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goingsunnythousandmerry · 8 days

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Reunion Post-Time Skip- Will the Romance Re-Dawn?

Monster Trio (Sanji, Zoro, Luffy) + Bonus- Law x Reader

Author's Note: So I've been listening to “Guilt as Sin?” by T. Swift on repeat and came up with this idea, based around this one lyric:

“What if he’s written “mine” on my upper thigh only in my mind?

The oneshots are not actually what’s in the song, but just an idea from. Let me know your thoughts, suggestions, or other One Piece oneshot ideas I can help bring to life. Comment down below! Thanks!

P.S. Let me know if you want me to actually write out oneshots for the pre-time skip moments instead of just summaries or if we want some NSFW from this scenarios.

Features: Monster Trio- Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and bonus- Law

Summary:

You, a member of the Strawhat crew, had a romantic moment with one of your crewmates while at Sabaody. This was prior to Luffy punching a celestial dragon, the navy invading, Kuma blasting everybody to all parts of the globe, and the two year training time skip. Now, two years later, you’ve reunited with the Strawhats to continue your journey into the New World.

You’ve spent two years replaying the romantic moment you had with your crewmate. None of the other crew members know about it. You’ve daydreamed about what could have been and what could be when you reunite with them. However, you can’t help but think, two years is a long time, and maybe it was nothing, or maybe their feelings have changed. Maybe they will pretend nothing happened when you see them again.

Bonus with Law: You and Law had a moment on the polar tang before he left for Punk Hazard and sent you and the rest of the Heart Pirates to Zou. You have just learned Law has made it to Zou after the events of Dressrosa. You wonder if your captain will pretend nothing happened before he left, or if you will get to resume where you left off.

Warnings: 18+ MDNI, Hints at NSFW, Hints at sexual interactions in past or in future, Accidental ass/panty flash, lap sitting, nosebleeds, pet names

FLUFF, SFW

General Moment Monster Trio:

You and the crew have just left Thriller Bark and are on your way to Fishman Island. Along the way you meet Cami, a mermaid and are reunited with a former enemy Hatchan. After saving these two and being fed by them to fortify your friendship, they instruct you to head to Sabaody Archipelago. Once there, you set out to find Rayleigh, a friend of Hatchan, who will hopefully coat your ship, allowing you passage to Fishman Island and, thus, the New World. Prior to the major events of this arc, you share a kiss or more with one of your favorite members of the monster trio.

Sanji:

Pre-time Skip Moment Summary:

You were helping Sanji prepare a meal in the kitchen. The rest of the crew were repairing the ship or searching for Rayleigh. While reaching for something that was too high on a shelf for you to grab, Sanji grabbed your waist and assisted you in retrieving it. The intimacy of the close proximity led to the two of you kissing. Unfortunately, you were interrupted by a transponder snail call. The call was from Chopper, Brook and Luffy informing you that Cami was kidnapped.

Post-time Skip Reunion:

Sanji arrived at the Sunny to drop off his gear before setting off to the market. Already on board the ship were you, Usop, Franky, and Chopper. You chose to wear a light blue sundress that was low cut in the front and hit just below your ass. The dress cinched just above your waist and accentuated your breasts. This outfit was ideal for showing off how your curves had grown and changed in the two years you had spent away from the crew. It also showed off how strong you had gotten. Sanji had been yelling back and forth discussing something with Franky as he began to walk aboard the ship. Not noticing the voice, but coming to assist Franky, you had exited the kitchen and dropped something you were carrying. As you leaned down to pick it up Sanji stepped aboard the Sunny. Thinking no one was there as you were distracted by the joy of being reunited with your crewmates, you bent down sloppily allowing your dress to rise up. Sanji’s eyes widened as he was awarded the visual of more of your ass than he ever had before and your pink underwear. Sanji’s eyes turned to hearts, his tongue fell out of his mouth, and blood shot out of his nose like a geyser.

“Y/N-Swan!!!” You heard Sanji call as you shot your head around to look at him.

You quickly grabbed the item you had dropped and stood up, readjusting the bottom of your dress as you did. Your face grew a faint pink hue at your cheeks as you stared at the curly eyebrowed man. He took in the full sight of you, cleavage and all, and the blood from his nose jetted out faster, causing him to faint. You and Chopper rushed to his side and tried to rouse him. Franky and Usop stood behind you and looked down at the fainted Sanji, attempting to cover their mouths to hide their laughter. Sanji’s eyes opened gently and looked up at him.

“I just saw a goddess… I can die happy… Y/N-Swan… is that you..? He asked as he tilted his head to look in your direction. “The goddess! Y/N-Swan it’s you!” He muttered as blood shot harder from his nose and his eyes closed again.

“Sanji!” You yelled.

“Sanji! You have to get yourself together! If you keep bleeding like this you’re going to be in big trouble fast!” Chopper begged.

Sanji took a deep breath and blinked his eyes open again. He slowly cocked his head to look at his crewmates individually. He first looked at Chopper, then Franky, Usop, then back at you. You smiled at him causing his breath to catch in his throat. He gritted his teeth and his eyes grew wide as he looked at you. The color slowly faded from his skin and a small drop of blood dribbled from his nose.

“Sanji!” Chopper yelled. “You have to keep it together!”

Sanji finally regained his ability to breathe and took a deep breath. As he did, he raised a hand to caress your cheek.

“Y/N-Swan… my beautiful Y/N-swan… I didn’t think you could get more beautiful, but here you are. I’m sorry for my behavior…” He began to speak as his hand fell from your cheek.

Sanji looked up at the sky above him, then turned and glanced back at you. You grabbed his hand in yours.

“Are you okay, Sanji?” You asked, eyes glistening with worry.

Sanji closed his eyes and returned his gaze to the sky above him.

“I was in Hell for 2 years… All… All that got me through was the thought of you… the thought of you and our kiss. You’re what got me back here today, Y/N, you’re what got me out of hell.” Sanji said, as he moved to sit up on his elbows and look deeper into your eyes.

Your eyes watered as you stared into his gray-blue orbs and pale face. Chopper wiped away the blood from his face as the two of you continued to look at one another.

“Hold on, wait a minute, did you say "kiss”?” Franky interrupted.

“Sanji… I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since that day. I… was worried you’d want to pretend like it never happened..” You said as you broke eye contact with him.

“So you two kissed? When!? Where were we?” Usop urged.

“Never, Y/N.” Sanji replied, lifting your chin and pulling you into a soft kiss.

“AHHH! What is happening?!” Chopper eyes popped out of his head as he screamed.

Sanji pulled you into his chest and the two of you continued to kiss. Chopper slowly backed up into Franky and Usop’s legs. Chopper and Usop sighed and shook their heads.

“It’s okay little buddy. It’s a super thing, guess these two have been lovebirds the whole time and we didn’t know. Come on. Let’s leave them to it.” Franky said as he picked up Chopper and walked away from you and Sanji kissing.

Usop shrugged his shoulders and followed behind Franky. Once they left, you pulled away from Sanji and whispered in his ear.

“I’ve been thinking about a lot more than just kissing over the past two years… Nami is in town and Robin isn’t back yet… should we take this to my room?”

“Shopping can wait!” Sanji said shakily as blood shot out of his nose again.

You stood up and pulled him to his feet. Once on his feet, you grabbed his wrist and pulled him behind you to your bedroom. His eyes were full of hearts as you dragged him away.

Zoro

Pre-time Skip Moment:

You and the crew were on your way to Sabaody Archipelago after Thriller Bark. At Thriller Bark Zoro got badly injured, due to a run in with Kuma. Chopper had asked if you would help keep an eye on Zoro because he loved to take off his dressings to train. One afternoon on your way to Sabaody Chopper and you hadn’t seen Zoro in awhile and well, that made you both nervous. You went on a hunt for the swordsman and you found him training away in the crows nest. The two of you got into a heated argument and well… one thing led to another and the two of you fucked.

Post-time Skip:

Zoro was the first to arrive at Shakky’s bar. He waited for hours for anyone else to arrive, but eventually, he grew bored of waiting, so he decided to head to the Sunny. As he opened the door, you were reaching for the doorknob to the establishment. You looked up and smiled at him as the door opened. You were wearing a dark green spaghetti strap dress. The dress was cut to highlight your curves and muscles that had grown and changed over the past two years. Zoro gasped as he saw you.

“Hey Zoro! Been awhile, good to see you!” You said as you stepped back to let the swordsman outside of the bar.

“Y/N.” He said plainly, barely making eye contact with you.

As he began to step out of the doorway, you lept at him, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him into a hug. His body tensed as yours hit his, his eyes widened, and his teeth clenched. He inhaled deeply taking in your scent, as he exhaled, he wrapped his arms around your waist. A few moments go by as you both rest in one another's arms.

“I missed you.” You mutter. “I missed everyone. Is anyone else here yet?” You added as you pulled away from him and dropped your hands to rest upon his muscular chest.

You lift your head to gaze into his dark eye and gaze upon the scar closing his other. He loosened his grip on your waist and looked down at you, his teeth clenched harder at the intimacy of the moment.

“Damn forward as ever woman.” He said with a smirk as he directed his gaze to your arms on his chest, causing you to chuckle.

“How have you been Zoro? What did you do for these last two years?! What happened to your eye? Where are you going?” You ask as you reach a hand up to touch his cheek.

“Wow. Slow down, woman. It’s just you and me here so far to answer your first question and well, the rest is a long story.” Zoro interjected.

As he spoke you lifted your hand to touch his left cheek, below his eye, where part of his scar rested. As you did so, the door to the restaurant opened and out stepped Rayleigh. Rayleigh’s face formed a large grin when he saw Zoro holding your waist and you reaching for his cheek.

“Well what do we have here..? Rayleigh asked with a laugh.

Zoro jumped back from you and crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze averted to the ground below him, allowing him to not make eye contact with you or Rayleigh. You blushed and turned to Rayleigh with a soft smile.

“Well, you didn’t have to stop on my account… Y/N, you’re looking as lovely as ever. It’s wonderful to see you again.” Rayleigh said.

“Thanks, Rayleigh. It’s nice to see you too! How have you and Shakky been?” You questioned, with a deepening blush.

“We’ve been good. I just came out to make sure Zoro was finding his way to the Sunny. I remembered he had some issues with directions and thought it might be best if I took him myself. You should come with us, Y/N, I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to the past two years.”

“That’d be great!” you say with a nod.

“I would’ve found the way on my own. I got here on my own.” Zoro mumbled to himself.

You, Rayleigh, and Zoro made your way to the Sunny together. Rayleigh shared tales of training Luffy and you talked about what you were up to. Zoro stayed silent for the most part on your journey, but peered at you through stolen side glances along the way. He was not subtle, so you of course caught them. He occasionally smirked at what you and Rayleigh said, but not much in terms of information sharing on his adventures for the past two years.

Back at the Sunny you ran into a few more members of your crew. Franky was inspecting the ship and Nami was stopping by to drop off her things before going to meet Usop. You greeted them both with hugs and began to catch up a bit. Rayleigh took his leave of you all to go make sure other members of your crew weren’t waiting back at the bar. While you caught up with your other crewmates on deck, Zoro had found a place to nap nearby. While you conversed, you occasionally felt a gaze upon your back.

While Nami informed you about new weather phenomena and navigation techniques she had learned, you glanced over at Zoro and briefly made eye contact with him. You shyly grinned in his direction, he shook his head, smirked, then closed his eye again to return to his nap.Nami of course, noticed all of this and rolled her eyes at you.

“Y/N?” Nami angrily urged.

“Oh sorry Nami, I was just thinking about a funny part of my journey getting here. How’d you get back?”

“Sure you were.” She replied. “Well I better go meet Usop. You can tell me all about your trip when I get back.” She said with a wink.

You waved goodbye to her and she headed off the ship, toward the island. When you looked back in Zoro’s direction he was gone. You talk with Franky for a few more minutes, then finally excuse yourself to go unpack. You couldn’t wait to get settled and reunite with the rest of the crew. In the midst of unpacking you suddenly felt a presence behind you. You turned around and sure enough Zoro was standing in your doorway. His arms were crossed and his gaze directed at his arms in front of him.

“Hey.” You said as you refold a shirt and set it on your bed.

“Two years is a pretty long time…” Zoro began.

“Yeah, it is… but being back on the Sunny… it feels like we left only yesterday.”

“I couldn’t agree more, and well I seem to remember us doing an interesting workout before we left….”

Your breath caught in your throat. Zoro’s blank expression formed a cocky smirk as he noticed your body tense up. He stood tall from leaning against the doorway and pulled the door shut behind him. He walked toward you as you turned to face him head on.

“Zoro, I…” You start.

Zoro walked past you and sat down on your bed, still not looking at you. He leaned back on his hands.

“Two years, and I haven’t been able to do a workout as well as that one… Think maybe we could try it again?” He said as he glanced at you, with his one eye to see your reaction.

“Two years is a long time to go without a proper workout… Guess we have a lot to make up for.” You said as you moved to stand in front of him, your lips twisted devilishly as you stared down at him.

He reached up with one hand and grabbed you by the waist. You gasped as he pulled you to sit upon his toned lap. His chapped lips pressed against yours. Fingers danced up and down your torso. Your hands wrapped around his neck and started fingering through his hair. He pulled back from your lips a string of saliva between you. You both chuckled as you stared at one another. He was more muscular than he was two years ago and maybe a bit rougher around the edges. You weren’t sure what he had been through these past two years, but in that moment you realized he was still the same Zoro from two years ago.

“Let’s see what two years of training has done for you…” You begin with a smirk.

Luffy

Pre-time skip Moment:

Luffy had ridden the ferris wheel alone with Cami, your fear of heights prevented you from joining them. After his ride with Cami, Luffy insisted on taking you. Luffy asked Chopper, Pappagu, Hatchan, and Brook if it was okay, and if they would look out for Cami while he was gone, they agreed. You rode the ride alone with him only to freak out at the ride's peak height. Luffy had no idea what to do, so he kissed you. He quickly pulled away apologizing to a stunned you. Once you had realized what had happened, you pressed your lips back against his. The two of you shared a passionate makeout session, but were interrupted by the sound of Chopper yelling about a yummy snack as the ride got close to the ground. Luffy rushed to the window to see what the ruckus was and he got too excited about food, to talk with you about what just happened. When the ride docked, he grabbed your hand and pulled you off the ride towards the food. Then while you and your crewmates were distracted by food, Cami got kidnapped and well the rest of the events of the arc occurred.

Post-Time Skip:

Luffy was the last to arrive at the Sunny, and he was being chased by the navy when he arrived. You watched him from the deck as he ran towards the ship. You couldn’t help but grin at seeing your reckless captain getting himself into trouble again. You stared on in awe as he, Zoro, and Sanji approached the ship. Your thoughts were interrupted by Nami yelling for assistance to prepare for departure. You and the rest of the crew quickly sprung into action to help prepare the Sunny for your ocean descent to Fishman Island.

Zoro and Sanji made it to the Sunny and you greeted them both with quick hugs. Luffy made it on board, but before you got the chance to hug him, cannon fire began to target Sunny. You and some of your crewmates started to panic. Zoro and Sanj prepared to begin deflecting the cannon fire. You looked out at the encroaching ships and noticed another one nearby that was not one of the marines. One of your crewmates mentioned it, because it moved into the path between your ship and the marines, causing the marines' cannon fire to stop. That’s when Luffy informed you all he had spent the past two years on or near the Island of Women with the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.

Usop and Sanji took turns trying to see the pirate empress with their binoculars and swooning at the idea of being stranded with her. This information and watching your other crewmates melt at the idea of Luffy’s adventure made your heart ache with jealousy. Yes, you’d been apart from Luffy and knew you hadn’t talked about your kiss, but it had meant something to you. Two years hadn’t changed your feelings, frankly seeing Luffy only rekindled them. Maybe though, two years and losing Ace had changed things for him. More gun and cannon fire awoke you from your thoughts and you helped the crew protect the Sunny. Thankfully Luffy’s friend, Boa Hancock, helped you all escape.

As you descend into the depths of the ocean, you and the crew caught up a bit. You learned more about Luffy’s adventures. You wandered towards the Sunny's figurehead. The rest of the crew chatted on the main deck or went to finish unpacking their things for the next leg of the journey. You stared into the abyss that was the ocean in front of you and thought of your dreams, and of Luffy. Your thoughts were shortly interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Y/N.” Luffy said with a large grin.

You felt his stretched arms wrap around you and pull you across the top deck into his embrace. You softly laughed at the familiarity as you turned to look into his eyes, his arms returning to normal at your waist. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight embrace. After a few seconds, you dropped your hands to his chest, gazing upon his new scar before returning your gaze to his onyx orbs.

“Luffy… Luffy I’m so sorry about Ace. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.” You sais as your eyes started to glisten with tears.

Luffy pulled you back into his chest. Your smile widened at his action causing you to let out a chuckle, as a few tears dripped down your face.

“You shouldn’t be comforting me! I should be comforting you.” You added, pulling back from the hug again. “I know how important he was to you.”

“Thanks, Y/N. The past two years haven’t been easy.” Luffy said, as he still held onto your waist, but directed his gaze into the ocean. “I’m sorry I selfishly took them. A friend of mine reminded me, I still had a reason to pursue my dream… this crew… So I took two years to get stronger to make sure that could never happen again… because, Y/N… Y/N if I lost you…” Luffy looked down at his hands and he gripped your waist tighter. “My dream couldn’t come true, because my dream isn’t my dream without you by my side.” He said as he looked back up to meet your stare.

“I’m not going anywhere.” You replied as a soft smile grew upon your pink lips.

