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giggly-squiggily · 1 year

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The Little Things (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Don't mind me, I'm just gonna-

*drops a near 6k word count fic on y'all all about Shin Soukoku cause I can while dancing to Super Mario 2 music sped up version*

Kay bye! *leaps out window*

...Nah but seriously. Heyo everyone! Awhile back I wrote this for a friend while we were yelling about these two (You know who you are- hi bestie! :D) I originally sent it to them via google doc, but given how easy the links to those fics are to lose (The amount I've lost...gone but not forgotten *cries*) I've decided to post it here!I hope you like it!

CW: Swearing, violence, guns, self-loathing, angst, wasted food (RIP Pork Buns), mentions of the Port Mafia Boss and Elise

Summary: In between assignments and tasks, Atsushi and Akutagawa find time to enjoy the little moments within their strange relationship.

~Chocolate~

“Is that cake?” Atsushi raised a brow at the small slice of chocolate cake Akutagawa pulled from his plastic bag. It looked homemade- maybe someone in the Port Mafia made it?

The idea of anyone there baking sweets was wild.

“No, it’s a bomb.” Akutagawa deadpanned, peeling at the plastic wrap around the plate. “Watch yourself- it just might blow up.”

Atsushi started. Did Aku just make a joke?

At the silence, Akutagawa offered the first forkful in silent inquiry.

“Oh, no thanks. I hate chocolate.” He smiled, fighting down a laugh at the brief look of shock on Akutagawa’s face. “Never been a fan. You however-I didn’t know you liked sweets.”

“Is that an issue?” His expression went hard.

“Not at all. It’s just…unexpected.” Atsushi held up his hands, smiling sheepishly. “Do you like all kinds of sweets or do you have a favorite?”

Akutagawa narrowed his eyes at him, suspicion rolling off his tensed frame like waves. For a moment. Atsushi wondered if he just blew their lunch date-meetup. Then he sighed, turning back to his cake.

“I like chocolate.” There was the barest hint of a blush on his cheeks. Akutagawa shoved a forkful of cake in his mouth with a slight grimace, refusing to look his way.

As if he couldn’t get any cuter.

…..Huh? Atsushi felt himself flush.

“Hm.” Was all the weretiger responded with, taking a long drag of his teacup, ignoring the raised brow Akutagawa sent him.

~~~

“Hey, Akutagawa! Here!” Atsushi shot his arms out before the other could stop him, pressing a small handkerchief wrapped box into his chest. It was hastily wrapped- as if he was tying it while running to their usual meetup spot. “This is for you!”

“....Huh?” The wide eyed shock on his face was priceless. Atsushi resisted the urge to laugh as he watched Akutagawa handle the box like one handled a baby- careful and slightly terrified. “This is…?”

“Open it!” Atsushi encouraged, resisting the urge to bounce on his feet in his anticipation. “I didn’t knot it that bad!”

“Okay, okay, settle down.” Akutagawa’s lips twitched as he gently pulled at the knot, going especially slow, much to Atsushi’s chagrin. When the ends of the cloth fell away, it revealed a little plastic box, within it a variety of chocolates.

“Oh?” Akutagawa stared, seeming to freeze. Atsushi felt himself sweat, tugging at his shirt hem.

“I know it’s not much of…well, anything- I just remembered a while back you mentioned you liked chocolate, and I had some lying around and figured you’d like it- of course if you don’t, I can always take it back-”

“You remembered.” It wasn’t a question. Atsushi blinked. Something soft was in Akutagawa’s expression, and his hands trembled some as he held the small box of treats. Atsushi felt his heart squeeze. “I didn’t think you would…”

“Of course I did! I remember everything you tell me.” Then he flushed, eyes wide. He said too much. “For the missions! And our tasks! Ehe…”

“Yes..having a good memory for those things is important.” That faint blush was back, and Akutagawa wouldn’t look at him- not directly, anyway. “Ehem…This is…” Then he paused, brows furrowing.

“Wait- where’d you get this?” Akutagawa finally met his gaze, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you hated chocolate?”

Seems like Atsushi wasn’t the only one remembering details about each other.

“I do…but like I said- I just happened to have it on me, hehe.” He grinned, deciding not to mention where his source was. He’d bring Ranpo a fresh box of chocolates on his way back from this meeting. With all the snacks he keeps on hand, he wasn’t likely to miss it before he got back.

Akutagawa raised a brow, not entirely believing him. Then he looked back at the box of chocolates, that content expression returning. “I can’t remember the last time someone gave me a gift…so thank you. It means more than you know.”

Atsushi swelled, feeling rather proud of himself. He would make this a habit he decided in that moment; all to see that soft expression.

Though he’d probably have to start buying his own chocolates.

~Rain~

“Ugh, no way…” Atsushi groaned miserably as the sky began to cry. Raindrops dropped in a slow mist at first, but within minutes it began to pour, flooding the alleyways they snuck through. He could already feel his shoes fill with water, making his toes curl unpleasantly.

“Hm, how troublesome indeed.” Akutagawa mused, brows furrowing as he came to join Atsushi beneath the thin railings of the alley. His shoulders felt damp already, and a chill shot down his spine from the icy droplets. “Walking back in this will be rather annoying.”

As of late, it seemed like he and Atsushi couldn’t shake each other. Whether it be on impromptu missions Dazai set them up on, or just little moments like running errands and returning home- somehow in this big city, the demon and the weretiger were never far from each other.

A part of Akutagawa couldn’t deny he liked it that way. That however was a part he’d rather strangle until blue with Rashomon before ever admitting.

“Man, I should have brought an umbrella! I figured it’d rain while we were inside the warehouse and stop after, but I guess the universe has it out for me…” Atsushi shoved his hands through his bangs, groaning in his hands. “This is revenge for Ranpo’s snacks, isn’t it, world?” He mumbled.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little water, weretiger?” Akutagawa shrugged, Rashomon shooting out of his back and forming a shelf above him, shielding him from the continuous onslaught of rainwater. “Though I suppose it’s expected, given what you are.”

“Shut up! I’m not a cat- I just happen to turn into one!” Atsushi glared, rubbing his arms with a slight tremor when the rain began soaking his shirt. In an act of defiance, he took a step out into the elements.

And immediately regretted it.

“Oh my god, that’s COLD!” Atsushi flew into Akutagawa’s shelter of Rashomon, clinging to his coat and shivering. Then he glared, cheeks pink. “Not a word.”

Akutagawa didn’t think he could speak even if he wanted to. This close, beneath the immediate smell of rainwater and warehouse dust, the weretiger smelled like tiger lilies. He could see the strange ombre in Atsushi’s eyes, the way they went from a rosy pink to a warm gold- like a sunrise. The way his lashes framed those odd but pretty irises of his.

So unfairly pretty. Akutagawa forgot how to breathe.

“Hey? Is something wrong…” Atsushi began, only to flush a brilliant red and jump back into the rain. “Oh god- I’m so sorry, how invasive of me- Ah, this rain! I uh…”

Maybe it was how pitiful he looked, soaked and embarrassed. Maybe it was the way he looked at him just now, with those damn sunrise eyes.

Maybe that part of Akutagawa’s heart wasn’t so small after all.

Slowly, as if it were a machine coming back to life after many years, Rashomon extended outward, creating an umbrella-like cover beside its owner. The space was…tight, but it would give Atsushi room to walk with him. “Come on, before you catch your death.”

The weretiger blinked, eyes wide. Akutagawa could feel his face heating; he pretended it was from irritation while waiting for the other to make a decision. “Hurry up before I leave you here.”

“Oh! Right- thank you.” Atsushi ran over, standing within the cover. This close, he could smell tiger lilies again. Did he wear perfume? Would it be weird to ask?

Would it be weird to just reach out and hold his hand-

“Don’t mention it. Just- come on.” Akutagawa made his voice as curt as he could, hoping it hid the fluster he felt himself slipping into. In silence the pair walked back, Akutagawa’s hands shoved in his pockets while Atsushi continued rubbing his arms, trying to warm up.

When he peeked, the weretiger looked equally flushed.

Must be getting sick, he told himself.

Yeah. That’s it.

~Blackout~

When he got back to the agency; Atsushi decided, he was going to murder Dazai.

Just a simple task, he said. Scout out the scene for us to make sure it’s safe, he told him. There shouldn’t be any trouble, he insisted.

Of course, Dazai forgot to mention the literal Mafia meetup being held in such a place.

Atsushi knew he should leave- turn back before any of the Port caught a glimpse of him hovering near a dirty window. It was fairly high up- the main reason why Atsushi was sent on this particular request was due to his cat-climbing skills- so the chances of being caught were slim.

He should go, had he not caught sight of a familiar face. Stoic as always, black fringe fading into white that framed his pinched face, hands shoved in his pockets. Akutagawa.

He was standing by with a short redhead- Chuuya, he assumed. Dazai had mentioned a redhead in the Port who he’d encountered a few times before. He looked especially irritated, whomever they were meeting up with apparently was late.

Finally, after around half an hour, two grungy looking guys came through the large metal doors, their footsteps echoing across the filthy floor. Between them a smaller man led, his body bent forward and his hair a halo of thinning grays around his wrinkled face.

“I take it your boss sent you with what I wanted?” He asked, and Atsushi felt himself straighten. Despite appearances, the man’s voice boomed and carried, demanding respect with each word. Within the room, even Akutagawa and Chuuya straightened, the latter glowering upon realizing it.

“Yeah. You got what we want?” He demanded, waiting. There was a tense silence before the old man gestured for one of what Atsushi assumed to be his guards. The man opened his jacket, revealing a tightly wrapped parscal.

“Toss it over, we’ll do the same.” Chuuya commanded, straightening to his full height. The old man chuckled, clearly amused.

“Kids these days- never learn to respect their elders. Fine then.” He nodded, and the parscal went flying. Rashomon was out in seconds, catching it with ease. Bringing it to his eyes, Akutagawa peered within, face grimacing.

“This is it. Boss’ order.” He didn’t sound too thrilled about it though.

“Good grief. Alright, here.” Chuuya kicked the box by his feet towards the men, his gravity control making it sail easily across the floor. It landed with a loud thump by the guard’s feet. “I’ll take it this should cover it?”

The guard peered within the box, nodding after confirming the contents. Atsushi couldn’t help but wonder what was in it. Money? Jewels? And what was in the parscal?

No time. He really had to go. He watched Chuuya and Akutagawa turn to leave.

Just as the remaining guard pulled out a gun.

“TURN AROUND!” He heard himself scream. Shit! The old man’s eyes flickered to the window-

And suddenly there was a boom of red. Rashomon exploded out of Akutagawa’s back, sending the guards flying. Interesting enough, the old man remained unfazed. In fact, he hadn’t moved at all. Rashomon bounced around him like water hitting a rock.

“His ability- it’s a shield!” Chuuya yelled, already jumping into action. He crossed the room in seconds, taking the two guards on. Despite the size difference and being outnumbered, Chuuya was easily the better fighter. He dropped low, kicking the goon with the gun in his hand in the ankles. As he fell back, he grabbed his fallen gun, pointing it at the other one. He pulled the trigger-

But the bullet bounced! Seems this old man’s ability expanded beyond just himself. The guard smirked cruelly as he charged, tackling a surprised Chuuya dead on and sending him flying.

Akutagawa started, Rashomon shooting out to catch Chuuya before he could hit the wall. Too late. The old man was upon him. He moved so fast, an elbow flying to Akutagawa’s windpipe as he brought a knee to his gut. Rashomon quivered as Akutagawa wheezed, gasping for air.

Chuuya shot out of the rubble with a roar, flying at the guards. His gravity power saved his life, but just barely- Atsushi could see he was wounded- crimson against orange hair, bruises forming on the side of his face.

Akutagawa stumbled, the old man hooting softly as he watched the boy drop. “Such a shame- the Port Mafia really has let themselves grow weak if this is the best they can offer.”

Hot rage shot through Atsushi's veins. Just who did this old creatin think he was? He got up, ready to jump into the fray- and stopped.

Why was he getting involved? This wasn’t a mission assigned to him by Dazai or the boss back at the agency. He wasn’t even supposed to be here. Right now would be the ample time to leave; to use the chaos within to slip away before anyone else saw him.

Saw him.

Saw…

Atsushi’s eyes dropped down to the breaker box just outside the warehouse, an idea already forming in mind.

Within the warehouse, it was chaos. Chuuya had disposed of one of the guards, his body crumpled in the background as he fought the one still guarding. From the looks of things, the shield only protected from the front. Right now- the redhead was trying to get around and go for the back, but the guard stayed on him like glue.

Akutagawa and the old man were fighting once more- this time however, Akutagawa was prepared. Rashomon bounced again and again off a shield, keeping him at bay. He couldn’t land a hit, but neither could the old man. It seemed he needed his arms held up in a specific way to keep it on, leaving them in a stalemate.

Just one moment. A second was all Akutagawa needed. He looked up-

Their eyes met. Atsushi mouthed only one word. Blackout.

Then he tore out the breaker box with his claw.

The warehouse went pitch black, blending in with the night sky. Atsushi rolled down the wall as gunshots exploded from within, the faint sounds of two men crying out before everything went eerily silent. For a short, heartstopping moment, Atsushi was scared one of them was Aku.

Then the doors opened, Chuuya and Akutagawa stumbling out, bruised and wounded, the parscal in hand.

“Next time that creepy bastard wants us to pick up dolly dresses, he better get them through Amazon.” Chuuya growled, limping as he dragged himself down the quiet streets. Akutagawa seemed to be half listening, nodding along as he rolled his shoulder. His throat was bruised, and he was covered in small cuts, but he was alive.

Atsushi felt himself breathe again.

“Are you even listening? Ugh, forget it.” Chuuya waved him off, walking ahead as he carried on complaining about their boss. Akutagawa paused then, turning his head.

And directly looked at Atsushi.

The weretiger didn’t call out. He didn’t say a word. He merely looked back at him, watching. Akutagawa blinked once. Then twice.

Then the rarest thing happened. He smiled.

It was small, nearly unnoticeable and a bit pained, as if it hurt to move his face. Judging by the bruise blossoming on his cheek, it must have been.

Still- that smile. It erased it all. The injuries, his messy hair, the torn clothes- all of it faded away as Akutagawa smiled at him. It was like he was a god, so painfully beautiful it was near impossible to look directly at him, and yet Atsushi did. He didn’t care if his face was on fire, or if he was gaping like a fish. All he wanted to do was get lost in that beautiful smile.

And then Akutagawa looked away, and reality came back. He was gone in minutes, fading away in shadow, leaving Atsushi sitting there, still thinking about that smile.

~Piano~

Akutagawa hated instruments.

More specifically, he hated the piano.

The boss was so insistent he’d learn to play it. Think of how useful of a talent it’d be if you ever found yourself needing to blend in. Blend in where, the orchestra? Good luck with that. They all knew the real reason why Mori wanted him to learn to play.

Because Dazai used to play.

Not the piano- but the Violin. Akutagawa remembered watching him play a few times- the way he’d stand tall, the instrument like an extension of his body as he ran his bow over the strings. His songs were always so sad sounding; they never failed to make someone cry- usually Chuuya, even if he’d never admit it. When Dazai left, Mori burned the instrument, and music was snuffed out, much like those who betrayed them.

Apparently he was now back in his music phase and decided Akutagawa would be the next musician. Had it not been for Gin and her soft encouragement for him to learn- “Ma and Pa would have liked it, I think” she told him- he’d probably set the grand instrument ablaze himself. Just what would he play on it, anyway? Songs of sorrow and anger? Christmas tunes? Suppose he could play a quick death march before a bullet lodged into his brain or a knife to his jugular.

Wasteful. The worst part? He was a natural talent. The lessons flew by and before long he knew all the cords and how to work them into songs. Gin liked them- she would lay across the top like those women in the movies, face in her hands and feet kicking while he practiced. Sometimes she’d sing- her voice soft and delicate. It was those moments that he liked best.

And then Mori asked him to play for him and Elise when they’d marry. He stopped playing it after that.

Now he found himself lingering by a different piano- dusty but well loved, sitting in the corner of what he assumed to be a church. It was abandoned now- the room stale with lack of movement. His fingers glided over the top, making streaks against the smooth black surface.

Like magic, he felt himself back at the music room with Gin, playing a song and her singing-

“Nothing of interest here- hey, is that a piano?” Atsushi’s voice shook him free from his memory. The weretiger joined him, his shoulder bumping gently into Akutagawa’s as he took a seat. “I love the piano! I wonder if it’s in tune?”

Things have been…interesting, these past few encounters with the weretiger. Since the warehouse incident, they’ve been less stiff, more relaxed. Atsushi didn’t jump away if he got too close, and he smiled more easily at him. Their once harsh word exchanges melted into soft bickering, and more than once Akutagawa felt himself fighting down laughter whenever they talked. Not mean, condescending one but genuine mirth at the little things he’d say and do.

What the hell was happening to him?

“I know like- one chord. There was this woman at the orphanage; she was the only nice adult there. She tried to teach me to play, but I never quite picked it up.” Atsushi made a big show of cracking his knuckles, wiggling his fingers. “Okay, let’s tickle these ivories!”

More like make them scream, Akutagawa soon learned. He winced as Atsushi slammed his fingers down into the keys, hitting random clumps and creating what he could only describe as “mindless noise”. He sang along with it, the words lost in the sound as he swayed with his chaos.

“Oh, there once was a cat named Piccolo! He was the fattest cat anyone ever known! He rolled and he cried, and he’d spit in your eye, so the village chief ordered him to-”

“Weretiger!” Rashomon shot out, grasping Atsushi’s wrists and preventing him from hitting more keys. The church rang with the noise. “What happened to knowing only one chord?” He growled through gritted teeth.

“Oh, right! It was…um…” Atsushi looked at the keyboard. “You know- I can’t remember. But it was one of them I just played, I’m sure!”

“That wasn’t playing- that was slapping.” Akutagawa pulled Rashomon back, shaking his head. “I don’t think I heard a single chord in any of that.”

“Oo, you can hear chords, can you? Alright, Yiruma- it's your turn.” Atsushi stood, offering the piano. “Let’s see what you can do!”

Akutagawa stared, first at the piano, then at Atsushi. A mix of nostalgia and disgust filled him when he thought of playing again; Mori ruined any enjoyment he had with it.

And yet…Atsushi was giving him those eyes. The ones that presented a challenge. And Akutagawa had a hard time turning down challenges.

He also had a hard time turning down Atsushi.

What-

He sat down in the warm seat before those intrusive thoughts came back. Stretching his fingers, he let them rest on the cool ivory, wondering where he should begin. “Any requests?” He asked, be it a tad sarcastically.

“Whatever you wanna play.” Atsushi smiled, leaning against the side of the piano. Akutagawa hated how attractive he looked like that- FOCUS AKU! “I’m all ears.”

At first, he simply pressed keys- not the way Atsushi did it- this was far gentler, and actual cords. The weretiger’s smug grin melted into a look of surprise, making the other smirk. “Show off.” Atsushi grumbled. Akutagawa fought down a chuckle.

Then he was moving his fingers against the keys more intentionally, a song coming to mind. He didn’t know all the words- he only heard a chunk of it once when he was walking with Gin through the city. He did know the chords though.

Soft music played throughout the church, Akutagawa’s fingers playing out the beats in a steady rhythm, getting lost in the sound. He felt himself right back with Gin again, her smile encouraging and kind- the few beckons of light in the awful world of the Port Mafia.

Then he was singing. He probably sounded terrible; but he kept hearing Gin encouraging him to, so he gave in.

“If you had it all, would it be enough?

Can you find the way and still be lost?

I write songs about being someone else

That say fuck the world, you’re not angry enough.”

Beside him, he heard Atsushi suck in a breath. Be it from surprise or relation to the song, he didn’t know. Akutagawa kept going.

“Yeah everybody tells me it’s alright.

Everybody tells me I’ll be fine

Everything is not o-fucking-kay,

Oh but they can’t tell me why.

I put the picture on the shelf

Leave the memory behind

But the truth is I can’t say goodbye.”

Was he getting too real? Maybe. Atsushi was quiet beside him, not interrupting, just listening. He took that as a sign to keep going.

“So I made friends with all my demons

Let ‘em sink their teeth in

Got used to the feeling of letting it go

So give me something to believe in

Or throw me in the deep end

It all feels the same with your eyes close

So you can throw me in the, Deep end

Deep end

Deep end, Deep end”

And..that’s all he knew. The rest of the song was lost to him. He dared a peek up at the weretiger, waiting to see him fighting off laughter or wincing at Akutagawa’s singing.

Instead, he was leaning into the piano, eyes misty and something incredibly soft in his expression. There was no disgust, no second hand embarrassment, none of that. Only the look of a man who found something he was fond of, the smallest of smiles on his lips that took Akutagawa’s breath away.

Surely he must be thinking of someone else. There was no way he was looking at him like that.

The idea that Atsushi was thinking of another made his chest ache, a strange hollowness within tearing at his insides. In a haste, he slapped his hands onto the keys, startling the other out of his reverie. “I don’t know the rest- really, I hate the piano; we shouldn’t have done this. We have to go before the cops show up-”

“Aku.” Atsushi’s voice made him pause, halfway out of the seat. He was focused again, the expression he was wearing tucked away and replaced by his usual smile. “That was amazing. Truly.”

His chest ached again.

“It was just a thing I learned at the mafia. That’s all.” His voice sounded foreign to his ears, cold and distant. In the corner of his eye, he saw Atsushi wince. “Just forget about it.”

“Aku-”

But he was already out the door; the cool air of the city blowing on his warm face as he stumbled out. He walked at first, but then he was running. And then he was bolting. He needed to get away- to go somewhere else. He found himself flying down alleyway after alleyway, stumbling over his own two feet before crashing hard on his knees, coughing in his hand.

When he pulled it back, it was wet. However, it wasn’t blood that made it so. When did his vision get so blurry? He blinked, shaking when he realized it was tears.

He was foolish. A complete idiot! How could he let himself fall for the Weretiger? A Detective Agency member- the Mafia’s enemy. They’d never work out; and soon- he’d leave him. Just like how Dazai did all those years ago.

It would never work. Nothing ever did in the Port Mafia. They were sewer rats- destined to live and die among the filth they waddled in. And Atsushi…he didn’t deserve someone like that. He deserved someone who could stand in the sunrise with him, who could see how it matched perfectly with his eyes. Someone who could listen to his songs and jokes and antics and laugh freely alongside him. Someone who could make him happy.

And that wasn’t Akutagawa.

Curling up, he wrapped Rashomon tightly around himself. In past experiences, he found his ability rather sound proof. It was only then did he finally let himself sob.

~Kiss~

Atsushi sighed as he leaned back into a park bench, head still reeling. It had been a few days since the church incident, and there was no Akutagawa in sight. He could be busy, but Atsushi was sure he was avoiding him. It hurt- the sudden shut down from the other. Atsushi recounted the event in his mind hundreds of times, trying to figure out what exactly he did that made him flee.

He truly meant it when he said Akutagawa’s playing was amazing. Really- he was referring to his everything; the way he played, the words he sung, the way they broke something within his chest as he found each lyric incredibly relatable. That last moment, when the song ended and Akutagawa turned to look at him- there was so much…vulnerability in his gaze. Was he waiting for Atsushi to say something then?

Oh dear- perhaps he failed him afterall.

Pulling the bag of pork buns closer to his hip, he stood, deciding to head back to his apartment. It was probably dumb, waiting here for him. They hadn’t agreed on a meetup spot; Atsushi had hoped if he remained at the same location for the past three days, he’d pop up. So far, it proved fruitless. He made his way to the entrance.

And found himself staring at Akutagawa.

Silence so thick it could be cut with a knife, the two stared at one another; frozen. The rest of the world seemed to go silent, the people walking by shut off like a mute button. Akutagawa seemed stunned, and Atsushi doubted he looked any better.

For a brief, terrifying moment, he was scared Akutagawa would bolt. He remained standing. Then-

“Weretiger I-”

“I bought Pork Buns-”

They had spoken at the same time. Akutagawa blinked, startled. Atsushi felt himself return to reality.

“I uh…I bought Pork Buns. At the local convenience store? I remembered you liked them and..” He waved the bag in the direction of his apartment. “It’s probably not a good time, and if not you can just take them but…do you want to come over and eat? I bought too many…”

Akutagawa stared, the look making Atsushi squirm. Then he spoke once more. “I’m not busy…sure.” Relief flooded Atsushi’s chest.

“Great! Come along then.”

~~~

The walk back was terribly awkward. Neither spoke, but it was tense this time around, words heavier than steel stuck in their throats as they finally arrived at Atsushi’s place. Fumbling for the key, the weretiger pushed open the door, flicking on the light. “Pardon the mess, I didn’t get to clean up this morning.”

Removing his shoes, Akutagawa looked around. If he noticed the messy futon and leftover ramen cup, he didn’t say. Instead, he nodded. “Thank you for having me over.”

“Yeah, yeah- sure.” Atsushi smiled, hating how polite everything felt. He wanted so badly for Akutagawa to point out something- to make a comment on his tiger plushie that the other gave him in return for the chocolates- to tease him about knocking things over on the counter. He wanted anything else but this super quiet, super polite version of Akutagawa. “Erm, let me go put these down-”

“Weretiger. I must apologize.”

Atsushi froze, scared to turn around. Oh no, was he leaving already?

“The other day- I left without a word to you. That was incredibly rude of me, and I’m sorry.” Akutagawa sounded…choked. Like there was something else there he wasn’t mentioning. Atsushi figured he’d let it be.

But then, would anything actually change if he did?

“You ran pretty far after you left. I didn’t see where you went, you just kinda- disappeared.” Atsushi turned, facing him. “I never got to finish what I was saying.”

“I didn’t want to hear it.”

Ouch. Okay. Atsushi tried to hide the hurt with a smile. “Fair enough.”

“Wait- no. Fuck, this is hard.” Akutagawa ran a hand over his face, clearly frustrated. “That’s not what I meant. Sorry. I mean- I was…” He struggled with the words, waving his hands. “Weretiger, I don’t think I can keep doing this.”

Another dagger. Atsushi felt his heart drop into his stomach. “Doing what?”

“The whole- whatever this is. It’s killing me.”

A third. Atsushi felt his eyes sting. “Just say it, Akutagawa.” He sounded harsh in his own ears. Good.It’ll make him leave faster. “Say it and be done, already.”

Akutagawa flinched as if struck. Then he straightened, eyes intense.

“I’m in love with you, Weretiger.”

The buns hit the floor.

“I’m in love with you- I’ve been in love with you since- I don’t know how long now. Everytime I close my eyes, I see you. I hear you laughing in my dreams; I see you smiling at me when the pain’s at its worst and it’s killing me because I’m not good enough for you. I’m not the kind of person you deserve- a sewer rat who’ll only stain you with my filth-”

“Shut up.” Atsushi sounded strange. Akutagawa stared.

“Shut the hell up, you son of a-” Atsushi stormed across the room, grabbing the front of his coat.

And then he was kissing him. His lips crashed into Akutagawa's like a man craving water. At first, Akutagawa was frozen in shock. Then he was kissing him back, clutching the other tightly, pulling him in against his chest like he couldn’t get enough. He tasted like chocolate. For once, Atsushi found himself liking it.

When they pulled away, flushed and breathless, Atsushi reached up, gently pulling at the fringe framing the other’s face.

“Now you listen to me, Aku.” He tugged, earning a mild wince from the other. “First of all- you don’t get to decide who deserves me. I decide who deserves me. Second of all-” He released his hair, poking a finger into his chest. “I don’t want to ever hear you describe yourself as a sewer rat ever again. If I get stained, I get stained. Despite the white fur, I’m not some pristine tiger figurine.” He moved the hand poking his chest up to cup Akutagawa’s cheek, running a thumb against the smooth skin. “Finally- I never got to say what I wanted to say the other day. So you better listen.

“I think you’re amazing. The way you carry yourself; how you’re still so you even after everything you’ve been through in the Port Mafia. How you have these cute little quirks about yourself and how you’ve got so many hidden talents. I think you’re amazing, and I’m in love with you too. I’ve been in love with you for a long time now.” He smiled at the wide eyed stare he got, watching the hope in Akutagawa’s eyes meld into soft happiness.

Then he pinched his cheek, pulling slightly.

“But if you ever just up and run off on me again, I’ll kick your ass. I’m a weretiger- we like to eat little sewer rats who drive us nuts.”

“Sorry.” Akutagawa said through a deformed mouth. Atsushi released his cheek, leaning up to kiss it. “I thought you'd be in love with someone else.”

“Who else is there? Ranpo?” Atsushi raised an eyebrow. Then he looked thoughtful. “It would make getting you chocolate easier…”

Akutagawa couldn’t stop it. The laugh he fought down so hard bubbled over, then another. Before long, he was leaning into Atsushi, laughing for the first time in what felt like forever. The weretiger stood stunned, then he was giggling. Next thing he knew, he was laughing just as much, clinging to the other and squeezing tightly.

“Ohhohoho my god. I fuhuhucking love you, Weretiger.” Akutagawa wheezed out, wiping away a combination of happy and mirthful tears.

Atsushi looked just as teary, his cheeks warm and smiling like sunshine. “I love you too, Aku.”

Thanks for reading!

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tachiguin · 6 months

Note

hi, english is not my native language, so sorry for any mistakes... you know about the songs of bsd characters? I really love your analyzes and theories, it seems like there was nothing about songs among them, maybe there are any thoughts about them?

Hello there, Anon! I'm happy to hear that you like my posts :) And thank you so much for asking; as it happens, I do know about the songs. Though if I'm being honest, the only one I listen to semi-regularly is Tanizaki's "Bewitching Screens" (usually when I'm roleplaying/writing fanfiction with him and need the inspiration).

youtube

I do have some thoughts, though I think the reason I never posted anything about the song is because I feel like the lyrics are kind of self-explanatory anyhow, but they do reinforce my interpretation/meta of Tanizaki.

Rambles under the cut :)

His song has a very low key, chill vibe, but only at first. It goes from carefree and casual, to something with a darker, more aggressive undertone, then finally, the ending, (which I will touch on later in this post). It's representative of who Tanizaki is as a character-- the deceptive "softboy" energy he has normally, which belies his proclivity towards violence and darker psyche.

