#to saying the last thing he wanted was to never see her again like he loves her now đ„ș
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How to cure a grump (1)
Summary: You're losing your job on Christmas.
Pairing: CEO/Boss!Bucky Barnes x fem!Reader
Warnings: angst, grumpy Bucky, awful boss
âSanta Claus is coming to town,â you sing along to the song blaring from your phone. Youâre, as so often, the last one at the office.
Before the holidays, most of your colleagues try to get out of the office as early as possible. They have better plans than to work like busy ants two days before Christmas.
Sadly, you didnât get to leave on the clock. Your boss demanded your attention. You couldnât join your colleagues at the little Christmas party you organized for weeks.
Now they will all exchange the Secret Santa gifts you got for most of them, drink eggnog, and sing awful Christmas songs while you are stuck here with your grumpy boss.
âMiss Y/L/N, I need the numbers now." Mr. Barnes doesnât even walk toward your desk. He simply barks orders your way.
You heave out a sigh and glance at the stack of papers on your desk. Before you get up to hand Mr. Barnes the numbers he wanted you to finish before the holidays, you save your work.
Grabbing the papers, you silently pray that Mr. Barnes wonât come up with more tasks. Itâs long past your work time, and youâre tired and cranky. Youâll need a good nightâs sleep and at least a day off before driving home for Christmas.
âMiss Y/L/N,â he barks as you are already halfway toward his office. Mr. Barnes huffs as you stumble over your own feet. âYou know, I had better things to do than wait for the numbers. I have been waiting for hours. I think youâre the worst person working here.â
For a second, youâre stunned. You feel like Mr. Barnes slapped you across your face.
âMaybe if you asked the person responsible for the mistake to help you with the numbers, you'd like the outcome better. I worked overtime only to get yelled at!â You gasp. The words just flew out of your mouth, unfiltered and raw with emotions.
âWell, maybe you shouldnât work here any more then!â He bites back. It wasnât a surprise to you that Mr. Barnes lost his temper. Heâs always been a little hot-headed and grumpy. Mr. Barnes fired people here and there over the years. You just didnât think youâd be one of them one day.
âYouâre firing me after I fixed a mistake someone else made?â You huff and cross your arms over your chest. âI donât see anyone else standing in line to work through the numbers. I worked overtime before the holidays to do you a favor.â
âThatâs your job,â he growls and points at the door. âOr was. I want you to pack your things and donât come back.â
âFine,â you huff and turn on your heels, regretting your mishap instantly. Youâd apologize and even fall to your knees to get your job back. Sadly, Mr. Barnes is a strict man. He doesnât accept mistakes or insubordination. Whatever youâd do or say, there was no way heâd give you your job back.
So, you got a box from the storage room, emptied your desk, grabbed your belongings, and left the building for the last time in your life. To hell with this job and your boss.
âMom, stop asking questions,â you plead as your mother wouldnât stop asking questions about your job.
âItâs all so exciting. Living in the big city, having friends you meet up at bars like Carrie in Sex and the City, and your job. It sounds wonderful!â
âMom, I barely made any friends,â you sigh, and try to rub the embarrassment off your face. âIâd call them work friends or acquaintances.â
âI bet they are all too happy to have you around,â she coos and cups your face. âI know my Munchkin conquered the big city in no time.â
âMom, Iââ you sniffle and look away, ashamed. It never gets easy to lie to your mother. âI have to tell you something about the job.â
âWhat is it, Munchkin?â she asks, looking at you, worry in her eyes. She coos to you as you begin to cry. Starting anew after your long-term boyfriend and fiancĂ© broke things up was the dream you wanted to fulfill. Now, you failed again.
âI got fired yesterday,â you sniff. âI worked overtime, and my boss yelled at me. I fixed someone elseâs mistake, and he still yelled at me. I lost it andâŠâ You shake your head and refuse to look at your mother.
âY/N, thatâs not the end of the world.â She wraps you in a warm embrace. The kind of embrace only a mother can give you. You feel warm and safe, remembering all the times she calmed you in times of need. âYouâll find a new job, a better one. If he fired you, that man doesnât know how to value you.â
âThe fuck no!â Bucky flings a stack of papers across the room. He tried to access your account, only to realize he never asked you to reset your password. Now heâs seething because most of your work, except the files you shared with colleagues and him, is password protected. âShe forgot to reset the fucking password!â
âWell, you told her to pack her things and leave, Buck. What did you expect to happen?â Steve huffs. He had to leave his cozy home and wife to help Bucky with some unimportant paperwork. âWe've got time to fix this until after the holidays.â
âUnimportant to you,â Bucky bites back. âI want this finished before the year ends.â
âBuck,â Steve snorts. âIf you need her password, call her.â The blonde shrugs before turning to leave. âI know you are not the best at communicating, but I believe in you. You can handle a phone call with a woman you just fired.â
âI tried more than once,â Bucky snaps at his best friend and business partner. âShe wonât answer. The last time I called, she blocked my number.â
âYeah, because you fired her!â Steve replies, laughing. âI wouldnât answer any call from an asshole firing me two days before Christmas, either.â
Bucky opens his mouth to reply. He huffs as his friend already walks toward the door.
âWhat shall I do now? I need the password!â
âIf you cannot reach her, go to her home and ask for the password. I will go home now. Please donât call me during Christmas. Natasha will rip me a new one if I miss Christmas.â
âSheâs not home. I was there. Her neighbors told me that Y/N will spend Christmas at her parentsâ house. Thereâs nothing I can do about it.â
âBuck,â Steve laughs. âYou can fly to her hometown and ask her for the password. While on your way back, you can celebrate with a pretty stewardess in first class as every ChristmasâŠâ
#bucky barnes#business au#ceo!bucky barnes#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes x you#bucky barnes x y/n#bucky barnes x female reader
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Sinsmas is coming out today! So let's quickly discuss what we know about the episode right now.
Vivzie's Bluesky Thread:
Things we learn from this thread:
There will be quite a long wait until the start of season three, but we will have closer releases of episodes, considering that the team wants to commit to a more traditional release. This also has double confirmed that season three has 15 episodes. Season three will also be 'bigger and better'.
We will be getting shorts during the wait until season three, I assume it'll be like last time where we get a short every single month.
And of course, we gotta prepare ourselves to go out with a BANG!
Sam Haft calls the episode 'PACKED!', meaning yet again we're in for a ride and a half, that's for sure.
Yea, all the confirmation I need that Octavia's song is going to absolutely destroy us all emotionally when we hear it, SAM HAFT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, WHAT DOES THIS MEA-
Brandon's Instagram Story:
Transcript:
"I'm so anxious for the new helluva boss episode to drop. I went back and I've been rereading the script over and over and over and I don't read."
So we also have Brandon fanning the flames of our anxious waiting as well.
Right as I was in the middle of writing this post Vivzie said that she was doing the final checks on the episode, and that she's in constant awe of what the artists at Spindlehorse are capable of.
The sneak peek gif:
We see a sinner at the I.M.P office, and it looks like the entire I.M.P crew is going on a mission somewhere where it appears to be snowing and naturally has all of the Christmas decorations up as well.
Although I will admit, it kinda strikes me as weird that they'd just leave a sinner completely alone within the building, unless, of course, that there is someone else within the building, with the most likely candidate for that being Stolas, but that's just a theory I'm spitballing here. It does also raise the question of 'where the hell is Stolas during this scene anyways?'
Onto the other not-so-new things, it was confirmed by Sallie May's VA that she is appearing this episode. (The 'next month' is supposed to be 'this month', I think she said at a panel after the first short that she'd be appearing again before this year ends.)
The trailer scenes:
This scene where Stolas appears to be getting attacked by someone while Blitz protects him with some kind of sword, with the floor appearing to suggest that this takes place outside of formerly Stolas' palace, said attacker has been commonly theorized to either be Andrealphus or Paimon.
We see a frozen over version of formerly Stolas' palace in the background, considering the events of Mastermind it now appears like Andrealphus is defending the palace against whatever it is that he's looking at, not a hostile takeover that we assumed it would be initially.
We see Octavia during this scene, everything about this shot seems to suggest that Octavia is getting a song of her own this episode, with this further getting backed up by Sam Haft's response to "Sam what heartbreaking song did you write this time."
It's also very likely that the conflict between Stolas and Octavia reaches it's boiling point this episode, considering that Octavia says "You never loved mother and you don't love me. You love him!" at some point during the episode.
Finally, in the helluva 2022 trailer, we see a shot of Andrealphus (I think this is a beta design of him or something), standing in front of what looks like formerly Stolas' palace, with a bunch of what looks like ice in the background, placing this shot after Mastermind, meaning that this shot also takes place sometime during Sinsmas, if this scene wasn't scrapped.
#helluva boss#blitzĂž#blitzo#stolas#helluva boss stolas#stolitz#helluva boss andrealphus#octavia goetia#sallie may#moxxie#helluva boss millie#loona helluva boss#sam haft#vivziepop#brandon rogers
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Headcanos of Damian Wayne.
1. Small Gestures of Tenderness.
Although Damian would never admit it out loud, he always feels inexplicably more relaxed when he's around his girlfriend. He often watches her in silence, observing the small details, like the way she laughs, her expression when she's focused, or how she always has something to say, even when she doesn't feel like talking. There's something about those moments that makes him feel, for the first time in his life, that war and fighting aren't everything.
2. Defender of Her Well-Being.
Damian, who has been trained to be cold and calculating, can't help but become extremely protective when it comes to her. If someone looks at her wrong, even in jest, he'll step in without thinking, making it clear with his gaze (and sometimes his threat of "don't do it again") that no one can hurt her. He's convinced that it's his responsibility to take care of her, but it's more of an internal desire to make sure nothing bad ever happens to her.
3. The Typical Sarcastic and Jealous Behavior.
When it comes to other men, Damian is relentless. Although he would never express it in an obvious way, he feels extremely uncomfortable if any kind of unwanted attention is directed towards his girlfriend. It is common for his sarcastic tone to appear when some guy talks too close to her. "Really? Do you think she wants to hear that?" he would say, with an almost imperceptible smile on his lips, as he takes a step forward.
4. Thoughtful (albeit weird) Gifts.
He is not the type of boyfriend to buy expensive jewelry or flowers (because he doesn't know how those things work), but what he does do is remember the little details about what his girlfriend likes. One day, unbeknownst to her, Damian shows up with a rare book she mentioned in a casual conversation, or with that chocolate she is known to like a lot. The truth is, he's become an expert at listening to her, not just because of his tactical intelligence, but because he genuinely wants to please her, even if his way of showing it is... unconventional.
5. Intimate Moments of Vulnerability.
When Damian is with his girlfriend, his guard is down in ways that only happen with her. It can be something as simple as watching a movie together, or lying next to her after a long day of training, but in those moments, he doesn't have to live up to his last name or his lineage. It's just him, Damian Wayne, simply enjoying her company. It's a luxury he doesn't usually get with anyone else, but with her, it's something that constantly draws him in and comforts him.
6. Interactions with His Family.
Despite his reserved attitude, Damian has found himself talking more to his family about his girlfriend, albeit in a slightly brusque manner. With Bruce, for example, his attitude towards her is a kind of possessiveness that makes it clear that he wants her in his life, but he also knows that his father will never really understand what he feels. With Alfred, however, he seems more relaxed, because he knows that the butler sees what he sometimes can't recognize: how happy their relationship makes him.
7. Subtle but Efficient Jealousy.
Damian can't help but show jealousy, although he does it in a subtle and almost childish way. For example, if his girlfriend talks a lot with another guy (even if he's a close friend), he may make comments like: "Since when are you so interested in what he has to say?" or suddenly offer to take her back to her apartment, as if there was some "urgent" business to attend to, to prevent her from staying too long with that person. It's his way of saying "I want you all to myself" without having to say it directly.
8. He Likes Deep Conversations.
Damian isnât a man of many words, but when heâs with his girlfriend, he finds it easy to open up and share things he never thought heâd say. He likes to talk to her about topics that have nothing to do with war or fighting, like his views on the future or what he thinks about life. Sometimes, he catches himself talking more than he planned, but he doesnât mind, because he knows he can be vulnerable with her, something heâs learned to deeply appreciate.
9. The Vulnerability of Being âThe Manâ.
When heâs with her, Damian feels weird about not being able to show off everything he knows how to do. I mean, with his combat skills and tactical intelligence, he could defend her from anything, but what really attracts him to her is how she calms him down and makes him feel more human. In her mind, that makes him more than just Bruce Wayneâs son or trained assassin. He makes her feel a little more normal, like any other guy in love, and that thought baffles him, but he loves it at the same time.
10. Sudden Moments of Insecurity.
Despite all his training and his confident facade, Damian sometimes feels insecure in their relationship. There are times when he doubts himself: Is he really up to par with her? Will he be enough for someone like her, who has so much to offer? Although he would never admit it, he has those moments of uncertainty that make him more human. However, as time goes on, he realizes that all he really needs to do is be himself, and sometimes, even a more vulnerable and caring Damian can be what attracts her the most.
11. The Unspoken "I Protect You".
Although he never says it outright, Damian is obsessed with the idea of ââprotecting her. If she is ever sad, he turns into a wall of ice, willing to face anything to make her feel safe. This leads to more possessive behavior, but he doesn't see it that way. It's his way of showing her that even though he's not the traditional boyfriend type, he'll always be there for her, even if that means walking away from conflict and just offering his company.
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â WIP DIARY ââ LAST NIGHT, I READ YOUR DIARY. (p.sh) â
Sunghoon has been trying be everything you need since your mother passed. A father, a friend, a therapist. You never really understood what your mother saw in him in the first place, if youâre being honest. Heâs awkward, quiet, and typically used to keep to himself up until now. Youâre impressed with his efforts by the time youâre entering into your senior year of college, though his entire demeanor towards you seems to have changed. or the one where your step-father grows obsessed with you minute by minute.Â
ââ step-dad /weirdo park sunghoon x afab reader Â
ââ minors dni
ââ tags: sunghoon is in his 30s, reader is in her 20s so, age gap, step-cest, heartbreak, obsession, manipulation, coercion, stockholm syndrome-ish, fluff if he manipulates you as a reader lmfao, angst, smut. don't read this if you are easily triggered. ââ side characters: heeseung as reader's ex boyfriend, jay as reader's closest friend
ââ !WARNINGS!: this work contains non-con, dub-con, and stalking behavior. your mom isnât alive in this fic. warnings will be updated as i write.
ââ a/n:Â this one is gonna be a wild ride, that's all i gotta say.
LAST UPDATED: 12.22.24
⚯ est wordcount: 20k+ ⚯ current wordcount: 5.4k ⚯ est release date: tbd ⚯ taglist: ask to be on my perma tag list!
playlist ⚯ recommended song: last night i read your diary - gĂŒrl She's got me down on my knees I beg, I beg, I, I beg, I beg, please! I want it more than I need And I need it like I need to breathe Like I'm losing my- Choke.
PREVIEW (3.1k):
no warnings apply to the preview, it's just the first couple of thousand words for this fic. aka, the intro and the set up for what will inevitably happen later:
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Your first heartbreak is meant to be painful, but this? This is more painful than you could have ever imagined.Â
Heeseung was one of your only constants in life. From childhood to high school itâs like he was there more than your own mother was, and certainly more than your own father. Even when she passed, Heeseung was the one who held you through it, heâs the one who made you smile again, heâs the one who made you feel like it was okay to heal and keep going.Â
Itâs the fact that it was a mutual break up that hurts the most because deep down, you couldnât see yourself without him. Yet, still, you willingly watched him hop on the plane with a short kiss and long goodbye. It felt so final to you. You could have handled a long distance relationship, truly. But Heeseung didnât want that. He wanted to explore the world, he wanted to try new things, be with new people.Â
Do things without you clinging to him all the time.Â
In a way, you understand that. After all, youâre the only girl he had ever been with up until now. Senior year of college. You think you knew your relationship was coming to an end by the time he announced he was going to be studying abroad for his final year without ever once even telling you he was applying to do so.Â
So, yeah, it was mutual solely because you want him to be happy and heâs made it clear that he believes that can only happen without you. Such is life. Painful, painful fucking life. Â
Just last year when your mother passed, you nearly dropped out and Heeseung had been your rock to make it through class after class with a grade barely high enough to pass. Youâre certain some of your professors took pity on you and raised your grade just enough to move forward. Youâll forever thank them for recognizing how hard you were trying. But now? Without your mother, without Heeseung, youâre at a loss.
And thereâs a difference between loneliness and isolation, you think. Loneliness to you always hits hard during small spaces in your day, like when youâd get into Heeseungâs car and he would close your door for you. The silence always hurt your ears while he was still making his way around the car to the driverâs seat. A shallow loneliness that you could feel right at the top of your gut, like it was squeezing inside of you and making you lose your appetite. Solely because that silence reminded you of what you always had, a lack of loneliness because of him.
But then thereâs isolation. Where it feels forced upon you by other people. Your mother fucking died, Heeseung fucking left, and now youâre just here expected to wake up like you always do, go to class, study hard, sleep well, when the reality of it isâ youâre genuinely struggling just to look at yourself in the mirror.Â
Then thereâs Sunghoon. The only person close enough to you now that you can reach out to. The issue with that isâ youâve never actually been close. And thatâs what sucks. The fact that he of all people is all you have now? May as well just assume you have nobody.
His regular calls mean close to nothing to you in the grand scheme of things. Despite him calling twice a week every week since your mother died, your step-father is just as distanced from you as you are him. Youâre aware that itâs his obligation, not because he cares. And that hurts, because itâs all you have now.Â
Now, you have to try and find meaning in those short calls. After all, Sunghoon fell apart when your mother passed all on his own and you had only called him out of obligation too. You were already in college and stressed, falling apart yourself with someone to love beside you helping you through it. Calling him when it all happened felt empty because you knew both of you were trying to hold it together and save face.Â
It wasnât like this before she died. In fact, he never called and you never cared for him to. Youâd see each other when you were home, share awkward pleasantries, and thatâs it. Itâs hard to believe that now you feel like you need a father, after all those years of practically rejecting him as one. He seemed fine with that after you hit your teen years. He knew by then that he could never be the father you want, but at least he could be the husband your mother needed.
You have grief in common now though. Loneliness. Isolation.
You try not to think about how you were okay up until now though. Having Heeseung to fall back on to soften the blow of your loss, you guess Sunghoon didnât have that. Maybe his monotone voice and empty words were his way of coping, his way of hearing a voice that wasnât the one in his own head when he calls you.Â
Itâs just you and a man you never considered family past the titles and obligatory respects. Finding meaning in his short phone calls does nothing to help your growing isolation, but you cling to them now that Heeseung is gone. You wait for the calls, you ask him to check in with you every day now, to the point Sunghoon starts to notice the difference in you.