“Good. Then I’ve been waiting two years to do something.” He said, a devious smile forming across his face.

Luffy pulled your waist against his with one hand and placed the other on your cheek. He gently pulled your lips to his. His lips were warm and soft against yours. Once the initial shock wore off, you kissed him back, settling your arms around his neck to pull him deeper into you. Your lips parted slowly allowing his tongue to slip inside. Your impassioned kiss on the top deck of the ship lasted a few minutes only to be interrupted by Nami.

“Hey lovebirds! There’s something following us!” Nami yelled.

You looked past Luffy’s shoulder and noticed a ship quickly approaching the Sunny. Luffy stretched his neck to look behind him, a big toothy grin forming on his face as he looked out. He laughed.

“I can handle anything the New World throws at us, as long as you and the rest of this crew stay by my side. It’s good to be back.” Luffy said as he grabbed your hand and pulled you towards the rear deck.

Law

Moment before Dressrosa:

Law had just announced to you, and the rest of the Heart pirates, that he wanted you to take the Polar Tang to Zou, while he dealt with an important mission elsewhere. He left out a lot of details, but he informed you that the next day you’d be dropping him off at Punk Hazard then continue on to Zou without him. The entire crew gasped at the announcement and grew upset. Law in classic Law fashion, reminded them it was an order and as members of his crew they had to do as he instructed. The crew agreed, but reminded him they weren't happy about it. You, being especially close with your captain, as the only nurse on his crew, went to his quarters that night to demand more of an explanation. However, many of your crewmates, mainly Bepo, had the same idea. You didn’t get a chance to confront Law until the next day. You caught Law in his quarters and he allowed you to come in to talk to him. The two of you got into a heated argument about his plans, which ended with a passionate kiss initiated by him. Unfortunately, your kiss was interrupted by the Bepo knocking on the door to inform Law you’d arrived at Punk Hazard. Law stepped away from you, apologized, and exited the ship. You chased after him yelling, but you were ignored and Law exited the ship. Once on the deck, he used his room ability to teleport himself to the island. You, Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo all cried as you watched Law walk off.

Reunited at Zou:

You had gotten word via News Coo of the events at Dressrosa and were proud of your captain for his actions. He was alive and that was the most important thing. However, it had been months since he had left you and the rest of the Heart Pirates to go off on his own. You were still missing a lot of information on why he left. He didn’t explain why he had to go, where he had to go, or why he had kissed you before he left. Had he only explained that kiss, maybe you wouldn’t have been so mad. When news reached you from the Minks of the arrival of some intruders and to be on guard, you knew it was him. Your heart warmed at the thought of being reunited with your captain. Butterflies danced in your stomach and your thoughts soared into hopes of getting an explanation for that kiss. You finished tying the string around your neck of the tightfitting yellow dress one of the minks had given to you and walked outside at the sound of cheers.

Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin found him first, no surprise. You allowed the rest of the crew to swarm him when he made it to the Guardians layer. You watched from afar as your crewmates hugged Law, his body tensing with every touch. You smiled and giggled as they began asking him a million questions about the Strawhats and Dressrosa.

“That’s enough. Meet me inside and I’ll answer all of your questions. I’ll put my stuff down then meet you in the main room.” He said shortly as he tossed his sword back over his shoulder.

“So glad to have you back, Captain!” Bepo called as he headed into the Guardian’s layer.

“Yeah, Captain. Can’t wait to tell you about what we’ve been up to.” Penguin said.

“Glad you’re okay, Captain.” Shachi added.

You walked inside with Jean Bart, both of you guessing at what could be the next adventure for you and your crew. The crew had planned a surprise celebration for Law’s return once you’d received news about the events at Dressrosa. The early warning of intruders on Zou, that the minks had received that morning provided you and the crew ample time to cook and decorate. You had been the mastermind of course, and you knew Law would pretend to hate it, but he’d actually appreciate it. Besides, it had been so long since you had seen him, you had started to wonder if he would come back at all. Planning this event gave you and your crewmates a glimmer of hope. Before you could go check on the final details, you noticed a blue circle form around you. Suddenly, you were in a hallway standing in front of Law.

“C-C-Captain.” You stuttered, surprised to suddenly be looking in the face of the man who crossed your mind every second of every day for the past year, since you had joined his crew.

“I didn’t see you when I first arrived.” He said flatly as he stared at you blankly.

“Yeah, well, I hung back, I thought I could catch you later. Everyone was so excited to have you back. I….” You replied, rubbing the back of your head as the butterflies in your stomach frenzied.

“You weren’t?”

He glanced down at the space between you and placed his hand in his pocket. You took a step closer to him.

“Law… I” You started, tears beginning to form in your eyes. “I just needed a minute to know that it was real… That you were real.”

He looked up at you, breath catching in his chest as he saw the tears forming in your eyes. You took a deep breath.

“I’m so happy to see you, but I’m pissed at you.” You said as you shoved his shoulder. “How could you leave like that? We saw the alliance in the papers and… I.”

“I said I’d come back.” He replied, his eyes darting to meet yours, then to study the ground before him.

You sighed and turned your head. He looked exhausted. Taking down Doflamingo couldn’t have been easy, you had just wished he had let you be there to help.

“I haven’t been on this crew long, Captain… but Law, I like to think I know you a little bit… and you didn’t mean it.” You voiced with furrowed brows.

You stared at him longingly, heart sinking as the silence grew around you in the empty hallway. You wiped a tear from your cheek and swallowed hard, stepping away from him.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Captain.” You said with a sigh. Now, the crew has planned a celebration for your return, try to be nice”. You replied as you wiped your cheeks and began to walk away from him.

A hand caught your wrist causing you to gasp. The hand whirled you around and moved to your chin, where suddenly, soft chapped lips were against yours. Your chest tightened and heart soared as his other hand moved to rest upon your waist. You blinked your eyes a few times, letting them soften closed as you tilted your head into his kiss. The rise and fall of your chest accelerated as you parted your lips open and began pressing back against his. Your hands wrapped around his neck and pulled him deeper into your embrace. A few minutes passed before the two of you broke apart gasping for air. A string of saliva still connected your lips.

He dropped his hands to your waist and watched the rise and fall of your chest. You stared at his lips, desperately wanting them back against yours, but you knew you had to return to your crew. Law’s teeth clenched and he tightened his grip on your waist.

“I just needed you safe. It was my mission. I was willing to die for it, but I wasn’t willing to take you down with me.” He spoke between pants.

“Captain, don’t I get to decide who and what I live or die for?” You responded as you rested your forehead against Law’s.

“I thought… I told you to call me Law in private.” He said with a smirk.

“Don’t think that…one kiss gets you off the hook. You better behave yourself at this celebration and tell us everything.” You raised your eyebrows at him sternly as you spoke.

“I thought I was the one who gave the orders around here.” He replied as his hands began roaming your waist and torso.

“You’ve been gone a long time and someone had to take charge. Maybe I don’t want to give it up?” You replied with a laugh. “Well behave and after the celebration, I’ll let you order me around back in your quarters. You are the only person I take orders from.”

You deviously smirked at Law and walked down the hallway.

“Y/N, nice dress by the way. Suits you… But I think it will look better on my floor.”

“As you wish, Captain.” You replied, turning around to salute him as you did.

344 notes · View notes

aspirationalpeony · 5 months

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Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)

Summary: While you're trying to puzzle out the mysterious Ms. Schemmenti, Janine invites you to a dinner party--at Melissa's house. Board games, bonding, and lasagna... What could go wrong? (See author's note at the end for prompt credit.) Content Warnings: A brief paragraph discussing homophobia. AO3 Link

Does Melissa Schemmenti like you?

You've got everyone else figured out. Janine would befriend an electrical pole if it had a smiley face stapled to it; Jacob befriends anyone Janine befriends. Gregory stays a little aloof, but he's been warming up the more you show him your LEGO sets. Barbara--well, she sees you as another one of the kids, you think, but you know she appreciates your self-sufficiency, tolerates you with a smile when you're in the conversation. And Ava is... Ava.

Melissa? Who knows? She called you by the wrong name the first month you were at Abbott, knowingly, watching your face with a wry twist to her mouth, waiting for you to take the bait. When you didn't, you earned your name back. She started making dry comments to you, like "You got enough glitter glue there, Martha Stewart?" as you passed her in the hall, arms full of art supplies. She saw you struggling with the copy machine one day and said, "Here," giving it a swift kick that brought it wheezing to life, but followed up with, "Thought your generation was good with tech. What do we keep you around for, huh?"

After those backhands you'd be in a spin, wondering and confused; then later that day or the day after she'd say something else, like, "Hey, not bad, shortstop," when you got something off a high shelf for her (why shortstop when you’re taller than her? Reverse psychology?), or "Good job on lunch duty. They didn't kill ya," and you'd go warm all over and your confusion would deepen and all you would think was: does she like me or not?

You’re just not sure. So you try not to listen the day they’re all in the break room, talking about a party at Melissa’s house. You can’t help but overhear snatches—Janine insisting she’ll bring lasagna, Jacob saying he’ll do dessert, Melissa saying “oh, brother” and Barbara assuring her gently, a smile in her voice, “And I’ll bring the wine”—but you keep your head down over your lunch and turn the page of your lesson plan and ignore them until Janine realizes, suddenly, that the room isn’t empty, that you’re at the table just next to them, and burbles, “Hey, you should come, too!”

Your eyes go to Melissa right away. She glances up over her cat-eye glasses and her look is inscrutable.

“Oh,” you say, “um, I don’t know. I have, like, a thing—“

“C’mon, it’ll be fun!” Janine says. “We’ll eat some amazing food—“ she flicks a curl over her shoulder, playing at an Ava-like preen—“we’ll play board games, we’ll bond…”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding!” Janine looks imploringly at her friends. “Right?”

“Yeah,” Melissa says at last, still looking at you. Your heart thumps. “You should come.”

And that’s how you end up here: Melissa’s house. You crossed the welcome mat reading GO AWAY, a cheesecake in your hands, and tried not to make it obvious how badly you wanted to stare around yourself, scrutinize every photo and every piece of furniture, trying to get a window onto this woman you can’t figure out. Everyone’s piled onto the couch or onto chairs, plastic creaking under them as they lean forward to the table to swipe a snack or their glass of wine, and there’s an open box, a few stacks of cards.

“I found this amazing get-to-know-you game,” Janine declares, sliding down to sit on Mel’s carpeted floor. “So, you spin the spinner, right, and whatever it lands on, you take a card with the same color, and then you ask the question that’s on it, and everybody answers, and—“

“How do you win?” Melissa says. She’s holding a glass of wine, its rim printed with her pink lipstick. She’s got her hair in a ponytail that leaves lots of little curls hanging everywhere. She’s wearing a tank top. These details feel incredibly important; you try not to think about them.

“Oh, uh…” Janine frowns at the instruction booklet. “I don’t think you win.”

“What’s the point of a game if nobody wins?” Melissa leans over to the coffee table, grabs a grape off a serving plate, pops it into her mouth. She glances over at Barbara, who’s perched very straight-backed in a plastic-covered armchair, nursing a little bit of wine.

“I, for one,” Jacob says, “think competition is over-valued in our society. American individualism—"

“Just spin it, Janine,” Barbara says.

Beaming at the approval of her mentor, Janine spins. She plucks a blue card: “What’s your favorite sexual—“ her eyes widen. “Uh.”

“Oh, this just got interestin’,” Melissa says, and sits up straighter.

“Let me take another one.” Janine puts that card aside. “Have you ever had a threes—okay, no. Are they all like this?”

Gregory, a silent presence sitting stiffly alongside Janine, turns over a card from the green and red piles. He reads one: “How do you like your partner to style their pubic hair?” Then, the red: “Confess to a sexual fantasy you’ve had about… A member of the group.” The questions sound even more bizarre in his level voice, although his lifted eyebrows and widened eyes telegraph his discomfort. His gaze darts to Janine, then away.

“Janine, what’s the name of this game, please,” Barbara says, looking as though she’s one syllable from combustion.

Janine lifts the lid of the box. “Adult Dinner Party. But I thought, you know, adult dinner party, a classy kind of—oh.”

Jacob picks up a blue card gingerly and turns it over. “Have you ever had sex in a public place?”

“I have,” you say. Every face in the room turns toward you. Your cheeks heat. Your eyes flicker between each incredulous look. “What? We’re supposed to answer them, aren’t we?”

“This just got interestin’,” Melissa repeats. There’s a strange look on her face, not quite amusement; you wonder if it’s respect. “Me, too.”

“Melissa!” Barbara gasps.

“What? You never got fingered in a dark ride at an amusement park?”

Barbara stands up with her wine and walks out of the room, muttering to herself. Glances pass between the rest of you. The corner of Melissa’s mouth curves up. “Spin again,” she says.

The next few questions are mercifully tamer: do you think French kissing is overrated, what’s one thing you’ll never do for a partner? More wine is poured, Melissa going around and topping off each glass, saying to Gregory and Janine, “Lighten up a little, will you?” Eventually she comes to sit on the floor with everyone else, four people around the coffee table. She’s picked a spot right at your side, your knees bumping, thighs aligned.

“Is Barbara okay?” you ask. You can smell her perfume; it’s spicy and floral and it makes you feel tipsier than you are.

“Oh, she’ll be fine,” Melissa says. “You don’t wanna know how many of my parties she’s walked out of. Hey, Barb!” She bellows it close to your ear, making you wince; it’s followed by a twinge of peculiar affection that so much volume can come from one little woman. “Check the lasagna, will ya!”

There’s an indistinct answer from the other room, full of barely-contained irritation. Melissa slugs back another swallow of wine as Jacob flicks the spinner.

He draws a card and reads, “Have you ever kissed a member of the same sex? Oh, well—obviously.”

Gregory and Janine shake their heads.

Melissa says, “Listen, what happens in cheer squad stays in cheer squad, alright,” to scandalized gasps from her audience. She looks at you. “How about you? No girls, huh?”

You’re arrested by her green gaze so close, the wine on her breath, the question itself. You start to tell her, yes, plenty of girls, but you’re blushing again, embarrassed, all your bravado from earlier draining away into the floorboards.

“Here,” she says, and leans in. You register the thought Holy shit in the moment before her lips touch yours. Her nose brushes your cheek. Her mouth is very soft and a hot breath puffs over you in the instant before she delicately parts her lips and you feel the sweet flick of her tongue. She leans back again. “Now you’ve kissed a girl.”

“Melissa!” Janine says, outraged, bewildered.

“I bet Ava would have come, if she’d known it was this kind of party,” Jacob mumbles to the bowl of pretzels in front of him.

“I’m going to go check on Barbara,” Gregory says, his shellshocked eyes firmly on the ground as he gets up.

“Hey, I’ll come with you,” Janine says, all nerves, “maybe the lasagna needs more parm,” and scrambles up after him.

Melissa’s pouring herself the last of the wine. She’s smiling to herself. You don’t get it: what was that for? Was it bait, like your name, like the ribbing comments, trying to get a rise out of you? Or maybe just out of the people around you—trying to be the most shocking in the room? You stare, trying to read the look of satisfaction on her face.

"I'll--the bathroom," you say, and get to your feet. "'Scuse me."

You've got kind of an idea where it is. The problem, you realize, is that you have to cut through the kitchen to get there. It's savory-smelling, rich with tomato scent, and full of furious whispering that dies instantly as you cross the threshold; Janine, intently grating parmigiano into a bowl, gives you a guilty look as Gregory quickly parts from her side. Barbara is at the island counter, maybe only half-participating, but she looks at you, too, and you know they've told her.

You feel it all over again: these are people who've had years to get to know each other. Who are you to them? Not really a friend, just a colleague, half-acquaintance. You're the new invitee, the odd one out, and even though it was Melissa that kissed you, you'll be the one who gets the blame for the ruined party, the awkwardness now swamping Mel's rowhouse. Your gut clenches. "Excuse me," you repeat and dart past them to the bathroom.

You run cold water from the tap and stick your wrists underneath the faucet, like you've got heatstroke. You wet your hands and press them to your cheeks, your neck, your nape, trying to quiet your thumping heart. You look in the mirror: there's a glazed look in your eye; you're conscious your lips are tingling. Why'd she do that?

You've been played with by straight women before. Not always out of conscious cruelty: some women, you've realized, are hungry for a kind of attraction that doesn't have fear and imbalance, and they can't always have that with men. They want to be wanted by someone they think won't hurt them, and they pick you--never thinking about what it does to your heart; never imagining that desire for a woman can be real, that it can mean anything to anyone.

Is that Melissa? She said that thing about the cheer squad. If she likes women, too, why would she mess with you? If she thinks you're straight, is she just trying to shock, the way she did Barb with that dirty answer about fingering, needling at what she thinks are your reservations and limitations? Because that's what she does, what she's been doing. Poking and poking, trying to get a rise. Should you have shouted? Should you have cried? What would satisfy her?

"Melissa Ann Schemmenti," you hear Barb say from the kitchen, muffled on the other side of the door. You freeze a moment, heart pounding all over again, then turn the water down to a trickle and inch toward the door, leaning closer. All you can hear are bits and pieces of what must be a thunderous lecture: "That girl... Well, I won't... You know that... Sweet, but... Learn to behave."

There's a sulky rumble in Mel's voice in answer.

You're going to have to go out there eventually. You listen a few more seconds, but if there's footsteps of people dispersing, or more conversation as they linger, you can't hear it. You resign yourself, turn off the water, dry off your hands. You give your cheeks a last press with your cold fingers, trying to ground yourself. You'll go out there and pretend it didn't happen. You'll make it through the night and see what happens tomorrow. That's all you can do.

Of course, you go out into the kitchen, and everyone else is gone, and Melissa's there.