Also, it's worth noting that the lyrics kinda just come out and confirm that Tanizaki has "secrets [he doesn't] want to tell anyone", particularly in regards to "[his] existence". The song is essentially him singing about himself, repeating the usual narrative:

Maybe that’s why miscellaneous odd jobs is sort of my specialty My social status is so-so Even getting carried away is fine,

My redeeming quality is probably my diligence I don’t even want to shed blood As far as myself is concerned

But these verses always end on a darker note:

But there is only one thing I cannot forgive

But don’t cross over the forbidden territory.

Of course, I think the other reason why I never really talked much about the character songs is because I wasn't sure how much of an input Asagiri actually had in their lyrics/composition. Like sure, there's definitely some reading between the lines to be done, but at the end of the day, I felt like it didn't really tell me anything new about Tanizaki, it's just a song about what can already be deduced based on his actions in the series.

BUT! One thing I always found interesting was that his character song ends with "Sayonara" (goodbye), WHICH could be interpreted as just a melodramatic thing thrown in there for the aesthetic, but… I guess it wouldn't be me if I didn't read too deeply into things that probably aren't that deep. I do recall reading a comment once (which I cannot find atm, if you think you're the person who originally made this connection then lmk and I'll mention you if you want) that Dazai and Tanizaki's character songs both end on the "goodbye", though now that I'm actually looking into it, it's completely different, because Dazai says "goodbye" in English (a.k.a. its another "Guddo Bai" reference, which is a completely different meta that I'm certain someone else has already written)

The thing is that there's multiple different ways to say "bye" in Japanese, and "sayonara" has a certain sentimental connotation, therefore, its really awkward and a dead giveaway that you're not a native speaker if you use it in casual conversation. The correct way to say 'goodbye' to a friend would be some variant of "Jaa mata ne" (see you later then), though notably this is pretty informal and should not be used with a coworker or teacher or senior-- but I digress! The point is that "sayonara" has the implication that you may not see the other party for a long time, possibly forever.

Okay the other element here is that, assumably, he's singing to Naomi, due to this verse:

I want to protect you (I want to be here) I want to protect you (I cannot forgive this) I want to protect (the incorruptible) everything “you” are –

Which, combined with the "sayonara", really kinda makes me wonder. I think the easy interpretation to get out of this is further reinforcement of the "Naomi is actually an ability construct and her real self died in Middle School" theory, which is valid, but also, consider that the rest of the song is about who Tanizaki is. In the chorus, he asks the listener:

Slowly…look, at the illusionary screen Tell me, what do you see?

To me, it sounds like Tanizaki is asking "do you see the real me, hidden behind this facade of ordinariness?". And when he wants "to protect the incorruptible"-- he doesn't want "you" (Naomi?) to know about this darker side to him. Again, that's just what I'm getting from the song lyrics, which weren't necessarily written with Asagiri's manga canon in mind (still unsure?). But, this interpretation is supported by the fact that Tanizaki only ever snaps when Naomi is in danger, therefore unconscious, and ignorant to Tanizaki's actions following her being harmed.

Personally, I think it's a disservice to Naomi's character to think she's completely unaware of Tanizaki's darker psyche, the side of him who would literally burn the world down if it meant keeping Naomi safe, but… BSD never claimed to write women with agency :,) On the other hand, as much as Naomi acts airheaded and oblivious, we also frequently see a much more perceptive side of her, usually, when Tanizaki isn't in the picture. It's canonically stated that Naomi is, in fact, smarter and more observant than her brother, but, just like Tanizaki, this "hidden" side of her only emerges when Tanizaki isn't around to witness it.

Anyway, that was kind of off topic from the character song, but what I was getting at was that the "sayonara" means that Tanizaki has revealed his "true self" to "you"/Naomi, therefore, he's saying farewell to the peaceful illusion he had built between them— of himself, as just a "normal guy", and of their relationship, just an innocent sibling pair that used to be high-schoolers.

Hopefully my rambles satisfied your curiosity, Anon! It's a good song, and it's pretty validating for my headcanons/metas.

#junichirou tanizaki #tanizaki junichirou #bsd tanizaki #bsd #bungou stray dogs #bsd meta #bsd analysis #anonymous #answered

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joe9cool · 11 months

Text

Collide- Epilogue- Lover of Mine

A/N: This is fanfiction, I do not know anyone on or affiliated with the Chargers. I own my original characters. You do not have permission to post my story elsewhere. Thank you and enjoy!

"What brings my brother to New York during this Bye Week?" Mitch sat down on his couch while Justin stayed standing. "I can't just visit my brother? I hardly ever see you. I thought it would be nice to come see you and Isabelle while I have the time off'

"You are so full of shit. This is year four for you and you decided to suddenly take a break and fly out here?" Justin paused, "I can't spend time with you guys?"

Mitch rolled his eyes. "Justin, it's you." He noticed his younger brother fidgeting nervously. "What's going on?"

"Nothing." Before Mitch could respond, the door opened, and Justin had never been relieved at Isabelle's arrival. "Hi Justin." She was surprised. "Did something happen?" He was confused. "No, I just thought I'd surprise you and we could spend this time together, grab some lunch"

"I'm calling full of shit. But okay." Isabelle laughed. "Let me change, and then we will go." When she walked out, Mitch looked at Justin. "Again, I'm gonna ask what is wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Justin Patrick"

"I promise Dad. Nothing is wrong." He said in his mocking voice. Isabelle walked out of the room and Mitch decided it could wait til lunch, and they all walked out of the door.

—--------------------------------------------------------------

"Eating on the Upper east side? What's the occasion?" Isabelle asked as they sipped their drinks (water for Justin, of course)

"Why do you guys assume something is wrong?" He was actually offended that his own family thought he didn't want to spend time with them.

Mitch laughed. "Again, you call me at the last minute to say that you've got a hotel here and are spending a few days in town on your bye week. What is going on?"

Isabelle cut in. "We are glad you are here, but something is up. Also you mentioned not telling Sara you were in New York."

It was true, Sara was off in Tokyo doing promotional press for a few days.

Justin put down his menu. "Fine you got me, I wanted to wait until after lunch, but since I have an appointment. Look, I need your guys help shopping."

Isabelle choked on her drink, immediately understanding why he was there. Mitch began laughing. "Really Justin? I don't know the first thing about clothing either. Why don't you ask Sara's stylist?"

Isabelle looked at him. "Baby, he is not talking about clothes."

Mitch stopped laughing. "Then what?"

"Oh my god! How did you even get into med school?" Justin smiled. "I want your guys input on a ring for Sara."

That got Mitch. "Woah woah. For an engagement ring?" Justin smiled, and Mitch leaned back into his seat. Exasperated. "Wow. I mean Justin, it hasn't even been two years. Are you sure?"

Justin nodded. "You don't like Sara?"

"That's not it. I love her to death, and I couldn't be happier to officially have her as her sister. But again this is you. You have to admit no one would expect you to be the first one to be married."

He laughed and Isabelle smiled. "You always knew what you wanted and went after it. Even when you and Sara were apart. Its-"

"Always been her." Justin finished.

"Do mom and dad know? What about Pat and Carly?"

He smiled. "I called them when I got to the hotel earlier today." —---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Justin? Is everything okay?" Holly was confused as she answered her middle son's facetime call. It was early in the morning, but Justin wanted to speak to his dad too, and he had to catch him early before he left to do whatever.

"Yeah everything is fine. Can I talk to you and dad for a minute?" His hands were sweating, and the reality of what he was about to say was hitting him.

It wasn't a nervous sweat in the sense of marriage. It was the fact that he wanted his family's input. He knew they loved Sara, and she loved them but you never knew.

"Hi Justin. Are you okay? What happened?" He saw both of his parents on the screen and smiled. He knew he only asked for both of them when it was something major, and it usually was a big life decision.

"I just wanted to ask you guys something." Holly and Mark were confused. "What is it son? Is it about football?"

Justin laughed. "No, it's actually about Sara." This time Holly cut in. "Oh my god please don't tell me you broke up again. I'm gonna kill you."

He rolled his eyes. "It's not that mom."

"Then what is it?"

He took a deep breath. "I'm going to ask her to marry me, and I want your blessing."

There was a pause, then Mark laughed while Holly screamed. Justin was confused "is this reaction out of happiness or?"

"OF COURSE IT IS! oh my god! Of course you have our blessing! Shouldn't you be asking her parents this?" His dad laughed and Justin joined in. "I'm going to ask, I wanted your input, she's joining our family too. If she even says yes." Justin trailed off the possibility of her saying no now creeping into his mind.

Holly knew what her son was thinking. "Honey, she's not going to say no. She loves you, and the whole family loves her. We couldn't be happier over this."

"Thanks guys."

"Do you have a ring?" He laughed. "Not yet, I'm heading to New York a few days earlier than usual to have Mitch and Isabelle help me."

"Good idea, and we won't tell Pat. God knows your brother can't keep a secret." They all laughed, knowing the younger Herbert too well. "We love you son, and Sara too"

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Justin told the story of their mom and dads approval as they drove to a private residence that Justin gave. It was actually her management he contacted about looking for rings. He knew that he couldn't walk into a jewelry store and pick something out in broad daylight. The surprise would be ruined immediately. Her manager Alex, along with Law got him in touch with Jamie Wolf, who was popular among celebrity jewelry. She conducted business out of her brownstone for famous clients

They were in a ritzy part of Manhattan, one that Mitch and Isabelle weren't familiar with. "You know Justin, it's okay if you don't pick out a ring. Take your time with it." Mitch stated as they pulled into a driveway that matched the address on their phone. Justin laughed, "I think I'll know it when I see it"

As they got out of their cars, the door to the expensive brownstone opened and a woman in her forties peeked outside. “You must be Justin! Law told me all about you!” Justin climbed the steps and she wrapped him into a hug. One thing he learned about being around designers: you had to be ready for any type of greeting. Once Jamie did the same to Mitch and Isabelle, she invited them to sit down where there were horderves and champagne. They all sat down and took a glass of champagne. “Okay, so Law called me and said you are here for an engagement ring for Sara correct?”

Justin nodded and smiled. She clapped her hands together. “Excellent, now before we begin to look at rings and decide if we want custom or not I always like to hear the moment you decided you wanted this moment."

Everyone was looking at him and it dawned on him they wanted the story. "Well, I've always known to be honest." He trailed off, and Mitch rolled his eyes. "He isn't very romantic in that sense." He told Jamie and Isabelle to cut in. "Neither of them are. Are you sure you didn't want to bring Pat?"

Justin laughed. "There was one moment….

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

1 week earlier.

Justin had just pulled into the driveway, he had just wanted to go home and sleep after coming back from a game where they got blown out. It was embarrassing, they were tied with the chiefs for first in the division, they couldn't afford losses at all. Yet Justin threw for 2 interceptions, one that gave the other team the confidence to come back.

He was surprised to see the lights on. This meant that Sara was probably suffering from her insomnia. She had started seeing a therapist for her anxiety and been prescribed medication for when her sleep got really bad. She was stubborn though, granted she didn't really need them since she was doing well.

Justin walked in to music turned up loud, but not too loud. It was one of the boy bands she listened to. One Direction.. or was it 5 seconds of summer?

He stepped into the kitchen/living room to see a few trays of chocolate chip cookies on the island. Covered so the cats didn't get to them. Justin smiled as he saw his girlfriend dancing with Eugene, well more like twirling him around. The song changing to a piano melody.

'Lover of mine' Maybe we'll take some time' Kaleidoscope mind gets in the way Hope and I pray darling hat you will stay Butterfly lies chase them away

Dance around the living room Lose me in the sight of you' I've seen the red I've seen the blue Take all of me.

Sara turned to face Justin and squealed. Letting Eugene down on the counter she paused the music. "Why must you always do that?"

Justin laughed and went up to her. Kissing her, he stated. "Because it's fun. Anyway you can't sleep?"

She nodded. "I actually napped before the game so I have all of this energy. I'm sorry about the loss. I'll clean this all up and we will go to bed.

He shook his head. "Grabbing a cookie, he plopped it in his mouth and groaned. "Oh my god are these chocolate chip turtle cookies?" She nodded and he sighed. "I guess I can't have the guys over after practice for the film. Her eyebrows raised in confusion. He laughed. "You're gonna make them all fat."

She giggled. "Invite them over, i'll make a full spread. I miss cooking." He kissed her.

"I love you."

"I love you." She put the music back on, and in the moment, he grabbed her hand and they began dancing, more like swaying

'Dance around the living room Lose me in the sight of you I've seen the red I've seen the blue Take all of me' Lead to where your secrets are Where we've been a thousand times Swallow every single lie Take all of me

I'll never give you away Cause I've already made that mistake

If my name never fell off your lips again, I know it'd be such a shame When I take a look at my life And all of my crimes You're the only thing that I think I got right I'll never give you away Cause I already made that mistake'

The last line rang true as it stayed In his head, gathering the brunette closer to him

It was in that moment he knew. Granted, he always did know deep down. But now, he could see this, coming home to her and knowing what to say and do to calm him down and vice versa. They loved each other other and were committed.

He made a note to make some phone calls while he was at the facility tomorrow.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Aww that is so sweet!" Jamie smiled after Justin told her the watered down version. "Okay, now follow me and you can bring your glasses with." They all got up and followed her upstairs to a room that had a code Jamie entered. When they all walked in it looked like a walk in closet with an island that she had the group stand at while she opened two skinny draws. Pulling out two trays she set them down. Immediately Justin's eyes widened along with Mitch's and Isabelle gasped.

All the rings were gorgeous,sparkly, and huge. "All my rings are at least two carats. These all in this case are four, and these are three. If you dont like any of these, I can custom make one.”

“Just outta curiosity, what is the price range.?” Jamie said the number casually, “All my rings start at $100,000.” The number may have shocked the other two, But Justin knew he'd drop a pretty penny. It didn't matter, he wanted this ring to be special. Hopefully she’d be wearing this for the rest of her life. “Do you know her style?”

“Shes simple, classic. She wears alot of dainty jewelry, she loves emerald gems, and no gold.” Mitch laughed. “I got to say I am impressed you all know that.”

Isabelle cut in. “Do you have any emerald cut rings? Maybe the main stone is diamond, and then two emeralds on the sides in trapezoid cut. Then for the band we can go with a plain platinum band.” Justin and Mitch stared at her before Justin looked at Jamie, “Yeah, exactly what she said." The designer laughed. "And how many carats are we looking at?"

She showed him the different weights in Emerald cuts and he settled on the 2 for the middle stone, and .75 carat each for the sides, making it a total of 3.5 carats.It wasn't obnoxiously big, but people would notice it on her finger. He knew her ring size from getting the Oregon ring.

After dropping a hefty amount of money on the ring (as much as he paid for his house in Oregon) She told him it would take her a couple weeks to get the ring ready. Jamie told him that she could ship to him which he declined. He didn't want to keep the ring in the house where she would find it and especially not in his football bag.

No, he still had another stop on the east coast to make once the ring was done.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"God Justin!" He looked up to see his girlfriend's head thrown back and her fists full of the bed sheets. Moaning, his hand snaked up her body underneath his t-shirt to pinch a nipple while he tongue flicked her clit.

He arrived home off a weekend with his brother and girlfriend, feeling good

Maybe it was the fact that he was one step closer to officially making Sara a member of his family,maybe it was those spandex shorts that accentuated her ass. Maybe it was the fact he was planning to ask her one of the biggest questions of life. Nevertheless he was on her, knocking the pile of folded laundry on the floor.

He latched on her and his tongue fucked into her, causing her to squeal and close her legs around him. Justin loved it, he could die by getting crushed by those thighs and he'd be the happiest man.

He continued his motions, all the way to her orgasm. Stopping once she was cleaned up he pulled away and she was a heaving mess on the bed. "Oh my god." She looked over at the messed up pile. "You're gonna fix that." She said between breaths, and he nodded and laughed.

"What on earth was that for?" She got up and stared at him. He shrugged. "I can't just eat out my girlfriend?"

"I mean you can. I won't ever complain. But damn. You were like in heat!" He laughed. "I just missed you. That's all."

She just nodded. "Well you're still folding the laundry."

He smiled and nodded. "Yes babe. Let me just get dinner started. I have some steaks marinating so I'll get those ready for the grill."

"What should I make for the sides?" She got up. "Don't worry about it. I have asparagus too." He walked out. Justin knew he played it cool.

—--------------------------------------------------------- Something was up with her boyfriend.

He was being super nice. Not that Justin wasn't a nice guy, but he seemed to be laying it on pretty thick. Justin was coming home earlier than usual. He would only slightly complain about her reality shows. (She knew he would like Jersey shore family reunion) however he kept giving her full control of the TV. He was more affectionate when they would step out in public. Not full on makeouts, but he would stop and kiss her randomly at the grocery store.

While she loved it, it wasn't her man. "Why are you complaining?" Samira told her between takes. She was sitting with her and Joe, along with Greg. "I know it sounds stupid. But it's not him you know?"

"You think he is cheating on you?" Greg asked as he popped a grape in his mouth. She shook her head. "No he isn't, I'm sure of that."

"Have you tried asking him?" Samira asked. She nodded. "Yes, but he swears its nothing. Maybe I'm just overreacting."

"You do have trust issues from other relationships."

"I trust him. It's not that. I'm just wondering why he is acting different"

Joe stayed quiet. Justin had called him a few days ago telling him he wanted to propose and thought about maybe doing it on their 2nd anniversary, which was also his and Alisha's anniversary. Justin was worried it would be overshadowed. Joe laughed and told him it was no big deal. He was excited for his co-star and close friend. She was going to finally have her moment after being broken hearted for so long.

He was so happy for her, but he swore to secrecy to not say anything to anyone, not even her costars. Alisha knew, but she was his wife he had to tell her.

"Joe!" He snapped out of his daydream to find the group staring at him. "What's up?" He asked. Sara narrowed her eyes at him. "You know something we dont?"

He scoffed. "I don't know what you're talking about." He took a bite out of his snack.

"I don't trust you Grant, I think you know something about my boyfriend that I dont." He rolled his eyes, trying to play it cool. "You're right. We're having an affair. We planned on telling you and Alisha when we have dinner next week. But I can't deny my love for that tall glorious man anymore."

Samira giggled and Sara laughed. "I'm still calling shit on it but okay. I will find out."

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Justin was an idiot. He and Sara had gotten into an argument earlier. They had a Victory monday so Justin had time for golf. He was excited, since he finally had the ability to swing normally.

Justin asked Sara to join him on the course and surprisingly she agreed. It had been a rough week. She had reshoots and decided to take on co-producing Lord Huron's new album. He had warned her that it might become too much, but she was stubborn.

It was wearing on her and he saw that. So maybe this was his chance to get her to relax and spend some time together. They were really busy, which meant they had no time together, sex was out of the question. They were both worked up and wanted to take their stress out on each other.

Unfortunately it didn't go that way. In between swings she was on her phone messaging Ben about a guitar riff on one song, then Heidi called about some rumor she wanted to dispel. She wasn't focused on the game, which pissed him off.

Also, she wasn't athletic and wasn't able to grasp the mechanics of a perfect swing. Justin tried to explain it to her but she wasn't getting it. "Well maybe if you actually paid attention you would understand it." He snapped. She glared at him. "And I told you, I'm not athletic, I've never been. I mini golf that's it."

"You don't even try! I think you are just making excuses because you don't want to do it." She rolled her eyes. "What are you, my dad? I got that shit from him my whole life."

"That has nothing to do with anything!" "Yeah and I want to see you try to film 12 hour days."

"We aren't talking about careers, I know sure as shit you can't throw a football. I'm talking about hobbies. You don't care."

"I do care! I'm sorry I'm busy." She took a deep breath and walked away. "Where are you going?" He called.

"I'm going back to the clubhouse." She wanted to take the cart and leave him stranded, but she wanted to walk. "Are you insane? We are far out and you don't know where you are."

She ignored him and kept walking. Sara heard his footsteps behind her. "Get back here!"

"No dad!" "You're being a brat." When he saw she wasn't budging, he cursed and ran back to the cart to put his stuff away and catch up to her. He drove the cart up and kept pace with her. "Get on the cart."

She kept walking. He sighed. "I'm sorry. You don't have to talk to me but you're not going to walk all the way back. It's too hot." She stopped, and got on the back off the cart.

They were both annoyed and didn't speak at the clubhouse and on the car ride home. When they got in the house, she went straight to the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

You dumbass, now she's not going to want to marry you. He thought as he waited for her to get out of the shower.

He was just irritated. Football was always stressful, and he missed Sara. It wasn't her fault he was just being an ass. He wanted competition and Sara wasn't just that person. They worked as a nice balance, but he could be a major ass.

He stayed on the couch with the cats until he heard the door to the bedroom open and Sara walked out in one of his shirts, towel drying her now long hair. "Hi" She went up to him and he grabbed her thighs to pull her closer to him. "I'm sorry." He spoke after a minute. "I got too excited and frustrated that you don't like golf."

She sighed. "It's partially my fault. I never really give it a chance. I should have been more focused." She rubbed his shoulders. "Forgive me?" He nodded. "Forgive me as well?" She smiled and kissed him. "Next time I swear. I need to start taking lessons. I'll kick your ass at your invitational next year." He laughed. "Yeah okay babe."

His phone rang, and he glanced at it. Sara looked at it. "Is it Mitch or Isabelle?" He knew she could tell it was a New York area code. He shook his head and declined the call. "I don't know the number." He kissed her again. "Wanna order in? We can watch Jersey Shore and cuddle with the cats."

She smiled "I knew you would like the show!" He rolled his eyes. "Easy, I know you like it." She laughed. "Uh huh that's why you were upset when Sam got mad at the house when she found the letter."

"Hey, she got mad at everyone else but Ron. I don't know why she is putting up with him. He looks like a douche." She laughed. "I got to dry my hair. Do you want to do sushi or tacos?"

"Or there is that steakhouse down the street? I could pick it up?" She nodded and ordered her usual. Justin placed the order.

Crisis averted.

—--------------‐—--------‐—----------------------------------------

"Explain to me again why you are flying out Thursday before your game against the Jets?" Sara asked Justin over the phone. She was in Canada where she was doing a talk show to support her new project. She was flying in New York to watch Justin against the Jets for Monday Night Football. Sara's entire family would be there as well in the suite, their dad wanted to sit out in the cold, but with his heart it wasn't the best idea.

"Well, I wanted to see Mitch and Isabelle. Mitch really liked when I came up for the bye week. Plus he is graduating from Med school, so I'm rarely going to see him once he becomes a doctor." Justin bit his tongue, hoping his girlfriend bought the lie.

"Oh well that's nice. I was just surprised the team was okay with it." He had cleared it with Staley and Moore. Justin had no choice but to tell them he had plans to propose and wanted to go up to Pittsburgh to seek her parents' blessing. Her family was coming on Saturday and he would be locked in, unable to talk to them. So he had to see them first.

He just hoped he could do it without being spotted. Once again he had contacted AnnSophie about using her jet, which meant that he told her, which she told Joey. So far almost everyone in their friend group knew about his plans.

"If you want any motivation to kick Rodgers ass. Just know I met him at an awards ceremony when he was with his then fiance, he was staring at my boobs in my dress the whole time." That got Justin annoyed. Since it was known that he and Sara were an item, teams would use that as an excuse to taunt him about his relationship. It took everything in him not to fight Kelce when after a touchdown, Kelce went up to Justin and held up his hand to mimic a phone. "Have your girl call me." He muttered to Justin who was fuming. Luckily Bosa destroyed him when he took the field.

Justin made sure to pick up nice quality meat for him to grill.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

"Thank you sir. Have a nice day." Justin handed the taxi driver $20 as a tip. Once the cab pulled away, he turned towards the big house that homed Sara growing up. He took a deep breath. It was Friday afternoon, and he hoped her parents would be home. He flew out to New York first to pick up the ring.

Justin didn't get speechless or in awe of materialistic things, but when the jeweler opened the black velvet box he choked up. Seeing the ring, his vision, him putting it on her finger. "Wow. It's beautiful." He wiped the tears in his eyes. "Thank you."

"Your reaction is the best one yet. She's going to say yes." He nodded, still in awe of the reality.

As he approached the double doors of the large two bedroom home his hands were sweating, he put his hands in his pockets to feel the black velvet for the one hundred times before knocking on the door.

After a few seconds he heard Cathy's familiar voice call. "Coming!" Before the door opened. Her expression was shock as she didn't expect to see the six foot six man at her door. "Justin! What a nice surprise to see you!" She pulled him down for a hug. "Come in come in!" She ushered him inside. "Not that I don't mind seeing you, but aren't you supposed to be in New York?"

Before he could answer, he heard Katie's voice. "Mom who is it?" She was sitting at the kitchen island with papers scattered around and a laptop."Justin! What are you doing here? I thought we would see you Sunday night before the game. You know Charlie and Trisitan have been non-stop bragging to their friends" He smiled. "I'm glad. They will have fun Sunday."

Cathy's back was towards them, cleaning up what he assumed was lunch. "Do you want some shrimp salad? Mike didn't eat much."

It sounded good, but he was too nervous to eat. Katie was looking at him like she knew something was up. "No I'm fine. Speaking of Mr. Wozniak, is he here?" He was still using proper terms, no matter what they said. "He's in his study, probably trying to figure out how to sneak a burger in without me knowing." Justin laughed. "Um I wanted to talk to him, well actually I'd like to speak with the both of you."

"Is everything alright?" Cathy was still tidying up, but now with concern. Katie was on her work laptop, trying to pretend she was focusing on an excel spreadsheet but was dialed in on the conversation.

"Everything is great, I Uh wanted to speak, well actually ask you and Mr. Wozniak about something." Cathy nearly dropped the plastic container she was holding. Katie's eyes widened at the screen. Immediately they knew what this was about. "Oh, okay. Well, let me put this in the fridge and we will go to the study to see Mike." She did that, and then wiped her hands on the dish towel. "Katie, will you take out the banana bread when the timer dings?" The younger girl nodded and as soon as her mom and Justin were out of sight, she grabbed her phone and made a group message chat to Brittany and Alyssa.

K: 911 SISTER EMERGENCY!

A: OMG WHAT HAPPENED?

B: SISTER EMERGENCY? WHERE'S SARA?

A: ILL ADD HER

K: DO NOT ADD HER! THIS IS ABOUT HER!

B: IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

K: Justin is here. Showed up at mom's house.

A: Wait what? What for?

B: why would Justin show up to Pittsburgh?

K: he is in the study right now with our parents. He told mom he wants to ask them about 'something'

A: Katie, is this what I think it is? B: Hold on, I got to put my face in a pillow so I don't wake the kids when I scream.

K: 💍💍💍

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Justin my boy! What brings you here? Thought we weren't seeing you til Sunday." Mike got up from his desk with the support of his cane and shook Justin's hand. "Have a seat." Justin took a seat across the desk and Cathy stood next to her husband's chair. "So what brings you here?"

Justin fiddled with his hands for a second before he spoke. "I think you know why I'm here." Cathy had a big smile on her face

Mike chucked. "I do know why you're here. I've been through this three times before." He folded his hands on his desk like he was about to deny someone a loan. "You want our blessing to ask Sara for her hand in marriage."

He nodded, fiddling with his thumbs. As much as he tried to be confident he was nervous as hell. Mike Wozniak was an intimidating man.

Mike sighed. "Well no."

Cathy gasped, Justin could feel himself wanting to throw up. "Sir." He choked out.

Mike began laughing. Justin was lost. Cathy looked like she wanted to put him back in the hospital again. "Michael." She warned

"I'm sorry I'm sorry. Son, why are you asking me? I'm not marrying you Sara is.." He laughed some more. "I've done that, will all of my girl's partners, take it as an initiation to enter the Wozniak family." He looked at his wife. "What do you think hun? Should we give him our blessing?"

Cathy roller her eyes playfully. "I certainly didn't know you did that to the others."

"Well Justin, you are the first one to ask her mother and I. That says volumes."

Justin smiled, feeling a whole lot better about the conversation. "To be honest I was going to ask whether I had your blessing or not."

Mike laughed. "I wouldn't expect anything less." He fell back into his chair. "God, I never thought I'd see the day. You love her right son? I don't need you repeating what happened when I was in a coma."

Justin shook his head. "No sir. I've already lived without her once, I don't want to do that again. I love her more than words can express. You raised an amazing young woman."

Mike sighed and looked at his wife. "We are very lucky. We know we could have been better parents and made many mistakes, especially when it came to her. I thought she was just going to elope and we would have to find out in a magazine. It would serve us right"

He sighed again. "Thank you for loving her the way she deserves it. She's a special woman. I know you realize that." Justin nodded. "I do sir."

Cathy was wiping tears in her eyes. "Congratulations you guys. I'm so happy for you."

Justin made light. "Hey, I haven't asked her yet. I got to plan something."

They all got up to go back into the kitchen. "Well Sara isn't a person of grand gestures like her sisters. Katie got engaged in the middle of a winery in Italy, Brittany was at a Pirates game, and Alyssa had a scavenger hunt that led to a glass chapel. So I say you got it easy." Mike laughed as he approached the door. They heard feet running away and Cathy laughed. "I knew Katie was listening in."

They walked into the kitchen to find Katie at the table, trying to disguise her being out of breath. "So what's up? She tried to act casual."

Mike sat down. "Oh nothing, we weren't discussing a partnership with Justin" Justin had to hide a laugh as he watched her eyes bug out. "Dad! You know you aren't supposed to be working!" She looked at Cathy. "And you are okay with this?"

"Cathy nodded. "Justin will make a great addition to our family."

Katie looked back and forth between all of them. "Does this mean what I think it means?" Justin nodded and she squealed and rounded the island to hug him. "Oh I'm so happy! You know how excited Charlie and Tristian are going to be?"

Justin laughed. He could only imagine. "You can't say anything though."

Katie rolled her eyes. "I won't, those brats can't keep a secret to save their lives." He laughed.

"Do you have a ring in mind?" Justin smiled and reached into his pocket. "I have it on me." The girls gasped while Mike rolled his eyes. Justin opened the box and Cathy and Katie both oohed and ahhed over the 3.5 carat sparkler. "Oh my god it's beautiful, and it's so Sara." Katie held up her phone. "It's so sparkly my phone doesn't do justice." She managed to take a video with Justin moving the ring around in different lights. "I picked it up before I came here."

A plate of banana bread with ice cream was placed in front of him. “Justin, we could help you plan something.” Cathy passed out plates and sat down. "So. We all know Sara doesn't like public or attention grabbing gestures."

Not like Justin was comfortable doing that anyway.

"What about taking her on vacation. Charles took me all across Europe then proposed in Tuscany. It was so romantic."

Justin took a bite of the bread. "I don't know, I have only been overseas once, and that was a charity trip." He admitted. "I want to surprise Sara. Granted we have talked about our futures and we both want this, but I want her to be surprised by the actual event."

