Writer/Call It What You Want sort of thing.

The biggest shocker is how few they fielded of their original BL stable.

ALSO:

Love Senior = SOTUS but make it GL (I’m not mad about this one, it’s about flipping time. But it’s GL so I won’t track it, although I will watch it.)

Next Week Looks Like This:

Coming in May 2023:

5/1 House of Stars (Thai iQIYI) - An LGBTQ actor in love with an actor from another company, plus other wanna be stars all trapped in a doom house together.

5/4 Love Mate (Korea Viki) 8 eps- Office romance between a team leader and a new employee who agree to date for 3 months to find true love, from the makers of Our Dating Sim.

5/18 - Starstruck (Korea ????) - A boy has had a crush on his childhood friend for a long time. Stars Zuho (Kpop SF9 - noted Good Egg) opposite rookie actor Kim In Sung (as the one with the crush).

5/27 The Luminous Solution (Thai ????) 10 eps - Thana is having trouble at work and in his relationship. He can't seem to catch a break. So he makes a wish to change everything. But every wish has a price.

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED)

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

I do like a tie (or nametag) grab kiss. (Boss & Babe)

Our Skyy 2 SIMM ep summing it all up and reviewing itself.

Future the series, I like this reverse claiming thing. So cute.

The boyfriends eps are the BEST eps. The Eighth Sense.

I WANT BOSS’S OUTFITS.

My favorite, “there is only one bed but we slept together on the floor anyway.” (The Promise)

Now that is a claim that MUST be proved.

Loves the little babies with their killer communication style.

What do I always say about a BL that reviews itself? All from Destiny Seeker. (I’m getting caught up, I’ll post a review of the series when I’m done.)

(last week)

Current Kpop earworm? UO’s Restart

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neo-neos · 2 years ago

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"I watched Safe House season 1 and I need to get my thoughts out" the megashitpost xoxo

Okay so, I am late to the party (as always) but I randomly decided to watch Safe House all the way from season 1... It's unsubbed on Youtube so I have literally 0 clues about what's going on. (My hidden motive for watching WAS Pond's voice, because his voice is something very special to me but THEN.... NEO HAPPENED. Lemme tell you, I go fucking feral for that dude... ) And I wanted to make a post about the things I loved/enjoyed/noticed. For my own sanity really, to get it off my chest. It's a long one, so I will put a read more. But to summarize so that you, reading this right now, can decide for yourself if you think this post might interest you:

A quick 1-ish sentence summary of how I viewed each actor

Random silly moments/things I loved

Some very very very random screenshots of moments

A quick summary at the end. (A TLDR I guess?)

Now as I said before, I have 0 language context. These opinions are purely based on visual clues and maybe 1 Thai word I recognize or my boy Luke saying something very random in English.

Here are my 1-ish sentence descriptions of the actors.

Pond is an ipad kid who would also really like to show you his tiktok and fortnite dances. Is the biggest "Bro"-dude. I love his voice with my entire being.

Neo ... I'm so normal about him. I am completely and utterly normal about him. HFWEUHFEUWIFHWEUIFH. He is the biggest little SHIT in the house. He is hyper as fuck, always up to something cheeky. BUT GOD DO I LOVE HIM FOR IT. Yeah I eh... I don't need help.

Luke Seems to just be vibing most of the time. BRO HAS THE BEST GIGGLE. Is the only one I understood during watching because he threw in some English here and there. He seems so kind too I'm crying.

Earth feels like a dad UNLESS he is with Neo, those 2 get into some shit together and I am so here for it. ALSO HOW IS HE THIS TOUCHY??? He really has to be touching someone at all times, I love it.

Gun serves an INSANE amount of CUNT, yea that's it really.

Mix just joined to cuddle everyone and I mean that's very valid. Has the best thighs I have ever seen. Also has the BEST BEST laugh oml the giggles. - What a hecking cutie omfg. - He likes to bite people

Khaotung feels like the softest most considerate kindhearted mom I love him.

Phuwin How are you this young? Does not act his age but in a good way I like seeing him just... exist.

Tay I love everything about him, he seems so caring, sweet, funny... I just want to be his friend bro I swearrrrrrrrrrr

And here I was thinking Neo + Earth was chaos... And then Tay joined and good lord those two are CHAOS and I am in love with every single unsubbed second of it.

Some random silly things I loved throughout:

The way Gun says "Phuwin" - It is the cutest FUCKING THING ON THIS PLANET

Luke being up first and doing all these random things?? King shit fr.

Neo in general... Yeah, I'm completely normal about him.

People feeding each other... So much of this and I am thriving.

The morning bits are my fav because they all (except for Luke) look like they are coming back from the dead and it's amazing

As we all know I am VERY NORMAL about Neo and Pond… Those two talking together is like an insane experience for the thing I have for voices. GOOD LORD both their voices have me by the throat.

THE WAY MIX WALKS AROUND THE HOUSE IN THAT STRIPED SHIRT AND OH MY GOD I CAN'T

Earth touching people any chance he gets, leg squeezes mostly. So cute to see I love him.

I loved watching Luke be very much ON in the last episode, he got up to some things and the fact that he tried to read Thai and then had Tay help him I- MY HEARTTTTTTTTTTTTT

And here are some unhinged screenshots I took that made me laugh

Good morning Earth lmfao

You good mate?

Gun tryna get rid of Luke

Mix boo u good?

Good morning Tay

My man....

My fav thing is the table set up... Introverts vs extroverts type vibes. One side talks A LOT the other listens. Tay, Neo, Mix, Earth just chatting away while Kaothung, Phuwin, Pond and Luke just listen and vibe. I loved it.

Some final thoughts (aka a TLDR I guess?)

Neo.

That's it, that's the tweet.

Nah but this was an experience. I knew the eps were long and unsubbed but it is honestly so nice to just have this on in the background and to just stare at it. It was almost comforting at times to have no idea what was being said. Brain turned off, just stare at a bunch of dudes doing the funniest shit, amazing. It made me fall in love with all of them but Neo has my heart. If this ever gets subbed, I'd rewatch it. But for now, I'm on to season 2!

#Safe house season 1 #pond naravit #neo trai #luke ishikawa #khaotung thanawat #mix sahaphap #gun atthaphan #phuwin tangsakyuen #earth pirapat

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pandasized-crevice · 3 years ago

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MY FRESH JUST WATCHED KINNPORSHE EP7 THOUGHTS

LETS GO LETS GO LETS GO

OH WE STARTING IN THE CASNIO?!

PETE PORSCHE MY LOVE

.....and big is also there....

UN GRENADE EXCUSE ME

NOO PETE THROW IT AWAY

RUN FOOLS RUN

..........was it fake????A FAKE

VEGAS LITERAL RED FLAG IS HERE

hehe take care kinn says

OOOH THIS IS WHY VEGAS IS COVERED IN BLOOD

oh kinn is in the meeting just online

vegas dad shut the fuck up

OOOOOH VEGAS ASKS FOR HIM I SEE

iconic porsche "huh?" count: a million

WE GET

WE GETtING VUNRERABLE IN THE ROOM TODAY

give me a hug stop thats cute YALL SEE THEM

sorry vegas i brought my boys with me you can't get porsche alone HOE

I KNEW WE'D GET THEM AT THIS PLACE I KNEW IT

arm & pete please stay focused my loves

sus these hoes sus

bby pete

ARM PLEASE NOWS NOT THE TIME FOR FOOD

oh the whole place is the minor families house!

man porsche's hair is all messed up cuz the wind play clown music

macau hi bby

not pete & arm gossiping right there...

got a staring problem buddy?fuck off my boy pete

PORCHAY!!!!!!

kim's going to be right outside isn't he.....yup

nah this is kims way of getting more info about porsche YOU SNEAK

OOP korns noticed kinns changed since the forest....

oh shit besties

tf is this apple metaphor korn

oh fuck you korn "come back to your old self?" KINN DOSEN'T WANNA BE LIKE THAT

porsche please you always doing shit you're not supposed too...

hmmmm......macau saying sorry?figures vegas asked him to

actually yk what macau dosen't seem so bad,he is now my baby

chay not you blaming porsche for the mess smh

chay & porsche going "huh?" is my new fav thing

FREEFALL HAPPY INSTRUMENTAL

kimlock holmes about to start snooping

CHAY MY ANGEL HES SO HAPPY

whats in that room chay???

DAMN i didn't realize how big their house is

they are so cute pls

NOW KIMS GOING TO SNOOP

chays room??

NOO NOT THE BL SHRINE TO THE CRUSH

love song kim STOP YK THAT BOY HAS A CRUSH ON YOU

chay is so fucking precious

pete you snitch

jealous kinn come through

MAN VEGAS ALWAYS APPEARING

OOP WE GETTING THE EX TEA

VEGAS YOU FUCKING LIAR YALL SEE THAT EVIL LOOK

TAY!!!!!!HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL

SHUT THE FUCK UP TIME

tell him tay!

pete the hell you doing

PISSING MY PANTS PETE YOU NEED TO BE MORE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

kinn tf YOU doing here?!

kinn giving porsche his lucky gun? sounds like a marriage proposal

AHHHHHAHAH hehe

wait...

WAIT THIS IS THE SCENE THE SCENE FROM WHY DONT YOU STAY MV AHAH

NKDSKDO KINN PLEASE

HELP ME IM FLATLIING

wait why'd the vibes change

A FOREHEAD KISS MY WEAKNESS

bible the man you are

YUH GET THEM BESTIES

YOOOOO LOOK AT THEM SLAY

ay ay ay none of that now stay in your lane vegas

YESS THE SLAP SCENE BITCHES ITS HAPPENING

PETE STOP WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT

oh lord how does vegas know that........

PETE PLEASE YOU'RE STIRING THE POT

green....so much green lighting....DANGER

i swear if vegas drugs porsche again...

nah i think porsche is just drunk

oh porsche fucking it up fr

yall see vegas just watching porsche in the bg??

OH SO THATS WHY PORSCHE IS SHIRTLESS

im going to piss my pants

OH NO FUCK FUCK FUCK

everyone say thank you pete cuz if he wasn't reporting everything to kinn who knows what could've happened

GET HIM KINN GET HIM

yall see how porsche was happy to see kinn till it hits that kinn is mad at him

OH PORSCHE SAID IT

kinn did not just fucking say that......

GET HIM PORSCHE

AY AYOAYO I SHOUD'NT HAVE LOVED A CRAPPY GUY LIKE YOU?! DID THEY TELL EACH OTHER THE L WORD YET

OH OH OH OH OH OH OH

yall peep the nod kinn gives porsche?

OH MY GOD

OMH MY ACUTAL GOD I CANT

WHERES THE PREVIEW

oh there it is

OH WHAT SO KINN DID KILL TAWAN?!OR HE THOUGHT SO CUZ APPARETNLY HE'S NOT FUCKING DEAD??

PAUSE kinn looks so cute in that photo

#kinnporsche #kinnporsche the series #thai bl series #thai series #kinnporsche ep7 #kimchay were very cute this ep i love them #we're getting tawan and i am not ready for his bitchass to cause chaos #the bathroom scene? WILD #im ready for the gifs...#i love kinnporsche #cellulars FJWKPT

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a-monsters-love · 5 years ago

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Spice

[Master List]

Art credit goes to: @ianterweb -- [Original Post]

Bakugo x Reader

Warnings: swearing (obvi it’s Bakugo), blood, a drop of gore (not in a stomach churning way), toy guns, implied pining, spoilers if you haven’t watch season 4, mentioned of death, Slow Burn

Genre: angst, fluff, combat

Word count: 12k

Time Line: I extended the timeline around between the provisional licensing exam and the work study program, part of me doesn’t think irl they’d just thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire.

A/N / Inspiration: So I rewatched ATLA and honestly I really wanted a Ty Lee styled reader for this, like just upbeat and positive but irl she’s got demons. Also I fully believe Ty Lee could kick Bakugo’s ass, no one can change my mind. I firmly believe he needs an S/o who can just whoop his ass, part of me thinks that’s the only way he’d ever accept a crush or a relationship.

*So like, if (y/n) fought like Ty Lee who uses Tai Chi and Dim Mak (loosely translates to “Touch of Death” but we know it as chi blocking)

*All Tai Chi and Yoga pose names I fully researched

*don’t @ me for this but because their classes only carry 20 students I’m sacrificing our sweet boy Rikido Sato (code name: Sugarman) b/c I haven’t seen enough of his character to know how to write him :L #TheProverbialSacrificialGoat

(Y/N) = Your Name

(Y/N/N) = Your Nickname

(L/N) = Last Name

(H/C) = Hair Color

(S/C) = Skin Color

(E/C) = Eye Color

(H/L) = Home Land i.e country of origin

——————

“Listen up.” Aizawa Sensei announced to the class dropping a book on his podium, gathering the classes attention he lazily sighs before speaking again. “As you’ve all noticed we still have an empty seat in the back of the class,” He points his hand in the general direction. “Moving forward, I have to introduce you to a new student to the class.” On cue the classroom door slides open, you walk in calmly despite your excitement. Your (H/C) hair is pulled up into a neat bun with your bangs clipped to the side, the only addition to your uniform being a pair of half palmed white gloves, you can feel everyone’s eyes scanning over you as you waltz in. “This is (L/N) (Y/N), I’ll let her introduce herself.” He finished as he stepped into his sleeping bag.

You glanced over at your new teacher, quickly understanding what kind of person he is before looking back at the class. “Hello, please feel free to call me (Y/N/N).” You giggle softly, “I just moved to Japan from (H/L) and it’s my understanding you guys have been together for sometime so I‘ll be in your care.” You smiled sweetly and gave a delicate bow.

“You’ll be sitting behind Koda,” He pointed to the obvious empty seat, “Between Ochaco and Shoto.” Aizawa Sensei made little effort to discern the two. “(Y/N) has already been moved into the dorms so I expect everyone to do their part in helping her get settled.”

You only smiled as you made your way to your desk, shaking hands and giving polite greeting to your new desk mates. The girl beside you made quick work of making friends with you, the boy in front of you was extremely shy but made his own effort to wave back at you. You listened in on the class as the morning babble began, whispers in curiosity and a few waves and smile. You can feel a creepy gaze that made your skin crawl and heard a single but loud tongue click. “Another extra.” You heard him groan, the comment only made you snort a bit before the lecture started.

You took color coded notes based off theme and what you decided or Aizawa Sensei said was important. Ochaco whispered about how cute your notes are causing you to whisper and explain why you did it. You noticed the way Shoto listened in on your organization explanation when you silently offered him a red and green pen. He took them both gratefully and confused at your action before deciding to make his own version of you system. When first period was over your desk was swarmed by your new classmates.

You smiled brightly as they all introduced themselves when a boy, who introduced himself as Iida, tried to dispel the mob. “No-no it’s okay, we have plenty of time to get acquainted anyway.” You reassured him bashfully as the slimy kid, who introduced himself as Mineta, got a little too close for comfort. You took great pleasure in watching the pink girl grab him by the ankle and drop him in the trash.

It was then that you heard a soft and almost awkward voice, “Can I ask what your quirk is?” Asked the green haired boy, Izuku is what someone called him.

“Of course!” You beamed, his clear anxiety from the question washes away as he pulled out a beat up notebook. “My quirk is called Molecular Regeneration, so basically Healing+, from what Aizawa-Sensei explained to me this morning I’ll be able to fully show everyone during gym.” You scanned over the group and motioned for Denki to come over. “I can heal little things like this pimple-“ You removed a glove and tapped his skin, fading the pimple away. “To great wounds, within reason of course. I have to eat a ton of food for the carbs, fats, proteins and all the extra good stuff if I use my quirk excessively but it’s a trade off I’m happy to make.” You put your glove back on and rubbed the back of your neck as you watched Izuku beam and start spiraling as he took notes. One of the other students explained that he does that often.

——

During gym everyone was paired up to fight, for practical and strategical purposes. Everyone gasped when Aizawa paired you up with Bakugo, saying it was cruel and you were new. You giggled at their concern, knowing full well that you could and have taken the blunt of an actual bomb and come out fine. Well fine-ish. “I paired them up purposely because I know he’ll be able to go all out and she’ll be fine.” He droned at his gaping students.

Each pair took turns, you watched everyone fight, analyzing their fighting styles noting where they went wrong. Your mother was a trained martial artist so you learned at a young age to do this. When your turn arrived you were excited to finally get up. You decided to take off your shoes as the boots you were provided weren’t practical for how you fought. “Don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re a girl.” Bakugo hissed.

