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hxlxnaaa · 2 months ago

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𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐛 ─ ⊹ ⊱ ☆ ⊰ ⊹ ─ 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬

★ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: it's your senior year at the aerospace academy, and over the course of nine months, your connection with caleb shifts from mere classmates and acquaintances to something deeper. but there's one problem—the girl he loves back home.

★ 𝐜𝐰/𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬: first person pov, non-mc reader, feminine implied reader, some connections to caleb’s 4-star tender moments, angst/hurt + no comfort, kinda long but fast paced

★ 𝐰𝐜: 11.1k

★ 𝐚/𝐧: longest fic i've written yet, go me woot woot :p i wanted to write heartbreak so here it is. pls do not have your therapist bill me, thx! anyways when caleb goes, ‘i wont get a girlfriend’ in stage observer, he sounds kinda down, right? yeah imagine hes thinking about you (the reader) in this as he says that LOL. okay, (try to) enjoy lovelies!! <3

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝!

I never believed I’d let something like this happen to me.

Yet it crept in quietly, the way all irreversible things do. A shift so subtle I almost missed it, until I was already too deep to turn back.

It was in the lingering glances, in the way the air felt charged in the spaces between us. In the laughter that came too easily, the silences that felt safe, the moments that stretched just a little too long. It was in the way he looked at me; like maybe, for a second, he saw something more.

But love, if you can call it that, isn’t always kind. Sometimes, it’s a quiet war. A battle between logic and longing, between what’s real and what’s only ever been wishful thinking. And when the person you want is still holding onto someone else, someone they can’t seem to let go of, where does that leave you?

I swore I’d keep my balance; though gravity has a mind of its own.

August-

It was breezy, as are most August days in Skyhaven. Fumbling my fingers through my hair, desperately trying to comb through any loose strands from the wind, I tried to make myself look somewhat presentable for my first day of classes. It was senior year, and I wanted to make the most of it for once, as it felt like the past few years had been me barely passing by.

I sat down in the lecture hall, music blaring through my headphones as I fidgeted nervously with the pen in my hand. It wasn’t long before a figure sat next to me in my peripheral, and I internally groaned.

‘You have this whole ass lecture hall with so many empty seats in this row, and you sit right next to me. Dick.’ I thought to myself.

Seeing the person tap on my desk, I glanced over to notice it was Caleb.

We had crossed paths before, orbiting the same social circles through mutual friends. Our interactions had been fleeting, exchanged pleasantries at gatherings or brief moments of conversation that never really dug beneath the surface.

His lips moved as he spoke but I didn’t hear a word he said over the sound of my music. I pulled one of the speakers off my ear, “What?”

“Well first I said ‘hey, what's up?’, then told you I’m glad to know someone in this class.” Caleb smiled, “But then I realized you weren’t listening.”

His grin was infectious. Then again, everything about him was. Caleb was a campus favorite, and for good reason; his effortless charm and magnetic charisma drew everyone in, leaving them captivated.

I smiled back, “I would’ve listened, I just couldn’t hear you.”

“Shoulda tapped you sooner then.”

We talked as more people trickled in, and conversation with him flowed effortlessly. He was almost unfairly likable, the kind of person who won people over without even trying, it was no wonder he had everyone wrapped around his finger.

“Yeah, I failed this class the first time around, so if I want to graduate this spring, I have to finally retake it,” Caleb sighed, shaking his head. “The Caleb failed a class? No way…” Gasping, I clutched my chest in mock shock. “I had no idea you were even capable of failure, Mr. Perfect.”

His lips twitched into a smile at the nickname, but his eyes betrayed him. He shrugged, “Well, I can do it this time around.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I totally didn’t realize I needed this credit.” I poked his hand resting on his desk with my pen, “We’re in this together.”

The professor was about halfway through the syllabus when Caleb started writing on my notebook.

Do you have class after this?

I looked over at him, mouthing “No”. Not for a few hours, I wrote back.

Hangout with me after this then

And that’s how I ended up sitting in the quad with Caleb, with the itchy grass prickling my legs and a sweating can of soda in my hand beneath the warm August sun. Yet Caleb’s presence was still warmer; my cheeks and stomach hurt from laughter, and every giggle of mine only fueled the fire of his jokes.

As the laughter died down, Caleb leaned back on his hands, squinting up at the sky. “Man, I forgot how nice it is to just sit around like this on campus. No deadlines yet, no stress… just kinda existing.”

I took a sip of my soda, nudging his knee with mine. “You make it sound like you’re constantly suffering.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I mean, maybe a little. Gotta keep up the ‘Mr. Perfect’ image, right?”

I tilted my head, studying him. For a second, he looked almost… tired. Like there was more he wanted to say but wasn’t sure how.

“You know you don’t have to be perfect all the time, right?” I said, softer now. “You’re allowed to mess up. You’re allowed to breathe.”

He glanced at me, something flickering in his eyes—surprise, maybe. Or relief. Then, just as quickly, his signature grin returned. “Good to know I’ve got my personal cheerleader.”

I rolled my eyes, but my smile gave me away. “More like your reality check.”

“Even better.” He bumped his shoulder against mine, before laying down on the ground. The sunlight hit his eyes just right, making them glimmer like polished amethyst. With his brown hair tousled against the grass and his shirt riding up just enough to reveal a hint of skin, it wasn’t hard to see why all the girls fawned over him. When it came to looks, Caleb really did live up to the whole Mr. Perfect thing.

“What about you?” Caleb glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “What’s your kryptonite?”

I raised a brow. “Come again?”

He smirked. “Your weakness. What takes you down every time?”

I pretended to think it over, then shot him a cheeky grin. “Probably failure.”

Caleb let out a soft laugh, propping his head up on his elbow. “Alright, I’m sensing some hypocrisy here.”

“It’s not hypocrisy,” I defended, shrugging. “I just fail to take my own advice.”

He tapped his chin, feigning deep thought. “Mm, no, that just makes you a hypocrite. But hey, at least you’re self-aware, Miss perfect.”

Something between us just clicked, that unspoken feeling when you know you’re going to get along with someone. Nothing about our conversation felt forced, it unfolded with an ease that caught us both off guard. I don’t think either of us saw this coming, but somehow, it just made sense.

And so it continued; messing around with Caleb in class, then hanging out in the quad afterward. Our dynamic quickly shifted from casual acquaintances to good friends as our connection bled beyond the classroom. The progression was almost rapid; natural, but undeniable.

Conversations with him came naturally, filled with dry humor, shared ambition, and the kind of unspoken understanding that made being around each other feel easy. We started saving seats for each other without thinking, sharing notes even when we both knew we hadn’t written anything useful, and lingering just a little longer after class, stretching out the moments before we had to part ways.

Afternoons in the quad turned into grabbing coffee, which turned into late-night study sessions that often had more laughing than actual studying. It wasn’t just that we got along; we started to seek each other out, gravitating toward one another like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It wasn’t just about sharing space; it was about the way we easily fit into each other’s lives like we had always been meant to.

I found myself opening up in ways I never had before, trusting Caleb with thoughts I usually kept locked away. And in return, he let me see past the carefully constructed walls he had built.

I learned a lot about Caleb in our time spent together; I learned about his dreams and aspirations, his worries and fears, his home back in Linkon and how much of it still clung to him.

And her.

I learned about her.

MC; the kind of nickname all the cool girls had, lifted from their initials like it had always belonged to them. She was innocent, pretty, just the right balance of book-smart and blissfully unaware. The kind of girl who never had to try too hard because the world seemed to bend in her favor. She was perfect in that way, and maybe that’s why Caleb felt like he had to be perfect, too.

She had been his childhood friend, raised alongside him by his gran, their lives tangled together like roots beneath the same old house.

“She’s your sister?” I had asked, unsure of the dynamic.

Caleb hesitated, something unreadable flickering across his face. “No,” he said finally, his voice careful. “Not really. We just grew up together.”

She was everything to him, the quiet force that shaped him in ways he probably didn’t even realize. Everything he did, every careful step he took, was in her image. And suddenly, it all made sense.

The way Caleb kept people at arm’s length, the reason he didn’t have many real friends at the Academy. It wasn't because he didn’t want them, it was because a part of him was still anchored somewhere else; belonged to someone else.

Once, we had sat on the steps outside one of the buildings, his elbows on his knees, staring out at nothing in particular.

“You never really let people in.” I looked over at him, my statement coming out of nowhere.

He let out a short breath, almost a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Was it that obvious?”

“I didn’t get it back then. Thought maybe you just had too many friends to be really close with any of them.”

He was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. “It wasn’t that,” he admitted. “I just… I already had MC. Growing up the way we did, it was always just us. I guess I never really learned how to need anyone else.”

I glanced at him, but his eyes stayed on the horizon, lost in something I couldn’t see.

“You still do that, you know,” I said. “Keep people just enough away.”

He swallowed hard, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Some habits don’t go away easy.”

“So why am I an exception?”

Caleb exhaled slowly, rubbing his hands together. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Maybe because you didn’t try to push your way in. You just… stayed.”

I frowned. “That’s it?”

He shook his head, a small, almost self-conscious smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “No. It’s more than that.” He glanced at me then, something raw in his eyes. “You just understand the way I think, and nobody has before.”

A silence stretched between us, thick with things neither of us knew how to say.

“You make it sound like some big thing,” I murmured. “Like I did something special.”

He tilted his head slightly, considering me. “Maybe you did.”

His words awakened something in me, an ache settling in my chest. A quiet, gnawing feeling that signaled the start of an internal war; one I never really meant to step into, but quickly became hard to ignore. A silent competition I didn’t sign up for, but suddenly felt compelled to win.

It wasn’t against MC, not even Caleb himself.

But against the undeniable truth that no matter how close we got, I may never be the one he chooses.

September-

I barely notice the shift at first; the way August hands things off to September, smooth and effortless, like they’ve done this a million times before. Like they were always meant to meet. It feels familiar in a way I can’t explain, like stepping into a conversation that’s already halfway finished but somehow still knowing exactly what’s being said.

Things with Caleb had settled into a familiar rhythm. On campus, we were either together or in class, our days stitched together by shared moments. Being with him was refreshing, like the first warm breeze after a long winter, a quiet promise that brighter days were ahead. Silence with him was never awkward; it was understood. He always seemed to know what I was thinking, what I meant to say, even when I didn’t say it aloud.

I’d known Caleb for a while, but the way we grew close so quickly felt natural, like we’d been moving toward this all along. It was as if there had always been a space in my mind shaped just for him, waiting for the right moment for him to step in.

The cloudy sky above turned dark with the impending storm coming, but in a rush to meet Caleb, I had hardly noticed until I was halfway to his dorm. Cursing to myself, I silently tried to manifest the rain would hold off until I got back to my own dorm later.

It was movie day; every Friday afternoon after Caleb and I finished with our classes for the day we would have lunch and watch a movie. He was on hosting duty this week, and his dorm was on the other side of campus. If I got caught in this rain, I’d still have a bit of a walk in the storm before I arrived.

Almost as if laughing at me, the sky cracked with lightning and thunder rumbled, and I heard the pouring of rain before I felt it.

“Shit!” I picked up the pace, my sneakers splashing through puddles forming on the sidewalks as I started to run. Thunder booming in the sky, I mentally prepared to get struck by lightning and hoped I would be eaten by the campus birds before anyone found my body.

Trying to take a shortcut through the grass was the worst decision I could have made, as I wasn’t even two feet from the sidewalk before I slipped, landing on my back and getting waterboarded by the sky. “Argh!” I screeched, tears of frustration welling in the corners of my eyes. I sat up, glaring at the students staring at me as they passed by with their umbrellas.

My whole body was drenched by the time I was outside of Caleb’s; my hair, jeans, and sweater caked with mud (and probably a few stray leaves).

Making my way upstairs, my cheeks were pink from the cold and embarrassment as everyone in the building looked at me with confusion as my clothes and hair dripped all over the floor.

Caleb swung the door open before I could knock, something he’d do as he watched for me through the peephole in his door. Looking me up and down, the corners of his mouth twitched upward as he coughed, stifling a laugh.

He leaned against his door frame, “What happened here?”

“Shut up.” I pushed past him, annoyed but a bit guilty as I continued to drip all over his floor.

“You look like a sad wet cat,” Caleb patted my wet hair, frowning when he saw I was shivering, “a cold, sad wet cat.”

He started to rummage around the room, going through his drawers and closet, pulling out clothes. Tossing them at me, he pointed to the bathroom, “Go shower, I don’t want you all soppin’ wet on my stuff.”

I glanced at the clothes he handed me; hoodie, sweatpants…his boxers?

“Um, Caleb-”

He shook his head, “It’s only weird if you make it weird.”

Pursing my lips together I nodded, heading into the bathroom. I called out to him, “Caleb, do you have a towel?”

“Just use the one in there.”

Okay, we were close, but I wasn’t aware we had crossed into this land.

Peeling my clothes from my body, I threw them into a pile in the corner. I nearly moaned when the hot water hit my skin, and basked in the feeling for a bit. I stared at Caleb’s shampoo and body wash, conflicted on if I should actually use them or just try to rinse myself off the best I could.

Feeling the mud and tangles in my hair, I accepted defeat.

By the time I was done, clad in Caleb’s warm clothes with every inch of me smelling like him, it felt like he was smothering me. Like I was enveloped in one of his bear hugs.

I looked at myself in the mirror, and I felt my heart jump a bit. There was something about wearing a boy’s clothes as is, but Caleb’s clothes?

A bit ago, I had felt the shift before I could name it.

It’s in the way my eyes flick to my phone more often than before, in the way my chest tightens, just a little, when his name lights up my screen. It’s in the way my pulse stirs when I spot him at our usual spot in the library, twirling a pen between his fingers like he’s been waiting for me. Like he knew I’d show up (and he always did).

And maybe that’s what unsettles me the most, not just that I notice these things, but that a part of me already expects them. Like I’ve been pavloved.

It was ignorable at first, but it’s become this nagging feeling at the back of my mind. A tugging at my heart. It’s annoying, like a mosquito buzzing in my ear that’s too quick for me to smack it away.

The feeling that I didn’t want to just be friends anymore.

Coming out of the bathroom, Caleb was already sitting on the floor in front of his bed with two cups of tea and food, and my mouth watered when I saw he made my favorite.

He smiled at me, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “You look pretty good in those.”

Heat crept up my neck, and I let out a nervous laugh. “You’re just saying that because I look like you.”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Caleb nodded toward the bathroom. “Your hair’s still wet. Grab the towel.”

“It’s fine,” I shrugged. “It’s not that bad.”

He raised an eyebrow, arms crossing over his chest. “You already got caught in the rain once. Stay damp any longer, and you’ll catch a cold.” Then, with a cheeky grin, he added, “And I can’t be left alone in class. That’d be tragic.”

Rolling my eyes, I turned on my heel, grabbed the towel, and tossed it at him. “Right, of course. That’s all I am to you, entertainment in class.”

“For sure,” he said smoothly, catching the towel with ease. “Now sit.”

I sat beside him, reaching for the towel, but before I could take it, his hands found my shoulders, gently turning me away. I barely had time to protest before he took the towel himself, carefully running it through my damp hair.

“Caleb, I can do it myself—” I started, trying to shift back, but his grip was steady.

“Shush,” he murmured. “Let me help.”

I could have argued, but the warmth of his touch, the slow, deliberate way he moved, made it impossible to resist. My shoulders relaxed as he worked, the soft scratch of the towel against my scalp lulling me into stillness. Silence settled between us, easy and unspoken, the only sound the steady rhythm of rain tapping against the window. It was peaceful, grounding. For a moment, I let myself sink into it, let myself be cared for.

Before long Caleb tugged on a strand of my hair, “Okay, done.”

“Thank you” I pinched his cheek, his lips curved upwards and his eyes went soft.

“Now, what should we watch?”

“Nothing crazy, I don’t think my brain can function right now after today.”

Caleb laughed, flicking through the movies, before settling on some random cartoon. I sighed dramatically when I took a bite of the food he made, “Caleb, you’ve outdone yourself yet again.”

He looked at me mischievously before stealing a bite, and I punched his shoulder, “You have your own!”

His phone lit up and I saw the name, looking away as he picked it up to respond to the incoming texts.

MC.

A wedge of jealousy crept up my throat. It was our movie time, and here she was, almost on cue.

I always listen—really listen—when he talks about her. About how much she means to him, how she’s one of the only constants in his life. And it stings, sharper than I expect, because I want to be that constant. I don’t say it, of course. Instead, I throw myself deeper into the friendship, as if proving my place will make it true.

I laugh at his jokes a little too hard. Memorize the way he takes his coffee without meaning to. Notice the small things that make him tick, the way his expression shifts when he’s lost in thought, the songs he hums under his breath.

The internal competition I created against her wasn’t intentional, but once I noticed it, everything about it became hard to unsee.

He sets his phone down just as quickly as he picked it up, shooting me an apologetic look. “Sorry, MC just had a question about something.”

‘That stupid question could’ve waited’, I think, irritation curling in my chest. But I shove it down, nudging his shoulder with a forced smile. “S’alright. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, all good.” He settles back into the movie, but I barely hear it now. The feeling of her lingers, clinging to the space between us, and I try to shake it off.

His presence beside me soothes the sting, like a bandage over a wound, and I start to loosen up, letting my head rest against the bed. The warmth of his clothes, the comfort of a full stomach, the quiet rhythm of rain against the window; it all starts to pull me under, drowsiness settling into my bones. My eyelids grow heavy, and I barely register the way Caleb shifts beside me.

“Sleepy?” His voice is soft, almost amused.

I peek one eye open, managing a lazy smile. “A bit.”

Without a word, he moves closer, wrapping an arm around the back of my neck. His hand finds the side of my head, cradling it gently as he guides me to rest against his shoulder. The touch is careful, deliberate, something more than our usual play punches and casual grabs in a crowd. This is different. More intimate.

For a moment, I forgot about the competition. Because my head fits perfectly in the crook of his neck, and the slow, absentminded way his fingers trace shapes on my shoulder feels so easy, so natural. He watches the TV like this is nothing new, like having me this close is just the way things are meant to be. And for the first time I let myself believe, just for a second, that maybe he feels the same way about me too.

