#unpack this how yall want

[ad1thi]

@ifmywishescametrue felt like it was finally time from some good old-fashioned angst. stevetony rwrb AU ft. the night at Kensington Palace. @bieddiediaz pls enjoy your fav rwrb scene re-done.

please note : characters’ opinions about the English Monarchy do not reflect author’s own opinions. Fuck the Monarchy.

The rain is thunderous. Steve’s been in London when it’s rained before, but it’s never been this bad. Their visibility is shot to hell, and they’re inching towards Kensington Palace, because Clint is worried that if they go any faster, then they’re at a serious risk of losing control of the car and veering off the side of the road.

Steve knows this. He knows this because Clint’s told him as much, all three times that Steve has asked why they aren’t moving faster. None of this stops the anxious bounce of his leg, nor does it stop him physically hurtling out of his car as soon as they’re close enough to Kensington Palace that he can make out the shaky outline of the mansion in his periphery.

“Anthony Edward Stark!” He bellows, even though there’s a piss poor chance he can be heard over this rain, “Open your fucking door!” Its superfluous of course, because even if they weren’t fighting it wouldn’t be Tony who lets him in, but it has its desired effect : the door cracks open, and Bruce steps out.

“Mr. Rogers,” He inclines his head, and then looks past Steve, “Mr. Barton. His Royal Highness is indisposed at this time.” It’s the middle of the night. Steve knows, as surely as he knows the back of his hand, that Tony is just upstairs, sat on his bed.

“Undispose him then,” Steve says firmly, arrogantly, “I’m not leaving until I’ve seen him.”

Bruce’s face remains blank. “I’m sorry you’ve made it all this way for a wasted trip. His Royal Highness cannot see you now. If you insist on being a nuisance, rest assured there are other ways to get you to vacate the premises.”

Almost instinctively, Clint steps in front of Steve just as Steve stiffens. They both recognise Bruce’s words for what they are : a threat.

Still, Steve will not be deterred. “Oh for fuck’s -“ He cups his mouth and tilts his head back, “Tony ! I know you know I’m here ! The least you owe me is to look me in the eye, you absolute piece of shit!”

“His Royal Highness owes you nothing,” Bruce says harshly, “You’re lucky that you were able to get this close to the residence - “

The door opens again, and Tony steps out. He’s in silk pajamas, draped in a fluffy robe. He grabs it and wraps it around himself tightly, sighing deeply. Tony looks haggard, Steve thinks to himself, blinking through wet lashes, puffy eyes, sunken cheeks, and hair sticking up in various directions.

He’s never looked more beautiful.

“Let them in Bruce,” Tony says, placing a hand on his equerry’s shoulder, “Get Clint a towel and a change of clothes. Best to put a pot on as well, tea will kill the chill.”

Bruce inclines his head, and Tony turns around and walks back into the residence. The entire time, Steve notes silently, he hadn’t looked at Steve once. Bruce follows after, holding open the door for Clint and Steve to step in. They’re both soaked to the bone, dripping all over the expensive floors of Kensington Palace, but Steve couldn’t care less. He pauses just long enough to shrug off his jacket, safe in the knowledge that Clint will be taken care of, and moves two steps at a time - unwilling to lose Tony.

He knows the way to Tony’s bedroom, having been there the night after Wimbledon, but he wouldn’t put it past Tony to spirit away to another part of the Palace and leave Steve walking around the halls aimlessly.

“You can say what you’ve come to say,” Tony says once they enter his room, “And then you will leave.” It isn’t a request, it’s an order.

“Look at me,” Steve means for it to be firm, but it comes out soft, desperate. “Look me in the eye, Tony, you owe me that much.” With what looks like supreme effort, Tony raises his gaze off the floor, and meets Steve’s eyes.

“What happened?” Steve asks, begs, “We were good, we were happy. And then you just leave ? Scurry out of the apartment in the dead of the night, leave me this -“ He fists the scrap of paper out of his pocket and shakes it at Tony, “And then, nothing. No messages, no calls, not even a whisper. Do you know I checked the news obsessively for a week ? I thought, god I thought everything. Your father was poisoned, your sister relapsed, your plane was shot out of the sky by insurgents, you’d been kidnapped, anything because I didn’t want to believe that the man I am in love with would be this cruel.”

Tony makes a sound like he’s wounded, but Steve barrels on. “But eventually, I had to accept it. ‘When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.’”

“Arthur Conan Doyle,” Tony interjects nonsensically.

“If you want to end this, end us,” Steve says, steeling himself, “You’re going to have to look me in the eye and do it.”

There’s a pregnant silence.

“My mother was one of the most celebrated actresses of her generation,” Tony starts, “She has one of the most recognisable faces on the planet. I have one of the most recognisable faces on the planet. I was four years old when I realised every single person in this country knew who I was. I was five when one of those people spat on my mother’s face and called her a currymuncher.”

“My mother gave everything up for this,” Tony gestures around him, “To be a symbol of something more. She believed that the monarchy could stand for better, to use centuries of blood money for something more. I have her face Steve, I can’t be like you. I’m not like you. I don’t have the luxury of giving them all of me, I don’t have the luxury of giving anybody all of me. I'm already too much. This is all I’ve got, and you made it abundantly clear in Brooklyn that it was no longer enough for you.”

After the election, Steve had said, mindlessly, thoughtlessly, We can walk around holding hands and it wouldn’t matter.

“I never said that,” Steve says fiercely, “Don’t put words in my mouth. I have never once said you aren’t enough. If you want to bury your head in the sand and stay in the closet forever, then that’s your choice, but don’t you dare say I’m the one who put you there.”

“I’m not in the closet,” Tony says tiredly, “I’ve known I was gay since I was eleven. My entire family knows, in some manner or fashion. Forgive me if I don’t want to hear it from someone who’s known they’re bi for all of five minutes, and didn’t say anything to anyone until he was literally caught with his hand on my dick.”

It’s a low blow, and from the way Tony’s face softens, he knows it. This is what Tony does, Steve reminds himself, he lashes out when he’s cornered. It doesn’t make it hurt any less.

“I have no more cards to play,” Steve says finally, changing tactics, “This is all I have. I love you Tony, I love you so much that sometimes it could kill me. You have consumed me, body and soul, you’re it for me. I have nothing left to give you.”

“So, if this is over, you owe it to me to tell me.”

“You think I don’t love you?” Tony runs his hands through his hair, “Christ Steve I’ve loved you since Rio ! You were bright and shiny, and I was utterly transfixed, and I just knew that if I let you that you would burrow yourself deep in me and never let go. But my life is the Crown, and I can love you, and want you, and still not want this. I can love you and still not want to subject you to that life, because this is all I have to give.”

“Do I get no say?” Steve asks hotly, because it hasn’t escaped his notice that none of those words were ‘It’s over’. “It’s my life too, right ? Our life.”

“The Crown - “

“Fuck the Crown,” Steve says passionately, fervently, “We can find a way to love each other on our own terms. You just have to be willing to try. Or : you tell me to leave, and I will leave, and nothing will happen to you. Nothing, will ever happen to you.”

"Ask me to leave." Steve says again, because he's a masochist, because Tony is the best thing that's ever happened to him, because Tony is the worst thing that's ever happened to me. "Ask me."

"You know I can't."

Steve steps forward, finally closing the gap between them to clasp his hands over Tony's. From this angle, Steve is taller than Tony, and Steve is close enough to count all of his eyelashes individually.

"Then let me stay." Steve begs, implores, "Let me prove to you that this, us, is worth it. Baby, let yourself have something for once. Let yourself have me."

Tony makes a sound in the back of his throat, and then wraps his hand around the back of Steve's neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

It's the worst thing that's ever happened to him. It's the best thing that's ever happened to him.

fin

[guckies]

Been seeing all the discussion about Tubbo being Em’s parents and…. 😬

It’s like we get a girl egg with all moms and it’s now feels like people are saying “she needs a dad!!” because a male is treating her like family…

I’m all for Tubbo being family to Empanada but being her dad?? It feels a lot like there are some misogynistic undertones there. Like family is not just parents it can be literally anything, same way Pepito has Foolish being grandma. Tubbo can have the same and be family in some way to Em.

But it’s like we have an all girl family but because the egg is interacting with others, people are inserting the males into it(the parent dynamic). Which just reads wrong when a majority of the island is male relationships and prominent male families where the girls are mainly just aunts to the children.

Have your headcannons but don’t try to insert them into the canon with your posts especially when a majority of the server relationships are male prominent.

[toytulini]

reeeeeeally wish. it didnt feel. like the needs of my body vs the needs of my brain were actively in fucking conflict with each other in a way that makes it impossible to function or exist

[adolins-heart]

on one hand I wanna write my fic ideas wherein my marvel oc gets sent to the alternate universe of Gotham and hijinks ensue whilst she tries to survive and get back and the batfam and such slowly learn more info abt her world and how it's being threatened atm and she needs to go back and help and whatnot.

But on the other hand, the readers wouldn't know the marvel related backstory of this OC and would have. No context for her going in

But ALSO then the readers would know abt as much abt this mysterious figure as the batcrew do, and get to learn via flash backs and her slowly revealing info to them as safety allows

Then there's also just a general. Idk if there's any sort of oc etiquette when it comes to writing oc centered fics? My brain goes so hogwild when I read anything that I usually avoid oc fics other people write just bc I usually read and enjoy fics at face value but I also go "now what would happen if this OC was here?" And that gets real complicated when other people's ocs are involved

[poggersbathwater]

Maturing is realizing that Gacha kids weren't cringe and were just kids who had no internet restrictions, and that the "cringe culture" people who made fun of them were actually the ones in the wrong for bullying them instead of blaming and condemning the shitty developers and predatory adult creators who KNEW what they were doing.

[wlwmedarda]

I'm honestly just looking to rant and this might be long depending on how fast I get irritated the more I type so if this isn't coherent or well written I apologize in advance. Since it looks like Ambessa will take on a more antagonistic role in arcane season two, I would like to unpack the fandom's antiblackness that you guys are either blind to or aware and too pussy to call it out as my gut is telling me it's gonna increase and if no one is gonna start the difficult conversation then I sure as hell will.

Sevika:

Mel:

Starting off strong with the definition of "you guys want complex female characters but can't even handle her". Mel Medarda is in quite the predicament seeing how she's morally grey, a black woman, AND "gets in the way" of a mlm ship so she was kinda screwed from the start. A cunning politician disowned for her pacifism who acts as a sort of bridge to Noxus' slow introduction, and is THE ONLY CHARACTER IN THE SEASON 1 MAIN CAST SPECIFICALLY CREATED FOR THE SHOW. She's treated like satan incarnate or a Jezebel (highly suggest looking into that if you don't know what that is), GOOD character analysis is rare, and when she is talked about positively, it's so often chalked up to appearances that I'd rather yall not talk about her at all. Oh you love Mel? Then can we talk about her relationship with her mother? Unpack her dynamic with Jayce? Maybe more fanworks centered around her? I've seen yall's fake asses dropping the shittiest fucking takes about her only to turn around and gush over how pretty she is, and yall think you're slick about it and you're not. I would say I prefer the ones who are loud and proud about their hatred but that'd be a lie, they're two cheeks on the same ass; annoying and couldn't give a decent break down of her character if a gun was pointed at they head even she's perfect to dissect. I could talk about her more but we'd be here all day and so many black women even from outside the fanbase have already talked about yall so there's no need for me to add on 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️.

Quick question, have you guys ever tried to talk about her in a non sexual way? Yes, Sevika is undeniably sexy and you could argue that true stans of hers talk about her outside of horny time, but a good half of the fandom is a different story. In a similar case to Mel's, deep dives into her character are rare to find which is crazy when she acts as Zaun's own "kingmaker". She's loyal to her city and the cause, never to a specific person and will not hesitate to betray you. She could be your right hand man one day, and the next she might find a better kingpin to follow and stab you in the back like it all meant nothing. "Were you tempted?" "Not for a worm like him". Simple and subtle and probably my favorite Sevika scene; she comes to realize Silco is no longer the best leader for Zaun, but he's as good as it gets for now and so she sticks by him. I remember a YouTube comment breaking down how she's essentially the quintessential Zaun: a brute warrior molded by her environment, who defied Vander's peaceful ways and embraced Silco's cruelty. Her mindset and goal is interesting and you'd think it'd result in some fascinating meta or exploration of her upbringing when we got a hint that she potentially has some daddy issues right? Obviously, but what do we get instead? White sapphics treating her like nothing more than a sexual object. How delightful!

Ekko:

This might partially be Riot's fault because — and I hate to sound like a league lore nerd — Ekko is quite underdeveloped compared to the richer origins of his former pre arcane self, but I'm gonna hold off on that till the season finale to see how they handle him. Anyways, at this point the fandom clearly sees him as Jinx's trophy husband. When you talk about him, she is brought into the convo 90% of the time. That's exactly why I prefer black timebomb shippers over the nonblack ones because I trust they actually love Ekko as a character on his own. Even though I have my complaints regarding how's been written so far, I still know he's too good to be reduced to Jinx's loverboy. He fights and cares for his city, the only character that you can confidently say is pure of heart, and is the revolutionary leader Zaun really needs. He's just as smart as Jinx too, he is literally going to create TIME TRAVEL. Why does no one wanna talk about that? Can we be excited for his character development and arc not just for the timebomb scenes you'll get out of it?

Ambessa:

Can't even deny this woman is awful but her presence on screen enthralled me after a couple of rewatches and I also love bad mothers in media so I've settled on a love/hate relationship. Yes, she's definitely gonna have some influence on Caitlyn, which makes sense since she has now lost her mother; she's vulnerable and as we have seen, naive. She's practically free real estate for Ambessa. My recent worry though has been how the fandom seems to be willing to put all of Caitlyn's actions on her as if Cait isn't a grown ass woman who can make her own decisions. Of course being grown doesn't mean you're immune to manipulation, but I've seen some Silco and Jinx comparisons and it is NOT the same. Mind you we haven't even seen the first three episodes; we don't know how far Ambessa's manipulation is going to go and we can't really tell what the dynamic is gonna be like based off of clips and trailers that are likely shown out of context on purpose to throw people off. I'll never defend her actions, hell I'll join in on the lashings, but my black ass is also not gonna sit here and let yall talk about her weirdly or pin all of this on her.

Some might say I'm overthinking this, but I've been here since November 2021 and have sat back and observed for 2 years. You don't have to write deep, philosophical conversations 24/7, I'm sure it's not all in bad faith and I won't act like I don't thirst over Sevika or marvel at Mel's beauty. I'm not saying you have to like these characters and that you're racist if you don't. My frustration comes from the lack of nuanced conversations and hypocritical opinions surrounding black characters in this show. When you try to say something about this, you're hit with excuses; it reminds me of how man obsessed fujoshis act when they're questioned for not giving two fucks about female characters. They're either reduced to one character trait, only admired for their looks, or only discussed when it's about the white character they're connected to. Do NOT under ANY circumstance be black and morally ambiguous, you WILL be held to higher moral standards than everyone's wittle blorbos who can do wrong and are defended from all sides when you dare to take the rose colored stan glasses off and criticize them. What's really ridiculous is you hear the "complex characters" bullshit every two to three business days and some of you have the nerve to boast about this series being diverse while simultaneously ignoring the complexities in the characters of color. This is the main reason I took a step back and with season two around the corner I thought "Hey, maybe it'll be better this time!" and it was a mistake. Good to know yall still have an underlying racism problem you don't wanna address but with some extra classism thrown in. "What will we do once Arcane ends?" hopefully get a job, touch some grass, and reflect. Lord knows yall need it. The faster yall sizzle out the better. I'm done that's all I have to say lol goodnight 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽.

[luvleyshif4]

HEART TO HEART

Rafe Cameron x Reader

Summary: bf!Rafe and gf!Reader moved in together, bf!Rafe helps gf!Reader when it’s her first time using a laptop..

Content: Close proximity, use of the word ‘baby’, moving in together, reader and Rafe are in a live-in relationship

Words: 1.19k words

Authors Note: heyyy so this is a small Drabble I made after I saw a cute reel of a couple. I feel like most my ideas come from reels or TikTok’s of couples😭 but it’s alright cause they always end up being so cute.. HOPE YALL LIKE IT💗💗

(PS I finally figured out how to get gradient text>_<)

Rafe and you had been together for a while now—long enough that the idea of moving in together didn’t feel like a leap but more like a natural progression of your love. You’d both talked about it endlessly, debating everything from rent to how much space you’d need for your things. It wasn’t practical, it wasn’t sensible, but neither of you cared. What mattered was that you couldn’t imagine life without the other. It was stupid, really, but you were both too in love to think about anything else.

It had been a whirlwind of decisions, and in the middle of it all, you had found yourself staring at the laptop you’d been saving for months to buy. It was your first real splurge. Every dollar you’d worked for, every late-night shift, had been towards this moment. You were excited, but you had been hesitant too. It was an investment, an expensive investment at that.

When you finally went to purchase the laptop, Rafe had insisted on helping you out. You tried to resist, explaining that you had saved up for this moment and that you wanted to do it on your own. But Rafe had insisted on paying for half, knowing you’d have to save for more important things soon. Though you were reluctant, you finally gave in, realizing he was right.

Unpacking the boxes in your new condo took longer than expected. Your place was still a bit empty, yet there was an excitement in the air that you couldn’t shake. It wasn’t much yet—just you sitting at the kitchen island, surrounded by scattered boxes. It was cozy in its own way, the space slowly starting to feel like home. You’d claimed the spot on the island chairs by the window overlooking the sea as your own because of the view. The large windows gave you a perfect view of the sea, making it a peaceful place to unwind and relax.