You just smiled widely, “I’d be insulted if you did.” You chuckled, stretching a bit before getting into the Brush Knee starting position, legs spread slightly with a bent knee, one palm flat towards the ground and the other raised facing the boy. You looked relaxed, which seemed to anger him. As Aizawa blew his whistle he was quick to charge, when he got close you slapped his inner wrist the back of each hand. This pushes his arms to his sides as you twist around him and aggressively push on his spine with your palm causing him to falter forward. “Don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re a boy.” You teased at him, the face he made was that of confused rage.

“You think you can beat me with a few slaps?” He chided, earning a laugh from you as he charged again.

“I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.” You snorted.

His wrists sparked as he aimed to use his quirk on you, “We’ll see about that.” You could almost hear amusement in his voice as he made a circle out of one hand and shot exploding bullets at you. You barely managed to dodge as you pushed yourself into a backhand spring, you confused him when you used your arms to push towards him.

He went to use and exploding hand to punch at you as you jabbed repetitively at his quirk fueled arm. His explosion dissipating as his arm went limp. “I suppose we will.” You beamed close to his face before failing to see the swift kick he struck your side with, easily throwing you from your close proximity. You chuckled a bit with a small cough as you skidded in the distance, didn’t see that coming.

“What the fuck did you do to my arm?” He demanded an answer as you ran back and cartwheeled towards him using the propulsion to jump at him, aiming a leg to kick him from the side. Knowing he’d reflexively block the kick when you were close you used your other foot to kick his chin upwards.

Your kick was successful and satisfying, “Dim Mak, also known as Chi Blocking.” When he regained his stance from your kick you jabbed at his other arm causing it to go limp. You stood beside him as he groveled a bit. “And with that~ I think I win, I don’t think it’s much of a fair fight at this point.” You smiled sweetly at him.

Aizawa whistled again to end the match, you grabbed Bakugo’s wrist shaking the limp limb to Aizawa when you heard a pop, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” You quietly warned him still holding his wrist with a smirk but being who he is as a person the hand you held exploded with his quirk.

You heard an audible scream from the class, after the dust dispersed your hand was basically gone. Your radius and ulna bones were cracked and broken poking up from your tattered forearm, blood splattered across both your face and Bakugo’s. All the rage that quelled in his system wiped clean with a guilty and horrified expression, seeing the blood that soaked part of your hair and the mess he created. “Oh fuck, I-“ He started but realized you were still smiling, even as blood dropped down your arm. Aizawa groaned loudly.

“Well, that was… spicy.” You snorted. Within moments the bones started to grow where your hand once was, thick red muscles climbed the bones followed by skin. You were regenerating your hand, you smiled but your gaze was dark as you stared at him. “I told you not to do that.” Using your newly regrown hand you punched him in the side of the face causing him to hit the floor, hard.

“I deserved that one.” He mumbled quietly on the ground, you stood over him smiling smugly.

“Come on, get up and let me fix your arms.” You waved for him to sit up before looking to Aizawa, “I’m leaving early after this for a shower.”

“Please.” He sighed, sending up the next group who were just staring at you in a mix of horror and awe. “We don’t have all day.” Aizawa said.

You sat Bakugo down and sat behind him, almost forcing him to lean his back into your knees and shins. “Alright, Spice, let me fix your nerves.” You removed the glove that didn’t get blow up and pulled at a limp arm, using your quirk to heal the damaged nerves as well as massaging into pressure points to release the tension you forced into his blood stream. He groaned in agony before sighing in relief.

When you were done he rubbed his arms and hands as the prior numbness faded, he looked back at you as you decided to heal the burnt skin on your shoulder and cheek. You smirked when you caught his gaze on you, he ruffled his hair aggressively as he got up and ushered you to follow him. You both needed to head to the dorms to clean up, as you followed behind him you heard him mumble. “I’m sorry.” He earned a chuckle out of you causing him to look back. I just blew up your literal arm to the bones and you were acting like a ray of fucking sunshine, he thought to himself as confusion knitted his brows. “I’m not sure what happened, I didn’t know I could be that lethal.” He admitted almost hissing out the words as if they were painful.

“I’m not mad, Aizawa paired me up with you for that reason.” You shrugged bashfully, “And what happened back there was kinda… mostly my fault..” Your admission seemed to confuse him more. “When I jabbed you’re arms I disrupted your blood flow and by default your quirk. You have a strong one so it essentially grew like an actual bomb and exploded more or less on its own.” He watched you explain, you just hoped he wouldn’t feel too guilty. “Look. If you’re sorry just get me lunch or something, Spice.” You smiled softly at the comment as you finally got to the dorm, making your way to your rooms to grab a change of clothing and then to your respective bathrooms to shower.

Bakugo grumbled over the whole ordeal before settling on the new nickname you’ve given him. Spice. What the fuck is that about, he couldn’t wrap his head around it but he learned quickly that he wouldn’t be able to stop you. You made that clear when you essentially wiped the floor with him, the thought of that made him yell out in frustration. “Stupid girl.” He hissed as he got dressed.

You were waiting for him at the door in a fitted t-shirt and your gym shorts. Flitting through your phone aimlessly, he noticed your usual smile was gone. Replaced with something bored and almost listless, when you noticed him your lips curled at the edges into a soft smile. “Come on, Spice.” You waved for him as you opened the front door.

“Stop calling me that.” He snapped, frustrating that he could tell you wouldn’t.

You snorted with a loud ‘HA’, “Would you prefer Spicy Boy? Blasty? Bomb-dot-com? Oh! What about Limb Remover?”

Bakugo groaned trying to walk faster than you, “No!” He hissed at you, eliciting a hearty laugh from you.

“Spice it is.” You wink as you took lead almost skipping in front of him. He groaned loudly as you joined the rest of your class before gym was over. The two of you bickered back and forth for sometime and you could only laugh at his rising and dwindling frustration. Kirishima joined the conversation, fist bumping the only other person he could imagine withstanding an explosion from Bakugo. You could hear Izuku spiraling behind you and decided to turn a bit to answer his questions. “I’ve never successfully grown other people’s limbs or organs back but I can accelerate growth of, like, hair and finger nails.” You commented to one of his questions. “Though if you’re arm got like cut off cleanly I could potentially reattach it, I imagine it wouldn’t feel the same though.” You scratched at your damp hair that was now down from its bun to dry, your mouth was slanted not quite a frown but it was obvious to anyone that the gears in your head were spinning.

Bakugo just stared at you with half lidded eyes as you spoke, part of him wanted to hiss at Deku to piss off with his nerdy ass research note book. However when you pulled the note book from Izuku’s hands and flitted through it with knitted brows and scold him for the condition of the note book it almost earned you a laugh. Almost. When you asked about the burns on the notebook he was hesitant to answer, “Accidents happen.” Was all he managed, you gave him a raised eyebrow but didn’t pester the topic.

——

At lunch you had lost sight of Bakugo and didn’t think much of it, you were quickly wrangled by the girls of class 1-A as you paid for your meal, they pulled you to a table where you sat with Asui, Ochaco, Shoto, Izuku and Iida. You were quiet listening in on their conversations, providing a comment when needed as you quickly ate your food. You temporarily sated your stomach, knowing you should eat more before your quirk absorbed the contents of your stomach. You got up to put your tray away, running into Bakugo on the way back. “Hey, Spice. I lost you for a minute.” You snickered at him, he just grunted and rolled his eyes. Dragging you back to the lines to get lunch, or in this case a second helping. He didn’t say anything as you waited in line with him, he paid for your meal and made sure you received it before walking off. Waving a lazy hand back at you. “Prideful brat.” You snickered to yourself before rejoining your table.

“What’s all that?” Asui asked.

“Bakugo bought me lunch,” The table gaped at your comment. “As an apology for blowing up my arm.” You said pointedly, “Plus my quirk already started to absorb what I got earlier since I had to regrow a limb.” You half sighed half laughed at the comment. “I’m sorry I didn’t warn you guys.” You rubbed your neck, this was a tell for you.

Shoto shrugged, you knew Izuku nerded out on what happened, “We’ve seen scary quirks, yours wasn’t as scary as the situation, kero.” Asui said, Ochaco nodded fervently in agreement.

You sighed in relief and started eating gleefully. This hit the spot, you were grateful to Bakugo even though it was your idea.

——

At the end of the day you followed your class back to the dorms, making quick work to get into your comfy clothes. You wore a short (but not quite cropped) shitty band shirt and a pair of high waisted pajama shorts that were just long enough to keep yourself covered if you stretched. You sat at the bar with a book as you idly watched Momo file through the kitchen. She offered tea which you happily accepted, discussing each of your preferences. You were a big fan of spiced drinks, chai’s more often than not.

Iida made his way to you not too long after with a schedule in hand, it showed everyone’s chores and what days they do them and with whom. He had added you to the schedule, noting that you had been paired with Bakugo on a large handful of occasions. Iida mentioned that you were one of the few who made it clear that you could clearly handle him he decided to rearrange the schedule as such to relieve some stress from your other classmates. You laughed and agreed that it would probably be for the best.

The evening droned on a bit before dinner, you offered to help Izuku and Ochaco in the kitchen since you gave everyone quite the scare earlier. They both happily agreed, you helped out and decided to make a side dish your mom always made at home when you had a bad day. It was simple and it always seemed to cleanse the palate. When you let it simmer you made quick work of pulling out plates to serve at the table, helping Ochaco and Izuku when something started going awry.

When dinner was served and everyone was seated you weren’t sure where to sit until Kirishima dragged you to sit with him, Mina, Denki, Bakugo and Sero. You laughed, figuring you sat with the others at lunch. “Fine, fine, I’ll sit just stop dragging me.” You sat in the middle of the table between Bakugo and Kirishima, who asked loads of questions about your fighting style. “Oh, it’s just Tai Chi.”

“You mean that thing old people do at the crack of dawn?” Denki asked, that’s definitely not what he expected.

You snorted and rolled your eyes, “Yeah, Tai Chi is a form of defensive martial arts that can also be used for meditation.” You ate a bit before continuing. “When used offensively the base principal of it is redirection, our bodies are covered in pressure points that-“ You took a sip of water. “If hit hard enough can fuck up your opponents whole fighting position and quickly turn the tables.”

“You still never explained what you did to my arms.” Bakugo hissed, almost pouting as he ate.

You scoffed, “Yes I did! I told you on the way back to the dorm after you blew up my arm!” You laughed, “I can explain it again if it didn’t make sense, Spice.”

The other boys and Mina snorted at the new nickname, “Please explain,” Sero managed to laugh out.

“Okay. So, the fighting style for that is called Dim Mak, which means ‘Touch of Death’. Essentially I hit all the right pressure points directly to disrupt his blow flow, disabling his arms and quelling his quirk. Well, until the end.” You rubbed your neck bashfully at your mistake. “With Tai Chi you only hit pressure points to redirect, not do damage to the nervous system.”

The other four just laughed, Bakugo just grunted and rolled his eyes as he ate. When they moved to the side dish you made Denki and Sero almost inhaled it. “This is so good, what is it?” Denki asked, knowing you helped in the kitchen.

“Oh, I made that. It’s [Food Name], just comfort food my mom always made for me when I had a bad day. I gave everybody a good scare today so I figured it’s be nice to have.” You shrugged to him nonchalantly, not noticing Bakugo had also made quick work of the dish.

“I’m gonna need seconds of this.” He snorted getting up.

You didn’t say much else while you ate, eating was a reprieve for you. When you finished your dishes you let out a happy sigh. Finally satiated for the day, you leaned over to Bakugo as he finished eating. “You never gave me a chance to thank you for lunch.” You gave him a smile before getting up to clear the table of empty dishes to return to the kitchen.

“Shut up.” He snapped, following your actions as you walked into the kitchen. You hummed at his response, figuring he was too prideful.

“Well, thank you none the less, I would’ve been starved if it weren’t for you.” You snicker, Bakugo just crossed his arms and looked at the time. You heard Mina call for you and ask if you wanted to watch a movie before bed, “Of course!” You call back, “You gonna join us Spice?” Looking back at him with a tired smile.

“No.” He retorted quickly before leaving the kitchen heading towards his dorm, hearing a faint ‘good night’ from you.

You join your new pink friend who loops her arm in yours pulling you to the living room where you sat almost snuggled between her, a pillow and Ochaco. You were cozy enough to fall asleep but every movement either of the girls made roused you. You remembered seeing this movie once, letting you answer a few questions anyone had without spoilers. “Damn,” You mumbled to yourself with a yawn, realizing how tired you actually were. You shook Mina, whispering that you were heading to bed before sliding over the back of the couch. You waved a lazy good night to the others who noticed and headed to your room.

——

The next morning you woke to the sun rising and danced across your eye lids, getting a good pop filled stretch before crawling out of the warm comfort of your blankets. Your morning routine was simple, brush your teeth, sort out your hair, wash your face, down a glass of water, make tea, listen to music and practice your morning yoga and tai chi filled exercises. You decided to wear your gym shorts for stretching; not with a creep like Mineta in the house, you thought storing your pajamas. You walk to the patio out front, enjoying the brisk morning air before setting down your tea on the banister. You had your Bluetooth headphones in and placed your phone on the windowsill. You made basic stretches to loosen up before grabbing your ankles as you bent into a full uttanasana, you stretch up pulling your leg to a natarajasana but pulling your foot closer to the back of your head before switching legs. Continuing this for sometime before starting your Tai Chi, ‘fickle habits lead to fickle lives’ your mother mantra played in your mind frustratingly.

Bakugo has always been the ‘first to bed - first to rise’ type of person. In the dorms this gave him more liberties in the morning, as he had a tendency to walk out of his room to the showers in boxers and maybe a t-shirt most mornings. The last thing he was expecting was to see the electric kettle steaming after it’s obvious use. His eyes darted around, listening keenly to the main lobby of the dorm. He didn’t hear anything inside but spotted a phone outside of the building on the windowsill. Bakugo’s sight narrowed in before realizing he was walking towards it to see who the fuck is outside at this hour, or if someone left it outside on accident. He stepped slowly seeing you stretching on the patio, he couldn’t hear anything but he noticed the device was lit up playing music. Holy shit she’s listening to aggressive rap, he thought spotting the song title. The playlist was labeled ‘✨ GOOD MORNING ✨’ he snorted at the idea of that being morning music, the song changed to some classic punk rock song he recognized. He decided to leave you be, he would never admit it but he absolutely took in the sight of you before shuffling to the bathroom to start his own morning routine.

When you finished your morning routine you made haste to grab your uniform and run to the shower. When you got out you saw Bakugo in the kitchen preparing what you assumed was his breakfast. “Good morning, Spice.” You said sweetly.

You just hear a grunt from him when you sat down to dry your hair properly, “Morning.” You hear him quietly mutter, as he brought out a plate with his breakfast. “Dry your hair properly.” He hissed, you snorted and continued working the dampness from your hair.

Once you were satisfied you finished buttoning your uniform top and tying the tie, you left for a moment to return your towel to its home and pull your hair into a bun. Clipping back your mostly dry bangs as you returned to the lobby, “Whatever you made smells great,” You made your way to the kitchen for a second cup of tea. “Want tea?” You asked in passing. He grumbled something but didn’t say no so you made him a glass anyway, letting them steep as you made your way to your room to grab your book bag. When you got back and the tea had settled you placed a glass in front of the seemingly agitated blonde. Making breakfast for yourself and joined him at the table. You ate and flitted through yesterday’s notes.

Bakugo watched you out of the corner of his eye, you were so casual as if you’d been here the whole time. Something about you frustrated him endlessly, he figured he’d be able to narrow it down later. He begrudgingly accepted the tea, it was spicier than he expected. He wondered if this was a jab at him with the shitty nickname you’d bestowed him with.

—

A couple weeks passed quickly as you adjusted to your life at UA, you spent your early mornings with Bakugo before the other lazily made their way to the lobby, class began, then gym, then lunch, more classes, back to the dorms for a mix of homework and playtime with dinner somewhere in the mix.

One weekend you decided to sleep in, which was a mistake as Mina had invited herself into your room and tackled your sleeping form. Eliciting a great squeal from you and you both ended up on floor with a loud *THUD*. “You know. I’m gonna skip the ‘what is wrong with you’ and go straight for the why, Mina.” You groaned, groveling on the floor at her excited stupor.

“We’re going to the mall! Get up! Get dressed!” She was bouncing at you as you slumped upon the floor, calves still on your bed. “Come ooonnn (Y/N/N)!!”

