#kasey winter
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Lots of weddings on the brain recently…a certain Winter-Darcy one included.
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Courage, dear heart
hello! have some Kasey/Alex angst set during SW. that ginger took rainbow tape out at All Stars and you can't tell me Kasey didn't have a little crisis when he saw. read it on ao3 here.
all characters belong to @lumosinlove.
The night of All Stars, Kasey’s brain switched off the moment he saw Alex skate around with rainbow tape around his stick, opening a line of colorful players behind him. And it was unfortunate, because it happened right at the beginning of the night. Kasey hadn’t thought about much else for the few hours spent at Remus’ place, only offering vague comments every now and then. Natalie’s eyes finding his over the Cubs’ heads had been the one thing keeping him at bay.
Then Logan had called his boys, and that’s how they found out. The tape had been Alex’s idea.
Kasey wanted to say something, anything to him. He wrote ten texts or so on his phone, feeling stupidly self-conscious as he erased them all. Hey, Al, nice tape. Hi, loved your idea. Hey, Alex, good gesture. He sighed, wondering how did he always make everything so complicated. And why he’d never had the courage to do something similar.
And now there they were, in Dumo’s backyard, with the Lions’ team and their families surrounding them.
The Lions were going to the finals, and they felt invincible.
The air was electric even outside of the rink, following them everywhere and rising every time they met. Kasey could see it in Thomas’ grin, in the little jumps Finn made any time he was on his feet. Leo told him it was a mixture of things for him. We’re so close, and my parents are here, and I have two boyfriends, can you believe it? Because I can’t. I feel like I could climb the Everest in one morning. Kasey shared that excitement, but he had to admit that it was nowhere near to the thrill of his first seasons in the league. It tasted bitter in his mouth. Most things about hockey did, now. Leo’s sparkling eyes had brought fresh air in hockey, at least for Kasey, and he was glad for it. A little push to go on until he couldn’t.
And Alex was there.
I wouldn’t miss it, he’d said. How ever it goes. He was standing by a bush with Timmy and Olli, and Kasey couldn’t hear their conversation, but they were laughing and shaking their heads. He never failed to make people laugh.
Kasey saw the moment Alex’s eyes spotted him, leaning against the wall. He watched him excuse himself with a warm smile and one last joke. His eyes followed him to the drinks table, and saw him grab two beers. He came to lean next to him and handed him one without a word.
Kasey took a sip as they watched the sun go down, drawing golden stripes on the surface of the pool. It was still too cold to jump in, but just standing next to it built the vibrant energy of the beginning of summer. Air of anticipation really was everywhere, these days.
Kasey stole a quick glance of Alex.
The same man standing in front of him had convinced half the players at All Stars to wear rainbow tape relying on sheer force of initiative, and a great deal of courage. Even if Kasey had been surprised to see it, he realized, looking back, that there really was no reason for it. Everything about Alex translated into actions, and watching him skate around and wave his hand at the fans with pride tape, he couldn’t see a difference between him and the boy he’d fallen in love with. The boy he’d shared playful glances in the locker room with, that made him laugh loud and messy, with the little snort, and that took him for long walks on the beach every time he played in Florida. Seeing colorful stripes on his stick had moved Kasey more than he cared to admit. What does it mean, and were you thinking of me?
Of course, Natalie had noticed, too. Natalie noticed everything and she was good at not making a big deal out of things. Kasey loved how she’d immediately understood whatever was going on between him and Alex, and how she’d kissed him gently after. It’s okay if you have love for both of us. Gentler than he could ever be with himself.
That night, they’d shared a surprised look as everyone commented the tape and the players, and he’d seen her gaze going from him to Alex-in-the-TV as she tried to figure it out with him. Was it a message? Or simple support? They’d held hands in silent reassurance, wondering what it all meant.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence—Alex was good at those, too- Kasey cleared his throat. He stole a glimpse of the redhead’s golden profile against the setting sun, serene and warm.
“Sick tape,” he blurted out. “At All Stars. Logan said it was your idea.”
Alex’s eyes darted on him, as if looking for something. But it was just for a moment. Then the usual lively grin crept in, for him to relax into.
“Yeah. I thought your captain could use some support, you know?”
Kasey turned to glance at Sirius, standing on the other side of the garden, smiling at something Adele was telling him. Remus was there, holding hands in a newfound sweetness that was delightful to see. Kasey swore it had all seemed impossible until it happened.
“He really did,” he nodded. “I’m glad he had it. It meant a lot.” Kasey stopped before adding to Cap, because they both knew that it wasn’t just that. It meant a lot to me.
Alex nodded, maybe not sure on how to answer. He looked around, and his smile softened when he found the Cubs over the snacks table. Finn had an arm around Leo’s waist, talking a mile a minute, while the other two were looking at him smitten happy. Kasey studied the redhead in front of him as he looked fondly at them.
“And, you know, it wasn’t just for Sirius. For Finn, too. And his boys.” He shook his head, smiling. “You know, Finn called me the morning of All Stars, all excited, saying Alex, big ass news, I’m so happy I’m gonna die, and told me everything.” He took a sip of his beer, eyes returning to Kasey with a raised eyebrow. “Well. I already knew something was up between him and Logan, like, ages ago. I was waiting for him to tell me. And he did, so I felt like I needed to show him that it was okay. On and off the ice.”
Kasey thought back at All Stars night, when eight people had crumpled into Loop’s living room. How Finn had shouted That’s my big brother, and the way his eyes were shining in front of the tv. Kasey had allowed himself to linger on those eyes for a few moments, while everyone else focused on the screen, thinking about the twin pair that Alex bore. He remembered their warmth on his skin, shining like a jewel in the sun. Kasey thought about those eyes a lot.
Bring your eyes on me and I’ll wear your stares like the most precious stones, an old song played in his mind. He didn’t remember the name.
Alex bit his lip, sobering, and those wonderful eyes moved to his shoes. His voice came out lower this time, a vulnerability that people didn’t get to see often.
“And—you know. I had to do it for myself, too.”
Kasey felt a wave of heat rushing to his head, his heartbeat growing faster. He tightened his grip around the beer, only for the icy glass to send shivers down his spine. But Alex looked calm—like he always did.
“I just thought, what’s the point, you know? ‘S not my problem if someone cares.”
He paused for a moment, and everyone else would have thought that he was waiting for a reply from Kasey. But Kasey knew he didn’t. Alex never expected anything from him. And in that moment, Kasey was glad, because he felt petrified.
Alex sent him a small, reassuring smile. Why was he reassuring him and not the opposite, Kasey wasn’t sure.
“I’m not gonna do a big coming out. I’ll just…stop hiding, I guess.”
Then he looked up, and snorted, shaking his head as he’d just told the most amusing joke. He took another sip. Kasey could see his ears blushing as he ripped off a corner of the beer’s label.
“I mean, nothing’s really gonna change, and there’s nothing to hide. But still.”
He said the last words with his usual calm, nonchalant serenity. He threw Kasey a helpless smile, and then returned to watching the people around them as if the conversation had never taken place.
That was what Kasey had never understood. What he’d never comprehended, what he could never do.
How Alex could appear, bright and warm and wonderful, throw a few smiles and jokes around, be what people needed him to be, and then drop bombs like that. Nothing’s really gonna change. There’s nothing to hide. And then he returned to normal, like his own words, his feelings, didn’t matter more than chitchats about the weather.
Kasey just looked at him.
Nothing’s really gonna change.
Alex had never been one for holding back. He’d never been afraid of what he felt, and at the same time he’d never expected anything in return. He just felt, and loved, in his warm and easy way, without taking or holding anything against him.
Kasey was the reason nothing would change. He knew it in his heart.
He knew it every time someone tried to ask Alex about eventual partners, or dates, hookups even, and he just shrugged and smiled. Nothing significant. Not really my thing.
He knew it every time they met or talked on the phone, and Alex inevitably asked about Natalie, but then he’d stay quiet for a bit.
