#i just hope she doesn't come here the same weekend in may that i'm going to the con | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

steddieas-shegoes · 11 months

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hiiii could i possibly request something with the good ol' "steve is insecure with his place in the group/his intelligence/his worth compared to the rest of the party" cliche with reassurances in the form of copious amounts of cuddles and kisses and pet names from eddie? you're so great for doing these and i'm eagerly waiting for the next chapter of call me sunshine <3

Not Steve "self-doubt" Harrington convincing himself he can't be loved because he doesn't fit in or provide "useful" things to the group!!! I am lowkey hoping someone maybe adds to make this explicit because something about them having to be quiet in a tent just sounds like it has potential idk. Eddie is so in love in this it makes me SICK. - Mickala ❤️ (@scoops-stevie)

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When Steve suggested that they do something fun together for the weekend, he meant maybe going into the city or renting a lake house maybe.

He definitely didn’t mean camping.

Outdoor camping was Dustin’s idea, and all the kids had agreed quickly. Robin bowed out the moment she could come up with a decent excuse and he could tell that Eddie wanted to do the same but wouldn’t abandon him.

Hopefully.

Eddie had quietly offered to steal another RV, but Steve turned it down.

“You just started getting back in the good graces of most of the town, let’s not give them a reason to hate you again.”

So they packed up the van with all the camping supplies they collectively had: three tents (one for the girls, one for the boys, one for Steve and Eddie), a couple coolers full of drinks and food, a few chairs, flashlights, sleeping bags, and clothes.

Steve wasn’t great at reading maps, so he let Dustin ride passenger to help Eddie find where they were going.

He sat with the girls, mostly because he liked the way they just ignored everyone and everything and talked amongst each other about mundane things.

He may not always understand what they’re talking about, but he liked being a part of it.

He almost never understood what they were talking about actually.

But it was better than having everything the boys were talking about go right over his head.

Especially when they started arguing about stuff and talked so fast that Steve had no chance of keeping up.

Steve just kind of watched as everyone around him had conversations.

He tried not to think about how everyone was existing without him in a way.

He was here, but he wasn’t needed.

—-----------------------

When they arrived at the campsite, it was even more secluded than they thought it would be.

It was also only a couple hours until sunset and they all had to make sure the tents were set up properly before it was too dark to see.

Steve got started with his tent while Eddie helped the girls. Max still had limited movement in her wrists so she was given the task of setting the chairs around the fire pit that Lucas and Mike had formed.

Steve was struggling.

He’d only put up one tent before, and it was at summer camp where the counselor and four other boys had been helping. In all honesty, he’d pretty much managed to watch the whole time instead of help.

He would manage to get part of it up, but it would fall apart when he tried to do the other side. He kept losing the pieces to keep it tied down to the ground.

He was losing against an inanimate object.

Everyone else was doing fine; Joking and laughing and finishing up their tasks like they didn’t have to put all their focus into one thing at a time.

El wordlessly started helping him, and he knew she wasn’t judging him, but he couldn’t help the small part of his brain that was telling him that she thought he was stupid.

He was quiet for the rest of the evening.

They cooked hot dogs over the fire that Will started, then made s’mores since El had never had them before.

He watched and listened, smiled when everyone else was.

But he felt overcome with sadness that he just didn’t belong here.

He was the babysitter, he took care of them, and drove them around, and helped them survive alternate dimension monsters.

He didn’t know how to talk to them about the stuff they liked, or play their stupid dragon game. He could barely keep up with half the things they said.

“Hey guys, I’m gonna turn in for the night,” he said suddenly, interrupting something Mike had been saying to everyone.

Everyone looked at him with sad looks, but Eddie looked concerned.

“You okay? Is it a headache?” He asked.

Damn, he hadn’t even thought of a good excuse. At least Eddie was providing him one for free.

“Yeah, just a little one. I think if I sleep now it’ll be fine by morning.”

The taste of the lie in his mouth made his lip curl slightly. The words “friends don’t lie” replayed in his brain as he stood up and made his way to his tent at the far end of their setup.

No one tried to stop him, but he could feel their eyes on him as he unzipped his tent and then zipped it back up behind him.

They’d set up lamps inside each tent so that they could reserve flashlights for bathroom trips or emergencies. His was the kind you can dim, so he did. He took off his shoes and jeans, changing into the t-shirt he brought from home that was probably Eddie’s now that he was looking closer at it.

He’d brought his pillow from home because he couldn’t possibly sleep flat on the ground, and Eddie had brought one of his own because he still had some back pains when he slept wrong.

He curled up in his sleeping bag, holding Eddie’s pillow against his chest.

He felt a tear start to run down his face without his permission, not even sure why he was crying right now.

He heard the zipper and tried to shut his eyes quickly, hide his face in the pillow in hopes that Eddie would think he was really asleep.

“Hey darlin’. Mind if I join?” Eddie whispered.

Steve couldn’t ignore him, so he nodded and started to move the pillow from his chest and face.

“Oh, sweetheart. Why are you crying?”

Steve shook his head. He couldn’t even begin to explain.

“Can I hold you?”

Steve let out a sob, and Eddie didn’t wait for him to answer.

He was laying down next to Steve, pulling him against his chest and running his hands up and down his back.

“Is it a migraine? Do you need me to get some ice from the cooler? Or medicine from the van?”

“No, not a migraine.”

“Okay. Is it just a bad night?”

Steve couldn’t help the fondness he felt at that.

Eddie was so understanding, and incredible, and perfect. Steve didn’t deserve him just like he didn’t deserve the rest of these people.

“Stevie, it’s okay to have a bad night. Sometimes they just happen, right? That’s what you always tell me.”

Eddie’s hand had found its way to Steve’s hair, slowly running through the strands, occasionally looping the ends around a finger.

It sent chills down Steve’s spine when his fingers brushed against his neck so gently.

“I just don’t belong here.”

“I’ll admit the outdoors is not really my favorite place either, but-”

“No, not. Not the outdoors. Here. With everyone.”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Eddie’s hand had frozen in his hair and on his back.

“I’m not smart. I’m not good at putting things together or fixing things. I can’t even be in most of their conversations. They keep me around because they don’t know how to get rid of me. I mean, they don’t even need a babysitter anymore!”

Steve’s tears were dripping onto Eddie’s shirt, making a mess.

Another reason he shouldn’t be around.

Eddie tilted his face up, nothing but love in his eyes.

“I want you to listen to me. You are needed in this group. You are wanted in this group. You are loved in this group. Do you really think a bunch of teenagers would be wasting a weekend camping with you when they could be going to the movies or the arcade or getting into trouble?”

Steve didn’t answer, but he sniffled as he watched Eddie get more passionate.

“And it is absolute bullshit that you’re not smart. How many times have you been the one to figure out something, whether it was during Upside Down shit or not? How many times have you been the one with common sense? You’re more than a babysitter, my love. You’ve always been more than that to all of them.”

They laid there in silence for a few minutes, Steve soaking in Eddie’s words as Eddie continued to comfort him in the way he needed.

“I just feel like I need to be more useful. I don’t want them to get bored or annoyed because I can’t be part of their world,” he finally said, his voice shaking.

“Angel, they love you for who you are. Just like I love you for who you are. You fit where you fit because that’s what the group needs. They don’t need another Dustin to always make connections because of one obscure fact relating to something he read once when he was nine. They don’t need another El to fight their battles.They need the Steve who is going to go along with whatever they want to do so he can protect them if and when things go wrong. They need the Steve who is always there to support them even with the most mundane things.”

“I couldn’t even set up the tent by myself.”

“None of us could. I had help. That’s why I told El to help you. None of us can do stuff alone, love. You’re putting expectations on yourself that no one else is putting on you.”

Steve shuddered.

He’d been pretty famous for doing that for years.

Once his parents stopped caring at all, he started caring too much.

And now he expected more of himself than anyone else ever would.

He’d set himself up to fail. At least in his own eyes.

“Did that finally get into that concussed brain of yours?” Eddie said, smirk evident in his tone.

Steve playfully slapped his chest and hid his face against his tear-soaked shirt.

“I guess maybe it did. A little,” he said.

“Good. You know I love you more than the stars, right?”

“And the moon?”

“And the galaxies in space.”

Steve settled further against Eddie’s side.

“I love you, too,” he sighed out, feeling content for probably the first time this entire trip.

In the morning, he’d start over, let his brain rest. He’d make everyone breakfast and then help them all make sure they were prepared for their short hike. He’d pack them sandwiches and extra water bottles in case they ended up walking further than they planned. And when they all got back to the campsite the next night, he’d make s’mores with them.

He’d ignore the voice telling him that he wasn’t enough for any of them, and he’d be enough for himself.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #the party #request #ficlet #hurt/comfort #i ship steve's self doubt and eddie's overwhelming need to tell him he's perfect

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yooglefics · 6 days

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The casual type: 01 . The blind date

Pairing: Min Yoongi x fem!reader Wordcount: 2,888 words Genre ( for the whole series ): AU. College!verse. Strangers to friends with benefits to ?????. Eventual smut. Hurt / comfort at times. And fuff for cute friends. Summary: Hobi and his girlfriend set you up with a friend of hers to help with whatever happened months back. However no one really expected things to end the way they did.

Warnings ( for this chapter ): Setting things up for plot purposes. Gridding? Mentions of a boner. Making out. Author's note: So, I wanted to write some friends with benefits thing, plus a bunch of art kids… and this came out ┐( • ֊ • )┌ . I should note here I took the creative liberty to play around with their ages so everyone is in college at the same time, and if you haven't, you can check the presentation post and learn a little bit more about them. Now let's start, hope you like it! If you do you can reblog, like, comment, send an ask, follow and what not. Thank you for reading <3

The place is quieter than the last time you were here, you realize, is earlier in the day and the semester just started after all, meaning students are still moving in from their home cities. And although you want to be mad at him, you can't really blame Hoseok's choice of place for a date, instead, you're already thinking of ways to be able to escape the awkwardness of it all.

Of course, he and Mai don't have to worry about that. Is not their first date and considering they're both dance students it actually makes sense for them to be in a club on a friday night. Is their element, unlike yours, who hasn't left their room for the last couple of weeks if it's not to go art-supply shopping and will spend even weekends far away from a place like this.

But you couldn't say no. Not to Hobi. Not after he held you tight that night and didn't pray for an explanation.

He had come up with his own conclusions, though, and that's how you ended here. On a double date with Mai and her friend who you don't even know, so... Yay! Blind date added to the mix of reasons why you already want the night to end.

"You made it!" Mai greats when the both of you get closer to the bar, standing up to hug you first and then her boyfriend. "We ordered something while waiting."

Your friend nods at the explanation, "What do you want?" He asks in your direction and you settle for a fruity cocktail to not look too out of place with everyone else drinking. Mai insists on going with Hobi and he insists you stay, so, a bit awkwardly, you take the stool besides your date.

"Yoongi, by the way." The guy simply introduces himself before taking a sip of his drink.

"Y/n" short, overthinking if bowing is too formal until you decide is too long of a pause and it would only make it more awkward. In the end, a soft smile is your decision.

"They look cute together," you say looking at your friends, trying to break the silence that has fallen between.

"Listen," Yoongi begins, and your head turns to him, "I'm only here because she asked, so if you're expecting something like that, let's just leave."

"Like that?" Brows slightly closer, "a cute relationship?"

"A relationship in general. I don't do those."

"Oh..."

And before you can say anything else, Hobi is placing a glass in front of you, smiling reassuringly. "You'd be okay if I go dance now?"

A pause and then a nod is the answer. Not having any intentions of spoiling their night.

"Don't worry. Yoongi," Mai turns to him, a serious expression on her soft features, "you better take care of her, alright?"

He salutes, earning a smile from the couple and they walk to the dance floor hand in hand. You watch them make some silly moves at first and giggle, but it doesn't take long before they start to follow the beat and match it with their movements.

"I don't want a relationship either," you clarify, tone assertive, still looking at the couple with a smile.

He laughs, "I'm sorry, but that's hard to believe."

"Why?"

"Look at me and tell me you didn't just imagine yourself with someone on that dance floor."

You turn to him, brown eyes inspecting yours, "Well, yes. But that doesn't mean I want it to happen with someone I'm in a relationship with."

Again, he laughs. Clearly not believing you.

"What? People do casual things all the time," you defend, straightening your back and looking away.

"You do 'casual things'?" His eyebrows raise, "all the time?"

"Shut up, you don't know me."

"That's a no," no need to look at him to know there's a smirk playing on his lips.

"Who are you? Some kind of hook up police or something?" You want to take it back as soon as it leaves your mouth, cringing.

"Are you gonna show me your license?" but he is faster.

"Okay, that was more lame than what I said," you laugh. Maybe he is not as grumpy as he seems. And maybe, just maybe, you would be able to enjoy the night after all.

If he doesn't want a relationship either, then you don't have to deal with rejecting him or being forced to accept a second date just because you're too kind to say no. That's good.

"Yoongi, hey!" A guy calls out and for a split second your date's expression changes to a surprise one before a polite smile takes place on his face. "Oh, hi. Sorry for interrupting, haven't seen him in months."

"Is alright," you play along even when not understanding.

"I guess he has been busy with yo—"

"Jay," Yoongi's tone is serious, like the one he used to say he doesn't do relationships. However, before he can continue or you are able to clarify that you two just meet, Jay is calling someone over.

"Look who I found, love. Yoongi!"

A redhead girl repeats Yoongi's early expression and you wonder two things about Jay. One: if he always has that effect on people. And two: if he is even more clueless than you in this whole situation, since his smile never falls.

"Hi," the redhead says and Yoongi greets back just as plain.

Are you really imagining the awkwardness? Perhaps you were wrong and in the end you should put one of your plans to avoid it into place?

A few seconds of thinking go by, no one says anything and you could swear the tension is filling the air around your new group.

"Oh, that's the song!" Fake excitement in your voice tricks everyone into looking at you. "I promise, remember? If it comes on, we'll dance."

Yoongi looks confused for a second, but it doesn't take him long to finally understand, "right, the song. Sorry guys, been waiting all night."

Jay dismisses him smiling with a pat on the back, saying something about not breaking promises and Yoongi takes your hand.

Looking around, you try to find your friends, hoping to copy Mai's moves and keep up with the plan even when you're a self proclaimed not dancer. But they aren't in sight and even if you can't really prove it since your back is facing them, you feel like Jay's and the girl's eyes are on you.

Ugh. Why did you use this plan?

Why was this something you even thought about?

When Yoongi stops and positions himself in front of you, you get closer, sliding an arm on top of his shoulders pretending you're positioning yourself to dance, copying the random couple beside you.

"I don't know what I'm doing," you confess in a whisper.

"What do you mean?” He looks for your eyes, hair strain coming out of place when his head lowers a little, "you want to go back and sit down?"

"No, then they would know I lied," you're still trying to figure out why in the first place and don't need the embarrassment too, "but I don't know how to dance."

He chuckles, "here, I'll help." And holds your hips softly, moving them to the beat of the song, matching your movements with his own. "Relax. Don't think too much about it."

"If I don't, how do I know how to move?" It doesn't make sense and is a bit frustrating, honestly.

"Is not a dance competition, or the grant ball, princess. Just do what feels right."

He catches you looking at your feet and brings you closer, eliminating the gap between your bodies completely. "Don't do that," one of his hands travels to the small of your back, keeping you in place.

"Sorry," you say against his neck. Not intentionally, but because of your height difference, there's no other option. In an effort to not be so dependent on him, both your arms move around his neck and you try to move your hips in a way that in the end doesn't match his movements completely, causing you to bum into his front. He makes a sound that you assume is a complaint at your skills and another apology rolls through your lips.

"Turn around," Yoongi commands, applying pressure to one side of your hip.

You comply, confused even when you feel his hands on your waist. "Well, I'm going to assume you been fucked before, miss casual all the time," with his chest against your back, you can feel his laugh. "Open your legs a little," one of his feets kicks gently between yours, fixing your stand. "You want to lead or should I?"

