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#a peaceful and happy life is the one he deserved
smoooothoperator · 3 days
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untouchable
epilogue: Happy Ever After
Lando Norris x OC (Violet Sinclair)
same group friend, unrequited love, acquittances to lovers, ski trip, love triangle, life as lovers
a/n: So this is officially the end! I wanted to make a different epilogue of what I used to make! In this epilogue you'll watch what Lando and Violet did for the next few years. And of course, I had to make little cameos of ACOTAR.
If someone wants to ask me to make an extra chapter abot their story, I'm very happy to make it!
Official Playlist
Masterlist
previous chapter
If you want to be tagged don't forget to message me!
Every way of feedback is very welcomed
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26 of December of 2024
violetsinclair
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liked by landonorris, maxfewtrell, carlossainz55 and 21.683 others
violetsinclair A whole year with this curly haired man. I love you Lan, love of my life🧡
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landonorris For more mornings next to you🧡
maxfewtrell You guys deserve everything good in this world, no one suffered as you two and none of you gave up
violetsinclair Maaaaaaxx🥹🥹😭😭
maxfewtrell You are not crying, right?
landonorris yes she is
carlossainz55 congratulations you guys❤️
violetsinclair Eh! No red hearts in my feed! Only orange!
landonorris I love you🥹🧡
landonorris
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liked by violetsinclair, carlossainz55, mclaren and 436.468 others
tagged: violentsinclair
landonorris Never give up our dreams, they always come true. I love you with my whole being 🧡
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violetsinclair Thank you for not giving up on me, never. You are everything I ever wanted and I'll never stop loving you 🧡
landonorris I love you so much😍
mclaren Our favorite pair of brits 🥹🧡
February of 2025
violetsinclair
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violetsinclair Story of the day I became a dog mom🐾🧡:
Today Lando came to pick me up from work with a suspicious grin of his face. He said something about going out for the day, to spend the afternoon somewhere away from the city. And of course I believed it! He sounded very convincing!
We had lunch on a very nice place next to a river, but I noticed him a little nervous while looking at his watch. We collected everything and went back to bed, thinking we were going back home.
Turns out he had other plans! We went to a land where the owner has a lot of puppies! And then I found this beautiful black little guy and I immediately fell in love with him. And of course, Lando had everything planned and already came with things for the puppy.
Everyone, meet Rhysand Norris (yeah, it's on purpose. And I wasn't the one that chose the name🤭)
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maxfewtrell I still can't believe you named my godson after a fictional character...
violetsinclair I beg you pardon? It was about time that I had a pet named after him
maxfewtrell what about the options I gave you?
landonorris Rhysand is Rhysand, no more discussion
maxfewtrell Rude. But I'll still name him Reese
violetsinclair Fair enough for me
sarahjmaas His name definitely fit him!
violetsinclair omg hi I love you. Now I can die in peace
landonorris Hi sarahjmaas you want to meet him? We're fans :)
sarahjmaas Sure!
landonorris added a story
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mclaren
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liked by landonorris, violentsinclair and
mclaren look who came! Rhys is in the paddock! The high lord is the the house!🤭👀🧡
tagged: violentsinclair, landonorris
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f1 It was nice having this little one around! He stole everyone's heart
roscoelovescoco It's always nice having a doggie friend around! 🐶🐶
violetsinclair Admin is now in love with Rhys🥰 I'm a proud mom
mclaren the high lord deserves every fan he has :)
landonorris
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liked by violetsinclair, maxfewtrell and 312.649 others
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landonorris Today the love of my life got her degree of History of Art! I can't be prouder of her 😍😍
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violetsinclair 🥹😚🥰
martingarrix photo creds mate...
landonorris I paid you dinner
martingarrix so?
violetsinclair Habemus pacem kids... but you made amazing pics! I love them🥰
martingarrix thanks Vi, at least you are more decent than him
violetsinclair Of course! Now I have a doctorate
landonorris stop bullying me
July of 2025
landonorris
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liked by violetsinclair, sarahjmaas, maxfewtrell and 721.649 others
landonorris And of course, Rhysand is no one without his mate. Welcome home, Feyre🧡
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sarahjmaas Omg I can't believe it! You really found Rhys a Feyre!🥹🥹
violetsinclair (I still can't believe I befriended you) Yeah! She's the cutest! You should come and meet her
sarahjmaas oh I'll definitely will
mclaren Still impressive how we have a crossover of ACOTAR and F1...
landonorris You're welcome 😉
December of 2025
violetsinclair
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liked by landonorris, maxvertappen1, f1 and 43.572 others
violetsinclair P3 in the Drivers Championship for my man! Couldn't be prouder of you🧡
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maxvertappen1 White looks good and you, huh? Right, Lando?👀
landonorris 🤔🤔🤔
landonorris Don't know what you are talking about
fia Where did you leave the high lord and lady? We wanted to see them
violetsinclair They stayed at home🥹 but next year they won't miss it
October of 2026
violetsinclair
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liked by landonorris, pietra.pilao and 43.726 others
tagged: landonorris, pietra.pilao
violetsinclair Life lately🐾🧡🎶🎨
pietra.pilao That was the best day of my life🥹
violentsinclair agree
landonorris agree
taylorswift agree
violetsinclair omfg hi 😭
December of 2026
landonorris, violentsinclair
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liked by maxfewtrell, mclaren, carlossainz55 and 926.168 others
landonorris Right where everything started, where I confessed you my feelings, where I had you in my arms for the first time and then where you said yes to a lifetime with me. I can't wait to continue this journey with you🧡
And thank you maxfewtrell and pietra.pilao for keeping the secret and not being suspicious, making sure I don't lose the ring after months of having it and for taking the pictures for us🧡
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mclaren I'm not crying🥹 congratulations!!!
carlossainz55 You are maturing, I can't be prouder of you. Congratulations to both of you, can't wait to see you and hug you!
maxfewtrell It was such a pleasure taking pet of am important moment of your life, as always, mate. And I won't stop saying it, you two deserve everything good
violetsinclair For how long did you know about this?
pietra.pilao You would get surprised...
March of 2027
violetsinclair
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liked by landonorris, maxfewtrell, f1 and 53.581 others
violetsinclair God news and bad news!
The good news: I'll be some months working here, in Egypt! I had the pleasure of receiving a call from the museum so I can experience how they work in the ruins and and translate some ancient papyrus.
The bad news: Lando and I will have to be some months apart and I can't attent to his races like I used to do. But this won't stop me for supporting him or loving him every day more.
This is just another chapter of our story, not the end.
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landonorris I can't be prouder of you, love. You always fight for your dreams and I'm so happy for you that you can finally achieve them. I can't wait to have you in my arm again. Rhys, Feyre and I love you so much.
violetsinclair I already miss you😭
maxfewtrell Super proud of you! Now I can say that my best friend works in Egypt and will appear in a documentary soon
violetsinclair You and Pi are welcomed in my house anytime you want to see some nice old people :)
mclaren Admin is going to miss you... But I'm proud of you!
violetsinclair Admiiiin🥹
April of 2027
landonorris added a new story
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maxfewtrell You couldn't be away for more months, can't you?
landonorris Stay away from Pi for some weeks and then answer me again
maxfewtrell God, are you moody?
landonorris I experienced the No Nut November in March. I don't recommend it at all
maxfewtrell I didn't need the details...
landonorris Sorry😩
violetsinclair
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liked by netflix, landonorris, pietra.pilao and 73.269 others
violetsinclair I'm super super super happy to announce that the "Cleopatra" series are finally out! Netflix and I worked alongside to make this amazing series about the absolute queen of Egypt. I hope everyone likes it!