You sat on the chair, legs crossed, finally opening your new laptop. The smooth surface of the keyboard and the glow of the screen felt like a reward for all the hard work that had led to this moment. You clicked a few things, feeling the thrill of something new and shiny. Everything was good. But then, you hit a snag.

The cursor wouldn’t move in the way you wanted it to, and no matter how many times you tried, the issue remained.

You frowned at the screen, clicking at random, but the problem persisted. You leaned back slightly, pushing a hand through your hair as you stared at the screen.

You were determined not to ask for help, convinced that if you tried hard enough, you could figure this out. But the minutes dragged on, and you began to feel the frustration creeping in. It was one of those little things that seemed simple but just wouldn’t budge.

Rafe was across the room, setting up the TV in the living area. Your eyes briefly lingered on him—how focused he looked, how comfortable in his element. You let out a quiet sigh and glanced back at your laptop, trying to work out the problem on your own for a few more minutes. But your fingers hovered over the trackpad, unsure of what to do next.

You shifted in your stool, your patience wearing thin. You couldn’t let yourself keep wasting time on something that was so simple to solve, but you couldn’t quite figure it out. You sighed, calling out, “Rafe? Can you come over for a second?”

He turned from his spot in the living room and immediately walked over. He paused when he reached you, his voice gentle, a slight concern on his face. “What’s wrong, baby?”

You didn’t look up, just pointed at the screen and said, “The cursor’s glitching. I’ve tried everything, but it won’t move right.”

Rafe leaned down slightly, standing beside you. His hand came to rest lightly on your back, rubbing gently. His attention flicked between you and the laptop, but his gaze lingered on you more than anything. He took in your expression—slightly exasperated, but with that familiar determination you always had when you got frustrated. He reached over to the laptop, clicking and adjusting, but his focus was still on you, his chest lightly brushing against your back.

He didn’t immediately lean over, instead standing beside you, his presence both comforting and distracting. You didn’t mind. You loved the warmth of his closeness. He was so gentle, so careful in how he made sure you felt supported.

He glanced at you, then back at the laptop. He hummed thoughtfully, then gently rubbed your back again. “Alright, let’s see…” he said softly, his tone light but assuring.

You didn’t bother turning the laptop toward him, neither did he. Rafe stepped closer, positioning himself behind you, and you could feel his presence envelop you completely. His hands, big and strong, slightly engulfed you, hovered over the laptop keyboard as he adjusted a few things.

You could barely focus on the screen anymore. The closeness of his body, the subtle warmth radiating off him, made it hard to concentrate. The way he moved, the way his breath brushed the skin on your neck—it was enough to make your heart skip a beat and make you smile.

Rafe, unaware of the effect he had on you, continued explaining, his voice low and steady. His hands worked expertly at the laptop, moving the cursor to where it needed to be. But your attention was elsewhere.

You didn’t realize it at first, but when Rafe paused and glanced at you, his brow furrowing slightly, he realized that you weren’t listening to him. You weren’t even looking at the screen anymore. You were lost in the feeling of him being so close.

Rafe tilted his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips when he saw yours. “You’re not even listening to me, are you?” he said softly, his voice teasing but warm.

You opened your eyes, the small smile grew on your lips when you look up at him. “Sorry..” you muttered, but the smile on your face told him you weren’t sorry at all.

Rafe chuckled softly and pressed a light kiss to your temple. His hand rubbed gently over your right upper arm, making your smile widen.

his hands shifted, his right hand moving over your chest to rest lightly on your left upper arm, his left hand still on the keyboard. His gentle touch was a reminder of how much he cared, and you couldn’t help but feel giddy having him so close.

You leaned back into him even more, your head tilting back to rest against his shoulder. Making him lean his head towards yours.

His left hand remained steady at the laptop, but the closeness between you made everything else seem distant. All you cared about was this moment.

Rafe was explaining the issue with the cursor in more detail once again, you focused on the words this time. You kept your hands in your lap, cross-legged on the stool, as you simply allowed yourself to bask in his presence.

[flemingsfreckles]

Domesticity

Synopsis: you move in with your girlfriend and finally start to notice and appreciate all the little things in life.

Warnings: a tiny bit suggestive at the end, nothing else

WC: 1.3k words

A/N: just a short little blurb for yall :)

You hadn't always been one to appreciate the little things in life. You always were always worried about the next big milestone. You focused on the big moments in life, the ones that made an impact in your life, the ones that changed how you saw things. the little things were just that, little.

That was until you moved in with your girlfriend.

Moving in together was a big step. It was a big change, living in a new city, a new house, with your girlfriend who you’d managed 2.5 years of long distance and short distance, depending on where she was playing. But moving in together showed you how important and impactful the tiny little moments could be. Jessie made you slow down, take time for the small things. It was the little moments that you would find yourself appreciating more and more as the two of you built your life together.

It was actually Jessie who first pointed out and made you recognize your appreciation for the little things. The two of you were sitting on the floor, enjoying what you both considered your first meal officially living together. You had yet to set anything up in your place, You had only picked up the keys a few hours earlier. Cardboard boxes, neatly labeled in Jessie’s handwriting, lined the walls of every room, your mattress was simply laid on the floor in the bedroom, the makeshift table the two of you had made out of a moving box was where the two of you sat and shared a meal. It was chaos but it was your chaos.

“What are you so smiley about?” Jessie questioned as she passed you a box of rice from the take out you had gotten from a nearby restaurant. You and Jessie had both been exhausted by the time dinner time came around, you had yet to unpack any cutlery and even if you had, neither of you had the energy to cook.

“This.” You gesture to the relatively empty room around you. “It's just setting in finally, I know we haven’t set anything up, but this is our home.” You were going to build a life and a home combining both of your stuff, both of your lives.

“Yeah babe it’s ours.” Jessie sends you a huge smile across the table. She uncrosses her legs, crawling on her knees around the makeshift table to put her hands on your face. “Our home.” She says looking into your eyes before she pulls your face to hers, planting a kiss to your lips. “I love you.”

You kept admiring these small changes in your life as the two of you unpacked.

You got to pick how you set up, the two of you making choices on where to hang paintings, where to put the couch, what color decorative pillows you wanted. Everything was a choice you made together, you were building your home with both of your input.

Beyond decorating, you noticed the tiny other changes that came with living with Jessie as the two of you unpacked your lives from the boxes. You noticed how your toothbrush now shared a holder sitting with hers, how two towels were hung in the bathroom, not just your own. When you came back from grocery shopping you noticed how when you toed off your shoes, you placed them along the doormat, next to Jessie’s Birkenstocks. Everything that used to be just yours, was now hers. Everything that was originally hers, was now also yours. You got to share everything.

The next moment you found yourself admiring the little things was when you were folding the laundry you had just finished drying. You couldn’t help but notice, half the clothes were yours, half were Jessie’s. You’d pull out a shirt of hers, followed by a sock that belonged to you, then a pair of her shorts, then jeans that were yours.

You hadn’t heard Jessie come up behind you as you pulled a pair of her underwear from the basket, beginning to fold it. “Admiring my underwear?” She says wrapping her hands around your waist, snuggling her head onto your shoulder.

“No, it’s just, this is cool. It’s half mine, half yours.” You feel Jessie laugh against your back, her breath against the side of your face.

“Yeah babe, that’s what happens when we live together and do our laundry together.”

“No, I know that, it’s just, I thought it was cool.” You say, feeling a little shy about your excitement for just some simple laundry.

“You’re very cute.” Jessie says before digging her own hands into the pile of laundry, helping you fold. It wasn’t something you had really thought about before, how mundane, mindless chores and house tasks would suddenly feel exciting again. They were exciting because you got to do them with her, your person, your best friend. That happened over and over, you found yourself enjoying the simple tasks, just because of her.

You’d vacuum while Jessie dusted, the two of you moving room to room together, chatting while you did it, making it feel like the opposite of a chore. Grocery shopping became more fun when you were buying foods for meals the two of you planned together and for meals you knew you’d be side by side cooking.

The next time was a mixture of appreciation for Jessie’s figure along with her presence. You had woken up late on a Saturday to the smell of bacon and something sweet coming from the kitchen.

You pulled yourself from the warm covers and padded into the kitchen to see your girlfriend, in just her sports bra and training shorts turned toward the stove. You took a second to admire her, her hair resting just above her shoulders, the muscles on her back flexing as she moved her arms around, you let your eyes wander lower admiring her ass and legs before you made your way over to her.

“Hi baby. I was about to come to wake you.” She said warmly as you wrapped your arms around her waist, your fingers drawing mindless circles and patterns across her exposed stomach. “I made cinnamon rolls too, they’re in the oven staying warm.”

“This was a nice surprise.” You mumble into her neck, your voice still raspy from sleep.

“What is?” Jessie says, leaning her head back into you to give your cheek a quick kiss. “Breakfast?”

“No. Well, I mean yes but I meant more, this.” You let your hands run down her sides. “You’re the nice surprise. I’ve had dreams like this ya know? Like before we lived together, dreams that I would wake up, come to the kitchen to find my beautiful, sexy, half naked, girlfriend cooking breakfast.”

“Oh yeah?” The smirk on Jessie’s face is obvious as she turns around in your arms to look at you, her head cocked to the side. “And how exactly did those dreams end, my love?

You blush thinking back to them. “I could show you.” You offer, giving Jessie back a smirk of your own before stepping in to close the space between your bodies.

Jessie lets out a giggle before turning back to the stove, shaking her head slightly. “Okay but let me at least finish this, that way you’ll have something to eat after.”

“Oh I think I’ll have plenty to eat.” You say reaching down, giving her butt a squeeze.

“Hey!”

[deanssluvr]

midnight memories

pairings: frat!joost klein x fem!reader, friends to lovers

warnings: mentions of alcohol and drugs. SMUT. handjob. cowgirl. unprotected p in v (wrap it before you tap it). mdni.

word count: 3.3k

a/n: I did it. Literally couldn’t think of anything else but this. yes the title is based on a one direction song. It’s what sparked this idea. hope yall like it. requests for Joost Klein are open.

You entered your new dorm, heavy boxes in your arms. You always hated this process of moving back in. But you were happy about the upgrade. Only one roommate this time, and a bathroom in your dorm meaning no more communal bathroom. You walked to your shared living room and you set the boxes on the floor. A loud crack as they hit the ground. You cursed yourself as you knelt to open the box and assess the damage.

“Fuck.” You picked up the pieces of the now broken desktop mirror. You loved this mirror because it was so convenient and you’ve had it since your freshman year. But now you have to trash it. You decided it was a good idea to pick up the pieces with your bare hands, but quickly regretted it when one of them cut your hand. You let a string of curses leave your mouth as you rushed to the sink. You winced as cold water washed over your wound. You spent 15 minutes tending to your hand and finally wrapped it in gauze.

You walked back out to your car to grab another box. As soon as you picked it up, your wound stung but you ignored it. You just wanted to finish unpacking as quickly as possible. You treaded back up the stairs to your dorm and stopped at your door. You set the boxes on the ground so you could get your keys out of your pockets.

“Heyyyy” You knew that voice and you groaned.

“Hey, Joost.” You turned to see your friend Joost standing in the doorway. He was in a plain white shirt and black sweatpants. You were confused about what he was doing in the girl dormitories, especially during move-in day. “What’re you doing here?”

“I’m just here to help a girl move in.” You knew he was lying.

“Right. You’re just gonna help her. That’s it. Isn’t that how you ended up sleeping with my roommate last year?” You couldn’t help but laugh.

“What? First, that was a coincidence. And second I’m genuinely going to help her.” He attempts to explain himself. Because he was looking for a reason to see you, but he would never admit that.

“No. I don’t believe it. You do this all the time. You’re just trying to sleep with her.” You finally find your key in your pocket and open your door.

“I would never. What do you take me for? A whore?” You looked at him, giving him his answer. It’s not a secret that he sleeps with a lot of girls. And you see why. He’s attractive but cocky and you would never give him the satisfaction. He looks at your hand and sees the bandage. His face changes to concern and he gently picks up your hand. You wince a little at the contact and he apologizes, examining the wound. “What happened?”

“I broke my mirror that’s all.” You should’ve pulled away, but you didn’t. His hands were gentle with yours. Almost as if he cared. He looked at you with expression you couldn’t make out.

“Let me help you unpack the rest of your stuff.” He offers as he picks up the boxes that are still sitting next to the doorway.

“Are you trying that trick on me?” You raised your brow at him.

“I mean is it working?” He smirked, but you weren’t falling for it. “I’m kidding. I promise. I just want to help you out.” He gave you a genuine smile. You opened the door to your dorm allowing him to come in and set the boxes down.

—

After some time, the boxes finally made their way to your dorm. The hard part was over. You both sat on your couch, collectively deciding to take a well-needed break. It was silent between the both of you, but comfortable silence.

“We’re throwing a party tomorrow to celebrate coming back. You should come.” You knew exactly what party he was talking about. His frat always throws the biggest parties at the beginning of the year. They’re known for it.

“I don’t think I have a choice. My friends are dragging me there.” You chuckled looking at the unopened boxes that now littered your floor. If you looked at him, you would’ve seen him. looking at you like he thought you were the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. Which is exactly what he thought. He was so incredibly in love with you and has been since freshman year. But he would never tell you that. He believes that you deserve better. Better than him at least. He was brought out of his trance by his phone vibrating. He took it out of his pocket and looked at it and sighed.

“Hey I’m sorry but I gotta go. The guys need wanna go shopping for tomorrow. But I can stay if you need help.” He hoped you’d ask him to stay. Partially because he doesn’t feel like going and mostly because he wants to stay here with you.

“No, I’ll be fine. All I gotta do is unpack at this point. Plus my roommate should be here in an hour and she can help me if I need it.” you give him a reassuring smile. “Plus if you want to help somebody, I’m sure that girl that you mentioned probably still needs it.” you laugh and he rolls at you.

“You got jokes?” he gives you a smirk and playfully laughs. When you both stop you’re just looking at each other. It was quiet between the both of you.

“Uhm well, I should head out before they leave without me.” He looks away and gets up. You both say your goodbyes before he leaves your dorm.

—

You and your friend had decided to get ready together in your dorm since it was closer to where the party was being held. Your friends all crowded into your bathroom trying to finish their makeup. You had already completed it before they arrived and now struggling to pick an outfit. You just wanted something comfortable but cute because you’ll most likely be on your feet all night. You finally settled on an outfit that you were happy with and picked up your phone.

“Guys, we’re already 45 minutes late.” You yelled across from across the hall. You groaned when you heard no response and walked over to the bathroom. 2 of them were already finished while one was still working on her makeup.

“Sophie, how much longer are you gonna be? Because at this rate we’ll never make it to the party.” everyone laughed except Sophie.

“I’m sorry. This lash isn’t sticking no matter how much glue I put on it.” You watched as she tried placing a lash on her eye again only to take it off in frustration. Walking over, you take the lash out of her hand. You reapplied the lash glue and gently grabbed her face. You carefully placed the lash on her eye.

“How does that look?” You both were looking at her in the mirror.

“It looks so good thanks.” She smiled.

“Okay. Well, let’s get going.” All four of you quickly gathered your things and made your way out of your dorm.

—

The walk to the frat house wasn’t too long which you were grateful for. As you walked up to the place you could hear the music blaring and see multiple different colored lights through the windows. You and your friends arrived at the front door and were greeted by two guys. Obviously, they were members of the frat.

“Heyyy ladies.” One of them greeted you. Both of them looked at you and your friends like you guys were a full-course meal. It creeped you out. They moved out of the way to let you all in. The fraternity house throbbed with pulsating basslines that reverberated through every corner. Dim lights flickered overhead, casting shadows that danced against the walls as bodies moved to the rhythm of the music. It was packed. Two of your friends went to find their boyfriends and promised they’d meet up with you later into the night. Leaving you with Sophie who was already eyeing a guy.

“Wanna go get drinks?” You pull her from her trance, and you both stumble through the crowded living room, waving to familiar faces and exchanging playful banter. You both finally made your way to the drink table. You looked at the mystery punch and immediately passed it up opting for a beer. You were about to pick one out of the cooler before a rowdy group of students clamored over the table looking for refills. You rolled your eyes, grabbed your desired drink, and found your back to Sophie. She softly nudged your arm.

“Hey isn’t that the cute frat guy that you’re always around.” You looked in the same direction as her and your eyes met Joost’s. The room seemed to quiet down for a moment. The both of you just smiled at each other. Sophie grabbed your attention by pulling you by the arm.

“Let’s go dance!” You nodded and gave one quick look over to him again, but he had already turned back to talk to his friends. The part of the room that was considered the dance floor was tightly packed. But Sophie was able to find a spot in the crowd for the both of you. Your favorite song had come and Sophie was screaming the lyrics with you. You both were feeding off the energy of the crowd, dancing along with them. You had to admit that the playlist was fantastic because never was there one full moment on that dance floor. You were too busy having fun to notice Joost’s eyes on you. He had completely zoned out of his friends’ conversation to look at you. He was mesmerized by the way your body moved to the music. His mind drifted to dirtier things as he thought about his hands exploring your curves as you danced against him. He was quickly pulled from his trance by his friends pulling him to go get more shots. But after 15 minutes you were getting quite tired. Then one of the frat guys from earlier asked her to dance. She looked at you with pleading eyes.