You snorted at her, “Fine, give me 20 minutes.” With that she was gone as fast as she came, you stood and pulled out your casual clothes you now rarely got to wear. Throwing on a pair of high waisted skinny jeans, a fitted white crop top, a thin burnt amber cardigan that went down to your calves, topped with honey brown softly pointed ankle boots. You left your hair loose aside from pulling your bangs upright to clip them back, providing a small bumped look you could live with. You grabbed your small purse that slings across your shoulders only holding your phone and wallet and a pair of round darkly tinted sun glasses before meeting up with the Bakugang. Mina gaped at your outfit excitedly, all four boys on the other hand just stared. “Too much? It’s just casual wear.” You shrugged and offered a soft but awkward smile.

“Shut up, you look great!” Mina snorted, she wore a loose crop top that hung just above the belt line of her skinny jeans, “You have plenty of time to check (Y/N/N) today idiots, let’s go!” She looped her arm with yours and almost dragging you along.

You never cared to much for shopping, you had what you needed and what you liked but you enjoyed spending time with the Bakugang outside of UA. Mina asked you about what your makeup preferences were and you admitted that you knew little regarding the topic. The boys whined to eat, “I’m always game for food.” You snorted, you were being dragged around more than anything anyway.

You all sat around a table in the mall talking about nonsense, eating your respective lunches. They quickly got used to just how much you ate, much to your relief. When lunch was over the six of you ended up in an arcade, you and Denki played a shooting game with the big plastic colorful guns. Denki grabbed the red plastic cabled hand gun leaving you with the bright orange cabled shot gun. You snorted when he thought he had the better gun. “HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD AT THIS?” He whined as he watched you take shot after shot.

“The keener the eye the better the hero, also my dad was big into hunting back in (H/L).” You chuckled, “Both of my parents are Quirkless so they reveled in what they could.” You quickly beat the game, re-holstering the plastic gun you collect your almost endless stream of tickets. “You can imagine I was a huge surprise for them.” Sero snorted and agreed at your last comment.

You made an abysmal attempt to fold up your tickets when Kirishima pulled you into some game him and Bakugo were playing. You were sure the blonde would get you guys kicked out as he seemed to be intent on destroying the game itself. You laughed loudly at him yelling “DIE!!” And “I’LL KILL YOU!!” At the console. Mina pulled you to play skee-ball next to them, you made for a mediocre game as you couldn’t stop laughing at Bakugo’s video game rage.

You managed though, collecting more tickets and playing another round as Mina, Sero, Denki and you made a bet. The person with the lowest score would have to calm the blonde down. “Game on!” Denki puffed, you smirked cheekily as the challenge began.

After about 5 minutes the four of you were neck in neck with high scores but you fell short of third place. You groaned, collecting your tickets. Mina and Denki wiggled their eyebrows at you and Sero just laughed at your dismay, “Fine!” You laughed, walking over the the blonde on the verge of explosion. “Hey, Spice?” You placed your gloved hand on his shoulder. He snapped at you, scowling at your disruption. “Help me pick out a prize with my tickets?” You didn’t wear your usual smile, your brows knitted, concerned about the potential problem if he blew up the game.

Bakugo could almost breathe fire at you in his rage, but the concerned look you gave him threw him off. He just tossed up his hands and almost growled before crossing his arms letting you usher him to the prize table with a relieved smile. Sero, Mina, Denki and Kirishima were floored; their jaws slack at the ease at which you had simmered him and removed him from the game he almost blew up. They all looked at each other with devious grins as they huddled together.

At the prize table you had to put all your tickets into some machine that counted them out, “Thanks for agreeing to help me.” You smiled up at him as he unraveled the mess of tickets you had. He just grunted and huffed in response, he wasn’t a big talker outside of when he screamed about being the best or when he got mad. When he did talk you could tell he put thought into his words, even when he wasn’t talking to you. When all the tickets were counted out you were directed to the charm section of the prize table. “What do you think?” You pestered him.

He squatted down, eyeing most of the girly charms. He didn’t know what girls liked, he watched you look over the more boyish themed charms. “I don’t know,” He hissed, “What’s the point of this anyway.”

“Making memories.” You smiled into the glass, spotting a charm that caught your eye. “Oh! Can I look at that one?” You asked the staff behind the counter, the pulled out a little bob-omb phone charm. You snickered at it, “How do we feel about this one?” You handed it to him, he just stared at it with knitted brows before scowling at you. “What??”

“It’s a bomb.” He said.

“So are you.” You snorted and rolled your eyes. “I think it’s cute.”

With a over dramatic “TCH.” He handed it back, “Well I guess that’s the one then.” He rolled his own eyes, “Why did you ask for my help if you didn’t need it?”

You handed you ticket stub to the staff and looped the charm onto your phone, “I didn’t know I wouldn’t need your help.” You pushed him back towards the group, “Come on, I think everyone is burnt out on games.”

Before leaving the arcade everyone found a one of those kawaii photo booths. Mina somehow managed to usher everyone in, her and the other three boys pushed you and Bakugo together, you took the standard photos, Kirishima managed to swindle the ‘Glamouroki’ face out of Bakugo for the final ‘funny face’ photo. You, Mina and Denki burst into tears of laughter at the scene, Sero wheezed into the side of the booth. The face was now encapsulated for all of time in the photo booth six sticker sheets. You slipped the photo behind your clear phone case, making sure not to stick it down. “God. We have to keep this forever.” Mina cried out.

“That was solid gold.” You wheezed out wiping your face, Bakugo shouted and hit Kirishimas hardened head when he figured out it was photographed. “Holy shit, that couldn’t have been more perfect.” You panted taking a deep breath.

“Let grab a few drinks before heading home.” Kirishima cried out from his own laughter, you all agreed. Heading to a vending machine on your way out.

——

The next day after finishing weekend homework the bakugang decided to have a movie night. You noticed that Mina and the boys had been pushing you and Bakugo together, not that you minded but you couldn’t pin point why so you shrugged off the thought. It had been decided that the four of them would prepare snack and drinks if you and Bakugo would pick a movie. “Soo- they’re clearly plotting something,” You joked at the blonde as you both dig through his movie collection. “Should we pick a movie they can’t handle as revenge?” This elicited a laugh out of him.

“I didn’t think ‘little miss sunshine and rainbows’ would come up with such a devious idea.” He snorted at you.

“Sunshine and Rainbows only appear after a dark storm.” You smirked while pointing at him.

He laughed, you almost dropped the DVD you were looking at when you heard it. “Oh, this is gonna be great.” The two of you picked the most gruesome and twisted movie you could find in his collection. Putting it in his DVD player before the others returned. You and Bakugo were chuckling at each other, unwittingly it seemed to excite the other four. You and Bakugo sat on his bed as the rest sat choice-fully on the floor. Denki turned off the lights as Mina sorted out snacks so everyone could reach them and passed around drinks.

They movie started fine, easily pulling them in, you stifled laughter. Bakugo was much better at doing that, though he had a smirk plastered onto his face. You adjusted yourself to pulling your knees up to your chest comfortably, to an outside perspective your were preparing for the movie to get more twisted, from Bakugo’s perspective he just noted a smile that curled at your lips behind your hands that rested on your knees. He started to get irritated with how much attention he paid to you. The simple ways you shifted as the movie dragged on, the excitement that built up causing you to bite your bottom lip. He had the urge to smack you and telling you to stop biting your lip. He shook his head at the thought. Nope, nu-uh. These are not thoughts he was ready to have. He forced his attention from you and focused on the movie with knitted brows.

You adjusted again, crossing your legs and grasping your ankles in anticipation. Part of you was totally enthralled in the movie, you love this stuff, the other part was excited for the wicked prank you and Bakugo had setup for your poor unwitting friends. The first scene that got to them came, enticing a loud set of screeches from the four on the floor and you had gasped at the scene jumping a little and then a chuckle at their responses. You looked back at Bakugo who was already looking at you and beamed, “Success.” You whispered at him, he smirked back and nodded before your attention was back on the screen.

By the time the movie was over you firmly believe you traumatized the four, “WHY WOULD YOU PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON.” Mina whisper yelled.

You and Bakugo glanced at each other from where you sat on the bed and laughed softly, “I thought it was a good movie.” You retorted.

“You guys are a bunch of babies, if you want to watch something soft you pick the movie.” Bakugo snorted waving a hand at the movie collection, it was movie night after all.

Denki looked a little brain fried as Mina and Kirishima darted to the movie collection to pick something to quell their pained minds. You laughed again, sliding off the bed as you looked at the time. “It’s getting late, we can afford one more movie but I’m gonna go change.”

You made your way out of Bakugo’s room to yours, you tossed your hair up in a messy bun and threw on a baggy shirt, a pair of shorts and a warm cardigan. Quickly making your way back to his room when you hear bickering. “Don’t you dare, that’s (Y/N/N)’s!” You hear Mina say.

You poke your head in to see her wrangling your phone from Bakugo’s grip, trying to get the photo you slid into your case out. “Oh-ho.” You piped out, “I see, I can’t trust you with my belongings.” You snorted, knowing how he felt about the hilarious photo. You slid in quickly snatching your phone from them both before finding your barely warm spot still on the bed.

Mina huffed in success and Bakugo just crossed his arms, “It’s just a stupid photo.” He grumbled.

“It’s my stupid photo, Spice.” You said, “And if you try to take it again I’ll print large poster versions of it and plaster it to every wall in the school.” You chided at him with an almost evil smirk.

He groaned and Mina turned the lights back off as the next movie played. You felt Bakugo’s knee tap yours, as if it was some silent confirmation of your words. Your smile softened a bit and you glanced at him from the corner of your eye. His scowl still ever present but softer than his usual. Kirishima yawned, causing everyone else to yawn. You cozied yourself in your sweater against the wall as you watched the movie with half lidded eyes. Your shoulders slouched a bit and you ended up leaning you arm into Bakugo, who just stiffened at the action. This kept you awake through the movie, not that you were paying it any attention to it.

Bakugo on the other hand was now wide awake due to your sudden touch into his arm, this is not how he expected things to go. Though your prank was an absolute success, he wasn’t prepared for the aftermath. He was irritated and confused at your current actions, you should be angry at him not leaning into him! Did he want you to be mad at him? He couldn’t think straight.

As soon as the movie ended he ushered everyone out, even you in your sleepy stupor. You and Mina just looped arms and made your way back to the girls side of the building, triple checking that you had your phone.

You knocked out quickly when you got to your room, you had a great weekend. Bakugo didn’t have such luck, he just assumed you showed anger different ways and made a mental list of what to do about it before he had the luxury of sleep.

——

The next morning you were back to your usual routine, however you found you weren’t the first one up. You watched the blonde cook in the kitchen before starting your routine, you got ready to exercise when you decided to disturb him. “Good morning, Spice. Food smells great, as usual.”

You watch his frame stiffen, but grunt as usual, “Morning, (Y/N).” He groaned, maybe he slept on the wrong side of the bed? You thought, continuing your stare at him.

“I’m gonna work out, come grab me if you need anything, okay?” You offered but he just waved you off stiffly. You got to your work out, followed by a shower and drying your hair properly so you didn’t have to listen to Bakugo whine about it. Making your way back to the kitchen to make tea for the both of you. The blonde just stiffened at your presence in the kitchen so you made quick work of the tea, this morning was different though. Bakugo had made breakfast for you too, uh oh. You thought, something must’ve happened. “Are you alright?” You asked staring in surprise, “Not that I’m not elated to try your cooking but-“ You were cut off by him shaking his head and starting to eat.

You watched him for a minute before started to eat as well, holy shit. Was all you could think, “This is really good.” You said softly, smiling as you quickly ate.

He still didn’t say anything, you wondered what snapped in him. You finished quickly and when he was done he collected your dishes. Finishing his cooking in the kitchen after the rice cooker pinged. You flitted through your papers making sure everything was in order for the day when you hear a *thump* beside you. You looked over and it was a larger than average bento, wrapped neatly. You just cocked an eyebrow at it and looked at Bakugo, “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s wrong?” He’s clearly broken this morning. “Are you sick?” He scowled down at you, differently than you’ve seen before. He just let out a frustrated noise at your confused behavior.

You watch him for a moment before anything happens, he just pushes out the chair beside you and sits crossing his arms scowling differently at you. “The last time you were weirdly quiet and gave me lunch as when you blew up my hand...” You lean your head back thinking before it clicks. “Oh my god, is this about the sticker??”

He just groans in frustration, “Obviously! Your probably furious with me!” He hissed, watching your form relax, no smile in sight just concern. “I don’t fucking know!” He threw his hands out.

You put your hand to your face, a chuckle escaped you and turned to a hearty laugh, “Katsuki.” He flinched, that’s the first time you’ve said his name. “I’m not mad, that sticker is just a fucking sticker. I only wanted to keep it because it’s an original. Those photo booths have an option to email the photos, so I have a digital copy.” You pull out your phone and hand it to him. “If you don’t want me to have it to the point of this much guilt or frustration, take it. I won’t fight you, Spice.”

He stared at you in awe, now he just felt like a fucking idiot. His brain was addled with you over some stupid fucking sticker. What is going on with me?? You seemed to agree that he was losing his shit, not that you even knew it was about you. He pushed your phone back towards you and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t worry about it.” Was all he said before he got up to clean, leaving you with both photo and bento. He doesn’t say anything to you for the rest of the morning as he disappears to finish getting ready for school.

——

A few days passed and Kirishima brought up the provisional licensing exams that passed before you transferred in. “He probably would have passed if you were there (Y/N).” Kirishima says in passing. You had asked him how they did the testing in Japan.

You hummed at the comment before looking at the redhead, “I don’t think I could have made him be nice to people.” You shrugged a bit, he only failed because he’s abrasive. “He doesn’t yell at me because I’ve proven I can kick his ass.” The comment makes you both chuckle but Bakugo just shouts out in the distance, you both only laugh harder.

That morning the class found out about the work study program, you weren’t here for the sports festival so your options were more limited. Ochaco wanted to introduce you to GunHead but he wasn’t taking work study students; Aizawa said Amajiki-Senpai would introduce you and Kirishima to Fatgum. The two of you fist bump at the offer knowing full well that your friend harassed the poor kid into it. No one could foresee the events that followed.

You found yourself in a meeting discussing the take down of a Yukuza crime syndicate and the rescue of a small girl named Eri. The details of the situation she was in made your stomach churn. Over the next few days you found yourself hanging out with Kirishima, Ochaco, Asui and Izuku more. You all were brooding over the up coming event, your normal routine didn’t change much but the event pulled the 5 of you together. On movie night Denki decided to bring it up to you and Kirishima, you both just kind of looked at each other before making up some bullshit answer. “Honestly, the work study program is just a lot more than we expected. We were just brooding about it.” Was all you could manage, you rubbed the back of your neck uncomfortably. You hear Bakugo click his tongue at the blatant lie but you couldn’t defend yourself. It was getting harder to wear your usual smile while waiting for a message for the raid.

—

The day of the raid was devastating, even though the raid itself went by a lot faster than you had expected. You rode in the ambulance with Sir Night Eye, keeping him stable until you arrived at the hospital. You can’t regrow other people’s missing organs but you did everything you could, you just sobbed for most of the time. You were lucky you didn’t receive any damages that would have you stuck in the hospital, you helped heal everyone’s wounds to get them out sooner but it was draining. A few hero’s who claimed to be in your debt brought food to you as you ran around the hospital. Forcing you to sit down and eat, you thanked them telling them they didn’t have to but they waved off the comment.

——

A few days later you were sitting, curled up in the corner and arm of a couch, in the common room in the middle of the night, you didn’t want to be stuffed in your room anymore. You felt like your tears dried out, you just sat staring at your phone screen when you heard foot steps from behind. You payed no mind to it as they walked into the kitchen, you’ve been staring at the same page on your phone trying to focus until the other person spoke, “It’s the middle of the night, go to bed dumbass.” You looked up to see Bakugo, he was right but something made tears bubble in the corners of your eyes, threatening to spill.

Bakugo had just run down to get a bottle of water when he saw you sitting on the couch, you were just on your phone so he couldn’t understand why you weren’t doing that in your room. After he spoke up he turned to face you, he saw tears in your eyes as they slowly ran down your cheeks. He panicked he’d never admit that, he walked over and squat down in front of you. He didn’t say anything but he just stared up at you with his brows knitted. “S-sorry. Ah-I just, I d-don’t-“ You stuttered and rubbed your eyes furiously.

He clicked his tongue, “Shut up.” He hissed, he hears what ever you were going to say hitch in your throat and you try to stifle your tears. “That’s not- ugh.“ He cut himself off, comforting people wasn’t in the list of things he was good at. Bakugo gets up from were he was squatting and walks back into the kitchen. When he gets back he hands you water bottle and sits down next to you. “Drink.”

