#today I spent time with Liz.

[justwonder113]

Liz liz, since your request is still open and I just can't get this out of my head, if it's ok with you, can I request a cooking session with chan? He has been in my head sooooo much since we received a lot of updates about his cooking 🫠🫠. It could be a cookig session with him where y/n also participate, orrrr y/n can just sit and wait for him while watching him cooks

Thankiess!

A/N-First of all thank you so much for requesting such an amazing fic!! I loved every second of writing this so I hope you'll like it. Sorry for the late update though hope it was worth the wait🙏🏻❤️

Warnings: Reader is gender neutral. Reader is really stressed and vulnerable and feels isolated and alone. Angst to fluff. Chan is a sweetheart. Mentions of family drama. If I missed anythint please tell me❤️

Word count: 1.7k

Masterlist

If you like my work you can buy me coffee ❤️

You must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed because everything seemed to be set against you.

You had a stressful week, yes. Who didn’t have one of those? At this point it was an inseparable part of being an adult. But today, it seemed like whole universe was against you. Everything that could go wrong went terribly wrong.

The day started with the cliché things such as your alarm not ringing, your breakfast burning, you spilling your hot coffee all over your yourself, the unexpected rain that soaked you to your bone, missing your transport, getting at work late and getting yelled over for that. To top it off the boss absolutely hated your project you put your whole soul into. You literally spent countless hours working on it, only for it to be dismissed like it was worth nothing, like it was some sort of trash. One might think that that was where all of this ended, your mood got ruined by all of the following things and you were sensitive. End of story. But no. When was life fair? At your lunch brake, on which, you had to take late, and have it like what 15 minutes or maybe even less, your family decided it was a good time for video chat. So you couldn’t even eat. Again. 

You tried to explain that you were busy, but you were still thankful for the attention, because you really needed some sort of support right now. But no, instead you got scolded like some mischievous child over how distant you had been, how you barely even tried to give them any attention, to call, to ask them how they had been or what they had been up to. How you had become really selfish and heartless, and you were always better than this, so what had happened to you now? 

Walking up to your house, every step felt so heavy like you weighted and carried tonson your shoulders. Your chest felt constricted, every breath you took was so heavy and painful. You were not sure if you wanted to cry or to scream into the abyss, but even that felt like too much of an effort. You just wanted to disappear. To forget everything. To stop existing for a while. You just wanted a break! Was that too much to ask for? Were you being too selfish? 

By the time you were done with work, by the way, way later than it was written on your employment contract you should leave your work.  You felt like any, even the tiniest, otherwise irrelevant and unimportant thing, would be enough to tip you over the edge and make you have a meltdown.

As you stood in the middle of the overcrowded bus, on which there was no available seat, of course, as you scrolled your phone and saw your friends posted how much they were having fun in that new fancy place that just opened, you were questioning if everything was even worth it. No shade to your friends though, they asked you countless times to come, in the end you got guilty that they had to change plans so many times, it wasn’t like you were the only busy one in the friend group, right? So you told them that work was a nightmare, which was technically not untrue, yountold them that you were too swarmed with work and they shouldn’t wait for you and go and actually enjoy some free time they had. You really didn’t wish for them miss out on opportunity to relax and have some good time together, but deep inside, some selfish part of you was hurt that they did go. Some part of you wanted them to still reach out for you, you wanted someone to reassure you that you mattered, that you weren’t replaceable. 

Walking into your house you barely registered that the lights were on. You were only brought back from your willowing self-pity when alluring smell of your favorite food invaded your nose. Were you losing your shit on top of everything? Were you going crazy? 

Walking towards the smell, aka your kitchen, the sight that greeted you almost made you fall back on your knees and burst out in tears. But for the first time today it would be tears of unconditional joy instead of stress and sadness. 

There stood Chris, only in his grey sweatpants, wolf slippers you got him as a joke and fluffy pink cottage core apron you had, cooking in your kitchen without a care in the world, humming softly to himself. 

It seemed that the universe did have a heart. You wouldn’t even dream of seeing Chan today. He wasn’t supposed to be back for another week! But he was here! He was finally here! Your heart was finally back to you! Your missing piece! 

And it felt like you could finally breathe again. 

No longer able to hide all the turmoil that was going on in your heart you burst out in tears as you went to him and wrapped your arms around his figure. Your face against bare skin of his back. Feeling that he was very much real... That he was here, with you. He was actually here. 

“Hey baby, you startled me.” Chan’s voice was so gentle, it made your tense body instantly relax. Gone was that heavy feeling in your chest. Gone was that lump in your throat and gone was that giant stone that was weighting down on your shoulders. “Are you okay baby?” Chan asked after turning in your hold when you didn’t say anything for a few seconds. He looked concerned and it made you feel guily. 

Without saying a word he gently wiped away your tears. His hands so warm, so gentle, so safe... 

“I’m here baby.” Chan whispered against your temple before softly kissing it. Your breath hitched, your whole body tense, seconds away from fully breaking down. 

He must have noticed it all, of course he did, he always noticed you. That’s what made you fall in love with him in the first place. Slowly he wrapped his hands around you and brought you closer to him. And never once in your life had you felt so safe, so sheltered. 

You loved him. 

It was as if realization had hit you like a wave. Something just clicked and now it seemed like everything was making sense. How did you not realize this sooner? You were such a fool sometimes. 

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Your finally managed to croak out. Your voice was so strained it sounded like someone else's. 

Chris gave you a small smile and leaned in to kiss the tip of your nose. “I missed you too darling, so damn much!” as if to emphasize he playfully even squeezed you more. 

And for the first time that day you smiled. 

“I love you.” finally gathering courage you finally admitted. “I know we haven’t been dating for that long, but I can’t hold it anymore, I have to say this.” You took  a deep breath. “I love you Channie.”  

Chan looked baffled for a second, like he wasn’t expecting it. But in a second his smile widened and his beautiful dimples appeared. Not feeling like wasting another second he leaned in and sealed your lips together. It was good that he was still holding you tightly against him or else you would have surely collapsed from your knees going weak. 

God you had missed him so much!  It was like piece of your soul was missing. You really were a fool to not realize just what you felt towards him. It was so obvious. And you loved how he was kissing you with so much passion and love it set your whole soul on fire. It felt like you were born again, like you were set ablaze.  

Honestly it was so unfair that you spent like what? A couple of months dating, before he had to leave for the tour! As if not seeing each other was not enough, you could barely even call or text each other due to the hectic schedules you two had. It was so good to finally have him back to you. It really felt like you could finally breathe again. Speaking of everything, you mentally patted your own head, thank god you told him where you kept your extra keys randomly earlier because this surprise he pulled was just what you needed. You felt so thankful to him you couldn’t even put it to words. 

“I love you too darling.” Chan whispered against your lips when he leaned back. And you wanted to whine. Maybe for him to kiss you more or maybe because you were just too overwhelmed and sensitive. 

 It was a peculiar thing. 

 Not even a year ago you would have laughed at the idea that you would fall head over heels for someone like this but here you were now grinning like a lovesick fool at your lover, your struggles long forgotten. 

Gently kissing your cheek Chan leaned back. “The food is ready let’s eat okay? Then you can tell me what you have been up to while we can cuddle as much as you want. Sound good?” 

“Sounds perfect.” 

Finally looking at the food he had prepared you were in awe. He had went out and made all your favorite foods! They looked so good too and smelled so nice. Your stomach as if now realizing that you basically were starving for whole day grumbled in protest. Maybe it was a simple act. But you felt so seen and appreciated you wanted to cry all over again from joy. 

“Everything looks so good baby! Thank you so much Chanie!” Unable to help yourself you went to him, gently grabbed his face and kissed him again. 

If kissing Chan was a drug. You had no problem being an addict. 

Chan smiled at you, this time more shy, more sheepishly. His arms naturally finding their place around your waist. 

Basking in each other’s presence, your foreheads gently toughing each other, your arms around yourselves, and your bodies gently swaying to the music only you could hear in the dimly lit room of your small kitchen... It didn’t even matter that sort of shitty day life would make you go through, if it meant that once you got home Chan, your Channie would be here waiting for you. 

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[2i1han]

— request time

𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎

pairing : tourguide!leehan x fem!reader ⭑ wc 5.9k

genre : oneshot fluff , romance

synopsis: you've liked leehan since seventh grade, but over time, you drifted apart. now, you reunite while working at the same aquarium. and, as you spend more time together, you realize your connection never truly faded.

(thank you to the anon who requested this! it was really fun and cute to write, though the word count ended up longer than i expected. also, this is the peak fish leehan ff i've ever written. it's also giving a slowly then all at once alternate universe, except leehan isn't a brooding loser here LMAO.)

ever since seventh grade, you've never quite gotten over your first crush—the quiet biology nerd who always sat alone by the pond, watching the fish swim as if it were his own personal netflix. his chocolate eyes would follow their every movement, his fingers occasionally adjusting the hem of his uniform reflexively, completely immersed in a world of shiney scales and rippling water. you used to steal glances from afar, wondering what thoughts swam through his head as he watched them. even now, years later, as a college student, that same fluttery feeling overtakes you whenever you think of kim leehan.

growing up in a small town meant living in a loop—same streets, same people, same predictable routines. it wasn't separation from him that you feared—it was how close you always were. ever since that first conversation in middle school, when leehan had filled the silence with enthusiastic talk about fish anatomy and marine ecosystems, you'd been left staring, struggling to keep up. his voice had been calm but full of life, his hands gesturing in small movements as he explained something about gill respiration. meanwhile, all you could do was nod along, mouth slightly open, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

after that, you never dared to strike up another deep conversation with him. not because you didn't like his nerdy ramblings, if anything, you found them endearing, but because you were afraid. afraid you wouldn't be able to keep up, that your lack of knowledge would make him lose interest in talking to you.

so, instead of giving up, you did something ridiculous. you spent years secretly studying marine biology, at first just to understand him better, but somewhere along the way, it stopped being about leehan and started becoming something you genuinely loved. the books stacked on your bedside table, the late nights spent watching documentaries about ocean ecosystems, the hours scrolling through marine biology forums—it all became second nature.

but none of that mattered now because you had bigger problems.

"we'll just call you if we decide to hire you," the restaurant owner said, offering you a polite but clearly dismissive smile.

you forced a tight-lipped smile in return, bowing slightly before stepping out of the small diner. the second the door swung shut behind you, you let out a groan, rubbing your temples in frustration.

this was your fifth stop today. the heat of the afternoon sun pressed down on you, sweat sticking to the nape of your neck as you trudged down the sidewalk, your steps were heavy. your stomach rumbled from hunger, but you ignored it, too exhausted to even think about food.

as you walked, slouching under the weight of your disappointment, a voice called out.

"still nothing?"

liz, your ever-reliable best friend, caught up to you effortlessly, her sneakers scuffing against the pavement as she matched your pace. she held a cold drink in her hands, condensation dripping onto her fingers.

"yeah, this sucks so bad," you muttered, rolling your eyes, blowing a strand of hair out of your face.

then, casually, as if she wasn't about to change the course of your entire life, liz dropped the biggest, most life-altering suggestion of your existence.

"maybe you can apply for a job at the aquarium where leehan works."

you stopped in your tracks so abruptly that liz took two more steps before realizing.

your gasped, eyes widening as if she'd just handed you a winning lottery ticket. "wait, what?"

liz turned to face you, unfazed. "leehan. he's been working at the new aquarium since last month, you didn't know?"

no, you didn't. how could you not have known? your heart pounded against your ribs, giddy surging through you like a wave. this was perfect. like a missing puzzle piece snapping into place. you had spent years pouring yourself into marine biology, and now, not only did you have a chance at working with what you loved—you had a chance at being close to leehan again.

"i- i haven't heard from him in so long," you admitted, gripping liz's arm, as if to steady yourself in reality.

"well, now you do," she said with a grin. "and now you have a shot."

a slow smile spread across your face. "thank you, liz. i'm going first thing tomorrow!"

and, true to your word, you did exactly that.

at the first hint of sunrise, you bolted out of bed, running errands for your grandmother at record speed, wiping down countertops before she could even ask, running to the market, sweeping the floor with urgency that dust swirled in the air like a mini storm. you weren't about to let anything get in your way today.

then came the most important part—choosing the perfect outfit. you had spent an embarrassing amount of time standing in front of the mirror, eventually settling on your all-time-favorite blue denim jumper, paired with a white off-shoulder long-sleeve top. your well-worn bambi sneakers completed the look, the same ones you had owned since you were fifteen. not that it mattered much. you never grew taller anyway, still barely reaching leehan's shoulder.

by the time you arrived at the aquarium, the town was lit up in soft morning light. the air smelled crisp, tinged with the faint scent of saltwater from the nearby shore.

you took a deep breath, adjusting the strap of your bag and tightening your ponytail before pushing your square glasses up the bridge of your nose.

the building's glass entrance reflected your slightly disheveled reflection, the nervous excitement evident in your posture.

you followed the receptionist down a hallway lined with vibrant posters of marine life, framed images of colorful reefs, deep-sea creatures, and conservation efforts decorated the walls, making you feel both excited and slightly nervous.

the hiring manager, a middle-aged man with kind eyes and graying hair, sat behind a sturdy desk in a modest office. behind him, a large observation window revealed a floor-to-ceiling tank.

"so," he began, flipping through your résumé, "you're interested in the tour guide position?"

"yes," you replied, straightening in your seat. "i've been studying marine biology for years as a personal passion. i love sharing information about marine life, and i think guiding people through the aquarium would be a perfect way to combine that."

he nodded thoughtfully. "we need people who are both knowledgeable and engaging. guests, especially kids—should feel excited when they learn about the ocean. are you comfortable speaking in front of groups?"

you hesitated for half a second before nodding. "i think so! i get a little nervous, but when it’s about something i love, i can talk for hours."

that made the manager chuckle. he leaned back in his chair, giving you an assessing look before finally nodding. "alright. we'll start you on a trial period. you'll shadow one of our senior guides this week, and if all goes well, we'll make it official."

it took a moment for his words to sink in. your hands tightened around the strap of your bag as excitement flooded your chest.

"really?" you asked, eyes wide.

"really," he confirmed with an easy smile. "welcome aboard."

you thanked him repeatedly, barely containing your enthusiasm as you shook his hand. after running through a few more details, he dismissed you, and you stepped back into the main aquarium hall.

you wandered through the exhibits, the aquarium was even more breathtaking than you had realized—massive glass tanks stretched across the walls, casting a dreamy blue glow. families huddled around displays, children pointing excitedly at the creatures swimming inside. a pair of stingrays drifted lazily near the glass.

you paused near a large touch tank, watching a group of kids giggle as they carefully dipped their fingers into the water to touch a passing starfish.

and then— "you look a little lost."

the voice was familiar, enough to send a sudden jolt through your chest.

you turned quickly, and there was leehan who stood a few steps away, his dark blue staff polo neatly tucked in, his id badge clipped to his collar. a clipboard rested in his hands, though his attention was fully on you. his brown hair was slightly tousled, probably from running his fingers through it too many times���a habit he never seemed to grow out of.

"leehan," you blurted, staring at him as if he were a mirage.

he blinked, then let out a small chuckle. "didn't expect to see you here."

you shook your head with a breathy laugh. "yeah, i—uh, i just got hired."

leehan's eyebrows lifted slightly. "here?"

"yep," you said, still a little dazed. "as a tour guide."

he tilted his head, processing that. "you? giving aquarium tours?"

you pursed your lips. "wow, okay, thanks for the vote of confidence."

leehan grinned, amused. "no, i mean, i just didn't know you were into marine life."

you hesitated before rubbing the back of your neck. "i wasn't… at first. but then i got really into it over the years."

"huh." he studied you for a beat, then chuckled softly. "i always thought i talked too much about fish back in school. didn't think anyone actually listened."

your cheeks warmed. "well… i guess someone did."

leehan smiled, a genuine one this time, his posture relaxing. "then i guess you'll be stuck seeing a lot of me. we're probably gonna work together pretty often."

your heart fluttered. "yeah," you said, grinning. "i guess so."

leehan tilted his head toward the tanks. "want me to show you around? might as well start getting familiar with the place."

you nodded, unable to hide your excitement. "i'd love that."

the rest of the day passed in a motion of laughter, glimmering water, and the sound of leehan's voice weaving through the air. he led you through every corner of the place, pointing at different species of fish with consistent enthusiasm. even though you had spent years studying marine life, he still managed to surprise you with little details and fun facts that you had never come across before.

"see that one?" leehan gestured toward a tank where a tiny, almost translucent fish wiggled between coral. "that's a glass catfish. their bodies are so clear you can see their organs."

you leaned closer, watching in awe. "that's insane… how have i never read about this before?"

leehan chuckled, the corner of his lips quirking up. "guess i still have a few tricks up my sleeve."

and honestly, that just made you admire him more. he was smart, kind, and effortlessly passionate about what he loved—something that had never changed since middle school.

at some point, while strolling past the jellyfish exhibit, leehan casually mentioned, "oh, by the way, i'll be your co-worker since... we're the only tour guides around."

your steps faltered. "wait—seriously?"

he turned to you with an amused expression. "yeah, didn't i say that?"

no, he absolutely did not. but if your heart could physically do somersaults, it would have done a whole routine.

you barely managed to keep your excitement in check, nodding in what you hoped was a casual manner. "that's… cool. we'll be working together a lot, then."

leehan hummed in agreement, hands tucked into his pockets. "guess so."

the thought of seeing him almost every day, working side by side, was enough to make your entire week.

after the long tour, when your feet were starting to ache and the aquarium lights dimmed slightly for the evening, leehan suddenly suggested, "hey, want a snack? there's a hotdog stall outside."

you didn't even hesitate. "absolutely."

so there you were, sitting side by side on a wooden bench facing the seaside, the distant sound of waves filled the street. the scent of grilled food mixed with the salty ocean breeze as the sky painted itself in hues of orange and pink.

leehan took a bite of his corndog before glancing at you with a small smile. "it's actually nice to see you again, y/n."

you turned to him, heart fluttering slightly.

"you're the only one who approached me in seventh grade," he continued, voice softer now, almost thoughtful. "you actually listened to my weird fish agendas. never called me an oddball for it."

your fingers tightened slightly around the napkin in your hand as warmth bloomed in your chest. god, if your heart could physically leap out of your chest, it would have already.

you ducked your head slightly, cheeks heating up. "me too," you admitted with a wide smile. "and, well… i think fishes are nice."

leehan let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head in amusement.

"yeah," he said, nudging your shoulder lightly. "they really are."

after that day, you had to part ways with leehan earlier than you wanted, as he had to return to his post. if this had been any other situation, you would have sulked in your room, reminiscing about every interaction, but tomorrow held the assurance of the start of your job. luckily, it arrived sooner than expected.

the first days of your internship went smoother and far beyond your expectations, if you're going to be honest. the first few minutes of your shifts were always easy—walking around the exhibits, chatting casually with leehan before the guests started approaching. at first, you felt a little awkward, your words occasionally stumbling as you tried to recall all the information you'd studied.

"that's an anemone," you told a curious child, crouching beside the tank. "it may look like a plant, but it's actually a marine animal!"

the kid gasped, eyes widening as he pressed his face closer to the glass. "like in finding nemo?"