No longer rushing to get off the phone. Now, youâre dragging on meaningless conversations. Now, he hears cracks in your voice.Â
âYou feeling okay?â Sunghoon asks you, in a way that makes you wonder how heâs able to tell that youâre definitely not. The way his own voice has a bit of life to it when he asks itâŠstrange too. Like heâs concerned.Â
âNoââ You trail off in your meek voice, staring at your ceiling and mind swirling with all of the work you need to get done for classes already. âIâve only been in classes for a week and I already feel like Iâm drowning.âÂ
Sunghoon sighs into the speaker, contemplating how to further the conversation with you in a way that isnât too intrusive. After all, who is he to pry? Still, he never intended for you to feel neglected or like you couldnât come to him. After all, you were too happy about his lack of parenting you throughout his presence in your life.Â
He finds solace in the fact that youâve been accepting him now, though he hasnât the slightest idea as to why. Heâs checked in with you since the passing, but lately it feels to him like something more is going on with you. He may be somewhat estranged, and he may have his own problems to deal with, but youâre still someone he needs to be here for.
Plus, it makes him feel needed again, which is nice considering the circumstances. After living in this bustling house with you and your mom for so long, to it just being him and your mom, to now just himâŠall that remains now is dread, dissociation, and unwashed dishes in the sink.
âDid something happen?â Sunghoon keeps his questions short, offering more silence if anything for you to use this call as a therapy session if you need.Â
You pause for a long moment, realizing that you want to talk about your issues so badly but donât quite feel the need to share it with him of all people. Youâve already ranted day after day to Jay. To the point youâre sure heâs about one rant away from blocking your number.Â
Probably because youâre not that close to him either. Not these days, anyway.
You sigh instead.Â
âNoâŠâ You trail off. âI think I just miss being home. My dorm mate is never here, class work is already piling up, and I canât even find the energy to look at the assignments.âÂ
Sunghoon can tell youâre feeling much like he does and he canât imagine the weight on your shoulders dealing with these feelings while also in college. But, you have Heeseung, do you not? Youâve been fine for the most part until now, and you havenât even brought him up. Not once in the past few weeks has his name been uttered by you. Which is strange, after all, the two of you were practically attached at the hip growing up, to the point of choosing the same college, working the same jobs, and even keeping that middle-school puppy love in full swing throughout highschool and college.Â
If anything, after your mother passed, Sunghoon felt okay knowing you had Heeseung there with you to help you through it. It meant he could focus on himself and getting through the day-to-day. He could barely handle his own mournful thoughts, let alone the daughterâs feelings of the woman he loved so dearly. He was forever grateful for Heeseung during this time.Â
He has his suspicions now though, and his heart aches for the voice he hears from you these days.Â
âWhy donât you come home for a while?â He lends a pause to see if youâll jump for the opportunity before selling the idea to you. âI have the bills here covered and your campus is only a forty minute drive. Iâm sure thatâs inconvenient but you wonât have bills to worry about on top of everything else.â He doesnât want to sound too desperate, of course.Â
After all, the loneliness heâs feeling is also becoming unbearable. Even if the two of you never were able to see eye to eye, or to form a bond together, youâre all he has left of your mother. He, arguably, is nothing to you, but thereâs no one else in this world heâd rather heal the loneliness with outside of you. Only because you knew your mother on a level deeper than he did, and to have someone to share those memories with, or even laugh with, would help him tremendously too.
âI think being at home may do you some good.âÂ
You think it over in your head, wondering if being home will help you at all. In reality, you know it may make you feel more trapped than you do now. All those memories with your mother, with Heeseung, with all of your friends that have since moved to different colleges.Â
ButâŠyou wouldnât be alone. Youâd be with someone who knows how to give you space because heâs never even tried to shrink your existence to that of your bedroom and your bedroom alone. You wouldnât have to worry about rent, food, or anything aside from studies, gas money, and trying to heal from your heartbreak.Â
Your dorm is small, you note as you look around the room and wonder how long it would take you to pack your things up. Two hours, give or take. The longest part would be taking all of the little decorations off the wall, if youâre being honest.Â
You find yourself nodding before answering, solidifying in your mind thatâ maybe youâre not the only one who needs company in your space. Not too close, but close enough to not be totally isolated.Â
âOkay.â You mutter into the phone, for some reason feeling the tears well up behind your eyes.Â
Youâre just a bit overwhelmed, thatâs all. Knowing youâre going home feels like a relief you didnât know you needed.Â
âYeah?â Sunghoon confirms. âJust let me know when and Iâll drive up there to help get your stuff back home.âÂ
You agree, sighing into the phone with a shaking voice. Sunghoon takes note of it, always remembering and quite frankly missing how loud and obnoxious you used to be. Hearing you like this pains him. He wants to help. Now more than ever is his chance to be someone you need, and he hates knowing he feels happy about it.Â
Getting to be your father now? It feels awkward, but at least itâs a feeling other than loss.Â
âYou know you can talk to me, right?â Sunghoon sighs at you through the speaker. âI know Iâm not someone you like coming to butâwell, Iâd like for you to rely on me more, okay?âÂ
You find a lot of comfort in those words, despite hearing him say them time and time again. This is the first time heâs ever shown that he means it through the offer of bringing you home, rather than just saying it and accepting whatever you say back to him at face value.Â
âI knowâŠâ You trail off. âIâm okay though, really.âÂ
Sunghoon hates himself for never forcing you to accept him. Sure, there may have been some teenage defiance towards him, but eventually the two of you could have seen eye to eye. He could have been someone you needed. You could have relied on him too, rather than just Heeseung. Thatâs all he can really think right now.Â
âAre you sure thereâs nothing else going on?â The man nearly pleads in his tone, desperate to have someone rely on him again. âIâve never heard you sound so exhausted before, I canât help but worry.â
Youâd tell him, but honestly, what grown ass man wants to hear about a first heartbreak? It would just get awkward again, heâd just feel obligated to do something about it, and worse, he might end up feeling like heâs supposed to dislike Heeseung now.Â
You choose to remain silent in the final straw that broke your back this semester.Â
âReally, Iâm just tired.â You nod to yourself as you hold your phone loosely against your ear. âI might not go to class tomorrow and just pack instead. Iâll just call you when Iâm ready, is that okay?â
Sunghoon smiles to himself, wanting to mean something to you in a way that can hopefully help you out of this slump. Your mother would be throwing a fit if she heard how youâve been sounding, he canât help but take over that role and try to make damn sure you are okay.Â
âThatâs fine,â Sunghoon confirms. âIâll call and let them know whatâs going on so donât worry about any of that. Just get yourself ready to come back home.âÂ
You find yourself smiling, relieved that you donât have to be the one to contact your school and tell them thatâŠwell, youâre breaking your student-lease, dropping your food plan, and need to be reimbursed for partial tuition costs since Sunghoon insists every semester that you purchase tuition insurance. You should no longer be charged to live on campus, or for the facilities within the dorm.Â
Knowing youâll at least get back a couple thousand dollars is a nice change of pace, and already youâre feeling weirdly excited to go back to a space that will likely make you miss your mother more. Itâll hurt, but at least you wonât be alone anymore.Â
The forty minute drive to campus feels less horrifying now, and maybe your friends will still come and hang out with you in your actual home rather than a tiny dorm.Â
âSounds good.â You say, as if to end the call before you mutter out again. âThank you, by the way. Sunghoon, really.âÂ
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Sunghoon knew he was spiraling further and further into his loneliness. He knew it wasnât healthy either, but now. Oh, now he realizes just how bad itâs gotten as he demonizes himself upon picking you up.Â
You havenât come home since your motherâs funeral, and even on that day he barely remembers what you looked like. Eye contact was never a thing for him, but looking at you now, he sees how much youâve matured since you went off to college.Â
Your once bright, excited eyes have turned dull and empty. The bags under them are heavy from lack of sleep. Your lips appear to be in a permanent state of pouting, though he isnât sure if youâve noticed. You appear to have lost weight, which is concerning for him of course, butâŠthereâs something else about you.
Something that sits in the pit of his stomach and rots.
âUhââ You cough, noting the way Sunghoon looks at you as you try to hand him a large box. âThank you for helping me move my stuff backâŠâÂ
Sunghoon snaps out of his thoughts, grabbing a heavy box and then waiting for you to stack another on top.Â
âNo big deal,â He mutters, feeling the weight in his hands double as he prepares to carefully carry your things out to his car. âYou havenât come home in over a year, but Iâve fixed up your room for you and went ahead and connected my gaming system in there.â
You nod quietly, feeling awkward for how fatherly he seems.
âThanksâŠâ You trail off, flopping a pile of your things into his trunk before stopping to look at him. âYou look like shit.â
Sunghoon furrows his brows, noticing for a split second how that facial expression you made is very similar to one his wife used to throw at him when heâd have hair out of place, or a wardrobe malfunction. And then he smiles.Â
âYouâre not looking too good yourself.â He jokes back.
You smile back at him, feeling a bit of the awkward air fizzle away.Â
âWell, Iâm not doing well, so.âÂ
You were continuing the joke, but his face falls before yours does.Â
âYou can talk to meââ He starts.
âI know, I know.â You wave him off. âIâll feel a lot better once we get back and I can settle in.
Thereâs a nod from him now, and then silence as the two of you continue to put the rest of your belongings into both his car and your own.Â
âWell, I guess Iâll see you in a bit?â You say now, awkwardly.
Sunghoon nods, looking you over once again.
âSee you in a bit.âÂ
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Shame.
Pure fucking shame.Â
Sunghoon knew he needed another presence in this house but upon seeing you again, he knew it may have been a mistake.Â
He likes to think of himself as level headed. Heâs never gotten into any trouble, never had a stray thought, never cheated, lied, or stole anything. He canât think of a single thing that heâs done in life to be considered taboo. But looking at you feelsâŠincorrect?
Indecent?Â
Youâre his step-daughter for fuck sake but itâs the fact that you donât feel like you are. When he looks at you, he just sees another person. He did this to help you, he did this to feel needed, to be your fucking father.Â
He did not do this to look at you this way or to feel his eye stray even without his intention.
Why do you look so much like her? Why do you do that thing with your pinky when you carry things like she did? You even have a similar smell, probably having picked up on your motherâs habits throughout childhood.Â
You being hereâŠItâs like sheâs still here. Except itâs you, and he canât be thinking this way.Â
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This fic will be dark, very taboo, morally bad. Not a grey area, it is blatantly bad. sunghoon will do bad things. Please be aware of your own triggers once it's completed and posted. remember that I write within my own triggers, not yours. That being said! Please do show lots of love if this is a fic you're interested in reading! If you want to be tagged, I have a permanent tag list, there are not any separate tag lists for individual fics so keep that in mind.  ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»ă»
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Trophy Husband - Chapter 5
Hyunjin x Reader (fem.) Genre: Arranged Marriage au!, Marriage of Convenience-ish, Romance, Angst, Frenemies-to-Lovers, NSFW (mdni) Warnings: mentions of cursing, drinking, crude language, somewhat proofread WC: 6.0k A/N: Last chapter of the year! I hope the slight insight into y/n melts away any frustrations the previous chapter left. Our bickering-couple will see you again in 2025! Feedback, Reblogs, Likes are greatly appreciated! Happy reading! ââ MASTERLIST
Synopsis: Two individuals with polar opposite lifestyles are thrown into an arranged marriage for the benefit of both their families, or so they claim. One is a frivolous playboy, living off familial wealth, while the other is an overly controlling workaholic. Navigating their marriage with a business-like approach, their relationship is marked by a whirlwind of bickering, banter, and societal pressures. Amid misunderstandings, they uncover layers of unexpected qualities, eventually discovering a sweet love neither saw coming.
Missed a chapter? - Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4
CHAPTER 5 âââââââââââââââââââ
As a child, Y/N Yeom had always been compared to a bird, lost in her own world.Â
Soaring freely, high above, doing as she pleased as her parentsâ only child. One of the perks of having no competition with a sibling.Â
She chased her imagination, colorful dreams unfurling in her mind.
It was something her parents bragged about. How independent she was. How ambitious she was. How proud she would make them.
It was something her parents would come to regret as she entered her teenage years. The extracurricular activities they had piled onto her as a child, aimed at making her well-rounded and talented in many fields, from dancing to piano to art, would soon return to haunt them.Â
Especially when the Yeom heiress declared she wanted to be an artist.
Her mother had laughed at it.Â
A sound that still echoed in Y/Nâs mind. It had been a laugh muffled by her fingers, her face a alight with amusement as she stared back at her young daughter, clearly finding the idea more humorous than anything else.
âDonât say such silly things Y/Nâ
Words that still rang in her memories.
Her carefree world began to shatter.
Then came the hiding.Â
The pretense of attending tutoring classes designed to prepare her to follow in her fatherâs footsteps, while she secretly slipped into the art program she had forged her motherâs signature to join, started swiftly.
For the most part, she had gotten away with it. That was, until her art teacher called her parents after she won a competition. One whose name she couldnât even remember anymore.
Her father was furious when he found out. Perhaps she would have been too if she was in his place. Although, she believed she wouldnât have allowed her child to hide their passions in the first place.
She wouldnât have laughed at their dreams.
Y/N started growing bitter. Her carefree world shattered even more.
She had always been sort of an outcast amongst the other children in her social circle, although self-appointed.
They seemed to lack their own dreams, their own passions. Happily following the plans their parents had drawn out for them, while she struggled to even hang up her art pieces with pride.Â
The first time Y/N had properly seen Hwang Hyunjin was back in school. The academy they attended was full of children of the elite, cliques of those who loved to flaunt their good looks and their parentsâ wealth. One of which the second Hwang son was also in, though she never truly cared enough to acquaint with him, let alone keep his name memorized.
If she tried to recall when his name had become a familiar one in her memories, she would probably say that swim championship he had won for their school. A first time win after six years of their academy losing. Only for Hwang Hyunjin to hold the winner title for his entire academic career.
She had always been acutely aware of his existence, hearing his name here and there throughout school, catching glimpses of the supposedly handsome Hwang Hyunjin in the halls, at events her parents dragged her to. Types of events where she would hole away at some random empty room after initial greetings.Â
The first time Y/N had taken a proper look at him was in one of these events, in her search for an empty room she would spend the evening in before it was time to leave. She had stumbled upon Hyunjin, the handsome second son of the Hwangs.
Handsome he was, his gaze snapped to hers the moment she entered. Their eyes locked for the first time as she stood frozen in the doorway, catching him in a âŠcompromising position.Â
His lips had been locked with the school presidentâs. But at the sound of the door, the two broke apart almost instantly. Hyunjin wiped his mouth casually, while the school president, usually prim and proper, sputtered, her eyes darting between his and Y/Nâs equally stunned expressions.
  âAhâSorry...â Y/N had muttered awkwardly, closing the door behind her as she blinked at the odd combination she had walked in on.
The school president cornered her in halls the following day, pleading eyes already giving way to her request. To not tell anyone she was with Hwang Hyunjin, the apparent âblack sheepâ of his family, a detail Y/N hadnât known until that moment, though it wasnât something she even cared for.
She had her own problems to deal with, and who the school president was or wasnât making out with, didnât even register on her radar. She barely even remembered the event, let alone have time to run around and spread gossip.
Still, Y/N promised. And then, just a few weeks later, she found herself witnessing another scene, some other cheerleader pulling the âblack sheepâ of the Hwang family behind the bleachers.
A sight that would become more familiar than his existence itself.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
The shower water running down her skin should have felt relieving. Should have helped her loosen up, the hot scorching water that always managed to help her relax after a long strenuous day, tingling yet soothing. But as Y/N stood beneath the shower, the one place she usually found peace, her mind refused to settle. Instead, she found herself staring at the water swirling down the drain, her thoughts drifting back to what had happened between her and Hyunjin.
Back to the memory of her trophy husband, kneeling before her, his piercing gaze locked onto hers with a mixture of astonishment and something more. Something darker, more desirous.
And suddenly she was heavily aware of Hyunjin just outside, in the bedroom where he had trudged into after feeling lightheaded.
It seemed he really had exerted too much energy, the alcohol in his system, the confinement between her legs, the exhaustion afterwards. All overtaking him almost instantly. Y/N had even helped him into the bed.Â
He had muttered things under his breath, a chuckle escaping through his mumbles as he had tried to keep his eyes open. Yet, ultimately he had lost that battle and soon his breathing had grown shallow.
Y/N had stared down at his passed out form, gnawing at her bottom lip as her eyes trailed over him. Ultimately retreating in for a shower to clear her head.
Yet the shower didnât seem to clear anything at all.
Instead she felt even more conflicted.Â
The scraps of Hwang Hyunjin she could find in her memories resurfaced as she tried to recall as best as she could. Yet every single one of them seemed to be of him with a pretty girl on his arm.
But now here he was, the pretty man on her arm.
The bathroom door had opened with a soft click, Y/N peeked out to glance back into the bedroom, her trophy husbandâs body still tucked under the duvet as she had left him. The bedroom was lit dimly, the bedside lamp casting a soft glow, allowing her to look down at Hyunjinâs serene expression as she approached his passed out form.
Y/N instantly thought back to earlier in the evening. As if her mind hadnât been replaying every moment of it in a loop ever since. The feeling of his touches, his gaze, his tongue, still burning against her skin, in her memories.Â
Perhaps that was how his playboy nature worked.
His bold actions, his whiskey-laced breath.Â
The way his tongue darted out to lick his lips, the sultry tone in his voice.
Which Hyunjin had it been this evening?
The playboy Hyunjin who knew the arts of pleasure?
OrâŠ
She pictured the flush on his cheeks. The heat that radiated from his skin against her.Â
The desperation in his wide gaze, his slightly shaky fingers tugging at her dress as he asked for permission.
Perhaps it was her husband Hyunjin.
The gallery director clutched at the bathrobe tightly, slowly crouching down to get a closer look at his face.
The ever so pretty Hwang Hyunjin. Her playboy husband, so serene, so angelic even in his sleep.
Her eyes traced his features, resting on his lips. The ones that had her chasing that orgasmic feeling that she hadnât felt in what seemed like forever.Â
His lips, that would curve into those smug smiles whenever he taunted her, irking her slightly, amusing her mostly.Â
His lips, so kissable.
Y/N leaned in, her mouth pressing against his. A soft kiss, a simple peck maybe.
His breath felt hot against hers as he slept, a low sleepy moan escaping his mouth as she pulled away, peering back down to take in his sleeping expression. He shifted slightly, brows narrowing in a frown before relaxing. A sight that made her stifle a smile, fingers pushing away the stray hairs that fell over his face.Â
The room quieted again after Hyunjin settled once more, his crouching wife observed this side of him.
She had always been the first to fall asleep. Always exhausted, easily slipping into her dreams once her head hit the pillow. Sometimes she would watch Hyunjin from her tucked in spot. The dark-haired man, who seemed to always be doing this or that on the other end of the bedroom.Â
Sometimes reading on the recliner, sometimes standing out on the balcony. Oftentimes he would shuffle under the sheets once her eyes fluttered close. Her lids, heavy, yet aware of his presence beside her.
Oftentimes she wondered what he would do if she asked him to embrace her.
Engulf her in his warmth to soothe her of her dayâs exhaustion, unaware if his arms would even have that effect.