"...You." Is the safest, you decide. Your turn to assume he surpasses your experience at that too.

“Some describe dancing like a good fuck," he explains, hands softly making their way a bit lower to your hips, "because you have to learn your partner. Find a rhythm together." His movements start slow, moving your body with his from side to side, with small circles of the hips.

Your hands fall on top of his, not knowing what else to do with them. They're soft, which for some reason is unexpected.

"I have dancer friends and they never described it like that..."

"Not to you, probably," he laughs and when you stop the movements to throw an angry look his way — because you're pretty sure that's some kind of insult,— he chuckles, before continuing the swaying of your hips. "Calm down, princess. I meant, they probably just weren't teaching you this kind of dance."

And that makes sense. You can't imagine dancing with your friends like this. You can barely believe you're doing it with a stranger.

Your shyness must have shown, because his next question is why did you even choose this song.

"I was trying to help and get you away from whatever that was," you lift your head, eyes away from your feet and the color lights projecting on the floor, and sure enough, behind red bangs, the girl is looking in your direction.

Your hips halt.

Yoongi catches up a bit too late, bumping his pelvis into you.

"What ar—"

"She is looking." Cutting him off, you want to hide as if you were the one caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. So, you try to turn around on his arms but his hold is firm.

A new song starts, the rhythm not much different.

"Help me with another song?"

You try again, this time using your hands on top of his to soften the grip. He gives in. And after a look at his face, you nod.

You can decide if it's sadness or anger that you see, not knowing him well enough to tell — or at all, to be honest — but either way, there's a part of you that can relate. One for each emotion.

Throwing your hair back, letting all black strands fall over your back, your arms go back over his shoulders, this time your chest flush against him a little more than last.

Yoongi says thanks and you kiss his cheek as his hands hold you again. His movements are more determined and even his fingers form dents over the fabric of your dress.

Assuming his demeanor changed only for the specific viewer doesn't sound too crazy, and you want to confirm the theory by looking at his face, see if he is looking behind you at her. Your eyes travel against the direction the few sweat drops over his skin go, and when they reach Yoongi's, he is looking back at you.

Your body stops.

"Fuck" he whispers when the front of his pelvis bumps yours. "You really need to stop doing that."

"Sorry. Told you I can't dance."

He chuckles.

Your bottom lip forms a small pout. "Don't be mean. I'm trying to help you, remember?" And you initiate the movements again, starting to get the hang of it. Kind of.

"You're not much help right now if you keep making me dry hump into you," this time he is the one stopping, making it so you bump into his front and you can feel the outline of his growing erection.

"Yoo—"

"Exactly," he says so matter of fact, "you're the mean one."

Lowering your head, you try to not think too much about it. It doesn't make you want to run away or kick him, but you also don't want to make him feel like kicking you away. You keep repeating to yourself that is normal with this type of dance, that there's probably more than one hard on at the club right now and how you're probably not the only one who is getting we—

Damn it. Just stop thinking about it.

Yoongi stops your body from moving, and when you realize he has been calling your name, you're even more embarrassed by your thoughts.

"I'm sorry. That was too much, I shouldn't have. We can go sit now." His eyes are looking straight at you, letting you know he's being sincere.

"I need some air."

Without even bothering to wait for a confirmation that he is following or not, you make your way to the side door of the club. The autumn breeze hits your skin as soon as you step into the alley, instantly calming your hormones down.

Hands cover your face in shame after reclining on the wall. Can you stop acting like it was the first time you felt a penies? Because even if it hasn't happened in a while, it doesn't mean the score goes back to zero.

"Should I bring Hoseok?" Yoongi asks a few steps in front of you and you jump a little, shaking your head after.

"I'm good. You can go back in."

"I'm not leaving you alone here. Do you want him or Mai to kill me?"

A small chuckle leaves your throat and one from him follows it.

"And you think he wouldn't kill you for—" stop. You can't think about it.

"For dancing like that with you? Probably. But he also set this date up, so..." Out of the corner of your eye you can see him shrug, "can't complain unless you hate me now."

"I don't hate you."

"Is okay if you do."

"It… it just surprised me."

"In a bad or good way?"

"A good one." You answer directly in a strain of honesty.

"So you're not really the casual type, uh?" He teases after a couple seconds of silence.

"Maybe I just don't like doing casual in the middle of the club," you defend.

"I don't know, you were the one that kept humping into me."

Your mouth opens and closes, finally looking at him and his stupid lips pull up in a smirk. You want to erase it so bad.

"Shut up."

"Make me."

And you do.

Skipping forward, right hand flying to the back of his neck to pull him in and you're able to touch his lips with yours.

He is quick to react. Kissing you back, his hands on either side of your waist pulling your body into his. But you're trying to prove a point, to defend yourself. So, you pull away slightly, making sure your lips are just about to touch.

He pulls in.

Allowing just a peck, you move.

You kind of regret not using your cherry lip gloss, because you know for sure that knowing you're so close for him to smell it but not taste it, would be the biggest tease.

You let him lean in again, not moving this time and he sighs. You smile against his lips just before his tongue asks for permission to enter your mouth. Again, you regret your simple choice of a simple red lip tint, but remind yourself that this date wasn't supposed to go like this. That Yoongi doesn't seem like the guy he was supposed to be, not what he was advertised by your friends.

Fighting back control, your left arm joins the other around his neck, moving your lips expertly and feeling his chest rise and fall quickly against yours. Is pretty much the position you were in on the dance floor minus the grinding.

Casual in the middle of the club is not your thing. Casual in general is actually not something you have experience with. But kissing? You've mastered it thanks to your past relationships and the avoidance of jumping into someone's bed right from the start.

A moan vibrates through your lips against Yoongi's, and even if it's part of the routine, you must admit is pretty real. A soft groan is his answer and the cue for your heels to touch the floor again. His hold tightens in reaction, making your dress rise up and covering a couple inches less of your thighs. Suddenly you're aware of the wind again as a breeze runs up your legs, towards the center of your panties.

Your breath caughts on your throat and Yoongi swallows any sounds before pulling away.

"Fuck," he breaths heavily, "we've to stop."

"Why? Are you not really the casual type?" You tease, stealing his line.

The left corner of his mouth lifts, before falling again in a millisecond. "Not with you."

Should I’ve added “cliffhanger” to the warnings? haha i swear is gonna be okayyyy ♡ Tag list: @n33mesis , @mggv97 , @wobblewobble822 , @bbou-doir , @m00njinnie , @nariee02 , @sexytholland . hope you guys like this one <3

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hanayori89 · 6 months

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The Almost Kiss

*Castle Town*

Link waited for you to finish your shift. He explained everything to Telma, leaving out one little detail, which was that you were a Twili. Telma empathized, as she was no stranger to what it meant to be Link. Once you were back inside, out of Link's sight, Telma whisked you aside.

"I'm going to venture a guess that the boy who is to be wed is Link."

Humiliation forced you to avoid Telma's eyes. The overwhelming need to defend yourself came to the forefront. "Telma, I swear I didn't do anything indecent with Link! We are both just working under Princess Zelda's order. That's all- I"

"Y/N, you just met me, so I'll let this pass. But don't ever think you can lie to me. I can smell a lie like a forest fire. I know you and Link didn't do anything indecent. Even though we have just met, I see your character. And I know Link's." Telma chided, "But don't think for a minute that if I hadn't found you both huddled behind that shop, you wouldn't have kissed! Don't think for a minute that that boy doesn't have feelings for you!"

Telma let out a 'tsking' sound of disappointment. "Poor Ilia. How is she going to deal with this? She's always been in love with Link. But I've never seen him look at her the way he looks at you. Or anyone else, for that matter."

"I meant no harm!"

"Shh, child. I know you didn't. The heart wants what the heart wants. The important thing is that you both do this the right way. You need to tell him how you feel."

What is it with this realm that hides their feelings yet expects you to talk about your own? How am I supposed to talk about what I don't understand?

Telma prattled on. "I can guarantee that if you tell him how you feel about him... you won't be rejected. Do not fear rejection. Especially where I am sure there will be none. A strong woman uses her voice for the greater good. Ilia, on the other hand, that girl has always been way over her head with Link. To be frank, the news of their engagement was shocking. I was happy for her. I just couldn't be happy for Link. Not when Link himself didn't look happy."

How do I tell Link what I'm feeling when I myself don't know what it is I'm feeling?

"I know you're right, Telma." You hoped your agreement would get her to abandon the topic of Link. She put her hands on your shoulders, clapping them supportively. "Why don't you go home then? If you need to stay here, you are more than welcome. We may as well talk about your work schedule. I can't very well expect you to work when Zelda has plans for you. So, take tomorrow off, and when you come in the day after, I'll leave early. Sound fair? I don't want to leave you alone just yet. Going forward, we'll say Monday and Wednesday will be your days off. Weekends, we need all hands-on deck."

"That sounds great. Thank you for giving me this opportunity." A tremendous feeling spilled forth, causing you to jump into Telma's arms. It reminded you of when Midna granted you permission to come to the light. A feeling you've come to know as gratitude. You held on to Telma tightly. "Thank you," you whispered in your sincerest tone. So much has occurred since you've been in the light. It's strange how quickly the current of time flows, along with the situations within it. Now you are employed and have made a friend in the process. You had a clear blueprint for your conversion. You met the much-revered Princess Zelda. Who gave you her benediction, which you so desperately sought.

Last but not least, you met Link. The Hero of Twilight.

Who you almost kissed. At least you think you did.

Within your short time here, you've experienced more than any book would have offered. As Epona strode back to Ordon, the same powerful force of gratitude began to stir within you. You had your arms secured around Link's waist. The sound of Epona's hooves clomping on the cracked dirt lulled you into a semi-conscious state. You dipped your head down, your eyes fluttering shut against Link's back.

"Y/N? You're not going to sleep on me, are you?" Link called behind him as he kept his eyes ahead on Hyrule Field.

"Of course not. Why would you think that?" You lied.

Link gave a hoarse chuckle. "I can feel your eyes closing against my back." You couldn't help it. Between the tranquility of the sunset fizzling out beyond Hyrule and the security of being with Link again, a deep sleep was imminent.

"You've had a rough few days." Link continued, "You're not used to working your body so hard. You should take a nap, so you're refreshed for dinner. Anything in particular you'd like to eat?"

You felt yourself weave in and out of consciousness. You were a tad sick of the simplicity of Hylian cuisine. You craved something hearty. Something that would stick to your ribs. As you would eat in the twilight. Sleep began to claim you, prompting a weak response to Link's question.

"Steamed keese wings." With your dinner requested, you went out like a light.

"Keese wings? Y/N? Did I hear you correctly? Is that something you eat in the Twilight Realm? Y/N?"

Link whispered to Epona, "Girl, I don't know about you, but no way am I eating keese wings. But if Y/N really wants them, I suppose I can hunt them for her."

Epona let out a defeated huff as she continued her steady pace towards home. Epona's dinner request was simple. All she counted on was her usual fare of carrots.

At least someone knew what they would be having for dinner.

*Ordon Village*

Y/N hung over Link's back as he gingerly carried her upstairs. She was out for the count since her dinner request. Link laid her down in his bed, smoothing half the quilt over her body. He had Y/N swaddled like a newborn's first-time home from the medic. He wanted to make sure she was bundled and secure. Protected. The memory of watching her fall as Fado failed to catch her still harassed him.

Once he was certain Y/N was warm and content, he made his way downstairs to make dinner. Link rummaged through his barren cabinets, ashamed of the specks of cobwebs that hung in the corners. Link gave his hair its normal ruffle of distress at the dismal lack of food in his house. Sure, for him as one, it was fine. But now he had another life to care for. One that mattered more than his own.

Maybe, in an odd sense, craving Keese wings means she misses the twilight?

Link pondered to himself about what magic he could work in the kitchen. He had rice and eggs on hand. He would be more than gratified with them fried up in oil with aromatics. Link looked outside; the sun had officially bid adieu, allowing the moon to greet the dawn of night.

It's Keese hunting time. If such a simple request will make Y/N smile, I graciously oblige.

Link grabbed his bow and arrow and headed out to enjoy some nocturnal hunting. He got the rice ready to steam, preparing it for when he would return home. Then he'd simply have to fry his food and steam Y/N's Keese wings.

Despite the moon's guiding light, the only thing truly guiding Link was the image of Y/N's lips excruciatingly close to his own.

Y/N groggily padded downstairs, just as Link had set the table. Link sat, watching her rub her dreary eyes with the sleeve of her top.

"Something smells good." She yawned; a trace of her deep slumber still portrayed in her voice.

"You need to eat and get some more rest. Telma really put you to work, didn't she? Just a fair warning, the Arbiter's grounds will also be tiresome." Link began shuffling his egg around his plate, breaking the yoke over the rice.

"Link? Did you... did you make me Keese wings?!"

Once the rice was soaked with the yoke, he took a huge bite. The comforting carbohydrates were just what he needed after spending the day unintentionally running around Castle Town. Link watched Y/N stare at her plate in wonder.

"I don't know if I did a good job. You mentioned steaming them, so I steamed them with some rice. But I'd be happy to make you some of mine if it's not to your liking." Link offered.

Y/N shook her head. "No, it isn't that. I'm just-" Her bottom lip began to quiver. "Link, I don't know what I am." Link was stunned. For someone who wasn't familiar with emotions, she was portraying a lot of them lately.

Before he could say anything, she began to cry into her plate. "I suppose I am no stranger to crying." She gave a pathetic laugh through her tears. "I've been feeling so many things. I don't know what they are. How do I even explain them? But this dish is just so thoughtful. First, you bought me that beautiful dress. Now you went and hunted my favorite food. I really don't know what this feeling is. I suppose I just want to adequately thank you, and I don't know how."

"So, Keese wings are your favorite food? I thought you said carcasses were?" Link joked.

Y/N gave a congested snort across the table from her crying. "Yes, I mean, I knew cucco would be a safe dish here. But generally, in the twilight, we love hearty dishes. But our idea of hearty is different. Besides steamed Keese wings, which are very fibrous, I love stew with Moblin guts."

Link pushed his plate away from him. "Y/N, I'm happy to cook anything for you; just don't ask me to taste it."

This gave her the first sliver of a smile he'd seen since Lake Hylia. "To think you almost kissed a girl who eats Moblin guts." As soon as the words left her mouth, they both sat up straight at the shock of hearing them out loud. Link felt the same heat he felt behind the shop trickling down his body. He began to gulp down his cup of water, unsure of how to respond.

Arousal that he hadn't felt in a long time had been prodding him. Y/N looked down at her feet. This was her infamous method of avoiding tension in the atmosphere. Or so he had noticed.

He thought back to the kiss that could have been. He felt the passion pushing them both together. He saw Y/N close her eyes. Some part of his brain thought he imagined it. Was she even sure what a kiss was or the emotions behind it? Apparently, she did know. Then the question remained: did she want it?

Did she want him to kiss her?

Link decided to do the opposite of what he told Y/N. He kept insisting she communicate with him, yet here he was running from that communication. He changed the subject. It was safer that way. He couldn't deal with the rejection he would feel if he asked her how she felt toward the idea of him kissing her. He also knew the timing wasn't right. He had to end the engagement with Ilia first, keeping Rusl's words of wisdom in the crux of his heart. Y/N deserved to have the purest first kiss. Not one coated behind secrets. Link also had one other worry. Because of his reputation in their realm, did she simply want to kiss him out of idolization?

If she did, then that wouldn't be enough for him. He wanted her to be familiar with what she felt. He wanted those feelings to match his. He deviated off course, circling back to something she said earlier.

"Y/N, I know you aren't familiar with the sensations of the light. Maybe it can be of some relief if you try your best to describe it. I can help you decipher what you're feeling to the best of my knowledge."

She seemed to consider this. She cautiously opened her mouth, giving Link a quick glance before resuming her gaze to the floor. "Well, I suppose I can try."

She took a Keese wing to her lips, sucking the cartilage clean off the bone. She closed her eyes, transporting Link back to Castle Town and the 'almost' kiss. He was ogling her. He quickly looked away.