Alex hurt quietly, and Kasey knew, and hurt even more quietly, and none of them would do anything about it.
Alex loved Kasey. He wouldn’t need to come out if it wasn’t Kasey at his side, simply because he didn’t want another man. So, nothing would really change. And the redhead looked like he didn’t mind.
Kasey could swear he was going to go crazy.
Did he know Kasey loved him back? They’d never spoken about it enough for the goalie to understand it, let alone about Nat’s feelings, or their deep conversations about love and guilt and pain the middle of the night. Did he know they watched all his games, traced his helmet on the screen with their fingers? That they whispered his name, like a secret just for the two of them?
Kasey just looked at him, even if it hurt to stare at a soul that didn’t know how to love without hurting. Or how much love and sleepless nights bore his name.
After a moment of silence too long, Alex must have felt Kasey’s stare on him, because he turned, and his smile softened.
“Oh, Kase, don’t look at me like that. I’m fine, really. I just meant…there’s nothing to notice, you know? But it’s fine.”
Kasey looked at him with pleading eyes, even if he didn’t really know what he needed from him. To stop talking, to stop caring, to stop being so nice about it.
Alex sighed, rolling his eyes back, his expression dropping for a second. He took a breath before wearing his smile again.
“Listen, let’s forget it. I just wanna have a good time with my friend, alright? Haven’t hung out in forever, you and I,” he said, nudging their shoulders together. He paused for a second, before taking another sip. “Hey, what are you doing at the end of the month? You know, after you and your team get your hands on that shiny thing.”
Kasey hurriedly looked around for some wood to knock on, but had to settle for the wooden piles under their feet, forming a path to the pool. He gently tapped one with his shoe a few times, ignoring Alex’s disbelieving scoff, and shrugged.
“Dunno,” he said, a small smile returning to his face. “Nothing planned yet.”
Alex grinned. “Well, in that case,” and Kasey rolled his eyes at the old joke, “I have the house at the Hamptons to myself for, huh, a long time. If you wanna come, with Nat of course, I’d be happy to have you two.”
Kasey looked in the crowd by the pool for Natalie, and found her with her feet in the water, talking to Katie as the she moved her tiny feet energetically, sending splashes all around them. The grip in his throat loosened a bit. He nodded.
“I’ll ask her, but you already know the answer.”
“Great,” Alex grinned, leaving a pat on his shoulder. “I’m gonna go grab another beer, want one?”
Try four or five. “I’m good, thanks.”
He returned the smile as Alex walked away, taking away with him a bit of the warmth in Kasey’s body. He let out a sigh, gulping down too much beer at once, and then looked around for a bit. There was something in spring nights that always made tears burn more as they sat stubbornly still at the corner of his eyes.
He glanced at Natalie again, and realized she’d been looking at him for a while, a frown worrying her brows. He bit the inside of his cheek, maintaining eye contact. He didn’t feel like shaking his head and scrolling it off. He didn’t have it in him, not that night. Not after that conversation. And in all honesty, he was tired of dismissing pain like nothing could scrap him.
So, he just shrugged helplessly and made a discrete hand gesture that meant later. She nodded, not fully convinced. Love you, she mouthed. He mouthed it back, and she finally focused on Katie again when he sent her a little smile—more like an imperceptible raise of a corner of the mouth, but she knew him.
He then glanced at the Cubs, still by the snacks table, where Finn was trying to make Logan dance to the rhythm of a low background song. Tremzy looked like he was protesting, but he let the redhead move them, nevertheless. Leo, leaned on the table, was filming them with a smile of his own.
They looked so happy, Kasey thought, glancing back at Natalie, and then searching for Alex, now chatting with Noelle and Thomas.
Kasey looked at the Cubs again, and then at his girlfriend, and then at the man he loved, and decided there was something he could do. Or at least try. He’d talk to Natalie that night, in the quiet comfort of their bedroom. They would figure something out.
Something could change.
.
.
.
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April Fools with the Lions: Best Bits
Omg. Hello? It’s so nice to be back! In honour of April Fools and the discord having a bit of fun with it, I bring you… April Fools with the Lions: Best bits!
All characters belong to @lumosinlove. Happy April Fools!!
Logan rubbed his eyes, waking up fully. Leo curled into his neck at the movement. He looked over to find Finn’s side completely empty. Leo stirred once again and looked up at Logan with a sleepy smile.
Logan squinted at Leo, wondering if he was seeing things.
“Leo, why do you have lion face paint on?” Leo’s face was fully painted, as though he had been to Katie’s birthday party and had been forced to sit down and have his face painted during it.
“Why do you look like a zebra?” Leo asked, just as confused as Logan.
Logan grabbed his phone off of the nightstand and opened up his camera. Sure enough, an intricately painted zebra looked back at him.
He messaged Finn, asking if he woke up the same.
All that was sent back was a smile emoji sent by Siri.
-
“You’re going to walk into the rink like that?” Nat asked Kasey, who was sporting a dolphin and a rainbow across the side of his face.
“I need to find Finn before Finn finds me.” Kasey called back. “I know Alex didn’t do this on his own. He has about as much artistic talent as I do in my little toe.”
Kasey and Nat never did find Finn before practice. They did, however, find a Lion stood dead centre of the locker room looking at the Goalies TPed stalls.
“If this was you, you need to do better next year.” Kasey laughed, clapping Leo on the shoulder. Leo laughed.
“No no no. This was Cole and Layla. They were round the corner watching me come in here thinking I didn’t see them.
“Time to recruit Nat, I think,” Kasey whispered to Leo and pulled out his phone.
-
“Layla I have no clue what to do. I can’t go out on the ice like this. I thought I was being nice by just TPing Kasey’s stall!”
Layla only covered her mouth to suppress a chuckle, watching Cole panic over his now upside down name and number on his jersey.
“All is fair in love and war, Rookie!” Kasey howled through the door, Nat howling after him.
-
Pascal let out a frustrated groan. Some the start of practice, not a single one of his shot found the back of the net. Timmy let out a similar sigh, taking his helmet off and wiping the perspiration off his head.
“It’s playoff season! We can’t be doing this,” he gridded out. He watched Finn line up a perfect shot, only to miss as well. Looking over to Coach Weasley, he wondered why he wasn’t angrier. He looked amused, even.
Pascal looked down at his hockey stick. Something felt… off. He held it out in front of him, Timmy and Kuny doing the same.
“It feels small.” Evgeni stated.
Pascal looked up at the rest of the team to find the Triple Threat of April Fools, Remus, Sirius and James, grinning back at them.
“You know, when I locked Remus and Sirius in my basement, I did not expect to be paid back like this.”
-
“Luke! Luke!”
Luke ran into the bathroom, only to burst out laughing upon finding Saint with bright red hair.
“Was this you?” Saint’s face like thunder, he pointed to his bright red hair. Luke fought to keep a straight face and shook his head.
“I promise it wasn’t. Now hurry up, I need to shower as well.”
Two hours later, Saint and Luke rocked up to practice, looking like Rangers biggest fans sporting bright red and bright blue hair. Logan was unable to make a shot that practice, for he was laughing so hard at the coloured sweat dripping down both their necks. He snapped a pic for Leo, his only partner in fools it would seem…
-
Remus and Sirius made a habit of turning up to practice early. Maybe it was the quiet before the storm, maybe it was the control of having the rink to themselves. One thing they did know, however, was that they liked the rink before anyone started playing the practice session joint playlist. ‘Game Day Vibes’ they called it. A playlist comprising of songs from everyone’s repertoire.
Once the rink was full, Coach allowed the playlist to be put on. Except all that rang through the rink was… a nursery rhyme?
Remus looked over at Finn who was in charge of the playlist. He pressed skip. Finn looked up in confusion as a musical rendition of ‘incy wincy spider’ played out.
“Who, in the ever loving fuck put this in the playlist?” Jackson called out, skating round next to Finn as he frantically scrolled through the playlist. “It’s just nursery rhymes…”
James was doubled over in the far corner, something akin to ‘don’t diss my son’s music taste’ coming out in amongst gasps of laughter.