“It’s okay. Go have fun. I’m gonna go take a break.” You tried yelling over the music, but she heard you anyway. She mouthed you a thank you and was pulled away to another part of the dance floor, leaving you to yourself. You made your through the crowd. You wanted to find somewhere where you could breathe for a moment, so you made your way to the front. You passed two guys on the threadbare couches who seemed to be engaged in a debate over something. On the patio outside, you leaned against the railing, escaping the heat and chaos inside. you watched as groups of friends played beer pong with fervor, their competitive spirits adding to the party's vibrant energy. The cool night air offered a brief respite from the sensory overload indoors.

“Want some company?” Turning your head, you see Joost walking over to join you. You smiled softly, silently allowing him to stand out on the patio with you. You both didn’t say anything for a few moments. You feel the cool breeze blow past, letting the heat you felt earlier go with it. You hear him dig through his pocket for something.

“You want one.” He offered as he held out a box of cigarettes. You shook your head, and took one out, putting it between his lips. He pulled out a lighter and lit it. You watched as he inhaled and blew the smoke into your face.

“Oh my god. You asshole.” He chuckled as he watched as you fanned the smoke away from your face which resulted in you laughing. A few moments pass again before you speak again. “Can I ask what you’re doing out here? I thought you would’ve been doing something stupid with your friends or trying to get in some girl's pants.” You took another sip of your beer.

“All of my friends are wasted,” he paused briefly, “And the only girl I care about is standing right here.” You looked at him in disbelief, but he was avoiding your eyes.

“You mean…” that statement could mean anything. You watched as he took in a breath and looked at you. It was dark with only the light of from the party seeping through the window behind you. Through the faint multi colored light you could see the hesitation in his face.

“I mean I like you. Like really like you.” You’d never seen him nervous until now. He flirts with so many other girls, but when it comes to you it’s different. He tries to read your face for any sign that you might feel the same.

“Joost I…” Words were lost to you. Nothing you could think of didn’t feel like enough of a response for him.

“No, it’s fine. I wasn’t expecting you to feel the same.” He gave you a pathetic smile. A bad attempt at hiding how he was feeling. “I was just tired of you not knowing how I really felt.” He sighed. He was sure that he just ruined everything between the both of you. He dropped the cigarette on the ground and stomped it out. Anything to avoid your gaze. But you gently grabbed his chin and forced him to look at you. You watched as his eyes scanned over your face. He thought you were the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. You finally pull him into a kiss. He was caught off guard but enjoyed it nonetheless. He was hesitant to touch you at first, but his hands found their way to your hips, pulling you closer to him.

Out of nowhere, a group of clearly drunk guys came yelling and laughing out of the party. They noticed you and Joost and cheered him on. You both pulled away a bit embarrassed. Joost more than you. You can see a faint blush rise on his cheeks and you giggle at him.

“I know somewhere more private.” He took you by the hand and you both went back inside. He pushed his way through the crowd of people. The energy still hadn’t died down in the slightest. As you both made your way through the crowd, you spotted Sophie still dancing with the guy from earlier. Then you saw your other friends watching their boyfriends play beer pong and losing. Joost led you up some stairs and into a hallway, which was crowded with random people making out with each other. It was awkward pushing past them, but you did it anyway.

He stopped once he arrived at a room. He opened the door and you both went inside. He locked the door behind you. The room was relatively tidy. You looked around and saw multiple posters littered on his walls. All pictures are different from artists to video games. There was also a flag that you assumed was from where he’s from.

You lifted his shirt over his and tossed it somewhere on the floor. Your hands were quick to explore the exposed skin.

“Is this okay?” You felt his hands reach up your back to your zipper. He was nervous and he hated it. You were the only one who made him feel like this. You nodded. He unzipped it and lifted it over your head. Then toss it on the floor along with the rest of your clothes. His lips found their way to your neck, kissing and sucking where he could. His hands carefully reach up your back to your bra. When he tries to unclasp it, he starts having trouble. You couldn’t help but giggle at the struggle, so you reached back to do it for him. He slides it off your arms and tosses it aside. One of his hands was in your hair, pulling you into another kiss. Your fingers unbuttoned his jeans and wrapped around his desperate cock and started stroking softly. He pulled away and inhaled sharply. You pick up the pace and he leans his head back, a low groan escaping his lips. You leaned forward kissing and sucking at the new exposed skin. He curses under his breath and grabs your hand, stopping your actions.

“I need to fuck you schat (baby).” he breathes, panting hard, his chest heaving. He sounded desperate. He sat up on your knees giving him room to pull his pants and underwear down. You pulled your panties to the and grabbed him, lining him up with your entrance. You slowly sank, letting yourself adjust to his size. One of Joost's hands went to your waist, to help support you. You sank lower, having to bite your lip but unable to stop a low moan from escaping you. Once he was fully inside you stopped. You placed a hand on his chest gently pushing so he was lying on his back. He had many meaningless one-night stands, but you were more than that to him. His eyes scanned over your body and he looked at you like you were the most beautiful girl to him, a goddess even. His hands come to rest on your hips. Without warning you start moving your hips at a quick pace. You feel his fingertips digging into your soft flesh. Strings of curses mixed with broken praises leave his lips. His breathing was fast and heavy, and while he continued rubbing you, he had a moan of his own escape him.

"Fuck," he said, the curse not typical for him. "You're so tight." You were becoming a moaning mess with every thrust. The loud music still blaring downstairs was the only sound blocking your near pornographic noises. You looked down at him while you moved. There was a light film of sweat on his brow and his face was one of utmost pleasure as he watched where you both connected. It was filthy and beautiful he thought to himself. He knew you were both close when your movements became messier. So he sat up, his arm around your back. He was meeting your movements with his thrusts, pulling you against him. His mouth landed between your neck, kissing you there, as he kept using his new leverage to fuck up into you. In this new position, he was able to find your sweet causing this newfound pleasure to surge through you as he relentlessly kept hitting it.

“I’m going to, i’m clo-“ You could barely talk, but Joost knew what you were saying.

“It’s okay. I want to feel you come.” He thrusted up into you a few more times and you held onto his neck for support. That was enough to bring you over the edge. Your orgasm hit you like a train and it felt as though fireworks were going off all over your body. He followed suit as he came only a few seconds behind you. His grip on your hips was tight as he brought himself over the edge. Then he stuttered to a stop, breathing heavily, his face against yours. When it was over you nearly collapsed on Joost, your forehead falling on his shoulder. He laid you both back, careful of how sensitive you were at the moment. You both lie there catching your breath. Your hand rubbed soft circles over his chest.

“Did you mean what you said earlier?” This question had been gnawing at you since he said it, “about liking me?” He looked down at you in disbelief. But then he realized he was never the most honest with girls of his past and you knew this. But he wanted to make you see that you were different from any other girl he’d met.

“I meant every word. I promise.” You chose to trust and believe him. As much as you wanted to speak further about it, sleep was quick to take over you. Your eyes fluttered closed and he noticed.

“Slaapwel (goodnight).” He placed a kiss on your forehead and that was the last thing you felt before you blissfully fell asleep.

[deadlynavigation]

Pretty & Pink

Warnings: swearing

Author’s Note: request from @cecebabs !! school has been kicking my ass lately so just bear with me yall 🥲

Navigation

**gif is not meant to be a representation of what reader looks like**

Opposites attract—or at least, that’s what they said. Wednesday had never put any stock into the saying until he met you.

You were a bright little thing, full of happiness and hope and all the other disgusting emotions. But Wednesday endured, because at the end of the day, you held his heart in your manicured hand.

Every once in a while, though, he’ll question what he’s doing. Like tonight, for instance. It had been a long day. The errands that had been piling up over the week were finally accomplished a few hours ago, and it was exhausting. So exhausting that all he wanted to do was collapse in the nearest bed, no matter the owner or location. And since you didn’t want your partner to end up in some alleyway mattress, you dragged him over to your apartment, where he was currently camped out on your bed.

“You doing okay in there, sweetie?” You call to him from your bathroom, hands dripping with water as you rinse your cleanser off.

“Yes, my love. Are you done yet?” Wednesday calls back. He knows his question is in vain, though. Your skincare routine is a long ordeal, and you’ve only just started.

He hears your soft laughter float through the air. “I’ll be right out.” You respond, picking up a serum.

Wednesday decides he can’t wait, heading into the bathroom and settling behind where you stand. You greet him with a smile, picking up the next step of your routine to show to him.

“It’s a new moisturizer I got today,” You explain. “It’s supposed to be good for dry skin, and with all the nasty weather lately…”

Wednesday doesn’t hear the rest of your rant, focusing instead on those pretty eyes of yours. Oh, how he longs to drown in them. To sink into their depths, seeing the world from your hopeful view. Unpacking all your thoughts, understanding and empathizing.

Listen to him. He’s practically a puddle of mush. What have you done to him?

“...Wednesday, baby?” You tilt your head as Wednesday snaps back into reality. “Were you even listening?”

He takes one more second to stare at you before sheepishly shaking his head. “Deepest apologies, cara mia. There are simply too many pretty parts to you, I cannot focus on every one of them at once.”

You giggle, a blush tinting your cheeks. “Maybe I should turn away, then. Stop distracting you with my wiles.”

Wednesday smirks. “Turning away from me would entice me even more, Y/n. You really want to play that game?”

“Oh my god. Ok, I’m not facing you anymore. You’ve lost that privilege.” Your cheeks are on fire now, and if you maintain eye contact any longer, you’re worried you might burst into flames. True to your word, you pivot to face the mirror. Then, using your arms, you hop up onto the counter, climbing into the sink for an optimal view.

Wednesday nearly has a heart attack as you jump. His hands fall into place, ready to catch you or save your head from a nasty bang should your acrobatics go wrong, but once you’re in place, he sighs loudly.

“Must you do that, my love?” His seriousness is ruined by a smile creeping onto his face.

“Sorry, can’t hear you. This moisturizer requires my full attention.” It’s hard tamping down your own smile, but the teasing seems to be worth it as Wednesday’s stare darkens.

“The moisturizer gets your attention, hm? That’s a dangerous game, cara mia.”

You don’t respond, instead dipping your finger into the container and dotting it on your cheeks.

“Come down from that sink so we can see who really has your attention right now.” Wednesday taunts you. After a couple seconds, you give in, closing up the product and carefully setting it down before jumping back down onto the floor. Within seconds, Wednesday takes a step and sits on the edge of the bathtub, grabbing your hands and gently tugging you along at the same time. Before you know it, you’re sat on his lap, a smirk on his face and a shocked look on yours.

“Attention still on skincare, love?” Wednesday teases.

You give up on the facade. “No,” You breathe, leaning in. “But what if I share my attention with it?”

Wednesday’s eyebrows furrow as you get up, reaching into the bottom drawer of the counter and coming back to him with a small package. You sit back down, ripping it open and tossing the top in the trash.

“Want a face mask?” You ask.

“Is that one of those grotesque concoctions that spreads all over your face? The one that looks like a death mask?” Wednesday questions, but you’re already reaching into the package.

“Exactly, baby. Want one?”

“...Sure.” What’s the worst that could happen?

Twenty minutes later, and Wednesday is set up on your bed with no intention of moving. A green substance covers the majority of his face, making him question why he doesn’t let you do this more often. He feels more relaxed than he has in weeks, settled in amongst your many pink throw pillows and cherry blossom sheets. You’re settled in too, resting your head on his chest while trying to sync your breaths with the steady thumps of his heart. Your manicured fingers etch random shapes into his skin, tracing the hard lines of muscle and adding a heart or two every so often.

Eventually, though, the both of you become restless.

‘Wanna start a movie?” Wednesday asks, looking down at your comfy self with adoration.

You look up, meeting his eyes with the same love. “Can I choose?”

“Of course, Y/n. Anything for you.”

An hour later, and Wednesday is ready to commit homicide. Of all the movies you could have picked, you went with Mean Girls. Your defense? “It’s the feminist movement at its finest, Wednesday.”

“It’s… very pink.”

“Yeah, that’s the best part! All the decorations and outfits are amazing. They were actually part of what inspired this room’s decor.”

Wednesday looks around at the brightly colored walls, the pastel curtains, the cute pillows, and even the pink pens scattered across your desk. “I never would’ve guessed, my love.”

You stick your tongue out at him. “You’re just jealous.”

Wednesday chuckles. “Yes, very.” He agrees sarcastically. You don’t dignify him with a response, instead choosing to lay back down on his chest and go back to watching the movie. You don’t get to stay there for very long, though, because a minute later, the timer on your phone goes off.

“Mkay. Time to take this off, babe.” You poke his face mask. Wednesday rises without complaint, heading to the bathroom while you grab some water and a cloth. Internally, though, he’s begging you not to. It feels so nice, and having you apply it was one of the best feelings in the world.

As you start working through the layers of the mask with water and a gentle hand, though, Wednesday revises his thoughts—never mind the application. This was the best feeling in the world.

As you work, Wednesday leans into your hands. He would have fallen asleep if it weren’t for your whispered promises of comfy beds and pillows and cuddles.

*****

The next morning, Wednesday gets up much earlier than usual. The sun is just barely up, peeking through your pastel curtains and coating the bed in a buttery yellow. You’re burrowed into his arms, tucked safely into his chest with the messy blankets surrounding you. He takes a minute to absorb your cuteness, smiling down at you as he slowly wakes up.

“Good morning, Y/n.” He whispers, not yet wanting to wake you. You’ve reminded him time and time again that the blinking digits on the clock right now are not digits you ever want to be awake to see, and he’s taken that to heart. But he still has to kill time until you wake–maybe a run? He could drop by the gym just down the street that he really likes. Or maybe a chore? The dishwasher still needs to be unloaded.

But those all sound like too much work for this early in the day, so Wednesday settles on just getting you a coffee. A nice five-minute walk and your drowsy smile to greet him when he gets back. Perfect.

Within minutes, Wednesday is up and out. He strolls down the street, taking his time to enjoy the soft sunlight. That’s new, he suddenly realizes–and probably your doing, as well. You’re a fan of tilting your face to the sun, soaking in the warmth, and claiming the rays cheer you up. Maybe you’ve passed that onto him.

A couple more minutes tick by, and Wednesday reaches your regular coffee shop. He enters the place with a little jingle as the door opens, and is immediately greeted with the scent of dark coffee and light chatter.

“What can I get for you this morning, sir?” A too-happy employee asks him as he walks up to the counter.

Damn, what was that drink you really liked? Something with pink in it, he’s sure of it.

“Just two medium coffees, one black and one with that pink flavor, please.” Manners with normies–that’s another thing you’ve unknowingly reinforced with him.

“Our pink velvet flavoring?” That sounds right.

“Yes, that’s it. Thanks.” Wednesday pulls out his card, handing it to the guy.

“Awesome. Name?”

“Addams.”

“We’ll have those coffees right out for you, sir.”

“Brilliant.” With that, Wednesday finds an isolated corner to haunt until his name is called, quickly grabbing the coffees and exiting the building. It’s an even quicker walk back with the warm drinks providing some heat on this chilly morning.

It’s a bit of a struggle, but Wednesday manages to buzz into the building, climb the stairs to your apartment, and work the keys until your door clicks open, all with his hands full. He’s greeted with the sight of you half-asleep on the couch, the news playing softly in the background.

“What are you doing up, love?” He questions, setting the coffees down on the coffee table and kneeling on the floor.

“Wanted to see you,” you mumble, grabbing for his hand and interlocking it with yours. “Was cold in the bed without you.”

Wednesday practically melts. How can one girl be so sweet and caring? So happy?

“I’m sorry, my love. But look, I got you that coffee you like to make up for it.” He gestures to the beverages with his free hand before resting it on your head. He goes about stroking your hair, lulling you back into a dreamlike state.

“Don’t do that, I’ll fall back asleep,” you bat at his hand, trying to get it out of your hair. You were up to see him, not to fall asleep on him.

“And I will still be here when you wake up, cara mia. Go back to sleep. You’re safe here. I love you.”

[the-avengers-not-the-nazis]

Bad moon rising II

Summary: After a nasty divorce, you and your family are forced to live with your Grandpa in the lovely notorious Santa Carla, California. Filled with punks, geeks, surfer nazis and apparently all kinds of creatures of the night.

Word count: 2.9k

Poly!lost boys x Emerson!reader

[1] [2] [3] [4]

A/n: I am gonna be 100% honest with all of yall, I have cried, yelled at myself, and threaten to throw my phone across the room. Because I had no idea how to get the reader and the boys to meet. So, this honestly will probably suck, but I have tried my hardest. Spent too many hours deleting and rewriting for this to be bad. So please enjoy if can

The board walk was unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. It was packed full of bustling people, everyone wanting to go through all the rides, shops and games that they had on display. 

Lights came from all around, aluminating your way through the crowd as you tried to decide what to do first on the boardwalk. Screams and laughter sounded from the rollar coaster ride, the bumps and spins tempted you, but you knew that you’d need to ease your way into everything. 

This would be the moment when you’d wish that Sam or Micheal had come with you, they would try to do everything at once. But, unfortunately, right as you three had arrived; the boys had caught wind of a concert, ditching you to go watch Timmy Cappello perform. 

Treacherous dicks. You called them, wishing that at least one of them would have stuck with you as you ventured where you’d be spending the remainder of your summer. 

You wiped your palms against the fabric of your shorts, the heat of the night air causing a faint sheen of sweat to coat your body. After you’d finished unpacking all the necessities from the car, you’d taken a quick shower and changed for a night out on the board walk.

And thankfully so, the gentle breeze against your bare legs cooled you down enough for you to actually enjoy the night out. 

