#you already think we’re ungrateful

[d1anna]

was briefly tempted to share my poetry with my family but then i remembered the depression

[pepprs]

having some time alone in the hotel this week (which is abt to end bc we’re moving back home tmrrw even though the renovation isn’t finished 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪) and being able to have the bedroom to myself has made me think rebellious thoughts my family would be very offended over. like maybe i listened to less and less music these last few years due in part to the fact that ive spentmore time at home than i used to and i also lived on campus w roommates in a very uncomfortable arrangement and im unable to move freely about the cabin when im living w other ppl whose needs don’t align w mine and so ive just gotten used to not having all of my needs met and always being the person to take the short end of the stick…. but i actually need to be able to sing and dance and draw and do whatever and when im alone (which is almost never) im able to do that and that’s actually legit and as important as anyone else’s needs in a space i share w them. idk if i worded that well but yeah

[watermelonsugacry]

harry's 30th birthday blurb with 1d!yn?! 👀

Birthday Surprises

SUMMARY: Harry celebrates his 19th and 30th birthday with the person he loves.

GENRE: 1dbandmember!yn, married!ynrry

Since 2010 masterlist

Not to sound ungrateful, but Harry thinks that this was one of the worst birthday celebrations that he's ever had.

Tonight, he just wanted to spend his last year being a teenager having fun with friends—not be completely embarrassed and uncomfortable being strip teased and danced on by strippers. 

Not to mention that afterwards, One Direction’s management team had booked him to do a relationship stunt for the night. So as he walked out of the club and into his security team’s Range Rover, a tall, blonde model was by his side. As bad as it sounded, he couldn’t remember the girl’s name for the life of him. 

Nothing was going to happen with her anyways. All they had to do was a couple of paparazzi pictures of them together before they’re driven off into the night. The driver would discreetly drop her off at her own hotel before escorting Harry back to his. 

So there's not an ounce of uncertainty that when Harry comes out of the elevator, he's absolutely tired and wants nothing more than to be left alone.

He waves his card key in front of the lock and once he hears the little "beep" sound, he pushes the heavy door open.

His irritation and tiredness might have just peaked over its breaking point when he begins to hear rustling from inside. He’s already extremely worn out that he doesn’t even want to put in the effort into putting on a nice face to whoever’s inside his hotel room. But the smile that appears on his face is effortless when he sees YN flicking the wheel of the lighter over some birthday candles sticking out of a chocolate cake.

“Fucking fuck—oh, surprise!” She hops, extending her arms out beside her in what she hopes to look like a grand gesture.

“What’s going on?”

“We’re celebrating your birthday.” 

Anyone a mile away can tell how uncomfortable he was during the whole stripper fiasco. It sucked to have to stand off to the side, a faux smile on her face to see her bandmate in that type of situation. As much as she wanted to stay with him for the other “fun” festivities the night had to offer, she knew that she couldn’t let his birthday end the way it was heading. So she took the chance to leave the club a bit early and hoped that he would be up for one more celebratory, late night hang out.  

“But, but it’s already past midnight,” He blinks, still a little dumbfounded at the kind surprise before him.

"Oh come on, we only have—err—three, ah! Two more minutes until your birthday is officially over." YN pulls Harry over to the small dining table and sits him down in front of his freshly lit cake. It's then that he notices the shaky lettering on the cake that reads, “Happy Birthday Harry!” Letting him know that she went more out of her way for him than she initially let on. 

She comically clears her throat before beautifully yet quickly singing the infamous Happy Birthday song. The song isn't being yelled at to him by a big group of people, and the room isn't jam-packed with people he doesn't know. When he leans over to blow out his candles, he isn't fearful of hands going to the back of his head to stuff his face into the cake.

He doesn’t think twice about wrapping her up in his arms. He squeezes the tops of her shoulders tightly and she nestles into his chest. He presses a kiss to the top of her head, “Thank you.”

The sentiment doesn't, can't go by unnoticed, but it doesn't seem totally out of the norm. This is Harry. A sweet and affectionate person whose love language is undoubtedly physical touch. If anything, it'd be YN feeling the one out of place in this situation. And maybe it was a change of heart towards her anti-touchy feelings or maybe it was because of his birthday. Either way, he's grateful for the way she's letting him hold her. If it were anyone else, she definitely wouldn't wrap her arms around his torso, humming at the warmth he brings.

"Well the night doesn’t have end here,” YN blinks up at him. As if they both realize their close proximity, they slowly pull away to give each other some space. “If you're still up for it and not too tuckered out, I rented that one stupid rom com you like. The one with the guy standing outside with the signs."

"Love Actually? I thought you didn't like that movie."

"Well to be fair, I actually have never seen it. But it’s your birthday and this is sort of part of my gift to you. You know, if you even wanna see it. If not, I can just fuck off and you can sleep because I know you probably had a pretty eventful day—”

She’s rambling. YN’s rambling—a quality she was never prone to particularly show, but it’s cute. He thinks she’s cute. 

“YN,” He chuckles, effectively cutting her off. “I’m down to watch it.”

“Really? Okay, cool. Because I already have the film on queue in the room so that would have been real fooking embarrassing.” Annnd she’s back.

He watches with curious eyes as she carefully slides the heavy cake plate onto her hands. 

She throws a nod towards the kitchenette, “Mind grabbing the forks.”

As much as Harry tries to resist it, he can’t seem to wipe the smile off his face. He quickly grabs the two utensils before following behind her to the open bedroom. YN quite literally steps onto the foot of the bed before carefully sitting down, balancing the cake in her hands.

He sits down next to her, handing her the fork just as she begins the movie. They both dig their forks into the middle of the cake, taking out a chunk.

“Happy birthday, Harry,” She says, clicking the ends of their forks together. She happily hums at the delicious dessert but it quickly turns into a groan at the opening aong of the movie. “Ah not this stupid song again. I felt like this was all i was hearing just the other month.”

He’d be lying if he said he was watching more of the movie than her. His cheeks hurt from chuckling at her witty commentary and he tries not to make a big deal about the way she actually started to get into the film. So as he eats cake and spends the rest of the night with his best friend, he thinks that this might be the best birthday he’s had in a long time.

• 11 years later ●

YN stumbles through the front door as Harry cradles her in his arms, his mouth feverishly pressed to hers. They smile through their kisses, and he hums as she runs her finger through his growing curls. Harry kicks the door of their shared home behind him and blindly tosses the keys haphazardly in the general direction of the bowl by the door.

“Okay, okay,” YN pushes against his shoulders, finally getting a breath in, the pair still walking further into their home without separating. “So I know you said you didn't want any more presents—”

“Baby,” the grown man playfully whines. “You've already given me everything.” In all sincerity, she really has in his eyes. He’s been in love with the woman before him since they were sixteen. He wanted to be with her since their time in the band, through the making of their solo albums and everything in between. Even though it’s been a little over a year now, it still brings an explainable peace and warmth to his heart that she’s now his wife; not his friend with benefits, secret lovers, or merely a couple, but married.

And today couldn't have gone better. YN had the whole day planned. They started the day with lazy morning sex that turned into breakfast in bed. They spent the afternoon down by a secluded beach, having an impromptu dip in the water just before eating the lunch she packed for them. Then, after a plane ride to their private villa in Italy, they've just got back from having a beautiful dinner at his favorite restaurant.

“There's nothing more I could possibly want. Ooo, unless you're hiding some sexy lingerie under this fine ass dress you got here.” He says into her the crook of her neck, already sponging kisses onto her skin.

YN lets out a laugh, especially as his fingers begin to bunch up her silk dress. “No! Well, not no but—”

“So you do,” Harry says with excitement, the creases in his eyes appear when he hears her laughter. 

“Just hang on a sec. Your present is upstairs.”

“So I get to unwrap my last birthday present in the bedroom,” He teases her further. Her husband relishes in the way she lets out a girly squeal when he dips down and effortlessly lifts her over his shoulder to bring them into the master bedroom. 

 “Wait, wait,” She pushes as Harry plops them down on the bed, already trapping her underneath him. “Wait here. I’ll be back in a sec.”

Once she's managed to wiggle herself free (with great effort, no thanks to Harry) she scurries off to the connected bathroom.

He sits himself down on the bed, undoing the cuffs of his button up before rolling up his sleeves, preparing himself to see if wife in lacy undergarments that are only begging to be taken off by his teeth. Or torn off. Either one would work.

“H, close your eyes.” YN says from behind the door. “I mean it, no peeking.”

“Alright, alright.” He complies, already feeling a childlike sense of giddy anticipation. 

“Are they closed?”

“Yeah.”

“...are you sure?”

“Yes! For fuck sake’s woman. Being so mean on my birthday,” he laughs.

He feels the bed dip next to him before a kiss is pressed to his lips. Before he can bring his hands to her jaw to deepen the sweet kiss, he feels something being placed in his hands.

“Okay, open them,” she says against his lips.

He pulls back and sees a red box tied with a bow on top. 

“Lovie, you really shouldn't have.”

“Last one, I promise.”

Just to tease her, he brings the small box next to his head and shakes it slightly to hear the contents rattle inside.

YN makes a strategic move by placing one of her hands behind him so her thumb can twist at her rings, knowing that that's her dead giveaway for her nerves.

When he opens the lid, it's only then his face gets serious—lips slightly parted with soft eyes. On top of the pile of confetti lies a pregnancy test. The small, red plus line stares back at him clear as day.

“YN?” When he looks to his love, she begins to hold back her tears at the sight of his watery eyes and pink nose. “Is—wha—are you sure?”

“I took like five of them just to be sure,” she lets out a chuckle.

“We’re having a baby?” Words can't describe the warmth and happiness that fills her chest at his excitement. It's not like they haven't mentioned having kids before. It's been brought up a couple of times, most recently these past two years, but the timing was never right. They were always working; whether it be on making an album, working on themselves, and for the longest time, tour was their babies. But now that their 2 year world tours have ended and they've finally had time to go MIA for a couple of months, it didn't feel like a better time.

The couple wasn't setting up a schedule or anything technical to have a baby. Especially since going on their second honeymoon had been occupying their schedule right after touring was done, they decided that baby making would happen naturally. Whenever their baby decided to enter their lives, that would be the perfect time.

YN nods and before she can say the words to verbally confirm, he has her wrapped in his arms. Harry lifts her off the bed and gives her a little twirl.

As quickly as he picked her up, he's on his knees before her and puts a gentle hand on her tummy.

“Hi, bubba,” he says softly. YN beams at the sight, already wiping at the happy tears running down her cheeks. “I'm your daddy, and I love you so so much.”

After placing a gentle kiss on her stomach, he finally takes his wife's face in his hands and kisses her. It isn't rushed or filled with a sexual need. It's soft and filled with so much love and passion.

“We're gonna be parents, baby. You’re gonna make the best momma," he says sincerely, getting more emotional at the thought of holding a mini YN or a mini him in his arms in less than a year from now.

"And you're gonna make the best dad," she hums. He wraps his arms around the tops of her shoulders, pulling her close to him as she cuddles into him. He presses a kiss to her forehead and sniffs back his tears.

"I love you so much."

“i love you, baby. Happy birthday, Harry.”

.

.

taglist:

@ashtongivesmebutterflies @cacapeepee @thurhomish @armystay89

(Let me know if you wanna be added 💚)

[bunniwords]

໑ৎ ׁ ׅ♡ ALIBI 🌀

part xxiii - masterlist - part xxv xxiv. ungrateful brat

bunni speaks — they’re so cute i wanna cry… this chapter is a bit shorter but hehe

︶︶ 　 ˚ ᡴꪫ synopsis — you are known for your brain rot anime content on twitter. so much so that you caught the attention of txt’s soobin on his secret stan account and became mutuals. what will become of this new friendship?

more under the cut!

“you know, i do like your hair dark too.”

“okay, but you look at me differently with the blonde hair.”

“i think the blonde is definitely sexy but your dark hair suits you too.”

“well, you’re basically telling me i have to bleach my hair every few weeks now.”

your shared laughter filled the hotel room. the last hour or so, you and soobin were getting readjusted to each other. well… the first twenty minutes or so was spent locking lips on the couch and sharing desperate touches to one another, but eventually the two of you started bickering and definitely flirting like how you normally would.

“you know, i’m going to miss seeing your face like this,” soobin said as his finger traces your jaw, “can’t you just come touring with me?”

“i’d be out of a job,” you joked, still feeling tingles from his touches. you couldn’t seem to get used to them.

“i can pay you,” he offered half jokingly, but you had a feeling he wasn’t joking at all.

“i’m not going to get paid to be your groupie,” you rolled your eyes, “plus you only have one more date left in the states.”

“i wasn’t just talking about the usa portion of the tour,” he said matter-of-factly, “there’s still the second japan part of the tour, macau, singapore, and—“

he stopped when he saw how you looked at him. your answer seemed to be written all over your face, guilt and a small pout. although he knew you couldn’t just drop everything here to join him, but just imagining it had him feeling warm inside. 

“i know it’d be so much fun, but i couldn’t possibly do that right now. no matter how much i’d want to,” you giggled, “we’re not even dating so it wouldn’t even make sense for me to go with you.”

“we’re not?” he asked innocently and slightly heartbroken from your statement.

“well, neither of us asked each other to and you’ll be on tour so i didn’t want to hold you down or—“

“would you be my girlfriend?” he abruptly asked.

“huh?”