"exactly!" you chuckled, watching as he turned excitedly to his mom to repeat the new fact.

moments like these made your job fulfilling. it also helped that leehan was always nearby whenever you hesitated on identifying a particular species.

"that's a flashlight fish," he murmured one time when he noticed you squinting at a glowing fish behind the glass. "it uses bioluminescent bacteria to light up and communicate with others in the dark."

you blinked up at him, impressed. "that's so cool… i mean, i knew that, of course," you joked, nudging his arm lightly.

he only smirked in response.

the way he effortlessly spoke about the sea creatures, made you admire him even more. your heart had been set on marine biology because of him, and now here you were, sharing this space, learning from him, existing in his world.

and he didn’t seem to mind your presence at all.

for the next few weeks, a routine settled between you two. you love your job, the people were kind, and every day ended the same— walking to the convenience store across the pedestrian lane, where leehan would insist on buying you your favorite kimbap and milk.

"you don't have to pay for me every time," you huffed, nudging his arm as he handed you the food.

"just let me," he grinned, brushing off your protest like it was nothing. "i promise tomorrow you're on your own."

but, of course, tomorrow always came with him pulling out his wallet again.

leehan was easy to be around, much easier than you had expected. he was warm, soft-spoken yet surprisingly funny, always throwing in quiet remarks that made you laugh when you least expected it.

"you know, if you stare at the seahorses any longer, they might start staring back," he teased one afternoon as he caught you zoning out in front of one of the tanks.

you turned to him, flustered. "i wasn't!"

"you totally were," he laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

the only problem? his face—his distractingly, unfairly handsome face. you would try to focus on what he was saying, nodding along as he spoke about coral bleaching or deep-sea fish, but half the time, your brain just screamed, wow, he's really pretty. blah blah blah, proper name, place name, backstory stuff

and the worst part? it wasn't just his looks anymore. the more you got to know him, the deeper you found yourself sinking. he wasn't just the quiet, nerdy boy you had admired from afar—he was kind, attentive, and effortlessly charming in his own way.

but did he see you the same way?

that thought haunted you late at night, as you lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying every interaction. maybe you were overthinking. maybe he was just being friendly. after all, you were the only one who had ever shown genuine interest in his passion. maybe he was just grateful for that.

you sighed, frustration bubbling up. why can't my crush like me back? but then, you reminded yourself that this was already more than you could have asked for.

you had become his friend. his co-worker. you got to spend time with him in a way you had only dreamed of back then. and for now, that was enough.

the day off had finally arrived, and by all means, you were supposed to be curled up in your room, wrapped in the comfort of your onesie with a book in hand. instead, here you were, standing by the shore near the aquarium, the salty breeze tousling the loose strands of your hair. the morning sunlight bathed the scene before you—the gentle waves rolling onto the sand, the distant chatter of families and tourists, and the seagulls gliding lazily above.

you wore a light blue gingham dress, the soft fabric swaying slightly in the wind, and over your shoulders, a white knitted cardigan kept the chill at bay. your hair was tied up into a neat bun, though a few strands had slipped free, framing your face. you leaned against the metal railing that separated the shore from the cement platform where various food stalls and the aquarium stood in the middle of it all.

it still felt surreal that leehan had asked you to hang out today. the moment you saw his message hours ago, you had flung your phone onto your bed, pacing the room in a frenzy before bouncing off the walls in excitement. you could've gone with your usual default look—your trusty blue jumper, striped shirt, sneakers, and a messy ponytail, but something about today felt different, special. so, instead, you took the extra time to put yourself together, wanting to look at least somewhat presentable next to him.

would it be silly to think that dressing up for a casual hangout with your crush was totally justifiable? probably. but would it stop you? absolutely not.

you were so lost in your thoughts, replaying the past few hours in your head, that you barely noticed when someone stepped beside you, leaning against the railing quietly.

"enjoying the seagulls?"

your heart nearly leaped out of your chest. snapping out of your daze, you turned your head, and immediately wished you hadn't.

leehan stood beside you, dressed in a black shirt, with beige cardigan that complimented his fair skin, paired with jeans. his usual oversized hoodie and sweatpants were nowhere in sight. instead, his, brown hair was neatly tucked behind his ear, with a few loose strands falling perfectly around his face. and to top it all off, he wasn't wearing his glasses today, revealing his soft, expressive eyes that you suddenly found impossible to look away from.

you felt yourself freeze, blinking once, twice, just to make sure this wasn't some sort of hallucination. dressed up leehan was a rare sight. a painfully attractive one, at that.

he raised a brow at your delayed reaction, a small smile tugging at his lips. "you okay?"

crap, say something. anything.

"uh- yeah," you blurted out, feeling your face heat up. you quickly turned back toward the ocean, willing yourself to focus on the waves instead of the ridiculously handsome boy standing beside you. "weather's pretty clear today."

leehan smirked, "yeah, it is."

the silence that followed wasn't awkward, but rather comfortable—just the two of you standing there, the wind carrying the distant sound of chatters and crashing waves. you stole a quick glance at him, only to find that he was already looking at you.

"let's walk?" leehan straightened up, pushing himself off the railing and turning to face you.

you nodded, smiling. "alright, let's go."

as the two of you strolled side by side, you instinctively took your place on his left. but before you could settle into your place, leehan gently tapped a hand on your shoulder, guiding you to switch places.

"bikes and people running past—might hit you," he explained, flashing a small smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

you pursed your lips, trying to contain the grin trying to spread across your face. "oh- yeah, right," you stammered.

as you walked, you could feel his gaze on you. you caught glimpses of it from your peripheral vision, but you didn't dare look. if you did, he would see the shade of tomato blooming on your cheeks.

then, in that soft, teasing tone of his, he spoke. "you look different today, hm."

your brows furrowed as you turned to him. "different? me?" you pointed at yourself, playing dumb.

leehan nodded, keeping his gaze forward. "mhm, pretty different." he paused, eyes drifting off as if suddenly fascinated by the stalls lining the street smirk, "like, pretty."

then, he broke into a giggle. you let out an embarrassed laugh, nudging his arm. "why are you laughing? you probably didn't even mean that."

leehan's giggles faded into a small smile, one that felt sincere. "i mean it," he said, glancing at you again. "you look nice."

your smile faltered for a split second—not out of disappointment, but because internally, you were already soaring a thousand miles above the ground, but on the outside, you tried to play it cool.

"thank you...?" you scratched your cheek, voice coming out higher than you intended. "i mean—you look great today too." you chuckled, quickly averting your eyes, "no glasses suit you."

leehan hummed, touching his temple. "really? i'm wearing contacts right now."

you tilted your head slightly. "mhm, well..." you hesitated before finally turning to look at him directly. his eyes met yours, and for a moment, you simply observed. but apparently, your gaze held more power than you thought, because leehan visibly tensed, his ears turning bright red.

you smiled. "you look nice without glasses, but with glasses... you're leehan."

he blinked, processing your words before narrowing his eyes. "i'm what?" he asked.

you shifted on your feet, feeling like you'd just set yourself up for embarrassment. "you're you when you wear glasses... and, well, we're also matching."

the second the words left your mouth, you wanted to disappear. 'matching?? am i deadass?'

leehan didn't say anything at first. just a slow nod. then, after a moment of silence, he suddenly pointed at a food stall. "let's eat there. my treat."

you opened your mouth to object, but before you could get a word out, he swiftly shushed you. "shh, no buts."

with that, he turned on his heel and stepled toward the stall, leaving you standing there, still recovering from the rollercoaster of emotions he'd just put you through.

but then, just as he walked ahead, he casually threw over his shoulder, "also... i'd wear those glasses every day from now on."

he didn't even look back, but you could hear the grin in his voice. you bit your lip, shaking your head with a smile as you caught up to him.

the entire day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. was a wrap. usually, spending this long outside with liz would leave you drained. you could already picture yourself slumped on a bench, legs aching, hair a mess, and sighing dramatically about the cruelty of existence. but with leehan? it was different. not a single muscle in your foot felt strained, your throat wasn't dry from talking too much, and even your hair, somehow—remained perfectly in place. if anything, every hour with him felt like a breath of fresh air, rejuvenating instead of exhausting.

and then there were the stolen glances. the ones that made your stomach flip and your heart flutter. every time you caught him looking, his ears would turn a bright, almost comical shade of red, and he'd break into giggles like he had just been caught doing something illegal. which, honestly? in the court of your heart, that was a crime. because what was he doing looking at you like that? did he like you? did you have something on your face? or god forbid, did you look ugly?

now, the two of you stood in front of one of the large aquarium tanks, deciding to walk around before it closes. the dim blue light reflecting off your faces as you both gazed at the marine life gliding through the water. schools of silver fish shimmered as they rippled around, and a stingray floated lazily. you and leehan stood close, but still in your own little bubbles, existing side by side.

out of nowhere, leehan let out a soft chuckle, brushing the back of his hand over his mouth as if trying to stifle it.

you turned to him with a puzzled smile. "what?"

he shook his head, hands slipping behind his back, eyes flickering between you and the tank. "i just remembered something," he said, grinning. "back in seventh grade, i was staring at a koi pond, and it's still one of my best memories."

your eyebrows furrowed. "what, just… looking at a pond?"

"not just any pond," he said. "the one where you suddenly sat beside me."

your face scrunched up in confusion as he continued.

"you were wearing a jumper and a blue shirt. your hair was in these…" he gestured vaguely to his own head. "uneven pigtails."

you gasped in mock offense. "they were not uneven!"

"oh, i still remember, they definitely were," he teased before chuckling. "i thought you were, like, some nerd who also like fishes like me, so i just started blabbering about different koi breeds."

leehan paused, biting back another laugh. "but then i turned to you, and you were just..." he suddenly mimicked your exact expression from back then—mouth slightly agape, wide-eyed, and staring so intently at him that it could've burned a hole through his forehead.

you gasped. "i did not look like that!"

"oh, you so did," he said, doubling over laughing as you lightly shoved his shoulder.

"fine, i admit i had no clue what you were talking about back then," you admitted, crossing your arms. "but it's also the exact moment i got interested in fishes, so there."

the second the words left your mouth, your mind froze. you had just exposed yourself.

his laughter faded into a softer smile. "wait… really?"

you nodded, shifting on your feet. "yeah- i mean... at first, i was just trying to understand what you were saying so i wouldn't look dumb, but then… i actually got into it."

leehan's lips parted slightly, as if something was dawning on him. then, with a boyish grin, he hummed, "huh… that's cute."

your face warmed. "shut up."

"i just—" he let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. "i honestly thought you were super into it that day. i didn't realize you were just trying to keep up."

"well," you fumbled, twisting the fabric of your skirt between your fingers. "i wanted to be your friend so i thought learning about something you love would help… and besides, marine life is actually interesting."

leehan hummed, nodding slowly as he kept his gaze on the tank. then, without looking at you, he muttered, "i actually thought you were really adorable back then."

your heart skipped a beat, but before you could say anything, he continued. "but then you… kind of disappeared. well, not literally," he clarified, squinting as if trying to find the right words. "more like, i noticed you stopped talking to me as much. i thought maybe i weirded you out that day, and honestly?" he let out a self-deprecating laugh. "i got a little sad about it."

you felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment drop in your chest. "it wasn't that," you admitted softly. "i was just… scared you'd think i was uninteresting because i didn't know anything about your hobby." you rocked on the sole of your feet, staring at the glowing reflections on the floor. "that's why i started learning about marine biology. but the more i learned, the more i actually loved it."

leehan turned to face you fully now, a lopsided grin forming. "so you're telling me… you did all that just so you could be friends with me?"

the teasing in his voice made your stomach flip, but before you could deflect, he let out a dramatic sigh, clutching his chest. "that's so heartbreaking. here i was, thinking you actually liked me back then—ow."

you would've laughed, but instead, you internally cursed your luck. he used to like me when i thought i was the most boring person he had ever met?!

forcing out an awkward giggle, you tried to conceal the disappointment in your chest. "oh- really?" you bit your lip, shifting your eyes elsewhere. "well, yeah… what a shame, really."

leehan studied you for a moment, his teasing expression softening into something more sincere. he exhaled through his nose, running a hand through his hair. "honestly, it was the most embarrassing crush ever. i even tried to stop liking fish because i thought it made me weird."

your head snapped toward him. "and here i was spending my entire life liking fish because i thought it'd make you like me," you said with a small, incredulous smile.

he let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "i already liked you, fish or no fish." he sighed. "but… knowing that you found a passion because of me?" his voice was quieter now. "that actually makes me really happy."

your lips parted slightly as you finally looked at him—really looked at him. his eyes sparkled under the dim teal glow of the aquarium, his was relaxed, the light reflected off his face in a way that made your heart feel like it was trying to escape your chest.

and then, his voice dropped even softer. "actually—no." he hesitated, swallowing before continuing. "i like you. i was genuinely happy when i saw you here a week ago. and when you told me you were going to work here, i swear, i was kicking my feet home."

you swear you were soaring up high. your hands clenched at your sides as you tried to process his words. it was like a dream, a dream so surreal that you subtly pinched your leg just to make sure it was actually happening.

you opened your mouth, but nothing came out. leehan seemed to take that as hesitation because he quickly backtracked. "no,you don't have to say anything. i'm sorry if that—"

"no," you cut him off, your voice barely above a whisper. "leehan, i like you."

he froze.

"i lied about the whole 'friend' thing," you admitted, your head dropping to the floor. "i just… didn't think you'd like me."

you suddenly felt the presence of leehan's palms hovering near your cheeks, his fingertips hesitating just inches away. "can i?"

you gave a small nod. that was all he needed. his palms, warm and slightly trembling, finally cupped your cheeks, his touch was careful as if he were holding something fragile.

"i can't really say you shouldn't think like that," he assured, his voice dipping lower as he leaned in, his torso bowing slightly to match your height. "because i thought the same too—i thought you wouldn't like me."

your chest pounded at his confession, but before you could speak, he continued, his voice tuned with something raw, and vulnerable.

"but now that i'm close to you again, it feels like a door has reopened. and you don't even know how long i admired you, and waited for this."

your eyes finally flickered up to meet his. a small, barely there, laugh escaped your lips, "me too. it's almost funny."

leehan exhaled, his shoulders loosening slightly, and his other hand came up to cup the other side of your face, thumbs brushing over your smooth cheeks in slow, tender strokes. neither of you spoke. the world had shrunk down to just the two of you—the distant, rhythmic bubbling of water, the gentle gliding of fish behind the glass walls of the aquarium, the silence muffling between breaths.

his starry eyes were locked onto yours. you felt the moment shift, your pulse thrumming louder in your ears as he inched closer. your eyes fluttered shut, and that was his cue.

then—his lips met yours. soft, featherlight, barely a touch, yet enough to send warmth spreading through your entire body. his lips moved with gentle care, patient and unhurried. his thumbs caressed your skin, tracing slow, soothing circles against your cheeks.

your hands, instinctively, reached for him, fingers curling around his torso, pinching around the fabric of his cardigan. he tilted his head slightly, pressing another tender and soft kiss. but you didn't need to tiptoe, didn't need to reach because he was already there, leaning down to meet you effortlessly.

just as slowly as he had pressed a kiss to your lips seconds ago, he pulled away with the same careful hesitation. lingering for a moment. his eyes remained closed. then, slowly, they fluttered open—widened pupils reflecting the soft twinkles of light around you.

both of you let out a breathy chuckle. your hands, which had instinctively wrapped around his torso, loosened their hold, instead trailing down to grasp the hem of his sleeve.

leehan glanced down, noticing the way you clung to his clothing. without a word, he reached for your hands, gently removing them from his shirt—but instead of letting go, he brought them up, his fingers handling yours delicately. his gaze softened as he lifted your hand to his face, pressing a featherlight kiss against your knuckles.

his breath was warm as he whispered, "i've only been dreaming of this... i thought i was waiting for the impossible. and yet, here it is."

his fingers intertwined with yours as he lowered your hand, still holding onto it.

"ditto." you breathed out the word, an indescribable happiness spreading across your face, butterflies stirring restlessly in your stomach.

leehan exhaled a snicker. his fingers brushed a few stray strands from your face, tucking them into place. "would you… want to go out with me?" he asked, his lips curling into a hopeful smile. "a proper date?"

you let out a giggle, tilting your head. "well... isn't this already a proper date?"

leehan let out a grin, shaking his head in amusement. "then," he started, tightening his hold on your hands and swinging them lightly, "would you want to go out with me on a second proper date?"

you let the moment stretch just a little, teasingly squinting at him before breaking into a smile. "yes, yes, leehan. i would." you blinked at him, feeling his hands wrapping warmly around yours.

he laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners, before adding, "and… adopt corydoras too?"

a soft chuckle escaped your lips as you echoed, "and, adopt corydoras too."

[yourislandgirl]

*:ꔫ:*ₓₒ WHAT WAS LEFT UNSAID ˚ ༘♡ੈ✩ || 박성훈 x fem!reader || drabble

— KISS ME, DON’T SAY NO series

summary: being in a relationship with sunghoon was nothing short of absolute splendour, the love between you both was undeniable, and yet you find yourself curious to know where sunghoon’s love began, and what he did about it

genres: fluff, romance, non-idol!sunghoon x non-idol!reader, est. relationship, ft. tiny cameos of ive’s liz and rei

warnings: attempts at humour, sickeningly sweet and lovesick sunghoon, lowkey tsundere (shocking to no one) but it makes it a tinge angsty, mentions weed like one (1) time

w.c: 2.6k

[archive]

You were curious. So undeniably curious. It was all you could think about on the drive home from the café.

You’d spent the afternoon squished in a booth meant for two people, except there were three of you. Your college roommates, Liz and Rei, had sat on either side as three spoons dug into a large caramel sundae whilst you all reminisced on your shared four years of hell aka university.

Eventually the conversation led to relationships and you were introduced to a concept you hadn’t exactly considered before today — what did people do for each other before the relationship had even begun?

There wasn’t exactly concrete parameters for this, but you soon figured out what it meant:

Liz’s boyfriend had paid such close attention to her that without realising, he’d recognised something as inconspicuous as a change in her perfume; “I only ever wear floral scents, that’s all I really like aside from the occasional autumn-y kind, but he still noticed! I literally just switched from a rose scent to a lilac one.” You’d found it quite simple yet sweet, nothing astounding but still a moment of recognition, especially considering how Liz held floral perfumes so closely to her identity. But the depth of her boyfriends actions became clearer when Liz explained how he made a note of every sort of scent she liked and what she kept going back to, and for his first gift he got her the perfect perfume to add to her collection. You didn’t think you could smile any wider as you watched your friend’s glittering eyes while she spoke.

Rei’s girlfriend, on the other hand, was somewhat of a psychological mastermind. Every time they’d pass each other on campus, Rei would receive a little pinkie promise from the girl. For what reason? She did not know. But ultimately, it became their “thing”, and soon enough, Rei felt incomplete in her day if she did not receive that beloved pinkie promise. As you sat beside her in the cafe, Rei took many small moments to hide her face in her hands as she recounted how after they started dating, her girlfriend admitted with her whole chest that the pinkie promises were a deliberate tactic to get Rei thinking about her. “It’s so bad you guys, I can’t pinkie promise anyone else. Ever. Like, they’re all for her now. She’s ruined pinkie promises for me but in the best way!” And Rei then went back to hiding behind her hands.