Though, after tonight, maybe her assumptions werenât too far off.
She often wondered what it would be like to make this man hers.
To allow him into her heart. The shielded, guarded organ that seemed to harden against love.
Or would she simply become his plaything? The one he would turn to whenever he needed to let off steam.
Hyunjin inhaled deeply in the midst of his shallow breaths, a low noise that was just loud enough to draw her attention back to just the two of them in this room. Y/N finally pushed herself back on her feet, glancing down at him once more.
Did she trust him enough?Â
He hadnât done anything that would have broken her trust, went against whatever clauses theyâd laid out, whatever contracts theyâd signed. Yet, there was that nagging voice in the back of her head.
The one that whispered to her.
That he was putting on some act, behaving himself only for a moment before he craved attention. Before he got bored of sitting still.
Heâd done it before. Or atleast, from what she had read and heard in the past.
After some new scandal of his, he would disappear. Lie low for a couple of months before he was once again dancing in nightclubs. Even prior to their marriage, he had been engulfed in some incident. Something about a bar fight. The news that she read about after her father had thrown the marriage arrangement at her, left her tasting bitter.
Her husband turned in his sleep, sinking deeper into the mattress, his face turned away from hers.
Y/N reached out. Perhaps to push back some more stray strands of his hair, perhaps to lean down and press another kiss to his lips. But she faltered, the quiet hum on her cell phone vibrating against the dresser echoed in the bedroom, the sound had her already striding over, knowing well that these late night calls from her secretary were always urgent.
Knowing well that she had always been the kind to prioritize her work. Her ambitions.
That she would never be a perfect lover, let alone be a perfect wife.
The gallery director fidgeted with her wedding ring, inhaling deeply as her eyes glanced over the glass doors of the meeting room.Â
Her secretary had called her late last night, finally arranging a meeting with a potential sponsor for Y Galleryâs upcoming project.Â
Y/N had rushed out frantically, glancing back at her husband once, before she had to start preparing for this meeting in the early hours of the morning. But now that she was done, and had nothing to do besides wait, her mind trailed back to Hyunjin.
Back to her trophy husband who seemed to be ever so peaceful in his slumber. She wondered if he would remember what he had done last night?
A part of her cursed herself for not ensuring he was sober enough before agreeing to his ministrations. Although he didnât seem it, the way he had almost collapsed afterwards had her worried slightly.
Her eyes shot to her cellphone, the discarded device that had a cascade of messages and notifications from people she didnât care enough about to respond right away.
But no message from Hyunjin.
It made sense. It was still early in the morning, and over the months of being married to him, the gallery director had learned that her husband loved to sleep in. Especially on days after he had a few drinks.
She wondered if she should message him. Tell him to take it easy in case he wakes up with an aching head. Tell him to call her so she could ensure he was alright.
Hear his voice.
His groggy sleep-laced voice, memories of it running through her mind. From all the times he had muttered things as he made her coffee on those days he claimed she had roused him awake.
Y/N blinked at his contact. At the words she had typed out, staring at the letters almost as if they were foreign.
They felt foreign.
Types of words she hadnât sent in what felt like forever.
Words of concern. Of worry.
Messages a wife would send her husband.
The knock on the glass door tore the gallery director out of her trance, her instant social smile spreading over her face as she stood. Arm extending for a shake.
  âThank you so much for taking the time to meet me today Madam Kim.â Her voice dripped with confidence.
The gallery directorâs husband rustled under the sheets, his brows furrowing in a frown, eyes still shut tight but awake nonetheless.
The silence in the room stretched and for a moment he simply just laid there.
But then as the gears in his brain began to work, the memories of the night prior surged down on him, replaying through his mind in a loop.
Hyunjinâs eyes shot open, slowly he propped himself up to glance around the empty room. His body slightly ached for some reason, and his mind was foggy as he scanned his surroundings.Â
There was no sign of Y/N.Â
No quiet rustle of sheets, no trace of her presence. No loud clatter of her attempting to be quiet but failing miserably.
The space felt oddly hollow, and an uncomfortable silence settled in as he fully sat up, trying to make sense of everything. Of the time, of the day.Â
His fingers traced his lips, tugging at his bottom lip as he tried to distinguish whether whatever he was thinking about right now, whatever he had done, had in fact happened or had it all been a dream.
Hyunjin made his way out of bed, figure crossing the rooms to peer out in hopes to find a glimpse of her, or a clue that would soothe the anxiety that had begun to bubble within him.
The living room was silent, a familiar stillness that settled in at this hour. Times when Hyunjin would head to the gym and the entire house was empty. Yet, the silence felt eerie to the man who had just awoken, his hair rustled messily as he glanced around the room.Â
A loud sigh had escaped his lips. The anxious feelings started to subside as he was almost to that conclusion that it had been all a dream.
Almost.
Hyunjinâs eyes flickered to the counter. His brows relax at the sight of the mug of forgotten tea.
The drink that had long gone cold, still in the spot last left. Right across the front island, where he had tasted his wife.Â
Not a dream.
Hyunjin gulped, the dry feeling in his throat refusing to subside. And all his anxieties began crashing down.
The second son of the Hwang family had had his fair share of one-night-stands. Sometimes waking up alone, sometimes leaving alone. It had never bothered him enough for his mind to linger on it any longer than he needed to. Forgetting it all almost with the new day.
And although whatever happened between the business-couple wasnât even close to things Hyunjin had experienced in his one-night-stands, it still pricked at his heart in a way he didnât think it would.
He knew the kind of person his wife was. Knew her priorities, knew that she would be working at this time, especially on a work day. But he didnât expect to wake up alone.
Didnât expect these anxious thoughts to course through him when he was welcomed by silence.Â
Perhaps thatâs what love was.Â
These foreign emotions that surged through him right now had never been present after his pastâŠovernight escapades. The lingering feelings that never seeped into his thoughts the next morning were heavily weighing down on him now.
He must be overthinking it all, he had to be.
Like a love-sick fool who felt abandoned.
Hyunjin had never thought himself to be the clingy type. In fact, he despised the women who often clung to him, professing their adoration for him. Attraction, love, things that made his brows twitch in irritation.
Yet here he was feeling clingy. Being clingy.Â
His fingers drummed on the steering wheel of his car as he sat outside his wifeâs gallery, gaze wandering over the building. Doubts clouded his mind as he second, third-guessed his actions.Â
The sudden knock against the glass of his driverâs side window made him jump, head whipping around to pull down the tinted glass.Â
One of Y/Nâs gallery employees looked down at him, eyes full of curiosity.
  âAh, Mr. Hwang, itâs you.âÂ
Hyunjin forced a smile, attempting to hide the uneasiness that stirred within him. To not appear as suspicious as he thought he looked, sitting out here in the outdoor parking lot wracking his brains.Â
Nervous, anxious, but painfully missing his wife.
  â...She left so early, soâŠâ His excuse trailed off, trying to settle the nervous twinge in his tone with a clear of his throat.
The young woman smiled with her nod as she straightened, glancing back at the glass building of the gallery.
  âDirector Yeom had an early meeting that ended not too long ago. But now, sheâs holed up working. Iâm slightly worried...â The employee sighed, her brows furrowing with slight concern.
Words that are just enough to push away all of Hyunjinâs second-guessing.Â
The trophy husband was already stepping out of his vehicle.
  âLetâs get her to take a break then.â He mumbled with a gentle smile, nodding at her before he was already striding ahead.
The gallery director herself had indeed been holed away since the early morning. Reworking a proposal that she suddenly needed to do after her meeting. As a gallery owner, the majority of her work was centered around securing investment and funding to keep it running. From managing visitors, renting out parts of the pretty space for events and shoots, to attracting rich patrons and people who had enough money to spend on her, her hands were always full.
But she wanted to do something different this time around. A gala, where proceeds would go towards sponsoring aspiring artists. The rich would get a chance to flaunt their wealth, and the starving artists would get a chance to showcase their talent through her gallery.
Y/N would like to think the meeting went well.
Most of the people who were attracted to her gallery outside of everyday visitors, were the wives of the wealthy businessmen in their circle, familiar faces that Y/N had grown up around. They loved to show off their wealth. Purchasing pieces and hosting events at her gallery had become a popular trend of some sorts in the recent years. Maybe it was to do with the fact that Y/N was going against her family and doing something she was passionate about. The high society women lingered about to either scope out the gossip that surrounded that or maybe they were truly infatuated with the wonderful artwork she had collected and exhibited in her gallery.
Madam Kim was one such prominent woman in their high society. The madame of one of the countryâs leading law firms, her late husband is still a respected figure even now, years after his demise.Â
The gallery director had initially wanted to propose a potential partnership with Madam Kimâs daughter-in-law, a woman who was an appreciator of art, and a regular patron of Y Gallery. But when the director had reached out, she had gotten a response from the matriarch of the family instead.
Y/N wasnât complaining. Madam Kim was one of the more tolerable individuals of the elite class, humble in her ways, yet still had an immense influence on the other women and wives of her social circles. Maybe she had gotten lucky.
Or maybe not. The extra work that Madam Kim had requested was starting to take a toll on the gallery director whose eyes were starting to sting. Tell-tale signs of an oncoming migraine already throbbed at her temples.
The knock on her door faltered her machine-like fingers typing away with a frenzy, her eyes shooting over her glasses to take a glance at the incoming visitor.
She expected to see her secretary, perhaps with the drafted email the gallery director had been awaiting. But instead, the long dark locks of her husbandâs appeared in her line of sight, and she stiffened at the sight of his figure entering her office.
For a brief second, the two of them stare at each other, simply just taking in each otherâs presence, eyes floundering over one anothers face after not having seen it in what almost felt like years. Hyunjinâs eyes flicked to her desk, at the bottle of pain pills that rested by her glass of water, a sight that made his brows furrowed with a frown.
  âHave you slept?â He questioned with a sigh, the concern on his expression deepening.
Her eyes followed his to the same pills. She had taken two in attempts to soothe that headache that pounded at her temples, but of course it hadnât worked. Instead she decided she would push through this workload before taking a power nap.
  âNot yet.â Her response wasnât surprising, making her husband groan slightly, his arms crossing over his chest.
  âHave you eaten?â He continued, already understanding what her response was from the silent stare she shot him.
Y/N wanted to break into a laugh, to point out the creases that settled between his brows as he looked at her with an upset frown, clearly displeased by her answers.Â
She wanted to break into a laugh because he was one more question away from becoming a nagging spouse.Â
Instead she stifled the urge, sighing as her eyes darted to the bright screen that burned her eyes, before they settled back on his form just a few feet away.
  âIâll eat soon. I promise.â She muttered.
  âTen minutes.â His words followed immediately after her apparent hollow promise, making her tilt her head in slight confusion.
  âYou have ten minutes before I force you to eat.â He added, his brows narrowing.
His words caught her off guard, a tone of his that she had never heard before. An expression that looked foreign too, as he stared with her pointedly. Yet she didnât hate the sight of it. Rather, it sparked something else in her. That familiar challenged sensation erupted within her. Mixed with something else. Something she couldnât really describe without thinking about him on his knees again.Â
  âForce me to eat?â Y/N repeated, raising an eyebrow.
She leaned back into the cushion of her chair, her fingers lacing together in front of her. The gallery director watched her husband uncross his arms from over his chest, sliding them into the pockets of his slacks before a teasing smile tugged on his lips.
  âSpoon-feed you if I have to. Airplane and all.â His words were laced with a mischievous edge, watching as she squinted for a second, before finally breaking into that laugh she tried her best to stifle.
The contagious sound made her trophy husband mirror, his eyes creasing as his chuckles followed.
His anxieties faded almost instantly at the sound. At the sight of her.
  âGive me ten minutes. Iâll bring you something to eat.âÂ
Y/N opened her mouth to protest. Maybe to refuse or maybe to lie about not being hungry. But Hyunjin doesnât allow her to, pointing a finger at her with a commanding tone.
  âTen minutes. Sit tight.â He shot, already heading out the door.
Ten minutes. She pressed her lips into a soft smile, staring at the empty spot her husband had been standing in.
True to his words, ten minutes later the gallery directorâs husband returned. Nodding at her secretary who sat outside her office, his grin radiated almost as he carried whatever nutritious breakfast he could scour for his wife, though it was long past breakfast time.Â
But when he entered the room, he was greeted by silence.
He had expected to hear more rushed typing, the sound of her fingers working against the keyboard was a sound so familiar to him, he was slightly stunned by the quiet.
His gaze shifted to settle on the gallery director. The sight of her slumped figure, passed out on her arms over the desk, both fascinated and awed him all at once.Â
She lasted ten minutes, barely. Unable to keep her eyes open. He was slightly impressed when he had entered earlier, it was clear she was exhausted, yet would have pushed herself further if he hadnât distracted her.
Hyunjin sighed, gently placing down the bag of takeout on the coffee table before walking towards her. His eyes skimmed over her desk, at the cluttered surface that resembled her make-shift workstation that was their living room table.
He picked up the crumpled balls of paper, pushing it aside before he pulled out the chair on his side softly, taking a seat across. He leaned against the leather, getting comfortable as he simply gazed down at the exhausted woman who would have sworn she wasnât sleepy, wasnât exhausted if asked. But here she was now, softly inhaling and exhaling.
His eyes drifted to her laptop, the screen still glowing brightly, clear that she had fallen asleep not too long ago.Â
Gently, Hyunjin reached out, fingers pushing back a stray lock of her hair, a fond smile tugging on his lips as he watched her breathe softly. His gaze shifted to the notepad beside her, amidst the crumpled papers and stacked sheets of ink.Â
The open notepad was covered with a jumble of words, arrows, and little annotations in her meticulous handwriting. Despite the confusion of the notes, a few familiar words caught his attention, prompting him to slide the laptop in front of himself. With a nod to himself, he leaned forward and began typing. His eyes flit over the screen once to linger on her form.
  âThe things I do for you.â He muttered under his breath, patting her hair softly before diving into the task at hand.
The sound of the press of keys had been a distant sound, yet as she stirred away, it had grown louder.
The gallery directorâs lids fluttered open, staring at a sight that should have been strange, yet it didnât feel so. Maybe she was still dazed from her impromptu nap, refreshed eyes still adjusting as she took in the sight of her husband absorbed between the laptop screen and her notepad, his fingers meticulously working against the keyboard.
It should have been a strange sight. Seeing Hwang Hyunjin working. On something that he claimed not to know about, claimed not to care about. But it wasnât strange at all.
Instead, her heart clenched, the shielded, guarded organ of hers, suddenly racing in her chest. And all she wanted to do now was reach over and kiss him.Â
A incoming notification on her laptop broke the comfortable silence that had settled in her office. An email from her secretary sitting outside, the notification of the email draft Y/N had requested popped up on the screen. It instantly drew Hyunjinâs attention, his eyes scanning the subject-line almost instinctively.
  âArtist ArminâŠâ He muttered, reading to himself.
Y/Nâs brows narrowed, a wave of bitterness spreading over her tongue as she slowly sat up. Movements that have Hyunjin look up to her. His gaze softening at the sight of her awoken state.
  âIs it written âA-R-Minâ or âR-Dot-Min.â She asked, her tone slightly groggy.Â
Hyunjin glanced back at the screen, at the notification that lingered on the corner.
  âA-R-Min.â He replied, looking at her with slight wonder.
Y/N inhaled deeply, before letting out a slight groan.
  âItâs supposed to be R-Dot-Min.â She grunted almost, reaching over for the laptop so she could send the corrections to her secretary.
  âIâll do it. You eat.â Hyujin pressed instead, pulling the device closer to him.Â
An action that made her arch and eyebrow.
  âReally? You want to be my personal secretary now?â A smile had spread on her lips.
Hyunjin shrugged, his smug smile returning on his face.
  âWhat does the compensation package look like?â He chuckled, already ready to type the email to her secretary.
Y/N stood, stretching before she headed towards the bag of food, slightly hungrier than she was before her nap.
  âAnything you want.â Her words are more casual, distracted fingers pulling out her breakfast and lunch.
Her words make Hyunjin pause, fingers hovering over the keys.
For a moment, he wondered if asking for a kiss right now, maybe even daringly asking if he could lift her onto her desk, would be enough compensation. But he caught himself almost instantly, clearing his throat before grabbing the laptop to join her by the couch.
  âR-Dot-Min, right?â He confirmed once again.
Y/Nâs hands stilled against the container of food, tasting bitterness all over again.
  âYes.â She almost spat.
Her gaze drifted off, her thoughts suddenly elsewhere as she ate.
Hyunjin watched her movements, the way her fork disappeared into her mouth, the way her lips wrapped around the bottle of water. It made his own throat dry, his thoughts swirling, and he had to bite back the urge to say something. He didnât want to sound like some pervert who couldnât think of anything beyond wanting her all to himself, but suddenly, he couldnât help it. Those thoughts lingered, darting through his thoughts.
He dropped his gaze, staring at the shiny surface of the glass table between them. He had to remind himself to control himself. To stop thinking like some fuckboy after her body. The trophy husband gnawed at his lower lip, trying to steady himself, his mind.
The gallery director watched as she dropped the empty container of her now-devoured food, wiping her lips. Her eyes lingered on Hyunjin, sitting across from her, his teeth tugging at his bottom lip, before he glanced back at her.
  âWhoâs R.Min anyways?â Hyunjin cleared his throat, sending the email corrections to her secretary.
Y/N fell silent at the mention of the artist, the one Madam Kim wanted to collaborate with simply because her grandson had liked his work.Â
What do lawyers know about art, anyway?Â
She had groaned to herself during the meeting, though outwardly she had smiled, offering her radiant social grin and empty compliments, promising to follow through and try her best for a collaboration.
  âHeâs a painter.â She answered curtly, rising to her feet.
Silence settled between them once more as Hyunjin set the laptop aside. The sound of another email pinged, cutting through the quiet, and both of them glanced at the screen.
  âYour secretary sent the email to R.Min.â He read aloud, eyes drifting over her.
A flicker of irritation drew over her expression, arms crossing as she muttered something under her breath. Likely a curse, though Hyunjin couldnât quite catch it.
  âEnough about that artistâDo you remember what you did last night?â Her voice was sharp.
Her blunt question made him stiffen, his eyes widening slightly as he watched her from his seated position, suddenly wanting to melt into the leather. He swallowed a few times, unsure of what kind of answer would ease the irritation still lingering on her face. The scowl shot towards him, ones he thought he would have gotten rid of after he had pleasured her last night.
  âI doâŠâ He finally sighed, his gleaming gaze flickering from his fingers to her face.
  âWhy are you nervous? Do you regret it?â She asked.
Another question that made his eyes widen, this time more from the fear of her misunderstanding than anything else.Â
  âNo!â He almost exclaimed, licking his lips to calm himself down.
She blinked, slightly taken aback by his loud response. The pressing expression, the piercing gaze that he stared up at her with.
Her eyes traced over his rigid form that looked up at her.Â
Nervous. Passionate perhaps.Â
Kissable.
The gallery director only needed two long strides.