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netflix We were so happy to have you on set and work with you!
landonorris Who else knows a couple that both of them worked with Netflix? I'm so proud of my girl!
August of 2027
landonorris, violetsinclair
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liked by maxfewtrell, carlossainz55, mclaren and 936.269 others
violetsinclair I can't believe that this is my last day as your girlfriend and tomorrow I'll be able to call you my husband for the rest of our lives.
And this morning I remembered my best friend Eloise while I was getting my things ready for the big day, crying a little and then smiling at her pictures. I miss you, Eli. I wish you could be with us, celebrating my wedding and standing next to me. I miss you, I never stop thinking about you.
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landonorris Eloise is watching us, babe. I'm sure she's proud of who you became
maxfewtrell She's proud for sure, we miss her
mclaren Can't wait to be there tomorrow, we are proud of you two
carlossainz55 The best pair I ever met, can't wait to watch you two linking your lives together
violetnorris, landonorris
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liked by mclaren, oscarpiastri, carlossainz55 and 967.471 others
landonorris We are still over the moon about yesterday. It was so beautiful watching everyone, sharing our most special day with all of you. I still can't believe this morning I woke up next to my wife.
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carlossainz55 You two made a beautiful wedding, I will never forget how you two looked at each other. Felicidades, cabrón
georgerussel63 Can't believe you are the same small boy that debuted on F1 next to me and Alex. Now look at you, mate.
oscarpiastri I still remember the day you introduced Violet to me. You told me that you were going to marry her one day
landonorris What's going on with you guys georgerussel63 and oscarpiastri? You want to make me cry or what? Yesterday wasn't enough?🥹
December of 2027
violetnorris
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liked by landonorris, carlossainz, pietra.pilao and 65.279 others
violetnorris Maldivas🥰🧡
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landonorris 😚
June of 2028
violetnorris
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violetnorris The last few months some of you were sending me Dm's and even asking Lando why I stopped going to the races, if I was sent to Egypt again for work. Well, I guess now our little secret is out! Baby Norris coming in October👶🏻🧡
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oscarpiastri Now it makes sense why I saw the other day Lando asking to the person in charge of the merch to give him an onesie of McLaren... Congrats you two!
landonorris I thought no one saw me🥹
oscarpiastri I guess you were wrong
quadrant Okay, baby collection in progress.....
carlossainz55 I know I'll be the favorite uncle
oscarpiastri Excuse me?
danielricciardo Excuse me??
alex_albon You're joking, right?
georgerussel63 I bed you pardon?
violetnorris Okay guys, no fighting...
October of 2028
landonorris
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liked by carlossainz55, mclaren, oscarpiastri and 927.917 others
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landonorris 17 of October of 2028. Baby Eloise Claire Norris decided to come some days earlier. Mommy and baby are okay🧡
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charles_leclerc 17 is always a good number❤�� Can't wait to meet her
carlossainz55 So happy for you, man. She looks like you
oscarpiastri On my way to meet her!
mclaren on our way* to meet her!
maxfewtrell My goddaughter is so beautiful 🥹😍
pietra.pilao Our* goddaughter 🥹😍
taglist
@elisysd @racinggirl @ninifee1802 @kakorrhaphiphobia @landoyesrizz @lorarri @bellwhysomean @leptitlu @aphroditeisamilf @brekkers-whore @copper-boom @sideboobrry11 @alltoomaples @f1madison @elijahslover @silkenthusiasts @chonkybonky @summerslike11 @randomgirlnumber-13 @is-just-a @whentheautumnleavesfall @malynn @mycenterfold @barackosteaa @izzy-marvel @ssprayberrythings @ophcelia @traveling-inspiration
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pockettwinzz · 9 hours
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Maybe if things were different - Jay fic
Jay's b'day special
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𝜗ৎSynopsis𝜗ৎ : Jay was the perfect guy, the guy everyone was jealous of, the guy who always came in first place, the guy you loved, and you, he loved you. But of course if love was perfect, why would anyone ever be sad.
𝜗ৎwarnings𝜗ৎ : angst, lots of crying, sadistic, sad ending {forgive me please}
𝜗ৎAuthor's note𝜗ৎ : Happy birthday to jay <3 he deserves the whole fucking world and i'm so so sorry for such a sadistic fic but i just couldn't think of anything else T^T! Also I wrote this on 18.04 so it's kinda rushed {sorry T.T}
𝜗ৎwc𝜗ৎ : 1.4k
𝜗ৎ dividers and moodboard are by @dollywons 𝜗ৎ
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The first time I saw him, he was sitting in the back of the class, his head tilted down so that his dark brown hair fell over his face. His shoulders were hunched, as if he were trying to make himself smaller, but even then, there was something about the way he moved that made me think he was much larger than he appeared. His fingers were long and slender, and when he'd finally look up, his eyes would be so cold, they could freeze over the hottest summer day. Everyone was afraid of him, except for me.
I couldn't explain it then, and I still can't now, but there was something about him that drew me in, that made me want to know more. It was like there was this fire burning inside of him, just waiting to be set free, and even though everyone else was too scared to get close enough to see it, I felt like I could reach out and touch it.
One day, after class, I mustered up the courage to walk over to his desk and ask him a question about the homework. He looked up at me, those icy cat eyes narrowing, and I felt my heart start to race. "J-jay, do you mind helping me with my math homework?" But instead of the harsh retort I was expecting, he actually answered my question, his voice soft and gentle, "Sure". It was then that I realized that underneath that tough exterior, he was just as fragile as the rest of us.
As the weeks went by, we found ourselves talking more and more, sometimes even laughing together. I could see a glimpse of the real Jay, the one who wasn't so cold and distant, and it made me feel like I was the only one who truly understood him.
One day, after school, Jay asked if I wanted to go for a walk with him. I hesitated for a moment, but I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my stomach at the thought of spending time alone with him. We ended up walking by the lake, watching the ducks swim and the sunset paint the sky in hues of orange and pink. It was the most peaceful I had ever felt in his company.
As we walked, Jay told me about his childhood, about how he'd always felt like an outsider, even among his own family. I listened intently, my heart aching for him, and when he finally fell silent, I found myself reaching out to take his hand. He didn't pull away, and for a brief moment, our fingers intertwined. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to me.
"Yn," he said, looking into my eyes, "I've never told anyone that before." I knew he was referring to the story of his past, and I felt honored that he had chosen to share it with me.
We continued walking, our fingers still entwined, and I could feel the tension beginning to ease from his shoulders. He seemed to be more at ease with me than he ever had with anyone else. I wondered what it was about me that made him feel this way, but I didn't want to ruin the moment by asking.
As we strolled along the water's edge, Jay asked me about my own life, and I found myself opening up to him in a way I hadn't with anyone else. He listened intently, nodding along as I spoke, and when I finished, he gave me this small, understanding smile. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
We must have talked for hours, about everything under the sun, but somehow, the time just flew by. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of indigo and violet, and the air grew cooler, but neither of us wanted to stop talking. It felt like we could go on like that forever.
Eventually, though, we heard the distant sound of car horns and realized that it was getting late. Jay squeezed my hand gently, as if to say that he didn't want the evening to end either, but we knew we had to go back.
As we walked back home, our steps seemed to fall into an easy rhythm, like we'd been walking together for years instead of just a few hours. I could feel a newfound closeness between us, a connection that transcended our friendship.
It was as if we were two halves of the same whole, and together, we completed each other.
We didn't say much as we walked, content to enjoy the silence and the feeling of being together. When we finally reached the bustop, it was dark and noisy, the streets were as busy as they always were. Jay hesitated for a moment before turning to face me, his expression serious.