James had his playlist privileges revoked for 6 weeks.
-
“So we did the ducks last year, what are we doing to Remus and Sirius this year, Dumo?” Julian asked, placing his cereal bowl in the dishwasher.
Pascal thought on it, scratching his head.
Katie bounded in with multiple chain links in Rangers colours.
“Look what I made for Logan, Papa!” She held them up with a big toothy smile. Well, almost toothy. She had a visit from the tooth fairy the previous night.
Jules’ eyes widened and looked over at Pascal, who responded with his own fully toothy grin.
“Go get your brothers and sister, Katie. We have work to do.”
Remus and Sirius returned from practice to find their entire front room decked out in Rangers merch, chain links hanging from each light and across the ceiling.
“I swear as soon as Logan and I meet on the ice again…” Sirius looked over at Remus, “it’s war.”
Remus chuckled and pulled out his phone to find a message from Dumo.
‘Thanks for the key, it’s under the flower pot’
-
Everyone was gathered in Sid’s for their monthly get together. Some of the Rangers had made the trip down as well. Thomas was sat at the bar, his arm hooked loosely around Noelle’s waist.
“So no one managed to get either of the brothers?” She whispered in his ear.
Thomas smiled back at her, eyes softened as he moved a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Not yet. Did you manage to get the video?”
Noelle pulled her phone out of her bag and showed it to Thomas.
“It’s hilarious, T. Me and Nat were in stitches.” Thomas smiled slyly, placed a kiss on Noelle’s forehead, and walked up the the little make shift entertainment stage.
“Can I please have everyone’s attention!” He called out, arms wide. Mutters of ‘speech!’ were called out across the bar, paired with smattering’s of applause.
“Now with the close of another successful year of April Fools, we have this years standings. At the bottom, with the most unoriginal prank I think any of us have ever seen, we have Cole and Layla, who took it upon themselves to TP Knutty and Blizz’s goals.”
A round of ‘boo’s’ swept across the bar.
“Yes, yes, thank you. Do better next year” Cole and Layla had their heads in their hands looking mortified.
“Before I reveal the winner, I have one last thing I would like to do. Who here has been personally victimised by a certain pair of red-headed brothers this year?” Hands went up, Logan the Zebra’s face like thunder as people turned around to chuckle at him.
“Yes, now. I set Christmas on a task a week ago. Big love, Noelle,” he held a glass up to her and winked. “A little birdy once told us that our very own Alexander and Finnigan have their own pregame ritual they started when they were kids. Their mom and dad were more than happy to share this video with us-“
“No no no- please Walker I’m begging you,” Finn called out, laughter clinging onto his every word. Alex’s jaw was on the floor.
“If you’d please turn your attention to the screen.”
An old video played. A young Alex was instructing their parent to sit on the couch whilst Finn was in the background rewinding the tv to the perfect moment. The pair did an almost perfect rendition of the handshake from the parent trap.
Thomas looked back at Finn and Alex who were doubled over in laughter.
#lumosinlove#leo knut#o’knutzy#logan tremblay#finn o'hara#Alex O’Hara#james potter#sirius black#remus lupin#pascal dumais#kasey winter#sweater weather lumosinlove#vaincre lumosinlove#coast to coast lumosinlove
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o'knutzy week day 3: cookout
credit to @lumosinlove
@oknutzyweek2023 <3
team cookouts
remus, dumo (celeste), and leo are in charge of the main courses because they're voted best chefs
james and lily along with dorcas and marlene typically bring desserts
everyone else either brings drinks or snacks
sirius and regulus are always in charge of getting the alcohol (no one really knows why it just kinds happens)
there's lots of dancing and lots of karaoke
lily and james DEMOLISH dancing queen
leo and reg are reigning champions of karaoke night with their killer queen
logan and remus always end up having too many drinks even though they swear they aren't drinking
every cookout brings a new level of peace to everyone
a sense is family a majority of them have lacked
they're always held at dumo's house and more often than not most of the teams ends up sleeping over
either because they drank too much or simply because no one wants the night to end
they have these cookouts at the end of every month and for every holiday
#lumosinlove#sweater weather#logan tremblay#finn o'hara#leo knut#dumo#pascal dumais#celeste dumais#remus lupin#sirius black#regulus black and leo knut#regulus black#james potter#lily evans#dorcas meadowes#marlene mckinnon#kasey winter#talker#gryffindor lions#o'knutzy
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What about Kasey/Alex for #7?
#7: ...to shut them up
"I just think it's really important that we talk about this," Alex said, coaxing Kasey down by the back of his neck. "It's so--mmm--pivotal to our relationship."
Kasey bit him harder. "I assure you it is not."
"Super sure it is." Alex's infuriating grin wasn't even a little ruined by Kasey's custody of his lower lip; in fact, the slight swell almost made it better. His blunt nails drew goosebumps in their wake down Kasey's back and he pressed Alex further into the couch cushions for a simple moment of peace.
His simple moment lasted two and a half seconds.
"Do you even care about my--"
"Oh my god," Kasey interrupted, leaning back to squish Alex's cheeks between his palms and kissing him firmly on the mouth. He felt a laugh, a squirm, a long leg winding around his thigh and hip as Alex burrowed closer.
His pointed nose was cold, and soothed by a faint kiss. "I'm just saying," Alex continued. "I think it's really insulting that you don't care about my hobbies."
"Wild crab migrations have never been your hobby," Kasey pointed out. Resignation was a tiny drop in the ocean of affection rolling inside him; he took Alex's face in his hands again and shook his head for him until a bright smile crinkled his eyes. "Nature documentaries don't belong in my mouth when your tongue is already there, capische?"
Alex stuck his tongue out. "Did you know they can travel up to--"
#kasey winter#alex ohara#odarwin#sweater weather#vaincre#lumosinlove#my fic#fanfic#short fic#fluff#kiss prompts
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Is it just me or does this man give off MAD Captain Sirius Black vibes?? Yes? no? maybe? idk, I had to tell someone… or someones I guess?
Also Remus TOTALLY took these ones:
https://instagram.com/tylerhayek?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
(@lumosinlove i love and appreciate u immensely)
#lumosinlove#oknutzy#sirius black#remus lupin#logan tremblay#leo knut#finn o'hara#coops#vaincre#sweater weather#kasey winter
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Hey Lucy! Could you please write some goalie love? Maybe some hurt-comfort with Leo going to Kasey for advice or something like that? 💛
Edited: 20th Feb 23 - Nothing major, just rewriting some stuff with (what I hope) are much improved skills.
Hey, 💛 Here's some Kasey giving Leo advice after his first game loss.
Rating: G
CW: None that I can think of, but do drop me a message if I have missed anything.
Character credit belongs to @lumosinlove
Leo had lost games before. Of course he had. Nobody got through a high school hockey career without experiencing that low. Still, he hadn't been prepared for the guilt curling in his stomach, pulling at his insides until he felt bitter bile at his throat.
Swallowing, Leo slumped back in his stall trying to silence the jeers of their opponent's fans ringing in his ears. A few feet away, James and Thomas cooed over photos of Thomas' new nephew, whilst Nado and Timmy made similar noises over potential tattoo designs. The rest of the team seemed to have put the defeat behind them already, but even the itch of sweat drying beneath his pads wasn't enough to get Leo moving.
"Hey," Kasey said, slapping his hand against Leo's shoulder before taking a seat in the next stall. "You okay?"
Leo pressed his tounge against the back of his teeth, thinking about shrugging off the question. Kasey watched him patiently; the only sign he was waiting for an answer was in the slight tilt of his head. It reminded him of something his Mama had told him once. People think more than they talk sometimes. You've gotta be comfortable with the silences. He hadn't really understood it back then.
"How'd you do it?" Leo asked eventually
Kasey cocked his head further. "I'm going to need a bit more than that."
