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smusherina · 17 days

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yard work - chapter 9 (regina george x reader)

fandom: Mean Girls (all media)

pairing: Regina George x OFC/Reader

summary: You'd been in the same class as Regina George since kindergarten. You'd lived on the same street even longer. Once upon a time, when life was sandbox disputes and who got the swing first arguments, you'd even been friends. Now, in junior year of high school, you doubted she even remembered you. The same couldn't be said about you. You definitely remembered her.

warnings(s): use of the d-slur, the one for lesbians. use of the q-slur, the one that’s been taken back.

chapter 1 / chapter 2 / chapter 3 / chapter 4 / chapter 5 / chapter 6 / chapter 7 / chapter 8 / chapter 10

You lost track of time, mind consumed by Regina's mouth on yours. The feel of her lips, her hands playing with the hairs at the back of your neck, made you tingle. You didn't know much about actual technique when it came to kissing, but taking cues from and mirroring Regina seemed to work. When she opened her mouth and bit your bottom lip, you chanced a little tongue. Met with welcome, the kiss deepened. The sensations had you shivering, hands gripping tightly at Regina's waist.

"Bed, now," Hazy and a little slow, you chased Regina when she pulled away, making a pathetic little sound at the loss of her. She stood up and pulled you with her, roughly pushing you onto your back. Sprawled on the bed, you could only watch as she climbed over you. Soon, her lips descended down on yours again and your eyes blinked shut.

Then, startling you like a bucket of cold water thrown onto you, her hands snuck under your shirt. Her nails brushed at your ribs and you, despite the nervous excitement bubbling, began to feel apprehensive.

"Reg," You mumbled, hands moving from her shoulders to her upper arms. "Reg, I- hold on."

"What?" She kissed down your cheeks to your neck.

"Hold on, I-" Your breath hitched, the tickle of her lips in such a sensitive place hindering your ability to speak. "I don't wanna have sex."

As if shaken from a trance, Regina pulled away abruptly. Her hands slid out of your shirt and rested on either side of your torso, looming above you. The dim, warm tinted lamp light from the nightstand made her hair, hanging around you, seem like a halo. Or a canopy.

"You don't want to have sex." She said, voice a little hoarse and eyes betraying something until she pulled the shutters closed. "You're lucky I'm letting you get this far."

You stared up at her, stunned. "What? Letting me? You're on top of me."

"I know you want this. You've been wanting this for a long time. I've seen the way you look at me, the way you act around me." She spoke fast as if she was trying to convince both you and herself.

Panic was beginning to constrict around your throat. It took a while to find your voice.

"Reg, I'm sorry, but-"

"You should be sorry." She crawled away from on top of you and stood up. You leaned up on your elbows to keep looking at her. "You should be so sorry."

"I- I am," You tried to reassure her, tried to hold down your own hurt. "I just thought this was a little fast."

She rolled her eyes at you, though the action seemed jilted. "You've been pining the whole time we've been friends, I'd say it's been long enough. And now, when you have all you want offered to you, you reject it."

"Is this what this is about? Rejection? Regina, I just meant not yet."

"You're so fucking full of yourself." She accused, pointing a finger at you. The whole display was made weaker by the glistening in her eyes and the redness covering her from neck to ears.

"You think you can walk into my life, cause all sorts of chaos, take my family from me, and then reject me?" She hissed, gesturing with her arms all the while. You swallowed, unsure of what you should do.

She was firing insults at you and the only thing you could think to do was sit there and take it.

"Chaos? I'm not trying to take your family from you, Reggie, where's this coming from?" You stood up, feeling too awkward to be on the bed.

"You think I haven't seen the way you act around my mom or my sister? You want to be me so bad, you're acting like they're your family. They're mine and you're never gonna have them! You're never gonna have a family!"

You reeled back, offended by the uncalled-for insult.

"You have the gall to come to my home, my family's Thanksgiving dinner, acting all holier than thou meanwhile Kylie fawns over you and mom dotes on you."

"Are you jealous? They love you, Regina." Your ability to argue was getting flimsier by the minute, the stinging in your eyes inhibiting any power you could've drawn from.

"Jealous? You think I'm fucking jealous? I have everything and you have nothing!"

"I don't think that's true, Reg. I think that you're hurt and saying things you don't mean."

"You always put words in my mouth, try to manipulate me and change me into someone you think I should be. I'm good the way I am!"

"Change can be good, Reg, I just-"

"God, you're actually so insufferable. Genuinely, I cannot stand to be around you. I hate you." She turned away from you, hands going to her hair and tugging. "I don't need to change. I hate that you try to make me. I hate that you've already done it, with your fucked up mind games."

You blinked rapidly and breathed in deeply, trying to stay calm. She was just being destructive because she was hurt. She didn't mean any of it. She was just earlier kissing you. Didn't that count for something?

"I don't play mind games. I just wish you were kinder."

"You wish I was this and that, and what about me?" She whirled around and strode up to you. "I am this way. I am not kind, I'm not soft, and I thrive."

"Are you thriving, Reg?"

"Do not call me what stupid name!" She yelled, getting right in your face. You flinched back, startled and scared. "Oh, you're gonna cry now that your other tactics don't work anymore? I see right through you, you freak."

"Don't yell at me, Reggie." You said, biting your lip to keep it from trembling. You wiped at your eyes furiously. "I'm sorry, okay, for rejecting you, for trying to change you. I didn't mean to manipulate you."

"I'll do whatever the fuck I want to you." She hissed. "I'll fucking ruin your life. I'll tell people you're a lesbian and what you tried to do to me."

"What?" You breathed. "What do you mean? What I tried to do to you- do you hear yourself?"

"I hear myself, jorts, and so will everybody else when I tell them what a disgusting, perverse little dyke you are."

You wouldn't have described it as something snapping, but you'd had enough by then. It stung, hearing that from her, of all people. It stung more than you liked to admit because you knew her.

You knew she didn't mean it, she was lashing out, and desperately trying to cling to the power she'd lost the moment she'd been vulnerable with you- kissed you.

You didn't want to feel it, so you were mean instead.

"Just like you did to Janis then. Did you kiss her too and when you got scared you decided to ruin her life. Is that how it went?" You laughed bitterly and before she could interrupt, went on. "Is that how you're gonna live your life, Regina? Anytime you feel those dirty, lesbian urges you'll use some innocent bystander to sate your lust and then, because they know too much, you ruin them? Sounds very sustainable."

"How dare you accuse me of being that," Her face was scrunched in anger, red like the devil.

"Oh, I dare, I seem to recall you were just kissing me, on top of me, hands up my shirt. You're not fooling anybody, Reg, you're a filthy queer just like me." You were aiming to hurt now, wanting her to feel like you did. "The truth is, Regina, that you fucking hate yourself. You hate yourself and you just don't know what to do with yourself so you make everybody around you feel the exact same way."

"No, that's not true, I-" Seeing her face crumble, her posture turn defensive, stoked the fire of your anger. You wanted her to hurt, wanted to punish her for leaving you back then and insulting you now.

"You're like some shitty reincarnation of Heather Chandler, all high and mighty until you're inevitably toppled by some nobody you were so sure was so below you that they couldn't even pose a threat."

"Great film analysis there, loser." Regina quipped weakly, already backing down. You weren't done, though.

"It's only a matter of time before Cady Heron pours you a glass of drain cleaner too, and I'll be looking forward to the day." You sniped, watching as Regina's lip curled in an exaggerated show of being unaffected. You knew her. You knew she'd seen Heathers and you knew the parallels weren't pleasing to the eye. You knew you were going too far, but you couldn't stop.

"You think you're such a martyr, you think that-"

"I thought we were friends, Regina! All I wanted was to be your friend. Sure, I liked you, but that didn't have to mean anything until you kissed me."

"It meant something the whole time! You can't act like it was nothing, our whole friendship is tainted by it!"

"Get over yourself, Regina, you could've ignored it like you do every flaw you have!"

"I don't have flaws, I'm above that." She scoffed, but the tremor in her voice told you that even she didn't think that was true. "I'm doing everyone a favour by showing who's on top."

"Who are you? A fucking dictator? Is that how you truly see yourself? Because I see a scared little girl, confused and angry, taking it out on the easiest targets."

"Nobody gets to feel okay when I feel like this! It's not fair! It's not fair they get to be happy and I have to be like this all the time! I hate this and they deserve it!"

You fought to ignore your heart breaking for her, how her words and obvious cries for help made you want to bleed for her. You'd stood idly and let her hurt you for long enough, it was about time you stood up for yourself.

"Oh, well, I'm so sorry then. I'm starting to fucking get Janis. Maybe I could've come up with the Homecoming sprinkler prank myself. Maybe I should've let you use the lard for your face."

You regretted it the moment the words left your lips.

A beat, both of you staring at each other, faces slack and chests heaving from all the screaming, regret and betrayal swirling in the air like a toxic tornado, passed.

"You knew?" Regina whispered, suddenly so quiet the wind from your sails wooshed away. "You knew and you didn't tell me?"

"I... I did." You looked down. Fuck. You'd fucked up. You'd insinuated you wanted to see her die. You didn't want that at all. Tears sprung to your eyes again and you pressed the heels of your palms to them.

Could this even be fixed at this point? You should've just shut up and it wouldn't have escalated like this. You knew why she'd reacted the way she did, you knew, but you hadn't been able to stay level-headed when she'd started coming at you.

"Get out." She spoke normally, volume steady. She was shaking, you could see that even with your faltering vision.

"I'm sorry, Reg, I really am. I should've told you. I shouldn't have said those things to you. I'm sorry."

"I said get out."

Unable to hold it any longer, a sob burst out and you decided to leave before you humiliated yourself any further. You grabbed your overnight bag and practically ran out of the room.

You should've been quieter because Mrs George came to see who was stomping down the stairs so late. She had a wine glass in hand, a silken robe tied at her waist, and a worried look on her face.

"Oh, hi, I packed some leftovers for you to- oh, honey, what's wrong?"

"It's- it's nothing, Mrs George." You hiccuped and looked away, embarrassed by your crying. You couldn't look her in the eye. Did you want her to be your mom? Did it matter when Regina clearly saw it that way even if it wasn't true? Taking any comfort from her now felt like proving her right.

"It doesn't seem like nothing. Why don't we go sit and you can tell me what happened. Did Regina say something mean?"

"I don't wanna talk about it, please."

Mrs George sighed. "There's leftovers in the fridge for you." She lingered as you passed. "Honey?"

"What?" Usually, you didn't have the heart to be so rude to her.

"You're welcome here anytime." She smiled at you gently. Clearly, she was experienced in dealing with volatile teenagers. You turned and headed for the kitchen.

Walking home, bag on your shoulder and various containers of delicious food in your arms, you felt numb. You'd left through the garage door, grabbing your clothes from the mudroom as you went, but you still had on the sweatpants.

Tears dried on your cheeks, eyes swollen and nose stuffy, you didn't know what to do. Snow was falling and the streetlights made the scene look more beautiful than was warranted. You felt empty, hollowed out like you'd spilt your guts, heart, and most other internal organs on the floor of Regina's bedroom.

You got home, put the leftovers in the fridge, and stood in the kitchen. Swallowing on a dry mouth, throat scratchy, you figured there was little else you could do other than smoke a cigarette.

You stepped onto the porch and sank down onto the bench swing. Lighting up and inhaling, you closed your eyes as the smoke passed through you.

Regina by the poolside in her bikini, Regina eating pizza on your couch, Regina on the passenger seat of your car, Regina smoking a cigarette with you under the bleachers.

That was all gone, then.

Notes: I was a little wary of having the chapter be only the argument, but it got so long that I figured it'd be nice to have the next chapters work towards a resolution straight away. No need to stretch out the acute misery for any longer than necessary. I'll say, though, that just like IRL something like this isn't just fixed right away. So look forward to more chapters! This is getting so long. I started writing this like, hey, a cute oneshot with a butch OC! Here we fucking are.