"Yn," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I want you to know that tonight, being with you, it meant everything to me." His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel a lump form in my throat.
"Jay," I replied, my voice just as quiet, "I feel the same way." I knew what I was saying was a huge risk, but I couldn't help myself. I wanted him to know how much he meant to me, how much I cared about him.
He smiled then, a small, sad smile, and reached up to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. It sent a wave of warmth through my entire body, and I felt my heart skip a beat. "You really are special, Yn," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
His words made my heart ache with longing. I wanted nothing more than for him to understand how I felt, to know that I wasn't just his friend, but so much more. But I couldn't bring myself to say the words out loud. Instead, I leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin against my lips.
He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the contact, before opening them again and looking into my eyes. There was a depth to his gaze that I had never seen before, as if he was trying to communicate something beyond words. I wanted nothing more than to be with him, to explore this newfound connection and see where it might lead.
Jay leaned forward, i could feel his warm breaths. "I wish things were different," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I wish I could show you how much you mean to me."
My heart ached at his words, knowing all too well that we were stuck in this impossible situation. "J-jay" I replied softly, unable to meet his eyes. "What do you mean?" My voice trailed off as I struggled to find the words to express what I was feeling. "Yn..... I-I'm sorry" He spoke as tears left his eyes as he turned away and began walking away.
I stood there, my body frozen, all alone in the crowd, tears bawling out of my eyes.
I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be with Jay openly, to share our love with the world. To see where our connection might lead us. But I knew that was not an option. Not after how he left me....
The days after that night were so bitter. Everytime i looked up to his eyes, they were always filled with a mix of longing and guilt with a hint of sadness.
As much as we wanted to be together, we couldn't deny the reality of our situation. His parents would never allow it, and they held all the power. They could take away everything that we had if they found out how we truly felt about each other. It was a risk we couldn't afford to.
Everytime I'd catch him staring at me, I wanted to tell him it was okay, that I understood why he was doing this, but the words caught in my throat. How could I possibly make him understand when I didn't even fully understand myself?
 I knew that he was trying to protect me, to spare me from the inevitable pain that would come if we continued to pursue this forbidden love. But every time he tried to distance himself from me, a tiny piece of my heart seemed to shatter. It was a constant, aching reminder of the impossible situation we found ourselves in.   
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༘˚⋆𐙚。Permanent Taglist ༘˚⋆𐙚。 @cha-eui @alvojake @heeslut4life @wondipity @dollywons @wonlvkay
+ @ja3yun here you go~ this might not be what you expected T.T but I hope you like it <3
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jeanbie · 3 days
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WORDLESS #5 ★ masterlist.
pairing: levi x reader
genre: sugar daddy & contract killer au | warnings: implied violence, establishing feelings, mentions/references to john wick & the continental | wc: 6.8k
note: who expected me to actually finish this? (answer: no one) i'm so glad that i got to finish "wordless" and put these two losers in a place they deserve to be in! this chapter is the finale and also almost entirely from levi's pov, and this one flows in a chronological order :)
★ ch1. ch2. ch3. ch4. ch5
⏤ Sometimes, saying “I love you” is inappropriate, and given your circumstances, you think it might send Levi over the edge if he hears them again. But maybe he's ready now.
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(41) Giving them space when they express wanting to have some time alone.
It’s been a hot second since Levi saw you — and it’s killing him more than he’d care to admit.
Since the blow up in the shower over girls he wasn’t fucking in the first place, Levi hasn’t heard from you, and he hasn’t made much of an effort to reach out either.
Why did he even lie? There was no benefit from telling you he was seeing other girls; the only reason he said that so often was to manage the healthy boundaries between you, to remind you not to get too close, to remind himself that being with you is a risk.
Not that pushing you away has made his life any easier. On the contrary, he thinks it’s made everything worse.
It is almost dehumanising to admit it to himself, but he misses you. Since your rather unconventional first meet — which was a far cry from any ‘meet cute’ that normal situationships had — Levi has been telling himself that the circumstances surrounding you being in his life were unique at best, and that you weren’t permanent.
But now, he lives his life around a ghost of your body, making room for you in his home, making time out of his schedule, making arrangements to keep you happy. 
Okay. Maybe it’s a little bit too late to acknowledge the feelings he has for you. Levi knows they’re there — he’s not an idiot. But making those feelings real is something he just can’t afford to do. Not yet. Not while there’s too much going on in his life.
Still, he stares longingly at the door every night when he staggers back home, as if hoping you might take him by surprise and crawl back into his arms. Not that you do, at least not for a while; not until Levi grows fed up of waiting and finds you first.
But for now, he’ll grant you he space that you need, the space you deserve. And in the meantime, he’ll try and make peace with the waging war in his head.
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(42) Holding their hand while walking, even if there isn’t a crowd.
“This is nice.”
The neighbourhood Levi now lives in is much smaller than the last one. It pales in comparison to the condo it took forever to finally move out of, but having consistent security breaches just for a tiring view of the river didn’t feel worth it for Levi anymore. It made no difference to him if the apartment he all but owns for you is much farther away — you’re barely ever there, anyway.
Since putting his angst to rest, and since making it known to you that you’re quite literally the only woman he likes enough to keep buying houses for and invite over, things have been calm between you.
There’s still a strange unspoken thing, the remains of an agreement made out of convenience so long ago, to feed both the lust and pride Levi wanted and the safety you craved; but in general, Levi acknowledges that what he has with you right now feels like the closest thing he’s had to a partner in a long, long time.
Levi looks over at you, feeling your hand tighten in his as you cross a cute little park covered in flowery bushes and beds of tulips. 
“I’m glad my neighbourhood has your stamp of approval,” he replies, tightening his fingers around yours before pulling up slightly to stuff your joined hands into his pocket. Though it’s spring now, there’s still a bite in the air, a chill that Levi is determined to shelter you from.
“Technically,” you start, and Levi can predict, like a robot, what you’ll say next, and mouths the words as they fall from your lips, “it’s mine, too.” Your eyes turn piercing as you scowl at him, “Hey! Don’t…predictive text me.”
“Then stop being so predictable.”
“I think we spend too much time together,” you mutter, looking back at the flowerbed you’re currently passing by.
Levi scoffs to himself and playfully scratches a nail against the hand lodged in his pocket.
“Then go away,” he says. No chance, is what runs through his head, and the coy smile you flash him is as equally predictable as the word he knows you’ll say next, starting with n and ending in o.
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(43) Holding shopping bags that are too heavy for them.
Ever since Levi figured out how to share locations, he’s become obsessed with watching you move around on the map on his phone. Numerous times, he’s slipped up on spending hours watching your little circle move, sometimes not even moving at all.
If you had any complaints, he hasn’t heard them, though he very much doubts that you’ll complain in the future now that his stalking has worked out in your favour.
You might have initially thought that bumping into Levi outside the supermarket was a rather delightful coincidence — that was until he moved across the city, and has no real business in your area unless it concerns you.
“Perfect timing,” you say once you see him crossing the small car park in your direction. He has half a mind to pretend he hasn’t seen you and keep walking, but watching you struggle with your shopping is painful enough.
He grunts, reaching for the bag that is squeezing the blood from your fingers. “Don’t get proud about it.”
Sniggering, you happily let Levi grab the overweight bags and fall into an even step beside him. 
“Why do you have so much stuff?” Levi huffs. To be fair, the bags aren’t that heavy, but he can’t see any reason for you to have bought so much considering you live at his house more often than you do your own. “You gonna share this shit?”
“If you want,” you reply. “You paid for it.”