So now you were stuck in this predicament. As you sat there in your car, stopped at a red light, you recalled the days spent interacting with your boyfriend prior to dating and you wondered to yourself, did Park Sunghoon ever do anything, intentionally or unintentionally, that indicated his feelings for you?

more under cut !!

If memory served you right (and it was unbelievably easy to remember, considering you’d sat your friends down and gone over every interaction you and Sunghoon had ever shared each step of the way) … Well, nothing seemed to stand out to you.

Sunghoon wasn’t a boring person by any means, he was incredibly witty, a wry sort of sarcasm, and then when you got to know him more and he felt more comfortable around you, the louder side of Sunghoon would blossom — the one who thrived off of dad jokes, the one that secretly enjoying being the little spoon, the one that refused to let go of your hand any time you both stepped outside, the one who seemed just as in love with you as you did with him.

So why couldn’t you remember anything?

You carefully parked your car and took the elevator up to your apartment, wondering if you may have done anything preemptively romantic towards Sunghoon. In that regard there was a lot that could be remembered:

There was the tiramisu cupcake that you suggested when you both were studying together in your second year of uni (you heard him mutter something about wanting to try it and snagged the perfect opportunity to connect with the cute guy in your class).

There was your subtle yet not so subtle interest in figure skating which came out of left field, purely because you’d heard that the cute guy in class used to train professionally in the sport.

There were little details about him that you’d pick up and hold close and reminisce about in the late hours of night, when thoughts became velvety and water coloured and meaning made no sense because something like love doesn’t have any meaning, it simply is.

And yet you couldn’t think of a single thing from Sunghoon’s side.

Maybe he was just not that kind of person? Maybe he only said and did and felt things once he was committed to someone? Maybe the build up to a romance isn’t that important… It was hard to convince yourself of that last one. After all, the greatest love stories only mattered because people cared about said build up.

“Whatever,” you muttered to yourself as you got out of the elevator. Walking towards your apartment you started delving through the contents of your bag, looking for your keys whilst trying your hardest to push the curiosity out of your mind. “It’s stupid anyway.”

“What’s stupid?”

You jolt a little, quickly relaxing at the sight of Sunghoon unlocking the door to the apartment. “Oh. Um, nothing.” You smiled somewhat convincingly, promptly rising up on your toes to reach his cheek and kiss him hello.

“Nope,” he swerved just in time to meet your lips with his, pulling you closer with one hand whilst opening the door with the other. He pulled back ever so slightly to mumble something at you "Missed you." His voice was so soft you almost didn't catch what he said before he leaned forward again, gently guiding the two of you inside.

He was dizzying. So effortlessly magnetic. And the warmth of being with him would never get old. But that was exactly why you just had to know.

You pulled away to catch your breath, trailing your hands down his arms as you asked him, "Did you ever do anything, before we started dating, purely because you liked me?"

Sunghoon tilted his head a little, “Like what?”

“I don’t know,” you gave a little shrug, a small smile blooming on your lips as he laced his fingers through yours. “Anything, really. Like Liz’s boyfriend unintentionally memorised her favourite perfumes. And Rei’s girlfriend ruined pinkie promises.”

“I’m sorry, what?” He chuckled softly, helping you out of your jacket and taking off his own before tossing them onto one of your armchairs. “Did you… want me to, uh, ruin pinkie promise?”

You felt your face heat up. “No!” It was hard not to laugh at his gradually confused expressions, the little crease in forehead coupled with his pout made him look extra adorable in your eyes. Reaching for his hand, you guided him towards the couch and you both fell back on it with a sigh.

“I just mean that…” You trailed off, trying to find the words. Softly tracing the lines on his palm, you gave yourself a second before speaking again. “When I first liked you, I wanted to know you. Really know you. I wanted to learn about everything you loved and fall in love with it too.”

Sunghoon nodded, his eyes never leaving yours. “And… You don’t think I did?”

“No! No, no, I just meant that— Well, I tried remembering, ya know? Whether you did anything like Liz and Rei’s partners? And, um, I couldn’t.”

You felt yourself cringe at the end of the sentence. It was hard to explain your thoughts without the grating nausea of hurting the man you love with an assumption that basically summed up to “ I don’t think you love me enough ” Even though you knew that was far from the truth.

Sunghoon frowned a little, his thumb still caressing your fingers, but his eyes moved past you, staring off in the direction of your bedroom.

“Hoon… Listen, I didn’t—”

“It’s okay.” Leaning forward, Sunghoon kissed you ever so gently before getting off the couch. “I need to show you something.”

You didn’t really know what to expect. Maybe it was something cute like a photo of you that he kept in one of his jacket pockets, or maybe he bought something just because you liked it, maybe he actually had said or done something to indicate that he loved you before he’d even told you.

He led you to the bedroom with a hesitant determination — an odd combination where his strides seemed confident but you recognised the signs of growing anxiety with the way he rubbed the back of his neck and kept stealing glances at you. When you both entered, Sunghoon headed for his side of the closet and started rummaging through his bags before finally fishing out his old college backpack.

“I honestly wanted to throw these sometimes, especially before we started dating because, well… What if we didn’t? Then all I’d have are these stupid things.”

You had no idea what he was referring to but you couldn’t bring yourself to interrupt, no matter how deep your curiosity ran. (Plus, it looked like he needed to say something, at least to push himself to show you whatever he was talking about).

He shuffled a little closer to you, biting back a smile that seemed to teeter on embarrassment. “Don’t laugh, I know this seems…odd. But I swear I didn’t know how else to deal it with.”

“Okay,” You laughed nervously, “Now you’re scaring me. What are you talking about?”

Sunghoon reached inside his bag, with its coffee stains and enamel pins (both being curtesy of you) and he pulled out what looked like five letters, bound together by a rubber band.

You gave him a confused expression but took the letters carefully and walked towards the bed, hearing Sunghoon following after you. As you pulled each letter apart, you noticed they were all dated to before the both of you got together.

Finding the earliest one, you turned it over and went to open it before halting. “Can I?”

Sunghoon nodded, “Of course you can”

Carefully pulling out the paper, you unfolded it to read:

I knew I shouldn’t have taken elective Psych … but I did. And here we are.

Professor Yoon said that the unspoken desire is what gets left to fester. And I don’t think I really want this desire right now. I kinda just want to pass classes and go to a party or two. Maybe try some weed? I don’t know just the whole college experience.

So maybe if I get these desires out on a page and then toss them later on, maybe they won’t fester. I should submit this for extra credit. NO WTF AM I SAYING … Anyway

I saw someone today. No, correction, I met someone today. I can’t remember when I first saw her but I’ve been seeing her around ever since first year and holy shit knuckles she is dangerous she’s kinda cute

She’s in my business class. She’s got a smile like literal sunlight She always mumbles to herself when she’s confused or annoyed about something. It’s distracting.

I want to talk to her. Maybe tell her to stop with the mumbling? Yeah. I might do that.

You knew you were smiling — like literal sunlight apparently — but you didn’t want to stop no matter how much your cheeks hurt.

“Are they all like this?” You asked Sunghoon who’d shuffled closer to you as way to hide behind your shoulders inconspicuously.

“Well…”

You giggled and refusing to wait for his response, you went to the next letter. And then the next, and the next. You read through them at a ravaging pace, devouring every word, scoffing at every spot of denial, sighing against Sunghoon as you reread every compliment he gave, noticing how he stopped bothering to cross them out.

Then you finally reached the last letter.

Sunghoon had moved beside you, having started enjoying your reactions, he’d occasionally turned away, burying his face into your shoulder, but for the most part he’d read along with you.

At your hesitation to open the letter, he took it out of your hands and did it for you.

“You’ve gone this far, might as well go all the way.”

You smirked, “Even if it means more embarrassment?”

“Hey, I bagged you didn’t I?” Sunghoon lazily draped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you closer. “I think I win.”

“Uh huh.” His self obsessed tone was nothing short of entertaining, and while you’d normally give in to an opportunity for banter, the letter in his hands was more important.

It was short, a few lines at most, but your heart swelled as you read it:

I think i knew from the first letter, so I might as well admit it. I’m in love with Y/n. And I’m going to do something about it today. So this might be the last letter. I mean, it should be, right?

I know what her and I have is special, so, I should be able to tell my thoughts to her instead of telling it to paper. I should say them to her.

Yeah. I’ve decided. This is the last one.

Anyway, Yoon’s kind of an idiot. Those desires festered one way or another.

If this works out with her I could invite him to the wedding? Actually let’s not

A warmth embraced you as you folded the letter shut. Sunghoon held you closer to his chest, his lips brushing against your hairline.

You whispered, afraid that if you spoke louder you might choke up and cry. “This is what you meant by dealing with it?”

“Mhm.”

Your breathy laughs seemed to ease his tense shoulders and you felt him relax against you.

“Y/n?”

“Hm?” You moved away to look up at him.

His eyes darted across your face before settling on your hands, “I know I’m not great at always saying everything I’m thinking.”

You frowned “No, Sunghoon—”

“I’m not, I know that.” His fingers reached up to the tuck some of your hair away from your face. “But, I need you to know that I loved you like a millennia before I even told you. And even if I left it all unsaid, it doesn’t change that.”

You brushed your nose against his, your heart racing at the way his half lidded gaze was fixated on you. “I know, Sunghoon,” you whispered.

“Good. Because it’s been over thirty minutes since we last kissed and I’m feeling very neglected right now.”

You scoffed, looking away as you nudged his ribs gently. “Needy much?”

His laugh started a flurry in your chest. “Yeah. In need of you. Look at me.”

You willed yourself to turn back, immediately unable to control the sunbeam smile forming on your face. Sunghoon tilted your chin up ever so slightly, his hand sliding up to cup your jaw. The build up was bubbling inside — the need to go and grab something you want so badly and yet you hold off, because you know it’s worth the wait.

You both slowly moved closer, softly feeling the heat of each other’s breath on your cheeks, before Sunghoon finally pushed himself forward, a searing kiss sealing the trepidation.

It was so worth it. And as an added bonus of validation, you were right; the build up matters.

a.n: FINALLY HERE IS THE NEXT INSTALMENT !! i’ve been unbelievably busy, like . seriously.. uni has been beating me up but… i’ve got two weeks of mid sem break (or more like one and a half weeks now) and i plan to do some writing so pls be patient with me 🥲 anyway to whoever’s stuck around with me, i hope you enjoyed this one!! i had fun writing it xx

taglist: @oceanstide — @sheepsgf — @itsrinsdrs — @enjakey

2025 © yourislandgirl

[angstywaifu]

Black Dahlia - 8. Prove You Wrong

One tragic day changes Dahlia's life forever. Despised by her father and brother, she's spent her entire life trying to be the child and sister she use to be. But nothing she ever does is good enough. She joins the Rider's Quadrant to prove them wrong. Garrick now in his second year has proven he is more than the mark on his skin to his fellow riders, and taken leadership of his own Squad alongside Xaden. Little does he know the girl walking across the parapet is about to send him on a rollercoaster of a year. Set Pre Fourth Wing/Books

Garrick Tavis x OC (Dahlia Aetos)

Black Dahlia Masterlist | Masterlist

I join the crowd of cadets making their way to the gym, the first round of challenges finally here. My staff firmly grasped in my hand. Before I can pass through the door with everyone else, a hand grasps my arm firmly, pulling me roughly from the crowd as I stumble over my feet. I right myself, prying the hand from my arm to look up and see Dain staring down at me.

”What the hell do you want?” I snap at him.

I’d gone most of the last two weeks without interacting with him. Only catching his eyes on me during battle brief and during meals. Luckily our squads had not been paired together for any classes, meaning I got a lot of time away from him. Otherwise I know I would have crossed paths with him already.

”Just wanting to make sure you do your best in there and don’t disappoint dad.” He tells me bluntly.

”Oh don’t worry, father dearest won’t have to worry about that.” I snap before pivoting on my heel and walking away.

”What about those marked ones you’re training with?” He calls out, causing me to stop in my tracks.

Shit. Clearly Dain was paying more attention to me than I thought. As well as training with Austin and Liz, Bodhi had brought along another marked first year called Ciaran . But we weren’t always the only squad in there. Every night there would be marked ones from other squads scattered around the gym, keeping the allocated distance as dictated by leadership. Marked ones weren’t allowed to hang out in groups of more than three. And I knew exactly what it looked like to Dain. I turn back to him, that smug smirk on his face that I had grown to know as a look he got when he thought he had caught me out. Not today.

”I’m not training with them. I’m training with my squad, helping those who need it. No rules against that. And the other squads are more than welcome to use the space as well.” I tell him with the smile I usually used when talking to our father.

”You need to be mindful of the company you’re keeping. Word might get out. Not exactly a good look for us.” The tone almost similar to the one our father used when giving orders. Except Dain hasn’t nailed the commanding authoritive edge to it needed to drive it home.

”Oh yes, because me being a good squad member and helping others is such a bad look. Leadership are definitely going to hate me doing that, and being able to work with others. Maybe you should take some notes if you want to impress dad and have a leadership position next year. Wouldn’t want to disappoint him.” I mock back, before pivoting on my heel to walk inside the gym.

By the time I get inside challenges have already started up. I push my way through the crowd to where I can see Bodhi’s head sticking up above the crowd. And on the mat in front of us was Austin, facing off against a far bigger first year from First Wing. Two weeks ago I would have been a little nervous for the outcome of the fight. But as she ducks under his swing and takes his knee out with a well placed kick, I have nothing to worry about. And I can’t help the slight smile that works its way onto my face. It had only been a bit over a week that we had been training together, but her and Liz had come a long way since then. Both practically sponges with the information and techniques I was showing them. They weren’t perfect, but they knew enough to hold their own more comfortably.

”Durran and Stoll, you’re up. And Cardulo and Huxley you’re up to.” Emetterio calls out, pointing to the boy standing next to me and the pink haired girl I now knew as Imogen from the few times I had seen her in the gym.

I lookover as she pushes through the crowd, drawing my attention to Dain who is looking right at me, with a look that tells me he is not convinced about the conversation we had outside. He was definitely going to go and tell our father about this. And as much as I wanted to say it didn’t worry me. It did. I might be away from our father, but he still had power over me here.

”For someone who apparently took a third year down so easily two weeks ago, you’re looking pretty nervous Aetos.” A voice drawls from next to me.

I turn my head, and standing right where Bodhi had been moments prior was someone I hadn’t been this close to since conscription day. Someone who had shown how much they wanted nothing to do with me every time our eyes met. Garrick. I almost have have to crane my neck to meet his eyes. He was easily the tallest rider in the quadrant. And probably the biggest. And yet he had managed to squeeze into the space Bodhi had once been. But I had seen the way other riders moved out of his and Xaden’s way in the halls. No one wanted to mess with them. And I couldn’t blame them. One look at Garrick and I knew I had no chance against him on the mat. Maybe if I could wear him out, but I could tell that wouldn’t be easy.

”Don’t call me that.” I snap back before turning my gaze back to the challenges in front of me.

”Someone’s touchy about their name.” He teases before chuckling.

Gods I wish I could punch him and shut him up.

”Yes, something you should have learnt on my first day here.” I point out before clenching my jaw.

Something he must notice as he chuckles again. “Oh I did. And before long you and that brother of yours will learn your name will only get you so far here. I can see it in your face, you got lucky with that third year.”

Oh but he was wrong. Very wrong. The emotions that must have crept onto my face were nothing to do with the challenge awaiting me when my name was called. There was no denying my fight against Nari and I had been over and done with quicker than a lot of others during assessment day. And due to Garrick not having shown up to any of the training sessions I had been at in the gym, he was yet to see me actually fight.

”Henrick and Ae- Dahlia! You’re up!” Emetterio calls out, pulling me from my moment with Garrick as I turn to watch another first year from Dain’s squad walk onto the mat, sword clutched in his hands.

Goosebumps work my way onto my neck, causing me to shiver as Garrick leans down to place his mouth next to my ear. “Go on then little Aetos. Try prove me wrong.”

Oh don’t worry Garrick Tavis. I will prove you wrong. Though I don’t say the words out loud, keeping them to myself as I grip the staff in my hand tightly before walking onto the mat. I didn’t need to live up to my name. Didn’t want to be anything associated to that last name. I needed to prove that I was more than just the Colonel’s daughter. That despite my last name I had worked and earned what I was here to do. Not just handed it on a silver platter because of that name. I almost feel sorry for the boy stood in front of me, his light brown hair curling on his head, the freckles scattered on his face giving him a youthful look to his appearance.

With a flick of my arm, the staff that I’d had retracted till now expands to its full height. The one upside to my last name was the weapon smiths. Any idea they had, they were willing to help create. One of which was the staff in my hand. I was good with the staff, even if it wasn’t a popular choice. Especially amongst riders. Mastering a staff meant you had a lot of flexibility in finding something you could use as a weapon. A handy skill to have out in the field if you got caught out. I swear I can hear Garrick snicker from behind me at my choice in weapon.

The boy and I circle each other, eyeing each other up as we look for an opening to attack. I lung forward, testing to see how he would react as I hadn’t seen him fight before. He easily deflects my incoming attack before coming back at me with a series of powerful slashes. He clearly knew his way around a sword. Good. I wanted a challenge. But I could tell he was unsure of my weapon of choice, his eyes moving up and down the staff as he takes in how I move.

I feign an attack to his right before pivoting towards his left as he takes the bait, swinging to block an attack that never comes. I watch as his eyes go wide as I swing low, taking out his legs from under him as he falls to the ground. He quickly bounces back as he rolls out of it before spinning back towards me, sword gripped tightly in his hands again. He comes at me with a series of strikes, trying to closer the gap to gain the advantage. But I block every single strike with ease.

I can see the frustration building in his eyes each time I dodge his attack. He’s skilled, but I hold the advantage with my weapon. I take a moment to catch my breath, waiting for an opening. Which comes seconds later as he charges forward with a powerful swing. I quickly side-step, lashing out with my staff in a quick jab. The impact sends him stumbling back and I see my opening and I don’t hesitate to make my move. I thrust my staff towards the unprotected area, meeting its mark with ease. My staff connecting with a satisfying blow that sends him sprawling to the ground as I sweep his feet out from under him. He hits the mat with a solid thud as his sword flies from his hand. He makes a move to grab his sword, his movements sluggish after hitting the mat. But I’m quicker, pinning him as I place my boot on his chest, staff pushing down on his neck. The boy looks up at me wide eyed, shocked I had pinned him within two minutes, before nodding his head in a sign of defeat.

”Aetos is the winner!” Emetterio declares, before moving to select the next cadets to take to the mat.

I release the boy from beneath me, pivoting on my heel to return to my squad. I can’t help but smirk at the scowl on Garrick’s face before he turns and pushes his way through the crowd. Told you I’d prove you wrong.

@imtoanonymousforyou @simplyme-fornow @omalmal @lalaluch @wolfbc97 @leptitlu @fullmoon-94

[callsign-rogueone]

Hi, Liz! Technically, we’re mutuals, but I have terrible social anxiety so I’m gonna remain ✨anon.✨

I was rereading “Allies” earlier and I had a thought. Brennan obviously thinks that the braids that Duchess wears are gorgeous — and rightfully so. How do you think he reacted seeing her hair *down* for the first time? Do you think he’s like Xaden when it comes to Vi’s loose hair? Idk — I just thought it was cute hehe

— ❤️‍🩹 Anon (?)