October-

There's a charge in the air alongside the change in leaves, a quiet pull I feel every time Caleb leans in a little too close or looks at me like I’m the only person in the room.

But then, there’s her.

She’s not here, but she is. Always lingering in the pauses between sentences, in the spaces Caleb leaves open without realizing it. She’s in the way his face softens when he says her name, in the light that sparks behind his eyes when he talks about her. And I hate how it makes me feel; petty, ridiculous, like I’ve stumbled into a battle I was never meant to fight.

I just can’t shake it.

Because lately, there’s been something else. An even bigger shift, subtle, but impossible to ignore. The way his hand lingers a beat too long when he passes me something, like he’s reluctant to let go. The way his gaze finds me, even in a crowded room, like I’m the only person worth looking at. The late-night texts, filled with thoughts that could have waited but never do.

Maybe I’m imagining it. Maybe I’m just reading too much into things, seeing what I want to see. But a part of me, deep down, knows he feels this too.

My phone began to ring as I was getting ready for the Senior Gala the Academy holds every year for those graduating in the spring.

“Yes?” I already know who it is without looking.

Caleb’s voice drifts through the speaker, soft and warm. “Are you almost ready, honey?” The pet name catches me off guard, a shy smile pulling at my lips before I can stop it. He’d started using it recently, and I hadn’t dared to question it out of the fear it would stop.

He was my date tonight (as friends of course), and I was running a little behind.

“I still have to finish my makeup, do my hair, and put on my dress,” I groaned in frustration, “I’m sorry Caleb, I’m trying to go as fast as I can.”

He laughs sweetly, “Well, I’m almost there. I can help you out.”

“Help me…?”

“Yep, Captain Caleb is gonna be there to save the night. See you soon!”

The phone clicks before I can respond, and not a moment later, Caleb is strolling through my door like he owns the place.

I turned to face him, and my breath caught in my throat. His suit was a deep navy that matched my dress, the rich fabric adorned with his pilot and aviator pins. His hair, tousled yet intentional, framed a face that always felt like home. Caleb stood there composed, sharp but still him; and there was something about the way the badges gleamed against his chest that nearly brought me to my knees.

His gaze sweeps over my desk, taking in the chaos of makeup scattered around, before pausing on my curling iron.

“Is this plugged in?” He picks it up, inspecting it.

“Caleb, you are not putting that anywhere near my head.” I instinctively flinch as he reaches for a lock of my hair.

But he’s quick, his hand firmly grasping the top of my head, holding it still. “I always helped MC with her hair. I know my way around a curling iron.”

The words land harder than he meant, and I can’t help but squint at him, a frown tugging at my lips. He misreads it, thinking I’m questioning him, and gives me a serious look.

“Trust me here.”

I let the assumption hang in the air, letting him believe my discontent is just doubt. I sigh, giving in, “Alright, but if you make me look bad for my Senior Gala, I will hate you forever.”

He starts to section my hair and I raise my brows in approval, ‘Okay, yeah,’ I think, ‘Maybe he does have this’.

Caleb’s touch is gentle as I apply my mascara and lipstick, careful not to mess me up, his hands steady as he moves around me. It doesn’t take long before he pulls back, setting the curling iron down as I finish up with the last touches of my makeup.

“We make a pretty good team, don’t we?” His hands rest on my shoulders as he leans down, chin lightly resting on the top of my head, both of us watching our reflection in the mirror.

I tilt my head, inspecting my hair with a playful smile, running my fingers through a few strands. “I suppose you did an okay job.”

He pinches the bridge of my nose, a mock scowl crossing his face. Laughing, I stand up, reaching for my dress hanging in the closet.

I headed to the bathroom, “I’ll be out in a sec.”

I slipped the dress on, the blue silk molding to my body, the delicate sleeves draping off my shoulders. It was beautiful, I was beautiful; but as I caught my reflection, doubt crept in. Would I look out of place next to Caleb? He was all polished perfection, and I was just… me. Not bad, but not him.

She would look perfect beside him.

‘No.’ I straightened my shoulders. ‘I’m Caleb’s date tonight, not her. He could have asked her, but he didn’t. He chose me. It’s just us.’

Fumbling with the zipper, I let out a frustrated breath before finally pulling the door open. “Caleb, can you help me with this?”

His head snapped up, eyes widening as a flush crept up his cheeks. “Of course.”

Caleb stepped forward, hesitating for just a moment before his fingers brushed against my back. His touch was warm, a stark contrast to the cool fabric clinging to my skin. Gently, he gathered the dress, his knuckles ghosting along my spine as he found the zipper.

I held my breath.

Slowly, he pulled it up, the quiet sound of the zipper filling the space between us. With each inch, his fingertips lingered, tracing the curve of my back, sending shivers down my arms. My skin felt hypersensitive, like every nerve was tuned to him and him alone.

When he reached the top, he didn’t step away. Instead, his fingers grazed the nape of my neck, adjusting the fabric, smoothing it into place. His breath was warm against my shoulder, his voice barely above a whisper.

“There,” he murmured. “Perfect.”

I turned slightly, just enough to catch his gaze. His eyes flickered down to my lips, then back up, as if caught in some silent battle with himself. The air between us was thick, charged, pulling me toward him.

“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice barely steady.

His hand lingered for just a second longer before he finally let go, stepping back, but not too far. Not far at all.

I turned around slowly, my heart pounding as I met his gaze. His eyes traced the length of me, starting at the hem of my dress and lingering as they traveled upward, taking in every detail before finally meeting mine.

Caleb swallowed, his lips parting slightly as if he had something to say but couldn’t quite find the words. Then, as if shaken from a spell, he smiled—soft, almost bashful.

“You look beautiful.”

His voice was quiet, reverent, like he wasn’t just saying it, but feeling it. Like the words weren’t enough to capture what he saw.

Warmth spread through me, creeping up my neck, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. I’d spent so much time wondering if I looked right beside him, if I fit; but now, standing here, bathed in the glow of his gaze, I didn’t feel out of place.

I felt chosen.

“Hold your compliments until you’ve seen the whole look,” I teased, holding up a finger to silence him. “I still need to put on my shoes and pins.”

Caleb smirked. “Need help with those too?”

I rolled my eyes. “I think I can manage strapping on my own heels and pinning a badge to my dress, thanks.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” He plucked my heels off the dresser, twirling them lazily around his finger, his gaze practically daring me to challenge him.

I huffed but gave in, sinking into my chair. “Fine.”

Caleb knelt in front of me, his fingers warm as they wrapped around my ankle, steady but gentle as if I were something delicate. He slipped the first shoe on, fastening the strap with practiced ease.

“I can do most things myself, y’know,” I muttered, though my voice lacked its usual bite.

“I know.” His fingers lingered against my skin for a fraction too long before he reached for the second shoe. “I just like to be helpful.”

But he still wouldn’t look at me when he said it, and something about the way his voice softened made me think he wasn’t just talking about shoes.

I stood as he finished, reaching for my pins amidst the clutter of my desk and fastening them carefully over my heart. Turning to the mirror, I shifted from side to side, checking every angle, making sure everything was just right.

I glanced back at Caleb. “Are you sure I look okay?”

Without hesitation, he took my hand and lifted it into the air. “Twirl. Let me see.”

I spun for him, the silk of my dress catching the light, and when I turned back, there was something bright in his eyes, something warm, something real.

“You look more than okay,” he said, voice sure with conviction. “I promise.”

I held out my pinky. “Pinky promise?”

He grinned, hooking his finger around mine. “Pinky promise.”

“Lock it,” I reminded him, and he chuckled before pressing his thumb against mine, sealing the deal.

His fingers lingered for a second before he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Now come on, we’re definitely going to be late.”

When we arrived at the gala, it didn’t take long for Caleb to be swept away by a group of guys he often talked to. I lingered around, exchanging polite small talk with a few people I still considered friends. I didn’t see them much anymore, as most of my time was spent with Caleb.

“So, are you two dating?” one of the girls asked, tilting her head. “I thought he was seeing that girl from his hometown… What was her name again?”

“MC.” I said, a little too quickly.

“Right, that’s the one.”

I forced a smile. “No, we’re just good friends.”

But even as I said it, my gaze drifted to where he stood, laughing easily with his own friends, his posture loose and carefree. A quiet ache settled in my chest.

I wanted to be next to him.

But then again, I was; just not in the way they all saw. I knew him in moments no one else did, in the quiet spaces between conversations, in the unspoken gestures and late-night confessions.

And for now, that was enough. It had to be.

I excused myself from the conversation, weaving through the crowd until I reached one of the drink tables. Grabbing a glass, I slipped into the quieter halls, letting the hum of conversation and music fade behind me. The walls were lined with grand, extravagant paintings, each one demanding attention. I paused in front of a few, sipping my drink as I took them in, letting my mind settle.

I wasn’t antisocial, I could hold my own in a room full of people, I just needed a break from the carefully choreographed chaos of the ballroom.

The rhythmic click of shoes against marble echoed through the quiet hallway, followed by a familiar, soft laugh.

“How did I know I’d find you out here?”

I hummed against the rim of my glass. “Maybe because you can read my mind.”

Caleb shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “Sometimes I wish I could.” Then, extending his hand toward me, he asked, “Dance with me?”

I glanced at his outstretched palm. “Out here?”

He tilted his head playfully. “Well, my possible mind-reading powers tell me you’d rather not go back in there.”

A slow smile spread across my face as I laced my fingers with his. “I think you might be psychic.”

The distant music from the ballroom barely reached us, muffled and softened by the grand halls, but somehow, that only made the moment feel more intimate. Caleb’s hands found my waist, warm and steady, while mine slipped around the back of his neck.

He guided us into a slow, easy rhythm. I rested my head just below his chin, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath the fabric of his suit.

We moved without words; his breath against my hair was the only thing I could focus on, like everything else had paused around us.

The world outside the two of us faded, the grand chandelier lights dimming, the chatter and laughter of the crowd becoming a distant murmur. All that remained was the softness of the moment, our steps in sync, and the quiet, unspoken connection between us.

I could feel his thumb tracing gentle patterns against my back, the touch soft in a way that wasn’t rushed. There was no need to hurry, no need to speak. We simply existed in this space, suspended between the melody and the quiet.

His fingers moved up to brush a lock of hair behind my ear, the gesture tender, almost shy. I looked up at him, and his eyes held mine, reassuring.

“You feel like home,” he murmured, so quietly I almost thought I imagined it.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. Instead, I leaned in a little closer, savoring the rhythm of our slow dance, the feeling of him holding me like this, as if the rest of the world didn’t matter at all.

“Do you want to get out of here?” Caleb tapped my shoulder lightly, pulling away just enough for the space between us to feel suddenly too wide. It wasn’t much, but the shift left a coldness in the air, and I immediately wanted to fall back into him.

“Where are you thinking?” I asked.

He pointed toward the window. “There’s a park across the street. We could go there. Away from all… this.” He gestured vaguely, as if the chaos of the gala was still buzzing around us.

I nodded without hesitation, and soon we found ourselves at the park, sitting on an old, rusty swing set. The contrast was stark; our lavish clothes against the worn, weathered metal, but I didn’t care. My dress snagged on the rust as I sat down, but I was too lost in the quiet to be bothered by it. All I wanted was this moment, the stillness, just the two of us away from everything else.

The night air wrapped around us, cool and still, with only the rhythmic creak of the swings and the occasional whisper of wind through the trees breaking the silence. It felt like we existed in a world separate from everything else, suspended in something fragile, something fleeting.

Caleb leaned back against the chain of his swing, his fingers gripping the metal tightly as he looked at me again. That look—like he could see through me, past all the walls I tried so hard to keep up. My pulse hammered in my chest under his gaze.

“You ever feel like… you don’t know where you stand with someone?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes flickered, something unreadable passing through them. “Yeah,” he said quietly, but with a certainty that made my stomach twist. “All the time.”

For a second, just a fleeting, breathless second; I wondered if he meant me.

I forced a smile, trying to ease the tension hanging between us. I nudged my swing into his, making it sway slightly. “You have a really good sense of self-restraint,” I teased, the words a shield to keep myself from feeling too much. “It’s almost a talent.”

His lips curved, but it was thin, hollow—there was something sad in it. “Is that a bad thing?”

I tilted my head, watching him. “No… well, maybe. Sometimes, I guess. I think you have a habit of depriving yourself of what you really want.”

Caleb looked down, his boot dragging against the dirt beneath him. “What if I can’t have what I want?” His voice was rougher now, lower. “What if it’s not allowed?”

I reached forward, gripping the chain of his swing, giving it a slight shake to bring his eyes back to mine. “If it’s within your reach, it’s legal, and you’re not hurting anyone, I don’t see a problem.” My breath hitched, and my chest tightened as I spoke. “If I had to guess, you’re trying to convince yourself you can’t have something.”

His exhale was shaky, and a bitter laugh barely escaped him. “Maybe, yeah.”

I saw it then—the decision in his eyes, the surrender.

And then, he moved.

Caleb leaned in first, closing the space between us with a quiet certainty that made my breath catch. I barely had time to react before his lips met mine; soft, warm, real. My fingers clenched around the swing’s chain for balance, but it didn’t matter. My whole world had already tilted.

The kiss started slow, tentative, but it didn’t stay that way for long. Caleb’s hand found my jaw, his fingers brushing my skin, grounding me as he deepened the kiss. There was no hesitation, no pulling away—only the quiet urgency of something inevitable, something long overdue.

I let myself sink into it, forget everything outside this moment. The cold night air, the weight of the past few months, the uncertainty of what came next—it all melted away as Caleb kissed me like he’d been waiting for this as long as I had.

When we finally broke apart, breathless and dazed, our foreheads nearly touching, Caleb let out a quiet, almost incredulous chuckle. His thumb brushed over my cheek, lingering there like he was memorizing the feel of me.

His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, neither of us said anything—just letting the silence settle between us like something sacred.

I tried to catch my breath, still feeling the warmth of his touch all over me. “I—uh, I didn’t think that was how tonight would go.”

“Me either,” he admitted softly.

I bit my lip, searching for something to say, but my thoughts were still tangled up in the kiss. The taste of him lingered, sweet and unfamiliar, like a song you’d heard once and couldn’t forget. The warmth of his breath was still etched into the space between us, and the silence felt heavy, like it was holding something fragile; something we both weren’t quite ready to name. I felt the words sitting at the edge of my mind, waiting, but they were lost in the echo of his touch, the weight of everything unsaid.

Caleb gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his touch so tender it almost felt like he was afraid to break something.

There was a quiet moment, just us sitting there, the air between us charged and delicate. Caleb’s fingers brushed along my wrist, and he gave a small, hesitant laugh.

“Is it weird to say I’m kind of glad we did this here?”

I smiled, the tension easing slightly. “Not at all. There’s something nice about having a moment that’s just ours.”

He glanced up at the dark sky, the stars scattered above us. “Yeah, it’s like we’re in our own little world. Just us.”

I took a deep breath, trying to settle the fluttering in my chest. “Then let’s not rush back. Let’s just stay here for a little longer.”

He grinned, that easy smile of his, and nodded. “I’m in.”

We swayed gently, both of us still lost in the quiet, the stillness of the park and the soft feeling that somehow, things were different now.

Better.

November-

The moment on the swings stays with me long after it’s over, a quiet echo that pulses in the back of my mind, haunting the spaces between my thoughts. It lingers in the way Caleb reaches for my hand without thinking, in the brief touches we exchange. The kiss, though, that’s the one that lingers the longest; the warmth of him, the certainty that wrapped around me like a promise.

He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t hold back.

I tell myself it was nothing, that it was just a rush, a fleeting spark that will eventually fade with time.

But it doesn’t.

Instead, it settles into the corners of me, a quiet undercurrent beneath everything else.

Everything is subtle at first, in the little things. His hand brushing against mine when we walk, his knee grazing mine when we sit side by side, the way his texts come more often now, careful and soft. When we’re together, it feels like we really have built our own little world, a space apart from everything else. And I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, it’s enough.

Though one night, I find him distant. His gaze fixed on his phone, jaw tight like he’s trying to hold something in. He barely speaks, his words sharp and short, his mind somewhere else entirely. I don’t ask, don’t press him for an answer. But I know.

It’s her.

And in that moment, something clicks.

I’m not the only one caught between two worlds. Caleb is, too.

The realization doesn’t ease the ache, it only makes it worse. Because if there’s a choice, I already know who he’ll choose.

Training’s getting harder, and graduation is only a few months away. The exhaustion is catching up to all of us, but I feel as if it's hitting me the hardest. Barely sleeping, too many long nights and even longer days, each one blending into the next until I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. I can feel my body wearing down, but I keep pushing, because what else is there to do? Let myself stop and think?

Ha.

No.

Caleb notices, though. He’s just as drained as I am, but he’s still there, watching me. He always makes sure I eat, even when I don’t feel like it. Reminds me to drink water when I forget, and always seems to be there after training, hanging around like he’s making sure I don’t collapse right there on the floor.

I try not to let it mean anything, try not to read too much into it. He’s just being a friend, right?

But it’s hard to ignore the way he lingers, the way his eyes flicker with something I can’t quite place when I sway slightly on my feet, too tired to stand straight. He doesn’t say anything, but his hand is there, steady on my arm, holding me like he doesn’t want to let go.

Caleb picked me up from the Academy airport after a training flight. We were supposed to grab lunch, but when his eyes landed on my exhausted form, something in his expression softened.

“Let’s get you home, yeah?” he said, his voice gentle.

I shook my head, trying to shake off the exhaustion. “No, I’m fine. Let’s just go—” But before I could finish, my body betrayed me, and I stumbled forward, barely able to keep myself upright.

Caleb’s hand was there in an instant, steadying me by the shoulder and wrapping his arm around me like he wasn’t letting go. “I think you’d fall asleep in your food and suffocate. When was the last time you slept?”

“Yesterday… no, Tuesday? I don’t really remember.”

I threw on my coat, but Caleb’s gaze was still on me, studying me like he could see right through the act I was trying to put on.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I muttered, glaring at him. “I’m fine. Let’s hurry before we miss the bus.”