Taglist: @autorasexy, @wedfan2, @unadulterated-moron, @modernsapphicism, @9unknown0, @sage-rose2000, @massive-honkas, @nattys-swiftie, @likefirenrain, @luz-enjoyer, @dandelions4us, @natashamaximoff-69, @alexkolax, @jareaul0ver, @here4theqts, @charleeeesworld, @natsbiggestfan1, @brocoliisscared, @yellowwallflowers, @scarlettbitchx, @ayoungexwife, @cyberbonesworld, @syddie-reads, @screechcat, @theenglishswiftie,@gabby-duhh, @sweetmissnothing, @masterofpuppets-10, @l1lass, @starved-mortal

#mean girls #mean girls 2024 #mean girls 2004 #regina george #regina george x reader #regina george x you #regina george x oc #regina george x ofc #lesbian regina george #mean girls x reader #wlw #fic: yard work

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ostrichmonkey-games · 9 months

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OC Incubators: TTRPG Design for Making Cool Little Guys

I've been thinking a lot about why some people like to play Certain Games and how that intersects with action figure style play and the desire to make your own little blorbos.

What is it about Certain Games (which will not be named so I don't go down a rabbit-hole of breaking apart that game's design lmao) that really gets people's sitting down and just making a whole bunch of cool OCs? You know, your zany wizards, sexy demony bards, and all of that.

So, I've talked a lot about this with some people (shoutout to @temporalhiccup), and I'm not the only person to be thinking on similar wavelengths (check out this fun read by @sprintingowl), and in those discussions and in that reading, I've put together a few what I think are Key Ingredients for making ttrpg that is also an OC incubator. At least, in the sense of how I would want to do it.

So first, what is an OC Incubator? My definition is basically any sort of semi-sandbox/open ended game where you make your own cool character and then go do cool things. Along the way of doing those cool things, you come up with cool stories and have your OC evolve in even more cool ways. Cool, yeah?

Here are the key ingredients I've identified for the incubator stew (store bought is fine);

Character Options

Character Potential

An Inviting Sandbox

So let's break these down a bit more below;

Character Options

Character options is the most straightforward of the points. You need interesting and fun options - building blocks - for the players to craft their little guys from. Options that are exciting and easily communicate their core identity quickly.

A lot of this is walking a fine balance of providing enough options that making a choice is exciting, but not too many so as to be overwhelming.

But ultimately, these options are there to hit the dollmaker, picrew, character customization screen, itch. It should be fun to make all those decisions.

Aside: I gotta do more stuff with lifepath systems.

Of all the main ingredients to our incubator, character options are probably the easiest to come up.

Character Potential

This is where things start to get a little more complicated. Potential is all about aspiration. It's less about being able to get to that point, but more about "oh wow, look at all these extra things my cool OC could do".

These options are something to look forward to, something to think about. Neat cool extra doodads for making your cool little oc even cooler and expand on your cool little oc's story like milestones and growth.

In a lot of ways, these sorts of options are just an iteration of the initial character options you use when making your character. These are probably going to expand on core elements of the character options (class or playbook abilities, etc).

Again, the key point is potential and aspiration. To make you think about the future of the character.

I think, ideally, a game is intrinsically rewarding to play. You play it because its fun, not to get some sort of external reward. Play to play. But it also can be fun to put some carrots on the stick.\

As a treat.

Inviting Sandbox

The setting and premise of the game needs to invite players in. It's the big fancy dollhouse for all your cool toys. There needs to be space to play in it, but also there needs to be something to still play in! Some games are operating at an advantage: with well established settings that have been around for years and/or using a setting that utilizes tropes and ideas that also have been established for years. You know. Elves and stuff.

But! You absolutely do not need a well established setting or play with well established tropes to make an inviting sandbox! The main criteria is that it is inviting. Whatever that means to you, go for it. For me, an inviting setting, one that would make me want to play around in, needs;

Enough foundation to guide the play. What are the major players and assumptions of the settings? Give me the overview and broad strokes first!

Enough space for the table to add to while they play in. If every thing is set in stone, then what are we playing in this sandbox for? You need some sand to sculpt! Put some sand in your sandbox!

I could spend a lot more time talking about settings, sandboxes, and how it all circles back to anti-canon, but that's a story for another post.

Mixing It All Together

So, with those ingredients identified, how do you go about layering them all together? How should they interact with each other? And the easy answer is "I don't know, figure it out."

But also, I don't entirely know. You gotta figure that out for yourself. That's part of the design process. I don't think there's one singular way to "design" around getting people to have fun whipping together some cool OCs and then playing around with them together. In many senses, you can do that in practically any game. But for some of my current projects, I want to try keeping the three ingredients in mind as I write the games (particularly Furry Crime Game), and see what happens. Maybe it'll end up hitting the notes I want it to - crafting a game that makes the players constantly rotate their cool little guys in their mind - maybe it'll end up being something else. I dunno, real Ms. Frizzle hours: Get messy, make mistakes.

Also, as I'm writing this out now, I think a potential fourth ingredient to try mixing into the stew is Player Investment. Time, creativity, emotional. It all feeds into the character and different games expect different levels of investment. Something to probably keep in mind while you hone your game.

I don't know how else to end this, except to say that I'm excited to experiment in this space. Maybe you are too?

#indie ttrpg #ttrpg #ttrpg design #could probably spend more time on this #but done is better than perpetually a draft

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babyhatesreality · 9 months

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Hey babes! Can you do a stucky mafia little reader where stucky and they reader are out at dinner or shopping and someone tries to attack them? The reader is ok but very shaken. 🥺

Fluff, angst, mentions of shock and doctors 🥺❤️

I love your page

Sure thing! And I love you back <3 Thank you for your patience, it means the world to me.

A/N- this is an AU outside of Katie Cat, and outside of my other series. I decided to try my hand at Dark Stucky for this one. This is a stand alone- and I'm excited to play in this sandbox for a minute, so thank you darling nonnie!

Down the Rabbit Hole

Pairing: Dark!Mafia!Stucky x little f!reader

Warnings: dark mafia Stucky, f! reader, severe Stockholm syndrome, Stucky both referred to as Daddy, pet names, reader is smaller than Stucky, language, an attack on all three, violence (not towards reader), shock, fear, angst, doctor talk, fluff.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN MEDIA CONSUMPTION. THIS STORY IS SFW- THE REST OF MY BLOG IS NOT NECESSARILY SO. MINORS DNI. I DO NOT CONSENT FOR MY WORK TO BE STOLEN, COPIED, OR TRANSLATED ONTO ANY OTHER SITE BUT MY OWN. Likes, comments and reblogs are deeply appreciated.

"Mmmm," you couldn't help but say as you lingered on the last delicious bite of spaghetti. It was so rare that Steve and Bucky had a night away AND could take you out to dinner, that you'd almost forgotten what any other spaghetti other than Steve's tasted like. "It's so good."

"Good girl, you cleaned your plate. I'm proud of you," Steve said, the corner of his lip curling up in that smile that was almost a sneer, but you'd come to understand it meant he was pleased. You giggled and ducked your head, not wanting to admit that his praise in public made you feel all giddy.

"I think we should get the tiramisu to go. It's getting near your bedtime, little one," Bucky said, looking at his expensive diamond-encrusted watch. He chuckled when you pouted. "Now, now. None of that or we don't do this again." You instantly wiped the pout off your face. You couldn't remember the last time you'd actually gotten to leave the mansion for a date night with your daddies, and you weren't about to jeopardize that. Seeing the pout gone, Bucky purred. "That's better. Now let's go."

A waitress handed Steve a to-go bag with a large piece of the dessert in it as you all were heading out the door. You were surprised when you realized that neither Steve nor Bucky had paid, and couldn't help but look behind you as you all were exiting. "What's the matter, Princess?" Steve asked, taking a firm hold of your hand. "What's wrong?"

"Don't...don't we have to give monies to the people for making us food?" you whispered, a little afraid that this was going to be one of those questions that got your daddies mad when you asked it. But this was the exact opposite. Steve squeezed your hand a bit, and Bucky quickly took you other hand and kissed it as you all walked down the street to where Sam had parked the car a few blocks away.

"Look at our sweet little girl, Buck, making sure all her people are taken care of," Steve said, grinning at Bucky and then down at you. "Seems like she picked up a thing or two from the business."

"It's okay, Sweet Cheeks, Daddy and I know the people that run this place. They make us food for free, whenever we want," Bucky said, smiling down indulgently at you.

"Oh. That's nice of them!"

"Did you like going to that place?"

"It was...nice. The food was way yummy. There was lots of people there."

"Was that too many people, honey?"

"Um...it's okay. Just not used to anybody but Daddies."

"Well, how about we all go back home and it can be just Daddies again?"

"Yeah!" you cheered, relieved. It was weird being around people again- you weren't sure that you liked it. You hadn't been around that many people since your Daddies saved you from your boring life to make you their Princess. It had taken a long time, but now you couldn't live without them.

The three of you turned into an alley. Normally, it would have terrified you to walk down a place like this, but with both of your daddies holding your hands, you knew you had nothing to fear.

Suddenly, you heard a deep voice behind you. "Stay right where you are. Don't move."

Ignoring the voice's orders, both Bucky and Steve whipped around instantly. Steve forcefully shoved you behind him. Afraid, you buried your face in the back of his jacket and tried not to make a sound. As you did when you were home and their work people came over, you stayed silent, like a good girl does.

"Give me your wallets and no one gets hurt," the voice said, low and gruff. Bucky let out a bark of a laugh as Steve stepped forward.

"Oh, son. You have no idea what you've just done, do you?" Steve said lightly, but you could hear the undercurrent of violence in his tone. You felt Steve's arms shove aside his jacket lapels, but the next thing you knew, Bucky had you up against the brick wall of the alleyway. Everything got really loud really fast. You turned your head in terror to make sure Steve was okay, but Bucky forcefully grabbed your chin in his hand and made you look at him.

"Eyes on me, Princess," he commanded, and you obeyed instantly. "Good girl. You remember our codes?"

"Y-yes, Daddy."

"Good girl. Rabbit hole. Quick like a bunny. Go." He let your chin go and stepped towards Steve, leaving you alone with your orders.

After Steve and Bucky had rescued you and you'd grown accustomed to this new life, they had drilled code words into you in case of situations like this. "Rabbit Hole" and "Quick like a bunny" were codes for find a place to hide as fast as you can, and don't move until they come to get you.

You looked for a safe hiding space, just like Steve had taught you to, and found a slight notch in the brickwork of the alley- just large enough to hold a dumpster. You ran into it as fast as you could, squeezing yourself in between the dumpster and the wall. You huddled down, hands over your ears and eyes squeezed shut, pretending you were a rabbit in a hole, just like they taught you. Your hands over your ears mostly muffled the shouts, the grunts, and the loud bang. Then everything was silent.

After a couple minutes, you felt three taps on your arm. You opened your eyes to see Bucky kneeling in front of you, smiling. You peeled your hands from your ears just in time to hear him say "Good girl."

You flung yourself into his arms, sobbing and scared. He picked you up, balancing you on his hip, as you cried into his shoulder. He gently kissed the top of your head before pulling his phone out and making a call. Less than a minute later, Sam came barreling into the alley. Without a word, Bucky passed you to him and walked towards Steve.

You started crying even more hysterically. "No, Daddy, please don't go!" you wailed, trying to stretch out of Sam's arms to get to them.

"Hey," Steve's voice cut in sternly. You instantly stopped squirming, knowing better than to push Steve when he was angry. Seeing that you were behaving the way he wanted you to, Steve turned his attention back to what was left of the would be attacker. Sam pressed your face into his shoulder so you wouldn't look, and you stayed right there, unable to control your trembling.

A couple phone calls later and the situation was resolved. Your cries had quieted to occasional hiccups, but you were trying your hardest to be quiet and good, just like they wanted you to be. When you felt Steve's strong hands lift you out of Sam's arms though, you turned with lightning speed and latched onto him.

"Shhh, shhh, it's okay, Princess, Daddy is here now," he said in a much softer and more soothing voice that before. You sniffled a little.

"Daddy?" you whispered, looking up at him. He smiled softly at you.

"Hey there, Princess," he said, rubbing his nose against yours. You sighed in relief, and returned the butterfly kiss, before turning your head to look for Bucky. You didn't have to look far- Bucky was right behind Steve, smiling from ear to ear at you.

"Princess, tell Daddy what you just did," Bucky said proudly, lightly punching Steve in the back to get him to listen up.