She's frowning deeply and scrupulously wrapping the parmigiano in plastic. She says something under her breath; you catch a Sicilian curse and a "kids don't know..." When she hears the bathroom door click, her head goes up, and there's a moment, her eyes meeting yours, where she looks as nervous as you feel. She looks back down at the cheese, tightly sealing and wrapping its edges, then crosses to the big stainless fridge to put it away.

"Guess I scared you back there," she says. There's a challenge in her voice. Suddenly, your fear and loneliness uncoil; they spool out into anger. It's one thing to mess with you in words. You could call that friendliness, call it teasing. It's not fair to mess with you like this.

"You didn't scare me," you say. Your voice is stronger than you expected. Not loud, but sure. "I've kissed more girls than a cheer squad."

"Huh, look at you," Melissa says, "big player."

"What is your problem with me?"

The question catches her in the act of moving to the oven. She looks sharply at you--then away. There's something strangely un-Melissa about the act. She fiddles with the oven dial, then leans her hip against the counter and folds her arms over her chest. "Hon, if I had a problem with you, you'd know."

"Then what the hell was that?" You catch yourself starting to cross your arms, to mirror her, and lower them to your sides, where your hands clench tightly.

"I kissed ya." She lifts her chin and looks at you. "What, you didn't like it?"

Your anger wobbles; the question stumps you. "It--that doesn't--look, you've been doing this all year. Pushing me around. I don't get it. I didn't do anything to you. Maybe you think I'm annoying, or stupid, or--"

"Pushing you around?" Mel moves closer. Her voice gets a little tighter, a little louder. Her eyes glitter with challenge. "I invited you to my house."

"Yeah, you invited Jacob and Janine to your house, too."

"I don't like them the way I like you," she says, and freezes. You have a sense she's blurted something she didn't mean to say. It's stopped her right in the tracks of what she might have made an argument, draining the confidence out of her posture.

Your heart is thundering in your ears again. You replay that delicate, barely-there kiss: her face leaning toward yours, spicy scent of her perfume, wine on her breath, her green eyes, her soft, hot mouth. Her tongue. "What?" you say.

Her mouth twists. There's something faintly absurd about it, how it turns a grown woman toddleresque, and you get another pang of that strange affection from before, when she yelled right in your ear. It's strong enough to filter through your anger.

She shifts from foot to foot. With her shoes off in her own home, she suddenly looks half her usual height. Fondness washes against you. "Look," she says, "I'm forget-about-it years older'n you and I don't have time to play games, so--"

"This isn't playing games?"

She ducks her chin toward her chest. It's another gesture that's strangely unlike her. You hear Barbara's voice in your head: Melissa Ann Schemmenti... Learn to behave.

You move closer again. Her eyes flick up to yours and there's a sulky defiance in them, even when they drop briefly to your lips.

"Is this..." You don't know how to ask it. How do you ask Melissa Schemmenti do you want me in her own kitchen? "Melissa, what do you want?"

"C'mere," she says. She takes your chin in her grasp and brings you closer and kisses you again.

Wine, perfume, her skin. This time, it's not some playful schoolgirl thing. You can feel intention behind the slow press of her lips against yours. She lets it linger for a second, two, then leans back, looking into your eyes.

Whatever she sees has her turning you, your back against the counter, a hard line of granite. This time, you lean forward into her kiss. Her body presses into yours, all hips, soft belly, breasts. Her hands bracket your body against the edge of the countertop. Her way of deepening the kiss is to nip your lower lip and make you gasp, so that her tongue can flick into your mouth, brushing against yours and sending tingling ripples through your whole body.

You cup her jaw. She’s so, so warm. You slide a hand back and brush some of those loose, careless locks of red hair behind her ear. You kiss her and kiss her; when your tongue teases against hers, deliberately now, she makes a sound like a whimper that you feel head to toe, like a current of lightning passing through you, dispersing into the ground.

“So,” she says, with you securely pinned, flushed, breathing hard, “what do you think?”

What do you think? You go back in for another kiss. She chuckles against your mouth and can barely kiss you back for her smug smile. This time, it’s your kiss, not hers, and you explore exactly how you want to: sucking and nibbling her lower lip, licking into her mouth, your hands dropping to her waist, pulling her against you. She melts into you, and there’s a thunderous sense of power and desire in you, tied to how her arms come up to loop around your neck, how her spine softens and her body sways into yours.

When you’ve got your breath back, you ask her, “Should we go back out there?” You know you have to, but you don’t know how you’ll manage it. You’re sure you have this moment written all over your face, glassy-eyed and out of breath. Melissa does, too: her lipstick is smeared. “Maybe in a few minutes?”

“I think,” she says, “I should kick all of ‘em outta here, and you’n’me keep the game and the lasagna, and we have some fun.” Her hand drops, intervening between your body and the counter so she can firmly grab your ass. You squeak. “Huh?”

“I—I think that would be pretty rude.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah,” she says, though she doesn’t let go of your ass. “And they planned this whole thing for us, so…”

“Wait—” you lean back a little to get a clear picture of her face. “What?”

“Janine’s idea,” she says. “I found out after they invited you. They knew I thought you were cute—“

“You told them that?”

“Course I didn’t,” Melissa says, “I look like somebody who goes splashin’ their business everywhere? ‘Specially where Janine can hear it? I’ll tell you about what she did to me’n my sister some time. They figured it out on their own. I mighta been lookin’ at your ass at work.” She gives it a pinch.

“So the board game…” You frown.

“I think that was an accident for real.” Her face pinches in a frown. “‘Magine Janine tryin’ to get us to talk dirty to each other out there?” The frown vanishes and the leer she gives you makes you feel very, very naked. “We could talk dirty in here, if you wanna.”

“Okay,” you say, “I think we have to go serve dinner.” If you let her keep going, you don’t know if you’ll have the will to stop her. You hear the next thought in her voice: What? You never got fingered in a kitchen with all your coworkers right outside? “Wait—“ your brow creases. “Did Barbara seriously go along with this?”

Melissa clears her throat. “She didn’t know at first—and then, I wanted her here, y’know, in case, uh…”

“Things went badly?” you supply. Melissa pinks. You smile at the sweet strangeness of it. “Were you guys going to drink a bottle of wine so you could… Mope about me?”

“I wasn’t gonna mope about ya,” Mel says, “because I knew you weren’t gonna turn me down, and you’d be an idiot if you did, so.”

“I would,” you agree, and have to go back in for another kiss, two, three. “I would be an idiot,” you murmur against her.

“Okay,” she says when you can finally stop kissing her, “okay.” She gives your ass a slap that makes you gasp. Her eyes narrow, cataloguing that response, and her smirk, of course, resurfaces. “You take the lasagna out of the oven. I gotta fix my lipstick.” She steps away, and pauses. “You might wanna…” She gestures to her mouth.

You rub your tingling lips and your fingers come away with the pink of her lipstick. Your face heats.

“Or keep it,” Melissa says, “looks good on you,” and she gives a preening toss of her high ponytail as she turns away to the bathroom.

You watch her go, her hips swaying as she moves. You have a sense of the world tilted on its axis: all that teasing and game-playing—because she likes you? More than likes you—wants you? Janine inviting you, Jacob and Gregory playing along—because they really do care? Barbara scolding Melissa in this kitchen—because she wants her best friend to treat you right?

You find a napkin and scrub the lipstick off your mouth. Each step you take across the kitchen feels like levitation, an inch or two above the floor. You check the lasagna. There’s two: one big lasagna, and another small, plain one for Gregory. You lift each casserole dish out of the oven, and they smell better than ever in a house full of friends.

You cross to the doorway and peek out into the living room. “Lasagna’s ready,” you say to the four faces that turn to yours, and you know you’re smiling like an idiot, but you can’t help it.

Janine bounces up. “I can’t wait for you to tryyyy itttttt,” she sing-songs. “I learned from the best!”

Barbara passes you to find plates and ready the table. She gives your arm a little pat as she goes—the first time she’s ever touched you. You feel a Janine-like burst of effervescence at the thought that Melissa’s best friend approves.

Melissa reappears. She picks up a cutter for each lasagna, an armful of cloth napkins, another bottle of wine. Jacob and Gregory gather the glasses from the coffee table. You stick your hands back into the oven mitts to carry each dish in.

As everybody gets settled in, pulling out chairs, Janine proudly adding her bowl of grated parmigiano to the table (“just in case!” she burbles), you catch Melissa’s eye. She’s looking at you, a soft fondness in the gaze; the tender creases at the corners of her eyes make your chest squeeze around your heart, which feels three, four times as large as it was before.

“What do you think?” you ask the table. “Should we bring over the cards?”

Your friends laugh. Barbara shakes her head and rolls her eyes. Melissa Schemmenti, looking at you, smiles.

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

Author's Note:

My next fic was intended to be a sadder hurt/comfort fic, but I received the following prompt from @morgana-larkin:

I love your first fic and I wanted to know if you could do one more on the fun side. Where the whole group goes to either Melissa or reader’s place for game night and they all end up playing truth or dare while drunk and someone dares one of them to kiss the other. Then after everyone leaves the two of them end up admitting their feelings. Thank you!

I did make some tweaks to the premise to suit my storytelling style, which I hope is okay. I did my best to honor this fun and lovely prompt. Thank you so much!

#melissa schemmenti #melissa schemmenti x you #melissa schemmenti x reader

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doctordonnasstuff · 4 months

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Songs that remind me of The Doctor and Donna and why:

´We Go Together´ by David Tennant and Catherine Tate = you know just the fact that they are singing it makes it a perfect Doctor and Donna song, but if you listen to the lyrics it kind of explains their dynamic and stuff.

´Camel by Camel´ by Sandy Marton = the lyrics in this one is super Donna Noble coded I swear. I mean: I try not to remember, no memories I'm looking for a new dimension, new life to live (Camel by camel) Mysterious places, perfect harmony (Camel by camel) The desert route is changing my destiny...perfectly summs up Donnas life after Jurney´s End.

´Everybody Wants To Rule The World´ by Tears For Fears = Can´t explain this one that well but it just gives off their dynamic in the whole series. It gives me strong DoctorDonna vibes.

´Hey Brother´ by Avicii = I do ship them romantically but this song is them I swear. The lyrics just fits.

´Sigh No More´ by Catherine Tate and David Tennant = Again, sung by them it just is the Doctor and Donna song.

´Anti-Hero´ by Taylor Swift = More Donna than The Doctor. Strong Donna vibes.

´Wildest Dreams´ by Taylor Swift = This one reminds me of ´The Runaway Bride´ when they are looking at the creation of the world and he is looking at her like she is creation of his universe and so on. He also is tall and handsome as hell.

´Something Just Like This´ by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay = Again can´t explain this one so well, it just gives off the vibes that The Doctor is singing this after he lost Donna the first time.

´What Was I Made For?´ by Billie Eilish = More Donna than The Doctor again. STRONG STRONG Donna Noble vibes. I imagine this is how she felt when her mother yelled at her for not being good enough.

´Pompeii´ by Bastille = Yeah I added this just because of the ´Fires of Pompeii´ episode.

´Things We Lost In The Fire´ by Bastille = ´Jurney´s End´ when Donna was locked in the TARDIS. Just this.

´F**kin´ Perfect´ by P!nk = Can imagine the Doctor singing this to Donna when she talks about herslef not being so important.

So this is it for now, if I had more I will reblog this and add more songs.

Also this is just my opinion. For me these songs are perfect for them, doesn´t have to be same for anyone else <3

But if anyone is interested and wants to listen to it, here is a link to the Spotify playlist I made.

And also sorry if I misspelled something, English is not my first language.

#catherine tate #david tennant #doctor who #tatennant #donna noble #doctordonna #doctor who 60th anniversary #tendonna #catherine x david #the doctor #songs #spotify playlist #Spotify

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my-rose-tinted-glasses · 3 months

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Spell your url with song titles and then tag as many people as there are letters

Thanks for the tag @imlivingformyselfdontmindme. and @lurkingshan I love my url but at times like these I wish it was shorter. Most of these were the firsts I could think of, some I looked through my most listened playlist.

M My Way - Frank Sinatra

Y Youth - Daughter

R Rose Colored Glasses - The Collection

O Old Friends - Jasmine Thompson

S Sunshower - Ayumu Imazu

E Estrela Do Mar - Jorge Palma

T Till Forever Falls Apart - Ashe and FINNEAS

I I'm Still Standing - Elton John

N Numbers- Han and Primary

T There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths

E Everybody Dies - Kim Petras

D DNA - BTS

G Grace - Jeff Buckley

L Letter - Jinyoung

A Alive - The Scarlet Opera

S She used to be mine - Sara Bareilles

S Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald

E Exile - Taylor Swift ft Bon Iver

S Songbird - Fleetwood Mac

Tagging but no pressure @twig-tea @troubled-mind @blmpff @mikuni14 @iguessitsjustme @colourme-feral @itsallaboutbl

#tag game #rosy music

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likeadevils · 8 months

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2003 Lover Diaries Transcripts

Mar 23, 2003- Wyomissing, PA

Ok, where did I leave off? Friday. Ok, on Friday in school we had a “Code Red” drill. That’s when someone comes into the school and everybody gets freaked out and the teachers move all the students to the back of the room and turn off the lights. That night I had to babysit Austin while mom + dad went to a Vonda Shepard concert. Saturday mom and I got up early to go to NY for an hour ½ voice lesson. On the way we listened to a CD that mom bought from the concert the night before. It was this band called Sugarland and the lead singer is this girl that’s really good. I like their one song called “Baby Girl”

May 17, 2003- Wyomissing, PA

Hey. Today Mom and I went to New York. We talked and laughed all the way up and parked in a garage near my voice lesson. We walked to her apartment and we worked on Smoky Black Nights after doing all of her warmups. I didn’t do it well @ first but she said that the song was “ingenious.” Cool. After mom and I went to this cowboy/western store nearby. We got a white shirt that buttons up, jeans, and a white T w/notes in it. Then we had pizza at a pizza place and walked back to the car stopping @ Tasti D-Lite, our FAVORITE ice cream store. It’s kosher, non-cholesterol, Extremely tasty, dreamy, frozen yogurt, and only 40 calories. Does it get any better than that? Then we went home and got movies. You know, sometimes I think about what my first kiss is going to be like. It’s going to be great and romantic. I’m such a romantic. I just dream about looking into someone’s eyes and feeling something I’ve never felt before, you know? I just never was able to put a face to my fantacy. But something tells me that my first kiss really far away from happening! Because the guys in our school aren’t even worth worrying about. They are all in it for one thing and I think you know what is, sex. I guess I’ll be okay without a first kiss!! XOXO Taylor

May 19, 2003- Wyomissing, PA

Oh I was SUCH a b**** today! When mom picked me up, she was late again because she thought I had Varsity Singers. I was nasty to everybody!! Oh, I tried to practice my songs for Nashville, but I completely psyched myself out and broke down crying. I don’t know if I can do this. I want it so bad but I get so scared of what might not happen! When I miss notes, I dive bomb and the whole thing goes crashing down. I just have to breathe in … and breath out … breathe in …. relax, Nashville is not going to kill me … I can handle it. I’m okay. I’ll be fine. I’m young. I’m talented. They’ll see it in me. I’ll be ok. I’ve got to hang on. Can’t worry. I’m only 13. I’m allowed to make mistakes, right? Oh, this is a lot to handle. Taylor XOXO P.S. Pray for a better day tomorrow!

Jun 5, 2003- Wyomissing, PA

Hey Journal, I had to sing @ the Garden Party today so Mom and I went to the field and got some of the equipment set up. Then we went home and I got ready. When we got there, all of my friends were there, and they helped set up (kind of). I started my show and in one first three chords of the first song, my guitar pick broke in half and flew out of my hands! There was this huge silence! It was awful! I had to bend over and pick it up in front of everyone! And while I was singing, this guy was shouting stuff like, “Go on, b*#@h! Sing that country bullsh*t! Go on motherf*cker!” It was awful. After the Garden Party, we all went to the Reading Hospital to visit Nanny. She looks worse everytime we go. I sang I Used to Fly, A Little More Like you and Same Girl for Nanny and her roommate, Penny. Penny has liver cancer and is bald from chemo. All of the nurses loved listening to it. It went really well. Then we went home and I worked on a song called Not One day. It’s ok, but I don’t know. Taylor Swift

Jun 19, 2003- Nashville, TN

Hey Diary, This morning, I woke up and I went over to RCA records and did a small showcase and “chatted” with them. We talked to this girl and she was really hip and cool with me. They really liked me and said they would call on Monday because she would be on vacation that weekend. Then we headed over to Capitol Records and met with the president and vice president of the company. They totally flipped out over me! They even said I was the most talented 13-year-old they had ever seen! They told me that I should be thanking God every day for the incredible gift he gave me. Well, I appreciate the compliment, but then they followed it up with “I’d just hate to see you jump into this right now and have a short-lived career.” They very politely agreed that country is directed to 35-year-olds. Radio just doesn’t play teens. That’s where I’m gonna prove them wrong! Well, he took me on a tour of the building and gave me about 25 cds of Capitol’s artists. Isn’t that nice? Then we went back to the hotel and then we went to the Bluebird Cafe, this cafe where like 4 songwriters go in and sing their songs. We sat all the way in the back. I have a radio call, meeting with Warner, and flight to catch tomorrow. I need my sleep!! Taylor I have a good feeling about RCA! <3

Jun 24, 2003- Wyomissing, PA

Hey Diary, I got a record deal! AHHHHH! RCA records in Nashville wants to give me a development deal!!! We were taking Sassy to the airport (late) and when we headed home, we stopped at a Taco Bell. My manager called us on Mom’s cell and she gave the phone to me. He had Dad on conference call. He started out by saying, “Well, we got follow ups on all of the labels. And they think you need a couple years to grow so they can put you on the radio … Except for RCA, who wants to sign you!! Congratulations!” I was going crazy. I cried. I guess I never really expected to get one! It’s a development deal, but those are the only details we have. I told a bazillion people! We were making CDs for a New Hampshire concert I have Friday til 2:00 AM tonight. AHHH! Record deal! R • C • A baby! Taylor

Aug 25, 2003- Wyomissing, PA

Hey, Today was my first day of school! And you won’t believe how much better 8th grade is than 7th!! The real problem last year was the grade above us, and now they’re 9th graders so we never see them. I love being older than the 7th graders! I never knew how stupid I must have looked, carrying around that HUGE book bag running and bumping into everybody trying to get to class on time! Okay, here’s my schedule! 1. Accel. integrated studies 2. science 3. american studies 4. latin 1 LUNCH 5. Accel. English 6. Accel Math 7. Intro. Computer studies 8. Chorus/Gym I think I might just live through this year!! I just hope I can keep up. My locker is 117 and my combination is 35-8-27. I love being older! I think my teacher’s gonna give me a spotlight solo in chorus! This year could be fun. I don’t care what people think of me now because I won’t let them bring me down. <3 Taylor

Oct 15, 2003- Wyomissing, PA

Hey, I really have decided that school is a big disappointment. It's only cool when you're popular. I'm not. It's only cool when you have a boyfriend. It's cool when everybody likes you. I don't have that. But my extracurricular "life" is what really matters to me. I guess I'm just not good enough for people my own age. Or maybe I'm not bad enough? [peace sign] Taylor Swift XOXO <3

(2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 & 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 & 2017)

#lover diaries*#note: dates and place names are from my notation not taylors #and i didnt transcribe the specific lyrics bc the formatting was giving me a headache #so go to taylorpictures.net if you want those

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magnoliabloomfield · 9 months

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The new label “Pick Me Girl” and the return of Y2K fashion made me realize something. If you were a teen in the 2000’s, no matter what kind of girl you were, you were a pick me girl.