"Well when you do it we want to be there. Make sure she has her nails done, and make sure you have a photographer to capture the moment. Also make sure the background is nice, maybe some roses and candles."

"Jesus you're going to overwhelm him. He will know when its right. You kids and social media, everything has to be this big production." Justin said a silent thank you to his future father in law.

There was one thing everyone was right about, he needed a plan

—-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Why are you guys being weird?" Sara looked at Katie and Brittany as she took a sip of her hot chocolate. They were sitting outside the suite bundled up in their typical east coast attire. As usual it was cold and snowy. The Chargers were up a touchdown in the first quarter. Many commentators doubted that Justin and his team would be able to do it in the cold. Sara scoffed hearing that. They didnt realize that Justin lived in Oregon where it got cold.

"Nothing, nothing wrong. Why are you saying that? Katie was looking at her phone while Brittany went back inside to feed Ameilia.

"Aunt Sara is right, you are being weird." Charlie munched on his popcorn without taking his eyes off the field.

"Okay Charlie it's too cold, go back inside and play with your cousins." He shook his head. "I'm not a baby, and they are all babies. Who am I going to discuss the game with?" Katie rolled her eyes, " Talk to grandpa. Go inside Charles." He huffed and went in.

"God, if this is how he is at eight. I can't imagine the teenage years." She sighed and Sara laughed. "Okay, see? I'm not the only one who notices you being off, you, Brittany, and Alyssa. When I saw mom at the airport she began crying. Claims they are tears of 'happiness''' she did air quotes around the word. "Hell, even dad was just staring at me this morning at breakfast, saying his little girl is growing up. Hello? I'm 27."

"Oh stop being so paranoid, They are just happy there is peace in the family. Dad has been given a second chance at life. Its been a wakeup call for all of us, I know its unusual, but just enjoy it.” Katie felt bad about gaslighting her baby sister, but in this case it was necessary. Her family wasn't going to be responsible for giving it away or having Sara be hot on the trail.

"I guess you're right, it's just weird you know? The other day dad said that he found old recordings of my high school plays and had plans to watch them all.”

Katie smiled, “Yes, all of the older kids are coming over next weekend to watch them all. Dad has a lot of time to make up for, we all do.” Sara’s cheeks turned pink and she looked down at her drink. “I’m not used to this, all of this attention from you guys.” She admitted and they laughed

The Chargers were able to pull off the win, but due to a shortened week, Justin only had about an hour to talk to Sara’s family and discuss the game with her nephews before he had to be back on the bus. Sara was staying with her family for a few more days before heading home.

She had forgotten about what she and sister discussed until she saw Justin and her dad off in a corner speaking to themselves.

"SARA!" She turned to see Brittany calling her. "Can you hold Eliza for a minute? I need to change Amelia's diaper."

"Oh of course!" Eliza was three and could walk, however she was a runner and thought it was a fun game to take off, and for a little girl she was fast.

However as much as she tried to keep the little girl occupied, her mind kept going to her dad and Justin.

What on earth could they possibly be talking about? —-----------------------------------------------------------------

6 photos on Instagram

SaraCWozniak: Family and Football

Bella Hadid, Timothee Chalamet, 150,000 likes

Commenter: where's Justin? Commenter 2: your man balled out today Commenter 3: your sisters are hot HollyHerbert: miss everyone! Next time KateHarlow: look at you in your WAG speak AnnSophie : living your best lover era.

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"I'm glad we decided to try this place." Justin took a bite of his chicken while Sara laughed and took a sip of her wine. "No, I decided to try this place. You just wanted leftovers." She looked over at the stroller where Eugene and Nova were situated, sniffing the air as she opened the net. "Isn't that right, kids?" Eugene meowed in response. "He just wants your fish. You starve the poor guy." Sara laughed as she went into her bag and got out a treat to give them. Justin couldn't help the words that came out of his mouth

"God, you are such a mom." Sara looked up, surprised. "Is it a bad thing?" He shook his head. "Definitely not. It comes naturally. I mean just with our cats. I can only imagine when…." He trailed off, and Sara finished for him. "We have kids." She reached across the table and grabbed his hand and they exchanged smiles.

"Excuse me? I'm so sorry. But can I get a photo with both of you?" The moment was ruined when a girl who was in her teens approached the table. As much as she was annoyed, the poor girl looked scared, and she couldn't be rude. "Sure, but can it wait til we finish eating?" The Girl nodded and showed the couple where her family was eating. It was a weekday, so there weren't too many people out.

The city of Irvine was very respectful. People did see them out and about and sent the stories and photos to deumoxi. Which as much as Justin and Sara hated it, it wasn't something they couldn't control. They couldn't just be at home all day.

Sure, there were moments where people were recording and sometimes they were photographed during runs to the grocery store. But overall they were left alone.

They talked and finished their meals, when the bill was paid they headed over to the family's table and took photos and allowed the cats to be pet. The family was very sweet and kept apologizing for their time. Before they departed, Justin went up to the waiter and paid for their food, and they took the cats and walked home.

Along the walk they ran into their neighbor and their kids and stopped to talk. Their neighbor John and his wife were in their mid thirties with five kids. All were total sweethearts and Sara made a point to bring over food when the wife couldn't leave the house because of a sick kid or helped watching one of them. As Justin spoke with Dan about power washers he saw Sara bent down at eye level with the kids, talking about the cats and how to pet them, showing them how to feed them treats. She laughed along with the oldest boy, who was tickled at the sensation of Nova licking his hand

He almost dropped to one knee right then and there.

They said their goodbyes and when they got in, Justin was on her before she could say a word to him.

"What's gotten into you?" She breathed between kisses. He stayed silent, instead focusing on getting her pants off. But she stopped him. "Hey, Hey, Hey. What's going on?" That got him to halt. He kissed her again. "I don't know, seeing you with the kids, the conversation we had earlier. It just got to me." She kissed him, and he thought that was it until she smirked. "Justin Herbert, do you have a breeding kink?

His cheeks turned pink. "Maybe." She laughed. "You know it's okay, I've thought about it a few times." He raised his eyebrow at her. "Are you saying you want kids?"

She lightly pinched his arm, "Hey I told you before, I'm not popping out a baby on girlfriend salary. I want the name first." He smiled. "Agreed. We can practice first." They fell on the couch and Justin got to work.

The ring in his shoebox in the closet in the back of his mind

—--------------------------------------------------------------

"Ladies and Gentlemen we couldn't have done it without the organizer of this event! She is the biggest Fleetwood Mac fan and I was so touched when she told me she wanted to do this in honor of Christine. Sara I'm so proud of you and you are truly the daughter I never had. Sara, please join me on stage for this next song." Grabbing the mic on the side of the stage she stepped out to the roaring applause of the Forum.

It was March, and football was over. The Bengals won the Superbowl, knocking out the Chargers in the second round. Justin was bummed, but he and Joe were good friends and despite the analysts constantly comparing them. It was all in good fun. They were able to avenge themselves against the Jags, but fell short to the eventual super bowl champions.

Sara had been working behind the scenes with organizers, management's and Netflix to secure the concert and get it aired on the streaming service. While she was offered a huge sum of money, she only took ten percent of what was left over after everyone was paid and gave the rest to Christine's charity.

She got all of the major stars, Harry, Stevie, and other members of the band (except Lindsey) Adele, Elton John even reached out to volunteer his services.

It was a blast and everything came together. Now all there was left to sing was Landslide with Stevie and the band. She was terrified, but calmed her nerves with an edible beforehand.

As she sang she looked back into the audience, where Justin, his family and hers were in attendance. As she locked eyes with Justin she felt calm.

People knew he was here. She made sure the Netflix cameras didn't cut to him. However they cut to her family and noticed he was next to them. So he was in a few shots.

She made it through the song and had to be rushed off stage while they played a segment on screen of Christine's family talking about her early days in the band. She and Harry were going to be dueting 'Go your own way'

Things with Harry were better. As first it was awkward, but she was determined to get over it. She knew how much Harry loved the band, and if it wasn't for him she wouldn't have developed such a close bond with Stevie.

They worked tirelessly to get this done, he was very helpful in getting his friends to participate. He was willing to meet Justin and inform him that he and Sara were just friends, and he respected their friendship. That seemed to settle her boyfriend a bit.

Before she knew it, it was time to grab the mic and wait for Harry's line as a cue for her to sing her part.

Once the event finished, everyone made their way to the after party. Which was largely made up of celebrities and crew and members. Sara tried to stay by Justin and his family side as much as possible so they didn't feel overwhelmed. Patrick was the life of the party. Everyone was drawn to him, Mark and Holly were in awe talking to Stevie.

Photos were taken and shared on social media. There were the news articles, with 'sources'

Inside Sara Wozniak's low-key serious romance with Justin Herbert

Why are celebs so private?

Probably got other women in other cities

Just post a fucking photo together

I think he is just using her for fame

I hope Herbert doesn't get a big head because he's hanging out with all these famous people

You watch he is going to be another Rodgers.

Didn't he dump her because of her fame? Is she that desperate to have someone like her fat ass.

Everything went off perfectly, and Justin had never been so proud. He was never a person of the arts, but being with Sara and around her friends made him truly appreciate the craft. She had supported him throughout his career, and it was nice to be able to do the same for her.

Everyone had almost left the after party, Justin and Sara were the last. They were made aware that there were swarms of paps outside, waiting to get that rare shot of them at a public event. They smiled at each other, Justin grabbed her hand, and they ran to the SUV that was waiting for them. It was caught on video, and people thought it was a cute moment.

In that SUV, Justin and Sara were laughing

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Can you stop being a pussy?" Justin's eyes widened at Patrick's statement. "I thought you were just facetiming me to wish me a Happy Birthday. I don't even know what you're talking about." He lied through his teeth. Patrick rolled his eyes, "Where's Sara?" He looked up above his phone screen to see her floating in the ocean that surrounded their private villa.

Just a few days after the memorial concert, Sara surprised Justin with a week-long birthday vacation in Turks and Caicos. They hopped on a private Jet, and were greeted with a car to take them and their luggage to their private hut which was more like a house. It was so private only employees had access to it. Which meant no cameras. It was no doubt expensive, and Justin felt guilty. Everytime he would mention something, she would kiss him and tell him she had last year's birthday to make up for.

"That doesn't count, we weren't together around this time last year. I don't deserve it." She rolled her eyes and said she would wait for him in the water while he took his family's calls for his birthday

"She's not around me."

"Dude I know you have a ring for her. Isabelle had a few too many at the after party and told Carly. Thanks for telling me by the way. I'm touched." Patrick joked but he could tell his younger brother was hurt. "Listen, I'm sorry but you can't keep a secret."

Pat shrugged. "True, but I also wouldn't be a bitch and have the ring for five months."

"I didn't want to do it during the season. She deserves better than that."

"Well your season ended in January. So now what's the excuse?" Justin sighed. "I just want it to be perfect."

Pat shrugged. "Well, I mean you're gonna have some perfect moments over the next couple of weeks. You have the ring on you?" Justin smiled. "It's in my bag."

"Good luck bro you got this."

"Thank you."

Patrick smiled. "I gotta go. Happy Birthday and call me when she says yes."

They hung up, and before Justin went outside to join Sara in the water he made a phone call to the room service. He jumped in the water disturbing Sara as she floated on her back. She squealed and laughed as he came back to the surface, grabbing her and pulling her to him. They kissed and she smiled. "Happy 26th Birthday Baby." He smiled. "Thank you, beautiful."

She wiped the hair out of his face. "Beautiful boy. Your eyes are as blue as this ocean." He blushed and she giggled. "Stop." He mumbled.

"Where did you wanna go tonight? There's dinner by the ocean. We can have room service. Oooh or there is one overlooking the ocean." He smiled at her excitement. "You pick."

"Justin, it's your birthday. You have to pick."

He smiled. "By the beach sounds nice." She nodded. "I have to give you your gifts before we leave. We have plenty of time." It was 1pm, and they probably wouldn't get dinner til 7. They were snacking on all of the food the resort had to offer since they arrived a couple days ago. Sara indulged in some fruity cocktails. Luckily, the hut had a few workout machines. Justin would run every morning then spend some time on the machines. She joined him yesterday, but overall decided they were on vacation.

"Sara. You didn't have to get me anything." He looked around "this was way more than enough." She rolled her eyes. "Oh shush. I wanted to spoil you. You've been so good to me." She kissed him and moaned when he slipped his tongue in her mouth. Once they broke the kiss she whispered. "Let me be good to you."

"Hmm you're always good for me." He moaned as he felt her hand snake down. "Baby." He looked around seeing no one. "I don't think we can do this here."

She hummed. "You're right. We can fuck at night when it's dark."

He laughed

—------------------------------------------------------------

"Look what Ashley sent me." Justin turned his phone around to show Sara the photo his manager took. It was the cats snuggling together on the couch. "Aww that is soo cute!" She smiled and looked at him. "You miss them don't you?"

"I do. Even Eugene. The little menace that he is." She giggled. "Remember when he got into the freezer and ate all of the chicken hearts on the guest bed? And he still wanted his dinner. That was like.. Twenty chicken hearts! How did he not throw up?"

Justin shook his head as he gave Sara a glass of water on the couch. They had just gotten back from a late dinner, followed by a walk on the beach. He wanted to do it there, (he had the ring in his pocket the entire nignt) but there were many people for being late. The last thing he wanted was people to take videos and post them everywhere. He didn't want to have their families find out about the engagement through social media.

So here they were, back at the hut. Sara said she wanted to relax a bit before taking a dip in the hottub on the deck. Justin agreed that sounded nice before heading off to bed.

As Justin took his seat next to Sara they enjoyed the sound of the waves in the ocean. It was calming and peaceful. Until Sara broke it. "Can I play some music?"

He laughed. "Sure, go ahead." She pulled out her phone and scrolled through what was her Playlist. "Any suggestions, Birthday Boy?"

Justin was about to say no, but then he thought about it. "Actually yes, I got one." She handed him the phone and he typed it in before pressing play.

I think about you all the time I can't get you off my mind If they only knew Who I've been talking to.

You got a place off the park I'll come on by after dark Was nervous when You let me in

Justin knew she remembered the song when they were at Bella's party. He grabbed her left hand and began tracing circles on it with his thumb

To be honest, he didn't have a definite plan of what he was going to say, which was unlike him. He was always prepared, always ready.

Until he met her

And it hurts All throughout my insides I couldn't stop if I tried loving you I'll never learn So I'll call you when I'm outside You Said the keys behind the porch light for unit two

And I thought of maybe quitting But there's no quitting you.

His mind was running a mile a minute as the song played its course. Once the song was finished, he was interrupted by Sara cuddling closer to him and then laying into him.

"What's in your pocket?"

"Huh?" She sat up. "I felt something poke me."

She was talking about the ring box. "Is it something or are you just happy to see me?" She smiled and he laughed. "Pervert."

He could have left it at that, but in his heart it was this moment right now. Taking a deep breath he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small black box.

Opening up his hand he presented it to Sara, her knowing immediately what it was. "Oh." She whispered and he smiled.

"I know this isn't a typical proposal." He started. "But nothing about our relationship has been typical since we met."

She laughed as tears came to her eyes.

"My whole life I had a plan, and love wasn't on the list anytime soon,and you came and flipped my world upside down in the best way, and I almost didn't realize it." He felt the lump in his throat. " You challenge me, love and support me even when I deserve it. I love you more than words can say, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Sara Christine, will you marry me?"

Tears were spilling down her cheeks. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life." He said, exasperated that she would even question that.

She was full on sobbing now, and in a second she launched herself at him, them both falling onto the floor. Her gripping him tight. "How long have you been planning this?" She pulled away to look at him

"Umm I have had the ring since November." Her eyes widened. "Four months!?"

He sat up, with her on his lap facing him. "I didn't want to do it during the season!"

"Fair."

"Is that a yes?" He was nervous. She nodded and the tears came back. "Yes Justin, I will marry you."

He smiled and they kissed. She hugged him again and peppered kisses on his neck. "I love you so much Justin." She whispered.

He buried his face in her neck. "Mine forever." He then had a thought. "Don't you want your ring?"

"Oh shit the ring!" They both laughed and he picked up the box from the couch. Opening it she gasped at the emerald cut diamond with the green emeralds on the sides. It wasn't small, it wasn't big. It was perfect,

And it was hers. She watched as he took it out of the box, holding her left hand, he slipped the ring on her finger and it was a perfect fit. She stared at it, admiring the diamonds shining in the light. "It's gorgeous." Sara looked at him "Did you design this?"

He nodded, then thought about it. "Well Isabelle helped when I was in New York." She kissed him again. "My fiancé." He smiled and echoed her statement "my fiance."

"Holy shit! We are getting married!" He laughed and kissed her again. Getting up, he went over to the fridge and got out the champagne. "Should we pop this open?" She nodded and they went out to the balcony, where they shook the bottle and opened it. With a 'pop' the champagne spilled on their hands. They were so giddy that they forgot the glasses and began sipping from the bottle. They both had a few before deciding to jump into the ocean, fully clothed and all

"SHE SAID YES!" Justin yelled into the night sky as he came up for air. Laughing, Sara pulled her hair from her face. "You might have just announced it to everyone."

He was on cloud nine, the woman of his dreams agreed to marry him.

—---------------------------------------------‐—---------------------

They woke up the next morning, tangled in the crisp white blankets. They were up late in the night celebrating their engagement. First in the shower, then all over the bed.

"Wanna do some floating breakfast in the water?" He whispered and she hummed yes before kissing him. Rolling over onto her back, she held her hand up in the light, admiring her new accessory on her hand. It wasn't about the ring, (it was beautiful and her style completely) but it was the fact that she was marrying the man of her dreams.

"When should we tell everyone?" She thought about it. "I think we should wait until we get back. Let the rest of this week be about us."

"I agree, it's going to be chaos as soon as we tell people." They were going to have to be concerned about telling people and who they trusted and making sure not to leak it to the press, they weren't sure if they would make a formal announcement.

But like she said this was something they should worry about later. Right now it was about them.

He rolled on top of her. "Don't you usually workout at this time?"

"I am working out." She laughed. "Well, I skipped yesterday. I could use a good one before breakfast."

—-------------------------------------------------------------

It was that last night on the island and they were both soaking up every moment before heading back home and to responsibilities. Sara had to head to Italy for a Valentino promotional event. She asked Justin to come but he declined. "Maybe one day I will get the nerve to join you."

They were in the middle of packing when Sara's phone rang signaling she had a facetime call. She wanted to reject it but seeing it was her nephew she answered it. "Hello Charles David Burke the Third."

"God, that makes me sound like such a loser." For being nine, he was already giving a teenager attitude. Sara laughed. "I'm sure your mother would love to hear you say that"

"Are you going to tell her?"

"Maybe." She teased.

"Hey no fair! If you tell her I'll tell her you stole her black jacket!" Sara laughed

"Ha! Nice try, she knows already and I got yelled at for it!" Charlie huffed and Justin laughed in the background "why did you call? Is everything okay?"

"Are you guys coming to Pittsburgh?"

"That's next month Charlie,"

"But our football season will be over! Justin won't come to a game and see me"

"Oh so that's what this is about? It's about Justin and not me!" She feigned hurt, and her fiancé cut in "Hey Charlie, how about I do some reps with you? We will run routes and everything."

The little boy's eyes lit up. "Really?" Justin appeared next to her "Yes, I can call my brother Patrick to give you some pointers." Charlie began playing tight end.

Sara felt a yawn coming on, and out of reflex she put her hand in front of her mouth to cover it.

It just so happened to be the hand that contained the ring.

"Are you and Justin getting married?" Sara stopped and looked next to her, she saw Justin's eyes widened. "What makes you say that?" He asked.

"Because Aunt Sara has a big diamond on her left hand."

"What!?" They heard a new voice and Charles and Katie both were now next to Charlie, a twin girl in each hand. It was night time in Pennsylvania, they were all going to bed. Well now they were wide awake. "What's going on? Are you guys engaged?" Katie's eyes darted back and forth between the couple, who were a deer in headlights "uhh." Sara started

"Yes" Justin interrupted. "I asked her on my birthday." He smiled at her.

"AHHHH" Katie screamed and the girls began crying. Sara had to hold in her laugh as Tristian ran in confused. "Mommy what's wrong!"

"You're Aunt Sara and Uncle Justin are getting married!" Justin smiled big at that. He wasn't an Uncle on his side so when he was referred to as Uncle for the first time it gave him a good feeling.

The rest of the call was chaos. Suddenly Katie put them on a multiple call with her entire family. Everyone congratulating them and talking about a summer engagement party.

Once they hung up they both looked at each other. "I'm sorry, I know we didn't plan to tell them that way." Justin shook his head. "It's not a problem. I know as soon as I go to the facility the guys are going to ask, and I would like our families to know first."

"They are going to be shocked." Justin laughed. "Actually everyone knew it was coming. I took Isabelle and Mitch shopping. My parents and Pat knew, and I asked your mom and dad for their blessing before Monday Night Football. Katie was there, so I'm guessing your sisters know too."

"Yeah probably." Sara laughed. Then was touched. "You asked for my hand?"

He nodded. "I know it's old fashioned, but it was something I felt was right. Our families would be connected forever."

"What if they said no?" She teased. Justin laughed. "I was still going to ask. It just would have been awkward."

Sara laughed. "Was your family okay?"

"Why wouldn't they be? They all love you!" That warmed her heart. She loved all of his friends and family and while she knew they loved her. There was always that doubt

"Speaking of, let's call them" He nodded and grabbed his phone. He facetimed his parents, then did a three way. Patrick was at Carly's down south so it worked. "Hi everyone." Sara stated.

"Hi guys. How's Turks? Excited to get back soon I'm sure." Carly smiled.

"It was a blast, I posted so many photos on my private story I'm surprised you didn't block me." Sara joked. Everyone laughed. Then there was silence.

"Soooo. Is there a reason for the family call?" Patrick trailed off…… everyone looking on the edge of their seat.

"We can't just talk to you guys? We just wanted to touch base for this year's invitational. We set the dates." Justin said with a straight face and despite her being the actress she wanted to laugh at the Herbert's reaction. "That's it? You didn't have to call for that?" Mitch responded.

"Mitch that's rude!" Holly scolded.

Justin spoke again. "Well we also need to look at dates next year."

Holly laughed. "Justin, we always have the invitational in July."

Sara cut in. "Holly, you know how I feel about heat. I'm not getting married in July. Plus no time for a honeymoon."

It was silent, until Mark broke it. "You mean…."

"We're engaged."

Just like Sara's family, there was a sound of joy. Although it wasn't as much as her family. There was genuine happiness and love, and excitement at the prospect of a wedding next year.

"Oh my god! Finally! I thought it was going to be another year!" Pat laughed. Carly rolled her eyes. "Let's see the ring!"

Sara held her hand up. All the girls oohed and ahhed over the ring in the light. "It's perfect." She addressed Isabelle. "Thank you Isabelle."

The Girl giggled. "You should have seen him at the jeweler. That man had no idea what he was doing!"

It was an agreement that only the immediate family would know, and as much as they wanted to spread the news to all family and friends, they wanted to keep it to themselves for a while before they were ready for the public to know. Sara's fame had grown over the past year and had reached superstar status. People were more invested in her relationship, questions about Justin were more prominent in interviews. Anytime she gave a snippet, news articles ran with it.

While they were on the plane heading back to Los Angeles. It was agreed that Sara wouldn't wear her ring in public. However, Justin and Sara did tell their respective management to keep everyone in the loop and plan PR distractions to divert news media.

When they arrived home, Sara went straight to the cats who didn't seem to care that their parents were gone. They had Ashley, the fun aunt, who had put the "My parents are getting married!" bandana on them. After more congratulations were shared they were alone. They were soaking in the moments before life had to resume to normal. Sara wore her ring around the house, she would leave it in a safe in their shared closet where other expensive pieces of jewelry were.

—------------------------------------------------------------------

Justin arrived at the facility, he had just dropped Sara and her assistant Ailyah at the airport. Aliyah was one of Sara's friends from Pittsburgh who was an event specialist and manager, and while others on Sara's team were hesitant to bring on another friend in, however Ailyah was very trustworthy, and Sara would never make the mistake of getting too close to a worker again

Justin could tell Erika was a sore subject. Gossip ran wild with people guessing what happened to their fallout. Erika had picked up a job as a Marketing Coordinator in Philadelphia and lived a private life. Sara's team had paid her off to sign a lifetime NDA.

He knew she felt nothing but betrayal and hurt towards her former best friend. Luckily she had a good support system, including him.

He walked Into the dining area to grab himself a protein bar. A good fifty percent of the team were there. While guys were still packing up and leaving as soon as the media obligations were over, many were still in town and that number was growing as the years went on, and that spoke for the team's culture.

Williams was the first to ask. He had told the core guys. Bosa, Ekeler, Williams, and Allen who all cornered him in the weight room once the others went to the locker rooms. Bosa was the first one to speak. "So how was your vacation? Annie told me you guys were in Turks and Caicos." He was trying to play it off, but Justin noticed the other guys were paying attention closely. Justin shrugged. "It was fun, got some sun. It was nice to relax."

Mike chimed in. "Anything major happened?

Justin had a small smirk. "Eh."

Keenan cut in. "Alright. I'm not tip-toeing around this. Did you propose or not?"

Justin dropped the dumbbells and faced his friends. With a smile he nodded and spoke. "I'm getting married next year."

The guys whooped and hollered. Joey picked Justin up in a big bear hug. "Congrats man. I'm so happy you got your head out of your ass." Justin laughed. "I have you to thank for."

It was true, if it wasn't for Bosa trying to make a pass at Sara during the beginning who knows what would have happened. He could tell Joey was touched. "Hey, I'm just happy you found someone."

Justin nodded. "Same goes for you." Joey looked away and blushed. —-----------------------------------------------------------------

Sara was glad to be home. Italy was always a blast, and seeing all of her friends were always a good time.

It was the hardest week ever, being away from Justin after a romantic week, not seeing her babies, and finally, keeping such a big secret. As much as she wasn't ready for the world to know, she wanted to tell Timothee and Bella. But it would have to wait until she got them alone in a more private setting where there was no risk of someone overhearing.

She was home by herself, as Justin was in Vegas filming commercials and endorsements. After throwing her stuff in the laundry, she opened her PR packages. All her skincare she would be giving to friends and her team as well as Carly or Isabelle and Holly. There was a big box from Law that contained tons of white lingerie sets with a note that said 'For the honeymoon.' With a wink. She laughed and sorted through it. It was lacy, see through pieces that she was sure Justin would love. The one part that got her was a white cashmere robe that said 'Bride' written in silver cursive on the left breast. Turning it around, she gasped when she saw the back

In the same print in bigger letters.

Mrs.Herbert

She was sure she had the stupidest smile on her face. Placing it gently on the bed, she took a photo to send to her sisters as well as Holly. Shooting a quick text to Law to thank him, she sifted through the other boxes. More PR, more outfits the stylist wanted her to wear to upcoming events, some packages she ordered for the cats. Finally she got to the biggest box of them all. It was heavy, and she saw it was from Alyssa's address in St. Louis. Confused, she opened it and gasped.

It was all bridal things, magazines, bride mugs, every trinket someone received that was newly engaged. Going through all of them Sara was misty eyed. She remembered seeing all of her sisters go through this, and as much as she scoffed. It was a front because she was told by family and friends that this would never be her. Alyssa, being the closest in age and the most recent marriage, knew how her youngest sister was feeling during that time. The jokes were made that Sara was always the bridesmaid never the bride. She was going to be the aunt who never married and traveled. She knew it hurt her baby sister.

Finally, all the way at the bottom there was a small blue box. Grabbing it, she opened it and began crying.

It was her great grandmother's barrette, it had pearls and emeralds and it had been passed down generations. Her grandmother, and mother wore it. Katie and Brittany didn't wear it because they didn't think it went with the style of their dresses and hair. Alyssa was on the fence about it, until others pressured her, saying Sara was probably never going to get married and this was the last chance. On the day of the wedding, she had told everyone that the piece had broken when she was doing a trial run on her hair. Sara's heart shattered hearing that and her mother told her she could have a replica made to which a cousin told her not to waste her money, joking Sara wasn't probably going to get married anyways.

Looking at the hair piece, everything was perfectly intact. Confused, and through tears she read the note

Remember this? I was never an emerald girl like you, and I knew It would look so much better on you. I just told everyone it broke so I didn't have to wear it, because I knew it was always meant for you. Congratulations Sara, I'm so happy this is your moment with your man. This is yours forever to pass down to your future daughter.

I love you Sare bear and I couldn't be happier you found your soulmate.

Big sissy Lissy

Sara smiled and made a note to call her when she wasn't an emotional basket case though she probably would be a mess all over again when they spoke.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------

"There she is!" Sara laughed as she was lifted off the ground by Pat. They had just arrived at Justin's well, now their Oregon home after a long road trip. Justin opened the carriers and both cats cautiously came out, sniffing the area until they remembered this was their second home.

Putting her down, Pat grabbed her hand and examined the ring. "Isabelle did a good job, you should just marry her."

"Ha ha ha" Justin spoke sarcastically. He hugged Pat. "Good to see you asshole. Are mom and dad back at the house?"

"Yes, and a couple cousins and Aunts are there. Mom's bursting at the seams wanting to tell them. I came here to warn you they are joining us for dinner, so you might want to take off the ring."

Justin nodded. It had only been a month since they got engaged. They both agreed that they wouldn't give anyone a hint until the end of the off season, right before camp they wouldn't be doing any precautionary measures to hide it.

They were getting ideas of wedding planning. The couple knew they needed to pick a date soon and a location. Sara wanted to get married in Oregon, however Justin told her there weren't too many places that could hold a celebrity wedding. He wasn't stupid, he knew this wedding would attract sports fans as well as those interested in celebrities' personal lives. Pittsburgh was an option, but Sara sorta shook her head. All of her sisters, barring Alyssa, married there. Alyssa married in California at the same Vineyard one of his teammates married at.

Sara wanted it to be in 2025 as well. She didn't want to wait two football seasons to be married. The most ideal dates being March and April. That way it wouldn't be too hot no matter where they picked.

Once they were done getting situated they made their way over to his parents house. Sara's ring was in her pocket. Justin made her carry it if it were to be announced to the extended family. "We're doing such a great job keeping this under wraps." He joked and she laughed.

