#waiting for my siblings to get home from the gym so they can find and kill the thing

[phinnking]

I FUCKING HATE WASPS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kiwi-backup]

Backseat

Pairing: (modern, bad-boy) Ryomen Sukuna x reader

Warnings: mdni, step-brother Sukuna, tipsy reader, oral, penetration, no protection, fem reader.

wc: 3.7k

Am I using the 'I'm stuck step-bro' trope? Yes...absolutely...

a/n: my ask box is open if you have any jjk requests! <3

Ryomen sighs and puffs on his cigarette while waiting for you to emerge from the club.

Standing on that street, leaning against the black car he'd rather trade for his motorcycle (but your mom insisted he pick you up in it instead, to his dismay) is the last place he wants to be.

He's not exactly 'big brother' material, nor did he feel like one anyway. His dad and your mom somehow met after two messy divorces, decided they were the ones for each other, packed their lives up, and forced the two of you to become siblings—step-siblings.

That differentiation is critically important to him, especially during times like these while watching you waltz out of the club wearing a dress that's sickeningly short, visibly buzzed while you say goodnight to your girlfriends.

Jesus Christ...could you have picked anything shorter?

He shakes his head and pulls in a long drag of his cigarette before dropping it in the gutter and wedging it into the concrete with his boot. The vapor seeps from his lips while his eyes subtly run down and then back up the length of you.

Fuck.

Riding on the high of having a good night out with friends, you grin while approaching the car.

"Surprised you actually showed up to get me..."

He can already feel the restraint slipping in the back of his mind at the sound of your voice...at the vague tease in your words. Usually you're more reserved around him, but thanks to whatever you drank, you seem a lot more open. A lot braver.

Ryomen scoffs as he watches you pull the car door open, giggling while you slide into the passenger seat. "What, you thought I wouldn't come get you?"

"Shouldn't I be surprised? Normally you'd tell me to fuck off or something."

Despite himself, a faint smirk pulls on his lips, well aware of the truth in your words. He closes his door, puts his seatbelt on, and starts the car. "Yeah, well...I'm not a complete jackass. Besides, your mom made me."

Amused by his reluctance, you hum as he pulls away from the curb and begins through the small town. With your eyes out the window, you don't notice each time he glances at you from his peripheral, taking in how stupidly perfect that dress looks on you.

In this moment, he's more than glad your parents didn't meet any sooner. While gaining a step-sister wasn't on his list of ideal outcomes, at least you were both adults when it happened, meaning that sibling connection never snapped into place for you two.

Instead, it feels more like being roommates while he dicks around living at home while working at a garage, hitting the gym, and tuning up his Harley whenever he has the chance. You, on the other hand, are busy finishing up at a local college.

You see each other in passing, forced to be cordial during family events despite how you both get under the other's skin as easily as breathing.

It's agonizing, especially since he's forced to be so near you at times...pretending like he hasn't wanted you since the day you met.

"No? That's reassuring at least," you return, breaking his concentration.

He snickers, not wanting to admit he actually finds you somewhat amusing at times. "I have my moments."

"At least you've learned some humility over the years."

Ryomen cocks a brow as he glances between you and the road while he turns onto a familiar street. "You're sharp sometimes, you know that?"

You grin, leaning against the backrest while the streetlights move overhead. "Yeah, I know."

"Just don't cut me, yeah?"

Emboldened by the drinks in your system, you sneak a look at him in return. "Why do I have the feeling you'd like that?"

Both brows go up at that, and he can't deny how that sparks his interest. "Easy now...don't go getting all lewd on me."

"Lewd? I'd never..." you return, grin saying otherwise.

Ryomen's surprised by this, but he'll be the first to admit your teasing sarcasm is arousing. He scoffs and shakes his head to try and stay focused on the road, mumbling under his breath, "Always the smartass..."

"You like it, though."

A part of him hates how right you are, but he masks it with a snort. "Oh shut up."

Chuckling, you glance over into the backseat, searching for something to help soothe your dry throat. "Got any water in here?"

Keeping his eyes on the changing light in front of him, he hums. "You tell me. Why?"

"I'm thirsty."

He sighs. "Can't you wait? We're almost home."

"No," you mumble, noticing the faint glimmer of water reflecting the streetlights as it rolls from under the backseat. Your face brightens as you reach for it. "Bingo..."

Ryomen rolls his eyes, watching for half a second as you bend around the seat and reach for the bottle. His pulse quickens at the sight before correcting himself. "You're not gonna reach it."

"Yes I will," you say stubbornly, voice muffled from behind his seat. Annoyed by the seatbelt restricting your movements, you unbuckle it and shuffle forward a bit until you're folded over the center console.

Ryomen's brows furrow when he hears your straining sounds, glancing back to see your ass lifted in the air, seemingly unaware of your bare thighs from your dress riding up. His eyes widen slightly, and he clears his throat. "Cut it out, brat...just wait a minute."

"No," you bark back, straining still as your fingers barely brush against the bottle. "Damn it."

The more you stretch, the higher your hem moves up, baring more of your smooth thighs and allowing the light-blue lace of your panties to peek out beneath. The sight alone makes his breath catch.

"Oh Jesus fucking Christ..." he mutters under his breath, feeling his cock stir within the confines of his jeans. It takes everything in his power to not reach over like he wants to.

Oblivious while the blood rushes to your head, you murmur, "What—"

Then, your breath catches the moment Ryomen hits the breaks, and the force sends you further between the seats until your hips are wedged in the middle. From this position, stuck between the seats, your ass is completely in the air, straddling the center console. You hear as he puts the car in park.

"...Ryomen?" You ask, voice still muffled, unable to wriggle free on your own. "Why'd you stop?"

"We're...home..." he manages to get out, eyes locked on your almost bare ass sticking out right next to his head, given a complete show of your panties and the soft curves that have him stumbling internally.

"Oh..." you murmur, trying to move to no avail. "Can you help me then?"

"Yeah..." Ryomen says with a faint rasp, unable to look away while he sits there in the parked car, nestled in the mostly dark garage. "I can...help."

With a sigh, you wait in place, feeling as he brushes a hand against the back of your thigh, slowly moving up. His fingers grip the one while the other seems to wander slightly.

After a moment, aware of the very languid pace he moves at, your brows furrow slightly. "Ry?"

He clears his throat, croaking as his fingers brush against your inner thigh. "Y-yeah...just a minute."

Unsure of what he could possibly be doing, you shiver at the light touch of his hand moving higher before squeezing the soft flesh of your ass. A spark of sensation rushes through you at once, unable to ignore how intense that simple action feels.

"Ry—"

"Just try to relax...I'll get you out in a sec..." he mumbles, mostly to himself.

He's so fucked.

Being mere breaths away from your arched ass, feeling your soft skin under his palms, and knowing there couldn't possibly be a more perfect moment is enough for Ryomen to harden in his jeans.

Unable to resist, he leans in, pulse thudding beneath his skin from the temptation. Almost like he's caught in a trance, Ryomen brushes his lips against the junction between your upper thigh and beneath the roundness of your ass.

Your breath hitches as you register the faint touch, becoming more aware of it as he presses more light affections against your skin. At the same time, his opposite hand cradles your ass, giving it a faint squeeze.

Cheeks burning, you try to look back at him, but can't see from the seat. "Ryomen..."

"Shh..." he utters, getting lost in the wet kisses he leaves while moving closer to your core. "Just...shut up for a minute."

You bristle at this, but the feeling of him drifting closer to your core is enough to make you shiver, along with his tongue tasting your skin. Despite yourself, something in you doesn't want to move.

"Jesus..." he murmurs, reaching your panties and seeing how they squish against your curves. He brings a finger forward, teasing at the fabric before running it up and down the length of you.

Ryomen hums as you shudder, pressing a bit more until he can feel your slick beginning to soak the fabric. A darker, hungrier look glazes his eyes.

"Look at you, doll...already dripping, hm?"

Cheeks flaming by now, unable to fully comprehend that this is actually happening, you pant quietly from your position.

Wordlessly, he nudges the material to the side, able to see your arousal glistening against your skin, wetting your folds.

"You've gotta be kidding me..." he rasps, feeling more of his restraint crumbling.

He shouldn't be doing this. He should help you out of the car and make sure you get inside all right...not looking at you like a meal, running his fingertips through your heat. Not feeling tempted to just cut that space...

He knows all of this, but the moment he hears your breathless sound in response, Ryomen can't help himself.

Leaning forward, he sticks his tongue out and drags it through your pussy from behind, lapping at your slick. His eyes shut immediately at the feeling and taste, humming somewhere deep in his throat.

Your thighs clench immediately as a shudder moves through you, unable to swallow back the surprised gasp that escapes without resistance.

"Ryomen!"

"I know...god, I know..." He mumbles, licking his lips while he looks you over hungrily, gripping your ass to spread it while he dives back in, licking at your heat more thoroughly. "Fucking hell..."

Your eyes roll back at the sensations that tear through you, gripping the back seat while he ravishes you, eagerly devouring every inch of you. His hums and groans only make you shake more, gasping and panting.

Ryomen growls into your pussy while his tongue maps out every inch of it, seeming like a starved man. He buries it as far as he can, bringing his thumb up to blindly fumble with your clit.

The sharp breath that comes from you, paired with the trembling of your thighs, is enough to make him so hard he can't think about anything else. He can't even consider the consequences of what he's doing...or what could happen if one of your parents were to find out.

Instead, he laps at you greedily, spreading your addictive slick around his lips and cheeks.

God, he's never tasted anything so sweet—so painfully sinful and arousing.

He shouldn't be dirtying you like this, but consequences be damned. He wants this...needs this.

He needs to make you cum and he needs to know it was him who accomplished it.

"Fuck..." Ryomen whispers against your soaked core, dragging his fingers through your pretty little folds, feeling just how worked up you are for him. "I didn't think you felt this way about me, little sis."

Stuttering over the onslaught of pleasure he feeds you, along with his words, you gasp, thighs clenching around his hand. "D-don't say that..."

He can't help but grin as he kisses your ass, letting his tongue drag across your skin for a moment. At the same time, he slowly eases two fingers into you, setting a slow, languid pace within those constrictive, plushy walls. He swears this'll be the death of him.

"What, you don't want me to call you 'sis'?"

The taunting words only cause you to shiver more, whimpering at the torturous pumping of his fingers while you clench around them, skin on fire.

"S-stop...we're not siblings," you mumble, trying to convince both of you at once. "Siblings don't—hnngh...they don't do this."

Ryomen chuckles and gently sinks his teeth into the fat of your ass, groaning at the feeling before leaving another kiss there. "I guess you're right. I'd rather take you as my girl...my pretty, needy girl."

Something about it has more shivers running through you while gripping the back seat, hips moving involuntarily. "Please, Ry..."

"Please what, doll?" He returns with a knowing lilt as he just barely brushes against your clit.

More whines escape your plump lips while you catch yourself grinding against the console, backing up against his fingers for more. He's right...you're needier than all hell.

"Don't tease me."

"No?" He questions, cocking a brow while he curls his fingers.

A gasp escapes you before it melts into a needy groan. "P-please... I wan' it..."

A shiver rips through him at your breathless words, and he's well aware no part of him will be able to resist.

He's feeling just as eager as you are, if not worse.

Growling to himself, Ryomen kisses your skin again before carefully withdrawing his fingers, making you clench around nothing with a soft whimper.

That sound alone makes his cock twitch while he works his belt undone, followed by his button and zipper. His voice comes out as a harsh mutter roughened with need. "You sure about this? Once you say yes, there's no going back...there's no coming back from this."

You're well aware that he's completely right, but in this moment, with you spread out for him and feeling worked up thanks to his touch, there's no way in hell you're not following through with this.

"I'm sure...please. Please, Ry..."

There's something so innocent yet lewd about the way that nickname falls from your lips, making him shuffle his jeans down even faster.

"You can't say anything about this...neither of us can," he mumbles, pushing his briefs down until his raging cock is in his hands and his eyes flutter shut from the vague friction of his fingers wrapped around himself. "This stays between us, baby. Promise?"

Biting your lip and moving back impatiently, you shudder the moment his cockhead brushes against your soaked heat. "Y-yes...I promise. Just...give it to me."

Ryomen groans at your insistence and the delicious sound of his pearling tip gliding through your slick. He huffs out a breath and teasingly begins to part your pussy as he slowly pushes forward.

The rush of sensations that come with easing inside your cunt are enough to make his hips stutter and his breath catch. That paired with your gasp has him squeezing his eyes shut.

He can't even be bothered to push you through to the backseat to fuck you properly...he can't wait. He has to have you here, right now...wedged between the seats and perfectly open for him.

"Fucking hell..." Ryomen spills, finally feeling every inch of himself wrapped up by your hot walls while they squeeze him almost affectionately. At least, that's how he wants to see it.

His hands situate on your hips while he stills, pressed firmly against your ass. He grunts, soaking in the blinding sensations until he feels seconds away from imploding.

He's had his fair share of lays, but goddamn...there's something different about being nestled inside you...the one pussy he shouldn't be in. But that only makes it all the more addicting.

When he finally pulls back and rolls his hips forward again, hearing the muffled jingle of his belt with the movement, a deep shiver travels down his spine, and he bites back the moans bubbling up inside him.

"Fuuuck..." he mumbles, voice rough with absolute desperation. He grips your ass and hip tighter as he gradually picks up the pace, listening to the way your moans pitch higher.

Ryomen watches through heavily-lidded eyes all the while your back arches even deeper and your fingers pinch into the fabric seats. He watches how your pussy swallows him up eagerly with every slow thrust, ringing him with your arousal.

It has an endless drip of lust flooding his system, and while he's only just getting started, he feels so pussy drunk he can hardly think.

Instead, he's reduced to a primal version of himself—an addict getting a tiny bump with every flick of his hips...with every time your cunt clenches around him.

"Please..." you whimper, jaw slack. "F-faster..."

Whether its a plea or a demand, he doesn't care. Working on instinct, Ryomen grips your hip hard, reaches up for your hair with the other hand, winds it around his fist, and pulls.

The soft gasp that dribbles from your lips as your back is forced to arch deeper, half suspended in the air pulls a growl from Ryomen's lips.

"This what you want?" He utters, jaw clenching as he fucks you harder, ramming his hips against your ass. The previous care and gentleness once in his touch seeps away as his need gets the better of him.

A string of incoherent babbling leaves your mouth as you moan louder, skin getting hotter by the second.

Ryomen smirks at this, amused and aroused by how he already has you fucked completely stupid. God, you're so perfect. So needy, so slutty, so...completely his.

He hums, keeping up that mean pace while he bullies his way in and out of your pussy. "That's right...you've been begging for your step brother to fuck you, hm? I bet you think about it all the time."

A whimper, eclipsed by several sharper moans is all you can manage while the brutal ramming against your cervix has you seeing stars.

Almost like your useless panting and trembling is fueling him, Ryomen grins and huffs, thrusting with everything he has. "I bet you've been dreaming about this moment...fingers playing with this pretty pussy before bed, thinking about me and what I'd do to you. Close enough?"

You groan, eyes rolling back while he releases your hair and drops his hand to toy with your clit. The strangled sounds escape you all the while you clutch the back seat again, taking every hard thrust. "Y-yes..."

Satisfied by your breathless answer, Ryomen sinks even deeper, leaning over you while he flicks your clit still. "So honest, hm? You're being so good for me, letting me fuck you dumb. You wanna cum, don't you?"

Throat beginning to ache from how often the moans are torn from it, you weakly nod, feeling as your whole body tenses. "P-please...please, Ry..."

He loves the way those desperate pleas leave your mouth, and while he'd love to push you further to make you beg, he knows he can't hold out.

Everything about this forbidden moment and the way you clamp around him so tightly has him bordering the edge, barely holding back the need to let go.

"Do it then, pretty girl...cum for me," he utters, snapping his hips harder into you, feeling the heat getting the better of him. Every muscle in his body strains from the force of his movements, but he doesn't care. He can only think about pushing you both over the edge. "Fucking cum for me...show me how much you love t-this..."

Like the break of a dam, you come completely undone, crying out his name in a sharp bid of absolute pleasure, clenching around him and milking his cock so completely, you're both seeing white.

The wrecked sounds that escape you, along with the fluttering of your cunt around him sends Ryomen over the edge, and he locks up completely against your ass, bursting with wave after wave of his seed.

Thick ropes get buried deep inside you as he grips your hips hard and lets that blinding euphoria hold him so tightly, he forgets to breathe until he's sucking in air again.

He shouldn't have spilled inside you like that...he knows this, but something about that knowledge makes him shiver with every harsh rise and fall of his chest.

Filling you too full, Ryomen can feel as the excess spills out of you, dripping onto the center console. Its a mess and he knows the car reeks of sex, but in the moment, he doesn't care.

He can only slump over you while catching your breath, pressing the occasional kiss against the back of your neck, feeling your rapid heartbeats against his chest.

"Fuck sakes..." Ryomen whispers, pressing his cheek against your clothed back. He slowly regains his bearings, but is far too blissed to move. "What have you done to me..."

He really did fuck you brainless and boneless while you remain slumped there, oblivious to the reality of what just happened for the time being. Your skin feels slick and sticky from your combined release, your body is still hot, and the blood has rushed to your head through it all.

While your hips aren't wedged anymore, you're still pinned, and after a moment, your ragged voice breaks Ryomen from his sated stupor.

"Ry? Think I can move now?"

At the realization, he pulls up, chest and abs glistening from the exertion as he pulls at his shirt for a breeze. While he loves the sight of you perfectly wrecked beneath him, he relents, then a dark grin pulls on his lips.

"On second thought...get in the back."

Your eyes widen slightly at his words. "Huh?"

"You heard me..." Ryomen murmurs, gliding his hand over the swell of your ass while his mind starts spinning with the ideas running rampant.

"I'm not done with you yet, sis..."

[tenjikufag]

omg such good haikyuu teams i totally agree!! coould i request a bokuto x m!reader with a little angst to comfort bcuz i love hurt/comfort a little too much 🤭

Homecoming.

Bokuto x Male Reader

-hurt/comfort, temporary split, long distance, pro!Bokuto

-this was requested quite some time ago! So sorry for the wait.

Dating an athlete is not an easy thing to begin with, when it’s a professional, worldwide known athlete.. it only further complicates things.

Being with an athlete you never really know where you are on the priority list with them, this sport is quite literally their life and their job but when does a life partner come into play?

Highschool was a far easier time to date Bokuto, you’d see him in class, during lunch, after school, the weekends- basically anytime you wanted he was there! You even travelled to the different schools and districts with parents, siblings, and other players’ partners for the games.

But, once you graduated it got quite a bit harder.

You were settling into your own education and career, as was he. He was set to become a professional volleyball player like he had always dreamed about and what you had always hoped for him..

That meant long periods away from each other while you both did your own things.

It was steady and you both came out the other side successful and happy,

It wasn’t until he started with MSBY black jackals that there were true signs of trouble. It was getting harder to see eachother, even harder to just get a call or text back from one another because of timezones and offset schedules.

It broke your heart, his too.

There was a promise between you two to stick it out and that you’d always be there for eachother but you just.. weren’t sure of it these days.