Sometimes you have to push just a little.
"Knowing that the loss was your fault," Leo said.
Kasey blinked and cocked his head even further. Was he a fucking cat?
But for the most part, people will talk if you let them.
"Okay," Leo sighed, tangling his fingers together. "I get we're a team, but I should've saved that second goal and if I had we'd have won."
"And if Sirius hadn't lost the puck in the first place?"
"Sirius' job is to score goals meaning there's always a risk of him losing the puck. My entire job is to save goals. It's the only reason I'm here."
Kasey laughed, smoothing his hair out of his face, "Sorry, it's just funny. Rookies, I mean. They never change." He sat more upright, smile dropping into something softer, more reassuring. "Look, Leo. Sometimes you just make a mistake. You've just got to shrug it off, do better next time. Besides, for the pick to end up in front of you, then somebody else messed up too and if you don't blame them then you don't get to blame yourself either. Win together. Lose together."
Everything Kasey was saying made sense, yet Leo found himself trying to twist the words into something that would fit his own narrative. Tugging at a lose piece of skin at the corner of his nail, Leo opened his mouth and then closed it again.
"Stop being stupid," Kasey said as he stood. "Not an insult. Like I said, rookies are all the same. It's normal. You're going to have to get over that self-depriciating shit real quick though, if you want to keep any semblance of mental health in this game."
Leo huffed a breath feeling the air flare his nostrils. He wanted to stomp his feet and tell Kasey he was wrong. Instead, he leaned forwards and began to peel off his pads.
Kasey nodded knowingly. "I can't promise the losses hurt less with time, but you will get used to them. Grab a shower. We're getting burgers. Dinner's on Cap."
Sirius jerked his head up from the tablet he was engrossed with. "Excuse me?"
"The rookie needs cheering up. You're Captain."
"Burgers! Yes!" James whooped, "Thanks Pads. Can Lily come?"
Leo glanced between Kasey and Sirius. He didn't think he'd ever be confident enough to tell Sirius what to do. Despite clear attempts to to be as welcoming as possible he was still Sirius Black, captain of the Gryffindor Lions and impressive as fuck. That was just intimidating.
"OK, D'accord," Sirius threw his hands up in surrender, laughter bubbling on his lips. He shook his head muttering something in French that Leo couldn't quite catch. "For Leo. Just this once."
"Love you, Cap!" Finn called, starting a round of declarations that only got increasingly more ridiculous.
"Words can't express my gratitude."
"What did we do to deserve such a kind and generous leader?"
"I'm blowing you a kiss. Catch it."
"Thanks, Sirius," Leo said quietly, as the team quickly moved on to helping Evgeni choose the perfect shade of blue to repaint his bedroom. "Appreciate it."
Sirius just nodded at him, returning to his tablet briefly before looking back up at Leo. "You're doing great. Keep it up." His face twisted into something conflicted then settled on a smile.
"Everybody is doing great," Kasey agreed, only the slightest hint of sarcasm dripping into the comment. "What a fantastic team we are. Now hurry up, I'm starving."
With each item of clothing Leo removed and the warmth of the water on his skin, the familiar tightness across his chest began to disapate. It was going to be okay. Better than okay, maybe. The Lions were a pretty great bunch of people.
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very obviously checking each other out while undressing, trying to deny it even though it's obvious for cooooopps coops! please?
AAAAHHHH YES AUGUST I SAW THIS ON THE LIST AND INSTANTLY WENT: I GOTTA MAKE THIS COOPS! I'm so glad we are on the same wavelength.
Sorry for any errors, I wrote this on my phone I was too excited to wait to get to my laptop lol
"Yo Cap! Eyes to yourself!" Kasey called from across the room with a barely disguised laugh.
"I thought the saying was hands to yourself?" Talker chimed in.
"If hands get involved here, I'm out." Logan said from where he was sitting in his stall with a bottle of Gatorade. "That's my brother and I don't want to see that."
Remus smirked at Sirius from across the room as he pulled a shirt over his head, clearly enjoying the sight of Sirius who was still in a towel, not yet dressed. "I can't touch him from over here. But later..." He trailed off with a wink.
Sirius cheeks heated and a blush ran down his chest. "I- I wasn't-" he stuttered out. "We aren't doing anything."
"You weren't admiring your jacked boyfriend?" Kasey teased.
"No I- He's wearing a shirt?" Sirius' voice cracked a bit, his mind having not gotten the memo to log back online.
"Yeah you really weren't checking me out? Because I definitely was not not checking you out." Remus laughed through his wicked grin.
"No? Quoi?"
The Lions burst into laughter at the look of bewilderment on their Captain's face.
Remus made his way over to him and kissed his pink cheek, "I'll just wait for you in the car."
#ask prompts#discord besties tag#wolfstar#coops#sirius black#remus lupin#thomas walker#kasey winter#sweater weather lumosinlove
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o'darwin ballroom dance au thoughts for you all cause i was at competition all weekend and then had a 6 hour car ride home
(basic ballroom info can be found at the end under the cut)
the three of them are all partners together and just switch out depending on the style. nat and alex do rhythm and latin, nat and kasey do standard, and alex and kasey do smooth. but if 3-person ballroom was a thing they'd be excellent at it (a side note - competitions do fun dances after each style and our last one was group latin, so my 3 coaches did it together and gave me this idea cause it was adorable) (want to be clear coaches are platonic friends this specifically was just very o'darwin coded)
alex styles his hair very casually, basically just the way it falls normally but aggressively hair sprayed into place. kasey slicks his back into a neat bun. kasey does nat’s hair for her, pulling it back in a twist back into a fancy ballroom bun with lil sparklies to accessorize
my former coach’s partner has a smooth jacket that’s - well idk if it’s actually velvet cause that’d be quite heavy for dance - but a velvet like texture and it’s subtly shiny under the lights and i imagine alex wearing that for smooth. paired with kasey, in something classic but maybe with some subtle detailing? rip
nat’s latin dress is black with gold detailing. the skirt is a high to low style and it’s super cute and bouncy. her standard dress is long and i wanna go royal blue. maybe red. or green. some bright royal shade. it’s got this beautiful full skirt and she has ribbons on cuffs she attaches to her wrists for certain dances. the dress has silver gemstone detailing on the bodice
they stay in a hotel for competitions and share soft sleepy kisses in the elevator up on the way back, heavy bags hanging off their shoulders. alex insists on carrying nat’s costumes for her (he’d carry her bag too but he doesn’t have enough arms for that)
cheering each other on from the sidelines and the two dancing always smile at their third when they hear/spot them
social dancing and nat is laughing while kasey twirls her all around, alex watching from the side, falling more in love with each laugh and smile from the two of them
falling into bed with each other, all soft hands and quiet giggles. they have passionate and rougher times too but in my head o’darwin are just so somft with each other. alex carefully taking nat’s shirt off and kissing each inch of bare skin he uncovers. kasey standing behind her with gentle hands on her hips, nosing at her neck. alex and kasey taking turns fucking nat and it’s different with both but just as good. alex getting his mouth on kasey and reveling in the sounds he makes
nat steals alex's sweatpants constantly. they fit better than kasey's so she steals his sweatshirts instead. kasey and nat steal each other's hair elastics, one of them always has one on hand
the three of them aren't like all over each other at competition, looking at them you might not guess they were romantically together rather than just dance partners, but you can tell they have a connection with each other through their dancing and know each other well. when partners actually like and know each other it shows and makes it that much better to watch. but if you paid close enough attention (not sure why anyone would but) you'd be able to see the quick kisses and gentle intimate moments between the three of them between rounds
now i'd put them in open, so they wouldn't have to wake up at the crack of dawn like us poor syllabus dancers (rip me), but if they were partners back then:
bb college alex and kasey partnering together kasey's first year (i put alex maybe a year older), and falling for each other towards the end of the year semester. they're never together, not really, but they've kissed and had sex and are close despite the complication of whatever it is their feelings are. kasey transfers schools after his freshman year and they're both devastated but they can't do a whole lot about it. they promise to keep in touch, but it's hard