“you wouldn’t be holding me down,” soobin told you, holding eye contact while fiddling with your fingers, “ i want you.”

“you’re serious?” you needed confirmation. 

“i’ve been committed to talking to you everyday since we started regularly,” soobin spoke lowly before pulling you closer to him by your waist, “please, be mine.”

“o-okay,” you choked, noticing how close your faces were, “yeah.”

“okay?” soobin wasn’t really asking for confirmation. he already had the biggest shit-eating grin plastered on his face before grazing his lips on yours. 

“yes,” you whispered so softly before fully attaching your lips to his.

[nocturnalpl4gue]

༊ ⊹ ˚. Yan!Enki and Ragnvaldr x reader 🕸️

CW: Obsessive behaviour, guilt tripping (Enki being Enki), depiction of violent urges, being tied up, bloodplay, biting, borderline cannibalism as a love metaphor, friends to one-sided enemies, slightly suggestive.

Enki never thought of himself as the affectionate type, never has and never will, but when it comes to you, oh that smile of yours, those bruised limbs from the dungeon struggles, that strong will you could consider contagious; he yearned for it all, for it to belong to him.

Those thoughts keep buzzing around in his head whilst he reads and reads on the dirty library within the main hall, while you were right next to him, looking at his irritated expression with shaky pupils and an unsteady breath. He couldn’t focus with you like this, or him filled with so many thoughts by that matter.

“i can’t focus with you staring at me like that” Enki scowls. “you know, you should appreciate that i brought you here with me, and sharing my knowledge with you in the first place”. Those words make you feel like you’re pouring salt on a wound, but Enki has no ill intentions whatsoever, at least in his point of view.

You decide you look down in and stay silent, but your action is interrupted by a lanky hand grabbing your face by the cheeks, making you look up at the priest’s hollow eyes. “tch. can’t believe one can be so ungrateful” again with the foul words. He has always been the mysterious type, but this behaviour towards you was new. He has drawn sigils nearby every exit to prevent you from leaving, and still he won’t say a word unless it is to complain. He grabs your face tighter and frowns, mumbling to himself. “Why is it that you….”

What you don’t understand is he’s doing this out of pure fear. Not fear of losing, or death, or violence or whatever one could be thinking about, but fear of the feeling that creeps up to his head every time he glances at you. He wants to hold you, to grab you so tight he invades the cavities of your body and rips your heart out, to treasure it like a gem. He wants to kiss you until your skin wears out, and to know your every emotion. Love, he thinks, is something he wasn’t meant to feel. And so he doesn’t know how to behave, lost in a maze made from his own insecurities.

He sighs, trying to remember what those cheesy romance novels he read as a kid told. Enki, still with your face in his hand, plants his dry lips against yours, lapping them with an awkward lick. He looks at your shocked expression. “You don’t seem disgusted.” He mutters. “I assume that is one of the reasons why i put up with your whining.” He continues, acting all tough and indifferent as if his heart wasn’t jumping out of his chest. That kiss, if you could call it one, made everything click in his head. He needs you to be by his side at all times, to channel his insanity and transfuse it into passion. All he wanted right now from the overwhelming emotions that engulfed him, was to tear your skin apart, to pulverise your bones and carry you around like his personal doll. You’re his; the Gods predetermined you two meeting in the hellhole this dungeon is, to save each other, and stay together forever.

“You’re awfully quiet today. I hope you stay like this and follow my orders while we’re in here, or i’ll break your legs and drag you around.” He had this threatening aura around him as these words spewed out his mouth. But it wasn’t with an ill intent, no? He loved you after all, he thinks so at least.

All this was for your own good, he convinces himself; you need him to stay alive, otherwise you’d be mutilated on the floor for the guards to take pleasure with already. So of course you love him, you have to. And he loves you too, for the rest of eternity.

Even an outlander such as Ragnvaldr has felt love once, but he has also felt sorrow, rage and pain. Those former emotions that haunted him still haunt him now, and are very present in his actions. Alas here he was, covered in blood from head to toe. It’s hard to see which is the enemy’s and which is his own.

The dungeon remains radio silent for the first time in possibly decades, or even centuries. The guards were no more, and so were the lizardmen, yellow mages, cave dwellers, a man who seemed to become a God, and the list goes on. He killed them all. His revenge has been fulfilled, so what now? It was only you and him traversing the passageways and bloody pits that kept him entertained.

Ah, that’s right. You. You’re a nice one to be with, aren’t you? So kind of you to stay by his side while he tainted the walls red, while his bloodlust was satiated. You were like a little lost dog always stepping on your tail, grabbing onto the outlander’s cape to encourage yourself to take another step. And he enjoys that a lot, the fact that you’re always latched to him made him feel the same about you, craving your touch and presence at all times.

So here you were, in a dark, musty room with your arms and legs tied up with your own torn clothing. The humid cold breeze hit the cuts and wounds decorating your body, making you flinch. But what makes you straight up wince is the sound of echoed steps coming closer. It was Ragnvaldr, the man who saved you countless times and you developed a bond with, who now looked at you over your shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re alright while i was out. I found some resources.” He says while crouching next to you. “Here, i got you some bread” You look at him numbly as he pulls out a piece of bread, surprisingly in a fairly good state. “Open up” He directs the piece to you mouth but it remains sealed tight, refusing whatever he gave you. You’d rather starve than accept what the man you used to trust with your life provided. He however wasn’t having it, looking at you with a light frown and pressing the fingers of his free hand against your lips. Without saying a word, he pushes until his fingers enter your warm mouth, opening it with spit coating his hand. With that, he tears a piece of the bread and puts it between your palate and jaw, forcing you to chew on it.

“See? it wasn’t that hard…you need to eat or you will die here, cold and in pain.” He says as if nothing was wrong. Ever since some time ago, could be weeks or days, you lost count at this point, the outlander has been acting out of his mind. At first you thought the insanity of the dungeon got to him, but he reassured you he was okay, that if you were there with him everything was okay. He killed the monsters in gruesome ways, tearing their tendons out with his teeth and crushing their heads with a stomp. It was like he was letting out emotions he didn’t want to go through, and now they all burst out onto an obsessive love and overprotection.

He loves you so much, he really does. So much that he starts shaking while looking at his fingers full of spit, embracing you tightly with his nails damaging your exposed back. It stung. His embrace got tighter, and tighter, much like a snake that caught its prey. He wasn’t letting go, his shaking getting heavier and laboured breathing leaving his mouth. “i love you.” he says. “i love you, i love you” He just keeps on repeating the same sentence over and over, that is until he, without a single thought in his head, bites down hard on your collarbone. You let out a hiss and try to push him off, but he’s too heavy. He just keeps gnawing and clenching his jaw around the bony appendage, so much that blood falls much like the tears around your eyes.

“It hurts….” You manage to let out. But he’s not listening. Much like a hound he has gone absolutely feral, embracing your entirety with his bulky body. His hands claw onto your spine leaving marks, and his legs are wrapped around your waist. He lets go, and switches to your neck, biting just as hard. Like he was starving he licks the blood away, no kisses and no passion put into it, just pure desperation. After protesting more and more the pain just numbs out with the rest, and you decide to relax, and stay in his arms while he devours you away. “i love you” he says, and your mind goes blank.

[sweethischier]

𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐲 | 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬

this has been sitting my drafts for a while so i figured might as well post it while i’m working on my celly fics 🫶🏻

yourusername

liked by elblue6, jamiedrysdale, and others

yourusername happy 22nd birthday to my best friend since birth. you’re a pain in my ass every single day but i can’t seem to get rid of you so ig i’ll deal with it

everyone go tell my best happy birthday or else 🤺

tagged jackhughes

View all 73 comments

lhughes_06 why are you wearing a helmet

yourusername they said i was �� a danger to myself”

╰➤ jackhughes you were

╰➤ yourbff you ARE

_quinnhughes we can’t get rid of him either. i tried

jackhughes yo???

trevorzegras couple of BESTIES

yourusername why do you do this every time

╰➤ trevorzegras because you’re my favorite couple of BESTIES

jackhughes you literally moved to jersey with me so i don’t think you’re trying very hard 🥸

yourusername you literally begged me to???

yourusername also you’re welcome for the birthday post you loser 🙄 so ungrateful

╰➤ jackhughes thank you daisy❤️

╰➤ nicohischier that’s not her name?

╰➤ yourbff he calls her that because it’s her favorite flower😭

╰➤ nicohischier “we’re just friends”

╰➤ this comment has been deleted

yourmom happy birthday to my future son-in-law!

liked by elblue6, trevorzegras, _quinnhughes, lhughes_06, yoursibling, _alexturcotte, colecaufield, yourbff, nicohischier, and jackhughes

jackhughes

liked by trevorzegras, mattwilliams, and others

jackhughes 2/3

tagged lhughes_06, _quinnhughes, and yourusername

View all 373 comments

user1 jack and yourusername never beating the dating allegations with this behavior

trevorzegras White jets all dizzy

yourusername don’t encourage him. who wears forces to a wedding???

╰➤ jackhughes a man with style

yourusername ellen is the only reason i’m liking this post. she looks so beautiful as always

user2 so real. ellen slays

user3 tell quinn my dms are open

nicohischier 🧐

yourbff 🔎

yourusername you guys are annoying

user4 they’re going to be dating by the end of summer if they’re not already. im calling it🤞🏼

yourusername

liked by randomkidfromHS, dylanduke25, and others

yourusername surprise!! friends to lovers is my favorite trope for a reason

tagged jackhughes

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trevorzegras COUPLE

yourusername yes Z, just couple

╰➤ trevorzegras finally. man’s been in love with you for years now

╰➤ yourusername jackhughes years?????

yourbff I KNEW IT

yourbff WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK

╰➤ yourusername i’m sorry i love you!!!!

lhughes_06 thank god. i can stop being your third wheel now

yourusername no pls. i need you there for moral support. i can’t handle jack by myself

╰➤ jackhughes wtf??

nicohischier wow i am shocked. i did not see this coming at all

liked by yourusername

colecaufield “best friends can go to a lantern festival without it being romantic” liars. both of you. liars. you just went so you could make out

yourusername hehe sorry coley 🫶🏻

╰➤ jackhughes we didn’t just make out 😮‍💨

╰➤ colecaufield you’re kidding right? you guys took my car. YOU ARE KIDDING RIGHT?

╰➤ liked by jackhughes

╰➤ colecaufield i’m burning my car

elblue6 happy 6 months you two!

liked by yourmom and yourusername

_quinnhughes what happened to “we don’t keep secrets in this family”???

lhughes_06 ^^^

jackhughes

liked by tmeier96, john.marino97 and others

jackhughes my daisy, you are everything good in the world. for as long as i can remember, you have shown me what it’s like to live and to love. i’m grateful for you in more ways than you know, and i can’t wait to love you for as long as you’ll have me.

tagged yourusername

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user1 wow i am so shocked at this news 😱

jesperbratt took you long enough

_alexturcotte COUPLE

trevorzegras back off that’s my thing

user2 alexa play that should be me by justin bieber

yourusername shut up i’m crying wtf i love you

yourusername who wrote this caption for you

╰➤ jackhughes i came up with it all by myself thank you (quinn helped me)

user3 who knew jack was so sappy????

yourusername i didn’t tbh

lhughes_06 hard launch 🗣️

_quinnhughes simp

jackhughes no shame

user4 called it

[yoongis-black-grilfriend]

Cabin Fever

Summary: Jack has been very busy with the filming of his upcoming movie and focusing on making new music. When the time comes for the two of you to spend some quality time together it doesn’t go as planned which causes some problems to arise.

Warnings: SMUT, car sex, penetration, praise, oral (female).

“GIRLY POP” you laugh as you roll your eyes getting out of your bed to meet Jack down stairs in the living room. “What’s up Jack, how was filming?” You asked while you wrapped your arms around his shoulders, wrapping his arms around you, one of his hands on your ass while he kissed all over your face. “It was good, happy we’re almost finished finally” he said sitting the two of you on the couch with you on his lap facing him.

 

“I have a surprise for you though.” he explained with his hands outlining your hips. Confused you tilt your head  “A surprise, what is it?” “Well since I've been working and stuff I decided to rent out a cabin for a couple of days, it's big as hell and it has a lake and hot tub so get ready for some late night adventures” Gasping you pull him into a hug pressing a kiss onto his lips. “You didn’t have to do that Jack I would have just enjoyed your company here.”  

Shaking his head he lays a kiss to your cheek “It’s fine we need this and you deserve it baby, thank you for sticking by me through this.”, “I packed of a bunch of clothes for you, all we have to do is get in the car.” “Jack be foreal are we really going to a cabin right now?” you asked, thinking this was too much to be true. You remembered how one time he told you that he was taking you to a disney cruise but in reality he took you to a beach and taught you how to ride a surfboard with a Mickeymouse head on it. 

You really hope he was being serious because you were not trying to have your time be wasted. “This isn’t the “disney cruise, okay, we're actually going to a cabin” Nodding your head you decide to trust him. Getting up you two made your way to your bedroom to make sure he didn’t forget anything, surprisingly he didn't so you guys made your way into his white tesla and are now on the road. The ride wasn’t super long it was about an hour. On the way there you guys talked a lot. You were able to tell him about what's been going on at work and with your friend group. 

He told you a little about the movie and about new music that he wanted to make and some celebrity gossip which was very entertaining. As the ride came to an end you pulled up to the cabin that was surrounded by trees and a lake in front of it the sunlight reflecting onto it beautifully. You also noticed how there were already two cars in the driveway. Turning to Jack you ask him “Are there already people here?”, “Yeah you know I had to bring my people with me.” 