I promise I’m nice, and you can dm my main any time!! especially if it’s about my girls, hehe. (now I’m wondering who you could be. I have one person in mind, who I know likes Brennan… and started writing for fw kinda recently… but it would be so awkward if I guessed wrong shsbjssb) anyway ily!! 🩷

and to answer your question: Brennan.exe has stopped working. here’s a very rushed very short scene of what could have happened, from when they were still bb cadets!

He hadn’t really thought about just how long your hair would be out of the braids. To see it now, cascading over your shoulders… it feels much more intimate than anything else about the situation — you being together in your room after dark, seeing you in pajamas…

Why is he looking at you like that?

“Are you okay?”

It takes him a second. “Yeah,” he manages, his cheeks pinkened. “It’s just… your hair.”

You bring a hand up to squeeze the water out of the ends with your towel, eyebrows drawn together in concern. “What about it?”

“I’ve never seen it down before. It’s nice.”

“Oh,” you respond, not sure what else to say. Why are things still so awkward, even after you’ve confessed your feelings to each other?

You settle into your desk chair without further comment, running a brush through it until you’re satisfied with the smoothness.

He’s still watching you from his hesitant perch on the edge of your bed — he’s spent the night once before, but doesn’t yet feel like he belongs here.

He doesn’t miss the soft noise of discomfort as you lift your arms behind your head, starting to part it into sections. Today’s training had been brutal, and both of you are going to be incredibly sore tomorrow.

“I could do it for you,” he blurts.

“Hm?”

“Your braids. Since your arms already hurt. It won’t be as good as yours, but I’ve had a decent amount of practice from my sisters, so…”

Gods, you love the way he blushes every time you look at him. “That would be nice,” you say, offering him a soft smile.

He settles behind you, taking a moment just to play with the damp strands. In the small mirror, he watches your eyes fall shut, the tension leaving your shoulders as his fingertips rub against your scalp.

Later, as you both settle into bed, Brennan Sorrengail thanks each of the gods by name for letting your paths cross.

[sunflouwerhabit]

IN YOUR EYES, I’M ALIVE 🧡🐈‍⬛🍂

therogueskimo & sunflouwerhabit | 190k | AO3 | Complete

Louis knows three things to be true:

1) His ability to see the future is not an honor or gift. It destroys lives.

2) He can never return home to Braris

3) Solitude is his only hope for survival

Enter Harry.

Written for the @1dangstfest , with @bravetemptation

~~~

Fantasy AU | Witch/Seer Louis | Mortal Harry | Strangers to Friends to Lovers | Reasonably Paced Burn | Angst with a Happy Ending | Hurt and Comfort | Attempt at Humor | Falling in Love | First Times | Life in Milan, Ohio (Ohio Again? Always Ohio!).

~~~

Hello my fellow Magian,

Today, Liz and I are sharing with you a story that quite literally consumed our every waking thoughts for the past seven months. The enormity of this moment, for my own tired little heart, cannot be overstated.

In Your Eyes, I’m Alive has gone on quite the journey. From the last of the summer days in August 2024 - when we Facetimed for over two hours to plot this story - to the now bittersweet innocence of September and a new, horrific normal come October. In the barren cold of November, December, and January, we wrote and we plotted and we cried and we laughed and we sent late night audio messages and we grieved and we grieved and we grieved. We spent Harry’s birthday together in February and wrote a few scenes while sitting side by side.

Now we’re here.

Life looks so different than it did in August. Much of what has changed has been for the worse. In so many ways, In Your Eyes, I’m Alive was my safety net. A constant. Something for me to invest the good and the ugly of life into. She is a reflection of my soul through some of the worst months of my life. Please be gentle with her.

And read the Author’s Notes and Tags for relevant Content Warnings. Reach out to either Liz or myself if you have questions or concerns.

Please go forward into Braris. Revel in the magic. Predict the future with Louis, be entranced by the wonderfulness that is Harry. Wear Magenta. Book an appointment at the Apothecary and fall in love with Bagel the cat. Laugh with Niall and Liam and learn with Dariun. Go to the winter markets with Zayn. Cry and laugh and grieve and find that a better world is possible, we just have to be brave.

Of course, thank you to Pey, Jae, and Maggie for being our extra eyes and for loving this story, too. Thank you to Niv for creating two gorgeous moodboards. Thank you to Addie and Caro for all their work in organizing the Angst Fest.

Most of all, thank you to Liz for making my life bolder and better and for letting me join you in these universes. Thank you for introducing me to the world of fantasy and encouraging me every step of the way. I love getting to write with you, and to know you. You’re incredible. I love you!

Sending you all our love. The story has been ours and ours alone for seven months. I am so excited to welcome you into this magical little universe we have created.

Go forth into Braris. Stay awhile.

She was created with love and with magic.

Sincerely,

The Wordsmith and the Archivist x

[lilly-chou-chou]

GYARU GUIDE,

MID-PLUS SIZE EDITION:-

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Welcome to yet another post!! Today I'd like to focus on plus size gyaru because let's be real every size deserves to dress the way they want and even Japan's iconic gyaru brands sadly didn't cater to them and the only thing plus size gyaru could buy from these brands were accessories, shoes and scarfs, but they deserve more!

In this post I will be talking about a lot of things from skinny ideal type gyarus to obviously mid-plus size gals, how gyaru has become a toxic fashion culture, the whole ethical and sustainable debate and of course where you can source your clothes from and many more.

Context page:-

Introduction

Background

The Harsh Truth (privilege, living in a bubble, etc)

Problems, are they really tho? (Ethical, overconsumption, fast fashion etc)

Resources (where to buy)

Outro

I have been war with my body for a really long time and it took me so many years to finally love what I saw on the mirror and I have been fluctuating my weight for a long time so I can definitely assure you guys that I can understand and see all perspectives.

Every time I see any posts or something mid size and plus size are always excluded but not anymore, I have few guides and even sites and such to help you girlies and even few criticism and opinions <3

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Background:-

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As we all know the whole purpose of gyaru was and still is to rebel against the norms of societal pressure, especially for Japanese women where topic such as freedom soeech and general personal choices are very considered to be very dire but with the rise of Gyaru and having global celebrity sensation like Namie Amuro and kaoru watanabe popularizing the gyaru concept really helped the youth of Japan express themselves lot freely.

Economic and fashion market saw this as an opportunity and so soon household names that defined gyaru fashion started to erupt like D.I.A, MA*RS, JSG (Japanese super girl), ALBA ROSA, Liz Lisa etc and malls like Shibuya 109 and magazines like ahega, egg etc became the household name for these brands but sadly amidst the uproar and the rise of Gyaru fashion one thing that companies and even magazines to even this day the digital footprint of Gyaru always excludes MID-PLUS size people.

Some of y'all might say "but almost everyone is Japan are really slim so why should they cater to others?" Well the truth is plus size people do exist in Japan but finding that demographic in google is really difficult but when I spent my years in Japan, yea, they do exist and there are good number of them.

It also doesn't help tue fact that even in general there isn't much famous MID-PLUS size models or popular people in Japan the only celebrity who managed to push the way through the harsh and diabolical Japanese entertainment industry is obviously Naomi Watanabe she has been the pioneer for size inclusiveness for many years and it absolutely admirable how she manages to survive such harsh industry where even dating is considered taboo, although I would like to put 2 more honorable mentions to this and they are Dulmi who is Sri Lankan and Japanese model and Miu Tomita (actress) they aren't gyaru by any means but they are definitely tue closest representation of plus size media in Japan and you guys can already make out how few mid-plus size people actually make it a success in Japanese entertainment industry especially if you're a woman.

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The Harsh Truth:-

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I will say few things that will definitely cause a lot of rage but it must be said. We shouldn't live in this rose tinted glass and be real and connect with the reality. Doing any sort of fashion it doesn't even matter gyaru or even Japanese fashion in general but either way when you choose to dress a certain style only and focus on your craft that is called privilege. I don't think people I'm general realize how lucky they are to be able to spend 300$ on a singular iconic bow hair accessory from ma*rs that went on sale on eBay or Zenmarket.

I also don't think people realize how much of a privilege it is to be able to go to thrift stores buy what you like then go to fabric store get your things and tweak your own clothes like that also I don't think people realise how much of a privilege it is that sometimes when other gals try to do something different they shame them and thus it's one of the reason why gyaru is almost dead fashion culture, the toxicity and whole plethora of "oh I know better than you, you are stupid for acting and asking such easy questions" and etc is why new gals are so afraid to ask seasoned gals some advice.

We all started somewhere some early and some late, gals in it's peak were known to be one of the most kindest people and total girls girls to ever exist, their "loud" behavior was just them being unapologetic and having fun, where is this energy now? Especially gaijin gals, most foreginer gyarus know that main reason of gyaru's existence was to refute Japan's traditionalist views and letting women be who they wanna be yet they forget the most basic thing and often shame a lot of gals for not sourcing clothes the "correct way" and even if some gals make mistakes can we all please be kind to each other about it? I have joined and seen multiple YouTube videos, reels, tik toks, even reddit, tumblr, X and even Instagram of new gals and plus size gals literally getting scared and saying "I just keep my mouth shut and google and do my own research because my past experiences of asking were very negative"

Okay, to old gals can we please be welcoming to new gals and not scrutinize them like this? And this doesn't end at just new gals but we have to keep in mind that every single of us have different body types, not all of people can have the privilege to buy of brands because of financial issues or sizing problems so can we as a community please for the love of this fashion culture stop saying such jaded things like "you don't even own one gyaru brands? You aren't real gyaru" and this doesn't just apply to clothes but accessories produced by those brands as well.

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Problems, but they really tho? :-

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over here we take a little philosophical route to be honest, we need to understand and empathize with all sides. I will say something which will case a lot of controversy but it must be said, as someone who has been gyaru follower and started dressing up gyaru quiet early in life and even experienced gyaru in Japan and who practically lived inside Shibuya 109 I can tell you that whole gyaru culture lives off of overconsumption and this is the truth, from well known and very famous subcultures like agejo Or himekaji to very less known and rare subcultures like mode and bohemian everything is and extension of overconsumption like it Or not even if you diy some clothes or such majority of it like hair extensions, brands, makeup to iconic gyaru nail designs everything is a part of overconsumption and you are a willing participant of it, shit! I know I am because I for one can't make my own extensions or wigs ffs and even if I were to make my own nails I'd still have to go out to buy necessary tools for it.

On this topic I'd also like to say another controversial thing and that is we shouldn't really judge people for shopping from fast fashion and here is why because some might have financial issues or live around were there isn't really second hand clothing stores or they are mid-plus size. There might be a debate and I might definitely get comments like "but oh I am big size, poor and live in remote area yet I don't indulge in fast fashion" and that's okay, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it but don't judge without knowing the reason why.

Sure, you might even think "no you are being stupid" but I'd like just for you guys to maybe look into this thing called perspective and maybe get off of your privileged view and look into other perspectives. Being ethical in this era is very difficult with us being the victims of capitalism from the phones we use to even down right food we consume, be it from supermarket or even organic farm. There are many questions to he asked like were our Vegetables grown ethically? Were the pesticides made with ethical ingredients? Did the farmer source the seeds ethically or not? The truth is we can't always be 100% ethical but we can try about best to reduce when we can.

Above reasons are also why I'm always sympathetic towards gals who happen to shop on fast fashion. You and I are blessed and privileged enough to mindlessly spend $$$ on Vivienne Westwood or Sandy Liang but others aren't due to financial issues and just because they are financially unstable doesn't even they can't dream, they also have 100% right to dream and partake in their hobbies and likes. I'll also always have sympathy for gals because finding big sizes in thrift stores can also be a hassle.

In conclusion what I'm trying to say is as bad at it seems not everything is 100% ethical one of the few examples of this is himejaki and tsuyome winter wear usually they wear fur and to be honest vintage real fur is WAY more ethical and environmentally friendly because that fur has been passed down from generation to generation from first manufacturers to family heirloom or given to thrift and someone thrifted it and now using it than faux that we get these days because they aren't ethical AT ALL!!

On the side note thrifting these days also is very difficult due to it being the next new "it" thing and store owners are literally racking up the prices because Veronica from lower East Side, New York wants to buy it and then sell it for 500 or more $$$ in Depop to profit off of literally pre worn and second hand clothes!

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Resources:-

(where, when, how?)

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The most awaited part of the post is here, so let's begin!! These are some of the few ways that I source my clothes, this applies to not only gyaru clothes but other types of fashion as well like grunge, emo, coquette etc etc. Mind you that gyaru is almost dying fashion community and finding clothes that cater to mid to plus size is difficult but I tried my best and here are few lists that I found by searching and have experience from having buying from these stores.

Instagram stores: there isn't one specific stores that I can recommend because for this you really need to search and look at every single post to see if it fits substyle you're following or not but there are some of the pages that do international shipping. y2xvintage (London Based) , velvethrift (Mexico based) , pepxicola.thrift (Ho Chi Minh based) , pixz_style (Peru based), weirdwearx (Philippines based), gimmeclothingy2k (Thailand based) I must say that not every one of these stores sell only gyaru but I have seen one or few pieces that fit gyaru style and it is difficult to find plus size sizes because they are second hand clothes and they buy in wholesale regardless of size but once you see a plus size clothes they're good and worth money.

Online stores: these are some of the online stores that you guys can visit. Honey wardrobe, punyus Naomi Watanabe's brand (not gyaru by all means but they do have good collection for kogal inspired skirts and few pieces that can go well for rokku gyaru), ank rouge (good selection for hime and himekaji although dresses aren't plus size friendly their poncho and oversized clothes collection is really good) , Dreamvs, Yumetenbo, Tokyo otaku mode (you can search Galaxxxy which is brand for Haady gyaru), Zenmarket and taobao (3rd party shopping) and I will get hate for this but Amazon yea they do have cute accessories like leg warmers and iconic light brown cardigans for kogal and those buckles shoes for kogal, hime and himekaji

Physical store: well for physical store there is only one which is Shibuya 109 and that too if you go to Japan. Sorry there isn't any physical stores in present era that cater to gyaru, although throughout years stores in Shibuya 109 has changed so much and in the recent years the latest I know is this year when I had gone to Japan again and there on the either 4th or top floor i forgot but there is this store called spinns and next to that store is this Gothic and emo store and both spinns and gothic/emo store sell pretty good street style but few belts and accessories can totally work for Tsuyome they have belts for plus size too and few belts even have bedazzled words that lowkey resemble the bling bling visual of iconic D.I.A belts, but i think spinns does have an international site with worldwide shipping as well so check them out.

Other ways: obviously is tweaking here and there and making your clothes, for people who don't know how to the most easiest trick is to find the clothes you wanna change and start small like for example agejo is my favorite subculture so i go ham on animal print or any cute print bows and buy lots of bead string decors from online (Amazon and Instagram wholesale stores) and stick them to my heels, denim skirts and my tops.

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Outro

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So sorry for the delay I kept editing, adding and removing but I think so far what I have done is good enough, for now it's this much, hope to meet you guys in my next post. Bye pretty gals!! <3 💃🏻💕

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[asmutwriter]

The Gangsta's Wife (Part 10)

DESCRIPTION: You decide its time to show off your new found home that your husband had bought with a big, celebratory party.

A/N - This part was about 2K words shorter. But then I made the smut part way more graphic and slightly longer. I hope you enjoy

WORD COUNT: 5401

From Beginning / Previous / Next / Master List  

WARNINGS: smoking, swearing, talk of a breakup, guns, smut, hair pulling, oral (m receiving), praise, spit, mild masochism (both m and f), pet names (sir, love), possession kink, pussy slapping, fingering, mild orgasm denial, sub reader, dom Tommy, creampie, unprotected sex, teasing, dacryphillia

DISCLAIMERS

This is fiction. Please always talk to your partner before doing anything and make sure they are ok with what you are doing beforehand

This story does not follow the timeline of the show

You'd spent a month or so in your new house. Although your husband had bought this house as a family home for the three of you, it somehow always had your sisters or his brothers round. Today was no exception. Your sisters are here at lunch time. Sat around the table as you cooed Charlie.

Tommy walking into the room to join you. Nodding slightly at his in laws before looking at you. A smile coming over his lips at seeing you and his child. His happy expression doesn't last long though. Shifting slightly as the three of you go quiet at his presence.

"What is it?" he looks at the three of you. You point at your sisters.

"They are the ones with the idea. Ask them" he looks at them. Mary nudging Liz as he gives his in-laws a quizzical look. His smile having faded but a touch of amusement in his blue eyes remains.

"Ask him" she whispers to her sister.

"Ask me what?" Liz fiddles with her hands as she speaks.

"When are you having a party here?"

"A party?"

"The only people that have seen this house is us and your family. Why have such a grand house if you aren't showing it off?"

"We asked Flo" Mary speaks up, helping her sisters case. "But she said she needed to pass it by you first Mr Shelby". He smiles at the notion. Turning to look at you. Taking out a cigarette as he speaks.

"Your thoughts?". Placing the item in his mouth before lighting it. You pull your bottom lip between your teeth. Letting it go before speaking.

"I agree with my sisters. I love this house. And I'm not ashamed to want to show it off" he nods. Removing the stick from his mouth with his thumb and middle finger.

"When shall we have it then ey?"

"Next Saturday" Mary says, drawing his eyes back to her. "It gives us enough time to send letters out. But not so far in the future that people will forget. We can then prepare catering and anything else we need for a party. If anyone needs to stay the night before or after then they can do so as that day accepts those type of arrangements." He nods again. Using the hand, the one holding the cigarette in, to exaggerate his speech.

"Flo, I will give you a list of names I'd like you to invite on my behalf. Other then that, feel free to invite whoever you want" he smiles. Placing it back into his mouth before turning. Walking out the room.

-

Your new maid helps you get dressed. Ready for the day of the party. Placing a beautiful silver necklace around your neck. You place two earrings into your lobes. Taking a minute to admire your wedding ring before adding a couple more to your fingers.. You stand up. Looking at yourself in the floor length mirror in your bedroom.

"You look beautiful Mrs Shelby" your maid says.

"Thank you Betty" you stroke down your dress. You turn to face her. Smiling. "You should borrow one of my dresses. Come to the party tonight"

"Oh now Mrs Shelby. I couldn't do that. It wouldn't be proper".

"If you change your mind and fancy an hour or so away from everything then you know where my dresses are. You're welcome to wear one of them tonight if you'd like". A knock at the door before it opens. Thomas walking inside holding Charlie. You go over. Seeing your son looking teary. "Oh no what happened?" you go over. A hand going to his cheek.

"He was crawling and fell down mid crawl. I did comfort him but I think he wanted his mothers love"

"Oh my poor baby" you gently take him. Kissing his head as you stroke his hair. He hides into you. Hearing a very sad sniff coming from him. Thomas places a soothing hand onto his back. Rubbing it gently. You start to hear the chatter of voices downstairs. Mary runs up. Pushing open the door as she runs in.

"People are here! Come on!" she smiles. Coming over and grabbing at your hand.

"I'll be down in a second" she nods. Grinning from ear to ear before skipping out the room. Betty comes over. Holding her hands out.

"Allow me Mrs Shelby". You kiss your child's temple. Passing Charlie over to her. Linking an arm with your husband. Him looking at you before you both head downstairs. Betty following shortly behind. Minding your son during the night.