at his new school, kase meets and partners up with natalie who's a freshman and new to ballroom. he's so shy and awkward around her at first, but he's patient and helps her learn. soon they become good friends and kasey gets less awkward. kasey is terrified to let himself fall for her after falling for alex, but he can't help it; nat is just so bright and delightful, and he finds himself spending hours outside of practice with her, just enjoying each other's company. nat - i don't wanna say wears him down cause that implies she pressured him, it's more she makes her own feelings known, respects his boundaries, and lets kasey sort his own feelings out on his time. together, they eventually decide to start dating, after kasey allows nat to kiss him late one night, saying he just wants to know, but really he's just too scared to say it outright. natalie is the one who asks if he'll be her official boyfriend. he agrees
anyway. back to 5am wake up times. comp starts at 8am, doors open at 7, and if you're in the first few rounds like they would be, that's when you arrive, hair and makeup already mostly ready if you can. nat and kasey staying together for their first competition and it's the first night they've spent together. they're bleary-eyed and exhausted, still new to their relationship, but there's sleepy kisses and gentle touches as they help each other get ready
they compete at bronze and do quite well, especially for natalie's first ever comp. i made my dear newcomer partner dance up to bronze because i've really danced too long to be in newcomer still, and she did great. anyway. it's a smaller comp, only one day. they don't place in anything, but they advance past the first round in every dance they compete, which is still very good
it's a long day for them both, but a fun one. a lot of time spent at ballroom competitions is standing around waiting for results. so there's a lot of that. they sit with the rest of their team ofc. it's a good bonding exercise
i have more thoughts but this is long enough as is so i'll stop for now cause it's nearly 2am and i really need to be asleep. i meant for this to just be headcanons and now it's gaining a plot. ah well
apologies if these don't make sense, i was awake for 20 hours straight sunday and wrote half of them in the car. i've been recovering since. also today i took a 2hr nap at 7pm and now here we are nearing 2am
ballroom basics for those who are very lost
ballroom is split into four styles for competitions:
standard: international waltz, intl tango, intl foxtrot, quickstep, intl viennese waltz
smooth: american waltz, am tango, am foxtrot, am v waltz
latin: intl cha cha, intl rumba, samba, jive, paso doble
rhythm: am cha cha, am rumba, east coast swing, mambo, bolero
in the international dances, you aren't allowed to separate from your partner. you stay in frame - hands clasped basically - the whole time. in american style, you are allowed to separate. there's other differences to some, but that's the major one. rumba, foxtrot, and tango are the ones that are most different.
collegiate competitions have two levels: syllabus and open
syllabus: there's a specific list of moves you are allowed to do at each level. the levels go newcomer, bronze, silver, gold.
open: you can basically do what you want. there are no specific guidelines to the steps you can do. within reason, i mean, you can't just start doing an entirely separate dance. this is when it gets really fun to watch. the levels go novice, pre-champ, champ.
some competitions will let you cross-register, which basically means you can compete at multiple levels. many also compete different styles at different levels, allowed at all competitions, because learning that many dances well is quite difficult and takes a lot of time.
after newcomer dances will start being paired. so if you compete one, you must compete the other. common ones at bronze are intl waltz/quickstep, am waltz/tango, and cha cha/rumba. those were all paired at my competition this past weekend. starting in gold, they'll put three or four dances paired. at open, all dances are paired. so for example, a standard event in all open levels would include intl waltz, tango, foxtrot, and quickstep. each couple would have to dance all four. then separately they would have a syllabus v waltz event, which is open to anyone.
though hosted and mostly attended by college teams, anyone is allowed to enter a collegiate competition. once you get to the higher levels, especially open, most dancers are not still college students. you can't get that good in four years, so if they are college-age they would've had to start beforehand. those who don't register with a team are generally just put in as unaffiliated. schools are registered under the school. coaches can register through the school they coach for as well, if they register together. my coaches have done both. this doesn't really make a difference. mostly just a way of organization more than anything. we still claim my former coach as our own despite her now living and working in a different state and coaching a different team with her partner. we don't like him. i digress.
i hope this helped anyone if you bothered to read it
#o'darwin#ballroom au#o'darwin ballroom au#ballroom headcanons#alex o'hara#kasey winter#natalie darcy#lumosinlove#sweater weather#vaincre#audrey talks dance#or well#rambles more like
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just thinking about the lions doing the “about damn time” dance… i have a feeling leo would steal the show
#not fic#finn o'hara#leo knut#logan tremblay#lumosinlove#sweater weather#o’knutzy#vanicre#kasey winter#remus lupin#sirius black#gryffindor lions
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Baby Kasey
Character by @lumosinlove
#aaaaaand last one up again is kasey#maybe ill do some other ones some time#lumosinlove#kasey winter#if you wanna see anyone#tell me please :)#sweater weather#vaincre#kasey winter moodboard#o'darwin moodboards#moodboard by meee#moodboard#o'darwin
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no other shade of blue, but you.
#kasey winter#not sure about it but was messing around with the shading#kaseyyyyy#sweater weather lumosinlove#vaincre lumosinlove
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Love is in the Air
hello! this is a sickfic from your sick Lou. I wrote and published this all in one hour, don't ask questions. it contains major Vaincre spoilers, you've been warned!
have a sick Alex O'Hara and his partners taking care of him. this is set after Vaincre, and therefore features a retired Kasey.
all characters belong to @lumosinlove. read it on ao3 here.
“I gotta go to All Stars.”
“No, you don’t.”
“But I do. I can’t miss it.”
“Alex, All Stars was three months ago.”
“I gotta go.”
“No.”
Kasey smiled despite the situation. A sick Alex O’Hara was…something. A helpless bundle of blankets and tissues that insisted he could do everything on his own. I’ve lived on my own for years, Winter. His scowls would have been more convincing if not followed by a series of sneezes every time.
Natalie entered the bedroom with a bag of candy in hand. She popped one in her mouth.
“What is he on about?”
“He absolutely has to go to All Stars.”
Her eyebrows went up with a smile as she approached the bed. “Wasn’t one enough for you, big boy?”
Alex mumbled something, burying himself deeper into his nest.
Natalie sat on the bed next to him, shooting a glance at Kasey, across the infamous pile, who was chewing his lip. Alex sighed in relief as soon as a cool hand touched his forehead.
“His fever went up,” she stated.
Kasey nodded. “Yeah. He’s been talking nonsense since he woke up from his nap.”
She hummed. “I called Ramsey. He and Haley are in Gryffindor for Finn’s game but he asked me to keep them updated. He doesn’t get sick often, he said. Or at all.”
Their fingers met mid-stroking red hair, and held on to each other for a moment.
It was just a fever, nothing to panic about. But it was the first time they got to take care of Alex together, and he was taking a while to get back on his feet. The doctor on the phone had mentioned the stress of the season, that didn’t mix well with the constant moving around of roadies. Alex had scrunched his nose, looking elsewhere, in a silent this has never happened before. Kasey had taken his hand in a firm grip. If there was someone who understood the frustration of your own body beginning to act differently, that was him. And just like Alex was helping through it all, Kasey was ready to do the same. For a fever or an injury, he would be there.
The bundle of blankets stirred.
“Nat,” Alex called without emerging from his nuzzle. “Will you be my date at All Stars?”
Natalie smiled, shaking her head. “Alexander, I was your date at All Stars. Three months ago.”
Alex sighed. “Kasey is sabotaging my presence at All Stars.”
“Is he now?”
“You’d think he’d be more supportive, wouldn’t ya.”
“So much hate,” she agreed, looking at Kasey with a grin.
He shook his head, bringing another blanket up to the redhead’s shoulders to stop the trembling. And left a kiss there, as if to trap the heat. When he noticed the candies on Natalie’s lap, his eyebrows shot up.
“Speaking of hate, aren’t those candies supposed to be for the weak?”