Rolling your eyes you buckle your seatbelt back in. “Take me back home.”, “What do you mean?, let go inside.” Shaking your head you respond “No i’m not going in there. I don't feel like being surrounded by a bunch of people whether they're your friends or not.” Sighing Jack ran his hands down his face before reaching over and unbuckling your seatbelt. “Comon don’t do this right now the same way you say you haven’t been able to see me they haven't been able to see me either it wouldn’t be fair to them or you. “

“I really don’t care Jack, you should have thought about that before you did this, now look at you.” Groaning Jack turned toward you, his hand covering your thigh. “Why are you acting like this any other time you have no problem hanging out with our friends, now all of a sudden you don’t want to be around them? You really make no sense to me.”  

“I could literally care less about anything you're talking about right now, take me home or i’m going to get an Uber” you started unlocking your phone and going to the uber app right before you felt your phone being snatched right out of your hands. “Your not getting a fucking uber and i’m not takin ungrateful ass home ethier so deal with it.” “I’m ungrateful because I want to spend alone time with you? Whatever.” You said crossing your arms against your chest. 

“You wanted to be alone with me baby?” Jacked asked  as he ran his hand up and down your thigh your breath heightened as you feel his rough hands on your smooth skin. Looking straight ahead you say nothing, not wanting to give in too easily. “Huh. You don’t hear me speaking to you?’ he asked as he reached over, unbuckling your shorts that you had on along with your panties. 

“It’s fine if you don’t want to talk, I'll get something out of you one way or another.” Using his hands he moves your body towards his seat to where the back of your head is now  facing the window and you're sitting sideways in your seat (a/n I really hope this makes sense since the reader is facing Jack instead of being across him.) 

With your bare core out Jack spreads your lips with his fingers before he closes his mouth around your clit, his tongue moving in a regular speed causing your head to tilt as you covered your mouth with your hands so no sound would escape from you. Jack saw this and moved his tongue against you faster as you used your other hand to grip his hair pulling him closer to you as your hips moved at their own pace meeting Jack’s pace with his tongue. 

The need you had to moan was unbearable. Your body felt hot as you could hear your boyfriend’s tongue move against you which caused you to get even more turned on as you felt your body start to shake. Two fingers enter you as you meet Jacks eyes as plunges his fingers in and out of your before his takes your cliit in his mouth again feeling you come undone against him as you gasped for air. 

He didn’t care though not even when you tried to pull him away from you he kept going. “Jack stop, baby i’m done!” you said as you felt him licking up the creamy substance that had escaped you. “You done fighting with me y/n?” He asked his head now laying on your stomach ,you nod still trying to catch your breath. “C'mere and sit on my lap pretty.” He commanded, pulling his seat all the way back unbuckling his pants and pulling his cock out of his boxers. 

Reaching over you put both legs on the side of him straddling him as you guide the head of his cock into your entrance. You both sigh as you ease him inside of you, missing him inside of you. Grabbing your hips Jack moves you along his cock make you take all of him and when you got all the way inside of you he threw his head back with his eyes closed shut. 

“C'mon give it to me Jack” you pleaded as you moved your hips toward his thighs starting to burn a little bit. “Fuck this pussy is way to fucking good to me pretty.” he groaned as he started to move his hips from under you. Wrapping your arms around his shoulders you attach your lips to his neck as you feel him starting to twitch inside of you. 

“Your going to make me cum so hard baby fuck” he exclaimed when he felt you cleching around him as you were appraoching your second orgasm. “Cum inside of me, fill me up with all of your cum” you said as you started to cum squeezing your eyes closed until you saw white feeling Jack fill you up with his cum as you tried to to control your breathing. 

Jack rubs your back and gives you a soft kiss on your forehead. “Next, time we’ll go on a trip with just the two of us, I just wanted to be able to please everyone at the same time, next time I got you though, maybe we’ll actually go on a disney cruise this time” Hitting his chest you laugh as he places a kiss across your cheek.

 

*Ring*

Jack's phone started to ring in the cup holder that it was in. Picking it up you hand it to him as you wait for him to answer. “What’s up Urban?” Jack said as he put the phone on speaker. “Why the hell are you guys still in the car hurrying so we can all go to the lake.” He said irritated before hanging up. 

[leezlelatch]

Copia x F! Reader. Hurt, comfort, Copia adoring you.

You promised to text Copia when things got bad again. When you felt like crying because life seemed hopeless. When you felt trapped. When people were cruel for no reason other than the fact that you were the first warm body in their line of sight.

Regardless of what you did. Or what you said. Because you’re inconsiderate and a bitch. Ungrateful. Can’t do anything right. All those little words swirling around your head, screaming at you and clawing at your mind, until you shove it back down and smile the next day.

So you text Copia. You don’t even think ten minutes passed before he’s knocking on your door. His face is so soft, yet wracked with concern, his eyebrows pulled down so fiercely you want to smooth them out with a finger. He smiles when he sees you.

“Were you sleeping?” You ask with concern, glancing at the clock on your bedside table.

“I was! Sì,” Copia says, ushering himself into your room. He walks toward your bed and begins fussing with the covers. “And then I said to myself ‘ah shit’.” His shoulders slump. “How the hell can I sleep without il mio tesoro, eh?”

“And my text had nothing to do with it?” You ask, a smile already beginning to play at the corners of your mouth. Copia notices.

“Ah, well, you see, it is in my mind,” he responds, tapping his temple. “We are connected. I was just thinking these things and then you texted me! Your Papa knows when you need him.”

Your smile grows, and you let out a breath, like a gasp of relief, and Copia’s body physically deflates as if he was bracing himself throughout the conversation, unsure of how it would go. But of course, you are the master of pretending things are alright.

“Alrighty then, come on. Come to bed,” he ushers, pulling back your sheets. You approach the bed, his eyes watching you with hawk-like intensity. Through the jokes and teasing, you see agony in his gaze. The way his hands shake. And when you are carefully under the covers, Copia full body grabs you and drags you across the mattress into his embrace.

His legs lock around yours and his arms cradle you against his chest. Having successfully lured you into bed, he’s not smiling anymore. He’s not teasing. He looks…mad, more than anything. Even as he tucks you so carefully under his chin.

“I love you,” he says, and when you go to speak, he shushes you. “No. You will listen, bambina. I love you. You know your Papa, yeah? Your Copia? I think the world of you. I think you’re perfect. And for someone not to think so? Bah. They are not worth your time.”

He grips your chin with gentle fingers, angling your head to look at him.

“I understand. I always feel like Cardi because that is all they see me as. But not you. Not my amore. You see me and I am free,” his thumb brushes your bottom lip. “Let me free you. If they cannot accept us, we accept each other, sì? We love each other. And we make it through.”

Tears slide down your cheeks and he tsks gently, a soft coo escaping him as he wipes them away.

“And one day we’re going to look back and…see nothing of them. But of what we built together. Because that it was matters. What you do matters. And you will be loved for it.”

Copia draws you close once more, dropping tiny kisses to your skin, whispering his love, and being…everything you have ever wished for. And as you fall asleep, you know that in his arms, you will be okay.

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

Congratulations on 1k! It's impressive how many different genres your AUs have covered with such fun stories

For the ficletbuild a prompt game, perhaps F "Where's your sense of adventure?" + 🧜‍♂️Just add water? Vibes and item are dealers choice :)

Thank you so much, I love trying new things and exploring different universes and themes. Hope you like what I've come up with, I've been wanting to write this for a while. 🧜‍♂️❤️

Night swimming

Rated: T

Words: 1,000

Tags: Established relationship; mer!Steve Harrington; sexually explicit language; nudity

Notes: Bonus drabble to Just add water

“Okay, not to sound ungrateful,” Eddie mutters, huddling deeper into his flannel. Summer is well and truly over and the nights are getting chilly, especially out here on the water. “I appreciate this whole three-month anniversary surprise date, I really do. But couldn’t you have gone for dinner and a movie perhaps?”

“Nah,” Steve smiles. He stops rowing, pulling the oars into the boat and leaving them floating on the surface of the moonlit lake. “It had to be here. This is where I fell for you, where we first kissed. First made love. C’mon, where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Back at the shore, probably.” Eddie pretends to shiver, even though his face has gone hot at Steve’s casual mention of their first time. “Where all of that stuff actually happened, by the way, so I still don’t get why you needed to row us out here. Now where’s that surprise you promised me?”

“Patience,” Steve scolds, leaning closer on the rickety bench so that he can press a kiss to Eddie’s lips. “I'm getting there.”

Then, without further preamble, he starts stripping.

“What the-” Eddie blurts as Steve’s sweater hits him in the face. “No way, forget it. We're not fucking in the middle of the-”

“Get your mind out of the gutter, who said anything about fucking?” Steve rolls his eyes, shrugging out of his jeans and underpants. “We’re going for a swim.”

And then, before Eddie has a chance to stop him, he dives headfirst into the dark lake. Eddie yelps and clenches his eyes shut as the boat rocks. When he opens them, Steve is just emerging again. He laughs and shakes the water from his hair, happy like a fish in the water, which … okay, yeah. That's actually an apt comparison, considering the giant, glistening tail and the fucking fins that have taken the place of his legs.

You'd think that after three months, a guy would get used to his boyfriend being a real-life mermaid. No such luck, apparently, because Eddie still finds himself as dumbstruck as the first time as Steve swims closer and casually rests his arms on the edge of the boat. The patch of scales on his temples shimmers in the pale light.

“Not coming in?”

Eddie grins, trying to ignore the way his heart hammers against his ribcage.

“Nuh-uh, fish boy. Don't wanna freeze to death. You have fun, I'll take care of the food.”

He has just bent over to retrieve the huge picnic basket from the hull of the boat when Steve says, “Oh, you thought that was for you?”

Eddie whips his head up, mouth already open around a question- … which turns into a garbled half-scream when he sees what has appeared beside Steve.

A gleaming pair of eyes, each roughly the size of a saucer.

Eddie blinks. The eyes blink back. There's two pairs of lids on each, the inner one a thin, translucent membrane.

“She's been dying to meet you,” Steve smiles. “Say hi?”

“Hrrrrrrgh,” Eddie says.

The creature makes a sound - a long, high-pitched trill. Steve chimes in with a laugh of his own, and wait, do they think this is funny?

Steve sees the scowl on his face and tilts his head. “C’mon, Eds, don't be like that. You've seen her before.”

“Yeah, from a distance,” Eddie squeaks, finally finding his voice again. “Not like this. Jeez, warn a guy! What happened to meeting the family first?”

The creature makes an affronted sound and Steve pets her large, arrow-shaped head.

“Of course you are family, he's just a bit confused,” he tells her. She grumbles and he turns to Eddie with a chuckle. “Uh-oh, you'd better apologize.”

Eddie stares. Steve’s eyes flick down to the picnic basket.

“Ugh, alright,” Eddie mutters. He reaches down to flip the lid open, steeling himself for the sight of slimy fish heads, only to be met with… “Fruit? She eats fruit?”

Steve shrugs. “She's an ombi- … obvy- … she eats everything, really. Oh, give her the watermelon, she loves those.”

Eddie obeys, because why wouldn't he? If your mermaid boyfriend tells you to feed the friendly lake monster a watermelon, you feed the lake monster the goddamn watermelon. It's only logical.

The melon is about as large as his head. He lifts it, and a long neck comes curling out of the water, until those eerie eyes are level with his - and then higher still, so he's looking up at them. It's a weird feeling, being face to face with this creature who's so much older than him - older than the lake itself, maybe - holding out the fruit to her like an offering. Awe, he realizes. He's feeling awed in the truest and most original sense of the word.

And then she bends down and plucks the melon from his hands. Something crunches and Eddie shrieks in surprise and disgust as a shower of juice and seeds descends on him. The creature swallows, blinks her glowing, double-lidded eyes at him one last time, and then she's gone, slipping back under the surface of the lake with barely a ripple.

“Huh,” Eddie exhales a shaky laugh. “That went pretty-”

The world tilts.

His scream turns into a wet gargle as he hits the water, but Steve has him under the arms and is pulling him up to straddle his tail before he can go under. He sees Eddie’s shocked face and laughs, gently combing dark strands soaked in lake water and melon juice out of his face.

“That went fantastically,” he says, grin wide and brilliant and incredibly proud. It makes Eddie’s heart kick in his chest, just a little. “She really likes you!”

Eddie spits out a mouthful of water.

“What, really? Is it just her or do all of your family members have such an odd way of showing it?”

Steve hums, a bit nervously perhaps, and pulls Eddie's shivering body closer to his chest.

“Well, wait until you meet my mom.”

More celebration ficlets

[hayleytheewriter]

I've been working on this Timkon friends to lovers prom fic for like four months and the second after I post it, Ao3 goes down 😭

I've gotta share it somewhere, sooo here is a snippet!

Edit: here’s the link to Step Five: Follow Him To Canada!

FLASH. 

Another pretty picture. They were in the foyer, framed by the grand staircase and twirling chandelier. 

Tim’s hands were stuffed in his pockets. 

He wore a tux— chosen at random like five minutes before everyone showed up. 