"This tastes like the twilight." Her voice was dripping with pleasure. She delicately patted her mouth against a napkin. Link loved the deliberate way she made gestures. He could tell they were foreign to her. Everything was done with extreme caution. This just made her appear dainty to the untrained eye. He knew it was because she was trying to blend into this alien realm with only her acquired book smarts, which he secretly admired her for. Even though Link possessed the Triforce of Courage, he wasn't sure he could be as daring as Y/N.

"Link, there is something I've been meaning to tell you. About Aryn." Link sat up attentively in his seat. The name of that idiot riled him up.

"I didn't want to go on a date with him. I did it because I thought..."

"You thought what?"

"I thought it would make you react. I wanted you to react." Her face was a blank canvas. It seemed it was up to Link to decipher what emotion would be painted on it.

Meanwhile, the poker face he so carefully perfected had finally ruptured. He felt his eyebrows shoot upward. His mouth slowly opened in disbelief. He simply couldn't believe his ears. Yet Y/N sat, eating her food without a single clue on her face. As if she didn't just rock his world with her declaration.

It seemed to Link that Y/N took his poker face advice to heart.

My how the roles had reversed.

A/N: Edited 1/10/23

Time to pick up where you left off and make your way to the Arbiter's Grounds. But not before divulging a tiny-weeny secret to Link. The path ahead looks clear. The emotions involved do not.

Where do you both go from here? And will it involve a certain kiss instead of an almost one?

Check out my other completed OOT Zelda work- No Woman Beyond

Wattpad link in bio ✨✍️

#legend of zelda #link #loz #fanfiction #wattpad #link x reader #romance #the legend of zelda #fanfic #fanfic on tumblr #loz twilight princess #zelda twilight princess #loz midna #twili #twilight princess #action #zelda hyrule #hyrule

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whitexwolfxx310 · 2 years

Text

Feeling Bad For The Great Big Bad (White) Wolf

Pairing: Bucky x Female Reader

Summary: Feeling a hint of jealousy, you have an intense moment before Bucky gets called on for a mission.

Warnings: Cursing, jealousy, making advancements, angst, fluff, building lockdown, being manhandled, y/n.

Word Count: 2.9k

Gif: Gif credit goes to marvelgifs

Previous Part

Masterlist

Walking into work on Monday morning, you feel more excited to see Bucky today. Between the day you spent together and your parents pointing out that there may be some additional feelings towards him, you're eager to have your session today.

In the main area is a small, crappy (according to Bucky) coffee shop. You see him sitting at a table, his back towards you. As you turn to take a detour on the way to your office and say 'hi', you notice he's not alone. Sitting across from the table is the annoyingly happy blonde bartender from Stark's party.

You instantly feel crushed. As if you two didn't spend the majority of the weekend with each other. Maybe he was just being polite after all? Maybe I was reading too much into everything. Mom and Dad are obviously wrong.

Hoping to not be noticed, you get back onto your original path towards your office. The irritating blonde makes eye contact with you, smirking at the fact that she was getting the attention that she has so desperately wanted. You take a deep breath, looking away. Men are men after all. Doesn't matter what time they're from.

The dreaded noon appointment has arrived. James walks in a few minutes before the session, smiling as he sits down on the couch across from your desk. You do not return the same enthusiasm for this discussion.

"Good afternoon." You say, acknowledging his presence.

"Hey!" He says, eagerly. Of course. He took my advice to 'never say never' and now he's carpe diem-ing the bartender.

"How are you?" You ask, dryness biting at your tone.

Bucky raises his eyebrows. "Uh...good?" I'm sure.

"How are the nightmares?" You question, still unable to look up from your desk at him.

He pauses a moment. "Are you okay?" He asks, uneasy.

"Yeah. I'm fine." You respond bitterly. "Can you answer the question?"

"Okay?" He says confused, the emotion draining out of him. "Um. They're getting better?"

"Why do you think that is? Has something changed?" It obviously has. There's a lovely new Barbie-like woman in the picture.

"I-..." He starts, unsure how to handle the sudden change in atmosphere between the two of you. "I haven't been focusing as much on the past."

"I'm going to need more than that, James. Mr. Stark is expecting a progress report and I need to give him something." The words were chilling, even to yourself. Who am I? This doesn't sound like me. I don't even want to be saying these things, coming off as jealous and catty.

Bucky raises his eyebrows in shock. He sinks down a bit into the couch, visibly uncomfortable, unsure what to say.

"Ok then,..." You start. "Tell me about the last nightmare that you had."

He takes a sharp breath in, now looking down at the floor. "The last bad dream I had, was when I was first taken in by Hydra." The tone is sorrowful, and you know that this is not only going to be hard for him to talk about, but for you to hear as well.

"I recall waking up in what looked like an operating room. So many people were standing around me, talking about one of my limbs. I moved my feet and then my hands to see what they were talking about. That's when I noticed the raw pain in my left shoulder."

Bucky looks down at his left gloved hand. "It took a while to get used to. Hell, I still forget about it sometimes." For the first time, he takes the glove off. Your mouth opens in astonishment. Never once has he willingly shown his arm. You suddenly feel a hue of guilt. Here he is, opening up and you're jealous? He is showing trust and this is how you repay him?

His hand raises up in front of him, metal fingers spread apart as one by one they clench inward towards his metal palm, making a metallic scraping sound. He sighs, “It’s better than no arm, I guess.”

“Is it?” You say as you look up at him for the first time since he came into your office. Bucky looks up to meet your gaze, with a face that is trying to hide an unimaginable pain. I need to stop. Push your feelings aside and be present for him.

“I wouldn’t have done a lot of things if I didn’t have this arm.” He admits.

“There are people alive today that wouldn’t be if you didn’t have that arm either, Bucky. Some of them being your really good friends.” You encourage, trying to give him a different perspective.

He takes his other glove off, hands placed palm up on his knees. He’s looking at the stark contrast between the two. “They’re like night and day.” Bucky says to himself. As if he’s speaking out loud and you just so happen to be there.

“Bucky…” You say softly, trying to get his attention. He looks up, his jawline tight with clenched teeth. “We’ve all done things we aren’t proud of. But, we take accountability for our part in those situations and use that to better ourselves and others. It comes full circle if you’re willing to do the work.”

“You’re telling me to work the steps? Really?” He says, sarcastically.

“No. I’m saying that we have one life to live and a person should have the free will to live however they choose.” You say softly, reiterating back the words that he had just said to you a few days before with a warm smile.

Almost as if Bucky had been smacked in the back of his head, his eyes widened. It’s like those had always been his views, but he never thought that they would apply to him after all of the damage that was done. He runs his bare hands back through his short hair as he looks up at the ceiling. The heaviest sigh of relief escapes from his mouth. Hearing the words, receiving verbal validation without ridicule, is what he has been searching for all along.

Within the blink of an eye, Bucky had gotten off of the couch and was standing in front of your desk. He leans, placing both hands flat on the table across from you. You’re unable to speak, move, or even breathe as he looks into your eyes, seeking the words he wants to say. Almost as if he’s looking into your soul. Your eyes continually searching his to see how you should react. Is he dangerous? Did I somehow trigger him? Is he threatening? Is he mad? Is he about to tell me to go to hell?

Bucky leans in closer, just inches away from your face. His vibranium hand slides forward, placing it on top of yours. You lightly gasp at the combination of the icy touch and proximity of how close he is. Your heart is pounding, so much so that he could probably see it beating out of your chest just like in those old cartoons.

This is wrong.

You lean back in your chair, being the one to create the distance for once. “I… I can’t.” The images of Bucky with the irritating blonde keep flashing in your head. Hearing him calling her ‘Doll’, flirting over shitty coffee, the grin she gave as if she were dangling him like some prize in front of your face.

Bucky’s head falls forward, exhaling as he tightly closes his eyes. I won’t be the one to stand in the way of his happiness. We have a professional and friendly relationship. Maybe he can have the life he always dreamed of, with her.

A persistent dinging echoes from his pocket. He stands up straight, taking out the iPhone you had given him a few weeks earlier. He sighs. “I have to go. Steve just got word of a an important mission and needs me.” As Bucky starts to slowly saunter out of the office, which is unlike him, you say “Be safe.” It stops him dead in his tracks, but he doesn’t turn around. A moment later he proceeded out the door.

While you can't hear through the soundproof walls of the building, the floor rumbles underneath your feet. You knew in that moment he was gone and there was both of you that left things unsaid.

It's been a few days since half of The Compound left for a mission. The entire building was eerily quiet. You started getting into a routine that no longer involved Bucky for the time being. The days seemed to drag with the lack of deep conversations, laughs, and stories. Time crawled as you answered emails and turned in reports while FRIDAY would give small and brief updates on the mission.

That night when you get home, you feel yourself starting to slip into a hole. It's as though Bucky filled some sort of gap in your grief that felt like a big, black, emptiness when he wasn't around. You try shaking off the feeling, but the more you try to escape the heaviness, the worse it feels.

*Ding* Your phone lights up from the bed with a text notification.

Bucky: iMessage

You quickly frantically unlock your phone to see what the message says.

Bucky: Just checking in. I can't tell you where I am or when I'll be back.

That's it? You're holding the phone, thumbs twitching around the keyboard as you try to think of a response that doesn't sound desperate or needy. He cannot see me that way. Bucky needs someone to trust, someone that he can rely on. Well, he has Miss. Marilyn Monroe who works downstairs to be his emotional support...

"STOP!" You say out loud to yourself. Taking in a deep breath, you decide to reply.

Y/N: Hope everything goes smoothly. Be safe and see you soon.

Ugh. That sounds utterly pathetic. I need to take my mind off of this. And with that you grab your keys and bag deciding to take a drive.

While so focused on your confusing thoughts, you didn't even realize where you were driving to; The Café. After parking the car, you walk in.

"Hey Y/N! The usual?" The bouncy red headed girl asks from behind the counter.

"Hey Aly...Yeah that would be great. Can I also get a cinnamon roll too, please?" You ask humbly.

She purses her lips, "Rough day, huh?" You nod in agreement. The tall tale sign of your bad day is some kind of pastry. Maybe it's the sweetness, the carbs, or that it is just your comfort food. "Coming right up!" Aly says, getting right to work on your hot caramel latte.

You sit down at a small table, waiting for your order. Being the only person who decided to get coffee at 6 o'clock at night, the entire place was occupied by only yourself and Aly behind the counter. Your eyes keep drifting to the table where you and Bucky sat just the week before. You miss him. An audible scoff comes from your mouth. Miss him? I barely know him. Plus, he terrifies the ever loving shit out of me.

Aly is standing at the table with your order. You smile as she hands you the heated mug and the warm plate that holds all of the feelings that you're about to eat. You fake a smile, "Thank you." Aly returns the smile, although hers is genuine.

Your thoughts start to fight with themselves again.

Are you developing some sort of emotional attachment? Did this stem from the night you opened up about your brother Luke? Is it possible there is some sort of connection there? No. The last thing he's looking for is some kind of relationship. Plus he's got the playboy bunny at his beck and call. Blech. It would be crossing a line. Actually, many lines. Get a grip of your feelings, because if you don't, you might wind up losing your job. And him.

The delicious cinnamon roll helped, but it didn't magically fix all of your problems like you had hoped. You place the empty plate and mug on the designated counter. "Thanks again, Aly."

"Have a good night!" You hear her call back as you walk out of the door. Your car is parked right in front of the café, but you hesitate- looking at the record store. There's this pulling inside of your body. As if there were this metal cable that is slowly reeling you in. Divulging, you give in.

Looking at the records you can't help but to continue thinking of Bucky. Skimming through the vinyl's, you decide to grab a couple more for him. To help him acclimate. You try to convince yourself.

Getting into the drivers seat, you open the plastic bag with the records. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Billy Joel, Alabama, Aretha Franklin, and Black Sabbath, to name a few. This simple gesture makes you feel as though he is still here; ready to give his sarcastic, grumpy opinion on everything. You're missing him and this is the first time you are open to accepting the fact.

Two Weeks Later

Your eyes keep darting to the windowsill where the plastic bag with the records in it waits for Bucky's return. Or rather, I'm the one awaiting for him to come home. It has been a quiet, uneventful three weeks since (almost) everyone left on a mission. FRIDAY has been the one to keep you company. It feels pathetic, seeking comfort from an AI, but at the same time, there is no judgement. She listens and offers substantial solutions; suggesting to drink herbal teas for nerves, meditation, and reminds you to talk your daily walk around The Compound for fresh air and exercise.

Just when you were thinking of how boring this job has been as of late, the lights dim. Not just in your office, but from what you can see through the window on the door, in the hallways and other rooms as well.

"Friday?" You ask, standing up.

"Y/N, please remain in your office. We have word of a possible breach."

"Oh..." Was all that you could manage to say. You sink a little further down into your soft office chair. There were people running up and down the hallway, occasional shouts.

'Clear!' You hear one person say. Becoming curious after a few minutes, you get up from your desk and look out the window from your door. A loud siren starts going off along with flashing red lights. You close your hands over your ears from the loud warning. Still trying to look out of the door, you're startled by a sudden *Bang* outside of the door. Once your vision clears, outside of the window is Bucky. He quickly knocks on the door in distress, looking over both shoulders as he continues to knock.

You quickly unlock the door, but you don't even get a chance to turn the doorknob before he swiftly gets inside the office. "Bucky? Wh-What's going on out there?" You ask, the fear evident in your voice.

"Friday..." He says assertively.

"Yes, Mr. Barnes?" She answers.

"I want a full lock down protocol in Y/N's office, now! No one gets in or out."

"Engaging full lock down...now." As soon as the AI finished the sentence, thick, metal shields closed down over the windows.

“Bucky!” You yell, trying to get his attention. “What the hell is going on?!”

He watches the door as he takes a few steps backward towards you. Bucky quickly turns, grabbing you off of the ground by your shoulders, and places you in the corner. It’s the corner of the same wall that the door is on, but if anyone were to try and look in, you would be hidden.

Bucky brings his finger to his mouth making a shushing sound. You nod in understanding. He moves to stand in front of you, his back flat against the wall as he listens to the commotion out in the hallway. The sirens finally stop. It felt like they were going off for an eternity when in actuality it was maybe just a few minutes. All that’s left is the ringing in your ears. A moment later, the flashing lights also stop.

Leaning slightly off of the wall, Bucky looks out the window and soon he visibly relaxes. He opens the door and Tony, in full Iron Man armor, walks in.

“So what do we do now?” Bucky asks, knowing that every move, every decision he makes has to be ran by Stark.

Tony steps inside, eyeing the two of you up and down. “First, I don’t want to know. Second, we apparently didn’t apprehend everyone we were supposed to and they followed us back to The Compound.” Tony sighs. “We’re on lockdown until we’re all in the clear.”

“Um…” You say lightly getting their attention. “Lockdown?”

“Yeah.” Tony says bluntly. “No one’s going anywhere, it’s a question of safety for both us and civilians.” He turns to walk out the door. “There’s plenty of extra rooms on the 8th floor-“ he calls out over his shoulder.

Bucky clears his throat. “The apartment next to mine is open.” He looks Tony in the eyes as he turns around. Tony raises an eyebrow. and Bucky rolls his eyes in response. “I’ll take responsibility for her.”

Tony looks between the two of you with narrowed eyes and shrugs. "Just... don't let each other get into any more trouble, okay?" He says nonchalantly as he walks out.

All that's left is you, Bucky, and the stillness of the room. This is awkward. He avoids eye contact when he speaks. "Let's go get your room set up." He says, quickly dashing out of the door.

Here we go again...

Next part

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bluestar22x · 10 months

Text

Chapter 1

Baby Fever - Chapter 1

Pairing: Marcus Pike x Female!(Wife)Reader

Series Summary: It all started with a classic case of baby fever

Rating: 18+ Series

Warnings: Smut, light breeding kink, cock warming, mentions of cum

Word Count: 3,202

Author's Note: This was one of those chapters where editing the fic the next day made me feel so much better about how it turned out. Hope you all enjoy. And check out the oneshot A Splash Of Red if you haven't yet if you want to get to know reader better beforehand.