"Runned to be a rabbit in a hole, like Daddy said to," you explained carefully, wanting to make sure you didn't mess it up. Steve's smug smile grew.

"Yeah? You were in a rabbit hole like Daddy told you to be?" Steve said proudly. "Well, how about that. You must have been a very brave little girl to be such a good bunny when the mean man came." At the mention of the attacker, you began to shake again.

"Shh, it's okay Sweet Cheeks, we're here and the bad man is gone. He didn't hurt us and he can't hurt you," Bucky crooned softly, stroking your cheek with his finger. But you couldn't stop shaking.

"Boss, you want me to call the doctor to come check her out?" Sam asked gruffly, seeing you beginning to tremble again.

"No! No doctor!" you whimpered before burying yourself in Steve's shoulder. You heard a smack and turned your head to see Sam holding the back of his head and looking annoyed, while Bucky stood next to him, fuming.

"Idiot, you know she hates doctors," Bucky hissed at their second in command.

"Sorry, sorry," Sam apologized, before looking at you. "Sorry, Princess."

"Is okay, Sammy. Thank you for...for helping me." You didn't really want to thank Sam for holding you back while your daddies were taking care of their business, but Steve and Bucky were very strict about manners and you knew they would want you to thank Sam. You were rewarded with kisses from the both of them, on either side of your head.

"Good manners, Princess," Steve whispered. "Come on. Let's go home. And see? Daddy didn't even let the bad man get our dessert. Let's go watch a movie and eat it before bed, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy."

"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go out to dinner, hm?"

"I'll do anything you want, as long as I can stay with you and Daddy forever."

"Good girl. That's what we want to hear."

#daddy!bucky #daddy bucky #daddy stucky #daddy!stucky #daddy!steve #daddy steve #daddy!stucky x little reader #daddy stucky x little reader #mafia!stucky #mafia!stucky x little reader #daddy!bucky x little!reader #daddy!steve x little!reader #daddy bucky x little reader

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chronicbeans · 1 year

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Human Illustrator Wally x Reader (part 5)

Circle time! Yippee!

TW: Mentions of Hallucinations

🐻 You can't help but grin as you watch Mr. Darling sitting with all of the children, talking about the most random of things. From bears to apples, the conversation flings itself from topic to topic. When Mr. Darling starts to take out random items he has brought for the children to play with, it almost feels like watching Mary Poppins. His little bag of items seems to fit an endless amount of luggage.

🐻 He looks around, being sure to make sure everyone understands what he says. He is careful to assure every child's needs are met. It might've taken a lot of planning to get him here, but it was all worth it. The kids are happy and feel cared for. You are happy to have finally found someone else with a passion for making every child feel appreciated. Mr. Darling seems happy to make others feel happy.

🐻You watch as he talks to Amelia, one of the numerous children circled around him, before he lets her touch his hair. You chuckle at her shocked reaction, hearing her say something along the lines of "It's like a shell!", with Mr. Darling saying "It's from the stuff I use to style it. I need my hair to look the absolute most!"

🐻 You turn your attention away for a moment, noticing that one of the kids is sitting alone at the table, simply watching the others. It's James, the kid that you were talking to Howdy about the other day. As in, the one who had the head injury. You sit next to him, smiling "Is there something you need?"

🐻 James looks up to you, before whispering "I... I want to talk to Wally... but I feel like he'll think I'm weird. Umm... I am also worried for him. The scary monster is behind him." You smile, nodding. "The scary monster won't hurt Mr. Darling. How about I go ask him if you can talk to him outside, in the play area? That way, he will be away from the scary monster, and you get to talk with him. I am sure he won't think of you as weird." "Only if you go with." "Alright. I'll go ask him now."

🐻 You stand up, grinning as you approach the group of children. "Mr. Darling? Can you come over here for a moment?" "Sure thing! Just a moment!" He picks up Amelia, who giggles and waves her arms, then stands up. The kids watch as he leaves, only for him to turn around and say "Oh! Just in case I take long, you can go through my bag. I didn't bring anything important. It's just stuff I brought for you all to play with. Be sure to share, though!" Needless to say, the kids swarmed to his bag like birds to breadcrumbs.

🐻 He turns back around, walking over to you as he asks "What is it? Do you need something?" You nod, bringing him over to James. "Yep! Mr. Darling, this is James. He wants to talk to you, but feels a bit anxious to do so. We both were wondering if it would be alright if the three of us went to the play area out back to talk privately." He grins, clasping his hands together as he says "Of course! That will be no problem at all! Just lead the way, (Y/N)!"

🐻 The three of you all walk to the play area in the backyard of the daycare, James looking behind you all from time to time. The play area is small, with a little playhouse, a sandbox, and a swing set connected to a slide. Once outside, Mr. Darling crouches down to his height, shaking his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, James! Is there anything in particular you wanted to talk about?" James nods.

🐻"Yeah... umm... I was wondering, do you umm... Are you like me? I mean... I am a bit nervous to ask." James looks down, fiddling with the hem of his sweater. Mr. Darling smiles, tilting his head. "It is alright. Take your time. How about this? I'll ask you some questions to ease you into your own! Did anything particular make you curious if I have anything in common with you?" James nods "Yeah. I saw how you and Aubrey related in being autistic. As well as how you and a few of the others talked about loving art."

🐻 James looks around, which Mr. Darling seems to notice. He begins to look around, too. He then smiles, as if catching on. "Okay, I'll ask another question, since you don't seem to be ready, yet. Do you like to draw?" James, once again, nods. This time, it is much more enthusiastic. He reaches into the pocket of his shorts, pulling out a tiny notepad. "Yeah! Let me show you some! It isn't anything close to what you can do, but I hope to get that good someday!" James shows the notepad to him, revealing drawings of cute bears, rainbow swirls, and dark monsters. Mr. Darling nods, staring at the images as he says "This is amazing work! Believe it or not, but when I was your age, I had this exact amount of skill. I believe you and I have more in common than you think."

🐻 James' eyes gleam, before he then looks down to his feet. "Hey, Wally...? Umm... do you see the odd things others don't? Or hear things others don't?"

🐻 You watch them both closely. Mr. Darling seems to think over his answer, before finally coming up with one. "Yes, I do. I mostly hear odd things, but I do see them, sometimes. Is that what you wanted to ask about?" James looks up to him, nodding. "Yeah... can I... can I ask some more?" "Of course. Anything you want." "Do you see the shadow man? The mean guy that says mean things? I believe he is quite mean. Have you met him?"

🐻 To your shock, Mr. Darling's smile falters for a brief second. It returns as soon as it left, however, before he hands James his notepad. "I don't see the shadow man very often. I do, however, have a pesky neighbor of my own. Do you want to know who it is?" James hesitates, before responding "Yeah. I feel like it might help you to talk about that mean neighbor."

🐻 Mr. Darling leans in, speaking very quietly to James. You still hear what he says, though, you are not sure if you were meant to. "The walls of my very own home say mean things to me, sometimes."

#welcome home #welcome home arg #welcome home au #wally darling #wally darling x reader

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koushuwu · 1 year

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SANDCASTLES AND FIRST KISSES

Tsukishima Kei x Reader | 1,190 words | sometimes a first kiss happens between little kids where it’s as innocent as can be. and sometimes, many years later, second first kisses lead to beautiful things. literally just a first kiss story from my selfship with the lanky bitch boy tsukki.

Little kid Tsukishima Kei and you had been playing in the sandbox like the good kids that you were. you’d built a castle and as you recalled it, it was the prettiest sandcastle in existence. It had little windows and all. And by windows, you meant little indents in the facade, dug out with your tiny kids’ hands. It was quite the sight, honestly.

“Let’s build a real castle to live in one day,” you said to him, clapping your little hands. You were excited, and even when he shook his head with a little smile, the excitement didn’t subside.

“We’d need to get married to live together, dummy.” Tsukishima looked away from you and scooped a handful of sand up, digging a moat around the castle. He set it aside and smiled when you leaned forward and shoved your own hands into the sand to help him dig.

“Well, aren’t we going to get married?” You noticed his fingers still for a second and looked up into his eyes. He looked as if he was considering you words. “I know I plan to marry you,” you told him, and even if you, at the time, didn’t fully understand the words you were saying, you knew you meant it to the extent that a child’s brain can fathom the concept.

“Do we have to kiss then?” he asked you, eyes narrowing a little as he studied you.

“Do you not want to?”

Tsukishima sat back and thought it over for a moment. Fidgeting with his own fingers and looking up into the bright blue sky. You could see him chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“I think we have to.” He then said and looked back at you with a resolute nod. Like he’d decided, and of course then it would have to be so.

“Okay,” you beamed, and so you grabbed both sides of his face with your sandy little hands. “We’re going to get married,” you proclaimed and then pressed your lips hard against his, for no more than one second before pulling back, letting him go and turning back to digging that little moat around our castle. Soon enough skies started gathering and threatened with rain, which meant the end of that specific playdate.

You’d meant the words you said that day, but now many years later he didn’t think you had, and so he kind of… Not forgot, but he didn’t give much more thought to it. Until that one day. That one day where you had your first kiss as adults. The first legit one, if you were to ask him.

“God, are you dense or are you just not interested?” You heaved a deep sigh as a frustrated furrow creased your forehead, your eyes narrowed slightly at him.

“Interested? What do you mean?”

“I am flirting with you!” You shook your head in utter disbelief as the furrow in your forehead deepened.

“You’re what, now?” His eyes searched my face, displaying just as intense disbelief as you felt. The look in his eye made something inside of you melt. The frustration died out like a match that’d burned too far down.

“Flirting,“ you repeated softly and smiled at him. “Have been for years,” you added. A strong urge almost had you reach out to grab his hand, but a little part of you still wasn’t certain he’d let you, even if his unusually soft and utterly dumbfounded expression fought to convince you otherwise.

“Oh.” His eyes kept raking across your face and you felt your cheeks and ears heating under his gaze “Wait. With me?” You laughed. You couldn’t help it when an unexpected and hysterical laugh ripped it’s way out of your throat.

“You really are dense!” You shook your head again. You really couldn’t believe it.

“Hey! I am not!”

“You don’t think so?” You asked him a pursed your lips at him. What he’d never admit to if you’d asked him right then and there, was that he found it utterly adorable when you did just that. You coaxed that one out of him a couple of years later. “So if it’s not that, I assume you’re not interested? You could just tell me, you know.”

“What? No!” It wasn’t often that you got to see Tsukishima flustered, but right now he was stumbling over his words and a little flush was creeping up across his face, and it was clear that he tried to hide it with his hand, when he went to push his glasses further up on his nose. But you saw it. And something inside of you knew what it meant, but for some reason you couldn’t help but want to see if you could get that blush to deepen just a little bit. It was just so cute.

“Do you remember that time when we were kids?” You asked him and watched as he stilled slightly.

“What time?”

“When agreed to live together one day.” You was right. His blush deepened as he nodded at your words, and you knew you’d been right. “Do you remember what more we agreed on that day? Because I still mean that.” Tsukishima flushed even deeper, but confusion flashed across his features as well.

“I—I don’t.” His voice was small. He didn’t remember. This was not the way you had expected this to go. You pulled in a deep breath. It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t remember. Yet it had something snap inside of you. Not anger, of course not. But some kind of desperate frustration and you couldn’t help it. You didn’t manage to stop yourself before you were moving. Before you’d stepped up against him and taken a hold of his shirt, your lips against his.

Tsukishima tensed up at first, and when you were about to pull back and apologize, he relaxed under your touch. He tentatively placed his hands on each side of your face, responding to your kiss. His lips and movements were soft, all in stark contrast with his usually stingy facade and your rough approach.

When the kiss broke and you moved back for air, you looked up at Tsukishima. He looked down at me. His glasses were slightly askew, and his cheeks were so brightly tinted that you almost chuckled. Tsukishima turned his head and fixed his glasses. Even his ears were turning pink, and you noticed his swollen lips and the shine in his eyes. You leaned closer to him, standing on your toes to whisper into his ear.

“We agreed that we’d get married one day.” His body jolted, and he looked at you in shock. “And I meant it.” The shock subsided and you could see that he remembered. You could see the smile that he tried very hard to suppress, but it only had you smiling wider.