They made it to the house and after giving ample attention to Dylan they made their way to the dining room where Justin's aunt and cousins were. "How was Turks? I saw the photos on your Instagram. It looked gorgeous." Madi smiled. Holly was clutching her drink and smiling as she smiled. Justin cut in. "It was really good. It was nice to get away and not think about football for a bit.

The girls all stayed in the kitchen and spoke. Justin noticed Sara was fiddling in her pocket where the ring was in. He smiled, they just had to get to August and they would be fine.

As the night went on, the group decided to relax in the large hot tub in the backyard. They all had a few drinks, and Justin, who was a lightweight, was getting very handsy and clinging to Sara. She giggled as he pulled her to him during their soak. "I love you." He murmured.

"I love you too." She stroked his cheek and his cousins both awwed. "I swear I've never seen him so loved up. Who knew my cousin was so emotional when he's in love?"

Sara smiled, as Justin nuzzled his face in her neck. "You're wearing my favorite bikini too. God, you're trying to kill me." He groaned.

It was the white one, the one she wore infront of his teammates that he was jealous of. "I remember you were so upset when I was talking to Joey." She laughed as he grabbed her ass. "Cause you're mine." He said out loud. "My love, my fiancé"

"Fiance?!" His Aunt, who was behind them and heard it all, came up behind the tub. "You guys are Engaged!" She looked at her sister, who was looking away. "When did this happen!"

"On my birthday. Only the immediate family knew. Well… now you all knew."

Everyone gathered around the couple to congratulate them and ask the typical questions. "Oh my god. I will give you the information to the wedding planner me and my husband used! She's great! Where and when were you thinking of getting married?"

Sara smiled. "Probably next offseason. I want to marry here, but I don't think my status and fame will allow that." She said sadly.

"Isn't there security we can hire for the day? Or a wedding weekend!" His cousin squealed. As everyone began talking about wedding planning Justin looked at Sara

"It's going to be one hectic wedding planning." She sighed. Already anticipating the chaos her family could possibly bring

Justin smiled. "We could go to the Magistrate this week."

"Oooh no you won't! Justin Patrick you will not deprive us and Sara's family of a wedding!"

"Hey, my family had three already! Trust me they won't care about this one." Sara joked.

"We care." Pat intervened. "You cannot deprive us of seeing Justin get in his feelings and be mushy in front of everyone!" Justin flung some of the hot water at him

Holly sat back and smiled. She had never seen her son so happy and relaxed. Of all the sons she was worried about, it was Justin. He was always so focused on football, so emotionless when it came to relationships. She knew deep down when she first met Sara that she was the one. How Justin interacted with her, how he looked at her. Sure, he was a total idiot for doing what he did. But they found their way back to each other.

And now they were getting married, and Sara would officially be a part of their family. Looking around, she met eyes with her future daughter in law and they both shared a smile, thinking the same thing.

Mrs. Sara Herbert.

A.N. Finally right? Lol, I want these epilogues to be longer than usual. This is one out of three. I am so excited for these!

#Justin Herbert #NFL imagines #alexa writes collide #Los Angeles Chargers

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himbopatrol · 8 months

Text

Cherry Bomb // a Steve Harrington Love Story

Danny Henderson, looks like a punk, can be found at any underage disco. Snorts when she laughs, mom doesn't know she sneaks out, loves her little brother and will defend him with her life, when the song tarzan boy comes out in April of 85' it will become her favorite song, but don't tell anyone. "You look like you just rolled out of bed" "I did" Has a bad habit of smoking that she tries to keep secret from Dustin, but ultimately fails. Is a "cool girl" but also gets her face smashed into a locker, don't worry the smasher will have their head down a flushing toilet by next period. Get's straight A's, and is a star softball player. Oh, and is hopelessly, desperately, disgustingly, head over heels in love with Steve Harrington.

Moments in time and space usually between Danielle "Danny" Henderson and Steve Harrington

originally posted here

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Henderson!OC

Warnings: smut (eventual), sexual tension, lots of swearing, some stereotypical rude 80s teens, typical stranger things blood/gore, sloooooow buuurrrrnnn, i don't proofread

Minors Do Not Interact!

A slow work in progress, thank you for your support and patience. Likes, comments, and reblogs are always greatly appreciated.

Chapter 1 Below

Chapter One: Danny Henderson just really wants to avoid Steve Harrington

Tuesday, November 1st, 1983

Danny shut the door of her Volkswagen Rabbit, hands shoved in her pocket, the cold air cutting her cheeks. Her walkman blasting “Cherry Bomb”, she smiled at the familiar bikes of her little brother and his friends leaned against the side of the convenient store. On the other side were some unfamiliar bikes, but the same size.

Danny strutted into the store, as the bell rang with her presence she heard the familiar voice of Dustin, her little brother. Peeking down the candy aisle she saw Dustin and his three friends, Mike, Lucas, and Will. But there were two more boys in the aisle, she recognized them as a couple of shitheads that went to school with Dustin. Various insults and slurs were spilled, “Fairy freak,” one spat. Danny stepped into the aisle, one hand still in her pocket, the other pushing her headphones down. The faint sound of “Cherry Bomb” echoing through the aisle as the bullies stared at her from over Dustin and his friends shoulders. Dustin peered over his shoulder, a look of relief, then embarrassment crossed his face.

“Hi,” Danny smiled towards the bullies.

"Wha’d you want?” The first one spit.

“Well uh, ‘scuse me,” Danny pushed past her brother and friends. “Sounds like you're picking on these guys. Actually worse, you sound like you’re picking a fight,” Danny replied, standing her ground in front of them.

“Oh so they need some freak girl to protect ‘em?” He snickered. “What a bunch of pussies,” he grinned at his friend who laughed along.

Danny leaned down, to look him in the eyes. “I don’t really like bullies. I don’t like you. Or your idiot friend,” she smiled as she spoke. The bullies gulped as the other boys stared in silence at the confrontation. “You’re right though, I am a girl. I am also his sister,” she pointed her thumb back at Dustin who smiled. “Meaning,” she poked her finger into his chest, pushing him back, “If I see you,” poke again, “Or hear,” poke, “That you’re messing with him or his friends again, you’re dead,” she rolled back to standing straight, still holding her smile. “Got it?”

Both bullies steamed red in embarrassment, unable to look at her, some fear in their eyes. “Whatever,” one said. “Let’s get out of here,” he pushed his friend towards the doors of the store.

“Bye,” Danny waved.

“That was awesome Danny!” Dustin exclaimed, burying himself in her arms.

“Anytime kiddo,” she ruffled his head. “But really, if that little shit bothers you again, tell me,” she shook his shoulders. Danny looked towards the other boys. Will seemed relieved to see her, Lucas happy to see her, and Mike a little disgruntled. “He’s just some stupid jerk Mike, don’t let him get you down.”

“Whatever,” he scoffed. Danny could tell he was a little upset it was Dustin’s older sister saving him from the school bully.

“Listen boys, if anyone asks just say it was Mike who scared ‘em off,” Danny chuckled, squeezing Mike’s shoulder. The boys giggled along and even a smile appeared across Mike’s face.

“Okay,” he smiled through a mumble.

“Right, what are you weirdos tryin’ buy?” Danny clapped her hands together.

“Wait, really?” Will exclaimed.

“Yeah little man, I got paid today, you each can pick out two snacks, it’s on me,” Danny beamed. The boys started scrambling along the aisles.

“Awesome!” Lucas cheered. “Man, I wish my sister was as cool as you,” he added.

“I like Erica,” Danny retorted.

“She’s a baby,” complained Lucas.

“She’s cool,” she stated. “Pick your snacks dude. And as for you,” her eyes moved towards Dustin.

“What?” He mumbled with already opened candy in his mouth, holding a pile of candy to his chest.

“You’re doing the dishes for the rest of the week.”

“Deal.”

Wednesday, November 2nd, 1983

Danny was trying to pay attention in pre-calculus, really, but Steve Harrington sat right in front of her. His head was bobbing to the taps of his pencil and foot. His hair bounced along. Danny gripped her pencil and sank deeper into her chair. This is bad, she thought. But it only got worse as Steve’s head slightly turned to take a piece of paper from Tommy H. next to him. The teacher paid no attention to the students as she wrote random equations upon the chalkboard. Danny stared at the curve of his face and his smile. That smile. Tommy H. noticed her staring and raised an eyebrow at her, making Steve turn toward her. Danny quickly sat up, making too much noise and drawing too much attention, cheeks burning, knowing Steve was taking a look at her. She could see that he hadn't turned back yet, she pushed a hand into her hair to try to hide herself even more. Go away, go away. Finally, he turned, Danny lowered her head completely down onto her desk. This is really bad.

The bell couldn’t have rung sooner. Danny got out of the classroom as quickly as she could, completely avoiding Steve. She avoided him the rest of the day.

However, avoiding Steve Harrington would be considered hard to do when you have too many classes with him. An hour later she sat next to him in the science lab. The teacher had the brilliant idea of switching partners up that week.

“Hi,” he said smoothly, sliding into the tall stool next to her, tossing his bag aside. He was early, the bell hadn’t even rung yet.

Danny continued writing the warm up work in her notes, moving away from him slightly. “Hi,” she copied, without looking up.

“So,” he drugged out the word. “Tommy H. says you were staring at him in math,” he said softly. She finally looked at him. Bad idea. You see, he had these doe eyes that just absolutely did Danny in. Steve Harrington had called her a freak just the other day in front of his friends, but looking at his face, it’s like it didn’t matter. But then Danny registered what Steve had just said. That idiot thought I was looking at him. “I mean you should know he’s dating Carol.” Suddenly Danny’s face broke out into a wide toothy smile. Steve’s voice got quieter. “And I don’t really think you're his type.” He gave her a questioning look as now she was laughing, loudly. “What’s happening?” He finally asked. Steve never noticed how adorable her smile was, I mean yeah, she’s a freak, but man, those freckles, Steve shook the thoughts from his mind.

“Tommy H. thinks I like him?” She wheezed.

“I mean yeah, am I missing something?”

“Oh man, he really is an idiot,” Danny clutched her chest.

“But you were staring at him.”

“No I wasn’t,” Danny’s laughter finally died down.

“Well, then who were you staring at?”

“Don’t worry about it,” she smiled, the interaction had Danny’s confidence regained.

Don’t worry about it? What’s that supposed to mean? Steve thought.

Friday, November 4th, 1983

Danny quickly trudged through the hall, late and careful to avoid the usual routes of assholes, keeping her head down. She just wanted the day over with. She had one more class. One more class with Steve. Just as she was in the clear she ran into a warm body coming from the locker room. Her books scattered across the floor, the smell of an old sweaty gym shirt filling her nostrils.

“Shit! My bad,” an oh so familiar voice chimed.

“No, no, it’s okay,” Danny replied frantically.

The two of them began fumbling towards the ground, Steve gathering the books while Danny crawled around for the various papers. Just as Danny was rising to her knees, a hand shoved her back down.

“What’s up freak?” Came the searing voice of Carol, behind her Tommy H. laughed.

Danny rolled her eyes and looked towards Steve, who was hiding behind his bangs, obviously holding back words.

“What are you doing helping this nerd, Harrington?” Spat Tommy H.

“I don’t know, waste of time I guess,” Steve huffed, shoving the books into Danny’s arms. Danny stared at the ground.

“Let’s get out of here,” Carol insisted, pushing herself into Tommy H.

“Yeah, wouldn’t want to catch any diseases now would ya’?” Danny spat towards them. Tommy H. and Carol turned to walk to their classes or better yet the parking lot to ditch. Steve silently picked up the last notebook, her sketchbook, and politely, silently handed it to her. A look of pity in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something. Like he was sorry. “Forget it, Harrington,” Danny said instead.

She continued to avoid him during gym.

“Hey,” a soft voice said. Danny turned to see a tired looking Nancy Wheeler sitting next to her.

“Oh hey,” she smiled.

Nancy bit her lip, looking in the direction of Steve. Danny turned red and opened her sketchbook to take her mind off of it.

“He’s kinda cute isn’t he?” Her voice sounded like warm honey talking about him.

“Hmm?” Danny hummed, pretending she didn’t know what she was talking about.

“Steve Harrington,” she whispered, like if she spoke too loudly he’d notice.

“Oh,” Danny looked towards Steve. He was sweating, his hair sticking to his forehead. He looked so serious. “Yeah I guess,” she lied.

“I know I know, he’s preppy, he’s a jock. He’s different,” Nancy smiled. Danny couldn’t help but feel happy for her old friend, so smitten with someone.

“No, he's fine. I just want to make sure you’re sure about him,” Danny said quietly.

“I think so,” Nancy replied.

“I’ll kick his ass for you if you need me to,” Danny smiled.

Nancy laughed, “Thanks Danny,” she bumped her shoulders against hers.

“Ya’ know if you sit too long next to me people are gonna think you’re a weirdo,” Danny pointed out, looking around the bleachers.

“I don’t care. You’re my friend,” she sighed happily.

“You’re sweet Wheeler.”

“Are you aware of the campaign our brothers are doing this weekend?” Nancy asked, changing the subject.

“That I am, they're using my books,” Danny nodded, still doodling.

“They’re such nerds, just like you, I don’t know where Mike gets it from,” Nancy responded, a tone of sarcasm to her voice.

“Right, as if you didn’t dress up as an elf for their campaign just a couple years ago. Miss “I’ll only play if Danny plays”, he gets it from you, nerd,” Danny retorted, pushing into Nancy.

“Whatever,” she giggled.

Danny looked towards the entrance of the gym to see Tommy H. and Carol impatiently waiting for the bell to ring to steal Steve away. “Fuuck,” Danny sighed, ducking behind the tiny frame of Nancy Wheeler, nowhere near helpful.

“What?”

Danny coiled in and rolled in between the bleachers, laying down on the wood of the stairs, putting her sketchbook over her face in frustration. “It’s Tommy H. and Carol. They won’t leave me alone this week,” Danny mumbled, using her hands to speak.

“So?”

“So?” Danny repeated, propping herself onto her elbows, her book falling.

“You dragged Carol through the hall last week because she called me boring,” Nancy replied. “What are you afraid of?”

“One, my mom’ll kill me if I get suspended again, and two,” she glanced over at Steve. “I don’t know. I’m just not feeling it right now I guess, trying to be nice I guess,” she shrugged.

“Well then, if you’re not getting into any bar fights,” she teased, “wanna hang out with Barb and I tonight?”

“Eddie asked me to hang out tonight,” Danny sighed.

“He’s gross. Tomorrow?”

“Totally. And no he’s not.”

“He totally is.”

“Shut up Nance! He totally isn’t!”

“Who totally isn’t?” Harrington piped up, drying off his sweat with a towel. Danny looked back towards the entrance and the couple was gone. She looked back at Steve, and flopped back down into the bleachers.

“Oh! No one, hi Steve,” Nancy blushed.

“Hi Nance,” he smiled sweetly at her.

Kill me now.

#i.a.m #stanger things #steve harrington #joe kerry #henderson!oc #steve harrington x oc #steve harrington smut #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington fanfic #eddie munson #nancy wheeler #dustin henderson #steve harrington x henderson!oc

16 notes · View notes

jacksnwangs · 1 year

Note

Lol, I don't mind long messages at all ;) Anyway, I wanted to request snapshots of Jihoon's perspective. You know how you rewrote the major scenes in Yoongi's perspective? I was wondering like, what was Jihoon thinking when he suggested that Jimin should date Yoongi, when he saw Yoongi come home crying, when they got married, etc. Thank you! ;) (Also I literally just read so many of your Yoonmins and I love your angst so much, I recced your fics on bantanficrecs, I don't know if you saw. xD)

does anyone even follow me anymore? i know it's been literal years since you asked this and unfortunately, i don't know that i'll follow through and finish all the scenes, but i did in the past couple years write a solid 6k of jihoon perspective so i thought i'd post a little bit just to honor this very very old request! and who knows. i miss writing a lot and even though i'm not really on the rpf/kpop fic train anymore, i love the relationships i created with jihoon as an oc so it's not impossible i finish this as a whole story one day soon ;)

you definitely need to read the original when you're in love all the lines get blurred for this one to make sense

Jihoon is fourteen when he answers the phone, Jimin already partway through whining a complaint as the connection completes. There’s the rough crackle of static that he’s gotten used to from his old, hand-me down flip phone and then he hears, “… that I’m gay and she laughed at me!”

It’s said with that can you even believe it! kind of tone that makes it seem like Jihoon should know what’s going on and he should be on Jimin’s side. Jihoon, as is usually true, does not know what’s going on, and probably wouldn’t even if he’d caught the first half of Jimin’s sentence, but, as is always true, he is on Jimin’s side.

He tucks away Jimin’s casual announcement away to consider later, if he can remember to, and focuses on the more pressing issue: “She laughed at you?” Jimin makes an enthusiastic noise, which Jihoon hears clearly as thank god, you understand, before launching back into a rant about his mom and not being taken seriously. It gives Jihoon the same sense of pride he feels when a teacher calls on him because they know he isn’t paying attention and he gets the answer right anyways.

Jihoon follows the conversation, making vague sounds to express outrage and sympathy at all the right points until he hears a faint knocking through the line and Jimin hurries to end the call with a grateful and cheery, “love you, bye!”

Jihoon does not, in fact, remember to address the part where Jimin just came out to him.

ii.

Jihoon is sixteen when he has to spend half a week needling Jimin to find out why he’s been using every free period to pout and stare longingly out windows like a weekday drama character. When he finally does get Jimin to cop to marathon moping, the two of them slumped against each other on Jihoon’s bed with their backs against the wall, Jimin still tries to get away with mumbling, “It’s nothing, just a… little argument with my mom.”

“Oh,” Jihoon says, because Jimin never fights with his mom, or anyone, really, and he can’t remember the last time Jimin was even annoyed with her. Until he does, and he says, a little too excited, “Oh! Did you try to tell her you’re gay again?”

Jimin blanches, immediately, and Jihoon can’t fathom why he’s got that wide-eyed, stricken look on his face. It’s not like Jihoon cares. He’s never thought twice about it, not once in the years since he found out, not even long enough to tease Jimin about how much he blushed and stammered when that one handsome teacher from the dance studio complimented him on his improving skill.

“I-I-I,” He stutters, and Jihoon briefly wants to make the joke about how nervous that guy makes Jimin now, but he waits, because he lives mostly to embarrass Jimin but there’s a time and a place and this probably isn’t it. Jimin abruptly scrambles away from Jihoon, nearly falling off the bed in his rush to create some distance, “How did you know?”

“What do you mean, how did I know? You told me!” It never occurred to Jihoon that it might be a big deal. The first time, Jihoon had accepted it just as casually and easily as Jimin had said it. If Jimin had sat him down to have a big coming out moment like they sometimes do in American movies, Jihoon probably would’ve said something at least vaguely nice to fit the moment. “Did you forget?”

“You never said anything!” Jimin accuses instead of admitting he totally forgot he came out to his best friend in the middle of complaining about his mom one time, like, two years ago.

“Why would I say anything? You’re the one who’s gay!”

“Stop saying that,” Jimin demands. Jihoon swallows back a petulant ‘but you are’. No one is home, Jihoon knows, and Jimin probably does too, but he still glances furtively towards the door like someone might hear. There’s another sarcastic comment, as there usually is, on the tip of Jihoon’s tongue – something disparaging about his older brother, no doubt.

Probably also thinking about Yoongi, Jimin suddenly asks, without looking at Jihoon, “Did you tell anyone?” He’s so tense it seems painful, hands closing into fists around Jihoon’s wrinkled bed spread, smoothing Jihoon’s own defensive edge into something more sympathetic.

“Who would I tell?” Jihoon replies softly. Sure, he’ll whine and argue when Yoongi makes some passing comment about Jihoon only having one friend because Yoongi sucks, but it’s not like he’s wrong. He’ll pretend to be bitter about it, but, in reality, Jimin and Jihoon have been friends for sixteen years and Jihoon’s never seen the need for anyone else. And, contrary to popular (read: Yoongi’s) belief, Jihoon isn’t a huge asshole. If he did have someone worth telling, even if he thought Jimin wouldn’t care who knows, he wouldn’t have.

Jimin accepts this without further argument, maybe because he’s acknowledging that Jihoon is a better friend than that and wouldn’t spill secrets that aren’t his to share, but probably because he also knows they are an exclusive duo.

They fall into a long silence, Jimin panicking while Jihoon sits very still and hopes Jimin will come to his own conclusions. The facts are obvious – Jihoon has known for two years, and Jihoon has known while believing Jimin wanted Jihoon to know, and absolutely nothing about their friendship has changed. If Jihoon was going to care, if Jihoon was going to spread rumors and turn his back on his best friend, he would’ve done it by now.

Jimin seems to get there, eventually, but he still whispers, too full of doubt, “you really don’t care?

Jihoon drags Jimin back into his side by grabbing him loosely around his neck and yanking him into a headlock. He rests his cheek against the top of Jimin’s head, keeping him close, and promises, “You are the same person you’ve always been.”

iii.

Jihoon is eighteen when he gets a text from his best friend saying, apropos of nothing, “I’m an idiot.”

He doesn’t ask why. Jimin doesn’t explain.

Jihoon texts back, “i think you meant ‘a dumbass’ but ok.”

iv.

Jihoon isn’t sure exactly how long Jimin’s been lying next to his bed. He didn’t pay much attention when Jimin came in and shut the door with an irritated huff. In fact, Jihoon didn’t even look up from his phone, recognizing the sound of Jimin’s heavy footfalls on the steps leading up to his bedroom before the door opened. Jimin might have texted to say he was coming, the message buried somewhere in any number of notifications Jihoon has been ignoring for the sake of doing nothing else, but it’s just as likely he showed up unannounced.

He’s been sighing at freakishly perfect one minute and forty second intervals – Jihoon counted the time between five in a row after the first dozen before getting bored – since he arrived and threw himself bodily onto the floor of Jihoon’s bedroom, which is certainly unclean.

Jimin will keep sighing and Jihoon will keep pretending he doesn’t notice, not because he doesn’t care, but because he knows better. If he tries to ask what’s wrong, Jimin will insist it’s nothing, and then worry about why Jihoon thought something was wrong, and then he’ll get self-conscious about how his face looks and what his voice sounds like and act weird and robotic because he’s trying so hard to make it seem like everything is fine and then it’ll take an extra three days for Jimin to actually talk about whatever it is he’s sighing about. It’s better to let Jimin huff and puff until he’s built up enough steam to bring it up himself.

The rhythm of Jimin’s angst becomes strangely soothing, turning into such a relaxing backdrop to Jihoon’s mindless scrolling that he’s somewhere near half-asleep by the time Jimin speaks.

“What am I gonna do?” The question prompts Jihoon closer to consciousness. Jimin keeps talking, but Jihoon only has the chance to process the word “boyfriend” before he’s dropping his phone and rolling away from the wall to glare at Jimin.

“You got a boyfriend?” Jihoon feels a genuine hurt, thinking that Jimin, who Jihoon has always supported without question and very few (genuine) complaints, would keep secrets from him.

“No,” Jihoon is pleased to see that Jimin looks as scandalized as he feels. “That’s the whole problem,” he continues, and then asks again, because it apparently wasn’t rhetorical, “what am I going to do?”

Jihoon suggests he fake a breakup, the easiest solution, but Jimin is right that it won’t work. Ending the life of a lie quickly is, of course, ideal, but lies are best when there are some messy loose ends that just can’t be tied up or explained away. Having a few holes in your story can make it more believable, as long as you’re careful about where you leave them.

Jihoon also suggests Jimin gets a boyfriend, which is a win-win. Maybe even a win-win-win. Jimin’s mom believes he’s gay, win. Jimin has a boyfriend, big win. Jihoon’s best friend is happy, the biggest win of them all.

And, sure, Jimin has a point. If it were that easy to find someone to date, Jimin would have brought one home back when he was fourteen and his mom laughed at him, and Jihoon would not be counting the seconds between Jimin’s exhales at three in the afternoon on a beautiful spring Saturday, and Yoongi would have something to do other than sleep for twelve hours at a time and somehow still be the crankiest man alive.

Jimin visibly gives up when Jihoon declines to be Jimin’s fake boyfriend, easily the worst idea either of them has ever suggested. What should happen is Jihoon should be sympathetic and comforting, while they conclude Jimin will admit he lied and continue to live his life as he has been. If the two of them thought about it for maybe, like, fifteen more minutes they would realize that Jimin’s mom refusing to accept his identity is unfair and hurtful but ultimately inconsequential. That, eventually, Jimin will naturally find a genuine relationship and he will introduce that person to his mom because he wants to share his life with them, not because he wants this specific acknowledgment from his otherwise loving mother.

However, what actually happens, because Jihoon does not believe in thinking about things for more than one minute, and because Jimin looks kind of pathetic and more importantly, sad, and Jihoon simply will not stand for that, is Jihoon grapples for any other plan, just anything to get Jimin’s enthusiasm back. What actually happens is, Jihoon says, “My brother’s gay!”

Jimin doesn’t look like he believes Jihoon, even when Jihoon lays out his very strong evidence of Yoongi kissing boys sometimes like, five years ago. Yoongi never said he was gay, sure, but in Jihoon’s defense, Yoongi didn’t say much of anything, especially not to him, and especially not when Yoongi was in high school. The most they ever talked about it, Jihoon thinks, is after the third time when Yoongi came inside after saying goodbye to his friend and found Jihoon staring at him over the back of the couch. They’d held silent eye contact until Jihoon had pursed his lips to make kissy noises and Yoongi, before Jihoon could follow through, told him to shut up and left the room.

So, maybe Yoongi never said he’s gay, but he also never said he wasn’t gay, and that’s about as close to Jimin’s type as they’re going to get in the next sixty seconds – and as established, Jihoon does not plan farther ahead than that – so he suggests him.

It’s only meant to be that – a suggestion. Something that will get Jimin’s spirit back for a few more minutes until the new plan is inevitably foiled. Jihoon gives it, at best, a two percent chance Yoongi even entertains the idea. If it were him, ignoring the deeply problematic nature of asking your own brother to fake date you to fool your mom, he’d give it a solid zero. The odds of Yoongi doing something for another person are, by Jihoon’s estimation, astronomically low. The odds of Yoongi doing something for him are lower. But, in his roughly fifteen years of observation, Jihoon’s noticed that Yoongi has what one may call, if they were being generous, a bit of a soft spot for Jimin. Jihoon does not blame him. Jimin is very hard not to adore.

“You want me to date your brother?” Jimin asks, and that is not what Jihoon said. He gags, only a little on purpose, at the idea. It’s not clear if he’s more disgusted at the idea of Jimin dating his brother, or Jimin dating his brother, and he’s not going to consider it long enough to figure it out.

“I want you to fake date him,” Jihoon clarifies, and he doesn’t dwell on how, nothing better to do or not, Yoongi probably isn’t going to help. And he doesn’t dwell on how the entire charade is definitely dumb and unnecessary, because Jimin doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone but himself. And he doesn’t dwell on the mounting swell of unease when Jimin peeks his head around the open doorway to say, full of disbelief, “uh, he said yes, so I’m going to talk to him for a while.”

“Stop telling people I’m gay,” Jihoon is startled but forces himself not to flinch when Yoongi suddenly speaks, catching Jihoon as he passes Yoongi’s bedroom to get to the bathroom.

Jihoon manages to take it in stride and says without looking, “Then stop doing gay shit.”

vi.

In a truly delightful turn of events, Jihoon catches Yoongi talking to himself in front of a pile of black t-shirts several hours before he’s supposed to fake meet Jimin’s mom for not the first time. It’s been a long time since Jihoon has seen Yoongi flustered and off-kilter like this and he’s going to enjoy it as much as he can.

“Aren’t you going to Jimin’s today?” Jihoon asks, squinting at the pile to try and see if he can guess what Yoongi’s current contenders are. It’s a pointless question. There are roughly two hundred anxious, nonsensical text messages clogging his inbox making him damn certain Yoongi is, unless Jimin’s clearly

unfounded fears that Yoongi suddenly changes his mind come true. Well, maybe not entirely unfounded, Jihoon thinks. Perhaps Yoongi won’t be able to pick a shirt and will cancel to avoid the shame.

Jihoon is not one to let such a wonderful opportunity go to waste, so he takes his time teasing Yoongi until Yoongi has physically removed him and slammed his bedroom door completely shut. He’s also not one to let Yoongi have the last word, making sure to yell back through the wall that Yoongi’s ridiculous.

Halfway through making good on his promise to tell Jimin that Yoongi spent all morning picking an outfit, standing in the middle of his room because he couldn’t hold it in long enough to flop back onto his bed, Jihoon pauses. It’s been a long time since Jihoon has seen Yoongi flustered and off-kilter.

The harder he tries to remember, the more he realizes he’s never seen Yoongi that flustered and off-kilter.

Jihoon erases the message and heads to his closet.

vii.

Jihoon isn’t waiting for Yoongi. He just happens to be downstairs. Did he watch Yoongi nitpick at his clothes through the window until he had walked out of sight? It’s possible. Has he spent the past two and a half flipping anxiously between channels because he can’t focus on any one show? Maybe. Is he waiting for Yoongi to come back from his first fake date? Absolutely not.

He does, when he hears the sound of a key in the front door, suddenly rearrange himself from his stiff, upright position into a (hopefully) casual-looking slouch and try to appear extremely invested in the baseball game he hasn’t been watching. Since he wasn’t waiting for Yoongi, he doesn’t look up when the front door opens and shuts, or when he hears Yoongi puttering around in the entryway.

After changing his shoes and hanging up his coat, Yoongi comes to stand behind the couch. Jihoon doesn’t really care, of course, but it seems impolite not to, so he asks, “How was your date?”

“Fake date,” Yoongi corrects absently, weirdly focused on the tv while Jihoon stares up at his chin. It seems like it’s all he’s going to say, which should not surprise or disappoint Jihoon, but kind of does. They don’t really talk, about anything. Yoongi doesn’t talk much to anyone, and they aren’t close, and Jihoon has learned to be okay with the ever-widening distance between them.

But, maybe Jihoon was waiting, and maybe Jihoon did think it would be different this time. Even though they’re brothers, it was starting to feel like Jimin was something they could have in common. Yoongi did agree to Jimin’s insane fake dating scheme, and if Jimin can be trusted, Yoongi did most of the actual planning. In the back of his mind, Jihoon thought, maybe if Yoongi was opening up to Jimin, and Jimin is an extension of Jihoon, then Yoongi could let Jihoon in too.

“How was your fake date?” Jihoon sighs, long-suffering, and hopes it hides any desperation.