It’s been two weeks since you last were able to call Bokuto, 6 months since you last saw him. And texts were far and few.

“What am I supposed to do? We can’t even talk about it because we can’t get in touch, it’s not like I can just catch a plane to see him either..”

You sat across from your childhood friend, Akaashi. He was an editor and basically worked from home so you could call him up whenever.. he was there to listen to all your relationship worries and other worries outside of it.

“You’re both my friend, there’s really nothing I can do or say to help you choose what to do, you know that. He hasn’t been in contact with me for even longer, I’m really no help..”

He mumbled, taking a sip of his drink with a frown. You knew he was right, there really was nothing you could do.. not until you could call him atleast.

—

Bokuto picked up his phone, frowning to see no notifications from you.. quickly he texted you and asked if you could call him later because he would have a gap between training sets.

He was beaming with excitement to finally be able to call you, and he had a surprise too! Quickly he showered and changed into casual clothes before heading out of the gym and off to his apartment..

As soon as he got into his apartment his phone went off, a text from you. With a smile he opened it

‘We need to talk, please make sure you actually have the time to talk this time.”

Tilting his head, he knew he had atleast 3 hours to talk to you and do whatever he needed to get done.. he dialed you, listening to the ringing with a smile

—

You paced the room, flinching when your phone started to vibrate and Bokutos contact came up. Sighing, you answered

“Hey babe! How are you? I miss you!”

“Yeah.. I said we need to talk and I’m gonna cut to the point..”

The visual of his face dropping flashed in your head, the disappointment of no loving greeting in the face of his you imagined.

“Oh! What did you wanna talk about?”

“I think we should split up. Take a break.. or end things entirely..”

The audio seemed like it dropped, complete silence on your boyfriends end..

“Huh?”

“I said we should break up.”

“..why? Did I do something? What’s wrong, what are you talking about?!”

Bokuto panicked on the other side, you bit your lip and tried to find the words

“Please don’t do this, you still love me.. right?”

A sob throbbed in your throat, squeezing your eyes shut the tears started to fall with every single one of his questions

“I do.. I love you so much. I just can’t do this anymore, it’s too hard Bo… I’m sorry, I miss you too much and I can’t keep up with the schedules! I feel like I’m not doing enough for you, and I feel like you’re slipping away from me!”

You whimpered into the phone, Bokutos breathe was heavy in the speaker- evident he was ready to cry too.

“We can make it through this! I promise, once everything settles down-“

“And when would that be?! What if it never settles down? It’s not fair to either of us to keep doing this!”

He cried, your heart shattered hearing him cry.

“I can’t do this without you, I don’t wanna do this without you.. I promise-“

“Just stop.. it’s already hard not doing this in person.. I’m sorry Bokuto. I love you, I miss you.. but I can’t do this anymore.”

“..I love you too! Please, just wait-“

You hung up, not wanting to hear what else he needed to say- you knew it would only make this worse, worse than what it was.

There was never a life you’d envisioned without him in it, you both had the whole future planned out.

It was just too hard, and you accepted the defeat.

But Bokuto wouldn’t.

—

“Woah, what happened to you?”

Atsumu raised a brow at his teammate, Bokuto was known for being a lively and energetic person but right now he looked like a wet bird.. drooping and moping around the gym; his body barely moving through the stretches.

His teammates were even more shocked to see the male ignore them and move to the other side of the gym to continue his stretches.

“Maybe he’s just sad about going home..”

Atsumu shrugged his shoulders. Not giving it much more thought but kept an eye on his teammate..

When practice was over, Bokuto continued to sulk and it got even worse through the scolding he got for appearing lazy in his practice.

“Don’t take it too hard, last practice and you gotta keep yourself from getting hurt before you get back to Y/n, hm~”

Bokuto felt an elbow nudge him in the side, he only glanced over to the yellow blonde.. lip quivering at the mention of you.

“He.. he broke up with me.”

Barely above a whisper, Atsumu went pale- he felt like an ass! Cringing to himself he pulled away and apologized.

“Are.. are uh, you still goin’ home then? You can uh.. come visit my brother with me if you want?”

He didn’t know what to say, it was an extended break for the players so he really wasn’t going to have anyone here to keep him company.. Atsumu also didn’t wanna leave his friend alone so visiting his own family was the only thing that came to mind.

“I’m still going home.. I wanna see him at least one more time, maybe he will change his mind!”

Bokuto perked up, no longer looking as soggy and limp. Atsumu forced a smile and mumbled a ‘yeah, sure!’ And watched the owl-ish man stride out of the gym once again..

He wasn’t going to let you go that easily, with a new determined mind he packed his things and caught the plane home, to you.

—

You sat in your living room, a depressed mess of packaged foods and drinks scattered around where you sat yourself down.. it’d only been maybe a day or two but the radio silence from Bokuto was deafening- not hearing his ringtone or a text notification made you sick- you were always on edge trying to hear if any notifications came. You’d gone longer without a notification but the fact that you probably weren’t going to get one again was hard.

“Why did I do this..”

Wrapping your blanket around yourself, you let yourself fall over onto your side. Tears pricking your eyes once again.

The heartbreak made you ill, your stomach ached and knotted up whenever you tried to move, eat, or even think of doing something. Your head pounded and the anxiety washed the colour out of your skin.. the full body fatigue on top of it all made you feel miserable.

This was harder than anything you had ever had to do.. it took everything in you not to call him or text him.

Sighing, you tried to fall asleep.. as tired as you were the sleep didn’t come easy.

You would try to be a normal person tomorrow, maybe this heartbreak would be easier then.

—

The familiar scents brushed in his nostrils and filled his lungs, with a bright smile he exited the plane and made his way through the airport. Unknowingly, Bokuto has started to look for you; only to upset himself when he remembered you wouldn’t be here. He sighed sadly, hailing a cab that waited on the outskirts of the exit.

You were so close, he needed to prove to you why this would all be worth it and wanted to show you how much he loved you and needs you.

The cab ride was long, almost falling asleep only to be jerked out of it from bumps in the road.

Looking out the window, he saw your town, where you’d be! Excitedly he pointed to your complex to the driver, ready to fish out money from his bag to run into the house as fast as he could.

“You’re from the Jackals right?”

“Mhm!”

“Rides on me, I’ve been rooting for the jackals since I was a teen.”

Bokuto beamed, thanking him profusely and hopping out of the car and dragging his bags behind him.

His heart was beating faster than it ever had, even when doing the miles and miles of running this is the most his chest had hurt.

The man calmed himself down, taking deep breathes to soothe his aching heart. Putting down his bags, he fished around in his pants for the key and unlocked the door quietly; sneaking in and putting his bags behind the door. He looked around, and saw the mess and a lump of blankets and pillows.

Quietly, he stepped towards the lump of blankets and saw tufts of your hair peaking out… his heart swelled and he went to kneel in-front of you, watching your sleeping face.

Lightly tapping your forehead with his finger, he checked to see how deeply you were sleeping.. you didn’t react so he figured he’d be able to pick you up and bring you to the bedroom. He slid his arms under your body and softly lifted you, being mindful of the mess in the room to not make any noise.. he would clean it before he woke you up.

He laid you down on the mattress and tucked you in, making sure you had enough blankets and pillows.. he took off his jacket and placed it on the bed before scurrying out and cleaning the living room- he wasn’t a great cook but he could atleast make sure your snacks were out and organized!

-

You woke with a start, the sunlight from opened curtains dared to blind you for a second.. you were in your room. With a groan you tossed over, hearing something fall off the bed. Sitting up, you looked to the ground to see what had fallen and it was a jacket.

Bokutos jacket.

Furrowing your brows, you tossed your blankets off your body and picked it up.. he hadn’t left this jacket here and you were sure of it, atleast you thought so.. frowning you couldn’t help yourself from hugging it- it smelt strongly of his cologne, did you fish this out last night? Come to think of it you don’t remember making it to your room..

Holding onto the jacket, you walked into the living room and saw your mess was gone.. you also don’t remember cleaning it. That was when you heard someone else walking around in the apartment.

You froze, not wanting to move.. did someone break in?! It’s an apartment complex how the hell-

Arms wrapped around you tightly, a familiar scent and body melted into you.

“You’re awake.”

Tears choked you, are you this delirious and heartbroken to imagine Bokuto?!

Whipping around, you met his face. He was worried, looking almost as if a child that had gotten in trouble..

“How.. how did you get here?!”

He nervously fumbled with the hem of his shirt, avoiding your gaze and mumbling.

“I told you to wait.. but you hung up the phone..”

Huh?

“..was going to surprise you to tell you I was gonna come home.. we got a break and.. then..”

He started to cry, you took him into your arms and let him cry. Bokuto still tried to babble out an explanation, clutching onto the front of your shirt and leaving tear stains on your shoulder.

You began to cry too, hearing him on the phone was heart breaking enough but to hold him and hear it in person shattered you.

Bokuto pulled away, wiping his tears with his arm.

“Do you still want to break up with me? I.. I can get my things and leave…. If that’s what you want..”

He hiccuped, distancing himself from you and getting ready to pack his things up again.

“Don’t go.. let’s talk.”

You hugged him tightly, he returned it with even more force and led you to the couch.

The two of you talked for hours, not even just about the split but about everything.

It was like he never left

It was like nothing had ever happened.

As the day grew into night, you found him cuddling you and sitting on your lap.

You kissed him, the two of you kissed for what felt like minutes but what hours.

When he pulled away with slightly bruised lips, his hair and face dropped- a frown glossing his lips

“Is this a goodbye? Is this it?”

Rubbing circles on his hips, you pecked his lips again.

“No, of course not. I would’ve been gone and taken my own things if I didn’t want to see you again..”

He perked up, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth

“We.. we are back together?”

“Yeah..”

He began to shake, catching your lips with his and pressing into you.

“I’m taking you with me, everywhere now. I can provide fully, take your education and job on the road with me! I can’t leave you again!”

“We’ll talk about it.. let’s just enjoy your time here..”

Bokuto smiled brightly, leaving kisses all over your face and thanking you.

“We’ll make it, I promise!”

“I know.”

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Eyes and Ears

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: An AU where Barbara finds Jason instead of Bruce.

Chapters: 10/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon, Jim Gordon, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Sheila Haywood, Original Character(s)

Relationship(s): Jason Todd/Original Character(s), Past Barbara Gordon/Dick Grayson

Additional Tags: Canon Divergent AU, Older SIbling Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd-centric, Barbara Gordon is Oracle, Jason Todd is NOT Robin, Jason Todd Has Issues, Jason Todd Has a Crush, Adopted Siblings

Chapter Ten: Helplessness

Jim returned the night before Jason's second therapy session, and Jim was startled by Jason's mumbling in his sleep. Jason sat up in Jim's bed, and they locked eyes in the dark. "Pop?" Jason whispered.

"You don't have to get up if you don't want," Jim whispered, "I—."

"How was your trip?" Jason asked.

Jim's shoulders dropped. "You're too young to hear about this, but it could've gone a lot better," Jim answered, "How was your week with Barbara?"

"It was okay... She took me to the gym, and we watched a movie," Jason answered. Jim smiled and nodded as he gathered his pajamas together. "You don't have to take me tomorrow if you're tired."

"I'm tired, but I'll be fine in the morning... Jason, what were you dreaming about?" Jim questioned.

"Mom... I dreamt about my mom," Jason mumbled as he hugged his knees. "I wasn't there for her. I told her I'd be right back, and when I did—."

"That's not your fault, Jason. Sometimes we desperately want to change things that aren't for us to fix... You didn't fail your mother. The system failed her, and it failed you," Jim's voice softened as he messed up Jason's hair.

"What am I supposed to do with that?" Jason asked, near the point of tears.

"Never let the world forget about people like her. You know where the system failed better than anyone else would... How could we have stepped in? What should the adults of Gotham do to fix things like this?" Jim explained. Jason wiped his tears away. "You didn't create the problem... Neither did your mother, but you can help us come up with solutions."

"She was a good mom," Jason whispered as if he were trying to convince Jim. "She loved me and—."

"Any woman that could raise a boy like you is a good mother in my book," Jim interrupted. Jason smiled a little. "Do you wanna talk about this in therapy tomorrow?"

"Who?" Jason asked.

"Your parents. I'm sort of the fourth parent you've had so far, and you've gotta have thoughts about that," Jim clarified. Jason lay back down and nodded.

After Jim took his shower, he went to bed, and Jason lay fast asleep. Jim didn't sleep that night. He thought about the little boy he couldn't save. It occupied his mind in a way that he just couldn't escape.

Morning came, and Jason dragged himself out of bed and got dressed. He knocked on Barbara's door. "Barbara," Jason whispered. She opened her door and messed up Jason's hair. "Pop's home," Jason whispered.

"Oh, I know. You look cute," Barbara complimented him.

"Is that code for go change?" Jason asked. Barbara shook her head.

"You look fine... Don't be nervous," Barbara whispered. Jason relaxed his shoulders. "Dad's gonna drop you at the library after, and if you want, we can go to the gym after dinner," Barbara suggested. Jason nodded.

Jim poked his head out of his room. "Jason-. Oh, you look nice," Jim smiled, "Can you put two bagels in the toaster? I'll be right out once I can find my socks."

Jason obeyed, and Barbara made Jason a cup of cocoa. "Thank you... Hey, Barbara," Jason leaned in to whisper. She leaned forward to listen. "I—." Jason didn't say anything else. He couldn't tell her. Not yet.

The bagels popped up from the toaster, startling Jason, and Barbara smeared a generous amount of cream cheese on each half. Jason took a bite, and Jim came out of his room. They took their breakfast on the way out the door, and it wasn't until Jason got to the waiting room that he started feeling nervous.

"Pop?" Jason nudged Jim. "Promise you'll be here the whole time?"

"I promised you, so I'll be here. Okay?" Jim reassured. Jason nodded.

The therapist came out and called their names, and they went in together and did a little small talk. She had a sunny disposition that Jason was drawn to, but she was a therapist. Jason was so afraid of saying the wrong thing to her.

After the greetings and niceties, she eased into talking about Jason's parents. "Do you have nightmares about your parents often?" she asked.

"A lot of the time," Jason answered, "More about my dad than my mom." He waited for his therapist or Jim to say something, but there was only silence. "I'm always hiding from him in my dreams, and I can never get away from him. Sometimes he'll lock me in the dark or a small space, and I'll wake up," Jason whispered.

"Was that similar to things your father might have done in real life?" she asked. Jason nodded. "How did it feel for you at the time?"

"I knew he would find me and that he would hurt me," Jason mumbled.

"I imagine that was a frightening experience for you," she replied.

"I guess... But it wasn't what he did to me... It was how he used to hurt my mom. Sometimes, I could hear her crying when she thought I was asleep, and I couldn't do anything to help her," Jason whispered. She didn't speak, and Jason took a deep breath. "You want to know how I felt when stuff like that happened?" She nodded. "I don't even know. I used to be so sad and angry, and I wanted to fix things... How can you feel when you're helpless? How can you be happy when there's nothing to be happy about, Alisa?"

Jim held back from trying to comfort Jason right away. "There was nothing for you to feel happy about back then... Do you feel any differently now, or is that your current perspective?" asked Alisa. She glanced up at the clock and then looked back at Jason, tilting her head sympathetically. It would've felt artificial coming from most people, but coming from her, it felt like she really cared about his answer. It made him want to respond thoughtfully rather than brush off her question entirely.

"I used to think I would be happy if things were different, but now that I've got a dad that I love and an older sister that I'm close to... But—." Jason stopped talking and looked at Alisa and then at Jim.

"Do you feel like something's missing?" she asked.

"Well, no. I just feel like something might happen, and I might end up alone again... And I could've been okay with being by myself before. I could've. But I'm not okay with it now, because I love Pop and Barbara... Barbara and Pop are all the family I've got," Jason explained. Jim rested a hand on the back of Jason's head.

"I love you too," Jim whispered.

Jason relaxed into his thoughts, and as the session came to a close, Alisa left Jason with a question. "Jason, what do you think you can do to deal with these fears and anxieties as they come along? I want you to think about that," Alisa suggested in a soft voice.

[idontplaytrack]

MY CHARMED ONE [1]

Capri Donahue x Harper Sibling!fem reader

Warnings: Mentions/descriptions of death, implied self-harm & eating disorder, mentions of smut, coarse language.

First of several parts. Tells the story of how reader and Capri’s relationship began.

You remembered the day of Capri’s accident like it was yesterday. It was Tuesday morning. You’d just finished your last class before lunch, so you were headed from your Social Studies classroom down the hall from the school gymnasium to the gym. You made your way to the bleachers and sat down, greeting your sister Darby’s gym teacher on the way. It was like clockwork- the two of you had lunch together every Tuesday and Thursday. Those were also the days you were closest to Capri Donahue, the girl you’ve had a crush on ever since you started at Frederick Douglas High. Your sister Darby, and Capri were a year older and you hadn’t been able to see Capri for several years after they stopped being friends following the passing of your mother. Capri used to hang out with Darby every other day- they were best friends, until they weren’t and became enemies. Right up till the day she died.

You hear Darby asking where her clothes were. Then Capri says something, which you couldn’t hear. But then Darby gets her clothes back. Barely a few seconds later, the bloodcurdling screams you could never forget rang through the whole gym. You ran the mere few feet to the locker room, and Darby screamed for you to get out. But it was too late- the fear had you paralysed, as it did the rest. Youcould only watch. You watched Capri get electrocuted. From that point on, it was as though you blacked out- everything was a blur. Everyone who saw the accident was sent home early, but you were too anxiously waiting for any updates. And Darby outwardly judged you for it, finding it strange.

And then, the news came from your Dad. He’d just received a call and told you both that Capri’s barely made it to the hospital and despite their efforts to resuscitate her, she’s was gone. She was gone and never coming back. And you held onto what possibly was the biggest regret- you never got to tell her how you felt, and she even asked you out but you thought it was a prank after mentioning it to your sister. You felt like you were getting crushed from the inside out, your heart harshly ripped from your chest as you tried so hard to breathe. You don’t hear anything from Darby but you knew someone caught you in their arms. Your Dad. He held you as you sobbed.

Soon, it was nighttime and you were in bed. You’d been in your room for the past 10 hours. You were writing in your journal when a bottle of your perfumes got knocked off your desk. You gasped, startled as you looked up. The window was closed. As you repeatedly told yourself you were imagining things, it happens again. And again, and again. Every bottle of your perfumes were now on the ground. Darby barges in and told you to quit it, and you told her you weren’t doing anything.

“Then what is all that noise?” She sighed. You pointed to the bottles on the carpeted floor. “I didn’t do that, Darby.” You told her, getting a chill down your spine abruptly, smelling a familiar scent in the room. You shared a look with Darby, “Do you smell that too?”

She nods and closed your door. “That’s Capri’s perfume,”

“I know that.” She chided in a whisper.

You shut your eyes, too scared to continue looking and when you opened them, you got an even bigger shock. Capri Donahue, sitting at your desk. Were you thinking of her that much?

She turned to look at you, giving you a cheeky smile and wave. Strange. You wanted to scream, but nothing comes out of your mouth. You pointed at the girl, Darby’s eyes follow your finger. “Why- why is she here. Why can I see her? Darby, Darby, why-”

As much as you were totally freaked out by Capri’s presence, you couldn’t look away. You two locked eyes…she was sad, almost too sad. Darby was just as bewildered as you were. All along, Darby’s been the only one able to see dead people. “Capri, why can I see you?”