“You’re so annoying. But I guess you can’t go back on a promise.” He shook his head at you, but even so, you knew him well enough to realize that this was as close to a confession as you’d get out of him at a time like this.

#tsukishima kei #tsukishima #haikyuu #tsukishima kei x reader #tsukishima kei x reader fluff #tsukishima x reader #tsukishima x reader fluff #haikyuu x reader #tsukishima fluff #ficlet #useradrienne #have some tsukki #you're welcome #he's cute #and dumb #<3

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bas-writes · 11 days

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a lot has happened lately, but so far i haven't made any official statement about my decisions and the path i want to take as a writer. it was a long road of trial and error & detailed examination of conscience in regard of my bad habits, gained experience, and goals and expectations. there are some massive changes that i need to address, followed by explanation of my decisions. i know i don't need to explain myself but i feel it's only fair to my loyal readers to share at least little insight into the context.

I. One Piece goes on indefinite vacation...

not going to lie, i was falling out of this fandom for years. it's started in 2021 when i fell victim to bullying and stalking, initiated by a widely-known (and still active, as far as i am aware of) x reader writer. it's the biggest reason for my slow withdrawal but not a sole one: pressing discourse around my comfort characters, toxic environment i fell into when looking for a relief from relentless bullying, forcing myself to write for topics and characters i didn't even like, readers overstepping my boundaries over and over again, falling into a trap of purity culture...oh, the list is long. way too long.

i still love one piece but i don't want to create for it en-masse anymore. right now it's just a wound that's far from healing, i need to treat it at my own pace. aside from an occasional poke at sapphic topics and my fav trio, i doubt it will appear in other way than commissions or gifts for friends. and some characters (kid, sanji, marco, katakuri, shanks & a few more) will never return.

II. ...but new fandoms arrive!

jujutsu kaisen is right now the main love of my life & will remain as the main fandom for long. but i found more series and characters i adore enough to feel that creative spark buzzing in my veins. soon you should see fics appearing for: demon slayer, chainsaw man, haikyuu and hell's paradise!

i'm keeping my head low rn when it comes to requests but i want to hold at least a kinktober open for them so you definitely will have an opportunity to see your faves from those series from me!

III. It's a gender neutral & afab Y/N sphere now!

it's something that was inevitably floating over me and my fics (and some of y'all definitely caught the whiff of it already), but i couldn't quite find courage to put a hard limit. we all know how it is in the y/n circles: way too many people expect from writers to cater to everyone, and treat it as a personal offense if you prefer to play in your own sandbox. as if writing y/ns was "activism", not a fandom activity like any other.

so, i won't force myself to write against myself anymore. i feel the most happy and comfortable when i make my y/ns gender neutral and when i'm giving them vaginas (and sometimes boobs) when i'm writing smut with them. i don't want to battle my weirdly-veiled dysphoria to force female reader out of myself. i don't want to stress myself while writing amab y/n, from the sheer biological fact of being unable to relate via lack of penis, to being sick and tired of the toxicity and misogyny that m!reader circles reek of.

so, gender neutral and afab it is. sometimes i will stray towards afab nonbinary or transmasc direction, if i feel like i need some good gender vibes coming from my fics.

it doesn't mean i will never write different y/ns. commissions, gifts for friends, exchanges, random ideas for a plot that requires a specific kind of y/n, sapphics feels, and such will appear here and there. i will also interact lots with f!reader fics, since it's what i see lots around & don't mind reading, if i feel more fem or if it's from a writer i like and trust.

incoming ino x reader (that i hope to publish tomorrow) will be the last non-sapphic f!reader that will appear for a long while. all requests i'm keeping in my drafts right now will be turned into completely gender neutral or from fem to more general afab reader (i don't have any requests for amab readers rn anyway). unless you really don't want to have f!reader taken out of your request - then please, let me know, i will delete it so you can head with it to a different writer.

IV. Never miss a fic again - sign for a tag list!

and now a little treat! if you don't want to miss a fic about the topic that might interest you, you may sign for a tag list by filling a simple form!

V. And what am I going to do now?

write, write, and write even more! i wanna write the in the heat of spring drabbles before the spring is gone, have three fully-fledged multichapter fics outlined and itching to be written and posted, and an interactive event with which we will welcome the summer 💦

in june i want to publish a few sapphic fics that i had in mind for a while now & later towards the second half of summer (think august-september) i'll smile at you again with a kinktober i really want to complete this year!

there might be a few smaller events on the way, depending on how busy i'll be. there's an idea for dilf enjoyers and for a chubby y/n, as well as many others that still didn't take a clear shape.

i also didn't forget about the kiss event and nonsexual acts of intimacy for the fluff enjoyers!

if you survived this wall of text (or just scrolled down here lol understandable) - thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. whether you're here with me since the very beginning or clicked the follow recently, i'm happy to have you here ❤ if you have any questions or just want to talk, my askbox is open for any kind of interaction! and if you want to support a poor writer who has way too many health-related spendings lately, you can buy me a ko-fi ❤

#bas speaks

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northoftheroad · 10 months

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Dick Grayson reading in Rebirth and forward

In the last few years, there have been several comics where Nightwing is guest starring that I haven't picked up, so maybe I have missed some smashing comics in here; just saying. As usual, take this list for what it's worth – my personal interpretations and reflections. (Please note that there is a difference between cover date and when a book is actually published, and I might have mixed these dates in the list. I mostly use them to help my own thought process.)

I gather DC lets their creators play in any sandbox/Earth/continuity they want, which means it's a fool's errand to try to understand what, if any, stories from Dick's past are supposed to have happened in the current continuity. But I never claimed to be quite sane, did I...? Here is me, trying to piece together stories chronologically story-wise:

Nightwing vol 4 # 82. Flashbacks to pre-Dick John and Mary Grayson.

Batman vol 3 # 54. Has some flashbacks from when Dick was new in Wayne Manor. He has nightmares, climbs a chandelier, questions why Bruce took him in, and apparently doesn't know Bruce is Batman: nothing special but a few nice pages.

The Precedent. In Detective Comics # 1000 (2019). Bruce's hesitation before he lets Dick become Robin. Unclear if it's supposed to be in the current continuity.

Robin and Batman # 1–3 (2021-2022). A three-issue story that takes place in the days around Dick's twelfth birthday. It's about how Dick eventually chooses not to be "the dark" like Batman, but something better – the light, Robin. Not in the main continuity, but another version of how Dick became Robin (also a first meeting with the other original Teen Titans - in this version, they already had suits and code names when Dick first became Robin).

Batman: Urban Legends # 23

Hot pursuit. In Batman: Urban Legends # 23 (March 2023). Cute short story; Robin drives the Batmobile for the first time (his second year as Robin).

Batman One bad day: Mr Freeze. (2022) Probably not set in the main continuity, Robin is small and wears a winter suit.

Batman/Superman: World's Finest vol 1 (2022). One of my favourite books from the current era (written by Mark Waid). It has a different tone than other in-continuity books (in a good way), but it is connected; the first story arc is a prequel to Batman vs Robin and the Lazarus Planet event. Dick has been Robin for a few years in the book except for a few panels. My favourite issue is # 6, when Dick is lost in the past, works in a circus and solves a mystery.

Batman/Superman (2019) # 16–21 and Annual 2021 # 1 is an outstanding story with DickRobin, albeit not the main Earth version.

Nightwing vol 4 # 78. There are a few pages of flashbacks, what might be Dick and Barbara's first meeting, fighting bullies at school. The bully, Shelton Lyle, will later turn out to be the villain Heartless – Nightwing fighting him is a story that keeps getting set on hold.

Batgirl vol 5 # 14–17 (October 2017– January 2018). Guest starring Nightwing, including flashbacks to when he was Robin and Dick and Barbara were in High School. Nothing special.

World's Finest: Teen Titans (2023). New book about the Teen Titans (the original five plus Bumblebee) when they're starting, also written by Mark Waid. One issue has been published so far; Robin is struggling with combining Batman's distrust with leading the team.

Nightwing vol 4 # 92. Another couple of flashback pages, from Dick's time as Robin, when he took on more than he could chew and got hurt saving a guy's life. Alfred refuses to let Bruce into Dick's bedroom unless he removes the cowl "and leave your disapproval at the door".

"A little nudge". In Robin 80th Anniversary Special (2020). It's probably not the latest official story about how Dick left Robin to become Nightwing, but I wouldn't mind if it were. Dick leaves Robin by his own choice; Bruce is a bit of a jerk because he's not emotionally mature enough to say, "I know you've grown up and should move on; I'll be fine without you."

Nightwing vol 4 # 79. Flashback page of Dick leaving the Manor, saying, "He fired me, Alfred" (he's eighteen at the time). So evidently, Tom Taylor goes with that version in his writing.

Nightwing vol 4 # 39

Nightwing vol 4 # 39. Flashback to when Dick was a student in Blüdhaven, after leaving Robin and before he became Nightwing. He goes out to look for a murderer dressed in old workout clothes that looks a lot like his original Nightwing suit. Part of the best story arc of Nightwing vol 4, so don't miss it!

Red Hood and the Outlaws vol 2 Annual # 1. A team-up issue with Nightwing with a flashback to when Jason saw the Flying Graysons. And to their first meeting at Wayne Manor, which didn't go well because Alfred decided to give newcomer Jason Dick's bedroom because the Manor evidently suffers from a shortage of beds... <insert rolling eyes emoji here> Eminently skippable issue...

Nightwing Annual 2021

Nightwing Annual 2021 (2022). Part of the book is a flashback story. Dick, who lives at the Titans tower, talks about how Bruce fired him and got a replacement. But when Alfred asks him to visit (calling Bruce his father), he comes to see Jason, who complains about how it's impossible to live up to the standard Dick set as Robin. They take the Batmobile (with Alfred's blessing) and head out. It seems to be their first meeting, which makes RHATO vol Annual 2 # 1 obsolete.

Nightwing vol 4 # 89. A team-up with Jon Kent/Superman, starting with a few pages flashback to their first meeting when Jon was getting his powers. Dick is wearing his red New 52 Nightwing suit.

Titans (2016–2019). I think the series was pretty meh, though Annual # 1 and Special # 1 have badass Nightwing moments.

DC Rebirth Holiday Special (2016) # 1, has a nice Titans story but nothing of further importance.

Rebirth Nightwing # 1. Dick returns to being Nightwing after the Grayson run, all set to pretend to work for the Parliament of Owls (see Robin War, part of New 52).

Nightwing vol 4 # 1 (September 2017) – # 4. Better than Batman. Nightwing is working undercover with the Parliament, partnered with the new character Raptor who, it turns out, loved his mum and has a personal vendetta with Bruce Wayne because he took Dick from his roots.

Monster men. A storyline with the villain Professor Hugo Strange in Nightwing # 5-6, Batman # 7-8, Detective Comics # 941–942 (and some more books I haven't read). Dick is temporarily transformed into a monster and later saves the day by jumping into a monster to administer some antitherapy. Nothing of future importance but some nice panels regarding how well Dick knows Bruce.

Nightwing vol 4 # 7–8 (January 2017). Rise of Raptor. Nightwing discovers that Raptor has been stalking Dick Grayson since childhood. Raptor abducts Bruce Wayne and puts him in a death trap, but Nightwing saves him when he jumps. I quite enjoy the Raptor stories, I have to say.

Nightwing vol 4 # 9 (January 2017). A team-up with Superman, who was not a guy he knew at the time since this Superman had come from the pre-Flashpoint universe and somehow merged with New 52 Superman (no, I still don't understand it). It mostly takes place in Dick's dreams. Known for a quote from Superman: "Of everyone I've met here, you're the least changed from the version I knew. Always confident, always kind, always cool. Dick Grayson – the multiversal constant."

Nightwing vol 4 # 10 (February 2017) – 14 (April 2017). Dick moves to Blüdhaven (I think people got their memories or stolen time back at some time in Rebirth, which would explain how he was new in the city here, but had lived and been a cop there (as in Nightwing vol 2) later in vol 4.) He volunteers for a program for teens at a community centre, where he meets Shawn Tsang/Defacer, an "art terrorist" Batman and Robin once fought back in the day. Nightwing works to prove she and Gorilla Grim aren't murderers.