His tongue clicks. Levi hasn’t paid you a penny since he last felt guilty about the fact he rarely paid you, despite that being the very foundation of your relationship in the first place, but even with what he paid you and hasn’t since that point, he knows your bank account is more than comfortable. Paying for all of this has barely made a dent, but that’s what the money’s there for.
He makes his way to his car pulled up outside the car park turning in a layby and struggles in his pocket for his keys.
“I live five minutes away,” you remind him, steps slowing. 
“No, you just said you’d share it, so we're going to mine.”
With a sigh, you’re left with no other choice but to follow him to his car. “You know, the romance of you carrying my bags is lost now you’ve only walked it to the car.”
Before he pops open the boot of the car, he turns to you and sneers, “You want me to walk back and let you do it yourself?”
There’s no argument to be had. You get into the car.
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(44) Standing between them and a busy road.
Habits. Levi hates to keep track of how many he’s developed since you entered his life almost two years ago. Time has gone by so quickly since the day he first met you, in the worst way possible, but since then, he’s transformed into a whole new person, a whole new paranoid man who overthinks everything because there’s no other option.
His habits as of late include worrying about you whenever you’re not around — whenever he’s at work, he’ll think of you. Whenever he’s in a different city or country, Levi will obsessively worry over what you might be doing, who might be on your trail, scenting your every move while you’re vulnerable. Another habit includes feeling like an overbearing parent even when he’s in the same five mile radius, but at least he’s self aware of it.
If you’ve noticed Levi becoming more clingy, less like who he swore he’d never change from, you haven’t mentioned it yet. Perhaps a small mercy to save him the mortifying task of admitting that he has feelings stored away for you. 
Today, Levi has fallen victim to his habits of worry and has walked himself all the way to your university just to walk you all the way back home. His home, not yours. In a sense, your home, too. In an unspoken way.
Levi stands waiting for you in the overhang, gaze trained on the thick grey sky until he hears your class file out of the building in a chatter. Sasha is who he sees first, followed by another one of your friends he’s never met but has seen on Instagram once or twice, and then he sees you, looking thankfully in good spirits, and all too beautiful for your own good.
When you see him standing with his hands in his pockets, he allows himself the pleasure of pride when you break away from your friends just to join him, the smile on your face so genuine and radiant that he has to scoff in amusement.
“Hey, you,” you call, falling into his arms. 
“Hey, yourself.”
“I didn’t know you were coming today,” you confess, pulling away to stare curiously at his withdrawn expression. Levi is already twisting an arm around your waist to walk you down the step and across the lawn. “I told Sasha I’d go to her café and wait for her shift to end. Didn’t you have that thing today?”
“What thing?” he mutters.
“The thing with Erwin. And some deadbeat called George, or something.”
“How many Korean men do you know named George?” Levi deadpans, though his arm does tighten around you in caution. “You shouldn’t even know about that. How do you even know?”
The busy road widens into view as you leave the closed campus. Levi’s pretty much counting the days before you graduate and never have to come here again, and the time is passing strangely slow in that department. It feels like it’s been ages since you enrolled, and he wants nothing more than for you to leave and become the greatest journalist in the world — or whatever it is you even want to do when you’re done. 
As you walk, you lean into Levi’s side, furthering the distance between yourself and the road bustling with cars and buses. He frowns.
One of your habits since the accident on the bridge with your family had been to avoid busy roads, as if convinced something might happen again. You’ve told him numerous times that it’s irrational, but Levi doesn’t think so. It’s a very normal thing to feel afraid of everything, even when those things are a little on the unrealistic side.
Naturally, it results in Levi sliding his arm from around your waist and replacing it with his other one, positioning himself between you and the chaotic lines of commuting cars going home.
His heart flips when you smile at him for it, linking your arm around his while moving your waist out of his grip. Levi tries not to let it get to his head how much you trust him, how much he cares for you. But by the minute, he’s losing the will to keep it hidden.
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(45) Rubbing the back of their hand with a thumb.
Back to habits, there are some that Levi has that he’s not particularly as proud of. But, as expected, you’re as good as it gets, and any habit he thinks he might have gotten away with hiding, somehow you pick up on it.
Levi flicks through a blueprint laying flat over his kitchen table, his hands nervously drumming the edge of the tabletop as he tries to memorise the elaborate labyrinth of a building he’ll be breaking into later to find his next hit. Usually, Levi has you at his home before and just after taking a job, just to eliminate the threat of you being hurt as a punishment. 
He wishes that the company gave you unrestricted entry and protection without him being there to clear it, but in order for that privilege, Levi needed to address you as his partner, which just felt like an even larger target on your head. So, he settles for his home, though the worry does not cease.
This building is riddled with passageways and vaults, basement levels with so many access points that studying them feels intense. One wrong recollection could come at the cost of his life, and at the minute, his life has increased in value. Things are finally going right for him, it would be a shame to have it all taken away from him again.
A text from Erwin sounds next to him, and Levi all but glances at the screen to see what’s happening. All assistance available should he need it — he almost sighs with relief at the words.
In the past, Levi had thought he could never work in cohorts with other hitmen, but becoming partners with Erwin and his henchmen has been working in his favour. 
Still, it doesn’t hurt to learn the layout off by heart. So, Levi pours himself over the blueprints and maps, memorising every detail, becoming so engrossed in it that he barely even hears you letting yourself inside of his apartment.
Your shoes hit the wall with a noise that makes him suddenly aware of your arrival, and he glances up to see you peeking into the kitchen, eyes scanning the room for any unfortunate signs of Elio before you approach him.
He notices the street market bag and inhales the smell of spice before looking back at the maps. “Hope you’re gonna share that.”
“Of course,” you reply, offended he even thought you might not. You place the container of tteokbokki on the table before sliding around to his side, eyes glued to the rolls of paper. “Where’s this?”
“Less you know, the better,” he mutters, leaning his head into your mouth as you kiss his jaw. 
For a while, you say nothing, letting Levi memorise what he needs to while you assess the prints for yourself. Eventually, you shift your hand over his and squeeze, making him glance at you sideways. 
You’re looking at him already, though you can’t see his eyes from the way he’s hunched over. Spotting Levi’s signs of anxiety must be incredibly easy, because somehow you’ve caught on, and begin to rub the back of his hand with your thumb, nose pressed into his bicep. 
“Come eat,” you suggest quietly, after a while of basking in the silence with him.
He grunts, a typical Levi sound, and nudges you away. Though, you only shuffle to the drawer to fetch two forks — forks! He scoffs, rolling his shoulders as he rounds the table to take one from your fingers. 
“Easier to stab with a fork,” you offer as an explanation.
“If my mother was here to see me eating tteokbokki with a fork, she’d lose her goddamn mind.”
“Well…” You start, trailing off after a moment. You’ve got nothing to say; he’s won the argument just by bringing Kuchel up, and both of you know it.
Scowling, you stab another wedge of tteok and chew it furiously, meanwhile Levi smirks to himself, victorious.
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(46) Giving them a back massage when they flop on the couch or bed.
“I need to retire. I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“No way. How old are you now, like, twenty eight?”
“…I’m thirty.”
“Best looking thirty year old I’ve ever seen. Roll over, I’ll massage your back, if you want?”
If he ever refuses a massage from you, he’s an idiot.
Levi rolls over ungraciously, hitting the mattress on his stomach with a low groan. He rolls his shoulders, the bones cracking comically loud, and as you shuffle up to straddle his back, he groans again.
“Oh fuck off, I’m not heavy.”
Levi sniggers into the pillow, though as soon as your hands start to work their magic, he moans, the pleasure instantaneous. 
“Make a house back there, if you want. Just don’t stop.”
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(47) Staying up half the night to finish a game with them.
“I can’t do it if you’re not here, Levi. You need to get over here.”