“I don’t know.” She told you with a shrug, “But the rumours are true, huh? Darby? You can see the dead.”

“And apparently, so can my sister.” She scoffs, a hand rubbing your back. “What do you want?”

“You need to help me. I don’t know why I’m still here.” Capri revealed.

“Can you two please carry on this conversation in your room, Darby? My head feels like it’s about to explode and me seeing a ghost is not helping how I feel about this whole day.” You begged, looking between the two of them. You feel Capri’s gaze linger on you, then a twinge in your heart. You glanced back at her and saw her face- there was a frown, as though she was hurt by your request…but it couldn’t be. She didn’t like you. No, that’s not possible. She hated people like you. The nobodies, the nerds, the freaks…

“Okay, y/n.” Darby got up from her spot beside you, “Let’s go, Capri. Let her have a minute.”

————

The rest of the night flew by peacefully. Well, you did cry yourself to sleep as her accident kept replaying itself in your head, but you made it through the night and eventually woke up after a dream that felt way too real- a freaking montage of what could’ve been yours an Capri’s relationship.

“How are you feeling? After last night?” Darby asks when she sees you walking down the stairs.

“Huh?” You asked her in return, looking around the house. “Dad’s left for work.” Darby answered. “Oh.” You sat down at the dining table.

“Capri didn’t bother you last night, did she?” Darby questioned.

“What do you mean?” You asked again.

“Oh, my God.” Darby huffs, “Capri.”

The dead girl appears right in front of you, like she just spawned in. “Holy shit. That wasn’t a dream?” You stared at your sister, wide-eyed. “Nope.” Darby tells you, “You don’t remember?”

“I know she died. I remember crying, but I don’t even remember how I ended up in my room and asleep. I must’ve been way too out of it.” You sighed, rubbing your eyes. Capri died. Right. There was that twinge in your heart again. That look on her face again. She was sad, but doesn’t say anything. “Can you see her?”

“I can. God, why?” You asked to no one in particular, “I can’t help.”

“I cannot move on and I can’t figure out why.” Capri said, “We stayed up all night to figure it out, but nothing.”

“I think you mean me. I stayed up all night. You’re just a ghost.”

“No!” You exclaimed, you didn’t even process what you said.

“Okay, you have been acting weird. Especially for the death of someone you barely knew.” Darby scoffs.

“I cannot help what I feel. It’s like if she feels said, I feel it too.” You stated.

“I have no idea why that’s the case, but-”

“Help me, please.” She actually said please, tears brimmed at her eyes. You feel the same way she did, you watch her. Wondering why you were feeling everything she felt.

“Darby, I feel terrible. I’m feeling everything she’s feeling on top of my own emotions. You have to fix this.” You informed your sister.

“I’ve been trying to do that for the past seven hours, y/n. I don’t know how to do that yet, whatever it is.” Darby sighs, “Have your breakfast first.”

“I’m not hungry.” You answered flatly.

“I don’t care, you need to eat. It’s been more than half a day since you ate anything.” Darby insisted. So, you gave in and ate what she’d prepared: a bowl of oatmeal with chocolate chips, peanut and honey. As you hesitantly ate, the more you began to feel something else, something completely new. Knowing the culprit, you turned your head to look at Capri unhappily. But it wasn’t like she could help it. “Capri, stop it. I don’t like this feeling.” You warned. Alarmed, Darby watched the two of you, “What the hell’s going on?”

“You ask her, she’s getting aroused.” You shrugged unfazed.

“Ookay, didn’t know that was something I’d be hearing today, but alright.” Darby nearly chokes on her water as she unsteadily puts down the glass. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”

“Who are you asking?” You and Capri inquired, almost in unison.

“Actually, both of you.” Darby decided. “It seems you two have been hiding a little something of your own.”

“Don’t you think it’s fucking weird that I - I saw her first?” You blabbed, you spoon falling back into the bowl from your hand with a clatter sound.

“Harsh.” Capri exhaled sharply.

“Okay, before you break anything in my house. I’d have to say it’s quite strange. She’s never had this ability, so why now? With you?” Darby glares at Capri, “And my sister feels everything you feel. Even I can’t feel anything- not from you, not from any deado ever.”

You shifted in your seat uncomfortably as you felt the heat rushing through your body, and Darby seems to have noticed, urging either of you to speak up. “I…may have a crush on your sister.”

Your eyes felt like they were going to bulge out of your head, while Darby feels the colour drain from her cheek as that piece of information rang through her mind. “What?” She mumbled.

“Awhile ago, like, I dunno. Six months after James dumped me, I started having a lot of times on my hands…not just being focused on a boy anymore. I noticed y/n, how flustered and shy she got around me. I catch her stealing glances and she bolts. Like I’d kill her.” Capri quite literally spilled her guts out to you and Darby. You never would’ve guessed this would happen. “So I asked her out, just to hang out. It wasn’t a date or anything. I mean, it couldn’t hurt to get to know someone and see where things lead…but now, that’s not possible and it fucking hurts!”

The last words- she screamed it. Darby’s glass shatters because of it, she rolled her eyes. “You’re on the news…” Darby says, pointing towards the TV. “Turn the volume up.” You sniffled, telling Darby. But before Darby got ahold of the remote, Capri was the one who increased the TV’s volume with a flick of her fingers.

“I thought you were dead.” Darby said, to no one in particular.

Capri scoffs, “Ugh, I look terrible.”

“Capri, that says you’re not dead. You’re just unconscious- your heart started beating again.” Darby continued.

“Hello? We’re hearing the same things you are, Harper. I don’t get it. Why am I…this? What, am I? A spirit?”

“Whatever, I called Alex to come over to help me out with this.” Darby was annoyed, but also equally befuddled.

“I like Capri. I like girls. And I’m scared and uncomfortable as fuck, Capri would you please just stop-!” you rambled. She interrupted you, kissing you on the lips to act on her desire.

“Oh, my fucking God.” Darby laughs, sitting down on the couch, away from you two. But as soon as she sat down, the doorbell rang. Darby scurries to the door, but not before shoving you and Capri upstairs. “I’ll fill him in, and stall him. We’ll uh, stay- stay away from upstairs.” Darby said awkwardly.

————

“You finally said it.” Capri smirked, “You do like me.” As soon as you walked into your room, Capri shut the door with her telekinesis, then pushed you onto the mattress the same way, slowly. It was bizarre. You could see her and you could feel her, but yet when you reached out to touch her, you couldn’t feel a thing. Your hand just went right through her…like she was a hologram.

“Oh, God. What the fuck did I do? What the fuck am I doing?” You sniffed, eyes brimming with tears once more. You were feeling a shit ton of things, making your mind an even bigger mess with Capri inevitably turning you on. You weren’t sure what to feel. So many emotions at once…all you could feel was the overwhelming urge to scream and screw your eyes shut, hoping all of this would magically disappear. But you know it wouldn’t. This was real life.

“Capri, please. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please- please leave me alone. I can’t take it and I don’t know how to help you.” You pleaded tearfully. Her face softens, “Why are you doing this to me?”

The waterworks began once you notice her start to weep, then came the twinge in your chest. Again. Capri sits down on your mattress. “y/n, I don’t know why you can see me like this. I did not choose for this to happen, for you to be able to feel what I feel. You have to believe me.”

“You’re supposed to be lying in the hospital. I just- I don’t get how I’m supposed help you, i don’t get how is it that I can feel you but not touch you. How is it that you can touch me, or kiss me. I- I- just, I’m sorry nothing makes sense and I feel like I’m losing my mind.” You continued crying.

“I should’ve noticed you sooner.” She brushes the hair out of your face and you jump in your seat, startled. Capri cups your cheek, “I let the power of being popular ruin me. I failed to properly see the world as it is, and not just the version I curated.”

“You really like me?” You asked meekly, feeling the snot dripping out and causing you to quickly sniff.

“I do. I like you, and if you’re willing to give me another chance, once I wake up from that coma…we’re going on a first date.” Capri smiles, her usual bitchy demeanour was gone in a split second.

Your emotions were still mirroring hers but it was no longer overwhelming. Was it because her arousal died down and more importantly, that what needed to be said was finally said? You weren’t given too much time to think before she kisses you again. You didn’t even have to say anything now that you could practically read her mind, giving her a nod, you reciprocated her advances as she turned the lock on your door with ease, again, without even going up to it.

Quickly, the intense heat and desire for her returned. She was making you feel this way, but not entirely a knowing that you had a big fat crush on her and that you had her in your bedroom was making your heart race like crazy…you wonder if she could feel that too. Or if your new found gift was one-sided. Capri grabs your hand and places it on her chest, “You feel that? You’re the one making me feel like my heart’s about to leap out of my chest.”

You squirmed beneath the girl, gnawing onto your lower lip, “Forgive me for sounding totally crude, but you know what we’re both feelings and what you want is what I want, so for the love of God, take me now. I feel like I’m going to explode, Capri.” You rattled on, “As weird as this is, it’s the only way we’ll be able to feel any relief unless we can magically just not feel anything.”

Capri chuckles smugly before she attacks you with another kiss, this time one far from gentle. Here’s the thing, though, the more you saw her, the more you were reminded that she wasn’t an actual person with you right now. So what did you do, you shut your eyes and let her take control. You’d been dreaming, no- fantasising about this happening one day but it never did seem remotely possible till right now.

Holy fucking shit.

[queencherryberry]

After a week of writers block here’s chapter 8.

Warnings: soft!randy, reader is pregnant, supportive!cody, light hearted sibling conversations, fluff

Chapter 8 of Brothers Best Friend

The next day you slept in while Cody got up and went to the gym. You woke up around noon just in time for lunch. You wandered to the kitchen to find Cody cooking. You walked up behind him and hugged him from behind. He still smelled like the gym but his muscles looked amazing. You kissed the back of his shoulder and sat down. You scrolled through your phone till you got a text from Brandi. ‘Hey chica! How’s the first day of no school treating you? I have a question; can you come back at like 3:30 to help me out with my nursing class? We’re doing ultrasounds of organs and we need live volunteers.’ You smiled and replied yes to her question. Cody served you your plate and you guys ate in silence.

At three Cody dropped you off at the school. “Text me when you’re done babe. Tell Brandi I say hi.” He smiled and leaned over to give you a kiss. You smiled and kissed him back. You got out of the car and walked into the building. You found your way to Brandi’s classroom. Fifteen minutes into the class and they were doing the ultrasounds. Brandi was looking over your organs till she came across your uterus. She gasped loud enough that the whole class looked over and gasped. Being dumb you pointed at the screen thinking it was a joke and asked what that was. When you saw Brandi wasn’t joking you looked back at the screen. “Oh fuck me…” you said in shock. “I think someone already did. Who’s the baby daddy? Is it jey? Did you guys have angry breakup sex?” Brandi kept firing off questions but you didn’t listen. You just stared at the screen in shock. You got up and bolted out of the room starting to cry. You went and hid in the girls bathroom.

After dry heaving and sobbing you called the only person who could truely calm you down. You called Randy. The phone call was a mess. He had barely understood anything you said through sobs and more dry heaving. You walked out to his car still crying. You immediately hugged him before he asked what was wrong. “Don’t be mad…I’m pregnant…” your emerald green eyes meeting his baby blue ones. You felt like you were a kid again getting in trouble. You waited for him to yell at you and say that you were stupid for letting this happen. You covered your face with your hands and prepared for the worst. “Relax…I’m not going to hit you like mom and dad used to. Just take a deep breath and when you calm down, explain everything.” He said calmly. You did as instructed and the both of you sat in silence till you felt comfortable.

“When I tell you, please, please, don’t leave Cody a bloody pulp?” You looked at him as he let out an exasperated sigh. “Depending on how this conversation goes…depends on how far deep in the ground I’m going to put his ass.” Randy said as he pulled into your favorite restaurant. “Hungry?” He asked. You nodded and got out of the car.

Later that night Randy dropped you off at home. Cody met you at the door. He pulled you inside and gave you a hug. “Are you okay? I was so worried, sweetheart. Why did you have Randy pick you up instead of me?” He asked, concerned. He held your hands and looked into your eyes with his big puppy dog ones. “You might want to sit down for this, hun. So, you know how I went to help Brandi in her class today? Well, they were doing ultrasounds on the organs and she passed by my uterus…” you started sitting him down and sitting next to him. “And she found something. A shocking something. Something…that’s gonna make us parents….” You continued. Cody’s face lit up and he hugged you. “How far along are you?” He asked innocently. “3 months. Brandis' teacher said it’s the same size as an orange. So still very tiny.” You explained. You weren’t expecting Cody to be so excited. All your panic washed away when he hugged you. You both cried happily for a bit. Afterwards he took you out to dinner.

Tags: @alyyaanna @alyanamrossi @mylittlepartofthegalaxy @crossrhodez @freegardenbanananeck

[spinningintheshadows]

Happy 1300 followers! So so happy for you 🥹

Can I get “We said forever but forever wouldn’t wait for us” with JJ please?

Thank you so much! I’m sorry for the heartbreak you’re about to read, it is my specialty.

Prompt list: All Time Low Lyric Prompts #13: “We said forever but forever wouldn’t wait for us” (Last Young Renegade | Last Young Renegade (2017)

(I wrote this twice because I decided I hated what I wrote the first time)

Also: cambank sibling supremacy.

Banners and balloons covered the gymnasium of Kildare County High School like it was straight out of a terrible nineties movie. Across a makeshift stage, the largest banner read “Welcome Back Kildare County Class of ‘21!”

Savannah Holland, known to everyone she’d gone to school with as Van, held back the sarcastic laugh as she stood in line to get her name tag, frowning as she read it. The name haunted her, memories of a different life.

Savannah (Holland) Maybank.

“I’m sorry, Van.” The girl in charge’s face had a look of sympathy for the brunette. “We’d already sent them to the printer when we found out about your divorce.”

“It’s okay, Clara.” She assured her. “It’s not like I don’t see it everyday. Hudson and Josie have his last name. I’ll see you around.”

Before she had time to process the people around her, an arm slung itself around her shoulder, making her turn to find the face of her high school best friend and the godmother of her twins, Sarah Cameron, or rather Routledge now.

“Girl, I know we don’t talk like we should” she started “but imagine my surprise when I get home from a business trip to find out JJ has moved back to the island, alone.”

“Well that tends to happen when you get a divorce, Sarah.” She sighed.

The blonde froze, staring at her friend with wide eyes. “Divorce? JJ said it was a separation.”

“Of course he did.” Van sighed. “The fight was so stupid, Sarah. He got a job offer in Chapel Hill, director of the new branch the company was opening. He wanted to take it, I didn’t want to move across the country again. Especially with five year old twins and after my family had already uprooted their lives to move to California. I didn’t realize it was going to be a deal breaker.”

“Six years ago, I stood next to you at your wedding.” Sarah told her. “My brother is an idiot by all means, but he did tell you forever, that you couldn’t get rid of him.”

Van sighed, looking across the gym to make brief eye contact with the blonde half brother of her best friend. JJ didn’t hold her gaze for very long, especially because they’d spoken briefly when he’d picked her and the kids up from the ferry. Co parenting was hard, even more so when you lived on different sides of the country.

“Yeah well, we said forever.” She didn’t break eye contact with her ex-husband now. “But forever wouldn’t wait for us.”

[dazedstevie]

Unlikely Pair - Chapter I | Eddie Munson x Sinclair!Reader

Who: Sinclair!Reader (AFAB), Eddie Munson, brief Lucas and Erica Sinclair

What: Reader is a college freshman who is struggling to find her place in the world. When she runs into Eddie Munson again she sees the opportunity for friendship.

Word Count: 2,253

Triggers: Cursing (I can't write without it because I can't talk without it, whoops), marijuana use, first time poster nerves and (probably) bad writing

Author's Notes: Hiya, Stevie here! This is my very first time ever posting a fic and I'm nervousss. I'm hoping to turn this into a series so please let me know what y'all think! Do not steal, repost, take credit, or any other lame shit. Please DO enjoy!

Chapter II

For about the millionth time that night you looked down at the wristwatch you had received as a graduation present the previous summer. If you were late to get your siblings home before their curfew again you would never hear the end of it from your mom and you knew your dad would follow through with his threat of taking your keys. You stomped on the gas as you sped into Hawkins High's parking lot and drove right up to the front doors where your brother, sister, and another person sat on the curb waiting.

You lowered the volume on the radio and yelled out the open window, "Get in! We have ten minutes to get home before Mom and Dad accuse me of forgetting you losers."

"But you did forget us." Lucas grumbled as he slid into the passenger seat.

"Were you off somewhere with Daniel?" Erica mocked as she got into the backseat. "I'm surprised you have any lips left, you two were probably sucking each other's faces for hours."

You ignored her and turned to the older guy who had gotten to his feet at the same time as your siblings. You recognized him immediately as Eddie Munson, the guy in town most people avoided like the plague.

"Thanks." You called to him. "Had some errands to run." You heard Erica scoff and shot her a threatening look in the rearview mirror. "Need a ride? I have get them home now, but I can give you a lift once I've dropped them off." You looked down at your watch again.

"I've gotta ride." The long-haired man nodded toward the only other vehicle in the parking lot, an old van parked way out from the building. "Just wanted to make sure they got picked up."

You nodded your thanks again, stepped on the gas, and peeled out of the parking lot. You didn't speak again until you had pulled into your driveway with three minutes to spare; you turned to face your brother and sister with a stern face.

"There was a traffic jam."

"Yeah, yeah. We won by the way, if anyone cares." Lucas grumbled and got out of the car.

"The hell's his problem?"

"No one went to his game. Mom and Dad had that dinner thing, I had Hellfire, and you had... what? What was so important that you couldn't go, again?" Erica asked with a smug smirk.

As the two of you got out of the car another thought hit you and you wrapped an arm firmly around your sister's shoulders and pulled her close. "You guys hang out with Eddie Munson?"

"Yeah, he's dungeon master for Hellfire. He offered us a ride since we all thought you'd stood us up, but Lucas said you'd kick our asses if you ended up coming and we weren't there." She looked up into your face and saw a bit of curiosity as you tried to recall any memories of him from high school. "You'd like him, he only produces about three thoughts every hour - you have a lot in common." She wriggled her way out of your grip before you could register what she had said and darted into the house.

That following Friday you were dragged by your parents to Lucas's basketball game because he had complained for days about not having anyone there to support him the last time. Erica had one of her Hellfire meetings and had disappeared almost as soon as the three of you had entered the high school. When the game was finally over you left the gym to wait outside for the rest of your family because you needed the fresh air. You didn't do well in crowds but didn't like to draw attention to it, either. As you rounded the corner you saw another door fly open and a group of laughing boys flooded the hall, one who you immediately recognized.

"Dustin!"

He looked shocked that you had addressed him by name. Among Lucas's friends you weren't necessarily known as the nicest older sister.

"Hey, Erica's in there, it's her week to help Eddie clean." Dustin explained and nervously played with the straps of his backpack.

"Mm." You examined his Hellfire Club t-shirt with a raised brow. "You guys aren't turning my sister into a devil worshipper, are you?"