But! It wasn’t your fault. During your most developmental sponge like years they drowned you in Pick Me Propaganda.

We had music:

“I’d rather be anything but ordinary please.”- Avril

“Never wore cover up, always beat the boys up.”-Avril

“She’s like so whatever, you could do so much better, I think we should get together now.”-Avril

“Paper, or plastic, don’t matter, she’ll have it. Vacations and shopping sprees, these are a few of her favorite things. She’ll get what she wants if she’s willing to please, his type of girl ways comes with a fee. Hey now there’s nothing for free. Girls don’t like boys girls like cars and money. Boys will laugh at girls when they’re not funny.”-Good Charlotte

“Christina wouldn’t wanna meet her, she hates you Brittany so you better run for cover. My girl, is a hot girl, a riot girl and she’s taking on the world. Emergency call 911 she’s pissed off at everyone.”-Good Charlotte

“Never win first place, don’t support the team, can’t take direction and my socks are never clean… LA told me you’ll be a pop star, all you have to change is everything you are. Tired of being compared to damn Brittany Spears, she’s so pretty, that just ain’t me.”-P!nk

“The waiter just took my table, gave it to Jessica Simps.”-P!nk

“She doesn’t get your humor like I do… I’m listening to the kind of music she doesn’t like and she’ll never know your story like I do. But she wears short skirts I wear T-shirts, she’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers…. She wears high heels I wear sneakers…”-Taylor Swift

“Im not a supermodel, I still eat McDonalds… who says I can’t wear my converse with my dress, well baby that’s just me.”-Demi Lovato

“Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me”-Pussycat Dolls

“I’m the kind of girl that hangs with the guys, like a fly on the wall with my secret eyes. Taking it in try to be feminine with my makeup bag watching all the sin. Misfit, I sit, lit up, wicked. Everybody else surrounded by the girls with the tank tops and flirty words.”-No Doubt

“I’m no queen, I’m no machine, I still go to Taco Bell, raw as hell, I don’t care, I’m still real.”-Fergie

“Everybody’s looking at me now, like who’s that chick that’s rockin kicks, she gotta be from out of town. It’s so hard with my girls not around me, it’s definitely not a Nashville party. Cause all I see are stilettos, guess I never got the memo.”-Miley

And we had movies like

Cinderella Story and how she’s different because she eats burgers instead of salad and worked hard.

10 Things I Hate About You where Kat still tried too hard and wasn’t herself, she was so I to the idea that you have to be what others want you to be that she consciously chose to be the exact opposite instead of doing what she liked because she liked it.

Mean Girls where you’re different if you’re secure and confident in your own body and not an insecure catty girl.

What a Girl Wants where your cultural difference makes you better and also walking on the beach and having a steady hand with nail polish is superior to getting a pedicure.

And how many of them depicted a nerdy “ugly” girl taking off her glasses, practicing basic hygiene, adding some lip gloss and oh now her crush can see she exists and falls in love with her. Or girls are rivals over some guy who isn’t even worth it.

So, no matter if you were preppy or punk, you were putting in the same amount of effort to not be something else, which is where the return of Y2K fashion comes into play.

Whatever you were trying so hard not to be in the 2000’s or your teens in general, do it now. I bet there was something you secretly wanted from the other side and wouldn’t indulge in because you had your superiority to uphold.

I Wanna see a retired grunge skater girl in a juicy tracksuit with oversized purse and sunglasses. I wanna see a former Paris Hilton minion learn to skateboard in some unnecessarily puffy skate shoes and a neck tie over their tank top.

Also anyone who was too poor or repressed by their strict parents to finally get the things you most wanted at that age but never had.

Now we can retrospectively look back and pick and choose the good stuff from that era, like my ass crack is way too long now for low rise jeans, I’ll never wear them below my hip bones ever again, but that’s neither here nor there. The point is we need to take this opportunity to heal our Y2K selves, have a redo, “I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger” whole thing. So many of us have shed our pick me girl ways and whole heartedly embraced Women Supporting Women, so let’s redo the amazing fashion time that was the 2000’s with that mentality.

“Most girls are smart and strong and beautiful. Most girls work hard go far we are unstoppable. Most girls, our fight to make everyday, no two are the same. I wanna be like I wanna be like Most Girls.”

#Y2K #pick me girl #most girls #feminism #women supporting women #women empowering women

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queenlucythevaliant · 1 year

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See and Hear Everything Twice

(Or, How I attended a Taylor Swift concert with my sister in spite of my severe photosensitivity)

So as I indicated on this blog while we were sitting in traffic, I went to Taylor Swift's Eras Night 1 in Foxbourogh over the weekend.

"But Leah," I hear you saying, "How in the world did you manage that? Surely such a thing would liquify your poor, photosensitive brain! After all, twinkle lights have been known to give migraines before. Surely a stadium concert is a bad idea!"

Well. Yes. My sister went into the concert alone. I listened from outside the stadium.

My sister and I are long-time, vintage Swifties. We started out listening wearing grooves in the Fearless CD, and we've never let up. My sister and I are also night-and-day different in both our interests and dispositions, to the point where I've had friends ask, "But what do you do together?" And the answer to that is a lot of things, but "sing along to Taylor Swift" is definitely a big one.

I looked hard and was eventually able to get my sister a single ticket to Eras for her birthday (which has the added advantage of being substantially cheaper than two tickets together). The idea was that I would (a) become the Coolest Big Sister ever by making this happen for her and (b) be able to experience the whole thing secondhand. Both of us took that concept very seriously.

I don't know if you know it, but there's a Christmas story that we like in my family called "Why the Chimes Rang." Here's an excerpt:

"But I cannot bear to leave you, and go on alone," said Little Brother. "Both of us need not miss the service," said Pedro, "and it had better be I than you. You can easily find your way to the church; and you must see and hear everything twice, Little Brother - once for you and once for me."

My sister quoted this to me the morning of our concert and I can't describe what it meant to me. She saw and heard everything twice. Sitting outside the stadium (and wearing both the concert tees we bought on top of my regular clothes - it was a cold night), I got to hear the music that we grew up listening to together. More than that, in a lot of ways, it felt like my incredible little sister was sitting right next to me, like we were listening together. Really, it was kind of surreal.

I've long since made my peace with the idea that there are lots of things that my illness won't let me do. Yet it was really beautiful to be able to cross one impossible thing off that list this weekend, with some help from my sister.

I've waxed poetic enough, so I'm just gonna bullet point some of the details below for anyone who's interested:

The traffic on the way in wasn't terrible, but when we stopped at a rest stop for lunch the place was stuffed with Swifties in full concert apparel. A feeling of fun and camaraderie in the air.

The merch line was a good hour and forty five, but I was able to get a poster for the shadow box that my sister plans on making (she's crafty like that).

Everybody's outfits were NUTS. Lots of sequins, sparkling cowboy boots and hats, replicas on iconic T Swift looks, etc. One gal was dressed as the crumpled up piece of paper from "All Top Well."

Friendship bracelet swapping was SO fun. I spent the run up to the concert knotting bracelets and everyone I talked to seemed to think they were really cool!

There were probably 40-50 people hanging out by the stadium the night of our concert. Lots of folks were picnicking. There were these four little girls in identical concert sweatshirts there with someone's mom and they were having a grand time dancing and singing and oh boy was it infectious. You could hear all the music clearly from where I was, though probably only about 20% of the dialogue.

My highlights were probably the Fearless set (something buoyant in the air + truckloads of deep fondness), august into the illicit affairs double bridge (SHIVERS), 22 (a fave + fond moment with my sister over text), and the end of the 1989 set (high on the night and singing along).

Our surprise songs were "Should've Said No" and "Better Man." My sister sent me some genuine hall-of-fame texts as Taylor was announcing them. Both are firmly A-tier songs for which I have a lot of love. Also, we both found it funny that the Yeehaw Swifties won so big in Massachusetts, of all places.

The traffic getting out of Foxbourogh was horrific. We barely moved for the better part of two hours after getting back to the car.

After the concert, my sister came running when she found me and all but leapt into my arms. For all that I loved the music, that was the best part of the night.

#i fully realize that this is very saccharine and way more about me and my sis than it is about Taylor Swift #that said: maybe it offers a unique perspective?#this is how you do life when your body rules certain activities out #this is how you live vicariously through others in a good and joyful way #tay tay #chronic illness is hilarious #no one will ever walk the earth so close to you #pontifications and creations #been meaning to write this since the weekend hopefully this is of interest to /somebody/ lol #sisters are the best #and Swiftie sisters are the double-best #love you girl!!

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wingstobetorn · 1 month

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What are your strangest/weirdest mutant mayhem headcanons other people wouldn’t get it? Even if your headcanons aren’t that weird, tell me about them anyway.

I have more than I have fingers on my hands but I will only list off five.

1. Leonardo, everytime he sees April, has an internal monologue akin to those Y/N x [Character] fics. ‘ Today I saw April at school today and she looked at me with those gorgeous brown eyes and said "Hello" I am planning our marriage. ’

2. Leonardo listens to straight music in the perspective of the girl while thinking of April. (See: T*ylor Swift.) <- censored because I don't want this to somehow end up in that tag hgshs

3. Mikey would run a lemonade stand and the lemonade would suck so bad everybody knows him as the shitty lemonade kid. The kid who sucks at making lemonade. What is wrong with him.

4. Raphael flexes his muscles to piss off Leo. Leo isn't pissed off or jealous but is rather weirded out by this. What is he doing.

5. Donnie finally sees BTS via somehow finding tickets on the ground and going through a moral dilemma on whether or not he should do the right thing and return it. He chooses to not return them and go see BTS himself 🫶

#they r barbie dolls to me I can make them do anything

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clatoera · 1 year

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Always Remember We’re Burned for Better Chapter 6: Everybody’s Watching To See The Fallout

...hey guys. Sorry this is so late. I have been working 18 hour days all week, trying to gather skills, experiences, and make a strong impression on my preceptors. I’m in my dream rotation right now and essentially being an utter gunner LMAO.

I only have two more weeks of being unreliable though, and then i’ll be back to regular scheduled posting.

AO3

Masterpost of 1-5

Title from Eyes Open (t swift), because of COURSE for the 74th games I had to use a song from the movie!

Extra love to @ms1818 and @ohhowwehavefallen as usual, who have listened to me scream cry throw up and ask “Does cato seem like he likes clove” 18 times week.

This is one of my weaker chapters, I know that, but ya girl is a tired little girl (25 year old adult woman)

“So…what are we supposed to say to them?” Comes in a harsh whisper from Clove, from where she and Cato hid just beyond the door frame in one of the extra bedrooms of the district two floor. “We’re not technically their mentors right?”

“You’re supposed to be learning how to mentor, yes, and hiding in the spare room isn’t helping.” Enobaria hisses, grabbing both Clove and Cato by their upper arms and pulling them with her. “You’re at the very least going to watch and learn.”

“To be fair, I was here last year.” Cato mumbles as Enobaria pulls them into the open and empty center room.

“Yeah, and I had to tell you that you weren’t allowed to fuck your tribute girl, so you aren’t off to a shining start, Cato.” Enobaria shoves them both down on the circular couch, standing before them with hands on her hips and a disapproving look etched across her face. “Wasn’t this your life long goal? And you don’t even know how to talk to your tributes? You TRAINED with these two, weren’t they your friends?”

“I didn’t have any friends.” Clove reminds, leaning Into Cato’s side for no other reason than to irritate Enobaira. “Unless you count him.”

“Oh we’re just friends?” Cato teases, pinching the skin of her hip before he tugs her nearly into his lap. “That’s now what I thought on the way here when you were begging me to–”

“Shut it.” Clove’s eyes roll, but Enobaria buries her fingers into her temples at the way they incessantly flirt with one another.

“Dumb. Dumber. Not the time. You two are not here together. You’re here to mentor. To gather the sponsors. To do the things necessary to ensure more victors. In fact, you two shouldn’t even be sleeping in the same–”

“Absolutely not.” Clove snipped, pulling her feet up onto the couch with her, tucking herself closer to Cato. “That’s not happening, next instruction please, Enobaria.”

She tosses the remote to the large screen at them with more force than strictly necessary. “First step. Your tributes are down there getting prepped for the parade. You two watch the reapings. You take notes. Potential allies. Potential threats. Write down who you want, contact their mentors”

“It’s always two and one. The most we’d add is four.” Cato catches the pen that Enobaria tosses at them next, the small pad of paper for notes hitting him solidly in the chest. “We’ll talk to Glimmer and Marvel tomorrow, we’ll arrange it, it’ll be fine.”

“Then watch for entertainment, I don’t care. It’s part of your job now.” Enobaria turns to walk away, but stops herself and narrows her gaze at the two. “And I do mean watch.”

Cato and Clove find watching the reapings brings out a competitive side they had shoved down for the last year.

Clove’s been shifted off his lap at some point, and sits crossed legged with various pieces of papers scattered around on her knees and thighs. Cato keeps a running list of Yes, No, Maybe, Absolutely not, Dies in the blood bath, or “Does that even count as a tribute.”

“Do all those girls in one look the same?” Clove comments before she writes the very district one style name on their little list, noting specifically how she seemed already that she’d end up taking a pretty-girl angle. She scribbles something next to her name as she watches her so proudly ascend the stage as a volunteer. Cato cranes over to see that it simply reads “Dumb”, before he reads the “Unremarkable” next to the boy’s name.

“We have to have a win from two, obviously. Assert our dominance over Glimmer and Marvel as mentors.” She decides as their own district reaping replay happens, nothing they needed to note there, considering they grew up with these kids.

“Babe, do you really think Glimmer cares that much? Last year her boy died and she literally said ‘aww…sad.’ before she went back to talking about you.” Cato crumples a piece of paper and tosses it across the room when he is unhappy with the options from three. “I think it’ll be our boy this year. He was always pretty good.”

“It certainly isn't going to be four.” Clove points her pen towards the screen as a twelve year old with curly hair is pulled for their male tribute. “Do we have to ally with them? They’re not going to add anything…” She gives a single nod of approval as the girl is called up. Probably 15, but looks on the stronger end. “The girl might be useful. We can’t pick one over the other though, huh?”

“Finnick has to know the kid has no shot. We’ll play nice.” Cato shrugs, adding the girl to the yes list. “Maybe he’ll go out at the cornucopia anyway.”

As four to 11 pass, they continually add to the no list, barely bothering to pay attention anymore.

“You ready not to be the shiniest thing in Panem anymore?” Cato teases, pulling Clove back to his lap, arms loosely threading around her waist as he kisses her cheek. “Sent to the backburner of victors past..” His lips find her jawline, hands deftly twisting her so her body faces him.

“You think they’re going to ever let us live in peace?” Clove taunts back, wrapping her forearms gently around his shoulders, fingers toying gently with the hair at the base of his neck. “New victor or not, we’re still who everyone wants.” She leans her neck back, shivering as his lips trace the sensitive skin there. “I actually..I kind of look forward to it.”

Cato pulls away, eyebrow cocked at his girlfriend, looking her up and down rapidly. “Since when do you want less attention?”

“I’m tired of talking about my mom…about Enobaria.. talking about us. There are just some things I want us to keep for ourselves.” Clove had become a little more aware than ever exactly how much her life would have changed had her mother won, and she isn’t sure she would have liked who she became had she been raised in the eyes of the Capitol. It can’t be great to be a kid in that light, with constant cameras on you, being paraded around the country like an accessory to a successful parent.