Three steps and she was towering over him, her figure already leaning into him. Hyunjin reflexively drew himself back as she inched closer, until he was pressing flush against the leather of the sofa, trapped almost. He inhaled sharply, stunned eyes darting between hers to grasp exactly what was happening, why she was suddenly so close.
Could she hear his heart about to explode in his chest?
Y/N canât help but stare in fascination. This up-close view of her pretty husband was even more breathtaking than last night, his open eyes boring into hers. She could see the nervous twinge in his gaze, something she hadnât truly expected from the ever-so-cocky Hwang Hyunjin. Yet, seeing it now, she couldnât help but smile at how cute he looked beneath her.
Her fingers ghost over his lips. The ones she had gotten a feel of after stealing a kiss in his sleep. Although she would never, ever admit she had done so. He shuddered almost, even without her touching him yet.
  âI-is this a dream?â He found himself muttering instead.
Her brow arched at his words.
  âYou dream of me?â She countered, her tone laced with a teasing edge, a hint of amusement.
Hyunjin swallowed hard.
  âNo.â
He was trying his best. To cling onto that fragile thread of sanity left in him. To not appear desperate, craving her touch, her lips. Ready to melt underneath her.
Y/N let out a breathy laugh, her gaze dropping to his lips for a split second before locking with his eyes again. Clearly unconvinced.
  âI donât kiss liars.â She murmured smugly.
Hyunjin swallowed hard. The thread snapped.
His hands shot out, slipping behind her hair to rest again the nape of her neck, tugging her toward him.Â
His lips crash against hers. Desperate, frantic.Â
All control shattered, his sanity slipping away as he pulled her closer.Â
Closer.Â
Into himself, wrapping his arms around her, settling her over him, onto his lap.
Melting underneath her. ââââââââââââââââââââââââ to be continued.
ââ ask to be tagged! (18+) - @jellyleggz, @binniesbabe, @bookswillfindyouaway, @lemonn015, @scarlet789, @onlyhyunjin, @freekyfangirl, @candyquokka, @jehhskz, @stayjinnie, @suzyhhj , @minh0scat, @qwonyoung23, @d34thon2legs, @dessianna1, @kpopjackie, @rundontwalkshesaid, @sheerfreesia007, @thecutiepieme, @danihwang882, @hyunebunx, @seeeeking-skz, @hanadulsetaad, @velvetmoonlght, @alrm02, @tirena1, @hityoulikebahng, @tsunderelino, @cybergracie, @notevenheretbh1, @piscesrising01, @alisonyus, @hyuneyeon, @broken-glowsticks, @modesttiger, @gnabnahcbby, @shhyucm, @hanniesdegree, @lenfilms, @sushiinmidnight, @chrisbangsass, @fixation-dump, @minluvly, @loxgirl2004, @aeri-skzver, @ellemir2404, @mariahxrrera, @t1eekn0wsaurus, @aprilmaejune77, @amenabiii [CLOSED]
#hwang hyunijn#hyunjin#hwang hyunjin x reader#hyunjin x reader#stray kids imagines#hwang hyunjin scenarios#hwang hyunjin imagines#*mine: fics#hyunjin imagines#stray kids#skz fluff#hwang hyunjin fanfic#skz scenarios#skz angst#stray kids x reader#stray kids hyunjin#skz hyunjin#skz fanfic#stray kids fanfic#hwang hyunjin#hwang hyunjin stray kids#skz x reader#skz fic#stray kids scenarios#skz#hyunjin skz#hwang hyunjin scenario#hyunijn fanfic#skz imagines#skz hwang hyunjin
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Home for Christmas
Written for the day 20 of the @steddieholidaydrabbles, and round one of the @steddiebingo
Prompts: Alone & Second Chances
Rated: G
Tags: Post-Vecna; Future fic; Everybody lives; Exes Steddie; Rock star Eddie; Single dad Steve; Reunions; Second chances
Notes: Continued from this one
It starts snowing again as Steve parks the car, flakes settling on the windscreen the second the wipers still.Â
âLooks like a white Christmas,â he mutters. âYou packed your hat and gloves, yeah?âÂ
Beside him, Leah scoffs. âYes, Dad.â
âJust asking,â he says. The snow crunches under their feet as they get out to fetch her things from the trunk. âI donât want a repeat of that one year where you forgot and caught pneumonia. Your mom never let me hear the end of it.âÂ
She scowls.
âThat was three years ago. Iâm fifteen, I can take care of myself.â
âOh yeah?â He throws her duffel at her, grinning when she sags under the weight. âIs that why you left your phone charger on the table?âÂ
Her eyes go large. âShit! Why didnât you tell me? We have to- ugh, hilarious, you asshole!â
âIâm gonna pretend I didnât hear that,â Steve smiles, stuffing the charger he just pulled from his pocket into the front compartment of the duffel. Leah makes an annoyed sound as he ruffles her hair. âNow off you go. Say hi to your mother for me.âÂ
She grumbles something inaudible, but she does stomp off towards the house.
âDad?â
Steve, already with one hand on the driverâs door, pauses. Sheâs standing by the porch steps, watching him with a furrowed brow.Â
âYou sure you donât wanna come in? For a minute at least?âÂ
He shakes his head. âIâll be fine, sweetie. You have a great time.âÂ
He waits just long enough to see the door open in front of her before he ducks back inside the car. When he turns the keys and the radio comes alive, Chris Rea is singing about driving home for Christmas.Â
His phone buzzes.Â
Steve stops pinching his nose and pulls it from his pocket, assuming it'll be Leah texting him about another thing she forgot. When he sees who it's actually from, his breath hitches.
Hey, big boy. You home?Â
*
He's waiting in front of the apartment building when Steve rounds the corner. The snow is still shrouding the world in a curtain of white, and heâs wrapped in about three layers of clothing to protect himself - not only from the cold but also from prying eyes. Steve still knows it's him immediately. Knows from the lines of the tattoo poking out from his scarf, the one that covers the scars on his neck and jaw. Knows from the way he holds his cigarette. Knows from the restless shuffle of his boots in the fresh snow.Â
It feels unreal, him standing here, outside Steveâs home. The last time they saw each other was in a crowded concert hall, surrounded by fans and cameras. The last time before that was in another town, in another life, seventeen years ago. Sharing one last cigarette on the porch of the old trailer, the setting sun basking the world in hazy oranges, tears drying on both their faces. It was for the better, Steve told himself with that iron conviction you only have at twenty-one, when you think you have life figured out and know all the answers.
He didnât know shit, he thinks, forcing himself to get out of the car.
Eddieâs eyes flick up when he hears the door shut, and Steve can see how they grow round and large.
âHey,â he says, a little breathless, a little shy. Not at all like a world-famous rock star who has toured the world and filled whole stadiums. So agonizingly much like the boy Steve used to know. âThere you are.â
âHere I am,â Steve confirms, watching how Eddie grinds the cigarette under his boot. âTo what do I owe the honor?â
âAh, yâknow,â Eddie says vaguely. He reaches up a hand to tug on his hair, but comes up short because most of it is hidden under his hat. âI was in the neighborhood, so I thought-â
Steve flinches when he lurches forward. Even after all those years, he still doesnât do well with sudden movements or loud noises. Eddie tilts his head, eyes large and expectant, and it takes Steve a second to realize that heâs holding something out to him.Â
A gift bag. It has little Rudolphs on it, and shiny red ribbons for handles. Nestled inside is what looks like a band shirt, and on top of that-Â
âWait, are those concert tickets?â Steve blurts. âNo way, I canât accept these.âÂ
He raises his hands in defense, but Eddie steps right into his space and shoves the bag into them. Their fingers brush.Â
âNo takesies backsies,â Eddie winks. His smile is cheeky, but Steve imagines thereâs regret in his eyes as he steps away. âTheyâre not for you, anyhow, your taste in music always sucked. Theyâre for Leah. Gotta nurture talent when you-âÂ
âShe isnât even here,â Steve protests weakly. âSheâs spending Christmas with her mom.â Â
Eddieâs eyebrows arch. âWhat, and youâre all alone?âÂ
Steve shrugs, suddenly self-conscious. âItâs for the better. Sheâs got her cousins there, and grandparents who actually care for her. I usually spend a day or two at Robinâs, but sheâs taking Vickie to Paris this year, so-âÂ
âOh no,â Eddie says, and starts walking towards the door. âOh no, no, no. This won't do. I'll stay and keep you company.âÂ
âWha-?â Steve stutters, following after him, gift bag in hand. âBut you can't- ⊠Don't you have- ⊠What about Wayne?âÂ
Eddie shrugs. âI'll call him, he'll understand. Come on, Stevie, it'll be great. We can rent a movie, order Chinese. Just like old times.âÂ
Steve, already fumbling for his keys in his pocket, freezes. Eddie smiles back at him, bold and bright, but he imagines there's hope there. Hope and fear and seventeen years of unspoken things.
âYeah,â he says, and unlocks the door. âJust like old times.â
Maybe they can have this, if only for one day.Â
More holiday drabbles
More Steddie Bingo
#steddie#steve x eddie#steve harrington x eddie munson#steddie fanfic#steddie brainrot#fanfiction writer#fanfiction#fanfic#my writing#steddie holiday drabbles#hype's holiday drabbles 2024
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đ¶ïž NFY : GRAND PRIX WINS AND EXPOSĂS
[ carlos sainz x singer!fem!reader ]
[ summary ] carlos' and y/n's breakup comes as a surprise to many of their friends. no one ever thought the couple would ever break up, but alas, y/n was always ready to do whatever was best for the love of her life â even if it meant breaking up with him.
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âââââââ MARCH 24, 2024 : MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
âiâd just like to point out and say that i didn't have a say in attending this party tonight.â
you grumbled under your breath as everyone took their seats in the private lounge of the club.
âi didn't either.â oscar muttered from behind you, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. âcan't even make a damn decision in my hometown, jeez.â
âosc, baby, hush.â lando was buzzing with excitement already, giggling as he looked at his teammate. âfor you, i shall play the best house music there is.â
oscar blinked softly, looking over at his girlfriend, lily, who gave him a sheepish smile of encouragement. âyeah, that's what i was fearing.â he quipped, his voice barely audible.
the entire group turned towards the entrance when the other partygoers hooted and cheered, joining along as the ferrari boys made their entrance.
your gaze landed on carlos, hating how he still never failed to take your breath away even when he wore a simple shirt and jeans. gods, he was a beautiful man.
âearth to y/n.â you snapped out of your daze when max called out to you, a knowing smirk on his face. âyou there?â
âoh, shut up.â you muttered in embarrassment, trying to direct your attention to something else.
but alas, the universe had different plans.
even when everyone was crowding to congratulate carlos on his win, he seemed to forget everything as soon as his eyes landed on you.
he quickly excused himself, his entire surroundings fading into black as he quickly made his way towards you.
âhey.â carlos greeted you softly as he stood in front of you, barely sparing a glance to anyone else. âyou came.â
âyou didn't really give me a choice.â you shrugged nonchalantly, though you were feeling very chalant. âcongratulations on the win, by the way, smooth operator.â
carlos' smile brightened as he heard the teasing nickname, relieved to see you were feeling somewhat comfortable in his presence unlike the other times.
he hoped things would work in his favor tonight.
as the party was teeming in full blast, carlos did his best to give you your space, but he couldn't help but be drawn towards you throughout the night.
it was always him scooting closer to you, looking like he was going to talk to you before he moved away, chickening out at the last second.
even max and yuki, who were drunk off their asses, noticed carlos' pattern, wondering what he was up to.
unable to watch the pathetic scene any longer, charles shoved carlos in your direction, giving him a look that clearly said, âget on with it already, you coward.â
âuh, hi again.â
carlos wasn't sure why he was a nervous mess. he was usually very confident and charming, but now as he stood before you, he was nothing but a muddle of nerves.
âcarlos.â you greeted him, raising your voice slightly so he could hear you over the club music. âhi again.â
ây/n.â he spoke up, reaching out to hold your arm as if he were afraid youâd walk away from him. for the second time. âlook, about what you said the last time we spoke...â
you immediately shook your head, not wanting to go down that lane. âcarlos, we donât have to talk about it. i just want to forget about it all andââ
carlosâ grip on your arm tightened, stopping you from speaking. âamor. you are doing that conflict resolution thing again. donât do that. all i wanted to say was that iâm gonna keep my promise and i willââ
before carlos could continue any further, everyoneâs attention darted to lando as he let out an unidentifiable sound, some hybrid mix between a laugh and a scream.
âoh, my fucking goodness!â lando laughed in disbelief as he stared at his phone, his eyes widening in shock as the realization settled in. âcarlitos! what the fuck?!â
kika and kelly stood behind him, reading the contents of his phone over his shoulders. their eyes widened in sync, lips parting in surprise.
âguys. sky sports gossip posted.â kika stated, causing everyone to reach for their phones. âyou have to check it out.â
you looked from lando to carlos, wondering what your ex-boyfriend had done to land up on the sky sports gossip page and get such a reaction from the others.
your jaw was pretty much on the floor as soon as you finished reading the article and the comments it had received, your eyes widening in surprise. you skimmed through the apology post, your heart skipping several beats as you realized that carlos was the one who was behind everything.
everyone was just as shocked by the revelations, even the drunken pair, max and yuki, sobering up after seeing the articles and the aftermath of it all.
âcarlosâŠâ you couldnât even find the words as carlos just smiled at you softly, tilting his head as if to say, âi told you soâ. âyou are absolutely insane, you know that?â
âinsane is a bit too harsh, no?â he chuckled in amusement, his eyes crinkling as his smile widened.
âi promised, didn't i, carina? that iâd make it right. and i hope i did.â
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I really don't get how Lea could ever think they and the Hunter were a team, when apparently they knew about the collar thing while the hunter didn't even know??? They are the literal embodiment of the Hunter's alienation and dehumanization. Will Lea (and the narrative) ever acknowledge how fucking despicable the order actually is??? They're a bunch of child abusers who prey on poor families and practice human trafficking. On that note I actually deeply despise the Hunter's mentor. That fight scene with him forcing us to stand up again and again? I don't care that the same was done to him and he did it to make the Hunter stronger or whatever. That was the same logic my grandmother had when she hit my mother, and she would have done the same to us if my mother hadn't cut ties with her and broke the cycle of generational violence. I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't play this game right now as it very clearly trigger some things within me that I should address elsewhere than in your ask box, but I guess I needed to express how helpless the Hunter made me feel. Especially with Lea. My character (and myself I guess) couldn't sit down and have a normal conversation with them given how blind they were to the Hunter's situation, and that was even before I understood what the collar thing truly meant after replaying the demo and reading the last snippet you published. Lea comes from a powerful family with ties everywhere, they are literally called our 'handler', and they know what the ladder does to someone (both short term and long term, mentally and physically)... And they truly think them and the Hunter are the same??? Equals??? The only explanation I can find is that they grew up their entire life within the order and never knew anything else, and so this is a case of great ignorance and deep denial. They need a good wake up call and a lot of character development, but when I see Noel's reaction and Lea's behavior during their rival route, I'm kinda worried.
well... i mean most of what you've mentioned here is The Point. Lea is a hypocrite, and the hunter can argue with them and refuse their partnership because of it. Jorah is an asshole and treated the hunter poorly at times, to the point that him and Rodrick argued about it frequently, and is why Rodrick attempts to intervene when they spar. the Order does cause harm and coerces people into their ranks, usually children or those that are more vulnerable and lack other options; and this is always true no matter how the hunter tries to justify it and convince themselves otherwise. all of the people and institutions in this game are complex, none of them are righteous, and they exist as they do because i have something i want to say-- all of these are choices i've intentionally made when writing this story.
and we're only on chapter 1 right now (and even before the rerelease, only on chapter 2), all of the characters need character development, none of their arcs have even started yet.
this story is supposed to make you Feel, big feelings and little feelings, my goal is for people to connect with the characters or at the very least just empathize with them and have a desire to see their stories through. i'm not out to trigger people but this game is intended to be a dark fantasy that explores heavier topics. i'm always open to discussing my thoughts behind certain characters/narrative choices and i will always welcome suggestions if you feel i need to add something to the content warning list, but i really don't like asks like this, and i'm not really sure how to respond as a stranger on the internet. you can either trust me and my intent as the author, or maybe it would be better to not continue with the story if that's what is best and safest for you. only you can know and make that choice, not me.
#no judgement either way i have the content warnings there for a reason i know this story isnt for everyone & can be upsetting#but i would appreciate in the future. for people to not vent personal traumas to me in my inbox#ask#anonymous
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compos mentis 4
No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.
Warnings:Â this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, age gap, chronic health issues, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.
This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.
Summary: After a long court case, your mother stays attached to her lawyer, bringing even more contention into your life.
Characters: Andy Barber
Note: this decrepit pervert is back.
As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. Iâm trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.
Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I havenât forgotten those!) Please do not just put âmoreâ. I will block you.