Dustin shook his head fiercely. "No! Why does everyone think that?"

You pointed to the picture on his shirt, but when he looked down you flicked his nose; he stumbled back a few steps and you laughed. Just then, three more people emerged from the dark room: Mike Wheeler, Erica, and Eddie.

"You two have a ride?" You pointed between Dustin and Mike.

Mike nodded. "Nancy's waiting for us outside." He nudged Dustin and they took off for the doors.

You turned your attention to Erica. "Please go congratulate Lucas, he's still in the gym celebrating." You made yourself look stern as your sister started to protest; she sighed and angrily stomped away.

Eddie chuckled beside you.

"Any tips on how to get her to listen to you?"

You watched him from the corner of your eye. "I taught her everything she knows about being defiant, she has a few ounces of respect for her teacher... but she also knows that I'm not above physical force if and when needed." You added. "We've had our fair share of tussles."

"I didn't know you were related to Lucas and Erica. They're pretty cool kids."

Erica had turned the corner and walked out of sight, so you faced Eddie head on and held out your hand as you introduced yourself.

"I know." He chuckled and shook your hand. "We had some classes together last year. Eddie Munson."

You examined him a bit closer but it wasn't until your eyes landed on the leather jacket and denim vest in his hands that you remembered why he felt so familiar to you.

"You sold to me once!" You exclaimed, then looked around to make sure you were still the only ones in the hallway. "Behind the school, at that picnic table."

His smile grew even wider. "I knew you'd remember!"

You smiled back and pointed toward the doors. "I was on my way out."

"Yeah, right." Eddie pulled on his jacket and vest. "But uh, just wanted you to know... you don't have to worry about Lucas and Erica, I, uh... I wouldn't do anything..."

The sound of a large crowd echoed through the halls - the stampede was coming in your direction. You looked up to see the basketball fans who had finally wrapped up their celebration in the gym; you stepped closer to Eddie and mumbled in his ear.

"Yeah, I know, I just like to give people a hard time. But if you do wanna be a bad influence, at least for a few minutes, could I buy a joint off of you? My guy got his ass arrested."

"Rick?"

"How'd you know?"

"You're always in the know when you're in the business." He nodded. "Yeah, I think I could do that."

You smiled. "I'm gonna tell my parents that I found a ride with someone, meet you at your van?"

Eddie nodded again and smiled. He looked up as the crowd drew nearer then made a beeline for the doors. Your family reached you before you could even peel your eyes away from his retreating figure.

"Congrats." You smiled and poked your brother in the chest.

"Thanks." He beamed.

"What're you doing out here?" Your dad asked.

"Waiting for you. Hey, Nancy Wheeler is outside picking up her brother, I think I'm gonna catch a ride with her if that's okay? We haven't hung out in a while."

Erica's eyes narrowed and wandered to the doors Eddie had just walked through. "You haven't hung out with Nancy Wheeler in years." She reminded you.

You gave her a tight-lipped smile. "No time like the present." You retorted.

Your mom sighed when she sensed one of your squabbles on the horizon. "Fine, but make it home in one piece, please. We'll leave the back door unlocked." She gave you a one armed hug, grabbed your dad's hand, and led him and Lucas out of the building.

Erica, however, stayed put.

"Where're you going?"

"To hang out with Nancy, why don't you buzz off?"

"Mhm. Looked like you and Eddie were having a good conversation."

You laughed. "Wow, maybe you are smarter than you look."

She rolled her eyes and purposefully bumped into you as she left.

You waited until you saw your dad's car leave the parking lot before you went outside. You started in the direction of Eddie's van with your head down, mostly to keep people from noticing you, but also to keep the cold night air from freezing your nose as you practically jogged. You jumped into the passenger seat and closed the door quickly behind you. It was quiet as Eddie stared at you, an unrolled joint in his hands.

"Was I not supposed to get in?" You asked, confused.

"No, I mean, yeah! Yeah, of course. It's cold." He turned his attention back to rolling.

"There's an empty house a street down from my place that's for sale - we could smoke in the backyard. There's a porch swing." You suggested. "I've been using it ever since the old owners put it up for sale and hightailed it out of Hawkins."

"We?" Eddie looked up again.

Your face fell. "Unless you don't want you?"

His cheeks went red. "I just... I'd figured you would want to, I don't know, enjoy it by yourself?"

"What's the fun in that?" You asked and rested your head against the seat. You watched the slow procession of cars as they emptied the parking lot. "I think I'm gonna lose my mind if I don't talk to someone my own age instead of my siblings or parents for a change. Ever since the semester started and all my friends went back to their fancy schools I've been stuck here slowly being bored to death."

It was silent in the van until Eddie handed you the perfectly rolled joint with a kind smile. "If you were looking for a friend all you had to do was ask, sweetheart. Which way to this empty house?"

Eddie's driving was even wilder than yours, so you were happy to find yourself on the porch swing, your legs tucked underneath you and an old moth bitten blanket that Eddie had found in the back of his van pulled around your shoulders. He had offered to save you from freezing to death by just smoking in the van, but you had declined - you liked being outside, especially at night while everyone else was asleep. It was peaceful and gave you some time to think.

You watched as Eddie lit the joint, his puffy lips wrapped around the end and his face still with concentration. He took a long drag then passed it to you and you did the same.

"Why didn't we talk in school?" You asked after a coughing fit.

"You were cooler than me." He stated matter-of-factly.

You shook your head. You had not been unpopular in high school, but you had always considered yourself more of a floater. You could get along with the band members just as well as you could with people like Steve Harrington. Your lack of a true "clique" was partially why you had never felt like you belonged anywhere.

"That's not true."

"Well, there's also the fact that you have this way of looking through people instead of at them." He took the joint from your fingers and you jumped when his hand bumped into yours. "Sorry." He apologized quickly.

"I've heard that before. My dad says that I have a 'zombie stare', I always thought he was just being dramatic or one of those guys who's always telling women to smile." You chuckled. "Can I tell you something? I think you're pretty cool, like how you don't give a fuck what people think. I care what people think and it's probably the dumbest thing someone could do."

He looked down and if the two of you weren't surrounded by darkness with just moonlight and the faintly burning joint to add hints of light you would have seen that his entire face had turned scarlet.

"What's college like?" He quickly changed the subject.

"Junior college." You corrected him with a sigh. "And I feel like I'm just as lost as I was in high school. I have no idea what I'm doing."

"What's your major?"

"Business."

"Ah, the default." He joked and you shot him a grin.

"Yeah."

He started to slowly push his feet against the ground so that the swing moved. He couldn't sit still to save his life, meanwhile you could have sat there in that one spot for hours without getting the urge to fidget. You watched as the wind from the swing pushed his hair back and forth over his shoulders and how his big brown eyes examined the large backyard you had trespassed into.

"Hey, Eddie?"

"Mhm?"

"I do need a friend. This is me asking nicely."

"Yeah, okay." He almost blinded you with his smile. "Okay. What're you doing tomorrow?"

You let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding. "Whatever you're doing."

For the first time in a long time, you were excited for what the next day would bring.

[camels-pen]

love is blind (really REALLY blind)

Summary: Wes Weston was 14 years old when his soulmate died for the first time.

Ao3 Link | Chapter 1

Chapter 2

“You’re really smart, y’know?” Danny had said once, clearly delirious from pain. “If anyone deserved to find their soulmate, it’d be you.”

Wes hadn’t deigned to answer as, again, he was delirious, but it was something he thought about from time to time.

If anything, Wes had a better chance than most to find his soulmate. Was one of the lucky ones who even had the chance to find their soulmate. But that wasn’t what he was focused on right now.

Right now, he focused on the first part. Danny thought he was smart, and even though Wes’ numerous failed leads and searches would say otherwise, he chose to believe Danny, just this once, and put that supposed smartness to the test.

…Intelligence. Put that intelligence to the test.

Fuck, he was already screwing this up. Maybe he should just turn around and head home—

“Wes?” He flinched at the sound of his name, halfway to walking off the front steps.

He turned around with a small, awkward wave. “Hi Fen— Danny.”

Danny looked tired. The bags under his eyes heavier, more pronounced than before. “If you’re just here to yell at me again—”

“No! No, I’m here to—” C’mon Wes. You can do this. “I’m here to apologize.”

Danny scoffed. “Sure you are. Or maybe you just realized it’d be harder to get evidence with Phantom avoiding you.”

Wes blinked. “I haven’t been gathering evidence for a while now.” The other boy raised an eyebrow and Wes scrambled to grab his camera out of his bag. “Look see—just look through my pictures.” He waited as Danny did so, watching as he became more and more confused.

“But… if not that, then what?” 

“I was a shit friend to you,” he said. “You didn’t deserve that. Especially not when you were just trying to help.”

“You didn’t mean any of it.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” Wes said. “But I’m gonna make it up to you.”

They talked a little more and by the end of it, Wes left with one less popsicle in his bag and a promise for a friend to visit him again.

---

It hardly took a few days for Danny to start to return.

Danny had floated into Wes’ room out of boredom one night, completely uninjured. Nothing out of the ordinary. Except, Wes himself was laying on his bed, having pulled a muscle in his left calf in Gym class and was trying to ignore the pain, hands long having grown tired of trying to massage it away. Danny stared at the way his leg was awkwardly propped up and wordlessly started massaging it himself.

They stayed silent a long time before Danny cracked.

“I’ll, uh—” Danny cleared his throat, never pausing in his ministrations. Never looking up. “I’ll help you look for them. Whoever they are.” 

“I know I was the one to tell you to start coming over more, but why help me?” Wes narrowed his eyes. “I thought you didn’t care about soulmates.”

“Well, I do owe you for all the bandaids. And the towels. And the rug that you try to tell me never existed, but I know you had at one point, and which you probably threw out because of the ectoplasm stains.” 

Shit. Uh. “What rug?”

Danny rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Point is, I owe you. Plus, it’d be nice to track down another halfa that isn’t a fruitloop or a sort-of younger sibling.” The pain had long lessened to nothing in Wes’ legs and Danny had given up his massaging in favour of drawing figure eights in his leg hair. “Maybe I can get an outside perspective on all this halfa stuff. Or at least get pointers on it.” 

Well, when he put it that way. “So, you’ll... what? Go on a cross country halfa-search or something?”

“No way.” He shook his head. “I’m taking a page out of your book. I’ll head to the library.”

Wes raised a brow. “You really think a library is gonna have books on half-ghosts?”

“Well, considering it’s a massive library in the Ghost Zone, I’d say so.”

Wes made a face. “What the fuck is the ‘Ghost Zone’?”

Danny laughed. “I’ll tell you about it someday. For now though, popsicle time.” 

Wes groaned.

---

Routine was quick to return. Danny was showing up like clockwork again. Unfortunately, Wes still had homework and soulmate research to do. And Danny was still very distracting.

There was this:

---

Wes pulled a notebook and a small pencil from his pocket, relaxing back in the armchair. He still had to brainstorm ideas for his upcoming creative writing project.

“Hey, Westifer.”

It was supposed to be a picture book story for little kids, with morals to match. 

“Westopolis.”

Had to take into account the minimum amount of pictures to include too. He definitely didn’t want to write about some big and detailed land of fantasy and then fuck up while drawing.

“Westeriah.”

Wes threw his pencil at him. Danny caught it. “What is -eriah supposed to belong to anyway?!”

“Westeriah. Obviously.”

He groaned. “What the hell do you want.”

“I’m bored,” Danny said, tossing the pencil in the air and catching it one handed. “You wanna get married?”

Record scratch. What did he say? 

“Hey, earth to Westifer,”—Danny poked his knee, a bored look on his face—“I asked if you wanna get married.”

Wes let out a quiet, shaky breath. A joke. Of course. 

He tried to ignore the feeling of disappointment in his chest. Tried to ignore the brief flashes of sweeping venues and ringing bells and close proximity in bespoke tuxedos.

“No,” he finally said. “We aren’t even dating. We haven’t even found our soulmates.” A bitter reminder. To himself. To Danny. “And I’m not dating your half-dead raccoon looking ass.”

Danny stared at him a moment, his eyes widening slightly, shoulders drawing together just the slightest bit. He put on a grin. “I’m a little offended. Is this how you treat all town heroes, or just me?” He waited a beat too long to sound natural, unaffected. He continued, “And it’s kinda stupid to be waiting on soulmates, don’t you think? I mean, mine probably thinks I—”

“Fenton. Shut. Up.”

Danny snapped his mouth shut. 

Wes glared at him. “You can talk about your own soulmate all you want, but don’t try to convince me not to wait on mine.” He didn’t care how his heart betrayed his soul, Wes was going to be with his soulmate one day and he wouldn’t allow anyone, not even Danny to ridicule his choice.

Danny looked away, hands clasped tightly above his stomach. The pencil stayed suspended in the air. “R-Right, yeah, you’re right. Sorry, Wesley.”

All at once, Wes deflated. The idiot was too hard to stay mad at. “Just. Remember that next time you wanna rant.”

“I will.” His own shoulders started to fall. “I promise.”

Wes snatched the pencil out of the air. “Alright, bed. Now.”

---

It wasn’t. A great day.

Then there was this:

---

Danny held tight to his arm, leaning heavily against his shoulder. “Nooo, I can't go. Not when you’re so warm, so tender.”

Wes fought down a blush and tried to pull away from him. “Stop quoting Ember at me. Bed.”

“Only if you agree to remember my name.”

“Bed. Now. Before I drag you there and sit on you."

He made an overexaggerated gasp. “Wesley, that is no way to invite a good half-dead boy like me to—”

Wes shoved him off the couch.

Danny whined, “I’m injured!”  

“You have a mild headache.”

Danny ignored him. “I can’t believe you did that. You should have your first aid certification revoked. I should get compensation—”

“I’m not first aid certified.”

Danny paused, mid-rant. Good. “Then how do you know how to use a first aid kit?”

“I don’t.” 

“You do, though.”

“No, I know how to sew ‘cause I used to do it with my mom. And gauze is pretty easy to figure out.”

“Wait wait—” Danny slowly pushed himself up to sitting cross legged. “So what’ve you been doing this whole time?”

“Relax, I kept the stitches simple—and durable, since I’m sure you don’t listen to me when I tell you to take it easy.” Danny whistled an innocent tune. “Yeah, that’s about what I expected.”

“...And the other stuff?”

“Taking care of you is pretty fucking easy.” Wes rolled his eyes. “You whine when you’re hungry, you moan and groan when you get a little bit hurt, you get sleepy and clingy when you get seriously hurt, you like being loud and obnoxious, and you can be trained to do several things in exchange for a little treat,” he said, counting off on his fingers. “It’s just like when we had to dogsit our neighbour’s golden retriever, except you’re a lot more rude to me specifically.” 

“Are you calling me a dog?”

“Basically.” He was cute like one too, said an absent thought popping up in his mind. Wes mentally drop kicked it away. 

Danny scowled at him before brightening, a mischievous grin slowly spreading on his face. “You know what else dogs do?”

“If you say ‘play dead’—”

“They think they’re lap dogs, no matter the size!” He jumped up on top of Wes.

“Your stitches, moron!”

---

It was better. He had fun teasing Danny with his canine similarities.

And then there was this:

---

Danny hummed, the tone somewhat ominous, and squinted at him. “I’m gonna ask Sam to teach you stuff.”

Wes rubbed a hand down his face. “You’re really gonna be petty about this? You’re the one who started criticizing my skills.”

“Yeah, but if I’m helping you find your soulmate then I’m getting quality grade A first aid. Or, at least, the closest you can come to it.” Danny leaned back against the couch. “Sam’s a wizard with general health stuff.”

---

Then this:

---

“I will suffocate you in your sleep.”

“Gotta get me to sleep first though, dontcha?” 

“You really think you can get away from me right now?” Wes pointedly bent down to poke his side. 

Danny groaned from his spot on the floor. “Abs-Absolutely. I’m the one with the ghost powers. Watch.” Danny vanished. Wes stared at the empty space. A few moments passed. Wes lightly kicked at where Danny’s legs used to be. Visible sock met invisible hazmat suit. 

Danny grumbled, becoming visible once more. “I could move if I wanted to.”

“Mhm, whatever you say.”

---

Then this:

---

Wes’ vision turned black and white. 

“Son of a bitch.” Wes ran to his computer, all thoughts of sleep forgotten as he scoured internet forums and ghost hunting websites. One of them had to have reported a spotting. His soulmate was either causing trouble or trying to prevent it. He didn’t really care which, just hoped that someone had finally gotten a video, an image— something.

“Wessss,” Danny called from the bathroom. “You’re out of toilet paper.”

He glanced at his monitor. Glanced at his door. 

He sprinted to the hallway closet and left a couple rolls on the floor outside before running right back to his room.

He had hardly two whole minutes before his full colour vision returned, followed shortly by Danny draping himself on the back of his chair and asking about animal crackers.

---

And then, finally, this:

---

“I’ll be up a bit longer,” Wes said, nodding his head towards his computer. “Do you mind?”

Danny shook his head, pulling the hood of his hoodie up. “Nah, go for it.” He pulled on the hoodie strings tightly, shrinking the edges to his face, and turned on his side, facing the wall. 

“Cool. Have a good sleep.” With that, he pulled out his desk chair, about to sit down when Danny’s rings came to life and his vision started doing something funny.

As Danny’s rings moved across his body, the colour in Wes’ vision slowly faded in, as it had numerous times before. 

He stood there, stunned speechless.

Danny was his soulmate. Danny was his soulmate. Holy crap. He felt something warm curl around his heart. Followed closely by embarrassment.

Danny was his soulmate. Fucking, of course. It was the only thing that made sense. Literally, how did he not notice?!

Wes was torn between screaming like a little kid in a candy store and screaming like a horrified adult who’d just fallen through a gutter.

Both feelings warred internally, but neither displayed externally, it seemed.

“Mh, Wes?” Danny had turned over, perhaps at the lack of clacking from his keyboard. “Why are you staring at me?”

The words left his tongue as he was still processing. “That is the ugliest shade of green I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“If this is about my stitches—” Danny blinked, suddenly much more awake. “What?”

“It’s puke green. It’s gross. Why do you even have it,” he said, the words feeling detached from his brain. “It’s ugly.”

Danny groaned. “I know, but it’s the best thing for covering ectoplasm stains in both forms—” He paused, brows furrowed. He stared at Wes’ eyes. “Did your soulmate change back—?”

Wes grabbed the front of Danny’s sweater and pulled him forward. He smashed his lips to Danny’s and it was awkward, their noses hitting together a little painfully, but it was also the most perfect thing he’d ever experienced.

When the need for air won out, he pulled away, taking in Danny’s wide eyed look and pink cheeks with a smile.

“It was you,” he said with a laugh fully baked in relief, the beginnings of tears building on his lashes. All those times his vision switched during school. All those late nights in grayscale whenever Danny visited as Phantom. That first time Wraith made an appearance. “It was always you.”

“Huh?” Danny said, voice squeaky.

“You’re my soulmate, Danny.”

“I’m—you’re— we’re —” he waved a finger between the two of them. “Holy fuck, for real?” Wes nodded. Danny ducked his head. “And you’re okay with it being me?”