“We can come out every year for the games, but we can just live our lives.” Clove sighs, strumming her thumb over his cheekbone, pressing her forehead to his. “I never thought much about what life would be like after winning. It would be great.. But I honestly cannot believe how nice it sounds to just go back home, train kids at the academy… have Enobaria and Brutus just let themselves in for breakfast every week.”

“You’ve gone soft,” Cato pulls her closer, the edge in his voice somehow teasing but also..almost longing. Cato had been far more open about his simple desires for his life after the games in the past year, but she hadn’t verbalized such similar desires until now. It wasn’t soft, no, it was just growth.

“I wouldn’t go that far, I’ll still beat those training kids into the floor.” Clove leans in at the exact moment a heart-wrenching screech fills the room from the reaping playback on the television.

The girl on the screen is frantic, pulling a tiny blonde thing into a hug before being led forward to the destitute district twelve stage.

“Did that girl just–” Clove cranes her head, watching as the twelve girls ascend the stage with her head held high. Not in pride, like a career would, but in a way that she does not falter in tears like so many tributes do.

“From twelve? She must have a death wish.” Cato scoffs, trying to pull Clove’s attention back to him with a squeeze of her thigh. “She’ll be dead in the first ten minutes.”

Though the escort continues talking, Clove can’t drag her attention away when she hears the name, and how she shares it with the young girl who was just called.

“She did it for her little sister…” Sure, Clove may not understand the type of familial love, but it’s still unusual to see someone so willing to die for their sibling.

“Siblings get reaped all the time, what good is there when one dies over the other?” He shakes his head, knowing full well that while he would have done it for his own baby sister, had that been at all possible or necessary. He has much more likelihood of survival than anyone else, for one. Besides, he couldn’t volunteer in her place anyway.

“Exactly… There's something about her. She’s going to be trouble, Cato.” Clove warns, eyes tracking the girl as she walks across the stage. “I’d have done it for Cora, but I would win.” She’d have done it anyway, winning or not, and that's not even her sister, but that isn’t the point. “You don’t do that unless you have a chance.”

“She won’t make it a day.” Cato disagreed, leaning back full on the couch, pulling her fully on top of him as he does so. He tucks his chin against the top of her dark hair, fingers drumming lightly on her lower back.

A little blonde boy takes the stage next to her, practically the same size as this Katniss Everdeen. Peeta.

“Is that one named after bread?”

“And they say district one has bad names.”

Clove laughs into chest, forgetting any concern over the volunteer from twelve.

A glass vase shatters against the window as soon as that final, aggravating score is announced, grabbed and released from Cato’s hand as he starts moving towards their current tributes.

“Are you fucking with me?” Comes from him, as he wraps his hand around their boy’s throat, single handedly pinning him to the wall.

“You two idiots have no fucking idea how she got an Eleven?” Comes from her, as she grabs her girl by the hair and tugs her neck back sharply, earning a whimper from her ex classmate.

“HEY, Hands off the tributes.” Brutus insists, tugging Cato back at the same time Enobaria pries clove off the girl.

“You two are going to get yourselves fucking killed by that girl from 12. You’re going to lose. To Twelve.” Cato snarls, thrashing his shoulders to get out of Brutus’ grasp, freeing an arm just enough to grab the boy by his shirt. “You’ll be an embarrassment to two. Couldn’t even figure out her skill, which, clearly she has a lot of.”

“What did she do in training? Is she fast, is she smart, what did she do all week?” Clove breaks free from Enobaria, but does not put her hands back on the girl.

“I-I don’t know-” She stammers, violently shaking her head and trying to back away from her mentor, before tripping and falling to the floor. “She didn’t show anything–”

“She had to have shown something!” Cato growls, directing back to his boy. “Clove knew when she saw her volunteer she was trouble, and you ignored the biggest rule, of scoping out your competition.” Cato practically throws him away by the shirt, tossing the boy to the floor beside his partner.

“They’ve already been stealing the attention for days.” Clove recalls, standing beside Cato with her arms across her chest, the two of them towering over their cowering tributes on the floor. “The parade? With the flames? Noone was talking about you two. You’re literally standing in the smoke from fire girl right now. Noone sees you, no one cares about who you are.”

“You need to snuff her out, got it? First kill. At the cornucopia you hunt her down and you get rid of her.” Cato warns, as the two of them shuffle backwards. “Go sleep, you have the interviews tomorrow and you can’t fuck those up.”

They watch as their tributes scramble to their feet and practically run down the hall out of sightline of Cato, Clove, Enobaria, and Brutus.

The second they are in their respective rooms –fortunately, there was no concern for the two of them slipping off together– it is their turn to be grabbed by their once mentors.

Brutus has an arm against his chest, pinning him to the wall, while Enobaria holds next to him on that wall with the hand around her throat.

“What the fuck are you two doing,” Brutus pushes Cato in a little harder, until Cato relents and lets his head his the wall.

“You can’t manhandle your tributes, are you stupid? You’re supposed to guide them!”

“What are you calling this then, Enobaria-” Clove tries to push her hand away, only for Enobaira to tighten her grasp on her neck.

“Oh you’re not our tributes anymore, you’re on par with us, and you aren’t going to embarrass us by your little childish meltdowns.” Enobaira lets go of Clove, letting her fall to the floor gasping for the air she had been deprived of.

Brutus releases Cato at the same time, but he only glares back at his mentor, unlike Clove who’s choking the air back into her body. “This isn’t your year, don’t take it so personal.”

“It’s our first year on this side.” Cato huffs, crossing his arms over his chest to face off with Brutus. “We wouldn’t have made that mistake.”

“It’s her first year. You did this last year, you have no excuse. You weren’t very good at it last year, either.” Brutus warns, shoving Cato with two fingers on his shoulder. “You didn’t even know his name.”

“Because he didn’t matter. I’d have killed him myself to get her out.”

“They aren’t your competition, that Twelve girl isn’t. You aren’t against them, don’t take it so personally.” Enobaria pulls Clove to her feet by her shoulders, helping her stand after sending her to the ground moments ago. “You two have a long future of this ahead of you. You can’t take it so personally.”

“You’d have done worse to us if a twelve girl out scored us.” Clove coughs out, rubbing her hand over her throat to soothe what is surely angry skin there.

“Yeah, but you’re Cato and Clove. We always expected the best out of you two.”

“I think it went well.” Cato admits, handing off one of the glasses is in hand to his girlfriend, who sits on the floor in front of her couch. Her legs are outstretched before her with ankles crossed, as she reaches out and shoots him a smile before she takes the glass from him. She basks in the warmth of the artificial fireplace under the television screen,

“They’re not us, but they’ll do.” Clove teases, taking a long, slow sip of the drink as she waits for him to come to her level.

Cato slides down next to her, crossing his outstretched legs in front of him as well, before tugging her against him. “Noone’s ever going to be us.”

“Not a chance.” Clove curls into him, tucking her head into his shoulder and humming as the girl from 5 crosses off the stage. “Not the strongest field this year.”

“The kids from one are idiots.” Cato agreed, laying his head on top of hers, rubbing his hand over the outside of her shoulder.

“They’re always idiots in one. We both know they pretty much breed for looks like show horses. They don’t care much about what's on the inside so long as they have the shiniest coats and longest legs.” Clove snickers, leaning down to open the brown square box between their feet. She pops open the box to the bubbling cheese pizza on the inside, and a smile of absolute delight spreads across her face.

“Oh come one, you like Glimmer and Marvel. They’re nice.” Cato points out, laughing as Clove lifts a slice of pizza from the box and tilts her head back so the warm cheese can slide off the crust and into her mouth. “All the food in this place and this is what you wanted? Why are you eating it like that?”

“I never said they weren’t nice, I said they weren’t smart.“ Clove scrapes the rest of the cheese off with her teeth, before returning to the tip of the triangle and rolling the dough into a little roll before taking a bite across the crust. “What? It’s good.”

“Still doesn’t answer as to why there was all the food in the capitol and you wanted Pizza of all things. Why are you stripping the cheese, you just..bite into it?” Cato illustrates, knitting his eyebrows together as he watches Clove continue to disassemble her pieces.

“It works for me.” Clove defends, glancing up to see they’re onto district ten already. “Cato. We had what you wanted yesterday, let me have this greasy, doughy Pizza okay? We don’t even have this back home.”

“We could probably make it..” It wasn't a lie, though. They had nothing like this back home, and certainly nothing like this growing up. Sure, two wasn’t a poor district by any means, but they were trained that food was fuel for reaching peak performance. Almost every meal in the academy was some combination of high protein in the form of eggs or plain, bland chicken, usually rice, and some steamed, bitter vegetable. Take the joy out of eating and no one will dare to over or under eat– you’re maximizing your physicality, nothing else.

There was nothing like the greasy, cheesy pizza they tried for the first time after the end of her party, during her tour. There was nothing like the fresh, crisp sushi from four. Or the rich, bloody rare steak Cato fell QUICKLY obsessed with during his own tour last year. Just the other night when the two of them had slipped out after scores came out, Clove absolutely devoured the entire basket of salty fries when she tried them for the first time.

“I think this is my favorite food.” Clove mumbled around the carb she shoved into her mouth, officially 1/4th done with their late night snack. “I can’t believe I'm saying that.”

“What, do you like Pizza? You used to roll up cheese slices in bread, I’m not actually shocked-”

“No. That we live a life where we can have a favorite food.” Clove picks up her glass from before and swirls the contents before taking a long drink. “God they’d smack me back in the academy if they heard me say that. How many times did they tell us you eat to perform, nothing more?”

“We won, baby. We can eat whatever we want, whenever we want.” Cato understands, though, deep down. Nineteen (and nearly nineteen) years old, and they were just for the first time getting to try things. Getting to enjoy things. “Isn’t that the point of the life of a victor?”

“For my birthday, I want fries. And that steak you really like that's still bleeding inside. Oh and Pizza. I want Pizza.” Clove decides, satiated for now and settles back in his arms.

“Anything you want, Clove. Anything.”

It would, after all, be the first of her birthday’s that they’d spend together, not training.

They settle back against the couch as the boy from eleven leaves the stage. Cato identified him as a possible threat due to his size earlier this week, but his training score didn’t alarm them enough to actually raise flags. Besides, He denied their tributes’ offer of allyship. His loss.

The girl was almost sad to watch. Sure, there were little kids in their own games, but neither had to take them out on their own. They died at the hands of others, who had no choice but to only kill the weakest who were incapable of defending themselves, or from exposure to the elements themselves. She was so childlike, baby face still perfectly intact, that she barely even looked old enough to compete.

The girl from twelve is next, and Clove feels Cato tense up beside her. They expect she must reveal something to gain her sponsors, right?

Wrong.

She’s unremarkable. Awkward, forcing a smile and forcing laughs. She lacks a charisma that all careers have– they wouldn’t be cleared to volunteer if they couldn’t work the crowd, something that clearly doesn’t matter in Twelve.

Clove nearly throws up in her mouth when the girl spins in her dress, flames spiraling below her knees. “What even is this stupid fire thing?” Sure, the fire itself was a cool touch, but this girl…she didn’t have the spark herself, so to speak. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“The girl on fire.” Cato mumbles, finishing his drink swiftly. “Our kids are going to smother her out. They have to.”

“She’s dangerous, I'm telling you. She’s got no personality, but she’s got them eating out of her hand. This flame thing…the training score..she’s dangerous.” Clove insists, sliding down to full lay on the ground, head using his thigh as a pillow. Now that the girl was over, there was nothing left to watch.

“They’ll take her out. I’m not worried.” Cato threads his fingers through her hair, stroking down the dark length of it. “Two’s the only one worth watching. Third year in a row.”

“Even so, they aren’t as good as we were. It’s a weak group all around this year. There’s boring games ahead.” Clove stretches in his lap, raising dark eyebrows at him enticingly. “I guess we’ll just have to make our own entertainment this week, right?”

“Last year Enobaria dragged me off the couch by the ear to go get you sponsors. We’ll have to hide from her.”

“She only cared because it was me…are you afraid of her?” Clove teases, reaching up and brushing her fingernails under his jaw.

“Maybe a little.” Cato admits, before the laughs of the audience during Peeta Mellark’s interview distracts them.

“He’s got the people skills at least. Together they’d be a good team.” Cato gives a small nod of approval, but shrugs anyway. “Not that it matters. A team only gets you so far.”

“People like him.” Clove agrees, propping herself up on her elbow to watch the rest of the interview. “He has a good rapport with the audience.”

They give a little smile when Caesar asks about a girl back home, and offers him dating advice. There’s no shot the kid is going home, it seems cruel to make him talk about things that will not be. Leave it to Caesar.

“He seems earnest at least-” She offers, stopping abruptly when they hear;

“She came here with me.”

The response has Clove shooting up straight, rapidly looking between Cato and the screen.

“NO way in Hell.” She snaps, kicking the box by their feet away. “NOT a chance in hell. There's no way.”

“Is he trying to be us?” Cato questions, staring straight through the tv like he could intimidate the lie out of the boy from here.

“What does he think he’s trying to pull? There’s no chemistry there, there's not a chance in hell That's real. NO way. He’s trying to recreate us. He has to be.”

“Not a fucking shot.” He pulls her to his lap as if to illustrate the point, settling her knees on either side of his legs. “He has to be trying to be us. Stupid, stupid, plan. I want him dead just for suggesting it.”

“There's no other us.” Clove agrees, wrapping her legs around his waist, grinding her hips down into his. “Noone even comes close.”

“Never.” He assures, before coming down hard against her bottom lip.

—

“You don’t need to keep giving me surprises, Cato.” Clove teases, as he leads her down the back staircase to the roof of the training center. “You know I don’t even like to be surprised.”

“This isn’t so much a surprise, we’re done with most of those.” He gives her hand a tight squeeze as he leads her back to the main access levels of the building, where they are actually allowed to be.

“Baby, between all the gifts, the marshmallow treats for breakfast, and the dinner, and the second dinner on the roof…what's the big deal about nineteen?” Clove asks, following him down the stairs as closely as her legs can carry her, “We already won the games, it’s not like I escaped that..”

It goes without saying of course, That Clove has officially outlived her mother today.

“We’ve spent the last ten years training on your birthday, I missed your seventeenth, and you missed your eighteenth.” He pulls her into the main lobby of the training center, slipping in through a side door that they really shouldn’t even know exists. “It’s the first time since I've met you that you actually have more guaranteed.” Sure, there was never a question that she would win her games, but now it’s actual reality. There are no more games to hangover them, no more risk to their lives. “And that’s worth a lot.”

Clove wraps her arm around his forearm, squeezing her hand in both appreciation and understanding. “Well, thank you. I’m not complaining about the outpouring of love.”

He grins at her, but brings them to a pause before the door to one of the many lounge areas. “Just so you know..this was absolutely not my idea.”

“What do you–”

“I told them you’d hate it, do not take my head off for this.”

Cato pushes the door open, and gently nudges her inside before him.

Inside the private room is as close to what they could consider “friends.” There’s Enobaria and Brutus, next to Glimmer and Marvel. By the bar are Johanna Mason and Finnick Odair, eyes locked on the games actively happening on the screen, miss fire girl being chased down by flame in the trees. Johanna and Finnick’s tributes are long since dead, neither making it very far past the initial bloodbath this year.

“What the fuck is happening–” Clove narrows her eyes, as Enobaria intercepts her from the side.

“We figured you wouldn’t want to do anything big, but it’s a big deal, your first birthday as a victor.” She explains, pulling her closer into the room. “Considering your birthday is during the games Kid, you’re never going to escape this.” Enobaria squeezes her by the shoulder, letting her fully enter the space and soak it in. “Happy Birthday, Clove.”

Enobaria knows the significance of nineteen for her, the first birthday that Clove’s mother never had herself.

Glimmer looks like she’s about to envelope her in a hug when she stops short, putting her hands up. “Sorry, right, you don’t do touching! Happy Birthday!” She smiles brightly at the girl, “Cato said you’d hate this but I thought it would just be so fun!”

Marvel gestures to the back corner of the room. “Glimmer’s been planning this for weeks, she’s got a hell of a combo of food back there. The cookies are fantastic.”

“A little warning would have been nice, Cato.” Clove whispers through teeth clenched in a smile, making her way towards the back table Marvel had referenced. She grabs a single fry, arms still crossed firmly over her chest.

“Enobaria said you’d never agree.” Cato explains, reaching over her to grab a piece of one of the cookies Marvel had raved about. “And Glimmer really really wanted to see your face. I told her it wouldn’t be pleased but… People like you, Clove. You deserve to know that.”

She wants to argue back, that the only person in the entire group of kids they grew up with that liked her was him, that not even her father or her grandmother liked her, that even her mother didn’t like her enough to stay behind with her (which, Clove objectively knows is not the case), but she does not get the chance as Glimmer grabs her by the hand and pulls her away.

She’s passed around the room, to Brutus next, then Finnick and Johanna who are wrapped up in watching the girl from twelve submerge in the water.

“Annie wanted me to tell you she was going to come.” Finnick explains first, before nodding his head towards the screen. “It’s a little harder on her than most, when we lose our tributes.” He need not explain further, everyone being aware of Annie’s immense post games trauma. They all had it, but Annie actually showed it.

“Were you born for this shit, Clove? A birthday during the games, that's unbelievable.” Johanna taunts, gesturing to the screen. “Looks like your tributes are about to give you a gift too, look.”

Clove directs her attention to the games, where indeed, the pack of careers are chasing down Katniss Everdeen. A snide smirk grows across her face, but pauses when she is taken back by the blonde trailing behind them.

“Is that–”

“Damn, Loverboy played us all.” Brutus grumbles, leaning against the top of the bar beside Clove. “He got in with our kids, and is after the girl.”