Almost on cue, Jihoon’s phone vibrates noisily from where it’s fallen between the couch cushions. They both know, without looking, exactly who the message is from. Yoongi snorts before asking, “Hasn’t Jimin already told you?”

They both know the message is from Jimin, and they both know Jimin has been messaging consistently for the past three hours, and Jihoon could let this go. He could let it go like he always does. He can pretend he wasn’t waiting, and he can pretend he doesn’t care. Instead, Jihoon says, a touch too softly, “Yeah, but I’m asking you.”

The silence goes on long enough that Jihoon thinks Yoongi might really ignore him, which isn’t that strange, but normally he at least has the decency to leave a room if he’s going to act like Jihoon isn’t there.

Just before Jihoon gets uncomfortable enough to exit the conversation himself, Yoongi says, “You don’t like baseball.”

“Yes,” Jihoon agrees. He’s been staring up at Yoongi’s chin, watching Yoongi not-watch the game, Unexpectedly, Yoongi glances down and meets his eyes. Jihoon would feel exposed, but Yoongi doesn’t look long.

“It was fine,” Yoongi says.

viii.

Jihoon isn’t jealous. He totally doesn’t care that his best friend, his only friend, if you ask anyone, is suddenly spending his free time with Jihoon’s brother. Jihoon definitely doesn’t think they’re being excessive, with how much they’re suddenly hanging around Jimin’s house, even though Jimin’s mom has a job and probably isn’t even there half the time. It’s not like Jihoon wants to hang out with both of them and watch them do weird, fake couple stuff, either.

Jihoon isn’t mad. It doesn’t matter to him that his brother, the same brother that once took every opportunity to complain about the general existence of Jihoon as a person and Jimin as a permanent fixture, has all the time in the world to play happy couple with someone he acted like he hated three weeks ago. He definitely doesn’t want Yoongi to suddenly decide he’s worth his time and start playing happy big brother.

Jihoon isn’t disappointed. He doesn’t care that his best friend seems to have forgotten he exists, and it doesn’t matter that his brother chose his best friend over him. It’s not like he thought maybe the three of them would bond, like they would all laugh about Jihoon’s great idea and what a success it was, and Jihoon could fake third wheel until the three of them together wasn’t so pretend anymore.

Jihoon’s fine.

ix.

About a month after the whole stupid charade started, and no, Jihoon is not acknowledging that it was, technically, his idea, Jimin’s over for the first time in a couple weeks. He’s sitting on the floor next to the couch while Jihoon is stretched out across the cushions. A movie they’ve both seen about one hundred times is playing on the tv, so neither of them is paying much attention, but it’s nice. Jihoon thinks they should probably be talking more, given how little they have been lately, but there’s something to be said about companionable silence. Every five minutes or so, Jimin will lean back enough that the back of his head will press into the soft dip below Jihoon’s ribs and it feels familiar, like home. It makes Jihoon wonder if Jimin has been missing him just as much. On one of the touches, Jihoon reaches out to affectionately ruffle up Jimin’s hair.

Jimin shifts, pushing into the contact, so Jihoon leaves his hand there. He wants to say something, talk about how he’s doing, but he’s afraid it’ll all come out too honest – it’s been lonely, I wish I’d been more included, I wish things could be different between me and Yoongi, I wish I could be close to Yoongi like you seem to be. He wants to ask what it’s like, when he and Yoongi are together, what do they talk about, is he nice, does he talk about me.

He doesn’t say those things, but he does ask, hopeful things will go back to normal soon, “did you two fake break up yet?”

Unexpectedly, Jimin seems a little surprised by the question, even though Jihoon was pretty sure that’s why Yoongi went to Jimin’s house all weird and morose the morning before. Predictably, when he came back in the afternoon, he didn’t say anything, but he seemed normal, at the least, if not a bit happy. Jihoon hadn’t known if he should take it as the breakup being successful, or nothing happening at all, but he’d assumed the former.

Jihoon tries not to read into what Yoongi’s moods before and after may have meant, as Jimin tells him, “oh, um, no, we decided to continuing faking for a while longer.”

When Jihoon asks why, Jimin says, “Well, it’s not like there’s any reason we have to stop now, and, my mom seems to be really getting used to the idea, you know, so I think with some more time she’ll really accept it, and, Yoongi agreed we should continue, so…”

Jimin trails off and Jihoon lets him. None of it is quite a lie, but it’s not the truth either. Jihoon knows Jimin better than he knows himself, can hear him scrambling for another excuse, something to prove that he believes in what he’s saying, something to make it make sense to himself. It’s obvious that Jimin has no idea why, but Jihoon doesn’t call him on it.

They’re both idiots, Jihoon thinks. They’re both idiots, but they probably know what they’re doing.

Probably.

Right?

They do this now, sometimes, have conversations. It’s not like Yoongi is spilling his darkest secrets and asking Jihoon about his and there’s no brotherly bonding but it is a step up from passing each other like strangers in the hallway or only communicating through insults across the dinner table.

He can ask “how was your day” and Yoongi will respond with something vague and uninformative but not overtly negative and let them lapse back into silence. Jihoon can then, in an intentionally bad approximation of his brother, say, “Wow, Jihoon, thank you for asking, how was your day?” And Yoongi will give him the stink-eye, and he won’t say the words, but he’ll wait around and actually listen when Jihoon does tell him. It’s progress.

Today, Jihoon finds Yoongi drinking juice straight out of the shared carton and calls him a heathen. It’s a Sunday, and its only early afternoon, so Jihoon is surprised to find him out of his room at all. In a big step up from their normal routine, when Jihoon asks what he’s up to, Yoongi says, “I went for lunch with Jimin and some other people.”

Jihoon knows ‘some other people’ can’t be ‘some other people Jimin knows’, because he’s the only other people Jimin knows. By process of elimination, then, these must be people Yoongi knows, and shocked, he says “You have friends?”

This earns him a very familiar dirty look, Yoongi mumbling something about how alike he and Jimin are before replying clearly, “I have more friends than you and Jimin combined.”

With a thoughtful hum, Jihoon asks, “Combined, do we have one friend or two friends?”

Yoongi smiles, really smiles, genuinely, and Jihoon has to tense up his whole body to keep from physically pumping his fist into the air at his success.

If they were any two other people, that wouldn’t be the end of the conversation, but they are who they are, so it is.

Progress is progress.

xi.

“That was nice of you.”

“What?”

“What you said to Jimin – it was nice.”

“I can be nice.”

“But you aren’t.”

“Are you picking a fight?”

“I’m just saying. You can be nice, but it seems like you only are nice to one person.”

“It sounds like you’re not saying anything.”

“I meant – “

“Jihoon, just drop it.”

Jihoon, in a rare show of magnanimity, does.

xii.

Jihoon swallows back the hurt, and the jealousy, and the anger, and the disappointment, just like he swallows back his desperate questions, why did you stop following us around back then and are you teasing, or do you really mean those things and what did I do wrong and can I fix it?

xiii.

It’s been at least thirty minutes since Jimin stammered out an excuse about needing to “ask Yoongi uh, something, about the, you know, fake boyfriend… thing.” Jihoon isn’t sure what they could possibly have to talk about. First of all, they’ve had plenty of time outside of the few precious hours Jihoon has convinced Jimin to finally pay attention to him. Secondly, how difficult can it be to pretend to be in a relationship for a few months. Has Jimin’s mom really not gotten it, yet? She seemed pretty convinced when Jihoon saw the three of them after Jimin’s last showcase, but what would he know.

Part of him hopes that they’re up there discussing how to break up, because then Jimin won’t do things like disappear mid-game to talk to Yoongi, or stop coming over for a week at a time because he’s hanging out with Yoongi at his own house, and he won’t get so distracted responding to texts that he doesn’t even notice Jihoon needling him about some handsome actor or another. That hope placates him for another fifteen minutes of getting angry at pre-teens who are much better at video games than he is, but Jihoon can only handle so much x-box live before he wants Jimin to be the one kicking his ass.

After almost an hour of waiting, Jihoon’s patience reaches its limit, and he tilts his head back to yell Jimin’s name at the ceiling. Nothing happens for another several minutes, not even a shout back or an irritated ‘shut up’ from Yoongi. He pauses the game to hear better and tries again. This time, immediately, there’s a heavy thud of something hitting the floor and a short burst of footsteps. Jihoon waits for the sound of the door creaking open, but it doesn’t come.

He presses his head back against the couch cushions until he can almost see the stairs and calls, “If you don’t come down, I’ll come up there!”

It’s supposed to be a benign, meaningless threat. In part because he won’t, Jihoon’s laziness outweighing his desire for Jimin to rejoin the game, in part because there shouldn’t be any real consequence if he does go to see what’s taking so long.

Apparently, there could’ve been, because Jimin comes rushing down the stairs already spilling out apologies. As he comes around the couch, Jihoon notices that Jimin’s face is flushed pink and his hair is unusually disheveled and his bottom lip is just a little swollen and startingly red and, “oh my god, did you just make out with my brother?”

“What?” Jimin is immediately too defensive, looking anywhere but at Jihoon, and, because he is a lying liar who lies, he says, “no!”

“You just made out with my brother!” Jihoon repeats, “You left me down here to go and make out with my brother! For an hour!”

“We didn’t make out for an hour,” it takes Jimin ten seconds too long to realize that his argument only proves Jihoon right. He looks sheepish, briefly, before falling back into defensive, “It doesn’t matter, anyways! You know we’re only faking dating.”

“You can’t fake kiss!” Jihoon bursts, incredulous and furious and disgusted. It doesn’t help that Jimin looks, behind the bravado, lost and a little helpless.

“It doesn’t matter, okay?” He insists, “It didn’t mean anything.”

Jihoon makes a high-pitched, frustrated noise meant to convey are you sure and does he know that and why would you kiss him and why would he kiss you and I don’t even know who I’m angrier at.

Apparently, Jimin is not so attuned to Jihoon these days, because he doesn’t get it, and he just says, quick and dismissive even though he’s still clearly anxious, “Really, don’t worry about it.”

Jihoon is well-versed in not worrying about it. Jihoon worries about very little. Jihoon lets things go, all the time, easy as breathing.

Jihoon is, whether he’ll admit it or not, a little worried.

xiv.

The first thing Jihoon thinks, when Jimin tells him he has a boyfriend, is that Jimin should probably sound happier about it. His whole story comes out uncharacteristically stilted and flat, Jimin’s smile looking so forced while he recounts the first date and jokes about some kiss they almost got seen having last weekend. It’s not like Jimin, excitedly recounting some fake couple outing he and Yoongi had under the guise of updating Jihoon on how successful the plan was going. Or when Jihoon caught on to his impromptu make-out with Yoongi, where Jimin was flushed and stuttering and embarrassed and every few minutes Jihoon would catch him fighting a smile in his peripherals.

That’s the second thing Jihoon thinks, what about Yoongi? He wonders idly if Yoongi knew. If that’s what that look Yoongi’s been giving him lately is for. Yoongi never intentionally seeks him out, but when they do cross paths in their shared house, Yoongi will stare at him, uncomfortably long and searching, like Jihoon knows something he doesn’t. The likelihood would normally be low, because Jihoon is not one for knowing things. However, the things Jihoon does know are usually about Jimin, and the things Yoongi cares about these days are also usually about Jimin, an unexpected venn diagram. So, in this one case, there’s a fair chance Jihoon has whatever information Yoongi is silently looking for.

Was this what Yoongi was waiting for him to know?

“So, you and Yoongi are over, or whatever?” Jihoon asks, a little nonsensically, but there’s a quiet bitterness that Yoongi never said anything. Sure, Yoongi doesn’t say much of substance to him, but he was starting to. And those looks – did Jimin tell Yoongi first?

“We were never together,” Jimin replies stiffly, and Jihoon has that thought again – shouldn’t he be happier about this?

Before he can ask, Jihoon is struck with a terrible realization.

He and Yoongi were almost getting closer, because Jimin was a tether between them. If their thing is done, the progress Jihoon made will go too.

xv.

It’s pure chance that Jihoon runs into Yoongi. The shine of loitering around waiting for him after every visit to Jimin’s for the chance to pry into what the two of them could possibly talk about all those hours they spend together has long worn off, in part because the answer typically turned out to be we sat in silence like absolute freaks for most of it.

So, this time, Jihoon really isn’t waiting for Yoongi. He’s got his knee bent at an awkward angle so he can press his shoe, sole first, against the wall. Yoongi opens the door just as he’s leaning forward against his own thigh to adjust the laces and Jihoon immediately prepares to argue, because Yoongi hates when he doesn’t just sit down on the bench to tie his shoes, and always nags about how that’s what it’s there for and you’re going to scuff up the walls and Jihoon finds great joy in how much Yoongi seems to care about something so inconsequential. The anticipation for the pointless but familiar routine is quickly curbed by Yoongi not acknowledging Jihoon’s presence at all.

Yoongi kicks his own shoes off roughly, throwing them into the normally pristine line of other pairs so that shoes scatter and knock noisily against the wall. It’s so deeply out of character, Jihoon doesn’t even think to take the opportunity to call him out on the hypocrisy. He’s not looking at Jihoon, either, and not in that usual you’re-not-worth-my-attention kind of way, or like he’s just so distracted by his own bullshit he’s genuinely not noticed Jihoon. The not-looking is intentional, like he’s trying to hide something. Jihoon leans so far back he almost falls on his ass, trying to look, thinking maybe he’s gotten a secret face piercing, or someone gave him a black eye.

What Jihoon sees, when he manages to peek at Yoongi’s face before Yoongi can rush himself up the stairs, is much worse.

#yoonmin #bts fic #writing #bts #when you're in love all the lines get blurred

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misojunnie · 8 months

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LAST ONE I PROMISE IM SORRY FOR SPAMMING BUT texts for how the teamies would react thinking you're glaring at them from across a crowded room but really you're just not wearing your contacts/glasses and are trying to figure out where your goddamn boyfriend is

anyways please please please take your time with these requests!! i hope you can tell you're one of my favourite writers on here for both your writing style and your characterizations of the idols you write for, especially the teamies! with my current &team brainrot there are very few authors who write for them casually and seeing your user in the tags (i originally know you from your enha fics LOL) made my heart LEAP. i feel like the way you subtly write each of their dominant personality traits and senses of humour without making them 'blank slate' characters is a genuine talent that makes your work so enjoyable! i literally always wait for your updates and you've got me kicking my feet round the homies every time you post,,, i love you so much☹️🫶🏽

my requests are piling up and I still haven’t answered ur previous ones but OH MY GOD I couldn’t help but answer this ask right away bc 😭😭😭😭🫶🫶🫶 this actually made me twirl around and kick my feet this is the sweetest thing anyone has said to me on this site. the idea that I could be one of someone’s favorite writers is INSANEEE and it makes me so happy. thank you for your sweet message it literally made my day 💗🙌 also you are so well written and your compliments were so complex I was floored omg.

also I will of course still do ur request and link this ask in a separate post <3

side note do u wanna send an emoji and be an anon bc I can just tell we’d be friends…. the way u type is just like me fr

ok bye bye ty again!

#ミ☆#misojunnie #anon ask

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ive-tumbled-down-a-rabbit-hole · 3 years

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Stories of Paris

I have no self control this week and have just finished this wip I'll update 2 days on the trot (mainly as I've become word blind and can't see the words for the letters). This is a flux occurrence and is likely to never happen again unless it's like a month with 2 full moons and the stars have aligned wonky and theres a north wind blowing and Fae stuff like that....

Will eventually post on AO3 when like the tech sprites are feeling nice to me and the gremlins have disappeared.

Masterlist

Part One Part Two

...................................................................................

Alfred checked in on his small charge, making sure he was still asleep, before heading to his own room. The last couple of months had been hard. Much harder for young master Bruce but still hard. He had lost his employers, who were closer to friends really. He'd become an unexpected full time guardian on top of a full time workload of running a manor house, which he was originally employed for. Gone were his fortnightly day off. His evenings to himself to meet up with friends, his whole life was turned upside down and he was grieving.

As much as he adored Master Bruce he wanted, no that's not right, he needed a break to grieve too. Grieve the loss of his friends, the loss of his freedom, the loss of his own life expectations.

Once he reached his own personal sanctuary he got out his personal phone and dialed the one person who got him. She may have been a foreign agent but she had taken him under her wing, looked after him and treated him like a son before they both retired (for different reasons). She was like a mother to him after he lost his own. She was always a grounding rock. It was this point, in his early 30's he needed someone to talk to this overwhelming, unexpected, humongous responsibility he'd stumbled upon.

"Ciao?"

"Gina, Are free to talk?"

"Alfie darling!!! Of course I am free to talk to you! I'll always make time for you darling! How are you doing stateside? The family in your charge still treating you well? Or do they need to be dropped so you can come adventuring with me?"

Suppressing a stifled sob Alfred tried to answer Gina's questions.

"They, they died Gina. The couple. The… the Wayne's were murdered in front of their son… They left me in charge of looking after him. I'm his guardian… I've looked after him for 2… 2 months..."

The stifled sob broke loose. After 2 months of being in complete control over all the emotions in favour of protecting and supporting Master Bruce he finally let them all out.

".... Shhhh shhh, there there il mio piccolo… Let those tears flow. Don't hold it in. Let those feelings out… "

Alfred sat in his room allowing himself to crack with Gina providing soothing words to him. After a while the sobs died down and he recomposed himself.

"Are you feeling better Alfie sweetie?"

"... Yes …"

"How often do you get your own space? Time to care about yourself? When was the last time you had a 'you' day?"

"... Before, before all this I would have days and time to see friends. Now, it's all about Master Bruce. He needs someone. He's just lost his parents. I can't abandon him as well.''

"So not for 2 months then. Hmmmm… you need to get a babysitter and make time and days for yourself"

"I don't trust anyone in Gotham Gina to look after Master Bruce. I've built a network up but not a 'child friendly one'."

"Good thing then I have the perfect candidate for you. My granddaughter is in Gotham as part of a study program or something like that. My little fairy is good with bambini. And it would benefit us having someone we trust to physically check in with her too. Being an ocean away makes it hard for us to check she is actually ok and not what she is presenting to a screen or phone."

"That, that might work Gina. How old is she? I know you wouldn't suggest it if she wasn't suitable…"

"Currently 17 but soon to be 18 and planning to stay Gotham way for a while. She seems to adore the architecture."

"That… .this might work. Could you check with her that she is happy to do this and we can arrange a meeting to see how it goes. It will be dependent on how well she connects with Master Bruce as to what happens next."

"Sounds like a plan Alfie! You're a strong resourceful man Alfie. You'll get through this. Do call me again if you need anything. And I do mean anything! Also be certain I'll be visiting in the nearish future to check on you and the lad.

Now go to sleep and I'll have a chat with my little fairy to see what we can do. You're not on your own in this son. Rest now and I will be in contact soon."

"Thank you Gina. For everything. Just being able to talk to someone has been a huge help. I'll go rest now. Bye"

"Bye Alfie"

After hanging up the phone Alfred took a deep breath and for the first time in a long time he felt he could finally breathe. Gina had never led him wrong before. Having someone to watch Master Bruce even for a few hours would allow him the space to set up a new network and reconnect with people. The overwhelming task would become manageable. Hopefully Gina's granddaughter would be willing and that Master Bruce liked her.

With those thoughts in mind Alfred finally turned in for the night.

…………………………………………………………..

Bruce continued to stare at the teen in his living room. It was an unexpected guest in his eyes. Alfred had informed him of a visitor, an old friend's granddaughter who was studying in Gotham, and Alfred's friend wanted him to check up on her. So Alfred had invited her to the manor. That was all fine. What he didn't get is why HE needed to be about. He didn't want company, he wanted his parents back. He wanted that man who destroyed his life brought to justice. He wanted to do research not listening to some inane talk. He wanted to be left alone to wallow. And maybe have Alfred about too for quiet company and provide tea and snacks. Not this stranger in his home.

As he stared (glared) at the girl he lost focus on the ongoing conversation she was having with Alfred to sulk.

He was drawn out of his musing when he saw the girl out down the cup she was drinking from and gave Alfred a hug. She whispered something to Alfred and much to Bruce's amazement, Alfred's whole being seemed to loose some of the tenseness it held. A glimmer of a spark he once held seems to re-enter his being.

"*cough* Right Miss Marinette. I can tell you are related to your Grandmother. Gina holds a magic way with words too."

"It's ok Monsieur Pennyworth. I learnt a lot about how words have power and how they can affect people under Hawkmoth's rein. Nonna helped me refine the skill."

"Hawkmoth? Miss Marinette could you explain further?"

"Yes, he was a supervillain. He held the power to manipulate people with negative emotions and turn them into temporary villains which Paris superheros had to defeat.

It was exhausting to live through. Watching what you said and how it could affect others. Keeping your own emotions in check. Nonna was a great help in learning to read body language so I could preempt and defuse situations before Hawkmoth could attack."

The girl, Marinette, went back to drinking her tea as if what she said was common knowledge and that having super heros was a normal thing.

It sparked Bruce's interest. The 8 year old boy adored comics telling granduese stories of adventures. This Marinette may not be as awful as he originally thought. She had experience of heroes and what they could do. In the small boy's head, he needed to get as much information as humanly possible from her. She might know how they came to be. How they got their powers. She knew about justice and how to take down bad guys indirectly. That meant joining in the conversation so she might come again.

"Thank you for coming round Miss Marinette. Are you sure I can not interest you into staying for dinner?"

"No, thank you Monsieur Pennyworth, for having me. I would have loved to stay for dinner, Nonna tells tales of your fabulous culinary skills, I must however decline. The family I am staying with is expecting me back soon.

It was a pleasure to meet you though. And you Monsieur Wayne."

Bruce was drawn out of his thoughts of superheroing and taking down bad guys. His information source was leaving. He needed to keep her here somehow. Or get her return.

"It was nice to meet you too Marinette. Would you like to come round and visit Alfred again?"

Alfred looked at the young master in surprise, the young boy had appeared to show no interest and huge distrust of Miss Marinette, but apparently looks are deceiving. Somehow she had won the boys interest and he wanted her to return. Gina was right about the girl, she was talented and seemed to know how to work her audience especially children. Maybe, just maybe Gina's idea would work.

"I would be delighted to visit again Monsieur Wayne. Monsieur Pennyworth has my details. I'm sure we can arrange another occasion to meet."

"If you would like to follow me Miss Marinette, I will escort you to the door."

…………………………………………………………..

"Gina"

"Alfie!!! How are you? It's good to hear from you!"

"I am well thank you. Much better than when we last spoke. I must say though, thank you! Your idea has been perfect. Your granddaughter has been amazing. She completely worked her magic with Master Bruce."

"Mmmm hmmm"

"She has got him talking. Not much. But he isn't as wallowy as he was before we met her. She got him kneading bread. And basically got him to beat his frustrations into it. The kitchen was a disaster from it all but he seems happier."

"YOU sound happier darling too!! The kneading thing likely comes from my Tom. He got my fairy doing that a lot under Hawkmoths rein. Baking for her has become a way to process/deal with her emotions. The nasty fella. I'm glad he is all done and dusted for my fairy. He left his mark on her."

"I can honestly see a way forward now Gina. Thank you. Bruce and I, we will get there. But back to your comment, Left his Mark? Did Miss Marinette get hurt? Has she an injury that I need to be aware of. Every time I've seen her she seems well, with the occasional spacey moments. She seems to navigate a conversation well to avoid topics that cause her too many anxieties."

"Not physically that I am aware of. Emotionally it has taken its toll. She is good at masking and misdirecting emotions as you've probably seen and noted. She's grieving too. She's left Paris as it has too many memories for the moment."

"I see.... I can see how that is likely helping her and Master Bruce connect. Thank you Gina, truly. Our little family has hope now that your fairy has arrived. We will see if we can also watch out and help her."

…………………………………………………………..

Had Bruce realised at the time that Marinette's original visit was an informal interview to see if he connected with her, Bruce may have paid a bit more attention. He might have noticed if had paid attention but that's neither here nor there. In his unfocused state he had somehow agreed to her becoming his babysitter. And as much as he protested to Alfred that he was perfectly capable of looking after himself. The small fire he created in the kitchen when he tried to make toast (this time) shortly before his declaration destroyed his argument.

The bonus was that with each occasion Marinette babysat him he was learning more and more about superheros (and got freshly baked treats). And she knew a lot about both.

"Mon poussin, shall we go bake some cookies before Alfred returns?"

"Ummm… I might have been err banned from the kitchen since you last visited Mari."

"Banned mon chéri? Why on earth were you banned?"

"I tried to make the cookies we made last time for Alfred as a surprise. The fire this time was much bigger than normal"

"Are you banned from baking or just being in the kitchen? I kinda need to know what rule we're about to bend"

"Bend? And errrr baking and kitchen. Alfred said 'Young master. Please can you refrain from attempting to bake and using the kitchen equipment. You are banned until I see fit that it is safe for you to learn again'"

Bruce caught a glint of mischief entering Marinette's eye and a smirk grew upon her face.

"Perfect!!! You're banned from the equipment for baking. I'll use the equipment then and you can still be in the kitchen then. Bending is working with the rules and looking for where they are flexible and looking for loopholes. Alfred for example according to you said baking. Well baking is different from cooking. So technically you could cook. Though as it's Alfred I'd probably give it a miss."

"Yeah, I don't fancy getting on the wrong side of Alfred."

The pair started to walk to the kitchen to bake with Marinette leading.

"The Parisian's superheros used that technique a lot. The police there weren't particularly welcoming in the beginning so they followed the rules the police set out and twisted them to work best in their interest. It's something you see business people do too. Something I'm sure you'll encounter when you're older sadly."

"How did they get their names? Paris's superheros"

Marinette smiled ruefully as she got the ingredients out for cookies.

"I told you that I was friends with a blogger at the time"

"Uh-huh" Bruce nodded.

"For the most part she named them. I believe, from what I remember her saying, is that Chat Noir introduced himself as that, but Ladybug, she focused on the task at hand and ignored the media for the most part at the beginning and they named her. The blogger from what I recall named her and then created the blog 'the ladyblog' as a pun on the name. Lesson to learn there is that if a hero doesn't want to be named by the media they should have a name ready to provide and introduce themselves with. Winning the media and public over made the job easier from what I could tell"

"And what made them superheros Mari?"

"They had powers mon poussin. Police, firepeople, doctors and nurses. They are all hero's fighting to protect others everyday. All within the law. These superheros had powers. They had magic."

Bruce looked at Marinette in awe.

"Magic?"

"A curse and a blessing, magic is Bruce" Marinette in such a serious way that was so out of character it startled Bruce.

"There are so many types of magic out there Bruce. For the most part it's benevolent, neither good nor evil just existing in balance. Old magic though. Old magic tends to come at a cost. Yes it can help but there is always something required to balance it out. A negative payment. Hawkmoth, he used the magic in a negative way and it cost him his family. His life as well.. Ladybug and Chat Noir they both had to use their powers to balance the other one out."

Bruce absorbed the information like a sponge. He loved when Marinette forgot his age and just spoke her thoughts. Her memories. He was learning so much from her about these heroes when she drifted to narrate the past. Superheroes. If Alfred let him he was going to look this blog up on his computer later.

With such melancholy Marinette continued.

"Hawkmoth turned out to be my friend's dad. His dad was awful so it wasn't a huge surprise. But, his misuse of the magic caused the death of my friend to balance it all out. Magic isn't inherently bad, it's the side effects that people forget about and neglect to think."

Marinette let out a big sigh.

"These cookies are going to taste sour with this sad mood growing. Mon poussin, what superpower would you want if you could have one?"

She enquired trying to lighten the mood about the past as she put the cookies into the oven to cook.

Bruce mulled over the question.

"I'm not sure Mari. What you said about magic and powers seems like a bad idea. If I had a superpower, what would it cost me? I don't want to lose Alfred or you. I'd want to do it without powers''

*Chuckling* "Oh mon poussin. That's what you got from what I've said. Mon chéri, you won't lose us. You're family now"

Marinette stated before booping his nose with a floury finger.

"But you said people were heroes without powers Mari! I wanna be like that."

"So a secret ninja hero with lots of gadgets then."

Matinette giggled at the boys antics "Remember secret identities are key. No-one but your selected trusted support network can ever know them so you are all protected as well."

"Hmmm ok Mari that's good advice"

They both sat in silence after that. Marinette, still trying to recover from the memories of losing Adrien, Bruce pondering what Mari had said.

"How'd you train to be a ninja Mari?"

"Hmmm ninja training I guess Bruce."

"What's that though"

"I guess ninjas train in martial arts, gymnastics and stuff like that. Maybe in weapons. I don't really know Bruce. I've never met a ninja before."

Marinette smiled at the small boy. He reminded her of Manon with all the questions on heroes and Alya with her obsession in her teens. She never remembered being so fascinated with them but many of the children she had babysat especially in Paris had a huge fascination with them. It was times like this she missed Paris and her family there. Nonna recommending her to Alfred was a stroke of luck. Bless Tikki. She was starting to feel like she had a family over here now too.

Bruce mulled over the information Mari had given. Maybe he would get Alfred to sign up for martial arts lessons. That would help towards getting skilled enough to bring justice, even if it didn't bring his parents back.

When Alfred returned back to the manor, he found the pair giggling in the kitchen. Cookies cooling on the side as the pair pretended to do silly ninja moves while watching ninja warrior clips on Miss Marinette's phone. Alfred smiled to himself while craftily snapping a photo of the pair. Miss Marinette was an excellent babysitter and was slowly bringing happiness back into the manor. Bruce's sour moods from grief definitely improved with her presence.

Gina's recommendation was perfect.

…………………………………………………………..

Marinette had almost become a permanent feature in Bruce's life. She was round at least once a fortnight. Sometimes once a week and had been for the last 9 months and he had grown to see her as almost an Aunt or cousin or something more than a babysitter. She was becoming family. He desperately missed his parents still but having Mari and Alfred he didn't feel quite as alone on the bad days.

The pair were both doing homework in the garden while Alfred was out when Mari's phone rang. She switched to another language on answering. Bruce paused from his work and watched. He didn't know the language and felt left out not knowing what was being said. He would ask Alfred to sign him up for language lessons when he returns. The martial art lessons were awesome in the boys eyes. Language lessons would help connect more with Marinette. And help in spying and his secret hero training.

Watching her though she seemed to flit through a range of emotions in quick succession which were a blur to interpret before they went. They disappeared from her face. He couldn't read what she was thinking or feeling. Bruce knew he was fairly good at reading adults. It was helpful to avoid getting into trouble at school (and with Alfred). It was amazing and scary to not be able to do so with Mari.