Your hands were shaking but you managed to open the bottle and take a sip, Bakugo finally got a glance at the mess behind your hands. Your (E/C) eyes were red and puffy, the skin around them was raw, your nose and cheeks were irritated from being rubbed at. His brows knit further watching you struggle to put the lid back on. He just snatched the lid and puts it back on for you, “T-thanks.” You sputtered at him, “Sorry, I’m a mess aren’t I?” You force our a small chuckle, he only clicks his tongue.

“Stop apologizing when you’ve done nothing wrong!” He whisper yells at you, you nod at him from behind your hands as they made their way back to your face. “Stop that!” He grabbed your wrists causing you to look at him, when he hoped you’d stop abusing your pretty face he let go of your wrists and grabbed your ankles. You almost yelped at the action as he just lifted them up and aggressively scooted closer, dropping your legs over his lap. “What the fuck is so wrong that’s got Little Miss Sunshine in tears?” He hissed at you.

You almost gaped at him, who is this and what have they done with Bakugo?? As soon as you snapped back to reality you wrapped your arms around your thighs, tears still dripping out of your eyes. “I just, I feel like a failure.” You go on to explain the raid, how messed up Kirishima and Tamaki-senpai got and the loss of Sir Night Eye. “I should’ve been able to do more!” You whisper yelled through tears, “My quirk is molecular regeneration for fucks sake!” You dropped your head into your knees, sobbing quietly.

Bakugo had crossed his arms and listened as you explained everything. Kirishima was his best friend sure but even he knows there’s a limit to every quirk. “(Y/N).” You lifted your head to look at him. “You’re not a fucking miracle worker.” He adjusted in his seat, propping an arm up on the back of the couch and leaning his head into his fist, you felt him adjust which made you focus for the first time on his close proximity. You went to say something back but nothing came out, you dropped your chin onto your knees and let the tears stream thinking about what he said. You knew he was right, you used your quirk a ton before Kirishima and Sir Night Eye were even brought out, even the medic staff thanked you greatly for keeping Sir Night Eye stable the whole way to the hospital. “This is a part of working as a Hero.” He grumbled.

You stayed quiet for some time before responding, “I know.” You tilted to the side and leaned into the blonde, your tears slowing. Your head and knees leaned into his chest lightly, you could feel him stiffen at the action. You went to sit up properly when you felt him pull you back roughly, you let out a small ‘oof’ at the action. The whole situation bubbles up in your stomach, causing you to giggle through what’s left of your tears. “If you keep being nice to me I might have to call you Sweets instead of Spice.” You snorted out softly.

You could feel him stifle a chuckle before clicking his tongue, “Shut up!” He growled, “Don’t even think about telling anyone I was soft with you once!”

You chuckle a bit and lift your head to look at him, wiping your face with your shirt. “You really think I’d share such a sappy moment about you? Nuh-uh, this is my memory.” You chuckle a bit and lean back into him, missing the blush that decorated his scowling face. The two of you stayed like that for awhile before he convinced you that you were tired and should go to bed, you groaned and yawned before you begrudgingly agreed.

The next day Bakugo invited told you to go with him to see Kirishima, you agreed a bit reluctantly. He basically dragged you by the wrist the entire way there, you blushed over the action but didn’t argue. When you arrived Bakugo watched you in a bit of confusion as you were basically on a first name basis with the nurses, and older nurse had pulled you into a big hug that elicited a loud whine from you. They laughed and sent the two of you up to the room where Kirishima was. When you opened up the door you found the redhead was wide awake, he offered a bright smile that just made you cry again. Visible panic set in his face and Bakugo dragged you in by the hand to sit next to him, he explained the situation to his friend and the two let you sob. “I heard about everything you did.” Kirishima said, “I get where you’re coming from but you did a lot (Y/N/N). Like a lot-a lot.” He told Bakugo about what he heard from the nurses and Fatgum about your frenzy around the hospital with all the hero’s and officers who were at the raid.

“I’m sorry for getting upset.” You mumbled, “I just feel stupid. I know what I signed up for when I decided to go into the field of Heroism, but this was just a kick to the gut.” You rubbed your temples a bit, “Honestly, having my arm blown up was better than being this unprepared.” You sputtered, this earned a chuckle from the two.

“Dumbass, I told you you’re not a miracle worker!” Bakugo spat and dropping his palm on the top of your head, ruffling your hair aggressively. “Now stop being upset!” He hissed, you and Kirishima laughed at his aggressive ‘kindness’. The three of you talked for awhile, you offered to heal your friend more but he declined saying he’d be out soon anyway. You pouted but understood.

When you left Bakugo was still dragging you by your hand, “Thanks.” You said softly, smiling a bit. “That made me feel better.” You squeezed his hand lightly when he grunted at you. Such a weirdo, you wondered what’s gotten into him lately.

“Shut up.” He shouted, “It’s fucking weird seeing you upset.”

“Is that your version of saying you like seeing me happy?” You sniggered, this only elicited his grip on your hand to tighten. Your chuckles were cut short and you blushed loudly at the situation, he likes seeing me happy? You internally questioned.

After the trip to the hospital you became way too aware of Bakugo’s presence, anytime you bumped into him or happened to be too close your ears burned with blush. You were finally feeling more like yourself and now you felt like a wrench was thrown into your mind. As far as you could tell Mina was (of course) the first to notice. She pulled you into Jiro’s room, causing you to yelp. “Spill it (Y/N/N)!” She put her hands on her hips while wearing a smug grin. Jiro and Ochaco just stared at you two confused.

“What.” You chocked out.

She wiggles her eyebrows, “You’re all blushy with Bakugo! That’s what!” You almost tackled her at the statement.

“DON’T SAY THAT.” You shouted, the other girls were quick to pick up the situation. Mina grabbed your wrists and the other girls started to poke at you, you squealed loudly from being tickled.

All the yelling caused concern in the other dorm-mates who knocked on the door. Momo opened it up revealing herself, Toru and Iida. “(L/N) has a crush on someone! We’re trying to get her to confess the details!” Jiro tittered.

“DON’T LISTEN TO HER. SOMEONE HELP ME.” You cried out from being tickled, Momo ushered Iida to leave and the girls entered the room to poke at you. “NO!” You shouted while laughing.

“Just tell us what happened!” Ochaco teased you finally agreed and huffed for air.

You collapsed on Jiro’s bed, “I was really upset the other night Bakugo basically said he likes seeing me happy and now I’m like- hyperaware of his presence and the things he’s done. I feel like I’m losing my mind!” You whined softly.

“What’s he done?” Momo asked, you sat up and explained what he did after the sticker incident. You absolutely showed them the sticker and told them that he’s the one who’s been making you lunches. Mina explained how you easily calmed him from almost destroying the arcade game, the other girls just gave you the knowing look.

“Girl.” Mina facepalms, trying her hardest not to laugh. “How are you both are so fucking dense?”

You throw your hands up defensively, “I don’t know!” You yell out when there’s another knock at the door.

Jiro gets up to open it, and speak of the devil. “Boy Wonders here.” This elicits an unintelligible shout from you.

“Wha- AGH. Can you stop making her yell.” Bakugo glowered at your friend.

“I don’t think that’s on me, it’s just.… Girl talk.” She retorts with a snicker. He hears you groan in the background and sees a pillow thrown, your face is undeniably blushing.

He puts his hand on the door and leans in over the girl. “(Y/N), stop yelling.” He says sternly, your face drops into the bed as you wave him off. The girls are laughing at the interaction but he just scowls at them and walks off.

“Can someone just bury me already, I’m dying.” You hissed from the bed.

“So, he obviously likes you.” Jiro says walking back.

“Ohmygod. No he doesn’t!” You blurted.

“If he didn’t like you he would’ve told us all to ‘shut the fuck up’ or ‘keep it down’. He made that about you.” Mina jeered at you.

“Bakugo only feels anger!” You laughed, you knew that was a lie but he’d kill you if you said otherwise.

“Maybe he just feels less angry with you?” Ochaco snorted.

“I’ve never seen him be that considerate to anyone, let alone be as nice as you’ve mentioned.” Momo said.

“You’re in denial because you just noticed your feelings for him.” Toru snickered.

Mina laughed and grinned deviously, “If you’re so sure why don’t you ask him?”

“Wh-what? N-NO! I can’t do that!” You stammered, sitting up quickly. “If he liked me he would’ve said something by now! Can any of you imagine him just letting something he wants get away from him?” The girls looked between each other, you were right.

“OH.” Toru piped. “What if we convince him your interested in someone else? If he likes you he’ll do something about it right?” You could hear the implications in her voice.

You frowned deeply, teetering your head back. “That’s... Fair? I guess, but what if he like, tries to interrogate you guys?” You question, the girls smile and usher you out to make a plan.

Over the next several days the girls in passing talk about you and your crush, making sure it comes up in conversation near you and Bakugo. You always blush whenever they do, making sure you get a good jab or pinch in every time.

Bakugo is getting increasingly frustrated, you guys hang out all the time. What was this stupid crush about? Why was he angry about it? Why did he want to confront you over it? This frustration has him blowing up over everything. He’s managed to break pens, pencils, cups, plates, a book, and a few other miscellaneous objects. Denki and Sero try to get you to calm him down but you said he hasn’t talked to you or made the problem apparent so there’s nothing you can do.

“I think this is about your crush.” Denki mentions, which for you was the final straw you snapped, you were so tired of this crush nonsense.

“Denki.” You smile at him your gaze was dark in frustration, he looks over at you. “If I have to hear anything else about that topic I will flip your skin inside out, rub salt on it and throw vinegar at you.” You smile widens evilly. “Got it?” He just nodded furiously and runs off.

You drop your head on the counter where you sat at the kitchen bar, groaning loudly. You feel an aggressive tapping on your shoulder seconds later. You snap in their direction with a scowl, it’s Bakugo. Your expression softens when you’re met by an equal glare, “Come with me. Now.” He commanded, you follow him reluctantly. You weren’t paying much mind but you slowly realized you were heading to the boys dorms, more specifically his room.

You’ve been in there dozens of times, why are you so nervous now? You let out a sigh, trying to calm yourself as you made your way into the room. You sat on the edge of his bed, like you had many times before. “What can I do for you, Spice?” You ask, smiling at his glare.

He started pacing back and forth, he isn’t quite sure why he brought you here. He’s just mad and it has something to do with you. “What is this whole crush nonsense about?”

You froze a bit, “I have a crush on someone and the girls weaseled information out of me.” You rubbed the back of your neck, the statement was pointed, it wasn’t a complete lie.

He just stared at you in disbelief, all your actions proved you were telling the truth. “Who?” He hissed, less asking and more demanding. You looked down at your feet, you didn’t say anything. “Is it Kirishima?” He snapped, I mean it would make sense with how broken up you were with his injuries. You stared at him, squinting your eyes a bit. Giving him the ‘are you serious?’ expression. “Tell me it’s not Denki? Dudes a fucking idiot.”

You laughed out at this comment, “No, dumbass. I’m not that desperate.” You roll your eyes, you watch the gears turn in his head furiously. It’s not clicking. “For fucks sake, Spice. You really can’t figure it out?”

He scowls at you, you just groan and jump from your seat. You walk up, get in his face and grab him by his shirt collar. You pull his face into your for a kiss. It takes a few seconds for him to grab you by your waist and pull you up, kissing deeper. He bit at you lip as if asking to enter your mouth, you comply easily while you wrap you arms around his neck. Your fingers find his hair when you both pull away for air. “You could’ve just said something, dumbass.”

“Oh, I am not the only dumbass here, Sweets.” You snickered at him. A frustrated blush tints his cheeks at the new nickname.

“Don’t call me that.” He snaps pulling you in aggressively for another kiss.

You tug at his hair a bit at the kiss, “Only when we’re alone.” You retort between kisses. “God, I don’t know if I should kill the girls or thank them.” You pant out, he sends you a questioning look. You chuckle a bit, “The whole crush nonsense was their tactic to force us to admit we had feelings for each other.” Bakugo’s face burned with frustration but he found that he was far less frustrated after the aggressive make out session. Your phone pinged with a text from Mina.

Mina:

Are you making out or killing each other? Hurry up it’s movie night!

Received 5:59PM

(Y/N):

Yes

Sent 6:00PM (seen)

(Y/N):

You hurry up we’re already here

Sent 6:00PM (seen)

You removed yourself from his grasp and grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s pick a movie and pretend fight so they’ll shut up.” He just rolled his eyes and smirked. Not too long after the rest of the Bakusquad (minus Kirishima) made their way to his room, followed by a few of the other curious girls. “You’re so fucking weird why would buy that??”

“It’s a classic! Dumbass, why don’t you have good taste in movies?” He hissed.

“Ooh, excuse me for having my own opinion!” You snapped, it was so hard not to laugh.

“What have we done..” Mina groans.

You both look at the door, “Shut up!” You both hissed in unison, snapping back to face each other.

“Don’t copy me!” You yelled.

“You’re one to talk!” He snorted.

Mina ushered the girls off while her and Sero broke up the fight, little do they know it’s totally fake. Mina picks a LOTR movie at random. “Just sit down and let’s enjoy a movie!” She snapped. You both fake hissed at each other as you sat in your normal spots on his bed, a bit closer than normal.

While the others got caught up in the movie you silently laughed to get it out of your system, Bakugo snorted quietly at the whole situation.

At some point during the movie when you adjusted your sitting to stretch your legs Bakugo decided to lay across your lap. Not like a normal person would with their head in you lap, but on his side. The side of his abdomen pressed down your thighs as he propped him head up on his hand. Elbow pressed into the mattress, he snicker as you readjusted. You didn’t mind as much as he thought you did, you were focused on the movie. You had absentmindedly started to comb your fingers through his hair, causing him to get tired. The movie was about 4 hours long, which ran into the time you and the blonde typically went to sleep. Bakugo had already fallen asleep across your lap, you had crossed your arms and started dozing off.

When the movie was over, Mina, Denki and Sero got up to go get ready for bed. When they turned on the light they all stared at the sight before them, you were sat dozed off peacefully against the wall. Your arms crossed head still slightly upright, one leg out and one leg bent with the foot on the opposing knee. While Bakugo was laying on his chest in your lap with one arm under and wrapped around your bent leg with his face buried into your thigh like it was a pillow. Mina was quick to silence her phone and snap a dozen photos, “Should we wake them?” Sero whispers.

Denki shook his head, “You really want to wake the two scariest people we know?” The other two agree and quickly escape the room and turn the light back off.

——

Bakugo woke up in the middle of the night, he was warm and cold in all the wrong places. He rubbed his face into what he quickly realized wasn’t a pillow and shot upright. There you were, totally asleep. Same position as the Bakusquad had left you in, with the softest snores escaping you. He just stared at you in shock before he reaches over for his phone. It’s 2 am, he debates whether to wake you or not. He decided to just scoop you up and lay you down on his bed, there’s no getting out of this one. He gets up to change into his sleepwear and climb back into bed, you were already in comfortable clothing (shorts and a baggy t-shirt). He pulls the covers over you and lays facing the wall with his back to you under the covers.

The sun flickered against your eyelids and woke you as usual in the morning, but something was different this morning. You felt a warm and heavy weight holding you down, when you opened you eyes you realized what’s wrong. You were still in Bakugo’s room, you felt him adjust in his sleep which forced you to assess the situation. He was big spooning you, in his bed, one arm under your neck and the other arm wrapped around your waist, hand under your shirt tucked beside your bare ribs, lightly snoring into your neck where his face was nuzzled. Holy shit, was all your brain could process.

You decided to sneakily grab your phone, double check it was on silent mode and snap a few pictures. You now have dirt on him forever. You attempt to pry yourself from his sleeping grip but the second you manage to sit up right his sleeping form curls around your waist. As cute as this is you wanted to go change and get ready for the day, “Hey, Sweets?” You whine at him, he adjusts in his spot. “Bakugo.” You press further, he grumbled but nothing further. You think for a moment and lean down a bit, “Katsuki.” You say in the most seductive voice you can manage, this quickly pries his eyes open. It takes him a solid 30 seconds to realize the position he’s in, how the fuck did this happen?? He doesn’t quite move as he feels his face heat up. “Good morning. Please free me so I can get ready, I’ve been trying to get you up for like 5 minutes.” You yawned out to him, stretching a bit. When he finally let go he just lazily dropped his face in his pillow that now smelt like you, groaning softly.

You looked back at his figure, frustrated noises escaping him as his neck turned red. You just laughed softly before making your way to get your day started.