Wes could’ve called him an idiot. Could’ve pointed out the past thirty seconds. Could’ve laid out the evidence just in case Danny didn’t believe him.

Instead he pulled Danny forward again, slower, more hesitant, and kissed him softly on the lips. Danny made a surprised sound, but his eyes quickly closed as he began to kiss back.

Wes threaded one hand through ruffled black hair, pushing down the hood as he went. The other hand cupped a warm cheek. He smiled into it as Danny put his arms around his neck.

They parted. Wes leaned back, abruptly a little nervous, and Danny did the same.

Danny touched his lips, the pink on his cheeks spreading up to his ears. “Does that answer your question?” Wes asked.

The other boy glanced up at him. They stared at each other for a moment, Danny’s eyes only barely flickering to the side. Then the corner of his mouth twitched. “I don’t know. I think you’ll have to show me again.”

Wes smiled, leaning in for round three, when his eyes glanced at the clock. He scowled. “Oh no you don’t.” He pushed Danny to lay down on the bed. “You’re not tricking me that easily. It’s still bedtime. We can talk about it in the morning.” Danny turned away and clicked his tongue. “I heard that.”

He turned back and grabbed Wes’ waist in an unforgiving grip. “Aww, Wes, c’mon, I think I should get a pass on sleep tonight.”

“Unless I read the room wrong, I’m pretty sure you’ll have some nice thoughts to fall asleep to. Plus, it’s not like I’m leaving the room, I’ve just got stuff to do.” Wes said, trying to pull away. 

Now that he knew who his soulmate was, he should probably get started on wiping all of those suspicious internet searches in his browser history. And delete all of those accounts on those less than legal websites. Maybe just delete Tor entirely and attempt to wipe any trace of it from his hard drive.

“Traitor. Leaving me to the wolves like this.”

“It’s a bed.”

Danny sighed. “Couldn’t you at least sleep with me?”

“I mean, I’ll sleep eventually, but you’re hurt. The bed is yours—”

“Studies show cuddling helps with nightmares.”

Wes paused in his attempts to pry Danny’s arms off of him. Danny was pouting up at him, his lower lip stuck out and trembling slightly as he looked at him with the biggest pair of puppy dog eyes he’d ever seen. 

But no. Wes was stronger than this. He wouldn’t—

Wes found himself under the covers in a matter of moments, a passed out Danny Fenton curled around him, and a desperate hope that Kyle wouldn’t need to use his computer before he cleaned it up tomorrow.

It was surprising how quickly Danny fell asleep cuddled against him like this, but Wes had no problems with it. Just the opposite in fact. And—Wes thought as he let himself focus on the warm puffs of air tickling his neck, the messy black hair against his cheek, and the warm body in his arms—he could certainly learn to get used to this.

He laid a hand on the back of Danny’s head and considered that, maybe it would be worth it if Kyle saw, if he got to keep cuddling with his soulmate like this as long as possible. It didn’t seem like that bad of a trade off.

…No, Wes was definitely wiping his computer first thing in the morning.

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

LOL to keep stuff cool/warm in there xD

Nahh idk if he's letting you use it- yeah nope xD

Melissa respects it lol

Poor Gregory 😭😭

HELP 💀 leave this man alone xd

Oop?

Okay lol

Aww poor Jacob 😭 xd

This man is taking his whole life and he's going through it

I could never take stairs two or three at a time it's so stressful

I bet he's saying like nice things about Jacob but Jacob won't think he is (heard him say like he lol)

AH NAH NEVERMIND 💀💀😭

Maybe still somehow xd?

WHY ARE YOU TELLING THEM THIS 😭

Ohh wait it's probably about his confidence

Hopefully xd

Ahh yeah if Gregory's saying it it probably is that

Aww honey :((

Excited to back and read any Jacob angst my favorites (y'all know who you are who always had my back on writing Jacob 😌😌🙂‍↕️) wrote after this lol

Aww :(( the tension xd

Big brother Jacob but it's :((

Guysss I'm gonna lose it 😭 he seems nice Jacobbb he just doesn't realize how much Caleb adores him :(

Lol bro was trying to curse there

WAIT STOP IT WENT FROM KINDA FUNNY WITH THAT TO NOT FUNNY AT ALL 😭😭😭

Ohh no I'm gonna lose it

But also. . . the angst 👀👀👏 (not clapping but rubbing my little hands together)

I bet he's gonna give Jacob space and then somebody (Melissa or Gregory/the podcast or something) will make him realize Caleb looks up to him

"What do you mean" oh I'm not okay 😭

Especially as a youngest sibling xd

"I haven't seen you in three years" 😬 fair point

"Because you never come home" OOOUGH JACOB ANGST JACOB ANGST JACOB ANGST!!!

PLEEEASE 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Is the podcast hearing this right now 😬 like the people more than the equipment I mean xD

Please tell me it's not just because of him but because your parents suck <33 I need the angst

Darn I think it will be xd still angsty!

"Because we turned your bedroom into a gym?" HELP 💀💀??? XDD

Well that probably didn't help xd

Aww :(

"Abbott is my new home" oh gosh 😭😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺❤️❤️ I'm not okay <33

It's their home guys :')))

Ohh noo 😭

Yeahh that face he definitely wasn't making fun of you :(

Aww wait stop the little nod 😭 Caleb is trying his best xd

I love Jacob and I totally understand why he's feeling like this but it just kills me xd

He's not doing it on purpose 😭

Also yeah Gregory and the kids are almost definitely hearing this lol

Aww no 😭

Is he gonna leave and Jacob'll like stop at the train station lol (literal or figurative, like the street or smth xD)

Losing it 😭😭

Oh okay just staying with his buddy

Jacob's face :(( wants to tell him to stop but not quite

Awww honey 😭😭🥺❤️

But also if he says he doesn't like them you do need to respect that xd

Why am I feeling like both of them lol

Anyway 😭😭😭💔 not okay

Barb have we considered maybe it's just not a very good song xd

I mean it sounds okay but xD

Hard to learn lol

Yepp :)))

Honey that defeats the point 😭😭

They still want to have the winter show mann xdd

Now NO ONE gets to participate yk xd?

Awwww honeyy 😭😭

Gregory 🥺🥺?

Yeahh :'D

AWW Gregory 😭😭🥺🥹 he knows what Jacob needs like how he needs to be talked to

Aww honey xdd

Letting his emotions show for once xd 😭🥺

Awww :'(( xd

LOL aww :')

Honeyy 😭😭

I get it I really do but he's not trying to :(((

Sometimes it's turning out that way but he's also trying to be cool for you and stuff D:

Aww honey 😭😭😭🥺

YES ONE of the reasons he left home, I can work with that :D!!

Awww honeyy 😭😭😭

Well I know why 🥺🥺 because he loves you dude :(( :')

And he probably missed the years you weren't around :( which is understandable given everything that happened (which we know like none of canonically but shhh) but still :'/

I wish I'd watched this closer to when it aired but there's probably not been too many Jacob episodes since then so hopefully I can still find posts about this lol xD

Ohh gosh this is gonna wreck me

[alllinesarebeautiful]

Day 456 Art Meditation, “Tree Ring, This is all of us” Heart Art, March 20, 2025

Dear You,

I’m still reading the book “Loving What Is” by Byron Katie, because I’m not loving what is. I’m learning about The Work, and have listened to 2 live Katie-sessions (plus the replays), because after ten years of having gig jobs, I still hate them. And I feel like it’s getting worse. Hunsickers were built to have full time jobs, and I envy my three siblings so much …

My Ego creates a depression that easily has me in bed all day. Warmth is apparently all I need.  

I’m trying to organize the world as 1) Me, 2) G, 3) the Universe, but I have this nagging feeling that there is a 4), that someday I’m going to have to open up to the world more. And that this that I’m doing now is not in fact me opening… Which is kind of hilarious.

I can’t decide if I have enough TRUST in me to walk away from DoorDash and Uber Eats completely to see if the Universe (which is me) will catch me. But you would have to catch me too, and that’s the part I don’t trust. I have to trust that if I ask for what I need, I will be supported. Yeah. That’s never gone well before. 

I’m considering raising my hand in one of Katie’s “Live at home” sessions, and seeing if I can tune into the clarity of her heart to work through this … 

What’s frustrating is that I KNOW it’s my ego taking charge with the depression, and I KNOW that my art and writing is where I find peace, so what’s my problem? 

On a meta level, it bothers me that artists and creatives are not valued more. 

So okay, I know, I know, I need to value myself more … But I’m still doing it within a patriarchy. I still live in a world of ego-values which I don’t align with. And that part of me says, why bother …

I don’t throw a depression-temper-tantrum every day. Some days there is the gym or swimming and I actually gardened for 15 minutes for the first time in a year, and I do all my writing in the car while I’m waiting with all the other drivers who wait in the parking lot, I meet my budget, I get to drive all over BEAUTIFUL San Francisco and kind of feel like my life couldn’t get any better. My life feels FULL and each piece is forward progress. I LOVE that I have so much silence to be in my creativity.

With all the gig jobs over the years, I have had some of the LOVELIEST conversations with people. This is what surprised me the most when I first started working in NYC in my late 20’s as a self-educated graphic designer, the amazing way we can really connect through art and design. The people connection is always my favorite part of any job …

“This is all of us, listen carefully” is my current ‘Tree Ring’ art, so how can I do that now? 

I feel strongly to infuse some Joy into these dark political times, so I’ll share this story:

I had a triple DoorDash shopping order the other day to San Francisco - (thank you thank you thank you!) - and the 3rd order of a dozen red roses canceled at the last minute, too late for me to return them, so I got to keep them. As I was driving around SF doing my other 2 orders, I wondered who I could give these roses to. 

I saw this woman standing on the curb carrying her groceries & waiting for the light to change …  I put on my blinkers and ran out with the roses … Hiiiiii !, handing her the bouquet and she was SO HAPPY. We both beamed. I explained about the ‘extra’ roses, and that I wanted to give them away as a way to process my disappointment that someone canceled and I get paid less. She hoped my day would get better and we chatted a few seconds about how this is the best way to create joy in the middle of ANYTHING. With permission for posting our photo, here we are. 🙂😍 

I love that I could tap into the pure JOY of a complete stranger.  It was just a few moments of something pure, pure heart. There was no interview for my ego to put her in some box and then judge her. It wasn’t even a Meet Up where “we have things in common”, which is also a kind of a box. 

Which just makes me wonder how else can I build pure connections of the heart? This tiny interaction filled my heart up for a week, and will probably stay with me forever.

Adding new wall mural art (controltac adhesive print), from my “Tree Ring” Heart Art Brand bundle series. Link to my store in bio.

Sending love, Anne 

◉◎⦿◎◉

Credit “The Work” by Bryon Katie, thework.com. / byron.katie / Instagram

Ⓒ 2025 Anne Hunsicker | All Lines Are Beautiful. All rights reserved.

[swimmingclassicrockpizzawombat]

I'm fucking SICK OF THIS I'M FUCKING SICK OF MY "FAMILY"

I FUCKING HATE THESE PEOPLE AND I AM SO FUCKING DONE WITH THEM.

And you know what?!?!?! That might make me sound like a monster but I don't care because THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ME EITHER.

I can't wait to go back to college and not have to see them again for another 6 months.

At the same time I won't lie when I say they make me want to die sooooo bad

Like anything ti get as far away from them and all the manage they have done and continue to make. All their little insults and demeaning attitudes, their violence, their punches, everything.

I have a dietarty restriction due to allergies and IBS and we don't have a lot of food at home atm so I saved up some sushi SPECIFICALLY to have something to eat today. And my mom made my dad and brother a shit ton of their favorite foods (which I can't eat) to keep them from eating MY FOOD AS THAT'S ALL I CAN EAT.

AND MY FUCKING BROTHER STILL ATE MY SUSHI AND I WANT TO PUNCH HIM SO BAD.

I LITERALLY HAVE NOTHING TO EAT TODAY. I WOULD GO OUT TO A RESTAURANT BUT I HURT MY HIPS YESTERDAY.

AND THIS ISN'T THE ONLY TIME THEY HAVE EATEN MY FOOD.

I meal prep EVERY week and as a gym bro I have to make sure I'm eating healthily enough takomg enough protein/carbs.

And HAVE ASKED THEM NOT TO EAT MY FOOD BUT THEY STILL DO WHICH FUCKS UP MY ENTIRE WEEK SO I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO SCRAMBLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO EAT LAST MINUTE.

Even when my mom makes food for them!!!! Specifically for them. Food that more often than not I can't even eat!!!!!

Like, even during Easter or Christmas when "Santa" or whatever used to give us candies MY BROTHER EAT ALL OF HIS AND MY CANDIES IN ONE DAY AND LEAVE ME NOTHING. Like, he would just fucking steal them.

But because they perceive me as a fucking woman they expect me to make food FOR THEM and SERVE THEM. Do household chores FOR THEM. Except that now that I'm trans and a wannabe man I'M ALSO EXPECTED TO DO "MANLY THINGS" SO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING.

Like I want to fucking cry. This is not fair.

Like, when my brother has invited his gf and friends to a game night (which btw I always have to clean uo after that bc I'm their maid), and we have played those truth/confession games they are always surprised by how little we act like siblings and dislike each other. Since for example his gf is super close to her siblings and while they do fight they have each other's back and care for each other deeply.

Yet when it comes to me and my brother we don't even pretend. I know we would never have my back with anything. We want NOTHING to do woth each other and he will still find ways to fuck me up because he sees me as his little bitch and he doesn't even try to hide it (he has shoved me in the past and beat me up while I'm brushing my teeth because he wants to brush HIS teeth and has no time to wait for a "worthless bitch like me" so I have had to pause brushing my teeth ans resume until he is done".

He even convinced our mutual therapist I have BPD to have her INVALIDATE EVERYTHING I EVER TOLD HER.

"Hey my brother started beating me up and I have bruises"

T: you are lying you just have BPD and are being extra sensitive

"HE KEEPS CALLING ME A WORTHLESS BITCH AND SHOVING ME"

T: it's your BPD just ignore it and meditate

"I think I have ADHD I meet all the diagnostic criteria and over 7 fmaily members have it"

T: It's just your BPD, from what your brother tells me you can't have it. You also did too well in school to have ADHD.

[loveephia]

hello! can i request hinata who's clearly in love, and everyone's teasing/asking him about it, including reader?

OBVIOUS AND OBLIVIOUS | shōyō hinata

sypnosis: in which hinata's feelings are as see-through as glass, yet you still don't get it.

content: (🦷) tooth-rotting fluff, includes most of karasuno, hinata literally tripping for you, reader is a first year, you are kiyoko shimizu's younger sister.

⚠ warning/s: none.

note: I'M SORRY THAT THIS IS A LITTLE LATE!!! i've been kind of busy lately, and writer's block is a real pain in the ass. i wanted this piece to be perfect because this request was so cute!!! thank you, and enjoy reading. :D

"kiyoko, you forgot your water bottle." you said, peeking your head inside of the boys' volleyball gym. your sister usually stayed behind for club activities, and this was where you'd find her.

"ah, y/n, thank you." she said, taking the water bottle from your hands.

you shook your head, "it's nothing." you said about to go walk home. "wait, would you like to watch practice? i prefer if we'd walk home together so that you're safer." kiyoko said. you thought about it for a minute, and although what she said is true, you just thought, "wouldn't i be a distraction?"

"i'm sure coach will understand." kiyoko reassured you.

in the end, you decided that it wouldn't hurt to stay an hour or two behind at school, so you pensively stepped inside the gym and made yourself comfortable on the floor.

"who's the kid?" a male with faux blond hair and piercings, who you assumed was one of the coaches (though he didn't necessarily look like one), asked kiyoko. "she's my younger sister. she has no one to walk home with, and i'm afraid that something will happen to her if i let her be, so she'll be watching practice if you don't mind, coach. " she explained.

"it's alright. as long as she isn't a distraction, then i see no problem." he replied.

and although you weren't doing anything major, you were a distraction indeed.

but only because you caught the eye of a certain ginger.

#10 kept sneaking glances at you, his face ablaze and red every time you noticed. his performance during practice was notably sloppy, mentions the coach. he messed up his receives, his serves were out-of-bounds, and most of his hits weren't on time with #9's sets. it was either that, or he forgot to hit the ball because he busied himself looking at you, trying to find a reaction on your reserved face.

while he gets scolded in the corner by their setter, whose name you recalled was kageyama, coach ukai pulls you aside with both his palms on your shoulders.

with a heavy sigh, he goes, "listen, kid, as much as i don't mind having you here, our decoy is getting real distracted because he keeps looking at you. so could you try to.. i don't know, cover your face up with a paper bag or something?" "coach?!" sir takeda exclaimed at coach ukai's bluntness.

"i- i'm sorry, sir..?" you apologized half-heartedly, because how was this your fault..?

"get it together, hinata! you're going to drive my future in-law out of the gym!" tanaka scolded, shaking shōyō hinata back and forth. "that's kiyoko's sister?!" hinata yelped in surprise. he didn't even know kiyoko had any siblings ti'll just now. no wonder you were so pretty.

"why do you keep staring at her anyway? i mean, i get that she's really pretty, but she isn't kiyoko—!" nishinoya got a heavy whack to the head by daichi.

you rolled your eyes when you heard nishinoya's statement, kiyoko doing an apologetic sigh at his antics. you thought about what their libero said, and you can't help but blush. was hinata looking at you because you were pretty?

no way.. it might just be because you have something in your hair, or dirt on your face, or lint on your uniform!

you walked up to hinata, whose face became a deeper shade of red (if that's even possible), at the closer proximity. "hinata, do i have something on me that's distracting you? i'd be happy to remove it so that you can focus on practice properly." you said.

"her voice is so cute..!" hinata thought, all the while staring at your face. your silky hair was thoroughly brushed, not a speck of dust laid on your face, and lint was nowhere to be found on your uniform. you were prim too, which hinata found adorable. almost like a princess.

"n- no, there's nothing wrong! you're perfectly pretty—! i- i mean, fine! you're perfectly fine!" hinata stuttered out. at this point, karasuno could only pray for hinata because his downfall was just depressing to watch.

tsukishima scoffed, "some of us are here for practice, not to watch you trip over your own feet."

you had no idea what that meant, but either way, you found hinata pretty cute, too.

© lowercase intended | loveephia

[lunarticxenia]

The Degree Theory + My Take on it

Hello guys! I’ve received a lot of questions in regards to the degree theory, and I decided that I should make a post about it. So I’m going to give the basis of the degree theory (note: this is based on research not what I believe) and then I’m going to give my opinions on it based from my own observations. 

TW: Ab*se, s*x, su*cide, m*rder, mentions of d*ath. 

*** If you get paranoid easily, be careful reading this because it discusses some  dark stuff. Remember, these aren’t the be all end all. In the end, we all determine our fate! ***

So first let’s take a look at what each degree symbolizes! 

💋 Degrees 💋

Aries degrees- 1°, 13°, 25°: taking action and control over your life, ab*se, struggles, leadership, battle, beginning, struggling, “fast”, the color red, sports/athletes, the police, and bravery. 

Taurus degrees- 2°, 14°, 26°: wealth, the voice, singing, money, the color green, luxuries, the earth. “The best or top level of something”. 