Also, I mention hair color of a relative of reader, but that does not confirm a race for reader. She is adopted.

xxx

It was the fourth of July, and just like every Independence Day you could remember your parents had invited all of your family members to Lake Arrowhead in Virginia to celebrate and have a reunion. All of them. Both your mother's side and your father's side, which wasn't atypical for them, but it was the only celebration of the year that had both sides gathering together.

Them all being there, packed into a modestly sized lake house rental, made your family appear huge, and you supposed that they were, compared to most modern American families. In total you had six aunts, four uncles, their spouses, two living sets of grandparents, and at least twenty cousins and second cousins, not to mention your parents, sister, and her little family. This was the only time of year you got to see most of your relatives that lived more than a few hours away from D.C., which was about half of them, and your sister Emily could also be included. She lived in California with her husband and you had only gotten to see her in person a couple times a year since she had moved out there with her husband Greg four years ago.

They'd had a baby seven months ago, and you'd flown out to see little Henry for a weekend the month after he was born, but you hadn't seen them since, not in person at least. You were thankful for Facetime, you hadn't technically missed out on seeing your nephew growing, but it wasn't quite the same through a screen. You'd been anxious to see Henry again at the reunion, so you sought him and Emily out first when you arrived, scanning the crowd for your supermodel tall sister and a tiny baby with ridiculously thick blonde hair.

You found them at the kitchen island, Emily seated at the far end, bouncing Henry gently on her leg while a crowd surrounded them, fawning over the little guy. For most of the family this was the first time they were laying eyes on him, and your family being the stereotypical American type, most of the crowd was composed of women, while the men hung back chatting with each other just outside of the baby bubble.

You strolled over to them with your husband in tow, one of his massive hands clasped in yours firmly, gladly following you. You'd married Marcus Pike on the twenty-sixth of May, just a little over a month ago, and while this wasn't his first time at the family reunion, he wasn't yet at that point where he'd wander off away from you during a family party on his own. It wasn't like he didn't know your uncles and cousins enough, it was just that he was more interested in you, and you wouldn't have dreamed about complaining about that.

You let go of his hand to scoop up your nephew, the only person in your family besides your parents who ever did so without permission. "Come here, little man!" you exclaimed, voice higher pitched than it normally was. "I need kisses!"

You pressed so many kisses to his chubby cheeks they were shining when you pulled away and you felt your heart soar when you saw him beaming back up at you in reaction to your uncurbed affection.

"Perfect timing," Emily declared as she stood up. "I gotta go pee and pump. Do you mind watching him for a bit?"

"Just cause I'm the older sister doesn't mean you get to make me the designated babysitter on sight," you joked.

"So, you don't want to?" Emily questioned, teased, gesturing to your aunts and female cousins who were still huddled around you both. "Cause I'm sure anyone else here would gladly."

"I'll take him!" your cousin Jeannie nearly shouted, making grabby hands at Henry.

You pulled him closer to your chest as if to shield him from her. "No way! Auntie rights."

Jeannie pouted but let you and your sister slip away into the more open living room.

Emily reached over the top of the couch for the baby bag she brought everywhere with her since Henry was born and passed it to you. "He might need a change while I'm gone," she warned.

You waved a hand at that. "I babysat in high school for the neighbors, remember? I'm not scared of a little Henry poo if it comes to that."

She chuckled. "Okay. I'll go. Talk after."

She gave you an awkward there's-a-baby-between-us hug then disappeared down the hallway as you sat down on the couch and dropped the bag at your feet.

You rested Henry on your right leg and twisted your face into a silly expression to make him giggle and the sound warmed you instantly. When you were a teenager, interacting with a baby had been a job. You'd been good at it, good enough to keep your neighbor's baby alive at least, but you hadn't really loved it. You hadn't been overly crazy over your cousins' babies either, but there was something about Henry that had changed that. You couldn't deny that everything he did had you captivated, even before he was born and your sister had insisted you feel him moving in her belly. Ever since then you'd been a little obsessed.

You felt eyes on you as you blew raspberries into his bare stomach, increasing the intensity of his laughter, but you ignored them, focusing on your nephew until you felt the couch cushion beside you sink down under the weight of another adult body.

"He's gotten big," Marcus observed, smiling brightly as he watched your endearing interactions with your nephew - who was also his nephew now you reminded yourself.

"Video chat didn't do justice," you agreed, jerking your head away from Henry to study his face again. You sighed heavily. "Next time I see him he'll probably be walking." You were disappointed by that realization. Kids grew up too fast for long distance.

Marcus chuckled at the pout that formed on your face. "Well, maybe by then another baby will be on the way in the family."

You glanced at him and caught the meaning behind his words in his soft chocolate eyes. "Marcus..."

"I know we both agreed we'd wait until after our first anniversary," he said, holding out an index finger for Henry to curl his little fingers around, "But you're a year into your greeter job at the hotel and my paperwork for the desk job at the FBI should go through next week, so why wait?"

You chewed your lower lip as you glanced back at the smiley baby you were bouncing on your knee, the same way your sister had. Why wait indeed. You both were in secure jobs and soon Marcus wouldn't be out in the field anymore, possibly hundreds of miles away if a case required it. He'd asked for a job in the FBI building in D.C. that would keep him safer and closer to home after you'd married. He'd insisted on it, even though the one that had been offered to him was a position with slightly less pay. You knew it had been because he wanted to be there for you and any kids in your future even though he hadn't spelled that out. You'd talked about having a kid or two after marriage fairly early on during the time you'd dated. It had simply been a smart move, neither one of you wanting to continue dating if the other hadn't wanted any. It was never too early to talk about deal breaker subjects in your book, though you'd waited until your fifth date to bring it up in case he didn't feel the same. He'd actually been relieved that you had brought it up since he had a history of rushing relationships and was unsure if it was still too early to bring up the topic.

If you had still been new at the hotel you'd have been concerned about needing maternity leave so soon after joining the business, but a full year had secured your place there, and you already had vacation time racked up on top of that.

Why not?

You couldn't think of anything to discourage you from starting to try for a baby. It wouldn't even be a process. You'd gotten your birth control implant removed right after you and Marcus had gotten married, choosing to use only physical barriers for prevention so you wouldn't have to wait to see a doctor before starting to try, knowing your doctor scheduled appointments months ahead of time.

A part of you might have also had foresight that you and Marcus wouldn't make it a full year waiting. Marcus had barely made it over a month. You couldn't blame him, staring at your nephew. You couldn't deny you yourself had a full-blown case of baby fever ever since he’d made his debut.

You watched as Henry tightened his grip on Marcus' finger and leaned forward to suck on its middle joint. You felt a smile tug at the corners of your mouth as Marcus ruffled his soft hair with his free hand. You knew he’d be a good dad. That had never been a concern for you, and his interactions with Henry had always been endearing. You didn’t think you’d ever met another man who deserved to be a father more than him and you wanted to be the one to make him one.

"Okay," you said almost breathlessly.

You'd known most of your adult life, over a decade, that you wanted children in the future, the dream having stuck up on you sometime during your short stint in college, but it had stayed a thought at the back of your mind for so long a part of you had wondered if you'd ever get around to it. Even after meeting and marrying Marcus it had still felt far away. But deciding to stop waiting, agreeing to it, the possibly was suddenly very real to you.

"Just okay?" He raised his brows. He seemed unsure of your reaction, like he'd expected more from you.

"More than okay," you corrected yourself as excitement started to bubble up in you. You flashed him a grin. "I'd like to start trying too."

Marcus beamed back at you and pitched forward to give you a gleeful kiss, resting his left hand against your cheek, thumb glazing over the apple of it. "I can't wait," he told you as he pulled away, and you wondered if he was more anxious about having a baby or making a baby. Cause for you it was about equal after seeing his little interactions with Henry and how he'd just kissed you.

"Tonight?" you murmured.

"Is the timing right?" he asked, hopeful.

"Whether it is or not, does it matter?" you inquired thickly. "We can still try."

The corner of his lips quirked upward at the seductive tone you were using. "True. And yes, I'd love to."

"Pencil it in Agent Pike."

He shook his head. "I never need a reminder for you."

You were distracted the rest of the day, anticipation building with every conversation you had with distant family that bored you, every hour that passed, and with the fading light.

Marcus did eventually step away from you to talk with your father about "guy stuff". Whatever that meant. They had been your father's words when he pulled him away from you.

You and Marcus spent the entire time apart stealing glances at each other while half paying attention to the conversations you were supposed to be engaged in.

Though you had been together for nearly eighteen months in total, your plan for the night upon your return home was very distracting. It could be claimed it was because you and Marcus were still early into your marriage, the whole newlywed thing, but the honest truth was that the idea of having unprotected sex with the intention of getting pregnant was a turn on for you, and it seemed, based on his intense gaze whenever your eyes met, that Marcus shared your sentiment.

That's why you weren't caught off guard when, just before midnight, he gathered you up in his arms immediately after stepping through the front door to the quaint little house you'd inherited from one of your late great grandmothers.

His broad hands were already under your blouse before you could register the movement, skating over the slopes of your shoulder blades and down the curve of your spine before slipping back up to repeat the action.

Your hands found his expansive shoulders as you pressed your lips to his and walked backwards, guiding him away from the door, just as anxious as him for what would come next. He swiftly kicked the door shut behind him (an action that you found pretty hot) and followed you through the moonlit kitchen and down the dark hallway, to the master bedroom.

You didn't stop until you blindly hit the side of the bed, climbing onto it as soon as you felt the bedspread behind your bare knees. Marcus didn't let your lips separate more than a whisper apart during the whole motion, kneeling over you as you sunk down on top of the bedspread.

You reached for his belt as he deepened the kiss between you, exploring your mouth thoroughly, and you hummed happily as you fumbled with the buckle. The sound of it clinking open and you ripping the piece of leather out of the loops of his jeans in one smooth move had him grinning against your mouth. "Anxious, sweetie?"

Like he wasn’t.

"Want you so bad, Marcus." You murmured the confirmation into his ear, knowing what it would do to him, and reached for the button of his pants, popping it open. He groaned as you slipped a hand into his boxer briefs, cupping his already half hard length and stroking him a bit.

He caught your hand to still it after several seconds, breath hitching. "Keep doing that I won't make it inside you, and that would defeat the point," he rasped.

You nodded and pulled your hand away, allowing him to lift your shirt up and off your body during the motion. The rest of your clothes, yours and his, were quickly discarded thereafter, socks the last to join the other scattered clothing on the floor.

Marcus traced the curves of your body as he hungrily kissed his way down it simultaneously, licking at sensitive spots to elicit moans from you as he traveled along, until his thick fingers were sliding through your folds and circling your clit.

You threw your head against the pillow behind you, grasped at the bed beneath you, and arched your back as his fingers expertly built up the heat and pressure inside you, slowly but surely, until your body was seizing with a pleasure that had you gasping loudly. As you panted afterwards, you opened your eyes to Marcus hovering over you, lips inches from yours, eyes dark and burning right through yours.

"So hot," he told you at a whisper. "You're so beautiful when you come."

They were words of praise you were far from unfamiliar with, but ones that always made your gut twist with desire, and he knew it.

He dipped his head to kiss you along your jaw, and you wrapped your arms around his neck, letting your eyes droop as you focused on the sensation of his teeth nipping at your skin.

"Marcus," you said under your breath, impatiently, "Please. Take me. I wanna have your baby. Been thinking about it all night."

His eyes grew darker than you'd ever seen them before, and he snapped them shut briefly, releasing a guttural groan as he pressed his body closer to yours and you splayed open to him. He slid himself inside you in one smooth move when your eyes met again, burying himself to the hilt, and you dipped your head to bite his shoulder at the intensity of him filling you up. It felt so good, and so easy, with how wet you were from your earlier release.

You wound your legs around his waist as he began rocking into you and you reclaimed his lips needily as you tilted your hips in time with his. One of his hands found your face while the other molded onto your hip, guiding it to press harder into his every time he plunged into you, wanting you impossibly close. You clung to him tightly, fingers embedded in the hair at the base of his neck, eyes barely open. You could feel the tension inside you mounting every time he dragged along inside you, and it was quickly becoming overwhelming, especially since you'd already climaxed minutes before.

The sounds Marcus was making, his soft grunts and moans, were not helping. He sounded utterly lost in you, in the pleasure he was taking from being inside you, and it made heat pool in your belly, set fire in your veins.

It wasn’t long before you were moaning loudly, absolutely shattering beneath him, and when he felt you clench down around him he shuddered and spilled his seed into you with a strained groan.

He collapsed onto you after, as he tenderly covered your mouth with his, the kiss almost lazy. Afterwards he rested his forehead against yours, making no attempt to pull out of you as he caught his breath.

You could feel his heart pounding in his chest with how he'd molded himself against you. It was racing at a similar rate as your own.

You relaxed, letting your legs slide off his back, and you nuzzled your nose against his cheek, inhaling his sweaty scent as your breathing began to steady.

"You going to stay in me all night, baby?" you asked him eventually, smiling. This was new. He usually pulled out moments after making love to you. Not that you were going to complain. It was just an observation.

"Whatever it takes," he replied, laving at your neck attentively. You understood immediately what he meant. Whatever it takes to get you pregnant. Your stomach flipped. If you'd know trying for a baby with your husband would be so hot, you'd have jumped at it sooner. Damn.

You winked at him playfully. "I think you've done your part well," you declared. "But no complaints from me if you want to be extra sure nothing leaks out."

You bumped his ass with the back of one of your heels suddenly, sending him jolting deeper into you, and you both beamed at each other after, your smile much more wicked than his.

He didn't actually stay in you all night, but you did spend a lengthy time after still linked as you kissed each other everywhere you could reach, thoroughly enjoying your closeness until sleep beckoned.

And when it did, he separated from you only to tug you against his chest and bury his face against the back of your head, an arm draped over you almost possessively.

You smiled softly into the darkness and reveled in the warmth of him against your back until you drifted off.

xxx

Tagged: harriedandharassed

xxx

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

#Marcus Pike Fanfic (Mine)#X Reader #Baby Fever Series

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skania · 11 months

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Why did Aqua and Ruby have white star eyes on one side ever since they were born? Is there something that triggers it? Is it because they reincarnated?

When Ai's death they still have eyes with one star but sometimes Aqua is seen with his black star eyes at certain times with something that triggers (but only at that moment/not for a long time, only at that second)

Aqua -> After he found out that his father (Seujuro) had died, the star's eyes completely disappeared. Aqua feels free in revenge and lives his life as Aqua without Goro's shadow (living in his past. He has received his second chance to live a normal and happy life.) However, it turns out that his real father (Kamiki) is still alive. However, that fact didn't make Aqua awaken both black star eyes or his one star eye, why? The black star's eyes appeared as Aqua monologued in his mind thinking about Akane who was in danger and also all Aqua's worries for Akane, he also ended his happy days with Akane and chose the wrong path. Isn't this the trigger? The biggest trigger was that he was forced to end his relationship with Akane?(When he called, Aqua said he didn't want to end his happy days with Akane, Aqua also said he wanted to live happily ever after like that with Akane), Aqua also realized that Akane was in danger when Akane said she actually felt like the person was deliberately pushing her to make her fall (Aqua looked really shocked at that time). This black star eye continues to exist until the newest chapter.

Ruby -> Same with Aqua, she was also born with one star eye. Ruby activates her black star eyes upon learning the fact that Goro is dead and someone is purposely killing him. Doesn't that mean Goro's death makes him even more sick, suffering and full of revenge? Later, after chapter 123 came out, Ruby found out that Aqua was Goro and it seems that made her black star eye (which was the trigger) disappear. Leaving one white star as before, why? Has she still not come to terms with avenging Ai's death? or she haven't accepted herself as Ruby? Is her past as Sarina still lingering?