Standing outside at the bus stop, I shivered against Caleb's arm around me (that was still trying to hold me up). He asked me about my day, if I had eaten breakfast; simple questions that didn’t require much thinking on my part and patient, non-expectant responses from him. I pressed my body closer into his, trying to soak up his warmth, and maybe even share a bit of my own.

He looked down at me and chuckled, ruffling my hair, “Just a bit longer, honey.”

And he was right, seconds later the bus pulled up. I was practically bouncing to get inside and out of this weather.

Snatching the window seat, I stuck my tongue out at Caleb as he situated himself next to me. “You’re evil, you know that right.”

The bus was a welcomed relief from the biting cold outside, the warmth inside wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. My coat was serving as a blanket, and I don’t even remember when I drifted off, but at some point I found myself asleep on Caleb’s shoulder.

I half-awoke to him nudging me gently. “Hey, this is my dorm, let’s get off here.”

Groggily, I shook my head, struggling to form a thought. “No, s’okay, my stop is next…”

He chuckled softly, and I could hear the concern in his voice. “I don’t trust you not to fall back asleep and miss your dorm.” His fingers brushed through my hair to comb the strands away from my eyes, his touch tender as he looked at me. “Just come back up with me. You can sleep there until you’re good to go back.”

I barely had the strength to argue, so I let him lead me, sleepily leaning against him the entire way. By the time we reached his room, I was barely conscious. He helped me take off my coat and shoes, and without a second thought, I crawled onto his bed, curling up into a ball as sleep claimed me again.

When I woke, the world outside was dark, and it took a moment to realize where I was. The blanket was soft against my skin, and I noticed Caleb beside me, his face relaxed in sleep. It was the first time I’d ever seen him look so at ease, so… soft.

I felt a pang of guilt when I noticed the clock beside his bed. It was nearing one in the morning. He probably wanted to sleep, but I had taken over his space.

I started to sit up, but before I could move, an arm wrapped around my waist.

“Where are you going?” Caleb’s voice was thick with sleep, and I froze, my heart skipping a beat as I turned to see him blinking slowly up at me.

“I have to go home,” I murmured, my words barely above a whisper. I reached out, hand instinctively brushing his face, but then I stopped myself and pulled it back.

He toyed with the hem of my t-shirt, and I felt the warmth of his touch spread through me. I could feel myself melting under his proximity. “It’s too late,” he said softly, his voice almost a plea. “Just stay here.”

“Caleb—”

“Or I can walk you home,” he added, his eyes still half-closed, and he stretched as if to get up, but I placed my hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

“No, really, it’s okay.”

He smirked a little, still mischievous even through sleep. “You pick. I either walk you home, or you stay here.”

In that moment, the stillness of the night seemed to press in around us, and my heart ached. Caleb was a vice. He was dangerous.

“Okay,” I whispered, my resolve crumbling. “I’ll stay.”

The room is quiet except for Caleb’s steady breathing. The city of Skyhaven hums faintly outside, the night stretching endlessly around us. I’m awake now, but I can’t bring myself to move. Caleb’s hand rests lightly on my waist, like he’s afraid I’ll slip away if he lets go. It’s nothing, really. Just a small, almost casual touch.

But it feels like everything.

It sets my entire body on fire, this little contact. I shouldn’t be here, not like this, not after everything. But I don’t leave. Instead, I sink back down, letting the warmth of the blanket and his presence pull me under.

We don’t speak. There’s nothing to say. No explanations, no excuses—just this fragile moment, suspended in time, hanging between us. Caleb’s breathing evens out again, his grip loosening as sleep pulls him back under. I stay awake, staring at the ceiling, listening to the soft sounds of the night. I know this is a mistake. I know when the sun rises, when the reality of the world outside finally settles in, things will go back to how they were.

He’ll wake up, stretch, rub the sleep from his eyes, and we’ll pretend like this never happened. He’ll go back to talking about MC, and whatever this—whatever we—will remain suspended in the realm of “almosts” and “what-ifs.” But for now, in this quiet moment, I close my eyes. I let myself have this, just for tonight. Because even if it means nothing to him, it means everything to me.

Morning comes too quickly.

I stir first, blinking against the soft light filtering through the blinds. For a second, everything feels warm and comforting. Caleb’s steady breathing beside me, the weight of the blanket, the quiet hum of the city waking up outside.

Then, reality crashes back in. I shouldn’t be here. Not like this.

Carefully, I try to slip out from beneath the covers, but the moment I move, Caleb stirs. His grip tightens around my waist, pulling me closer just a little before his eyes flutter open.

He looks at me, caught between sleep and consciousness, and for a second, there’s something in his gaze; a softness that makes my breath catch in my chest. But then, he blinks, and it’s gone.

“You’re awake,” his voice is thick with sleep, raspy, and it twists something inside of me. He doesn’t let go.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “I should go.”

Caleb doesn’t respond at first. His fingers absently trace the hem of my sleeve, like he’s thinking, weighing something.

Then, finally—

“You don’t have to.”

It’s quiet. Hesitant. It feels like a confession wrapped in uncertainty.

I swallow hard. “Caleb…”

I don’t even know what I’m trying to say. I just know this, this tension, this dangerous line we’re walking, is too much.

He sits up slowly, rubbing a hand over his face, and then he looks at me. His expression is unreadable, and it makes my heart clench.

“Look,” he sighs, like this is some sort of explanation. “I know things have been… complicated.”

Complicated. That’s one way to put it.

I scoff and shake my head. “You think?”

He runs a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

And that hurts more than it should. Because I know what I’m doing. I’m falling. I’ve been falling for so long, and I’m pretty sure I’m about to hit the ground.

“I can’t keep doing this,” I whisper, my voice barely steady.

His jaw tightens. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Something inside me cracks.

“Then stop making me feel like I’m something you have to choose.”

Silence. And that’s when I know.

He won’t say it, but I already have my answer. Because if I was ever truly an option, I wouldn’t be standing here, begging for clarity.

I nod to myself, standing up. “I need to go.”

This time, he doesn’t stop me.

December-

It hurts, it really hurts.

My chest aches like it’s been hollowed out, and every breath feels too heavy, too sharp. My body trembles, like it’s trying to hold itself together, but it’s already unraveling.

Is this what dying feels like?

Is this death?

The slow suffocation of something that was once whole?

Or is this grief?

Endless, suffocating grief—bleeding through my veins, consuming everything I am.

I can’t tell anymore. Only that it hurts. So much.

I don’t even know who I am anymore.

I feel like a hollow shell.

January-

The snow falls lightly, dusting the pavement with delicate flakes as I walk across campus. The world feels quiet, wrapped in winter’s cold embrace, but inside me? There’s nothing but noise, a clamor I can’t silence. Just as fast as everything had began, it ended just as quickly.

I didn’t expect Caleb to reach out. After everything, after the silence between us that’s stretched since November, I thought he’d let the distance settle. Let whatever we had fade into something unspoken, unresolved.

But then I got the text.

can we talk?

And because I’m weak, because no matter how much I want to convince myself I’ve moved on, I know I haven’t, so I agreed.

Now, I’m here, waiting outside the coffee shop, my breath clouding in the cold air. Caleb’s already inside, sitting by the window with his fingers curled around a paper cup. When he sees me, he gives a small, hesitant smile. He looks the same, yet it feels so foreign.

I steel myself and walk inside.

“Hey,” he says when I slide into the seat across from him.

“Hey,” I echo, my voice flat, unreadable.

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of everything hanging between us.

He exhales, looking down at his coffee. “I hate how things have been between us.”

I don’t say anything, just let him speak.

“I miss you,” he admits, and for a moment, my heart stumbles. But before I can process it, he adds, “I don’t want to lose you, I want us to still be friends.”

Friends.

I should have expected this. Maybe I did. Maybe I’ve just been foolish enough to hope for something else.

I swallow, my fingers tightening around my cup. “Friends.”

He nods, earnest, like he doesn’t realize he’s twisting a knife into my chest. “Yeah. I mean, we were good at that, right? Before things got… complicated.”

Complicated. That word again.

I take a slow breath, trying to force the ache in my chest to quiet. Maybe this is what we need. Maybe being friends, just friends, will hurt less than losing him completely.

So I offer a small smile, one that feels forced but I try to make it real. “Yeah. We were.”

Relief flashes across his face, and something deep inside me tugs painfully. But I ignore it.

We can do this.

We have to.

“Are we okay?” he asks carefully.

I hesitate for a second, just a moment, but then I nod. “Yeah. We’re okay.”

And maybe, if I say it enough times, it’ll start to feel true.

We step outside together, the cold air biting at my skin. We walk side by side, but it’s different now. Less certain, more fragile. But for now, it’s enough. We’re still in each other’s lives. And that has to count for something.

February-

The cold of February feels different this year. It’s sharp, biting at my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the way the distance between Caleb and me has settled; thick, suffocating.

We’re friends. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves.

But every interaction feels like a shadow of what it used to be. We pass each other on campus, exchanging forced smiles, awkward pleasantries. He texts me sometimes, but the messages are clipped, casual. The playful banter, the inside jokes—we don’t have those anymore.

I’ve gotten good at pretending it doesn’t hurt. I laugh at his jokes when we’re in class together, crack a smile when he waves in passing. I tell myself that being near him, even like this, is better than nothing.

But it isn’t. It isn’t better at all.

One afternoon, after class, Caleb waits for me while I pack my things, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jacket. His eyes meet mine, but they flicker away quickly, like he’s not sure how to look at me anymore.

“Hey,” he says, his voice quieter than it used to be.

I force a smile, but it feels too tight, too stretched.

We walk together, but the silence between us is thick. We’re not really talking anymore. Not like before.

“How’s everything?” I ask, trying to fill the space with something. Anything.

Caleb shrugs, his gaze far off. “Same as usual. You know how it is.”

I don’t know how it is. Not anymore.

“And you?” he asks, almost apologetically, like he’s afraid he’ll break something if he pushes too hard.

“I’m good,” I say, too quickly. Too easily. I wish I could say something that would make it sound like we haven’t drifted so far apart. But I can’t.

The truth is, I don’t feel good. Not at all.

The rest of the walk is silent, and when we reach the place where our paths diverge, Caleb gives me a tight, awkward smile.

“Catch you later,” he says, already turning away before I can say anything else.

I watch him walk off, the weight of all the things we never said hanging between us.

It’s painful. But I swallow it down. I have to.

The days pass, and we continue this dance; one of shallow conversations, stiff smiles. Every text feels like a performance. Every interaction, a reminder that we’re no longer who we used to be.

One night, I sit at my desk, the glow of my laptop screen casting a pale light over my face. My phone vibrates on the table beside me. Caleb’s name.

I hesitate before picking it up.

hey, are you free later?

My heart skips a beat, but I force myself to respond.

Yeah, what’s up?

There’s a long pause before his next message.

i was thinking we could grab coffee. but no pressure, just thought it might be nice.

The words “just thought it might be nice” sting more than I expected. It’s so casual, so simple—like the idea of spending time together doesn’t carry any of the weight it used to.

But I can’t back out now. I can’t keep pretending that I’m not still craving his company, even if it’s not the same.

Sure, sounds good.

When we meet at our usual café, the air between us is thick. We talk, but it’s like we’re strangers, circling around the things we used to share so easily. Caleb talks about his classes, and I nod, smile at the right times, but it doesn’t feel like we’re really connecting anymore.

I tell myself it’s fine. This is what we agreed to. That being friends is better than nothing.

And no matter how many times I tell myself I’m over it, no matter how many times I remind myself that this is what I chose; it still hurts.

When we part ways that evening, Caleb gives me a small, almost apologetic smile. “I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah,” I reply, throat tight. “See you.”

I watch him leave, and I can’t help but feel like a piece of myself is slowly drifting farther away.

March-

I can’t keep doing this.

April-

The months start to feel like a slow, inevitable slide into something I can’t quite escape. The air has warmed, and the snow is nothing more than a distant memory, but the silence between Caleb and me cuts deeper than any winter chill.

We still see each other every day. We still share the same spaces, the same halls, the same class. But now, we’re nothing more than shadows of what we once were. Just two people who used to mean something to each other, now standing on opposite sides of a wide, unbridgeable gap.

We promised to be friends. We promised we’d make it work. But those promises feel empty now. There’s no joy in our interactions, no spark. Every conversation is forced, every laugh hollow. We’ve become experts at pretending, at wearing the mask of “just friends,” even though neither of us believes it for a second.

I’ve tried to move on, but when I see him, it’s like a miserable cold wave crashing over me. His eyes, once warm and inviting, are distant now; like he’s holding back something I’m not allowed to know. Even though he’s still there, still around, it feels like he’s lightyears away.

It was a Tuesday afternoon, sitting alone in the student lounge, my books spread out in front of me though not really focused on them. My phone buzzes, and I glance down at the message, already knowing who it’s from.

Caleb.

I hesitate before opening it, my fingers lingering over the screen.

i’m outside the library, want to grab coffee?

My heart skips. I want to say yes.

I want to say yes more than anything.

But a part of me knows how this will go. Another awkward conversation. Another round of small talk and unspoken feelings.

I’m tired. Tired of pretending things are fine when nothing is fine.

I can’t, sorry.

May-

The day is warm, but there’s a crispness in the air, the kind that signals a transition; between seasons, between chapters, between what was and what will be. The hum of excitement fills the air, the kind only a graduation ceremony can bring. Students in their uniforms mill around the venue, laughter and shouts of celebration ringing through the open space.

I move through the crowd, my diploma and badges in hand, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. I should feel proud, should feel accomplished. And I do, somewhere deep inside. But there’s something else, something heavier, lingering beneath the surface. The kind of feeling I’ve spent the past few months pushing away, convincing myself I’ve moved past.

Then, I see them.

Caleb stands a few feet away, surrounded by the floods of people. I notice he’s staring ahead into the crowd, and a girl comes crashing into him with the kind of ease that twists my stomach; MC.

She leans in, close—too close. And then, as if the universe had been waiting for the perfect moment to shatter the fragile balance I had built, she presses a kiss to his cheek. It’s celebratory, happy, and by the look on Caleb's face, just enough.

The world tilts.

For a second, the sounds around me blur into static, the conversations and cheers fading into the background. The weight of months of restraint, of quiet acceptance, of pretending I was fine, collapses all at once. The carefully built walls around my emotions crack under the force of everything I had tried so desperately to move past.

I thought I had let go. I thought I had made peace with everything that had happened. But in this moment, watching him, watching them, it all comes rushing back. The late nights, the quiet moments, the unspoken words that once sat between us. The way he once looked at me, the way he’s looking at her. The realization that, despite all my efforts, my heart had never truly stopped waiting.

I force my feet to move, to carry me past them, past the reminders of what could have been, of what wasn’t mine to hold onto anymore.

The weight in my chest is suffocating, but I refuse to stop, refuse to break—not here, not now. Because this is supposed to be a celebration, the closing of a chapter, the start of something new.

Maybe in another life, it was never a competition. Maybe in another universe, I don’t have to worry about her. In that world, I am her—running into Caleb’s arms, stealing his hat, and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Yes. In another universe, I am her.

#hxlxnaaawrites #caleb x reader #caleb x you #caleb x y/n #love and deepspace caleb #caleb #l&ds caleb #lnds caleb #lads caleb #lnds #lnds smut #lnds fluff #lnds angst #caleb love and deepspace #caleb smut #caleb fluff #caleb x mc #love and deep space #caleb angst

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yukioos · 2 months ago

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izuku who follows you around like a lost puppy

“i’ve never seen one of them alone. midoriya’s always attached to her hip wherever she goes.” shoto commented, observing you and izuku walking shoulder to shoulder around the common area.

“he follows her around like a lost puppy, man. he’s totally down bad for her, am i right?” eijiro exclaimed, looking to katsuki for validation.

the blonde grumbled, “yeah, he’s liked her since middle school. y/n was the only person he hung out with.” he glared at seeing the two of you together, believing you were wasting your potential. why were you hanging out with someone like deku?

you took short and slow strides down the hallway, next to izuku. he matched your pace quite easily, always keeping track of where you were and what you were doing, and exactly how. he ranted about his quirk and how he needed to figure out new ways to use it, as he claimed his abilities weren’t so widely ranged.

but you disagreed. he could work on his quirk, there was always room to improve, but he had many abilities. it was clear just based on the surprise attack the day before. you and the green-haired boy were walking down the street when someone walked into a building, threatening to bomb the place and kill everyone in it if they didn’t receive money.

the two of you quickly flew into action, with him jumping onto the attacker’s back and helping all the civilians outside while you dismantled the bomb. even when he was sure all of the civilians were out of the building, he worried about you. as soon as he knew the civilians were safe, he ran up to your floor. once you stated you were done with dismantling the bomb, he immediately crushed you with a hug. he was always scared that something would happen to one of you. many heroes died with guilt, wanting to thank or spend time with their loved ones more. izuku didn’t want to make that mistake.

so he followed you around, nearly everywhere. not in a stalker-ish manner, but in an admirable way. you were the second person he looked up to the most. how could he stay away from you and not try to form a friendship, at least, when you were so perfect? you were beautiful, had the best personality, flawless with your quirk, and stuck up for him back in middle school! you were one of the only people who hung out with him, and he adored you for that. you knew it too.

as soon as you would walk into the classroom, izuku would nearly jump out of his seat to greet you. he’d disrupt anything just to say hi or start a conversation with you, he even heard your footsteps outside a room, where he was talking to all might, and ran to the door to hug you.

if you were going to a store or cute bakery, he’d tag along, wanting to know what you normally got in case he wanted to give you a gift. if you went to the bathroom for a split second while studying, he’d sit on the wall next to the door and wait for you to come out. sometimes, when you took a shower, he would sit on the counter or toilet and work on his own thing, whether it was homework or ranting to you about something.

attachment issues, much?

but you didn’t think too much of it. he was just a bit clingy, but you didn’t mind any second of it. in fact, you leaned more towards him, and began to glue yourself to his hip wherever he went. it was obvious he liked you, as he knew, but he was oblivious to the fact that you knew he liked you.

you took advantage of that by teasing him relentlessly and without mercy, of course.

hope u guys like this one!! i had a fun time writing this haha

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maybankslover · 5 months ago

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using you- rafe cameron

rafe cameron x bff!reader

warnings: angst, mention of sex, no comfort. it's a one shot no part2.

summary: he was using his best friend and she finds out.

a/n: inspired by a brief scene i saw in the play 'tootsie' a few months ago

topper knew what he was doing when he brought up the topic to his conversation with rafe, he didn't think rafe was being fair to one of their shared friend's.

rafe's best friend, sweetest girl in the kook side of the island, girl who he had been hooking up with knowing she was in love with him while he wasn't but it was easy and it wasn't as if he didn't love her, he did, he just didn't love her in the way it was supposed to. that's how sofia entered the picture and rafe became enamored by her not that y/n knew, not yet he said to their friends.

and topper was done of being part of lying to his friend so he took his last resource, inviting her without him knowing.