“Do you not see that I’m trying?”
“You’re terrible at this game.”
Levi scoffs. He wouldn’t be so terrible if he actually knew how to play properly. His character begins to run in circles without him even asking him to, and Levi growls angrily.
“Fucks sake, this bitch is pissing me off.” Then, he wrangles the controller from your hands as you protest and says, “You be him instead.”
“But I don’t want to be Cody.”
“Me neither.”
As soon as you start moving little Cody around, Levi peers in scrutiny at the controller in your hand and how it so suddenly has stopped drifting on its own. There’s a circular dent in your inner cheek where your tongue is, and Levi scowls in your direction.
“You were sabotaging me,” he accuses, eyes focused back on May as she stumbles around uncoordinatedly.
“I think you’re just really bad,” you reply. Cody is moving fine, and finally, the mechanism moves and the story can progress. Hm.
Levi’s eyes bore into yours as you shift to face him, elbows snug in the blanket bundled around you both. Levi has been laying low for around two weeks now — he’s surprised with just how much he likes not having to work. Though, there have been a few times whilst playing this infuriating game where Levi has wished to be anywhere else. 
“You’re good at a lot of things,” you tell him sincerely, “but just not games. And that’s okay. You tried.”
“I’m good at games,” he replies, offended.
You raise your eyebrows, “Like what?”
“Your animal living game.”
“Animal Crossing?”
“Sure, that too.”
All Levi has ever done on Animal Crossing is make a character and proceed to hit everybody with his fishing net, not to mention dig holes around your front door so you can’t get out. Still, you say nothing — the look of disbelief speaks volumes to Levi and he rolls his eyes, turning back to May as she wanders off to the side of the screen and falls off.
Okay. He’s bad at games. That he’ll admit. But you like it, and by the time he’s gotten the hang of the controls, it’s already four in the morning.
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(48) Getting them a coffee just the way they like it.
Remember those habits?
“You remembered!”
If not just to see your smile, Levi likes to bring you one of the expensive bags of coffee from Erwin’s studio. You could quite easily buy the bags yourself, but there’s no thrill in ordering something and having it arrive in due time, not like there is in making Levi steal three at a time as he leaves a meeting or training session.
Levi sets the bags with a loud thud by the coffee machine and hums. 
“And you got me a drink!”
Yes. He has also become a barista and familiarised himself with the exact way you like to drink your coffee. The takeout cup he also borrowed from Erwin is placed down by your laptop as you relentlessly type away at an assignment at Levi’s kitchen table, and he presses a kiss to your temple and mutters under his breath.
“Thanks, babe,” you say, already sipping at the steamy contents.
“It’s hot,” he points out. “You’ll only cry when you singe all your taste-buds off.”
“I will not—” You slurp, then hiss, “Ow!”
“I warned you.”
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(49) Buying them a special treat when you go out shopping.
You know what? No. Levi has given up on pretending like he doesn’t enjoy you being in his grill all day, every day, which is the reasoning for why he ends up in an expensive jewellery store with Erwin one day after a long haul of inspecting an upcoming raid location.
In all honesty, Levi wants to put his work to rest once the raid is all over. It will be their riskiest ploy to date, and quite frankly, Levi’s tired. He’s been killing people for years, cutting at the humanity he has left, and back in the day he would have been very comfortable with being a monster, killing until he was killed.
But now he had you. Now, Levi had someone to care about, so deeply and so passionately that it often left him feeling sick.
“That’s called love, Levi,” is what Erwin had said when Levi chose the rare option of opening up when he tried to explain why he wanted to retire early. 
“Love,” he scoffed. But then Erwin had said something profoundly wholesome, leaving Levi with a bitter taste in his mouth.
“You’re not unloveable just because you loved nothing for so long. I know it took you awhile to get back to where you are now, but just because love went wrong once before doesn’t mean it has to again. Besides, almost two years of your bullshit and that woman is still there — I don’t think you need to be worried about her pulling away from you once you tell her how you feel.”
Which roughly translated to: Buy her something nice and quash until you can’t any longer.
Once Levi gets home, he hears you giggling at something and finds you with a book over your face, your legs kicking as you squeal like a goblin. His face twists and he asks, “That book got jokes in it, or something?”
You peer around the spine and look at him. “They kissed. They. Kissed!”
“Who kissed?” Levi makes his way to the couch and takes a seat where you were just lying down. The cushions are warm — you’ve been here a while, and the thought makes him smile. 
“Evangeline and Jacks. It’s all so perfect. I didn't like most of the book, but what matters is that they kissed,” you tell him, a little too excited. You plant your feet in Levi’s lap. “I love love, Levi. It is the greatest. I love books. Men written by women!”
“Why are you giggling over other men in my own house?” 
“I giggle over you when you’re not around, too.”
He hums once from the back of his throat, watching as you mark the page with your bookmark and close the book before crawling into his lap and curling into his arms. He welcomes you instinctively, the blocky shape of the ring he bought in his pocket.
After smooching your lips for a long fifteen minutes, Levi pulls away and reaches for the box. “Got something for you.”
“Ooh, show me!”
He produces the little box and hands it to you, but when your eyes round and you hesitate in taking it, he worries.
“I’m not proposing,” he says quickly.
“Thank god. I was about to be very upset,” you sigh dramatically, finally taking the ring box. “Most unromantic proposal ever.”
“The fact you think I’d be that lousy with a proposal is actually really offensive.”
The genuine grumble in his voice puts a flutter in your stomach, though soon after, it simmers into a cool pit of shock when you flip open the box and see the most delicate, gorgeous ring that you’ve ever seen in your life, not counting ones you ogle in shopfronts.
Cautiously, you lift your head to peer at Levi’s expression. It’s not a proposal — he’s just told you so, and considering you’re not even his girlfriend in official terms yet, it seems unlikely that anything like that will be happening soon. But it has to be more than just an offhanded purchase, and you’re determined to figure out.
Levi’s eyes tremble as he looks between you and the ring. “Is it ugly?”
You immediately shake your head, “Of course not!”
“Put it on, then,” he urges. The steady beat of his heart stutters out of tempo. Suddenly, he feels quite nervous as he watches you take out the ring and study its appearance up close. “Need help?”
“Yeah, it’s so hard, I can’t figure out how to put it on. Needs instructions.”
Levi tuts and gently takes the ring from between your fingers, grabbing your ring finger whilst trying to look as casual as possible. Somehow, he manages to slide the ring on without making a fool of himself, but when he looks back at your face and sees gemstones of your own lining your waterline, he frowns.
“I’m not gonna sit here and give a speech,” he starts. By now, you know him better than that. He’s never opened up about his feelings to you, at least not without feeling regretful of it the morning after, and you nod simply, eyes catching the glint of the diamond. “But you know why I’ve bought it. I don’t need to tell you what you already know.”
And he doesn’t. Somehow, despite Levi being tremendously unromantic, having no manners, and in general being a terrible companion, you at least know that he cares. And with his upcoming job creeping up on you both, it doesn’t require an above-average intelligence to work out why this ring came when it did, what it means if things go south, what it means regardless.
“I know,” you tell him. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
Instead of saying anything, Levi curls you tighter in his arms and presses a kiss to your forehead, closing his eyes when you snuggle your face into his collar and relax. 
His mind has been made, his plans set. As soon as the job is over, he doesn’t want to look back. Only forward, with the woman who has made him feel alive again.
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(50) Giving them a tight hug that makes them lose their breath.
Something is wrong. Something is horribly wrong, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
It has been days since Levi told you he’d touched down in New York, working out some stuff in the very famous Continental until he was set to join Erwin on whatever mission they had planned and prepared for. Levi hadn’t told you the details this time because the risks were too high, and now, it feels like a major setback. 