You and Tommy go different ways. Socialising with different people throughout the night. You meet Vanessa. Linking an arm with her as you catch up with your gossip.

"I don't believe it" a voice interrupts your conversation. One that sounds very familiar. Turning you see Miss Finnley. A woman long forgotten in your past. Vanessa leans close to you as the woman makes her way over. Whispering into your ear.

"You invited your exes mum?"

"No. Not purposefully anyway" she comes over. Eyes scanning over your body as she places her hands in front of her. Delicately placed one over the other.

"Florence Hastings. How did a woman like you get into a party like this?".

"You know, you haven't changed a bit since I last saw you". You try not to laugh at the obvious disgust in her eyes. Like your some sort of scum of the earth.

"Who did you steal this dress from then, hmm?"

"I bought this dress. With my husbands money"

"What a poor man. Being married to a woman like you. How did you drag him into marrying you then?" you half smile.

"I've got a great set of tits and a rocking ass" her eyes widen. A look of shock on her face, jaw dropping. You smile at her. Linking an arm with Vanessa "I hope you have a good rest of the evening". You turn again. Walking away from her.

"You know something" Vanessa says as you go to the food table "I think you've gotten more ballsy since being married to that Shelby fella" you chuckle slightly. Grabbing a cupcake.

"I have to be quick witted in his family. They'd eat me alive otherwise" she laughs as you eat the cake. Betty comes over to you. A very tired looking Charlie in her arms. You smile sweetly at him as you stroke his hair.

"Someone is sleepy so we thought we'd come and say goodnight before heading to bed". You smile. Kissing your child's head.

"Goodnight my sweet boy. I love you" you kiss his head again. Stroking his hair as you watch her go over to Tommy. Him giving the boy the same treatment you did. An admiring smile coming over your face as you watch. Betty taking your son to bed.

Vanessa watches you. A knowing look in her eye. You tun back to her. Your smile changing as you look at her. "What's his name?"

"Charlie. His names Charlie"

"Wasn't that your dads name?" you nod. Your smile saddening slightly as you pick up another cake. "Its a lovely name. Your father would've been proud of the woman you've become". You nod again. Taking a bite of your food. Some other people come over. Chatting with you as you stay around the food table for the evening.

You hear a familiar voice again. "This is her Mr Shelby". You turn. Seeing Miss Finnley with your husband. His eyes meet yours, a look of confusion and amusement in his eyes. "This is the girl who used vile language in front of myself and your guests". You look down. Biting at the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing. "Honestly. Some people have no manners. I demand that you make her leave at once"

"Mrs-"

"I think it'd be best for you and the other guests to not have such a disgusting girl here at your grand party. Goodness knows who she stole the dress from"

"Mrs Dickinson" he manages to cut her off. You look puzzled at the name but try not to let it show on your face. "I see that you've met my wife ". She looks at him. Blinking a few times.

"I- your-" she stutters for words.

"Please get back to the party. Enjoy the food and drink that my lovely wife has prepared for you". He smiles at her. An extremely amused look on his face as he looks at you. You smile at him as he turns. Going back to the social group he was with. She turns to you. More disgust on her face as she eyes you up and down.

Giving a soft 'hmmp' she turns. Her nose sticking upwards as she practically storms out. You turn back to Vanessa. "That actually happened..." Grabbing a few grapes. Popping them in your mouth as she lets out a low laugh.

"You said that your husband made a list of guests to invite?" you nod. "Was the name Mrs Dickinson on this list?". You think for a moment. Recalling the name as you nod. "Well that'd be it. She must've remarried. Changed her name. Meaning that she is no longer Miss Finnley, instead is Mrs Dickinson"

"I feel sorry for the poor sod that married her" she laughs. A low snort coming out, causing her to laugh more. You smile. Offering her some sweet treats as you both continue chatting. Vanessa sticking by your side the rest of the night.

During the early hours of the morning the party disbands. Your guests depart. Either going to the rooms you've provided for them. Or taking various cars and carriages home. You retire to your room. Soon followed by your husband. You sit at the edge of the bed. Taking off your shoes as he goes over to the vanity unit. Lighting up a cigarette. Sitting on the arm chair. You pick up your shoes. Placing them neatly away.

Your husband draws a drag. Placing his hand down, resting on the arm of the chair as he exhales the smoke. Putting his head back as he looks at the ceiling. You look at him as your hands go up to your ears. Taking out the earrings from them. You go over to the vanity unit. Placing the jewelry onto the side. His head remains back. Not paying you any mind.

You put your hands around your back. Unbuttoning your dress as you walk over to the bed. Bringing it down your body, stepping out of it. Leaving you in your bra, underwear, and stockings. Folding the dress over your arm as you go over to the wardrobe. Taking out a hanger and placing it onto it. Stroking down the material before placing it inside the wardrobe.

"I liked that dress you were wearing" Thomas says. You look at him. His eyes now on you.

"Thank you. I made it whilst I was at the safe house. Edward got me the material". You admire the fabric one more time before shutting the door. He places the cigarette back into his mouth. Inhaling before removing the stick.

"Come here". You turn and walk over to him. Him snubbing out his smoke before you make it to him. He takes your hand. Admiring the rings on your fingers.

"These are new"

"I spent a long time in that house... so when I got out I went a bit overboard with buying things". He lets out an amused scoff. His thumb running along the jewels as he looks at them.

"A beautiful woman deserves beautiful items such as these". You smile.

"Mr Shelby, you flatter me" he looks at you. Eyes warm and inviting. Your joyous smile softening as you look at him. You bend down. Kneeling between his legs. His hand remaining on yours. Stroking over your fingers as you keep eye contact. Your other hand coming to his leg. Your finger dancing on his thigh.

"What did you say to Mrs Dickinson?"

"Oh no. You don't need to know that" you drop his gaze. Tilting your head to the side.

"Do you know her?". You nod slightly. Knowing the silence holds questions he wont ask you, but requires an answer for. You take in a breath. Looking at his leg as you continue to circle his thigh.

"I used to date her son" your voice small. Feeling his eyes on you. "We had plans to elope. Run to Scotland and get married. But his mother found out. Told him that if he married me she wouldn't give him any of her fortune". You still your hand. Taking in a breath. "He chose money. Money over love. I waited for him at the train station for 3 hours. Longest three hours of my fucking life". You remove your hand from his leg. Turning away from him as you wipe a tear that threatens to fall down your face. "Jesus fuck" you say.

He gently takes you chin. Leaning forward. Making you look at him. His grip soft as he meets your eyes. "Fuck them both, ey? Fuck 'em". You take in a breath through your nose. A slow breath as he watches your eyes. His face about a foot away from yours.

"Miss Finnl- Mrs Dickinson asked how I had managed to get married. So... I... told her that it was because of my... tits and ass". His face cracks. A smile coming over his lips and going through his cheeks to his eyes. Admiration in his gaze. His hand moving slightly. Brushing his thumb over your lips as he lets out a soft laugh.

"You always amaze me Mrs Shelby". Your eyes darting between his. Piercing blue orbs stay fixed onto yours. You move timidly. Placing your hands onto his knees you kneel up slightly. His eyes remaining on yours as you search his. Closing the gap between you. Your lips pressing onto his. His hand remains on your chin as you kiss him. You move away slightly. Noses brushing as you look at him. Pressing your lips together before speaking.

"You know..." you tilt your head slightly. Gently brushing your lips over his. "I don't have any duties tonight...". You run your hands up his thighs. Gripping near the top of them. "Betty is looking after Charles... My sisters are likely tired from the party... as are all of our guests. They'll probably sleep through tonight". You bring your hand up. Fingers lightly tracing his groin. Your lips finding his again. Kissing him as you rest your palm onto him. Softly pushing down. Palming him through his trousers. A soft grunt escaping his lips. Passed into yours as you continue kissing. His hand moving from your chin to the back of your head. Gripping your hair.

He pulls you away, hand knotted into your curls as he meets your eyes. "That pretty little mouth of yours seems to get you in trouble" he taunts. "Lets see if you can use it for more... practical uses, ey?". You bite your bottom lip. Him removing your hand with his free one as he keeps eye contact with you. His eyes filling with lust as he takes himself out of his trousers.

His cock half hard from your palming. He pushes you down. Hand still firmly holding you as he brings you closer to him. Your hands gong to his thighs as you look up at him. Mouth in line with his length. He takes himself in his hand. Gently putting the tip to your mouth. Going soft on the grip of your hair. "Open". You oblige. Sticking your tongue out as he pushes himself into your mouth. His cock growing increasingly hard by the second, soon becoming fully erect.

His hand tightens. Feeling him pull at the roots. You let out a soft whine. The action causing him to push you down onto him. Feeling him intrude your throat. You try your best not to gag as he fills you. Shutting your eyes as your nose hits his pelvic bone. He lets out a hiss before he releases you. You cough, a trail of saliva connecting your lips to his cock. Taking in some deep breaths before he brings you to his length again. Welcoming him in as he proceeds to bob your head up and down. Feeling it hitting the back of your throat with each thrust.

Your hands grip his thighs. Nails digging into the trousered flesh. "Good girl" he coos. The praise going straight to your wetting core. You rub your thighs together. Wanting some sort of friction. He pushes your down again. Relaxing your throat as he enters you. Hollowing out your cheeks as you run your tongue under him. A low grunt escaping his lips. Forcing you down more. You feel tears come to your eyes at the intrusion. Struggling for breath as you hum around him.

"Fuck" he mutters. Somehow managing to push you further down. You shut your eyes. Hands clenching to fists. Feeling the tears fall down your cheeks. He keeps you there. A deep hum coming from his throat as he deprives you of oxygen. You lightly tap his leg once you need air. Pulling you from him. You breath deeply. Chest rising heavily. Trying your best not to cough. Spit falling from your lips as you look at him. His eyes watching yours. The sharp blue cutting into you. He removes his hand from your hair. Tilting his head as he watches you. Eagerly waiting for his next words.

"Stand" he demands. You get up. Pushing yourself up on his legs. Standing in front of him as he watches you. He traces his finger over the waistband of your underwear. "Take them off". You hook your finger into them. Pushing them down, stepping out of them. His hand comes up. Barely touching you.

"Hmm" he hums. Finger going between your slit. You catch your breath. A whine coming out. "Have you been touching yourself?". Your breathing becomes deeper. Quicker. Distracted by his finger dancing on your clit that you forget to answer him. He retracts his hand. Causing you to whine out. Looking down at him. "Have you touched yourself since I last fucked you?". You feel your cheeks redden slightly at the question. Shaking your head. A soft 'no' coming from your lips. He brings his hand back up. Running over your folds before pushing a finger into you easily. A broken moan leaves your lips at the sudden intrusion. Fluttering your eyes.

"Poor thing. Completely touch starved". He rolls it inside of you. Your hand goes forward. Resting on his shoulder as you steady yourself. The other coming up. Cupping and squeezing at your still clothed breast. Eyes shutting fully as you lull your head to the side.

"Please...". You beg. Not even sure what your asking for. He lets out an almost sadistic chuckle before removing his finger as quickly as he entered. Your eyes open again. A look of desperation on your face. "No. Please". You bring your hand to his other shoulder. Running them up his neck as you shuffle closer to him. Eyes darting over his face as he looks up at you.

"Tell me what you want, love". You whine. Rubbing your thighs together. His eyes glance down. A smile coming over his lips as he looks back up at you.

"I-I want to feel good. Please make me feel good". He pulls his trouser down slightly. Letting his cock out more. Taking your hips in his hands. Pulling you onto his lap. Your hands falling back onto his shoulders.

He lifts your hips. You hovering above him as he takes hold of his cock. Lining it up with you as you lower yourself. Slowly. Feeling your heart beat fast with every inch he fills you up. You wrap an arm around his neck. The other going to his cheek as you kiss him. His arms wrapping around you as he fills you completely.

Your hand goes to his torso. Gently gripping at the fabric of his layers. His hands snake up the length of your back. Going to your bra and discarding it onto the floor. His hands coming to the front. Gently running over your breasts. You pull at his top layers.

"Off. Please Tommy" he looks at you. "Please". He moves. Removing his blazer and waistcoat. He loosens his tie. Pulling it over his head. Your hands go to the buttons of his shirt as he places his tie around your neck. Tightening it as you undo the last button. He strips himself of it. Tossing it onto the floor. Letting the length of his tie fall between your breasts.

You brace your hands onto his shoulders again. Your body flush against his as you start to grind against him. His cock molding inside of you. Hitting all of those delicious spots. You dig your nails into his skin. Whimpers and moans escaping your lips as you grind against him. His hands tracing your spine. Lightly dragging his blunt nails over your skin. The dull pain causing you to tighten around him.

"Fuck" he mutters. Arms going around you as he stands. Your legs going around his waist. Wrapping your arms around his neck as he walks to the bed. Lying you down as he comes on top of you. Kissing your neck before sitting up. Still firmly inside of you as he grips your hips. Not hesitating as he begins to piston his hips into yours.

"Shit" Your hand coming down. Grabbing at his holding you still. He takes yours. Letting you grip onto his fingers as an unholy groan scratches through your throat. Feeling your high getting so close to you. "Please. Please Tommy".

"Cum on my cock". You cover your mouth. Muffling your moan as you scream out. Your hole spasming around him as he slows his movements. Helping you ride out your high. Your breathing laboured as you drop your hand. Fingers still tightened around his. His hips still slow against yours. Eyes fluttering from the feeling. His free hand grabbing the tie around your neck. Pulling you up so your face is inches away from his. One hand resting on his chest. The other holding his wrist.

"I forgot how good you feel" he says. A whisper as he keeps you close to him. His hips still slowly moving in and out of you. "So fucking good". You tighten around him. Causing him to smile. "You like praise ey? Like being a good girl for me? Letting me fuck this needy cunt of yours" he pulls out of you. You whine at the lack of contact. His hand still gripping the tie around your neck as he kneels in front of you. Free hand coming up. Your hole slightly agape from his member as he dips his finger into you. His eyes look up at you.

"Such a pretty little thing" he lightly taps you clit with his fingers. Gently slapping it. You flinch at each hit. Over sensitive due to your recent orgasm. Both hands going down to try and stop his torment. He drops the tie. Taking your hands in one of his. Holding them to your stomach. "This is mine" he plays with your clit. Your hips stutter at his touch. "I get to do what I want with it. Understood?". You nod slightly. A shiver going down your spine at both his touch and his words. He drops your hands as he stands up. Pulling his trousers down fully. Stepping out. Leaving him naked before you. He takes the tie again. Pulling you towards him as your lips meet.

He pushes back into you. You moan against his lips. Him gripping the tie as he plunges in and out of you. You grip his neck as he fucks you. Screwing your eyes shut. Nails digging into his skin as you mold your lips to his. Muffling the noises you make as he comes closer to his high. Bringing you along with him. He grunts against your lips. Pulling away as he pushes his hips into you. Feeling him cum deep inside of you. You let out a satisfied moan. Your toes curling. Letting your own orgasm wash over you.

Leaning forward and kissing his shoulder as he gently rocks against you. Pushing his cum into you. The sound of both of your juices mixing filling your ears. He pulls out of you. Kneeling before you like a man in prayer. His arms wrapping around you. Resting where your hips meet you ass. His head resting against your stomach as you wrap your arms around his head. Holding him close to you as you shut your eyes. Playing with the long hair atop his head.

"We should get some sleep..." you whisper. He doesn't say anything. Unsure if he heard you or not. "Mr Shelby?". He moves away. Thumbs rubbing your skin.

"Back to formalities already, ey?". You feel your cheeks redden. "You can drop the nicety"

"I-"

"Unless you get off on only saying my name when we fuck". Your cheeks redden more.

"That's not... That's not what that is Mr Shelby..."

"Then call me Thomas. We are married and you did carry my child"

"Mr-" he doesn't say anything. Instead, he watches you with those damn eyes. "Thomas". He smiles.

"Good girl". He stands. Grabbing his underwear and placing them on himself. He grabs his shirt. Bringing it over to you, his arm outstretched with the fabric in his hand. You take it from him. Putting it on your torso.

"Thank you" you say softly. He goes to his blazer. Taking out two cigarettes and a lighter. Rolling one over his lips before keeping it in place. Handing you the other one. You take it. Placing it in your mouth as he lights the end for you before lighting his own. He goes to the top of your bed. Getting under the covers.

You stand up. Undoing the tie around your neck as you place it onto the vanity unit. Folding it neatly. Tommy's eyes on your thighs. You wearing his white shirt, plus the stockings still on your legs. You were an extraordinary sight. You go to the edge of the bed. Sitting onto it, placing the smoke into your mouth. Taking off your stockings and throwing them onto one of the various piles of clothes on the floor. Swiveling around so you can put your bare legs underneath the warm blanket. Taking one last inhale before putting it out in the ashtray by your bed.

You wake up early the next morning. You see Tomas still sleeping in the bed next to you. Usually he was up early working so this was a surprise. You stretch. Sitting up you look at the clock on the wall. 5:30. You let out a deep sigh. No wonder the rest of the house was quiet. You scratch the back of your head. Wincing slightly as you feel the nights events effect your body. Rubbing your forehead with your palm. You scan the bedroom. Seeing your clothes dotted around the room.

You swing your legs over the side of the bed. Doing up the buttons of the shirt you're wearing before bending down. Picking up the various clothes items. Sorting through as you determine them to be clean and dirty. Thomas's jacket being clean, you sling it over the back of the chair. Hearing a 'thump' you jump slightly. Eyes darting to what made the noise. Your blood goes cold. You must've knocked his gun from the side, or it might've been in his jacket and it fell out.

Regardless. The weapon is now sitting on the floor. You kneel beside it. This item being the last thing so many men saw before they died. Your hand shakes slightly. You clench them before you trace over the weapon. Admiring the dangerous beauty. Fingers gently touching over the length of it before you get the nerve to pick it up. Laying it in both your palms as your eyes dance over it.

"I'd be careful with that" you turn your head. Thomas was sat up, watching you. His back resting against the bed rest.

"I was just- It must've fallen whilst I was tidying our clothes" you motion at the chairdrobe now in the room. He looks at it, then back at you. His eyes focusing on the weapon as you haphazardly stand. Placing it back onto the side. "Its a beautiful pistol". You look back at him. An amused look on is face. "What?"

"Revolver. Not pistol". You pause for a moment. Your brow furrowing before speaking again.

"What's the difference?" you say. An almost embarrassed whisper as he laughs. He gets out of bed. Walking over to you. You continue to look at him. Watching as he stands a foot away from you. Reaching behind you, taking the gun from the table. He holds it. His eyes on yours as he brings the weapon up. You look at it. Body stiff as he speaks.

"A revolver has a revolving chamber. A pistol has a stationary chamber". You nod slightly. Wide eyes still on the weapon. "Look at me Florence". You tilt your head up. Meeting his gaze. Unable to get how he can be so calm whilst holding such a deadly object. A slight fear in your eyes as he brings the gun down. His free hand coming up. Gently running over your cheek bone. "I'm not going to hurt you love". You nod. Timidly at first but growing stronger as your voice comes out quietly in the room.

"I know. I know". He moves his hand from your face. Holding it out, palm upwards.