"Mari…?" Bruce gently asked when the call had ended "How'd you do that?"

"Hmmm.. do what mon poussin"

"Hide your feelings. How'd you do that?"

"Hide them?" Marinette mused over what Bruce was meaning. "I didn't really hide them mon chéri. I just sifted through them as I felt them and checked if they were helpful to me or not. If it wasn't helpful I parked to deal with it at a later date so I could focus on the call with a clear head. Given who I was talking to, getting upset, angry or frustrated wouldn't benefit me at all. Why do you ask?"

"Can you teach me?!" Bruce demanded with enthusiasm. To be able to be able to do that would be so cool. To do it in games with peers and hide what he was feeling and therefore thinking would be awesome.

Marinette laughed at her temporary charges determination.

"It takes time and patience to learn mon poussin. And I started by learning to meditate and recognising my own emotions. Learning what I'm truly feeling and working out what I need to do to process it.

If we complete our homework soon I'll teach you some basic mediation and we can go from there if you like?"

"Yes!! But don't have to do homework first….. can't we skip it pleeeeeeease"

Marinette just raised her eyebrow, in a very Alfred manner, at the boy who ducked his head in return.

Much to Alfred's surprise he came home to find the pair sitting in the garden as Miss Marinette took Master Bruce through a guided meditation. He hoped that this may be the start of Bruce starting to openly process his grief.

#maribat #maribat au #ml x dc #dc x ml #dc x mlb #mlb x dc #ml crossover #marinette x bruce #marinette x alfred #plantonic #friendship #babysitting #found family

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loousir · 3 years

Text

Soulmates {Oikawa Tooru}

Oikawa Tooru x Male Reader Part One

Anime: Haikyuu!!

Warnings: I dont think there is any?

Masterlist | Part Two

AU: Soulmates can have a different way of finding their partner. Yours is after both partners are at least 18, on the youngers birthday, they will swap bodies. They have to share their first of something together in order to return to their respective body. (Ex. Sharing their first kiss, first drink etc.)(If one has already kissed or shared a drink, for example, it wont count as sharing a first) Oikawa's is knowing what their first words to you are.

Originally Posted on February 2, 2021

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

Today was finally your birthday. That meant that you would get to find out who your soulmate was. You were nervous but knew about it so you were prepared. A little.

You were getting dressed to go to school today and thankfully it was the end of the week so you'd have all weekend to find your soulmate. What nice and convenient timing. You did your morning routine before getting changed into your uniform. After pulling up you striped brown pants and adjusting your white jacket, you slipped the red tie around your neck before grabbing your things and heading downstairs.

You said a quick goodbye to your mom after stealing a toaster waffle and your lunch. You slipped on your shoes and headed out to school.

On the way there, you ran into Iwaizumi and Oikawa. You were very good acquaintances but not close enough to consider friends, like hanging at each others houses kind of friends. You and Iwaizumi shared class together but the three of you almost always walked to school together.

"Happy birthday (Y/n)-kun! You're finally 18 right?" Oikawa asked, slinging his arm around your shoulder and leaning on your slightly smaller frame. He poked your cheek gently as you ate, trying to get a reply out of you. "Shittykawa, cant you see he's eating something? Let him chew first." Oikawa pouted slightly at his "nickname" and sighed.

You finished chewing and nodded. "Yeah, I'm 18 today. I'll find out who my soulmate is tomorrow and I really hope it isn't you." You said in a serious tone as the three of you continued walking to Aoba Johsai. Oikawa whined on the way there with Iwaizumi butting in to shut him up.

The trio finally made it to school and went their separate ways, aka you and Iwaizumi in one and Oikawa right next door.

---

The day started and went on normally til lunch.

Iwaizumi and Oikawa usually go to their practice but today they invited you to eat with them. You accepted not exactly knowing why.

"So (Y/n)-kun~ Who do you think is your soulmate?" You shrugged as you ate your bento, glancing up at Oikawa. "You really wanna know?" You asked taking another bite. Oikawa nodded as he ate his own bento. Iwaizumi smirked over to you as he ate his lunch as well. "You should tell him (L/n)-san."

"I hope it turns out to be Kageyama."

Oikawa practically snorted out his drink and stared at you in shock. "You cant be serious?! Him?!" You laughed at the water running down his face and shook your head. You grabbed a napkin you had and wiped the pretty setters face. "Of course not."

Oikawa let out a sigh of relief. "I'd want Daichi to be my soulmate." You said in a dreamy tone as Oikawa choked on his rice. Iwaizumi had nothing today besides laughing at the scene in front of him. Oikawa leaned on his good knee over to you and gripped your shoulders. He shook you gently as he cried, saying something about 'anyone but the wingless crows.'

Iwaizumi pulled him off you after a minute and scolded him. You finished up your bento and checked your phone. There was 40 minutes of lunch left when you looked to the best friends. "So, what did you guys invite me to hang for?" Iwaizumi looked over to you and tilted his head slightly. "Are we not allowed to invite a friend to hang out?"

You leaned back on your hands and closed your eyes, letting your head fall backwards. "You are, it's just, weird. The Cap and vice Cap of the volleyball team invite a lowly art club member to hang out at lunch together. Sounds a bit odd doesnt it?"

Iwaizumi nodded and Oikawa didnt respond. You lifted your head up to see Oikawa a bit of a distance away, surrounded by a flock of girls. "Its your turn to pull him away. I'm gonna go check something." You sighed and stood up.

"Hey, shittykawa." Oikawa instantly turned around at the nickname and his fan girls became upset with you calling him that. "(Y/n)-kun~ You're taking after Iwaizumiii~" He said walking over to you. "And we were supposed to be hanging out." You said acting all coy. "You promised me we would this morning..." You whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear.

The girls were jealous and talking amongst themselves as Oikawa just looking at you, shocked. He had a deep blush covering his cheeks as you folded your hands together in front of you and looked to the ground with a pout. "(Y/n)-kun..." You looked up to him with puppy dog eyes. He suddenly wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into a tight hug.

"(Y/N)-KUN! IM SO SORRY!" He said as if he actually forgot he promised you to hang out. You smiled and giggled, gently prying him off of you. You grabbed his hand and started to walk with him. "C'mon. Let's go back to our spot." You said as you watched the lady flock disperse. Oikawa followed along, apologizing for forgetting a promise he never made.

Once the two of you were alone you sighed and let go of his hand. "Oikawa." He shut up and looked up to you with teary eyes. "You didnt promise me we'd hang out. Its ok." You may be mean to Oikawa but theres something about him that you love. You just cant be mean to him all the time... Ok yes you can but sometimes you want to be nice to him.

Oikawa smiled and pulled you into a hug again. You cautiously hugged back and patted his back. The bell signaling lunch was over rang and the two of you pulled away. "I'll stop by the gym after school to say a quick goodbye." You said grabbing yours and Iwaizumis stuff. Oikawa nodded and grabbed his stuff as well. He had a big smile on his face for some reason but you just brushed it off.

The rest of the day passed by pretty quickly. You had told Iwaizumi about stopping for a quick bye and he said, "Just be prepared for Oikawa." You didnt exactly know what the meant because you always were but before you could ask he had left for practice.

Once you were ready, you head down to the gym and pulled open the door. The lights were off and you furrowed your brows. "I thought there was practice today..." You mumbled to yourself.

Suddenly the lights turned on to show they gym and the volleyball team to be all dressed in nice birthday attire. You only stared shocked at the scene in front of you as the all shouted, "Surprise!" Oikawa appeared in front of your vision with a wide grin on his face and a small gift in his hand.

You blinked a few times and looked up to his eyes before looking to Iwaizumi who was approaching the two of you. "Y-you guys... Did this for me?" You asked, still surprised by what happened. Iwaizumi shrugged and tilted his head to the side saying 'kinda.' "It was Oikawa's idea."

Oikawa smiled and grabbed one of your hands, putting the gift in it. Iwaizumi put a party hat on your head before walking over to a table full of sweets and a cake. "Can I talk to you outside for a second?" You asked Oikawa. He smiled and lead the two of you outside the gym and away from prying ears.

"What did you wanna talk to me about?" You held the gift in your hand and pulled him into a tight hug. He stood tense for a moment before hugging back. "What's this for?" Oikawa asked with a small laugh. You buried your head in his chest and started to tremble slightly. He demeanor changed when he felt his shirt get slightly wet. "H-hey, (Y/n)? Are you ok?"

You nodded and kept hugging him. He hugged back and gently stroked the back of your head. "No ones ever done something like this before. So it's kinda a lot." You said clearly, having calmed down from your previous state. Oikawa laughed and pulled the two of you away to look you in the eyes.

"Really? Well then I'll have to step it up next time!" You smiled up to him softly before sadly looking down to your shoes. "I'm nervous Kawa..." His smile fades away to a sigh. "Me too." You look up to him in confusion. "I... Really hope tomorrow, I'll wake up in your body, Tooru..." He looks to your eyes and he has tears in this.

Dont ruin this moment shittykawa

"Me too."

You look up to him and smile a little. "C'mon, let's go back inside and par-tay a little before it's too late!" Oikawa said with a smile as he dragged you back inside. You saw Iwaizumi standing by a punch bowl with a knowing smirk but you didnt think much of it.

---

Everyone had hung around and "par-tay"-ed till about 7pm. They decided to call it there and start cleaning up. You tried to help but both Oikawa and Iwaizumi stopped you. "Why dont you and Oikawa head back first? The least we can do is clean up."

"But you guys did all this for me, I have to try to help even a little." Iwaizumi put your things over your shoulder and pushed you to an already raring to go Oikawa. "Just head home. Its ok." Oikawa gently grabbed your hand but you stopped and addressed the whole team.

They had paused to look at you and listen. You bowed and thanked them, your bow hiding the tears in your eyes. You stood up straight and smiled to them before going with an impatient Oikawa.

---

The walk to your home was filled with comfortable conversation about the party. "Hey, (Y/n)-kun? Could we have a sleepover at your house?" You looked up to him and tilted your head slightly. "Like the whole team? That's a lot of people and I dont know if my parents would even let me since there away right now-"

"No, not the whole team. Just us." You blushed at what he said and looked away, slightly embarrassed for rambling. "Oh... J-just the two of us?" He nodded and you just shrugged. "I-I guess thats... Ok. I dont think they'll mind." You said rubbing the back of your neck. "Let's goo then!" Oikawa said, dragging you to your house.

Once you two arrived, you unlocked the door and let him in. "Your house is so much bigger on the inside." He said looking around. "Wow thanks." He laughed, "I didnt mean it in a bad way!" You rolled your eyes and walked upstairs to your room thinking, "How the fuck does this dude make me flustered so easily..."

You didnt even realize Oikawa had followed you, thinking he would just stay downstairs for the time being. When you turned around to close the door you jumped at his presence. "I-Im gonna change so you can just hang out downstairs till I'm done." He smiled and gently rubbed the back of his head before asking, "Do you think I could use your shower actually?"

"Oh, yeah, go for it. It's the door behind you." You said pointing over his shoulder. He thanked you as you got him a towel he could use. You closed the door to your room and got changed into some comfy pjs. The shower could be heard through your door but you didnt mind and decided to make yourself comfortable on your bed and watch some tv.

After a few minutes, the shower turned off and after another couple minutes, the door opening to reveal a shirtless Oikawa wearing sweatpants. You looked over only to look away just as fast. Oikawa smirked and jumped into the bed with you. You squeaked a very manly squeak as he hovered over you.

Your eyes looked up to his but couldn't be stopped when they looked at his chest. 'A tattoo?' You looked back up to him and asked, "You have a tattoo? Since when?" He just smiled and shook his head. "Since I was like twelve. Look what it says." He said sitting the two of you up. Oikawa was basically sitting on your lap but you didnt mind.

'You're in the way, stupid trashcan.'

It was written in beautiful cursive. You smiled and tried not to laugh but couldn't help it. Oikawa watched as the love of his life laughed at the first words he ever said to him.

"I said that when we first met! Did you really get it tattooed on your chest?" Oikawa rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Its illegal to get a tattoo when your twelve." You tilted your head slightly. "Then how did you get it?" He looked at you unamused before becoming nervous. This made you nervous too as he laid the both of you down in your bed.

"(Y/n)... Did you study soulmates?" You nodded and asked why. "Theres a chapter about two soulmates having different ways of finding eachother." You nodded again and tried to process the information but he spoke again. "Mine was the first words they say to you are tattooed somewhere on your body."

You looked at him and fully processed everything. It clicked. "Is that why you... Did all this stuff for me over the last year? W-why didn't you say something sooner?" He glanced out the window and seemed nervous again. "Theres a chance that you can actually have a different soulmate than me..." You furrowed your brows and sat up to look at him.

He didnt look at you and just glanced out the window. "What do you mean by that?" He looked over to you and directly in your eyes. "When we both have different ways of meeting our soulmate, theres a chance that you could have a different soulmate even though you're mine."

"That means when we wake up tomorrow... I wouldn't be hugging you, but your soulmate... And... I dont want that."

Oikawa looked away and you just looked at him shocked. "You're so weird out of character." You said leaning down and pulling him into a hug, laying on top of him in the process. "I'm being serious y'know..." You nod and nuzzle your face into his neck.

"I know. I dont want something like that to happen either." He shifted so that he could look at you properly and cupped your face. His eyes held clear care and adoration.

"Let's sleep now, and if I dont wake up to you tomorrow... I'll find you ok?"

--- 2552 Not proof read too well

#m4m #mxm #x male reader #oikawa x male reader #oikawa toru x male reader #oikawa tooru x male reader

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sdvharveybby · 3 years

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How the Bachelors and Bachlorettes surprise the farmer on Valentines Day!

So, my friend @soft-bois-make-me-simp and I decided we wanted to collab for something on Valentines Day!! As this was our first time doing a collab with another person, we actually had a ton of fun throwing around ideas and getting stuff together! Not to mention that they had so many ideas that my mind was swimming, it was honestly so cool. I have a hard time writing about the bachelorettes, but they just blew me out of the water. I couldn’t have done this post without them and it was totally worth it. We had a ton of fun so we hope you enjoy this!!! All the Bachelors and Bachelorettes are below, thanks and WE LOVE Y’ALL. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!

I did all the bachelors! @soft-bois-make-me-simp did all the bachelorettes!

Bachelors~

Harvey

Oh, he spends a lot of time trying to present you with the best Valentine's Day present. He researches ideas on how to do that. In the end, he decides he wants to surprise you with dinner at his place and he is prepared. Throughout the day he spends it gifting you different presents like flowers, little love notes, and even a box of chocolates! Then, he calls you up and invites you over. Opening the door to the clinic, rose petals line the floor leading up to his door upstairs. Stepping into his room, the lighting is low with candles and jazz quietly breaking up the silence in the background. There’s a table set up in the middle of the room with a lacy pink tablecloth, dinner is set up, and rose petals decorate the floor. “H-hey!” He says nervously to you, “I-I wanted to surprise you, d-do you like it?” Even without the room completely lit up you know he’s blushing, but you can see that he’s wearing a nice undershirt like he always wears, but without his long green coat, and he’s wearing dark dress pants. He approaches you and softly gives you a kiss on the cheek, he then pulls you into a big hug. The dinner was delicious and you two spend the time complimenting each other and being in each other’s company. After dinner you help him clean up, you then see that he had been researching on how to be romantic… by watching romance movies. His efforts to show you how much he appreciates and loves you shows no bounds. He walks you home and before you walk through the door he says, “I love you, you know? I really do love you.”

Elliott

You wake up at your usual time and head outside to do your daily chores. You head towards the mail box and it’s stuffed to the brim with letters! Eyes wide, every single one is addressed from Elliott, you carry the stack of letters inside and as you open them they’re all love notes with various dates on them. By checking each date you realize he had been writing love notes, with you mind, for an entire month! You check the one for today’s date and it’s the shortest letter within the stack. He explains that he wants you to meet him at his place around 8pm but he doesn’t explain why (his signature has many red hearts around it.) Arriving at his place at 8pm he greets with a big hug and a tender kiss, “I could hardly wait for you, my love!” In his small shack he put together a wonderful dinner for you two to enjoy. During the meal he explains his love for you the only way a poet would, it goes from him desiring your beauty over the sun to how excited he gets whenever you’re in view. After dinner he gestures for you to sit and relax on his bed. The evening ends with him playing the piano, he wrote a piece (for the first time) completely inspired by you and the love he holds for you… and only you.

Alex

He is up and ready at 6am. With groggy eyes you open the door to see Alex with a big goofy smile holding flowers. “Good morning! I just wanted to say that I love you!” He says this all in one breath and thrusts the flowers to you, “I’ll come pick you up at 6pm. I love you, bye!” It seemed over in a flash once you accepted the flowers, but he seemed confident and happy- you couldn’t deny his puppy dog eyes. At 6pm he strolls up the path, and linking your arm with his, you both begin to walk to the beach. Nervously scratching the back of his neck, he blushes and says, “You’ve been there for me a lot. I know I’m not book smart or anything, but you’ve been my-” he reaches in his pocket to pull out a scribbled note, “-light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve never loved anyone more than I’ve loved you,” He awkwardly laughs, and with the sun setting behind him he stops and holds both your hands in his. His eyes are full of love and devotion, “I found these in Zuzu City, I hope you like them,” He pulls out matching necklaces giving you the one with ‘A’ on it. “See, this one has your letter on it! I hope you like it,” You couldn’t say no and he helped you put the necklace on. With his large and goofy smile you two end the evening in each other’s company, holding hands and watching the sun set.

Sebastian

Sebastian gets really excited to show you a new DND adventure that he’s compiled for you two to play. He explains that he’s thought about this for a while and through a slew of note writing and trial and error, he is convinced that he has made you the best gift for Valentines Day. It’s an odd adventure that asks you to find Sebastian his one true love- you laugh thinking it’s just Sebastian being goofy but you play along. Through fighting and exploration you begin to gather clues as to who his true love is supposed to be, the clues are subtle but explain the personality and appearance of the one he wants to be with. At the end of the campaign you smile because all along, through all the notes you’ve gathered throughout the adventure, they all describe you. You are his one true love and the only one he wants to be with.

Sam

Sending you a letter in the mail, Sam explains he wants for you to be home around 8pm. Course you comply, a bit curious considering you had no idea what he had planned. Coming up the path, carrying his guitar, he gives you an awkward smile. He seems nervous and his voice sounds shaky when he greets you, “I wasn’t sure what to give you for Valentines Day, so I did what I know best,” he says, unlocking his guitar case. He gestures for you to sit and with a shaky voice begins to play the guitar and sing you a love song that he created himself. Sam avoids eye contact with you for a bit as he plays, unsure of how you feel about it, but as time went he grew more confident. When he locks eyes with you it’s filled with appreciation, love, and admiration. After finishing his song he gives you a hug and a kiss on the cheek- he didn’t want to be with anyone else.

Shane

Shane decides that he wants to take you out to the Stardrop Saloon for Valentines Day. He opens the door for you and as you two sit he gives you a peck on the cheek. You can tell he’s certainly trying as you see he has gel in his hair and he’s wearing clean clothes. “I… Look, I don’t do sappy stuff, b-but you know, I really enjoy your company and I-uh I wanted to try and do something special for you.” He explains as a blushy mess, he avoids eye contact with you as he says this, but you can tell by the sound of his voice that he really means it. Without ever ordering, Gus approaches the table with a big smile and sets down a pizza that’s in the shape of a heart! “I-uh… I really like you, you know. I’m not good with this stuff, but you mean a lot to me so let’s enjoy some pizza!” He remarks trying to divert the conversation from anything sappy. Through the rest of the night he spends it trying to make you laugh, and you didn’t know how late it had gotten until Gus had kicked you guys out. When he walks you home you see him noticeably get sadder, you realize that he never wanted the night to end.

Bachelorettes~

Abigail

Abigail wants to take you for an adventure. One where it’s quiet and a place only she knows about, or so she thinks. Telling you to clear your schedule that day and to meet near the wizard tower she’ll blindfold you. It’s a secret she wants to share with you, but when she reveals the secret forest you smile at her. Hesitating for a second to tell her that you’ve been here often though when she’s about to lead you to a dead end and you tell her; she knows it wasn’t a secret to you. She asks you to lead the way to the pond where she has a blanket prepared and asks you to sit down. Once you are settled she plays you a piece on her flute that you haven’t heard before. It’s calming and beautiful, you would even describe it as enchanting. After she finished she tells you it was an original piece inspired by you.

Emily

Waking up you find Emily gone from her side of the bed. In her place was a wrapped up box tied together with a bow and a note saying Open. Inside was an outfit that was absolutely stunning in your favorite color. It was a more formal attire then what you both normally wear but that wasn’t all that was in the box. Another note attached to it saying she hopes you get a positive energy from the outfit as it was made with love. For another surprise please wear it and meet at the bus stop at 7pm. Wearing your new glamorous outfit that fits like a glove you see Emily dressed up and waiting for you. She takes you to ZuZu City where to your surprise the bus stops in front of a ballroom studio. Emily tells you she’s been taking a class on the “Dances of Love” and wanted to show you what she’s learned. You spend the rest of the night dancing, both getting lost in the music and each other.

Haley

Haley didn’t mention to keep your schedule open or to come at a certain time but you knew Valentine’s Day was important to her. It was a day she looked forward too each year and you were excited to spend it with her. After the chores around the farm were done you headed to her house with a pink cake you made yourself and a sunflower pouch Emily helped you make. You put the cake in the kitchen and head to her room. She was standing in front of the vanity, but when you walked in you heard a closing noise, almost like a book being closed. She is holding something behind her back when you approach she shoves something into your hands. It’s a scrapbook decorated in pink and sunflowers with both your names on the cover in a heart. Opening it, it's a collage of photos she’s taken over the time you’ve spent together. Polaroids of the first gift you gave her, your date with the cows, some of the mornings you’ve spent together and all the events you’ve been to together. She goes over how special each moment is to her and tears up saying how much of a better person you made her. Thanking you for coming into her life and showing how beautiful a photo can truly be when you’re in it.

Maru

Waking up you were excited as Maru asked you to meet her tonight. A special viewing of the stars with you space girl is something that always makes you happy. Though walking out you see all your crops have been waterd, in fact next to your crops were sprinklers. Confused, you walk to the mailbox where you find a letter from Maru telling you she built some sprinklers for you and if they are something you liked she’s happy to make more. She also reminds you about tonight and to dress warm! When the time arrives you head to the mountain and enjoy hearing her talk about space. That is until she mentions one star that you’ve never noticed before. She asks if you know the name but it’s one you are unfamiliar with. Maru smiles at your confusion. Telling you that for Valentine’s day her present besides the sprinklers, was getting you a star. A way that if you ever need to be reminded of her love just look up and know that she loves you more than all the stars in the sky.

Leah

Everyone in town was buzzing about a big Valentine’s event happening this year. It was something that was kept a big secret and nobody in town knew what was happening just what time to go. Leah was not one to usually express extreme interest in going to town events but she seemed very excited for this one. If not to find out what was the big event you decided to go for Leah. She mentions having to finish up some work and she’ll meet you at the event so heading alone you’re floored when you see it’s an art show. Not just any art show but one Leah is putting on! It’s a Valentine’s day art show with each piece centered around the theme of love. She tells you how you inspired these pieces and how you are her muse. Not just for today but forever.

Penny

Ever since the chili incident you have been trying your best to avoid Penny’s cooking. You love her, you really do and want to support her but cooking was just not a strong point. So when she asks you to a Valentine’s day picnic where she plans on cooking the food you’re a little hesitant but seeing her eyes light up talking about it you tell her of course. Walking into the forest you see her and a large basket next to her. She starts talking out dish after dish and encouraging you to try them all. You take a pepper popper and eat it. It was really good! You try all the different dishes from the stuffing to fish stew all delicious. She tells you she’s been practicing with Gus and is very happy to see you eating her cooking. Penny tells you she has one more surprise and gives you a book. It was your favorite book, looking inside you noticed a message. It was a message from the author, she got your book signed by your favorite author. Penny tells you to look on the last page as well where she wrote a note, although this book may be your favorite, our story will always be mine.

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corpupine · 3 years

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Thanks so much @rebirth-artblog for the tag! I decided to do a separate post to avoid clogging people's dashes, haha.

This is the "Get to know your mutuals" challenge! I'm going to post 5 pieces of info about myself that I feel comfortable sharing, and then tag a few people as well :D

1. I have a condition called synesthesia that makes it so I see numbers in color! So 7 is dark green, 93 is a gradient of maroon to red, 2 is whiteish yellow, and so on :)

2. I have naturally red hair as my profile pic shows! I am the only child (out of 5 kids in my family) with red hair.

3. I have a degree in Editing and Publishing! I absolutely love anything to do with writing and books. Hence why I always have a writing project on the back burner ;D

4. Besides Undertale, my go-to fandom is Phantom of the Opera. I became obsessed with the original novel in high school and I've been steadily chipping away at writing a prequel/re-telling (with new original characters) that I hope to turn into a real live book someday! So keep your eyes out for that!

5. I've been married for nearly a year and a half to the literal best man on the planet. So everyone else can stop looking, I already got him :D

This was really fun to do! I hope you guys enjoyed learning a bit about me.

I tag @laila-dreemur @xjunjox @gonerboy @kuttiesstuff @cupcakepaints @polilla-de and anyone else who'd like to try this!

Also, enjoy the NemaTale update I just posted ;D

Okay bye

#ask meme #get to know corp #fun stuff!#thanks for reading

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oddsnendsfanfics · 3 years

Text

Unraveling in the Sheets

Genre: Fan Fiction

Pairing: Henry Cavill/OFC

Warnings: Language, Sexual Content, NSFW

Rating: M

Length: Short Story

Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.

A/N: Spoiler Alert, there is smut. Be warned. It's there.

Also, I am no longer doing tags on posts. Since my list exceeds the tag limit. Please feel free to join the chat in place of the tag list.

Henry Cavill Master List

“How did you do it though?” Gliding the car into a free parking space, Henry glanced at Nell in the passenger's seat.

“How did I do what?” Eyeing him curiously, she tried to hide her gloating smile. She could be a terrible winner, even if she wasn't the winner, she had came ahead of Henry.

“You know what I mean, Nelly.”

He looked so silly, his new mustache curling when he laughed or smiled. Nell had to admit, if any man could wear the 'stache Henry did it well.

“Oh, you mean how did I suddenly leave your ass behind and finish nearly 50 positions ahead?” She laughed, crinkling her nose. “I told you, I've been working hard for this. Besides, you're too big. You move slower than I do. It's that simple. Maybe next year, you will finish ahead of me.”

“You're impossible.” Unbuckling his seat belt, Henry hurried to get out of the car and around to the other side, before Nell could open her own door. Nearly there, he frowned when she opened the door, stepping out of the Aston Martin. “You were supposed to let me open that.”

“I am supposed to do a lot of things that I do not.” Nell grabbed her hand bag. “I'll let you open the door, next time. You big dork.”

Henry was always the gentleman, even when Nell would rather rip his eyes out than speak to him in a civil manner. Not that she ever felt the former much, but on the rare occasion. Sometimes that's how things went for ex-lovers. The mid May air was growing cool, leaving a few goosebumps on Nell's exposed arms. She had expected to be back before now, which is why she'd left her sweater in the hotel.

“Well, happy late birthday. It was nice having dinner with your family. I've missed them.”

“They've missed you, too. I could tell that dad was happy you came along. He hasn't talked that much during a dinner since the last time you came over.” Henry smiled fondly. "I'm glad that you came, Nelly." Hands in his pockets, Henry sauntered along beside Nell. Approaching the main entrance, he held the door allowing her to enter.

When he'd invited her for the weekend, he wasn't confident that she would come. Wrapped up in work, Nell didn't take too much time away from Dublin these days.

"It was a nice break from work." Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, Nell bit her bottom lip. "I know that you are busy, but do you have a few minutes to talk?"

"I always have time to talk with you." Scanning the hotel lobby, Henry tried to find a spot for them to sit and chat privately. "Should we have a seat at the bar?"

"We could, but I would really like to change. Do you mind coming up with me? We can just talk in the room. It's probably more comfortable anyway."

"Is this about the wild boy?"

"Isn't it always?"

Laughing, Henry pushed the call button for the elevator. Their son was truly something else. One day he would surely take over the world; Henry could see that coming from the day he was born. To say Ivan was Henry's pride and joy would be a massive understatement. He lived for their son. This weekend having Ivan, and Nell, in Jersey had been fantastic. A short glimpse of what life could have been. The ding of the elevator brought Henry back from his brief fantasy.

He and Nell had split up several years ago, there wasn't much chance she would feel the same as he did. Lost in the thoughts of happy little family. Allowing Nell to step onto the elevator first, Henry stood silently with his hands clasped in front of him.

“So, Ivan has been doing well in school?” He may as well get this under way.

“Define doing well,” Nell snickered. “I get a call nearly every day from his teacher. The woman is impossible, but knowing our son, he isn't making it easy for her.”

“I was like that in school. Right up until the day I left.” Henry shrugged. The elevator gently bumping to a stop, he stepped forward to hold the door for Nell.

Muttering a thank you, Nell dug for her key card, leading the way down the hall. She loved this hotel, it was the only one she stayed in, if she could help it, while visiting the Island. A great view of the water on one side, the other dazzling with a fantastic look out into the city. The first time she'd ever been to Jersey, she had stayed in the hotel and fell in love with the charm. There were days when that felt like a life time ago.

Opening the door, Nell paused to allow Henry in. “Have a seat. Anywhere you'd like. Sorry it's kind of a mess. I'm going to change.”

The hotel room was anything but a mess, minus the few sketch books that Nell had dropped on the bed. Always working. Henry took a seat on the edge of the king sized bed, casually glancing at the colour coded notes and designs that Nell had in one of the open sketch books. Costumes. A few notes detailed leather armor and Viking era clothing. She'd done well for herself, since he'd met her. The same shy costume apprentice hiding out on set of The Tudors, was now helping drive forward the details of Vikings.

In the bathroom, Nell pulled off her dress. The fabric had became clingy after a while and she needed to be more relaxed. Running shorts and a tshirt would do the trick. Sighing at her reflection, she bit her bottom lip glancing down at her top. The worn coral Nike tshirt was her favourite, it was showing the love and wear in a few spots. Perhaps she should have picked something less frumpy? She was a busy, single mom she didn't have to look the part. Ah fuck, who cared. Henry certainly wouldn't.