New York is on fire, and Levi barely kept his life getting out of the Silver Sword compound. An entire mob wiped out by two guys with no backup — it was practically unprecedented, unseen or unheard of since John Wick was knocking around. 
The Continental had done everything right in the aftermath, including keeping Levi in their small infirmary for days whilst tending to his excessive wounds. Fuck, he had been so reckless, so vengeful, so stupid. It had almost cost him his life ensuring that no leads followed him and Erwin back to Seoul, and although he had succeeded in destroying every last bit of incriminating evidence, the risks had been too great. 
When Levi finally gets discharged from the infirmary, it is almost eleven in the evening, and New York has finally calmed down and settled in for the night. Erwin greets Levi in the lobby, a frown on his face, holding a destroyed black bundle of phone parts that bear a striking resemblance to Levi’s missing device. He swears.
Levi hasn’t heard from you since he got here. Since the last risky job he took in Gwangju last year, you’ve never been lax while he’s been away; he can almost imagine your fear, your paranoia, and before he can even hear Erwin’s well wishes, Levi’s crossing the lobby for the customer payphone and dialing in your number.
The line rings twice before someone picks up.
“Baby?” Levi asks, after three attempts of saying your name and no coherent response. He cranes his head around the curly wire and glares at the clerk, though she looks less than pleased being interrupted by Levi, “Is this a global line?”
“Obviously, sir. It’s a telephone.”
“I fucking know it’s a telephone, but if it’s global, then why the hell isn’t it working?”
The girl gives him grief about his manners and Levi is forced to give up on calling you, slamming down the phone angrily and feeling his body growing hotter and hotter with worry.
He knows you're fine, in his house with the big cat you hate to love, but he knows you. He knows how you operate, how you worry, how you love him too much.
“Look, we’ll catch the first flight we can,” Erwin assures him as soon as Levi has caught his breath and taken a seat on one of the black leather sofas. His hands are shaking violently. “She’s fine. I promise.”
“I know she’s fine,” Levi grumbles.
“Then get a hold of yourself,” sighs Erwin, his frown low and face tired. “There’s nothing you can do but wait. I’ve got people waiting on me, as well, you know.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Dogs miss their owners just as much as girlfriends miss their boyfriends,” Erwin protests, because that’s all he has back home these days.
There had been a time where you had offered to set him up with your friend, Sasha, who deserved to be with a man who could handle her energy but also make her feel safe after her last terrible relationship, but Erwin is basically married to his work, and had got a dog despite Sasha being deathly allergic.
Still, Levi’s not heartless enough to know that Erwin isn’t missed by his dog, and probably other people in his life. And he’s right, there’s nothing he can do about the connection problems. All he can do is reign in his worries and wait.
The earliest flight they can find is the next morning, and Levi spends every second up to that point and up until he pulls up outside of his house in a complete state of panic. Would you be there? Did you leave, thinking he’d never come back? 
Levi abandons his bag and leaves it in the backseat as he sprints from the car up the stairs, past his front door, and into his house. He kicks off his shoes once he’s in, the door hitting the wall with a booming slam.
He hears what he thinks might be scuffles, potentially even Elio’s claws, and right as Levi calls out your name, he sees you round the corner with a blotchy red face and feels his arms stretching out for you.
“What the fuck is wrong with you!” You slam into his chest, almost taking him to the floor, and encircle your arms around his neck so hard that the breath knocks out of his lungs. Still, he isn’t even annoyed; he squeezes you so tightly, tighter than he’s ever hugged anyone before, and shoves his face into your neck, inhaling the smell, feeling the way your body felt in memories while he was away. 
“I’m sorry,” he says in a whisper, his features tugged in displeasure as you whimper into him, no doubt crying over his shirt. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“I thought you were dead!” you blurt, “I even cried on Elio’s back because I thought you had died! What’s the point in having a phone if you never pick it up or charge it?” You snatch yourself from his arms and gently beat against his chest with your fist. “I’m so pissed off at you!”
“I’m sorry that my phone got crushed,” he says, affronted that you would even think he’d ignore your calls on purpose. “I was in a hospital bed for three days! And then the bitchy receptionist got smart with me about their shitty phone, and I called but the line cut out. Sounded like a goddamn robot, I couldn’t hear a word you were saying.”
Your jaw drops, “That was you? I thought you’d died and some enemy gang guy was trying to call me to kill me!” Levi has to laugh at the look of worry on your face. He hasn’t been cared for in this way in a long time. Never been loved to this volume. “I unplugged the landline, I was so scared! Jesus Christ, Levi!” Then, like you never left, you rush back into his arms and let out a shaky cry. 
“You did the right thing,” he tells you. Unplugging the landline was the silliest thing he could have ever thought of, but then he realises that you’re still here, and that you made peace with Elio just because you thought he had died.
Levi strokes the back of your head and shushes you, feeling your heartbeat hammering furiously against his chest. His is most likely the same, though he’s not so eager to acknowledge his own feelings.
After a while of standing there, and after Levi’s stroked behind Elio’s ears when he prowls towards them and rubs his head on Levi’s trousers, Levi looks back at you softly and takes everything in.
He has missed you more than anything, grieved the missing piece of his soul that is shaped like you. And, while he’s at it, yes! Fucking hell! He loves you!
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” you tell him, and Levi kisses you, his hands cradling your face. The kiss is firm, desperate, though he has no intention of walking you backwards towards the bedroom like he normally does after a job.
Instead, he pulls you in for a hug again. 
“I missed you,” he mutters. “So fucking much.”
“Me too.”
He says with his mouth pressed into your head, “I’m done with this shit. I’m not taking any more jobs.”
You twist out of his arms, eyebrows raised. “Really? Why? You love your job.”
“I hate my job,” Levi confesses. “I have too much to lose. I just wanna live my life. And make it all count for something.”
For a moment, you stand there, looking at his face so intently that he almost feels uncomfortable. But then, as a smile spreads over your face, Levi feels like he can finally breathe again, finally feel like himself.
“Alright. If that’s what you want, babe, then let’s do that.”
And we can do it together.
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(51) Getting adjusted.
Levi forgot what it was like to be normal.
He now wakes up at whatever time he wants to, feeling next to him for the lump in the bed where you sleep. Once he knows you’re still there (because despite being retired, he doesn’t think the habit of making sure you’re safe will ever go away), Levi wakes up and starts his day. 
Coffee for one becomes coffee for two. Levi never has to eat breakfast on his own, never sits alone on the sofa or sits in silence at the kitchen table. Levi has lost half of his sink counter space to your belongings, lost half of his wardrobe to your own clothes. There are so many shoes by his front door that it looks like a storefront. 
Elio has a mother, in a strange, estranged, visitation-hours-only kind of way. Levi has made room for you in his life and you fit perfectly, so perfectly that he barely remembers what it ever felt like to live alone.
The shower is always filled with two people. Levi finds your things all over the house in the most bizarre places. He has candles on every coffee table, pictures in frames, finds your cardigans hanging over every chair. But he loves it. He loves it so much. He can’t imagine ever not having it, having you, having this life.
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(52) Finally saying the words.
“This is my first time using this thing.”
“What?” you gasp as Levi comes to sit next to you on the balcony.
Elio yawns inside, sleeping on the couch. It is partly his fault that Levi’s out here in the first place, though the thought of being tucked beside you on the outdoor couch in a blanket, watching the sun sink behind the skyline, is thankfully rather appealing, and he voices no complaints.