She took another one, looking at Kasey. “Alex, baby, do you want your candy right now?”
A low groan answered.
“Yeah, how about later,” she said softly, bringing a third one to her mouth. Point taken.
Kasey scoffed. “Yeah, if there’ll be any left for later.”
One of the few pillows survivors of the blanket nest hit his shoulder weakly, and they laughed. Alex scooted closer to where Kasey was lying at his side, getting comfortable on his chest. Big arms kept him close, drawing a happy sound from under the blankets.
Natalie stared at them for a moment before getting up. “Okay. I’ll go check on the soup. Should I bring it here?”
Kasey looked up at her. “I’ll investigate.”
They shared a quick kiss, and Natalie left a soft peck on Alex’s back before leaving the room.
Silence lasted…longer than usual. It was a rare thing, with an O’Hara in the room. The raspy breaths and the mix of stirs and trembling were a strange comfort against Kasey, a moving presence that kept Alex from falling into quietness.
“She was stunning.”
He said it so quietly that Kasey had to ask him to repeat.
“At All Stars. She was stunning.” He sniffled against his hoodie. “She, she was wearing that dress. That silk dress. It was wow. How did she call that kind of blue?”
Kasey smiled. “Light steel blue.”
“Light steel blue,” Alex repeated to himself. “She’s always so wow. ’nd so are you.”
“Thank you. You’re pretty wow yourself.”
Alex huffed. “Yeah, I bet. ’specially right now.”
Kasey shrugged. “You are to us.”
He felt a head shaking in disagreement somewhere below his neck. “’M all sweaty and sick and stinky.” Then the head finally emerged. “Why are you here? You shouldn’t be here. You’ll get sick, too.”
His face was red, radiating heat at the mere sight. The weekend scruff had turned into a week-old scruff, and messy hair was in every direction. His eyes were a glassy gaze, and just below, purple circles from sleepless nights were slow to fade. Kasey brought the hair back from the pearly forehead and left a careful kiss there. A fever kiss, half temperature check, half concern.
“Nah,” he replied softly. “I’m fine here.” He gently brought the burning head to rest on his shoulder, chest expanding at the way Alex’s fists grasped his hoodie.
Truth was, it was the first time in years he had the possibility to stay close to Alex with one of them being sick. No coaches or team doctors warning to limit contact with sick players, or roadies and games keeping them apart. Kasey found he missed many things about the League, but there was also a long list of discoveries and relief that didn’t end with letting his body rest. Finally being able to take care of Alexander and being close to him was a wonderful, new thing. And not just for the time of a weekend, or a home game. It was their new life. It was amazing.
He gathered the man closer to him, keeping his voice down to reduce the wincing Alex couldn’t help with too loud noises. We’re going to take care of you. You’re going to rest, and I can give you a massage later. I know your back is still hurting. Dinner will be ready soon. We can have it here or on the couch, if you feel like moving. Then you’ll have your candies. And your meds. And I’ll be here the whole time. I’ve been waiting for this, Berry.
Alexander stirred some more, head buried in Kasey’s neck. “Love you, Winter. In sickness’n’health’n’all.”
Kasey smiled in his hair. “Yeah. ’n all.”
.
.
.
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Letters (XIX)
I am baaaack! This is a long one. I hope you like it. I really hate me for using roman numerals.
@whataboutmyfries I love you, I love you, I love you. I'm not sure if you know but I love you.
These lovely idiots beelong to @lumosinlove
Dear Kasey,
How could you forget that I tend to create chaos? That’s basically one of my best character traits and you kept complaining every single time we shared a room. Remember the two weeks when we lived together because there needed to be some renovations done at your place? You always tripped over my bag. Every single day. And then you would complain that the bag’s not supposed to be there. I have to admit, I put my bag in your way on purpose at least once. It was fun to watch. You looked annoyed and grumpy but also some kind of happy? I don’t know how to describe it, but I liked it. I liked having you around. Why didn’t we share an apartment? I think we should’ve done that.
I totally get that. Family can be a lot. I love my family and I love that I’m so close and can see them whenever I want (usually) but I’m also happy to go back to my silent apartment and just be alone without anyone popping in and asking questions or in need of something. So, don’t feel bad about feeling that way. It’s absolutely normal and just part of growing up, I guess.
Saying that, yes, I annoyed the hell out of Finn when he visited. There’s something up with him, but I don’t know what exactly. I know he wanted to bring something up several times but didn’t in the end. He would rather say something else than what was really on his mind. Like, we were out in the park, running together like we always do. Running and chatting, that’s like our thing. We were silent for a while and I noticed Finn was glancing sideways at me every now and then, almost as if he was trying to bring out the courage to say something. And after another while, he said: “Alex, uhm… I…” then just stopped, shook his head and said “Race me.” And he took off into a sprint, that bastard. I caught him. I’m still faster than him, let’s see for how much longer though. But stuff like that kept happening all the time during his stay. I didn’t push him, though. That was the right thing to do, right? He’ll tell me when he’s ready, whatever this is about. Right? I hope he knows that there’s nothing he can’t tell me. There is absolutely nothing he could say or do that I would judge him for. I’d bury a corpse for him, no questions asked. Okay, I’d have some questions (God, please don’t let it be about a corpse). I should probably call Finn and tell him that I love him, no matter what. I’ll do that later.
I had a fantastic time with Inés these last weeks. She also had some weeks off, but she still had to work at the bar, so a long trip wasn’t possible (time wise and money wise, she wouldn’t even let me as much as suggest that I’d pay for her. We both know I have enough money for that), but we met often and discovered New York together. I've lived here all my life and there are still so many places I’ve never been to before. It was fun to see the city through her eyes. One night, I picked her up after her shift at the bar and we went to a club together. Inés is beautiful and smart and amazing and great, but she absolutely can’t dance. Graceful isn’t a word that I’d use to describe her, to be honest. She told me before we went to the club that she can’t dance but I didn’t believe her. But she hadn’t lied. We had so much fun that night, doing stupid moves together. People stared at us. I swear they did. I loved watching her on the dance floor. She’s just so full of life, you know? And that happiness lights up an entire room, fills it. I don’t know, I’m probably talking nonsense.
I managed to talk her into a small trip though! Only for three days. We went camping close to DC (she insisted on paying her share) and did some hiking in the area. It was super sunny, and I got a bad sunburn on the first day (stop laughing). But do you know what a cloudless, sunny day brings? A cloudless, starry night sky. We lay under the sky and watched the stars. It was rom-com movie romantic, I swear. Except for my sunburn; that reminded me why sunscreen is a good invention with every move that I made.
Did you get to make the road trip with Natalie? If so, where did you go? And yes, you should totally take her to Toronto with you the next time. I bet she wants to see every place that means something to you, and I bet she even more wants to hear every embarrassing story your mom has to tell about you. I love your mom and her stories. And I’d love to visit you in Canada one day. Yes, I know we said that like a hundred times before and never managed to do so, but one day, I promise. Maybe not when you take Nat with you for the first time. I bet there’s a lot of stuff you want to do with her alone and I really don’t want to be the third wheel. Take your time alone together, you two lovebirds. But if I visit, I want to go to the mountain you talked about in your last letter.
Okay, so I know you’ve probably already heard about it because it’s all over the internet and you probably wonder why I haven’t mentioned it earlier. I got traded. I’m playing for Tampa when the next season starts. I already took care of the logistics, and all there’s left to do is pack up my stuff. I’m leaving in a couple of days.
I told Inés about it as soon as I knew. And we had a really long (and emotional) talk and we decided that it’s best for both of us if we break up. It wasn’t an easy decision, neither for her nor for me, but I know she didn’t like long-distance relationships. She barely has any free time as it is and once the season starts again, I’ll have anything but free time. She won’t be able to visit me because of her classes and work and money is always tight for her (obviously). And we both don’t want a relationship where we see each other every six months or so. And you and I know I suck at long distance friendships. Can you imagine how bad I would be in a relationship? So, yeah. We talked like adults and we both think it’s the right thing to do. Hard, but right. And it’s not something I just say because it’s something you say. We really talked it through, every possibility. Maybe we can be friends one day, I really hope that, but for now we both need some distance (won’t be hard, once I’m in Tampa). God, that sucks. We had such a great summer and I like her. Like really like her, Kase.