"c'mon man, you've said a million times she's your favorite person so why don't you date her already?" he said while he saw her from the side of his eye entering his patio and making her way towards them.

"topper not the same again." rafe placed his beer on the table.

"c'mon, are you just using her?" she was close enough to hear them and stood still at topper's words, of course they were talking about her. "cameron are you chickening out by a simple question?" topper chuckled.

"yeah topper i'm using her, happy now?" a gasp coming from their side made them both look to the source. "y/n/n..."

she nodded before rushing out to through same door she had came in while her name was being shouted but she didn't stop, her arm being grabbed did.

"let go of me!"

"no, no you gotta listen to me." those eyes full of tears made him feel like the worst person in the world and maybe he was.

"no! how-how could you?" her eyes filled with pain and hate. "I've been here when no one else wanted to be, when everyone turned on you I WAS THERE." she shouts at him.

topper winced as he listened from outside.

"I should've- i should've turned my back on you ages ago, everyone was right."

"you don't mean that, you told me you didn't believe that." he was getting anxious. the result of his own fucked up actions.

"yeah yeah i actually mean it." she chuckled. "you're a really bad person rafe, you admited to be using me!" she paces around the room. "I knew, I knew you weren't in love with me and i stayed because how could I leave you? how could I ever leave you."

"I didn't inted to." he tries to justify himself.

"I was the only one by your side! i was the one defending you from everyone. i was the one who stayed when everyone else looked down on you" she stays still in her place and looks at him, a hatred look than never in a million years she thought she would be giving him. "hope everything goes well for you because you're gonna go really far being the way you are."

he isn't fast enough to stop her from leaving, too late when he sees her close the front door of topper's house.

"she didn't deserve it, she needed to know." topper says holding a beer in his hand.

"you did it on purpose?" rafe's turns around.

"you're in love with sofia rafe and you still wouldn't tell her. she deserved to know." for once in his life topper was right and rafe hated it, he hated knowing he was right.

she had blocked him everywhere, ten years of friendship in a box that she sent to his house.

"not that he will care." she said to her best friend, maggie, while she threw everything she could find that belonged to him in a box.

"you won't keep anything?" the black haired girl seated in her bed said.

"just a few pictures and that ring." she pointed to a ring resting in her bedside table. "it was my fifteen birthday present."

now he looked at every memory laid in his bed, a teddy bear from when they were kids, a few sweatshirts, pictures, gifts, lettters. the box topper handed him earlier in the afternoon tossed aside.

two days later he knocked on her door and at an island as small as this no one really looked through the peakhole before opening.

"hey." he said when the door opened and a tired y/n came into view.

"no." she closed it before he could think about stopping the action.

"please open the door, we need to talk." he sighed.

"no we don't." her voice muffled through the door. "just leave rafe, make it easy."

"no this won't end like this, it can't end like this." his hand landed on the door.

she closed her eyes before opening the door again.

"please rafe leave." her eyes reflected how tired she was.

"i can't, i can't live knowing that you hate me." she chuckled.

"but you could live knowing that i love you and you were using me." she took a deep breath in. "you can live without me, don't worry."

"i don't want to live without you." he thought he could keep her in his life after what she heard?

"i don't want to live with you in my life, don't you get that?" she wanted to scream at him. "congrats on your girlfriend by the way."

he looked down to his feet.

"just leave me alone please if you ever cared about me just leave me alone." he nodded.

"i'm sorry sweets." he shifted his weight back before walking down the porch of her house.

but sorry couldn't fix the emptyness she felt inside, the fear he left her with. the insecurity of being used by someone else in her life. sorry couldn't fix anything and ignoring him in public didn't fixed it either but she needed to pretend he was dead.

everytime he tried to engage conversation with her at a party or birthday of a mutualfriend, he received a cold shoulder and the sight of her back as he saw her walking away. she couldn't even look at his face, he deserved to be ignored.

rafe cameron had fucked her up for life.

masterlist

please if you liked it engage with my posts, reblog, leave a comment. the heart doesn't make it show up in others page's. thank you.

taglist: @gillybear17 @gillybear17 @imliterallyamirrorball @nichmeddar @julczimozart @julczimozart @bellbottombabe @silkylovey @droppedyourhnd @jaydaaasworld @congratsloserr @carrerascameron @m1santhropicc @wearemadeofstardust0 @chiaraanatra @ijustwanttoreadlols @ijustwanttoreadlols @sunny1616 @theoraekenslover @isaidoop @ethanthequeefqueen @rafesdrew @loverdrew @frankoceanluvr11 @josephandrewstarkey

#maybankslover #outer banks #rafe cameron #rafe cameron angst #rafe cameron x bff!reader #rafe cameron x bsf!reader #rafe cameron x fem!reader #rafe cameron imagines #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron x kook!reader #rafe cameron imagine #rafe cameron idea #rafe cameron one shot #rafe cameron fanfiction #rafe cameron drabble

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rhaeverie · 1 year ago

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⋆.˚ on a whim — ldh ˚.⋆

‣ pairing: haechan x reader

‣ genre: friends-to-lovers?, fluff

‣ wc: 1.06k

‣ summary: ❝What if… what if I kissed you?❞; alternatively, you impulsively suggest to be your best friend's first kiss

‣ warnings: I wouldn't say it's steamy at the end but it's like,,, sorta detailed

‣ an: this is bc hyuck in glasses makes me want to do backflips (this is literally self-indulgent)

“I’m almost done with this assignment and then after we can watch a movie, sound good to you?”

You scribbled down a few words, waiting for Donghyuck to respond to your question, but you were returned with a half-assed hum. This catches your attention, mainly because it wasn’t like Donghyuck to be disinterested in a movie. He said once that movie nights were his favourite nights.

“Hyuck?” you shift your attention from your work to your best friend, brows knitting together.

Donghyuck’s lying on your bed, eyes looking straight up to the ceiling with an empty expression. You don’t even think he’s blinking.

“Hyuck.” Your voice is firm, trying to catch his attention. You can’t even see him blinking through his glasses, lips falling into a pout.

“Lee Donghyuck!”

You finally catch his attention, though all he does is turn his head in your direction, “Yeah? Sorry… I zoned out.” He sits up on your bed, crossing his legs underneath him.

“I was saying how I’ll just finish this assignment and then we can go on with movie night,” you repeat, “Are you okay? Still up for it?” Your head tilts to the side and Donghyuck has to look away before you cause his heart to arrest.

“Of course I am, I just…” He bites his bottom lip and blinks at the wheels of your chair.

“Is this about what my friends said earlier?” You frown. In all honesty, you didn’t even want to talk about it because you know your anger issues are going to take over. When Donghyuck fails to give you a reply, you follow the question up, “It is, isn’t it?”

“My feelings are valid,” he retorts stiffly, falling back onto his back, “I know I’m pathetic for not even getting my first fucking kiss at this age but—”

“You’re not pathetic, Hyuck,” you interrupt, angry at how he was putting himself down for something so ridiculous, “Don’t say that. Everyone lives life at their own pace.” You throw a soft punch at his knee and he yelps despite it not hurting.

“I know, you’ve told me that before, but when it’s pointed out, I see why it’s stupid,” he goes on, “Like not one person has brought themselves to want to kiss me? How pathetic is that?”

Trains of thought begin running through your head and you let the question hang in the air for too long. Far too long that this makes Donghyuck nervous, “You could at least say that it is pathetic instead of not saying any–”

“What if… what if I kissed you?”

Donghyuck shoots up, “What?”

“What if I kissed you.” You say more confidently, “Then you could say that you kissed someone.”

Donghyuck’s chewing on his lip now, unsure whether or not this would be a good idea, “You’d do that?... Would that even count?”

“I’ll count it if you do…” You say, “Besides, if you’re okay with it, and I’m okay with it, it counts.” Your legs scooches your chair closer to Donghyuck, almost as if anticipating his answer.

If Donghyuck was being honest, he liked the idea. It’s not like he’s been waiting for this for the longest time, no… he just thought it was a good idea. And it was you he was going to kiss for god’s sake. He trusted you, he cared about you, he wouldn’t mind if his first kiss was you. Hell, he wanted his first kiss to be you, “Okay.”

You scoot closer so that your knees touch his, “Go whenever you’re ready.”

“O-okay,” Donghyuck’s taken aback by how straight forward you’re being. He nods once and shifts forward in place, leaning forward to bring his face closer to yours, “Okay, I’ll do it now.”

You can feel his warm breath on your face and it somehow sends you shivers down your neck. The proximity between the two of you is small. It felt like he was doing it on purpose to tease you and you were tempted to be the one who closed the gap between the two of you.

Donghyuck comes closer and you’re ready to close your eyes, but then he pulls away, “Shit, s-sorry.” He apologizes, “I’m fucking this up, aren’t I?” A frown grows on his lips, worried that he was actually making it awkward between the two of you, just because of a kiss, “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

You nod, “I’m the one who suggested it, Hyuck.”

He huffs and nods again. He starts closing in on you. His hands instinctively reach up to grab your face, and at that point you know he’s going to commit to it. Just like earlier, you feel his breath tickle your lips, and before you know it, Donghyuck’s plush lips are pressed up against yours.

Donghyuck holds back a gasp, holding his lips to yours. For a moment, he’s afraid he’s doing it wrong, unsure whether or not he’s moving his lips correctly, but the second you begin kissing back, hands finding the back of his neck in hopes of finding something to hold onto, a sense of relief washes over him.

He pulls away to breathe before pushing his mouth back onto yours. The kiss was deep, that was for sure, something he didn’t expect to happen. When you suggested a kiss, he thought you meant something along the lines of a ‘one-two’ and done, not this. But he didn’t mind it. And it seemed like you didn’t either.

In fact, he likes the feeling. There’s a warm feeling growing in his chest the longer the kiss lasts and he couldn’t get enough of it.

So this was why people did it so often. It felt good.

Donghyuck’s arms slither around your figure, bringing his hands to your back. Then he pulls you closer. And again, you don’t mind.

And just as he feels your tongue tapping gently on his lips to let him in, Donghyuck feels something sharp scratch the bridge of his nose and it doesn’t take him long to realize that his glasses were getting in the way of everything.

He pulls back, groaning, out of breath before he rips them off of his face—because, no, he doesn’t care if he can’t see your face. All he wants to do is kiss you.

“Fuck it,” he mutters before he smashes his lips back onto yours.

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wriothesleybear · 1 year ago

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Outlaw!Boothill x Saloongirl!reader headcanons

~warnings: slight mentions of jealousy, stealing, and western stand offs that involve guns, shooting a man. Otherwise, mentions of flirting, nicknames, cheesy pickup lines from our favorite robot cowboy, pre-release Boothill, fem!reader.

~a/n: Just a quick little something due to @the-guardian-kitsune wanting me to share my thoughts on Mr. Robot Cowboy. Boothill's leaks are invading my mind while I wait for the update today. His ultimate...omg its so good! Is it bad that I get tingles when I hear the whip in his animation?

Outlaw!Boothill is the most fearsome outlaw in the town. Everyone runs to close their shops and doors when he comes into town. He's usually harassing the town sheriff with his buddies or robbing people. If someone gets on his nerves and actually has the guts to try and stand up to him, it likely ends in a stand off.

Outlaw!Boothill spends his time flirting with you when he's not busy stealing and holding up stagecoaches and trains. Always goes to your saloon, specifically for you. No one else really captured his eye except for you. Plus most of the other saloon girls are scared of him. For some reason, you're not. Hence, making him take interest in you. While everyone usually steers clear of him, you aren't afraid to talk to him.

How you guys met was he stomped his way into your saloon one day, looking for some whiskey. Seeing the most wanted outlaw, your other customers immediately fled. He plops himself down in a chair, kicking his boots up onto the table, waving his hand for a drink. "Hey little lady, you mind gettin' me some whiskey. Neat." You were already annoyed at this cowboy storming his way in your saloon, scaring your customers off and ruining your business.

Boothill looks up and notices you haven't moved from your spot behind the counter. Instead, you're crossing your arms and giving him an annoyed look. He glares at you. "Did you hear me darlin'? Whiskey. Neat." You don't move an inch, returning his glare and simply say no. He's caught a bit off guard for a second. He's used to people being too scared to stand up to him. "No?" He gets up, slowly walking towards the bar where you're at. "Do you know who I am." He points to the wanted sign on the wall nearby, his face adorns the flier. You glance at it. "Yeah. And? I don't serve rude customers. Either learn some manners or get out." Now he's thrown off his high horse. He's never had someone call him out like you did. You expected him to become more hostile, but instead, he just laughs. "Alright little lady." Since that day, he's been attracted to you. He likes the way you aren't afraid to stand up for yourself and speak your mind, especially towards him. He likes the 'feisty little lady that you are'. His own words that he used when he first asked you out.

Outlaw!Boothill teases you to get you worked up on purpose. If you really want to get him to shut up, call him "Bootie". The first time you called him that, you swear you saw his cheeks go red. Knowing the effect the nickname has on him, you use it when you're not in the mood for his teasing. But the times when you get so annoyed at his teasing that you angrily walk away, he uses his whip to grab you, pulling you right back into his arms and dipping you. Your heart skips a beat as he lowers his head to yours. You hold your breath while at a loss for words as he says, "Now where do you think you're going little lady?"

Outlaw!Boothill gets jealous when other men try to swoon you or check you out in your little saloon outfit. He is a protective boyfriend and is the type to defend your honor. So when he sees someone harassing you, he either challenges them to a stand off or he just straight up takes care of them right there in the saloon. Ugh just imagine: watching as the two men take 10 paces in opposite directions as everyone watches from the sidelines. Nerves invade your senses, worries cloud your mind about the men fighting over you. You don't want anyone to get hurt especially Boothill. Then, at the end of the countdown, both men quickly turn to each other, guns raised and they go off. Boothill is left standing as the other man falls to the floor. He walks over to you as you're left in shock. "Now darlin'. How about a kiss for your cowboy?"

Outlaw!Boothill who spoils you with his attention and gifts (which he probably stole). He gets a bit annoyed and offended when you don't accept his gifts, saying how he shouldn't steal things from others. It just goes over his head and he says "Darlin', I think you're the real criminal here since you stole my heart." This usually shuts you up. Your cheeks turn red as he smirks. Turning away from him, you quietly say, "Just.. go easy on stealing gifts for me, Bootie." He ignores your signature nickname for him and turns you to face him. Pulling you close to his chest, he says, "Whatever you say, darlin'." He gives you his signature shark tooth smile. He would never admit it but he's whipped for you. No pun intended.

#boothill #boothill headcanons #boothill x reader #Country boy I love you uwah

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fanzou · 3 months ago

Note

I know a lot of ppl write zoro vs sanji competing for the reader but what about zoro and nami both wanting the same girl. Just an idea, you don't have to do this request! Your writings great💕

The Girl is Mine

✗ Pairing(s): Sanji x Fem!Reader, Nami x Fem!Reader

✗ Summary: You try resolving a conflict between your two very good friends, only to find out you’re the sole reason they’re having issues in the first place.

✗ Total WC: 4.1K

✗ CW: SMUT. Tipsy, slightly drunk sex, threesome, p on p sex, p in v sex, voyeurism (Nami), Sanji is a perv (a secret to no one) [Let me know if I missed any]

✗ A/N: Hi anon. I hope you don’t mind but, I did Sanji instead :3, only cuz I feel like the tension would be so much better. Might have to do Zoro soon though! I enjoyed this so so much. Thank you !!!

“S’cuse me Sanji, can I please talk to you for a minute?” Nami walks towards him in a confident stride, she settles her hand on her hip.

He looks at her with a warm smile, “You can always talk to me, love. What’s on your mind?” He puts down whatever he has in his hand, as to not given Nami any divided attention.

She chuckles, almost with underlying malice, “You know, I can see that you’re getting an awful lot closer to…” she takes her harsh stare off of him, and softly looks over to you, focused on your own little activity and completely oblivious to the situation unravelling.

Sanji is starting to pick up on what this about. "Oh yeah, we've definitely gotten close." he crosses his arms.

“I just wanted to let you know that she’s mine.”

He lets a sharp exhale of his breath out as an attempt to laugh.

“No no, she’s mine.”

It goes without saying that Sanji and Nami have been acting very weirdly toward each other these days.

Sanji, ever the sweetheart who would quite literally drop everything for Nami is now giving her the coldest of shoulders. You’d ask him and he would just wave you off, “It’s nothing, beautiful. Everything’s just fine.” But his eyes betray him; he’s glaring at Nami across the room who reciprocates his same stare.

You ask Nami the same, she gives you a very loving look that you don’t question, “Don’t worry your pretty little head over it.” As she tucks your hair behind your ear with her delicate and soft hand. The gesture makes you blush a bit, but you don't let it get you sidetracked from the initial rising issue at hand; What happened between the two?

Everyone’s just as confused as the other, to tell the truth. It’s not news for Nami to act a little harshly towards him or anyone for that matter, but Sanji's new coldness was a different story. Sanji treated you three girls on this ship like you all were walking Goddesses and if you asked him, he would probably say that that was exactly what you all were.

It was out of character, and almost unsettling to everyone, even to Zoro, who would do anything but concern himself in the shitty cooks stupid troubles. His words exactly, when you tried talking to him about it.

Still he’ll make meals normally, set the plate down like he always would in front of her. Really the only new thing was the lack of word exchange, and you almost feel bad watching it unravel. What happened that was that bad? The thought made your heart ache.