His friends clearly put a lot more thought into getting ready. Cissie’s hair was pinned up, with a few curled tendrils framing her face. She had a cream dress that clung to her body with a long slit down the side. Cassie looked just as hot in a lavender suit with a matching cream pocket square. Her short hair was slicked back, in the rockstar fashion, and her eyeliner was sharp. Bart wore a grey suit with a matching skirt. Greta wore a puffy, tulle dress that was as pink as her cheeks. She looked particularly alive tonight. 

And then there was Kon. 

Kon was in a league of his own. 

The suit itself was gorgeous— navy blue, silky, with a shirt loosely unbuttoned— and had a vaguely 70s vibe. But it wasn’t just his clothes. His smile was bright. His eyes sparkled. Getting to see this exact shade of happiness on his face was the whole reason Tim bought tickets in the first place— but wow. His imagination paled in comparison to the real thing. A part of him couldn’t believe his best friend had been this attractive the whole time. Tim should’ve realized his feelings sooner. It wasn’t fair. It also really, really wasn’t fair that Kon got to go through life looking like that. Of course he had a boyfriend. Was Kaldur his boyfriend? 

Like it mattered. 

If any part of Kon ever momentarily entertained the thought of liking Tim like that, he would’ve said something. Like with Cassie, like with Kaldur, like with girls Kon hit on with the subtly of wack-a-mole throughout the years. Every flirty line or stupid wink got under Tim’s skin. Now he finally understood exactly why, but knowing why didn’t help. Nothing could help. Everything was awful. Tonight was supposed to be fun, but he’d never escape the ungrateful little voice whispering, but imagine how much better this would be if he liked you back. Tonight would be torture. He wished there was a surgery to remove these feelings from his body. He’d rather feel nothing at all. 

FLASH. 

“Okay, now do a silly one,” Dick said, lowering the camera. 

“Dick,” Tim said. 

“Let’s do it,” said Bart. He jumped into Cissie’s arms with a grin, Cassie and Greta did Charlie’s Angels, Kon floated into the air and did a cool kick upside down. Tim did a peace sign with an expression that gave nothing. 

FLASH. 

“Okay, we’re good,” Tim said. 

“Wait,” Cassie said, nudging Greta toward Tim. “We need to take some in pairs. Cissie and I did ours already, but you guys should, too.” 

“Yeah!” said Bart. “Let’s take some.” 

He grabbed Kon by the hand and pulled him in front of the camera. 

“Let’s do a serious one,” Bart said, posing with his arms crossed. “OH wait,” he sprinted away and returned with sunglasses. 

“Okay, now I’m ready.” 

Dick snapped a few pics of them, while Tim and Greta kinda stood to the side. 

“It would be nice to take a few pictures together,” she said. She tucked her hair behind her ear and added, “But if you’d rather not, I totally understand—” 

“No, no, it’s okay,” Tim said. “I don’t mind. I’m just… not very photogenic.” 

“Really? I don’t know about that. I think you look great.” 

“Thanks. So do you— I mean, you look beautiful.” 

She glanced down, smiling sweetly at the floor. 

“Thanks.” 

“Okay, boys. Take five. Tim and Greta’s turn,” Cassie said.

Bart appeared at Cissie’s side and they whispered about something. Kon walked over slower. 

As reluctant as Tim was, he was determined not to show it. Greta seemed excited by the classic prom experience. So many classic experiences had been cruelly denied to her. He wanted to make her happy and if that meant posing with his arms around her waist like a traditional prom photo-op, he would do it with a smile. 

FLASH, FLASH, FLASH. 

Greta turned to face him. 

“Maybe we should do another pose?” 

“Sure,” Tim said. “Unless, I mean, do you want some with Bart or something?” 

“Oh. Yeah, of course.”  

Bart and Cissie stopped whispering. Tim walked toward the group, but Kon cut him off before he got too far. 

“Can I talk to you alone for a second?” Kon asked. 

Tim nodded. He looked unbothered, but inside, he was bothered quite a bit. 

The only thing Kon would need to talk to him about privately was if he wanted to invite someone else tonight, since this was technically Tim’s event. Maybe he decided he wanted to invite his boyfriend. Tim lead Kon to the parlor, trying not to drag his feet. 

The parlor had a high, domed ceiling, with dark, heavy furniture. The couch was pale blue, like the old wallpaper, and as hard as the floor. Tim shut the door behind them. 

“What’s up?” he asked. 

“Hi,” Kon said. 

He was nervous. 

Well, he should be. If Tim wanted his boyfriend there, he would’ve invited him. 

Of course Tim was going to let Kaldur could come. He wasn’t a jealous asshole. At least— he didn’t want to act like one. 

“Hi,” Tim said, with an edge. 

Kon bit back a smile. In this suit, the move was lethally attractive. Somehow, Tim persevered.

“I— well. I brought you something.” 

Tim’s eyebrows shot up. Kon just kept rambling. 

  “But if you don’t like it— or think it’s— whatever. You can just throw it away before we go back out there. So. Here.” 

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a boutonnière. 

A burgundy rose with ivory accents. 

It was a moment of shock like someone pulled the rug out from under him— but instead of belly flopping onto the unforgiving ground, he discovered he could fly. That was how his stomach felt at least, swooping like he was doing figure eights through the clouds. 

Tim took the flowers.

“Technically, you invited all of us,” Kon continued, finally back to his usual confidence. “But I know you’re only going because of me.” 

Something about Kon’s stupid little smirk was actually grounding. Tim found his footing with sarcasm. 

“I’m also dying to know who’s gonna be prom king.” 

“I already know. I’m looking at him.” 

That surprised a laugh out of him. 

“You’d have a better chance than me,” said Tim. 

“Really?” Kon asked. 

Tim pinned his boutonnière on his lapel. 

“Really. Especially if I was your campaign manager. Smile at the right people. Shake a few hands. And if all else fails, I’d stuff the ballot box.” 

“I don’t know,” Kon said, feigning modesty. He reached up and adjusted the flower. His hand wound up on Tim’s chest. The teasing was done when he looked Tim in the eye and said, “I’d vote for you.” 

Something was weird. 

Tim broke away, feeling flush, and told himself it was all in his head. 

“…Thanks,” Tim said, eventually. “For the flower. I feel like I’m really getting the full prom experience.” 

[alexa-fika]

Ghastly Cuteness (Perona x fem!child!Reader)

A/N: First female reader, and the first one with a female character, too! Kinda struggled with this one ngl, had to look for all of Perona's interactions to kinda pull something together, and it's still kinda meh

Guys, drop by my ask box; it makes it easier for me to do keep track of what you guys. want to see more of it, it gives me inspiration (and motivation for more pieces and again, I want to get to know my audience!

Dividers by @saradika

Perona floated around the castle, bored.

Mihawk and Zoro were busy with their regular training, something that she obviously did not want to partake in, so she flew off in search of something else to entertain, spotting her cute daughter walking through the hallways in a similar fashion to their mother.

“Reader!”

“Mama! Look! I put on the new dress!” The small girl exclaimed, spinning around to showcase her dress, a wide grin on her young face

Perona looked down at the young girl examining the new dress.

“You look absolutely adorable; you could win hearts with looks like that.”

Perona said gently before scooping her daughter up and swinging her around a bit.

“Horo Horo Horo, you are so cute Reader!”

The girl squeals as her mother spins them around in the air, her squeals of surprise turning into childish laughs that echo around the halls.

Perona smiled as she enjoyed her adorable daughter’s laughter, the pair spinning for a few minutes longer.

Then she gently placed her daughter down after finishing spinning; Perona herself was smiling widely as she looked down at her daughter; it made her happy to see her so joyed.

Perona also laughed and pulled her daughter in for a gentle but loving embrace.

“I love you, dear.”

Perona said before kissing the top of her daughter’s head, making sure to be gentle with the young child while expressing her affection.

“Oh, Reader, never be like those two brutes! They are just rude and not cute at all! So ungrateful!”

The girl nodded, determined

“I won’t! I will grow up to be cute like Mama!

Perona laughed at her daughter’s determination to be cute like her.

“Aw… I know you will be the most adorable little girl in the world!”

Perona exclaimed lovingly before picking her daughter up and giving her another quick, playful spin before setting her down and ruffling her hair.

“Mmhm! We’re going to be the cutest in our kingdom!”

Perona laughed yet again at her child’s optimism; seeing her be so positive was rather endearing. She truly was the most adorable little ray of joy.

“We surely will, dear; I bet all our subjects will want to be as cute as us, but only you could ever rival me in cuteness.”

Reader beams at her mother’s compliment.

Perona laughs at the bright smile on her daughter’s face.

“Oh, how lucky I was to get a child as cute as you.”

Perona spoke again before picking her daughter up and pulling her in for another warm hug.

Reader giggles tightly hugging her mother, rubbing their cheeks together in an endearing mother-daughter moment.

After a while Reader backs slightly from Perona, still within her embrace but now staring at her.

“Mama, where is Grandpa Gecko?”

“Gecko… Oh, he’s somewhere else right now; that man said he wasn’t sure if he was still around, but do not worry, I know he’s someplace!”

Perona assured her daughter, not wanting her to worry as much as she tried to.

Perona began to think of something.

“You are already much cuter than your grandpa ever was.”

“I miss him.”

Perona frowned at that information before she hugged her daughter tightly.

“… I do too sweetie… I do too.””

Perona tried to be reassuring, but she herself could not help but miss her mentor as well.

The mood quickly shifts as Perona’s ghost starts nudging the small girl, making the girl giggle uncontrollably.

“Horo Horo Horo,” Perona laugPerona’sg with her daughter as she saw how much Reader was enjoying the little playtime “with her ghosts.”

Perona was really happy right now; she was really glad her daughter was enjoying herself and the situation as much as she hoped she would.

Guys, thank you for all the love you have shown to my previous pieces; you guys really seem to like the Mihawk one, perhaps more of the grumpy stoic one-piece characters with child! reader?

[angelbaby-fics]

Halloween Decorations

Word Count: 800

A/N: This is just a little something I wrote because I’m so excited for Halloween!! Oh, the things I would do with decorations if I had Avenger money…… hehehe 🎃

“Alright, here’s what we’re working with.” Bucky said as he lowered a big plastic tub onto the ground in front of you and Steve. The three of you were standing in the grass of your expansive front yard, and Bucky had just returned from the garage with the bin of his and his husband’s Halloween decorations they’d each amassed over the years. Except, as he lifted off the lid, you all realized at the same time that it wasn’t all that much.

Two, maybe three strings of orange lights were tangled together in an incomprehensible mass. There was a white cloth ghost on a string, a few half-used orange candles, and a single plastic bone underneath the lights, and that was about it. Maybe it was enough for two adults in an apartment, but now that they had a little and a great big house, Steve and Bucky knew they needed to step up their game.

You tried to hide your disappointment at the lack of decorations, not wanting to seem ungrateful, but it was hard to act excited over this pitiful pile. Everything was covered in a fine layer of dust, and you were sure the lights had more busted bulbs than working ones. It didn’t matter, your daddies were just as unimpressed as you were. Of course they had high hopes for their first Halloween with their little angel and they were already failing at it.

“Well this just won’t do, will it?” Steve broke the tense silence with a smile.

“Not at all, honey.” Bucky replied to his husband before turning to you. “What do you think, cupcake? Wanna go to the store and help us pick some new decorations?”

Your eyes lit up and you nodded eagerly. Your daddies spoiled you every time you went shopping as a family, and you knew this trip would be no exception. Your mind began to race with thoughts of the incredible display you’d be able to put on this year - with your daddies’ help of course!

When you reached the store, Steve pushed you along in the cart, talking to you and pointing out everything you passed by. Bucky kept up alongside the two of you, grabbing anything that even slightly made your face perk up and tossing it into the basket of the cart. You stocked up on strings of lights in all sorts of spooky shapes and colors for the outside of the house, as well as lights on stakes to line the sidewalk leading to your driveway. You couldn’t decide between all the options of silly-faced scarecrows, so Bucky went ahead and loaded all of them into the cart, barely able to make room amongst a parade of toy spiders, ghosts, and creepy crawlies. A whole colony of fake bats sat up in the front of the cart with you, and you pet their little plastic heads as Steve steered you between the endless aisles.

And then you saw it.

As you turned the corner into the next aisle, a massive figure loomed over you, dark and menacing. The sleeves of its long black cloak threatened to stroke your hair as you passed by, and your eyes widened in fear as its horrifying face smiled down at you with an evil grin. Your face twisted up as you began to cry, the sobs escalating with each panicked breath. Steve couldn’t push you away from the figure fast enough it seemed, the creature's villainous eyes following you as he hurried you along, but Bucky was trailing behind and hadn’t noticed your fear. Completely oblivious, he strolled right up to the animatronic and hit the activation button. You were still within earshot when it spoke.

“Trick or treat! Hehehe…” Its deep voice echoed through the store.

And your crying stops.

You looked back up at the animatronic. How actually evil could it be with such a sweet little giggle? Bucky hit the button again.

“Happy Halloween, you creepy little cutie!” It said, followed by another laugh.

You clapped with joy. It called you a cutie, just like your daddies did!

“Again! Again!” You cheered, no longer afraid, but rather enamored with the figure.

“How about we take him home, and then you can listen to him whenever you want?” Bucky offered, picking up one of the heavy boxes with ease.

“Would you like that, angel?” Steve asked, making sure you weren’t still scared.

“Yes pwease! I love him!!” You squealed as Bucky put the box in the cart.