Chimming bells suddenly grasped your attention, facing the noise, you saw a small shop that was isolated from the others. One of the stores windows was cracked, a piece of cardboard covered the inside to prevent the glass from falling out. 

It was a music shop. 

You remembered when your dad would take you as a kid, letting you pick out cassette tapes, and vinyl records for your room. The old record player would run all day from how many times you would listen to Elvis, Buck Owen’s, and The mamás & the papas. 

It was such a shame that you had to sell the record player and half of your vinyl collection to help out after the divorce. With such little money, you had to make sacrifices for your family. No matter how much you regretted it afterwards.

You glanced up at the sign above the door, a wooden guitar with the words Soundscape etched into the body, swayed against the gentle breeze.  A young couple walked out of the store, hand in hand, a paper bag with their purchase held tightly as they ambled away. 

Reaching into your pocket, you felt around for your wallet. The small leather bound material felt weighted as you pulled it out, the sudden urge to spend your money caused you to open the door of the shop. 

The bell rang above you, and a quick greeting sounded from the cashier. You politely greeted him back before wandering throughout the store. 

It was decently clean, a few stray cd’s littered the ground and a couple display posters were a bit too crooked. But, overall, it was perfect for you. 

You trailed your fingers over a couple of vinyls, picking up a few before putting them back in place. Not really looking for anything specific at the moment, you just tried to find something that would catch your eye. 

Stopping infront of the cassette tapes, you let yourself go through each row, the soft clicking as the cassettes bumped against each other drifted up towards your ears. That and the sound of Jeff Lynne’s voice singing Don’t bring me down, was the only noise that filtered throughout the store. 

Your finger graced an Elvis cassette, the image of him and his infamous guitar sat in the clear case. Picking up the tape, you flipped it over reading the listed songs that went with each side. It had a couple good ones; like Blue Suede Shoes, All Shook Up, Return To Sender, Burning Love and of course some others. 

It was his top greatest hits from each album. 

You tapped the plastic against your palm, debating if you should spend the money just to add to your Elvis collection. You actually had a lot of collections that you needed to complete, but, with this specific artist you only had small handful left to find. 

Kinda like Sam’s Batman comics that he’s been trying to find at every book store that you’d passed on the way down here. 

The bell suddenly rang once more, dragging your attention away from the shelf infront of you. A group of men walked in, each leather clad and mullet wearing. The smell of smoke drifted off of them, wafting through the store. It made you scrunch your nose in disgust. 

“Welcome to the SoundScape,” The Cashier told them, the rehearsed words falling easily out of his mouth. “If you need any help, please let me know.”

None of the guys acknowledged the worker, or, they did though they just didn’t pay him any mind. You watched as they each dispersed from one another, going to different displays around the store. Picking up random items before putting them back where they originally were. 

One of the guys walked down the same row you were on, his eyes trailing over the selection of cassettes. You returned your gaze back to your own tape, not wanting to be caught staring at the guy like a creep. 

Eyeing the rack infront of you, wondering if you should buy the Elvis tape or possibly another. If you’d had enough money on you. You kept your eye on a Boney M. cassette, the item practically calling your name. You reached forward fingers less than an inch away from the plastic when a sudden commotion caused you to freeze. 

BAM!

Your head instantly shot up, the sudden noise disturbing the once peaceful silence. It came from a guy in the leathered group, the small one with curly hair, he stood over a fallen display of cd’s. His hands held up in the air, a small smug grin tugging on his lips as he turned to the stores worker. 

“I’m sorry, man.” He told him, his apologie laced with sarcasm. “It just started falling.”

The cashier let out a deep sigh, his smile turning from genuine to forced as he eyed the scattered items. “It’s alright, accidents happen.”

You watched as the curly guy bent down and picked up the stand, purposely hitting the one right beside it as he did so. He let out another fake apology before the worker shooed him away, picking up everything himself before curly messed up the entire store. 

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the movement of the blond beside you shove something in his pocket. You turned you head slightly, to get a better view, and you watched as he took another cassette from the shelf and put it on the inside of his jacket. 

You glanced between him and the other three guys that he came in with, noticing that with the worker busy they were taking items off of their display and stuffing them deep into their clothes. Hell, the curly guy was trying to fit a whole vinyl record in the front of his shirt. A very prominent square outlined for everyone to see. 

It was a diversion, knocking over enough stuff for the counter guy to get pissed and pick everything up himself. It was clever, but still wrong. 

With your attention kept on the tapes infront of you, you opened your mouth. Voice low enough so that only the blonde next to you could hear. “You shouldn’t do that.”

The man glanced up at you, not at all ashamed of what he was doing. “What’s that?”

“You shouldn’t steal.”

He let out a quiet laugh, leaning his upper body against the shelf. “Oh, really?” He asked, voice drawing out into a tease. “Wanna tell me why I shouldn’t, babe?”

You gestured to the store around you, eyes meeting his. “Because, its wrong. And, just because you and your friends can’t see that, doesn’t mean that it’s right.”

“Well, me and my friends seem to think it pretty damn fun.” He told you, pushing off the shelf as he took a few small steps towards you. “So, your reasoning is pretty much useless in this case.”

The guy stood a mere foot away from you, his eyes trailing across your face. His smile growing ever so slightly as he took you in. “So, watcha gonna do about it?” He asked, voice soft and teasing as he held a tape infront of you. 

“Put it back.”

“Why? There is no fun in doing the right thing.” He waved the item in your face. “Is there, babe?”

You snatched the cassette from his grasp, eyes not once leaving his as you placed it randomly on the shelf. “Put ‘em all back.” You scolded, voice rising ever so slightly. “It’s shitty and disrespectful for the ones that try to make a living working in places like this.”

He glanced over the top rack, eyeing the worker with disinterest. “Yeah, but, it’s also disrespectful to have to work at a place like this.” He turned back to you. “So, if he gets fired then he’ll come and thank us.”

You opened your mouth to retaliate, wanting to tell him how much his point didn’t make since. When you notice how quiet the store had gotten, the music coming from the speakers and the worker picking up the cds were the only thing. Glancing around you couldn’t see the guys friends, all of them gone from where they originally were. 

“Yeah, Paul, put it back.” A voiced suddenly called from beside you, arm slinging itself across your shoulder. 

Peering beside you, you saw the curly haired guy, his eyes dancing between both you and Paul. You didn’t even hear him come up behind you, in fact you didn’t even know that he had moved from where he was across the store. 

You pushed off his arm, the feeling of his body pressed up against your own made your face heat up. Looking back at Paul, you noticed how his body seemed to get more ecstatic, smile forming into a friendly tease. “Oh, yeah? Why don’t you put up that vinyl of yours.” He tapped against the cardboard beneath the fabric. 

Curly swatted his hand away, pulling the vinyl from beneath his shirt and dropping it on the floor. You eyed the disc on the ground, annoyance seeping into your chest at the disregard of store. 

“Pick it up.” You told the smaller one, side stepping away from them both to give yourself some room. 

He tsked, eyes roaming your body up and down. “Well, aren’t you a bossy one.”

“I wouldn’t be bossy if you’d stop fucking-“

“Watch your mouth.” A different voice spoke up, stopping you from finishing your sentence. You glanced over at the voice, taking in his long overcoat and bleach blonde hair. “It’s not nice to treat strangers that way.”

You furrowed you eyebrows, “If your saying I’m being rude, than that’s really the last thing I care about right now.”

A few small snickers came from around you, causing you to look around at each men that surrounded you. The two blondes stood the closest to you, giving you just a foot of breathing room. Then there were the the bleach blonde and brunette. They stood the furthest from you, but their stares alone were enough to make you feel like they were everywhere at once. 

Your body felt like it was on fire underneath their gazes, that and your dignity slowly burning away as realized how much of a fool you must look like right now.  You quickly crouched down, picking up the vinyl and gently setting it on the shelf. Not really caring that it’s not where it belongs right now. 

Someone cleared their throat. You and the guys turned your attention towards the worker, who stood behind the counter with a wet rag. “We’re closing.” He told them, nodding toward the door with little patience. “If your gonna buy something, now is the time.”

You gave him a quick ‘ok’, forced smile gracing your features as you turned to face the men. You eyed them wearyingly, knowing that they could just easily walk out of here without doing at all what you’ve been asking. 

A soft chuckle came from the bleach blonde, a smug smirk playing on his lips as he placed a hand on Paul’s shoulder. “C’mon, Paul.” He said, turning to walk out of the store. “Put ‘em back, we got places to be.” 

You watched as he pulled out a cd, the front of the case covered in a band called Scorpion. He set it down on the shelf, his eyes not once leaving your own. “We’ll see you around.” He muttered, voice low and mesmerizing to hear as he spoke.

It was almost like a fly getting caught in honey. Alluring and sticky, but, it’s just a trap for the prey. 

You didn’t acknowledge his words, instead you just watched as he walked out, the others slowly trailing after him. The brunette hadn’t muttered a single word since entering the store, and apparently didn’t feel the need to as he stepped outside. 

Curly slowly wandered towards the door, turning swiftly to wave his fingers at you before disappearing behind the glass. A simple ��Have a nice night’ spilling from his lips as he did so. Paul then turned to walked out, his arm resting across your shoulder slide off. Hand coming up to pinch your nose. “Yeah, we’ll be seeing ya around.” He told you, voice indicating that it wasn’t a suggestion, but more of a promise. 

Swatting his hand away from your face, you watched as he chuckled, walking away as he went to join his friends. Leaving you all alone in the isle, with nothing but your Elvis tape and flustered face. 

Engines revved outside as you walked up to the cashier, the sound of the fading bikes meeting your ears as you tossed the cassette on the counter. The worker rang you up, placed your item in a paper bag and thanked you for your purchase. You quietly wished him good night, before turning on your heal and walking outside. 

You were quickly met with the warm night air, the loud noises coming from the boardwalk surrounded you once more. You held on tightly to the paper bag, the cassette softly rattling inside as you quickly walked away from the Soundscape. 

You were still flustered from your interaction with the four boys. The feeling of their bodies pressed up against your own made the night heat all the more unbearable. What if I would have just left them alone? You thought, swerving through a group of people that waited patiently for the carousel. 

They still would have taken from the shop, and that guy would’ve probably lost his job from all the items missing. But, you wouldn’t have lost some of your dignity whilst doing so. 

A sigh left your lips, unoccupied hand going into your jacket pocket. Though instead of the feeling of the scratchy fabric, your fingers graced against a peice of cold plastic. You stopped walking, standing by your lonesome in the middle of the boardwalk as you pulled out whatever rested in your pocket. 

It was a Scorpion cd. The same one that you saw the bleach blonde pull from his coat. You hadn’t even felt him slip the item in your pocket, was it when you were getting on to him or when he was leaving? Was he even the one that slipped it in?

Stupid prick, you thought. Stuffing the disk into the paper bag with your Elvis one, there was no sense in returning it now. The shop was already closing up and how would you even explain that to the poor worker. 

You shook your head, the events of the night tiring you out. 

From a distance you could see both Sam and Micheal standing in the middle of the boardwalk, their attention caught on a girl and little boy. You made your way over to your brothers, the paper bag swaying in your hand as your feet picked up. 

Sam greeted you when you came near, his long over coat brushing against his shoes. “He’s been following her since the concert.” He told you, gesturing with his hand towards the pretty girl. 

“Mmh, hey, peeping Tom.” You tugged on Micheal sleeve, trying to pull him away. “I’m ready to go home.”

He didn’t acknowledge you, his eyes staring longingly at the back of the girls head. You pulled once more at his arm, barely getting him to move when the sudden loud noise of multiple vehicles rushed on the boardwalk. Glancing towards the disturbance, you watched as four familiar bodies stopped infront of the girl and boy. 

They each revved their engines, purposely scaring away anyone that too close. You watched as the little boy made his way over to one of the motorcycles, the brunette pulling him up to sit behind him. 

The girl placed her arm across the bleach blondes chest, hosting herself onto the back of the motorcycle. “C’mon, man, she played you.” Sam told his brother, pulling him away from his rooted spot on the deck. You stayed put for a second, slowly trailing after your brothers as the engines of the bikes faded from earshot. 

Your mind going to when exactly you’d be seeing them again. 

A/a/n: Like I said, this took so long to figure out how exactly the reader and the boys would meet each other. So, I honestly would understand if y'all don’t like this, but, trust me the other chapters are going to be a whole lot better.

[jaggedamethyst]

circuit breaker 🔬🌌 (part four)

tutor!jayce talis x reader, ekko x reader college au

content: jayce ghosts you when you need him most...so you have no choice but to lean on your best friend, ekko

pining, mental health mentions, neurodivergence, lmk if i missed any!

notes: ekko pic...omg... (you may think this series is going slow but i hate a slow burn ass fic that has them fucking chapter three don't pmo...also this evolved way past just jayce and i need to do ekko justice...bc some of yall don't, clocked it)

word count: 2.9k

series masterlist

⭑·ﾟﾟ·*:༅。.。༅:*ﾟ:*:✼✿　　✿✼:*ﾟ:༅。.。༅:*·ﾟﾟ·⭑

“Do you know that girl Jayce is always with?” 

You arrived to class, ready to learn—but not about physics truthfully. You expected to cut corners, create friendly conversation about nothing, humor Viktor. When you got there, though, you had to ask him immediately. 

“Mel Medara?” Viktor looked to you with intrigue. “I know of her…but not much about her.” He leaned to his left, toward you, “Why?” 

“She’s just always…around? And we spoke to each other once but I was in a hurry…didn’t get much chance for a formal introduction.” 

“Are you certain that your intrigue is rooted purely in your inquisitive nature…or is there another reason you want to share?” 

“No-“ 

The sound of the door towards the front of the class opening interrupted you—it was perfect timing, actually. You would rather not have to unpack why Mel’s presence bothered you so much; truthfully it was an inexplicable feeling. Someone walked in, and you sat up straighter. 

“Hi, everyone! My name is Caitlyn, some of you may know me if you’ve ever been to the student resource center.” She smiled at you, exchanging a look of recognition. “I wanted to formally introduce myself… I will be joining as a TA. If you need anything and can’t get ahold of the professor, you can ask me your course related questions.” She moved to plug a laptop into the projector, “Here is my email for future reference.” She allowed some time for people to copy and take photos of her email down. “Unfortunately, today’s class will be canceled for an emergency…but I was instructed to relay to you that the quiz will still be held next week. It’ll be on vectors and calculating their angles. Be sure to refresh yourselves over the weekend and reach out to me should you have any questions.” People started to shuffle around her, getting up to leave class. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, guys. Feel free to use the space to get some other work done, or leave early.” 

“What the fuck, this was such a waste of my time.” You glanced back towards the board, making sure you got the email address right. “I have been so tired I could be sleeping right now.” 

“I’m sorry, I know you have a lot to deal with right now.” Viktor moved to the end of the aisle, grabbing his cane while slinging his bag over one shoulder. “At least you’ve been in tutoring. The quiz this week should be easier, right?” 

“That’s the thing,” you reached for your phone, “We’ve only just got to vectors so far. That was hard enough.” You hovered your finger over Jayce’s contact, never actually having messaged him. Before you could talk yourself out of it, you started texting him. 

hi jayce 

im sorry to bother you but i have my quiz next week and its gonna be on more stuff than we got to in our sessions

do you have any time to meet with me this weekend? if not thats ok, i can ask my friend

You paused, walking behind Viktor without looking up from the phone screen. 

i just need you

No, you shook your head, continuing the text. 

i just need your help

lmk

ty 

You grimaced at the text bubbles, hating how you split all of that up. You imagined his annoyed face, seeing all of these desperate messages. You wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t answer. You wouldn’t answer you. 

Viktor turned to you, “Are you alright?” 

“Yes, just frustrated and irritated and angry…thats all.” 

“That’s not a great combination.” 

You shook your head. Without trying, Viktor could always cheer you up. “Unrelated, but did Jayce ask you about what snacks I eat?” 

“He did,” he looked over at you, “It was odd. He said something about ‘reinforcements’ for your guys’ tutoring session.” 

“Oh...okay.” 

Viktor would call himself a lot of things, including perceptive. He didn’t say much, but he noticed the way your eyes lingered on one another when you first met. He was aware of the way you spoke about each other, especially when it was just Viktor around. He simply arched a brow at you, observing your concerned look at the phone screen. 

“Maybe you should take the weekend to rest and recuperate.” 

“I would…but the quiz-“ 

“Just for today. Wait for Jayce to get back to you. Then you can focus solely on next week.” He nodded reassuringly. 

He returned the nod, liking the sound of the plan. 

If only Jayce had bothered to answer. 

——————

“Hi.” 

“Come on in.” Ekko stepped back, letting you into his dorm. 

“I know it’s so last minute, but I know nothing about angles …figured you could help.” 

“I absolutely can help and would love to.” 

You sat your stuff down, getting comfortable as you’d done dozens of times before. You turned a corner, washing your hands at the sink before heading to grab a throw blanket from Ekko's bed. 

He knew your habits, calling from the living room area. “I have the heated blanket out here, too, if you wanna use that one. Know you get cold.” 

You exited his room, wearing the slippers you left under his bed. “Once again, you are the best…because I am, in fact, freezing my ass off right now.” 

“Want something to drink?” 

“Always.” 

The two of you were so in sync—it had to be that way after Powder. It became worse when Vi blamed you, suspecting one of you said something to her to make her disappear. Even though you know you did nothing wrong, there was still a self-hate there. That you couldn’t be there for a friend who needed you—so much so that she left entirely. You couldn’t do that to Ekko, he felt the same. 