Batman vol 3 # 16 (April 2017) Has a fun couple of pages with Bruce and Dick, Jason, Damian and Duke at Bat Burger; Bruce warns the boys to stay out of Gotham and out of Bane's way, which Dick, Jason and Damian, of course, disregard. The issue ends with Batman finding them hanging by their necks in the Batcave. In # 17, we see they survived, and Bruce has left them frozen with Superman at the Fortress of Solitude for safekeeping.

Nightwing vol 4 # 15 (April 2017). Dick and Shawn Tsang/Defacer start dating. Interlude with many guest stars whom Dick talks to about his new life in Blüdhaven.

Nightwing vol 4 # 20

Nightwing vol 4 # 16 – 20 (July 2017). Nightwing Must Die. Nice if you want to see Dick and Damian together again. Shawn is abducted while having a pregnancy scare, and Damian follows Dick to save her. (He went to Blüdhaven because he was upset people counted on Dick to become the Batman after Bruce's retirement, but later confesses he was unsure what his place in Dick's life was now.) Dick is cut with a knife made from the nth metal and see visions of himself from different realities. Villains: Professor Pyg and Doctor Simon Hurt, both from Dick and Damian's time as Batman and Robin.

Nightwing vol 4 # 21 (July 2017). Nightwing and Flash (Wally West) hang out, fights criminals and save each other's lives.

Nightwing vol 4 # 22–25 (August – September 2017). Blockbuster, the villain whose death in Nightwing vol 2 was a huge deal, is suddenly alive and menacing Blüdhaven and Nightwing again. Dick is job-hunting and ends up taking a job as a blackjack dealer to keep an eye on Blockbuster, who had earlier sold him out to Tiger Shark, a villain Dick fought as Batman in Black Mirror. # 24–25 has a pretty badass fight, Nightwing vs a boatload of villains, and he also saves everyone by hotwiring a contraption to expand a bubble that freezes time. Shawn breaks up with Dick.

Nightwing vol 4 # 26–28 (October – November 2017). Spyral. Huntress/Helena Bertinelli, whom Dick met during the Grayson run (New 52 era), turns up. They work together on a case, ending up at the Spiral headquarter, and start a relationship.

Batman vol 3 # 33–35 (December 2017 – January 2018). At Wayne Manor, Alfred tells Dick, Jason, Damian and Duke that Bruce intends to marry Selina while the latter two are on some mission in Khadym. Damian is upset because his mother is in Khadym, and Dick accompanies him there in the following issues. Some nice moments here and there, but I've never cared for Tom King's (the writer) grand Batman arc.

Dark Nights: Metal. Storyline 2017–2018. (including Nightwing # 29) where Batman discovers a Dark Multiverse.

Nightwing vol 4 # 30 – 34 (February 2018). Raptor's Revenge. Raptor gets involved in Nightwing’s fight with Blockbuster. Helena/Huntress breaks up with Dick. # 32 has flashback to Dick and Raptor at the circus and the death of his parents.

Batman vol 3 # 45–47 (June - July 2018). Booster Gold goes back in time to save Bruce's parents as a wedding gift. This completely alters the past, and for some reason, Dick becomes a Batman who fights a city of Jokers with lethal violence. Some amusing wackiness about what has happened to different characters – Selina is a serial killer, Tim has a menial job, and Jason has invented tires that give tire thieves a deadly shock of electricity, but nothing of future importance.

Nightwing vs Hush

Batman: Prelude to the Wedding. Nightwing vs Hush (2018) is a great issue for a Nightwing fan. Nightwing and Superman are taking Batman for a bachelor’s party, but Hush attacks them and he and Dick are transported to another universe (where Hush perishes, which hasn’t stopped him from turning up back in the main universe). Robin vs Ra's al Ghul has a tiny Nightwing as Damian's "good angel" on his shoulder, which is a fun but minor detail.

Batgirl vol 5 # 25. Takes place just after the failed wedding between Bruce and Selina. Barbara needs a friend; Dick takes her to the empty honeymoon suit. They talk as close friends about love, and Dick comes across as quite the romantic. Quite a nice story, in my opinion.

Nightwing vol 4 # 35

Nightwing vol 4 # 35–41 (February – May 2018)The Untouchable. My favourite arc of vol 4 so far, written by Sam Humphries (I'm sure he was supposed to stay longer because he talked in an interview about wanting to bring back Dick's Uncle George from Batman vol 1 # 22, but he only wrote the one arc). Includes some flashbacks to Dick’s time as Robin, and when he was a student post-Robin. He starts a new business, Grayson cross train studio.

Nightwing vol 4 # 42 (June 2018). Enjoyable one-shot. Damian tells his pets about how Dick saved him from capture in Tokyo. They pick up a dragon on the way.

Nightwing vol 4 # 43 (June 2018). Another enjoyable one-shot, with Dick, Damian and Roy Harper/Arsenal, bickering and fighting bad guys.

Nightwing vol 4 # 44–47 (July – October 2018). The Bleeding Edge, a story arc with malevolent virtual reality and the "dark web". Feel free to skip it.

Nightwing/Magilla Gorilla Special # 1 (October 2018). As a crossover with a Hanna-Barbera character, presumably not set in the usual DC universe... But I rather enjoyed it; it was a nice little murder mystery and lots of thinking about the circus and Dick's parents. Though I wouldn't personally rush to the cinema for a movie about The Flying Graysons with gorillas as actors...

Nightwing vol 4 # 48–49 (November 2018). Harm's way, the conclusion of the Dark Web storyline. If you enjoy Nightwing on a motorbike and being a badass fighter, why not? I can't say the story made an impact or had consequences since Dick would spend the following two years (maybe half a year, in-universe) as Ric.

The Murder Club (in Batman: Urban Legends # 19–23, November 2022 – March 2023 ). Martha and Thomas Wayne turn up in the Batcave, apparently taken from the time before they were killed. The story has Bruce, Dick, Damian and Alfred and is good if one like the family feels. (Not sure if any story in Urban Legends is supposed to be "canon" for the current continuity, but time-wise, Damian is dressed in Robin colours, Alfred is alive etc.)

Batman vol 3 # 51 (September 2018). Dick stands in as Batman while Bruce is called for jury duty.

DC's Crime of Passion # 1 (February 2020), has some Dick/Barbara, nothing you can't miss, in my opinion.

Batman vol 3 # 54–55. # 54 goes between flashbacks from when Dick was new in Wayne Manor and apparently doesn't know Bruce is Batman and Nightwing trying to cheer up Batman after Seline dumped him. In # 55, Dick is shot in the head by KG Beast (just another of Tom King's plot points to make Batman as miserable as possible). In Batman # 56-57, Batman hunts down KG Beast. Again, these issues have some pleasant character moments. Still, I'm not a fan of the overall plot or the result for Dick (I've read that Tom King was open to healing Dick magically pretty much straight away, but someone wanted to "take advantage" of the situation...)

Nightwing vol 4 Annual # 2. Partly set just after Dick was shot. Bruce tries to jog his memory by showing him a video of when he was shot, further traumatizing him and leading to him storming out.

Nightwing vol 4 # 50 (December 2018) – 74 (November 2020). Dick lives in Blüdhave as "Ric" and has forgotten everything for approximately the last 15 years. He wants nothing to do with his former family and starts dating Bea Bennett. Meanwhile, four other people use his old suits to go out as vigilantes since the real Nightwing has disappeared. Besides the shot in the head, he is brainwashed (with the help of a magical crystal, if I understood correctly) to help his Talon grandfather William Cobb make him a Talon (he is, for a few issues). The Joker later gets hold of the crystal and makes Dick believe the Joker fostered him and that he is "Dicky boy". He fights the other bats before it's all over...

Nightwing vol 4 # 74 (November 2020). Dick starts to get his memories back.

Batman vol 3 # 99 (November 2020). Bruce gives Dick his Nightwing suit back after two years of suffering (for us readers) with Ric, Talons and Joker War, but not really worth reading for that.

Dark Nights: Death Metal. Reality-shattering, complicated storyline 2020–2021 with lots of evil Batmen. I have read very little of it, but Dick is newly back from "Ric". In Justice League # 53–57 (Doom Metal parts 1–5), he and some others are physically D&E-transformed while fighting. In Dark Nights: Death Metal The Last Stories of the DC Universe, there are some nice Titans moments (also, Batman performs a one-panel "wedding" with Dick and Barbara...)

Nightwing vol 4 # 78 – > (March 2021 and onward) The current run of Nightwing starts (writer Tom Taylor, art mostly Bruno Redondo). After the relaunch Infinite Frontier, parts of Dick's pre-Flashpoint history in Blüdhaven have been restored. He has, for instance, been a cop and lives in the apartment building he bought during Nightwing vol 2. In my opinion, the run is visually great and full of lovely moments between Dick and his friends and family, but it's overly sweet and kind of boring, though many people seem to love the writing too.

Nightwing vol 4 # 78 (2021). Dick adopts a three-legged puppy (Haley/Bitewing) and is told he inherited Alfred's billions (he is currently richer than Bruce). He now lives in the block of flats in Blüdhave that was ostensibly destroyed in Nightwing vol 2.

Nightwing vol 4 # 80. Nightwing's first meeting with the villain Heartless, who steals hearts. That was 2021, and Dick still hasn't stopped Heartless or spent a lot of time chasing him because of so many interruptions.

Nightwing vol 4 # 82

Nightwing vol 4 # 81–82. He discovers he has an older half-sister, Melinda Zucco, conceived before John and Mary were married but brought up as the daughter of Tony Zucco. She is sworn in as the new Mayor of Blüdhaven. A big part of # 82 is flashbacks to the Grayson's and Melinda's backstory. Blockbuster, who should already be dead if what happened in Nightwing vol 2 is canon again, turns up as an adversary again (is later killed in # 94)

Nightwing vol 4 # 83. Dick announces The Alfred Pennyworth Foundation to make Blüdhaven a better place for everyone. The first goal is to ensure that no one lives on the streets a month later, "because it's getting colder".

Without a net. Unpublished tales from the DC vault # 2. (2021) One shot that is possibly supposed to take place in the current continuity; there's at least nothing to contradict it. Dick takes on a task because he feels he's the most qualified to dive 30000 feet from a flying castle (?!) into a lagoon.

Robin vol 3 # 5 (2021). The four former Robins chase after Damian, who has temporarily left Lazarus Island and wants to discuss what's happening. He gives them the slip – except Dick, who catches up with Damian and gives him a birthday present. They talk a bit, and Dick lets him go, telling the others that they will tell Batman "That we trust Damian and have faith in him." So a nice issue if you're looking for a few pages of Dick and Damian interaction.

Nightwing vol 4 # 84–86. Part of the crossover Fear State, where Scarecrow wants to control Gotham City using fear gas.

Titans Academy (2021–2022). I was never interested in picking up the book, but I guess it happened parallel to the Nightwing book until the start of Dark Crisis.

Nightwing Annual 2021 (2022). A tale of two brothers, Dick and Jason, now and then (when Jason was Robin). Dick refuses to believe Jason/Red Hood is killing people again and helps him clear it up, combined with a likeable flashback with Nightwing and JasonRobin.

Nightwing vol 4 # 88 (2022). Dick Grayson is targeted at the ceremony for starting to build Haven. It's kind of a nice issue if you like seeing what a great guy Dick is and his friends rushing to his side. Dick gets a new Nightwing suit made by Mr Terrific.

Nightwing vol 4 # 89, Superman: Son of Ka-El # 9. A team-up with Jon Kent/Superman, starting with a flashback to their first meeting when Jon was getting his powers.

"The Director" (in Batman: Urban Legends # 22-23). A story with Dick and Barbara takes place in Blüdhaven; not really my cup of tea, but readable.

Nightwing vol 4 # 90–91, Dick's building in Blüdhaven is blown up, Barbara is kidnapped, and a master assassain comes after Dick. Guest starring Wally West/The Flash, guest villain KG Beast, the gut who shot Dick back in Batman # 55.

Nightwing vol 4 # 96–97. I think it's fair to say Dick and Barbara are a couple at this stage.