Your turn for night watch was up, and you could finally go back to sleep, you weren’t so sure that you could though, with the tension amongst the ship giving you a foreign anxiety you didn’t think possible. You try shoving it in the back of your mind for now, for your hard work for the day was over, and you could finally rest up.

Robin took over and you kindly thanked her before making your way to your shared room for three.

The night air was chilly and even walking through the corridor to find your room made your body shudder, you quickened your pace and immediately twisted the handle to the door and there she was; Orange hair and body lost in the sheets, sleeping so soundly.

You and Nami shared a bed, it wasn’t weird. Practically everyone shared everything on the Sunny. Hell, sometimes you'd even bathe together with her or even Robin to perserve some hot water. Sharing a bed helped you sleep better due to an excessive amount of nightmares you had, and you insisted that since Robin was older than the two of you she deserved to get her own bed out of the sheer respect you had for her. So it worked out for everyone. Especially for Nami, who always needed you nice and close anytime you’d join her in slumber.

And when you decided to remove most of your clothing and tried your best to move as slow as possible as to not get her up, she wakes inevitably, pulls you impossibly close as she puts her leg around yours. “Missed you.” She says.

“You saw me not too long ago.” You giggle in response. But you tighten your hold on her, and you two fall asleep not soon after.

When morning came, you swore the most delectable smell came from the kitchen, it smelled so good that you almost felt like you'd fly following the string of air attached to it. You try peeling Nami off of you to see what Sanji made that you had the privilege of tasting today, but like always, she awoke with you.

“Morning Nami.” You say with your back turned to her trying to get your clothes back on. “Hey.” She says, stretching her arms out to help wake her up a little bit. “You wanna come eat?” You ask finally getting up, but her demeanor drops at the mention of food. It seems that way anytime you try mentioning anything that had to do with him, and your disappointed expression makes a return once again.

You sigh, and decide to give an attempt to talk to her about it once again,

“Nami, I don’t know what he did to make you so upset but you know you can talk to me, right?” You walk over to the bed again and put your hand on her shoulder as a means to comfort her into the thought. Immediately picking up on your insinuation, “You worry too much. Nothings wrong, okay?” She takes the hand on her shoulder in her own and caresses it slowly.

You let out another sigh, but you guess you had to deal with it for another day.

Soon after you and Nami join the table together, you engage in conversation with the rest of the group while waiting for today’s starting meal that’s making all of your stomachs scream. But you feel unsettled, Nami and Sanji are yet again, still uncomfortable with each other. It’s making you zone out thinking about it. It’s making you think a lot more than you want to.

You feel her hand snake onto your lap, she sees the worry in your face. You turn to meet her eyes at the intimacy of her hand and you instantly feel so much better.

For a second, she’s a little too close to your inner region and you can’t deny the goose bumps that litter the skin of your lower body.

What caught you by complete surprise was the sudden movement of Sanji’s body between both of yours, setting out plates for the both of you.

“Alright ladies, you enjoy now.” He puts a hand onto your back and starts to move it in circles, completely neglecting the woman beside him in his presence. “Let me know if you want anymore, beautiful. I’ll always have enough for you.” He winks. And your face is dusted with an obvious red.

When you look at Nami, she's already picking off her plate a little too harshly.

You really do want to ask her if she was doing okay, you really do. You felt terribly about it. About being incapable of relieving her and Sanji from whatever stresses they had going on, but thankfully Franky’s conversation pulls you back into reality and you can forget about the awkward exchange for now.

You just hold her hand under the table for now.

The night wind is howling and the Sunny’s grass feels too comfortable to move away from, tonight you guys drink to your accomplishments as the crew goes another night without conflicts. You’re sprawled out on top of the grass, counting stars one by one with a bottle of wine in your left hand.

Zoro’s already plastered and he’s making it everyone’s problem, especially his blonde nemesis who he keeps taunting right now. Sanji just wants a way out so he can make his way towards you before a certain someone does. He’s relieved to see that she’s making an effort to chat it up with Robin in her already tipsy state. So he ignores Zoro harshly and without any guilt and makes his way towards you.

When he plagues your vision and you can no longer admire the beautiful stars, but instead his face, you feel equally satisfied.

“Feelin’ good down there, princess?” He’s looking at you with a cigarette in his mouth.

“‘Can’t even begin to explain it.”

Alas, all good things came to an end, you didn’t want to converse with your friend while you were about to doze off. So you sit up straight and cross your legs, urging him to sit next to you by patting the patch of grass. “How’s your night going?”

He tucks the cigarette between his fingers and lets out a huff, “Better, now that I’m here with you.” You giggle at that.

He really never fails to make you blush, especially now that you’re the slightest bit under the influence, wine bottle aside you as proof.

But inevitably, like you have been cockblocking him about this for the last few days, you ask him about Nami and, how you’re here for both of them and, how you don’t want anything to happen to either of them. It makes him draw a really strong pull from his cigarette, “Dear, there’s nothing wrong.” He looks away.

But you’re starting to get fed up with it at this point. Same answer from both of them, it’s tiresome. “Sanji, if you’re not gonna be honest with me you can walk away.” You say sharply, he can’t deny how the firmness in your voice didn’t turn him on a tad. Normally he would take you more seriously but because of his own excessive drinking, he really wants nothing more than for you to get more and more assertive with him.

He sighs, throwing the cigarette bud overboard. “You wanna talk about it in private?” He says, and you’re eager to pull him somewhere where he can spill his guts, finally. He guides you to the guy’s quarters, where he’s sure no one would be given that everyone was out on the deck either drunk out their mind or making fun of whoever was drunk out of their mind.

And when Nami no longer senses your presence, along with Sanji’s paired absence, she’s immediately on high alert. Out of their entire ongoing discourse, this was something she was immediately worried about. She excuses herself from conversation and tries to make it seem like she wasn’t about to explode from anxiety.

When she herself is out of sight from the crew, she immediately goes running through any room where it was a possibility she could try disrupting the two of you. When she finally reaches the men’s quarters, she finds you and Sanji in the middle of the room, yet to make yourselves comfortable enough to even start saying or doing anything.

“Nami? You okay?” You immediately leave Sanji’s side, removing his hand that he had on your hip. The sight alone made Nami’s breath pick up a little bit.

“Y-Yeah…” She fixes herself, and straightens up, “‘Just a little tired, m’not feeling too well. Can we go to sleep?”

You look back at Sanji with eyes that say sorry, and he shakes his head as a means to tell you that it was no issue for him at all. Only it was. It was his biggest issue. This entire thing with Nami. He didn’t want to be mad at her. He loved her. But he wanted you all for himself.

While you both walk away, she looks bad with a sadistic grin painted on her face. He balls his fist up and grinds his teeth together all before lighting up another cigarette.

Meanwhile, Nami has her hands on your hip as you make your walk back to your own quarters. And you don’t know it under the dark lighting of the room, but she’s ecstatic.

When you make it to your room, the dim lighting does well to emphasize your drunken state, you can't explain it. You feel woozy enough for some good sleep, and Nami and you undress in front of each other in preparation for what you've been waiting all day for, complete relaxation.

You break the silence, “Nami.” She replies with a simple hum to the call of her name, “You feel fine. You just wanted me to get away from Sanji, didn’t you? So he couldn't tell me anything?” Your shirt is off now, and you’re left in your bra and shorts, something she’ll never get tired of seeing. She not so subtly ogles your form, but she can thank the darkness of the room for not giving her away.

She sighs. Try as she might you were a sharp woman, “I’m sorry. I’m just mad at him right now. And I’m not ready for either him or me to talk about it.” She tries to dance around the true subject of why they were playing this game, you. You’re both sat up on your shared bed now, and she has a pitiful expression that you were to blame for, and you immediately feel the guilt in your stomach.

“Hey… I’m sorry Nam’, I didn’t mean to pressure you guys. I'm sorry for being so nosy.” You caress her thigh as an attempt at comfort, and her head slowly comes up to meet your gaze. Your beautiful, pure, gaze.

You could say the same for Nami, even in such a darkened environment her hair effortlessly shined and her face naturally glowed.

It might have been the alcohol in your system, or there must’ve have been an invisible magnet between you two, because the way you naturally gravitated towards her felt unreal, and she does nothing to fight it, neither do you—with a hand to your jaw and her eyes slowly closing, your lips meet. Her skin was so delicate, and it felt like second nature the way they moved against each other. The sound of your lips smacking against one another’s turned you on a bit, Reality settled in, you guys were making out—full blown making out. And it was hot.

It didn’t take much for it to escalate, and you to moan into her mouth, and her kisses go from your mouth to your neck, and then the fat of your breasts. And it all felt euphoric.

“N-Nami…” You moaned, “Robin c-could… mh, walk in.”

You both might've been a little tipsy, but it didn't take a genius to know that the predicament you both were in was far from innocent, and that whoever chose to mindlessly open the door would walk into something dirty.

“She won’t. She’s too preoccupied with Franky.”

Her hand does its own thing while she brings her mouth back to yours, a part of you has this small hunch, like this was intentional. Like she meant for it to happen, the way she came between you and Sanji, and the mention of Robin's absence being but a small conflict in your scandalous act--it sounded calculated, but it was a thought that came and went, you shove it aside to focus on the pure bliss you felt with her tongue now trying to fight yours for dominance.

Your mouths detach once again, this time with a string of saliva connecting between the two of you, and she moans at the sight. God, if you could hear that again. She's pushing you onto her pillow, and trying to remove your shorts. Nami always slept with a shirt on, no bra and panties, as did you. She takes a moment to scan the art-piece in front of her, your nipples were barely peaking through your lace bra, with your panties soaked solely from your make-out session. You were red from the alcohol, and the previous tongue fucking.

She takes her shirt off. And so, it's your turn to admire her beautiful body. You've undressed in front of each other so many times, but this was different. This made you so much more hot, so excited to finally get her body on yours.

Nami get's up out of her comfortable position and takes off her underwear, just as she then does for you and your bra. She takes no time in putting your leg over hers and you immediately feel the friction, the wetness colliding against each other. it's only when she starts to move on top of you is when you shake a little bit with excitement. You whimper and she moves a little faster. The sounds of your cunts making their move on the other is insanely lewd, coupled with your clit being grazed over and over again, your eyes roll back in your head.

It wasn't only your clit's being touched up against each other, but your chests as well. The feeling of your nipples lightly touching on the others was inexplicable. The feeling of pleasure exceeded the need to speak, because you both understood how the other felt. And you just wanted to bask in how good you both fucked each other.

You desperately chase Nami's mouth once again, and she's quick to lower herself for you. Again, your tongues do a dance for dominance.

It doesn't take long for you to both reach the raging desire to orgasm. Your pussies were grinding in the right spots and your conjoined moans were becoming eager, both reaching for the little knot to unravel.

It doesn't take long for that to happen, Nami cums first with you shortly after.

Her forehead is resting on yours while you both catch your breaths, she gives you a quick kiss on the lips, you finally speak, "How're you... so good at that?" She giggles at your obviously fucked-out state.

"'Dunno, you just bring something out of me." You breathlessly laugh at the comment, and you give her a kiss on the cheek before you gently remove her figure and onto your side of the bed.

She goes quiet for a minute, you're covering yourself with your blanket just to re-collect yourself again until you can stomach to get up.

"Sanji."

Nami calls out to the man who obivously wasn't in the room, "You can come inside if you want." She says, and you freeze up. Sanji?

With that, the door cracks open to reveal the man who had been spying on the both of you from the entrace to the girl's quarters this entire time. You're shocked, is the least you can say, and when you see the bulge in his pants that definitely wasn't there when you were with him not even an hour ago, you're even more shocked. You do the best you can to cover yourself in your shared blanket, but Nami just lays on her stomach completely bare to him rocking the most smug grin he's ever seen.

"She's officially mine now, so you can stop trying."

Sanji sighs and looks down to the floor in what looks like defeat, he wants to pull yet another cigarette out and just smoke it.

Inevitably, she was somewhat right. This was the deal they both made to compensate for the tense conflicts that rose between them.

You're a little sobered up, and you start piecing together what they were saying, mine? Stop trying? With the seemingly insane resentment they've harbored up for each other in the past week or two, you've finally cracked it. This was about you. It was only ever you. From the silent treatment they gave each other to the constant and excessive tenderness they both showed you, it explained everything you tried so desperately to talk out of them.

And honestly, you didn't know if you were angry or turned on. Maybe both.

"New deal," He says, and Nami gets up as a means to defy whatever dumb proposition he wanted to start again. "who can fuck her better."

With a shake of her head, "Uh-Uh! I got her first so she's mine!"

He laughs and his confidence is back up, "What? Scared you gonna lose her if she get's a taste of how good I feel?"

Its Nami's turn to put her head down, she looks at you, who can only stare at the cook's very apparent bulge in his pants and he's not blind to it "You want me to make you feel good, princess?" He takes off his coat.

Nami orders him to lock the doors.

He does what she asks of him, then immediately makes his way to you both afterwards.

He's quick on your lips, putting his gloved over your chin and he quickly makes it passionate in doing so. The mix of cigarettes and alcohol on his tongue isn't overpowering, if anything it turns you on even more.

Right beside you is Nami, who once held so much resentment for the blonde, is now slowly getting turned on by him making his move on her one and only.

The blanket that once covered you is now undressing you itself, coming down to reveal your breasts, much to his satisfaction.

Sanji wastes no time in pushing you down and inviting himself onto you bed. He looks at Nami, expecting her to be angry at the sight, but he's surprised to see her, massaging and pinching her breasts at the very sight in front of her. He looks back at you, "'Gonna make you feel good, okay? Yeah?" You nod.

He knows you're wet enough for him, but he fingers you anyway. He fingers your cunt enough to where your whimpering his name for more and to add another, but instead his mimics Nami in pinching your nipple and fondling your breast to add to your pleasure in a multitude of ways. Nami almost subconsciously moves her unoccupied hand to her pussy and starts playing with it at the sight of both of you.

Once he's done enough to ready you, in a swift motion he's taking off his belt, then he lowers his pants to his knees, then his underwear, and next thing you know he's lining himself up. You're grabbing on the pillow underneath you to brace for it. He put's it inside of you and with a satisfied moan, you look at Nami, who's looking at you, and you clench around him.

You look back to Sanji who's too happy about your warm pussy around him to notice the intimate moment you and Nami just shared, and he's already making his first thrust back in and out of you. His cock was long and thick, and you could feel every inch as it went inside.

The scene itself was so dirty. Both you and Nami naked with Sanji's pants pulled down inside of you while Nami shamelessly played with her cunt and tits to the sight. "Tell me how good it feels baby. Tell us." He says, with his thrusts becoming all the more brutal, balls colliding with your ass.

"It feels amazing Sanji. You both make me feel amazing." Followed by a whimper at the sound of skin slapping, you feel a second orgasm approaching you. He signals Nami to come over to his side, and to your surprise they start to kiss while his thrusts become a little more sensual, but he's hitting exact right angle now, and you feel like you're on cloud nine.

The sight before you, his mouth on hers while she chases her own pleasure in her fingers, gives him his own idea of snaking his hand on your clit and doing the same. By this point, holding off your orgasm was impossible. And you cum so hard you almost see stars in your vision. With the sound of your moans, Nami follows suit, and third, Sanji pulls out of you as his own finally approaches and rubs himself on your slit to get his liquids out and onto your body.

Everyones a mess, Nami and you lie down aside from each other again, only this time is Sanji laying on top of you. You bring your hands to his hair and play with the strands.

"I made her cum faster." she says.

"You kidding? Did you hear how loud she was when she was with me?" he says.

All you do is groan. Yeah, this was gonna be a long night.

#sanji vinsmoke x reader #sanji x reader #sanji x you #vinsmoke sanji #cat burglar nami #nami x reader #nami x you #nami x y/n #one piece x reader #one piece sanji #law trafalgar #law trafalgar x reader #one piece #roronoa zoro #zoro x reader

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pixiexdusts-world · 3 months ago

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Min Ho’s crush problem

Min Ho Moon x reader

Summary: Min Ho’s feelings for a friend become hard to ignore, leading to a moment neither of them expected.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

I know something’s up with Min Ho.

At first, I thought I was imagining it. He’s always been confident, teasing, and a little dramatic, but lately… he’s different around me. His usual cocky remarks turn into stuttered sentences. He looks away quickly when I I catch him staring. And the biggest red flag? He’s nice to me. Like, genuinely nice, without the usual snark.

Min Ho never acts like this.

“Hey.” Kitty slides into the seat next to me at lunch, setting her tray down with a thud. “You have noticed, right?”

I blink. “Noticed what?”

She gestures—not subtly at all—toward Min Ho, who’s grabbing his food. It would be completely normal, except every time I move, his eyes flicker to me. Like he’s hyperaware of my presence.

Kitty smirks. “That.”

Q, sitting on her other side, leans in. “Oh yeah, it’s obvious.”

Yuri, who’s been scrolling through her phone, finally looks up. “Wait, are we talking about how Min Ho is secretly obsessed with her?”

I nearly choke on my drink. “He is not—”

“Oh, he absolutely is.” Juliana grins. “It’s kinda cute.”

I frown, trying to act unaffected, but my face feels like it’s on fire. “You guys are being ridiculous.”

Dae sighs, exasperated. “I don’t know why we’re even debating this. Min Ho is in love with her, end of story.”

“In love?” I repeat, voice an octave higher. “Can we all calm down?”

“Fine.” Kitty taps her chin. “Maybe not love yet, but the boy is smitten.”

Before I can protest, Min Ho’s voice cuts through the conversation.

“Uh… what’s going on?”

I freeze. The whole table goes silent. I don’t even have to turn around to know he’s looking directly at me.

Kitty, being Kitty, answers without hesitation. “Oh, just talking about how you’re secretly in love with her.”

I slap my forehead. I’m going to kill her.

Min Ho chokes on his drink. “W-what?!”

The entire table bursts into laughter, except for me and Min Ho—who looks terrified.

Q grins. “Relax, man. We all see it.”