“They’re using him to get to her, they have to be.” Glimmer suggests, and truthfully, Clove is sure of it too. The boy has no skills he offers them, except for a declaration of love for his partner.

“I can’t believe he’s hunting her down.” Cato comes behind her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder as she leans back against him. “So much for all that about being into her..”

They all watch as Katniss scrambles up the tree like a little squirrel, clearly experienced. Was this her talent? No, this wouldn’t earn an eleven.

The boy from two is threatening to come after her, and is indeed trying, but the sheer weight of him paired with a lack of experience sends him crashing down onto the solid earth beneath the trees.

“They’re so stupid to send him. Both of our girls are so much lighter.” Marvel shakes his head, redirecting his attention back to his plate of assorted snacks. “That’s like sending Cato over Clove, stupid.”

Clove scoffs as the girl from one goes next, missing her by several inches with a bow and arrow. “That was her skill, really Glimmer? She’s not even a moving target.”

Before Glimmer can defend the girl, Cato flinches as the District Two boy tries to take it into his own hands, missing by an even greater margin.

“They’re poor fucking excuses for Careers.” Cato decides, reaching behind the bar and grabbing himself an entire bottle of the first clear liquor he gets his hands on.

“We’d never be that bad. None of us.” Clove agrees, gesturing to herself, Cato, Glimmer and Marvel. “We’d never get outsmarted by a bitch from Twelve.” She snatches the bottle from Cato’s hands, taking a long, hard drink without even gagging this time. Growth.

“You’re all so humble.” Finnick chimes in, hoping off of the barstool he was straddling. “That’ll be it for me, I think. They’re not going to get her tonight.”

The boy from twelve, who has stayed in the back staring with wide doe eyes, contributing nothing to the hunt for the girl, suggests waiting her out, but never looks away from where she hides in the tree.

“He’s protecting her.” Clove recognizes the look he gives as he stares up the tree, something she registers as anything but malice. “That's why he’s with ours. He’s trying to lead them away, to keep her alive. He’s protecting her.”

“Maybe he really does like her.” Surprise floods Johanna’s voice. “I don’t think she gives a fuck about him, but he likes her.”

“He’s got a death wish.” Enobaria announces in the general direction of the group of young victors huddled around the bar. “They’ll take him out as soon as they realize what he’s doing. He’s buying her time, but she’ll get nothing out of it.”

“Haymitch Abernathy has to be practically unconscious by now.” Brutus comments, as the camera focuses away from their tributes– the district one girl and the district two boy getting a little too handsy for national television– and instead focuses on the quaking girl in the tree.

As if on cue, a little gray parcel descends into the trees directly to her lap.

“No fucking way.” Comes from Marvel.

“How the fuck did she get sponsors” is a growl from Cato.

“Is Haymitch even awake?” Asks Johanna.

“I knew she was going to be trouble.” Clove pushes back to head towards the table of her favorite treats. “If they don’t get her in the morning, we’re in for it….anyway. I think I'll enjoy my cake now.”

The next morning they wake up to the news that Katniss dropped a nest on their kids, the girl from one is dead, and she absconded with the bow and arrow that she pried from her dead hands.

Long distance weapon, score of 11, and apparent sponsor favorite.

In for it, indeed.

–

The four of them, Cato, Clove, Glimmer, and Marvel, are spaced out on the couch in the District One Suite, having been relieved from their ‘smile at sponsors’ duties for the time being by their older counterparts. Clove had gotten a little too close to tossing a steak knife at a man who suggested she exchange favors in order for a few hundred dollars to change hands, and Enboaria pulled her away just in time to prevent an addition to her body count, sending the four of them out of sight and out of mind for the afternoon.

Their tributes didn't even need anything, they had a whole cornucopia full of goods.

“What is she doing?” Glimmer rises from the couch to the balls of her feet, when an arrow pierces the bag of apples hanging precariously amongst their supplies. “She’s trying to–”

Before the words fall the apple does, and the entire screen is filled with a massive explosion

“I fucking knew it.” Clove throws the nearest pillow in the general direction of the screen. “It’s taking them way too long to kill her, she’s going to end up getting one of them first.”

“At least it isn’t us.” Marvel shrugs, wrapping his legs around Glimmer and pulling her closer to him, deftly braiding tiny braids into her blonde curls. “That girl is sneaky.”

“She’s smart, she smoked them out. I hate to say it but she’s a threat.” Cato finally admits, rubbing his hand over his face in frustration.

“Oh look– and now she got yours! Oh fuck she is good” Clove directs, just as the boy from one crumbles to his knees with an arrow in his chest. “She’s taken down both of yours! What's that leave..our two.. Five’s girl..the two from twelve..the two from eleven.”

“One from Eleven.”

“No, they’re both still alive I think, Cato–”

“No. Not anymore, look.”

Clove snaps her head to attention as a shaky, crying song comes from Katniss, watching the life drain out of that little girl’s face. “Is this a talent show now? Glimmer, can you imagine going up there and doing a little twirl….Glimmer?”

The response is sniffles, and the Blonde girl with tears streaming down her face.

“Are you for real?”

“Glimmer you WON the games six years ago. You KILLED twelve year olds. There’s no crying over the Hunger Games.”

“They look like babies to me now, she was just so small!” Glimmer whimpers, curling up against Marvel’s side. “She was just so little.”

“Glimmer you’re like twenty one, they aren’t THAT much younger than you were when you won.” Clove nudges her foot with her own. “Come on. Laugh at the singing.”

“It’s not about that–”

Silence falls over them when they catch what Katniss does next. As they watch her arrange flowers around this girl, effectively burying her. She gives some gesture towards a camera, and Glimmer once again lets out a little sob from inside her chest.

“Everyone is going to root for her.” Cato thinks aloud, shaking his head in utter, absolute disdain. “Who buries another tribute?’ “Someone who hates the games and everything they stand for.”

Noone dares to mention the implications of Clove’s statement.

Hours later, they are with the rest of the victors when an announcement is made.

They’re looking at each other across the room, the silent communication of let's get out of here understood between them both, as evidenced by the smirk on his face and the playful raise of her eyebrows. Cato is letting himself out of the conversation when the room goes from boisterous, jovial conversation to a hushed, stun crowd of victors.

Two Victors.

Two Victors from the same district.

The silence is felt most strongly by the movement of Cato to Clove, of Glimmer to Marvel, of Annie somehow even closer to Finnick. Glimmer’s siblings gravitate closer to her, and Enobaria takes a nearly imperceptible step towards the group as well, though unclear to whom.

The girl goes in search of Peeta, who is somehow against all odds still alive.

“Haymitch, what the hell did you do?” It’s Cashmere, oddly enough, who’s beautiful voice breaks the silence.

“It’s between us two, now.” He says simply, raising his glass towards the entire horde of careers. “You’re welcome, cheers.”

“Seriously, Haymitch, what did you do?” One of the far older victors, closer to Haymitch in age than any of the others, grasps him by both shoulders. “What have you done?”

“Young love everyone! We all know how much they simply eat that up.” He directs directly at Cato and Clove, something between mischief and disdain on his features. “I have to thank you, you’re great examples to persuade them.”

“We are nothing like them.” Clove hisses, taking a step dangerously close to Haymitch, hands reaching for the neck of his shirt. “Never compare us to them.

“It’s inevitable, Sweetheart. Don’t get all riled up, trust me, they don’t want to be you two.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cato steps in now, towering over the drunk on his barstool.

“You don’t have to worry about them stealing your attention, I can promise. She won’t want it.”

“Well she’ll be dead soon, anyway, and Two will have Four Victors in three years. A record.” Clove promises, stepping away from the middle aged man, but not before she grabs Cato’s arm and pulls him back too.

By the time that Katniss finds Peeta, on the verge of death, and manages to drag him to a cave, Clove is sure of it. Two has this one in the bag.

“Look at her. She looks like she wants to cry anytime she has to touch him.” Glimmer taunts, watching the girl’s color drain from her flesh anytime she has to get too close to the boy.

“I’d want to cry if you looked at me like she looks at him.” Marvel agrees, the four of them standing in a semi circle around Haymitch, who is slumped over the bar.

“Wouldn’t it be an absolute shame to die a complete virgin, probably never even been kissed.” Clove barbs, a wide smile plastered on her face. “Oh look at her. She looks so uncomfortable. Good job Haymitch, you were right, this is great.”

“This is your grand love story?” Gloss chimes in from across the room, all of them locked in on watching the absolute dread in Katniss Everdeen’s eyes as she inches closer to the boy.

“Will you all shut your mouths-” Haymitch slams his glass down, turning to berate them at the exact moment Clove lets out an absolute scream of a laugh.

“Shut the FUCK up!”

“There’s NO way people believe this.”

“She looks like she’s going to cry.”

“Oh my god, they think that's a kiss?” Clove snarks, craning her head around for Enobaria. “Enobaria! Was that how I was kissing at sixteen?”

“Clove, I wish that's how you two were at sixteen.” Enobaria joins the circle, sneering at the screen full of awkward teen barely-kisses.

“You two weren’t even that tame in training, everyone knew you were just a few minutes apart from sneaking off to some closet.” Brutus adds, completing the circle behind Haymitch.

“There's no way anyone believes that's real.” Glimmer agrees, shaking her head in disgust. “And without any sort of chapstick, that couldn’t have even felt good.”

“What do you know about what people believe?” Haymitch waves his hands about, borderline belligerent at the taunting and jeers from the generations worth of career victors. “That looks perfectly real.”

Cato raises his eyebrow, moving at the same time she does, before he grabs Clove by the face, crashing his lips against hers. She understands his point, immediately hooking her arms around his shoulders just in time for him to bend her backwards.

“See what I mean, when I said I wish they only looked like your two.” Enobaria whispers to Haymitch, who has pushed himself up and through the group of victors.

When they pull apart, Clove is smirking and Cato calls out to the disappearing drunk. “Still think yours looked believable?”

–

The games continue to play out as a nightmare.

Their girl almost gets her, only to brag and get her neck broken by the giant guy from eleven.

Clove sees herself out, unable to face the mocking she has so freely dished out herself.

Their boy is in the final three. And instead of throwing the bow off, or tossing them to the mutts below, he tries to take them both head on.

A mercy arrow comes from fire girl, after she and Peeta decide it’s worth untying the tourniquet on his leg.

“Well Haymitch, we have to hand it to you.” Brutus offers, as the sun comes up on the screen in the arena. “Congratulations on your victors–”

Another rule change pauses the congratulations and the surprise of a twelve win.

Only one victor.

“She’ll shoot him. She’s got a sister to get home to.” Finnick claims, shaking his head in distaste. “Sad. Thought they had a chance.”

“He’ll bleed out anyway” Johanna agrees, “He actually likes her, too. He isn’t faking it. “

“Think he’ll die for her though?” Enobaria questions, settling down on the couch beside Clove.

“If he loves her, for real, then yeah. He will.” Cato admits, shaking his head.

The berries are in her hand and it’s Clove who knows what's happening first.

“OH my god they’re going to kill themselves.”

“There has to be a–”

“Cato, shh, listen.”

The room full of victors is completely silent, truly sitting on the edge of their seats, in various stages of disbelief as the two of them raise their suicide pact to their mouths in perfect unison.

A panicked voice fills the arena, and the entirety of the room lets out anticipated breaths they did not mean to be holding.

I present to you the winners of the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games.

The room is still quiet, processing, accepting the reality and anticipating the fallout from exactly what Katniss Everdeen just suggested and did, when two finely dressed officials enter the room without so much as a knock.

“Cato. Clove. President Snow would like to see you both. Immediately. “

#always remember we're burned for better #arwbfb #arwbfb tag #clato #cato and clove #clato au #cato and clove fanfic #clato fanfic #the hunger games fanfic #glimmer and marvel are back in buisness

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maiverie · 10 months

Note

Hahaha… heyyy…

Long time no talk maiverie 😜‼️ I totally like didn’t disappear off of the Earth of Tumblr… or did I.?? 😳😳 I REALLY REALLY MOST DESPERATELY hope that you’re doing well bffl!! I WILL ALWAYS RESPOND TO YOU FROM NOW ON UNTIL I FEEL LIKE ITS TIME FOR ME TO JUMP INTO MY DARK HABIT OF GHOSTING TUMBLR 😚🫶 BIG NEWS. I’m ngl… but I’m kind of leaning towards Heeseung bias.. BUT. Jake will always be ma numba 1 hyperpuppy boy ☝️I KNOW.. WHO THE HELL AM I?1!?1 I DONT EVEN KNOW ME ANYMORE T-T ! MY WHOLE BLOG IS DEDICATED TO THAT MANS‼️

ANYWAYS DID YOU HEAR BOUT THAT P1HARMONY CONCERT?1!1? AND REX ORANGE COUNTY AND LAUV TOO?1!1? THERE ARE SO FUCKING MANYPEOPLE TOURING AUSTRALIA ITS SOOOOOO UNBELIEVABLE !!! I LITERALLY BARELY LISTEN TO THEM BUT I WANNA GO SOOOOO BAD 😫😫 but like what the hell I dont get paid enough to even afford those tickets 😟

I have no excuse to run away from you anymore. I hope you didn’t feel lonely :( ENOUGH OF DAT GLOOMY SHIT!! IM SO GLAD YOU HAVE SO MANY MOOTS NOW!! YOUVE GROWN SO MUCH ON THIS PLATFORM AND IM GENUINELY SO PROUD OF YOU T-T I will now be off to go read your works until like 3am and shed tears (+repost, like, let the whole world know and shed some more tears) I LOVE YOU LOADS MAIVERIE!! 🤍 ALSOOO HAPPY LATE VALENTINES DAY??? IK IM LIKE 5 MONTHS LATE BUT ITS WHATEVER… MUCH LOVE 🥰

- from dat bitch that always dips

SHUT THE FUCK UP SELENA YOURE HEEEREEEE???? 😭😭😭😭😭😭 im actually gna kms i missed u a lil too much i’m gna cry 😭😭😭😭😭😭

KSJEKSJWLWIJDAKADKA i didn’t actually expect a reply CMONNNN it’s been months ☹️💖 (i ghosted tumblr too for a few months but it’s okay we both have our faults and we’re still perfect amazing sexy ppl 🫂) ALSO SHUT UPPPP THAT IS THE BIGGEST NEWS EVER IAKEKWLFJLSS IM CRYYINGGGF idk if u rmb but i used to be jay biased 😭 you 🤝 me 🤝 succumbing to heeseung BUT PSLSSS HELPP IM SO EXCITED FOR U (i can finally call u my fave heetual 😽) SO WHAT CHANGED UR MIND ?? WAS BITE ME THE FINAL STRAW ?? 🤭

OH MY GOD I DIDDD 😭😭😭😭 i’m literally confused bc at first it was that NOBODY was coming to aus and suddenly everybody and their dog wants to come 😭 also niki is coming?? taylor swift?? CHARLIE PUTH??? like hold upppp 😭😭

🥹🥹 NO BC SHUT UP WHY DID UR LASK GEN MAKE ME WANNA KMS IN A HAPPY SAD WAY IM 😭😭😭 NOOOOO BC U ARE MY DAY 1 😭💖🫵 I LOVE U SM WTH this acc has definitely grown a lot since the beginning but it makes me so proud and happy that you were a part of that 😭 nothing makes me happier than interacting w u so tysm for popping in ☹️💗 also it literally is so late GO TO SLEEP you’re like an hr ahead of me which means it’s 3:30???!!!!!$&”&:&;” btw as i was typing this i saw ur rb on bite by bite STOPP WHY ARE U READING IT GO AWAY 😭😭 naur cos it’s so different from my usual writing style BUT PLS IM GLAD IT WAS OKAY 😭💖💖💖💞

anyway i miss u i love u HAPPY BELATED VALENTINE’S DAY thank you for stopping by MWAH MWAH MWAH appreciate u loads 😽😽 hope u are keeping warm for winter && work + uni are going well 😵‍💫 vvvv exciting news that u r now heeseung biased I CANT BE MORE PROUD 🤭😈 love u long long long time my fave KEEP SAFE PLEASE EAT WELL STAY HEALTHY BE HAPPY && AND I WILL BE HAPPY 💕💞💓💗💝💘💖

#ask #@ : jaeyummies ♡

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hanziii-11 · 4 months

Text

just imagining the hogwarts ppl as 21st century teenagers...

hermione:

- always carrying a tote bag with books in it :)

- comfy clothes

- boba runs :>

- probably surfs the internet for the curly hair community

- pinterest and tumblr are her main apps

- along with every vocabulary app ever

- doesn't stop posting on every social media about house elves

- reads essay writing advice

- likes taylor swift

ginny:

- that one girl who's crazy good at sports

- shorts and sleeveless t-shirts

- literally the coolest person in school

- everybody's crush

- doesn't care much for social media but if she had to she'd post on instagram

- her camera rolls consists of team pictures and family pictures that's it

- would wake up ron at 3 a.m to order pizza because, "what else is a phone for, ron?"

- probably gossips with the teachers

- types in all lowercase

luna:

- nOt LiKe oTheR GiRlS except she's fr

- cozy sweaters

- would find the most random coffee shop and paint there

- definitely has a blog

- probably listens to the weirdest music

- earphones in all the time

- daydreamer (as always)

- wears dungarees

harry:

- that one guy who's always in the drama but doesn't want to be 🥲

- definitely a nike guy (wears jordans for every occasion)

- watches youtube shorts (because he strikes me as someone who disregards any other form of technology)

- never keeps his name as the username for any social media (since he's famous and all)

- basketball. he plays basketball

- him and hermione are swifties although harry doesn't really advertise it

- cargo shorts and loose t-shirts

ron:

- always forwarding tik-toks to his friends

- probably wears hoodies (anything but maroon please)

- says he loves ed sheeran for the music but it's really because he looks like him and wants to be famous like harry

- hates math with a passion

- likes watching try not to laugh videos

- would be really modest about being great at something

- is a converse guy

draco:

- has an extremely concerning search history

- posts controversial text posts on tumblr under a fake name

- is embarrassed about what he likes

- tried a dating app once and searched for death eaters. he was then banned from the app.