I can conclude both of them were born with 1 white star eye, then Aqua and Ruby awakened the black star eye because it was triggered by two people who meant something to them. Aqua -> Ai and Akane Ruby -> Ai and Goro

What do u think about this theory? I'm not a big shippers A or B or C. I'm enjoying the story more and i love Himekawa and Frill lol. I found your account so famous in this fandom for making good theories and giving honest opinions! Nice dayand happy weekend, Kanae!

Hi anon! First of all, thank you so much for the kind words!! I don't consider myself a good theorizer, but I do love analyzing stuff so I'm really glad people have been giving my thoughts a shot and sharing their thoughts with me in turn!

Listen, here between us: I love that theory! In particular, something that has always stood out to me is that Aqua's black stars don't come from finding out that Kamiki is alive. They, just as you say, only appear once he has given up on Akane and thus, on the "naive thought of being happy". So I'm really glad to see you mention that, because I do think it's huge!

I had a similar conversation with an anon the other day, and my thoughts basically are: I think the black stars are brought out by despair and negative emotions. I think that for Ruby, assuming that Goro was still out there somewhere and that he may find her gave her hope. It kept her going when things got hard. Knowing that Goro died and that his and Ai's killer is still out there makes Ruby despair, so she throws her naivety to the side and chooses to devote herself to the lonely road of revenge. Something similar happens to Aqua when he has to give up on Akane: it represents the moment he loses all hope of being happy and goes back to being alone, this time devoting himself to revenge for real.

That's the unbiased side of my brain, the biased side is 100% rooting for your theory, specially because I believe that Akane was a light to Aqua in the same way Goro was a light to Sarina 😂 In both cases though, I do believe that Aqua getting his white star back should have a link to Akane—be it through something that Akane does, or simply through the fact that believing that he can be happy again will allow Aqua to let Akane back into his life.

I'm indifferent to Frill but I love Himekawa too! I'm eagerly waiting for him to show up again.

Happy day and nice week(end) to you too, anon!

#onk asks convos #my aquakane meta #I'll personally travel to Japan and give Aka flowers if he canonizes this theory #the way I'll cheer if Akane is the one to bring the light back into Aqua's eyes lmao

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ellie-andthemachine · 9 months

Text

The Rookie: Echoes of the Past (Chapter Two) Synopsis: From oldest rookie to T.O., John Nolan takes on training the newest rookie, Officer Ellie Moore. In her first 6 months on the force, an unresolved case catches up to her, putting her survival to the ultimate test. A tale of mentorship, resilience, and facing one's demons head-on.

Read Chapter One here: Chapter ONE

“Hey, I’ll take the wheel for the first half of the shift if you’d like,” Lucy offered.

“You’re the boss, go for it,” Aaron chuckled.

Lucy started the vehicle and pulled away from the station, heading out onto the busy streets of L.A.

“7-Adam-07, show us on patrol,” Thorsen radioed in.

“So, you and Nat are going on another date, then?” Lucy asked, curious. “You said that you two hit it off really well.”

“Oh yeah, next weekend. It’s crazy; she knows all about me and doesn't even have an issue with any of it.”

“Well, why should she? You proved your innocence in more ways than one, especially with the documentary. You're a really stand-up guy.”

“Thanks, Luce,” Aaron said. “She knows the money I come from, and she doesn't care. It’s like nothing bothers her about it.”

“That’s Nat for sure: down to earth, humble, and super sweet.” Lucy smiled, “I’m so glad that you two hit it off well. Just FYI, I want an invite to the wedding.”

Aaron laughed, “Hell, you’ll probably be in the damn wedding. Matron or Maid of Honor and all that shit.”

“I wouldn’t say no. She’s an amazing friend and deserves to be happy, and maybe that’ll be with you. Who knows?”

“I hope you’re right. I’m ready for a lifetime of happiness; that’s for damn sure.”

The two rode in comfortable silence, with dispatch radioing other units in the background.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Lucy asked.

"Sure, what’s up?"

"Have you noticed anything going on with Ellie? You two talk sometimes."

"All I know is that she’s been having some trouble sleeping. I mentioned how tired she looked the other day after the shift. Apparently, she deals with insomnia a few times a year; she says it's nothing she isn't used to."

"Do you think it's enough to affect her work?"

Aaron looked over at Lucy. "No, I don't. Why? Are you concerned that it might?"

Lucy sighed. "Not overly, no. I do worry about her. However, at the same time, I want to make sure it doesn't impact her while she's on patrol. We have to leave our personal issues at the door when we come in, no matter how difficult it is."

Aaron nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Hell, I'm sure every single one of us understands the danger it poses if we don't."

"Exactly. Look, if she talks to you—which I doubt she will, because Lord knows she barely opens up to us girls—but if she does, could you keep me in the loop?"

"Of course. Though I'm pretty sure you have nothing to worry about. She seems levelheaded enough."

"You know as well as I do that things can always change."

"True."

Lucy and Aaron pulled into the circular driveway of their alarm call.

“This is 7-Adam-07, dispatch, show us on scene,” Aaron radioed in. “False alarm, dead body, or burglary? Where’s your bet?”

“It's super quiet. I don't think it's a false alarm; we would've gotten a call from the owner. The owner may not be home, which leads to a possible burglary.”

“...or he could be dead and burgled.”

“Yeah, let’s not take any chances,” Lucy said, leading the way to the front door of the home. “Uh, Aaron, I’d say your bet is the closest; look,” she pointed to the steps, motioning to the blood droplets.

“Blood and the front door ajar. I’ll take back?”

“Yeah, radio if you find anything.”

“You too.” Aaron said as he unholstered his weapon and headed towards the rear of the home.

“7-Adam-07, our alarm call has turned into a suspected homicide and burglary. Standby.” Lucy radioed into dispatch and removed her weapon as well. Pushing the front door open, she called out, “LAPD!” Hoping for some kind of response, she received none.

Going room by room, she quickly but effectively clears them, noting nothing out of the ordinary in any. Upon coming to the bottom of the stairway moments later, she notices smeared blood on the wooden handrail. “Thorsen, I cleared the downstairs. There’s blood on the handrail. I’m heading up. What’s your status?”

“Clear. No sign of any forced entry. Nothing out here to indicate that anything happened. I’m heading around front to come in. Be careful.”

Lucy starts heading upstairs, her gun raised, ready for any altercations. “LAPD, is anyone up here?” She calls out once more. She receives no response again.

The first room she comes to is a bathroom. Nothing out of the ordinary. The next room is a guest room. Same. The third room’s door is ajar. She notices blood droplets on the white carpet, blood on the doorframe and knob.

Pushing the bedroom door open, she’s greeted with the sight of what she guesses is the homeowner—deceased. Lucy checks for a pulse and finds none. Sighing, she notices a closet and the master bathroom, and works carefully to clear the interior rooms.

“Chen, where are you at?” Aaron calls, entering through the front door.

“Upstairs, master bedroom on the left,” Lucy yells out. “I cleared the other rooms up here. I think I found the owner.”

Aaron quickly makes his way upstairs, heading for Lucy. “Aw, what the hell is that?”

“I’m going to guess our homeowner,” she says as she pulls out her radio. “This is 7-Adam-07, dispatch, notify detectives that our alarm call is a homicide.”

“7-Adam-07, copy.”

“Luce, look. There’s a message carved on his chest,” Aaron points out to Lucy.

Lucy walks over to the body of the homeowner and notices the bloody message that he has pointed out.

“'GiVe Me MOre,'” she reads aloud. “Give who more, and give them more of what?”

Aaron and Lucy look at each other, both curious and concerned.

"Victim’s name is Anton Yelkavich. Age 34. Has ties to Sureno 13," Lopez said, informing Chen and Thorsen. The scene was busy with crime scene techs.

"Sureno 13?" Lucy asked.

"Local gang. I noticed the number 13 burned into our victim’s flesh, back of his leg," Aaron said. "They’ve only been around for like, I dunno, 5 years?" he explained. "Any idea who’d want him dead?" he asked Angela.

"I’m guessing any of the other members of the gang, maybe even their leader, Victor Martin. We busted Anton months ago, and he flipped on the leader. Word has it Anton was going to get the others to also flip on Victor."

"So, you think that the others might also be in danger?"

"Possibly. We’ll have to check the list on the others and follow up with them. Are you guys able to help with that?"

"Of course," Aaron spoke up. "Hey, the message that was carved into Yelkavich, any idea what it means?"

"No. It doesn’t ring a bell. Maybe combing through the file might help some," Lopez said.

“We’ll meet you back at the station and split up the names,” Lucy said.

“Sounds good. See you two then.”

Aaron and Lucy stepped back over to the other side of the yellow caution tape. “You think we’ll have more victims before the day is over?” Aaron asked.

Lucy sighed. “I do. That’s why we need to get that list of names and act fast. I just can’t figure out the message he left. He wants more. More of what, exactly?”

“You know as much as I do. Are you still driving?”

“You can, if you’d like.”

“Sure thing, let’s go.”

“7-Adam-07, show us returning to the station,” Lucy radioed in.

“7-Adam-07, copy.”

Nolan and Ellie arrived at the location of their domestic dispute call. The home was small and quaint, nestled in a nice neighborhood. It was surrounded by a white picket fence with a small open gate, giving it a clean and tidy appearance.

“Nice neighborhood. What do you think the dispute is about? Burnt cookies? Cold dinner? Warm beer?” Ellie scoffed, a hint of cynicism in her voice.

Nolan raised an eyebrow, looking at her. “Nice neighborhoods turn you off, boot?” he teased.

Ellie rolled her eyes at the nickname. “Oh, come on. You can’t tell me that the nice white picket fence isn’t just a façade for what really goes on behind closed doors? It’s all a lie.”

“Well, until this call is settled, let’s just do our jobs,” Nolan replied, his tone more serious.

“Yes, sir,” Ellie said quietly, falling in step behind her training officer as they ascended the porch steps. She took the lead and knocked on the door. “LAPD!”

Waiting to see if anybody would answer the door and let them in, Ellie could hear signs of an altercation inside. “I hear yelling. Should I try again or go in?”

“Let’s try one more time,” Nolan decided, knocking on the door once more. “LAPD, open up!”

Still no response.

Then, a sound of breaking glass came from inside the house.

“Alright, go,” Nolan ordered, giving Ellie the green light to take action.

Ellie unholstered her weapon and turned the knob, her heart racing as she found the door surprisingly unlocked. “LAPD! Hands up!”

“Woah, don’t shoot!”

“What are you doing here?” Ellie demanded.

“We got a call regarding a domestic disturbance, and I’d say we’ve got one in front of us,” Nolan interjected, his voice steady and authoritative. “Now, can anybody tell us what’s going on?”

The man in the room finally found his voice. “My wife here filed for divorce and is suing me for full custody of our two kids,” he explained, pointing toward a scared young girl and boy huddled on the couch.

Ellie, feeling the tension begin to ease, holstered her weapon and exchanged a nod with Nolan. “Hey, kids, my name is Ellie, and this is John. We’re here to talk to your mom and dad, okay? Can you go upstairs for me until we’re done?”

The young girl nodded, her wide eyes showing a mix of fear and curiosity. She took her younger brother’s hand, and they hurriedly ascended the staircase, disappearing behind a closing door.

“Now, let’s talk,” Ellie said, her tone softer as she addressed the couple before her. “Can we talk?”

The wife nodded, her expression a mixture of anger and hurt. “My name is Laura; this here is Patrick. He’s a lying piece of cheating shit. Narcissistic to boot too.”

“What the fuck, Laura?!” Patrick shouted, his face turning red. “I told you I’m not cheating on you. And I’m NOT narcissistic, that’s your mother!”

“I’ve got all the proof, Patrick. Phone records, credit card statements, you name it. It’s over,” Laura spat, her voice shaking with frustration.

“Guys, come on. Have you guys ever gone to marriage counseling? Any remediation at all?” Nolan interjected, attempting to steer the conversation towards a more constructive direction.

“I tried to get him to go. He wouldn’t. Hell, all he would ever say is that he wouldn’t cheat on me again, and that was that. Even if he wasn’t, the mind games! The mind games are enough for me!” Laura's voice trembled as she spoke, the emotional turmoil evident in her words.

“What mind games, ma’am?” Ellie asked, her voice gentle, as she sought a way to shift the course of the argument.

“Always talking about how I would be nothing without him, how I was only ever meant to stay at home, mind the house, mind the kids, have dinner and a beer ready for him the moment he got home. Well, that shit might have worked back in the 60s and maybe the 70s, but it doesn’t work on me,” Laura explained with a mix of anger and exhaustion.

“That’s not true, and you know it,” Patrick said, his voice lowered, a hint of remorse in his eyes. “Laura, I love you. I fucked up before, but I swear, I’m not...” He trailed off, his words heavy with the weight of his emotions.

“Then why am I getting phone calls from Patrice, saying how you took her out to Antonio’s and to her house to fuck her?” Laura demanded, her voice quivering with a mix of anger and hurt. “I’ve got the proof, Patrick. The phone records with her phone number, the credit card statement.”

“Laura, Patrice is screwing with you. She’s been calling my number. I’ve only answered it to tell her to leave us alone. The credit card used at Antonio’s was me buying lunch for a coworker and myself, weeks ago.”

“I don’t believe you!”

“I've got proof. It's in the other room, in the office. Can I go get it?” Patrick looked at Ellie, seeking her permission.

“Yes, go ahead.”

Patrick walked away, his steps heavy with the weight of his own distress, and Ellie turned to address Laura, her tone gentle but firm. “Laura, maybe hear Patrick out? Look, I’ve been through situations like this before, and Officer Nolan and I only want what’s best for your family.”

Laura's expression remained hardened. “With all due respect, Officer Moore, I’m making the best decision for our family. I’m getting us away from him,” Laura spat back, her words laced with a combination of anger and determination.

“All I’m saying is –”

“Gun!” Nolan's voice boomed, his eyes widening as he saw Patrick re-enter the room with a gun in his hand. “Patrick, put the gun down.”

Ellie had her gun out, her hands steady but her heart racing, her mind processing the rapidly unfolding situation. “Patrick, come on, put the gun down.”

“Yeah, Patrick, what are you gonna do, shoot me?” Laura's remark carried a tone of bitterness.

“Shut up, Mrs. Reynolds!” Ellie's voice snapped, her attempt to regain control of the room evident. “Come on, Patrick, you don’t want to do this. Think about your kids.”

Patrick's grip on the gun seemed shaky as he turned it towards Nolan, tears streaking down his face.

“Wait, stop!” Ellie's voice was sharp and commanding, her body moving to step in front of Nolan, acting as a human shield.

“Officer Moore, out of the way,” Nolan's voice cut through, his tone brooking no argument.

“I’ve got this, John,” Ellie insisted, taking a cautious step closer to Patrick, her eyes locked onto his. “Hey, things can be fixed. Don’t do this. You don’t want this hanging over you; it will make it harder to fight for your kids.” Her words were a mix of urgency and empathy, an attempt to reach a desperate man through the fog of his emotions.

Patrick's sobs wracked his body, his shoulders trembling as tears streamed down his face. “I only cheated once, early in our marriage. She’s never let it go. Laura and I were literally on a date last week, and we were happy. I don’t recognize my wife anymore.”

“We can help, Patrick. Please, let us help you both,” Ellie pleaded, her voice laced with empathy and a hint of desperation. Her eyes filled with genuine concern as she stared at the distraught man before her. “Let me help.”

“I’m sorry, but you can’t. She has friends in high places. Higher than you. I will never see my kids ever again,” Patrick explained, his words weighed down by the heaviness of his despair. His vision blurred as tears continued to blur his sight.

“I understand what you're feeling, but fight against it. She may have influential friends, but that's okay. We can still help. Patrick, let me help,” Ellie's voice held a mixture of determination and compassion as she began to slowly extend her hand toward the gun he held, her breath held in anticipation.

“You can’t. I’m so sorry,” Patrick's voice was a quiet murmur, his grip shifting as he turned the gun and, in a heart-wrenching moment, shot himself in the head.