"Give me your hand". You hesitate before you bring a hand up. Placing it in his. He notices you shaking "Trust me". He speaks as he turns your hand. Palm facing upwards. Bringing the gun back up. Your eyes flashing down. Placing the gun into it. Wrapping the digits around the grip. You go to protest but he interrupts you. "The more you get to know a weapon the less intimidating it can seem". Nodding slightly as your eyes stay fixed on the firearm. "Hold it here. Pull back this to cock it. Aim at whatever you want to shoot. Then pull the trigger" his fingers pointing at the different aspects.

"How do they not scare you?". Your voice quiet. If he wasn't as close as he was he likely wouldn't have heard you. He takes in a breath through his nose.

"I've been around them to long for them to scare me as they scare you". You force your eyes away from the weapon, looking at him. Blue orbs glance up into yours. "Getting better already with them". You give him a curious look. "You can actually look at me whilst there is a gun in your hand". A small smile comes over his lips. "A few months ago you wouldn't even be in the same room as a gun, let alone be holding it". You let out a small scoff. Nodding as you let him take the weapon from your hands.

"You're right. You're completely right, Mr Shelby". His face shifts. His smile growing as he appears charmed by your words. "What?" you speak softly. Placing it onto the counter behind you. He comes back in front of you. Eyes looking between yours as he has a soft yet loud smirk on his face.

"Were you so cock drunk last night that you forgot what I said?". Your face burns up at the comment. Your mind trying to remember quickly.

"I-" His smile grows. His eyes narrow marginally as he continues to tease you. "Or is it some sort of turn on - saying my name only during sex?"

"Its- its not like that. I-" you stutter. Cheeks a burning red as he smiles at you.

"Its alright love. Either way, I understand". He moves away from you. Grabbing out a clean shirt from the chest of drawers. "Get dressed. We have guests to entertain this morning". Taken aback by his words you let out a little nod. You start to disrobe and get dressed too.

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TAGS

@whorecrux-of-slytherin @kkrenae @ireallydontcareanymorebrooo @frozenhuntress67

[whosbloom]

James Patrick March » Boo Basket

day 12 of flufftober

⋆.˚ summary: after many failed attempts to win your heart, james finally goes to liz for some help, hoping for a good result

⋆.˚ fluff , mentions of murder , pretend the hotel has wifi for the sake of this

James had been practically yearning for your attention for months now, constantly attempting to get your attention when you entered the lobby, delivering expensive food and drinks to your hotel room (courtesy of Liz), constantly complimented you.. but no matter what he just couldn’t get you to look his way.

He was absolutely enamored by you and he didn’t know why, he had been so hung up on The Countess for years, but the second you stepped into the Cortez’s lobby his heart leapt for you instantly.

He had nearly gone on his knees to beg Liz to get to know you, befriend you almost, just so he could have a sense of what you liked in a person, what you were like.

As Halloween neared he found you leaving the hotel more and more each week, leaving him lonely until your return, to which he would perk up and instantly question you about your day—even if you barely acknowledged him.

Truth was you did find James attractive, it was just strange. You knew he was dead, Liz told you all about it, but it confused you more than anything.

How could the living and dead be together?

Which inevitably lead to your acting like you weren’t interested, watching him bend over backwards just to get a simple greeting from you.

The food, drinks, random presents, all day pretty outside your door made you smile more than you’d like to admit. You told Liz to never reveal this to him, and of course she listened like any good friend.

The one time you had Liz tell him anything was after finding out he offered to kill for your attention after witnessing another guest flirting with you—and of course you couldn’t bring yourself to let an innocent man die, you would feel like the blood was on your hands, so you told Liz to let him know his efforts made you aware of his infatuation with you.

Today was like any other, entering the lobby and greeting Liz, only for her to call you over to the front desk.

She sighed and leant against it, arms folded while giving you a stern look, one that reminded you of a mother scolding a toddler for drawing on walls.

“What did I do? You’re giving me a look.” You pointed out, brows knitted together as she awkwardly shifted your weight between your legs.

“It’s not what you did, well, you did help with this.” She explained, a not-so-impressed look on her face as she leant behind the counter and picked up a basket filled with goods for you.

“He didn’t.”

“He did.” She gave you another look, lips pressed into a thin line and brows raised. “I told him about whatever social media trend you’re obsessed with, the boo baskets? Watching him try and figure out a computer to order things was the most embarrassing thing ever.”

You remember the conversation all to well, getting all giddy about boyfriends surprising their girlfriends with Halloween themed baskets filled with their favorite things.

“He used a computer?” You questioned, an amused yet confused look on your face as you glanced back at the basket. “Somehow he did.. and from my reports back on you he knew exactly what he wanted to get you.”

Of course that showed with what he had chosen for you. A book you mentioned wanting to read for weeks now, your favorite candy you’d get whenever you went to a gas station, your favorite drink and snack.

Then there was personal touches from James—luxury things you knew he insisted you deserved. An expensive wine was the first thing that caught your eye, along with a note attached to it, reading out ‘Meet me at room 64’ with a J.P. signed underneath.

“Do I wanna know how much he spent? Or where he got the money from?” You raised a brow, pulling the basket closer and continued to inspect it. There was some personal care things—skin care, a candle, sleeping mask and fuzzy socks.

“The hotel still makes money. Though I’m not sure how he spent it.” Liz smiled, before pointing back at the stairs, drawing your attention to the very man who had gifted it to you. “Go thank him.”

You rolled your eyes playfully before grabbing the basket, holding it carefully before turning to head up the stairs, stopping just a step or two infront of him.

“Is this your way to my heart?” You raised a brow at him, lifting the basket with a smile toying at your lips.

“Well, my dear, if you haven’t noticed—“

“I have.. trust me, I have.” You cut him off, raising your free hand as you stepped up to stand next to him, your hand finding purchase on his forearm.

“I was just on my way to room 64.” You pointed to the note he left on the wine bottle, before stepping past him towards the elevator, waiting for him to follow after. “You coming, James?”

He took a moment to process your words, a wide smile forming pm his lips as he nodded and quickly scurried after you, standing close and leant down slightly to meet your height.

“I take it that my efforts worked on you?” He raised his brows, watching you pressed the elevator button and leant back against the cold wall.

“Definitely. Though, I will admit, they’ve been working for a while now. I just didn’t understand how the whole ghost and alive person thing works..” You explained, shrugging as you looked up to meet his gaze, watching as his softened at your words.

“I see.. if you want to wait for any further affection, I will. Whatever you’re comfortable with, my dear.” He spoke reassuringly, planting a quick kiss to the side of your temple, before placing a hand on your shoulder.

“Why don’t we discuss this over wine?” You smiled, watching as he eagerly nodded and held you a bit closer to him.

“Sounds like a plan.”

tags: @lemoniiiiiii , @xrag-dollx , @jazz-berry (ask to be added!!)

[sirianasims]

Chapter 43.9

I arrive at GeekCon both sweaty and with a vague sense of unease. The stifling heatwave has turned the city into a pressure cooker, and it feels foreboding, like something terrible is building and about to break free.

I’m greeted by my own face by the door, advertising the panel that I’m supposed to be on this morning. I never got comfortable seeing myself like this, I prefer it when they just use the logo or my masked promo pictures. At least today is the last time I’ll appear as Llama Man in any official capacity, and then…

Then I don’t know.

But there’ll be time to figure that out later, right now I’m about to see Julia again. I can’t believe it’s only been a year since we met, and I have no idea how she feels about me right now.

I spent most of the night in my hotel room tossing and turning, thinking about what I’ll say to her, but I still don’t have a plan. I just want to apologise for ending things so abruptly.

It really wasn’t my best work.

She said she just wanted to be with you. And then you dumped her.

I groan inwardly as I scan the faces of everyone I see. There’s no sign of her, but the cosplay competition isn’t until later, she may not have arrived yet.

I wonder if she’ll refuse to speak to me at all. I wouldn’t blame her, but she never seemed like the type to carry a grudge. I just want to see her and make sure she’s not too upset about how things ended, something I should have done months ago.

I need to make sure she doesn’t hate me. I can’t handle if she hates me.

I guess I’ll have to play it by ear, although Lee would tell me that’s not my strongest suit.

I leave my jacket in the wardrobe and linger a bit, fiddling with my VIP bracelet. The gallery’s air-conditioning is working overtime, and it helps a little with the heat but I still feel uneasy. My eyes are drawn to the bathroom door.

If this was a movie, Julia would come out of the bathroom right now, exactly like last time. Our eyes would meet. A beat, as the camera cut from her face to mine, both of us too surprised to speak. I would recover first, tell her that we can’t keep meeting like this, and her face would crack into a smile. Then she’d leap into my arms and I would kiss her like there were no tomorrow.

Get it together, Romeo. She’s not kissing you ever again, you’re going to be lucky if she even speaks to you. Focus. You’re at work.

At least I’m not in full costume this year, I would probably have died from heatstroke. And it would have made me feel silly trying to have a serious conversation with Julia.

I decide to take a quick tour of the convention floor before the panel starts.

Even though it’s still early in the day, there’s people everywhere. Some tabletop role-players are recording their podcast on location, kids are running around, and several people are dressed up despite the heat. I wish Julia had shown me pictures of the costume she was planning so I knew what to look for.

A woman with long, red hair makes me do a double take, but I know it isn’t Julia before she even turns around, the way she moves is wrong. I know every inch of Julia’s body and this isn’t it. Everything Julia is, the way she walks and talks and laughs is imprinted on my brain, and it feels like I should be able to locate her by telepathy, by following some sort of invisible string tying me to her.

“Uh, Mr. Romeo! Sorry, hello.”

“Oh, hey. Edmund, right?”

The young man beams, clearly pleased that I remember his name. His booth was next to mine last year, we talked about old movies. I wish I could introduce Julia to him, she would have loved to discuss Cow Plant Love with an expert.

“Wait, you do know him? I thought you were lying!” The teenage girl next to him sounds somewhere between impressed and angry.

“Yeah, why would I lie about that? Sorry, sir, this is my sister Liz, she’s a big fan of Llama Man.”

“Can I have your autograph? I collect them, I already got the Coolala guy and the Freezer Bunny lady this morning. Oh, and can you make it out to ‘Lizette’, with a Z, please?”

“Of course. That’s a very cool costume, Lizette with a Z.”

“I made it myself! It’s Michelle from Doherty’s Revenge, have you seen it? The one with the zombie gym teacher?”

“Oh? Haven’t heard of it, do you think I should watch it?”

“You have to, it’s so good! I used to think it was actually really scary but now I just think it’s funny. Me and Edmund watch a lot of like, retro movies with dad, we even watched the really old Llama Man movies once. I’m gonna tell my dad I met you, he won’t believe it!”

“I’m flattered. Thanks for the movie recommendation, I’ll make sure to check it out.” I hand her the autograph before waving goodbye to Edmund who mouths a silent thank you.

Retro.

I know everything seems ancient to a teenager, but the word tastes like dusty VHS tapes, like lava lamps and shag carpets, like mid-century kitchens. This is my demographic, I suppose, nostalgic dads and their excitable kids.

Julia is not in the panel crowd either, but I guess that would have been too much to hope for. I would probably have found her presence too distracting anyway.

I know one of the other panellists, Mei Zhang, the iconic voice of the Freezer Bunny for over fifteen years. We’ve met briefly at conventions and even on a few gigs, but never really got a chance to speak much.

The third panellist is a young man named Andy Okeke, who seems to be voicing a few Voidcritters as well as a bear-like creature I’ve never heard of. It’s his first time on a panel, but he’s already annoyingly good for his age, and I can imagine him having a pretty impressive career at the speed he’s going.

I answer the same questions I’ve answered a million times before and try to find some sort of comfort in the fact that it’s the last time. As much as I loved my job, it got repetitive after almost a decade. Maybe I should get that number for Sierra’s agent, try to get back on screen. Maybe I’ve grown too complacent, stagnant.

Finally, the questions dry up and the last people leave the room, and just like that, I’m free from my contract. It doesn’t feel like freedom, though, more like a free fall.

“Hey, Romeo, wait up.” Mei stops me by the doors.

“How are you doing? It must be so weird.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know what I’ll do if they ever retire Bunny.”

“You’ll still have others, won’t you?”

“I know, but I’m known for Freezer Bunny, not for… four or five Voidcritters. I can’t even keep track of their names, which is ironic since it’s all they ever say.”

I’m not sure how to respond so I just nod. I’m impatient to get to the cosplay competition, but I don’t want to be rude.

“Mei, it was great seeing you again, but I’m in a bit of a hurry, actually.”

“Sure. Would you – would you want to grab coffee some time, though?”

Shit. Before Julia, I would have gladly followed Mei home tonight, maybe we’d even go on a couple of real dates before things fizzled out as they normally do. But right now, every muscle in my body is telling me that I have to go, to move, to be somewhere else.

“Sorry, I’m, uh. Maybe another time, I don’t…”

The giant poster of my face is judging my lame attempt at stringing together a sentence, and I’m painfully aware that the woman behind us has been sweeping the same spot for a minute now, pretending not to eavesdrop.

“I’m a big girl, Romeo. If you’re not interested, that’s fine.”

“Right. I am sorry, though, it’s not…” I mumble something politely incoherent and more or less flee the room.

Fuck. One year and I’ve completely lost my touch.

I hurry up the stairs, the competition must be just about to end. I can see through the doors before I even reach them, all of the contestants are on stage – and she’s not there.

I stand in front of the doors, frozen, arm still outstretched. This doesn’t make sense, she loves this, she told me about the costume she was planning, she should be here.

There’s no time to dwell on why I so desperately need to see her again, what I would even say to her, the only thing left is fear.

What if something has happened to her? Would I ever know? We’re not together anymore and we have no friends in common, no one who would think of me or assume I’d want to know if she got hurt or sick.

She could be dead. She could be dead and I would never know.

I’m vaguely aware that I’m spiralling but I can’t stop, I feel dizzy. The heat and the lights and the people, everything is too much and I can barely see.

Somehow my feet carry me outside, to the very same bench where we talked for hours on that first night. I try to breathe, deep breaths, but the air is too warm and feels thick.

My hands shake as I log into the anonymous account I made during a moment of weakness after she blocked me, and I pull up her social media in the hopes that she posted something recently, anything that can reassure me that she’s fine.

Relief floods through me when I see the timestamp on her latest updates. San Sequoia Aquarium, just a couple of hours ago. But the relief dissipates quickly as I scroll through the photos.

Nestled between fish and family pictures, there are two selfies with her friend Marten.

I stare at them, suddenly feeling numb.

Her eyes are shining like stars in the lights from the tanks. She’s smiling, and so is he. His arm is around her, possessively, and there’s a hint of triumph in his eyes that I don’t like.

He seems to be carrying her on his back in the other photo, and the thought of her legs wrapped around him awakens an urge to tear him away from her that is almost suffocating.

If they’re not already dating, it’s a matter of time. They would probably have gotten together a long time ago if I hadn’t been there. A petty part of me wonders if he was really being her friend or just biding his time, waiting for me to fumble, but that’s crazy. I barely know the guy. Actually, I don’t really know any of Julia’s friends, I just have a vague idea about their names and who they were to her.

I wasn’t a very good boyfriend, was I?

I told you it was better this way.

I’ve kept reminding myself that I didn’t make a mistake, and here’s proof at last. This was meant to be, they were meant to get together, I just happened to get in the way. He’s been a good friend to her, nice and considerate, while I only brought her chaos and pain.

I was so worried that Julia was wasting my time, but all along, I was the one wasting hers. She deserves better, I know this, but it still feels like I lost her all over again.

I put away the phone and take a deep breath of the scorching air. And then I reach for the tiny, secret corner of my heart where I was nursing my last hope of getting her back and stomp it out.

beginning / previous / next

[kangshxrtie]

ch. 32 ⤍ i'm yours

"hey, wanna be in my vlog?" you asked kazuha, grinning as you held up your camera.

she nodded quickly, and you couldn't help but smile at the way her face lit up, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"is this our official couple debut?" she teased, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile.

"not exactly," you chuckled. "this won't go up until after tomorrow, so technically no... but, yeah, this is our first couple vlog."

with the tripod steady in your hands, you set it up and settled onto kazuha's lap. she immediately wrapped her arms around your waist, holding you close as you looped an arm around her neck.

"alright," you began, focusing the camera on both of you. "we're currently getting ready for an event. unfortunately, i'll be with my team, and she'll be with hers, so we won't see each other much today, but—"

"i'll be cheering you on from afar," kazuha chimed in, squeezing you a little tighter with a soft smile.

you shifted a bit in her lap, bringing your face closer to hers, your voice dropping playfully. "can't wait to beat you, though."

kazuha laughed, raising a brow as she shot you a competitive look. "oh, really? you think you can beat us?"

"definitely," you grinned, leaning in just enough to make her blush, the camera capturing the teasing moment between you both.

she smiled, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "we'll see about that."

"well, that's enough distracting the enemy for now," you said, standing up from kazuha's lap.

kazuha pouted, watching you move away as she leaned back in her chair. "i'm sad that we're going to be in the same place all day, and i'll barely see you," she sighed, already missing the closeness.

you grinned, leaning down and whispering as if it were a secret, though the camera definitely picked it up. "i'll sneak over and come see you when i can."

kazuha's face brightened instantly, her pout replaced by a soft smile. she formed a heart with her hands, holding it up for you as you began to walk away. you chuckled, sending her a quick wink before making your way back to your team's booth.

as you returned, gaeul was quick to comment, grinning ear to ear. "oh, you're back; are you done macking it with the enemy now?"

"i had to say my goodbyes," you laughed, trying to downplay it.

liz leaned against the table, shaking her head in amusement. "as long as you try your hardest to beat her today everything is fine"

"oh, of course. they're going down." you laughed, settling into your seat.

"you better," leeseo teased.

as the event continued, your group had some downtime before it was your turn to participate in the next round of games. you spent most of that time either hanging out at your booth, taking photos, or wandering around the venue to check out the various pop-ups.

you and the rest of your team took turns posing for pictures with fans who passed by. but in between, you couldn't help but steal glances across the room at kazuha, who was busy with her own team. she caught your eye a few times and gave you a wink with a knowing smile that made your heart race just a little.

after a while, rei nudged you as you both browsed one of the pop-up stalls. "stop flirting with the enemy, we must stay focused," she teased.

you shrugged, trying to play it cool. "what? i can't help it."

rei laughed, shaking her head. "i get it. she's your weakness."

"true," you replied with a grin, picking up a cute keychain from one of the stalls. "but don't let her know that."

kazuha was fully glaring at the other people in the room. sure, you looked cute whenever you laughed at something somebody else said, but only she was allowed to think that. she crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as wonyoung came over to chat with you. she tried not to let it get to her, but when you motioned to her that you'd be leaving for a bit and she nodded, her mood soured again when she overheard a group calling you "cute" and making comments about your body.

she rolled her eyes, her annoyance slipping through her usual calm exterior, forgetting for a moment that she was live on stream. all she wanted to do was go off on them for checking you out, but she couldn't, not with the cameras on. plus, you didn't seem to notice, and they hadn't directly hit on you. yet.

chat, of course, noticed immediately.

user1 who made kazuha mad??? 😳 user2 she looks like she's about to throw hands lol

chaewon and yunjin tried to pull her attention back to the stream, but kazuha was too distracted, glaring at the group across the room.

when you finally returned with wonyoung, carrying snacks and drinks, kazuha visibly relaxed. having her eyes on you again made everything feel a bit better. you were, of course, oblivious to all of it, smiling and waving to her as you held up the snacks, excited to share them when the stream was over.

but as one of the guys who had been checking you out earlier whispered something to his friend and stood up, kazuha stiffened. when she saw him walking toward you, she started to stand, her protective instincts kicking in, but chaewon grabbed her arm, pulling her back down.