Min Ho scoffs, but he’s turning pink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yuri raises an eyebrow. “You sure? Because you’ve been staring at her like she hung the moon for, like, weeks.”

Min Ho’s jaw tightens. He’s scrambling—trying to come up with some cocky remark, some way to brush it off. But for the first time ever, Min Ho is speechless.

And that’s when it hits me.

They’re right.

Every stolen glance, every flustered response, every unnecessary favor—Min Ho likes me.

Min Ho, who flirts with everyone but never actually means it.

Min Ho, who is annoyingly perfect and way too attractive for his own good.

Min Ho, who I might—might—be crushing on a little, too.

Crap.

Before anyone can say anything else, Min Ho abruptly stands up, his chair scraping against the floor. “I just remembered—I have to, uh, go. Somewhere. Important.”

Then he rushes off without another word.

Kitty cackles. “Oh my God, he ran.”

Dae shakes his head. “I’ve never seen him this bad.”

I exhale, staring at the empty spot where Min Ho was just sitting. My heart is still racing.

Juliana nudges me. “So… you’re gonna do something about it, right?”

I bite my lip. “Maybe.”

Yuri smirks. “Good. Because if you don’t, we will.”

I groan, but there’s a tiny smile on my face. Min Ho has a crush on me. And judging by the way my stomach flips at the thought…

I think I kind of love that.

I find him outside, pacing in front of the school’s entrance like a caged lion. He’s so absorbed in his thoughts that he doesn’t notice me approach.

“Min Ho,” I call out, my voice hesitant but curious.

He jumps, startled, before he turns to face me. His expression flickers between relief and something else—something softer.

“Uh, hey,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t think you’d follow me out here.”

I cross my arms, trying to act casual, but it’s hard when my heart’s hammering in my chest. “You ran off pretty quickly back there.”

Min Ho laughs nervously. “Yeah, well… I wasn’t exactly prepared for that conversation.”

“You mean the part where Kitty outed your little crush?”

His face turns crimson, and he looks away. “I wouldn’t exactly call it a crush.”

“Oh?” I take a step closer, smirking. “What would you call it then?”

Min Ho doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifts uncomfortably, his fingers drumming against his leg. Finally, he sighs, his usual cocky demeanor slipping just a little.

“Okay, fine. Maybe it’s a crush. I don’t know… I’m not good at this stuff.”

“This stuff?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “You mean, liking someone?”

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “I’m not really… experienced when it comes to serious feelings.”

I laugh softly, a little in disbelief. “Seriously? Min Ho, you’re always so confident. I figured this would be easy for you.”

He looks at me, his eyes soft but uncertain. “Yeah, well, not everything comes easy. Especially when it’s you.”

My breath catches. I’ve known Min Ho for a while, but the way he’s looking at me now—like I’m the only thing in the world—makes my stomach do flips.

“So… what now?” I ask, trying to play it cool even though my heart’s racing.

Min Ho steps closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “Now, I don’t know. Maybe… maybe I can try this whole thing out. If you want.”

I bite my lip, then smile. “I think I could go for that.”

Min Ho grins, his confidence returning in full force. “Good. Because I’m not backing down now.”

I laugh, a little nervous but mostly excited. The space between us closes just a little more as Min Ho reaches up, his hand gently cupping my cheek. His thumb strokes my skin softly as his gaze flickers down to my lips, then back to my eyes, searching for permission.

I don’t say anything. I just lean in, closing the distance myself, feeling his breath mix with mine. And when our lips finally meet, it’s soft at first—tentative, like neither of us is quite sure what comes next. But then Min Ho pulls me closer, his other hand resting on my back, deepening the kiss, and it feels like everything around us fades away.

And then–whistle

From behind us, a loud cheer erupts.

“Yesss! Finally!”

I pull back, both of us startled, but when I turn around, I see the entire group–Dae, Q, Kitty, Yuri and Juliana–all standing at the window, cheering and clapping.

“Oh my god, you guys are so in love” Kitty calls out, grinning from ear to ear.

I bury my face in my hands, mortified, but Min Ho just laughs. “Guess we’re really trying this then, huh?”

I laugh too, feeling a rush of warmth flood my chest. “Guess so”.

He looks at me, his smile a little shy now, but there’s something else in his eyes–something that tells me this is just the beginning. “So… does this mean we’re a thing now?”

I grin “I think so”.

And with that, I let myself sink into the moment. With him, with all of them. The teasing, the awkwardness, the uncertainty–it’s all worth it for this feeling right now

#xo kitty #xo kitty x reader #xo kitty x you #xo kitty minho #min ho x reader #min ho x y/n #min ho moon #minho x y/n #minho moon #minho x reader #minho x you #min ho moon x reader #xo kitty season 2 #xo kitty season 1 #minho xo kitty

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artdcnaldson · 4 months ago

Note

*taps mic* "Ahem... jerking Art off and making him swallow his own cum"

The crowd boos. "That's disgusting!" One yells. "He'd never do that!" Another shouts. Then, everyone gasps and turns around as someone in the back stands and speaks up. "Yes, he would." Says no other than Arthur Clive Donaldson himself.

Alternatively.... cumming in you and then eating you out...

And the crowd goes... home!

🚬

Sighhhh <3

But yeah <3 Especially thinking very hard about jerking off sweet little 2006 Art. Perhaps even comforting him in your hotel room after he's lost the junior US Open final </3

He wants to feel desired, like he's won something. So he feels vindicated when you're clinging to his side, all starry eyed and happy to be in his presence. Patrick is across the room talking to Tashi, showing off his trophy with that dazzling, perfect, smarmy, frustrating smile of his. So he tries to focus on you, as you tell him about how you also won in the mixed doubles tournament, and you saw his final that morning and you thought he played really well.

It doesn't take much convincing to get him to your hotel room— he didn't really want to stay at the afterparty anyway, feeling like Anna Mueller with his stupid little plate engraved— Art Donaldson, runner up. He feels better on your bed, with your tongue down his throat, moaning into your mouth as you strip him out of the fancy outfit his grandma had bought him, expecting a win. A nice white button down, black slacks, his grandad's cufflinks. Even a goddamn tie.

"You're so hot," you murmur against his lips, once he's down to his boxers and you can feel him hard, tenting the fabric. "Can I touch you?"

And, fuck, on a night like this, who is he to refuse?

Your hands are so so soft around him, slick from spit so he can glide in your palm. Slow, practiced. You kiss him so sweetly as you jerk him off, tongue brushing his, licking into his mouth. You can taste the soda he had at the party, the cigarette he'd puffed on while you waited for your shuttle back to the hotel.

"Jesus that's—" He trails off, hips bucking up into your fist, seeking more. But you set the pace, and you want this to be slow. So you just smile, nod and kiss his jaw. You twist your fist a bit and make him groan, so his head falls back and you can trail your hot kisses down his throat. "God, you're killing me."

You relish in having him like this— panting and falling apart in your hand, literally. Art Donaldson— golden boy on the court. You toy with him— slowing down when his moans get too fast, when you feel his balls drawing up and his cock pulsing... speeding up when you want to feel his breath hot, panting against your throat, his kisses insistent.

He doesn't even have time to warn you before he's spilling into your hand. Hot, thick ropes that drip between your fingers. He groans and buries his face in your shoulder, embarrassed by his inability to last during a simple handjob.

"Sorry, that's... sorry," He stammers, his cheeks pretty pink. His cock flags, just a bit between his thighs, and you know this isn't the first time you'll make him cum that night. Not even close.

You kiss his cheek once, then bring your fingers up to his lips. He hesitates, just a moment, before his tongue peeks out, lapping at his spend on your fingers. His nose wrinkles, just a bit at the unfamiliar taste, but he obeys, until there's no trace of him left on your palm other than his spit.

You kiss his lips and taste his cum on his tongue. It doesn't take long for him to get hard again.

#arthur CLIVE donaldson tho???#🚬 anon #art donaldson x reader #art donaldson smut

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j-jinxee · 1 year ago

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[ ⟡ ] — NIRAGI NSFW HEADCANONS,,

NSFW under the cut! ⊹ Niragi x Reader

✦ [warnings – weapon play, oral, handcuffs, pet names, spit, licking, uhh just v nsfw]

─────

₊˚♱ Ok so let's start with the fact he's always armed, carrying that rifle like it's a basic necessity. He uses those firearms in many ways, from simple intimidation, to having you suck on the barrel while his finger hovers over the trigger. He pushes it deeper down your throat as you here the safety click off, he never actually has the safety on normally, it was just to make you all the more scared. It puts him on a power trip, knowing he could absolutely waste you at any moment, even if he never actually will.

"You could kill me right now if you really wanted to"

"I know, and maybe one day I will. But right now I need those pretty lips wrapped around my cock, come on baby."

₊˚♱ Speaking of oral, he's obsessed with making you gag on him. Leaning his head back against the headboard, your nose poking his stomach as he forces your head further down. He'll let you go your own pace for the first few minutes, riling him up with how painfully slow your going — kitten licking his tip, giving lots of attention to those pretty veins decorating his shaft. That's how it goes until he needs to feel dominant again, his hands going to grip your hair, beginning to thrust upwards as he kept your head still. Tears starting to cloud your vision as your throat started to bruise.

"Fuckkk, whore can't even take dick properly? It's ok, gagging you like this is so fucken hot."

₊˚♱ Is definitely one for humiliation, but not in the common ways. He's not gonna make you suck him off in public, he's the only one allowed to see you like that. Niragi is the type to handcuff you to him, letting everyone at the beach know you're his, and anyone who tries to get with you will soon be staring down the barrel of a loaded rifle. He'd somehow get access to handcuffs, clasp them to one of your wrists, then the other end to his belt. Walking around, flaunting you like a trophy.

"You're mine baby, and I'm gonna show you off whether you like it or not."

₊˚♱ Pain kink 1000%, and shockingly, actually prefers receiving it rather than inflicting it. He'd have a nice silver pocket knife and ask you to use it on him after you suck him off. It's a nice interval between the oral and then actual sex, just a little something more to get him really fucked up. You'd be sitting on his lap as he comes down from his high, opening the knife and gliding it across his collarbones, it gets him hard immediately. You leave a few little cuts near his biceps and chest, until he says there's enough.

₊˚♱ Spit kink, no questions asked. Remember the way he spat on Hatter's dead body? Yeah. This ties in with his oral fixation, the way he's constantly sticking his tongue out, the way he adores licking every inch of your body, the way he loves when your teeth clink against his tongue piercing. He'll hold your face up by your chin while you're on your knees, standing over you as he spits in your mouth.

"Don't swallow it so soon baby, taste it, taste me."

₊˚♱ You can't convince me he wouldn't love being called daddy. He actually wouldn't realise at first, unaware of how much he loves it, until one night you unintentionally moaned it out as he was drilling you from behind. His movements stopped, making your heart sink. He leaned down towards your ear.

"What was that baby?"

"Nothing- sorry"

"Say it again."

Since then, he can't get enough of it. Constantly demanding you to moan it out as loud as you can, letting everyone know how good he fucks you.

----------------------------------------------------

I could honestly go on for so long abt this man and I'm not proud of it cuz yk 💀💀 but it's not my fault he happened to be SO ATTRACTIVE LIKE WHY'D HE HAVE TO BE SUCH A PRICK WHEN HES THAT HOT 😔 anywayzzz hope u enjoyed hehe :33

Ok cya, luv ya x

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222col · 2 months ago

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bimbo!reader x art donaldson

summary: your friend goes missing...

cw .ᐟ missing person, murder

꒰ notes ꒱ more of joe goldberg!art

art had been so good recently. kept his emotions in check, didn't make an rash decisions. he was focusing on you, wasn't letting anyone get in the way of your relationship. until, of course...

"artie!" your bloodshot eyes appear unannounced at his dorm, thank god he'd already gotten rid of the guy in his bathroom. his heart clenches at the sight of you, sniffling through your tears as your hands reach out for him immediately. art's already working out a new hiding spot at the sight of your tears, and he doesn't even know what happened yet.

his strong arms carry you into his room, cradling you in his lap, stroking through your hair as he waits for you to be ready to speak. he'd never rush you, art does everything at your pace. "my– my– she–" you mumble, choking out the words through sobs. "what is it, princess?" art coos, gently tilting up your chin to force your eyes onto his.

"y'know my friend lexi?" oh, fuck. he definitely knows lexi. lexi is currently in the trunk of his car, he was planning on discarding her body today, before you arrived. shit, shit, shit.

art nods softly, pushing down all feelings of panic that are threatening to boil over. he has to be here for you right now, not thinking about himself. "yeah, baby, i know lexi, she lives in your building, right?" of course he knows that, it's where he killed her. "mhm, yeah," you mumble, wiping your nose on your sleeve as you sniffle through more sobs.

"she's– she's missing," you whisper, as though saying it any louder would make it more real than it already was. your lip trembles as your doe eyes look to art for comfort. "oh, princess," he murmurs, pressing his lips gently to your forehead. christ, was this girl miss popular or something? art only killed her in the early hours of the morning. fuck, he's in deep shit. she's still in his fucking car and the whole campus is looking for her.

no, it's fine. a missing persons report can't be filed before she's been gone for twenty-four hours. art has time. the police will think she's just some college student who got too drunk and didn't come home. she'll turn up, they'll say, don't worry. yeah, she'll turn up. in a fuckin' ditch somewhere as soon as art's ready for her to be found.

and hey, look, art didn't have a choice, okay? he's not just some psycho that kills people for the fun of it. it's not fun. it's fucking hard work, actually. he had to find out exactly where she'd be, when she'd be alone, make a copy of her dorm key, make sure her roommate was out. and that's all before he killed her. he had to get her body out, unseen, bleach her dorm, get her into the trunk of his car, and he's still got to get rid of her body, now with everyone looking for her! it’s fucking hard to be a serial killer. especially one that doesn't get caught.

it's her own fault. stupid girl shouldn't have been bad mouthing you like that. to do it so out in the open too? bitch had it coming. yapping around campus how she only kept you around 'cause other people liked you. nuh uh, no one talks about art's girl like that. she'd been getting too close to you anyway, it was only a matter of time before art took things into his own hands.

"oh, baby, i'm sure she's fine," he murmurs, rubbing up and down your back under your, his, sweater. art's trying so hard not to let his mind run away with him, especially with the feeling of your skin under his and how fuckin' pretty you look with tear stained cheeks and that pout on your lips. "she probably just stayed at some frat boys house, lexi can be like that." lexi can be a slut, is what art's trying to nicely say. always dragging you with her to stupid frat parties, that art hates you going to. he's the only boy who should be seeing you all dolled up.

brows knitted, bottom lip still poking out as you meet his eyes again. nodding in agreement, always taking art's words as gospel. he would never lie to you, right? "think you should stay here, until she's back though, baby." art murmurs softly, holding your cheeks in his hands, breath ghosting across your face. any excuse to have you staying with him, he'll take. "yeah?" art hums, a smile threatening his features. poking your side, making you giggle, when you don't respond to him.

"yeah, artie." you mumble, smiling up to him. you're too easy. he'll have you convinced lexi was a horrible person by the time he's even dumped the body.

#bimbo!reader ౨ৎ #bimbo!reader x art donaldson #stalker!art #challengers #art donaldson #art donaldson x reader #art donaldson fic #art donaldson x you #art donalson x reader #challengers au #challengers fic #mike faist #joe goldberg #★ 222col's writing

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ccupcakeyss · 1 month ago

Note

can i req mha boys with a sunshine partner that goes through severe depressive episodes if you’re comfy with that

okay lowkey this sounds so cute for fluff esp for katsuki OKAOKAY thank you for ur request!!!

˳　 ⊹ IN THEIR ARMS, I HEAL 𓏼 𝜗℘

SUMMARY: this story follows the reader as they navigate depressive episodes, finding comfort and support from the MHA boys.

CW: depression, emotional struggles, anxiety, feelings of isolation, mention of self-doubt, and potential triggers related to mental health challenges. please read with caution if these topics are sensitive for you. this is super repetitive; so it can get boring but enjoy while you can!!

NOTES: including: katsuki bakugo, izuku midoriya, kirishima eijirou, shoto todoroki, denki kaminari, hanta sero, tenya iida and hitoshi shinso! please enjoy! btw, i literally made every story start the same js with diff characters HELP so... YEAH ANYWAYS ENJOY READING

KATSUKI BAKUGO

Katsuki Bakugo was never one to show weakness. To him, emotions were a distraction, a vulnerability that could get in the way of his goal—becoming the strongest hero. That’s why he kept his distance from everyone. He didn’t need anyone. He didn’t need their pity, their concern, or their soft words. He didn’t have time for people who couldn’t keep up with his pace.

But there was one person who was different. You.

You weren’t like the others. You weren’t fragile or weak. You were… sunshine, a light in his life that made him feel things he didn’t want to feel. You had this ability to make him want to protect you, even when he didn’t understand why. Even when he told himself over and over again that he wasn’t the type of guy who needed to be there for anyone.

But the thing was, you needed him. He saw it in the way your eyes lost their usual sparkle, how you would shut yourself off from the world, retreating inward whenever things got tough. And today? Today, it was different. You’d been so distant lately, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

It was after class when he saw you. The common room was nearly empty, and you were sitting in one of the far corners, curled up on a couch, your knees pulled tightly to your chest. You didn’t even look up when he walked in—just stared blankly at the floor, lost in your own world. The usual lightness you brought to the room was gone, replaced by a heaviness that hung in the air.

Katsuki’s heart skipped a beat, but he refused to acknowledge it. He hated feeling this way. He wasn’t supposed to feel bad for you. He wasn’t supposed to care. But fuck, he did. And that pissed him off.

He gritted his teeth as he approached you. “Oi, Y/N,” he called, his voice sharper than he intended. “What the hell’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting like a damn zombie all week. Say something.”

You didn’t respond, your eyes barely flicking in his direction. That was when he felt it—this weird lump in his throat, the kind he hated. Why the hell did he care so much? Why did it bother him so much to see you like this?

He stood there for a moment, staring down at you, feeling the frustration bubbling up inside. “Dammit,” he muttered under his breath, and before he could talk himself out of it, he dropped down onto the couch next to you.