“So,” you pulled out the folder Jayce had given you, a slight frown on your face at the thought of him completely ignoring you. “I have this paper, its like a cheat sheet for vectors…but besides what Jayce told me I don’t know what to do. The TA said we also have to calculate the angles…that makes no sense.” 

Ekko grabbed his notebook, flipping to a blank sheet of paper. He sketched a makeshift drawing—surprisingly good for how quick he’d done it. You were always in awe of his artistic talent. 

“Okay, so here…is a light pole.” He moved his finger to the other side of the paper, motioning toward a little drawing of you, smiling on the sidewalk. “This is you.” 

“Wait I’m so adorable here!”

Ekko chuckled, side eyeing you a bit, “Yeah…” 

You snatched the pencil—quickly drawing in a stick figure of him. “This is you!” 

“Is it really? Couldn’t tell.” 

“Hey-“ You swatted his arm, “You’re identical in my opinion.” 

“If having lines for a body is identical…then sure. But anyways…not the point of my sketch.” He grabbed the pencil back, “Thank you very much.” He flipped the pencil, using the eraser side to show you the details. “Okay…light pole…you.” He smirked, knowing you wanted to interject. Ekko raised his hand before you could, “This is the distance between you and the pole.” He made up and wrote a random number in feet under the bottom, the same for the pole. “This is the height of the pole. This is all you need to find every angle and distance measurement.” 

The look on your face was one of pure confusion. “How does that make any sense whatsoever, Ekko?” You moved to close the book. “Actually, lets just watch a movie instead. I’m prepared to fail at this point.” 

Ekko grabbed the book from you, reopening it. “Well, I’m not, so let’s get to work.” 

He continued, explaining as best he could. It was no use, though, it just wasn’t making sense to you. You nodded, trying to get him to move on to something else. 

“Does that make sense?” 

“Yeah.” You reached to hug Ekko, “You’re the best.” Pulling back, you plastered on a smile, hiding the discomfort. You didn’t feel ready whatsoever. Suddenly, Ekko grabbed your hands, pulling your attention to him. 

“You’re gonna do great.” He lingered on you for a while, “Promise.” 

The doubt you felt made you want to hole up and skip class altogether. Eventually, it developed into a disdain for Jayce. When you thought about it, he was the reason you were going to fail…again. 

——————

You decided against skipping class on Monday, but you were definitely opting out of that damn tutoring session. If Jayce can’t answer a simple few texts, how were you to know you even had a standing appointment anymore. It made you feel less than worthy of a proper notice. Above all, it just felt plain unprofessional…he’s an employee after all. 

Walking into class and into this quiz felt like a walk to your execution. Midterms were quickly approaching, which meant you only had so many quizzes you could fail before the majority of your final grade was tainted by bad ones. 

Viktor greeted you as normal, moving over to give you a seat. “Are you prepared?”

“As best as I can be.” 

The beauty of college was that you did assessments in class and got the results as soon as you submitted. Knowing you would get your score back in the next few minutes had your stomach churning. An image of Jayce, carefree and nonchalant, popped into your head. Nothing was making sense. Reluctantly, you started choosing random answers—disregarding the calculator altogether. Before you knew it, your grade, a 56%, reflected back to you. 

“Fuck,” you whispered to yourself. You closed your laptop, getting up to leave class early. “I’ll see you later, Viktor.” 

Before he could reply, you were gone. Pushing through the door. You grabbed your phone from your pocket, texting Ekko. 

im done early, wanna meet rn?

He replied a few seconds later.

omw 

You picked up the pace, not out of urgency, but in pure frustration. Everything you’d been working towards wasn’t paying off. The time you spent not being with Ekko—with Jayce—was a waste. 

When you arrived to the dining hall, Ekko wasn’t there yet. You took the time to grab both you and him something to eat for lunch. Within minutes, Ekko showed up, that warm smile on his face as usual. He leaned into you, giving you a side hug while simultaneously grabbing the food from you. 

“How was the quiz?” You didnt reply, simply giving him a side eye. “Damn…I’m sorry.” 

“Not your fault…but thanks for helping.” 

He’d seamlessly changed the subject—allowing the two of you to talk without the reminder of your failure that day. You didn’t acknowledge how fast the time had passed and truthfully, didn’t care. You hadn’t planned to show up to tutoring…much less give Jayce any notice. 

To your right, you suddenly heard a voice, interrupting you and Ekko. 

“Hey.” You looked over, seeing Jayce standing there. “I figured you’d be here.” He looks between you and Ekko, hands now on his hips. “You missed our session.” 

You raised a brow and crossed your arms over your chest. “Wow, really? Didn’t know we were still having those.” 

“Of course we are, you have those quizzes-“ 

“Had.” You interrupted, “There was one today. You’d know if you checked your phone.” 

He looked down, embarrassed at his phone sitting in his front pant pocket. 

“I’m sorry- I know this is important for you but something came up.” 

“What? What came up?” Ekko spoke up. 

Jayce turned to look at him, finally acknowledging his presence again. “Something personal,” he looked away, focusing back on you. “Can we talk alone?” 

Ekko spoke again, “Say what you need to say.” 

“I would, but I’m not talking to you.” 

A screech of Ekko’s chair resounded in the dining hall. You reached a hand out, gesturing toward them. “Ekko, please.” 

Ekko looked over to you and inhaled a deep breath. He was looking at Jayce again, but kept talking to you. “I’ll see you later, okay? Call if you need anything.” 

“Wait- Ekko-” 

Jayce gulped, sitting down across from you. You watched Ekko leave as Jayce took his seat, hands resting on the table. 

“What the hell is your problem? You ghost me then show up here with an attitude? I should be pissed…I am pissed! I failed because of you!” 

He nodded, knowing the weight of his being inaccessible. “I’m sorry.” 

“You said that.” 

“There was a personal thing, a family emergency-“

“And yet, your phone is still in working condition.”

You didn’t want to be insensitive, but it takes seconds to reply. A simple message would’ve sufficed. 

“My mom’s sick.” You froze—remembering that it’s just him and his mom. “She was in the hospital all weekend…it still hasn’t gotten better.” He paused, looking at you now, “I thought I owed you to at least show up today.” 

“Well…now I feel like shit.” 

“Don’t. Not your fault I didn’t tell you what was happening.” 

“Is there anything I can do?” 

“Hope she gets better?” 

You reached over, placing a comforting hand on his, “I can do that.” 

He let you linger there, before pulling back. “How about this week, since I messed up so bad with scheduling…we meet as much as you’d like just so you can be ready. Shit, it can be every day if you want.” He nodded, “We’re gonna make sure you pass this class if it’s the last thing I do.” 

“Are you sure? I can be pretty high maintenance…” 

He leaned back in his chair, a nonchalant yet playful look on his face, “Not worried about it.” 

“Okay.” You shrugged, “If you say so.” 

The pair of you exchanged smiles, not at all prepared for how tumultuous this week would be. 

part five

taglist

@juskonutoh @sseleniaa @aerina127 @sleepysoldier @angelicmisty @1800latenitecreep @venus-in-roses

[the-winter-spider]

Yours, Always | Part Twenty-Three

Bucky x reader AU

Word Count: 6k

Warnings: None

A/N: Yall, been way too long but I've been busy moving I moved now but I've been busy unpacking and dealing with life and trying to make time for riding but I'm so tired at the end of the day and it's hard because I really wanna keep writing because my passion but yknow i'm just exhausted.

Were gonna be getting somewhere soon with this fic and wrapping up the story and maybe a little bit of spice 👀✨

Masterpost

----

The room feels unusually warm as the sunlight pours through the open window, casting long, slanted shadows across the wooden floor. You sit on the edge of the couch, your fingers anxiously tracing the fabric of your jeans. The quiet tick of the wall clock feels deafening in the stillness of the room.

Steve sits across from you, the weight of the years between you palpable in the way his shoulders tense under the weight of unspoken words. The last few months have been a blur of decision-making, a whirlwind of heartache and reflection. Now, sitting here in the house, you can feel the finality of everything that’s been building up.

Steve’s lawyer, a middle-aged woman with dark glasses and a stern expression, flips through a stack of papers on the coffee table. The air between you and Steve feels heavier than the formalities of divorce, each glance, each movement carrying a history, a shared life that no piece of paper could ever truly capture.

“I’ve spoken to my lawyer,” Steve says quietly, his voice breaking through the silence. “About the house, I mean, it’s yours if you want it.”

You look at him, the memory of every fight, every tear shared in that house echoing in your chest. Your heart aches at the thought of it, but you try to hold your ground.

“I don’t want it,” you reply softly, your voice steady despite the war raging inside you.

Steve’s eyes flicker with a mixture of regret and understanding, but he doesn’t push. “Should we sell it?” he asks, his voice quieter now. The question hangs in the air, heavy with years of memories.

“Where are you going to live?” you ask, your gaze drifting to the window, avoiding his eyes for fear of seeing too much of the man you once loved.

“I was thinking Boston,” he says, and the words catch you off guard. You freeze, your breath catching in your throat as the reality of what he’s offering sinks in.

“Boston?” you echo, trying to find the words to make sense of it. “You’d do that for me?”

Steve’s expression softens, and for the first time in weeks, there’s a flicker of the man you used to know, the man who had always put you first, even when you didn’t ask him to. “I thought you’d know by now,” he says, voice rough. “I’d do anything for you.”

The room is so quiet, you can hear the faintest hum of the refrigerator in the corner. Your heart aches at the offer, the tenderness in his words, but it doesn’t feel like it’s enough anymore. There’s too much pain, too many years of not seeing each other in the way you needed.

“Are you sure?” you ask quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. “I never wanted you to leave. I never wanted you to make this sacrifice.”

Steve runs a hand through his hair, his eyes distant for a moment before he meets your gaze again. “I need to move forward too,” he says, his words heavier than any argument. “I can’t keep staying here, in the past. We both deserve to start over.”

You nod, biting your lip to stop the tears. The decision feels like it’s being made for you, but deep down, you know this is how it has to be. There’s no going back.

The lawyer shifts in her seat, placing the papers neatly in front of both you and Steve, before her gaze flickers over to you. “So, the house,” she starts again, her tone matter-of-fact, “it seems you both have agreed on selling it. The next thing to settle is how to divide the assets.”

You take a slow breath, your fingers moving absently across the edge of the paper she slid towards you. It’s almost surreal, how quickly things are moving, how final this all feels. Steve, who once promised to build a future with you, now feels like a stranger across the table, though the love is still there in the quiet spaces between words.

“I don’t want anything extra,” you say, your voice steady, even though your chest aches. “We’ll just split what’s left from the sale of the house. Put it away for Lily,” you suggest, glancing at Steve. “For her future, for college, something.”

Steve’s expression softens, his eyes searching yours with that old tenderness that has always been there. “I agree,” he says quietly. “That seems like the right thing to do.”

The lawyer nods, but it’s clear her focus isn’t entirely on your decisions, it’s more on the technicalities, on what’s easiest to process. She jots something down on her legal pad, then moves on. “Alright, then. We’ll make sure that’s accounted for.”

The conversation moves forward in a blur who gets what from the furniture to the personal belongings, but you barely register any of it. All you can think of is Lily.

“And about custody…” The lawyer’s voice drops into a more formal tone. “I’d suggest full custody for Mr. Rogers. Given he is Lily’s biological father, it’s in the best interest of the child to stay with him primarily. An 80-20 arrangement sounds fair.”

The words feel like a slap, so sudden, so cold, and you can’t help the shock that floods your system. You shake your head, your heart pounding in your chest. “What? Wait…what?” You can’t keep the panic out of your voice. “Why would I only get her 20% of the time?” Your eyes flicker to Steve, who is staring at the lawyer in disbelief, but neither of you can find your voice for a long moment.

The lawyer, her demeanor impassive, turns her gaze toward Steve. “Mr. Rogers, as the biological father, you have the right to full custody. A 50-50 split might be acceptable, but with the current arrangement, it seems 80-20 is best for Lily.”

You feel your throat constrict, words hanging in the air between you like a weight. Biological father. That doesn’t define you as a parent, and it doesn’t mean Steve should take her away from you.

“She’s my daughter too,” you say, the words sharp and raw. You finally look at Steve for help, your heart pounding as the injustice of it settles into your bones. “You know that. I’ve raised her just as much as you have.”

Steve’s brow furrows deeply at the lawyer’s suggestion. He leans forward slightly, his voice firm as he speaks. “No,” he says, his tone unwavering. “That’s not how it’s going to be.” His hand reaches across the table, his fingers lightly brushing yours as he glances at you, offering the small reassurance you need. “We’re doing 50-50. Lily deserves that. We both deserve that.”

The lawyer glances at Steve, her expression momentarily calculating, before she exhales and straightens her papers. “Are you sure you want that, Mr. Rogers?” she asks, the doubt laced in her voice. “It’s not typical.”

Steve doesn’t hesitate. “Yes, I’m sure,” he replies, voice steady with conviction. “We’ll share custody. Lily should be able to spend equal time with both of us.”

The lawyer shrugs, not bothering to mask her disapproval. “Very well,” she mutters, scribbling something on her notepad. “I’ll draft the papers.”

There’s a silence that falls over the room again, thick with tension, as the lawyer moves on to other legal details. You’re still reeling from the custody suggestion, the sting of it settling like a rock in your stomach. You want to argue with her, demand that she see how much you’ve been there for Lily, how much you’ve been her mother in every sense of the word. You are her mother.

But before you can gather the words, the lawyer speaks again, her gaze shifting to you with a dismissive air. “One last thing, Ms. Y/N,” she says. “James….’Bucky’...is he stable enough for Lily to be around? I’m asking because he’s a veteran. If she’ll be around him, I need to know if there are any mental stability concerns.”

You freeze, your blood running cold. Your fingers grip the edge of the table, the questions crashing over you like waves. Is he stable enough for Lily? How dare she?

Your breath hitches, and before you can stop it, the words burst from you, your voice trembling with rage. “Are you kidding me?” You push back your chair, your heart pounding in your chest. “You’re questioning Bucky’s stability because he’s a veteran?” The question feels like an accusation you can’t ignore. How dare she?

Steve immediately stands, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he moves to your side. His voice is calm, but his anger is clear. “That’s unnecessary,” he says firmly. “We’re not having that discussion.”

The lawyer looks momentarily taken aback, her eyes narrowing. “It’s standard procedure. If he’s going to be around Lily, I need to know if there are any concerns—”

Steve cuts her off, his jaw clenched. “It’s not standard procedure, and you’re not questioning someone like that. He’s stable, I trust Y/N.. There’s no need for this to be a part of the discussion.”

The lawyer purses her lips but finally nods, reluctantly marking something down. “I’ll make a note of it,” she mutters, almost as if she’s lost interest in arguing further. “I’ll finalize the custody agreement, and we can move forward.”

The tension in the room remains heavy, but Steve stays by your side, his presence grounding you. You take a deep breath, trying to steady yourself after the emotional whirlwind of the meeting.

And as the lawyer gathers her papers and prepares to leave, Steve gently places his hand on your back. “You alright?” he asks, his voice soft with concern. You nod, though your throat is tight.

“I will be,” you reply, your voice quiet but determined. “We both will.”

-----

The low thrum of music pulsed through the crowded house, colored lights flickering over worn-out couches and half-finished drinks. Wanda leaned against the wall near the back door, clutching a red solo cup she hadn’t touched in over an hour. She watched, heart aching in her chest, as Steve stood across the room laughing at something Natasha said, his whole face lighting up in a way that Wanda knew too well.

Natasha beamed at him, her hand brushing his forearm casually. The two of them were drawn together like magnets, and even though Wanda had prepared herself for this, for years, really..it still felt like a blow she hadn’t braced for hard enough.

“You’re real bad at hiding it, you know,” Clint’s voice cut through her thoughts, soft and not unkind. He nudged her shoulder gently with his own.

Wanda blinked, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hiding what?”

Clint snorted under his breath, glancing across the room where Steve and Natasha stood in their own little world. “Come on, Wands. It’s me.”

Wanda looked down at her cup, twisting it between her fingers. “It wouldn’t matter anyway,” she said quietly, almost to herself. “He loves her.”

Clint was silent for a moment, then shifted so he was blocking her view of them, as if giving her a second to breathe. “You never told him, did you?”

Wanda shook her head. “It wouldn’t have changed anything.” She managed a hollow laugh. “It was just… a crush.”

Clint raised an eyebrow, the kind of look that said you and I both know that’s a lie, but he didn’t call her on it. He sighed instead, raking a hand through his hair. “You’re too good sometimes, you know that?”

She shrugged, the motion feeling too heavy for her thin shoulders. “She’s my best friend and so is he,” she whispered. “What could I want more than to see them both happy?”

Clint hummed and just stood there with her, offering his presence in the quiet way only he could. No speeches, no false comforts. Just a shared, silent understanding. Clint tilted his head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s get some air before you drown in here.”

Wanda smiled, small and grateful, letting him lead her outside into the cool night, away from the golden couple inside and the weight of a love she would never speak aloud, a love that would never be known.

--------

The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the street as Steve walked, his footsteps slow, heavy, as if every step carried the weight of everything he was trying to outrun. The house…your house, his house, felt suffocating now. The walls that had once echoed with laughter, arguments, and shared memories now seemed to close in on him. He couldn’t stay there. Not anymore, not with everything unraveling so quickly.

Steve phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it. He didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. He needed air, space to breathe before he spiraled.

He found himself standing in front of Wanda’s apartment door before he even realized how he got there. He didn’t knock right away. He hesitated, his hand hovering over the door, as though it had a mind of its own.