"i don't know who you're mad at, but worry about it later," chaewon warned quietly.

the chat blew up again, speculating, but you finally noticed what was happening through the comments. your eyes darted to kazuha, who looked like she was barely restraining herself. you grabbed one of the snacks meant for later and made a beeline for her, determined to defuse the situation.

but before you could get far, that same guy stepped in front of you, blocking your path. wonyoung gave you a questioning look, clearly confused as well.

"can i help you?" you asked, keeping your tone polite but firm.

he shrugged with a smirk. "just thought i could join you. looked like you could use some company."

you held up the snacks, smiling at him, but your words were direct. "not really. i was just bringing these to my girlfriend."

you brushed past him without giving him a second glance, making your way to kazuha. you could tell she was about to get up, her irritation still simmering, but before she could do anything, you swiftly sat on her lap, stopping her from making any rash moves. you knew she wouldn't risk you falling.

you smiled at her, wrapping your arms around her neck and getting comfortable in her lap. kazuha's tension melted away as she wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you closer. without hesitating, she leaned in and kissed you, a quick but possessive gesture that left the chat in chaos.

user3 THEY KISSED user4 i'm dying omg user5 kazuha's face when yn sat on her lap 😍

though you both wanted to stay in the moment, you knew you were still on a live broadcast, so you pulled back, grinning at kazuha. the two of you shared the snacks, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened, but kazuha's protective grip on you never really loosened.

when you felt she had calmed down enough, you finally tried to get up to return to your team, but kazuha tightened her hold on your waist, keeping you from moving.

"stay here," she pouted softly. "so people know we're together."

you blushed, glancing around at all the eyes still on you. "zuha, i'm pretty sure they know by now."

"just stay with me," she insisted, her grip firm but affectionate.

you almost gave in, tempted to stay in her arms for the rest of the stream, but you remembered why you were here. even though kazuha looked incredibly hot when she was being possessive, you had to stay focused on the responsibilities that you had to take care of.

"i have to go, babe," you said softly, giving her a quick peck on the lips. "but don't worry, i'm yours."

kazuha reluctantly let go, and you hopped off her lap, shooting her one last playful wink before running back to where your team was.

as soon as you arrived, rei raised an eyebrow, "are you finally done with the pda with kazuha?"

you shrugged nonchalantly. "i don't know. i might go back later."

yujin immediately noticed you and jumped in, grinning. "oh, look who's back! i thought you were joining le sserafim for a second."

you laughed, playing along. "maybe i should. they treat me better."

yujin smirked, leaning in as she mumbled, "i bet she does."

as you and your team headed backstage, the excitement in the air was palpable. both teams were about to face off in the next game, and the competitive tension was starting to build.

the lineups were set: you, yujin, gaeul, rei, and leeseo for ive, facing off against kazuha, sakura, chaewon, yunjin, and eunchae representing le sserafim.

as the teams took their places, yunjin grinned from across the room, her voice playful but confident. "hope you're ready to lose. we've been practicing, you know."

gaeul chuckled, folding her arms with a smirk. "practicing for what? losing? don't get too comfortable up there."

kazuha caught your eye, her voice softer but just as teasing. "don't expect me to go easy on you just because i like you so much."

you smirked, feeling a little more competitive after hearing that. "i wouldn't want it any other way, babe."

as the game started, the atmosphere became tense with both teams taking it seriously, but there was still an air of playful competitiveness. you found yourself locking in quickly, your hands flying across the keys as you communicate with your teammates. the first few rounds were close, with both teams trading wins back and forth.

yujin, as the team leader, was barking out strategies, while leeseo's sniper skills kept le sserafim on their toes. meanwhile, eunchae and sakura coordinated like pros, giving you a real challenge as their tanks barreled through your defenses.

user6 leeseo sniping? she's cracked user7 madmakz best duo

"stay on point, stay on point!" yujin yelled, pulling everyone back together as the game approached the final round.

you all scrambled, working in perfect sync as you and rei held the frontline, while gaeul and leeseo provided solid backup. the final phase was fast-paced, with both teams neck and neck. kazuha's team was giving you a run for your money, but you were not about to go out like this.

user8 yujin best leader user9 rei's defense was actually so good

"okay, go all in now!" you shouted, executing a well-timed ult that wiped out most of le sserafim's team. your side exploded in cheers as the match ended in your victory.

"we won!" leeseo cheered, raising her arms in the air.

you let out a sigh of relief, pulling off your headset as your teammates celebrated. "we did it!"

on the other side, le sserafim groaned, yunjin dramatically threw her head back. "nooo, not like this!"

sakura just shook her head with a smile, while eunchae pouted. "we were so close!"

kazuha crossed her arms, looking disappointed but still smiling as she glanced over at you. "looks like i'll have to admit defeat."

you grinned, walking over to her side. "told you we'd win," you teased, offering her a hand to pull her up from her chair.

she took your hand, standing up with a playful roll of her eyes. "yeah, yeah. i'm not mad that i lost against you."

"oh, of course. you have to beat everyone else, just not our team," you said, pulling her closer for a quick hug before stepping back to join your team.

user1 IVE WIN LESSGOOO user2 GG user3 actually so close user4 the way kazuha's not even mad losing to yn 😭

the organizers came over to hand out the prize money, and some merch for the winning team, which you proudly held up for a quick team photo. after the picture, you brought everything back to your booth, leaving it with the managers before finally heading off to enjoy some much needed time with kazuha. you had been waiting all day for this moment.

"i'm so glad there wasn't an actual competition and that was the only game," you said as you walked next to kazuha.

kazuha chuckled, nudging you with her elbow. "tired from all that winning, huh?"

"something like that," you laughed, "but now i finally get to walk around with you."

kazuha smiled warmly, her eyes softening as she looked at you. "i've been waiting for that too."

as you strolled through the venue together, browsing the different stalls and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, kazuha suddenly glanced over at you with a playful gleam in her eye. "so, are we going for round two later?"

you shot her a knowing look, pretending to think it over. "if by round two, you mean a rematch, then sure. but if you mean something else..." you trailed off, stepping closer with a mischievous grin.

kazuha blushed, catching on quickly, though she tried to play it cool. "we'll see," she murmured, leaning in to give you a quick, soft peck on the cheek.

you smiled, your heart fluttering as you walked hand-in-hand through the venue. it felt like the day had finally slowed down enough for the two of you to enjoy each other's company.

"so," you began, glancing around at the booths, "what's the plan?"

kazuha tilted her head thoughtfully, her hand still intertwined with yours. "hmm... maybe some food? i've barely had time to eat today"

you grinned, squeezing her hand. "food it is, what kind of food are we feeling?" you asked, casting a glance around at the different food stalls lining the venue.

she paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the options before locking onto a stall. "what about that one?" she asked, pointing toward a food booth tucked in the corner. the sign read ssambap in bold letters, and the smell of sizzling meat immediately caught your attention.

"solid choice," you grinned, leading her toward the stall. "i'm starving too, so this is perfect."

the two of you got in line, and while waiting, kazuha rested her head lightly on your shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. you felt warmth bloom in your chest, the casual intimacy between you two a stark contrast to the earlier adrenaline rush of the games.

"i didn't think i'd miss you this much today," kazuha murmured softly, her fingers gently playing with yours.

you chuckled, leaning your head against hers. "i know, right? it was weird being in the same room but barely being able to talk."

kazuha lifted her head slightly to look at you, her eyes softening. "and i may have gotten a little jealous when other people were talking to you," she admitted.

you couldn't help but laugh. "oh, i noticed. you were definitely giving them the death glare from across the room."

kazuha sighed, her cheeks tinting a light pink as she bit her lip. "what can i say? you're mine," she said softly, squeezing your hand a little tighter.

you smiled, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "well, i'm glad, because i'm yours too."

the line moved quickly, and soon enough, it was your turn to order. you both chose a mix of options, grilled beef wraps for kazuha and spicy pork for you, and a side of kimchi and rice cakes to share. as soon as your food was ready, you found a quiet spot off to the side where the two of you could sit and enjoy your meal in peace.

you sat across from each other at one of the small tables set up near the food stalls. kazuha handed you one of the wraps she'd prepared, her smile bright as she watched you take your first bite.

"this is so good," you mumbled through a mouthful of food, nodding approvingly.

she took a bite of her own wrap, nodding along with you. "we should do this more often. just walk around, try new things... and eat like there's no tomorrow."

you grinned at her enthusiasm, watching as she happily devoured another bite of her food. "i'm down for that. honestly, i'm just glad we finally have some time to ourselves. it's been such a busy day."

kazuha nodded in agreement, pausing to take a sip of her drink. "yeah, i've did so much today. it's nice to just... be with you."

her words were simple, but they hit you right in the heart. it didn't matter what you were doing; being with her always felt right.

the rest of the meal flew by with you two laughing and teasing each other between bites. it felt really nice to just chill, away from all the attention, and enjoy the moment. you could tell kazuha felt the same, she seemed relaxed and happy.

after finishing your meal, you both leaned back in your chairs, feeling full. "i think i'm in a food coma now," kazuha said, rubbing her stomach with a satisfied grin.

"same," you agreed, stretching your arms above your head. "but totally worth it."

kazuha smiled, reaching across the table to grab your hand again. "let's walk around a bit more, maybe grab some dessert? does ice cream sound good to you right now?"

you grinned, nodding eagerly. "it sounds perfect."

with that, you both stood up, hand in hand once again as you made your way through the venue.

as you walked, the colorful booths and pop-up stalls caught your attention. kazuha glanced around, her eyes lighting up at the various stands. "look at that!" she pointed excitedly toward a booth with a sign for custom bracelets. "we should get matching ones to remember today."

"good idea," you replied, squeezing her hand. "what kind of design do you want?"

"i'm thinking something simple but meaningful, like our initials," kazuha said, "maybe with a small heart or something cute."

"yeah that'll be cute," you agreed.

the two of you stopped at the booth, admiring the designs on display. the bracelets were made of delicate cords with various charms that could be personalized. after a moment of indecision, you both decided on a design with matching cords, each bracelet featuring a small heart charm and your initials engraved.

the booth owner promised to have them ready in a few minutes, so you both continued your stroll through the event while waiting.

you both stopped at a few more booths along the way and looking through accessories before finally picking up your matching bracelets. kazuha slid yours onto your wrist with a smile. "i love it."

"me too," you said, fastening kazuha's around her wrist.

eventually, you reached the ice cream stand. kazuha looked over the menu, her eyes scanning the options. "what are you getting?"

"hmm... i think i'll go for cookies and cream," you told her.

kazuha smiled, already sure of her choice. "i'll get the same"

the two of you placed your orders, and after a short wait, the ice cream was ready. you handed kazuha her cone and took your own, savoring the first bite.

"this is perfect," kazuha said, smiling as she took a bite of her ice cream.

"definitely," you agreed. "best decision ever."

the two of you wandered for a bit longer, chatting about everything and nothing. eventually, the ice cream cones were gone.

"well, what now?" you asked, glancing around.

kazuha shrugged playfully, her eyes scanning the area. "how about we just walk around for a bit? i don't think i'm ready for today to end yet."

"i was hoping you would say that," you said, squeezing her hand.

you both continued to wander through the venue, chatting about everything and nothing, exchanging stories about your day and things you hadn't yet talked about.

at one point, you passed a photo booth. you turned to kazuha with a grin. "wanna do it?"

without hesitation, she agreed, and you both squeezed into the booth together. the pictures were full of silly faces and kisses and when the strip printed out, you couldn't help but smile at how cute you both looked.

"this is definitely going above my desk," you said, grinning as you handed kazuha the other strip.

kazuha smiled, holding it up with a soft chuckle. "my new wallpaper."

you both made your way to a nearby bench, feeling your legs ache from all the walking and excitement of the day. once seated, you leaned back, letting the tiredness of the day hit you. kazuha rested her head on your shoulder, letting out a soft sigh.

you both sat there in comfortable silence, the soft lights around you making everything feel cozy. there were no crowds or distractions, just the two of you, relaxing together. you leaned your head against hers, enjoying the calmness of the moment.

eventually, it was time to head back. after a soft kiss on her cheek, you both stood up, hands finding each other as you walked back. the day was wrapping up, but there was no disappointment, you're just glad you were able to spend some of the time with kazuha.

you both made your way back toward the venue, fingers still interlaced, a quiet smile on both of your faces. as you walked, you exchanged a few soft words about the fun you had, already thinking about the next time you'd get to do something like this again. kazuha glanced at you, her eyes soft and warm, and you couldn't help but smile in return.

when you reached her team's booth, you gave her one last lingering kiss, soft and sweet, before pulling away. "see you soon?" you asked.

she nodded, her smile bright. "definitely."

with one last squeeze of your hand, you turned and headed back to your team, already looking forward to the next chapter of this relationship, and everything it would bring.

ALL CHAPTERS !!! | FINISHED

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Hi! I love love love the other half. After the last chapter I hope Bruce does something nice for shop girl (and for himself to ig). Them being sweet just makes me screech.

Previous Part | Masterlist | Final Part

Some sweet Bruce comin' riiiight up

Warnings: Very light angst; mostly fluff

Not beta-read

“Are you awake?” Bruce’s breath brushes against the bare skin of your shoulder. You grunt softly, shifting where you lay on your belly. The sheets are soft and warm beneath you; you can see sunlight beginning to creep in between the curtains of the master bedroom of the mansion. 

“...No,” You finally mumble, voice grumbling and thick with sleep. Bruce chuckles, pressing a sweet kiss to your shoulder as his palm brushes over your back, dipping beneath the covers. You hum softly, arching up into his touch and sighing through your nose. 

“Why are you awake?” You counter. “What time did you get in?” 

“A little after two.” 

“Oh, wow. Early night for you.” 

“Moderately.” 

You roll onto your back, gently dislodging Bruce’s hand. You scrub the sleep from your eyes with the heels of your palms before you finally tip your chin up, getting a better look at him. He does look more well-rested than he has in a while: his eyes are bright as he smiles down at you. 

Christmas and New Years had passed with little to no incident. Your Christmas celebration had been small; the most tense point had been a short video call with your parents. Conversation overall had been stilted, but not as bad as pulling teeth. New Year’s had been spent at Liz and Grant’s for their blowout celebration, but your night with Bruce had ended early when the signal had shown in the sky. 

Still, despite your bumps and hurdles, you feel like the two of you are slowly inching toward where you had been before your break-up. Some of the buoyancy is coming back to both of you. With your relationship no longer Gotham’s best-kept secret, Bruce openly picks you up after work. Sure, you’re still mobbed by the press, but you’re so used to it that it hardly makes a dent anymore. You aren’t tip-toeing around one another. If you have a disagreement, Bruce stays to talk it out. Now and again he may step out of the room to get his head together—but he always comes back. 

It isn’t perfect—it will never be perfect—but it feels more solid, and safe. 

You raise your hand, sweeping it gently across his cheek, and giggling softly as he tips his head to press a kiss to your palm. 

“Someone’s in a good mood.”

“Well someone,” Bruce leans closer, brushing his nose against yours, “Has plans for you today.” 

“For me? Little ol’ me?” 

You hardly have a chance to get the tease out before Bruce captures your lips in a tender kiss. You sink back into the mattress as he presses closer, looping your arms around his shoulders and smiling as his tongue gently probes between your lips. You hum at the feeling, shifting your hips as Bruce’s hand skims across them, then down your thigh. You pout as he draws back just a little, dropping another peck to your lips before his forehead rests against yours.

“What are these plans, exactly?”

“I don’t want to ruin any surprises.” 

“Surprises?” You lean into it as your brows raise. Plural?” 

“You’ll see.” Bruce gives you one more quick, warm kiss before he leans away. “Shower, get dressed. I’ll get you some coffee.” 

You push yourself up onto your elbows, an intrigued smile curling your lips. “What the hell are you up to, mister?” 

“You’ll see!” 

-- 

Bruce doesn’t let a single tip slip throughout your shared coffee, or on the way out—not even when you crowd him into an alcove by the stairs and nibble on his earlobe. He nearly crumbles for a moment, but he rests his hands on your hips and gives them a lusty squeeze before reassuring: “There’ll be plenty of time for that later.” 

You narrow your eyes slightly as Bruce steers you out of the dim space, a smile curling your lips as you take in the rising flush in his cheeks. 

“Looking a little flustered there, Mr. Wayne.” 

“What ever gave you that idea—Alright,” He chuckles as you lean in, pushing cool air over his earlobe. “You can’t get secrets out of me that way.” He curls his arm around yours, steering you toward the front steps of the mansion. 

“Mm, but I was this close. What would the sinister of Gotham think if they found out that Batman needed so little teasing to crumble?” 

“Why do you think the helmet covers my ears?” 

You snort, bumping your hip against him before the two of you slow at the sight of Alfred standing in front of one of Bruce’s cars. 

“Go on,” Bruce urges softly when you meet his eye again. “I’ll see you tonight.” 

“At one of my many surprises?” 

“Exactly.” 

You pucker your lips, and grin as Bruce leans in for another indulgent kiss. 

“Love you.” 

“Love you, too.” He pats your lower back, urging you forward. “I’ll see you later.” 

You grunt, jogging down the front steps. 

“Morning, Alfred.” 

“Good morning, miss.” 

“I take it you’re in on these shenanigans?” 

“Shenanigans may be a rather harsh word for the day ahead.” He shoots you a wink as he opens the door for you. 

“Any hints?” 

“I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” 

--  

Alfred leaves you at the front door of Grove, one of your favorite restaurants, at 11:30 AM on the dot, and tells you that your name is on the reservation. You linger in the reception area as the waiter prepares your table. 

“Ugh, tell them to hurry up, I want a fucking mimosa.” 

You shriek at the familiar voice, whirling around from the reception desk and right into Michelle’s arms. She cackles, and the two of you hug one another tightly for a long few moments. 

“What are you doing here!” You ask, reeling away to get a better look at her. 

"Moneybags offered to fly me in. No way was I turning down first class, a free brunch, and…Some other stuff.” 

“Ugh, not you, too,” You whine. You let it drop just long enough for the waiter to show the two of you to a quiet table at the back of the restaurant. You let Michelle order the two of you a round of mimosas before you lean across the table. “Come on, not even a hint?” 

“Well, I’m going to be around for a few hours, but that’s all you’re getting.” 

“When did he reach out?” 

“Like…I don’t know, sometime during gooch week?” 

“During what?”

“Gooch week—you know, the week between Christmas and New Years? Like the bit between the asshole and the—” 

“Okay, I got it, I got,” You wave her off as the waiter sets down your mimosas. “What did he tell you, at least? That made you come down here.” 

“He said that he wanted to do something nice for you.” 

You hum thoughtfully, narrowing your eyes as you consider what that could possibly mean. Bruce does nice things for so often.

“I think he still feels like he needs to make up for the whole…Situation.” 

“Well, he does,” Michelle mutters, taking up her glass and taking a deep swig. You fight back a chastising frown. 

“...He’s been getting better. We’ve been better,” You insist. 