Bakugo came down with a few other, later than usual when Mina finally tackled you in the lounge. “You’ll never believe what I got a picture of last night!” She snickered.

You laughed softly, “Oh I have an idea, considering what I got a picture of this morning.” You both laughed at this, “You’re such an ass, why didn’t you wake me up?”

Mina just shows her pictures triumphantly in response, you ask her to send them to you when you show her the pictures you got this morning. Her jaw looked like it was about to fall off when Bakugo sped over to see. “DELETE THAT.”

“Absolutely not.” You locked your phone and hid it away. “You’re so cute when your asleep, so peaceful.” You gushed, Mina was actively losing her marbles at the interaction. “Get over it Spice, you can delete them if you beat me in a fight.” You winked at him, the whole speech burned a blush into his face as he stomped off shouting. “He’s so cute when he’s embarrassed.” You snickered to Mina as you both stood up.

“SHUT UP!” He bellowed out from the kitchen, causing you to laugh harder.

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befuddledcinnamonroll · 5 months ago

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2024 Tumblr Top 10

For funsies! 2024 was my first full year of posting (I started midway through 2023), so it's nice to get a chance to look back. I deeply appreciate everyone who likes and/or reblogs my nonsense.

1. The Sign - a defense of Phaya & Tharn's first time.

456 Notes - Jan 7, 2024

It's a little bit funny to me that this is my top one, because although I greatly enjoyed elements of The Sign, it did rather lose me by the end. But apparently my stalwart defense of the first time Phaya and Tharn boned was appreciated, and that makes me happy.

2. Japan and hand/mouth sensuality

365 Notes - Nov 28, 2024

It's only been posted for less than a month, and is already my 2nd top. Yeah, y'all thirsty. This doesn't surprise me.

3. How Perfect Propose is saying something truly important

319 Notes - Feb 23, 2024

Oh, it makes me happy this one is so high on the list. This show spoke to me on a soul level, as someone who had been crushed under the influence of a toxic workplace. I don't want to get into details, but I will say my thoughts got so dark one day that it shocked me into realizing I had to get out of there. I'm still struggling to find my way in the world, but seeing a show like this helps me take comfort in how many people are with me in knowing that we deserve so much more out of life, even if we have to sneak in tiny little moments of joy amidst the hardship. And if you are someone who liked or reblogged this post, I know you're with me too.

4. The real heart of We Are

308 Notes - May 15, 2024

Awww, y'all are cute for liking this one so much. I still maintain We Are was a love letter to friendship with a side of romance.

5. Love Sea and the joy of good translators

301 Notes - Jul 14, 2024

Hell yeah! Note that I did not say "good translation". Was this an accurate conveyance of what the Thai wording was? I have no idea. But the translator's choice brought me great joy, so I thank them.

6. Methas’ Guide to Finding and Landing the Love of Your Life

300 Notes - Aug 27, 2024

I am very proud of this one. I don't often get this tongue-in-cheek (I mean, I think I'm really funny, I just never expect other people to find me funny), but I had such fun with Methas and JJ, and I had fun making this "guide".

7. Kim appreciation post

281 Notes - Jan 8, 2024

A Benz double-feature! I adored Kim from beginning to end of Pit Babe. It might be that I can relate to someone being thrown into random chaos not of their choosing, but trying to uphold their strong ethics and sense of self amidst some really challenging shit. Or because he was really hot and had no time for Winner's bullshit. Either way, I can't wait to see my boy again next year!

8. An appreciation for actors who sell fun and joy while pretending to fuck

279 Notes - May 28, 2024

Like I said. Y'all thirsty.

(Note - this is not the original gif I used, but the gif search is being extra stupid right now.)

9. A rant over the very stupid and unwarranted fan criticism for Tay kissing Gun, and stupid fans in general

267 Notes - May 12, 2024

Rereading this, it's actually a pretty good rant! I have zero tolerance for entitled fan bullshit. And the way some people treat branded pairs like holy icons is just so unhealthy. I'm totally fine with branded pairs, if that's what the actors want to do, but also I am 100% let the homies kiss all the homies. Especially Gun. There's no way he's not already kissing them off cam anyway, let him collect a paycheck for it.

10. When Japan is both sweet and erotic

265 Notes - Mar 2, 2024

I'm sensing a theme here for posts about Japan + horniness.

I 100% tagged myself on this one, so you should do it for yourself too!

Source: jetblackcode.com

#tumblr top 10 #happy with my little blog this year

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letstalkaboutbl · 5 years ago

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Review of Gameboys

I know I am late to the game, but I been a little busy. For starters, my aunt moved to another state just a couple of days ago, so I helped her pack stuffs and get everything set up. I was pretty much with her 24/7. Then I helped my cousin moved out too, and I was also busy with my own work. But, that didn’t stop me from watching some BL during my free time, and one that really got my attention and I think deserves all the hype is GAMEBOYS

Gameboys is the story of Cairo and Gav. Cairo is a gamer who streams his games, and Gav was one of his followers. After Gav wins a match againts Cairo, he sends him a friend request in a platform I feel its like facebook (lmao). Gav doesn’t waste time, and tells him that if he wins another match againts Cairo, he is going to start flirting with him. Gav wins the game and he starts flirting with Cairo.

However, although this is all cute and all, what got my attention was not just their love story, but where and how their friendship ( and later relationship) starts, but how the director and crew incorporated what some of us are living during the pandemic. For instance:

1. Lockdown

The majority of our countries, states, and cities, are in lockdown. Although some of our countries are moving faster than other in reopening again everything, we are still limited in the number of times we can go out, or we have curfews. The majority of us are trying to keep ourselves busy, trying to forget a little than we are living in the middle of a pandemic and that doctor, nurses, and essential workers are putting their lives on risks for us. We see can Gav and Cairo talk about how they are trying to live their lives in lockdown, and how their whole lives changed. Moreover, every time we see how they get into social media there are posts about how essential workers are doing, what their government is doing right or wrong. I think in a way, the director is making a wake up call to some governments that are not helping or protecting their people. For instance, I do not know if I mentioned this but I was not born in the United States, I was born in El Salvador, and although the president of El Salvador did an amazing job to try and stop the spreading of the virus before it hit our country, a lot of other countries did not, like Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. I am not saying that other politicians did not do what they could to protect their people, but right now, as far as I know, are hot spots in South America. Even here, Texas right now is worse than what New York was when the pandemic started, our governor Cuomo, is trying to stop people from Texas coming to NY, because we barely got out of the worse.

2. Essential workers

Through the whole series we see how Cairo and Gav supporting essential workers, whether it is by reposting a status, or by preparing meals. More than once Gav was preparing healthy meals for the essential workers. I think this dynamic is helping us to appreciate what these people are doing for us. THEY ARE HEROES, and Gav and Cairo are helping us see that what we can do is staying home. In the later episode we see different doctors and nurses helping people, covering themselves with masks that look like those in scary movies. It is just a wake up call for us too.

3. Families fighting the virus

If you watched the show you know that Cairo’s dad has the virus. All through the series we see how Cairo seems sad because of it, and I am not giving spoilers but we know now why. If you guys had families, friends, or people you just knew around your neighborhood that had the virus, you know how hard it is for their families. My mother was exposed to the virus, to the point that myself and my father experience the symptoms. I lost some pounds because I was not eating properly due that you literally do not have taste or smell. However, I am thankful to God that our condition was not too bad to go to the hospital. My mother and father did not experience fevers at all, but I did. I had fever for two weeks and I was in the middle of finals at my College too. Either way, when I watched how Cairo’s life was put upside down because of his father having the virus, and how much he cared for him, I really felt for him.

4. Friends and Love

I think this is a story that has everything in it. I do not have words to explain enough how Gav and Pearl helped Cairo to be happier in his little and small world where he felt so alone. It is just so magical to see their friendship blossom, as well as the love between Gav and Cairo.

5. Acceptance

I cannot explain either this theme in the story, but I can say the words that Cairo’s mom said to him “Don’t apologize for being who you are.”

I hope you give this BL a try. In this lockdown, Gameboys is literally something I look forward every Friday. I CAN’T WAIT FOR EP 9

Side note:

I been having some ideas about a fanfic involving the 4 pillars of GMM, each one having their little story, but they have been friends since high school. I have like an idea, but I do not if you guys would like it. Each couple will face little obstacles like

Kris and Singto would like to adopt a child

Bright and Win having a hard time with their coworkers to accept

Off and Gun trying to marry

Tay and New trying to come out to their parents.

And I have like little guest in each episode like Mew and Gulf, and other people from different BLs... I have like the whole plot of the story of Krist and Singto, but just let me know guys if you want to read something like that

All love,

Lullaby

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yellowsugarwords · 5 years ago

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hi tay! i hope you're doing well. i had a lovely idea for a luke x reader headcannon. maybe an s/o who may not be too good at hunting, but they're CRAZY smart? like doctor spencer reid smart, yannow?

ooooo okay this is gonna be cute.

Luke didn’t know much about them when they showed up.

Only that they’d been abandoned by their previous group.

One of violence and selfishness.

Betrayal and bloodshed.

Luke was the one who stayed with them on their first night.

They had stumbled up to their doorstep.

Bloodied and beaten.

He didn’t need a reason.

He whisked them in without question.

It was that night in the kitchen did Luke learn more about them.

Sitting across the kitchen table.

They were too fearful to eat anything.

Only staring at the meal Luke made for them.

“They best us for not listening,” they said.

Eyes teary.

Voice weak.

“And when we couldn’t kill on command like they could,”

Y/N gulped.

“They almost beat us half to death.”

They turned away.

Closed their eyes.

Hugged their arms to their chest.

And lowered their head.

They were traumatized.

Petrified.

And Luke could do nothing to help.

He could only be there.

“They won’t get to you here.” Was all he could think to say.

Y/N didn’t sleep.

They couldn’t.

They were too worried.

They sat on the couch.

Sleepily blinking ahead.

Getting up to do chores when the rest of the house awoke.

Together, Luke offered to take them hunting.

Show them the ropes.

Keep an eye on them.

As they wandered into the woods, Luke heard them yawn.

“What did you do before all this?”

“You mean before the world ended?”

They chuckled sadly.

“I was still in school. Trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.”

“Did you have a decision?”

Y/N shrugged. “I was thinking about medicine.”

Luke whistled. “Oh, so you’re a genius.”

Y/N laughed heartily.

And Luke could swear his heart fluttered hearing the sound for the first time.

“Far from it.”

Luke smirked, knowing better.

They were modest; Luke knew what much for sure.

No matter what Luke tried when it came to hunting, nothing worked for Y/N.

Bow and arrow? Bust.

Knife? Bad idea.

Gun? Too loud.

Knife throwing? Disaster.

“Told you I was far from a genius.” Y/N said.

Adjusting their bag as they headed home.

They’d caught nothing.

“You told me you were going into medicine,” Luke scoffed.

Turning to them.

Playfully rolling his eyes.

“You’re book smart. I never expected you to be good at physical activity.”

To that, Y/N laughed.

And Luke felt his chest warm up again.

When they returned, it was afternoon.

The bulk of chores were underway.

And prep for dinner that evening had begun.

Which meant Luke and Y/N got to relax.

Together they sat on the couch.

And Y/N yawned.

Luke studied them, eyes waned and worried.

“You should get some rest.”

“I can’t.”

“You can. You should.”

Y/N hesitated.

Blinked.

Debating just how bad their exhaustion was.

“I don’t have anywhere to sleep.”

“Use my bed.” He said.

Y/N nervously met his gaze.

Luke only shrugged.

Anxiously, Y/N glanced over her shoulder.

Glancing for the other cabin crew members.

Flitting their gaze hesitantly to the staircase.

Luke leaned forward so his soft words could be heard.

“I’ll stay with you,” he said softly, “if you’d like.”

Y/N nodded.

Giving a sheepish smile.

Luke escorted them to his room.

Gestured to his freshly made bed.

And sat on the floor.

“Don’t leave me alone up here.” Y/N said.

And Luke didn’t complain.

Together, they sat together.

Softly chatting from time to time.

Y/N’s voice growing softer and softer.

Until Luke felt a weight on his shoulders.

And heard gentle, steady sighs.

And Luke closed his eyes.

Cheeks rosy and bright.

In blissful heaven.

Beside his future.

#the walking dead game headcanons #twdg headcanons #headcanons #twdg #headcanon #the walking dead game #the walking dead game season 2 #twdgs2 #twdg luke #twdg reader #reader x luke #luke x reader #telltale #telltale the walking dead #telltale the walking dead game #telltale games #skybound entertainment #skybound games #skybound

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danurso · 5 years ago

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The adorkable blonde

Okay, i'll try to sum up the next stories cause this took me literally HOURS to make, and if i do the same for every single one of them i'll fucking die.

Title: The adorkable blonde.

Pairing: Jaune x Yang (Dragonslayer)

Status: abandoned.

Chapters wrote: 2

Total words so far: 10,170

Story:

I planned this story to be pretty simple and straightforward, it's set in a real life AU and it starts with yang being asked out by cardin, which she obviously refused.

Cardin was the captain of the football team and wasn't used to being denied by girls, unfortunately for him yang wasn't just any girl, and when he tried to get 'touchy' with her yang landed a direct punch on his stomach and walked away.

Yang wasn't just any girl, she was the leader of the boxing club, she could take down anyone be it boy or girl, she was the champion of the vytal boxing tournament last year, and would be this year as well if she didn't gave up from this year's tournament.

You see, the tournament she attended was on the same day as the ball of beacon, and because of it she lost the ball last year, but this year she intended to go to the ball with a very special someone. Said someone who just came in with her sister to greet her.

Jaune greeted yang along with ruby, there it was, the only guy who ever made her heart skip a beat, the only guy on this school she wanted to go to the ball with.

Ruby asked why did she leave so early and yang told her that she needed to talk with ozpin about dropping the boxing tournament, ruby asked why did she decided to drop the tournament and she explained that she wanted to attend the ball this year, she asked if yang already had a pair and yang told her that no, because she wasn't going to give up on the tournament just to go with a random guy who isn't going to take his eyes out of her babies, and she held her chest to emphasize her point.

Jaune instantly blushed and looked away making her grin and think about how cute he looks when blushing, she asked if he saw something he liked and before he could answer the gods saved him with the sound if a school bell ringing.

Jaune instantly says that he needs to leave for class before he gets late and vanishes in a split second leaving the girls back.

Ruby sighs and gives yang a disappointed look, and when the older girl asks about it ruby replies telling her that she's never going to go out with jaune if she keep pushing him away like that.

Yang felt a heat crawl up her face and tried to deny it, ruby said that they lived under the same roof their whole life and he knew about her crush on jaune, yang would try to deny again but blake suddenly came in and said that yang already passed the level of crush and was more head over heels for him, which ruby agreed while yang gave her a betraied look.

Blake deadpanned and told her to not give her that look, since everyone of their group knew about her crush on jaune except, obviously, jaune himself.

Yang tried to deny it but weiss joined them and when she asked what they were talking about and blake told what was the subject, she gave yang a tired loom and asked why didn't she confessed to him already.

Yang once again said that she didn't liked him like that and that even if she did liked, which she doesn't, it wouldn't matter because he and pyrrha are probably dating.

Blake reminded her that they didn't knew it for sure even though it was pretty obvious.

Pyrrha had feelings for jaune for all of the first year and nowadays they were always together, they sat next to each other in class and were always talking about stuff, pyrrha seemed to be a lot happier and didn't had more trouble to be around jaune, it was pretty obvious that there was something going on between them.

Weiss told her she wouldn't know if she didn't asked or tried to get closer but yang shrugged it off saying it was time for them to go to class.

During class yang had to suppress her jealousy feelings, not that she was jealous of anything, but there were some really ugly feelings wanting to leave.

At the moment pyrrha was sat very close to jaune, both of them smiling while making the exercices oobleck gave them.

Blake noticed how yang's expression was dark at the moment, she called her and asked what was going on, and with the fakest smile possible she replied that there was nothing wrong, blake told her she knew she was jealous and, unsurprisingly, yang denied, blake insisted and reminded her that they know each other since kindergarten and that yang always had her back, that at least once blake wanted to have hers.

She threw a few more arguments in and yang finally gave in, saying she had no idea what to do, she wanted to be closer to jaune but every time she tried to get closer she would get nervous and her yangstincts would kick in, making her tease him in some way, leaving him embarrassed and making him go away, and if that wasn't enough there was still pyrrha who yang was pretty sure was already dating jaune, so yeah, her options where pretty short.