That joy stayed with you as the three of you checked out, and you even asked specially to have the animatronic’s box strapped into the backseat next to you. You couldn’t wait to go home and help your daddies decorate, already sure you were going to have the most spectacularly spooky house on the entire block.

[braidlottie]

and i used to believe, no one could love you like i do.

pairing: lottie matthews x gn!reader

summary: having dinner with your estranged mother and girlfriend beside you already sounded like a bad idea to begin with. but like always, your mother still managed to reel you in.

word count: 1.4K

tags: h/c (hurt/comfort), reader has mommy issues, soft!lottie!!!!’!! :((( like very soft and gentle :(, crying, arguing, somewhat happy ending, reader likes spongebob?! possibly self indulgent but everyone can enjoy 🩷

title inspired by voyager by boygenius

also, happy halloween!! 🎃

“you ready, honey?” your girlfriend’s voice bringing you out of your thoughts, her hand ready to ring the doorbell.

“uhh, yeah. i’m just a little nervous.” you wiped the sweat off the back of your neck. you couldn’t figure out why you were sweating in such snowy new york weather. you despised how anxious your mother made you, your heart about to jump out your chest at the sound of her name.

when your mother had called you out of the blue and asked you to have dinner, you were hesitant at first, thinking about the fight that the two of you had last easter that had your family talking for months. but lottie, being the angel she is, came along with you because she knew you needed the support. this isn’t lottie’s first time meeting the woman either. you introduced them to each other a couple months ago when the two of you first got together. your mother thought she was nice, but, she thinks she’s “way too old” for you.

“i got you, baby. i’ll be next to you this whole time, okay?”

*****

“what’s that?”

“um- a cake. i made it for you.” you smiled nervously at your mother, trying to hand it to her. “well, don’t just stand there, put it on the table. dinner’s ready, anyways.”

lottie watched the awkward and somewhat harsh interaction, a smile playing on her lips when she stuck her hand out to your mother.

“lottie, right?” it was your turn to watch this unpleasant exchange between the most important women in your life. “charlotte, actually.” lottie corrected, pursing her lips. it was silent for a while, just the sound of silverware clanging together while you were setting the table.

“hasn’t been giving you any trouble lately, i hope?” you saw your mother look back at you in the corner of your eye and lottie smiled back, trying to keep the mood light. “no, we’re just fine, thank you.”

“mom, i thought dinner was ready-”

“yeah. it is. i was just waiting for you to set the damn table.” she laughed to herself walking into the kitchen for the dish. you sat down with a huff, staring at the painting on the wall across from you. you just wanted it to be over. lottie sat in the chair next to you, taking your hand in hers and kissing it softly.

“okay, let’s eat.”

*****

“the food was fabulous.” lottie finally broke the silence. she wiped her mouth with her napkin, folding it up nicely next to her plate. “did you enjoy it, honey?” lottie put a loving hand on your shoulder. she knew you didn’t. it was spaghetti. you HATED spaghetti. ever since you were a little kid, you always shook your head at it.

you took the last sip of your beer and shrugged. “yeah, it was pretty good.” you spoke in a monotone voice, twirling your fork around in the half eaten noodles. you forced yourself to eat some, not wanting to start another unwanted fight with your mother.

“well, it looks like it wasn’t. you barely ate any of it.” she sipped her wine, shooting you a look. “yeah, because i don’t like spaghetti, mom.”

“what the hell? you loved spaghetti. it was your favorite.”

“no, i only ate it so you wouldn’t say i’m ungrateful, like you always do.”

“yeah! because you are.” your mother dropped her fork in anger, you felt the same when the unexpected sound made lottie jump.

“oh jesus christ-”

“i gave you a roof over your head, food, clothes on your back and shoes on your feet, and you act like this. so yes, that is why i say you’re ungrateful.” the women counted examples on her hand.

“that’s basic things a mother is supposed to do for their child, mom! i just wanted you to-”you clenched your jaw, trying not to let your emotions get the best of you.

“i just wanted you to reason with me. i just want to have a regular relationship with you, but you make it so difficult.”

“you’re the one making it difficult, y/n! you’re dating someone half your age, and no offense to you lottie, but y/n does not need to be in a relationship with you-”

“you can talk about me all you want, but leave my girlfriend out of it. i’m an adult, mom. okay? this is MY relationship, i don’t need any fucking body telling me that it’s wrong! because it’s not! we love each other, and you’re just upset that i’m happy.” you shot up out of your seat. lottie had never seen you so angry, she could’ve swore she saw steam coming out of your ears.

“get the hell out of my house.” your mother stood up now. “NOW. and don’t even think about coming back here without an apology.”

“not this time. i’m so sick of forgiving you and forgiving you and you end up doing the same thing i forgave you for each time.” you walked to the front door, grabbing your coat and beanie. “hope you like the cake.” you slammed the door with all your might, knocking a frame off the wall in the process and hearing it shatter from inside the house. lottie watched you walk back to her car in the blistering cold through the window, not sharing a word with your mother. she just grabbed her belongings and gave her one last look of disapproval. this time, the door was shut with a creek.

*****

lottie turned the heat on full blast, warming up the freezing car at a red light. she knew you were freezing, so was she. “you wanna go get something, sweetheart? a hot chocolate, maybe?” you shook your head and leaned closer to the window, resting your forehead on it. lottie was trying her best to cheer you up, but you just wanted to get home already so you could spend the rest of your night sulking in bed. the older woman sighed and pressed the gas, the green light glowing into the dark car. the snow had started back up, but it was light, making it okay for lottie to drive in.

the silence in the car was so loud, the two of you reliving the moments with your mother, but also trying to forget it at the same time. lottie had finally turned down her street, passing all the cars covered from roof to tire in snow. the car hummed gently as lottie parked it, chiming because she was too close to the curb.

the keys jingled in her hand when she turned off the ignition. “give me a hug, baby.” her voice scratchy, unbuckled your seatbelt, allowing you to crawl over the gear stick and into her lap. she slipped your beanie off, feeling your cold nose on her neck and how you trembled in her touch.

she kissed your temple, all that she was doing made the dam finally break behind your eyes. lottie watched you take a deep inhale, your face crumpling up and a sob fall from your mouth. “oh, my angel…” she trailed, just letting you cry it out.

lottie never wanted to say it in front of you, but she hated your mother. she hated the way she treated you. she didn’t even think you were her child because of how kind and caring you were. the two of you were the exact opposite. snow covered the windshield, your sobs muffled in lottie’s coat. you took your head out for some air, turning away from lottie. you looked into the gray night sky, resting your throbbing head on lottie’s shoulder. “i’m sorry.” you sniffled.

“don’t you dare ever apologize for something like that, you hear me? look at me,” she held you up by your arms, looking straight into your sad little eyes. “none of that was your fault, honey.” lottie wiped your cheeks, almost wanting to cry as well. you mirrored her nodded and she pulled you in for another hug. “let’s get inside and warm up, and i’ll put on a movie, okay? what do you wanna watch, darling?” the two of you got out of the car, your wet cheeks already freezing from the cold. “..spongebob.” mist came from your mouth, and did the same to lottie, when she chuckled lovingly at your answer.

“spongebob it is. let’s go sweetheart.” she held your hand, walking up the front yard to the door, kissing you reassuringly before you went in.

[bwabys-scenarios]

Fixer Upper

Part 8

Perv!Kurapika x Fem!Reader

part 7

part 9

taglist: @fabitheraven @tsukilover11 @ashdownunderscorebeloved @lemonslut @homeinmydreams @superweeniehutjrsblog @bugmomwrites @heartsforseo @lixiawinter @altaircc @itszenava @fiightforlovee @mimi-sanisanidiot @monainanuttshell @wow-im-gay

if you’d like to be ADDED to the taglist, please comment a red heart ❤️, make sure you’re able to be tagged/mentioned, and have your age in your bio(IF YOU ARE ALREADY ON THE TAGLIST, YOU DON’T NEED TO ASK TO BE ADDED AGAIN!!)

The loser of the family game night turned out to be Leorio. As punishment, he would be forced to wear a pair of (Name)’s heels to the Barbie Movie.

“Ugh, as long as they’re not big heels I don’t care. I don’t want to get sprayed by the hose again. I ended up with bruises last time…”

‘Bruises? From being sprayed with water?’

Kurapika glanced between Killua and Gon.

“Remind me not to lose family game night.”

The group washed up before heading to bed.

“We’re waking up early tomorrow, so get some rest! I wanna see the Barbie Movie as soon as possible!”

Kurapika watched as (Name) ran up the stairs, giggling to herself. She was beyond excited for tomorrow, the blonde being able to tell just by her happy aura.

‘I hope she won’t mind I don’t have anything pink for tomorrow…’

He left the living room, stopping when he spotted Killua and Gon in the laundry room.

“Here, throw mine in too!”

Kurapika kept walking, not wanting to know what the two were up to. He just wanted to sleep so he was well rested for their long day tomorrow.

Leorio slept in the spare bedroom upstairs, Kurapika slightly jealous he got to sleep so close to her.

—————

Kurapika woke up early, before the sun had risen. He decided to get dressed and drink some coffee before anyone else was up.

He opened up his shirt drawer with a frown. All of his white shirts were gone. Weird, he remembered folding them away just yesterday…

‘Maybe I left them in the dryer..?’

Kurapika left his room with a yawn, opening the laundry room door and peering in.

Someone had definitely washed clothes, that much he could tell.

The blonde opened the drier and crouched down. His shirts were in there, he could see their outline even in the dark room.

He pulled his shirts out and strolled back to his room, setting them on the end before turning on the light.

“No…”

He stared at his shirts that used to be white, now a light pink color. In the middle of his clothes was his red tabard, and a much smaller white shirt…

Kurapika remembered the conversation he’d heard in passing last night, his eyes widening.

“Killua…”

Kurapika rushed out of his room and down the hallway, throwing open the door to Killua and Gon’s shared bedroom.

The two were still asleep, Killua on the top bunk and Gon on the bottom. Kurapika flicked the light on, causing Killua to groan and roll over.

“Turn that off, you dumb blonde…”

Kurapika scowled before throwing Gon’s shirt at Killua, who caught it.

“What the hell were you thinking turning all of my shirts pink, you little-“

Gon yawned and rubbed his eyes. “Kurapika? What are you doing in here?”

Kurapika paused, glancing down at the sleepy boy. “… you two turned my shirts pink. Why?”

Gok tilted his head. “Well Killua heard you didn’t have a pink shirt. He wanted to help you out.”

‘Killua did? Seems unlikely…’

“Wow, how ungrateful. I made sure you had something pink so (Name) wouldn’t be sad and now you’re yelling at me at 6 am. Smooth.”

Kurapika huffed, turning on his heels and leaving their room. ‘Don’t have time for this. Gotta get-‘

“Hi Kurapika!”

He internally groaned when he heard (Name)’s voice from the kitchen. Kurapika wanted to make breakfast for everyone, but now that she was up she wouldn’t let him. She was stubborn like that.

“Good morning…”

“Not a good morning, he yelled at us.”

Killua walked into the kitchen and hid behind (Name), sticking his tongue out at the blonde.

“Yelled at you? Kurapika, why did you do that?”

She gently pushed Killua’s unruly hair down and kissed the top of his head.

Kurapika’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance. ‘That little brat…’

“He-“

“I simply made sure he had a shirt for the Barbie movie, after he made no effort to get one.”

Killua sighed, looking up at (Name) with crocodile tears. “He’s so mean to me. I did the same for Gon, and he didn’t yell at me!”

Gon walked in wearing his usual outfit, only now wearing a pink undershirt.

“Yeah, Kurapika, there’s no reason to be upset. Do you not like the color pink?”

The all turned to look at him. (Name) seemed a little offended. “Oh. I didn’t know you disliked the color pink so much…”

“Wait, I didn’t say that! I-“

“Sorry, I wouldn’t have asked you to wear pink if I knew…”

(Name) sighed and turned back to cooking, Killua sending Kurapika a smug look before he and Gon left to get dressed.

“… I don’t hate pink. It’s just… not my color?”

“Pink is everyone’s color.” Killua yelled from the hallway.

Kurapika didn’t answer, simply walking to his room and shutting the door behind him.

——————

“God I think I’m going to die. Is this what being a woman is like?”

(Name) watched Leorio struggle to walk down the stairs in a pair of her pink heels, having to hold a hand her Killua’s mouth to keep him from laughing.

“If you mean baring the weight of being uncomfortable to conform to beauty standards, then yes.”

She offered him her hand as he reached the final step, leading him to the couch.

Kurapika left his room, wearing his red tabard and pink undershirt. (Name) glanced back at him and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Oh, nice. Pink is… close to red! It’s good enough!”

Kurapika glanced at the rest of the group and then down at himself. Each one of them, besides (Name) who was still in her pajamas, was dressed in bright pink. Even Gon’s shirt had soaked in more pink than his!

“Well, I know who’s not winning best dressed. Less competition for me…”

Leorio had an entire hot pink suit for Christ’s sake!

‘Overkill much?’ Kurapika thought, scowling. (Name) served everyone breakfast before running upstairs to get dressed herself.

“Is she… upset I’m not wearing pink?”

“Wow. He’s learning.”

Kurapika sent Killua a glare.

“I wouldn’t say she’s upset, maybe a bit disappointed. She’s been looking forward to this for a while, and was nice enough to give us two days notice.”

Gon was the voice of reason, patting Kurapika’s shoulder as he spoke.