Finally, with a quiet exhale, he raised his fist and knocked.

A few moments passed before the door cracked open. Wanda stood there, looking surprised, her eyes widening when she saw him. There was a softness in her gaze, a quiet understanding, but it was laced with something else. Something unspoken.

“Steve?” she asked, her voice soft, confused. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Can we talk?”

Wanda hesitated, glancing back over her shoulder as if she was wondering whether to let him in. After a brief pause, she stepped back, opening the door wider. “Come in.”

The apartment was warm, lived-in, and cozy. A stark contrast to the coldness he felt in his own life right now. He stepped inside, and Wanda closed the door behind him, the quiet click of the lock sounding louder than it should have.

They stood there in the entryway, an uncomfortable silence hanging between them. Wanda led him to the couch, where they both sat, not looking at each other at first.

“I didn’t want to be there,” Steve finally said, breaking the silence, his voice thick. “I didn’t want to be in that house anymore.”

Wanda nodded slowly, not needing to ask why. She already knew. She’d known for so long. “I understand,” she said quietly.

“We signed the papers today.” Steve said suddenly. “The house, we’re selling it, we’re doing 50/50 custody, we haven't talked logistics yet but Lily and I are gonna move to Boston, so Y/N can be home, so she can be with him.” Steve's voice cracked, his eyes watered, before pausing to take a deep breath. “Wanda… I—” Steve started, but words caught in his throat. He ran his hands over his face, frustrated. “I had no idea.”

She shifted slightly, “I’m so sorry Steve, I really am but…”, her eyes narrowing as she met his gaze, her voice soft, but sharp, too. “You really had no idea?”

He exhaled a frustrated breath and shook his head. “I had a feeling. A hint, but I never… I never thought it was anything. Not enough to risk our friendship. Not enough to make things weird between us.”

Wanda let out a quiet laugh, but it wasn’t a happy sound. It was almost bitter. “You really didn’t notice? All the times I held back because you were with Natasha? All the times I pushed you to go after her? All the times I welcomed y/n into my life, into our life, like she was just another person?”

Steve looked at her, regret clouding his expression. “I didn’t know, Wanda. I swear I didn’t. I was too focused on my own shit, on trying to get things right with Natasha… and then with Y/N and then him, and everything—”

Wanda’s voice cracked slightly, though she didn’t look away. “I didn’t want to make it harder for you. I’ve always been in the background, Steve. I’ve always been the one who picked you up when things went wrong, when Natasha didn’t understand, when everything was falling apart and I did it because I love you. I’ve always loved you.”

Steve blinked, stunned by the confession. “Wanda…” His voice faltered for a moment. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? Why didn’t you ever just say it, it's me..”

She cut him off, shaking her head slowly. “Because I wanted you to be happy, Steve and Natasha made you happy. I could see that. I was fine being your friend. I was happy, just being your friend. But Clint…” Wanda’s voice wavered slightly. “Clint crossed the line, Steve. He knew. He could see it. He saw it before anyone else did.”

Steve’s jaw tightened. He had been blind to everything, hadn’t he? He could feel the weight of her words crashing down on him. “Clint’s been out of line for a while, he shouldn't have done or said half the things he has over the last couple years, losing Nat isn’t an excuse anymore.”

“I forgave him, we already talked.” Wanda exhaled sharply. “At your birthday party, when he…when he outed me. I never wanted anyone to know, I was happy in my bubble with just us two knowing but he knew how much I cared about you, and he couldn’t let it go especially with everything that has been happening with Y/N and how I had to listen to you vent about her, I just it's been so hard Steve…”

Steve’s head dropped into his hands, his heart aching with the weight of everything. He’d missed so much. So many things he should’ve known. “I never knew,” he whispered, the guilt washing over him. “I didn’t know how much you sacrificed.”

Wanda shook her head, her expression softening, though her heartache was still there. “It doesn’t matter now,” she said quietly. “We’re here, Steve and we’re both just trying to move forward, aren’t we?”

“Where do we go from here?” he asked, his voice raw. “I don’t want to lose you, Wanda. I never wanted to lose you.”

Wanda looked away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. When she spoke again, her voice was steady but full of emotion. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I’m not sure where we go from here.”

Steve sighed deeply. “I don’t want to lose you as a friend, Wanda. I don’t want to lose the only person who’s always had my back.”

Wanda turned to him then, her eyes soft with understanding. “You should know by now that you won’t lose me. You won’t ever lose me, even when everything else feels like it’s slipping away.”

Steve watched her, the truth of it settling in. She was always going to be there. Even if she never got what she secretly wanted, she was always gonna be a constant in his life, in his heart.

“Yeah,” he whispered. “I know. I just…” His voice trailed off, and for a moment, the silence between them was comfortable. Steve pulled her into a tight hug and they both just held each other for a while. Before Steve pulled away, “I’m glad you forgave Clint, I don’t know if I’m ready to.” His voice was soft, “Anyway, I need to go get Lily, Y/N and I are telling her everything tomorrow.”

Wanda nodded, “Let me know how it goes? Lily is tough like Nat, she’ll be fine.”

Steve nodded, turning toward the door, but then he stopped. Before he left, he turned back to Wanda, his voice soft. “For the record, Wanda… I felt the same way. I always have.”

The words hung in the air, tender and broken, before Steve opened the door and stepped out, leaving Wanda alone in the quiet of her apartment, a quiet that had never felt more final.

The door clicked shut, leaving only the sound of her breath.

-----

The house party is loud, the air thick with music and the hum of chatter. You’re leaning against the wall near the kitchen, a red cup of punch in your hand, watching your boyfriend, Jeremy, talk to his friends. He’s laughing, but you don’t hear the humor anymore. You just hear the whispers behind your back, the subtle glances from the guys as they eye you like you’re some kind of prize to be won and when one of them mutters something about you not being “pure,” you feel a sinking sensation in your stomach.

You try to ignore it, pretending like everything’s fine, but then Jeremy’s voice cuts through the noise, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“I mean, she’s not a virgin, you know?” he says, chuckling like it’s no big deal. The other guys burst into laughter. You feel your face flush with embarrassment.

“What the hell did you just say?” you hear someone ask, and you don’t have to look to know who it is. You can hear the low, familiar growl in Bucky’s voice, the one that makes your heart skip a beat. You glance over and see him sitting on the couch, a couple of cheerleaders beside him, all leaning into him with flirty grins. But he’s not paying them attention. His eyes are locked on you, narrowed with concern, anger flashing across his features.

Jeremy shrugs, a smug smirk on his face. “I said, she’s no virgin. I bet even you didn’t know that. She’s a little slut, but hasn’t put out for me yet. I thought she was making me wait because she was one but apparently Lisa saw her and some dude doing the deed in a truck bed over the summer. But she’s gonna put out for me tonight, now thagI know her little secret, right babe?”

The words cut through you like a knife, and you feel the heat of shame rise to your cheeks, hot tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. You want to run, to hide, but you can’t move. You’re frozen.

That’s when Bucky stands up. The girls at his side don’t matter anymore, the flirting forgotten as he brushes them off and strides toward you, his gaze unwavering. He’s done listening.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Bucky’s voice is low, but it’s the kind of low that makes the air heavy, the kind that makes everyone in the room stop and turn.

Jeremy laughs, a bitter sound that you can barely stomach. “I said she’s a slut, It’s no secret anymore, her fucks a guy in an ugly ass truck? A dirty little s l u t.” His voice is a taunt, but Bucky’s already stepping closer to him, fury simmering in his eyes.

“You don’t get to talk about her like that,” Bucky snaps. His fist clenches at his side, and before you can say anything, he’s shoving Jeremy back with enough force to knock him off balance.

The laughter dies, but the tension in the room spikes. Jeremy, now pissed, swings at Bucky, landing a punch on his shoulder. Bucky doesn’t even flinch.

“Keep her name out of your mouth,” Bucky growls, and without another word, he’s launching forward, fists flying. The first punch catches Jeremy square in the jaw, sending him stumbling back, but he’s not done. Another guy, one of Jeremy’s friends, rushes to his side and lands a punch on Bucky’s cheek, but Bucky doesn’t back down.

He swings again, this time knocking the guy down onto the floor. The room erupts into chaos, but all you can see is Bucky, standing tall in the middle of it, a bloody lip and fury in his eyes. He doesn’t care about the rest of the party, about the way everyone is watching. All that matters is you.

“Bucky, stop!” you cry, rushing forward, but Bucky’s already pulled the other guy off him, throwing him to the side. His lip is split open, blood staining his teeth, but he’s standing there like nothing’s wrong. Like he would do it all over again for you.

“Let’s go,” he says, his voice quiet, rough. He doesn’t need to explain himself. He turns to walk out, pulling you with him, but you stop, glancing back at the chaos behind you. The party’s still going on, but it feels like a different world now, a world you don’t belong in anymore.

Bucky’s hand on your arm tightens, and he leads you outside, the cool night air hitting your skin like a slap of reality. You both make your way down the driveway, and once you’re out of sight, he pulls you into his arms, holding you like he never wants to let go.

“Are you okay?” His voice is low, but the concern in it hits you harder than anything else. He’s not worried about the fight, not about his lip or the blood on his knuckles. He’s worried about you.

“I’m fine,” you whisper, shaking your head, but it’s a lie. You’re not fine. Not when you hear Jeremy’s words echoing in your mind.

Bucky cups your face, his thumb brushing across your cheek, wiping away the first tear that slips down. “Don’t let them get to you,” he says, his voice firm. “You’re not what he said. You’re so much more.”

You lean into his touch, your breath catching as another tear slips free. You don’t even care. You’ve been holding it in for too long.

Bucky presses a soft kiss to your forehead, his voice barely a whisper. “I would do anything for you, you know that, right?”

You nod, the words too thick in your throat to say back to him. But you don’t need to say anything, you know.

Bucky swing’s his arm around your shoulder. “Alright let's get out of here and go hang out in my ugly ass truck.”

----

The house feels eerily quiet after Steve leaves, the sound of the door clicking shut still ringing in your ears. The weight of everything, of the divorce papers, of the house, of all the years that you spent wrapped up in the dreams you once shared with Steve hangs heavy in the air. But it’s different now…final. You take a slow, steadying breath, feeling the tears welling up, but you push them back.

You walk to the bedroom, opening the closet doors and pulling a duffel bag from the shelf. You try to keep your movements automatic, but the act of packing, of getting ready to leave the place that once felt like home, hits harder than you expect. You start with your essentials: a few changes of clothes, toiletries, anything that will help you get by for the next few days, maybe weeks. You pause for a moment, staring at the bag. This isn’t just a change of clothes. It’s your life, packed into something small, something portable.

You grab your phone off the bed and quickly dial your mom’s number, your fingers trembling a little. It rings a few times before she picks up.

“Hey, sweetie. How are you?”

“We signed the papers today,” you say softly, sitting on the bed, trying to steady your breath. “Everything’s done.”

Her voice softens, a touch of sadness in her words. “I know it’s hard, honey. But you’re strong. You always have been.”

You try to hold back the tears, but they slip out, anyway. You wipe your eyes quickly, feeling the rawness of it all. “It’s done,” you repeat. “But I don’t know what comes next. Steve’s willing to move to Boston. We both want a fresh start somewhere else.”

You hear her pause for a moment, then she says, “I’m glad you’re thinking of what’s best for you. Are you coming home?”

The words hit you unexpectedly, and for the first time since this whole ordeal started, something feels lighter. “Yes, I was hoping I could bring some of my stuff to your house. Just for a little while until I figure things out.”

“Of course you can, sweetheart. You don’t need to ask. I’ve always got a place for you.” Her voice is soft, loving, the kind of warmth you haven’t felt in a while. “You’ve got this, and I’m here for you. Always.”

“Thanks, Mom,” you whisper, the words thick in your throat.

“Always,” she echoes. “Everything happens the way it’s supposed to happen, remember that sweetie. I love you.”

You choke back a sob, nodding even though she can’t see it. “I love you too.”

After a few more words of reassurance, you end the call, feeling the weight of everything slowly beginning to settle. You look at your phone for a moment before switching apps, hoping to start looking into moving companies, but then your messages catch your eye.

You see a text from Bucky, and when you open it, it’s a picture of the food he’s having, but it’s not just food. He’s made a smiley face with his French fries. You can’t help but laugh softly, the silly image lightening the mood for the first time today.

You glance at the clock, realizing it’s been more than an hour since he sent it. You smile, shaking your head at how he always manages to make you smile. You press his name to call him, and the phone rings for barely a second before he picks up.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he greets you, his voice warm, familiar.

You laugh, “Hey. So, the papers are signed.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “How do you feel?”

You exhale, looking around the room for a moment before speaking, your voice steady but emotional. “It’s sad. It hurts. But… I feel free. Like everything is falling into place, the way it always should’ve been. You know, I used to feel like there was this missing piece to my puzzle, and I just kept trying to make the pieces fit, but now it feels like everything’s shifting and I’m okay with that, I’m okay.”

He lets out a soft chuckle, the sound grounding you. “I’m glad, sweetheart. Really glad.”

You take a deep breath and ask, “So what are you up to?”

“I just finished eating with Sam,” he says casually. “Just walking around now.”

You chew your bottom lip for a moment before speaking up. “I don’t really have anywhere else to go right now. Would it be okay if I stayed with you again? At the hotel?”

There’s a beat of silence on the other end, and then he responds, the warmth in his voice clear. “You don’t even have to ask. Meet me at that café from this morning.”

You smile, feeling that same sense of comfort you’ve always felt with him. “Okay.”

As you walk toward the café, you keep the phone pressed to your ear, and Bucky stays on the line and you tell him everything. “So what’s this about Boston?” he asks, curiosity in his tone.

You let out a breath. “Steve said he’s willing to move there. He wants to make it easier for me to start over and I think… I’m going to move back home for a while. Stay with my mom until I figure things out.”

There’s a brief silence on the other end of the phone, and you can almost hear the gears turning in Bucky’s mind, the way his words seem to hesitate before he speaks again. His voice softens, almost cautious, as if he’s searching for the right words. “And what’s that mean for you? Are you planning to stay with your mom for a while?”

You exhale slowly, nodding even though he can’t see it. It’s not a decision you’ve fully made, but it’s the one that feels most comforting right now. “Yeah, I think so. I don’t know yet,” you admit, your gaze drifting as you walk down the street, the rhythm of your footsteps matching the pace of your thoughts. “But it feels right, you know? At least until I figure things out. I don’t want to rush into anything that doesn’t feel like the right move. I just need some space to breathe and figure out what comes next.”

He’s quiet for a moment, and you can almost feel his presence, his attention on you even across the phone line. It’s one of those silences that feels heavy with meaning, as if he’s considering all that you’ve just said. “So, you’re moving back home?” His voice is quieter now, almost like he’s absorbing the weight of the decision you’ve made.

“Yeah, Buck. I’m moving home.” The words come out of you without hesitation, but a part of you still feels like the ground is shifting beneath your feet. You glance at the street signs as you pass, the familiar landmarks of your old neighborhood suddenly feeling foreign. “I think it’s the right thing to do. It feels like a fresh start. I just need time to figure things out, you know?”

As you round the corner, you spot Bucky up ahead, his silhouette outlined by the fading sunlight. The evening air is cool against your skin, and you hang up the phone just as you reach him. The moment your eyes meet, his smile hits you like a wave. It’s bright, genuine, and it instantly softens the knot of tension you hadn’t even realized you were holding. His cheeks are flushed from the walk, his face a picture of contentment.

You raise an eyebrow at him, feeling a smile tug at your own lips. “What’s got you so happy?” The question comes out teasing, but there’s something in his expression that makes it feel more like you’re genuinely curious, like his happiness is something you can’t help but want to understand.

Bucky grins wider, a playful glint in his eye. “You,” he says, his voice light but with that familiar warmth. “You’re the only thing that can make my face as red as a tomato and make my cheeks hurt like this.” He’s still grinning, like the words are effortless, like they come naturally to him.

You laugh softly, feeling a warmth spread through you. The sound is light, free, like you’ve exhaled a breath you didn’t even know you were holding. It’s so easy with him. He makes it easy to forget about everything else that’s weighing you down, even just for a moment.

You start walking together toward the hotel, side by side, the cool evening air brushing against your skin. You slip your hands into your jacket pockets, feeling the comfort of having him close. Your conversation flows easily, shifting from topic to topic without effort. You talk about the lawyer and the papers, about the future and the uncertainty that still hangs over everything. But there’s something comforting in the rhythm of your words, in the simplicity of it.

“So, when are you heading back home?” you ask, glancing at him as he presses the button for the crosswalk. His movements are familiar, easy, like he’s just there, a constant in your life.

“Um, in a few days, why?” he asks, glancing at you with a knowing look. “Everything okay?”

You nod, the words coming out a little more thought-out this time. “Would you mind taking a few boxes for me to my mom’s house?” You let the words hang in the air, not really needing to explain, but giving him enough to understand what you’re asking.

His brow furrows slightly, his expression softening as he looks at you. “You’re not coming back yet?” His voice is quiet, almost like he’s trying to gauge your response, but it doesn’t sound judgmental. Just curious.

You shake your head slowly, eyes on the sidewalk in front of you. “No. I’ve still got some stuff to finish up here. I’m hoping to get everything squared away before the end of the month.”

Bucky nods, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, of course,” he says, his voice steady and calm, with a hint of sadness.

“So, would you mind?” you ask, not needing to say it again, but wanting to hear him say it.