I love you all immensely. Take care. đ
Youâre restless. Whatâs worse, is you have no energy. You never really do. Living is the most exhausting thing youâve ever done.Â
You lean in the window sill, half hunched as you stare out at the suburban street. Itâs a nice neighbourhood. Your mother lives in a condo, on one of the highest floors. You hate it. This place isnât so bad. Itâd be nice if it was just you.Â
That last thought makes you sad. You donât know that youâll ever be able to be alone. You hate being such a burden. What you hate most, is feeling like youâre on a leash. Sometimes literally as your oxygen tube keeps you bound to the tank.Â
All your existence, thereâs been something wrong with you. In high school, it got so much worse. You didnât even realise until your mother pointed it out. Then the appointments doubled, the tests too, and it never stopped. Will it ever?Â
Youâre trapped in a holding pattern. If living is so difficult, should you even try? Thatâs a bad thought but you canât help it. You see your mom, you see Andy, and they donât need all these medicines or this thing to breathe for them. They have lived full lives, they have jobs and a home. You have nothing.Â
You turn away from the window. The tall trees and peaked rooftops are no longer so beautiful. Theyâre just another reminder of everything you donât and will never have.Â
A knock at the door startles you. You cross the room and inch it open. You peer out, disappointed to find Andy again. How long is your mom going to sleep?Â
âHey, sweetheart, I was thinking you might want to come with me. It's pretty quiet around here,â he says.Â
âCome with... where?â You rasp.Â
âI was going to go to the pharmacy and get your script filled, like your mom said,â he explains and holds up the doctorâs paper. âFound it in her purse.âÂ
âOh, uh...â you hesitate. You donât know what to do. That heâs even asking makes you feel obligated. âSure, I... okay.âÂ
âTake your time, Iâll warm the car up,â he assures you. âAnything I can help with?âÂ
âNo, sir, Iâll grab my bag.âÂ
You shut the door before he can respond. You pause and feel bad. You hope that didnât seem intentional. You go and grab your belt bag. You check that everything is in it, then drag your tank back to the door.Â
You come out and the hall is empty. You go around to the bathroom and rinse off your face. You donât have a toothbrush so you use your finger to spread some paste around your teeth and rinse your mouth. Youâre overly aware of your day-old outfit. You do what you can for your hair then resign yourself to being the same mess you always are.Â
You take the stairs slowly. One at a time as you prevent the wheels of the tank from thumping. Andyâs house is so nice, you donât want to ruin it. You get to the front door and pull on your jacket. You put on your sneakers and awkwardly angle out the front door.Â
The SUV whirs in the driveway. Before you can get to the first step, Andy is there. He helps with the tank and sets it on the flat ground. You quickly take the handle and thank him.Â
âYou alright?â He asks. You wish he wouldnât be so worried. Your mother doesnât ever ask, only if itâs for show.Â
âFine,â you assure him.Â
You roll the tank past him and he calls after you as you get to the SUV. âHey, you donât gotta sit in the back.âÂ
âUh, right,â you say.Â
You go around to the passenger door and he opens it for you. Once again, he lifts the tank. Before you can react, he does the same to you. You lurch up into the seat and wriggle until he lets you go. He doesnât seem to notice your discomfort.Â
You sit straight and steady the tank between your knees. He shuts the door and you get the seatbelt clicked in. As he climbs in the other side, you take out your vaseline and smear it under your nose. Itâs particularly raw this morning.Â
âShoot, is that from the AC? I can turn it down.âÂ
âNo, itâs... okay,â you stare through the windshield. You want to get this done and over with. Your brows furrow at the thought of your mom waking up to the empty house.Â
âWhatâs the matter?â He asks.Â
âNothing,â you insist.Â
âYou look worried,â he says.Â
âI... my mom. Sheâs in rough shape.âÂ
âHungover,â he clucks, âitâs a good thing you donât take after her with that.âÂ
You nod, not sure what to say. He does up his seatbelt and checks the mirrors. He shifts and backs out of the driveway.Â
âFeel free to put on some music. I donât think you want to listen to my oldies,â he chuckles.Â
âItâs okay,â you hug yourself with one arm, your other hand on the tank.Â
The silence buzzes in your ears. Itâs too late now to change your mind. Besides, youâre so indecisive about your music. You wouldnât exactly brag about your taste either.Â
The drive stretches on as you huddle into the door, distracting yourself with the passing light poles, houses, and so on. You donât know this area. Itâs not anywhere near your usual pharmacy. You often wait in the car when you do go with your mom.Â
He pulls up along the curb and park. Itâs a nice quaint street in the neighbourhood. Thereâs a park on the corner and an organic store on the opposite side. You peek out at the local pharmacyâs moniker, hand-painted unlike glowing banner of the department store where your mom usually goes.Â
âShould be able to get this filled,â he says as he shuts off the engine.Â
You just nod and hum. He gets out quickly, easily. You envy that. You canât do anything easily. He comes around as you push the door open. He once more brings down your tank but youâre certain to climb out on your own. You nearly stagger as you do.Â
You wheel out of the way as he closes the door. You look around at the other pedestrians. A woman with a stroller, a family just across the way babbling in glee. You turn away before the scene can make you morose.Â
Andy leads you to the pharmacy door and pulls it open with a chime. He lets you in first. Thereâs only a few aisles inside, the pharmacistâs counter is at the back, another till near the front where they sell chocolates and candy.Â
You linger until Andy points you down the center row. You go ahead of him and stop before the long counter. He unfolds the prescription as he greats the man behind it boldly. Good mornings and niceties you struggle to get right.Â
âHm, we have these on hand but itâll be a wait. Been a busy morning,â the pharmacist explains.Â
âThatâs fine, we can keep ourselves busy.â Andy says. You squirm. You can? Waiting that long will only add to the tension that makes your chest even tighter.Â
You back up as he turns around. He looks around for a moment, as if he thinks you wondered off, then smiles at you. âThereâs a cafe across the street, how about it?âÂ
âI donât... drink coffee,â you say.Â
âI know, sweetheart, I remember,â he gently strokes your shoulder, âthey have tea, too. Or smoothies. You must be hungry too.âÂ
âI... if you want to, I guess...â you shrug.Â
âYou know, Iâm not your mom. I wonât say no,â he intones. âYou donât have to be so nervous.âÂ
âI know, I... Iâm sorry.âÂ
âAnd you donât need to be sorry,â he counters.Â
You almost apologise again, only to fill your cheeks with air and nod. You feel like you should be though. Like everything you do is a disappointment.Â
You go back down the middle aisle. Andy reaches past you to hold the door again. You come out and narrowly avoid a collision. You wait for the family of three to pass by before Andy nudges you to the curb. He takes your free hand as he tugs you with him, jaywalking through the lazy traffic.Â
The effort is enough to make your head spin. You get your wheels over the other curb and sway. Andy doesnât let go. He takes you past the patio area of the cafe and swings back the door before he releases you, pointing you within.Â
The smell of coffee, the grind of a machine, and the chatter of diners greets you. You wait behind the two teenage girls at the counter as Andy comes up next to you. He stands close but you assume itâs because itâs such a tight space.Â
âDo you want to find somewhere to sit?â He wonders.Â
âNo, Iâm okay,â you say.Â
âSure, uh, so what do you want?âÂ
You look up at the hand-written menu. You might get a tea after all.Â
âThe brioche egg sandwich is one of my favourites,â he says.Â
âYou come here... a lot?â You wonder.Â
âSure. I like to run in the mornings. Iâll grab a coffee on my cool down. And weekends Iâll have breakfast. Your momâs usually still asleep if sheâs around,â he tuts.Â
âRight, uh... that sounds fine. Brioche.âÂ
The girls go to the further end of the counter and Andy waves you forward. The barista greets him by name. Sheâs very pretty. She has amber coloured braids with a zigzag pattern and cute freckles over her cheeks. You want to ask how she did her hair like that but you donât want to be rude.Â
âAndy, how are you?â She chirps in recognition.Â
âGood, we were just walking through the neighbourhood,â he says, You adjust the tube under your nose self-consciously. The barista is gorgeous and reminds you of everything youâre not.Â
âOh, is this your fiancee?â She asks. âSheâs finally come around.âÂ
Andy chuckles and you blanch. He doesnât offer a protest and neither do you. You wait for him to correct her. He doesnât.Â
âSweetheart, what did you want to drink?â He looks at you and you nearly choke.Â
âCan I have the pomegranate tea, please?â Even your voice sounds ugly.Â
âSure, what size, hon?âÂ
âSmall,â you croak out.Â
âSmall pomegrante, and your usual?â She asks Andy.Â
âYep, and two of the brioche breakfast sandwiches. Oh, and something sweet for dessert. Those cherry tarts look delicious,â he points to the display.âÂ
âGot it, anything else?â She taps the till screen.Â
âThatâs it,â he slips out his card and waits. He selects a tip amount before he taps, the machine beeping in acceptance. You spy the total right before it disappears. Oh, thatâs expensive.Â
âIâll bring it to you, Andy,â she smiles brightly, âyou two enjoy.âÂ
Andy takes your hand again before you can react. He brings you to the table and you sit across from him, right by the window. You feel like youâre on display. You hate it.Â
You push the tube into your nose as you think then trail your hand down the length. You stare off into the distance. You donât know, it feels weird. It feels like heâs doing too much. Like maybe he feels bad for you.Â
âWhatcha thinking about?â He interrupts your trance.Â
You flinch and look at him, then avert your gaze to the table.Â
âYou didnât...â you begin then shake your head.Â
âWhat?â He prompts.Â
âNothing.âÂ
âGo on, sweetie, you donât have to be shy with me. You can say whatever you need,â he leans forward as he crosses his arms over the table, âyou know, your mom told me youâve never really had a father figure. Iâm here to help, to support you.âÂ
You nod and pick at your dry lip then stop yourself, hiding your hands under the table. âYou-- that woman... she thought Iâthat weâyou didnât say no.âÂ
âOh, I didnât want to embarrass her,â he laughs. âItâs funny, donât you think?âÂ
âYeah...â you nod at your lap. âIt is really... funny. No one would really want to marry me.âÂ
You cover your mouth as the thought slips out. You shake your head. Why did you say it?Â
âHuh? Sweetheart?â He leans in even closer, âyou donât think thatâs true, do you?âÂ
You shrug and peel your hand away, chewing on your sleeve as you slump low in your seat.Â
âYouâre a nice girl. Pretty too.âÂ
âIâm not,â you murmur into your cuff. âYou donât have to lie.âÂ
âWell who says youâre not?â He urges. You shake your head again.Â
âYour mother?â He suggests. You shake your head harder. She would be livid if you told him that she did. He clicks his tongue, âwell, however it is, donât listen to them.â He reaches across to you, âhey, sweetheart, look at me.â You obey, trembling in humiliation, âyou are very pretty.âÂ
#andy barber#dark andy barber#dark!andy barber#andy barber x reader#series#compos mentis#defending jacob#au#dark fic#dark!fic#fic
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Rewatching Moist and Magical for the first time and omg, I forgot how much I love this play.
Luke's Sandra means everything to me.
Her shock when Maureen pulls off her hat and the whole hair bit
"Had I known. Had I known!"
Handling that heckler in character. "When I'm talking to my friend, fucking shut up!" Luke at his best
basically translating her whole vision just to make sure AJ gets it
pointing out that Loch Lomond is a real loch (there's even a song about it which I love and have now stuck in my head again)
"MAUREEN!" *said in increasingly dramatic ways*
"Got who? Who?" Luke is honestly such a great actor. Same goes for the bit in the beginning where he's grieving the third sister. Grieving!Luke is one of my favourites because he plays it so well
"Go forth, my boy! The first male witch!" YAY!
AJ's Maureen is just great in general.
randomly breaking into song when Sandra tastes the cake
"They say the moister it is-" "-the more you see." This sounds so wrong
the whole confusion over the loch bit of Sandra's vision
"Just passing the loch after locking up the shop." I feel like this should be on a t-shirt
Telling Jasper to run home instead of letting him help her always makes emotional. Same with Sandra telling Jasper to hide. They care so much for that boy
Sam's Jasper is naughty and owns my heart.
the accent!
"Ah ken. That's Scottish for 'I know'." And the middle fingers!
"I want to be a boy witch." And we're rooting for you, Jasper
"He looked a little bit like Henry Cavill if he had a wasting disease."
The Witchfinder General being an app to find local witches in the area - ngl that would be a great app
"Little boy, come hide with me." Sam breaking character as he reacts to it is so funny. "Absolutely not! No way! I've never seen more red flags in my fucking life. You're actually holding a fucking red flag!"
"I rather suggest you invite me in." Jasper, grinning, "No."
The last supper bit is so clever. Well done, Sam
"KAME! HAME! FOR SCOTLAND! HA!" This is the perfect ending
Tom's Witchfinder General is so intense.
"That's how I rollllllll"
"I work for the thrill of it. The thhhhhhhhrill."
That whole bit about having memorised the index and Sam throwing him under the bus with, "Please read it to me."
"Aberdeen is large." "Nope." "Aberdeen is medium-sized." "Nope."
"Witches, they're just hearsooth and foretell." Wtf, Tom?
"I've gone." XD
the way he just appears behind AJ in the background and moves from curtain to curtain is genuinely creepy (until he starts to make it funny. Then it's hilarious)
the fucking nipple clamps thing. Wtf was even that?
In short, I love this play, I love the witches and I'm glad Jasper gets to be the first male witch and defeats the Witchfinder General.
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I havenât really made a post about my feelings on this season, other than i do like it and i do like the finale.
However, i do have a theory on this season that ive had for awhile but i felt like it was controversial to say.
I do think this season did feel slightly off but not in a bad way. Let me explain.
First, I want to say i like a lot of the ideas for this season.
I liked Guillermo âmoving outâ officially and âgetting his own place.â I thought him living in the wank shed was funny and also getting a job in the human world was a good move. I hyperventilated when i saw he worked at Panera again.
I liked that the writers wrote in Natasiaâs pregnancy with the Rosemaryâs Baby bit. Nadja got to be around humans which i think she wanted to always do more of. She even became more sensitive to human issues even if she doesnât experience those feelings exactly like humans herself.
I like when Laszlo invents and Iâm glad he was able to do something that wasnât really connected to the main plot. I like that seanie came back with Laszlo, although i missed seeing him in the finale (i did like the alt version with him.) I like the vampires getting their own side adventures and he got to do this with Colin, which was a plus. I like that we got some of his background with his dad.
I liked that Colin was feeling alone with the changing dynamics and how he came to get closer to the monster since both of them are different to the vampires.
I liked that they did bring up Nandorâs search for love again. I honestly never thought they would bring it up again. The batcave was fun and the janitor bit was funny. I liked Nandorâs army and Iâm glad we could see his old warrior side again.
I like that Nandor and Guillermo reconnected and that Guillermo doesnât leave forever. I always worried that would end the show with Guillermo saying goodbye to the vampires for good. I liked the fake-out ending where if someone wanted that ending, they got it. That was bittersweet enough for some people, and could have worked. But, i liked that he came back and that it showed us, the audience, that Guillermo is so aware of the cameras that he does hide things on camera. I like seeing Nandor and Guillermoâs first meeting.
I liked that the last scene was Nandor inviting Guillermo into his coffin and that the Newhart alternate ending is the one they use on streaming. I like that they were the married couple featured in it when it could have easily been any pairing on the show like Laszlo and Nadja or Charmaine and Seanie or even the monster and I donât knowâŠJerry?? lol.
I did wish The Guide had more onscreen plot than Nandorâs kinda love interest and working with Jerry mostly offscreen, even though Iâm glad they did show her love. I think i really missed her being involved in the main cast.
I would have loved if the gang had an arc together. I donât believe the main A plot involved everyone until the end. There was a lot of side adventures (which is fun), which gets me to my theoryâŠ
I donât think the show was supposed to end with season 6.
Yeah, Iâm one of those that believes that the show was cancelled. I think they wrote season 6 with the intention to have a season 7.
I think Harvey and Kayvanâs interviews since the news broke convinced me. Especially Harvey being so heartbroken on Instagram and Kayvan mentioning a season 7 constantly. And now that they are both talking about a spin-off, it all makes sense.
I think this was just a normal season that they already wrote and when FX pulled the plug, the writers went back in and added a few things here and there.
So, yeah. Season 6 would have been their friendship era and then season 7 wouldâve worked towards the romance era. Episode 10 does work as a season finale, but not a series finale.
The documentary crew ending the documentary IS SUCH A GOOD PLOT. I think it was funny that they just ended the documentary, but thought it would be funnier if they started that plot from the beginning of season 6. Imagine the vampires fighting over how to end the documentary.
Jerry could have been an episode later and he could have been killed off in the second to last episode.
I think the writers did write episode 11 as an add-on to finish the show, but it didnât really connect with the rest of the season.
I donât think the finale had a surprise twist at all. And this show is actually good at season finale twists. Guillermo is actually a vampire slayer?! Colin was dying and came back as a baby?! Guillermo turned into a vampire?!
Yeah, their arcs and twists are honestly really good and thought out.
But, i think whatever twist ending they had was written out. Which leads me to my old theory:
The Guillermo is an energy vampire theory.
I still actually believe this was true, or at least a version of it. Watching it with the lens of Guillermo becoming a/an (energy) vampire again makes sense as the surprise twist. Enough was laid out that it could have connected so easily.
But ending the show that way might not have worked well since i do think they needed a bit more time, and i think thatâs why any vampire!Guillermo stuff was removed. Because they didnât have time to finish it properly.
And it would have tied up Colinâs arc of loneliness. I didnât mind him connecting with the monster (i liked it a lot actually!). It felt like they were gearing up for Colin and Guillermo to connect on some level, and connecting to Guillermo becoming an energy vampire wouldâve worked pretty well. That would have connected those plots together.
I do believe they wanted to do more with Guillermoâs arc but starting too much wouldâve made the season really really full.
Actually ending everyoneâs arc probably would have done that, too. I want more energy vampire lore. I want more Nadja connecting to her roots. I want to know why The Guide is really magical and whatâs her name??
I think they truly needed one or two more seasons for that to be honest.
Which leads me back to the Nandermo of it all, too.
I think season 6 was about Nandermo reconnection arc after season 5âs Nandermo breakup arc.
I think they wanted to have Nandor and Guillermo make up first and then work towards their romantic arc going forward.
And that makes sense to me. They spent the season making them equals. And that feels earned to me. They ended the season together as equals.
And by The Finale, it seems like the writers knew they couldnât add enough to finish every arc. And I respect that tbh.
I would have wanted a little more time with Nandor and Guillermo reconnecting before they kissed.
I do think that was the reason for the Newhart ending. It was a fun little homage but it was a Nandermo nod without having to skip over the important romantic arc they didnât have time for.
It left the series open enough that if they donât do a spinoff, we can fill in the rest.
And that explains the Guillermoâs âsecret affairâ and âthe secret Nandermo batcaveâ and Nandor caring about the cameras being gone.
However, I think they left it open so that if they had the chance, they could do a proper spin-off to work toward the Nandermo romance arc we deserve instead of closing that door forever.
TLDR: I like season 6, but i do think the show was cancelled by FX and thatâs why it felt a little different. Hopefully we do get the Nandor and Guillermo spin-off and potentially another What We Do in the Shadows movie to wrap it up completely.
It doesnât feel like the end, but a new beginning.
#some critique#wwdits#nandermo#nandor the relentless#nadja of antipaxos#lazslo cravensworth#guillermo de la cruz#Colin Robinson
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Marvel: Unplanned Chapter Fourteen
Pairings: Bucky Barnes x Reader (First person written though)
Description:
"It says...it says it's positive doll" His voice matching mine in a quiet shaky whisper.
"Fuck... I'm pregnant?"
"Yeah doll, you're pregnant"
"Fuck" I whisper.
Rating: Explicit
Chapter Warnings: Swearing
Chapter Words: 1,364
Sorry for the long wait! I had a dental procedure, so I haven't felt like being on my pc. Enjoy! <3
It was the day before Jamie's first birthday and I was in the Avengers common room decorating. Bucky watched me, leaning against the wall, his eyes watching my every move. He tried to help, but I told him off for doing it wrong too many times. I hung streamers and balloons everywhere, the room was full of colour. His arms were crossed and a look of amusement was over his face as he watched me.Â
"Can't believe our girl is gonna be one" I mutter, knowing he could hear me still. Bucky lets out a soft chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief.Â
"Me neither, it feels like you were only just pregnant and now we have a one year old" He adds.Â
"I know, it feels so sad, but so happy at the same" I say finishing up the last of the decorations. Bucky walks over to me, standing behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist, holding me close to him. He rests his chin on my shoulder. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a second, feeling him, allowing myself a moment to breath and feel content for a moment in his arms.Â
"Yeah, it's bittersweet, happy to see how much she's grown, sad that she's growing up fast" He mumbles, his words soft as he speaks.Â
"I know, I love our girl" I add. I feel him hug me a little tighter, his chest pressed against my back, his body wrapping around mine protectively.Â
"Our little girl, our Jamie" Bucky whispers.Â
ă»ă.ă»ăâă».ă»â«ă»ăă»ă.