“… I see. I didn’t mean to disappoint her, I was just busy yesterday.”

“When are you not busy?”

“…”

Kurapika folded his arms over his chest and stared out the window. He didn’t have a response for that, at least not a response that would convince Killua of anything.

The boy may be a rude brat, but he could point out when someone was lying like it was second nature to him.

“Hey, we have to stop in town to grab some snacks for the movie theater anyways. Why don’t you and Killua go grab you a pink shirt or something?”

“Leaving me and Killua alone sounds like an awful idea.”

“Maybe, but he’s the only one that can take you where you need to go, and I am NOT walking around town in these heels.”

Kurapika groaned, plopping down onto the couch. Killua followed suit, obviously not thrilled about the situation either.

‘But… it’s for (Name).’ Killua thought, glancing the blonde.

“Alright, I’ll take you. But you owe me one.”

Kurapika just nodded, his head in his hands.

While they were distracted, (Name) began to walk downstairs, the sound of heels clicking against the wooden stairs.

As she came into view, Leorio turned Kurapika’s head to look at her, his own jaw dropped at the sight.

“You boys ready?”

She was wearing a short gingham patterned pink dress that stopped at her upper thigh. It flared out at the bottom, a white petticoat peeking out.

On her legs were a pair of white thigh highs with a lacy ruffle at the top, squishing the soft flesh of her thighs. Her pink Mary Janes clicked as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

She set her heart shaped handbag on the dining room table as she glanced at herself in the mirror one more time.

Kurapika couldn’t speak, and breathing wasn’t coming much easier. She looked absolutely adorable, different than the previous times he’d seen her dress up.

“You’re like a real life Barbie!” Gon said, jumping up and following her around as she packed her belongings into her purse.

“Aww, thank you sweetheart. That’s what I was going for!”

She ruffled the boys hair and smiled, the smile reaching her eyes this time. Kurapika realized that she looked so much prettier when her eyes crinkled up when she smiled.

“Come on, if we don’t get there early enough we won’t get the good seats!”

The group followed behind their very pink friend, jumping into the car. “Okay, we’re going to be splitting up, gang.”

“What is this, an episode of Scooby Doo?”

“Killua.”

He quieted down, folding his arms over his chest.

“Me and Gon will be shopping for snacks. You, Kurapika, and Leorio will watch the car.”

“Why does Gon get to go and I don’t?”

“Because you got kicked out while Gon was out of town, so he’s the only one allowed inside with me. Leorio’s wearing heels, and if Kurapika isn’t here to watch you, who knows what you’ll do.”

Leorio sighed. “You’re right. I’m in no shape to catch him.”

(Name) squeezed his shoulder. “Exactly. I’ll be back in 15 minutes.”

Killua waited until the two were in the store before climbing into the front seat.

“Alright, let’s go. We have maybe 15 minutes to get you another shirt. In (Name) time, that means 25 minutes.”

Kurapika slid into the drivers seat and drove out of the parking lot.

“Turn here.”

“But that’s a-“

“Just turn you dumb blonde!”

That was the second time he’d been called a dumb blonde today. ‘I hope that’s not a new nickname…’

Killua and Kurapika left the car, Leorio waving at them from the backseat.

“Are you sure this is the only place that sells pink shirts for men?”

“… they sell pink shirts.”

Kurapika sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as Killua led him inside.

Kurapika looked over the abysmal men’s section, seeing nothing pink. “You said there were pink shirts for men.”

“I said there were pink shirts.”

“… where Killua?”

The boy pointed to the women’s section, Kurapika narrowing his eyes. “Is this some kind of joke?”

“If it was a joke I’d be laughing. Come on, do you want to make (Name) happy or not?”

Kurapika thought about the current situation for a moment. Was pleasing (Name) worth his pride?

‘…’

Kurapika looked down at his new shirt, pleasantly surprised at how well it fit.

It was a plain black shirt with the pink Barbie logo on the front. He’d also bought a pair of pink women’s jeans.

Again, they fit… too well…

“You’re not beating the allegations of you being a woman, Kurapika.”

Kurapika sent Leorio a glare. “I don’t want to hear anything from you, not right now.”

While Kurapika didn’t care about wearing pink, he was a little embarrassed to be decked out in women’s clothing. The jeans were bedazzled on the butt for goodness sake!

“Boys, we’re back I-“

(Name) looked at Kurapika, who was now in the backseat again, now wearing his new Barbie outfit.

“I… bought an outfit. For the movie.”

His cheeks were a light shade of pink. Kurapika didn’t often put in this much effort to please another person, it felt… strange. He wanted her to compliment him, tell him how nice he looked.

“Oh, you look so handsome! Pink really is your color!”

She placed the bags of snacks in the floor of the backseat. Kurapika’s blush deepened, Killua glancing at him from his seat with a raised eyebrow.

They drove to the theater, (Name) barely able to stay still in her seat. “Oh, my friend saw it last week and said it was amazing! I’m so excited!”

Kurapika watched, his eyes softening ever so slightly. He hadn’t seen her this happy since the Hunter Exam when she got her license.

(Name) stepped out of the car, barely able to contain her excitement as she dashed towards the movie theater.

“Hey, be careful, you’ll trip!” Killua called out, but even as he scolded her he was grinning ear to ear. He’d only seen her like this a few times before, it always made him smile. (Name) did so much for him, it was only fair he’d try and make sure she was happy too.

Leorio stumbled into the movie theater, having to steady himself against a wall. “Jesus my legs are killing me. How do you wear these, (Name)?”

“Through gritted teeth and with bandaids on my heels!”

She left the group to buy their tickets.

Kurapika watched as (Name) stood in line behind a bunch of other women dressed in pink. Out of all of them, Kurapika’s eyes only fell on her. He wasn’t interested in the thin woman in skin tight pants in front of her, or the curvy woman with the low dip in her top.

(Name) was the only one that could capture his attention, his lust. He watched the edge of her skirt twirl around her legs when she walked, the soft squish of her thighs when she crouched down to pick up a little girl’s Barbie.

The women in line all seemed to adore (Name), smiling and laughing as they took pictures together. She seemed so at peace, wiggling in her spot as another woman showered her in compliments.

“She seems pretty popular with women.” Leorio said, having taken off his heels to apply bandaids.

“I guess so…”

Leorio hummed. “Maybe they’ll get lucky and she’ll give them her number.”

Kurapika raised an eyebrow. “Her number? Why?”

The dark haired man tilted his head, but didn’t answer.

(Name) hurried back to the group, handing out everyone’s tickets.

——————

The five sat down in their assigned seats.

From left to right was Gon, Killua, (Name), Kurapika, and Leorio.

(Name) held her breath through the commercials, having to be reminded to breathe by Killua. “Come on, it’s almost time. You don’t want to pass out before it’s started, huh?”

She only nodded and pulled her purse into her lap. Kurapika glanced down at her lap to see her pulling out a small Barbie doll. It was obviously old, but taken care of. As the movie started, she held the doll to her chest, beaming as Barbie appeared on screen.

“It’s her! It’s Barbie!”

She shook Kurapika’s arm and pointed to the screen, her eyes twinkling.

He could only nod, flustered when her hand didn’t leave his arm. She was too distracted by the movie to notice, but he wasn’t.

The movie continued for around thirty minutes, (Name) completely enraptured by the world of Barbie.

That was until the movie suddenly turned off.

Gon was the first to say something. “What’s happening?”

(Name) didn’t answer, the smile falling from her face. “… I’m not sure, but we should get out of here. Let’s go to the lobby and talk to a manager.”

Kurapika watched as she stood and brushed her skirt off. She seemed disappointed and a bit upset, holding onto that Barbie doll like it was a lifeline.

She helped Leorio down the stairs, looking around to make sure there wasn’t any danger. Kurapika noticed her herding the two boys behind her when they tried to walk ahead.

“We’re not sure what’s happening, so stay by me, okay?”

Kurapika watched her with soft eyes. Even though she was clearly upset that the movie she’d been looking forward to had been interrupted, the first thing on her mind was making sure they were safe.

(Name) talked with the people at the front desk while the others gathered at the small arcade attached to the side.

“You got any quarters, Kurapika?” Gon asked, hoping to play a few games while they waited.

“No, I don’t carry change.”

“Why?”

“It’s heavy.”

Gon and Leorio exchanged a look. “Okay…”

(Name) jogged back, Killua meeting her halfway. It was almost like he could sense she had bad news, his hand taking her’s.

“They…”

She held her Barbie tight in her other hand, her lip quivering.

“They had to cancel all their showings for today… they had an issue with the film.”

Killua was quick to try and console her. “Hey, we can see it some other time! W-“

“But we won’t be able to get together like this some other time!”

Kurapika flinched. Every member of the group glanced his way when she said that.

“I… I’m sorry. It’s not that big of a deal, let’s just go home.”

(Name) shoved her Barbie into her purse and stormed out the door, holding her keys in her hand.

“(Name)!”

Killua followed after her as the other three watched.

“… when are you leaving, Kurapika?”

The blonde didn’t meet the young boy’s eyes. “… next week on Friday.”

Leorio pulled out his phone and began looking some things up.

“Hold up, I have a plan.”

———————

Leorio took over driving the mom van. (Name) was too busy sulking to pay any attention to the road.

“You know…”

(Name) glanced up from her phone as Leorio spoke.

“I heard they’re selling a Barbie themed build-a-bear…”

She furrowed her eyebrows. “… and?”

He didn’t respond, instead pulling into the parking lot of a familiar store. (Name) peeked out the window, her eyes lighting up at the sight.

“It’s-“

Leorio smiled at her from his seat. “Yep, it’s build-a-bear.”

(Name) leaped out of the car and dashed to the front of the store, staring up at the sign. She glanced back at the group of four, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

“Leorio…”

She jumped into his arms and kissed his cheek. The man laughed, spinning her around a bit.

“Let’s go get you that bear, Barbie.”

Kurapika watched this from a distance, a bit ashamed he hadn’t thought of anything to cheer her up.

He knew her less than he thought. Kurapika didn’t know her love for Barbies or stuffed animals, he didn’t understand it either. So even though he was jealous that Leorio had received a kiss, he put on a smile and followed them into the build-a-bear.

“Hello kiddos, what are you looking for today?”

The employee addressed Gon and Killua, but the two pushed (Name) forward.

“She wants the Barbie bear.”

The employee blinked, but her smile returned quickly. “Oh, that’s great we just received more bears and bathing suits!”

(Name) squealed in joy, following the employee to the back where she brought out a box of Barbie themed bears.

“Here you go!”

(Name) held the freshly fluffed bear to her chest.

“Boys, do you want a bear as well?”

Gon instantly nodded his head. “Yeah!”

Killua saw the look in (Name)’s eyes and agreed to a bear as well.

The other two declined, but one look from Killua told them she wanted them all to get a bear to celebrate the occasion.

‘I don’t even like stuffed animals…’ Kurapika thought as he picked up a small yellow bear. It was the cheapest one available.

“(Name) can I get thi-“

“If its ugly then no.”

“But it’s not ugly! It’s just… okay it is ugly”

Gon dropped the abomination of a stuffed animal back into its box.

“Can I get this one?”

Killua held up a simple brown teddy bear. (Name) gave him a quick nod before going back to browsing the clothing available.

“(Name), what should I get?”

Leorio paced around in his heels, seemingly getting the hang of walking in them.

“You’re supposed to pick it yourself, but…”

She picked up a blue bear. “How about this?”

Leorio snatched the bear out of her hands and ran over to get it stuffed so he could flirt with the employee.

‘Of course…’

(Name) watched as Gon reached for the frog plush, sighing in relief. At least that one was cute, unlike that strange bird creature he’d asked for before.

“Is everyone ready? Got your outfits?”

They all nodded and brought their bears to the counter.

“Will that be all for you, ma’am?”

“Yes!”

(Name) looked to the price and paused. It was a few hundred dollars, money that could pay for multiple of her bills that month. She glanced down at her own bear. It was the most expensive out of the bunch, so if she took it out…

Kurapika pushed her out of the way and handed the employee his card. “I’ll be paying.”

“Hey, Kurapika-“

Leorio placed a hand over (Name)’s mouth. “Shh, we’re treating you. Don’t worry about it.”

But she would worry about it. (Name) bit her lip as the woman bagged the bears and hands them out to each of their new owners.

“… thank you.”

She pulled her bear to her chest and inhaled her strawberry scent. Kurapika smiled down at her and ruffled her hair.

“You’re welcome, (Name).”

Killua and Gon held their bears, tilting them and turning them. “They’re soft. And… nice!”

“I think that’s the point.”

The group piled back into the mom van, Leorio once again taking the wheel.

“We have another stop. You don’t mind, right (Name)?”

She squinted. “As long as I get to pay for my own things this time.”

Leorio waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah.”

Their next stop was a small ice cream parlor a few minutes away. (Name) picked out a (flavor) ice cream cone before they all left to sit outside.

“This is nice. I’m a little sad we can’t see the movie, but spending time with you all is more than enough for me.”

The four shared a knowing glance with each other.

After they finished their ice cream, they once again got in the mom van.

“One more stop! Cover your eyes, alright?”

She frowned, but complied to Leorio’s wishes. She heard the car door open and the feeling of Killua’s cold hand grab her’s.

“Come on, I’ll lead you.”

Killua was one of the only people (Name) trusted enough to follow without complaint.

“Alright, open your eyes.”