He was here to discuss their son, not flirt with her until she gave in to that smile. Or got lost in his eyes, those gorgeous blue eyes – the left with the flecks of brown. His charm alone was enough to make anyone weak in the knees. Damn it, she needed to get over it. He had moved on. She needed to do the same.

Blowing out a breath, Nell reached for the door, pausing when she heard Henry talking. His tone told her that he was speaking to Ivan. Quietly slipping out of the bathroom, she smiled.

“Hold on, just a sec.” He pushed the screen of his phone, allowing the speaker to connect. “Alright, wild boy. Say goodnight to your mum.”

“Mum, momma, mum.” Ivan's voice filled the room. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ivan. Are you being a good boy?”

“Uh huh. I love you. Good night.”

“Good night, wild boy. I love you.”

“Night dad.”

“Good night, I love you. I'm going to be back soon, you go to bed and I will see you first thing in the morning.”

“Okay. Oh, dad, can Kal sleep in my room tonight?” Ivan was fond of the large black and white American Akita. Henry laughed.

“Of course he can. You and Kal go to bed, now.”

“Okay, bye.” A little too quickly, Ivan hung up the phone. Henry laughed at the eagerness, he would talk to his mother when he got back to the house. Making sure that Ivan and his dog had gone to bed as they were told, with no fuss.

"Can you believe he is growing this fast? My god where has that time gone?" Henry rubbed his hands against his face. His mustache and subtle stubble scratching his palms.

"Time is a cruel mistress." Rubbing her hands on her shorts, Nell stood. "Drink? I have a bottle of Johnnie Walker."

"Of course you do." Smirking, Henry shifted on the side of the bed. “I had a look at some of these designs, by the way. They're magnificent. My god, Nell, you are so talented.”

“You're saying that to be nice,”

Shaking his head, Henry accepted the glass, resting it on his knee. “No, I am saying it because its true. You are one of the most talented costumers that I had ever met. Are you enjoying the job?”

“I love it.” Nell smiled, leaning against the large wooden desk in the corner. “The work is great, the people are amazing, and Ivan is really enjoying it. I'm glad we went.”

“Good, that's good. He talks about it, a lot. He really seems to love being there. I'm glad. Once things settle, I am going to try and come visit. I kind of miss it, Dublin.”

“You should.” She smiled fighting the urge to scoff and roll her eyes. Henry was always busy. He'd make it to Dublin, when Hell froze over. “So, how is work coming on this new character.”

“I can't say much, but I can say that I will be happy when I can shave.” He rubbed the mustache expertly. “It's not as bad as some of the beards that I've had to grow, but it's not my favourite look.”

“You look good with a beard. I know you hate them, but you do.”

Leaning forward to set his glass on the bedside table, Henry licked the whiskey off of his lips. “I'm glad to have that compliment.”

“Sure.” Nell nodded, tipping her glass to finish the drink. “Another?”

“Uh, I'm good.” Henry motioned to his glass. Rubbing his hands across his jeans, he furrowed his brow. “I've been thinking, since I am fairly busy the next few months, what if I keep Ivan for a few extra days? Once you leave, I will take him back to London with me, until I have to go.”

Shifting on the bed, her face warm from the second glass of whiskey, Nell sniffled and cleared her throat. “What about school?”

“What about it? He isn't going to miss much, is he? They're nearly finished up and I don't know how long it will be, until I see him. Possibly not until Christmas.”

All he wanted was to spend a little time with his son, was that so hard? His next move would have to be calculated, Nell had been known to stat arguments over less. If Henry wanted to avoid a shouting match, he would have to go about this carefully. Reaching for his glass, he downed the remaining contents in one large gulp. Sighing.

“I want to hang out with him a little. It wouldn't be more than three days extra. Then you get some time alone, as well. Nell, I know that you need a bit of a break. You work so hard and take care of Ivan, please.”

“If you want to, then I suppose I can't really say no. What kind of mother would I be, if I didn't let you see him?”

“Don't say things like that, please.” Henry reached out, his hand taking hers. Gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. “You are a wonderful mum. You know that.”

“Sometimes, I feel like I could do better. I really do.” Nell shrugged, allowing Henry to continue holding her hand.

“All parents feel that way, I am sure. I know that I feel like that, all the time. I guess it's natural, always wanting to do better, to be better, for our children.”

There he went again. There were times when Nell could not stand to be near him, other times she wanted to be as close as possible. Damn it. Watching him talk about Ivan and the few extras days they would be together, Henry's eyes lit up. His smile broad and the enthusiasm in his voice was one that dictated proud father. Nell nodded, only because she felt it was appropriate to the conversation.

Henry continued to chatter about how he wanted to take Ivan to a new exhibit at the Natural History Museum, in London. Leave it to the father and son, finding a day at the museum to be high on the list of fun. Nell sighed, continuing to half listen, half gaze at Henry in awe. One thing she loved – well love could be a strong word – adored? Enjoyed? About Henry was how much he loved Ivan.

Mid sentence about some Sir David Attenborough documentary that he'd watched with Ivan; Nell couldn't help it any longer. Leaning in, without warning, she grabbed Henry's face turning it to her and kissing him. Lips connecting, she stopped and jumped back as if hit by an electric shock.

Clearing his throat, Henry rubbed the back of his neck, but not pulling back. “I didn't know that the National Geographic was that exciting.”

“I'm sorry.” Hiding her face in her hands, Nell shook her head. Oh that had been a mistake. She had absolutely no right. None. Henry was crazy, if he didn't get up right now and walk out. If he was angry, then she deserved that.

Blushing, Nell shook her head. “Henry, I shouldn't have.”

“I'm certainly not going to complain.” He shrugged, leaning in his arm sliding around her shoulder. Nell glanced up, getting the nerves to look at him. Oh she had fucked up. “Next time, I would like some warning though.”

“Warning? Next time?”

“Hmm, yes. Kind of like this, close your eyes.” Henry instructed pulling her closer and kissing her. Nell sighed her body melting against him. She loved the way his lips felt on hers. Soft, with a slight force.

Straddling his waist, her arms wrapped around his neck, Nell's fingers laced together. Her lips leaving his, tracing along his jaw, nearing the sweet spot below his ear. A slight nip and he was an unraveling mess. Henry nuzzled his face into her hair, she smelled amazing. Comforting and warm. A groan erupted from deep in his throat, as predicted she had gone straight for that spot.

“Nell, Nell,” Henry cleared his throat, holding her at arm's length, “Janelle, stop.” Looking for any sort of sign that she truly felt that this wasn't a good idea, he sucked in a breath. “Are you sure about this? Because if we continue, I won't stop until...”

“I am.” She nodded firmly, “I don't want you to stop. I don't want to stop. Oh god, Henry. Please.”

“I need to know that you truly, absolutely want to do this.”

“If you don't stop talking and bend me over, I am going to kick you out and do this myself. Please, stop talking. If I didn't want this, I wouldn't have started it.”

A deep rumbling laugh followed, Henry rolled his eyes. God, she was something else. Who was he to deny a gorgeous woman what she wanted? Would this come back to haunt him? Probably. Did he care? Not much. Come morning they would once again go their separate ways, but that didn't matter right now. Right now, he could pretend that he had everything he wanted. And what he wanted was her.

Pulling her to him, Henry kissed her hard. Nell moaned, the force of the kiss was nearly dizzying. Arms around his neck, she rubbed her body against his, trying to grasp the friction that was created when she started to grind herself against his thighs.

“Henry,”

“Hold on, you need patience.” He brushed a bit of hair out of her face, “all in good time.”

Nell squealed when he stood, her legs desperately scrambling to hold onto him. In a futile attempt she huffed, when he let her go, standing in front of him pouting. Unbuttoning his shirt, Henry smirked giving her a heated stare. “Well, are you going to get on the bed or make me do all the work? Shorts off.”

Sliding the mesh shorts down her ass and along her legs, Nell made a bit of a show letting them pool at her feet. Stepping out, as slowly as possible, while lifting the old tshirt from her body. Allowing it to go where it would, as she dropped it. Sitting back on the bed, she could feel her heart in her throat and her stomach where her heart should be.

“Lie back.” Henry instructed, kneeling at the edge of the bed. Arms around her thighs, guiding her to him, he studied her for a moment. She was trembling as his fingers slid across her thighs, positioning her in just the right way.

“Oh god, Hen-Henry.” Nell's mouth was suddenly dry and her voice hoarse. His hot breath between her legs was tormenting her, in unimaginable ways. In anticipation she bucked her hips forward, trying to clench her thighs. Holding her knees with his shoulders, Henry chuckled.

“Eager.”

“Please.”

“You are...” He lingered, kissing the inside of her leg. “Gorgeous. Look at you.” He brushed his thumb against her. Nell whimpered trying to push further. “Hold on, hold on.”

“Why are you teasing me?”

“Because I want to enjoy the view, for a moment.” He shrugged, her legs lifting gently. A hand on her lower abdomen, as if holding her in place, he used the other to gently tease and trace along her calf. Without warning, his lips attached to the most sensitive part of her body with his mustache adding an extra sensation, Nell bucked her hips hard, shoving his face further between her thighs.

Nell's head was swimming, it had been a while since she'd felt this good from such an act. Sure, she'd had the odd date here and there, semi-serious relationships, but nobody could do this the way Henry could. He was a fucking magician, she was certain of it. Humming against her mound, Henry couldn't hide the laughter in his eyes, when she began to squirm and wiggle against his face. She was desperate and he was going to prolong this as much as he could.

Sucking her clit, his tongue generously lapping at her, he thoroughly enjoyed the show. Pushing his head as far down as she could, Nell was nearly in tears each time he leaned in, his mustache tickling in just the right way. Oh god, she gasped trying hard to find release. Henry was cunning, backing off at the right moments.

“Henry,” She whined, threading her fingers through his hair. “Don't tease me, I really need you to finish.”

“Stop being so impatient.” He was teasingly stern. Pushing her hands away, he locked his fingers with hers, holding them at her side. Lifting his head, he smirked, kissing up her body ending with another dizzying kiss. Nell sucked on his tongue, freeing her hands from his, she tugged him closer, pulling at fistfuls of hair.

Cleaning herself from his tongue and lips, she sighed. “I'm going to need more than that.”

“You're sure?” Henry paused, holding his weight on his forearms, resting above her. His jeans still on, he could feel the strain against the denim.

“Jeans, off.” She demanded, sitting up to watch. Shivering against the slight chill, her breasts on display giving him the perfect view of her erect nipples. Nell blushed under his gaze. She was not the tight, toned, and perky body she once was. She wasn't out of shape, by any means, but compared to Henry...

“You are gorgeous.” Henry complimented, his jeans on the floor, boxers being pushed down to join them. Stepping out of his pants, he stood at the side of the bed, in all his glory.

Nell licked her lips, reaching out to take him in her hand. Hissing under her touch, Henry involuntarily bucked his hips forward into her hand. Rubbing the head, Nell intently watched Henry while she leaned in taking him fully in her mouth.

“Fuck, Nelly.”

“Hmm,” She hummed, sliding her head back along his length. Hand wrapped around him, stroking in place of her mouth. Bobbing her head back down, she swirled her tongue around the base. He nearly choked her the first time she'd ever gone down on him. Oh how long ago that felt.

Dragging her tongue against his length, she felt her core tighten, with each moan Henry gave. His slight salty taste mixed with the aftertaste of the Johnnie Walker, Nell inhaled deeply through her nose, hollowing her cheeks around him. Gripping the back of her head, Henry tried to not force her too hard, as he began to guide her movement.

Happy to go along with what he needed to feel good, Nell allowed him control over her guidance. Her finger nails grazing the back of his thighs, she mentally checked the small victory when he threw his hips forward at the sensation of her wrapped around him and her nails on his skin.

“Good girl,” Henry mumbled, his head lulling back, his chest rising rapidly. “Keep it up, just like that. Oh shit,”

Nell's chest swelled a little, she could still make him feel good, even after all of this time apart. That was not something she would take lightly, even if this shouldn't be happening. Oh fuck, who cared? They were two consenting adults. Henry's legs quivered, his hands unsteady stroking the back of her head.

“Nell,”

“Hmm?” She glanced up at him. His face soft and his jaw slack, she could feel him tightening. The perfect time to stop her actions. “Not yet,” She smirked, wiping her hand across her chin, drool gone. “Fair is fair.”

“Jesus,” Henry grumbled. He had been so fucking close, the knot in the pit of his stomach clenched Slowing his breathing, he took a moment to think of anything else. Laundry? Running? How much longer until he had to renew his passport?

“Henry?”

“Yeah?” He snapped his head to look at Nell.

“Are we going to stand here all night, or...” She shrugged, a devious smirk on her face. Laying back on the bed, she curled her finger beckoning him to her.

“You're still sure about this?” Henry asked. His eyes on her, waiting to see if she had any hint of doubt or hesitation.

“I don't have a condom, but I'm clean. It's not like I'm getting pregnant, so....” If she were to get pregnant, there was going to be on hell of a hefty lawsuit against that surgeon.

“You're sure? I know that I'm...but I don't have.”

“if you don't want to, then I understand.”

“I do, though, but...”

Nell shook her head. “No buts. If you want me, then I'm yours.”

“Fuck, you're making this hard.”

Giggling, Nell glance down. “I think we're beyond things being hard.”

His body betraying him, Henry cleared his throat, she certainly had a point. Fuck it. What did they have to lose? Unless this, some how, came back to bite them. No, no he had to stop that. Give in, enjoy what was happening. It had been too long since he'd been able to watch her in such bliss. Bliss that he was responsible for.

“You're sure?”

Nell nodded siting up, opening her arms, “Come here.”

On the edge of the bed, Henry sighed, his large frame leaning into her. Nell held him for a moment, stroking his hair, the feel of his warmth against her sent shivers through her spine. Pushing him back on the bed, she bit her bottom lip, waiting for the go ahead. Henry gave her a slight nod, adjusting himself on the bed to get comfortable. Straddling his hips, Nell lifted herself to slowly take him.

Sheathing him inch by inch, Nell groaned at the fullness. This was her favourite part, taking him to the end, feeling him stretch her. Rocking her hips forward, she countered the motion sliding them back in the same tantalizing pace. Henry held her hips, pushing his up to meet her. Nell squeaked and giggled. She loved the way he hit all the right spots.

“You can touch me, don't be shy.” Nell winked, lifting her arms and crossing them above her head, allowing him a full view of her breasts. “Go on.” She encouraged.

His large hands cupping her breasts, Henry softly rolled her hardening nipples between his fingers, giving on a slight flick when she moved herself up on his length. Close to letting him slide out, she moved back down, her ass grinding against him.

The way her body moved against his was mesmerizing. Massaging her supple skin, from her breasts down her sides, one hand settling on her ass and the other on her hip. Henry loved the shape, even if she had changed a little since having Ivan. God she was stunning.

Hastening her pace, Nell rocked back and forth, up and down. Henry closed his eyes feeling every bit of movement, each clench. Taking in the sounds of her breathing, mixed with his, her small moans not going unnoticed.

“Henry,” She whispered, biting her bottom lip, leaning forward to touch her lips against his. “Please,”

Without having to be asked twice, he moved swiftly, turning them over to pin her beneath him. Nell sighed and stretched her arms over her head, the pull of her muscles caused another shiver. Her head now against the pillow, she reached, tracing the lines of his face with her fingertip.

“I don't know that I can be as slow as you were.” Henry nipped her finger. Holding back on his desire to pound her into the bed.

“Then don't.” Nell batted her eye lashes at him.

Somehow that was all he needed, that tiny bit of permission. Picking up the pace, Henry grunted. Nell moaned drawing her knees upward, allowing him an even better vantage to this position. As if the pent up emotions from the last few years, hours, minutes had been released the couple were lost in the sensation of skin on skin. The feeling of sparks and electricity coursing through them. Connecting them.

“Fuck, Janelle.” Henry hissed, his arm locked into position on either side of her head, keeping him from tumbling on top of her.

“Henry,” She squealed splaying her hands against his chest, tugging at the soft hairs. “Oh god. Please, don't stop. My god, oh fuck.”

“You are fucking amazing. Fuck, look at you.” Kissing her roughly, he sighed, steadying his pace. His hips slapping hers, Nell shook slightly her soft sobs of pleasure were enough to send him to an end.

Shaking with pleasure, Nell gasped trying to bring herself down from the high. Henry moaned, his head back and chest heaving. It had been a while since he had felt that good. Nell laid with her legs hooked around his thighs, no desire to move. Collapsing with his head on her chest, Henry allowed his body to rest. Sweaty and sticky, they laid tangled together. Neither one wanting to break the feeling.

Dosing in and out, Nell was the first to move. Her body growing heavy with Henry still on top of her. She needed to move, before seizing up. Pushing his head to the side, she giggled and kissed the tip of her nose when he lazily looked up.

“I need to pee,”

“Hmph.” Henry nodded, slowly rolling over. Allowing her to escape. Laying flat on the bed, while she scurried off to the bathroom, Henry pushed himself up off of the bed. He should be getting back to his parents, back to Ivan.

All thoughts of moving were squashed, when Nell came back, climbing in beside him. Her clothes still on the floor. Her body was comforting against his. “Hi,” she whispered, sliding in under his arm.

“Nell?” Henry laid with his arm around her shoulder.

“Huh?” Nell grunted, her face buried in his chest.

“I should head back.”

“If you want to. You can stay, I don't mind.” Nell yawned. Her eyes closing.

“Okay, but only for a little while.” Henry agreed, closing his eyes. In a few minutes, he would get up, shower, and head back.

With a start, Henry woke, a loud banging noise rattling him. Looking around the dark room, he squinted to find the source of the noise. Hearing someone whispering at a distance, Henry laid in bed, listening. Against him, Nell stirred, but didn't wake. Someone in the hall was talking, no doubt they had been the source of the banging. He had fell asleep, Nell wrapped against him.

Looking at his watch, Henry frowned. 4am. If he left right now, he could be back before anybody woke. If he left now, he risked Kal barking and waking the house. If he waited, he would risk walking in and having to explain himself to one or more person. Of course he could tell them that he'd ran into some old friends, had some drinks and stayed on a sofa somewhere. Too drunk to drive.

Shifting in bed, Nell sighed, her arm around his waist she snuggled in closer. She was content, who was Henry to try and disturb her sleep? He would wait an hour or two, before he made his departure. So what if he waltzed in, being faced by one of his brothers, or even his mother. He was an adult, if he wanted to stay out all night enjoying the company of a fantastic woman, then he would do just that.

Kissing the top of Nell's head, Henry smiled, sinking down further into the covers, closing his eyes.

Tag List Chat

#henry cavill #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill smut #oddsnendshenryfics

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bebepac · 3 years

Text

Derby Girl

ORIGINAL POST DATE: 05/12/21 at 7:22PM EST

This is The Life of Riley Book Two. To catch up with what you’ve missed so far, please click:

The Life of Riley- Book Two.

My Book 2 starts with basically TRR book 1 starts.

If you’re curious to see the elaborate back story I have created for my version of Riley Brooks Please click:

The Life of Riley Book One.

It will answer a lot of your questions that are left out of the Canon that PB wrote.

The Book: TRR

The Pairing: Liam x Riley

Word Count: 2011

Warnings: Sexual innuendo

Summary: Riley goes to her first derby. Liam and Drake make a bet (this episode has a few canon-ish parts. The most you’ll see in my series.)

Deena is my own character, all others belong to Pixelberry.

A/N: I’m on vacation as of yesterday until May 25th. I plan to do as much writing as i can in this time period. Hopefully release some chapters of people’s favorites and get back on schedule a little bit with some releases on things people haven’t seen in a bit.

Riley slowly opened her eyes.

She thought she had dreamed the whole thing. She was sure she would wake up in her tiny little apartment with Daniel. She sat up in the ornately designed bedroom.

She went to peer out over the balcony seeing the beautifully trimmed gardens.

I really have the chance to win a Prince’s heart. She thought. Last night dancing in the Maze with Liam was the most amazing feeling. Riley could not wipe the dopey grin she had on her face.

There was a soft knock on her door.

Maxwell appeared.

“Good Morning Little Blossom! How are you today? You look so happy this morning.”

“I’m great. I’m still so amazed by this place at times Maxwell. There’s just so much beauty here. And Liam is here."

“And you get to be a part of this Little Blossom, because of the way he feels about you. I see the way Prince Liam looks at you.”

“Then why can’t he just say it then?”

“Because that’s not how things are done here with people of his status. You wouldn’t only be only his choice, but the choice of the people and they have to love you too and they don’t know you. No one knows who Riley Antonia Brooks of New York truly is.”

Both Riley and Maxwell abruptly turned around to the voice of the person talking in the room.

Smile officially gone. Stolen by the rat bastard with the sneer standing at the door to her bedroom.

“Lady Riley meet my brother Bertrand.”

“The Duke of Ramsford.”

Riley decided since he went with such a formal title even though she was wearing her pajamas she should curtsy. He seemed stuffy and the antithesis of Maxwell.

He nodded. “The New Yorker can be trained to fit in here.”

Riley glared at him. “I’m not an animal Duke Ramsford.”

“That remains to be seen. If the Cordonian people do not fall in love with you, even though he could be Lady Riley, he will not choose you. Love is not the only thing that matters here. It’s honestly not even a factor here. Prince Liam has a duty to his people to pick the most suitable woman to be at his side. So you, my dear idealistic girl, must learn to give the people what they want. The derby today will give you the opportunity to meet the press for the first time. This will set the tone of how the people will begin to approve of you or disapprove of you. The Queen is also important here as well.”

“I think the Queen might potentially be on my side.”

Bertrand laughed. “You don’t know The Queen.”

“I met with her and she wasn’t rude to me. She was actually helpful when you think about it. She told me to get a feel for the audience that will be watching me and dress for them. I think that’s helpful advice.”

“You’re right, that is helpful advice.” Maxwell chimed in trying to release some of the tension.

“You need to get ready. Head to the boutique and make sure you pick something suitable.”

Riley almost didn’t want to go to the boutique after what happened to her the last time.

However, when she walked in, she was greeted by a kind middle-aged woman with a genuinely welcoming smile.

“And you must be Lady Riley.”

“I am.” Riley still had her guard up her voice and body language tight and protecting herself.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh?”

“I know that the last time you were here, you didn’t have the greatest experience with the staff, and I apologize for that, but if there is anything you need I will be more than willing to assist.”

“Thank you so very much.”

Riley smiled.

“It’s no wonder….”

“It’s no wonder what?”

“Why he’s so enchanted with you. Lady Riley you’re absolutely breathtaking, without a stitch of makeup, and you have such a kind-hearted spirit. I can almost feel it radiate off you. I was sworn to secrecy, because he couldn’t hide how he feels about you. Let me know if you need any help picking out something for him. You’re living your very own Cinderella story right now.”

It was the nicest anyone had been to her since she landed. Riley’s eyes filled with tears.

“Oh no, don’t do that dear. I know things have been a little rough for you. The royal life is not easy. They don’t only fight with words, they fight with glares and underhanded behaviors. But I’m here now. At least here, you will always be treated like the royalty I believe you will become someday. Now let’s pick out something beautiful for him.”

Riley thumbed through the racks.

"If I may? I did notice his eyes fall on this dress here. It looks to be your size, and that color would look like heaven on you."

"Pink is my favorite color."

"Then you should try it on."

This woman Deena, had made the palace boutique an oasis.

Riley tried on the dress staring at herself in the mirror.

"His face is going to be just as pink as that dress when he sees you. That dress was made for you. And since you're going to the derby try this as well."

She gave Riley a white hat.

The hat didn't quite stay on.

Riley laughed. "Big hair goals and hats don't generally mix."

Deena laughed. "This is true. I think Dolly Parton said it best, if someone tells you hair is too big. Get rid of them, you don't need that kind of negativity in your life!"

"That's a plan!"

“Thank you Deena.”

“You show them honey. You show them why he’s picking you.”

Riley decided to be the "Derby Girl" for the day she would straighten her hair. The hat laid perfectly.

“Little Blossom! You look amazing!”

“Thank you Lord Maxwell,” she responded as Bertrand walked into the room.

“Yes, she picked a suitable outfit to be seen in and for the media. We should be on our way.”

The whole duration of the ride Bertrand droned on about royalty, the queen, and the event and the Cordonian Ruby Apple.

“When you are done with your interview you’re going to go over to the pink tents to watch the race with the other suitors.”

“Greaaat. Will Prince Liam be dropping by?”

“Probably not, you’ll see him at the picnic afterwards.”

“You got this Little Blossom!”

Riley managed to stay cool and calm while talking to the press. The press deemed her “The Mystery Woman” based on her answers. It was fitting she thought, because a lot of her life, even for herself, was a mystery to her. All the missing memory gaps she had of her life before the accident, at times, Riley felt she barely knew herself.

She looked for the pink tents not seeing any, but when she turned she saw Drake heading toward a tent. She quickly followed him, leaping inside.

The Prince jumped to attention, his jaw locked, his body rigid, and his face stern. She realized what she had done. He had probably been trained for surprise attacks, and he had to always be alert.

“I’m sorry...I didn’t think..” Riley whispered.

The prince visibly relaxed.

“No, on the contrary it’s a very welcome surprise. How did you manage to get in here?”

“Playing a game of following the leader.”

The beer Drake was about to drink she pulled from his hand.

“Thanks for the beer Drake, you're too kind.”

Drake looked like he wanted to say something, but he remained silent.

Liam lightly cleared his throat.

“I’m going to….”

“You don’t have to….” Riley started to say, but she saw the look in Liam’s eyes.

“Bye Drake.” She whispered, her eyes not leaving Liam’s.

Drake walked out letting the tent fall closed.

He pulled Riley to his lap, softly stroking her hair.

“You look beautiful. But you know I love your curls.”

“I know. I would have had a wardrobe malfunction otherwise if i didn’t straighten it. My hat wouldn’t fit.”

“You would have been just as beautiful without it.”

“I know but it’s the derby and Bertrand was making such a big deal about the derby and looking appropriate. And even though I know nothing else about derbys I know next to the horse race, number two is woman in hats. Your hat game must be on point. Serious hat-age.”

Liam laughed, tightening his grip around her.

“Lady Riley, no one makes me laugh like you do. I’m always so happy when you’re around. Not just the things you say, or the way you look at me. It’s who you are, that radiates off you, and I just feel it wrap around me.”

“And what does that feel like?”

“You feel like sunshine Lady Riley. Sunshine on a summer day. The perfect summer day. When you close your eyes and just feel the sun warm your skin, and you are so content to just.....be in that moment. That’s how I feel when we are in the same space together.”

She softly kissed his lips.

He began another kiss, but then pulled away too soon. “As much as I would love to see where this could go, we have to at least watch the race.” Riley slipped off his lap into the seat next to him as he opened the tent.

Drake came in a few minutes later with new beers.

Riley was silent, listening to Liam and Drake talk about the race and their friendly wager, and how she got roped into it she’ll never know. She was going to be sitting on the back of the loser while they did ten push-ups.

“Who’s your money on winning the bet, me or Drake?”

Riley winced.

“As much faith as I have in you Liam, I think Drake might know more about horses and the stables. So my money is on Drake. I’m sorry.”

“Ouch that had to hurt Liam.” Drake chuckled.

Liam looked hurt.

“Did you want the truth, or did you want me to lie to you Liam?”

“The truth Lady Riley, always the truth.”

Annnnd…. Riley was right.

Liam unbuttoned his shirt, tossing it on the empty chair.

He got into a push-up position.

“Lady Riley if you will.”

Riley hopped onto Liam’s back. Even though he was surprised he still held a tight planked push up position.

“Lady Riley!”

“God she’s ruthless, are you sure you want this one?” Drake laughed.

“I’ve been on him before, I knew he could handle it.”

Liam choked back a laugh for a moment, his form unwavering.

“She’s right, I can handle her.”

“TMI Brooks!!!”

Liam easily did all ten push ups unbroken.

When Liam was done he put on his dress shirt again.

“Drake will take you back to the other suitors for a late lunch.”

“A sweet little goodbye kiss to tide me over until I'm in your presence again?”

Riley seductively puckered her lips, tapping her index finger against them.

Liam glanced around and pulled her to him kissing her. Her fingers gently tugged his hair as his kiss deepened and his grip tightened around her.

Drake dropped her off with the other suitors.

“I can’t believe we didn’t even get to see Prince Liam at all!” Lady Penelope's voice rang out in annoyance. “I had the best story to tell about my poodles to make him laugh.”

“Where were you Lady Riley?”

“I got lost again. All these places around here look the same. Drake found me finally and brought me over here to you guys.”

“Lady Riley you need to get it together. Being late because you got lost won’t look well for you with the media.” Lady Kiara shook her head.

“I’m not sure I believe her.”

Olivia stepped up to her staring into Riley’s face.

“Why would I lie? You saw Drake drop me off here right Liv?”

“I saw, but something feels off. I don’t trust you Lady Riley. Something is afoot.”

“Well, then I guess it’s game on then, Scarlet Duchess?”

“Yes. Game on.”

Tags in the comments!

#bebepac writes #the life of riley #book two #riley goes to cordonia #trr fanfic #trr fandom #liam and riley #trr mc x liam #prince liam #riley brooks #riley origin story #trr riley #choices fic writers creations

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oddshelbyout · 3 years

Text

Flowers & Chocolates // John Shelby X Fem!Reader

Summary: On Valentine’s Day, your neighbour John asks you to look after his kids for a few hours and comes back with a gift you had been waiting for.

Warnings: Swearing

Word Count: 2372

Author’s Note:

This is a modern au, my first one for Peaky Blinders. I wasn’t sure if I could write a modern fic for this well but I think this turned out to be pretty good. I had to give John’s kids names and it was really hard to decide, I hope they fit well.

This fic really made me get over my writer’s block. I wrote this in one sit and it just put my mood up so much. It’s really fluffy and exactly what I would want my Valentine’s Day to be like.

I hope you share Valentine’s Day with all of your loved ones and show them you appreciate their love. I also hope that this one shot makes you as happy as it made me while writing it. Enjoy <3

English is not my first language and I’m not always confident about my work so please let me know if I make any mistakes or anything I can fix in my writing.

You can ask to be added to my taglist. You can be tagged to works on a specific character or just any of my works. Please dm me or send your wish to my ask box if you’d like to be added.

Requests are open. You can request any Peaky Blinders related imagines or prompts for me to write. I’m a minor so I don’t take NSFW requests, please keep that in mind.

———————

It was Valentine’s Day. You were single once again and your date for the night was a bottle of cheap red wine.