And then, it was the next day, the Avengers were in the common room with us, minus a few whom were on missions. And Jamie, was sat on the floor surrounded by way too many toys. She giggled happily playing with her new things. I bit my lip smiling widely. Bucky sat on the floor by Jamie, helping her play. I watched him fondly, his eyes shone with pride and fatherly love as he watched her. He glances my way, smiling widely at me.Â
"Happy birthday sweet girl" I whisper to her as I stroke her hair softly. I watched as she grabbed another toy and turn to wave it in my face, excitement over her face.Â
"Wow baby, that's so cool" I smiled to her. Jamie continued to grab toys and show me, a little giggle would leave her lips when I told her they were cool.Â
"What one is your favourite?" I asked her, Jamie looked from me to her toys, she grabbed the little fuzzy bear plush she was gifted and held it close to her chest, cuddling it.Â
"And who got you that baby?" I asked. Bucky smirked and reached to Jamie pulling her close to his chest "Dada got you that sweet girl" He grinned.Â
"Yeah he did" I smirked, watching Bucky cuddle her close to him.Â
"So when's the next baby due?" Sam asked, I looked over to him glaring slightly. Bucky choked on his breath slightly, his eyes widening in surprised, he looked over to me.Â
"There isn't one, thank you very much" Bucky says.Â
"And there won't be one" I add. Bucky looks grateful at my words, which made me feel better, we hadn't spoken about it, but I didn't want anymore.Â
"Yeah, no plans for any more kids, Jamie's enough for us" Bucky says, smiling down at her.Â
"And birth was traumatising, I never want to go through that again" I add, cringing at the memory. Bucky nods in agreement, the same cringing look over his face. He reaches to me, resting his hand on my leg, calming me down, I shake the memory from my head and smile down at him and Jamie. Sam luckily didn't answer us after that, he looked like a kid that had just been told off.Â
Finally we sang to Jamie and had her birthday cake, Bucky and I helped her blow the candles out, since she had no clue what to do. We gave her a piece of the cake, it was the first time she had sugar so I was a little nervous, but she devoured it, making a huge mess of herself in the process. She had icing all over her face, her hands were sticky and there were cake crumbs everywhere. Bucky looked at me, a smile playing on his lips.Â
"Seems like our girl likes cake" He chuckles.Â
"She's so goofy" I giggle, taking a picture of her. Bucky grins, enjoying the sight of her covered in cake just as much as I was enjoying it.Â
"She sure is....And messy, but it's her birthday, so it's allowed!" Bucky smiles fondly at Jamie.Â
"Dibs not bathing her!" I call out, smiling widely at Bucky. He looks at me with a fake grumpy face.Â
"Oh no doll, no way! You've got this one, I'll take diaper duty any day over bathing sticky sugar off her!"Â
"I'll take that!" I grin, fisting the air, Bucky grins back his eyes full of amusement.Â
"You sure about that? You know she's gonna splash, get water and bubbles everywhere?" He asks.Â
"Yeah, but she's gotta poop that cake out, and now that's a you problem" I say smirking. Bucky groans, his expressing turning comically pained at the thought.Â
"Oh god... I take it back! I'd rather deal with the war of bubbles than poopy diapers" He groans.Â
"Too late!" I smile poking my tongue out. Bucky laughs and shakes his head in defeat. My eyes went back to Jamie, who was licking the icing off her arm. Everyone laughed, happy to see Jamie so happy and enjoying her birthday. Once the birthday excitement was over, I was in the bathroom with Jamie, she laid in her tiny bath inside the bath as I washed the cake from her brown hair.Â
"So messy" I mutter, she giggles and squirms in the bath, splashing the water everywhere, she reached for one of her bath toys and splashed it against the water causing it to land on me.Â
"Silly girl, I guess dada was right, wasn't he?" I said fondly to her. She splashes me again, Bucky then appears in the doorway, leaning against the doorway, watching the two of us with a smile.Â
"I told you, messiest baby ever" He grins.Â
"Don't listen to dada" I say to Jamie as I pour more water over her hair. Bucky feigns hurt, his hand pressing against his chest as he pretends to be wounded. I giggled softly looking at him, our eyes meeting, playfulness in both sets.Â
"Dada" A little voice just spoke, I looked to Jamie, my eyes wide. Bucky moved from the door to crouch next to me, we both looked at Jamie, shock in our eyes, smiles on our lips.Â
"Did she just... Doll, did she just say dada?" Bucky asks, his voice higher than usual.
"She did...Jamie, say it again" I said, stroking the baby's cheek softly. "Say dada"
"Dada!" She giggled saying it again, obviously enjoying the attention she was getting from both me and Bucky. Bucky held his hand to his chest, his mouth open in shock. He looked like he might cry.Â
"Oh Bucks, her first word" I say, tears burning my eyes. Bucky's eyes grew misty, his voice a little choked with emotion.
"Yeah doll, her first word...and it's dada!" He grins proudly.Â
"Yeah baby...dada...now say mama" I giggle to Jamie, she looks from Bucky to me, her little face scrunching, she babbles for a moment.Â
"Dada" She giggles. Bucky lets out a shaky laugh.Â
"No baby, mama" I giggle, Bucky joined in saying mama to her. Finally after a little bit of trying, Jamie said mama. She said it with such excitement in her voice, enjoying me and Bucky giggling with her. Bucky and I cheered her when she said it, she was snuggly in her bathrobe when she finally said it, clinging to both me and Bucky whilst we sat on the couch. We spend the evening giggling as she called mama and dada.Â
"We've got a talkie girlie now love" Bucky grins.Â
"Yeah we do Bucks" I say smiling as I cuddled Jamie close to me.Â
Taglist:
@quinquinquincy @jaybbygrl @wintrsoldrluvr @sebastians-love @learisa @hi172826 @ravennablue @purplecolordeer @a-small-blue-nebula @buckitostan @knyaotjjkbiatch
#fluff#bucky barnes x female reader#bucky barnes x you#bucky barnes fluff#marvel smut#bucky barnes smut#bucky barnes pregnant au#bucky barnes fanfic#bucky barnes fanfiction#bucky barnes imagine#james buchanan barnes#the winter soldier#bucky barnes x reader
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I've seen a lot of people say that Viktor was controlled/corrupted by the hexcore and that's why he did everything
But personally I don't think that's the case
Like maybe... getting convinced by it, like the friend that just keeps telling you "yes! That's a great idea", but not controlled. Viktor always had it in him to do that, even in s1
Let me explain
Viktor is this character that I don't think I get completely, so I keep thinking about him. But I see people say "Oh, he's getting controlled because Viktor isn't like this at all" or "that's not Viktor" and the thing is; I don't agree
I think Herald Viktor is the real Viktor, same as s1 Viktor, it has always been him 100%
First we don't actually know how Viktor is with most people. Most of the time we see him, he's interacting with Jayce, and I think we can admit that Viktor has a lot of affection for Jayce
But we see him interacting with Mel briefly And I always found funny how he reacts when she brings up the hextech weapons, all dramatic and offended, he's like "Absolutely not!" But then he "calms down" as soon as he sees that Jayce isn't supporting him, he even looks a bit sad
I'm mentioning this because of how different he acts with Ambessa later when she asks him for an immortal army; he agrees with everything she wants, of course he won't give her that, he just wants to trick her into helping him, but it does makes me think that had he been alone when Mel started asking about building weapons, or had he known that Jayce wouldn't support him, he probably would've acted in a similar way to how he was with Ambessa, agreed with everything Mel wanted to get her off his business while he thought of another solution
And my point with this is, I think a lot of people assume that Viktor is an innocent little angel that is always honest and just wants to do good; but we only see him being honest with Jayce (most of the time); because he truly trusts him (tbf he's also honest with Singed, but I think he probably has affection for him as well); with the rest of the world Viktor is more than able to lie and manipulate to get what he wants; he isn't necessary a 100% good perfect person
Now, let's looks at how Viktor acts in the commune, because I think everyone can agree independently of whether you think the hexcore was controlling Viktor, that at this moment Viktor is still pretty much in control of himself and his actions
There's this comic called "a perfect life" about LoL Ekko, where Viktor is the antagonist; it has an oddly similar plot to the second season of arcane, (apparently this comic is from 2023 and by that time Arcane s2 was probably on the last part of production, so Idk why it's similar, but anyway!) In the comic, there's a rich dude offering free prosthetics (augmentations? Let's be honest they are futuristic prosthetics) to the people of Zaun, and everyone goes to get one part of their bodies replaced with technology willingly. Then later it's revealed that Viktor is the one actually doing all the surgeries lmao
But that got me thinking, Viktor in LoL doesn't need better morals, he needs better PR!
Because, people want Viktor's help, the only part they don't like it's the losing humanity and free will, which, understandable
But then, why does everyone still go to Viktor in the series? Because he isn't saying the whole truth
When Ambessa asks him if he could inhabit his followers, Viktor simply says they all share one mind and that it was part of his glorious evolution. He doesn't act surprised, It doesn't seem like he didn't know, he simply shrugs and is like "Yes, this was part of what I wanted"
But he never said that to his followers? When Vi and Jinx are talking to Viktor about healing Vander, Viktor never says "oh, btw, if I do this, your dad is going to lose his individuality and become part of my hive mind, hope that's ok :)". No, he simply says that he'll do what he can to heal him.
And again, you could argue that he lied because the hexcore was controlling him, but I still think that lying was 100% Viktor's choice and the only thing the hexcore could do or did was suggest him to do so
Why am I so sure Viktor wasn't controlled in this moment?
Remember when Viktor first meets Vander, Sky; who is very heavily implied to be the Hexcore, tells him to not save him because it would be too taxing to do so for Viktor. And he says no, that he wants to help Vander, because he thinks Vander it's worth it.
And I think that's all the power the Hexcore has over Viktor, suggest certain things, but at the end Viktor it's still on control; because if Viktor is the Hexcore's host, then it would be very detrimental for both of them if Viktor lost all his energy, both of them could die if that happened; yet Viktor ignored it for Vander's sake
So the lying by omission he did with his commune, if it wasn't his idea, it was something he 100% agreed with. And again, Viktor isn't 100% innocent, he's an intelligent man that knows how to lie and manipulate and will do so if he thinks it's necessary
(Which makes it so old Viktor in LoL is more honest than Arcane Viktor and that's so funny to me lmao)
Now, I know people say that Herald Viktor it's a corrupted version of Viktor, but I don't think so. Not corrupted, but something Viktor always had the potential to be. Herald Viktor was the version of him with the most control over his actions and surrondings; he's the Viktor that was always inside him, the person he would've been if he didn't feel limited by his own body, by his social status, by where he was born, and this shows on how this parallels Jayce's arc
I've seen a lot of people saying that Jayce went through what Viktor had to suffer, having to climb up from the deepest parts of Zaun with a hurt leg to the top of Piltover, only that with Jayce it was literal. But I saw someone on tiktok (I don't remember the account and I can't find the video anymore, sorry :( ) pointing out that Viktor also had to go through what happened to Jayce in the first season
In the first season, Jayce was a scientist with a pretty face and charming personality that was seduced by power, he was suddenly given a lot of it, and instead of holding onto his ideals, he turned away from them. He became a corrupt politician and then used that power to betray Heimerdinger, someone who was very important to him. Later he thought himself judge, jury, and executioner and that resulted in a child from Zaun dying
Viktor finds himself in a similar position, a scientist with a healthy perfect body that was suddenly given a lot of power, he became the leader of a community, someone people looked up to for guidance and help. And then after Jayce rejected him he also thought he was judge, jury, and executioner with the right to do whatever he wanted because he was right and everyone else was wrong. The problem being that Viktor had way more power than Jayce ever did
So, if anything Viktor wasn't being corrupted by the Hexcore, the thing that seduced Viktor was power over other people
And you could say "Viktor during the first season wasn't like that at all" but it's easier to be a good person when you don't have the choice to harm others
Another point to add it's that Arcane is a series that uses a lot of visual storytelling, if you just hear the dialogue you are missing 50% percent of the story at the very least; it trusts you to see what's going on
Now, after Ekko throws the Z drive at him and breaks the mask of the Arcane Herald; we can see the real Viktor underneath
I think this is why a lot of people think the Hexcore was controlling Viktor because we see the Arcane Herald, then we see "real" Viktor underneath, but that's not necessarily the case. In that moment we see half of Viktor's face, but look at what we can exactly see; his whole mouth and one eye are visible
Viktor is seeing what's going on, he understands what is happening around him; but he isn't seeing the whole picture, hence why it's only 1 eye. But his mouth is completely uncovered, whatever he says, that is 100% Viktor no doubt
And if Viktor was truly being controlled by the Hexcore/arcane/void/whatever, that would be the perfect moment for Viktor to snap out of it. For Viktor to say "this isn't me" and fight to get away from the corrupting force
But that isn't what happens, what happens is that Viktor is confused by Jayce's insistence and he says "Why do you persist? After everything I've done" this isn't Viktor saying "oh, I'm being controlled, help" this is him saying "I've done horrible things, why don't you hate me?"
So, Viktor was 100% aware of what was happening, he understood that what he was doing was wrong, and he still did it anyway
To add to this, there's this meme about Arcane that said something like "when in Arcane somebody is robbing banks and killing people the songs will start saying "oh, I'm robbing banks and killing people"" and that's true, and sometimes it's funny; but other times it's useful because the songs say things we aren't seeing
The line is 100% Viktor's song; it's the song that's playing as he erases Vander's memories (and the memories of the rest of his followers as well probably) and decides to give in and transform into the Herald
Once again, if the Hexcore was controlling Viktor, I think the song would've said something like "there's demons in my head" or "I can't help myself"
But no, the line is about someone, in this case Viktor; thinking about the consequences of his actions and if he's ready to accept them
The part where it says
"Honestly
I thought I was fully prepared for
The threshold in store
Stay your pretty eyes on course
I guess I never really faced my fears before
So stay with me because"
For me it's Viktor basically saying "I thought I was ready for the world (Jayce) to hate me; but I'm not so sure if I can face my fears of being alone"
Again, it's not about him not being in control, it's about him knowing that what he's doing is wrong, and that there'll be consequences, but he isn't sure if he's ready to deal with them
Then later, when Jayce shows him what mage Viktor saw; I think for him it was like himself confirming what he already thought or had an idea of what was going to happen, the consequences aren't worth it
After that, when we see Viktor again, this time he is fully visible, with both eyes uncovered because he can finally see the whole picture
But now that I've said that I don't think he was being controlled the question remains, then why was he doing all of that?
And this is more my interpretation of Viktor's story more than anything that happens in the show
So, look at Viktor, he was born in Zaun, disabled, sick, poor; but he managed to climb out of the undercity to Piltover going beyond the social structures that held him back, and even then, he only ever managed to be an assistant to Heimerdinger. That wasn't what he wanted, he himself says it, he was capable of so much more. And I think that Heimerdinger made the mistake of not believing (maybe not on a conscious level) that Viktor could be more; then along comes Jayce; and listen, if Viktor was the only one who truly believed in Jayce, I think the opposite it's also true, Jayce was the only one who believed in Viktor's true potential
Now put yourself in Viktor's shoes, nobody has ever believed in you, you had to drag yourself to the top; then you died and were brought back to life by this monstrous thing that you created that killed an innocent bystander, so you decided to run away to try to make your dream of helping people come true and redeem yourself (because the commune was that for Viktor, his dream of the glorious evolution) just for the only person who truly believed in you, probably the most important person in your life, coming back and rejecting you? I too would want to tear apart the world piece by piece
And the funny part, it's that Viktor is 100% using logic to justify his very irrational decision; no he isn't doing it because he's hurt, he's doing it because he wants to help people! He wants to stop suffering and the best way to do that is to erase free will
That's why I think what Viktor said after being confronted with Jayce in the Astral plane is so important "Why do you persist? After everything I've done" in my mind, after Jayce's rejection, he decided to give up and to do the bad thing; he knew it was wrong, but he decided to do it because he was hurt and wanted to hurt back, then he justified it by saying it was what it was necessary to do
And the funny part is that Singed already explained Viktor's motivation during the series "Why does anyone commits acts others deem unspeakable? For love"
Also, my last point on why I don't think it was Viktor being controlled or corrupted by the hexcore; simply because it would be very boring to do so lmao
Like, if Viktor was being controlled, suddenly a lot of what makes him interesting and complex is gone. So I prefer to think it was Viktor all along, that he always had it in him to do horrible things
#ramblings#viktor#jayce talis#jayvik#arcane#arcane meta#viktor arcane#viktor lol#viktor league of legends#league of legends#arcane jayce#arcane viktor#help. I can't stop thinking about Viktor lmao#also I know that a lot of people complain about why people can't just talk about him without mentioning Jayce#But you kinda have to mention Jayce lmao#His motivations don't make sense if you don't take Jayce into account#They are really one half of the other lmao
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Oh I'm sad to see people didn't like comic 7, I thought it was very well done.
This isn't an invitation to an argument, I just want to say my opinion because I'm seeing a lot of people criticising the last chapter.
We got a lot of answers and everything that seemed conveniently placed for plot was completely in the scope of how the previous stories have worked before. I thought it was funny that soldier lived in a cave of Australium. It's just as convenient as Medic having a deal with the devil and the mercs being unable to die. Or Grey Mann having a daughter who no one wants to punch in a fist fight. Or Sniper's parents coincidentally being involved with the sinking of New Zealand.
I think it was a very good choice to not let the mercs do anything plot driving in this chapter, because this conflict was never a conflict that could have been ended by the mercs. They wouldn't even have cared, heh. We've known that everything was carefully orchestrated by the Admin, so it could only have been resolved by those who are part of the bigger conflict. Hence Miss Pauling, the Admin and Saxton do most of the plot. Everyone else already had a lot of screen time in the previous chapters, but none of their stories were truly contributing to the actual conflict at hand, so the story can't come to an end until we actually see the person who's been pulling the threads actually come to terms with what she was doing. I'm very happy that her ultimate plan turned out to just be a pointless act of revenge, since we've all known from the start that the gravel wars are pointless. This is just one more dimension deeper into how pointless it is.
Managing to resolve the story and making sure all characters receive a happy end the way they did was more than I had hoped for comic 7. But just to summarise how I think everyone received their peace of mind across all comics:
1. Sniper: Finds out he's adopted -> figures out his step parents were his true family after all
2. Spy: Really wants to tell Scout that he's his dad -> actually manages to say the words, even if he wasn't honest with his appearance
3. Soldier: Delusional hater of commies -> marries a Russian woman and stops claiming racist things, because Zhanna as a person was more important to him than whatever he believed about Russian people. Still weird, not with less delusion but genuinely a sweet father and husband. Exaggerated and maximally silly way of how to actually change people's racist opinions in real life.
4. Scout: Upset that he can't get laid and thinks he has to be More Man -> glows up by becoming a dad who steps up and is less preoccupied with getting the girl of his dreams. His kids are what matters to him now and he becomes like his mom
5. Heavy: Worried about his family in Siberia -> his sisters show him they don't need him to protect them all the time and everyone moves to America so he can be with them. His sisters get to live freely.