Blake was happy that she finally opened up about it to her and told her they could talk about that later on her home, yang asked why and doctor oobleck intervene saying that it was because his class was for studying and not talking.

A few hours later and she's already leaving with ruby who asked if blake was going to sleep on their place, yang nodded and ruby hummed happily, telling yang that she was happy that she finally opened up about jaune, yang blushed and ruby answered the question before she could even ask, telling that she heard her and blake talking in class and she even called weiss to sleep over so all of them could make a plan for yang to get jaune's attention.

Yang didn't knew if she should kill or kiss her little sister, but she ran out of time to decide when qrow came in with summer after him, ruby instantly latched on her dad before he spoke a bit with yang, if qrow was home that meant her mother was home too, they talked a bit and qrow told her that she would need to borrow ruby till later, yang didn't had problems with that and so ruby leaved with qrow and summer, leaving back to go home alone.

At least that's what she thought, cause soon enough jaune came out of the school and joined her, he asked if she wouldn't mind him joining her on their way back, yang asked if he wasn't going to wait for pyrrha and he said that she's too busy with club stuff, and since his club dispensed him earlier he was already going back home.

Yang winced a bit, she knew neither jaune or pyrrha were at any clubs right now, perks of being the leader of a club herself and knowing most of the peoples in this school, she knew that jaune and pyrrha sneaked around the school every day while saying they had club stuff to do...honestly, why did she even bothered at this point, it was more than obvious that he and pyrrha were going out.

Yang accepted the company anyways and they started to walk back home, yang tried to break the awkward silence asking if he was quiet like that all the time or if he was just nervous of being around a cute girl like her, jaune blushed at that while yang mentally scolded herself.

Jaune told her that he was just nervous because its been awhile since they talked like that, just the two of them.

And he was right, yang asked about his family and he asked about hers, they talked a bit about her mother being back home and how tai must be happy like a puppy now that she's back. They managed to pull off a nice conversation, but after it ended there was only awkward silence again.

Yang was thinking about how could she pull another nice conversation like that, and asked about the ball, wincing right after because that was the first thing that came to her head. He replied saying that he had no one to go with and chuckled sadly asking who would even want to go to the ball with someone like him.

Yang ignored her mental screaming and asked who wouldn't want to go to the ball with him, he replied instantly asking if she would go with someone like him, she froze in her place, stunned and not knowing what to do, but in the meantime jaune sighed and started to walk again saying that it was just like that.

Yang catched up with him and tried to say that she would love to go to the ball with someone like him, jaune scoffed saying she could go with whatever boy she wanted, why would she want to go with him of all people?

'Because i love you dumbass!!'

She replied nervously, telling him that she just thinks it would be nice to go with him, jaune lokmed away and sighed, telling it was nice to talk but her needed to go now.

Yang was so distracted by the talk she didn't realized she was already home, jaune was her neighbor so if he came to his stop she came as well, and she walked into her home feeling like she just messed up her chance.

She walked in and greeted her mom who was cleaning her gun, raven noticed yang's long face and asked what was wrong with her, yang hesitated a bit but eventually spoke up, and asked how did she and her dad started dating.

Raven at first didn't got the question but yang explained that it would probably help her with a problem, raven sighed and told her the full story, about how she hated her dad at the start but eventually warmed up to him, to the point even just seeing his face would leave her flustered.

Yang chuckled imagined a flustered and embarrassed version of her mother, and by the end of the long story, raven had a small smile on her face, recalling how that goofball of taiyang managed to steal her heart, and out of nowhere tai popped up hugging raven from behind, raven headbutted him and told him to stop acting like an idiot.

Yang couldn't help but chuckle at her parent's antics, and she was feeling better after the story, so she thanked her mother and walked up to her room.

Later on, the room echoed with a loud "WHAT!?"

Blake, weiss and ruby were simply incredulous with the fact that jaune asked yang to the ball and she simply froze.

Yang reminded them that he just asked if she would like to go to the ball with someone...like him.

And once more they shouted, saying that it was the same thing and that she should have told him that she wanted to go with him.

Yang started to ramble, saying she knew that she messed up and that she shouldn't even bother anymore cause he already has pyrrha and she wasn't perfect like her.

Her friends and sister reminded her that she was just as perfect as pyrrha, and if she managed to control herself she wouldn't have problems to ask jaune to the ball.

Feeling the ego boost she just got from her friend yang stood up and declared that she would never let herself be dominated by. . .the. . .nervousness. . . .again. . . .

The girls just stared as yang started to talks slower and slower until she froze and started to drool with a hungry look. They got up and turned to where she was looking and found out the reason of why did she froze like that.

What yang was staring at was her window, but more importantly, what was on the other side of the window. They could all see through the window a shirtless jaune that apparently just came out of the bath with a towel wrapped on his waist, he picked up his phone on the table and walked away, and for that small moment yang could swear she saw the heaven of abs pectorals, jaune was a lot more defined than he let on.

All the girls had blushes on their faces and blake had to admit that jaune is hot, yang let herself fall face first on the pillow and screamed something between a curse and a plea, they had no idea what it was though since it was very muffled, when she finally stopped screaming she started to panic, she was already nervous before, how is she supposed to look at him now without remembering THAT.

Once again she started to mop about her low chances against pyrrha, but her friends didn't let her go far and promised they would find a way, and so they spent a good chunk of the night making plans that in the end didn't take her anywhere.

Later, when everyone was asleep, yang got up from her bed and decided to take a breather, she was really thankful that her friends were so excited about helping her but it did made her feel a bit. . .overwhelmed. so she left the room and leaved the house, sitting on the swing on her backyard.

That was her thinking place, where she came to sort things out, it was the place where she started to remember the good old times with she, jaune and ruby running on the courtyard, she remembered ruby trying to run after them and tripping half way through and how jaune cried while trying to help her, she always loved how caring he was with both her and her sister, but that's just how jaune was, he was kind to everyone.

"Yeah. . .everyone. . ."

Before she could go further into her thoughts she heard a voice calling her, she loomed over to the fence and jaune was standing there, asking if everything was alright, which she faked a nod and told him everything was okay

Jaune didn't buy the excuse and opened the door their parents made years before on the fence, walking into her backyard and sitting on the swing next to her.

She asked what was he doing up so late and he said he couldn't sleep and said cookies usually help him, he then offered some freshly baked vanilla cookies to her, they were her favorites.

Jaune asked what was wrong and she blushed a bit remembering of earlier, she told him she was okay, he didn't loomed like he bought the excuse but at least he stood silent and just offered some more cookies, she picked some more and ate, after that it was just silence.

Out of nowhere, yang thanked him. Jaune said it was no problem and it was just cookies, she said she wasn't thanking for the cookies and she knew what he was doing, jaune was silent for a moment as she continued, she said that wasn't the first time he does that, she leaves her home and sits down on the swing and then out of nowhere he pops up with some cookies and a willing ear to help her, hell he doesn't even like vanilla cookies, but he makes them anyways just because she likes them.

Yang thanked him for being her friend, she kinda accepted the fact that she would never be more like that and despite it hurting, it was better that way. She said she was very thankful of having someone nice like him as her friend.

Jaune replied saying he was just returning the favor, he told her how he was like a human repellent when younger and how his family were his only friends, that was until he moved and met yang, it was thanks to her that he made so many friends and it's because of her that he never gave up on anything he did, because he really admired her, and so that's why he was thanking her.

There was a moment of silence where the two of them had gazes locked, yang unconsciously started to approach him, she tried to say something but because she was leaning on a swing of all things, she accidentally lost balance and feel down, jaune tried to hold her but that only made him fall along with her.

When yang realized she was on the ground and on top of jaune, they both broke into chuckles at the disaster they basically were, and slowly, the chuckles started to fade and only silence remained, and their faces stood just a few centimeters apart.

Yang unconsciously started to lean closer to jaune, until her lips finally touched his, resulting on a mind blowing kiss, jaune froze for a second, but wrapped his hands on her waist and reciprocated the kiss right after, both of them placing as much emotion on the kiss at it was possible, yang's hands trailed up to his face and ended on his silky golden locks, the kiss started to get deeper and deeper, to the point their tongues were battling for dominance over the kiss, they were lost in a bliss, like they were on their world, but just like good things, their oxygen couldn't last forever and soon they had to break the kiss to get a much needed breath.

When yang got to breathe and her brain started to work, she realized her own position and panicked, she got up and screamed an apology before she ran back into her home.

On the next day things got really awkward for them, their friends tried to ask what was wrong with them but they both shrugged it off saying it was nothing.

But it was obvious that something was wrong, both yang and jaune had bags under their eyes and were avoiding each other like the plague, but no matter how much their friends asked they wouldn't give an answer.

After a long and awkward day, when classes were over, yang left the classroom and bumped on pyrrha who asmed what was wrong with her, yang still felt guilty for kissing jaune like that so she asked if pyrrha and her could talk alone, pyrrha didn't minded and so she followed yang to a more private place.

Once they were both on the rooftop pyrrha asked again what was the problem, yang sat down and held her legs against her chest, feeling a lump on her throat. Pyrrha sat down next to her and patiently waited for an answer.

When yang finally managed to gather enough courage, she started speaking, and said she was sorry. Pyrrha rose an eyebrow and asked why was she sorry, yang explained everything to her, about how she loved jaune and had kissed him on the day before, and then just stood silent waiting for pyrrha to lash her anger on her.

But against her expectations, pyrrha beamed in happiness and asked how it was, yang was confused and asked why wasn't she angry, pyrrha then also got confused and asked why would she be angry, yang told her she knew pyrrha and jaune were dating and pyrrha burst into chuckles, yang asked what was so funny and pyrrha told her they weren't dating. Yang proceeded to ramble about her crush on him, the time they spent together, how close they were and she knew that she and jaune were lying about having clubs just to have time for themselves.

It was all true, pyrrha was really close to him and she did have a crush on him during most of the first year, but right now she saw him as more of a close friend or even a brother than a romantic interest, yang asked what they did on the free time after school just the two of them, pyrrha giggled and said that if she wanted to know she would need to ask jaune himself.

That just added more fuel to the fire of yang's curiosity.

Pyrrha said she was very happy that she kissed jaune, all of their friends were already in a relationship already and only jaune and yang were still running in circles, yang blushed a bit asking if they were that bad and pyrrha sheepishly nodded, she said that ren and nora were dating for years now, blake had sun and ruby had weiss...even pyrrha was dating someone.

Yang perked at her in curiosity and asked who was the lucky guy, pyrrha fidgeted a bit as her cheeks reddened, and told her the guy in question was vergil, yang was in pure shock because she was pretty sure that cold ass guy would rather kill himself then get involved with anyone.

After a few minutes of pyrrha explaining how that happened and some teasing from yang, they got back to the main topic, and upon processing everything yang ang slumped, all this time she was getting so worked up for nothing, they weren't dating, and because she thought they were she wasted an amazing chance on the day before.

Pyrrha said to cheer up because it wasn't over yet, and that she could still make things right, yang asked how she was so certain that yang could do that, she was pretty sure jaune was angry with her at the moment, pyrrha said that jaune being angry with her was impossible, and when yang asked why pyrrha gave her a reply.

"because he loves you." yang's eyes widened as her face reddened, pyrrha's eyes widened as well as she covered her mouth, just now noticing what she just spilled. "oh god! oh my god i'm sorry! i wasn't supposed to tell you that!"

After that yang passed out, leaving a panicking pyrrha behind.

And that's all i wrote so far.

After that we would see jaune talking about his problem with a friend, they both setting things right, going to the ball and that's what i think it would end on.

Planned scenes:

1- a scene where yang gets into a fight, probably with cardin and jaune helps her to beat him and his friends, yang asks how did jaune knows how to fight so well and he admits that he's been taking private classes with pyrrha (who is the leader of the martial arts club) and that's why he's been staying on school after classes are over.

Yang asked why did he never told her that and jaune said he was embarrassed, because he was training to protect her, he knew yang was strong but he couldn't help but think that one day she might get hurt because of him, when they were younger yang helped him to deal with the bullies and got hurt because of that, and that's why jaune was training in secret with pyrrha, so one day if yang got in trouble, he could protect her like she protected him so many times, the result of this declaration is a very emotional yang pulling jaune into a heated kiss that soon developed into a make out session.

Fun facts:

1- From all the stories i have, this is probably the closest to being complete, but even so i still can't bring myself to finish it, and even if i did finished it, i would need to rewrite everything since the story is very old and has a lot of grammar problems.

2- Yes, the vergil dating pyrrha is the same vergil from dmc3 (cause i think at that point he was around her age) the reason he's paired with her here is because i already paired them before and liked the result, so i used here again.

How that first happened? Long story short, i had another story and made an OC called dante (no, despite the name he has nothing to do with dmc dante) i wanted to give him a brother but was too lazy to make another OC and since the story had a few things to do with demons (like most of my stories) i said "fuck it, i'll put vergil here until i make a new OC to be dante's brother."

Ironically enough, a few months later i gave dante a little sister and erased vergil from my next stories, but the dynamic i built for him and pyrrha in some of my older stories was really fun so i still used it a few times, just like in this story.

#ask me anything #ask me stuff #rwby #jaune arc #yang xiao long #jaune x yang #dragonslayer

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jadekitty777 · 5 years ago

Text

Who Needs Gifts When We Have Love?

Finally, after all this time, the long awaited second chapter of the Summer/Tai/Qrow mini series is up. Technically, I just ended up dropping what I planned for the original ‘ending’ (of which will become super obvious what it was when you read this). I may finish that part later, but it was hanging me up way too much and I didn’t want this series to just go on an eternal hiatus because of it.

Rating: M

Word Count: 3,500

Pairing: Summer/Tai/Qrow

Ao3 Link: Who Needs Gifts When We Have Love?

Summary: Qrow didn't really care for the fanfare involved with birthdays, especially his own. Luckily, Summer and Tai's combined creative efforts made it much more bearable.

Qrow hated birthdays.

It came to no surprise to him that all the main ‘traditions’ tied to a birthday came from Atlas – as if the overly commercialist kingdom didn’t have enough money to fatten their prestigious family’s wallets with. There had to be cake with your name on it, an expensive dinner out, enough colorful balloons and streamers to make a person go blind – and one could definitely not forget the “perfect” gift, as if there really was such a thing or, even if there was, that it could be found every single year. It felt like a bunch of frivolous fanfare.

So, he hated birthdays. Especially his own.

Except, it wasn’t his “own” – and that made it infinitely worse because it only served as a reminder of the missing presence in his life.

Despite his misgivings though, it didn’t seem to stop Tai and Summer from breaking the rules, in their own way. They didn’t cook his favorite dinner, they cooked his second or his third. There was no cake, but plenty of cookies to go around for the next week. They never gave him anything wrapped up with a neat little bow on top, but they did ask what he wanted to do and then followed through with as many extreme measures as they were allowed.

So, his request for ‘a quiet night in’ equated to dropping Ruby and Yang off at a babysitter’s house.

Don’t get him wrong, he loved those scamps with all his heart – but some days their energy was a bit… much. So just one night away from any father-uncle responsibilities was definitely a treat. He also figured this was the only ‘gift’ his partners had planned for him.

The bouquet of sunflowers sitting on the front step to the house seemed to laugh at him and his gullibility.

He looked to the woman beside him. “Summer.”

She looked back at him, her mask of innocence doing nothing to convince him she wasn’t up to something. “Oh my! Look at this lone bouquet just sitting out here for you, completely unprecedented and without a clear reason!”

“Summer.” He repeated.

She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “You should really pick it up.”

Damn her for being pretty. “I swear, those eyes of yours are lethal weapons.”

“Was that a pun?”

For the good of his own sanity, he absolutely refused to answer that. God knows what mileage Tai would get out of it if she told him. He leant over to pick up the vase and discovered that pinned underneath it was a note. A single instruction was written on it:

Follow the trail.

He rose an eyebrow at that but it wasn’t until he opened the door that the direction became clear, as from the doorway to up the stairs was a trail of white rose petals. He imagined he knew where it was leading, but he questioned anyways, “What are you two up to?”

“Something you’ll really like.” Summer said, practically bouncing with excitement. When he only hummed uncertainly, she added, “Come on, have we ever let you down before?”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything.” He snickered as she gave a little huff, shoving him forward. Obediently, he started to follow the rose petals, hearing the door shut behind him before Summer was trotting along after him. As expected, they led to their bedroom, but instead of them ending at the bed, they continued into the bathroom.

The door was open but the light was off – yet a warm, orange glow still emitted from within, beckoning him towards it. Curiosity growing, he headed that way, setting the bouquet on the dresser as he passed by it. “Tai?” He called.