You didn’t move away from him, but you didn’t lean into him either. The space between you felt… different. It wasn’t like before when you could laugh together, joke around, or just enjoy each other’s company. Now, everything felt so damn heavy, and it crushed him to see you like this.

“I’m not gonna sit here and let you fucking ignore me,” Katsuki said, more forceful than he meant. He wasn’t good with soft stuff, and god knows he hated it. But seeing you like this, looking so lost, made him feel like he was going to lose his mind.

You finally glanced at him, but it wasn’t the usual look of affection or playful teasing. No, your eyes were dull, and your lips barely formed a faint, tired smile. It made his stomach twist.

“Y/N…” His voice softened. He didn’t know what to say, but the words spilled out before he could stop them. “Don’t hide from me. I’m not fucking stupid. I know when something’s wrong. I’m not gonna leave you alone like this.”

You blinked at him, almost surprised by the intensity in his voice. He could feel his chest tighten. He wasn’t good at showing this side of him—wasn’t even sure if he wanted to—but with you? With you, it was different.

For a moment, he was frozen, unsure of how to proceed. He was so used to being alone, so used to pushing others away. But now, with you sitting beside him, so fragile, so broken, he couldn’t just turn his back.

Katsuki reached out, his hand shaking just slightly as he grabbed your wrist gently, pulling you toward him. It was an awkward motion—definitely not smooth, definitely not how he’d imagined it. But it didn’t matter.

You tensed for a second, and for a heartbeat, he thought you might pull away. But then, slowly, you leaned into him. Katsuki could feel the weight of your head rest against his shoulder, your breath shaky as you held back the tears. He clenched his jaw, feeling the pressure build in his chest.

“Don’t cry,” he muttered gruffly, even though he didn’t know what else to say. He wasn’t good at this comforting thing. Not like Deku, not like Kirishima. But he was good at protecting you. That was what mattered right now. He could give you that.

You didn’t say anything. You just cried, silently, your body trembling as you let the emotions spill over. Katsuki, despite everything, couldn’t stop his hand from moving to your back, rubbing it in slow, soothing circles.

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re going through,” he said quietly, his voice surprisingly soft, “but I know you’re stronger than this. I’m not letting you just fall apart and pretend it’s all fine.”

You snuck a glance up at him, eyes filled with a mix of sadness and gratitude. The sight made his chest tighten, but he wouldn’t pull away. No, not now. Not when you needed him. Not when you were his person.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he continued, voice firmer, though it trembled at the edges. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’m not gonna let you.”

You nodded against him, the tears starting to slow, though the ache in your chest didn’t seem to go away. But with him here, with his warmth surrounding you, you didn’t feel so lost. You didn’t feel so alone.

Katsuki didn’t say anything else. He didn’t have to. He just stayed there with you, holding you as you cried, as the storm inside of you slowly started to calm.

Even if he hated it. Even if he couldn’t understand it. He would never let you go through this alone. Not now. Not ever.

⸺

IZUKU MIDORIYA

Izuku Midoriya had always been the type of person who cared about others, but when it came to you, his affection for you went deeper than anything he’d ever experienced before. You were his light, the one person who made all the battles and struggles of his daily life feel worth it. You brought him peace when his mind would race with worries, and when things got tough, your smile would always be the thing that helped him keep going.

But lately, Izuku had noticed something—something he couldn’t ignore. The sparkle in your eyes, the warmth of your laugh, the way you’d joke and lift others up—all of it had faded. It was as if you were carrying some heavy weight, and no matter how hard you tried to smile, the light was gone. He didn’t know what was wrong, but he could see it in the way you acted. He could feel it in the silence that seemed to hang around you.

It wasn’t until that afternoon, after class, that he finally found you alone in the common room. The space was mostly empty, save for a few students working on assignments, but you? You were sitting on one of the couches, your posture slumped, your eyes unfocused. You didn’t even look up when he entered. The air around you felt thick, heavy—like the world had gotten too much, and you were too exhausted to fight it anymore.

Izuku’s heart sank when he saw you like that. He knew this wasn’t the bright, bubbly person he adored. You were still his sunshine, but the darkness surrounding you was making it hard to see the warmth he loved.

“Y/N?” His voice was soft but full of concern, almost shaky as he stepped closer. “Are you… are you okay?”

You didn’t respond right away, and that made his anxiety grow. He knew you weren’t one to hide your emotions, to bottle them up like this. Something was wrong, and Izuku couldn’t just stand there and pretend it didn’t bother him. He took a deep breath and walked over to you, sitting down beside you on the couch. He could feel the tension between you two, like there was a distance he couldn’t cross, no matter how much he wanted to.

“Y/N, you’re scaring me,” Izuku admitted, his voice shaking slightly. He tried to sound strong, but the sight of you like this was breaking his heart. “I don’t like seeing you like this… You’re not yourself.”

You finally looked up at him, but it wasn’t the look he was used to—the sweet, gentle gaze that always made him feel like the luckiest guy in the world. No, today your eyes were dull, hollow, and full of sadness. It made his chest ache to see you like this.

“I’m fine, Izuku,” you said quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’m just… tired. I’ll be okay.”

Izuku’s eyes softened. He knew you were trying to brush it off, to make him think everything was fine, but he knew better. You weren’t fine. He could see it in the way your shoulders were tense, in the way you avoided looking at him for too long.

Without saying a word, Izuku gently placed his hand on yours, his fingers lightly brushing against your skin. The simple touch was enough to make your eyes well up. You weren’t sure why, but the kindness in his touch, the care in his eyes, made it all feel too much.

“I don’t want you to pretend to be fine,” Izuku said softly, his thumb slowly stroking the back of your hand. His words were genuine, and the sincerity in his voice made your heart ache even more. “You don’t have to hide from me. If something’s wrong, I want to know. I’m here for you, okay?”

You couldn’t hold it in anymore. The dam broke. You let out a soft sob as tears started to fall, and Izuku immediately wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. His embrace was warm, safe, and unwavering. He didn’t let go. Even when you started to tremble in his arms, he held you tighter, not saying a word, just letting you cry.

“I’m sorry, Izuku,” you whispered between sobs. “I don’t want to burden you. I just feel so… overwhelmed. Everything’s too much right now.”

Izuku shook his head, his voice firm and full of compassion. “You could never be a burden, Y/N. Never. I care about you more than you’ll ever know. Whatever you’re going through, we’ll get through it together. You’re not alone.”

You buried your face in his chest, your hands gripping the fabric of his shirt as you let the tears flow freely. Izuku’s hand moved to the back of your head, gently stroking your hair as he whispered words of comfort, words that felt like they were healing the cracks in your heart.

“Take all the time you need,” Izuku said softly, his voice full of love and patience. “You don’t have to be strong right now. I’ll be strong for you. I’m not going anywhere.”

The sound of his words, the warmth of his touch, made you feel like maybe, just maybe, things could get better. With him by your side, it felt like there was still hope, even in the darkest moments. You let yourself lean into him completely, your body relaxing against his, as if you could finally breathe again.

Izuku didn’t push you to talk, didn’t pressure you to be okay. He just let you be, let you release everything you’d been holding inside. And when you finally pulled back a little, looking up at him through tear-filled eyes, you saw nothing but love and support in his gaze.

“You’re so strong, Y/N,” Izuku whispered, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “And I’m proud of you, no matter what you’re going through. We’re in this together.”

You nodded, your heart swelling with gratitude. Izuku was right. You weren’t alone anymore. And for the first time in days, you allowed yourself to believe that things could get better. With him, you didn’t have to fight the darkness alone. He would always be there, shining his light for you.

⸺

KIRISHIMA EIJIROU

Kirishima Eijirou wasn’t the kind of guy to leave things unsaid or leave people to suffer alone. He was a natural protector, always putting others first and ensuring that the people he cared about felt safe and loved. But there was one person he cared about more than anyone else: you.

When he first met you, you were full of energy and positivity, always lifting him up, always there to share a laugh or a kind word. You were the kind of person who could brighten up even the darkest days with just a smile. And Kirishima had always admired you for it.

But recently, things had changed. He had noticed the way you withdrew more and more into yourself, how your usual spark seemed to fade with each passing day. The laughter wasn’t there. The light in your eyes was dimming, and no matter how much he tried to reach out, you pulled away. It had hurt him, not because you were pulling away from him specifically, but because he could see you struggling. And that hurt him more than anything.

He had tried to talk to you, to ask if everything was okay, but you’d always just brush him off with a forced smile and a “I’m fine.” He knew that wasn’t true, but he also knew you didn’t want to burden anyone. That was the kind of person you were—strong, independent, but maybe just a little too stubborn for your own good.

It wasn’t until one afternoon, when he returned to the dorm after training, that he found you sitting alone in the common room. He had expected to see some of the others hanging out, but the place was eerily quiet. Then he saw you, curled up on the couch, looking small and fragile. You were staring out the window, but your gaze was distant, unfocused. The world around you seemed to be moving on without you, and it hurt him to see it.

Kirishima’s heart immediately dropped at the sight of you like this. He didn’t care how many times he had to face his own fear—he couldn’t leave you like this. Not now. Not ever.

He walked over to you, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet room. “Y/N?” His voice was gentle, but there was an edge of concern in it. “Hey, what’s going on? You haven’t been yourself lately.”

You didn’t respond right away. You didn’t even look at him. He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. He hated seeing you like this—so quiet, so distant. It made his chest tighten.

“Come on, you know you can’t ignore me,” Kirishima said, sitting down beside you. He leaned in a little closer, trying to catch your eye, but you still avoided him. “I can tell something’s wrong. You’ve been pulling away. I don’t want you to deal with this alone, Y/N.”

You let out a soft sigh, almost inaudible. “I’m just… tired, Kirishima. I don’t want to drag you down.”

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. He could hear the pain in your voice, the exhaustion that was so much more than physical. It was emotional, a weight that was suffocating you, and it killed him to know he hadn’t been able to help you sooner.

“Y/N,” he whispered, his voice soft but firm. “You’re not a burden. You never could be. I don’t care how tough you think you have to be, but you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here. Always. And I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

His hand reached for yours, gently lifting it to rest in his palm. His thumb brushed across your skin, the warmth of his touch grounding you, reminding you that he was right here beside you, even if you didn’t feel strong enough to face the world.

You finally looked up at him, your eyes red from the tears you had been holding in for so long. You hadn’t realized how much you needed someone until now. The exhaustion, the emotional toll of pretending to be okay—it all came rushing in at once.

“I don’t want to be weak,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “I don’t want to be a burden to anyone, especially not you.”

Kirishima’s heart ached as he watched you, and before you could say another word, he pulled you into his arms, wrapping you up in his warmth. His embrace was strong, secure, the kind of embrace that made you feel like you could rest, even for just a moment, and let the world slow down.

“Stop that,” he murmured into your hair, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re not weak. You’re one of the strongest people I know. You’re just going through something tough right now, and that’s okay. But you don’t have to hide it. You don’t have to pretend for me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here, Y/N.”

The words were simple, but they were all you needed. You didn’t have to fight it anymore. You didn’t have to be strong all the time. You could just be, and Kirishima would be there to catch you if you fell.

His arms tightened around you, his warmth spreading through your body. You could feel the steady beat of his heart against your chest, a rhythm that reminded you that you were loved, that you were cared for. You let yourself relax into him, surrendering to the safety of his embrace, the safety of someone who would never let you fall.

“It’s okay to let go sometimes,” Kirishima whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll be right here. We’ll figure it out together.”

You nodded against his chest, the tears falling once more, but this time they weren’t tears of sorrow—they were tears of relief, of comfort. For the first time in a long time, you felt like you could breathe. The weight on your chest didn’t feel as heavy, and you allowed yourself to lean into Kirishima’s strength.

He held you until the tears subsided, rubbing your back and murmuring sweet words to reassure you, to remind you that it was okay to not be okay. Slowly, you began to calm, feeling the warmth of his love and his unwavering support fill the empty spaces inside you.

Kirishima didn’t expect you to suddenly be okay. He didn’t expect you to bounce back and be the same person you were before, but what mattered was that you didn’t have to face it alone. With him by your side, he would help you through it, no matter how long it took.

⸺

SHOTO TODOROKI

Shoto Todoroki wasn’t one to express his feelings easily. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel deeply; on the contrary, he felt everything intensely. His past had taught him that emotions were complicated, often painful, and so he learned to bury them. But you… you had changed him. You had shown him that it was okay to feel, to let someone else into the quiet parts of his heart.

You were his calm, his balance. When the storms of his thoughts would cloud his mind, you were the one who cleared the skies with your warmth and your smile. But recently, something had shifted. You weren’t the same bright and energetic person he had grown to love. The change was subtle at first—just small signs of weariness, but now, it was undeniable. Your smiles were forced, your eyes distant, and your usual laughter was replaced with a quietness that made Todoroki’s chest tighten.

He had tried to approach you gently, to ask if everything was alright, but each time, you’d reassure him with a tired smile and say, “I’m fine.” Todoroki knew better. He knew you weren’t fine. The last thing he wanted to do was make you feel worse, but he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

That’s why, when he walked into the dorm’s common room that evening and saw you sitting alone in one of the corners, he knew something had to be done. You weren’t crying or visibly upset, but the way you held yourself—slumped in a way that made you seem so small—broke his heart. His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, he stood frozen, unsure of how to approach you.

He was a man of few words, especially when it came to matters of the heart, but for you, he was willing to push past his discomfort. He couldn’t let you suffer alone, especially not when he cared about you more than anyone else in the world.

“Y/N?” Todoroki’s voice was quiet, but his concern was evident. “Are you… okay?”

You didn’t immediately look up at him. Instead, your gaze remained fixed on the floor, and he could see your hands trembling slightly in your lap. He took a cautious step forward, not wanting to startle you but needing to make sure you knew he was there.

“I’m fine, Todoroki,” you said, the words sounding almost mechanical. “Really. I just need a little space.”

Todoroki felt a pang of frustration. You weren’t fooling him. He had been through enough internal battles himself to know when someone was hiding the truth behind their words.

He didn’t push. He simply sat down beside you, close enough that his presence was undeniable, but not so close that he invaded your space. He respected your need for distance, but he also knew you weren’t going to open up unless he made it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere.

The silence between you stretched on for a few moments, but then, with a small sigh, you finally spoke again, your voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m sorry, Todoroki,” you murmured, not looking at him. “I don’t mean to push you away. It’s just… everything feels too much right now.”

Todoroki’s eyes softened as he turned to face you. His expression was calm, but his heart was heavy. He wanted to reach out, to take you in his arms and tell you everything would be okay, but he knew that words alone wouldn’t fix what you were feeling. Still, he couldn’t just sit idly by.

“You don’t have to apologize,” he said quietly, his voice steady, though the sincerity behind it was clear. “I understand more than you think. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re carrying everything by yourself.”

You blinked up at him, surprised by his words. The truth was, Todoroki wasn’t one to talk about his own struggles. He kept everything bottled up, never wanting to burden anyone. But when it came to you, he couldn’t help but open up in ways he never had before.

“I know you’re strong,” Todoroki continued, his voice softening even more. “But you don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay to lean on others, especially the ones who care about you.”

You felt your heart swell with emotion, and for the first time in days, a lump formed in your throat, not from sadness, but from the overwhelming sense of relief. He was here. He wasn’t pushing you to be okay. He was letting you be—letting you just feel.

“I don’t want to drag you down,” you whispered, your voice shaky. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

Todoroki’s gaze softened, and he leaned slightly closer to you, his warmth radiating even through the distance between you. “You could never be a burden to me,” he said, his words firm, but with the gentleness only he could provide. “You’re the last person I would want to lose. I care about you, Y/N. More than you know.”

His words broke through the walls you had built around yourself, and suddenly, the dam of emotion you had been holding back for so long came crashing down. Tears welled up in your eyes, and despite your best efforts to hold them back, they spilled over. But this time, they weren’t tears of despair. They were tears of release, of letting go, of finally allowing yourself to be vulnerable with the one person who had always made you feel safe.

Without thinking, you leaned into him, your head resting on his shoulder as the tears continued to fall. Todoroki didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer to him, his warmth enveloping you like a shield from the world. His embrace was quiet, steady, and completely secure. It was everything you needed, even though you hadn’t known how badly you needed it until now.

“I’m here,” Todoroki whispered, his voice barely audible as he pressed his cheek gently to the top of your head. “You don’t have to face this alone. Not anymore.”

You nodded against him, your breath hitching as you tried to calm down, but it was hard. The weight of everything you had been carrying had been so heavy, and now, in his arms, it felt like the world wasn’t quite so impossible to bear.

Todoroki held you for what felt like hours, letting you cry, letting you let out everything that had been building up inside. He didn’t rush you, didn’t try to fix everything in an instant. He just let you be, let you heal in the silence of his presence.

When the tears finally stopped, and your breathing steadied, Todoroki pulled back slightly to look at you, his hands gently cupping your face. His eyes were soft, filled with understanding and care.

“You don’t have to apologize for being human,” he said quietly, his thumb brushing away the last tear from your cheek. “I don’t expect you to be perfect. I just want you to be happy again. And I’ll be here to help you through it, whenever you’re ready.”

You met his gaze, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. With him, you didn’t have to hide. With Todoroki, you could let go, be yourself, and heal. And maybe, just maybe, you’d be okay again.

⸺

DENKI KAMINARI

Denki Kaminari had always been the kind of guy who wore his heart on his sleeve. He was outgoing, always cracking jokes and pulling pranks, his infectious energy lighting up any room he walked into. Most people knew him as the class clown, the goofy guy who could always be counted on to bring a smile to someone’s face. But the truth was, Denki cared more deeply than most realized. He cared about his friends, his classmates, and especially you, the one who had captured his heart in a way no one else ever could.

When you and Denki started spending more time together, it was like you brought out the best in each other. You were his sunshine, and he was your reliable source of laughter and light. His presence made everything seem a little less daunting, a little brighter. He loved making you laugh, loved seeing your eyes light up when he did something silly. You were his constant reminder that life wasn’t all about battles and struggles—it was about the little joys, the moments of peace.