6. Engineer: Is involved with the conflict since his grandpa, and is contractually unable to stop it -> tells Miss Pauling to sink all Australium in a trench so this never happens again
7. Saxton Hale: Wants to go back to the time when he was still actively doing things, gets his company stolen -> gets his company back but realises it doesn't make him happy. Leaves his company and joins Maggie again because fighting alongside her was what he's always wanted since we got glimpses of his past
8. Miss Pauling: Thinks the Administrator has a great plan that desperately needs her -> learns the plan was nothing at all and decides on the spot to end it by not giving Admin any more Australium because she realises she has been feeding into the conflict
Medic, Demoman, and Pyro never had a personal conflict to resolve. Medic had his moments to shine by sabotaging TFC and being in hell then coming back. Demoman had his arc with his liver leaving him and defeating the robots due to the alcohol in his blood. Medic scooped out parts of his brain to keep him unquestioning about his eye. Pyro is just a very simple character, and I say that with no judgement at all. Pyro is happy with arson, but also with a Dalmatian as their pet.
Everyone is still friends with each other and have their own little families. They come together to celebrate Smissmass at Scout's place. I think Saxton's last line "or do you want to live forever" was so well placed, being a nod to the meme from Expiration Date, as well as pointing out that, obviously, things have to come to an end we should embrace that ending when we see it's time.
And as always. If anyone doesn't like that any of these things, we are still free to make our own stories and reinterpret characters.
#60 seconds till mission begins rambles#this may be easier for me just because I wasn't hoping for ship interaction#but I just really much thought the story was really really good regardless of what gets confirmed and what gets debunked#also for everyone who says its over now#keep in mind bidwell and reddy are Blue and Red and are now in the position to continue the feud#keep in mind Engie tells Pauling that she owns all Australium now and if she wanted to she could do what she thought admin was doing#its all still set up to continue#or not#but my point is this comic was so much and I'm just sad seeing people claim it wasn't satisfying because of certain personal disagreements
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Fox woke up with a dull headache and laying on the best mattress in the entire Galaxy.
He sighed. It had been a rough week. Someone could say that all of his weeks were rough, but Fox had very different parameters on what counted as rough anymore than most people. In that light, the past week had definitely been rough. It was a pleasant surprise to wake up with only a headache, and a manageable one at that, and not having to peel himself off of damp ground first thing after waking up.
Fox turned his head a bit more into the pillow. It had been a while since he had had the time to go meet Bail in the House. He had never slept the night there, but he had been into Bail's personal quarters a few times. It had always been like getting a little glimpse of what having a home with them would be like, and the times Fox had laid there on the bed, closing his eyes just for a moment, he had allowed himself to just dream of it and ignore everything that happened outside the walls of the room.
The linens smelled faintly of Bail's cologne mixed with the soft washing agent he preferred to use. It was Breha's favorite, and reminded him of home, he had told Fox, and Fox had used that knowledge to imagine how it would be to wake up next to her, in a time where he would have nothing to worry about anymore.
Fox breathed in the scent, and remembered that he was supposed to be dead.
Fox snapped properly awake instantly, every bit of his training kicking in all at once, and he jumped to sit up on the bed. That turned out to be a bad idea, since his back gave him a very intense warning not to move too fast in the form of searing pain coursing up his spine. It left him breathing rapidly for a moment, before whatever painkillers that were used to dull the pain this far started to soothe it over again.
Fox took another deep breath once he could, and with it came the rest of it. The fight, the explosion, hitting ground, and then- nothing. Nothing else between the last impact of hard ground beneath him and waking up in the Cantham House in Bail's bed.
This didn't make any sense. Or maybe it did, but not to Fox just yet. He needed to...he needed to find Bail.
Fox got all the way to pushing the blankets off of him when the door opened, and Bail stepped in.
There was a singular second, during which Bail stared at him, opened his mouth and immediately closed it again, and then he was hurrying up to the bed, crossing the entire room with only a few long strides, and then he was already wrapping his arms tightly around Fox.
Fox breathed in. It was a little shaky. Was he shaking? Bail was, just a little, Fox could feel it from how close to himself Bail was holding him. He pulled his head back in order to look him in the face. He couldn't see much, only the way how tightly set Bail's jaw was and how the corners of his mouth were turned down.
"Bail", Fox called softly. He didn't dare to speak any louder. It felt inapproriate, especially considering what he had done, how much it had probably hurt Bail and Breha and everyone else. This was too much, already, still having Bail hold him like this, and Fox didn't want to push beyond what he was given.
He both felt and heard Bail draw in a deeper breath as well, before he loosened his hold a little.
"Fox." Bail moved back, but only a couple of inches, still not letting go off Fox either. He pressed a soft kiss onto Fox's temple, and Fox had to fight his heart in order for it not to slam right into his throat. "How are you feeling, my love?"
My love. My love, my love, my love. The relief and the guilt that followed immediately after were so strong that Fox had to now fight the tears that were threatening to gather into his burning eyes. Bail was too good, way too good. Everything that Fox had done, and still he called him that.
"I'm..." His throat was dry, most likely not just from having emotions, and Fox had to swallow a couple of times before he got his voice to work. "Good. All things considered."
The explosion he remembered before everything stopped had not been just a little bang, and Fox was honestly surprised that he still had all of his limbs and his face intact. At least the armor had proven to be worth everything he had put into it.
"Good", Bail said. He finally leaned back enough that Fox could see him properly again. There was still some tightness left in his expression, but there was unmistakeably relief written all over him as well. "You gave me quite the scare there, you know?"
There was no accusation in his voice, but that didn't matter, because Fox was feeling guilty enough already all on his own.
"I'm sorry", he blurted. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"
To make you think I'm dead. To hurt you. To make you grieve someone like me when there is so much already for you to worry about constantly.
"Fox." Bail's hand came to craddle his face. "I understand. You don't have to apologise to me."
"Yes I do." Bail was too good, way too good for someone like Fox. "I didn't want to make you think I was gone when I really wasn't. I just...I just didn't know how to tell you without anyone finding out."
He had wanted to tell him and Breha immediately. Making them believe he was dead had been outright nauseating, but with how close the Senate was to Bail all the time, and with how many players there whose alliances Fox still couldn't name for sure, it had seemed impossible at the time, and with so many other pressing things coming at him constantly, he had not had the time to even begin to plan how to contact either of them safely, and had resigned himself to the fact that it was better this way, anyway. If he got killed on his way down to the core of the War, they wouldn't have to grieve him twice.
"I know", Bail said. "I'm serious. I know you. I know that you wouldn't have done it if you didn't think it was necessary or if you couldn't find a way. We've all made sacrifices during this war. This was not the first, and it will not be the last."
He ran his thumb gently across Fox's cheek, and Fox finally gave himself permission to lean into the touch. He had missed this. He had missed Bail and Breha so, so badly.
"Thank you", he said.
The corners of Bail's mouth finally turned more upwards.
"You don't need to thank me", he said. He quickly glanced down at Fox's body then. "Do you need more medication for the pain? You were pretty roughed up when we found you, I am honestly quite surprised that you are managing this good."
"I'm good." Fox looked down on himself then as well. His arms were pretty much completely covered in dressings that if he concentrated smelled faintly of bacta. The same situation was going on with what surface area Fox could see beneath his shirt, and when he looked towards his legs, he could see that his left shin was encased in a more heavy-duty brace. The medication was really putting in some work, since Fox hadn't noticed any of it until now. "We're made to be much sturdier than we look. Wouldn't be much use in combat otherwise."
Bail shook his head a little, but didn't comment on it otherwise.
"Please do tell me if you do need something", he said instead. "I'm...I was afraid for a moment that I'd lost you again, before we got there."
That reminded Fox again of all the questions he had.
"How did you find me?" He asked. "Or, more importantly, why were you even there?"
Bail perhaps lacked the level of self-preservation that Fox wished he had, but going after someone who had been at the center of major conflicts on the planet for weeks now was a decision Fox didn't understand. They did have the same enemies, of course, but that had been all the connection Bail had had to whatever Fox had been doing. Personally coming after someone like that just didn't make sense.
Bail frowned a bit.
"Padmé and I figured out what you were most likely after", he said. "And I realised that you were walking into what was essentially a trap. I had come get you."
Fox opened his mouth to ask him why when it clicked.
"You knew it was me?" He asked.
"Yes", Bail answered immediately. "I've known since the first broadcast after you leaked the files."
"How?" Fox had put so much effort into making the armor cover all recognizable features of him. He had put so much effort into learning to let go and not fight like a clone. He had put so much effort on making sure that he would succeed in his mission, ready to denounce every part of himself in the process if he had to, to make sure that none of them could be used to track him down.
Bail looked him in the eyes.
"I told you already", he said, easily, unwaveringly. "I know you."
Such a simple answer, but one that made Fox's heart hammer hard inside his chest nevertheless.
"Okay", he said, because what else was he supposed to say to that? "Can I call Breha?"
Bail smiled at him.
"Yes", he said. "She's been waiting for you."
#fox: how did you know it was me?#bail: I've stared at you up close so much that it would be embarrassing for me not to know#I've been reading my own fics lately and wanted to see these three again#so here's more on this au! I have so many au's I swear to god why did I do this to myself#because I have no self-control that's why anyway!#them <3#sw#tcw#my writing#snippets#Star Writing#Commander Fox#Bail Organa#bail/breha/fox#Coruscant Knight AU
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Little Blobs, ch.3
Hi you guys! I bring to you a new chapter of Little Blobs, also avaliable on AO3! I hope you guys enjoy it! It's pretty long, so I strongly recommend you read it on AO3, but I wanted to post it here too for those who prefer it â„
â...A stork plushie?âÂ
Tommy groans, sitting up in bed and blinking at Evan. His husband is lying down on his side, his hand draped over his belly as itâs become his habit in the last ten days. Thereâs the tiniest bump under his shirt; itâs barely noticeable, really, and they only know because theyâve been avidly looking for it ever since finding out about their blobs. But itâs there, and Tommy smiles as his hand joins Evanâs, even though he sighs exasperatedly at his husbandâs idea.Â
âWhere exactly do you plan to find a stork plushie, Evan? And how exactly would that announce your pregnancy to your family?â
Evan shrugs, as he usually does when Tommy points flaws in ideas he thought infallible.Â
âI donât know, Amazon?â He says, and before Tommy can think of an answer, heâs already lighting up, sitting in bed with an excited smile. âCâmon, canât you imagine it? We could put two little bundles in the beak and a plate saying âSpecial Delivery!â. It would be so cute!â
âYouâre cuteâ, Tommy canât help but say, placing a kiss on Evanâs cheek, and the way he blushes and smiles bashfully, even after eighteen months together, will never cease to make Tommyâs heart skip a beat. âBut I donât know, darling, sounds like a lot of work. And what if someone comes by and sees the plushie earlier? You know our friends have no boundaries, they just drop by wheneverâ
Evan hums thoughtfully, nodding and then dropping his head by Tommyâs shoulder, snuggling into his chest. Tommy cuddles him close, softly caressing his arm as the two of them try to think of another way to announce their babies thatâs cute and not absurdly tacky.Â
âHow about we throw a barbecue?â, Tommy suggests after a while. âWe have two weeks before weâre ready to tell, right? So we find a way to get everyoneâs shifts aligned, throw a barbecue and just⊠tell them?â
âHmmm, I like the idea of a barbecueâ, Evan says delightedly, and Tommy snorts; in the last few days, his husband has been liking the idea of any food.Â
His morning sickness is a lot more subdued, only showing up with some specific foods, and the rest of the time heâs been ravenous. And the worst part is that the cravings are starting to show up; just two days ago Evan asked Tommy to go to the market to get him coconut yogurt cause he desperately needed it. Once Tommy brought it, he had to watch Evan drop Cheetos into the yogurt and eat the concoction as if it came from a Michelin restaurant.Tommy's still not over it, and he's not sure heâll finish this pregnancy with his sanity intact.
âSo thatâs what weâll doâ Tommy says, kissing his forehead. âWeâll get everyone together for a barbecue and tell themâ
âYeah, that worksâ Evan nods, a yawn escaping his lips, and Tommy chuckles; he hasnât been as sleepy the last week, but is still stealing naps here and there, using Tommy as his personal pillow whenever heâs able (he tries to be able as much as possible; itâs his fatherly duty, after all). âJust us, our family, and foodâ
âLots of food to feed my dragon and our baby dragonsâ Tommy teases, caressing Evanâs small bump, and he gets his hand batted away in retaliation. âWe can convince Athena to bring that chicken salad youâve been craving. Hen already knows, we could ask her to talk to her cake guyâ, the mention of good food is enough to get Evan lighting up again, and he nods eagerly.Â
âSounds like a solid plan. I mean, what could go wrong, right?â He asks, lying down and closing his eyes as if he didnât just drop the most famous last words in the universe.
Tommy raises an eyebrow; heâll never understand why his husband likes to tempt fate like that.
âSweetheart, donât take this the wrong way, but itâs your family; thereâs always a way for things to get out of track when theyâre involvedâ He quips, lying down too, his face turned to Evanâs.Â
âWell, youâre not wrongâ, he concedes. âBut donât forget theyâre your family too, I refuse to take the sole blame for themâÂ
Tommyâs heart feels warm in the best way with these words. Heâs been working on feeling like he belongs, feeling accepted as part of their found family as himself, not only as âBuckâs plus oneâ. He thinks heâs making progress, but it always helps to hear things like that. Tommy caresses Evanâs cheek, a small smile coming to his face, and then he presses a chaste kiss to his lips.Â
âYeah, they are. Lucky me, right?â
As they drift off, after saying good night to their babies (âSleep tight, little blobs,â Tommy whispers.
âTommy, I swearâhow many times⊠Youâre really sticking with this, huh?â Evan grumbles, though his smile betrays him.â), Tommyâs smile never leaves his face. And for a moment, heâs willing to believe Evan: nothing can go wrong, right?
(They absolutely can)
-
Maddie is pretty sure somethingâs up with Buck. Sheâs known him since the day he was born, and sheâs always able to tell when her brotherâs mind is going a mile a minute. She remembers him being like that when he had his first crush in middle school, when he got kicked out of college, when he started dating Tommy. It's a nervous energy that he barely manages to contain, and it's like it buzzes from him.Â
It's unusual, though, for Maddie not to know what it's about; Buck usually tells her everything. But she won't pry; as difficult as it is for Maddie to accept it, she knows Buck's an adult and has his own way of dealing with things. When he wants to tell her, he will.
âSo, are you sure you're free for the barbecue next Saturday?â He asks her for what has to be the fourth time since he arrived at her place for brunch. Maddie is finding his anxiety amusing, if a little confusing.
âYes, Buck, I'm sureâ She says with a chuckle, and then frowns slightly at him. âYou really want everyone to be there, huh? Is there a reason for it?â
Buck widens his eyes, his cheeks blushing, and that alone tells Maddie that yes, there's something he's not telling her about this barbecue.Â
âNo!â He denies way too quickly, deliberately not looking at her. âIt's just⊠it's been a while since we got everyone together, that's allâ
He's not wrong; it's one the disadvantages of having a family made up of first responders who work three different places. In fact, Maddie doesnât really remember the last time they managed to get everyone together; she thinks she was still pregnant with Kevin, and her son is four months already.Â
But Maddie knows this isnât the whole truth behind Buckâs urgency, and itâs killing her that sheâll probably have to wait another ten days to find out.
âAlrightâ, she pretends to buy it for now, and thatâs when her oven timer goes off. Maddie smiles excitedly, squeezing his arm. âMake yourself comfortable, I have a surprise in the kitchen for youâ
Buck smiles at her, that sweet smile of his that almost looks surprised that she thought of him (and Maddie usually feels a twinge of guilt when she sees it), and sits down at her couch. Maddie rushes to the kitchen, taking the banana bread out of the oven. Itâs an old recipe, one she mastered during her teenage years, her little brother being the unwitting tester for her experiments.Â
It quickly became one of Buckâs favorites, a sort of comfort food, and that didnât change as a grown-up. The first time she baked it for him in LA was back when his leg was crushed by the fire truck, and he still loved it. So, now Maddie bakes it for him whenever she can find the time, which is no easy task for a working mother of two, but her brother deserves it. She can already imagine the easy smile on his face as he eats it, fresh out of the oven.Â
Except thatâs not what happens at all. The moment Maddie brings it to the living room, held in a baking pan and still smoking, Buckâs smile becomes a frown, and he takes a deep breath, his hand covering his mouth.Â
âOh, God, is that banana?â He asks, and Maddie nods, trying to understand whatâs wrong.Â
âYeah, itâs your favorite! Buck, whatâs wrong?â
But he doesnât answer her; before Maddie can even understand whatâs going on, her brother is bolting to the bathroom, closing the door behind himself. She quickly runs back to the kitchen, putting the bread back in the oven to hide the smell and grabbing a bottle of iced water from the fridge.Â
Maddieâs heart is beating fast, and sheâs beside herself with worry. Buckâs never gotten sick with her banana bread, never. Hell, she canât remember ever seeing Buck sick at all, his immune system one of the strongest sheâs ever seen. A thousand different possibilities cross her mind, one worse than the other, until her brother comes back from the bathroom, looking pale and like heâs half afraid Maddie will be mad at him.Â
âAre you alright?â She asks, carefully approaching him and putting the water bottle in his hand. Buck gratefully takes a small sip, swallowing heavily.Â
âYeah, sorry about that. I⊠Banana isnât agreeing with th- with me right nowâ He says, voice impossibly small. Maddie notices how he almost wraps his hand around his belly, but drops it at the last second, looking at her with widened eyes.
And well, Maddie may not be a genius, but she sure as hell isnât oblivious. She gasps when she realizes whatâs going on, her hands covering her mouth in surprise.Â
âOh my God! Youâre pregnant!â Maddie squeals, and Buck looks just like a deer caught in headlights.Â
âWhat?! N-no Iâm not!â He asks, his voice three octaves higher than normal, and Maddie crosses her arms, unimpressed.Â
âBuck. You never learned how to lie to me, you know?â She says, and Buck sighs, admitting defeat.Â
âAlright, I⊠I am. With twins.â He adds, and Maddie squeals again, even higher this time. wrapping her arms around his frame that towers over her.Â
Sheâs ridiculously happy for her little brother. Maddie knows how much he yearned for a family, ever since he was a little boy, and she couldnât be happier that heâs building one with a man like Tommy.
âTwins?! How far along are you? Are you feeling alright? Does Tommy know? Oh, wait, is that why youâre having the barbecue?!â She asks, talking a mile a minute and half leading Buck to sit on the couch. The idea of being an aunt (to two kids no less!) fills her heart with so much joy.