She pulled her hands away from eyes to see they were at the movie theater. But this wasn’t the one they’d been at before, it was different.

“Is… is this…”

Tears started to pool in her eyes as she realized what was going on. Gon stepped forward and leaned his head on her shoulder. “It’s the movie theater!”

Leorio smiled. “I looked it up, and this movie still has a few airings of the Barbie movie going on. I bought tickets, it starts in 30 minutes.”

(Name)’s mascara began to run down her cheeks. “You did that for me?”

Leorio nodded, pulling her into a side hug. “Of course, you would have done the same for any of us.”

She sniffled, reaching her hands up to rub her eyes but was stopped by Kurapika.

Kurapika grabbed her hand and began to lead her inside. “Kurapika, what-“

“Your makeup. It’s running.”

He opened the door to the women’s restroom and walked in with her, lifting her up to sit on the counter. “Hey! You shouldn’t be in-“

Kurapika covered her mouth. “Shh. Let’s get you cleaned up, okay?”

She pouted, but allowed him to pull her makeup out of her purse. He began to wipe at her smeared mascara, his touch not as gentle as it should have been.

“I can do it myself…”

Kurapika raised an eyebrow. “Not with those shaky hands.”

(Name) blinked and glanced down. Her hands were shaking. ‘He noticed that?’

Her gaze softened. (Name) forgot how observant he could be sometimes. Kurapika finished wiping away her mascara and opened it, applying her mascara for her.

“Blink.”

She listened, batting her long lashes at him. He felt his heart thump against his chest. (Name) really was adorable, even when her makeup was a mess.

“There, all better.”

He helped her off the counter so she could look at herself in the mirror.

“Aww, Kurapika, thank you.”

She turned around and pulled him into a tight hug. Kurapika’s hands shot out to hover around her awkwardly, not knowing if he even had to right to still hold her.

(Name) held onto him for a moment more, head pressed firmly against his chest, before she let go.

“Let’s go, I don’t want to miss the movie!”

The two paused when a group of women walked in, Kurapika stiffening next to her.

The women didn’t give either of them any attention, besides a girl in the back.

“Oh, momma she’s pretty.”

The little girl pointed at Kurapika, her Barbie doll clutched in her other hand. “Like Barbie!”

(Name) glanced at him, a smile on her face. The blonde could only pout.

“Let’s go.”

Killua was waiting for them outside the bathroom. He gave Kurapika a look, his nose scrunched up.

“Have fun in the women’s restroom, you perv?”

(Name) pinched his cheek. “Killua, be nice. And you shouldn’t be saying things like that!”

He swatted at her hands with a pout.

Kurapika’s cheeks were pink from embarrassment. “Tch…”

He walked past the two and towards the theater.

“You feeling any better?”

Killua held onto her hand, his eyes meeting her’s. The white haired boy had been worried for his dear friend, considering how important this movie was to her.

“Yes, much better.”

She squeezed his hand and walked with him to the theater.

——————

(Name) left the movie theater sobbing, having to be guided out by Leorio.

Gon wasn’t fairing much better. His bottom lip poked out as he tried not to cry. “Why were the Kens so mean to the Barbies? What’s a patriarchy?”

He shook Killua by the shoulders, who only groaned. “Ask (Name) about it later…”

“(Name), it’s alright. Come on, you’re smudging your makeup again!” He tried to calm her down, glancing around the lobby to see other women staring at them.

“Is he bothering you, miss?”

A woman had approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder as she squinted at Leorio. He tried to respond, stumbling over his words, but (Name) just sniffled.

“No, he’s my friend. I’m just… the movie…”

The woman nodded. “Yeah, it was good wasn’t it?”

They shared a knowing look, (Name) letting out a heavy sigh. “Thanks for checking on me.”

The woman only smiled before walking away.

“Why did she come over to check on you, (Name)?” Gon asked, tilting his head. (Name) ruffled his hair.

“Well, sometimes all us women have are each other. She thought Leorio might be bothering me, so she walked over to see if I was alright.”

Gok frowned. “But she was even shorter than you. What could she have done?”

(Name) laughed. “That’s not the point, sweetheart. We put ourselves on the line sometimes if it means potentially protecting another woman. It’s called being a girl’s girl.”

Gon didn’t quite understand, but he nodded nonetheless. Kurapika walked towards them holding (Name)’s purse.

“Got it.”

He handed the purse to (Name). “Thanks, dear. Now we can go home!”

She’d forgotten her purse in the movie theater, and Kurapika had offered to grab it for her. The blonde blushed at the pet name, quickly walking ahead of them towards the car.

It was dark now. The outside was crowded with women of many different ages all smiling and laughing together.

“Hi Barbie!”

(Name) smiled when a little girl waved to her and Kurapika. “Hi Barbie!”

She nudged Kurapika’s shoulder, causing him to roll his eyes. “… hi Barbie.”

Gon and Killua waved and smiled to other kids their age, all decked out in pink. Leorio was the odd one out, the only man decked out in a full pink suit wearing heels.

“Wow, who’s man is that? He’s a keeper…”

Leorio perked up at this comment. “Oh wow, in a pink suit too? God that’s hot…”

He began to strut towards their car with a bit more confidence. Throughout the day, he’d become much more comfortable in (Name)’s heels.

‘This is all gonna go to his head.’ Killua thought.

(Name) watched Kurapika walk for a moment, her eyes drifting down.

“Oh, I like the design on your jeans, Kurapika!”

The blonde paused, glancing back at her.

‘The only design on my jeans is…’

“Were you looking at my butt, (Name)?”

She covered her mouth as she gasped. Gon tilted his head. “Why were you looking at Kurapika’s butt?”

“Gon don’t ask people things like that.” Leorio said, groaning.

(Name) stuttered out a reply. “I-I guess I was.”

Oh. He hadn’t been expecting that. Now Kurapika was the one blushing and covering his mouth.

‘She was checking me out?’

He got into the car quickly and used his tabard to cover himself. Just thinking of her looking at him and LIKING his body made all the blood rush to his dick.

“Wow, (Name) I didn’t know you were a pervert.”

(Name) smacked Leorio’s head, still flustered. “I’m not! He’s just got a cute butt and it’s literally shiny right now!”

‘Cute butt?’

He covered his face, the heat in his cheeks nearly burning his hands.

“I can’t believe you’re objectifying Kurapika, (Name). Didn’t we just watch a movie about that?” Killua said, shaking his head.

(Name) glanced back at Kurapika. “Sorry, sweetheart. You do have a cute butt though.”

‘SHE SAID IT AGAIN!’

He didn’t answer, just ready to get home before he came in his pants.

———————

As they rode home, (Name) got a call. Everyone stayed quiet as she answered it, Leorio turning the radio down.

“Yes? Oh hey! Yeah I just saw it. Yeah yeah. Oh my god I cried too! Oh… yes he’s here.”

This made the entire group curious. Which ‘he’ was she referring to?

(Name) bit her lip before responding in a whisper. “No, you’re not fighting him. Oh stop, I told you I was over it already.”

‘I think she’s talking about me.’

Kurapika watched the trees pass by outside his window, a frown on his lips. Even her friends disliked him. Had what he’d done affected her that much?

“Wait tell her I’ll fight him!” Killua yelled.

“Killua you don’t even know who we’re talking about.” (Name) said, covering the speaker of her phone with her hand.

“It’s Kurapika, obviously.” Killua answered, the blonde flinching at the call out. “Who else has-“

“Killua.”

The white haired boy stopped at Leorio’s words. “That’s enough. Let’s not ruin this day, okay?”

Killua knew how important this day was for (Name), but he struggled to stay quiet. It could have been an even better day if she didn’t base it off of Kurapika being there. Then she wouldn’t have been so sad if the movie was cancelled.

‘The only reason we HAD to see it today is because he’ll be leaving soon, and probably never talking to her again.’ Killua thought, frowning. She cared deeply for the blonde, and it pissed Killua off.

(Name) had turned her attention back to her phone. “Wait, really? This week? Oh, I’ll have to check in with everyone first…”

(Name) turned to the group, smiling.

“Who would like to go to the beach Tuesday?”

[zriasstuff]

Tutoring lessons pt.1– Blaise Zabini x reader

In which you and Blaise get to know each other on a deeper level, which you never expected.

To be honest, I don’t know how to characterize Blaise at all, and all the “Slytherin Boys react” that I read always barely have any Blaise in it, so just run with it :’) part 2 is out too!

“Can we please just take a break”, Blaise annoyingly asks you for the thousandth time. It’s as if he was a little child who couldn’t focus for more than 10 minutes.

“No, we just need to go through one more question, then we can take a break”, you tell him, but that answer doesn’t seem to satisfy him.

One reason why this was so difficult for him is that he never did his own work in class. Hence, concentrating didn’t exactly come easy to him. The only reason for which Blaise was even passing, was him paying other people to do his work for him. It was something you could never imagine yourself doing.

So, you would think that when he asked you to tutor him, he actually started to care about school, but quite the opposite apparently. His behavior made you believe it was all just some elaborate joke by him.

It wasn’t merely today, you’d been doing this for weeks already and there seemed to be no progress at all. You started wondering whether the problem was you or him.

As you tried your best to explain the last question to him, he rolled his eyes resentfully, and signaled clearly to you that he wasn’t paying attention anymore. His head was tiresomely hanging from his shoulders, and he sighed as you went on and on about stuff he doesn’t care about.

“You got that?”, you check up on him occasionally, fearing that this was all just for nothing again.

“Uh-huh”, he responds in annoyance. It was the most unconvincing thing you ever heard. He could at least try to sound interested.

With the amount of time that had passed, in which he cared so little, you finally couldn’t take it anymore. Here you were, making sure a fellow classmate would pass his finals, and he was being nothing but ungrateful.

You shut the textbook promptly, which creates a loud banging noise, and look at the utterly unmotivated person sitting next to you.

“Could you please just try for a second because I’m starting to doubt you’d understand what we’re learning about, even if you tried”, you spurt out. The words coming from your mouth spilled out uncontrollably, it was like all your repressed inner thoughts were finally being said out loud.

“I’m really trying my hardest here, to make you understand and I’ve been getting nothing from you for weeks”, you continued your confrontation, although you started sounding a little desperate at this point. You keep looking at him intensely, while also coming off as extremely frustrated.

Blaise, after being shocked at first by your sudden frustration that you let out on him in a rather unfriendly way, counters with the same attitude right away.

“Listen, I know you think grades are the most important shit, but they’re not. I’m good at other things, and maybe I don’t want to work with you because you suck at explaining.”, he spits at you, gradually raising his voice.

Having said that, he actually got up, ready to leave the library altogether. Not that you minded, but something about this interaction felt unfinished. He still had to explain certain things to you, so you stop him in his tracks by following him and demanding him to stay.

“Just leave me alone, will you”, he sighs loudly, back still turned to you. “And you’re definitely fired”, he adds, quickly turning around and glancing at you as he’s saying that.

“S- Seriously?", you are stunned by his behavior. “How mature of you by the way, you’re firing me?”, you continue, mocking him along the way. “It’s not my fault you’re so stupid and slow, I mean it’s not like anyone else will have patience with you. So yeah, have fun failing”

Blaise finally fully turns to you again and opens his mouth for a second, but no words come out. Not sure what he was feeling, you suddenly start to feel a pit in your stomach building. Maybe you’d gone too far. You could’ve definitely expressed that in a nicer, more constructive way.

You were the only people left in the library, it was late. Perhaps that’s why this interaction felt like it was ages long.

Finally, after what seems like hours of just standing face to face without saying anything, you decide it was time to be the bigger person. Blaise certainly didn’t seem like he was ready to break the ice.

Innerly you know what you said before was uncalled for, but nonetheless every fight is a two person job.

“I- I’m sorry”, you begin, “what I said was uncalled for, and just out of frustration. I just, I just want to know that my tutoring is actually helping, you know.” You notice your voice getting more quiet as you go on, but as you were standing so close he must’ve still heard.

“You know I asked you to tutor me because McGonagall was on my ass, not because I actually cared”, he states.

“I kinda figured after the first few sessions”

Another moment of quietness passes before he goes on.

“At the start I actually wanted to do good, to prove I’m not as incompetent as everyone thinks I am”, he confesses honestly. This was the first time Blaise actually sounded genuine about something, it made you want to get to know him more.

“But after a while, I realized I was in fact hopeless and stupid-”

“Don’t say that”, you try to comfort him swiftly. It was dreadful when people said those hurtful things about themselves, but you know you and your earlier outburst were at fault here too.

“No it’s true, you just said it, don’t try to deny it”

Now you feel even worse. You never wanted to make him feel this bad about himself, and no one should ever think so low of themselves either. In the past, you also had plenty of self deprecating thoughts about yourself, but you tried your best to wash those away. Along the way you realized that you were so much better of a person than you’d ever given yourself credit for.

Quickly, you try to come up with something to make him feel better, but you're afraid you have ruined it. So, honestly, you tell him that you’re sorry and don’t know what to say. Whoever said “honesty is the best policy” better be damn right now you think.

Blaise pondered for a moment, but appeared to enjoy the honesty after all. Same as you, he decided to own up to his faults too.

“It’s not your job to make me feel better, besides I haven’t been the best student either. It just sucks having everyone think you’re the worst”

Slowly, you feel the tension completely dissolving between you two. Communicating was the key after all. Now you knew exactly what to say to Blaise.