- always keeps his hoodie hood on

neville:

- has like a million boards on pinterest

- can't stop watching food videos

- spends all summer trying to convince his grandma to install pinterest and follow him

- likes to crochet?

- reads books with no fandom and then becomes the only one to make fanart of that

- that one quiet guy who has a crazy snap episode that no one expects

#hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #hogwarts 21st century #hermione granger #harry potter #ginny weasley #draco malfoy #neville longbottom #ron weasley #luna lovegood

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wolfverse-stories · 8 months

Text

It's the end of the world as we know it (And I'm not fine)

(Reverse Robins / Zombie au)

Chapter 1

"Come on Roy, pick up" Tim paced nervously back and forth listening as the phone rang.

"Hey this is Arsenal, Me and Hood are out doing rad guy stuff right now so leave a message" Tim sighed shoving the phone back in his pocket.

"Did he just say Rad guy stuff?" Jason peered over the couch.

"Come on we need to leave" Tim ordered tossing his backpack over his shoulders.

It had been a week since the world was plunged into madness. Most of the Justice League had unexpectedly disappeared leaving the world in panic. The next day a virus was released upon the world, one that turned its victims into flesh-eating Zombies.

Tim had been watching the news when two sidekicks appeared at his door looking absolutely terrified. He let them take shelter while he tried to figure out what was going on. Damian called him, telling him that the girls were safe with him along with the baby bird, they had been working on a case outside of Gotham when the virus hit. They were now staying in an abandoned hotel trying to wait out the swarm of flesh-eating. Tim did not have that luxury as all the zombies were moving towards big cities such as Gotham.

The few heroes and sidekicks that were left had agreed to meet at the watch tower. Sadly most of the Zeta-tubes were out and the closest to Gotham was in Texas. Tim had been waiting to see if he could find anyone else in Gotham but it looked like they were all that was left.

"Where are we going?" Bart asked curiously.

"To pick up Babs then we're heading for the watch tower," Tim said pulling out a grappling hook "You know how to use this"

"Yeah Cass showed me," the speedster said talking to the device.

"Good, no one is touching down today, the streets are too dangerous"

Meanwhile

Damian, Dick, and Cass had been working on a case when this mess started. It had been a blood bath, he was so grateful that Kori was off visiting her home planet.

Wally and Steph managed to find them somehow and now all four were staying in an old hotel. As soon as they were safe he called to check on Jason and Tim. They had agreed to meet in Huston and go to the watch tower. However, they had to wait until the swarm had moved away before they could leave.

"Looks like this is our chance," Wally said peering out the window "I'll go ahead and make sure the path is clear" Wally zoomed out of the building to the car once he got there, and he gave the others the okay sign.

"Okay straight for the car" Damian ordered picking Dick up. The girl nodded before dashing off. Damian stayed right behind them in case something attacked from behind.

"Everybody in?" Wally asked as the others climbed in. Cass responded with a swift nod as she buckled her young brother.

"Then let's get going" Damian ordered. Wally quickly started the car and drove out of the parking lot.

Back in Gotham

"Tim" Barbra smiled with relief "it's good to see you're all okay"

"I'm glad you're okay too Babs" he gave her a friendly smile.

"What about the other?" she asked anxiously.

"Steph Cass and Baby Bird are fine, They're with Big Bird Jay's with me" he nodded to where Bart and Jason were sitting on the roof.

"That's good" she nodded going back to her computer.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked getting his line ready.

"I'm not going" she replied softly.

"What?" Tim jerked back nearly falling out of the window.

"I can't," she said meeting his gaze "Gotham needs me, my father needs me"

"In case you haven't noticed there's not much left of Gotham and your dad can come it's not like secret identities are that important anymore" She shook her head sadly.

"I'm sorry I can't leave This is my home and when this is over the survivors are going to need someone to guide them" Determination burned in her eyes.

"Are you sure?" She nodded "Okay I'm heading to Roy's to check on him then we-"

"Tim" Barbra frowned putting a hand on his shoulder "Roy didn't make it"

"Oh," something inside Tim broke as he realized his best friend was gone "What about Rose?"

"I'm not sure," Barbra said wrapping her arms around him as he collapsed "I'm so sorry"

Meanwhile

"You've been awfully quiet" Damian observed turning to Steph.

"Well forgive me if the end of the world brings me down" she snapped before looking away "I'm sorry it's just I can't help but worry about Jason"

"He looks at me" Steph looked back tears pricking her eyes "Jason is too stubborn to die, he will make it out of this on pure spit and then he will make it his mission to spend the rest of time annoying everyone in the watch tower"

"Thanks" Steph laughed whipping the tears out of her eyes.

"There's no need to thank me it's the truth"

More stories / Next

#batfam #fanfic #tim drake #zombies #dc #au #barbra gordon #damian wayne #jason todd

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whats-k-popping · 2 years

Note

Can I request 54 with sick taehyung? I love your writing!!

Thanks love! <333 AAH YES! Keep the soft fever-checking prompts coming!! I love them so much! Thank you so much for the request!

Pairing: Taegi - Platonic intention, but open to interpretation.

Prompt: "I dunno. Do I feel hot to you?"

Words: 1317

Warnings: Fever || Sick Member || Mentions of nausea (Just soft. Very very soft)

It doesn’t snow often in Seoul. Occasional flurries, sometimes it lays. But it’s rarely enough to play in. So when Jungkook looks out his window and sees a thick, fluffy, white blanket coating the outdoors, an accumulation of hours of snowfall, he immediately gathers the rest of the members. He intends to drag them all out with him, whether they want to or not.

Much to Jungkook’s amusement, none of the members argue when he explains that he wants to play in the snow. Jin and Hoseok want to make snow angels. Namjoon and Yoongi want to build a snowman. And the maknaes want to have a snowball fight. They’re optimistic they cover everything. Without delay, they dress in layers and litter the yard with snowy footprints.

Taehyung’s having so much fun. He watches as snowflakes fall from the sky, sticking in their hair and landing on their awaiting tongues. He listens to the laughter of all the members. He’s chasing after Jungkook with a massive snowball when a wave of fatigue washes over him. He drops the snowball and bends over panting. The cold air is making it hard for him to take a deep breath; his breaths are short and ragged. His hands are on his knees just to keep him from falling face first into the snow.

Jungkook stops running when he realizes Taehyung isn’t chasing him anymore. His elated smile drops when he sees the state his youngest hyung is in. “Tae, you okay.” He calls over, drawing the attention of the other hyungs.

Soon enough, there’s a crowd of people surrounding him. No one’s laughing. Taehyung hates that silence. They were all just enjoying themselves and now they have to focus on him. He doesn’t want to ruin the snow day. So he holds his breath and quickly grabs a handful of snow just to shove it down Jungkook’s jacket in one swift motion. They are laughing again in a matter of seconds. Jungkook’s chasing after Jimin, now, who joined in on the fun and snuck a decent chunk of snow down the maknae’s back.

Everybody’s back to having fun and enjoying the snow. But Taehyung still feels unreasonably tired. And his muscles ache far too much for just the snow fun they’ve been having. Before any members can notice, Taehyung slips from the middle of the yard and sits down on the porch. He’s convinced he just needs a minute to rest and then he can go back to having fun with the members.

He suddenly feels suffocated by all of his layers. He removes his winter gloves and outer coat, setting them to the side. Shortly after, his beanie and zip-up hoodie are removed too. It doesn’t make sense. He knows it is cold outside, under 0 degrees; But he doesn’t feel cold. There’s a heat pricking at his skin. He tries to take a breath but the brisk air gets caught in his throat. He lets out a harsh cough into the crook of his elbow.

The coughing draws Yoongi’s attention. It’s never good to hear one of them coughing, he immediately thinks of their throats and how they could damage their singing. Especially Taehyung with how much force he puts behind each cough. When he spots Taehyung at the porch, his concern peaks. Taehyung’s only wearing a t-shirt in this cold. Taehyung hates the cold. It’s a weakness they share, having both grown up in the heat of Daegu. There’s a reason the nickname winter bear has stuck with him for so long. Despite how much he claims to love snow, Taehyung wishes he could hibernate like bears to avoid the winter months.

Yoongi approaches Taehyung and takes a silent seat beside him. “You don’t want to play anymore?” He asks, noticing how the younger is looking longingly at the other members.

“Just taking a breather,” Taehyung replies.

Yoongi notices Taehyung’s forehead is damp. He wonders if it’s just melted snowflakes or maybe something else. “Want to help me make hot chocolate?” Yoongi asks, trying to be coy. “We shouldn’t stay out much longer, someone might catch a cold.”

Taehyung snorts, “That’s not how getting sick works, hyung.” Yet, he stands and collects his clothing in his arms.

“Well being in the cold certainly won’t help anyone stay healthy.” Yoongi counters as he stands. When Taehyung starts gathering his clothes, Yoongi finally decides to address the reason the vocalist stripped himself of so many layers. “What’s the deal with that? Why’d you take your coats off?” He tries to sound curious without sounding judgemental.

The vocalist shrugs, “I was feeling uncomfortable. Like, too warm. I thought getting some more air might do me some good.” He realizes how weird it sounds when it’s actually snowing outside to feel too warm. He’s starting to suspect something might be going on with his body.

Yoongi seems to draw the same conclusion, “You don’t have a fever, do you?”

“I dunno,” Taehyung contemplates the question. He does feel tired, and achy, and entirely too sticky. A fever would make sense. “Do I feel hot to you?” He turns to Yoongi expectantly.

Yoongi slips off a glove and presses the back of his hand to Taehyung’s forehead. But he can’t get a reading on it, his own hand is red and numbed from prolonged exposure to the cold. He pulls his hand back, shaking it to improve circulation. “I’m too cold to tell. Why don’t we get a thermometer?” He offers, ushering the young vocalist back into the dorms.

Yoongi helps Taehyung put on dry clothes. He dries the vocalist’s hair and notices it’s damp again quickly. He’s going to check with a thermometer for confirmation, but now he’s convinced that Taehyung’s running a fever. He gets Taehyung set up on the couch, allowing the younger man to take up all three spots with his body. Finally, Taehyung’s got the thermometer sticking out of his mouth. He didn’t even fight it too much, fatigue taking over. When it beeps, Yoongi pulls it out and clicks his tongue, “38.9. Looks like a fever to me, TaeTae.”

Taehyung pouts, finally allowing himself to wither at his illness. His fatigue doubles, the aches multiply, his head’s pounding so hard it’s making him nauseous. Lights and sounds are too bright and too loud. He’s miserable, and he wants the world to know it. “Hyung, make it go away,” he whimpers.

Yoongi chuckles, smoothing over Taehyung’s sweaty hairs. “I can’t make it go away, Tae.” He replied apologetically, “But I can help you start feeling better. How about a nice, hot bowl of jook and a cup of hot chocolate to start?”

“Will there be marshmallows?” Taehyung asks shyly, his blanket pulled over his mouth.

“Think you can stomach marshmallows,” Taehyung’s nod is shy, but earnest, “Then you can have all the marshmallows you want.”

“Can we watch movies?” Taehyung asks.

“Any movie you want.”

“And cuddles?”

“Naturally. We know how our TaeTae loves his cuddles.” Yoongi tickles Taehyung a bit in response. He’s so needy when he’s not feeling well. He just wants to be pampered. “Alright, you rest here for a while. I’ll get started on the jook and hot chocolate. Just call me if you need anything.” He brushes a hand against Taehyung’s cheek before walking to the kitchen. Now that his hand is warmed up, he can feel the fever radiating off his dongsaeng. He coos in sympathy.

One by one, members file in from outside. Yoongi fills each of them in on Taehyung as they pass. When Yoongi’s finished preparing the jook and hot chocolate for Taehyung, he goes to serve the younger member only to find he’s sound asleep. He sets the tray on the coffee table and kisses Taehyung’s cheek. He squeezes himself onto the edge of the couch so Taehyung has someone to hold. “Sleep tight, winter bear.”

A/N: As always, thanks for reading to the end! Feedback is always appreciated. And please let me know if I missed any tags or TWs. Please call me out for any errors you notice!

#bts #bts sickfic #sick!taehyung #caretaker!yoongi #bts canonverse #taegi #tw fever #aki sickfic #aki writes #aki requests #aki drabbles

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banannabethchase · 1 year

Text

Adam finally takes that damned Chemistry midterm, and he finds himself in an unexpected conversation. Twice.

The final chapter! This fic ended up being surprisingly close to my heart and I am sending hugs to everybody who reads, kudos'd, and commented.

Thank you for reading this story and enjoying it with me. For some reason, this iteration of Mox and Hangman really got to me and compelled me to write them. I'm glad I did.

Mini playlist: Happier - Bastille All I Need Is You - The Click Five Paint You Wings - All Time Low Trouble - Twice I'm Only Me When I'm With You - Taylor Swift

Here's the Spotify playlist link if you would like to listen! Love, hugs, and HangMox!

Midterms, Adam thinks, are designed by the devil. Tomorrow is Thursday, the Chemistry test, and he’s less anxious than he was before the weekend spent wrestling and studying. Now, though, he has to force Mox and Eddie to go to a different end of the school to make sure he can get some final cramming in.

“But we had so much fun studying last night,” Mox had said, turning those puppy dog eyes on him.

“That was not studying,” Adam insisted. “That was blowjobs on the couch next to the study guide.”

Mox shrugged, grinning a little dirty. “And I’m down to study with you any time you want.”

Adam shakes his head, taking himself back to the present. He passed his AP Human Geography test despite him and Mox spending much of their study time naked, and his AP English in class essay. Now he’s face down in his Chemistry and French reviews during his lunch block, shoveling a mediocre sandwich in his face while he practices balancing equations and conjugating irregular verbs in French copies of Chronicles of Narnia.

He almost doesn’t notice it when somebody walks up to his table.

“Hi.”

Adam raises his head slowly. He’s still not used to lacking the curtain of hair he’s used as a shield for the past few years, so he meets the speaker’s eyes sooner than he expects.

“Um,” he says, locking eyes with Kenny. “Yeah. Hi.”

“Can I sit?” He looks nervous. Kenny look nervous.

Adam decides to be nice, and nods. “Yeah, course.”

Kenny settles fidgeting with his necklace. “I, uh, I wanted to apologize.”

“What?” He doesn’t mean to be rude. He really doesn’t. But he can’t stop. Kenny Omega doesn't apologize. The Kenny he knew always took on any moment and tossed it to the side, went silent when asked a question he wasn't willing to address.

Kenny, to his credit, nods and smiles tightly. “That’s the response I deserve, I think. I’m sorry, specifically for being such a piece of shit after that one championship game, but also for, well. For not paying attention when you needed help.” He inches his hand near to where Adam’s rests on the table. But he doesn’t touch. “Adam, you didn’t deserve what I did to you.”

His first instinct, Adam realizes, is to lash out. To tell Kenny all the horrible things he’s thought about him in the past few months, make Kenny feel some of the shame that had been sitting in Adam’s belly since they lost that game, but it’s not there anymore. It’s transformed, settling in his stomach as something else. “I – I’m not sure what to say,” is what he settles for. “For what it’s worth, though, I wasn’t peaches and cream either.”

Kenny’s face crumples into something desperate. “God, I missed those weird things you’d say.” It’s kind. It’s not mockery – it’s memory.

“Unfortunately, you’d been right,” Adam says, and he edges his own hand, a little closer to Kenny’s. But still not touching. “I’d been drinking, hiding stuff in my water bottles.” He takes a deep breath, and confesses what he’d been holding for so long. That’s what the shame had turned into: accountability. “I was drunk for that game. That’s why we lost.”

Kenny, to his shock, shakes his head. “We lost because we, as a team, stopped communicating. I was the captain, and, god, your boyfriend" He pauses, squeezing his eyes shut. "I should – I should have seen all the problems, and I didn’t.” He runs one hand through his hair, but the other doesn’t move from its space devastatingly close to Adam’s. “I think we all fucked up, and I took it out on you." He's quiet for a moment. It reminds Adam, strangely, of his horses right before he opens the gate. Ready to rush out, let go, open the stride and run free. "And I was a coward, and didn’t tell Nick or Matt the truth, even when it hurt you.” He looks Adam dead in the eye. “I’m sorry.”

Adam sits with it, the apology and the truth that’s haunted him for months now. “Thank you,” he almost whispers. “And I’m sorry.”

Kenny’s fingertips close the gap, and something in Adam’s body sparks. Kenny is familiar, but so different than he used to be. It’s tantalizing, intimidating, impossible to ignore. He’d forgotten what being so close to Kenny felt like. And it’s so, so different from Mox. “I’m sorry, too.”

“You already said that.”

Kenny shrugs, his smile growing earnest, honest. Open. It’s the most beautiful Adam’s seen him in over a year. “I thought I might owe you more than one.” He looks down at their hands, and his eyes widen. “Oh. Um.”

“No, it’s okay!” Adam says. “You’re good.”