Sometimes I wonder if the stars or the gods or maybe fate itself look at us, at me, and tell themselves: “Oh, Alex O’Hara, your life is going too smoothly right now. Let’s add another step stone, another path you don’t see coming.”
I know I’m so lucky. I get to live the life I dreamed of. I just don’t want to leave my home. I don’t want to leave my family behind. I don’t want to leave Inés. Why did it happen now? Why this year? Maybe if our relationship had been longer, things would have been different.
I know, I’m being dramatic here. Don’t worry about me, I’m okay. Or I’m going to be. I’m alright.
So, that’s the news, I guess. I had a great summer until I didn’t.
I have to get moving now, pack the last of my stuff.
Bye for now,
Alex
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Hi I was wondering if you could do loops angst with the team kinda comforting him. Maybe through in some insomnia???
this kinda ended up in a the team is helping him but they don't know it kind of way so hopefully that was close enough <3
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Remus sighed for what felt like the thousandth time before turning onto his other side. He was restless and he had nothing to blame except his insomnia. It was well past midnight and Remus was so tired he could cry.
He was tired and annoyed and he just wanted to sleep.
Reaching a blind hand over to the hotel nightstand he grabbed his phone and let out a frustrated sound. It was 5-fucking-30 and he had to get up in two and a half hours. Remus slapped his phone down on the bed with a little more force than he meant to but he’s annoyed okay? He is utterly exhausted yet his brain won’t shut the fuck up.
When he felt the telltale burn in his nose and eyes and sat up abruptly. He was not going to cry like a fucking baby just because he can’t sleep. No way. If he can’t sleep he may as well get up now so he can act awake at practice.
Normally he roomed with Sirius but Sirius was in James’s room. They had gone for drinks and then went to talk in James’s room but Remus got a text around 1 in the morning that Sirius was falling asleep and not to worry if he stopped answering and didn’t make his way up to bed.
Remus considered being upset but honestly, James and Sirius hadn’t been spending enough time together recently and Sirius would have just been concerned about Remus not getting any sleep.
Groaning, he rolled out of bed and grabbed some clothes before going to the bathroom to change and brush his teeth. He didn’t bother trying to tame his hair which was slightly crazy due to how much rolling around he was doing.
As he reached to open the door knob turned and Remus froze momentarily. His life flashed before his eyes. The door opened and Remus stayed tense until his eyes met Sirius’s. “Jeez.” Remus gasped, his hand coming up to his chest in his go-to you scared the crap out of me move.
Sirius just stared at him for a moment before cocking his head to the side. “What are you doing away, Re?” Remus could practically see the concern coming off Sirius in waves. He just shrugged tiredly, not really having the energy to do much else. “Couldn’t sleep.” Sirius searched his face and Remus stood there, he figured Sirius would figure out the problem with or without Remus trying to hide it.
Sirius seemed to find what he was looking for and opened his arms for Remus to fall into. “It’s okay, love.” Sirius whispered as he pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. Remus stuck his nose into the space between Sirius’s shoulder and neck and exhaled softly.
“I’m just tired.” Remus cursed himself for how shaky it came out. Sirius tightened his hold and pressed another kiss to the top of his head. “I know. I’m sorry. Did you get any sleep?” Remus shuddered slightly and shook his head.
Sirius swayed them gently for a moment before letting him go. “Do you want to go to Leo’s room? A few of the boys are already awake and they’re all in there. Or we can just lay down in relax. Whatever you want to do.” Remus sighed and nodded. “That sounds nice.” He said quietly, a yawn taking over quickly.
The walk was quiet. Sirius held his hand the entire way and kept pressing random soft kisses to his head or hand. Remus squeezed his hand in appreciation.
When they got to the door Sirius knocked quietly. Logan opened the door and ushered them in. There were quiet a few ‘Good mornings’ and Remus was honestly surprised by how many people were awake so early. They typically went to bed earlier though, due to getting up early and having long and taxing days. He knew that James, Leo, Dumo, and Winter always got up early to keep a schedule but he hadn’t realized Logan did. Perhaps it was because he roomed with Leo.
Logan returned to Leo who was sitting at the small table in the kitchen talking animatedly to Winter. They both had paused to say good morning before diving right back to the conversation. James was on the bed on his phone, presumably talking to Lily since it was almost ten in the morning back home.
Dumo sat next to James on the bed watching a black and white movie on the TV. He had his legs pulled to his chest as he did a crossword puzzle that was resting on his knees. Remus plopped down in front of him and felt the bed dip where Sirius sat beside him with his back against Dumo’s legs. It was a tight fit between the four of them but it was surprisingly comfortable.
Remus rubbed his eyes, which were burning from having been open for so long, before adjusting so he could put his head on Sirius’s chest. Sirius wasted no time in pulling him in closer with an arm resting around his shoulders.
The sun hadn’t risen yet and only the bathroom light was on, the door opened so that the light could spill into the room without it being too bright. The soft sounds coming from the TV and the kitchen conversations were slowly lulling him but he fought the hope blooming in his chest that maybe he would get a little sleep after all.
Sirius ran a hand through his hair and leaned down slightly to whisper in his ear. “Close your eyes, love.” Remus shook his head and burrowed further into Sirius’s side. “Can’t sleep.” Sirius kissed the top of his head and continued running his fingers through Remus’s hair. “That’s okay, just rest your eyes.”
Remus huffed a little but did as he said. He didn’t quite see the point but he sighed as the burn in his eyes lessened. Sirius kept messing with his hair and his other hand came up to run up and down his back. Remus was struck again by just how much he loved Sirius. There was so much comfort in knowing that Sirius would always have his back and care enough to make sure Remus was doing okay.
The repetitive sounds of Dumo’s pencil on his paper and James tapping on his screen was pushing him over the edge but his consciousness was trying its hardest to stay awake.
Remus didn’t realize when he fell asleep but Sirius did. Sirius smiled as he felt Remus’s breaths even out. He dropped one last kiss on his forehead before he turned his attention back to the movie.
#lumosinlove#sweater weather#coops#remus lupin#sirius black#logan tremblay#leo knut#o'knutzy#kasey winter#dumo#pascal dumais#james potter
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Solstice Sweetheart
Happy Secret Santa, Elise! This was such a fun prompt to tackle, and I hope you find as much joy in the New Year as these three <3 O'Darwin belong to @lumosinlove and the Cold Brewed Enchantments/ witchy coffeeshop genderbend AU is credited to the server's lovely minds!
Nat inhaled.
Bottles on the table—mostly. Repurposed jars held most of their previous contents, and those had been scattered to kingdom come since the night began. As they should be, of course. He could think of nothing worse than a mediocre solstice party. Awkwardness was born and bred in the cliquey little huddles of a party gone wrong.
Nat exhaled.
None of that, now. The house was still standing. People had fun. Out-of-control spellwork had been kept to a dull roar, even after the firewhiskey made an appearance. He could feel, deep in his soul, that it had been a good night.
Glass chimed in the other room. Kasey, if Nat had to guess. That sound had the hallmarks of her careful handling all over it. Alex was somewhere on the stairs if the heavy footsteps were any indication. If she was untangling the streamers from the banister, Nat was going to…he didn’t even know, anymore. He had spent the better part of a year since Alex’s arrival in their little town trying to figure out what the hell was going on between his girlfriend and the gorgeous new girl, with naught but a spinning head to show for it.
They knew each other. Kasey had told him that much. The dulled gray-blue of her tone said more than words could.
Soft humming floated through the empty doorframe. The gentle rasp of Alex’s voice had such a lovely color to it, like fresh maple syrup or crystalline honey. It glowed against the jewel tones of the rest of her—rich, curling clues tucked in tight next to sparking reds.