“Welcome back!” Was the returned greeting.

Qrow stopped where the trail did, right at the door’s threshold, sucking in a surprised breath.

The room had been meticulously transformed with strings of winter holiday lights carefully tacked around the walls. Candles were perched in various places, including the counter, the windowsill, and the tank top of the toilet. They emitted a gentle but familiar vanilla scent he was particular too. Tai was lounging back in their oversized tub, the water filled three-fourths up but seeming much higher with all the bubbles. And it was in that Qrow finally understood his real surprise.

Having grown up washing in cold rivers and lakes, he hadn’t had the pleasure of knowing what a warm shower was until he went to Beacon. It was even longer before he’d been introduced to a bath, but it instantly became his preferred method of bathing. Something about being able to lounge in a vat of pure warmth was so undeniably relaxing. He figured that nothing could top it until Summer learned of his fondness for them and, on a whim, imported specialty bubble bath mix from Atlas. Qrow was instantly enamored, the experience stirring something almost childlike in him as he popped the shiny spheres between his hands and made bubble beards and crowns. From that day on, he would have gladly run a bubble bath every day; but because it was both expensive and fairly hard to find a supplier, he’d limited running the bubbles for special occasions or those particularly trying days.

“So?” Tai tilted his head towards him, grinning in that excited way he got whenever he felt he was pleasing one of them. “What do you think?”

Qrow wanted to tell him he loved it. That it was the best gift either of them could have given him. But, years of poor social skills meant he still wasn’t particularly good at expressing his gratitude, which was why he waved at the candles and said, “I think this might be a bit of a fire hazard.”

Something wet and cold hit the back of his neck, making him jump. He whirled around, seeing Summer grinning at him, a pseudo-weapon aimed his way. “Don’t worry, we’ve got your semblance covered.”

“Is that a water gun?” Qrow exclaimed, only to yelp when another blast hit him right on the ass. He shot a scowl over his shoulder.

“Two water guns.” Tai winked at him. Where had he even been hiding it? “So now that you have nothing to worry about, get in here!”

“Or what?” He challenged.

The blond rose an eyebrow, his gaze sliding to the one behind him. “Summer?”

“Barrage him.” She said gleefully.

And then Qrow was being pelted from both sides by blasts of cold water. He quickly rose up his arms in a poor attempt at guarding, laughing all the while. “Alright, alright you heathens!”

The moment they let up, he reached over his shoulder to grab the back of his shirt, yanking it up and over his head. The move earned him an appreciative wolf whistle.

“Whoo! Yeah, baby!” Summer catcalled. “Take it off!”

He threw his shirt in her face.

“Ack!”

“You’re terrible.” He told her, toeing off his shoes and unfastening his belt simultaneously.

It was her turn to wink as she started to undo the ties on her corset. “Is it truly such a crime to marvel at a work of art?”

“If so, then guess you’ll just have to lock me up.” He countered, deliberately roving his eyes over her.

“Oh I’d never miss the opportunity to put you in handcuffs.”

Before he could think up a fitting comeback, a snort drew his attention behind him. Tai had propped his arms over the rim of the tub, an amused smile gracing his features as he watched them try to out flirt each other.

It hadn’t always been like this; in fact, when Summer and he first started dating, she would get so easily flustered by even his weakest of lines that she usually just spluttered her way into an embarrassed silence. Qrow had thought it was cute, so he kept up the charade, even made a bit of a game of it to see how fast he could make her go from collected to bashful. But Summer wasn’t Summer if she didn’t try to rise to a challenge – and soon enough she started to return as much as she was given. It eventually developed into somewhat of a couples’ quirk of theirs, so commonplace he usually didn’t realize when they were doing it anymore.

Having joined them later on, Tai didn’t tend to participate but at least he was never short on entertainment.

“See something you like sunshine?” Qrow asked, shimmying out of his pants.

He smirked. “Quite.”

His socks were the last thing to go. He padded over the tile, taking that first, wonderful step into the tub, sighing contently as he sunk into the water. Tai adjusted to lean against the back, holding his hands towards him, an invitation Qrow couldn’t ignore as he slid over. There was always something immensely comfortable about having the brawler’s arms wrap around him. Toned from years of training, they just seemed to completely envelope his thinner frame, the strength and security it invoked undeniable.

Which made it rather ironic that despite being built like a tree, at heart, he was the biggest softie. Qrow didn’t have to even wonder whose plan this whole set up was. When it came to romance, Summer and he had always kept things simple – she would have stopped at just the bath; but welcoming Tai to their relationship had also meant welcoming his eye for more grandiose gestures. That sometimes equated to waking up to toast cut into heart shapes or finding love notes in his pack long after he’d left for a mission. Or, in this case, petal trails, candles and mood lighting.

“Gotta say,” Qrow said, relaxing against the other. “This isn’t too shabby for a gift.”

“Gift? What gift? Are we celebrating something?” Tai replied with a tone of mock-innocence.

He rolled his eyes, kissing away the other’s teasing grin.

The door was shut, encasing them in the candle and string light’s yellow-orange glow, reflecting off the bubbles rather dazzlingly. The two of them made room, Qrow silently glad Tai had splurged for a larger tub as Summer was able to settle in easily with them.

“This is so nice.” She commented, sinking down.

A few nudges had Qrow shifting around in Tai’s arms until they were back to chest. “Want to come over here?”

She answered by sidling right up against him, tucking her head in the dip of his clavicle. She was just above the water and her hair, free from its typical rose bun, floated around her shoulders like a fan. It was tempting him to run his fingers through it, so he did.

“So, after the bath, we have a little proposition for you.” She said.

Every word ghosted along his neck, making him shudder. “Oh?”

She walked her fingers up the center of his chest, saying, “Tai and I were talking and we realized how long it’s been since we’ve had a three-way. Even longer since you’ve been in the middle.”

Qrow snorted down a laugh. “Oh, so the flowers were supposed to lead to the bed.”

Tai nipped his ear. “There are some on the bed, thank you very much.” Of course there was. He should have never doubted. “Anyways, it’s only if you feel up to it. We just don’t get this opportunity often.”

Didn’t he know it. Between full time jobs, long missions away, and two tykes that could drain the energy out of the sun, it was a miracle just to get time away for just himself – and sometimes he was too exhausted for even that. When they were desperate for a little downtime together, often, they appointed one of them to watch the kids for a time so two of them could slip away. But all three of them? He could count the instances on his own two hands – which, for a four-year relationship, was a ridiculously pathetic number.

So, with the very idea stirring arousal through him, it really wasn’t a question he had to think hard about to answer. “’Course I’m up for it. But, Gods be damned, I’m enjoying the bath first.”

They both laughed, their joy reverberating through him from either side. Summer kissed the side of his jaw. “Of course.”

“Why don’t you two go get comfortable while I clean up in here?” Summer offered, maneuvering carefully to wind the towel around herself without elbowing one of them.

They’d been fortunate so far that nothing had caught fire, but since luck was bound to run out, Qrow certainly wouldn’t argue putting out all the candles before they got into it. Not that there wasn’t a little foreplay in the bath anyways – it was hard to avoid, with their hands all over each other and the promise of what was to come lingering in their imaginations. Still, it felt a little unfair to have their wife do all the work. “You sure?”

“Mmhm.” She strung out her hair over the tub, a small rainfall pouring down. “It won’t take more than a few minutes. Go have fun.”

As Tai finished tousling his hair, the wet strands sticking up at odd angles, he replied, “Now that’s an offer I won’t refuse.”

It was hard to say if it was from the door he just opened or the way the blond aimed him with a hungry gaze, either way Qrow felt shivers running down his spine. “Yeah, alright.” Not about to be outdone, he turned and headed into the room, unnecessarily swaying his hips as he did so. The swift, harmless swat to his ass told him the motion did not go unnoticed. “Hey careful now. You’re about to use those goods.”

Tai chuckled. “Sorry, want me to kiss it better?”

That wasn’t a half bad idea. But as he approached their bed, he found himself distracted by a small, colorful array left in the center of his pillow. Flowers, just as promised. But not just any flowers; Dahlias. One white, one black, and one yellow, neatly tied together with a blue ribbon. It was one of the few plants he knew what they were meant to symbolize.

Qrow was not a romantic, that was as true as the sky was blue.

But once upon a time, he tried to be.

When he and Summer had first started to date, nothing had changed incredibly much about their lives – except their days were filled with a lot more kissing and sneaking away between (or sometimes during) classes for a quick romp in the dorm. They didn’t even really go out that often; since they already saw each other every day, it felt arbitrary to ‘make time’ for just each other. It was comfortable and easy. But on the anniversary of his and Summer’s first date, he had wanted to do something she’d never expect. Because somewhere along the way he’d done something stupid.

He’d fallen in love with her.

And like all idiots who fell in love, Qrow was swept away with the desire to tell her in the most memorable way possible. What better way to do that then to give his Rose a rose?

When he dragged Tai along for his ‘expert’ opinion and told him his idea, he was quickly shot down.

“What do you mean it’s a terrible idea? Roses are practically the romantic flower queen!” Qrow had argued, shoving a fistful of them right in his face.

Tai’s eyes continued to judge him over the tops of the blooms. “Buddy, if you want her to know you put exactly zero thought into this, then give her roses.”

“Well what would you do Casanova?”

He hummed, giving the shop a once over, before laser focusing on one corner of the room. “Oh, over here!”

Qrow grunted as he was dragged by his elbow to another display of flowers. They came in a variety of colors, with tall stems and petals that burst out in multiple layers. He recognized them quickly, as the tribe would collect them occasionally. The roots were thick like potato tubers and very sweet. They were useful for a kick of energy during seasons in which they didn’t have much food. He didn’t know anything beyond that. But that was why Tai was here – back where he was from, his family owned a flower shop. He had a fairly detailed knowledge on the whole ‘symbolism’ matter.

“Dahlias?” He asked.

“Yeah, they’re a wedding flower.”

His heart practically jogged a marathon. “What?! Dude! I’m not proposing!”

Tai laughed, already plucking two out from their vases. “I know, I just wanted to mess with you. But the reason they’re a wedding flower is because they stand for loyalty and commitment.” He held them towards him; a white one and a bloom so deep red, it appeared almost black. “Tie these two together with a blue ribbon and that’ll tell her you want to make this serious.”

He didn’t have to guess why the ribbon had to be blue. That was a Mistralian custom. Many that hailed from there were told the same folktale about how the sea and the sky once were colorless and sad, until they fell in love. They began to stretch, on and on, to try and reach one another. When they finally touched, making the horizon, they turned blue and from their love, they birthed the continents.

He knew now that was all utter nonsense – but the tale was practically the foundation for the culture of his people. From the fact parents still named their children after things either of the water or the sky to the very shade of their Kingdom’s symbol, blue would likely always be Mistral’s most significant color. Therefore, giving something blue to a significant other was meant to represent that they had the same unending love for them that the sky and the sea had.

So, he did what Tai suggested – and while the flowers didn’t last long, his and Summer’s relationship did, growing and thriving. Every year, he still gave the dahlia pair to her on the anniversary of their first date. They’d become so iconic, something that represented them, that she’d even had fake ones sewn to her wedding dress. Her bouquet had real ones and had been tied together with a big, blue ribbon.

They had planned to have some yellow ones strewn in with the black and white ones, but Tai had been adamantly against it, not wanting to step into their tradition like that. So, they had let it be, and settled on sunflowers instead.

It seemed something had finally changed his mind.

Qrow picked up the mini bouquet, smiling as he ghosted a thumb over the velvet soft petals. “You know, someone once told me that giving these flowers away means you want to be with them forever.”

“Oh really?” Tai loosely wound his arms around his waist. “Must have been someone pretty smart.”

He gave a thoughtful hum. “He was blond; so no, not really.”

A swift nip to his shoulder reprimanded him. “I changed my mind, you jerk. Give them back.”

“No. They’re mine.” He said holding them to his chest. He squirmed as Tai wiggled his fingers up his stomach, making a move to grab them. He slapped them. “Go away!”

“Not until I get my flowers.”

One of those hands started to tickle his side, and he burst into laughter, trying to twist away as the other came to loot him again. He pinned it. “Get your own thief! I’m – WAAH!”

Qrow’s vision swiveled around as he was suddenly hefted up like a bride and tossed onto the bed. He tried to scoot backwards and out of reach, but Tai was quicker, climbing up on top of him and pinning him down as he demanded, “Give me those flowers!”

“Never!” He proclaimed, throwing his arm up above his head. When Tai tried to stretch over him, he grabbed his shoulder, pushing him back. He was satisfied when he felt fingers only skim his elbow. “You’re gonna have to do better than th-”

The rest of his taunt was lost when Tai smashed their lips together, forcing his tongue into his mouth. Not that Qrow was complaining, eyes slipping closed as he was coaxed into returning the kiss. A moment later, they were easing up, falling into a rhythm only two people could have from doing this more times than they could count.

When they broke apart, Tai’s voice was husky and his eyes were dark, a storm of passion in those deep blue irises. “What say we see how far down your body I can get until Summer joins us?”

He was all too happy to tilt his head back and reply, “I’m all yours sunshine.”

#qrow branwen #Summer Rose #taiyang xiao long #rwby #golden hummingbird #fanfiction #Chase Firekitten's Tale

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emotionsofthesoul · 6 years ago

Text

Chapter 33 _ Abre Los Ojos

A month had passed since their New York adventure. Midterms were in full swing and both girls had been busy completing their different projects. It had become a bit more difficult to spend time together as due dates were approaching but they always found a way. Sometimes it was the simple act of meeting for a quick lunch break at their halfway point or Valentina stopping by Juliana’s work to bring her a quick dessert.

Juliana’s birthday was approaching quickly. She had told her girlfriend she didn’t want to do anything but to sleep in and enjoy the evening together — something Valentina was very much on board with after all the time and effort they’d put into their school work. Nonetheless she had a surprise for Juliana on the day of her birthday.

When her birthday finally arrived they did as Juliana had asked, they got to sleep in. The girls went to their afternoon classes and met back up at Juliana’s in the evening. Valentina commented that they should make Juliana a cake to celebrate properly and Juliana decided to pick up the cake supplies on her way home.

By the time the cake was ready the girls had listened to Hozier’s newest album in its entirety. As the first track began to play again they paused it so Juliana could cut the cake.

“Babe, make a wish!” Valentina said as she lit the candles.

Juliana laughed at the idea of blowing out candles when it was just the two of them. Nonetheless she did as instructed and made her wish. She was never big on birthdays but she knew Valentina was and she genuinely enjoyed spending hers with Valentina. It suddenly dawned on her that this was her second birthday with Valentina in her life.

When the candles were blown out Valentina clapped and hugged her girlfriend. She leaned in to whisper. “I have something for you, chiquita.” As she spoke she reached into her purse pulling out a thin rectangular box and hid it behind her. “Close your eyes, Juls.”

Juliana did as Valentina asked and Valentina took her hand placing the box into it. “Open them.”

Following instructions, Juliana opened her eyes to find a beautifully decorated box. She had no idea what could be in there but she knew whatever it was, was a gift she’d love. She removed the perfectly tied bow and opened the box.

Inside the box was a small red leather bracelet with an engraving on it and a card underneath it. Upon further inspection Juliana realized the bracelet said her name in a beautiful cursive with the word Firenze to the left of the name and Italia on the right. Her eyes lit up knowing Valentina put a lot of thought into her gift. She looked up at Valentina and before she could say anything Valentina motioned towards the card that was still in the box.

She lifted the card with a curious look on her face as she read it: Italy over Thanksgiving break?

While Juliana read the card Valentina observed her every reaction. They had talked about Florence being Juliana’s dream vacation and it was something Valentina always kept in mind.

“Are you serious?” Juliana asked already knowing the answer.

“Only if you want to.” Valentina responded placing a loose strand of hair behind Juliana’s ear.

Juliana leaned in and gave Valentina a thankful kiss. “I’d love to go but I can’t afford Italy right now and I don’t want you paying for the entire thing…”

“Juls, it’s not a problem. Travel expenses would be covered, private jet remember? Plus Hope and I have an apartment there so no hotel expenses either, all you have to do is say yes. We can even invite the girls and make it a girls trip if you want.” Valentina said.

Juliana shook her head and chuckled. “Of course you have an apartment in the city of my dreams. You really thought this out didn’t you?”

Valentina nodded her head in a childish way causing another laugh to erupt from her girlfriend’s lips.