Bucky laughs, a low, warm sound that instantly puts you at ease. “Of course not,” he says, his voice teasing now, but the sincerity is still there, tucked into every word. “I’d do anything for you. You should know that by now.”

[cetosdaughter]

people shipping sammie and remmick makes me realize 1) how much people feel they need to center whiteness in black media and 2) how much they feel like they need to center white queerness even though there’s a ship between stack and louis from IWTV that’s popular amongst black queers… but ofc… that’s the one that gets ignored… in favor of (checks notes) the non-existent intimacy between sammie and remmick. vampires are and CAN represent sexuality, but this is not one of those times.

their canon dynamic is actually interesting by itself and there’s so much material y’all could write about without shipping them.

“this is censorship” it’s not. and it’s odd that that’s the defense yall have when there’s actual censorship happening in real life. like with the new bill that was introduced where they’re literally trying to re-define what obscenity is in media so they can start banning whatever the hell They want to. saying ‘this is censorship’ when you’re being called out for being weird just means you’re taking away from actual issues about censorship. yk. like books being banned.

“ship and let ship” not saying yall can’t ship it cause yall will do it anyways because you’re weird and can’t unpack why you feel the need to in the first place. but i’m allowed to say how weird it is. you can’t just let black characters exist in media, even black queer media cause white queers never gaf about Moonlight (for example), without shipping them with an abusive white counterpart.

most of the time y’all seem to be projecting a weird need to center yourselves when white people aren’t the focal point of black media. if 12 years a slave came out today, yall would probably ship a slave with the master or the masters wife and say “you can’t say anything that would be censorship!”

also, y’all saying Pearline is a ‘boring character’ and ‘not developed’ is the excuse yall use every time a black woman gets in the way of your weird ass ship. see: Braeden from Teen Wolf (gets in the way of Sterek) and Mel (gets in the way of Jayce and Viktor)

[goodgirlk]

Blue Eyes and the Lone Star Sky- Chapter 1

Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Female OC

Warnings: Language, yelling, verbal abuse, slight angst

WC: 6.1K

Notes: Just something I couldn't get out of my head for the last few weeks that I decided to make a reality. As always, work is completely fiction :) Please leave any feedback you have! Hope yall enjoy!

~~~

“With the first pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, the Dallas Wings select… Paige Bueckers, University of Connecticut!” Hearing her name called in the draft was a dream come true for Paige. Although there had been hype around her draft stock for years, she never truly allowed herself to get too far ahead in the dream, not wanting to take her career for granted by expecting this moment.

That moment has been on repeat for the past week now, the night following a blur due to both the adrenaline of the moment and the drinks her teammates kept supplying her. Once sobered up and back in Storrs, Paige had begun the long-awaited task of packing her belongings and getting ready to move to Dallas. Luckily for her, she had help from her friends and family, no one wanting to miss the moment Paige stepped into this next phase of life.

The goodbye in Storrs was a painful one, tears shed with Azzi, their years of friendship providing an unspoken connection between them. One that allowed Azzi to just understand Paige without her needing to explain herself. She was worried about her future, being away from her support system and now the pressure of being the next big rookie. Needing to prove herself to the team, prove they didn't waste their first pick on her, but also meeting the never ending need to prove herself to the doubters. Even with how talented she is, she never stops feeling the need to prove them wrong. She got her national championship, now she will prove to the world that she is meant to be in the W.

With her stuff in the moving van and her car in tow, Paige boarded the plane ready for one final weekend in Minnesota with her family before her dad and Drew helped her move into her new place. The down time with her family was a much welcomed change from the past 2 weeks following the national championship game. From press appearances, parties on campus, and the draft, Paige is exhausted. They spent the weekend playing Fortnite with the girls over facetime, family dinners, and church on Sunday for Easter.

Now Paige, her dad, and Drew were finally in Texas and on their way to her new apartment. The team hooked her up with the short notice from draft night to training camp and she was extremely grateful she didn’t have to do the work to find a new place to live. They arrived at the nice apartment building not far from the airport and stepped out into the warm Texas air. 

The trio made their way to the apartment office to pick up the keys to her new place. “So you will be on the fourth floor but don’t worry, there is an elevator to take you up there so you don’t have to haul everything up the stairs.” The manager laughed while showing them around the office. “The building is completely secured so you will use your badge on the door downstairs either from outside at ground access or in the parking garage as well. All the information is in the packet as well so don't worry about remembering everything, I know it is a lot to take in.”

Paige smiled back as they sat back down at the desk, gathering the last of the paperwork and keys. “Thank you so much again. This place is amazing.”

Keys in hand, they made their way to Paige’s new home. She had a long phone call with the operations team a few days prior, discussing the specifics of the new place and her to-do list once settled in Texas. Luckily, the new home was furnished, meaning Paige had a lot less to worry about, her main focus now being unpacking her current belongings and making herself comfortable living alone. She went from living at home to dorm life, making it a little nerve wracking to be in a new state alone, but she was looking forward to some peace and quiet.

Once the moving truck arrived, they made quick work of unloading her belongings into the new apartment. Making sure they placed the boxes into the correct rooms, they had everything off the truck and into the apartment in just a few hours.

Paige flopped down onto the couch once everything was inside, picking up her shirt to wipe the sweat off her forehead. “Yo I don’t know about you two but I am starving.” She groaned, hearing her stomach growl for the 2nd time in the past hour. 

“Yeah me too. Dad?” Drew looked up from where he sat at the table, their dad nodding along. “Yeah that sounds good. Why don’t you two go shower really quick and I will look at places near here to go eat.”

After taking a quick shower and changing, Paige made her way back out to the living room, finding Drew in new clothes alone. “Dad went to take a shower. Said he found some Mexican food place close by that looked good.” 

Paige nodded and began opening the boxes in her living room, deciding she would spend the time waiting on her dad to figure out where everything should go. It wasn't long until her dad emerged from the guest bathroom, ready to head out. “Did Drew tell you what I was thinking?” He asked, grabbing his phone from the kitchen island to pull up the menu in case Paige had any questions. 

“Yeah that sounds good!” She smiled back, excited to explore more of the city.

As they made their way out the door, Paige was met with the most beautiful blue eyes. Giving the girl a quick smile, she turned around to lock her door, not wanting to stare too long and make things awkward. 

“Hey one sec babe, I think I just ran into our new neighbor.” The girl whispered, quickly placing her grocery bags on the floor outside her door and peeling the phone away from her ear. “Hi there! My name is Tatum!” She exclaimed, sticking out her hand to formally greet Drew and Bob while Paige turned around, taking Tatum’s hand in return and giving her a smile.

“Nice to meet you Tatum.” She licked her lips briefly. “My name is Paige and this is dad and my brother Drew, they are just helping me get moved in.”

After a moment of them looking at each other, the voice on the other end of the phone sounded again and Tatum took it as her sign to let the trio go. “Well I will let y’all go, just wanted to quickly introduce myself.” Tatum smiled up at Paige, giving a quick smile and wave to Bob and Drew before unlocking her door and stepping inside.

~~~

Getting out in Arlington was fun for Paige and her family, they had dinner, walked around the mall a bit, and then got ice cream before heading back to her apartment. Bob and Drew booked a hotel nearby since Paige didn’t have anything for the guest bedroom yet. Paige dropped them off and made plans for breakfast the next morning before she had to take them back to the airport for their flight home.

Paige made her way inside her new apartment, taking in the new place and making a plan to unpack. She groaned, realizing just how much she needed to get done in just 5 days before training camp started. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, seeing Azzi’s contact pop up, a facetime awaiting her. They had planned to talk once she got settled in so she could give a tour and talk about her time in Texas so far.

“Hey! How is Texas so far?!” Azzi smiled brightly on the other side of the phone. Paige was grateful for her best friend, knowing that no matter how far apart they are, she would always have someone to fall back on. 

“It’s nice! You wanna see the place?” She grinned back, getting up from the couch and making her way to the kitchen to begin the tour. After showing Azzi the place, she filled her in on the plans now that she has officially arrived in Dallas. “I go on Friday for a quick team meeting with ops and then training camp starts Sunday.”

“That is awesome P! I am so excited to hear how everything goes!” Azzi beamed back.

“Just don’t forget about us while you’re out there making it big!” KK yelled from the background.

Paige smiled at her friends, feeling her heart clench at the thought of not being with them 24/7 like she has been for the past 5 years. “I could never.” She smiled back, quickly replacing her joy with confusion as she heard a knock at her door.

“One sec, someone is at my door.” She got up and made her way to the front door, seeing her new neighbor outside with what looked like a plate in her hands. “Yo I’ll call you back later, it's my neighbor.” She quickly hung up and opened the door.

“Hi there! I just wanted to give you a little welcome gift as you get moved in!” Tatum smiled up at Paige. 

Taken aback by the kindness of her new neighbor, Paige blinked for a little, a lazy grin on her face while she looked over the girl for another time. “Thank you.” She reached out for the cookies, briefly grazing Tatum’s hand in the exchange and stepped back. “You wanna come inside or something?” 

A wave of panic rushed through her body and she realized what she said, suddenly feeling super awkward at inviting the girl she has not met twice into her place for no real reason. Tatum's face flushed, a light blush adorning her cheeks as she began to nod. “Yeah, that sounds good.” She quickly turned around and locked her front door before facing Paige again. 

They made their way inside of Paige’s place, Tatum taking off her slippers while Paige walked the cookies into the kitchen. She joined Paige in the kitchen, taking in the new place. “I hope you like chocolate chip cookies,” Tatum smiled, gesturing towards the plate now on Paige’s island. “They are my favorite recipe my mom passed on so I figured I would make you a batch to get you through the move.” 

“I love them, thank you again, this is such a nice welcome gift.” Paige grinned while grabbing a cookie off the plate. Taking a quick bite, Paige was met with arguably the best cookie she has ever had, letting out a low groan at the taste. “Yo, these are fire.”

Tatum’s face lit up at the approval, giving a quick little clap and hop out of excitement. “Good! I am happy you like them! If you ever want more, just let me know.” She smiled. “I work from home and love any excuse I can get to step away and take my mind off of work to bake.”

“I will have to take you up on that.” Paige smiled back, taking another quick bite. “What do you do for work?” 

“I freelance for graphic design and editing. Anything to keep me out of an office.” She winked at Paige. “Not that you would know anything about that.” She mumbled lowly to herself.

Upon hearing this Paige grinned, “So you know who I am?” She asked teasingly, enjoying the blush that rushed onto Tatum’s face. Waiting for an answer, she crossed her arms and smirked at Tatum.

“Of course I do. Anyone who watches sports at all has seen your face plastered to their screens for the last 5 years.” Tatum states back, trying to ignore the burning of her cheeks and the look on Paige’s face. Fuck, Tatum thinks to herself, what happened to nonchalant?? Quickly trying to change subjects, Tatum brings up the move. “Well how are you enjoying Texas?”

Paugh laughs slightly, giving in to the brunette's attempt at changing the subject. “It isn’t my first time in Texas but the first time calling it home. Definitely different from Storrs though.” 

They spend the next few minutes talking about the city, Tatum giving tips about dealing with the Dallas traffic and what the best places are to eat around the area. At the sound of a door shutting outside, Tatum glances at her phone quickly, noticing how long her and Paige had been talking. “Well I should let you go. It has been nice to meet you! If you need any help with unpacking or anything, let me know. Like I said, I would love any excuse to not focus on work.”

Paige walked her to the door and watched as she put her slippers back on. Shoving her hands into her hoodie pocket, she spoke up. “Why don’t I give you my number, that way you can let me know when you wanna stop working and help me move in?” She asked, hoping to not sound creepy, especially since Tatum told her about her boyfriend Noah who lives with her. 

“Sure!” Tatum hands over her phone, Paige making quick work of entering her number and handing it back.

“Well hopefully I will be seeing you soon. Have a good night Paige!” Tatum smiled as she made her way out of the apartment and to her door, unlocking it and leaving Paige alone in the hallway, grinning to herself.

~~~

The next morning comes fast, after calling Azzi back and filling her in on the interaction with Tatum, Paige finds herself being woken up by the early alarm. Getting ready and picking up her family, they head out to breakfast at a local cafe. Breakfast is nice, with no one wanting to get too emotional just yet, they stick to easy conversation. Drew filling the two in on how school is going and Bob talking about their plans to come down and visit once season starts.

They end up sitting around the cafe for 2 hours, just soaking up each other's company, until they realize they need to start making their way to the airport. Paige drives them to the airport, tears welling in her eyes and they grab their stuff from the trunk and give her a hug goodbye.

“You are gonna kill it Paigey, I know it.” Drew smiles up at his big sister, proud of how far she has made it already and confident in her ability to succeed in the W like she did in college. “Once you get unpacked let me know and we can hop on Fortnite.”

She laughs, giving him one last hug and doing their handshake. Turning to her dad she sees his big smile and feels a tear slip down her cheek. Pulling her in for a strong hug, her dad gives her a kiss on the head and tells her how much he loves her. “I am so proud of you already kid and I know you have big things in your future. I love you”

With that, she watches as they make their way inside the airport. One last tear slipping down her cheek as she starts her car back up and begins the drive back to her apartment. She can't help but let her mind wander as she drives, finds herself thinking of her future in Dallas. Hoping to have a long and prosperous future in the league and getting settled in with her new teammates. She also finds herself thinking back to those big blue eyes she was met with yesterday. She has a boyfriend P, cut that shit out. She thinks to herself. But she isn’t thinking of Tatum in that way mainly. Was she one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen? Sure. But she also hoped that she would be around for a long time, a support system for her while she is thousands of miles away from home, someone to celebrate victories with and have her back after losses as well.

Once home, she starts unpacking and remembers Tatum’s words from the night prior. Pulling out her phone, she finds the thread from Tatum, a quick text sent after leaving Paige’s that just had her name and a smile. 

Is now a good time to steal your focus away from your work? 

With an exhale she sends it. She is met almost immediately with text bubbles.

Of course! Let me save and I will be over in like 10 minutes.

She makes herself busy opening a few other boxes in the living room, starting to unpack and place things on the ground while she figures out where everything goes. Upon hearing the knock at her door, she opens to find Tatum in a matching pink Gymshark workout set. Holy fuck she is gorgeous, she thinks, mentally kicking herself for inviting Tatum over in the first place.

She pulls Tatum into a quick hug, thanking her for coming over to help, and lets her into the house. “So what can I help with?” Tatum smiles widely, looking up at Paige who shares a similar smile.

Paige glances around her apartment, taking in the condition, boxes strewn about all around, truly not knowing where to start. She turns back to Tatum, watching as she takes off her shoes and steps into the living room. “Uh living room I guess? Or the kitchen, I really don’t know.” 

Tatum giggles softly, clapping quickly and nodding her head. “Kitchen it is! It looks like there are less boxes there.”

They make their way into the kitchen, quickly finding a groove unpacking and opening the new supplies Paige purchased before leaving Storrs. Spending the time getting to know more about one another.

“So are you from here?” Paige asked, taking the box of plates from Tatum and beginning to put them away.

“Yep! Grew up not too far from here and my parents still live there with my siblings. Couldn’t imagine moving too far from home but needed to not be right next door my entire life.” Tatum answers, her eyes locking with Paige for a brief second before returning to the work at hand. “You will love it here, I promise!”

“Any summer tips for me then?”

“Keep the AC low during the summer and find activities you like indoors cause the heat fucking sucks.” Tatum laughed. “Honestly you will get used to it fast, you just may have to give up your beloved sweats for a while.” 

“Noted.” Paige laughed, enjoying the glow that adorned Tatum’s face when she giggled.

After an hour of conversation and unpacking, the girls were able to finish up the kitchen and start making some progress on the living room. Paige learned more about Tatum’s personal life, her boyfriend Noah who she had been with for the past 2 years and her younger siblings Brandon and Naomi. Paige told Tatum more about her childhood, what it was like having so much pressure to succeed through high school and college, and how that kept her going through all the tough moments. It wasn’t until Paige’s stomach growled that they noticed just how long they had been talking, deciding to take a break and order some Chick-fil-a. 

Paige's phone rang, the doordash driver informing her that he was outside of the building and needed her to come pick it up. “Okay! I will be down there in a second. Thank you!” Hanging up the phone, she turned to Tatum. “You wait here, I will go pick up our food.” She quickly slipped on her slides and walked out the door, leaving Tatum to take in the apartment alone.

Once returned, she found Tatum looking over the framed photos they had unpacked earlier, one of the team after winning the national championship, banner in hand and confetti falling, another of her and Azzi as teenagers in their team USA uniforms, the third frame being the most recent, her and the team at her draft night, the Dallas Wings hat sitting on her head and the biggest smiles on their faces. Tatum could tell just how much this accomplishment meant to all of them and felt her heart clench at the sight.

Turning to face Paige, the draft night photo in her hand, she smiled brightly. “Y’all look so happy here, it’s cute.”

Paige smiled fondly, a brief wave of sadness hitting her as she remembers where she currently is. Not in Storrs, the place that became her second home, with her best friends, but in a new city, hoping to find a new community of supporters to help her through the transition. “Yeah, that was a good night.” She says lowly, hoping Tatum doesn’t hear the strain in her voice.

Noticing how emotional Paige became, Tatum quickly set the frame back on the entertainment center and changed the subject, the two of them diving into a conversation about TV shows and movies. After eating and cleaning up their mess, Tatum turned back to the boxes in the living room, planning to go back to unpacking, but Paige quickly stopped her.

“Nah you’re good, I have already stolen most of your afternoon.” Paige laughed, “Why don't we call it a day?”

“I really don’t mind!” Tatum said, “I am stuck on this project so I love the distraction.”

“Nah for real, I don’t know if I can unpack any more today.”

Tatum laughed at this, nodding her head slowly. “Ahh I get it now,” she beamed, “You’re tired and are tryna play the nice card when you are the one that wants to stop. Yeah we can stop for the day but let me know if I can help tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” Paige nodded, “I’ll see you tomorrow for sure.” 

With that, Tatum made her way to the front door, slipping on her shoes and giving Paige a quick hug before leaving.