Kasey’s braid caught the light when she turned, only just visible through the kitchen doorway. Nat had loved that about their house since the first day; so few doors to still the air. Something was always in motion, always making noise. He wished Kasey could see it—the brilliance of sound, the cool shades of her voice—but she just seemed to like it so much when he described it.
And maybe that was something just for him to cherish. Their life clung to the ceiling corners like cobwebs. Words and music and laughter. A snippet of Kasey singing ‘happy birthday’ had been lingering in the dining room window since the summer.
“Winter!”
An electric blue comet zipped from the stairs to the kitchen sink.
“What?” came the mossy wave of Kasey’s answer.
“Knutty promised pastries for us tomorrow! She’s trying new recipes. Needs extra mouths.”
Alex would need more hands if she was trying to text Leo and clean at the same time. Nat gathered an armful of empty bottles off the table and dumped them into the recycling bin before turning to the staircase, where one sneaker-clad foot was barely visible through the slats in the railing.
“New recipes?” he asked.
Alex’s face popped into view. Still freckled, even in the dead of winter. Nat felt his stomach perform a funny little flip-flop over itself at her bright smile. “Oh, hey!”
Orange and gold fireworks, crackling about her head. “Thanks for cleaning that up.”
“Ah, don’t worry about it.” Alex’s vague wave sent a curlicue of taupe his way. His mouth tanged with citrus when it reached him. “Least I can do.”
“None of the other guests stayed to help,” Nat pointed out, bending to collect a few paper crowns.
“None of the other guests are as gracious as me.” Her smile was quick and mischievous, but genuine. How often had Nat thought the same of its owner? “Get up here, Music Man. Where’s your solstice sweetheart?”
“Downstairs, with the dishes.”
Alex pulled a face that made her pointed nose wrinkle. “I told her I’d handle those.”
“Clearly it worked,” Nat teased. “Don’t feel too bad. You know how she gets around the solstice.”
A test. Just a teeny-tiny-itty-bitty maybe of a test. Alex’s fond smile was far and away the best answer. “Yeah,” she said, darting a grin toward Nat. “You’re a lucky one, Darcy. It ain’t easy being a seasonal delight.”
“I think she’s pretty great all year.”
“Good answer.”
It was times like this when Nat wondered if Alex could see what he saw. Or at least, if she understood. Dark topaz eyes ticked along the path of pensive purple.
Alex had been speaking in purple a lot, lately. He knew why. Even without his gift, he’d be a fool to miss the way she reached, hesitated, ached for Kasey now that their distance could be measured in inches instead of borders. It pulled at them both, torn edges of the past snagging on the present. He knew what it felt like to match himself to Kasey’s steady keel and let her draw him through her oceans. Alex spoke like someone who had swum those waters before, unafraid that Kasey would ever close the ice around her.
Nat…wanted that. For himself, and a laughed morning, Music Man held in golden parentheses, but more than that, for Kasey. She deserved so much. He could give so much. But if Alex had ridden out the storm and found harbor in Kasey’s heart enough to linger after all these years, Nat would be worse than a fool to let that fall away for his own sake. He could love them both.
Did.
Would.
“Nathaniel.”
“Alexandra.”
“You’re thinking at me.”
“You’re in love with my girlfriend.”
Alex’s hands never stuttered on the loops of ribbon. “Yes.”
Butter yellow. A pastel, more tender than her heavy saturation, but unyielding. “You didn’t stay here just to be a good guest.”
“No.”
Dandelion cradled in blush pink. “You’re in love with me.”
“Yes.”
She didn’t whisper. He didn’t know why he thought she would. Alex never whispered. She was far too vibrant for it to do any good. It didn’t matter if she was banging on their door to drag them out for a taste of Leo’s kitchen witchery or falling asleep on their throw pillows in her fox form—wherever Alex was, the world grew brighter.
“You should tell her,” Nat said.
“I won’t get in the way of what you have.”
“You won’t,” he agreed. It had lacked the fuzzy edges of a question, but that didn’t matter. Anything, as long as she understood.
“It’s—” The maroon undercurrent of her voice curdled mauve. Her gaze fell on him with the weight of a feather alighting on the water. “It was before you. I let her go. It’s okay.”
“Alexandra.” An old joke between them, perhaps too flirty for simple friends. Nat propped his chin on the end of the railing and made sure she was looking, really looking, before he continued. “I’m in love with my girlfriend, and I’m more in love with you every time you come by, and I’m pretty sure our solstice sweetheart has been head over heels for you since the day you met.”
Alex’s lips pressed together, but the smile ticking at the corners betrayed her.
“It seems like a waste to sit here and be sad on the stairs when Kasey Winter is in the kitchen and waiting for you to say something,” he finished quietly.
His heart should be racing. His stomach should be in knots, all aflutter the way it had been when he first asked Kasey out. But with Alex looking at him like she could hardly believe the marvel of her ears, he found only calm waiting.
“Yes.”
Crimson bloomed around the word. Alex was so sure of herself—Nat thought he might love that most about her, from not-so-sneaky tips stuffed into her sister’s café jar to her utter confidence that whatever new drink she brought to their doorstep would be the most delicious thing they had ever tasted. She was unfailingly correct. His eyes flickered to her mouth.
“What are you waiting for?” she challenged.
“Kasey first.” She deserved so much.
Alex’s smile grew, and she pushed herself up with a “don’t have to tell me twice” that flashed peacock through the stairwell. Peacock, like Kasey’s laughter on the first day of winter when her magic was thick and strong in her veins. Nat was pretty sure some part of his heart beat just to hear that sound and watch it coat their home.
He was already reaching for the ribbon where she left off when Alex’s hand closed around his wrist and dragged him after her. He couldn’t help a laugh and didn’t particularly want to—turquoise shimmered ahead of them where Kasey was singing along to the record player under her breath. What a thing to have waiting.
“Winter.”
Kasey looked up, a casserole dish held in both hands under the warm water. Her eyes darted between them; a golden brow arched. “What did you…”
It took two steps for Alex to close the distance between them. She shut the faucet off and took Kasey’s hands from the sink, holding her wrists between them without a care for the water dripping on them both. “Please?” came the lilac-soft request.
Any other time of year, and Kasey might have questioned it.
The solstice lined her in threads of gold and blue. Her cheeks were round and flushed pink with power, and her hands were steady despite the anticipation that quickened her breath when she looked to Nat, then back to Alex, then to Nat once more. “You spoke?”
“Yeah.”
Kasey leaned in and kissed her without a moment’s hesitation.
Nat watched Alex’s ribs expand to accommodate a deep breath in—tiny crystals of ice began budding in the water droplets on Kasey’s skin as she cupped her hands around the back of Alex’s head and exhaled, long enough for steam to billow up between them. It was kind of the season to let everyone else see how much of a wonder she was.
“Mmm, wait wait wait,” Alex hummed when Kasey began pulling away. She closed her hands around Kasey’s forearms without a care for the chill and kissed the smile from her lips in a burst. “Storm girl,” she whispered with periwinkle fondness that made Kasey blush. Her thumb traced the peony-pink of her cheekbones and Nat steadied himself on the countertop. “Gods and fae, I missed you.”
Nat loved her when she was a chattering fox on their couch, and loved her when she was tall and kind and warm in every word. He loved her when her booming reds mingled with Kasey’s mellow blue in harmony so perfect it struck him silent, just to listen and watch for a second longer.
“Nathaniel!”
When Alex pulled away to launch herself into his arms with a laugh so bright and happy he could see it through closed eyes, he thought he might love her so much he’d burst with it. The solstice was the time of greatest and best change for them. He could think of no better way to start anew than with Alex beside them.
#natalie darcy#kasey winter#alex o'hara#o'darwin#sweater weather#lumosinlove#my fic#fanfic#coldbrewed enchanments#witchy genderbend au#secret santa 2023#winter solstice
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