Gemini degrees- 3°, 15°, 27°: “two”, double, siblings, hands, neighborhood, friends, birds, tea, geometric patterns, documents, communication, electronic devices, books, self-expression, and the color yellow. 

Cancer degrees- 4°, 16°, 28°: mother, home, traditions, loyalty, nurture, crowd, public, water, faith, femininity, emotions, family, the color white and property. 

Leo degrees- 5°, 17°, 29°: strong, bold, royal, leader, attention, life, high school, fun, athletes, creativity, self-expression, strength, gym, mountain, the hill, hair. 

Virgo degrees- 6°, 18°: Health, sickness, hospitals, doctors, routines, pets, to make smaller, diminish, work, and to be of service. 

Libra degrees- 7°, 19°: fairness, law, business, partnerships, beauty, earrings, fashion, charm, music, art, marriage, courtroom, 

Scorpio degrees- 8°, 20°: secrets, death, sex, insurances, taxes, jealousy, pregnancy, manifestation, wealth, to take from others, and borrowing. 

Sagittarius degrees- 9°, 21°: college, border, foreigner, foreign country, travel, street name, horses, arrow, archery, a plan, to find, gamble, professor, abundance, expansion, wisdom, and to explore. 

Capricorn degrees- 10°, 22°: public office, public official, coal, slow, delay, decay, cold, fear, depression, control, the color black, ambition, father, coldness, and public attention. 

Aquarius degrees- 11°, 23°: divorce, surprises, flying, a high place, high tech, engineering, new technology, helping others, friends, organizations, humanitarianism, su*cide, networking, electrician, and electricity. 

Pisces degrees- 12°, 24°: Swimming, water, rain, flood, fog, unclear, secret, hospital, drugs, alcohol, prison, painter, p*rnography, sleeping, shadows, madness, the psyche, lethargy, and our unconscious. 

💋 Stand-out Degrees 💋

0°: Purest form of the sign, i.e. if you have Aquarius Mercury in 0°, you embody that placement. 

2°: From what I’ve gathered about this degree, it’s a very powerful one to have. It is literally the degree of supreme power and are well positioned to accomplish big things. Nikola has claimed that throughout his research, he has found that people with planets, houses, lunar nodes, vertex, the 4 cardinal points (AC, IC, DC, MC), and aspects have all been linked to making remarkable achievements and were highly respected. I have Moon in the 2° so we’ll see what happens...👀

5°: This is the degree of eroticism. It’s connected to beauty, and charm. Many sex symbols like Marilyn Monroe had this in their chart. It can also be a fame indicator as well, as it is a Leo degree. He stated himself that this is one of the best degrees to have as it is all about enjoying life and having fun. I have this degree in Mars, I’m still waiting for the fun to happen

6°: Can indicate a love affair at work if it is on the 5th house cusp. (i.e. your 5th house being in the 6° degree). 

7°: Can indicate affairs while married if it is on the 5th house cusp. scandalous.

11°: So I saw a few different meanings for this degree. One source said it indicates massive wealth, and another said that Aquarius degrees indicate divorce, but Nikola said that 11° is more connected to su*cide. Personally, I know people with this degree, and they’ve never shown an indication that they would do something like that. So take this one with a grain of salt. 

15°: This aspect indicates car accidents. To a more extreme degree it indicates assassination, m*rder or killing. Remember, this manifests differently for everyone. I can’t stress this enough. 

18°: So apparently this aspect is “pure evil”. Before I continue, I personally don’t think it’s this evil and awful degree. It manifests differently for everyone. At its worst, it can indicate rare diseases, tragic accidents, and making someone “evil”. Imo, I think that this degree can indicate difficulties in life, I have it in the 12th and my best friend has it in her sun sign, and we’ve had difficult lives but we haven’t encountered any rare diseases or tragic accidents *knock on wood*. Nor are we evil LMAO. So I wouldn’t worry if you have this degree. As for health issues, I think where you have it can indicate where you’re prone to get health issues. I have it in the 12th house which is the psyche, and I have anxiety and depression. However, this does NOT mean that you’ll get those illnesses and that they’ll be rare or extreme in anyway. Sorry I kinda rambled here. 

20°: Jealousy and/or revenge. Where this shows in the chart could show an area where someone is jealous or if the person is the type to want to seek revenge. 

22°: Again, take this with a grain of salt. Nikola stated that he’s found this degree in the charts of murderers as well as those who have been murdered. Remember that degrees manifest differently for everyone. Donald Trump has this and he’s still here. Like other posts I’ve seen here on Tumblr, I agree that it can refer to more of a figurative death ( @astrroloaries ). It can also refer to destruction, a loved one passing away, and grief. Also, @saintzjenx stated in her post about this degree that it can refer to abandonment. So again, be skeptical with this one. 

23°: This is the degree that’s used more for divorce, now I will say that I’ve seen this degree in the charts of divorced people. However, this won’t apply to everyone, like other degrees we discussed they all manifest differently. 

29°: This degree can indicate clairvoyance and high potential. I discussed this in another post, so I’m going to just copy and paste what I said. “One theory states that the person has clairvoyant potential. Other astrologers has found that it can signal destruction, i.e. Donald Trump has this. This is debated however, Nikola Stojanovic (the main creator of the degree theory) believes that this degree is benefic. It is also said that this degree can symbolize karma from a previous life, and that there’s a lesson that you didn’t learn from a past life and brought it into this life. It is also said that people with this degree challenge the status quo and could be impulsive. Also you might be impulsive when it comes to expressing your feelings and emotions.” 

💋  My Thoughts + How I apply them 💋

Okay, so now that we’ve gotten through each degree, I personally think that the degrees show more of the “themes” in the particular house or planet that it it’s in, rather than assigning personal characteristics. For example, I have my Sun in the 3°, while I have some Gemini influence in my chart, I also am a Gemini in sidereal astrology. So I can’t exactly say that the degree is the reason why I come off as one. However, since the sun is your basic identity and path of life I can say I’ve had these kinds of themes in my life. I’ve struggled a lot with expressing myself and communicating. Also, writing is a big part of my life as I’ve stated that I struggle with saying my feelings, so I tend to write them. Also I love to read, and since Gemini refers to “double”, I am double jointed LMAO. Kind of reaching there. So I like to say that it manifests more as themes, rather than personality traits! Essentially, if your Sun is in a different zodiac degree than your zodiac sign, it wouldn’t make you like that sign, it would give you themes regarding that zodiac sign, like I stated with my own example. 

Same thing can be applied to the houses. My IC is in the 25° which is an Aries degree and I had a very rough childhood. I fought with my parents a lot, and I dealt with my fair share of bullying (technically ab*se in a way). I also used to be very athletic, I would play a bunch of different sports. Also kind of reaching again, but my neighbor when I used to live in my childhood home is a cop (as this degree also rules the police). 

So, for my next degree post I’m going to talk about how to view degrees for each of the houses and planets. Again, these are just my opinions! 

I hope this was informative for everyone, this was kind of a long post, and I spent a lot of time on it. 

[troubatrain]

want you to want me - m. tkachuk

a/n: i’m awful at intros but this fic is my whole ass child. i started it months ago and i picked it up back and then i just couldn’t stop writing. now we’re at a whopping 10k words and i’m really happy with the way this one came out. i hope you guys like it as much as i loved writing it.

big thanks to @hookingminor @igor-shestyorkin & @tkafuckit for reading this as i wrote it and gassing me up ily all sm

warnings: smut

You were Matthew’s dream girl, and you didn’t have a fucking clue. You were leaning against the cold metal bleachers of your former high school, chatting with whatever teacher probably wanted to hear all about that shiny NWSL contract you signed right out of college with the Chicago Red Stars. It was well deserved, a few national titles in college put you in the position in the first place, and Matthew respected the hell out of you. You wouldn’t know, by the way he never seems like he actually wants to speak to you and the few snide remarks about your sport in general. That started forever ago, when Matthew royally fucked up any chance he had with you later in life because he was a competitive asshole.

It started when you were twelve, and middle school was nothing short of a mess. Matthew was growing into his own, adding a near foot to his height over one summer while his father and coaches doted on the fact that he was getting bigger. Getting bigger meant getting better, and for a few years winning was the most important thing in the world. But, becoming a hormonal preteen came with something else, feelings about the girl who sat three rows behind him in almost all of his classes.

Then third period gym class came around, and Matthew was a competitive monster. The kind of kid who took that way too seriously, and you accidentally became public enemy number one. You were the only person in his class who could even come close to beating him at anything, because you were just as much of an athlete as he was. Soccer had become your craft, and much like Matthew, you declared you’d go pro one day. So, Matthew did what any other insecure twelve year old boy would, he teased you relentlessly. It was awful, but by the time Matthew had gone off to play for the National team you had forgotten about his bullshit.

Apparently, you’d done something in a past life to warrant dealing with Matthew for longer than you ever anticipated. Jamie was your little sister, and Taryn’s best friend. Best friend was probably understatement, the pair were inseparable on and off the field. They trained together, they played on the same teams and that meant way too much time with the rest of the Tkachuk’s. You learned quickly, that the rest of their family was wonderful and Matthew seemed to be too thick headed to fall in line.

You tolerated Matthew, brushing his silly remarks off just like you did when you were younger. The thing was, Matthew didn’t want you to just tolerate him, but he didn’t know how to get you to stop hating him. You make your way over to Matthew who’d been standing next to his brother since the start of your sister’s game.

“Hi Brady,” You greet, tapping Brady on the shoulder who pulled you into a bone crushing hug. That annoyed Matthew the most, the way you seemed to love his siblings and despise him. In your defense, nobody was more supportive of your professional career than Brady, who’d made a promise to catch a game the second he could, “Hi Matthew.”

You were waiting for something from Matthew, an acknowledgement for finally achieving a dream of yours. You’d gotten the congratulations from the rest of his family, a massive celebration because Keith thought you deserved it. Matthew probably didn’t think you did. You could practically hear his smug little voice about how much his recently inked contract was compared to yours, because you’d heard it since you were kids. He used to rip on your athletic abilities every chance he could, something about how it didn’t matter how hard you could kick a ball you couldn’t hold a hockey stick so he was just better.

“You’re here!” You hear the chipper voice of your little sister approach, Jamie’s sweaty postgame arms wrapped around your waist. You’d been in Chicago, signing some paperwork and looking into finding a place to stay when you had to go for camp. You promised you’d make it back in time, and your flight landed less than five hours ago but you made it.

Matthew bit the inside of his cheek to keep his smile to himself, watching his own sister push past him to see you. Taryn loved you, because sometimes she just needed a big sister and her brothers were in another country most

of the time. It was the part that killed him the most, seeing you with his family. You fit right in, a fierce athlete with drive that rivaled his own. Brady side-eyed his own brother, watching him instead of the scene unfolding in front of him. He was frustrated with his own brother for not just telling you the truth, that he teased you because he was an idiot who didn’t know how to handle having a crush on you.

But Brady was going to do it himself if his brother didn’t.

***

Matt, you don’t have a girlfriend right?

Matthew knew damn well he should not have answered his sister’s question, but when he realized her best friend had been sitting right next to her in the kitchen, his curiosity got the best of him. So he did, telling his sister he was single and sparing her details of any of the girls he’d gone on dates with the past year. That was his life is Calgary, a constant revolving door so no one would see what was underneath layers of sarcasm and angst. But every summer, he’d come home and wonder when he’d start to build a life for himself, and if he’d ever find that person to do it with. That was when his brain would start to wander, fantasies of a future that always seemed to involve you. He loved to imagine it, the years that you’d both spend supporting the other’s dream. Matthew would do anything to make sure you achieved yours, and he thought you’d do the same. Then you’d both settle down, the big house with the white picket fence and a shiny ring on your finger Matthew put there himself and years of arguing about what sport your future children would play - he’d even consider letting you have just one.

Unfortunately, none of that could be real until he figured out how to get you to hate him less. Taryn apparently had the same idea, and had been scheming with your sister for months. The two girls were looking at Matthew with devilish grins on their faces, like whatever they came up with would totally work.

“Y/N doesn’t have a boyfriend,” Your sister hums, sipping the smoothie they forced Matthew to drive them to go get, “It’s sad actually-”

“We think you should date,” Taryn explains, Matthew’s eyes went wide. His sister didn’t know the whole story, or just how far back this stupid fued went. Taryn always loved you, so Matthew just kept his remarks to himself.

“I know you know Y/N doesn’t like me very much,” Matthew explains, “So tell me how that’s going to work.”

“Apologize to her, if she can forgive me for anything she’ll forgive you,” Jamie sighs, thinking of all the times you’d shown her mercy when she didn’t deserve it.

“You’ve got to be sorry,” Brady interrupts, mouth full of food while he goes to go look for more in the fridge. He turns around, Matthew’s eyes giving him daggers, “What? You were a dick to her for years, you’ve got to fix that first.”

It didn’t take much convincing after that, Taryn had already planned out what Matthew should say to you. Matthew wasn’t going to repeat those words, because he knew exactly what he’d say to you if he ever got the chance. He was trying to fix his past, because the way he acted towards you was the one thing he regrets. 

So with the help of your little sister and the Find my Friends app, Matthew was pulling up to a soccer field he’d been to plenty of times. He used to run through the park nearby, catching a glimpse of your practices when you were in high school and Matthew was an afterthought. He hops out of his car, smiling when he could see you running drills alone. You were dribbling the ball, counting to yourself while you were weaving through cones you set up.

“I’ve never been good at those,” Matthew calls out, walking over to you while you stopped and caught your breath, “I kick the cones with my skate every single time.”

“Maybe you’re not as good as you think you are,” You tease, grabbing your water and guzzling it down, “What are you doing here?”

“I, uh, I came to apologize?” Matthew admits, knowing his face was probably bright red. He was nervous, the good kind like he got before a big game, “I was just an insecure kid then, and you didn’t deserve what I did just because I was afraid you’d beat in something.”

Matthew left out the part where he felt like he was still that kid all the time. All of those insecurities about himself seemed to be picked up by every reporter in Canada when he was there. You bit your lip, pretending like you were trying to debate whether or not you should forgive Matthew at all. In reality, you would have forgiven him ages ago if he’d just apologized sooner. It was so long ago, and sometimes you thought Matthew’s constant taunting made you better. He was pleading, baby blue eyes staring at you sadly while he waited for your answer. He looked like he didn’t think he deserved to be forgiven, shoulders slumped while he tried to read your body language. It was something you noticed about Matthew forever ago, he could have everything in the world but when he looked at you he seemed almost sad.

“I mean I could forgive you, but only if you beat me,” You cross your arms, raising an eyebrow at Matthew, “If I win, I don’t have to and if you win all is forgiven.”

“Really? Isn’t that why we were in this situation to begin with?” Matthew points out, crossing his arms at you.

“I thought you weren’t that kid anymore,” You remind of his own words, testing him to see if he’d put his money where his mouth was. Matthew smirks, chuckling to himself, “C’mon Tkachuk let’s see what you got.”

Matthew shook his head, laughing and lining up next to you. You both counted to three, sprinting down the field at full force. Matthew knew his height was the only thing working to his advantage while he tried to keep up with you. You were nearing your finish line, and Matthew didn’t think he was going to win. You were going to forgive him regardless, but Matthew didn’t know that. His arms stretched out, grabbing your waist and pulling you into his chest. Matthew turned his body around, stepping over the line before you did.

“God, you’re such a fucking cheater Matthew,” You hit his chest, Matthew’s hands still firmly placed on your hips.

“I didn’t want to lose,” Matthew admits, all of his smug attitude diminishing immediately, “Just want you to forgive me.”

“I’ll forgive you if you never pull that shit on me again,” You poke his chest, slipping out of his grip and running to your stuff before he could notice how nervous he was making you. 

No. Absolutely not. You told yourself while you checked your phone, rolling your eyes at the warning text from Jamie that Matthew was on his way, you couldn’t have anything but indifference to Matthew Tkachuk. It got harder everytime you saw him, the past few years had been nothing short of kind to him, he was growing from a dumb immature boy to a man more and more every summer. You turn around, peeking at Matthew who was sitting down and catching his breath, a winning smile on his face, the same kind he had the very first time he schooled everyone at floor hockey in middle school.

Maybe you could be friends.

***

Matthew liked having you as a friend, mostly because as of right now that was all he was going to get. You definitely didn’t trust him, which was valid considering Matthew had been a dick to you for years, but he was working on it. He had to, that uncontrollable feeling that he cared about you was getting harder to shove back down with every year that passed.

“You’re friends now, you don’t need to stare at her like a creep anymore,” Brady scoffs, watching his brother gawk at you from afar. Matthew couldn’t help it, you just had a glow about you, you always did, but somehow in the summer you were golden. Tonight you looked even better, maybe it’s because you smiled at him when he walked instead of scowling like you usually did.

“He’s in love with you,” Steph giggles, sipping her drink and giving Matthew a side eye, “He’s been staring at you all night.”

“He apologized to me,” You confess, holding in that little secret about Matthew’s visit to the field even from your best friend. You had the same friends, the same group of people who’d been pushing the two of you to work it out for years. It wasn’t that you didn’t want them to know that they no longer had to worry about one of you blowing up because the other was there, you just wanted everyone to let it go too. Matthew deserved a little forgiveness, you could only imagine the pressure he felt on himself back then, and while he didn’t totally deserve your protection - you were going to give it to him, “Don’t-”

“Oh wonder why, I know it’s because he looooves you,” Steph teases, “Did you forgive him?”

“Yeah I mean we’re both older and I’d like to think he’s wiser, and besides our parents are way too close,” You knew this was going to be your excuse for a while. It was better for everyone that you forgave him, Jamie and Taryn spent more time together than you’d spend with anyone and you're just as close with the rest of their family. It wasn’t untrue that it was in fact for the best, but that didn’t mean Matthew’s stupid dimples didn’t persuade you before you could think about anyone else, “Can we stop talking about this?”

Matthew’s eyes didn’t leave you once that night, especially after the way Steph downed tequila shots and convinced you to join her. You deserved to celebrate, you’d accomplished something Matthew knew was your biggest dream because it was the same as his. He was proud of you, not that he’d gotten a chance to show it.

“If you’re going to go pro Y/N, you’ve got to start keeping up,” Brady chirps, watching you stumble over your own feet to walk over to him and Matthew. Matthew had seen this once before, a level of drunkenness where you turned into bambi but that was so long ago he never thought he’d see it again.

“I’ll go pro in beating your ass Brady,” You snap back, shooting daggers over Brady who was already cracking up, “Hi Matthew.”

“Hi,” Matthew’s voice was small, a weird sound considering he was usually the loudest in the room. Brady scoffs, walking away from the two of you before he snaps at how hopelessly in love his brother was. You turn your head in confusion, your mind far too hazy to realize why Brady was so annoyed in the first place, causing Matthew to chuckle, “Want to play? Might be best if we’re on the same team.”

Matthew’s thumb shot over to the beer pong set up on the other side of the room, a mischievous smirk on face, “I mean if it’s for the best.”

Matthew’s arm wrapped around your shoulders holding you close to his chest while you both played pong was definitely not for the best, and it wasn’t helping that stupid crush you had on him. You could feel Steph’s stare from the corner of the room, and you look at her to mouth a don’t at her. It was nice having Matthew on your team, finally a moment where instead of arguing with each other about who’s elbow was clearly over the table - you got to do the same thing to Brady.