“No! Dad!” Ellie's anguished cry echoed through the room as she watched helplessly, her heart pounding, as he fell to the living room floor. The shock of the tragic scene unfolding before her was overwhelming, leaving her frozen in a moment of disbelief and sorrow.

“Ellie!”

“Patrick!”

Nolan and Laura both yelled out simultaneously, their voices laced with shock and grief. Laura's desperate steps propelled her towards Patrick's lifeless form, but John moved quickly to intercept her, his firm hold preventing her from reaching the scene of the tragedy. “Officer Moore are you okay?” he inquired urgently, his gaze assessing her for any injuries.

Surveying the somber tableau before him, John noted Ellie on her knees beside Patrick's motionless body, her uniform and face stained with blood, and her face an emotionless mask. The weight of the moment hung heavily in the air.

“He’s gone,” Ellie's voice was steady but carried an undercurrent of sadness that echoed through the room.

With a heavy sigh, John instructed Laura to go upstairs and check on her children, offering her a brief but supportive nod as she complied. As he reached for his radio, he summoned the necessary assistance. “7-Adam-15, I need an RA on site for our domestic dispute call, a suicide.”

“7-Adam-15, copy,” came the response, the acknowledgment a stark reminder of the heart-wrenching reality they were grappling with.

Ellie sat on the retaining wall at the perimeter, her face a mask of exhaustion and turmoil. She responded to Bailey's questions as best she could, her voice carrying a weariness that matched her expression.

“How is she?” Nolan approached them, his concern evident in his voice, having finished briefing the other officers on the scene.

Bailey motioned for John to step aside with her, creating a bit of distance from Ellie. “She’s in shock. She answered the questions I asked her, but it's clear she's exhibiting the classic signs. It's all there.”

John let out a heavy sigh, his weariness reflecting his emotional state. "I figured as much."

Curious and deeply concerned, Nolan asked, “What happened?”

“She tried to diffuse the situation, but it escalated rapidly,” John explained, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and sorrow. “She even stepped in front of me, literally in the line of fire. She believed she could get through to him. To both of them.”

Bailey’s expression shifted to one of understanding mingled with empathy. “Oh man. No wonder she’s in the state she’s in. That’s a lot to carry.” She shook his head slowly, grappling with the gravity of the situation they had witnessed.

Nolan and Bailey both turned their attention as commotion arose behind them, witnessing Ellie confronting Laura directly.

“You drove him to suicide! You threatened that man's children! What kind of mother does that?” Ellie's voice carried a mix of anger and accusation, her finger pointed accusingly at Laura.

“You wouldn’t understand. You’ve never been in my shoes!” Laura's voice wavered; her emotions raw as she fired back.

“I have! I have been in your shoes!”

“Officer Moore,” Nolan's voice boomed, a commanding force aimed at diffusing the escalating situation. “Stand down, now!”

Unfazed, Ellie continued to vent her frustration, her arm extending upwards toward the house. “Your husband explained everything in that room,” she yelled, her voice rising with each word. “And you just kept going at him!”

“Officer Moore! I said stand down!” Nolan's voice carried an even greater authority, the urgency in his tone unmistakable.

“Bitch, I will have your job if you don’t leave me alone. Like Patrick said, I have friends in high places. I’d watch yourself if I were you,” Laura's voice was laden with a warning as she turned and walked away, the tension in the air still palpable despite her departure.

Ellie began moving towards Laura with determination before being firmly restrained by John's grasp. “You disobeyed a direct order. You need to get back to our vehicle before I strip you of your badge. Now.”

The frustration radiating from Nolan was unmistakable, and Ellie's realization of her error hit her hard. She had indeed messed up. “Yes, sir,” she replied, her voice quiet and remorseful as she turned away and headed toward their police unit, slipping into the passenger seat.

“John, given the circumstances –”

“Bailey, she literally went after the victim’s wife. I wasn’t the only one who saw that. I won't be able to explain her way through this,” John's voice held a mix of exasperation and concern.

“Actually, Officer Nolan,” another voice chimed in from behind them, catching their attention. Another officer stepped forward, offering a different perspective. “Laura went after her. I overheard her saying that Patrick didn't actually commit the things she accused him of.”

Nolan turned towards the officer, seeking her nametag for identification. “Officer?”

“Hernandez, sir,” the officer responded. “Officer Moore was approached by the deceased victim’s wife. Laura started confessing that Patrick was telling the truth, that she hadn't filed for divorce because doing so would leave her with nothing. She mentioned that by his death, she would gain everything.”

Nolan exchanged a look with John, realization dawning upon them both. The situation had more layers than initially apparent, and they now had a more complex puzzle to unravel.

Bailey looked at Nolan, her expression a mix of astonishment and disbelief. “So, she just confessed to murder by suicide, basically?”

“Basically,” Hernandez affirmed, her voice carrying a tone of gravity. “Look, I’ve got it all recorded on my bodycam. You can have the footage for your case.”

“Thank you. I’ll get our Sergeant to retrieve the footage. Can you swing by the station later to give your official report?”

“Yes, sir. Right after we wrap up here, I'll head over.”

“Thank you,” Nolan acknowledged, signaling the end of their conversation. He turned his attention back to Bailey, his brow furrowed in contemplation. “While this development helps Ellie’s situation, I still need to talk to her. There's something that's bothering me about all of this.”

“Just... be careful how you approach it, okay? If you push too hard, she might shut down completely. Approach it tactfully.”

John nodded, his gaze meeting Bailey's with understanding. “I'll see you tonight at home.”

“Of course, hot stuff,” Bailey teased, offering him a playful grin as he walked away.

Observing Ellie's gaze fixed on the passenger side window, Nolan felt a pang of sympathy. The upcoming conversation was one he wished to avoid, but it was necessary. Settling into the driver's seat, he turned to face her.

“I need answers, and I need them now.”

Alright, so, here's chapter two. Much longer too. Sorry for the delay, I ended up growing an extra appendage in the form of a 3 year old little girl. She and hubby are finally in bed and now I am heading that way.

I totally accept constructive criticism. As well as a beta. So, if anyone is interested, let me know!

I hope y'all enjoy. If you have any questions, let me know!

#the rookie #oc #john nolan #lucy chen #tim bradford #angela lopez #aaron thorsen #nyla harper #chenford #nathan fillion

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royalwriteroftheuniverse · 2 years

Text

Thanks Captain America Chapter 7

Next chapter chapter 8

I've been spending a lot of time working on this to make it so good I hope you all enjoy it Comments are appreciated reblogs are appreciated No reposting or publishing .

18+ just in case as always she does feel Steve's abs but there's a lot of angst and some fluff some kissing heartache, probably depression and anxiety and shock maybe some other psychological issues because of the kidnapping there is mentions of kidnapping denial and mentions her. Heartache did I mention angst and sweetness and confusion and let me know if I missed anything

There are a lot of Point of view changes

She wakes up in Sick bay /Medical after being saved.

She was confused initially when wouldn't be but the gas plus her weekend state caused... problems.

Her Point of View.

"You, I know you" I reached my hand out

"You're real no this isn't my life this it's a dream. do you - abs ? I went to touch his shirt under his shirt just to. Is it the same here?

"its a dream what the he-"

"Yea and as much as I love you feeling me up what do you mean its a dream?"

"You're not real" I tilted my head a shook it. Silly dream many doesn't understand.

"I'm right here love. "

"No no you you're not nice dream" I said my one tone no stopping for breaths or pausing.

"I was at home it was messy and crowded and cold. You're so warm." His skin was so warm it was a nice dream. I think I like this dream

Steve inner thoughts

She kept insisting It was a dream that is "not me" that "this isn't her life" "her home" and before you say it I know it technically isn't her home. But it is her life. It is me. But, she really didn't think I was me. I think. Seeing her face I- she I think she really did think that she was.......

Omniscient

The gas messed with her head. More than anyone thought it was hard for everyone but she changed. And it was sad to watch the changes wbetween her and Steve its like she was sure of something. And had not a care in the world. Like a cold. An innocent.

"Steve You're here I like this dream.Come 'ere"

I reached up for his face

He bend down, it wasnt as soft as I remember what what dream is and I figured what the hell its a dream and I pulled him in for a kiss. His lips felt diffrent than I remember but a dream isn't always like it was. A dream is just odd.

Steve was shocked she was not only civil to him but wanting him close she wanted a kiss from him.

Nat was shocked at how passionately Steve was pulled in for a kiss like nothing happened.

Steve kissed back he couldn't not, well he could not, he just didn't want to not, but thats mostly because he didnt want to deny it.. it may be the last kiss hed ever get from her

But then he froze then she left go.

"You're still here," she said with a small smile some wonder as if she expected everything to melt away "Where is here?"

Nat took a small but sharp breath in. This was going to be trouble especially once Hayden had come.

Steve didn't think about any thing but helping her and answering her questions

"You're at the tower." He brushes some of her hair away from her face and smoothed it out for her.

"I am? God your gorgeous. Handsome perfect.

I'm thirsty. " seemly slipping- topics that is.

Her Point of View.

"I'll get you something love." He goes to turn and I just

"Wait, come here. Kiss me" he may not come back dreams are unpredictable, unstable that that.

"Kiss?"

Omniscient

Steve was taken back he wanted to kiss her so bad but he also didn't want to- she didn't want this before. But she's been through so much. Maybe she just wanted comfort and he had done thst before. He didn't know what to do.

Her point of view

"Yes I want one when you leave and once when you come back and one every 19 minutes. my angel I want my angel. " I state plane and simply easy instruction for my mind to handle, why can't he?

Omniscient

It was clear with her state of mind it wasnt going to be easy with things coming and going. Nat sympathized but in the Red Room she had sisters but she knew where she was who she was.

But here THAT girl Nats looking at her student someone she considered a friend had no one Nat wondered if anyone would ever know that her friend went through. Or if she had simply closed herself off to escape the horrors.

Her Point of view

"I have it love its upstairs you want it?"

"Yes please." Why must I ask my dreams to do things more than once maybe it cause I dont want my angel? But why wouldn't I want it?

"Ok"

Omniscient

He put his arm above her head and he leaned in to kiss her with the other hand on her abdomen just so he could lean over the guard rail. To kis her it was sift but one still heard a kissing noise

"I remember this." A soft smile the same wonder voice lost wandering voice it reminded everyone of Alice in Wonderland slightly. She seemed to be taking everything in with big bright eyes. His sweet girl.

"You do"

"Yea you kissing I've this. "

He kissed her forehead. Letting his lips linger as long as he could.

"I'll be back you- Do want a sweatshirt too?"

She nodded.

"Where am I?" She looked around as if the territory was unfamiliar yet curious similar to something, maybe she was thinking.

"You're still in the tower honey we went through this do you, do you remeber?"

"Mmhm, I just wasn't sure if you was still here or not."

Nat was rooting for Hayden but seeing the two of them like this. Gazing in eachothers eyes. Steve being so kind and caring Nat wondered how Steve would have or could have ever started dating Rachel when he had had this. True her friend was all over the place but considering what she had gone through she deserved every peice of softness and comfort she could have before she remembered what she had endured the past few months.

Steve brought down the angel he gave her, the stuffed bear he gave her, a fuzzy blanket to give her, he had everything he had bought for her- everything she gave back to him. He walked in and she was sleeping again.

He kissed her as promised and petted her hair happily

"I've got my girl back, my love back" he thought. Then he put blanket on her she started to stir

"Shhh rest" he caressed her face

He gave her a kiss on the forehead

"Not a kiss" she pouted a bit

"I did you were sleeping"

" Doesn't count"

"Doesn't count?" He rolled his eye playfully

Ok he meant to give her a short one he did but she grabbed his head and

His fingers started holding her chin and ran to over her lips.

"God baby I missed you- perfect girl You're perfect."

"We still in the tower?"

"yea honey and I'm right here with you. Me and Nat I promise. You're safe now."

"Safe. Safe is nice. Safe is"

I reached up and felt his face. Warm and looks caring "I like this safe."

Nat couldnt believe what she was seeing. It was a Disney movie come true.

"Stay with me?" She asked softly but her eyes pleaded with her ys brows raised in slight fear.

"Always"

"Hold me? there's room"

"Honey I-" his eyes darted to Nat for a moment.

"Please"

She kissed all over his face his lips his neck and had intentions of going back and forth before Steve was thinking about what to do when her lips hit his neck Steve stopped her.

"Hey relax plenty of time for that," his hands cupping her cheeks,, "I'm not going anywhere- I promise."

Nat was now starting to root for her two friends.

"So you'll stay?" Her eyes had widened with joy or is it relief? Maybe something else but

He dropped his head in defeat,

"Baby I'm not going anywhere"

He moved the guard rail down and slid on the bedbu"But they can kick me off so you get your rest they'd have to kill me Before I leave you or this room I'll keep you safe. I'll watched out for you I promise, I won't leave."

"We're still in the tower?"

She had same innocent toned question it wouldn't stop that tone. The tone that scared him.. it scared everyone as she was so, she was or she seemed so innocent and sad confused but content.

"Yeah honey were still here. Nothing's changed from a few minutes ago" he put his arm around her shoulders and sadly sighed. He hoped to god she wasn't gone but-

"You never know." She had that same innocent toned that just broke Steve and it broke Nat's heart-

She might really be lost.

She was finally sleeping in peace , a last bit of peace or maybe her first.

She was in Steve's arms and Everyone had checked on her through the window and subsequently Steve throughout the night and it seemed like a loving scene. No one seperated them.. They'd never know Steve was scared he lost his girl peices of her were there. Things that made her her, her smile her giggle her joyful eyes that got Steve to do anything that oout that had inadvertently came out before a tear before she ran that day. The bit on her lip the last time he saw her on the street. Her willpower of getting what she wanted. Almost what she wanted. Steve pulled her in tight as he thought about it unaware that a few of them including Nat and Bruce were watching as he put his chin on her head as he prayed aloud

"Please don't be gone, please be ok. I need you back, I need you to be ok, I am sorry I am so so sorry. I don't care if you hate me forever but you need be ok, you need to be in there. Please God, I hope you're in there."

/ Part 8 (next chapter)

Chapter 8,9 and 10 coming soon

Tag list

@nana1000night @sapphire-rogers @hawkeyes-queen @patzammit @sparklybarbarianninja

#avengers #chris evans #steve rogers #ari levinson imagine #ari levinson x female reader #chris evans x plus size reader #ransom drysdale #steve rogers fanfiction #chris evans characters #chris evans comfort #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers au #steve rogers x bucky barnes #nomad steve

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brittanagirlcrush · 1 year

Text

Negotiating the Terms of Our Reconciliation

or ... how Brittany & Santana got from churros to lilies to Lesbos.

Here's the first chapter of my latest endeavor. The full thing is posted on FF.Net if you're interested. :)

A/N: This is just my take on what could have happened during the weekend of 5.12 & the week of 5.13.

Constructive Criticisms are always welcome.

There is a TW for homophobia, hinting at ED, and mentions of attempted suicide/suicidal thoughts in a couple of the chapters so I'll label them ahead of the chapters they're in.

Xoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 1

Santana sat with her eyes closed, head back against the wall.

Brittany kissed me.

Brittany wants to be with me.

Brittany kissed me.

Brittany. Kissed. Me.

I kissed her back.

Shit.

The sound of heels clicking against the linoleum alerted her to the approach of another person. It wasn't Britt; she'd been wearing ankle boots and they'd have made less of a click, more of a clunk or a scuff, maybe. The clicking stopped and someone sat down next to her; she'd hoped that if she kept her eyes closed the person would go away. No such luck.

"What's going on with you and Brittany?" Quinn's voice was curious but not accusatory.

Santana opened her eyes and looked at the blonde. "What do you mean?"

Quinn arched a brow with a look that said 'Really?' before saying "Well, anyone who knows you two, anyone who was around for Brittana: The Original Series, has spent the week watching Brittana 2.0. You two have spent the week together; YOU have gone out of your way to pull her out of her funk. We've been watching you fall in love all over again. Now, we're all supposed to meet in the auditorium and Britt tells me you're in the choir room and could I please come get you so I'll ask again: What's going on with you and Brittany?"