Nightwing vol 3 # 98

Nightwing vol 4 # 98 (2023). Dick gets his own imp from the Fifth Dimension, Nite-Mite. He ships Dick with Starfire but teleports friends and family in to wed Dick and Barbare. (Ok, I thought it was a rather fun issue...) Introducing Olivia, daughter of Blockbuster, who sold her soul to the devil Neron; Neron is on his way to collect her soul. Nightwing & Co save her.

Nightwing vol 4 # 99. Nightwing catches Tony Zucco, who is violating parole with attempted robbery. Melinda changes her last name to Grayson-Lin.

Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis # 1, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths # 1–7 (2022). An event where the Justice League is presumed dead (Nightwing is sure they will come back), and super criminals attack en masse. Along the way, "the Great Darkness" tries to take Nightwing as its new host, but he fights it off. At the end of the event, the Justice League disbanded. I'm pretty fed up with big events (great art, though), but Dick is a central character, the first legacy hero, and the light in the dark for Batman. It sets him up as an important leader for the superhero community going forward.

Batman vs Robin # 3 (November 2022). Damian is possessed and recruits the four former Robins to fight Batman for him in this lead-up to the event Lazarus Planet. Dick gets the sword of sin, and Batman, waiting for him to attack, thinks, "Hand-to-hand, the toughest of them all". In the end, Batman pushes Alfred (or rather, some kind of replica of Alfred from the afterlife, as a spy for the demon Nezha) on Dick's sword to get him to hesitate so Batman can knock him out. (I should say I've only read this issue of the book. Damian and Bruce fighting got old a long time ago, IMO.)

Nightwing vol 4 # 100. Heartless stages a mass breakout from Blüdhaven's private prison, which is destroyed. Nightwing talks a lot of the escapees into changing sides. The Titans come to help. Guest villain again, KG Beast. Superman and Wonder Woman asks Dick to lead – not the Justice League, which currently is disbanded – but whatever kind of protection he chooses. Dick buys the destroyed prison to build a new Titans tower there. Dick and Bruce have a heartfelt talk by Alfred's grave, though it's debatable if "I love you, Dad" is in character for Dick to say.

Nightwing vol 4 # 101–104. The Titans work together to save Olivia from Neron. Including Dick getting superpowers like that of Superman, when Neron tries to tempt him. Back-up story of Nightwing and Jon/Superman, working a case at a circus.

Titans (2023). The adult Titans are working from Blüdhaven while the Justice League is (probably very temporarily ) disbanded in this new book. It's only been a couple of issues, but I've been enjoying it so far (though I have a hard time with the pairing Beast Boy/Raven, since I know them well from the NTT ear).

Books clearly set outside the main continuity

Future State: Nightwing # 2

Future State: Nightwing # 1–2 (2021), Future State: Gotham (2021–2022) As far as I'm concerned, DC's Future State titles are stories from possible alternate futures that will never come to pass. But it was nice to see Dick written as competent and tinkering with inventions. The Future State stories continued in Future State Gotham, where Dick used the enhancing drug Brane to gain an edge in the fight against the Magistrate and assorted villains and, in the end, sacrificed himself. It didn't seem worth reading, from what I've seen.

Future State: Teen Titans # 1–2. Another possible future book, it’s not as good as the Nightwing version, IMO.

Batman Beyond (2016) vol 6. Dick is the mayor of Blüdhaven and has a daughter who becomes Batwoman in this version of Batman Beyond. To my knowledge, he is in a number of issues starting with # 25.

Batman/Catwoman, a 12-issue Black Label miniseries (2021–2022). Yet another book set in a possible future (or maybe an alternate universe). Dick is the Police Commissioner of Gotham. I haven't read the whole series, but Dick has a minor role.

In the Dark Multiverse, you can see Dick as a Talon, die during the Judas contract or be murdered by Damian if you like. (Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Hush, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, and Deathstroke (2016) # 50.)

Titans United (2021) and Titans United: Bloodpact (2022) was two limited series that was probably published to lure in readers that liked the Titans tv show, though it wasn't a tie-in. Pretty entertaining Titans stories with different team members. The digital-first Titans: Titans Together book (2020) also didn't connect to what's going on in other books but was all right reading.

– – –

Posted on July 16, 2023. Time will tell if it will get edited/updated in the future.

#Dick Grayson #Nightwing #Robin #Batman #reading guides

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happysadyoyo · 6 months

Note

Oh! Oh! Can you do the human diguise? Just anything really.

But if you want ideas I'm thinking maybe...

Sun wants to read some books but he himself doesn't know where to even start because outside of a few picture books for abolute toddlers DCA never even held a one in their hands!

maybe about knitting? or general survival tricks? or maybe just some novels?

So Sun asks librarian for recomendations but in his excitment he goes thourght books far faster that should be humaly possible and then he catches himself and is seriously afraid but

the librarian just worry the books they recomend must be not what Sun needed because this guy CLEARLY doesn't read them at all.

Ahh you've unlocked a core memory of mine. I might've gone off the rails and put a little too much of me into y/n but here we are.

As always, Human Disguise AU belongs to @pillowspace. She just lets me play in her sandbox.

"You haven't even used your library card yet?" You're almost offended for the library honestly. A building full of worlds and your new friend hasn't even touched them.

"It's been a bit hard to find the time, buuut I want to!" Sun's quick to reassure you when you frown (pout really) at him. "I do, I promise. Maybe you can give me some recommendations on where to start?"

The magic words. Every job has that One Task that makes it worth it. When you had been a cashier it'd been your uncanny ability to pack bags perfectly. As a janitor, it was leaving a floor sparkling clean after a night pushing the waxer. And here?

Here it was finding the perfect book for someone to read.

"Okay let me think," you say, grabbing a cart of returns to push. "I don't know if you're more of a nonfiction or fiction reader. I need some clues."

Sun's chuckle is just a little on the shy side. Cute. "I'm not entirely sure I know either. Sorry." At your exaggerated sigh, you catch a glimpse of his gloved hands raising in mock surrender. "I really will enjoy whatever you decide!"

"Okay well, you've given me a challenge. Let's find a few things and see what you like the most." You shove the cart a little too hard around the corner, catching a misplaced stool. The cart jerks and Sun grabs it before you can tip it over and lose all your books. "Oh sorry! Are you okay?" This is what you get for being too excited.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Are you?" Sun rests his hand on you for just a moment, jerking away just as if he's been burned. It hurts, just a little, but he just seems to be adverse to touch. So you bite your tongue and deal.

"I'm fine. You're my hero, saving the cart," you say, watching Sun's face. He turns away, and you can only guess he's being shy. "Anyway, I have an idea for your first book."

"Oh?" He trails after you as you abandon your cart, far too excited. You duck into the crafts section, finding the colorful spine of a well worn book. "Knitting?"

"You're always so bundled up. I think you'll enjoy making your own mittens and things. Oh and! Arthurian legends. That'll be a good litmus test for what sort of stories you like."

Sun takes the knitting book and follows you as you go from shelf to shelf, creating a precarious pile in his arms. Your cart has been lost to the stacks, and you find yourself babbling about the different people you've helped find books for over the years.

"You love books," Sun says as you make it back it back to the reference desk to check him out.

"I do," you agree, smiling to yourself. "I read a lot as a kid. It was like... I don't know. Having friends? It sounds silly, I know."

"I don't think so." Sun brushes against your hand again on a cover decorated with embossed ivy and a golden sword. You freeze, and his hand lingers, close enough you can feel the tickle of his glove's fuzzy thread. "I think it's wonderful you were able to find friends in these stories. I can't wait to meet them myself."

You sort of stumble through the rest of the conversation, face hot. Usually it's easy enough to laugh off your own excitement sharing books, but with Sun responding so earnestly...

It's nearly dark out when you finally get off, yawning and stretching. You had to relocate your cart and spent the rest of the day putting things away and trying not to seek out your friend as he read. You'd noticed the one book, the Arthurian one, already back in the return bin.

Sun is waiting for you at the door, as he has been doing the past week and change. "I take it King Arthur wasn't up to your taste?" You ask by way of greeting.

"What? Oh, no! I loved it. The knights are so gallant. But it's so melancholic as well, reading their adventures. I feel bad for Lady Morgan the most."

"You do?" Sun is a reassuring presence in the evening light. "But you've already returned it."

"Oh, um." There's a heavy pause. "I think I just got so invested in the story I forgot to put it down."

You knew fast readers, and that seemed nearly plausible. Nearly. You still give a doubtful squint at him. But maybe you're being too judgemental. "I'll see if I can't find any happier stories with Morgan in them. She used to be a healer, you know. In the early stories."

"Really? Tell me about them."

You're more than happy to, tracing the memories of the old stories in the air as you speak. You nearly miss your road, stumbling to a stop when you hit an unfamiliar crack in the sidewalk. And it's there you say goodnight, leaving Sun to go home himself with thoughts of gallant knights and magic swords to keep himself occupied until you saw him again.

#human disguise au #dca #fnaf daycare au #fnaf daycare attendant #eh this ksnt my best work

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alltoowelltom · 1 year

Text

a missed chance

tom holland x single mom!reader

from this request here

note: this is a repost! i've been having so many issues with tumblr and posts not showing up so i decided it was best to just re-upload <3

⭑･ﾟﾟ･:༅｡.｡༅:ﾟ:*:✼✿

Almost three years ago Tom came to the conclusion that he'd missed his chance. The photo of two pink lines on a stick you'd sent to the group chat with no caption was an image that Tom saw whenever he closed his eyes. It haunted him in the middle of the night and clouded his mind when he sat in traffic. It summed up the situation, as he saw it - he'd waited too long and the opportunity for your will-they-won't-they friendship to ever grow into something more had slipped out of his grasp.

He settled into his role as Uncle Tom wonderfully. As the eldest of four he'd always been great with kids and he loved your young son as if he were Tom's own, but the tension in your friendship never quite fizzled out.

⭑･ﾟﾟ･:༅｡.｡༅:ﾟ:*:✼✿

Your phone rang as you sat on a park bench, watching Alfie play in the sandbox just a few meters away.

"Hello?"

"Love, you've got to start checking the caller ID before you answer." Tom chastised lightly on the other end of the line.

"Tom!" you squeal, drumming your feet on the concrete ground. "Does this mean you've landed?!"

"I'm touching solid ground," he confirms. "Back in the land of hope and glory."

"Good," you grin. "I've missed you."

"Yeah?" you don't miss the hope in Tom's voice and if you could see him, you'd notice the crinkles by his eyes that only appeared when he received really good news.

"Does that mean I can come over this evening?" he wonders aloud.

"I wouldn't complain," you shrug. "It's your first night back though, you don't want to see your family or anything?"

"How many times do we have to have this conversation?" Tom shakes his head. "You and Alfie are family."

As if being summoned, Alfie begins to whine from the sandbox, seemingly done with the plastic shovel in his hand as he holds his arms in the air, wanting to be picking up by you.

"Alright, I've got to go but I'll see you tonight," you say. "Talk soon."

⭑･ﾟﾟ･:༅｡.｡༅:ﾟ:*:✼✿

"How's my little man?" Tom asks, scooping Alfie up as he runs towards where Tom stands by the front door. He swings Alfie through the air, spinning around before bringing the giggling toddler to rest on his hip.

"He's grown!" Tom remarks. "You're almost too big for me to do that." He tells Alfie, poking him playfully in the tummy.

Tom feels stupid for not realizing how much bigger Alfie's gotten in the last four months since Tom's been away filming. Your FaceTime calls usually took place while Tom was in hair and makeup, right before you went to bed back in London and by that time Alfie was more often than not fast asleep already, so Tom hadn't seen much of the little guy. He wanted to kick himself for once again kidding himself into believing that you and Alfie existed in some sort of time-warp, lives permanently still until Tom came home to London. Of course you guys had your own little life together. You didn't need him, right?

"Yeah, he's getting older by the day," you laugh, wiping your flour-covered hands on your jeans as you step into the hallway. Tom wraps you into a side hug with his free arm, making sure not to squash Alfie between you two, who's fiddling with a loose thread on Tom's sweater.

"Alfie's just had dinner, do you want any?" you call over your shoulder as Tom follows you into the kitchen.