“Brady you’re cheating,” You call out, Matthew’s head thrown back in laughter at your seriousness.

“You heard her Brady, elbows over the table,” Matthew breathes out, his body still rumbling with laughter at his little brother’s expense.

“Oh look at you two, you’re just gonna raise some winners one day aren’t you?” Brady chirps back, both happy to see you getting along and annoyed once he realizes that means he was going to get roasted by both of you now. You felt heat rush to your cheeks, tucking your face into Matthew’s arm in hopes no one saw the way you shrunk at that stupid joke.

“We’re winners right now,” Matthew calls out, his last ball landing in the cup and sealing the game for the two of you. Matthew would raise winners with you, it was something he thought about from time to time, but those thoughts were never going to see the light of day, “Alright drunky I think it’s time to get you home.”

“You can stay, I’ll just catch a ride with someone,” You waive Matthew off, who shook his head no at you before you even started speaking.

“One, my dad would kick my ass if he knew I left you,” Matthew starts with, holding up one finger with another on the way, “Two, we’re friends now and I’d like to make sure you don’t die before you see a pro game.”

Matthew had seen you this drunk before, but what he didn’t know was that getting you home would be more difficult than he thought. You started in the direction of your house, but apparently you were a runner and a speedy one at that. Now you were barely two blocks away from Matthew’s parents place and if he could at least get you there he’d be able to call it a night - which wasn’t fucking easy.

“Alright I’ve had enough,” Matthew huffs, jogging to catch up with you and scooping you into his arms. You were hanging over his shoulder, Matthew making his way down the street with the house in his sightline. You could have cared less, laughing your ass off while Matthew walked up the stairs and finally placed you back down on your feet, “Be quiet, go up to my room and get some clothes and go sleep in the guest room.”

You weren’t quiet, not at all and Matthew was amazed not one of his parents came down to see what all the chaos was about. After Matthew had to walk you up the stairs, running back down for some water and hoping you weren’t a disaster by the time he got back - he found you in his bed. You were curled up right in the middle, an old London Knights shirt on your body, Matthew’s favorite. Matthew grabs his comforter, throwing it over your body. He sighs, leaning against his door frame and smiling to himself at how comfortable you looked, flicking off the light and retreating to the guest room.

Matthew hated the guest room. He hated how hard the mattress was and after a few hours of no sleep and tossing and turning - he gave up. Matthew hoped no one else was up, but not to his surprise his mother was already in the kitchen, and judging by the look on her face, she knew who was upstairs.

“Care to explain?” Chantal smirks, raising her eyebrows at her son. Matthew’s face got red, his landing on the back of his neck to cover the blush.

“She fell asleep before I could even get her to the guest room,” Matthew shrugs, hoping his mom wouldn’t push it any further, “I, uh, apologized the other day.”

“Good,” Chantal hums, a knowing look on her face. She didn’t like to push Matthew, her one kid who seemed to be a little rougher around the edges than the others, but that silly feud never sat right with her, “Here, bring her a coffee, I’m sure she needs it.”

Matthew nods, grabbing the mug his mother was holding out and starting to make his way up the stairs. He heard the tell her you made it from his mother and shook his head. He knew what she was thinking, especially with the way Chantal seemed to talk about you. His mother thought you were nothing short of perfect, and Matthew would be a liar if he didn’t think the same thing.

“Did I fall asleep here?” You’d woken up confused, your question only answered by the jerseys hanging on the walls, you were in Matthew’s room. You rub your eyes, the door creaking open way too loudly for how dead you felt.

“Only after you almost fell down the stairs and ran three blocks in the wrong direction,” Matthew chuckles, sitting on the edge of the bed and handing you the mug, “You know you’re fast right?”

“Yeah,” You muse, smirking to yourself and taking a sip of coffee, “I’m sorry I did that to you, and stole your bed - I can go.”

Matthew stopped you, telling to finish your coffee and relax and he’d drive you home after. You fell into a comfortable conversation, something Matthew never thought would happen.

And watching you walk up to your steps in his shirt still wasn’t something he thought he’d see, but it was better than he imagined.

***

“Hey it’s Jamie, can’t get to the phone right now…”

You groan, tossing your phone onto your bed and continuing your pace around the room. It was well after midnight, and your sister had been out all night, and past her curfew. Usually you’d cover for her, definitely taking the prize home for the cool older sister who picks her siblings and their friends up from parties. That’s what had you so worried. Sure, Jamie was a teenager and she snuck in a few little white lies with your parents just like you’d done, but Jamie always told you the truth. She’d check in with you more than her parents, letting you know that she’s going to be out late but she’s safe and if she needed anything she knew who to call. You texted sometime around ten, just checking in since it was Saturday and you were sure she had a more riveting social life than yourself. No answer. Then eleven rolled around and you didn’t hear anything, so naturally you double texted and now it’s twelve thirty and you still haven’t heard anything. You cross your arms, looking at your phone as if you could will an answer into existence. You grab it, dialing a number you weren’t even sure would work.

“Hello?” Matthew’s voice appeared on the other side of the line, clear confusion in his voice. You let out a sigh of relief, hoping Matthew would have the answer you wanted to hear so desperately.

“Is my sister at your house?” You ask, biting your lip and throwing on a pair of sweats so you could pick her up and murder her for scaring you like that. You were sure it was innocent, Jamie slept over at Taryn’s all the time, staying up way too late watching movies or when Jamie would hide going to a party from your much stricter parents.

Matthew tells you to give him a minute, and you can hear him walking through the house. By the time you heard a door open and a small fuck under his breath, your stomach dropped, “She was supposed to be home by midnight.”

“Alright, thanks anyways,” You sigh, “Do you know where they might have gone? It’s just, Jamie hasn’t answered me in hours and she usually does even if she’s out past curfew and I’m just-”

“I’ll be at your house in ten,” Matthew says, his keys alright in his hand and his foot halfway out the door. He was more mad than worried, sure his sister was out a party past curfew. Matthew was her biggest brother, and he was far more protective over her than Brady ever could be. He hated when she did this, and Matthew was pissed. You waited on your steps, Matthew car coming into view while you sprung up and practically sprinted into his car.

“You look mad,” You observe, as if it wasn’t completely obvious. You knew why, trying countless times to remind Taryn that her brother loves her and that’s why he’s like that. You thought he could go a little easier on her, but you wouldn’t dare get in the middle of that.

“I am mad,” Matthew grits out, knuckles white on his steering wheel while he drives slowly down the street. You just drove, in hopes you’d find what was obviously a house party and hopes your sisters were inside. You squint, hoping your eyes weren’t fooling you.

“Wait, pull over I think I see my neighbor,” You yell, Matthew’s foot flying on the break and you hop out. You were right, the bright orange tuft of hair you saw was like a miracle, “Hey Henry have you seen my sister?”

“Oh yeah I think she’s still inside,” Henry points to the house behind him, music blasting and a party in full swing, “I think she’s with Taryn.”

Matthew hops out of the car, grabbing your hand and pulling you into the house with him. Matthew’s fingers were laced with yours with every step he took, weaving through the crowd in hopes you’d see them. It took three bedrooms and a laundry room until you finally saw Taryn standing in the doorway. Her eyes went wide, and you pushed past them both to see Jamie with her head in the toilet. She was fine, well she was definitely in deep shit, but it wasn’t the worst thing to stumble upon. You throw her hair up, your attention moving to Matthew yelling at his sister in the hallway.

“Why didn’t you call someone,” Matthew yells, trying so damn hard to not completely snap on his baby sister. Taryn yells that her phone had died and then Jamie got sick and she didn’t know what to do. Of course they didn’t. You were probably more sympathetic, and you knew just how pissed off Matthew could get. You get up, pushing Taryn back into the bathroom and telling her to watch your sister.

“Calm down before you talk to her, please,” You plead, grabbing Matthew’s shoulders, “Besides, I sort of need some help right now.”

There it was. The very moment Matthew realized all along you could’ve been helping him. Your hands were wrapped around his biceps, a finger gently rubbing the skin right under the sleeve of his shirt. Every bit of anger disappeared from his body, a calm feeling replacing it. He knew you were right, and he’d be thankful for it later. Matthew knew he had to do the right thing by you, and he nodded, willing to follow any directions you gave him.

Matthew carried Jamie out of the house, getting both of your sisters in the car and finally heading back to your house. You knew he was still pissed off, a present frown on his face so you just took the chance. Just like he’d done before for you, you grabbed one of his hands from his steering wheel, lacing your fingers together. You caught the smile on his face, your thumb rubbing over his hand while his shoulders seemed to just relax. Once

Matthew finally helped you get Jamie inside, a night of laying on her floor to make sure she was okay ahead of you stood in the doorway with Matthew across from you.

“Thank you, I know we’re working on this friendship thing but you really didn’t have to do that,” You were eternally grateful, wrapping your arms around Matthew’s waist and tucking your head into his chest.

“You’d do the same thing for Taryn,” Matthew hums, knowing full well he definitely owed you for being Taryn’s replacement sibling with him and Brady in Canada for most of the year, “Get some rest okay?”

“Wait,” You stop Matthew, grabbing his hand one more time, “Don’t kill your sister, please she’s just a kid-”

“You’re way too easy on them,” Matthew chuckles, shaking his head at you. He knew Taryn was probably scared, and after he calmed a bit he understood where you were coming from. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to tell her that if she ever pulls that shit again - he was going to rat her out to their parents.

And when Matthew finally got back in the car, he could see his sister’s grin in the backseat, “Don’t say it.”

She held your hand, are you sure you’re not going to malfunction now?

***

Maybe you were spiraling.

You’d been waiting for this moment your entire life, now you had a few more weeks until camp started and you were afraid. You knew you were good enough, you had to be. But what if you weren’t? You could feel the anxiety settling in, a feeling you hadn’t felt since Matthew told you soccer wasn’t a real sport in fourth grace. It’d been eating at you for weeks, deteriorating any confidence you had left in yourself. So you started pushing yourself even harder. The harder you worked the less like you were to fuck it all up. Your muscles were sore, your body was tired and it was just all becoming too much.

And Matthew noticed.

You were pushing yourself too hard, even the time you were supposed to relax with your families before your seasons started was being spent training. He understood it, the term first round exit lived rent free in his head every single time his skate hit the ice over the summer, but that didn’t make it okay. You looked tired, sluggish while you moved because you were running twice a day and training in between. And he was pissed everyone seemed to be fine with it. You should start working harder then Matthew. If it bothers you so much maybe you could join her. It wasn’t that he was jealous of your work ethic, he was worried. Matthew’s eyes followed you as you ran past his house again. The third time in one day, he’d finally decided he had enough.

Matthew took the walk to your house, charming the pants off your mother for her to tell him you were upstairs because you just got back in. He knocks twice, hearing a come in from the other side.

“What are you doing here?” You question, rolling one of your ankles that just seemed to be getting more swollen every time you started to practice. Matthew noticed it, your hands freezing one you caught his gaze.

“You’re overworking yourself,” Matthew stands his ground, he knew you could have told him to fuck off because no one hates advice they didn’t ask for quite like him, “Don’t tell me I’m wrong.”

“That’s rich coming from the kid who’s played with more broken bones than anyone I know,” You remind him of a few mistakes Matthew’s made playing through injuries he really shouldn’t, “I’m not fucking frail.”

“That’s not what this is about,” Matthew scoffs, it never once crossed his mind that he thought he was tough enough to play through injuries but you weren’t, “It’s about taking a break so you don’t get hurt.”

“I’m fine,” You huff, getting up and trying your best to hide the pain in your ankle when you stood on it. You fell forward, Matthew catching you in his arms and putting you back down the edge of your bed.

“Tell me what’s wrong?” Matthew asks with soft eyes, he bent down to take your ankle in his hand and inspect it the best he could. It was swelling, probably from the amount of pressure you’d been putting on your body with no breaks.

“What if I never score a goal?” You whisper, teary eyes finally meeting Matthew’s. His brows shot up, alarmed at how one of the best athletes he’s ever seen could feel the same way he felt right before his first NHL game. Matthew sits down next to you, hand on your thigh while you let out a cry, “What if I’m just a bust? Like I get there and nothing works and I suck.”

“You’ll score eventually,” Matthew scoffs, understanding how ridiculous you sounded but just how you felt at the same time, “Everyone does.”

“You scored like four games into your fucking career Matt,” You remind him, Matthew smiling a bit that you knew that to begin with. It would have been impossible not to know, or pretend like you didn’t keep a few tabs on his career. Matthew Tkachuk was a legend in the making, and whether or not you could feel butterflies in your stomach every time he dropped the gloves was a secret you’d take to the grave.

“I got suspended my first season too,” Matthew jokes, a teary eyed laugh escaping your lips, “I’d put down money you score in your first game.”

“Well good thing you have money to lose,” You sigh dramatically, the fear of fucking up still on your mind.

“You’ll find your groove, all legends do,” Matthew promises, throwing his arm around your shoulders. You snuggled into his side, a realization that he was becoming a comforting presence in your life with each passing day, “And if you don’t, you can always hide out in Canada with me.”

“Matty!” The same silly nickname Matthew introduced himself to you on your very first day of kindergarten slipped through your lips without realizing it. Matthew hadn’t been called that in ages, but it was welcome from you. You push his chest, “That’s not making me feel any better.”

“What if I told you the only reason I was so mean to you was because I was intimidated by how talented you were?” Matthew confesses, scratching your head with his fingers, “If I win a cup one day I think I owe you one.”

Matthew didn’t mention that in his wildest fantasies of raising that cup over his head, you were there. He’d owe you one and he hoped it was because you were there for him until he got there. Matthew saw it the same way every time, you’d tell him to go see his parents first but he’d fly right past them to get to you - the person who accidentally pushed him to be his best. He had plenty of daydreams about you winning too, remembering times you used to brag you’d go to the Olympics one day, and he hoped you were right. He wanted to see you succeed, more than anything, and he thought it would work.

“Legally you have to let me drink out of it,” You muse, shutting your eyes and letting yourself just rest against Matthew.

“It has to be Bud Light,” Matthew teases while watching you fake a gag. You grab his outstretched hand, letting him pull you up. His hands rested on the side of your face, eyes flickering to your lips for just a second. He wanted to kiss you, but he knew he had to wait. Wait for you to be ready. Wait for you to settle down. Or even just wait until he thought he had a real shot at forever.

Forever with you.

***

Matthew was kind of pissed off.

The press didn’t bother him, none of that mattered and at the end of the day Matthew was able to sleep at night knowing he was a good teammate and a decent person most of the time. This one got him though, some writer criticizing the A on his jersey, and how someone who plays like he does didn’t deserve a letter.

A letter he earned.

You could tell something was off, the way Matthew had been running alongside you was aggressive to say the least. He insisted he came with you, something about forcing you to take breaks. He was being your friend, even though your sisters seemed to disagree. Taryn’s words were replaying in your head, Matt doesn’t even care if I get hurt. That didn’t mean anything, those two had no idea what love was and Matthew caring about you a little bit didn’t mean he loved you. Besides, the way he was acting right now told a completely different story.

“Are you mad at me?” You finally slow down, sitting on a rock that was next to the hiking trail you were on.

“No?” Matthew stops dead in his tracks, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach that he fucked this up too, “I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”

“No, tell me what’s wrong,” You push, crossing your arms and narrowing your eyes at Matthew. You could tell he was pressed about something, his neck covered in a red flush the same way it used to.

“Some stupid article about my letter, don’t worry about it,” Matthew grits, repeating his words again. His defense was up, even after you confessed to him that you were scared of not being enough.

“Get the fuck out of here with the tough guy act Matthew,” You challenge him, poking him right in the chest, “If we’re going to be friends you need to cut that shit out.”

“You really want to hear it?” Matthew barks back, fully yelling at you, “I’m tired of people thinking I don’t deserve things because I threw a few bad hits. Do you know how it feels to have everyone think you’re shitty? No you don’t, because you’re so fucking perfect that my own parents like you more than me.”

You stood there, silent while you tried to figure out how to tell him that simply wasn’t true. His entire body was shaking, the anger coursing through his veins like you’d seen many times before that. Matthew looked like he did the first time you hit a homerun in gym class, except this time it was because that same pressure never got released. You couldn’t come close to understanding the way he probably felt. You didn’t have the comparables in your own family, the constant reminders of Brady’s points tally compared to his, let alone the career his father had.

“Matty,” You whisper, grabbing his hand and running your fingers over the scars on his knuckles, “Why is this bothering you so much?”

You were sure this wasn’t the first time someone’s said he was a pest, and it sure as hell wasn’t going to be the last. Matthew sighed, the better part of his brain screaming at him to stop before he lost you too.

“I’ve felt like this forever,” Matthew whispers, eyes fixated on your hand in his, “From the moment I started getting bigger, there’s just been this pressure to play a certain way and act a certain way. I was a fucking kid, and while all of my friends got to go wherever they wanted all I ever did was practice. Then I finally get to where I wanted and I’m still getting shit on.”

“Except no one thinks you don’t deserve to be where you are,” You whisper, quiet words as if you were going to startle him, “And I know it doesn’t make up for things people say, but the people who love you think you deserve it.”

Matthew nods, pulling you into his arms and holding you close. Your arms wrapped around his waist, his words mumbled against your forehead, “I needed that.”

“I know,” You nod, smiling wide up at him, “And we need to practice more because you’re too slow, soooo catch me if you can!”

You slipped out of his arms, running away with a giggle and a smile. Matthew stopped for a second, his Neanderthal brain checking out your ass while you jogged away and his more logical one trying to process what just happened.

But what mattered most was that whatever you did worked and that meant something to Matthew.

***

Just admit you think he’s hot.

You wanted to kill your sister for making this weekend harder than it had to be. You were doing a good job at just friends with Matthew until Jamie was curled up in your bed while you packed for a lake trip with your friends. She pushed it for hours, rambling on about Matthew is actually your type and Taryn swears he’d be a good boyfriend if someone just understood him. The problem was, you were starting to see her point. Matthew had a glow up a few years ago, like one summer he’d gotten home and you were infatuated with him. It used to annoy you, because he’d been such an ass to you that you hated how attractive he was. Then things changed, and now looking at him was just frustrating you. You were terrified about the way he made you feel, like everything would be okay with one look of those blue eyes and a smirk. You felt like he had your back, a vast change from how you used to feel and it was just getting hard to hide it anymore.

Especially when Matthew looked like he did right now. He was holding himself up on the dock, shoulders broad and glistening in the moonlight above you. All your friends were inside, moving their party away from the water as the night lingered on. You wanted to run your fingers through his wet curls, the temptation was almost too much.

“I’ll be in Chicago a few times you know,” Matthew hums, enjoying the time alone he was getting with you. Anytime without Brady teasing him about what the Tkachuk’s had been referring to as the hand holding incident. He didn’t want them to think he didn’t want you, because he did, but he just needed to move at his own pace.

“You want to come see me play?” You ask, leaning back on the palms of your hands. You were surprised by the kind of man Matthew had become, it was a completely different person that he used to be. He cared so much about his loved ones, and you were starting to feel like maybe you had a place there.