None of your relationships lasted more than 6 months and you had been spending every Valentine’s Day alone for 3 years. You were convinced the relationship chapter of your life was closed for now.

That morning started like another Sunday morning. You got up, took a shower, made yourself coffee and called it breakfast. You scrolled through Instagram and pretended not to see all the couple posts.

You were actually really glad to be single. You had full freedom, not that a relationship would take it all away but being independant entirely made you feel good. Also all of your past relationships felt one sided and you hadn’t met the right person yet.

This Valentine’s Day was a bit different than the others because you weren’t upset about being single. You were actually upset about not being in a relationship with a specific someone.

That someone was your upstairs neighbour in the small apartment complex you lived in. His name was John and he had four kids. Yes, four kids.

You might ask why that information was so important and the answer is simple. You and John met just because he had kids.

All of the flats besides yours and John’s were rented by university students, that left you as the only choice to babysit John’s kids. You were working independently, you were a graphic artist and you were always at home. That was exactly what John needed.

One summer afternoon, your door knocked. You weren’t expected guests, you barely had them anyway. John stood before you, looked at you with his gentle eyes.

“I have no one, can you watch my kids for an hour?” was the first thing he had said to you. You were also too busy trying to understand who he was and didn’t notice four youngers hiding behind him.

You couldn’t say no. You loved children, you had two younger brothers but they were back in your hometown when you had moved to London. John just left you with the kids and left.

John had two daughters and two sons. Katie, Jocelyn, William and David. Katie was the oldest but definitely wasn’t the most mature one. Jocelyn and William were twins but looked nothing alike though they sounded a lot like each other. David was the youngest and somehow the most mature one.

The oldest was nine and the youngest one was six at the time you met them. They were extremely calm and none of them were troublemakers. They had great interest in your work and asked a lot of questions but also never bothered you.

You loved spending time with them and babysitting them. It has become a routine for you. John would drop them at least a few times a week. It was summer and the kids didn’t go to school. They were with you almost everyday.

You spent so much time with his kids that one day you even joked about getting paid. John had a better offer though. He promised you that he and the kids would make or buy you dinner every weekend to pay you back.

John was a good cook, you had only had take out for one of those dinners once and that was because he was sick. You had become almost like a family.

John was originally from Birmingham, his accent gave it away anyway but he had moved to London with a quick decision after his wife passed away. He had left his brothers and aunt behind in Birmingham but promised them that they’ll be okay.

John had told you that moving to London was the best decision he had taken. It was a new beginning for him and the kids. He was an engineer and London had more opportunities.

Even though you worked from home and didn’t quite reach the goals you had coming to London but it was your best decision too. Best decision after dumping your toxic ex.

Luckily for both you and John, you had formed a great friendship. The kids adored you. John was forever thankful for taking care of them.

That was all going to start changing when schools started and you saw them less and less. You were starting to feel like you didn’t appreciate your time with them enough.

You also realised you had feelings for John. That hurt more when one morning as the kids and him leaving home told you that they were moving. They were going to move out of their flat to a bigger place.

Your heart broke. You knew you’d see them from time to time but you thought it would never be the same warmth you had as neighbours.

That little heartache made Valentine’s Day harder. You could’ve opened your heart out to John and his little family you were introduced to. You had even joined that little family. Shared everything and became so close that you felt like you joined their family

After your coffee and your usual morning Instagram scrolling, you opened your laptop. You had to finish one job before the deadline. Your doorbell rang while you were deep down in work.

You went to the door knowing it was John. You hoped he would be alone. He was not, he had brought the kids again. You were happy to see them but you had one last hope to spend Valentine’s Day with John.

“Sorry Y/N, can you look after them for a few hours?” John said looking at you with puppy eyes. It almost felt like he was apologising for something and it wasn’t for making you look after his children.

“Sure!” you had said, trying to hide the subtle pain in your chest. “I downloaded a new game!” David said, waving his iPad carefully. You smiled You looked back to John, your smile had faded but his was as strong as it was a moment before.

You were hurting because him dropping them off on Valentine's Day meant only one thing. He was going on a date. He didn’t have a partner that you knew of and knew he would tell you if he did. It hurt you so much

“Going on a date?” you asked not being able to hold your curiosity back. “Oh no, just an errand.” John said and you just nodded.

You tried to reply back with a smile but it looked more like you were trying to hide your pain. “Alright, get in kids.” you told the children and John nodded.

“Alright Shelby Clan, I’ll be back in an hour.” John said and that made you genuinely smile. You found it very funny that he called them Shelby Clan. You knew it was the nickname for the whole family but it was still funny hearing him call four kids a clan.

“Bye daddy!” Jocelyn said waving, then they all got in. They ran to the living room which was also your office. “Y/N, are you really working on Valentine’s Day?” Katie asked. You chuckled nervously.

“Well, I’m not dating anyone, so yes.” you admitted and the kids giggled. “What are you laughing at?” you joked and they giggled more. “Would you want to date?” William asked.

“I think I would, if there was a right person.” you said after sitting on your chair. The kids sat on the ground and rested their backs on the side of the couch. David climbed on the couch instead, told you he was more mature.

“Even I am dating someone.” Katie said and Jocelyn gasped. “Who’s the lucky fella?” you asked, raising your eyebrows. All of them kept giggling, “He’s in my class, he bought me a cookie on friday.” Katie said with a big smile.

Watching them giggle and talk to you enthusiastically made your mood go up. You were actually feeling much better thanks to the Shelby Clan.

You went back to work while they were entertaining themselves with the new game David downloaded. The other siblings joined David on the couch too, lşke they should’ve done earlier.

You weren’t close to finishing the work and you were getting stressed about it. Your back started hurting from sitting. Also your stomach growled, reminding you that coffee doesn’t count as a meal.

“Are y’all hungry?” you asked the kids, hoping they would say yes. “Nope.” they all answered at once but Katie had more to say. “Dad said they’ll be cooking for us when he gets back.” they all nodded to Katie’s work.

“I’m eating on my own then.” you mumbled and stood up. “No Y/N, daddy’s cooking for you too.” William said and you smiled for a moment.

Your mind went full on panic mode. You questioned why he would cook for you after he comes back from a date. Even though he had said it wasn’t a date, your conscience didn’t trust his words.

You sat back at your seat but you didn’t want to keep working. The kids seemed so into that game that you also didn’t want to interrupt their fun. You went back to scrolling through Instagram and accepting your loneliness.

Soon the doorbell came to the rescue. You didn’t notice how much time passed so you didn’t think it would be John. You still believed he was on a date.

You opened the door. Your gaze first focused on John’s big smile, you didn’t even notice what he was holding in his hands.

“I’m back.” he said quietly, he was so quiet that you knew for some reason that he didn’t want kids to hear. That was when your gaze fell down from his lips to his hands.

He was holding a box of chocolate and a bouquet of red roses. You gasped and then smiled so big. “You bought me flowers and chocolates.” you said after licking your lips.

“I thought it was the appropriate time to.” John said, you looked at him not getting exactly what he was trying to say. You were so clueless.

“Appropriate time for what?” you asked and he just laughed. He thought you were joking but you were asking seriously. The fact that the corner of your lips were still curled had tricked him.

“I thought you were smarter.” he joked instead of directly answering your question. “Shut up you wanker, tell me!” you laughed after. “Wanker huh? I’m never telling you.” he replied and laughed so hard that you were sure the kids had heard already.

“Come on John Boy!” you said reaching for his hand. “At least give me the chocolates, I’m hungry!” you complained. He pulled them away from you. You laughed at each other, you felt like you were a teenager again.

“No seriously tell me, appropriate time for what?” you asked again, this time with a more serious face. He took a deep breath. He held onto the flowers and chocolates stronger.

“I think this is the appropriate time to ask you out.” John said and you nervously chuckled. You were so happy to hear that your feelings were mutual. You were also angry at yourself for not believing him when he said he had a date.

You two just smiled at each other like idiots without saying anything. At that moment nothing was real, you felt like you were floating in space and your only connection to earth was John.

“You’re asking me out?” you asked just to be sure. “Mhmm.” John nodded, “Y/N Y/L/N would you like to go out with me?” he properly asked. You giggled like a little girl.

“Yes, I will.” you said and hugged him. The corners of the chocolate box hurt you but it was worth it. Your hug was interrupted by Katie.

“Did you ask her out Daddy?” the ten year old asked, he nodded. “He did and now I’m hoping he’s gonna cook us dinner.” you told Katie, you really were hungry like a wolf.

John stepped inside with you. He left the flowers and chocolates on the kitchen counter. He immediately started cooking, you of course were going to help him.

“I hope you’re moving too far away, like the other side of London.” you confessed, that was a concern for you even before his interest in you was official.

“No, just a block away so the kids don’t have to change schools.” John said as he was cutting tomatoes. “A bigger place?” you asked, you were trying to get your own mind to justify the reason they’re moving for.

“Yes and you’re always welcome, nothing changes.” John said, he turned to you and smiled big. You returned his smile with a bigger one. Your eyes stuck at his lips, they looked so full and red. So kissable.

“Nothing changes.” you repeated and took a deep breath. He stopped cutting the tomatoes. He licked his lips, “Maybe some things can change.” he said and kissed you.

What a kiss it was. You weren’t in the children’s sight. It was the best kiss you ever had. With his lips touching yours and his tongue slipping into your mouth, both of you lost contact to earth. You were both floating in space, you didn’t even need air. As long as you had each other, you didn’t even have to have contact to earth.

You kissed for so long. You kissed like it was your last moment alive. You kissed with so much passion and you thought the heartache waiting for him gave you was totally worth it. When you finally parted, the only reason was that you were out of breath and you had a meal to cook.

Your Valentine’s Day was the exact opposite of what you expected. Even though you wouldn’t call what you and John had a relationship yet, you still weren’t alone on Valentine’s Day.

You had John with you who finally told you he wanted to date you. You had Katie, Jocelyn, William and David. You had your little new family. Now you were sure that you had joined their family for real. You hoped you all would be happy for the rest of your lives.

#john shelby #peaky blinders #john shelby x reader #peaky blinders x reader #john shelby x y/n #peaky blinders x y/n #john shelby x you #peaky blinders x you #john shelby oneshot #peaky blinders oneshot #john shelby fanfic #peaky blinders fanfic #joe cole

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terrainofheartfelt · 2 years

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WIP Tag Game

tagged by @lucbian (thank you!!!)

Rules: List all of your WIPs and tag as many people as the WIPs and whichever fic you (followers/anyone reading this) find interesting, you can ask about it and I'll either tell you about it or post a snippet or both!

okay well, um...there are so many...so many...I'm going by the "most recent" sorting feature on my google docs

Dair Pride & Prejudice AU [working title: (the more you say) the less I know]: I've talked about this one before but, y'all know. Dan as Lizzie, Blair as Darcy, the van der Humphreys as the Bennet Family, romcom shenanagins ensue. I recently got a couple more ideas sparked that I'm excited to plug in, the most fun about writing an au like this is puzzling out which characters can fit into which roles of the original, and there a few that have me really just *does mr. burns "excellent" hand thing*

Postcanon fic (currently titled "Spitefueled jenate endgame fic" in my docs): Blair POV, but centered around Jenny & Nate reconnecting at Derena's engagement party, and how it indirectly serves as a catalyst for Blair getting out of her marriage to chip wiskers. Dair endgame, but not much Dan, mostly Blair pining and making amends with Jenny. musicians!Humphreys are involved. may take a WHILE because there's heavy shit to untangle. I was feeling neutral about this fic idea and then the antis were about and now I'm like "I will write this!" also Dan isn't gossip girl bc the medallion says that's dumb so we're not gonna do that.

Dair - In I know a place where your heart can be safe series (aka the Milo-verse): a pwp oneshot of Dair's honeymoon. Involves extreme sappiness, Italy, and a polaroid camera

And you can have this heart to break - my s4 Date AU, or, the next installment of the work, that is, title will be some Billy Joel lyric lifted from "And So It Goes": this is a Dan x Nate-centric au of s4, which also involves justice for the Blenny friendship, Serenessa, Blair x Raina Thorpe, and none for chip wiskers bye. this is the next "episode" as it were, and will cover Saints & Sinners and the fallout of it. Drama ensues, but there's also lots of himbos-in-love fluff to compensate.

a Dilfs!Date fic: Inspired by these headcanons I wrote, the story of how Dan and Nate Humphrey meet their kids. I burnt myself out on the kid fic a lil bit but this is a sweet sweet one that I want to get back to soon.

series Mouthful of Forevers - next work: such a lot of world to see: the multi-chap sequel to gladly beyond any experience, spanning the next year of Dan & Blair's adventures in Europe together. It starts with their fabulous summer Eurail trip, most notably finally going to Rome together, and having what I've been calling in my head the "post-mortem" talk of why they broke up the first time (and I think it may be one of my favorite things I've ever written), later chapters will include: the Love Letters I shared a long long time ago, Rufus & Lily's 5 year wedding anniversary, Scott's wedding weekend, and Dan's graduation from Oxford (and wherever he decides to move next, wink-wonk).

Untitled Blenny fic (current title in my docs is "blenny fic: hookup at date wedding"): Jenny POV. Dan & Nate invite their close friends and family along to their annual summer beach vacation, during which they're getting married. Jen & Blair reconnect. Includes married!Date fluff, wlw yearning & sexual tension, and of course a teensy dose Alison Humphrey apologism.

tagging (with lots of love but no pressure whatsoever): @strideofpride, @insistonyourcupofstars, @natearchie, @mysteriesofloves

#anyone is always and forever welcome to ask about any wips I love to talk at y'all about them.#i regularly talk at the mutuals in my dms they are so kind for tolerating me love you all <333 #tag game #liz shouting about her fic writing progress into the void #yk that's not as much as I thought it would be...#still a lot. but seeing it in a list makes it a little less scary.#ty for tagging me this was fun!

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tatooedlaura-blog · 3 years

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Maybe WE don’t believe in YOU!

It’s throwback Thursday time ... this is a goodie from 2009 (dragged kicking and screaming from Gossamer) ... oi, these things amuse me at times :)

any and all errors are from the original post and have not been changed to preserve giggles and chuckles :)

@today-in-fic

&&&&&&&&&&

He saw her sitting halfway up the bleachers, amidst yelling parents and clapping children. He knew she'd gone outside a good 15 minutes ago but since she'd neglected to come back, he though he'd better go and collect her. He didn't move fast, more at his usual long-strided amble given there wasn't much to hurry about anymore. Since the police station was next to the elementary school fields, he didn't have far to walk; soon standing beside the rickety aluminum riser seats.

She didn’t notice him at first but when she did a general sweep of her surroundings, as was natural habit at this point, she lit on his face staring up at her and with a barely noticed head-tilt, she gave him a half smile.

Figuring this was an invite of the most discreet kind, he picked his way through the scattered crowd, settling next to her without a word. Silently, they sat together through the last minutes of the game as well as through the exodus of people, kids, strollers and family dogs.

It wasn't until the last person stepped off the field that Mulder turned to her, squinting against the late afternoon sun, "hi."

Pushing her hair back, only to have the light breeze ruffle it again, "hi."

"So, got a little tired of Sheriff Blowhard and his parade of blightless minions?"

"A little. There's only so much blowharding and blightlessness one can take. Besides,” nodding towards the now deserted field, "they looked like they needed another fan."

Knocking shoulders with her gently, "you know, if we get our paperwork done, we can get the hell out of Dodge."

Holding silent for a moment, "promise me our next case won't be like this. I don't think I can do this again anytime soon."

"Well, I'll try to order us up a nice, juicy monster but don't hold your breath."

"Just promise to try. That's all I ask."

One glance into her tired, dull eyes made him nod, "promise."

"All right then." Standing and holding her hand out to him, "let's, as you put it, get the hell out of Dodge."

"If only the place was actually called Dodge."

"Getting the hell out of Parson Village doesn't exactly have the same ring to it, does it?"

Finally down on the ground, they walked back across the parking lot, "not really."

&&&&&&&&&

Working through the last of the forms, they said good-bye and left, glad to be leaving the place behind them. The drive back to the hotel was quiet but a companionable quiet, one where Mulder left the radio off and Scully stared out the open window, enjoying the fresh air and the colors of the setting sun.

Back at the hotel, "do you still want to leave now or wait until the morning?"

He knew she would prefer to go than stay and since he wasn't tired, "now works for me." Checking out went by in a flash and once Mulder had made a not so secretive trip to the vending machines, they were off, "you sure you want to drive first? I'm awake."

Scully just turned the car on, "I'm good for now. I'll let you know when it's your turn."

"Fair enough." Putting his seat back to a decent incline, he settled in, "mind if we keep the windows open for awhile?"

She gave him a smile, "as long as you don't mind me having the wind blown look."

"Naw, you wear it well."

"Okay, now you're just buttering me up."

With a laugh, he rested one arm at his side, the other on the middle compartment, hand dangling by the shifter, "just say thanks, Scully."

"Thanks, Mulder."

He was feeling a bit mischievous but held off until they had been on the road for a few minutes. From his position, he could tell no one else was on the quiet country road and in a fairly nonchalant way, he made like he was turning on the radio but instead, pushed the shifter forward into neutral.

The engine revved, Scully looked around in panic, then saw Mulder's hand beside the stick, "what the hell?" Shoving it back in drive, she swung and hit him near full force in the chest, "are you insane?"

Now for the fun part.

Wincing, he curled his arms to his chest, pretending the blow had actually hurt him, "damn. I was just gonna turn the radio on. I bumped it on accident." Plastering an appropriate grimace on his face, "there's less painful ways to kill me, you know."

Her face scrunching in honest apology, "I'm so sorry. I thought you did it on purpose. I … I'm sorry."

Rubbing his chest for good measure, "remind me to ask before moving next time." The urge to laugh nearly won but he held it in, "I feel extremely sorry for any suspects on the receiving end of your fist."

Automatically reaching over, she wrapped her hand around his forearm, "I'm sorry."

"S'okay." Wondering how long she'd keep her hand there, "was kind of funny though, wasn't it?"

She shrugged, "maybe it will be later but right now, I just feel bad."

"No harm, no foul, right?"

Keeping her hand on him with no sign of letting go, "right."

&&&&&&&&&

They switched places a few hours later, Scully beginning to yawn and stretch to keep herself awake. Mulder, who'd managed a nap, readjusted the seat and mirrors before looking over at her, "all set?" Head already lolling on the seat and eyes closed, she only nodded. As always amused by the swiftness she could fall asleep, he pulled the car out of the gas station and back on the freeway.She slept for about a half-hour, then woke again when he hit a bump in the road, "sorry."

Shaking the cobwebs from her brain, "no, it's okay." After re-positioning the seat back, she stared out the window for a minute before, "where are we, anyway?"

When he turned to look around, she swiftly reached over, flipping a small switch on the dash, "we're about 10 miles from the middle of nowhere."

"That's specific."

He gave her a lopsided grin before looking back through the windshield.

She wondered how long it would take for him to notice.

Not long, she soon discovered.

Taking a cursory glance at the speedometer, he slammed on the brakes, throwing them both forward slightly, "what the hell?" When he had looked, he saw in horror that he was doing 120. Still talking to himself, "there's no way in hell I was doing 120."

Playing along, "what?! You're going 120? I don't need to die tonight, Mulder."

"I didn't realize …"

"Just slow the hell down!!"

He shrank into the seat and heart pounding, he brought his speed back to 75 but when looking out the window, he would swear they were nearly crawling. She then watched him look from the speedometer to the road to the speedometer once again, then to the smile she couldn't contain, "why the hell are all the gauges in metrics now?"

Reaching over, she re-flipped the switch, turning everything back to normal, "did you really think I'd let the neutral thing go unanswered?"

Instead of being annoyed, he looked at her admirably, "nice."

&&&&&&&&&

She was sound asleep again an hour later when Mulder discovered he was contemplating how long he could shut his eyes before it got dangerous. Poking his finger into Scully's thigh, "hey, you awake?"

When she only mumbled, he knew they were both done for the night but with only an hour left to go, he debated pushing it.

Until he heard his tires running on the rumble strip.

Yeah, it was time to stop.

Especially when he saw it … a bright beacon of hope in the distance.

Wal-Mart.

24-hour, anyone can sleep in the damn parking lot, beautiful, shiny Wal-Mart.

He pulled off the exit ramp and soon, he stopped the car in the center of a vast expanse of parking lot. Cracking the windows so they wouldn’t suffocate, he put his seat back, stretched and promptly fell asleep.

A blissful sleep that lasted almost a full two hours, until, “what the hell?”

The sound of her voice jolted him upright and his hand caught the horn, beeping it obnoxiously as he blinked against the painfully bright light in his eyes, “huh?”

By now, she was rolling down the window and being the least polite he’d ever heard her, “what!?”

The flashlight lowered but all Mulder could see was the spot it had burned into his retinas. The spot spoke in a low, male voice, “evenin’ folks.”

Again, Scully rolled off with, “what!?!”

“Just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

He could feel Scully building rapidly towards some other, more improper phrases and heading her off with a hand on her arm, “we were tired and thought we’d take a nap instead of wrapping ourselves around a telephone pole.” As the spot began to fade, he could make out an older gentleman behind the lowered flashlight, “I thought people could park and sleep here for the night?”

“RVs can park but ya’ll aren’t in an RV so I thought maybe you were havin’ some trouble.”

Hearing Scully sigh resignedly through her nose, he spoke again, “no trouble, sir. Just tired.”

“Well, ya’ll be careful.”

As he turned and walked away, Mulder looked at her irate expression, “hi.”

“You’re coming with me.”

“Where?”

Unbuckling her belt, “I have to go to the bathroom and you’re coming with me.”

Opening his door, “why are you pissed at me? I didn’t scare the shit out of you with a flashlight.”

“Just come on.”

She stalked across the parking lot, Mulder trotting to catch up, then settling into an easy gait until they got to the store entrance, “are you gonna make me come in with you or do I get to wait outside the door?”

With eyes narrowed, she left him in the entryway and disappeared into the ladies room. Deciding to go himself, he still beat her back and was leaning on the wall when she came out drying her hands on her jeans. She seemed calmer and leaning next to him, “I’m hungry.”

Gesturing through the doors that led to the actual store, “I bet there’s something in there, if you’re willing to risk it.”

“Lead the way, partner.” Both were shocked by the amount of people in the store, “what time is it anyway?”

Finding her wrist with his hand, he twisted her watch around until he could read it, “um, 1:15.”

“Why are all these people here? Don’t they have homes and beds?”

“Insomniacs make the best shoppers.”

She let a small chuckle escape her nose, “just find me something to eat.”

Well, she should have known not to A) shop when she was hungry and 2) shop with Mulder. She should have also put her foot down when he suggested getting a cart.

An hour later, they were finally through the checkout.

Scully had found some sandwiches, drinks and chips for them both, then stupidly gave Mulder control of the cart. He immediately steered towards the entertainment section and was soon pawing through the $3.99 DVD bin.

That killed a half-hour right there. Damn those bins and their B-movie classics.

After he’d found several handfuls of movies, he veered through men’s clothing for socks, housewares for a new shower curtain (which Scully silently thanked God about), hardware to replace the two flashlights he’d left in their hotel rooms, back to menswear for the underwear he’d forgot on the first trip (black boxer briefs, much to Scully’s amusement), then finally through women’s clothing, where he stopped in front of a rack of slogan t-shirts.

Standing for a moment, he studied them, then picked one up with an alien beside a spaceship who was pointing out and stating, “maybe WE don’t believe in you.” Holding it against her for a second, he tossed it in the cart and finally moved to the check-out.

She followed, dumbfounded by the last hour of her life, “Mulder … why …?”

“Shhhh, it’s too late to argue and too early to win.”

Whatever the hell that meant, she graciously allowed him to pay for their food, along with the industrial size Payday bar she tossed in at the last minute.

&&&&&&&&&&&

As they ate their makeshift dinner sitting in the car, “why did you buy me that t-shirt? Do you really think I’m gonna wear it?”

Grinning with a mouthful of half-chewed turkey, “you will. You’ll be getting dressed for something and you’ll just get the urge to put it on. So you will and you’ll realize you like it and that’ll be that.”

“Is this how you get your shopping done because I can see why your cupboards are bare.”

“Never ask about a man’s shopping habits.”

“Mulder?”

“Yeah?”

“Trade you sandwiches?”

He handed the rest of his sandwich to her immediately, taking her partially eaten roast beef in its place, “no dressing?”

“Nope.”

“So much to teach you, grasshopper.”

&&&&&&&&&

“I’ll drive if you want me to.”

Scully shook her head, “naw, I’m fine.”

“Well, I’m not tired now so I’ll keep you awake.”

With a grin in his direction, “God help me.”

“God’s probably asleep Scully. All you got is me.”

“Again, God help me.”

&&&&&&&&&&

They were finally navigating Washington’s outskirts by 3:30. He watched her staring ahead and fought the demon lurking inside him.

He really shouldn’t.

He really, really shouldn’t.

It would be evil and wrong and cruel and more than likely funny as all hell … if she didn’t kill him afterwards.

…

He’d risk it.

Waiting another minute or so, he spied a light blinking in the distance and as they approached it, he braced his feet against the floor. Once they were about 10 feet away, he yelled, gripping the dashboard and the doorframe, “blinking yellow!!!”

She locked up the brakes, as expected, and bought the car to a screeching halt. The stop flung both forward, then back against their seats, with Scully screaming in his ear, “son of a bitch … it’s yellow Mulder! I don’t have to stop for a blinking yellow!”

Looking at her with as much seriousness as he could muster, “I didn’t tell you to stop.”

“Then why the hell did you yell ‘blinking yellow’ in my ear!?”

“I didn’t know if you saw it.”

He had never witnessed her nostrils flaring before and though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, she looked kind of cute doing it but … “are you trying to get us killed?”

He was now smiling despite the fact she had steam shooting out her ears, “there was no one behind us. I checked.”

Another nostril flare came his way before she turned the car off, still sitting in the middle of the intersection, got out and moving to his side of the car, pulled open the door, “drive.”

Still grinning, he scrambled over the gearshift, Scully sliding smoothly into his seat, putting her head back and closing her eyes.

Silence, he had not expected. Yelling, hitting, yes but not quiet. Quiet from Scully meant planning, concocting, calculating, organizing … quiet meant bad things … quiet meant very deep piles of shit with him underneath.

“Scully …”

“Home.”

Suddenly sober, he restarted the car, “I was just playing.”

“Home,” she repeated, then, instead of returning to sleep, she dug some gum from the glove compartment and proceeded to chew a wad of it, very loudly.

Now, he could take bullets, he could take slime, he could take beratement of the highest degree and, as demonstrated, he could even take bile but he absolutely despised the cud-chewing noises she was making. He withstood it for a long as humanly possible before, “could you please get rid of that? You sound like a damn cow.”

“You want me to get rid of the gum?”

“Yes!”

“Where do you want me to put it?”

His mistake was answering too quickly, “anywhere. I don’t care. Just stop chewing it.”

“Okay then.” Undoing her seatbelt, she twisted so she faced him, and in a gracefully disgusting move, she rolled the gum in her fingers, then proceeded to push it up his nose.

He knew something was coming and completely powerless to stop it, he just sat there as a thumb-size chunk of grape Hubba-Bubba was fitted into his right nostril.

She then calmly sat back down and re-buckled herself in.

He left the gum there as he turned to her, “Scully?”

“Yes, Mulder.”

“I believe we’re even now.”

Her belly laugh echoed off the windows and he began laughing as well, slipping the gum from his nose and putting it in his mouth.

Through her laughter, she grimaced, “eww, that’s disgusting.”

“But it’s grape.”

&&&&&&&&&

They finally made it to Mulder’s apartment and since her brain had drifted completely, she didn’t really notice where they were until he stopped the car, “why are we here?”

“Literally or existentially because I don’t think I can take a metaphysical discussion at the moment?”

“Literal.”

“You drove. You drop me off then drive yourself home.”

“Where’s your car, Mulder?”

Pointing to where he always parked, he saw an empty spot, “your house.” His head dropped to the steering wheel, “damn.” Looking at her out of the corner of his eye, “I’ll take you home.”

“No. I want out of the damn car and I want to go to sleep. Right now.”

“Then grab the bags from the store … I’ll get the suitcases.” They managed to make it in his door before dropping everything simultaneously. Mulder then re-picked up her bag and set it in his bedroom, “I’ll take the couch.”

“No, I will. I shoved gum up your nose.”

“And I yelled ‘blinking yellow’.”

Contemplating for a half second, “you’re right.”

He gave her a grin, “just help me change the sheets first.” Nodding, she had the bed stripped by the time he came back with a clean set. They finished in no time and he stepped back, nodding his head, “two people make that way faster.”

“Anytime Mulder but for now, I’m using your bathroom then going to bed.”

“Aye, aye captain.”

Meeting him in the hall on the way back from the bathroom, “g’night, Mulder.”

“’Morning, Scully.”

Before going to the bedroom, she grabbed one last thing, then changed, crawled under the clean sheets and was out before her head hit the pillow.

&&&&&&&&&&

He woke up leisurely. The phone hadn’t rung, no one had knocked on his door, obnoxious garbage men hadn’t rattled the dumpsters … he had woken up because he had finally caught up on his sleep. Marveling at the idea, he stood and moved silently towards his bedroom to check to see if she was awake yet.

Finding her spread eagle on her stomach, covers twisted around her and bare leg sticking out, foot hanging off the side of the bed, he nearly laughed when he saw her wearing the neon green t-shirt he’d bought the night before.

Deciding to let her sleep, he went to the bathroom, then made himself a bowl of cereal. By the time he’d sat down with his second helping, he heard the creak of his bedroom door. Looking up, he saw her standing there, hair tousled, eyes partially open, wearing only the t-shirt, which fell to mid-thigh. Swallowing the frogs in her throat, “’morning.”

After a glance at the DVD player’s clock, “afternoon.” Without comment, she padded across the cool floor and dropped down next to him, curling her legs underneath her. Covering them with his blanket, she reached over, took the spoon and helped herself to a large spoonful of cereal. Shaking the milk off, she had it nearly to her mouth when he finally spoke, “I thought you said you’d never wear that shirt?”

As the cereal entered her mouth, her lips quivered in the slightest of smiles, “shut up, Mulder.”

#laura's gossamer throwbacks #msr #x-files fanfic #xf fanfic #xfiles fanfic #I have done all these things at one time or another to my cousin #while driving #I miss his metric switching car #grape gum up the nose and walmart wanderings

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