But lately, he noticed something. It wasn’t as obvious at first, but it started to become more and more apparent as time went on. You had stopped laughing quite as easily, stopped cracking jokes with him. Your energy, the vibrant spark that always seemed to surround you, had started to dim. Denki noticed the little things—the way you’d avoid eye contact, the way you’d pull away when he tried to make you smile. It hurt him to see you like this, and it made him feel helpless.

It wasn’t until one afternoon, after a particularly grueling training session, that Denki found you sitting by yourself in the common room. Most of the others had gone off to do their own thing, but you were still there, sitting alone by the window, staring out at nothing in particular. The usual spark in your eyes was gone, replaced with a faraway look that made Denki’s chest tighten.

“Hey, Y/N,” Denki called softly as he walked over to you, his voice light but carrying an undercurrent of concern. “You’re looking a little down today. What’s going on?”

You didn’t look at him at first, and for a second, Denki felt a pang of worry in his chest. You had always been open with him before, always eager to share your thoughts, but now you were closed off. He knew something wasn’t right.

“M'fine, Denki,” you said quietly, but Denki could hear the tiredness in your voice, the way your words didn’t quite match the heaviness in the air.

Denki sat down beside you, not taking no for an answer. “You don’t look fine. I know you, Y/N. You don’t have to pretend to be okay around me, alright? I’m your boyfriend. You can tell me anything.”

You didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared out the window, the cool evening breeze rustling your hair. Denki’s heart ached at the sight of you like this, like the vibrant person he knew and loved was slowly fading into the background.

Finally, you sighed, your voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to burden you with my problems, Denki. You’ve got enough to deal with already. I’m just… exhausted.”

Denki’s eyes softened, and he placed a gentle hand on your shoulder. “You’re never a burden, Y/N,” he said, his voice sincere. “You never have been. You’re literally my girlfriend, and if something’s bothering you, then I want to be here for you. That’s what partners do. And besides, I’m really good at cheering people up.”

He gave you a goofy grin, his trademark goofy smile, but you didn’t smile back. He could see the sadness in your eyes, the way you were trying to hold it all together but just couldn’t anymore. Denki’s smile faltered slightly, but he refused to give up on you.

“You know,” he continued, his voice a little softer, “I may not be the best at all this serious stuff, but I know you. And I know you’re going through something tough. You don’t have to go through it alone, though. I’m right here, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help you feel better, even if it’s just hanging out and making dumb jokes. You don’t have to carry this weight on your own.”

You finally turned to look at him, your eyes filled with unshed tears, and for the first time in a long while, you let down your guard. Denki’s heart skipped a beat as you opened up, telling him about the overwhelming pressure, the feelings of exhaustion that had built up over time. It felt good to finally say it all out loud, even if it was to someone who, for all his goofiness, genuinely cared about you.

Denki listened, really listened, his eyes locked on yours as you spoke. He didn’t interrupt, didn’t try to fix everything in a moment—he just sat with you, supporting you in his own quiet way. And when you finally finished, when the tears began to spill over, he was there, his arms wrapping around you in the most comforting embrace.

“I don’t know what to say,” you whispered, your voice shaky. “I just… I don’t want to burden you, Denki. I don’t want to be this person.”

Denki pulled back just enough to look you in the eyes, his expression soft and full of empathy. “Hey, hey,” he said gently, his hands cupping your face. “You’re not a burden. You’re not a ‘this person.’ You’re just… you. And that’s enough for me. You’re amazing just as you are, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m here, okay? We’ll get through this together.”

You nodded slowly, the weight on your chest feeling a little lighter. Denki’s words, though simple, were all you needed to hear. He was there, and he always would be, no matter what.

Denki smiled again, this time more warmly, and without warning, he pulled you into a big hug, squeezing you gently but firmly. “I promise I’ll do my best to cheer you up. You deserve to feel better, and I’ll do whatever it takes to see that smile on your face again.”

You chuckled softly, though the sound was tinged with a bit of sadness. “You don’t have to try so hard, you know.”

“Hey, I’m always up for a challenge!” Denki winked, his usual playful energy creeping back into his tone. “And making sure my favorite person in the whole wide world feels better? That’s the best challenge ever.”

As he held you in his arms, you allowed yourself to relax just a little, feeling the warmth of his affection wash over you. Maybe you still had a long way to go, but with Denki by your side, you knew you didn’t have to face it alone. You could let him be your light when everything else seemed too dim, and in return, you’d do your best to keep his brightness shining.

⸺

HANTA SERO

Hanta Sero was known for his ability to lighten the mood. Whether it was pulling pranks on his classmates, making witty remarks, or just being his easy-going self, he always knew how to bring a smile to people’s faces. He wasn’t the loudest guy in the room, but he had this effortless charm that drew people to him. And when it came to you, Sero was nothing but gentle. You were his sunshine, the one who made him feel like everything would be okay, even when things got tough.

But lately, he noticed a change in you. It wasn’t sudden, and it wasn’t something that could be pinpointed with one specific moment. It had been a gradual shift, a quiet change in the way you carried yourself. You’d stopped laughing at his jokes, and your once-vibrant smile had faded into something more reserved. Sero wasn’t oblivious—he could see the signs of someone who was struggling, and it made him worry.

He’d try to get you to talk, try to make you laugh again, but you always brushed him off with a soft, “I’m fine, Sero.” And that made him frustrated. He wanted to help, but he wasn’t sure how to break through your walls.

One evening, after training, Sero was walking back to the dorms when he spotted you sitting alone in the courtyard. It was quiet, the only sound being the soft rustling of the trees in the breeze. You were staring off into the distance, your body hunched slightly as if the weight of the world was on your shoulders.

Sero’s heart sank. He could tell you were holding something in, something heavy, and he hated that he couldn’t fix it immediately. But he wasn’t going to just leave you there, alone, battling whatever was going on in your head. He walked up to you slowly, his sneakers making soft sounds on the pavement, and when you heard him, you turned slightly, giving him a small, tired smile.

“Hey, Y/N,” Sero greeted, sitting down beside you without asking. He always felt comfortable with you, and he hoped you felt the same. “You okay?”

You didn’t immediately answer, and Sero could tell you were trying to find the right words. The silence between you stretched for a moment, but Sero wasn’t going to rush you. He knew you’d talk when you were ready.

“I don’t know,” you finally said, your voice quiet, like you were still trying to figure out how to say it. “Everything just feels… too much right now.”

Sero didn’t have all the right words to fix what you were going through. He didn’t pretend to understand exactly how you felt, but he did know one thing—he would be there for you, no matter what. That was a promise.

“Hey, that’s okay,” he said gently, his tone serious for once. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. You don’t even have to tell me what’s going on if you don’t want to. But you do have to know that I’m here, alright?”

You gave him a weary look, your eyes flicking to his face, and for a second, it felt like you were trying to figure out if he was being serious. And then, slowly, you let out a sigh, a little shakier than you meant it to be.

“I feel so tired,” you whispered. “Like… like nothing I do is enough. Like everything’s just… overwhelming.”

Sero’s heart ached at the sound of your voice. He knew what it was like to feel like you were losing control, like the pressure was building up and you couldn’t handle it anymore. He’d been there too, struggling to figure out how to keep everything together while everything felt like it was falling apart. But the one thing he’d learned? It wasn’t about being perfect. It was about having people around who cared about you, and being willing to lean on them.

“You’re more than enough, Y/N,” he said, his voice soft but unwavering. “You’re doing great, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. And I know I’m not a therapist or anything, but I’m a pretty good listener, and I’m definitely here for you. I’ll always be here for you.”

You blinked, feeling a warmth spread through you that you hadn’t realized you needed. It wasn’t a grand gesture, nor did it need to be. It was just Sero, being the person he always was: honest, straightforward, and with the unwavering assurance that he’d stick by your side no matter what. It felt good to hear, even though you knew you didn’t have all the answers yet.

“I don’t want to drag you into this, Sero,” you said quietly. “You’ve got your own stuff to deal with.”

Sero shook his head, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “Not even for a second. I care about you, Y/N. And I’m not going anywhere. You don’t have to face everything alone.”

He nudged you gently with his shoulder, his playful side creeping back in despite the serious conversation. “You know, if you want, I could always tell you some terrible puns to cheer you up. Or maybe I could just let you throw a couple of dodgeballs at me. I can take it.”

You couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at his antics, even though it felt shaky. The smile that pulled at your lips was a weak one, but it was there, and that meant something. Sero smiled back, his eyes soft with understanding.

“You don’t have to force yourself to smile,” he said, his voice kind and patient. “But you are going to be okay. I believe in you.”

The way he said it, with so much sincerity, made you feel like maybe you didn’t have to have everything figured out just yet. Maybe, for now, you could just lean on him a little more, let him help you through the hard moments.

“Thanks, Sero,” you whispered, the weight on your chest easing just a little. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Sero’s smile widened, and he gently ruffled your hair, a gesture that was both comforting and lighthearted. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve got each other’s backs, right? You’re not alone in this.”

And just like that, as the evening sun dipped lower in the sky, you found yourself sitting there with Sero, feeling a little less burdened by the weight of everything. It wasn’t a magic fix, but with him by your side, you knew you’d get through it, one day at a time.

⸺

TENYA IIDA

Tenya Iida had always prided himself on his sense of duty. As a class representative, he was responsible for ensuring everyone followed the rules and that everything ran smoothly. He was disciplined, organized, and serious about doing his best, both as a student and as a friend. There wasn’t much that could shake his composure—except, of course, seeing someone he cared about in pain.

And lately, it was you. It wasn’t sudden, but Tenya had noticed the changes. The way you would become quieter, less enthusiastic, and the way you started withdrawing from those around you. He’d catch you staring off into the distance during lunch breaks, or when you’d force a smile whenever he’d try to make small talk. He had seen this before—he had seen students struggle, and he knew it wasn’t something that could be ignored.

Though Tenya was aware of your struggles, he also understood that you had a tendency to push people away when you were hurting. You didn’t want to burden anyone, and he respected that. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t worried. He wasn’t someone to sit idly by when someone he cared for was in distress. He would find a way to help, no matter how long it took.

One evening, after a long day of training, Tenya found himself walking back to the dorms. He had finished his tasks for the day, but there was something on his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he hadn’t done enough for you lately. He wanted to speak with you, to make sure you were okay. So, he did what he always did when he was feeling uncertain—he followed his sense of responsibility.

When he entered the common room, he spotted you sitting alone on one of the couches. Your shoulders were slumped, and your gaze was distant, staring at the floor. Tenya’s heart tightened at the sight. He had been trying to respect your space, but it was clear now that you needed him more than ever. He took a deep breath and walked over to you, trying to stay calm and composed, though a part of him was worried.

“Y/N,” Tenya said softly, kneeling in front of you so he could meet your eyes. “Is everything alright? You’ve seemed… distant lately. Please, talk to me.”

You lifted your gaze slowly, and for a moment, Tenya saw the exhaustion in your eyes. He could tell you were struggling to keep up appearances, trying so hard to act like everything was fine when it clearly wasn’t.

“I’m fine, Iida,” you replied, your voice soft but strained. “I just need some time to myself, that’s all.”

Tenya didn’t move. He knew this was the part where you would try to push him away, to convince him that you didn’t need help. But Tenya wasn’t going to let you go down that path alone. Not this time.

“I understand the importance of personal space,” he said with a steady, reassuring tone. “But I also understand that sometimes, we all need someone to lean on. You don’t have to go through this by yourself, Y/N. I’m here for you.”

You were quiet for a moment, looking down at your hands. Tenya’s eyes softened, and he gently placed his hand on your shoulder, offering his warmth and presence as a reminder that you weren’t alone.

“I know you don’t want to burden anyone,” Tenya continued, his voice sincere. “But you are never a burden to me, Y/N. Not now, not ever. I care about you deeply. You don’t have to carry this weight alone.”

The tears you had been holding back finally spilled over, and for a moment, Tenya simply sat there, allowing you to cry. He didn’t try to rush you or tell you to stop. He simply let you feel what you needed to feel, knowing that the release was just as important as the comfort.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured, his voice calm and soothing. “You don’t need to explain. I’m not going anywhere. Just let me be here with you.”

After a while, you stopped crying, your sobs tapering off into soft, shaky breaths. Tenya remained by your side, rubbing your back gently and offering silent reassurance. His presence alone was steady, unwavering, and it made you feel just a little bit lighter.

“Thank you, Tenya,” you whispered, your voice raw but grateful. “I didn’t know how much I needed someone to just… be here.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Tenya said, his voice filled with warmth. “It’s my responsibility to be here for you, just as you’ve always been there for me. Friends help each other, no matter what.”

He smiled at you then, the usual seriousness in his expression replaced with a gentleness that only appeared when he was completely at ease with someone he trusted. His hand squeezed your shoulder, a small but comforting gesture.

“If there’s anything else you need—whether it’s to talk, to distract yourself, or even just to sit in silence—I’ll be here. You don’t have to face this alone.”

You looked at him, your heart swelling with gratitude, and though you still felt the weight of your emotions, there was a small glimmer of hope in your chest. With Tenya by your side, you knew you could take things one step at a time.

“Thank you,” you said again, this time with a small, tentative smile. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And Tenya’s heart swelled at the sight of it. He would always do everything in his power to make sure that smile remained, even if it was small and fleeting.

As the night continued, Tenya stayed with you, his presence solid and comforting. He didn’t pressure you, didn’t try to force you to talk if you weren’t ready. Instead, he simply made sure you knew that no matter how dark things seemed, he would always be there, a steady, unshakeable force in your life.

⸺

HITOSHI SHINSO

Hitoshi Shinso wasn’t one for crowds. He preferred his space, the quiet, and time alone to recharge. His sarcastic humor and aloof attitude often gave people the wrong impression, and he had learned to be okay with that. He didn’t need anyone’s approval, nor did he particularly care for the company of people who didn’t understand him. But when it came to you, things were different.

From the moment you had started talking to him, he’d felt something shift. You weren’t like the others. You didn’t treat him like an outcast or judge him based on his quirk. Instead, you saw the person beneath the aloof exterior. You’d smile at him like it was nothing, like he wasn’t someone to be feared or misunderstood. And it made him feel… seen.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something about you drew him in. You were the sunshine in his otherwise gloomy world. Your laughter, your bright energy, and your genuine kindness made him feel like maybe, just maybe, he didn’t have to hide behind his walls all the time. You made him feel like he was worthy of being cared for.

But lately, he’d noticed a change in you. The smiles had become rarer, and the spark in your eyes seemed to fade each day. You started pulling away, retreating into yourself, and it hurt him in a way he hadn’t expected. He wasn’t great with feelings, never had been, but this was different. It wasn’t just the usual loneliness he’d been used to—it was something deeper, something darker, and it gnawed at him.

One night, after everyone had gone to bed, Hitoshi found himself walking through the dorms, unable to sleep. His mind kept drifting back to you. He wanted to help, wanted to pull you out of the place you’d been slipping into, but he wasn’t sure how. His usual methods of deflecting and staying distant didn’t seem to work with you. And it frustrated him, more than he cared to admit.

As he passed by the common room, he stopped when he saw you sitting by yourself, curled up on the couch. You looked so small, so fragile, and it broke something inside him. He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to fix it, but he knew he couldn’t leave you there alone, not like this.

“Y/N?” he called softly, his voice low, but with a hint of concern. “You okay?”

You didn’t answer immediately, and for a moment, he thought you hadn’t heard him. He stepped closer, and when you looked up, he could see the heaviness in your eyes, the way you were struggling to keep it all together.

“I’m fine, Shinso,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I just need some space.”

He sighed, a soft exhale of frustration. He wasn’t going to let you push him away this time. He may not have the perfect words, but he knew one thing: you didn’t have to go through this alone.

“No,” he said quietly, sitting down beside you on the couch, a little closer than he usually would. “I’m not letting you push me away. You’re not fine, and I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

You stiffened slightly, clearly caught off guard by his insistence. But Hitoshi wasn’t backing down. He wasn’t going to let you hide from him anymore. He might not have a perfect track record when it came to comforting people, but when it came to you, he’d try.

“I don’t want to burden you with my problems,” you finally said, your voice thick with emotion. “Everyone else has enough to deal with.”

Hitoshi turned his head to look at you, his eyes serious, yet gentle. “You’re not a burden. You never have been. You don’t have to deal with this alone, and you don’t have to pretend everything’s okay around me.”

You swallowed hard, your chest tightening as you tried to hold back tears. But Hitoshi, as awkward and reserved as he was, didn’t look away. His gaze was soft, patient. He might not have had the perfect words, but his presence was enough to let you know that you were seen, that you mattered to him.

“I’m here, Y/N,” he said quietly, his voice lower than usual, almost like he was letting down a wall for you. “I don’t need you to be happy all the time or put on a brave face. I just need you to know that if you need someone to sit with you, even if we’re not talking, I’m here. You don’t have to push me away.”

Your lip trembled at his words, and for the first time in a while, you let yourself break. You leaned into him, just a little, but it was enough to let the tears fall. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t try to stop you or tell you to calm down. Instead, he sat there, his arm gently wrapping around your shoulders, offering you the quiet comfort you had been craving.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” you whispered, your voice shaky. “I just feel like everything is too much to handle. Like I’m drowning in it.”

Hitoshi didn’t say anything for a long moment. Instead, he just pulled you in closer, his body warm against yours. He didn’t need to fix everything. He didn’t need to say the perfect things. Sometimes, just being there was enough. And that was what you needed the most.

“You’re not drowning,” he finally said, his voice soft but firm. “You’re just… tired. And that’s okay. You don’t have to carry it all at once. You’ve got people who care about you. You’ve got me.”

You sniffled, wiping your eyes, and though the pain in your chest didn’t disappear, it felt just a little lighter. Hitoshi didn’t expect you to heal overnight. But as long as you had him by your side, he would make sure you never felt like you were facing your struggles alone.

“Thanks, Shinso,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “I didn’t think… I didn’t think you cared this much.”

“I care more than you know,” he replied quietly, his arm still around you, pulling you in a little tighter. “I’m not going anywhere.”

In that moment, with his arm around you and his quiet support, you knew you didn’t have to face the darkness alone. Hitoshi might not show his emotions the same way others did, but he was there, steady and unwavering, and that was all you needed.

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