“God, why are you so cute! Okay, I just have to talk to my parents and Renata about it. Ask the girls and see what they say. If I get the days, I’m down.” Juliana said not putting up a fight because she really wanted to go, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity she felt she couldn’t turn down.

The rest of the evening the couple relaxed and took turns playing music. They eventually agreed on bachata and danced the night away.

“Feliz cumpleaños, Juls.” Valentina said as the clock read 11:15pm, indicating Juliana’s birth time. They closed the distance and began slow dancing, ignoring the fast beat of the song that was playing. “I’m grateful to have you in my life and I love you. From you head to your tiny toes.”

The following weeks were filled with trip preparations. Juliana had talked to her boss, who gladly agreed to give her the week. Andrea, had no problem covering her shifts. Juliana spoke to her parents, telling them she wouldn’t be in town for thanksgiving but they were more excited for their daughter having one of her biggest and oldest dreams come true than they were sad. They knew this was her dream trip and they wouldn’t be the ones to stop her by making her feel bad about missing a holiday.

When the day finally arrived, they hopped on the jet with the rest of the girls and two body guards Leon always required to be on the plane when Valentina traveled out of town. Penelope had never been to Italy so she too was very excited to take this trip. Her moms didn’t want to let her go at first but Josie convinced them saying she’d take full responsibility of their daughter and making sure she kept them updated throughout the trip. She promised them to the cheesiest of pictures, something Penelope wasn’t too happy about.

“Lizzie, you dad said to send your mom the itinerary and your location.” Hope said as she buckled her seatbelt.

“Why did he tell you and not us?” Josie asked curiously.

Hope simply shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don’t know but Ric just told me to give Lizzie his message so I did. I guess they wanna keep an eye on us.”

“I guess my parents went much easier on me than yours. Who knew Dr. Saltzman would be more paranoid than my moms.” Penelope said grabbing Josie’s hand as they settled into their seats.

Juliana saw the interaction of the other two couples and she smiled before adding, “And here I grew up thinking my parents were intense.”

The twins turned and said simultaneously, “Your parents trust Val though, they know you’re safe with her.”

Hope and Penelope gasped. After the gasp Hope was the one to speak up, “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Our parents trust you, but they clearly don’t trust us.” Lizzie said pointing at herself and Josie.

The girls continued to bicker for a few more minutes. Once the pilot prepared them for take off the girls began eating snacks they packed and decided to take a nap to not get hit with jet lag too hard. Something that wasn’t too easy for Juliana the first few hours but eventually she too fell asleep, letting her head rest on top of Valentina’s who had been fast asleep an hour into the flight.

Upon arrival in Florence they were picked up by a driver and taken to Hope and Valentina’s apartment. The entire 20 minute ride Juliana eyes were stuck out the window, taking everything in. She gave Valentina’s hand a squeeze as the car came to stop. Once in the apartment they all took turns showering and getting ready for the day. They arrived in the morning so they had the entire day ahead to do whatever Juliana wanted.

“This is your birthday trip after all, Juliana. You decide what we do, especially today since it’s day one.” Penelope said as she laid on Josie’s lap while the other four girls sat across from them on another couch.

“Well first of all, we can’t come to Italy and not have spaghetti or pizza so those are a must this week. I want to visit Il Duomo for sure, then Ponte Vecchio which I noticed is just around the corner, then we have to visit the real Statue of David and other Michelangelo work, and last but not least take a tour of the town.” Juliana said as she played with Valentina’s hair who was cuddled into her.

Hope turned to Juliana with a confused look on her face, “Wait that’s it? You just wanna go to church? Why is this city your dream city again? There’s so much more to see.”

“It’s not the just the church, Hope. I want to explore and submerge myself into the culture, enjoy the city to the fullest. This is gonna sound dumb but when I was 10 I heard the song That’s Amore by Dean Martin and that song got me really interested in Italy so I began doing my research and one of the cities I fell in love with was this one. There’s no specific reason, it’s just the one I wanted to see the most out of any in the world. A close second is Rome but Firenze has been in my heart for 9 years.” Juliana said trying to not sound defensive.

Hearing those words Valentina sat up straight saying, “Wait really?” As she turned to look at Juliana. “I didn’t know that was what made you fall in love with Italy!” She said with a huge smile on her face.

“There’s only one thing left to do then!” Josie said as she took her phone out, “Let’s play your song!”

The girls sang along to That’s Amore waiting for Juliana to join in. After the second “tippy-tippy-tay” they all stayed silent looking to Juliana with expectant eyes.

“Fine fine fine!” Juliana said throwing her hands up in the air getting up from the couch pulling Valentina up with her. They began to dance as Juliana sang dramatically, “When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet, you’re in love.”

The rest of the girls joined in on the dramatic dancing and singing. When they reached the second “gay tarantella” Penelope stopped and made finger guns at Josie as she sang, “lucky fella!” Causing the entire group to burst into fits of laughter.

Once the song came to a close the girls decided to go find a pizza place. On the way to the pizzeria the girls walked across Ponte Vecchio and Valentina made sure to take pictures of Juliana, this was a trip she refused to let Juliana forget.

“I can’t believe I just crossed that bridge. I still can’t believe I’m here, Val. This is insane.” Juliana said loud enough so that only Valentina could hear.

“You’re adorable you know that? Let’s go get you your pizza, mi niña bonita.” Valentina said as she wrapped her arm around Juliana’s shoulders.

They each ordered a personal pizza. Penelope and Juliana were confused when the server brought the silverware to the table along with their pizzas.

“What are the forks and knives for?” Penelope whispered to the group as she observed the other tables.

“I think they’re optional… that table over there is eating the pizza in pieces with the utensils while that other table is just going ham on that pizza like we do back in the states.” Juliana said still not sure.

“Well, at this particular pizzeria you can do either or. They already precut them so the client can choose but there are some other pizza shops that require utensils. When we were kids, Vale went to eat a slice like we do back home and her mother nodded disapprovingly and explained that the pizza was whole because here we needed to cut it up and eat it like a piece of cake and we wouldn’t eat cake with our hands.” Hope said matterafactly.

Penelope looked from her pizza to Hope and back to her pizza, “Okay… I guess we’re cutting it then.” She said shrugging her shoulders and began to dig in.

After they each finished their pizza the majority of the girls sat back in their chairs, completely full.

“Who’s up for some gelato?” Lizzie asked.

“You have room for more?!” Juliana asked dumbfounded.

Lizzie let out a laugh, “it’s Italy, Juliana! There’s authentic gelato!”

Valentina nodded her head in agreement. She was too full to speak though.

“Let’s go for a walk and then we can think about it, okay Lizzie?” Josie said getting up from the table.

As the girls walked around the city, they walked towards Piazzale Degli Uffizi wanting to see the art and the view of the Ponte Vecchio. After each getting pictures of the bridge they walked towards the big building with the clock tower. There they stood admiring the different statues and Juliana admired the replica Statue of David that just stood outside of the Palazzo Vecchio.

They continued to walk around the area until they reach a glove store. Lizzie was the first to enter, as the other girls followed. Juliana had promised her mom she’d bring her back some leather gloves so she decided to get some for her mom and after feeling them she decided to grab a pair for herself. She had never felt anything as smooth and beautiful as those gloves and she couldn’t believe they were as affordable as they were. After paying she mentally checked off her mom’s gift from her gift list.

Once they finished shopping at the glove store they headed towards a vender a few streets down. He sold scarves and leather trinkets.

“Do you think Ric would like this?” Hope said as she held up a red leather bracelet.

Lizzie rolled her eyes, “Why do you keep calling my dad Ric? Why can’t you be like Penelope and call him Dr. Saltzman?”

“Maybe because I grew up with him as a second father figure and I’ve been calling him that since I was 10? Why don’t you like that I get along with your dad? Every significant other would love for their parents to approve of their partner but you hate it.” Hope said putting the bracelet back.

“She’s just jealous of your relationship with my dad. That’s why she didn’t like you when we were kids.” Josie said shrugging her shoulders knowing Hope already knew that.

“Liz, Alaric will never be my dad, I have one. We have to work passed this. You know it wasn’t my decision to move in with you guys. I wanted nothing more than to move in with Val but at the time it wasn’t an option and your parents opened their doors.” Hope said getting irritated that Lizzie was still bringing this up.

“I don’t want to do this right now, can we just enjoy our trip.” Lizzie said looking away at something on the cart.

Meanwhile Juliana felt awkward hearing their discussion. She felt like she was intruding by simply being there.

Sensing Juliana get a bit tense Valentina leaned in to whisper, “Don’t worry about them, it’s fine. That’s always the thing that causes trouble for those two. Lizzie doesn’t really like knowing that her dad and Hope are close because it brings up bad memories for her. He focused on Hope a lot as a kid and Lizzie has always resented that. There was misunderstanding with the twins and Hope was suddenly the focus of Lizzie’s rage because it was easier to hate Hope than it was to hate Josie.” Valentina explained, loud enough for only Juliana to hear, as they looked through the scarves.

Picking out a light pink one and trying it on, Juliana nodded in understanding. “The dad thing makes sense then. But then how did those two fall for each other then?” Juliana asked Valentina quietly.

“I’ll never understand how that happened to be honest. As they say, between love and hate is a very thin line and those two draw their own lines on the daily.” Valentina said with a chuckle.

Penelope kissed Josie on the cheek before speaking up, “Okay you can discuss your daddy issues later girls, we have a church to get to!”

Lizzie threw daggers with her eyes at Penelope but didn’t respond.

“Why do you wanna go to church Juliana! I don’t get it!” Hope said as she paid for the red bracelet ignoring Lizzie’s eye roll.

Juliana laughed before answering. “I’ll pull a Hozier and start singing Take Me To Church, if I need to.” Juliana said smiling. “I just need to see it okay, we don’t even have to go in if you guys don’t want to I just want to see it up close.”

“Let the girl dream, sheesh!” Penelope said wrapping her arm around Josie’s shoulder.

Valentina interlocked her fingers with Juliana’s as they made their way to the church. “Why do you wanna see it so bad, baby? It’s just a church, I know you’re catholic but this isn’t event the Vatican.” She said without looking at Juliana.

Juliana brought Valentina to a complete stop and blinked multiple times before speaking, “Valentina, that’s the thing, it’s not just a church. It’s a cathedral! Do you know how long these take to build? This one took 140 years. Years, Valentina. Not months, years!” She said as she spoke animatedly with her hands. “When I was little I decided I was gonna get married here, obviously things have changed and that’s not possible but I’ve studied this church for so long. I know so many useless facts about it, I’m in its city, I need to see it. Okay? Just let me have this moment please. I know the girls don’t care but I do and this is my favorite church in the entire world Val.” She said disappointed that Valentina didn’t get it.

“Okay.” Valentina said softly while nodding her head.

They walked another block before the church came into full view. Penelope held her breathe. She’d been quiet the entire way because coming from a middle class family she understood this being a dream come true for Juliana but she had no idea how beautiful this church could be.

“Oh my god… that’s 400,000 tons of beauty. I… I…” Juliana said just above a whisper as she took it all in with a deep sigh.

They stayed there observing the cathedral for a while before Valentina noticed a rogue tear streaming down Juliana’s face. She didn’t say anything she simply brought her into a side hug and kissed the top of her head. This only caused Juliana break into tears.

At the sight of that Valentina handed Hope her camera in order to have both hands free and brought Juliana in for a tight embrace. “It’s okay, baby, shh, you’re okay.” Valentina whispered continuously as she rubbed Juliana’s back in a comforting circular motion.

“I never actually believed I’d ever get to see it in person. Thank you for this Val, you don’t know what this means to me but it’s definitely a dream come true.” Juliana said after crying for a few minutes with her face buried into Valentina’s chest. “This is magical and it’s something I’ll never forget.” She said, still in a soft low voice.

“Let’s go inside, yeah?” Valentina said drying Juliana’s tears.

“We don’t have to, it’s fine.” Juliana said as her body shook from the aftermath of all of those emotions pouring out.

“We’re already here might as well enjoy the complete experience.” Lizzie said rolling her eyes playfully. “Plus you can tell us all about your random church facts.” She said adding a wink.

“Okay well then before we enter, if you turn around and you see those bronze doors over there?” Juliana said pointing that two beautifully crafted doors, “those are considered the ‘The Gate to Paradise’ and Michelangelo was actually the one who dubbed them that. They were created in a contest by a 23 year old in 1401”

Valentina smiled at the fact that Juliana just spouted out. She felt that with Juliana they most likely didn’t need a tour guide because she would know and be able to tell them anything there was to know about the city but nonetheless if she wanted a tour, who was Valentina to keep her from getting one.

Once inside the cathedral Juliana did the sign of the cross and the girls told her to explore around a bit and take it all in but she insisted they go together. Every now and then they’d stop to see something and Juliana would tell them facts here and there about different pieces of the church. They spent around 2 hours in the cathedral before finally heading out.

Lizzie insisted it was time for gelato. Hope walked them to her favorite gelato place in the city where she introduced the group to the owner in a perfect Italian accent. As a child Hope and her parents spent many vacations in Florence. It was her father’s favorite city. The Mikaelson’s own a beautiful family home in Asisi but Hope and her father loved Florence. When her parents passed she was the only heir so once she turned 18 she and Valentina went half and half on an apartment in the city.

“So for your first time being in Italy how are you liking it so far, Pen?” Juliana asked Penelope as they waited for their girlfriends to join them at their table.

Penelope turned to look at Juliana and simply smiled. “You know, I never expected I’d get to travel like this.” She paused. “I think you and I have been dealt the same cards. We met these beautiful girls and fell in love and we didn’t care that they have money, we just cared that their hearts were kind and were offered to us on a silver platter. All of this,” she gestured with her free hand, “wasn’t in my plans. I could never truly afford trip like this right now. You and I, we get each other because we come from similar economic backgrounds. They don’t really get it when it comes to us being amazed of a city like this, they’re used to this lifestyle, they’re used to traveling. I don’t even know how many countries Josie’s been to, if I’m honest. So I feel just as overwhelmed as you to see such wonders like the Duomo because never in a million years did I think I’d step foot in this beautiful country.” Penelope finished just at the rest of the group began to approach them.

“What are you two chatting about?” Valentina asked wrapping her arms around Juliana and giving her a kiss on the left cheek before resting her chin on the girl’s shoulder.

Penelope shrugged and Juliana took that as her cue to keep their conversation between them. “We were talking about how beautiful the cathedral was and how we were so amazed with all the beautiful details.”

“Yeah it truly was something special. I never knew all those facts. I’m really intrigued to know what other fun facts you know about this city.” Valentina said as she grabbed a seat across from Juliana.

“I still can’t believe they hired a guy with no experience and a secret plan to build the dome and it actually worked. That was ballsy of him.” Josie said as she sat down across from Penelope.

As Hope and Lizzie joined them they all discussed the little tidbits of the cathedral and Juliana was happy they ended up liking it after all.

The rest of the week was enjoyed exploring the city and eating as much pasta, pizza, and gelato as they could. The night before their departure they found a club and decided to enter and dance the night away as their final act of celebration.

Lizzie got each of the girls a shot to kick off the night. Juliana declined so Penelope took it for her.

“Damn, P. I don’t know how you can drink that. I can smell how strong that is from here.” Juliana said cringing in her seat.

Josie placed her hand on Penelope’s thigh, “we have a drinking game called Shot Jenga and Penny here sucks at it so she’s used to it.”

Raising an eyebrow and cracking a smirk Juliana took a sip from her lemonade.

“Care to dance?” Hope said offering a hand to Juliana, while Lizzie offered Penelope a hand leaving Josie and Valentina with no choice but themselves.

Juliana turned to Valentina almost asking for permission to which Valentina simply nodded. “Okay.” She said as she accepted.

As all the girls reached the dance floor the song California Girls came on causing them all to burst into laughter and taking it as a sign that it’d be a good night. After the first song they each went back to dancing with their own partners. Valentina wrapped her arms around Juliana’s neck while the other girl wrapped her arms around the taller girl’s waist.

“Thank you for this week. It’s been the most beautiful and memorable week of my entire life.” Juliana said as the girls leaned their heads against each other.

“There’s no need to thank me, hermosa. I’m glad I was able to witness this week. I’d been here far too many times to count but I’d never seen it in the way you showed it to us. I think even the tour guide was amazed with your knowledge.” Valentina said with a slight giggle.

Bringing her in for a tender kiss, Juliana closed her eyes smiling into the kiss. Juliana knew in that moment she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the girl she held tightly.

#juliantina #juliana valdes #valentina carvajal #forever #Forever update #forever ch33 #chapter 33

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