"Hmm, what's on the menu, chef?" He chuckles, placing Alfie down on the carpet and ruffling the boy's hair.

"It's the extremely gourmet and elegant meal of boxed Mac and cheese." You answer.

"Ooh, yes please!" Tom calls as he wanders into the living room.

He's always felt so comforted in your flat. It’s always felt a mile away from the stresses and worries of Tom's life as an actor, and more importantly it's always felt like you. Despite the baby bouncer hanging in the doorway, the discarded toy stuffed behind the TV and a few picture books strewn across the sofa it retains the features that made it yours like the vinyls on display above the record player Tom bought for your birthday one year and the mini chalkboard with a half rubbed out score from a game of beer pong from before everything changed. There was now a hastily scribbled reminder to 'buy teething rings' over the top.

"Sorry about the mess," you say, gently kicking a few brightly colored building blocks out the way. Tom helps by stacking the picture books from the couch into a little pile on the coffee table. "I was going to have a tidy up when Alfie and I came home from the park, but you know how it is."

He doesn't know how it is, not really. As close as you are, he's always slightly on the outside when it comes to you and Alfie, reduced to an uncle just the same as Uncle Haz or Uncle Tuwaine. But he wants to be more than that. He wants to be your partner in this, someone to lend a hand when the house gets messy or a shoulder to cry on when things get tough. For being a web-slinging superhero during the day, he wishes he was brave enough to tell you how he felt.

"Don't even worry about it." He says instead, smiling in thanks when you pass him a serving of mac and cheese in a colorful plastic bowl and a plastic spoon.

"I ran out of real cutlery." You laugh as he looks at it quizzically, one eyebrow raised. "You know, no one tells you how much living with a toddler changes you," you say. "I haven't used adult cutlery in about a week, and just the other day I found myself eating a sucky yogurt for dinner while watching Cocomelon. Alfie wasn't even in the room."

Tom laughs as he spoons the golden pasta into his mouth.

"It sounds to me like you're desperately in need of some adult interactions." He hears how it sounds as soon as he says it and hopes you don't think he's being creepy.

"Oh God, don't even get me started, " you say. "I haven't gotten any sort of adult interactions in like, a year. No wait…two years and nine months."

"Two years and nine months?!" Tom gasps, glancing at Alfie out of the corner of his eye who sits on the carpet playing with a toy train track Tom had given him last Christmas.

"Welcome to motherhood." You grimace.

Tom puts his empty bowl on the coffee table, trying to figure out how to word his next question.

"Do you ever get…lonely?" He asks delicately. "I don't mean physically, I mean actually."

You shrug, pulling a blanket over your lap.

"I mean, yeah. It's just that between work and Alfie, I don't have time to go out and meet people, you know?"

Tom nods thoughtfully, letting you continue as he gently tugs the edge of your blanket, pulling it over his legs too.

"And if I do meet someone, it's hard because sometimes if I tell them about Alfie it's a deal breaker, or if they're okay with it I'm still not comfortable bringing people in and out of his life. If someone's in his life I want them to be in for good, right?"

"Yeah, I get what you mean," Tom sympathizes, placing a hand on your leg.

"I wouldn't change having him for the world," you say quickly. "I just sometimes wish I had someone to talk to who doesn't speak only in Bob the Builder references."

"I'm always here to talk to, lovie." Tom reassures you. "Can we fix this? Yes we can!" He giggles and you laugh too, pushing his shoulder with yours.

"I'm really glad you're home, Tommy." you say quietly, putting your hand over his where it still rests gently on your leg and rubbing small circles into his skin.

"It's good to be back." He agrees. His eyes meet yours and you both lean in ever so slightly. He picks his hand up off your leg and slowly brings it up, only to be interrupted by a shriek from Alfie as one of his trains crashes off the track. You both jump away, Tom's hand hovering in mid-air as the only proof of the moment that might have happened, frozen on its collision course to your cheek.

You avert eye contact, standing up and reaching for Alfie.

"I'm sorry-" Tom starts but you shake your head, eyes shining.

"No don't worry, it's okay." You say. "Uhm, do you want to help with bathtime?"

⭑･ﾟﾟ･:༅｡.｡༅:ﾟ:*:✼✿

"Hello?" Tom calls down the hallway, kicking the front door shut behind him. There's no answer but he hears chatter and laughter from in the distance. He deposits the cake on the kitchen counter, breathing a sigh of relief upon discovering he'd gotten it from the bakery to your house in one piece.

He steps out of the French doors, immediately grinning as he takes in the scene before him. In the back garden Alfie's second birthday party is in full swing. A handful of toddlers play on the mini slide set you'd set up, their parents hovering nearby and chatting. He assumes these must be some of Alfie's friends from daycare. He spots Alfie almost immediately, running (or waddling) around with the top half of his face painted to look like a Spider-Man mask, clearly having the time of his life.

"Tom!" you spot him standing on the deck, excusing yourself from a conversation with a few parents and heading over to him.

"I'm so glad you made it," you say, giving him a quick hug. He lingers for a second, basking in the feeling of being able to hold you close. He lets you go with only a slightly wistful smile.

"Did you get the cake?" you ask hopefully.

"Of course," he says, rolling his eyes but taking you by the arm and leading you into the shade of the kitchen. "It's in here."

He opens the cake box, grinning as you gasp happily.

"It's perfect! Thank you so much for picking it up." you say, giving him a quick one sided hug and he gulps.

"You look pretty." he murmurs before he can stop himself, taking in the glittery dress you'd chosen for the occasion.

"What was that?" you blink, turning your head away from where you were putting two blue candles in the frosting and making eye contact with Tom.

"Uh, I said I love this city." Tom tries to save it, suddenly losing confidence as usual. "Glad to be back, y'know?"

"Okay?" you nod. "'s good to hear."

･*:༅｡

Tom hangs back as Alfie blows out his candles with a little help from you, allowing himself to hide in the small crowd of toddlers and parents. He'd been so confident driving up to your house with Alfie's cake safely in the passenger seat, even going as far as blasting Enchanted by Taylor Swift with the windows down to prove to himself that today was the day. He had to admit how he felt for so many years or it would truly eat him alive. But now here he was, leaning against the wall at a two-year-old's birthday party and feeling like the biggest wimp in the known universe. He silently excused himself to the bathroom, locking the door and knocking his head on the mirror. Come on, Tom!

"Hey," Tom said, tapping you on the shoulder.

･*:༅｡

"Oh shit," you say, whipping around and dropping the pile of paper plates you'd been collecting up. "You scared me, Tom! I thought everyone had left already."

"Sorry," Tom laughed gently. "No I was just in the bathroom. Want some help cleaning up?"

"You were in the bathroom for an hour?" you ask worriedly. "Jesus, is everything okay?"

"Oh, everything's brilliant." He smiles at you. "I was just thinking."

"I didn't know you knew how to do that." you grin at him. He breathes out, glad some of your familiar banter had returned.

"I have to tell you something." he says before he can think too much about it.

You nod, smiling gently for him to continue as you clean up.

"Can you…can you stop doing that for a minute?" he asks shyly, taking the stack of paper plates from you and putting them down. "This'll only take a minute and then I'll be gone, promise."

He hesitates before taking both your hands in his. You lean into his touch, trying to ignore the electricity that radiates from where your hands meet.

"Do you remember that night at the pub a few years ago?" he asks slowly. "It was the night they were doing the trivia night on pop culture and you won our team all those points for knowing the One Direction questions."

"Yeah," you laugh. "Once again the 1D obsession saved all of our asses."

"And then later that night," Tom continues, his voice wavering. "You uh- you found out about Alfie and you sent that picture of the test to the group chat."

You nod, remembering that night all too well.

"I was outside your house that night." he blurts out. Well, I've done it now, he thinks.

"What the fuck, Tom." you laugh. "You got all serious just to tell me you were stalking me almost three years ago?"

Tom groans.

"Will you let me finish, love?" he asks. "You left before any of us. And the boys all hyped me up, and then I left too. I came to your house because I had to tell you how I felt. And then before I could even knock, you sent that photo to the groupchat. And then how could I possibly add more to the situation and tell you that I've been in love with you since we met?"

Your eyes widen after his confession and you slowly take your hand out of his. Tom swears he's never heard a silence quite this loud before, and he takes it as a bad sign.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he babbles. "I just had to tell you because I couldn't keep lying to you and pretending that everything I see or think about doesn't remind me of you."

"No, Tom." you stop him, gently placing one finger over his lips to shush him. "It's just that I don't really know how to respond to that. I mean, you want me? You actually want me?"

"Darling, you could punch me in the eye and I'd still want you." Tom tries to ease the situation and you giggle. You wrap your arms around him gently, breathing in his scent.

"Is this okay?" you ask hesitantly.

"It's more than okay." Tom confirms, copying your actions. He nuzzles his head into your hair, inhaling the sweet smell of your conditioner that he's only ever been able to admire from afar before now.

You nudge him ever so slightly away from you and tip your head up a tiny amount so you're looking at him. He's been so brave, being the first one to make a move so you feel it's only fair that it's your turn to break the ice. Chest flush against his you close the gap between your mouths, meeting his lips in a soft kiss.

Tom all but melts into the kiss, holding you firmly. There's no way he was letting the chance slip away again, now that he was right where he wanted to be.

⭑･ﾟﾟ･:༅｡.｡༅:ﾟ:*:✼✿

tysm for reading! reblogs are always appreciated and really help a writer out <3

#tom holland x reader #tom holland x you #tom holland x y/n #tom holland x single mom!reader #dad!tom #tom holland fluff #tom holland angst

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thedeviltohisangel · 5 days

Note

Hii :) How do you think Cass and John would have met in the modern era? Would Cass still have called off the engagement and joined the militia? Or would she have another job?

OK SO.

I gave this a lot of thought on my ride back from Charleston today. And as a point of inspiration, I had always had little thoughts about fighter pilot John and CIA Cass meeting each other in Afghanistan but then Friday I saw the Thunderbirds perform and saw all these people wanting to meet their wives and just thought Cass would fucking hate that and thus an image of modern John/Cass was clearly in my head and invaded my entire trip.

HOW THEY MEET:

Cass is in the Air Force reserves and gets sent on three month orders to North Carolina for the summer. No one knows she is CIA in her civilian life.

John Egan is a HOT SHOT F15 pilot (Air Force academy grad, flies fast and dangerous) who sees her at a bar in OBX when he escapes there for the weekend.

She plays much harder to get in the modern AU. Avoiding all his attempts to take her to the beach and take her to see his plane and get dinner at sunset. But he tries so freaking hard and has ignored every other girl that comes near him so she starts to feel warm in her chest and gives in.

Cue a sickeningly sweet and romantic summer love full of John driving her around in his Jeep and listening to country music and 80s rock and dancing with her at local concerts and minor league baseball games and sneaking kisses in the hallway and her waving to him from the side of the air field before he takes off.

But summer ends and Cass gets the call to Kabul and she can't tell John her real job and where she's going and why she has to go so she breaks his fucking heart and her own in the process. (why'd you let me fall in love with you then?)

And a few weeks later John gets his own orders to deploy and he lands in the sandbox and is looking over maps of patrol area for the next day and he hears a voice that he hasn't heard in months and he looks up and there she is. Arguing with his Colonel like she doesn't have a care for authority if the call is not in line with her objectives.

And he wants to say something but-is that a ring on her finger?

#john egan #masters of the air #john egan fanfiction #masters of the air fanfiction #mota #john egan x oc #answered #cass and bucky #john egan x reader #mota fanfic #bucky egan x reader #mastersoftheair #mota fic

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highly-important · 9 months

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Thoughts on the Venture Bros Movie

I absolutely love this series and periodically get obsessed with it. The last two seasons were especially some of my favorites. I enjoyed the movie, it really felt like an episode. Any complaints I have are really in the "I loved it but the portions are too small" category.

I love that Shoreleave and Dr. Girlfriend are friends. I think this was kind of established earlier. It just makes sense.

I like how Brock - who knows Rusty better than anybody for better or worse- went to the bat defending Rusty to the OSI. And that Brock's shining moment isn't him being super kill guy.