“I know it sucks, and you can ignore what I said. But what I can give you as advice is that it’s your mindset that’s holding you back”

“What do you mean?”, he questions, raising an eyebrow at you, not fully understanding yet.

“You keep getting dragged down by all the negativity, so much that you started to give up on yourself too. It’s like you know you’re going to fail, so you don’t even try.”

“So you’re saying I should just believe in myself”, he asks to make sure he got what you said, also seeming rather unimpressed.

“Look, I know it sounds basic, but it’s true, no?”

As he’s thinking about what you said, Blaise sees your point. He did in fact never actually try. Copying off of others. Failing tests, saying he never studied to begin with. Never studying, so he’d have an excuse for why he failed. Not doing work because he’s afraid that if he did, he’d have a confirmation that he was in fact stupid. Perhaps it was really time to change something about his whole mindset.

“Will you keep trying to help me, if I promise I’ll actually try?”, he asks nervously. He realizes he just became more vulnerable than ever. Especially to someone he hadn’t even considered to be his friend before. He was looking forward to being friends with you though, and hopefully in the future he’d get to know things about you too. Before that, you had to decide though whether you wanted to help him.

“Well I don’t know”

“Oh-”

“Don’t you have to un-fire me first”, you joke. You practically saw the relief wash over his face. Looks like he really means what he was saying. Blaise expressed his gratitude for your help, and offered to do something for you too in the meantime. Since you couldn't think of anything, you just told him that tutoring him would look good on your resume too, and you left it at that.

Turns out, on your walk back to the Slytherin common room, that you two had a lot in common too, even if you had differences when it came to your studies. Surprisingly, your guys’ favorite quidditch team was the same, and you had the same favorite players. Both of you also shared the same dream vacation locations, and most importantly you both agreed that Malfoy kinda looked like a ferret.

[siampie]

Risk and Reward||Chapter 3: Scared Of Love

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.4k

Summary: You finally decide to drop the "let's be friends," after your coffee date with Matthew. And you both admit your mutual attraction.

Warnings/tags: angst, fluff, mutual pining, idiots in love, childhood trauma, slight mention of emotional abuse

A/N: Originally, this chapter was supposed to feature teasing Matt but Reader kindly reminded me that things between her and Matt aren't there yet. Those things take time. So, the chapter title changed and I think it’s a little angsty but it fits the story. Also, this song is the one that inspired this fic. Not entirely satisfied with this chapter but I still like it. I hope you enjoy it.

PS: And don’t worry, teasing Matt will make an appearance but a little further down the line.

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Tag list: @marytheweefrenchie, @sunflowersandsapphires, @abbyhaslongshorts, @schneeflocky, @danzer8705

Dividers by @cafekitsune

Song the title is referring to:

Don’t come any closer

Till I tell you that it’s over

‘Cause I rather be alone than be a wreck

We’re both playing with fire

And you’re the one holding the lighter

But if we never start, we’ll never end

Matt had a soft smile on his face, sitting across from you. Your hands were around your warm cup. You couldn’t see his sightless eyes but you knew they were on you. You took a sip before you could answer his question.

“I wanted to be a housewife when I was a kid.” You chuckled when he gave you an incredulous look. “I wanted to be like my mother.” You clarified. “I thought she was doing the greatest job in the world. Taking care of her children and loving them. I wanted to be just like her.”

“What change?” Matt reached out for his cup.

“Well,” You sighed. “When I was eleven, she walked out on us. With no explanations and no goodbyes. So, I sorta decided on another career path.”

“You didn’t want to be like her anymore.” Matt stated quietly.

“Not really. My dad had grown a bad habit of constantly comparing me to her, you know.” You spoke. “It was always negative. And it was always me, specifically. My siblings never got compared to her. Never really understood why.”

When you were younger, right after your mother had walked away, you and your father had gotten into lots of fights. You were both lashing out at each other. Both grieving a loss, both angry and not knowing how to deal with those emotions; you both lashed out. But every time you fought back; he would compare you to your mother. He called you unloving, ungrateful, disloyal. His words had cut deep within you, leaving open wounds that had yet to heal. And all these years of taking care of him, of the home, and of your siblings, stemmed from a need to prove him wrong. You were loving, grateful and loyal. You made sure he knew. You made sure he knew that he was wrong. He had to know.

That need within your heart to prove your father wrong, had mostly come from fear. A fear that he would abandon you just like your mother did. So, you did everything you could to give him a reason to stay. A reason to love you as much as you loved him.

You felt his calloused hand on yours. His hand felt rough but gentle. Your heart skipped a beat. “Your father was wrong to do this. you were only a child. You were hurting as much as he was."

“I know that now." You spoke softly. "But I didn't then. I suppose when you are a kid, you trust the grown-ups around you to protect you, and comfort you. You don't expect them to use their words to hurt you."

“I know what you mean," Matt said.

“You do ?”

“When I lost my father, I was sent to the orphanage." He answered. "The Nuns did not really know how to deal with me—and the person they chose to do so—wasn't really the best."

“Was he blind like you?”

“Yeah,” He nodded. “He taught me everything I know.”

He looked uncomfortable as though he had said too much already. As though, he had let it slip. You had caught him off guard. You didn't push though. Instead, you hummed quietly.

“How did you lose your father? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“He was shot when I was nine.” Matt adjusted his glasses. “He was a boxer, you know. My dad. He lost more than he won, before he, uh—but he could take a punch.” He said fondly. “He always told me ‘It ain’t how you hit the mat, it’s how you get up.’”

You loved the way he spoke of his father. Every word was dripping with love and admiration. But most of all with pride. And aside all of that, there was a pain behind his words, the pain it still felt at the loss.

“That’s a good motto to go by in life.” You observed, your lips turning up at the corner. “I like that. No matter how many times you get knocked down, just keep on getting back up.” You wove your fingers with his, and gave a gentle squeeze. “I’m sure he would have been proud of you. As much as you are of him.”

“Barely, but thanks.” He smiled at you. He refused to take the compliment. You were not the only one who had demons, it seemed.

“He truly would have been proud of you, Matthew. You’re a good man.” You assured him. His sightless gaze dropped to the table, a faint smile on his face. “Are you going shy on me, Murdock?” You teased him.

He chuckled before adjusting his glasses. “You have a—um—a way of doing this.”

“Making you go shy?”

“Among other things.” His lips twitched up at the corner.

You ran your tongue over your lips. His words had a way to make you blush. Just three words but with so much more meaning behind them.

 “Is it a bad thing that I do?”

“No, I—I find it refreshing. Keep me on my toes." He joked.

“Oh.” You let out breathless, your eyes landed on your interlaced fingers. His thumb brushed over yours, in a back-and-forth motion. “This starts feeling like date and not so much like two friends catching up over coffee.”

“Would it be so bad if it was?” Matt questioned softly.

“No, I don’t think it would—it’s just—” You paused.

“Yeah?”

You like Matt Murdock. So, would it be so bad if this was a date? Short answer. No. It wouldn’t be. The conversation was easy between the two of you. You two were now leaning over the table. Your fingers were woven together. And it all felt natural. You had opened up to him more freely than you had with others. He already knew more about you than Amelia did. Was there any point in keeping this “let’s be friends,” thing going?

“Just not today.” You told him. “Maybe next time?”

“Are you asking me on a real date?” He smirked.

“Yeah.” Your eyes dropped to the table. Your neckline started to feel warm, your heart was hammering, trying to escape from your ribcage. “Only—if you want to.” You tucked your hair behind your ear with your free hand.

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” He huffed out a laugh.

You scoffed. “You still can.” And you smirked.

Matt walked you home as he had done before. You stood facing him, at the bottom of the stairs that led into your building. His hand slid down your arm, to grip your hand. He stepped closer to you. Your eyes roamed his face before settling on his red tinted glasses.

“I like you.” Matt said.

“I like you too.” You smiled at him.

“I would like to take you out on a date.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” You teased him.

He chuckled. “How does dinner sound? Next weekend?”

“Sounds great.” You nodded, smiling.

“Yeah?” He grinned before his forehead touched yours. Your eyes fell shut at the contact.

“Yeah.” You breathed out.

He had let go of your hand. His fingers gently grazed against your neck, before making their way to your jaw. He ran his thumb on your cheek. His nose brushed against yours. His breath was fanning over your lips. Your hands moved to his solid chest. You opened your eyes, they landed immediately on his lips. You could lean in and kiss him. You could just give into the desire to feel his lips against yours. You could. You wanted to. But you just couldn’t bring yourself to close the gap between you. So, instead, you pulled away from him. You cleared your throat.

“Will you let me know when you get home?” You asked him quietly.

“I will.” He cleared his throat, and pushed his glasses back onto his face. “I’ll call you, all right?”

“Okay.” You nodded as he stepped away from you, your hands falling back to your sides. “Have a good day, Matthew.”

“You too.” He smiled at you before turning to leave.

Matthew Murdock liked you. And you liked him too. It was a first for you, really. The butterflies in your stomach had not fizzled out. If anything, they had only grown stronger. Just the thought of him stirred them awake. And yet, you were mad at yourself for not giving in to the desire to kiss him. You had wanted to do it. You just had to lean in. Why didn’t you?

Your brain was constantly working against you. You were able to counter it most days. When it was work related, it was quite easy. But when it came to intimacy, not so much. You spiraled down a pit of self-doubt. Always. Were you supposed to kiss him now? This wasn’t a date. This was two friends catching up over coffee. And yes, his face was really close to yours but did it mean he wanted to kiss you? What if you had read the signs wrong? And did you know how to kiss? No one had ever complained before but would it be good enough for him?

You slammed your hands down on your kitchen counter. “Give it a rest.” You grabbed your spoon, and shovel down a mouthful of ice-cream. “He’s going to call you. He’ll set up a date and a time. And you’ll kiss him then.” You spoke to yourself. “Yeah, if I’d grown a pair since then.”

Your phone rang next to you. Your heart picked up in anticipation. This was it; he was calling you like he had said. You took a deep breath and grabbed your phone. You checked the caller ID to make sure it was him. It was Amelia. Your shoulders slumped, in disappointment. You also suddenly felt stupid. It had only been two days. He’d call when he’d call, right? And he was a lawyer. He was probably busy.

“State mental institution, which patient do you wish to speak with?” You answered the phone.

“Hilarious.” She said dryly. “Pretty Boy hasn’t called you yet?”

“Nope.” You took another spoon of ice-cream.

“How loud are they?”

“Pretty loud.” You sighed miserably. “I shouldn’t have agreed to it.” You felt the tears pricked at the corner of your eyes.

“What?!” Amelia exclaimed. “No, don’t do that. Don’t do that.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You are.” Amelia said. “Something good happened to you. Something good is happening to you. Matt likes you and you like him. He said he will call you. And he will. So, don’t do the self-pity thing, please.”

“It’s not self-pity. It’s reality.” You argued moving to your couch. “Something good happened, I let myself enjoy it for two seconds. And now��”

“Nothing.” Amelia cut you off. “Nothing bad is going to happen. Something good is happening to you.”

You did not believe her. In your experience, each time you had felt some sort of happiness, it was either ripped away from you or something terrible happened to your family. You felt as though you were being punished by God for feeling some sort of joy. As though you were not allowed to.

Or maybe you were exaggerating, Making a mountain out of molehill. What was the most rational thing? Amelia was most likely right. Matt Murdock would call you. He said he would. He was a lawyer, and he might have gotten busy with work. And it was only Tuesday, after all. Matt would not lie to you.

“Do you want to come over?” You asked her.

“Tequila or Vodka?”

“None of the above.”

“You’re right. I’ll bring both.”

Red pen at the ready. Music blaring in your ears. Drowning out the chatter of your colleagues, the buzzing of the light. You were focused on your recent manuscript; a young adult fantasy. Young adults’ books were one of your favorite genres, when written well. When the plot made sense. But when it didn’t, it drove you up the wall. This one did not exactly do it for you. It wasn't bad, but overall, it was quite a good read. But not exactly your cup of tea. That wasn’t why you were paid. You were paid to proofread the book. You were paid to review errors, not to review the plot.

Your music stopped playing when your phone rang. You took off your headphones and answered the call.

“Welcome to the complaint hotline. Press 1 for minor annoyances. 2 for full-on ranting.” You announced in your best imitation of a customer service voice.

“Complaint hotline?” It was Matt. He sounded confused.

You gasped and straitened in your seat as though he could see you. “Hello Matthew!”

He broke into a chuckle. “Hello to you too. Sounds like you’re having fun?”

“It’s just a silly joke. I thought it was Amelia.” You explained quickly. “I forgot to check the caller ID.” You mumbled under your breath.

“Filtering calls, I see.

"I'm not - I just -," You fumbled to form an answer. You heard him laugh through the phone. “What can I do for you, Matthew?” You dropped your forehead in the palm of your hand.

“I wanted to make sure we were still on for this weekend.” He replied. “Dinner on Saturday night?”

You were thrilled that the date was happening still. You were even more thrilled that he had called as he had said he would. Your face broke into a smile. “Sounds great.” You softly answered.

“At seven?” He offered.

“Perfect.” Your smile only deepened.

“I’ll meet you at your place and we can walk there.”

“And where are you taking me?”

“There’s a Thai restaurant by my place. I thought we could go there.” Matt told you.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good, so do I.” He admitted. “I’ll see you on Saturday, then?”

“Gladly. I’ll see you on Saturday.” You bit your bottom lip. “Have a good day, Matthew.”

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