Santana sighed. "She kissed me."

"So? That's good, right?"

"Quinn … I've lost her twice. I worked my ass off to get over her and with one kiss, five sentences, a kiss on the cheek, and two more sentences … I'm all of sudden not so sure I actually did get over her." She shook her head and looked at Quinn. "I don't know if I can handle losing her again. What if … what if we try and it doesn't work and we break up again? It was so hard to come back from that break-up. So hard becoming friends again. What if …"

Quinn cut her off. "What if it does work out and you two get married and live happily ever after? Santana, you always overthink everything." Quinn paused for a moment. "You know, you lost her to Artie because you were afraid. You lost her to Sam because you flinched. The next person you lose her to? May not be as easy to get rid of as Artie and Sam. The next person may be willing to fight you for her because they're not afraid of or intimidated by Santana Lopez and Brittany is worth fighting for. Are you willing to take that chance? Or is she not worth fighting for?"

Santana groaned. She'd always assumed she and Brittany would find their way back to one another but it just seems like it's always crappy timing. "Quinn, the reason we broke up …"

"You broke up with her," Quinn snarked.

"Fine. The reason I broke up with her was because the distance was killing her. I couldn't be here for her. I couldn't come home or text or call or Skype with any regularity. I was hurting her. I promised myself I wouldn't do that anymore. We still have a distance problem."

"She's not in high school anymore, Santana. It's different now. For what it's worth? I think if anyone can make it work, it's you two. Look … you and Brittany can be 'just friends' if you're not in the same zip code. If you are in the same zip code? It's like a magnet to a lodestone. Don't fight it."

Santana nodded. "Yes, she is absolutely worth fighting for." She sighs softly. "I think we need to talk."

"Probably a good place to start." Quinn stood up and offered Santana her hand. "Come on, I'm sure they're all waiting for us."

Santana took Quinn's hand and stood up. She looked at the pretty blonde. "You know, I have to tell her about us."

Quinn looked surprised. "I'd have thought you already did."

Santana shook her head. "The only reason to tell her would be to hurt her. I mean, think about it, she was with Sam so it really wasn't her business and if I randomly told her 'By the way, Quinn and I hooked up' what would be the point? I didn't tell her about every hook-up I had," she shrugged. "Don't take this the wrong way but it wasn't important. We weren't going to date or become 'something'. It wasn't important to tell her. Now it is. If I DON'T tell her and we get back together … what happens three months from now when someone casually mentions it and I didn't tell her? She'll wonder why I didn't tell her and what else I'm hiding. I don't regret it and I'm not embarrassed or ashamed, it just wasn't something I needed to tell her."

Quinn nodded. "I get it. I'm completely fine with you telling her, Santana. I don't regret it and I'm not embarrassed or ashamed either."

Santana hugged Quinn. "Thanks, Q."

"Yeah. Yeah. Let's go."

They headed down the hallway toward the auditorium to meet the rest of the OG members.

Xoxoxoxoxo

As they were walking off the stage, Santana gently grabbed Brittany's elbow.

"Hey. Um, I think we should talk."

A smiled ghosted across Brittany's lips. "But we never do that."

Santana grinned. "Come on. Let me buy you dinner."

Brittany put a hand to her heart in mock surprise. "Why, Ms. Lopez, are you asking me out on a date?"

Santana laughed. "Well, Ms. Pierce, it IS Friday night."

"Well then it would be churlish of me to refuse."

Santana laughed and took Brittany's hand, leading her off the stage and out of the building. "You want to drop your car at home?"

"Mom dropped me off this morning."

"Okay."

They got to Santana's car and she opened the door for Brittany before climbing into the driver's seat. As she pulled out of the parking lot she made a left and headed for the thruway. They'd gone about twenty minutes down the road when Brittany spoke up.

"Um, Santana? This isn't the way to BreadstiX. If you don't want to be with me, you don't have to dump me in the middle of nowhere, Ohio, you could have just said so." Brittany's voice sounded nervous.

"What? No, Britt," Santana chuckled. "I'm not planning on dumping you in the middle of nowhere. I just want to talk and if we go to BreadstiX we're not going to be able to actually TALK. Everyone is in from out of town; the Gleeks because of the Glee Club folding, older siblings here for graduation … it's like a big frickin' reunion all over Lima. If we go to BreadstiX people are going to see us and they're going to stop and chat. Then we're right where we started; still needing to talk. So I thought I'd take you to this little steak and seafood place mom and I found on our way back from orientation at Louisville. It's just south of Dayton so a little over an hour to get there which means we shouldn't run into anyone we know. When mom and I stopped I thought you'd like it and I always planned on taking you there …" she trailed off.

"Oh. Okay. I was nervous for a second."

"Why, Britt? It's just us."

"We've kind of had a hard time being us. I don't mean as a couple, I mean even as friends it's been hard getting back to being best friends after the break up and Sam and Dani and everything."

"Britt," Santana paused for a moment, "it doesn't matter what happens. We will always find our way back to being us. You were my first love. My only love if I'm honest. But, more than that, you ARE my best friend. You always will be."

"How can you be so sure?" Brittany's voice was barely a whisper.

Santana glanced at Brittany, who was looking at her. She reached over and took one of Britt's hands in her own and interlaced their fingers together. "Because in the past three-and-a-half months I've gotten three phone calls that tell me so."

"Three phone calls means we're always gonna be best friends?"

"Yup."

"What were they?" Brittany's voice was now full of curiosity instead of nervousness.

Santana smiled. "Well, about three-and-a-half months ago I was getting ready for a date with this insanely hot, off-Broadway choreographer and my phone rang. Normally I'd have ignored it but I picked it up. In five minutes: I had texted the choreographer and told her I needed to leave town unexpectedly and I'd text her when I got back to see if she was still interested; I called my boss and told him I needed a couple of days off; I packed a bag, booked a flight, and called a cab; I left a note for Kurt and Rachel telling them I'd be back soon. In less than twelve hours, I was in your room while you tried to treat me like I was just anyone and film an episode of Fondue for Two. I saw right through you and called you out, reminding you that I still cared about you … as a person and a FRIEND. You opened up and told me everything that no one else had been able to get out of you. Britt, I can count on the fingers of one hand, with four fingers left over, how many people I would drop everything for. It didn't matter that things had been awkward between us. It didn't matter that we weren't talking or texting on any kind of regular basis. Sam called and told me something was wrong with you and that's all I needed to know."

"Santana … you didn't tell me all of that."

Santana shrugged. "It wasn't about me. It was about you. You were in some sort of trouble and you're my best friend and you needed me."

Santana saw Brittany's smile out of the corner of her eye. "The second call came about a month or so ago. Rachel had left and said a lot of really awful things to me and I was lying on my new bed, curled up in a ball. I was bawling my eyes out and trying to be quiet so Kurt wouldn't hear me. Of course, I didn't want Rachel or Kurt to know how badly I'd been hurt. My phone rang and I wanted to just ignore it but I made the mistake of looking at the caller ID and saw it was you. So I answered … because it was you. Before I even had a chance to say 'hello' you asked me 'What's wrong?'. You knew something was wrong before I said a word."

"I remember that night. I got this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was the same feeling I got the day you found out about that ad. That was the only other time I'd had that feeling so, mathematically, the odds were that it had something to do with you. I played the odds and called you first, figuring if I was wrong I could start going through my contacts to find out who or what it was. Turns out, the odds were in my favor."

Santana smiled. "You knew I was hurting and you reached out to check on me."

"And the third call?"

"Last week. Thursday. You and I were talking on the phone and you asked me if I'd heard about Glee Club and I said that Kurt had told me. You said 'I guess I'll see you tomorrow?' and I answered, 'Yeah, of course.'"

"I don't understand."

"Britt, I wasn't coming back for this. I told Quinn on Tuesday I wasn't coming back. I didn't want to spend two weeks with Rachel's diva behavior reliving her 'glory days' as the 'star' of the Glee Club and bad mouthing me to whoever would listen. I planned on spending two weeks Kurt and Rachel free. Drama free. Two weeks of the apartment to myself. Two weeks of them not working shifts at the diner with me. Two weeks of peace."

"Then why'd you come?"

Santana spared another look at the woman next to her. "Because it was more important to spend time re-connecting with you than it was to spend time avoiding them. Ultimately, you trumped them."

"You are something else, Santana Lopez."

"That's how I know we'll always be best friends, Britt."

"Okay."

"Good. Now that that's out of the way. There's something I need to tell you."

"You're married."

"What? No."

"Engaged?"

"Also no."

"Pregnant?"

"Oh, HELL to the NO! Are you done?"

"Yeah. The only one I couldn't work around would be married."

"You could work around my being pregnant?"

"Well, yeah. A little Santana? My dream come true." Brittany giggled.

"Are you done now?"

"Yeah. I think so." She giggled again. "So, what did you want to tell me?"

"I don't have a girlfriend anymore."

"What?" Brittany's voice was suddenly serious. "What happened? Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't KURT tell me?"

"Britt, take a breath. Kurt doesn't know yet. I asked Dani not to say anything to him so I didn't have to worry about him wanting to stay in New York with me to 'comfort me'. We broke up on Wednesday. I'm fine. Really, I am. We weren't going to last much longer anyway."

"What happened?"

xoxoxoxoxo

flashback

Santana was leafing through a magazine in Dani's apartment waiting for her girlfriend to get out of the shower. She liked Dani. She was fun and sweet and funny and talented and smart and cute. They had fun together. She sighed. She knew she was trying to convince herself to give Dani more time. But after Dani had sided with Kurt and Eliot and kicked Santana out of the band, she knew it wasn't going to last. Santana felt betrayed and her first thought had been 'Brittany never would have done that to me.' The moment the thought went through her mind she knew she and Dani were on borrowed time. Santana had managed to avoid comparing Dani to Brittany for the almost three months they had been together. Until that moment. And the minute she compared Dani to Brittany she knew she and Dani weren't long-term; Dani couldn't come back from that comparison, she'd just never measure up.

"Hey, babe? I need to talk to you." Dani came out wearing a pair of cut-offs and pale blue t-shirt; hair still damp from the shower.

"Okay," Santana set the magazine down. "What's up?"

"So, last week I was working the overnight shift at the diner and it was pretty dead, as usual, so I was playing around on my guitar, as usual, working on a song and this guy comes up and hands me a card. He was a producer from LA and was here in New York scouting talent for a new television show. He took a video of me working on my song and sent it to his co-producers. They liked what they saw and think I'm perfect for this one role. They want me to come out to LA and film the pilot. I'd be gone at least three months and if the show gets picked up," she shrugged, "it'd be a permanent move."

"Holy shit! Dani, that's awesome! Congratulations!" Santana felt a small twinge of jealousy but her bigger emotions were pride and happiness.

"Yeah? You think I should do it?"

"I think you'd be crazy not to." Santana answered her honestly.

"You could come with me?" Dani turned the statement into a question.

Santana looked at Dani. This was actually the perfect solution. "Dani … do you love me?"

Dani looked uncomfortable. "Well, I mean, I like you a lot. I care about you …"

"Exactly. Not really the best basis for moving cross-country with someone. Look, this is an amazing opportunity for you, you don't need me riding your coattails. Go to LA. Film the pilot. If you come back to New York, we'll see where we are."

"So you wanna break up?"

"I think it'd be for the best. Let's say you go to LA and it's great out there and you meet someone. Do you really wanna do the phone call break-up? Or, on the flip side, I meet someone and I get to do the totally uncool phone call break-up. Long distance is hard and LA isn't exactly a two hour road trip or even a three hour flight. I'd rather we part as friends and, if you come back to New York, we can see if we're both still free and interested."

"Makes sense. A lot of sense, actually, because if it does get picked up then I'd make the move permanently and we'd have to break up anyway or I'd be out there torn because I left you back here thinking I was gonna be back in three months."

"Exactly. I want you to be free to act in your best interest without worrying about what you left behind. We've had fun and I really like you, I think you're awesome but we're still pretty new and it's not love so … go with a clear conscience and no ties back here to hold you back."

"I'm scared. I mean, I don't even know anyone in LA. It's really pushing me out of my comfort zone and I'll be all alone out there. They're going to fly me out and put me up in a hotel while we film the pilot but, after that, I'm on my own."

"Oh, hang on." Santana grabbed her phone and fired off a quick text to Mercedes. In less than ten minutes she got a reply and forwarded the information to Dani's phone. "I just sent you a contact in LA. When you get out there, call him and tell him Mercedes gave you his number and he'll help you out."

Dani gaped at Santana.

"What?"

Dani shook her head. "You didn't even think twice about sending that text, did you?"

Santana was suddenly nervous. "Shouldn't I have sent it? I mean, 'Cedes has been out there for almost a year, she's got contacts, knows people. I just thought … I dunno … maybe she could help."

"Babe, I didn't mean you shouldn't have sent it. I mean, you try to put out this bitchy, I don't care about anyone, vibe but you reached out to an old friend to help me out. You didn't have any reason to do it or any obligation to me but you did it anyway. You take care of the people you care about. That was really sweet. But … Santana Lopez doesn't 'do sweet'." Dani grinned.

"Shut up." Santana could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "It's no big deal."

"Right."

"Hey, can you do me a favor, though?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"Can you NOT tell Kurt, Elliot, or Rachel? I mean, Kurt's the only one I don't want to know but Eliot and Rachel would probably tell him. I just don't want him thinking I'm so heartbroken and he needs to stay in New York to 'comfort' me." She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. I get it. I can totally not tell them as long as you explain it so they don't get mad at me. I mean, you are the bitchy one." Dani grinned.

"Whatever. When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"So … we don't actually have to break up until tomorrow morning?"

Dani grinned and stood up, grabbed Santana's hand, and dragged her down the hall to the bedroom.

end flashback

Xoxoxoxoxo

"Okay, well, I didn't really need to know about your … um … activities but, that's cool for her. And you're really okay?"

"Yeah, I really am. As soon as I compared her to you, our relationship was doomed." Santana shrugged. "No one can compare to you so I try not to do it. Once it's done, though, it's done. You never sided against me. If you thought I was wrong, you stayed quiet and talked to me about it privately. She didn't have to side with Kurt and Elliot; there were five of us, Kurt and Elliot were two votes, of course I'd have voted Rachel out and she'd have voted me out so Dani could have just abstained and Rachel and I would have still been out." Santana shrugged. "It just felt like a betrayal, like, why wasn't she on my side?"

"San … I'm not going to be a rebound am I?"

Santana smiled. "You can't be a rebound from Dani, Britt; she was my rebound from you."

Brittany grinned. "Dani was right about one thing."

"Oh?"

"You are sweet."

"Shut up." She said as she pulled into a gravel parking lot about half full of mostly pick-up trucks and SUVs. "And we're here."

#brittana fic #brittana #my fics #my fanfic stuff #my fanfiction

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nancypullen · 6 months

Text

Checking In

It's been a wonderful few days here on the Pullen spread. Matt has been in town and he's always such good company. We've had a lot of laughs, eaten too much holiday food, and just enjoyed being together. The Edgewater gang went down to Tennessee for Turkey Day, but I've had two calls from our Little Miss and have seen loads of pictures - they're having a ball. They'll be home on Sunday, Matt will fly out this evening, and we'll all brace ourselves for Christmas. We're getting decorated, my cards have arrived, and I'm ready to start wrapping gifts. The mister and I may wander into D.C. and visit the Christmas market, or we may opt to go to Baltimore's Inner Harbor - they do a big German Christmas village with loads of vendors (and German food!). Chestertown, on our side of the bridge, will have their Dickens Christmas festival the first weekend of December. We'll definitely give that a go. Doesn't look like we'll lack for Christmas cheer. I've volunteered to work the Friends of the Library booth at the Ridgley Christmas shindig, we'll see if they plug me into the schedule. I think that's on the 9th. It's tiiiiime!