“I don’t,” Kenny says, “I, um, know you’re dating Jon Moxley –”

“It’s not exclusive,” Adam blurts out. He freezes. “I mean, not that -”

“I get – no, I understand, right?” Kenny laughs, a little panicked. “Yeah. I don’t – I’m not here to, like, get in your way or anything. I just know you need – deserved – an apology.” He pats the back of Adam’s hand gently, then moves away, rubbing at the top of his legs. “Blaming you was easy. But it was also wrong.”

Adam nods, wondering how to say everything else, how to apologize for not talking to Kenny. For not knowing how to ask for help. For letting the team down. He doesn’t know. He really, really doesn’t know.

Kenny gives him a strange little smile, then pushes his chair back. “I, uh, I’m currently skipping AP English, which is a felony, if you ask Mrs. Nguyen, so I better get going.” He stands, and shoots Adam another one of those devastating smiles. “I’ll see you around, okay?”

Adam nods, smiling back. “Yeah. See you around.”

He can’t get his face back to normal until after his study block and midway through his Chemistry review class, where Alex keeps kicking him under the table whenever he zones out. He does not know what he did to earn the love of these DND nerds, but he’ll do anything to keep it.

While balancing equations, Alex leans over. “What’s got you so zoned out?”

“Nothing,” Adam lies, unable to contain his smile through it.

“You have sex with Moxley in the wings of the theater again?” he whisper.

“No, dumbass.”

“Didn’t think so,” Alex says, nodding knowingly. “You look different when you have a Moxley moment. Last time I saw this…” His eyes widen. “Oh, shit.”

“Shut up,” Adam says, wishing again he had his long hair to hid the way his entire head turns red, “shut up. Do your stupid Chemistry practice.”

“If he hurts you, Silver and I will kill him,” Alex says earnestly.

His French test goes well, and he, finally, feels like he may be able to pull off a passing grade on the Chemistry test tomorrow. He lets himself think about just how he may celebrate tomorrow afternoon with Mox, when he sees him waiting at his truck. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Adam says. “You – is everything okay?”

Mox nods. “Yeah. I’m good.” He eyes Adam. “Are you?”

Adam nods, slowly. “Yeah. What’s wrong? You look weird.”

“I heard you ran into Kenny,” Mox says. He’s scuffing the bottom of his shoe against the ground.

Ah. That. “Yeah,” Adam says. “I did.”

Mox lifts his head. His eyes, to Adam’s shock, are red. “You guys getting back together, then?”

Immediately, Adam shakes his head. “No. Why – did somebody say we were?”

“Rumors,” Mox says.

Adam steps closer to him. “Are – are you freaking out about it or something?”

“I just don’t want to lose you!” Mox practically yells. Adam only flinches a little bit. Mox’s hands are shaking as he shoves them back in his pockets. “He’s your Eddie, and you’ve never done the whole more than one person, and that’s fine, but if you’re gonna go back to him, I need…I need to know, okay, because I think I can survive losing you, but…” He trails off, and when he looks back to Adam, he’s crying. Jon Moxley is crying. “But I gotta know, Cowboy. I gotta know if you’re choosing him.”

Adam feels the pieces of Mox shatter and collapse around him. To his surprise, the words come easily. He doesn't even have to pause to unscramble them from his mind; they're just there. “I’m choosing you,” Adam says, and he puts his hand under Mox’s chin, lifting it gently. “Hey. Even if he and I get back together, which isn’t even in the plan right now, I still choose you.” He smiles as hard, as meaningful, as he can. He doesn’t want to be the reason Mox looks like this. “Hey. Come on.” He waits until Mox looks up, meets his eyes. “I’m gonna keep you, okay?”

Mox is shaking a little bit, won’t meet Adam’s eyes. “You might not.”

“I will,” Adam promises. It might be too big, to earnest, too much for high school. But he shuts up that part of his mind. He’s not worried about what happens next. He only cares about who he has right now. “Mox, I want you.” Mox clenches his fists so tightly it looks like it hurts until Adam grabs them in his hands. “That’s not gonna change.”

Mox rests his forehead against Adam’s, but his eyes are still closed. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure,” Adam insists. “Kenny doesn’t – he doesn’t get to have all of me anymore. If he wants me back, he’s gonna have to learn to share.” He lets out a little laugh. “To be honest, I don’t know if he’d be able to.”

Mox nods, then leans in, burying his face into Adam’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around Adam like a lifeline. Adam’s not used to being the strong one, not used to being the anchor for somebody else. But he holds Mox, and he feels right.

“You guys okay?” Eddie pops up over Mox’s shoulder. He’s covered in wood shavings – he must have had his Woodworking final today.

Adam smiles, as gently as he can. “Yeah. I ran into Kenny today and…” He shrugs.

Eddie’s eyes immediately go hard. “Did you break his heart?” Adam wants to pretend he isn’t flooded with fear. “I swear, if you –”

“No, Eddie,” Mox says, lifting his head up. “I panicked.”

Eddie relaxes, and a knowing smile spreads across his face. “Oh, sweetheart,” he says, voice a little teasing, “you thought he was gonna leave you.”

“Shut up,” Mox says, diving back into Adam’s shoulder.

“He done this before?” Adam asks, running his hand up and down Mox’s back as he sighs against Adam’s shirt.

Eddie nods. “Sometimes he forgets he’s stuck with me forever.”

“Not stuck,” Mox mumbles into Adam’s shoulder.

“What’d he say?”

“He said he’s not stuck,” Adam translates. “So, probably, he’s being sappy.”

“I’m not being sappy.” Mox pulls himself to standing, changes his posture. His eyes are still red, though. He rolls his shoulders. “I’m fine.”

“You’re a sap,” Eddie corrects, pulling him in for a rough kiss to the side of the head. Adam realizes that there’s so much of Eddie in Mox – in the mannerisms, in the word choice, in everything. He likes it that way. “Alright, Cowboy, where are we headed?”

“I have to pass my chem test tomorrow, so I can drop you both off at home and then I’m off.”

Mox shrugs. “I mean,” he says, “I could help you study.”

“Oh, god, no,” Eddie groans. “He tries that on you, too?”

“Yep,” Adam says. “Does he do the thing where he tries to look over your shoulder and,” he throws up finger quotes, “accidentally gives you a hickey?”

Eddie barks out a laugh, and Mox yells, “Stop talking about me like I’m not right here!”

The conversation lasts the whole drive.

Adam wakes up half an hour before his alarm from a bad dream, hands shaking and cold. He’d dreamt he failed the chemistry test so badly he got kicked out of school and became professional clown.

He’s afraid of clowns.

Fumbling, he reaches for his phone in the dark and checks to see Mox’s late night text. you got this cowboy.

He relaxes, and falls back against the pillows. He’s too wired to sleep, but he mentally reviews the material, to the point where he gives up on resting and jumps in the shower.

He probably shouldn’t, but, when he’s on his way out the door, he calls Mox.

“Zup?” comes Mox’s gravely sleep voice. It sends something fizzy through Adam. “You ‘kay?”

“Yeah! I’m good. I just, uh, I woke up early. I was wondering if you would want me to pick you up?”

There’s some rustling. “Yeah, I can – yeah. You feeling okay?” Something thuds. “Ow. Are you stressing out about your test?”

“Had a bad dream,” Adam says, grabbing a muffin before he puts on his jacket. “Freaked out. Saw your text and I was cool.”

“Aw,” Mox says, “you love me.”

“You love me too, asshole,” Adam says into the phone, grinning. “I’ll be by your place around fifteen, twenty minutes. Sound good?”

“Yup,” Mox says, “see you soon.”

And, because as much as he doesn’t want to admit it, Adam’s a sap, he hangs up with a, “Love you.”

Adam bops along to something saccharine sweet from a Happy playlist on Spotify, and sings along to all the songs, even the ones he doesn’t know.

He pulls into Mox’s driveway, where he’s leaning against the house with a cigarette in his mouth, looking exhausted. “Hey, stranger.”

“No,” Mox says, opening the car door. “Too tired. Can’t appreciate you being cute.” He exhales away from the door and throws the cigarette to the ground, stomping it out with his boot. “Give me, like, five minutes.”

“That’s fine,” Adam says. He just turns the music up louder, laughing as Mox whines. He stops at the Dunkin’ near the school as an apology, though, and gets Mox the sweetest, grossest latte ever, so he thinks he’s in the clear.

“You ready for that Chem test?” Mox asks, going for another sip of his monstrosity.

“I think so.” He pauses. “I hope so.” He fidgets with his seatbelt, suddenly too tight.

“Well, I have that block off, since it’s my free period. So text me when you’re done and I’ll meet up with you.” He shoots Adam the biggest smile he’s seen, and Adam thinks he may be able to pull this off.

He strides into school, Mox by his side, and gives him a kiss in front of the door to the testing room.

“You got this, Cowboy,” Mox says, half smile on his lips. “Go lasso that test or whatever.”

“I’m – I live on a farm, not a ranch!”

“Same difference!” Mox calls over his shoulder, but he blows Adam a kiss, and that does more than enough.

He hands in the test and practically bolts out of the testing room. Adam walks down the hallway, feeling lighter than air, the weight on his shoulders gone. He passed it. He knows he passed it. Somehow, he’s figured out how this stupid subject works, how to balance equations and when to use Avogadro’s number. He’s going to pass this stupid class.

The excitement deflates a little when he turns a corner, and there is Matt Jackson. He's standing, arms crossed, at Adam’s locker, alone.

“Oh,” Adam says. “Hi.”

Matt offers him a strained little smile. “Hey,” he says, voice soft. “I – are you busy?”

Adam shakes his head. He wants to say something, find the words to make this moment feel less like nails on chalkboard, but nothing's there.

Matt’s gaze skips over his face, like he’s trying to meet his eyes and can’t. “Can we talk?”

Adam nods, and the two of them make their way down the stairs and out the door. Adam notices that Matt deliberately does not stop at the soccer championship memorial bench from their freshman year of high school, and continues to the one in memory of a girl who died of cancer a few years ago. “So,” Matt says, “I assume you’ve heard the news about playoffs.”

Adam nods, finding himself strongly involved in the goings on of his hands. “Yeah. Um. Mox, actually told me.”

“About Mox,” Matt says, “are you, like, serious with him?”

“I’d say so.” They’re quiet again. Adam doesn’t like it. “Any reason you’re asking about him?”

Matt nods. “I talked to Kenny. About the last time we – you and me, I mean – ran into each other.” Adam risks a glance toward Matt, to see him head down, pulling at the ends of his hair. “He kind of, well, he didn’t lie, exactly. But he kind of skipped around the truth and let me make my assumptions.” He finally lifts his gaze. “I always thought you left us – him. Um, left Kenny. After the game.” He scuffs his shoes on the ground, something Adam’s never seen him do. “He never corrected me.”

Adam lets it sink in. Kenny, heartbroken in two ways, unsure of how to hold onto the last pieces of the Elite and Baller Club he has. Matt, unwilling to see Kenny in anything other than the glow of victory. Nick, frantically trying to hold together the last of the Baller Club that still lived.

And Adam, crying alone in his bedroom with a beer in his hand and an ache in his heart.

“Is he mad?” Adam asks. “He didn’t – doesn’t seem mad.”

“He’s not,” Matt answers. “He’s happy for you, I think. He doesn’t really talk about it.” He looks up. “We, actually, don’t talk like we used to. Like we did with you.” It feels like Adam's been hit by a train, but Matt keeps going. “I think you were what made us work, Adam,” Matt says. He doesn’t look up. “Our team – the whole Baller Club – when the pressure was on, we sort of fell apart without you.” He rubs at his eyes. Adam can’t see if he’s crying. “It shouldn’t have taken until you were gone to realize you meant that much to us.” He looks up at Adam, and they're quiet for a moment. Adam still doesn't look directly at Matt, settling for studying the strange pattern on the shoulder of his shirt. “We messed up pretty big, didn’t we?”

Adam nods, slowly. “I think we all messed up.” He finally meets Matt’s bright, brown eyes. Neither of them break eye contact this time. “I’m sorry.”

A little tear builds in Matt’s eye and slides down his cheek. “I’m sorry, too. I should – I knew something was wrong, that day, but I was so focused on winning I just…” He trails off, squeezing his eyes shut, the tears following tracks down his face. “I forgot that you guys are what mattered.”

Adam makes a judgement call and leans in, pulling Matt in for a hug. He feels the tears he’s been trying to ignore for months build and fall, build and fall. Matt holds him back, tightly, and buries his face in Adam’s shoulder. He can feel the tears soak into his shirt, can feel Matt’s little gasps against shirt as he pretends he’s not crying.

“I’m sorry,” Adam says, gripping Matt harder. His hair still smells the same, and feels the same, still soft and silky.

“I’m sorry,” Matt mumbles against Adam’s shirt. He pulls away, wiping at his face. “I was so effing awful to you.”

Adam shrugs. “You thought I’d abandoned you guys. I get it.” And, because he can be a dick, too, he has to add, "But screaming that at me in the middle of the parking lot when I had a concussion did feel a little much."

Matt winces. “I can’t believe I did that, now. I really made a scene that day.”

“You did,” Adam says, gently. “But, I guess, I understand why you did it now. I get it.”

Matt nods. “Well,” he kicks at the ground again. His Jordans are messed up as hell – it’s unlike Matt Jackson to allow his shoes to look rough. “Since our season’s over, you want to, I don’t know, hang out sometime? All of us, like we used to?”

“Not like we used to,” Adam says, but he keeps talking before Matt’s face can fall, “but I actually have an idea.”

“What the fuck is a Beholder and how is it killing me this fast?!” Kenny yells. He’s looking back and forth between Uno and Adam. “How do I kill it?”

“Gotta ask nicely to see if we can defeat it,” Adam says. “Also, roll.”

Kenny gets a four. “Am I dead?”

“That depends,” John says, turning to Mox. “This Beholder is weak against the powers of the unicorn you rescued, but the unicorn will have to willingly give its tears." He raises an eyebrow. "And it can only do that with the permission of its master. Will you give it permission?”

Adam feels prickly as he watches Mox and Kenny lock eyes. Kenny, throwing his hair over his shoulder, trying to make himself admit he needs help. Mox, grinning, unwilling to give it without being asked. It’s the past and the present colliding, and it’s weird.

“What do you think, Halfling Cowboy?” Mox asks, nudging Adam’s shoulder. “You think we should save the human wizard?”

“You’re a human, too!” Nick says. He ka-caws again.

“Yes, Nicholas, we all know you’re a bird man, can you shut up so we can see if our only wizard is going to live?” Matt says. He’s practically bouncing on his toes, standing at the edge of the table. “C’mon, Mox, we can all survive if you let us use your unicorn.”

“It’s all up to my boyfriend, here,” Mox says, wrapping an arm around Adam’s shoulders. “Come on, halfling, what do you say?”

“Stop making me make decisions,” Adam says, “you possessive assholes. Of course we’re using the unicorn tears to destroy the Beholder and save Kenny, what kind of dickwad do you think I am?”

The game continues with this same energy, devolving into Nick exclusively communicating with various bird noises. Matt resorts to tackling him behind the table after he ka-caws while Matt is rolling and gets a three. Adam laughs harder than he remembers doing in a while, burying his face in Mox’s chest while John and Eddie berate them all for behaving like children. Even Stu and Uno, who have managed to break away and go on their own little quest involving saving the town, are having fun. At least, Adam thinks so. Neither of them have spoken outside of their characters the whole time.

“Can I use my connection with the fey kingdom to invade a different supernatural world?” Alan asks, frowning at the board. “Because I think we could get the giants on our side if we can get close enough and let Kenny’s mind control powers work.”

“I like the way you think,” Kenny says, leaning in closer. "That would give us enough power against the incoming Beholders."

“You can’t recruit another race to mind control giants,” John says, shaking his head. He pulls in Alex, and they whisper.

“Absolutely not,” Alex says. "That goes against the rules."

Mox scoffs. “You can’t talk. You’re dead.”

Alex glares at Mox. “And you’re a mediocre healer. Bite me.”

Adam snickers into his hand, and, when he turns his head, he locks eyes with Kenny. His smile is soft and kind, and Adam returns it. It doesn’t ache. Not anymore.

“Get in the car,” Adam says, grabbing Mox by the waist and shoving him. “Eddie, help me with your boyfriend.”

“Oh, he’s my boyfriend when he’s being a little shit,” Eddie says, rolling his eyes. “Typical.”

“He’s both of your boyfriend, and also right here,” Mox says. He shoves his hand in Adam’s back pocket, squeezing.

“Quit getting handsy and get your ass in my truck,” Adam says, and he pretends the way Mox’s hands find their way up under his shirt doesn’t make him shiver and hope for what happens next.

Mox shoots him a grin as he tries to slide into the front seat, but Eddie grabs him around the waist and pulls him out. “Not this time, Moxie,” Eddie says. “Backseat, bitch.”

Adam ignores the whining from Mox and slides into the driver’s seat. Eddie is laughing about something Mox is saying, head thrown back.

“I’m just saying, you’re not the one dating Adam, so I should get to sit next to him.”

“How about you get behind him,” Eddie says, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Oh, god,” Adam says, and he feels the blush hit him.

Eddie and Mox laugh at him as he buckles, and it feels warm and safe, like sunshine on a Saturday morning. “You two are the fucking worst,” Adam grumbles, grinning.

“You love me,” Mox says, pressing a kiss to Adam’s head. The hair is slowly growing back in, with the littlest curl at the end of each strand. “Admit it.”

“I do,” Adam says. “I really, really do.”

#This is me GIVING A FUCK #for real though #I am so like weird about the fic being all done I don't even know how to react #HangMox #Hangman Adam Page #Jon Moxley #wtf i like wrestling now???#in which Sara writes #Wrestling High School AU #My babies #Also i'm in like extreme pain right now so hopefully I edited everything right

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