Levi takes a swig of his whiskey and abandons the cup on the table, throwing an arm around your shoulder and pulling you close. It’s not exactly cold tonight, but he knows you too well, and knows that within an hour, you’ll be dithering next to him.
“Imagine having a balcony and never using it.”
“I’m using it now,” Levi huffs, pinching your neck. You squeal, “Fuck off, it didn’t hurt.”
You’ve been officially living in Levi’s home for two months now, although sometimes it feels like you’ve always been here. Still, despite you making yourself very much at home on the inside, neither of you have once come out to sit on the balcony, to bask in the lovely sun as it settles for the night, not until today. 
“When’s Erwin coming?”
“Bout an hour or so,” Levi says in a low drawl, his head tilted back and hand massaging the side of your head. It had been your idea to invite a bunch of people over to your house — the house you now shared — and frightfully, Levi hadn’t opposed. It would be nice to share the wealth of simply being alive with people he now had the patience to care about. 
You shuffle to look at him, and Levi picks up his head at the sound of you moving. Like always, Levi thinks you look beautiful, but since he’s made you his girlfriend, it has felt like every time he looks at you, he can’t breathe properly.
“I’m excited. This is our first time hosting a party together,” you grin, while Levi thumbs your ear and smiles. “Do you think Elio will eat Erwin’s dog?”
“No. Elio’s moved back onto a pescatarian diet, so I think Erwin’s mutt will be safe.”
“Good. I bought him a bone, do you think he’ll like it?”
“He’s a dog. Yes, I expect, why are you asking me this?” Levi asks, eyebrows scrunched, though he pulls you close to where his mouth is and kisses you straight on the lips. “Stop stressing.”
“I can’t help it. I’m nervous! It’s all so serious! What if nobody likes our house?”
He shrugs. “I don’t give a shit who does or doesn’t like our house. It’s ours.”
“Hnnngh. And I want you to have a good time!” you whine. “You deserve a bit of fun in your life.”
“My life is always fun now that you’re my girlfriend.”
He’s instantly won himself brownie points by saying that.
“Just tell me if it gets too much,” you mutter, lips on his, mouths together. “Okay?”
Levi hums. “Yeah.” Then, after he’s kissed you three more times and felt his heart shake, he nudges his nose against yours and says, “I love you, y’know that, right?”
You pause, eyes rounding wide as you take in the sight of him. Levi has never said those words before, not explicitly. But now is as good a time as any, right?
Levi has spent far too much of his life withdrawing from his emotions, hiding away from what matters most out of a fear of caring too much. In the past, he had cared too much and lost it all. You were never supposed to be something he cared about, but when it had happened, it happened so fast he hadn’t had the time to make sense of it all.
But now, now that he’s been through it all with you, ticked every box imaginable, become comfortable being vulnerable again, Levi thinks he’s finally ready to accept the love he deserves and dole it out to those who mean the most to him.
Your mouth moves against his, though he can’t understand the words coming out. He laughs, confused, and somehow manages to pull away and ask, “What’re you even saying?”
All for you to blubber out in a laugh, “I’ve been waiting for ages for you to say that!”
His heart bursts, chest soars. “You could have said it first.”
“I’ve said it before,” you protest, “in actions.”
He scoffs, “So have I.”
And he has, you really can’t deny it.
“Say it again, won’t you?” you ask sweetly, kissing the corner of his mouth, and Levi sighs, like asking that of him is simply too much.
“I love you. You make me very happy.” Levi groans when you cackle and squish the breath out of him with a hug, but this time, he sniggers too. Why waste the moment on pretending to be indifferent when he’s actually the happiest he’s ever been?
Levi Ackerman can finally say that he feels good. He feels safe, he feels content, he feels comfortable — and most of all, he feels loved. And in love. And totally at peace in the world with the person who makes him the happiest.
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brothermoth · 2 days
Text
1890s America and Red Dead Redemption
Part One: Violent Delights and Violent Ends
-----
The latter half of the 1800s was a time characterized by struggle. Off the back of the Civil War, a country divided in not two but four by the rising industry to the east and the stubborn pastoralism of the west. The southern portion of the country beaten down, burned and disgraced, and the northern portion rolling in gold and prosperity. Whether they knew it or not, the common American had their life ultimately shaped by these divisions.
As the opening lines of Red Dead Redemption 2 state: "The age of outlaws and gunslingers was at its end" (Rockstar, 2018). Yet contrary to the following text, America was far from becoming a "land of laws". Laws for the poor, perhaps, but the wealthy still thrived and skirted just beyond the boundaries of human decency.
From the 1870s to the 1920s, miners and railroad workers unionized and carried out often violent protests in the hopes of gaining better working conditions. The poor had little but their fists, and they had no qualms about using them. It is in this turmoil we find Dutch Van Der Linde with his Robin Hood-esque visions of a crumbling elite and prospering poor. The struggle between workers and their iron-fisted overseers was bloody, and Dutch would not have it any other way. Those he took under his wing were the beaten down lowest tiers of society. How could they not see him as a shining idol of American idealism? What he wants, what he fights for, it is for them. Outcasts with nowhere else to turn, given a cause and a home and something that perhaps felt real to them for the first time in a long time.
Race is a topic not wholly explored, but touched on certainly within the game. Tensions rose as racial divisions were made even clearer, black Americans fighting for their own foothold in a world that has just opened up to them and their children. Lenny Summers is the first in generations to be born free of slavery. Javier comes from a country that has been terrorized by colonialism and corruption, yet he still dreams of returning. 1890s Mexico (and what we see in RDR1) is a topic of its own, though the spirit of people downtrodden by colonialism is echoed throughout both games. Sean, who was chased from the country his father fought for. Whose father was killed in his own bed, likely in the same room as his son. Violence in this world is inescapable, a swirling vortex that consumes everything in its path.
Dutch embraced this, as many leaders of the past and future have. If you cannot fight with peace, then sticks and stones make for much better conversation. I can't say I disagree with him, in all honesty, and that is what makes him so fascinating. He's right. He has a point, a cause. What went so wrong? Do heroes not get a happy ending?
In 1892, railroad employees of Carnegie Steel in Pennsylvania's Homestead plant went on strike when chairman Henry Frick cut their pay dramatically. 300 agents of the Pinkerton detective agency arrived, escalating tensions. Violence erupted, the Pennsylvania national guard was called. Sixteen men were killed.
Leviticus Cornwall is Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Carnegie is Leviticus Cornwall. The Pinkertons are rightful villains in our narrative, the gang is a thorn in their side which must be cut free. Law and order, right? Dutch was right, his killing of Cornwall was arguably deserved. Yet what makes it so wrong?
Dutch's actions are selfish, in the end. Not because he doesn't care for the people around him, as I believe he truly does. He sees things getting worse and worse and only digs in his heels. Dutch is the American Dream. The bloody messiah to the poor and disadvantaged. He guts them the same as any railroad magnate. Power corrupts, this is what we learn. Power and vitriol and paranoia. The people left struggling in his wake are the common folk who get caught in the crossfire, used and abused only to prove a point. They know nothing but violence, and who is to tell them otherwise? Even Arthur in his end of life maturation cannot pry himself free. He kills and kills and in the end he dies for it. Even John, who tried to leave it behind. Even Sadie, who was ruined by it, embraced it in the end.
The American dream is indecipherable from the American nightmare. They are lovers and companions. There is nothing to do but fight, and even then you have no hope of winning. It's a beautiful tragedy, is it not? All these people who never had a chance, yet who tried anyway. Workers who gained little and lost everything still took their signs and marched for what was right. Black Americans who were beaten down again and again still got up each and every day and did whatever it was they had to do. Native Americans, who were nearly erased. Who still cling to their heritage and claw back what has been stolen. Red Dead Redemption is about the small people. The forgotten in the annals of American history.