âYeah, thatâs whyâ He tells her, an impossibly giddy smile taking over his face as he rests his hand against his belly for real this time. âSo you have to keep it a secret, alright? You canât even tell Chim. Iâm just eight weeks along, and weâre really afraid of something going wrong, soâŠâ
âHeyâ, Maddie says gently, squeezing his free hand, the one thatâs not wrapped around his babies so protectively that her heart feels warm. Heâs such a natural parent. âYou can trust me, ok? I know I like gossip, but I can keep the important secretsâ
Buck smiles at her; if he was a less kinder man, he could remind Maddie of the secret she kept for twenty-nine years, a secret that shaped so much of him without him even knowing it. But he doesnât, and Maddie loves and admires him even more for it. She hugs him again, resting her head against his chest and her hand against his much larger one.Â
âI know you can. In a way, Iâm glad you know now. Iâve been dying to tell you for a monthâ He confesses, and Maddie chuckles, snuggling further against him. She can hear his heartbeat, the heartbeat of the boy she raised, and itâs steady and peaceful.Â
âI am so happy for you, Evanâ Maddie confesses, and they smile at each other, Buckley siblings against the world.Â
Even if it means keeping a secret from her husband. After all, she knows Chim canât keep a secret to save his life.Â
Chimney hates secrets. Secrets are like a nuclear bomb and Chimâs like the fuse (do nuclear bombs have fuses? Heâs not sure, but the metaphor counts anyway), and he doesnât like being the fuse, thank you very much. He hates being told secrets, because he hates keeping them. Heâd much rather be the last person that gets to know something than the first one. Which naturally means a secret simply drops itself into his lap when heâs least expecting it.Â
It all starts when Tommy comes over for movie night; Maddieâs at work and Buckâs hanging out with Chris and Eddie, so itâs just the two of them, because Jee is having a sleepover at Albertâs and Kevin is already down for the night (how he and Maddie were blessed with a four-month-old that sleeps through the night, heâll never know, but he wonât look a gift horse in the mouth and all that). Theyâre free to watch movies packed with all the violence, action and dirty words that they could want.Â
(Theyâre watching Ever After. Itâs Drew Barrymore playing Cinderella, thereâs nothing in the world that can beat that)
âSay, is Buck feeling better?â Chim asks as he joins Tommy in the living room, handing him a beer. âHe was super nauseous at the station the other day, I was worried about himâ
Tommy hesitates, taking a deliberately long time swallowing his beer, and then nods curtly.
âYup. He's all better. Now, are we watching this or not?â He says, staring at the TV screen as if he hasn't watched this live about a thousand times (Chim just knows he has), and Chim frowns.Â
Usually Tommy never misses an opportunity to talk about Buck, and although Chim has to admit he wasnât looking forward to hear about his brother-in-law's recovery process, it's at least unusual. He takes a sip of his own beer, wondering how to ask Tommy if everything's alright between him and Buck when the doorbell rings with their pizza delivery, and then he's roped into their age-old game.
Both he and Tommy get up at the same time, staring intently at the door.
âSit your ass down, Kinard, it's my houseâ Chim says, trying to hold Tommy down, but fat chance; he's strong, but Tommy's also strong and a lot bigger. He easily squirms out of Chim's grip, already grabbing his wallet from his pocket.
âThat's exactly why I'm paying, you pulled this shit last time you came overâ He says, and the bastard pushes Chim towards the couch.
His knees buckle and he falls on the couch; by the time he manages to get up, Tommy's already putting two bills in the hand of the delivery boy and telling him to keep the change. Chim sighs in defeat, looking down; he'll pay the next round. That's when he sees a small square paper on the floor, that probably fell from Tommy's waller. As he comes close to it, he sees the words âLittle Blobs: week 8â written on the back, with two little hearts adorning it.
Frowning, Chim flips the little square, not in a million years expecting what he sees when he turns it around. It's an ultrasound picture, and there are two embryos in it. At first, Chim chuckles as he looks at it.
âWhy do you have an ultrasound in your wallet?â He asks, voice between curious and amused, but when he sees Tommy's panicked look, he takes a closer look at the picture.
And right there at the corner, Chim sees the words that make his jaw drop.Â
ââBabies Buckley-Kinardâ He reads out loud, and then stares at Tommy, his mouth agape. âHoly shit, Tommy, Buck's pregnant?!â
Tommy groans, taking the picture from his hand and putting it back on his wallet. Chimney can't help but notice the tenderness with which he does that, even if he looks completely annoyed with himself.
âDamn it, I knew I should have left this in my lockerâ, he mutters, and Chim's thinking it's mostly to himself. âYes, he's pregnant, but you can't tell anyoneâ
And there they were, the words Chimney hates more than any other in the world. He shakes his head, putting his hands on Tommy's shoulders.
âOhhh no. No no no Tommy, you cannot do this to meâ He pleads, but Tommy doesn't budge.
âI mean it, Howie! Evan really wants to keep it a secret until the barbecue, so you have to keep it a secret too!â Tommy says, and he might as well have given Chim a death sentence, because if Buck wants to keep it an absolute secret, it meansâŠ
âAre you telling me I canât even tell Maddie?!â He asks, because apparently Chim hates himself enough that he needs to hear it out loud. Indeed, Tommy looks at him as if heâs being particularly slow (heâs not; heâs just in denial).
âAre you kidding me?! You especially canât tell Maddie, do you know what Evan will do to both of us if she finds out by anyone other than him?!â
âNot to mention what Maddie will do to us if we spoil her baby brotherâs surpriseâ Chim completes, and Tommy nods in agreement. He sighs in defeat. âFine, Iâll keep it a secret. Serves us right for marrying the Buckley siblings, right?â
âIâll drink to thatâ, Tommy says, taking a swig of the beer theyâve forgotten in the whole chaos. âNow câmon, pizzaâs getting cold and Drew Barrymore is waiting for usâ
âHey, wait a second, Kinardâ Chim says, and before Tommy can sit back down, heâs wrapping his arms around his old friendâs frame, giving him a tight hug. âIâm happy for you, manâ
âThank you, Howieâ, he answers, and thereâs a smile on his face like Chimâs never seen before: happy, unguarded and filled with expectations. He wonders if he looks like that whenever someone talks about his kids, and hopes fervently that the answer is yes. âPart of me still canât believe it, you know? That Iâm gonna be a dadâ
Chim chuckles and claps Tommyâs shoulder. He remembers feeling this exact way over four years ago, and once more four years ago. It was the best and most terrifying feeling in the world.Â
âI know what you mean, my man. Part of you will only believe it when you see their little faces the day they are bornâ He tells Tommy as the two of them sit back down, and Chim opens one of the pizza boxes, and thatâs when he realizes something. âHoly shit, Tommy! Iâm gonna be an uncle!â
Tommy looks at him with a raised eyebrow, and okay, Chim will admit that this time he was kinda slow. But things had happened so fast, and never in a million years would he imagine himself being an uncle to Tommy Kinardâs kids.Â
âYeah, you are, Howie. I guess I should be congratulating you too, huh?â He says, nudging Chimâs shoulder, and they smile at each other.Â
Theyâve known each other for almost twenty years, and Buck and Tommy dating had brought them closer again, something Chim is very grateful for. Heâs proud of how far Tommyâs come from the guarded man he met in the 118 station so long ago. Coming out and being with Buck has done wonders for him, and he can only imagine that these babies will do even more.Â
âThanks, Tommy.â He says sincerely. âNow, are we watching this movie or not?â Chim quips, knowing when Tommy is done talking about his feelings (itâs a time frame thatâs expanding all the time, but he still doesnât like to push it).
Tommy relaxes visibly when he realizes the tender moment is finished, and nods, shoving pizza into his mouth. They fall into a comfortable silence, watching the movie intently, and Chim tries not to panic when he realizes the enormity of the secret heâs gonna have to keep from his wife.Â
He can do this, right? --
Itâs a great day for a barbecue, Eddie thinks. The sun is shining brightly in the sky, but not too hot to make them go inside. Buck and Tommy are flawless hosts, making sure everyoneâs drinks are filled and that thereâs plenty of meat to go around (Bobbyâs manning the grill, cause some things never change, no matter whose house theyâre at).Â
He sips at his beer, watching their fire family with a small smile on his face. It feels nice, having everyone together, and his happiness is in no small amount related to the fact that Chris is there. Itâs been eight months since the two of them came back from El Paso, but sometimes Eddie still rides that euphoria. His son is talking to Denny and Mara, laughing openly; heâs wearing one of the polo shirts heâs been favoring as of late, and heâs had a haircut recently. He looks grown-up enough to make Eddie feel like an old man, but he couldnât care less; heâs too proud.Â
âDiaz!â Buckâs amused call brings Eddie back to the present, and he looks up to see his best friend with a smirk on his face. âCare for a refill?â
Heâs offering Eddie a closed bottle of beer, and he takes it with a grateful smile, watching as Buck claps his shoulder. Eddie frowns at his best friend; thereâs⊠something about Buck. He canât quite place it, but he looks⊠Happy is not quite the word, but itâs the closest one Eddie can think of. He wonders if itâs just about getting everyone together; Buck is very much a gatherer, and being surrounded by his family is important to him. Eddie figures that might be it.Â
âThanks, Buckleyâ He answers, opening it with his hand and taking a sip. âHey, whatâs with you today? Every time I look at you, itâs like you canât stop smilingâ
Buck chuckles and rubs his neck, but the smile still doesnât leave his face. If anything, it takes a more amused stance, and instead of answering Eddie, he turns around to catch Tommyâs hand (Eddie thinks itâs annoyingly adorable how they two never pass by each other in family gatherings without a small touch; itâs like theyâre acknowledging that, even when talking to other people, theyâre still each otherâs priority).Â
âBabeâ Buck says, a hint of barely contained amusement in his voice. âEddie is wondering why I canât stop smiling todayâ âAh, probably because your smile is beautiful, sweetheartâ Tommy says, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and Eddie, in the position of best friend, finds himself forced to roll his eyes at their sappiness. âWhy, is there another reason you can think of?âÂ
He smirks as he asks that, and he and Buck exchange an infuriating conspiratorial glance, as if they know something Eddie doesnât (which, to be fair, is usually true, but theyâre usually not that smug about it).Â
âEddieâ Buck asks, out of nowhere, the knowing smirk never leaving his face.âWould you mind going inside and checking the oven for me? Bring us what you found there?â
âOh, have you baked dessert?â He asks excitedly. The last time he had a Baked Alaska was during the Six-Month Crisis We Donât Talk About, and as happy as he is that those two idiots got their heads out of their asses very quickly, he still misses Buckâs more elaborate baking.
âWhy donât you go and check?â Buck asks, crossing his arms, and Eddie decides the only way to wipe that smirk off his face is to do as he asks.Â
As he goes inside, he faintly hears Buck calling everyoneâs attention, and his hopes get even higher. If he wants everyone to see it, itâs probably a really good dessert. Eddie wonders if he finally managed that spumoni recipe heâd been trying a few months ago (it was a hard recipe, and he and Chris were the unwitting test subjects of many failed attempts; Eddie spent weeks unable to even look at a pistacchio).Â
Heâs extremely surprised, and undeniably confused, when all he finds inside the oven are two small buns. Eddie takes them in his hand, turning them over, wondering if thereâs anything else, but no such luck. He frowns; is Buck pulling a prank on him? If he is, Eddie doesnât get it.Â
âBuckâ, he says, going outside holding the two buns in his hands. âWhy are there only two buns in your oven?â
ââOnlyâ two? I'd say two is more than enoughââ Tommy mutters beside Buck, and that makes even less sense to Eddie.Â
As he looks up, Buck is looking at him expectantly and, he notices, so is everyone else. Athena particularly is looking at him as if he's being purposefully dense.
âWhat am I not getting here?!â Eddie exclaims, trying to understand what's going on.
What he doesn't expect is to get the answer from his son, of all people.
âOh my God, Dad, really?! Itâs super obvious!â Chris says, his voice between embarrassed and exasperated. âBuck is pregnant! With twins!â
âWHAT?!â Eddie screams, unable to stop himself, because what Chris is saying makes absolute sense. Buckâs been having nausea issues for weeks; he and Tommy had made sure everyone was there for this barbecue. Buck hadnât just been happy, Eddie realizes; heâs been glowing.
Eddie drops the buns, in complete shock, and only then he notices heâs the only one whoâs reacting that way. He crosses his arms, completely exasperated.Â
âWhy am I the one surprised about this?!â He asks in despair, and Buck and Tommy look at him and then at the rest of their fire family, who are all gathered behind them (except for Jee and Kevin who are taking their naps).Â
âYeahâ Buck says slowly, crossing his arms. âWhy is Eddie the only one surprised about this?â
All of their family, except for Bobby, Athena and Hen, look at the two of them with widened eyes, before everyone starts to exclaim at the same time.Â
âOh my God!â
âI am so shocked!â
âI would never have seen it coming!â âPregnant?! I never would have guessed!â
âWow, Buckâs pregnant, thatâs such a surprise!â
Well. Thank goodness none of them are actors, because they wouldnât manage to convince anyone. Buck himself doesnât look impressed at all, and Tommy has that deadpan look of his that Eddie is used to by now.
â...You guys knew already, didnât you?â He asks with a sigh, and everyone nods sheepishly. When they do, though, Maddie and Chim look at each other with widened eyes and a gasp.Â
âYou knew?!â He asks, and she nods.Â
âAnd you knew?!â Maddie exclaims back.Â
âTommy made me promise not to tell you!â Chim says, pointing an accusatory finger at Tommy, and Maddie throws her hands in the air.Â
âBuck made me promise not to tell you!â Maddie clarifies, and Eddie finds himself laughing at their antics.Â
âOh my God, are you telling me Iâve been keeping a secret from my wife for a week when she already knew?!â Chim groans, and everyone laughs, knowing how hard this must have been for their paramedic.Â
âYeah, I couldnât do itâ Bobby shrugs, looking completely unapologetic as he casually flips the burgers still on the grill. âSorry, boys, but I told Athena the day you told meâ
âBobby, câmon!â Buck says exasperatedly, but Eddie knows his best friend, and he can see heâs really not mad. âYou said you could keep the secret!â
âOh, donât blame himâ Athena defends her husband, pressing a kiss to his cheek. âHe got home so excited about being a grandpa, he just had to tell meâ
Eddie has to give it to her, she knows exactly what to say. Buck instantly melts at her words, looking at Bobby with a besotted smile as he runs a hand on his belly (and wow. his best friend has two babies inside him. Eddie still canât believe that)
âAlright, so that accounts for Maddie, Chim and Athenaâ, Tommy says, and then turns to Hen. âHen, Iâm guessing you told Karen?â
âActually, I didnâtâ Hen says, as if only now realizing that, and turned to her wife. âHow did you know, babe?â
Karen points a finger to her kids. âDenny and Mara told me!â, and now the two of them are the center of attention.Â
âChris told us in the group chatâ Mara says casually before taking a bite of her burger, and Denny nods, taking a sip of his soda can.Â
âYeah. May and Harry couldnât be here, but they sent congratulationsâ He completes, and Eddieâs starting to get the feeling he really missed something, becauseâŠ
âHow did you know, Chris?!â Buck asks, turning to his kid, and so do Eddie and Tommy (and the rest of them, who are still following the conversation like itâs a particularly lively tennis match). âI didnât tell you! Believe me, I really wanted to, but I didnât!â
â...Common sense?!â Chris deadpans with a shrug, looking between the three of them. âTommy has been ridiculously protective over you lately, Buck. You found excuses not to drink beer every time you hung out at our place lately, and I saw you checking baby clothes on your cellphone the other day. It wasnât that hard to put together. Except for you, Dad, apparentlyâ He smirks at Eddie, the little shit he is, and Eddie canât help but blush, trying to resist the urge to tell his kid to shut up.
Thankfully for Eddie, everyone decides congratulating Buck and Tommy is more important than making fun of him for being the last to know. Thereâs a flutter of people hugging them, making good wishes and asking how Buckâs been feeling, then going back to the barbecue, the mood happy and celebratory now as Hen brings out a cake shaped like a stork with two bundles hanging from its beak.Â
When itâs Eddieâs turn to congratulate them, he wraps his arms around Buck, giving him a tight hug that tries to convey all the happiness he is feeling for him.Â
âCongratulations, mate, I know youâll be wonderful dadsâ He says to him and Tommy, who smiles gratefully, and then Eddie points an accusing finger at Buck. âYou told me you werenât drinking beer because of keto, you lying shitâ
âItâs not my fault you believed this bullshit excuseâ Buck smirks, shoving his shoulder playfully. âWhen have you ever seen me refuse beer because of a diet?â
Eddie looks down sheepishly, and then back at Buck and Tommy, who are smirking at him infuriatingly. He just knows he wonât ever live this down.Â
âAm I really the last one to know?â He asks, because, really, that canât be true, can it?
âWell, not really, Eddieâ Surprisingly, Maddie is the one to answer him. Sheâs coming towards them with Jee-Yun in her arms, but the girl starts to squirm to get out of her grip as soon as she spots her uncle. âThereâs someone who was sleeping during the whole commotion, but wants to talk to her uncles nowâ
Maddie puts Jee down, and she rushes towards Buck, placing her tiny hands in his belly, looking up at him in wonder.Â
âUncle Buck! Mommy says thereâs a baby in your tummy! Like Kevin was in her tummy?! Is that true?!â She asks, a huge smile taking over her sweet face, and Buck kneels down by her side, her smile mirrored in his own.Â
âThere are actually two babies in my tummy, Jee-bug! Isnât that cool?!â He asks, and Eddie can see tears starting to glisten in his eyes.Â
âThatâs right, princess, youâre going to be a big cousin!â Tommy says, kneeling by Jeeâs other side, and Eddieâs heart warms at the sight.Â
Jee-Yun squeals in happiness, talking a mile a minute, and Buck and Tommy look more than happy to answer any questions she has. And she has a ton of questions (âhow do you know itâs two babies?! are they sharing your belly like me and Mara shared a room?! when can I play with them?!â).Â
âCongratulations, Dadâ Chrisâ dry remark takes Eddieâs attention away from the cute scene in front of him, and he turns to his son to see him with an eyebrow raised, his expression a mirror of Eddieâs own sarcastic one, which. Wow. Hurts to be on the other side of it. âYouâre officially ahead of the four-year-old who was sleeping at the time.â
âOkay, you know what? Iâm sending you back to Texasâ
He wonât. And Chris knows he wonât, but he laughs anyway, because it feels good to laugh now that itâs over.Â
They enjoy the rest of the barbecue, and of course Buck and Tommyâs babies are the main topic of conversation from now on. Itâs clear the two of them are ridiculously happy, and now that itâs public knowledge, Eddie notices Buck can barely keep his hands from his belly.
Eddie smiles, watching from afar as Tommy does the same, gently rubbing his thumb over the place where their babies are. Theyâre the perfect picture of a happy family, and Eddie is ridiculously happy for them. Knowing everything they went through as kids, he knows they deserve it.Â
And these kids can consider themselves lucky; not only they have the greatest parents in the world, heâll have the coolest uncle to spoil them. Even if he took too long to find out they existed.
--
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