“Do you think he’s going to propose tonight?” 

Her question stuns you, and for a moment, you can’t say anything. The prospect makes your head spin, and you actually lean back in your seat with the weight of it. 

“I…” You shake your head, “I don’t…” 

Michelle’s lift with interest, and she leans in. 

“You don’t…what? Know how big the ring is gonna be?” 

“I don’t think he’s going to ask,” You laugh. “I mean, at least, not right now. He and I haven’t spoken about it in a long time.” 

“Not even after the attack?” 

“We’ve talked about a lot of things, but that’s not one of them.” 

Michelle grunts softly. “If he proposed tonight, what would you say?” 

“He’s not going to.” 

“But if he did?” 

“Knee-jerk reaction? Probably yes. But we’ve still got a lot of crap to sort through.” 

“Like what?”

“Like…” You flub for a a reasonable answer before you manage: “He’s an insomniac.” 

Michelle's expression is rife with disbelief, and you couldn't blame her. To a reasonable person, it's probably not a great reason to end a relationship.

“That’s a deal breaker for you?” 

“I know it sounds kinda petty, but it makes more of an impact than you’d think.” 

“What else?” 

“I mean, I’d kind of like him to make peace with my parents before any of that. Not like, go to them and ask for my hand—I don’t care about that and they don’t, either. But if he’s going to be family to them, I just want all of that bad blood from Thanksgiving cleared up.” 

“He wasn’t given the green after the office?”

“I mean, they appreciated it, but my mom is convinced that bad luck just follows him.” 

“Maybe it does.” 

You purse your lips, swirling your mimosa a little. 

“Maybe.” 

The two of you consider it for a few moments before Michelle reaches out, patting your hand and pointing to your menu. 

“Let’s order. I don’t want to miss our spa appointment.” 

“Spa?” 

She winces. “Just act surprised when we turn up so Lord Fancy doesn’t report back to the billionaire that I spoiled anything.” 

-- 

“Are you kidding me?” 

Bruce smiles smugly as he watches you nearly double over in laughter. You don’t care that the entire floor staff of Chef du Roi is looking at you like you’re insane. 

“I figured we should try the food here at least once,” Bruce insists as you calm, steering you by the arm toward your table. You swipe a few tears that had gathered from your eyes, chuckling still as he draws your chair out for you. 

“Thank you.” Your smile widens as Bruce leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to your cheek before he rounds to his seat. You take the proffered menu from the waiter, flipping it open. You wait until the waiter is out of earshot before you comment, “You know, I’ve been dying for Chipotle lately.” 

“Ha-ha.” 

You giggle, wriggling your foot out of your new pair of pumps and gently brushing your toe along his calf. Bruce’s gaze flickers to yours from beneath his lashes, and you fight back a devilish grin. 

“So, the spa, the shopping spree, flying in my best friend…May I ask what triggered such largesse?” 

“Well, it’s not every day that I have to scramble to make up for missing our first anniversary by bringing you back to the scene of our first date,” Bruce comments, glancing between menu pages. It feels a little like a goad—especially considering the fact that he’s the reason you’d missed your anniversary, and you both know it. You just hum thoughtfully, glancing over the entrees. 

“...Technically the scene of our first date was the diner near the store I worked at,” You remind him. “This was our second date—And we didn’t even eat here.” 

“Nitpick nitpick nitpick.”

“I learned from the best.”

“Michelle?” 

“Alfred.” 

Bruce chuckled, setting his menu aside. “How is Michelle?” 

“She’s doing pretty well. Still adjusting to Keystone City, obviously, but she said that she enjoys how quiet it is by compairson…Thank you, by the way.”

“I know how much you’ve been missing her.” 

“...She’s worried.” 

“That I’ll do it again?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Are you worried?” “Should I be?” 

You don’t look up from your menu for a moment. You can feel him watching you heavily, but you don’t let it bow or shy you back from the question. You feel the table shift as he leans forward a little. 

“Baby.” 

“Mm?” 

“If for some reason I lose my mind and do that again, I want you to take everything out of the mansion that isn’t nailed down.” 

You bite back a smile, nodding. “Do me a favor and jot that out on a napkin. Alfred can notarize it when we get home.” 

“Alfred can notarize it tomorrow morning. He has the night off.” 

“Why’s that?” 

Bruce’s foot hooks around your ankle, tugging a little closer beneath the table. You can’t help but wonder what sort of picture you make to the staff—Bruce, watching you so closely, you, studying your menu as if the waiter’s going to quiz you on it, and your feet hooked together, visible just beneath the end of the tablecloth. 

“Because if you’re amenable, our plans don’t end with dinner.” 

“What do they end with?” 

“That is up to you.” 

“Do I get to know my options?”

“I think you know your options.”

“Mm.” You make a show of turning the page of your menu, stalling and trying to weigh your words. “...So is this going to be an evening on the…Earlier side?” 

“Not if I can help it.” 

“...But if you can’t help it?” 

“It’s going to take a lot to get me away from you tonight.” 

“You know if you changed one word and omitted another, you would’ve been quoting Toto’s Africa.”

“That wasn’t on purpose.”

“Wasn’t it?” You cast him a glance from beneath your lashes.

“No.” 

Your brows tip up, and his stern insistence melts before he shrugs. “Heard it on the way over.” 

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s catchy.” 

“It’s very popular.” 

“I mean it.”

“...I know.” 

“You know?” 

“I know it’s catchy.” 

He laughs softly, and you reach out, curling your hand around his. 

“I know you mean it,” You reassure gently. Bruce smiles, raising his hand and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. 

“...How long do you think the staff is going to linger over there?” He asks. 

“I think they’re afraid to come over.” 

“I don’t bite.” 

“Sure you do.”

“Not with an audience.” 

Final Part

[terriblepersongreatseamonster]

Being sick totally threw off my concept of time & I spent most of today excited that tomorrow is Friday & at least I'll have new Apothecary Diaries to watch. It'll be so nice getting the new episode tomorrow after the miserable week I've had...

Yeah, 10 minutes ago I realized I'm having a Liz Lemon week.

[shaunamilfman]

they got no idea about me and you

Summary: "When Shauna got her license and started picking Jackie up for school it seemed easy enough to just bum a ride from her: you were, after all, Jackie's neighbor. You resented Jackie at first for all the time you and Shauna spent waiting in the car for her, but you've really started to treasure these secret moments spent between the two of you."

A/N: nothing like super nsfw but it's not strictly sfw either

You can't help the grin that crosses your face the second you hear her car coming to a stop outside of Jackie Taylor's, your neighbor's, house. Truthfully you could hear it coming a long way down the road, but like always Shauna refuses to admit that anything could be wrong with Kevin Car-nold himself– itself? You were never quite sure how naming your car worked. 

You impatiently wait a minute or two before you throw your bag over your shoulder and try not to rush your way out of the door. She's staring down at her journal as she writes, so you take the time to admire her on the walk down your driveway. She looks good today, not that she doesn't always look good, but there's something about the way her hair looks when it's down that draws you in. 

There's just a hint of a frown on her face as she writes, but you're more than used to Shauna Shipman's particular brand of moodiness that you can't help but view it in an affectionate light. You can appreciate what the journal does for your otherwise emotionally unavailable girlfriend– God knows she'd explode without it. Still, you're almost embarrassed at having to compete with a pen and paper for Shauna's attention. 

It feels strange to be jealous of an inanimate object, but sometimes you find yourself wishing that Shauna would hold on as tightly to you as she does to her journal even if you know it's not an entirely fair comparison. You try to shake the thought from your head as you pop the handle open. 

Shauna glances up at the rearview mirror as the door opens, her hand never stilling as she looks back to her journal with a small smile. You slide into the seat directly behind her, haphazardly letting your bag fall onto the floorboards. Shauna hums in greeting as the angsty sounds of Liz Phair play quietly from the stereo. 

I can feel it in my bones, I'm gonna spend another year alone. Fuck and run, fuck and run.

“Fuck and run?” You quote, grinning as Shauna finally looks up from her notebook with a vaguely amused look. She finally closes her journal and places it lazily on the passenger seat as she turns to face you. 

“Is that what you do?” You ask wryly, leaning forward against the back of her seat. Shauna sputters slightly, glancing back and forth between you and the stereo. There's a light flush to her cheeks, not embarrassment so much as a hint of shyness. 

“You player,” You accuse lightly. Shauna huffs a laugh as she gives you a wry look. 

“Oh, you know me,” She says, rolling her eyes. As much as Shauna likes to poke fun at others she never seems to like it nearly as much when it is turned on her. You think it's probably because of how easy it is to make her flush, whether with anger or with embarrassment. 

“You dog,” You murmur teasingly against her ear, pressing a quick kiss against her cheek as you scoot back against the passenger side window laughing. Her eyes follow your movements, almost as if she can't bear to tear her eyes away. She's got what you've termed ‘the look’ on her face– eyes narrowing with an intense expression on her face as she glances around, head tilted in consideration– signifying she's about to do something risky or stupid. Shauna stares up at Jackie's house for a long moment before suddenly pulling herself over the center console and into your lap. 

She misjudges the distance and ends up slamming you against the door, making you groan in pain as your head smacks against the window. “Shit,” Shauna mutters, hand sliding to the back of your head as she starts feeling for damage. You gently grab her by the wrists and pull her hands away, wincing at the way her fingers press against what you’re sure is going to be a nasty bruise. She gives you an apologetic look and a murmured apology that you wave off as you rest your hands on her hips.

“Not too good at the running part, though,” You say, still referencing the song she’s left on. Shauna smirks, surely about to address the first part of that particular lyric before she gives you a confused look.

“My dad heard you leaving,” You comment wryly. Shauna's eyes widen as a sudden look of unease crosses her face, she looks over at your house with a level of apprehension you've never seen directed at a building. You'd think it was haunted by the look on her face. She slaps lightly at your shoulder as you start snickering.

“Don’t laugh,” She hisses, still sounding a little panicked. 

“Mm, no. Don't worry. For better or worse my dad thought it was next door.” You say, making Shauna relax instantly. She leans forward and buries her head in your shoulder, her arms coming up to wrap around your shoulders and she breathes in the scent of your cologne.

“What do you mean for worse?” She asks after a moment, making you shiver at the feeling of her breath against your neck.

“He thought you were That damn Sadecki boy,” You quote wryly. Shauna winces.

“I was that loud?” She asks, embarrassed at the comparison. You laugh softly, caressing your thumbs across her hips.

“You’re very pretty,” You offer, not wanting to keep kicking her while she was down. She muffles a laugh into your neck before pulling back, tilting her head down as she gives you a knowing look. 

“Oh, Is that right?” Shauna asks smugly, trailing her hand across your face to cup your chin as she tilts your head up to look you in the eyes. 

“Prettiest girl I've ever seen. Gorgeous. Breathtaking. Beautiful–” 

“Good at sneaking out your window?” Shauna interrupts, fully relaxing on your lap to rest all of her weight on you as she leans forward till your lips are almost touching. You try to lean forward to close the distance between you, but Shauna gently holds your head back. “Good at sneaking out of your window?” She repeats slowly, making it all too clear she's not going to let you kiss her till you say what she wants. 

You can't help but roll your eyes as you sigh fondly. She's so fucking stubborn. “So good at sneaking out of my window. The best, even. I don't think there's been a better window climber outer in the history of–”

She interrupts you once again as she finally closes the distance between you to give you your hard-earned kiss. You can feel her smile against you and it only makes you more enthusiastic. Shauna was intense in everything she did, and smile or not, this was no different. 

She's so easy to get lost in, every movement practiced and deliberate. You always lose track of time wrapped up in her, whether minutes or hours have passed you have no idea. Not that you were particularly concerned with the concept, honestly you weren't sure if you could remember your own name if asked. 

Shauna finally pulls away as the need to breathe overwhelms her, laughing breathlessly as you try to follow her with a noise of displeasure. You move your way to her neck as she catches her breath, her hand sliding into your hair as you bite down. 

The noise she makes in response is far too loud for a public setting, but neither of you seems to care as Shauna's hips rock in response. She's verging on a whine as you roll the skin between your teeth, fist clenching around your hair as she murmurs praises. 

She starts grinding down in earnest as you pull away with a wet pop, gently soothing at the teeth marks you've left behind. You'll be damned if you're letting her leave this car without a mark on her. She definitely isn't complaining, nearly rocking the car with her enthusiasm. She moans breathily, hand tightening in your hair as she tugs you away. 

There's a hungry look on her face, your saliva on her neck nearly glistening in the morning light. She starts to speak when her eyes suddenly go wide with panic as she sees something over your shoulder. “Shit,” She panics, scrambling away and back over the center console. You turn back in shock only to catch Jeff Sadecki running across the lawn. 

Shauna slides back into the driver's seat about as gracefully as she slid out of it; Which is, to say, not at all. She slams into the horn on the way down, making you jump in surprise as you whirl your head around to stare at her in surprise. She seems mortified as she meets your gaze, quickly facing forward as she starts adjusting the way her flannel lays on her neck. 

You groan in irritation as you quickly fix your rumpled clothes, glancing out the window as Jackie marches down the lawn with a frown on her face. Shauna goes scrambling to move her journal out of the passenger seat, tossing it haphazardly towards you. You set it down on the driver's side seat just as Jackie slides gracefully into the car. 

Jackie looks back and forth between the two of you suspiciously but seems to shake it off and she turns fully towards Shauna. “You didn't have to honk at me,” She says in a whiney voice. “I was coming.”

“Were you, though?” You joke, referencing Jeff's hasty exit. Jackie sputters, whirling around to face you as her face flushes bright red. 

“Shut up,” Jackie says finally, unable to come up with a decent response as she crosses her arms and stares moodily out of the window. You catch sight of her pouty expression in the reflection and have to stifle the urge to laugh. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Shauna grinning at you as she glances into the rearview mirror, but she pulls the car down the street without another word.

You were content to lean your head against the window and listen absentmindedly as they spoke. You would never understand how Jackie managed to be so perky and upbeat this early in the morning. You interjected a comment every once in a while when Shauna would glance up at her rearview mirror at you, but you mostly thought about Shauna. You found yourself doing this more and more lately, it was like she’d taken over your entire existence. You weren’t exactly complaining, but it was still a strange thing to come to terms with.

You’re suddenly pulled out of your thoughts at the sound of Jackie’s door slamming closed. You quickly extract yourself from the car, shutting the door much more gently than Jackie did: Shauna babied the hell out of this car, for some unknown reason. There’s a slightly pleased expression on Shauna’s face as she watches, so you figure it was probably the right move. You give her a knowing smile as you wave your hand in goodbye, leaving Shauna in Jackie’s clutches as you go to find your own friends.

“Wait! Hold on,” Shauna calls out, abandoning Jackie for a moment to follow after you. You stop and turn around, watching as she shifts her bag to one shoulder as she looks through it. She pulls out a small object, carefully hiding it as she hands it to you. You glance down at it quickly, respecting Shauna's clear wish for nonchalance but can't help the way your face lights up at the sight of the tape. 

“Did you– did you make me a mixtape?” You ask, almost reverent as you resist the urge to stare at it. 

“Is it lame?” Shauna asks embarrassedly, fiddling with the zipper on her bag as she swiftly closes it again. “I just… was thinking of you when listening to them, or whatever…” She trails off awkwardly, shoes scuffing the ground as she tries to decide whether she regrets giving it to you or not. 

“No, no,” You rush to reassure her, affection clear on your face. “I love it. I can't wait to listen to it.” Shauna grins widely in relief, her brown eyes practically shining with joy. “I wish I could kiss you right now,” You admit quietly. Shauna starts to speak but is quickly interrupted by Jackie. 

“Shauna,” Jackie calls out impatiently, verging on a whine. “Come on!” You and Shauna share an amused look before she turns and walks off after Jackie. You watch the two of them leave with barely repressed awe before finally turning and walking off.

[whentherewerebicycles]

three baby updates:

I think he is having another growth spurt and my god this child is large. he’s been to the doctor a couple times in the past two weeks and they measure him every time. a couple weeks ago he was 99th percentile for height and then the most recent time the doctor was like ‘well he’s officially off the charts.’ (I mean I think ‘off the charts’ is still just 99th right? but still lol.) it will be SO funny to me if this gigantic baby ends up being like, 5’8 as an adult. but if it’s anything like with puppies I think he’s going to be huge. he has the biggest hands and feet you ever saw. anyway he’s perfect and also carting this child around should count as weight training lol.

he is ON! THE! MOVE!!!! today was his first full day of being a full-fledged crawler and he LOVED it. you put him down and look away for a second and he’s like ‘bye mom’ and is all the way across the room when you look back. crawling facilitates many new activities, like Motoring Towards the Forbidden Wires, but his fave new activity is head-butting people. this is how it works: he puts his big ol noggin down and crawls directly towards you at top crawling speed (read: very slowly) until he runs into you with his big ol noggin. and then he backs up a little bit and runs into you again. and again. and again. and again. then when he is tired of this he will fall over sideways into your lap and look up at you and giggle because that was soooo silly. he spent a lot of time this evening head-butting liz’s daughter (his baby best friend) and she just watched him head-butt, reverse, head-butt again, reverse like ten times and then leaned down and tried to chomp the back of his head with her new teeth.

he was sooooo giggly tonight at liz and A’s god it killed me!!! he’s intensely social right now and loveeeees engaging people and imitating them. liz and A were howling like wolves at him and he would clap his hands together and do his big gummy delighted smile and then howl back at them. he’s actually getting pretty good at howling lol and it has become his default greeting for people he knows. the PT today was like I notice he’s making a lot of ooooooooo sounds and I was like unfortunately he thinks he’s being raised by wolves. it’s not a developmental issue we just positively reinforce the behavior multiple times a day by cracking up and howling at him. WHAT CAN I SAY it’s just too cute haha

[lunarwildrose]

Happiest Life-day/Birthday to my very own Rei Jr aka Sailor Mars, Liz Cassandra 🤍 seen here with one of her unicorn birthday cakes! 🦄🎂🥳🎁🎈💐🎉

The first was an ice cream cake, and the second was a regular cake! Both surprises arranged by her father Karasu and our helpers Kurama and Steven/Android 17. We also spent time making another regular chocolate frosted yellow cake together with all the Little Crow Goblins and Liz Cassandra's bestie, Nelson, to help out! =^.^= 🤍

Last night we were in New York City to see Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon the Super Live for Liz Cassandra's early bday present 🎁 and today I received an early bday present of our favourite senshi, Sailor Mars, which I am sharing with Liz Cassandra as her bday present as well cos "Sharing is caring!" 🎁🤍

Liz Cassandra has grown up to be a beautiful little girl, she is 7 years old now alongside Karasu Jr (April 9th) and Eric (June 25th) her triplet brothers. Her bestie outside of her siblings is Nelson, and she is also besties with her older half-sister Gabi who is my first child with Loki a friend of mine. Gabi lives with Loki and his wife Sigyn most of the time, but comes to stay with us during holiday events like the Little Crow Goblins' Life-day weeks. 🤍🤍🤍

Liz Cassandra loves to put colours in her hair, so I'll have to draw up some nice artwork of some colours she's done! =^.^= 🤍 I am proud of the little woman she has become. 🤍🤍🤍 Reserved but assertive, sensitive and sweet, strong-willed and kind; she is a lot like Rei Hino in the manga and Crystal anime onwards. 🤍