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weiwx · 1 year
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it's so fucked up how wwx was just a silly guy who wanted to have a farm and many children and live a peaceful life but he was the doomed by the narrative and haunted by the narrative guy instead
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thatcrazycrowgirl · 7 months
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Make Me Choose
@rumor-imbris asked: Angry!Connor or Smiling!Connor
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solomons-poison · 10 months
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Also from my revisiting the "Wedding" event in OG Obey Me. Satan thinking of what married life with MC would be like 🥺
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tonteriyoung · 1 year
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travis martinez was a dumb traumatized teenage boy in the 90s stop villianizing him for some stupid shit he said literal days after his dad fell out of a plane in front of him goodbye
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sacredqueerness · 7 months
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Personal, death tw
My friend who was killed made the news? Its so bizarre to see her name in the news for this reason. She was always brilliant so her name should have been in the news for something like building new rocket parts or rovers for nasa like she'd always dreamed of, googling her name shouldn't lead to articles about her death or them arresting the guy who hit her or him trying to get out on bail and maybe flee the country. Right now I'm just trying to support her family in their strive for justice, while also dealing with my emotions, and it's all just feels so bizarre. No one tells you how bizarre grief can feel. She deserved so much better than this.
But thank you so much to everyone for your condolences and prayers, I truly appreciate it!
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uchihashisui-kun · 2 years
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"Shisui is a precious bean that hates violence and strives to achieve peace" and "Shisui is completely unhinged when on the battlefield and mentally scares the shit out of his enemies" are two statements that can and should coexist in my opinion
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im-no-jedi · 1 year
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man, maybe it’s just cause I’m in my time of the month and feeling certain ways, but I swear if TBB doesn’t end with them finding a way to live happily away from the war, I’m gonna be SO pissed 😫
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batfamfucker · 1 year
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A crazy thing is that The Boy In The Box case has been on my mind all week this week and they've apparently just found out his identity. I don't know why I was thinking about this case so much but finding out this news, I'm so fucking happy. I was literally thinking about it yesterday and today like 'I wish they could give that kid justice. I wish they could just find out who he was' and they finally might be able to. Not full justice as I'm sure his killers are likely dead by now, but after 65 years that boy will finally have his name be known. In my mind, he will finally be able to be buried with his name and put to rest. He'll finally have peace after 65 years.
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theogony · 2 years
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gn
#ranting here because if I do this irl someone will know but. I really fucking need an outlet but skip if you want#but anyway!! really fucking pissed that. blocking someone for a few days isn't something socially acceptable#like dude I've knwn you for ?? 7 years now?? but that doesn't mean I'm comfortable listening to you constantly talk about my love life#his love life* and like. fucking invalidating me when I come out to you as ace and bringing it up everytime you tell me about your#relationships like I get being gay is not easy in [redacted] but that doesn't mean I'm always ok listening to your tragic gay#romance especially when you like. actively talk about gaslighting others when you rebound like dude?? you're swag as hell#but when you gaslight others - likee I get I may be sounding slightly clingy - I get paranoid?? you've gaslit me too??#and so like. I blocked you because my mental health is really fucking down the drain and I'm low-key overwhelmed#BUT?? INSTEAD OF CONFRONTING ME LIKE A NORMAL PERSON THAT YOU WERE INSECURE#YOU BLOCK ME. DELETE ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW I'M TOXIC. girl. gn#yes I know like he did deserve an explanation which I would have been happy to give but uh! why the fuck would you tell others I'm toxic#like mate. I'm not even going to lie I low-key sound toxic here but you do to! what the fuck!#worst part is I can't. I can't fucking complain because I've known this funky dude for 7 years#and like. I still trust him. even though he'd choose someone else in a heartbeat over me which i. have made with peace with#and like most of my friends are just telling me he's being toxic and I should cut him out and that he's just trying to like be a bitch#but like. tbf he used to be such a doormat but now he's like. low-key toxic esp cause I'm on decent terms with his ex#girl gn. move. on. I'm so fucking tired I have to work with you you can't avoid me forever like literally all I want is one fucking civil#convo about the competition we have to work together for but NOOOO you can't do that much. fuck
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backroadboy · 1 month
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they didn't even let him grow old
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stars-on-fyre · 11 months
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So I finished reading The Coward by Stephen Aryan and the only thing I didn’t like was the ending because damn y’all let Kell Kressia rest he’s been through enough 😭
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fish-and-forbear · 1 year
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Thinking of First Friends.
I don't entirely understand why the other one hurts himself so much for MY sake.
I don't understand why he cannot put this grief to rest. I am happy! I would rather focus on the good things. I am so glad that I met my first friends. I am so happy to see THEM happy! I made them laugh! We laughed and we cried and we healed and we bonded over beautiful things. And they helped me remember my family, and remind me of what I really need from life to be happy.
And it was fun and wild and strange and messy. Worse things have happened with much less happy memories made along the way. :)
It was beautiful and strange and sad, as most fighters' stories go. I just wish he would stop hurting himself for "letting" me make one or two mistakes. For spiraling and being confused and making a fool of myself.
If our friendship was as truthful as I thought it was, then we all handled it alright. He, my other one, is so terrified that my mere name brings pain to those I still care about... I dearly hope not. I was just beginning to like this name, ha ha. :)
I wish I could soothe this body's heart. I wish it would beat softer and not be so shaken by things that were not his fault. A new quest for me to undertake. It is so easy to help strangers when most of all I need to help the one that got me here.
We will get there!
For now, we rest. We say goodbye to our momentary families and we take a crossroads elsewhere. Our paths diverge and that is alright. Like... finding kindred souls in the darkness. We bond around the fire, we eat, we drink, we comfort and laugh and cry and hold hands, rough calloused hands in broken tired hands. And we leave with our burdens just a tiny bit lighter.
I was afraid of being forgotten, but what does it matter? I would rather be forgotten then only remembered for my mistakes.
I don't think it matters either way. I have my closure. It's been fun and that's enough for me. I just hope the other one realizes that soon. I hate to feel him reliving tragedy because of something I did... I don't understand everything but I do recognize spirals and being unable to let go. But it's all in the past. We are here, myself and my new companions in this body, together. We are not alone anymore. We're going to be okay. We just need to trust ourselves, and the friends we make, however brief. :)
- Grist
#To be clear if my kindred souls do see this someday#I chose to 'unfollow' because... the other one is so torn apart. Hurting himself for my mistakes#that I trusted words too much and did not know how to recognize when someone is UNABLE to set the boundaries or clarity they NEED.#I am so sorry I did not know and did not handle my confusion well at the time#all I can hope is that if it truly is as bad as he fears it is... that the laughter and jokes and gentleness and rekindling of JOY for life#remains even after I am forgotten :)#Consider this... an invitation to forget. All I ask is that the Little Fighter does not forget my wisdom that I gifted him#and that they are all able to heal in the ways they need to#I will miss the happy moments so much! I wish I could continue to embrace them and laugh again and share more things#for my friends to find when they are ready...#but I would rather say goodbye completely than risk learning later that I was actually the one hurting them with my mere name and joy#I do not know how much sense it makes...#the body is FINALLY calm and at peace. So I know I am doing the right thing#I don't entirely wish to be forgotten intentionally... I still hope I was seen as a friend and not a burden.#But it doesn't matter. There was happiness and footfalls forward onto better gentler paths than there was before we met :)#And that is enough for me.#Goodbye my kindred souls of the Abyss. Goodbye my first friends of this world. I will be cheering for your success and a happier future!#You all deserve it! And I am honored to have been a tiny step in that journey. :)#- Grist
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