“Actually thinking you could come see me play,” Matthew teases, sarcasm dripping from his words. You lifted your foot up, kicking some of the water below you to splash him, but he’d caught your ankle before you could. He stopped for a moment, running a thumb over your skin, “This looks better.”

“Don’t make you admit you were right,” You whine, Matthew swiftly pulling you into the water with him. You yelp, the water way too cold for any normal person, “It’s freezing.”

“C’mere then,” Matthew grabs your waist, pulling your body against his. His hands were splayed across your back, heat radiating off of them. One of your hands was on his shoulder, your other on his chest. You could feel his heart beating quickly, his eyes locked on yours, “Middle school Matthew would be so jealous of me right now.”

“Why’s that?” You hum, running your fingers along Matthew to play connect the dots with the beauty marks on his skin.

“Because he had the biggest crush on you,” Matthew confesses, his grip on you a little tighter, as if he was afraid you’d slip right through his fingers again, “But he was too thick headed to do anything about it.”

“What about grown up Matthew?” You ask, biting your lip. Matthew was practically holding you both up in the water, pressed so close together you could hear the hitch in his breath at your question, “Is he too thick headed to do something too?”

You wrapped your legs around Matthew’s waist, pressing your lips to his and tugging on the curls at the base of his neck. He pushed you up against the dock, helping you back up and pulling himself up next to you. You grabbed the back of his neck, latching your lips back on his. His hand was on your back, fingers toying with the back of your bathing suit, “Think we can get upstairs without anyone noticing?”

Matthew was cool most of the time. He never faltered under the pressure from his career, most of the time, and he definitely didn’t fold when it came to a pretty girl. You had him in the palm of your hand, every part of his brain malfunctioning in response to your words. You bit your lip, wondering if you’d read this entire situation. Matthew rubs a thumb along your lip, “When are you going to realize I’d do whatever you asked me to?”

The two of you snuck up the stairs, giggles and stolen kisses left in your wake. You open the door, Matthew’s hands still toying your bathing suit top, “Just take it off already Matty.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice,” Matthew breathes, his lips pressed against your neck while the garment falls to the floor, “So fucking beautiful.”

You back hit the mattress, Matthew’s hands running up your body slowly. Slow wasn’t in Matthew’s vocabulary, but he was taking his time just in case he never got this opportunity again. His fingers hooked under your bathing suit bottoms, sliding the wet fabric down your legs. You looked so beautiful, spread out just for Matthew like he’d dreamed about numerous times. His lips moved down to your breasts, teeth grazing against your skin while his tongue swirled against your nipple. You let out a breathy moan, Matthew’s ego boosting from the sound. You plucked at his curls while his mouth moved down to where you were craving him most, a gentle kiss to your clit, “Matty, please.”

“I didn’t peg you for the type to beg,” Matthew hums, pressing feather light kisses around your core. He stopped, gripping your thighs and looking up at you, “You sure about this?”

“Yes, please,” You whine, pussy dripping from Matthew’s hot breath fanning over it. Matthew chuckles darkly, fingers digging into your thighs when he flicked his tongue over your clit. You moan, completely unbothered by the blaring music a floor below you. Matthew didn’t seem to be bothered either, his tongue teasing your entrance while his nose rubbed against your clit, living for the way you were whimpering above him, “Matty-”

“Close baby?” Matthew groans, slipping a finger inside of you and curling it. You back arched, his name falling through your lips was enough to answer his question. Your legs shook, pleasure washing over your body from Matthew and all of it just felt so right. Matthew’s lips were latched to your skin until he finally met your eyes again. He smiles softly, nudging his nose with yours while you caught your breath, “So good for me.”

“Should’ve known you were that good with your mouth with the way you run it,” You tease smiling against his lips.

“Not with you, not anymore,” Matthew promises, soft blue eyes looking into yours, he meant it. He didn’t know how else to make it clearer, he wanted you. You kissed him slowly, hands trailing down his abs and stopping where his shorts hit his waist. Matthew kicks off his swim trunks, cock springing free. You grab the back of his neck, pulling your lips to his and rolling over top of him and straddling his waist. It was criminal how good you looked on top of him, “Gonna ride me babe?”

You nod, lining his dick up your core and lowering yourself on top of him. You let out a whine, Matthew’s smug smile on full display once he realized it was because of how big he was, “We don’t have to if my dick’s too big.”

“Oh shut up,” You roll your hips, watching the way Matthew’s head fell back, smirking because he really thought he had control here. Matthew’s hands gripped your waist, moving your hips faster. His finger flicked over your clit, causing you to lunge forward on top of him. Matthew flipped you over, wrapping a leg around his waist so he could hit your g-spot. Your hands gripped his shoulders, nails leaving scratches Matthew was going to wear pride later. You were seeing stars, noises leaving your throat you’d never even heard yourself make, “Fuck, Matty, I’m gonna cum again.”

“Look at me,” Matthew grabs your chin, pressing his forehead against yours and watching while your eyes roll back with pleasure. Your pussy clenched around him, his own cum spilling into you from the sensation, a loud groan following. Matthew pressed a kiss to your forehead, his cock still buried inside of you, “I wasn’t bullshitting you, I mean every word Y/N.”

“Matthew,” You whisper, running a finger along his back, “The distance…”

You didn’t mention everything, the way that if this was real it meant it would end up ripping you both apart. You were set to live in a different city, Matthew all the way in another country. The way your dreams included a spot on the U.S. National team, and the idea that wanting to be with Matthew would hold you back was terrifying. The way his dreams probably meant staying in Calgary forever, a C on his jersey and a cup over his head. It wasn’t going to be easy, you weren’t ever going to be the doting girlfriend he probably needed. There would be years of travel schedules and games that overlapped, and a part of you thought that maybe Matthew wouldn’t be able to do it. You’d get a year in and he’d find someone who would be there more and finally you’d end it.

“We can make it work, baby I want you, I always have and I probably always will,” Matthew starts, baring his soul to another person for the first time in his goddamn life, “I want to support your dreams and have you be there for mine. I’m all in here, I don’t know how else to tell you.”

“Can I have some time?” You plead, holding onto Matthew’s shoulders because you knew he could leave and tell you to never speak to him again. Matthew sighs, understanding the way you were shitting yourself about starting your own professional career, remembering the way rookie Matthew would have died before he considered settling down that first year, “Please don’t leave me-”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Matthew promises, rolling over and letting your rest on his chest, “I’ll wait for you.”

You smile, snuggling closer to him. Matthew didn’t sleep a minute that night, running every single scenario that could possibly happen with the two of you. Matthew was sure it would work out, it had to, because if it didn’t he wasn’t sure he’d be able to recover.

So now all he could was wait.

***

You know this is creepy right?

Matthew stares at Sam, punching his teammate in the arm lightly and telling him to shut up. He had a night off in Chicago, and after four straight hours of staring at your contact in his phone, Matthew finally just bought the tickets. He’d been good at keeping his distance, you needed space and he respected you enough to try and give it to you. He wasn’t doing so hot, Matthew consuming more soccer games than hockey games at this point. It started with your first game, because how was he supposed to just pretend like it wasn’t happening? You scored too, and it took everything in his power not to call you to tell you that not only was he right, he was insanely proud of you.

And he’d been hearing it from everyone. Your sister thought it was bullshit, Taryn and Jamie almost had Matthew on a flight to Chicago ready to show up like a terrible Lifetime movie. Brady thought it was hilarious the way Matthew was simping like this for one girl. Now, his teammates were on him, wondering why on Earth their friend who historically ran through women faster than he did mouthguards could be this hung up on someone he had a crush on in middle school.

“What number is she?” Sam asks, sipping the beer he forced Matthew to buy after making him go along with this.

“Nineteen,” Matthew smiles, pointing down at you on the field. You looked so happy, warming up with one of your teammates and a bright smile on your face. It seemed like a good fit, your team and your new city, and it made Matthew’s heart grow four sizes.

“Did she choose your number?” Sam jokes and Matthew mumbles something under his breath, “What?”

“It was her number first,” Matthew admits, not wanting to ever confess to another soul that you crossed his mind when he kept that camp number. Sam howled next to him, leaning over his seat and cracking up at his teammate.

You looked out in the crowd about halfway through the game, rubbing your eyes to make sure you weren’t seeing things. That tuft of curls was hard to miss, not to mention you knew just how big Matthew was. He was far too into the game to realize you caught him, up in arms about a call against your team that was valid but he’d argue it wasn’t. You asked for space, and it was getting harder to stick to your guns. Especially when he was making it so clear that he wanted this.

And whether or not you went to his game the next night, was a secret you’d take to the grave.

***

You were so close you could have tasted it.

While the final seconds of your season came to a close, all you could do was hold your head in your hands and hope no one caught the tears. A semi-final loss was devastating, but a semi-final loss where there wasn’t anything you could have done differently was even worse. Every athlete had off nights, a point Keith pushed right before you left to start your season, and he was right. Unfortunately, that was this game. Your biggest fear had come true and there was nothing you could do about it now. The game was over and you weren’t moving on.

And Matthew watched it.

Matthew promised you space, and he swore he’d give you the time you needed to settle down. But, this was something he couldn’t ignore. He could tell you were off, your entire rookie season was almost perfect and watching the way you folded during this game was gut wrenching. Matthew knew better than anyone, losing sucked. So he took the chance, grabbing his phone and shooting you a text he’d been waiting to send.

Doors open in Calgary.

and I’m so fucking proud of you.

It was the very last text you saw before you went to bed that night, tossing and turning for a few hours thinking about that loss. You couldn’t stop, every bone in your body was aching and you didn’t know what to do. So you bought a flight, packed your shit and was walking down the hallway to Matthew’s apartment without a second thought. You’d left him on read, calling Brady in the middle of the night and asking for his address, who gave it to you reluctantly with a reminder that if you needed to see him this badly you should rethink the needing time thing.

Matthew let out a groan when he had a bang at his door at three in the morning. Noah definitely was trying to walk into the wrong apartment again, and Matthew was grouchy when he whipped his door open. Except it wasn’t Noah after he’d had too many. It was you, teary eyed with your shit in a suitcase and a broken heart.

“I can’t stop thinking about it,” You admit, whispering something you never thought you’d say to anyone, “I just didn’t do enough-”

Matthew didn’t say a word, pulling you into a bone crushing hug and holding you as tightly as he could. You didn’t need to hear it from him, about how things were out of your control and you did your best. You didn’t want that right now, you wanted him, “Baby…”

“Everything hurts,” You whimper, finally just letting it all out. You were bruised and battered from the season, the physical pain alone was enough to upset you, let alone the loss you just took. Matthew carded his fingers through your hair, letting you soak his bare chest with your tears because he wouldn’t have it any other way. You came back to him. You came back to him when things got too tough because you trusted him to bring you some peace, and he was happy about it.

You passed out sometime after that, your tears finally running dry and the exchaustion taking over your body. Matthew woke up early the next day, grateful for the optional morning skate so he could stay with you for just a little bit longer. The sun was just starting to peek through the curtains in his room, a calm snowy morning in Calgary so the city was just a bit quieter. 

Matthew settled on breakfast, working away in his kitchen with the only thing he knew how to make. Tell her you made it, his mom’s words from just a few months prior in his head while he cooked. You padded out his bedroom, one of Matthew’s god awful beer shirts hanging from your frame while you wrapped your arms around his waist and pressed a kiss into his back, “It’s cold here.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Matthew hums, internally pumping his fist when he felt your lips form a smile against his skin. You turned your head, pressing your cheek against his against and letting out a laugh, “What’s so funny?”

“You framed my jersey?” You ask, your eye catching a jersey that was way too familiar. It was hung up beside Matthew’s from his first all star game, both number nineteens staring back at you.

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re my favorite player,” Matthew hums, a blush covering his cheeks, “I’m so proud of you.”

“You keep saying that,” Matthew finally turns around, pressing a quick peck to your lips.

“I’ll keep saying it long after we both retire,” Matthew speaks, words clear and sure because he’s had plenty of time to practice this one, “I’ll say it when you win a World Cup gold, I’ll say it when we have kids, I’ll say when you play at the Olympics. I’m going to say it over and over again.”

“But…” You trail off, all of those same demons you’d been fighting when it came to your whatever this was with Matthew, “What I’m not around enough for you?”

Matthew knew what you were thinking about, he’d thought about it plenty too. There were countless sleepless nights where all he did was wonder if you’d find someone in Chicago who could support you better than he could. He’d do his best, he swore he would, but in order for you to be happy, your passion came first. There was always going to be times when he couldn’t be there and it killed him.

“You’re more than enough,” Matthew promises, his lips ghosting over yours, “I want you to seize every opportunity in the world, I just want to be there to tell you that I love you and use the goat emoji on Instagram when you do.”

You let out a laugh, Matthew’s smile wide enough to see his dimples you loved so much, “I think I want to stay a little while.”

“I think you should,” Matthew agrees, capturing your lips in his, “Besides I’m playing tonight and I think I need to show off now.”

“You’re a cocky asshole.”

“But now I’m your cocky asshole.”

***

One year Later

You had a good reason to be late.

You swore Matthew couldn’t possibly be mad at you for this one. You’d missed your flight to Calgary, a few days post a second loss in the semi finals that you’d been taking much better this time around. Mainly because Matthew wasn’t there, but his stupid smile and words of encouragement where there on facetime hours later. That wasn’t the reason you were late, the reason you were late was because you’d received the most insane news of your life and it was an important phone or that flight. You’d caught the next one, legs shaking not to just call him and share the news, but you needed to tell him in person.

You’d finally gotten by the doors to the locker room entrance, out of breath from spriting there from your cab. There was Matthew, tapping his phone and staring at the clock on his phone with furrowed eyebrows. He was still in his suit, tie pulled a little looser, a nervous habit you realized he had some time ago, “Matty-”

“Don’t call me that just because you know you’re late,” Matthew huffs, already ready for the pout that would have followed so he’d forget all about the fact that you promised you’d make it on time. He holds his hand out, waiting for the handshake he made up in the car on the way to the first game you went to after he finally locked it down. You laugh, slapping your hand against his and letting him pull you closer for a kiss.

“They want me on the National Team,” You mumble against his lips, the words spilling out of your mouth when you pull away with an excited smile. Matthew stood there stunned, while you shuffled your feet in the little dance you did when you were really happy. He grabs your cheeks, pressing kisses to your lips again and again.

“We’re celebrating after this, holy shit,” Matthew cheers, still stunned by your news, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, now go score a few goals so we have even more to celebrate,” You kiss him one more time, pushing him before the door before he was late.

“Anything I do seems unimportant now!” Matthew calls out, a light laugh to his voice as he watched you walk away to go sit in the stands.

And that’s how Matthew thought it should be.

[kingsansa]

Totally respect your'e not in the mood to write the grenade chapter so how about you give us a hint not of the grenade but something innocuous about the next chapter iono like where Sansa takes Robbie to go explore parts of Chicago or how Catelyn has bribed the doorman to spy on Sansa for her?

It doesn’t take long for her to figure out that there are some upsides to not living underneath the same roof as her parents and siblings.

Just some. 

“Wait,” Her arms fly around his shoulders, her skin sticking to his. “Stay.”

They’re both panting. His breath control is better than hers for obvious reasons. Still, that doesn’t stop her from wrapping her legs around his waist even tighter so that he’s secure in the cradle of her hips. Jon grins at that, boyish, sweaty, and hers. 

“I’m heavy,” His curls tickle her forehead. 

“Crush me.” She demands, touch drunk. 

He doesn’t, but he shifts so that half of his weight is on the bed rather than fully on top of her, pulling out. His lips skim her pulse, then her clavicle, as his breath whistles hot against her chest.

“I was supposed to be downstairs 30 minutes ago.” He murmurs against her skin.

30 minutes ago, he woke up to go down to the gym. 30 minutes ago, she had the best idea of her life. Then 30 minutes ago, she tugged him back into bed. Their bed, where they didn’t have to worry about overbearing parents or nosy and noisy siblings—

Their bed. Their home. Theirs. 

Sansa drags his fingers through his hair. “Might as well just stay here.” 

His laugh warms her all over, as he meets her eyes. “Might as well, huh?”

She’s barely even gotten out a response when his fingers find her stomach, making her writhe in laughter, as his scruff finds her throat, rasping delightfully against her skin. Her laugh drops into a sigh like hum just as his mouth moves up to hover over hers—

A phone rings.

His, not hers. Her ringtone isn’t nearly as obnoxious—the sound of an alarm crackling through the bottom speakers. His throat rumbles against her skin, which tickles. 

“Who is it?” asks Sansa.

“Who cares?” Jon mutters, before he kisses her in full.

They’re granted a minute of peace after the phone goes silent. His fingers are gliding up her rib cage, chasing the sound from her mind completely, until—

It starts right back up again.

Her hands find his chest mid kiss. “Is it important?”

“This is important.” His hands circle her wrist, as he pulls her up close to him. 

When the phone goes silent the second time, it almost immediately starts back up again. 

“Fuck,” Jon says, before she can even say anything. Grinding his jaw, he disentangles his limbs from hers to snatch his phone off the nightstand, smushing it to his face. 

“What?”

It’s 7:05 in the morning. What, indeed. Who’s calling him three times at seven in the morning?

Sansa’s stomach turns a little, but she ignores it. Ignores Harry’s voice in the back of her head, too, as she snuggles closer to him, half sitting up. 

“At home.” His voice is muffled from dragging his palm down his face.. “I already said I wasn’t coming.”

A male voice. She tries not to relax out of relief. She’s close enough that she can hear a faint answer of disbelief, followed by a demand for an explanation. 

“My girl and my kid got in yesterday. We have plans.”

Her heart skips a beat, then a whole flight of stairs.

My girl. 

It’s so stupid considering everything he said last night about giving Issher the ring and building a life together and growing old together, this is what really gets her. My girl. 

Because it makes his promise feel a lot more real. 

“I did.” Jon says shortly. “Like 5 million times.”

Sansa presses her cheek into back, banding an arm around his waist, ignoring the stupid smile threatening to melt her face off. Her heart doing jumping jacks in her chest. Her hope—

No. 

She doesn’t have to do that anymore. 

“We have plans?” 

She’s sitting up fully, arms wrapped around his shoulders, face buried in his neck so he can’t see how ridiculously  pink and pleased her face is. 

“The aquarium.” He kisses the back of her hand, and she can feel his grin against her skin. “They have starfish. And cotton candy. Team bonding can wait.”

Hockey can wait. 

She never, ever thought she’d hear those words come out of his mouth. 

“What?” He says, when she hugs him even tighter, but doesn’t say anything. 

Three words on the tip of her tongue, warm and true, but still so, so heavy. Even with as happy as she is right now.

She swallows them down for another day. She feels a little less lighter. But that’s okay.

On the nightstand, the baby monitor detects rustling. A small whimper sounds through the speakers, a cross between a yawn and a bleary huff. 

“I thought we’d have a little more time.” Jon says under his breath, regretful. But not really. Not in the slightest. 

He kisses her hand again.

Sansa kisses his jaw, heart soaring rather than falling.

“We’ve got all the time in the world.” She says, rising. “Hurry up and get down to the gym so we can leave. I want my cotton candy.”