In other news....I GOT A JOB! The Caroline County Library looked past my pink fluff (and maybe my age) and offered me a position! Yippee! I'll start January 16th, so come on over and see the nice granny at the library, she'll help you with anything you need. I never thought I'd be starting a new job at age 60, but I truly think it's going to be good for me in many ways. I can't just rot in this house. When the offer was made and salary and start date settled, I was reminded that this was, of course, pending a clean background check. Why is it, that even when you know you haven't had so much as a speeding ticket in decades, you wonder if you'll pass the background check? No one has lived a more vanilla life than I have, but what if they uncover that I skipped school in 1980 and egged a rival high school? I'll bet the people doing my background check weren't even born in 1980. What's the statute of limitations of egging? I may also have knowledge of several toilet papering incidents. That's it, I'm sunk.

Moving right along. I've got several artsy projects going. It looks like a glitter factory exploded in my craft room and that makes me happy. Look at these little chests (don't look at my mess).

Those are going to be tooth fairy boxes! My grandgirl and my sister's grandson are about the same age, both in kindergarten and nearing the snaggletooth stage of life. I''ll touch up the paint on these, glue in a little cushion, and place a little scroll inside printed with a poem I wrote for them: The Tooth Fairy Riding a moonbeam, she enters our land With glittering wings and a pouch in her hand Searching for treasure, a fairy's delight, a child's lost tooth, shiny and white. Upon finding a tooth that pleases her eyes, she leaves that lucky child a surprise So take care of your teeth, do your best When one is lost, use this chest Close your eyes, drift and dream She'll soon arrive on a silver moonbeam When you wake, look inside And see what treats a fairy hides

Okay, it's rough, but it'll work for little kids. It's all about the magic, folks. Make as much magic as you can for as long as you can. If it includes glitter, even better. Okie dokie, time for me to get busy around here. There are decorations to hang, things to sparkle, and cookies to eat. I hope you're doing something fun today, too. Whether that means shopping with the crowds or watching Hallmark movies and drinking hot cocoa, do it! Let's make a pact to send 2023 on its way in a cloud of merriment and happiness. The world is insane, bad news blares at us all day, so do everything you can to make your little corner of the world sweet. Sending you love and lots of holiday cheer. Sprinkle it all over! Stay safe, stay well, stay jolly. XOXO, Nancy

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multiplicity-positivity · 1 year

Note

Hey, I think I sent an ask a few days ago about headmates you're afraid of, not sure if it got eaten or you just didn't have enough time / info to respond, but I'm feeling a little more stable now so I'd like to elaborate if that's okay?

So. I'm a fictive of a character from an anime/manga, and the host of my system. This past weekend, we had a very traumatic incident happen. I don't want to put too many details that might trigger people, but the short version is that an event we were attending got swatted. It was all a false alarm, no one was hurt, and we were back to usual activities within an hour or so.

We knew.. Pretty much immediately that we were splitting over it. The symptoms we have for traumatic splits usually line up to a pretty consistent order for us so we were just braced for it. What I wasn't expecting was that we would split.. My grandmother.

We never met properly, in source. She died before I was born, and I grew up being told by my father and then my.. caretaker, for lack of a better word, that she had abandoned us, didn't care about her family, didn't care that we were hurting, and put the lives of strangers above her family. I only ever saw her.. Spirit? I suppose? In a few instances, and it obviously wasn't a happy reunion because I was so full of hate that I didn't care what she said.

I know from an objective sense that she was doing what she thought was best. I read our source and the longer it's gone on, the more I've realized just how much of my life was lies and fabrications from the people around me who wanted me to be hateful. I can see as an outside viewer that she wasn't pure evil like I thought. But that doesn't change the immediate gut feeling that I'm dealing with now that she's right in front of me again.

I panicked really badly when she first showed up in headspace. I'm usually a frontstuck host, but I fully switched out and hid in a corner of headspace for a few hours until our gatekeepers were able to pull her back into a different corner of the world that I don't have access too. She.. Looks a lot like I did when I was a kid. I wasn't expecting that.

I'm still not entirely sure how to react to all this or how to get comfortable with her being here. I don't want to panic and run every time she needs to front, but I also have no idea how to even approach her without all the heaviness from source crushing me completely. Sorry if this is really heavy. I'm just hoping you guys or someone else has some advice on coping with this.

Hi! We genuinely think your first ask got eaten, we’ve never seen an ask like this in our inbox… I’m so sorry!

It sounds like you’re dealing with a really tough situation. I guess we’d like to remind you that what you’ve heard from others may not align to what’s actually happened in your source’s past. Sometimes emotions can get the best of people, and situations can be misinterpreted, especially when tensions are high and family is involved.

Have you spoken to your grandmother in the system directly to hear from her what happened before you were born in your source? Maybe she had a good reason to leave, or thought she was acting in your family’s best interests at the time.

Additionally, she may not come with source memories, and not feel attached to her source at all. We firmly believe that introjects are their own people and cannot and should not be held accountable for events that happened in their source, even if they feel extremely connected to their source.

If it’s difficult to interact with her directly, perhaps try writing her a letter, or asking another headmate to pass a message along. Beginning to communicate, even if it’s hard, is the first step towards building trust. I know it won’t be easy, but unfortunately, it’s probably necessary in order for the two of you to come to an understanding and exist happily in the same mind.

We’re so sorry you’re going through something like this. If it’s easier for you, please remember that the grandmother in your headspace is an introject, just like you. She can’t help being formed and did not choose this - sometimes the brain makes internal choices that can’t be helped. We hope y’all can grow together and learn to coexist, and we’re wishing you the very best!

🌸 Margo and 💫 Parker

#fictives #introjects #splitting

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rahleeyah · 2 years

Note

“Kathy loved her”

ARE WE JOKING U EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT KATHY STABLER AKA THE WOMAN WHO WAS SO JEALOUS OF OLIVIA BENSON THAT SHE MADE HER HUSBAND WRITE A LETTER THAT WAS FULL OF SHIT AFTER 10 YEARSSSS OF NOT SEEING HER liked. LIKED! Rent-a-Benson?!!!!!!!

Like OC needs to actually study these characters who existed for 12 years on SVU Jesus Christ bro

Anyways sorry to bring this negativity here but I was just so frustrated with that line I cannot.

Like I didn’t mind the total episode but just the Tia/Elliot interactions didn’t make a lot of sense to me when we consider and factor in the bensler relationship and how all that went down… idk I’m probably overreacting but sheesh man it’s not gelling for me at all this season

Anyways I love your writing and all you do I hope you have a wonderful Friday and an even better weekend!!! 💕💕

can I tell you something about the "Kathy loved her" thing that I've been thinking about a lot?

Kathy loved her. El didn't say anything about his feelings about her. Kathy loved her. he is centering Kathy's feelings but no co-signing them; perhaps bc he doesn't feel the same way?

and while Kathy's connection to liv is complicated, you're right that Kathy did recognize liv as a threat. she called Elliot out for talking to liv and not her, she tells liv outright you know things about him that I will never understand and doesn't sound too happy about it, she wrote the letter. Kathy is defensive, where liv is concerned. so why would she love Tia? bestie what if Tia was never a threat.

we still don't know for sure what the deal was with Tia and Elliot in Rome; yes she flirts with him and she shows up at his door but is that because something happened, or because nothing ever did and now she thinks she has her chance? we don't know!! but could it be that while Tia was always open to something more Elliot wasn't, and he views her as a risk, a liability, but she was someone he had to work with, and Kathy liked her, and they made a decent team on the job, so he put up with it?

the Tia/Elliot interactions didn't make any sense, bc they didn't tell us any-fucking-thing. we still don't know if Elliot is still the Elliot we know, the one who would never be unfaithful to his wife, or if something happened between them, or how he feels about it. and like no we don't need to be spoon-fed anything but those are big fucking questions that I'm frustrated we still don't have the answers to. we may get them this week, but it contributes to last week's episode feeling more like a trailer for an episode than anything else. I kept waiting for SOMETHING relevant to happen, and nothing did. it didn't go anywhere and that's frustrating.

but we got more Tia coming so I guess we'll see what happens lmao

#anonymous #e.o asks #s.vu

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the-writers-bookshelf · 1 year

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Happy Fab Friday weekend! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Aubrey 🥰 As for me, I spent it editing a short story that I just published on my substack. “Raven Wings” is about a woman accused of witchcraft and how she saves herself from execution. It’s here for anyone who wants to read it:

https://theheartofstorytelling.substack.com/p/raven-wings

I’m going to publish a new one every month as part of a collection of folklore and fairy tale inspired stories featuring animals. I’m excited but also a little nervous too 😅 Do you have any advice on how to get more comfortable with sharing your work publicly?

Hey! So happy you jumped into the festivities! :)

CONGRATULATIONS on publishing your story!!!! I subscribed to your substack and I can't WAIT to read Raven Wings! It sounds like something I would grab off the shelf right away! I LOVE all things witchcraft!

And I think it's AWESOME that you're going to publish a new story every month! It's a fantastic goal and phenomenal for sharpening your skills! 😍

As for tips on sharing your work publicly, they're below the cut!

Practice

There will always be a little hiccup of anxiety because this is your art, your craft, your vision, and you're sharing it with the world! It's an incredibly brave and vulnerable act and it takes a lot of guts, every single time!

But after you've done it again and again, you become more comfortable with the anxiety. You will learn to recognize what's coming and you will learn how to get yourself through it so it doesn't seem quite so nerve-wracking.

It really does get a little easier each time you do it because eventually, you realize that no matter what the public says about your work, you're still gonna write and no one will stop you!

Manage expectations

Try to manage your expectations to a realistic level regarding the feedback you may (or may not) receive when you share your work publicly.

If you receive no feedback at all, will it make you doubt yourself?

If you receive negative feedback, how will that make you feel about future projects?

By managing your expectations, you can keep yourself focusing on your writing, rather than devastated by the public's responses. And no matter what the public says, remember that even bestselling authors with LOADS of books under their belt get a mix of good and bad reviews!

Take whatever measures you need in order to cope

This will take time as you learn what you can, and cannot, juggle. Some people can read every comment they receive. Some people keep tabs on all the reviews for their books.

You might be tempted to do the same. But take note of how you respond to it.

If it leaves you exhausted, drained, and feeling defeated, step away from it.

Your priority is writing. If something slows you down and prevents you from writing - i.e. reading reviews/comments of your work - then do NOT feel pressured to do it.

For me, I like to post it and then go for a LONG walk so I'm not tempted to hit the "refresh" button for comments/reviews/messages over and over! 🤣

Depersonalize if you can

This is the hardest part because your project is your BABY and you really want to do well, of course!

But once it's released into the wild, you've done everything you possibly could. Some people will love it. Some people will hate it. Even if you think it's the BEST writing you've ever created, it might still bomb for whatever reason that has literally nothing do with your quality of writing.

For the sake of your sanity, try to give yourself a little distance to protect yourself and your future projects.

For me, it really helped to adopt a "release and forget it" mentality. So I rarely - if ever - check reviews or comments. I don't look at how my writing is received because otherwise I get tripped up. When I finish one project, I move onto the next so I don't get stuck on what I could have done differently.

You still absolutely should be proud of your work, no matter what! But once it's in the hands of the public, just guard your heart a little bit.

You will more than likely experience self-doubt worse than ever before

Even if your work is well-received by the public, there will be ONE negative comment that knocks your knees out from under you and makes you question everything.

It's gonna happen. Can't avoid it.

So you MUST fight to remember those positive comments. Save all of them. Remember them. Give your attention to them.

It's okay to wrestle with those self doubts. Just don't let them stop you!

Treat yourself

Give yourself a pat on the back when you share your work with the world because it's HARD and it's TOUGH and YOU DID IT!! Seriously, talk yourself up, tell yourself good things, tell yourself how proud you are that you took this step.

Putting your creative work in the public eye can be a roller-coaster of an experience. It can be utterly brutal one minute and euphoric the next. It's super, super important to manage the way you talk to yourself and cultivate a positive headspace.

Above all, it's okay to feel anxious, but no matter what, always stay focused on your writing and it will get you through!

I really hope all that rambling helped a little, lovely! 💜 Sending you big hugs for putting yourself out there and diving headfirst into your new goal!!

#asks #fab friday writers #daisyannewrites

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stayarmytinyzenmoa-l · 2 years

Text

Hiatus Extension

Projected Return Date: 9/12/2022

Sorry, y'all! I'm still feeling a little drained and I have family coming over in a week for like... a week lmao, so I'm going to be a bit busy. But I do have a surprise for y'all when I come back that I think you'll like veryyyy much! Here's a little sneak peek!

Also... it may or may not connect to [this].

Could it be?

Was the Liu Yangyang, supposed bachelor for life who spent his weekends with different women, falling in love? He took a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair with dilated pupils and a dry mouth.

What the hell was going on with him?

Was it the way you held your sword? The way you matched his energy in banter? No, perhaps it was the way you looked at him? No, no, not possible! It can't be true! Yangyang started to pace the room, the same one he had mistakenly booked both of you in, and each time his steps got more frantic.

No, not possible, could he actually be in love with you?

But, you're a man, how could that be? He's never showed any particular interest towards men before, he doesn't think, he'd have to ask Renjun later and... oh shit, Renjun! He almost forgot! He was supposed to be out looking for his damn fianceé not falling in love with some random traveler on his way to pick her up and deliver her to Bleakgate. Yangyang banged his forehead on a wall now.

"Stupid, stupid, Yangyang, get your head in the game! You need to find the Winter Noble, you can deal with feelings later," he mutters to himself. He'd almost completely forgotten about the job he was being paid to do. To find the Winter Noble, whoever she was, and deliver her to Bleakgate so she and Renjun could be married. Honestly, he planned to take as long as he could since Renjun looked anything but happy about getting married to a supposed monster, but shit, he gave House Huang permission to kill him if he failed, he can't get sidetracked now! Love can wait, he needs to ensure his survival first. Surely, you'd understand. Hell, maybe you'd even help him find this runaway noble and then...

Then he'd tell you everything. He'd tell you how he'd been lying to you, he wasn't really a knight in training, he wasn't really the son of an honorable man, and he wasn't really traveling to Stardenn to meet an old friend. And if you left him, so be it, Eotias was a large continent, he'd just run to the next country and live there for the rest of his life to never see you again and go back to his previous free lifestyle without you and live without you and maybe fall in love with someone that definitely wasn't you and...

Oh, hell, who is he kidding? He's fallen in love with you.

You, meanwhile, stood by the door, just about to open it, but you could clearly hear him shuffling around on the other side. You couldn't hear what he was saying, but through the muffled mumbles you could tell that he was distressed about something, whatever it was. You'd never seen him so deep in thought, he tended to be the more frivolous of the duo, but then again, you'd only met him a couple of weeks ago before deciding to travel together since you'd both had a similar destination. But, this was concerning.

Did he find out you were a woman this whole time? You shook your head, you'd been so careful in hiding your gender so you could make it to Stardenn without getting caught, and Kevin's warning repeated in your head over and over again. If you were to get to refuge without getting hurt you'd have to hide your identity, your abilities, and your feelings or else someone would take advantage of you and kill you, then you'd never be able to see your friends or family ever again!

But Yangyang was different. You'd been traveling with him long enough to trust him, and you'd hope that he trusted you too. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to tell him who you really are?

Who you really are? (Y/N), you fool. As soon as you told him that you were lying to him the whole time, he could very well just abandon you, or worse, hand you off to House Huang and sign your life away. Then... you'd never see him again.

But why does it all matter? It's not like you liked Yangyang anyway. He was brash, a bit rude, and maybe a tad annoying. You certainly don't like the way he dives head into trouble when you clearly had it handled. You definitely didn't like the way he'd pull you out of danger's way when you could easily step aside yourself. And you absolutely despise the way your heart flutters when he looks your way. How could you...? You covered your mouth with your hand, taking a step back from the door.

Oh god, you've fallen in love with him.

And he doesn't even know who you really are.

And now... you have to share a bed with him because he made a mistake in booking the rooms.

To say the least... you're fucked.

#crys talks #wips

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