~~~

The next day was much of the same, the girls getting the living room and guest bathroom unpacked, leaving most of the work for Paige to finish in her bedroom. Paige was quickly learning Tatum’s personality, how she used sarcasm to say what she really thought, how she didn’t let Paige downplay her accomplishments, and just how much she smiled. She was truly a happy person and Paige was so grateful to have met her, finally feeling more comfortable in the new city and like she was getting to know someone who would be around for a while.

When Paige texted Tatum on Thursday she was met with silence for a few hours, a short response coming around 1:00 PM. 

Sorry it has been a rough morning, I will be over soon if the invite is still open?

Of course 

Paige quickly replied, hoping that she could turn around Tatum’s day.

Okay! :)

She heard the knock at her door about 5 minutes later, opening it to find a much different Tatum than the one she had grown to know. Instead of her typical hair and makeup, Tatum stood there with a bun and clean face, adorned in black sweatpants and a crop top.

“You okay ma?” Paige asked, pulling Tatum in for a quick hug.

“Yeah. I think I have food poisoning or something but I am feeling better this afternoon than I did this morning.” Tatum groaned, slipping into Paige’s apartment and taking a seat at her couch.

“Why did you say yes to coming over? You should be in bed.” Paige turned to Tatum, feeling bad for taking her time when she should be at home recovering.

“I needed to get out of that place and feel like a human.” Tatum leaned her head back.

“Fine but you aren’t doing any work today.” Paige stated, grabbing Tatum’s hand and leading her into the bedroom. “You can sit in my bed and keep me company while I unpack my clothes, how does that sound?”

Tatum smiled back, sitting down on the edge of Paige’s bed. “You sure? I don’t want to invade your space.” 

“Of course!” Paige turned around and walked into her closet, leaving Tatum to make herself comfortable against the headboard of the bed, watching as Paige brought a box labeled dresser into the room and started to unpack.

They spent the afternoon with Tatum watching old episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Paige half heartedly unpacking her clothes, blaming Tatum for choosing a good show to watch for why she couldn’t focus on the task at hand. After finishing the third episode that day in the living room while eating their lunch, Tatum stated she needed to get going since she needed to swing by the store before Noah got home for dinner. 

“If I can get this project done tonight like I plan to, I should be free all day tomorrow to help out.” Tatum smiled, feeling much better now that she got some soup in her. 

“I have a team meeting tomorrow with ops about training day and media availability so I probably won’t be home much tomorrow. I can get the rest done though so no worries.” Paige smiled. “Thank you for all the help over the last few days, I don’t think I would be unpacked at all if it wasn’t for you.” She brought Tatum into a hug.

“Okay! Well the offer stands if you get home and need help. Just text me!” Tatum smiled up at Paige. 

~~~

Tatum was at the store getting groceries when she felt the urge to throw up again. For the fifth time that day, she rushed into the bathroom, emptying her stomach and groaning. Why me??? What did I do this week to deserve this? She thought, wishing this would be over soon. As she made her way back into the store, she passed the health section. She decided to buy a box of pregnancy tests, just to be safe. She was good about taking her birth control but at this point, she would do anything to figure out the cause of this sickness and that includes taking a pregnancy test to know. 

Once she got her groceries unloaded, she made her way into her restroom at home, opening the box of tests. I am just paranoid, she thought as she took the test, placing it face down on her counter and setting a timer. 3 minutes later she turned off the timer and picked up the test, feeling her heartbeat racing as she was faced with those two pink lines staring up at her, as visible as ever. 

What the fuck?? How?! She gasped, feeling as though the room was spinning and she couldn’t breathe. She dropped to the floor, tears quickly welling in her eyes. She sat on the floor quietly crying for 10 minutes before she felt her phone buzz.

Hey babe, I am going out with the guys tonight after work to celebrate Josh’s promotion

She didn’t even have it in her to care at this moment. Noah had been bailing on her for months to go out with his friends, half of the time not even telling her until she texted him at dinner time asking when he would be home. She liked the message and put her phone back down, focusing back on the test in her hands. 

She loved Noah, she really did, but this was real. She was stuck with him now, no easy break to be had. She was also worried about his reaction. Would he be happy or upset with her? Would he continue what he has been doing and leave her alone most nights to take care of the baby alone, pretending to others like he was attentive when in reality they hadn’t had a real conversation since the holidays?

After a few minutes of spiraling she decided now wasn’t the time. He probably wouldn’t come home until after she was asleep anyways so she hid the test in her bedside table and went about her evening, making herself pasta and taking a much needed bubble bath to take her mind off of the future.

~~~

The next day was much the same for Tatum, getting lost in her thoughts of how she would tell Noah the news, running to the bathroom constantly to throw up, trying to force herself to eat and stop crying, all while wishing she could just get to the evening and drop this bomb on him.

Noah came home around 6:00 buzzed from his happy hour with the team and pulled Tatum in for a hug. She began crying in his arms but didn’t have it in her to tell him yet, just telling him she was tired and began making dinner. After eating, she decided to rip the bandaid off and just show him the test. Leaving him in the kitchen washing the dishes, she went to the room to retrieve the pregnancy test. Making her way back into the kitchen, arms behind her back, she quietly called his name.

“What’s up babe? You look like you are about to throw up.” He asked, looking up briefly from the plate he was cleaning.

As if in slow motion, she slowly pulled her arms out from behind her back, the test in her right hand, and slid it along the kitchen island. She opened her mouth to speak but the words got stuck in her throat as she watched his brow furrow.

“What is that?” He asked, reaching a wet hand out to grab the test and bring it forward.

“Noah, I'm pregnant.” She whispered. 

“Nah you must be lying.” He stated firmly, slamming the test back on the counter. “I watch you take your birth control and I use a condom so don’t even try it.”

Tatum was shocked at his response. She was expecting him to be a little confused but never this. Yeah, she was usually pretty good at taking her birth control, but there have been a time or two that she forgot until later that evening. That coupled with the few times they have had sex without a condom, it was a perfect recipe for what was now growing inside of her. 

“What?” She asked quietly, hoping she heard him wrong.

Anger flashed across his face and he shut the water off. “I said you are lying. And if not, you’re cheating cause I know it can’t be mine.”

“Noah you know we have fucked without a condom! What do you mean it can’t be yours?!” She yelled back, anger filling her body at his accusation. “Also, you know I would never cheat! I love you!”

At this he lost it, throwing the plate that he held in his hand at the wall to Tatums right, shattering it into little pieces, one of which bounced up to hit Tatum’s shin, knicking her in the process. “You fucking slut! I knew this would happen when I let you work from home! I should’ve never let you have that time alone, all you must be using it for is to fuck around, huh?!” He yelled at her, walking towards her. She took a step back, wishing she could escape this moment but not wanting to make it any worse for herself. “Why don’t you go to him cause I am not raising a fucking baby with you!” He slammed his palm against the wall, continuing to yell at Tatum as she felt herself begin shaking. 

This wasn’t uncommon for Tatum, the yelling, but the throwing and hitting walls was. Noah had always been a little controlling, making sure he had final say in what she wore or her job, but she never thought of him as physically abusive. In this moment, she was worried for not only her safety but the baby she was now carrying. She shut down, dissociating from the moment in typical fashion and just taking the verbal abuse from him. He didn’t need her to respond, he seemingly got off on watching her cry while he criticized her. 

It wasn’t until she heard a rapid knock at her door that she remembered where she was. In the apartment where many people were likely hearing what was going on. She watched as he opened the door, panic evident on her face at his anger but feeling herself ready to finally stand up for herself and shut him down.

~~~

Paige had gotten home about an hour ago. She had texted Tatum earlier that evening to see how her day was but hadn’t heard a response, figuring that she was just busy with Noah and not taking any offense to the silence. She was warming up her food when she heard the faint yelling and a crash coming from the wall connecting her and Tatum’s apartments. Worried, she moved closer to the sound, hoping to hear what was going on.

*BANG* 

She heard as Noah smacked the wall. Moving quickly, she made her way into her room, grabbing a hoodie off of her bed and slipped on some shoes to make sure Tatum was okay.

She could hear Noah screaming at Tatum as she entered the hallway and knocked rapidly on her door. Their neighbor, Mrs. Black, opened her door as well, making eye contact with Paige with a mirroring worried look. “Hey there, I am going to make sure they are okay.”

“Thank you, Paige! Let me know if you need any help.” Mrs. Black answered sweetly, grateful that Paige was there to step in.

Tatum’s door swung open, an angry Noah staring at Paige with disgust. “What?!” He growled.

Paige looked beyond Noah to Tatum, seeing her standing in the middle of the living room, a shattered plate to her side and blood streaming from her shin. The most troubling scene however was the look of panic on Tatum’s face. “I could hear the screaming in my apartment.” Paige spat at Noah, meeting him almost at eye level. She looked him up and down in disgust before her face softened and met Tatum’s again. “You okay ma?” 

Noah laughed sharply at this, turning back to Tatum. “Ah so you are a slut huh? Fucking whoever got you pregnant and this bitch now too?!” He started to move back to Tatum, letting the door shut when Paige gripped the door and forced her way inside to help Tatum.

Before Paige could speak Tatum snapped back into reality and yelled. “Get the fuck out Noah! I’m done!” 

He laughed again, moving to grip Tatum’s face. “Nah I don’t think so.” 

Paige saw red as she watched him grab Tatum’s chin, the tears flowing quickly from the shorter girl and spoke up. “You heard her, get the fuck out.” 

Noah let go of Tatum and turned towards Paige, looking at her again and began nodding. “You know what? Fine. But have fun being a single mother you whore. I want nothing to do with you or that fucking kid.”

He walked into the room, grabbed his keys and made his way to the front door. Before he could leave, he turned back to Tatum. “I will be moved out by Sunday.” With that, he slammed the door shut and left the building. 

Once Noah was gone and she knew Tatum was safe for the night, Paige turned back to face her and rushed to pull her into her arms. They stood there embracing, Tatum crying into Paige’s chest for a while until Paige remembered the cut on the brunette’s shin, pulling back slightly to look down at her.

“Hey let me see your leg.” She spoke quietly and knelt down to get a closer look. It didn’t look to be bleeding any more so Paige stood back up, grabbing a towel from the kitchen and cleaned it up. “Just a little band-aid should fix it right on up. Did he hurt you anywhere else?”

Tatum shook her head, “No nothing else hit me, the closest he got was grabbing my chin when you got here.”

“Good.” Paige whispered, grabbing the girl again for a brief hug. “Why don’t you pack some stuff and come stay at my place for the weekend? That way he can move out and you don't have to see him again?”

Tatum looked up at Paige, tears still in her eyes and she nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good.” She whispered, not having it in her to talk much more.

They made their way to Paige’s place, Tatum’s bag in Paige’s hands, and a quiet peacefulness washing over them. Tatum was thankful that Paige wasn’t forcing her to explain anything at this time, just giving her a safe place to stay and shoulder to cry on. She knew when she met Paige that she found a good friend, but she was eternally grateful in this moment to have the blonde next to her in her darkest moment.

[valentine-cafe]

hi!! how have yall been!?

villain hubbies trying to make it up to reader after they had a nasty fight and accidentally said some nasty things

˖⁺. ﹙ multi monster villains  x gn reader. ﹚ .𖹭 ݁

. . . forgive me baby !! 🍒 :  villains ˖ monster character

your villanous husband attempts to apologise after an arguement in which he said some awful things. . . how does he go about it?

𖹭. ps : we've been great ! hope this is to your liking <3

﹙ Haoyu 9948v. ﹚. . . bloodshed of those you resent !! 🍓 : He was well aware of how mad he had made you.

A part of his twisted mind found great pleasure in it, however, at the same time he knew he could not return to the manor without making it up to you somehow. You were far too upset now. . . and he did value your affection, afterall.

So an idea popped into his head!

What better idea than to haunt those who have hurt you throughout your life. Each head making a loud thud against the floor, blood painting the walls and floorboards so beautifully. Oh you’d scream at the sight but to him the colour of crimson reminds him of his love for you.

Greedy hands snatch any and all belongings that would look stunning in your presence. Jewellery, your favourite kinds of cups, cutlery, clothes— anything.

His face met yours in the doorway to his abode. Smile bright and full of bliss as he trots inside with the mixed belongings in his hand.

“I know you’re still mad at me. . . but, I got you such precious items and surprises. Could we speak it out whilst you unpack my presents for you, baobei?”

꒰ phantom ˖ yandere character ꒱

 

﹙ Herrera husbands 209. ﹚. . . a tango of the ages !! 🍒 : arguments with you usually leave them quiet after. The both of them leaving you to your own devices for a while. They want to give you time and when they can see you want to talk it out, they approach.

Rishen is the first to murmur out a quiet apology after your own. Her thumbs settling on your cheeks to stroke across them gently.

“You know we never meant any of what we said, too, cariño.” She sighs, leaning her forehead against yours, while Jìngyí sways you both from side to side gently. Settling behind you.

“It was taken too far this time.” You whisper quietly in response to the apologies. To which they both agree.

“We know. . .” The doctor muffles into your shoulder, pressing a kiss to it before swinging you into dance together with his wife.

“But let us make it up to you, baobei. Would you have this dance with us for a while?”

“Only if you take me out for dinner after.” You chuckle, earning mutual sounds of amusement from the other two.

“Then that is a deal.”

꒰ snake monster ˖ mad doctor character ˖ mad scientist ˖ spider-mantis-moth character ˖ yandere characters ꒱

 

﹙ Hàoyu 1311. ﹚. . . manipulative charm !! 🍓 : darling would you listen to me?” your husband croons into your ear. Yet you push him off of your shoulder and huff. Getting away from the dinner table.

“Leave me be.” The grunt makes him tilt his head in dissappointment.

With a small sigh, he rolls his eyes and smiles softly. Following after you. Usually he values your privacy and your need to be alone. But he could clearly see you did not want to be left alone.

“We both know you don’t want me to leave you be, don’t lie.” He calls out, following you into your bedroom and leaning against the doorframe. Dioxazine gaze softened as it scans each and every little move you make.

“I want to be alone.” You insist, and look back at him. That beautiful tearstained face of yours. . . His sadistic urges make it incredibly difficult to not find the sight of you being hurt and upset a little bit adorable and endearing.

“Then let that be it.” He hums and shrugs, as if your emotions were nothing to him. You’ll come crawling back to him in no time.

And you do, gripping onto his arms as you let out quiet sobs for him not to go.

What perfect oppertunity to turn around and wrap his arms around you in tight apology.

“Let’s talk, baobei. . .” His words sneak into your ear with such ease. It doesn’t matter how many times you try to run from it. This man will always make you fold.

꒰ demon ˖ casino owner character ꒱

 

﹙ Alessio 1311. ﹚. . . sweet songs !! 🍒 : Your ears caught sound of the familiar strumming of guitar strings the second you stepped back into your shared apartment with your husbands.

Jìngyí had been the one to take you out with him after the argument you had with Alessio. The serpent man had only just arrived at the end of it, his milky white eyes catching sight of your tears spilling out your eyes were enough to whip you away and glare at the other man.

“Oh how precioussss.” Jìngyí sighs in slight sarcasm and makes his way towards the kitchen to put down the groceries you two got on your way home.

Almost instinctively, you walk into the bedroom to meet Alessio, his magenta eyes focused on the guitar strings. Long fingers work away at them to make melodies that could please the heavens.

“Alessio?” You mutter out. The call of your husband’s name immediately taking his eyes’ attention away from the instrument held delicately in his hands.

His lips are pulled into a slight frown. Gaze full of apology and regret that weighed heavy upon him, despite the hours that have gone by while you were out.

“Ah. . . Amor—” The bed creaks out in protest as he gets off of it and using it as a lean to support his guitar.

“I’m so sorry about earlier. . . Did fangyi and you have a good time?”

You look at him and then at the instrument, then back up.

“Were you making a song?” The sigh of amusement immediately made his attention direct back to the bed, his magenta eyes averting any contact yours attempted to make with them.

“You loooove meeeeeeee,” you start, only to be silenced when his hand claps over your mouth and he smiles.

“You wanna hear it?”

꒰ rockstar ˖ arsonist ˖ mecenary character ꒱

 

﹙ Jìngyí verseless. ﹚. . . little forget-me-nots !! 🍒 : And yet, the demon alchemist of the abhorration knew how to twist it into a potion of forgetting. With words of the argument whispered into the mix, so that the rest of your memories would be stored.

The argument never happened in the first place. His guilt was gnawing away at his demonic bones already that he had even argued with you in the first place.

So he mixed the small vial of liquid into your favourite drink and gave it to you.

Despite the huff of irritation you made as he handed you the cup. It all came down your throat. Sip by sip, you slowly began to forget why you had even felt angry. Until you didn’t even remember you’d been angry.

All you remembered was his loving gaze at you as you both shared a cup of tea. His smile and those devilish hands stroking at your knuckles.

“Tell me more about that costumer from earlier, an angel, you said?” He strikes up a new conversation.

“Right! That’s what I forgot to tell you. So this angel—”

꒰ demon ˖ necromancer ˖ alchemist ꒱