Along those lines, I like how Rusty's entire arc this show is realizing to some degree or another that he isn't a failure. His father was able to present an idealized image of himself to the public, and it meant Rusty growing up under a shadow he could never live up to. But the reality is Rusty isn't as incapable as he or others believe he is.

We’ve kind of gotten this growth with Rusty during the show so we don’t need it as much in the movie. But it’s very interesting that he can use his brother’s robot to save not only the building but “restore” the destroyed Venture compound. I think it’s Rusty really earning his own legacy.

Plus his attempt to build something Jonas Jr-ish just made something super Science-y. Maybe he’s returning to his true calling

I like how the movie represents Dr. Girlfriend's powers. Yes, she is good at fighting, and is intelligent enough to build super science tech, but her strength is also in her diplomacy and the loyal connections she builds. Part of that is that when she is in trouble, others come to her aid. And her challenge in the movie is a test of her negotiation and diplomacy. I like that the movie takes time to give her this moment.

You can really see how Hank got a lot of his personality from Debra.

Debra’s tech was really cool and I love the scene on the train platform. Its a little frustrating that we don’t get more, but I think Venture Bros is very good at building expectations and then letting your imagination fill in the gaps.

I think this is partially because Venture Bros often ends at the climax and skips over the resolution. The building tension makes you want answers. And often the end-credit sequence gives us the pieces to put the puzzle together without handing it to us. It creates a sandbox and asks you to play in it.

Gary is just living his best life. He got a grappling gun and got to co-pilot a giant robot.

Hank's multiple personalities was never something I'd imagine getting conclusion on, but I'm glad they did. It kind of reminds me of Return to Oz, where at the beginning Ozma is free to wander around the real word, but is trapped in a mirror in Oz. And at the end that reverses. Hank doesn’t destroy these pieces of himself, he just puts them in a place where they can’t control him.

Dean's plot was kind of interesting, there was rumor that one of the brothers would be a protag and one would become an arch. Dean is so worried that his negative life experiences are going to ruin him and prevent him from having the type of life he wants to have. But sometimes things aren't as bad as we think they are. And I think it suggests he can stay with his brother and not be damaged by the experience

Hank and Dean are both controlled by vivid imaginations in different ways. Hank imagines how good things could be, and Dean imagines how bad things could be. Meeting his mother is never going to be as good or cathartic or as healing as Hank imagines it, just as reality isn’t as horrible as Dean imagines it.

I really like the story structure of this show where an emphasis is put on something - like who is the mother - and then the mystery is eventually dropped. But the reality is that who is their mother isn't as important. Hank didn't need to find his mom, and finding her wont give him what he wants. He needed to reconnect with his brother. But it’s also fun that we can solve this puzzle on our own, it’s just not the point.

Of course, I think it does mean Dean is heir to the guild.

I wasn't expecting the twist with the Monarch at all, and in retrospect I think I should have ? Its really interesting how well it fits with Rusty's arc the entire show. Rusty turns his hatred inwards and blames himself for not being his dad. Now that Malcolm understands his unconscious thoughts, it shifts his relationship to arching from an impulse to a choice.

#venture bros #the venture bros #radiant is the blood of the baboon

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no-vibes-club · 6 months

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𝕺𝖓𝖊-𝕾𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖉 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊

Tears rolled down my face."I'm happy as.long as he's happy", I thought to myself as i wiped my tears. I had known Eren for as long as i can remember. I remember the first dy.we met in details.

I was sitting alone in the sandbox at the park trying to make a sandcastle. A shadow went over me and I looked.to see a boy about.my age but at least a year or two older. Next to him was another boy who just stood there glaring at me. Then with one big stomp, he ruined my sandcastle. I looked up at him with tears threatening to fall.

"Why . . . did you . . . do that?" I asked releasing the waterworks and he scoffed. "Get out of the sandbox! We always play here. Go find your own place!" he said as he creased his brows more. "But, the park is for everyone. Anyone can play here." I said and he was tapping his foot on the ground impatiently.

"Leave her alone!" I turned around and saw a brown haired boy. I stood up and realized that i was a bit taller than the two boys and they twitched a bit. "She doesn't want you near her!" he shouted again coming closer, anger evident on his face. He stomped angrily and the boys left annoyed.

He turned to me, his eyes looking innocent. "Don't worry. They wont bother you as long as I'm here" he said with a big smile and i had noticed that i was also taller than him. "Thanks" I said in a hushed tone.

"My name is Eren Yeager. What's your name?" he asked me and i smiled. [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] [𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]". "You are now officially my beat friend" he said and held my hand in his as we ran around the park giggling and playing together.

Ever since then, Eren and I had become inseparable. Everyday after school, we would play together at the park. We played various games and always had so much fun. He would glare at other children if they even thought of playing with us which would scare them away.

We then came to know that we lived a few houses away and had playdates on the weekend. For most of our lives we had watched the other grow.

"Ha! Ha! I'm finally taller than you [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]" he said as we walked down our middle school halls." That's because you're a boy! And boys have better growth spurts than most girls." I said adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "Can't you just let me breathe for once." he said and we both laughed. "Ok. You can rub it in my face" I said and a big smile crept on his features.

For the last year of middle school and while I was in junior high, most people thought that Eren and I were dating, but he always reassured them by saying " [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] and I ! No were just best friends" . And at some point along the line, it started to hurt. I didn't understand why and tried to brush it off, but everytime he said it, or i thought about it, my heart sank.

I started seeing Eren differently. I found his emerald eyes breathtakingly gorgeous, his smile was heartwarming and I just adored every little thing more than usual. In my eyes, he was perfect.

Everytime I spoke to him, my heart would beat rapidly since he was looking and listening to me so intently. Everytime he laughed, my stomach would flatter with butterflies. The way his hair swayed in the wind when we sat at the park felt like I was in a dream. The way his cheeks flushed when he'd get embarrassed, all these things were the reasons I fell for him and there was a lot more.

I tried to act normal around him. I spoke like we always did, hopefully not giving out any hints but deep down, I wished he could see through me, but he was clueless, so oblivious.

So to deliver some hints, I changed my handwriting a bit and started writing him notes. The first note, included an introduction of me as their '𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥 𝔸𝕕𝕞𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕣'. The next ones were a bunch of lovely messages like "𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕪 𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕖" or "𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪" and sign off by either writing "𝕃𝕠𝕥'𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖- 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥 𝔸𝕕𝕞𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕣" or " ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕕𝕒𝕪!- 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦

♡＾▽＾♡ "

"And the last letter I got from them was so sweet!" ,he was once again talking to me about.the notes he would receive everyday. A part of me was happy that he found the notes flattering but the other felt burt because he didn't know.

"And they decided to give me a small gift too. They made me a small box of chocolates. Look!" he brought the box up to my face and waved it a little. "They wrote that it was handmade and when I tried one, it was so good!" he said. "Try one!" he opened the box and ushered me to take one. "Sure!" I said and ate it.

The chocolate melted instantly on my tongue and in the centre, there was another flavour.

"Wow! I've never tasted anything like this!" I lied. "I know right! They're so talented! I wish I knew who they were" he said and I wanted to tell him right then and there that it was me, but I was afraid to get rejected, seeing as he saw 'them' as nothing more than a friend.

We continued highschool and since we were getting busier, the letters became less frequent. We got so busy since the finals were arriving to the point that I could no longer write the notes anymore and they stopped completely. Eren was a bit down that he could no longer receive them without even knowing their identities.

We.eventually graduated highschool and I still had not confessed to him. We had gotten into the universities of our dreams but sadly, we got into separate ones but he promised to call me everyday and he did.

On our first year, we talked over the phone through a video chat. Eren had started growing out his hair and would tie it into a man bun and it made him look more manlier especially since his jaw- line was more chiselled and he had a bigger fit physique. Adulthood sure changes someone, doesn't it?

But on our second year, he called less. The voice calls turned into voice messages. The voice messages turned into text messages and soon, they vanished. I tried to get in touch but he wasn't available and soon enough, the phone number was not in use.

"Maybe, he's just busy."

I thought to myself but always had doubts. I thought of the worst case scenarios.

"What if he ghosted me because he doesn't like.me anymore or maybe . . . he has a girlfriend . . ."

The last thought made my heart sink. For an attractive person as Eren, it wouldn't be surprising if he had found someone, but it still hurt.

As the days went, a number started calling my phone but I thought it was one of the creepy guys hanging around campus so I never answered, even though I had hopes that it was Eren.

The summer holidays came by and I still didn't hear from him. That was until I got a message from the unknown number. Giving in, I read the message, and it was Eren! Happily I read the message and he explained that he had lost all his contacts when he lost his phone. He also said that he wanted to meet me in the park that afternoon. The park where we spent most of out time playing together. I agreed and headed out.

On the way, I told myself that today was the day. The day I would tell Eren I love him. I planned everything in my head and finally entered the park. I scanned the area from the entrance and spotted him sitting on the very same bench we used to sit on after school, but he wasn't alone. I couldn't recognize who they were sitting with and so I went closer.

As soon as he spotted me, he got up quickly on his feet and hugged me.[𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]! I missed you so much! You've changed since I've last seen you!" he said then let go of me while still smiling widely. Someone came from behind Eren, and it was a girl. She had short dark hair and a pair of the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. She was also quite tall.

"You must be [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]! My name is Mikasa Ackerman. Eren has told me so much about you" , I smiled hearing this. Shaking her hand, i asked, " Are you related to Levi Ackerman by any chance?". " Yes actually, he's my cousin. How do you know him?", she asked. "He's my professor" I said and she nodded.

"I called you here [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] mostly to tell you that I am sorry that I couldn't talk to you properly like I promised. It's just that things were piling up and I was a lot busier than I thought I would be" he said and I reassured him that it was okay.

"Another thing is that I wanted to introduce you to Mikasa. She's my girlfriend". He said snaking his arm over Mikasa's shoulder and I was shocked. My heart broke into a million pieces and I was rendered speechless. The worst case scenarios I thought of were true. Eren had already found someone else and it all made so much sense since she was so much prettier than me.

" C-Congra-Congratulations" I stammered trying to ignore the lump in my throat and the tears forming in my eyes. He just smiled and hugged me again. He was as oblivious as I remembered. " I'm happy to have such a supporting friend", he said pulling away and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked worried. "No.No. I'm fine. I'm just emotional because I am really happy for you. You've really grown up" I said wiping the tear and he sighed in relief.

"Eren seems to like you a lot. I see why now. I really hope we could be great friends" she smiled brightly at me. " We wanted to invite you over for lunch. There are three other people I would like you to meet. We did drag you out into the unforgiving merciless summer sun so we would like to treat you. Do you wanna come? Its my treat" he said and I shook my head implying no.

"No thanks. I already ate before I came here. Enjoy your lunch. And tell the others that I would like to meet them another time" I said and waved them goodbye.

As soon as I turned around, tears fell down my cheeks. When I was sure I was out of their sight, I ran straight home trying to stop my tears but to no avail. As soon as I reached home, I threw myself onto the couch.

I knew I should have told him when I had the chance. It would have been me and him, childhood friends to lovers, but I was too late. I blamed myself for keeping it a secret all these years but there was nothing I could do now. I lied myself on the couch face down and cried myself to sleep.

Over the summer, Eren and his gang would invite me to wherever it was they were going to. He introduced me to Jean, Connie and Armin who were very nice. Once the summer ended, we exchanged numbers.

After a month and a half, Armin had enrolled into my university since he was switching courses. We were in the same classes and had gotten closer throughout the months we were together.

The December holidays had arrived and we were left with a two person project. As luck would have it, I was partnered with Armin. We decided to do the project at my place since I was living alone. While we had started working on the project, I noticed that Armin had something on his mind since he was oddly quiet and would space off often.

During one of our breaks, I decided to ask him what was bothering him. "Armin" I called. "Yeah" he responded. "You seem to be distracted. Do you mind sharing what it it?" I asked and he blinked before looking away in thought.

Once he gathered up all the courage to look at me, he asked "You love Eren don't you?". His question stunned me. "You love him . . . don't you?" he asked again and I only looked.down. " Why are you asking?" I asked and there was a moment of silence.

"I just want to be sure that my assumptions aren't wrong." he said and I looked up at him. "Yes, I do. I do love Eren" I said trying to control the lump in my throat. "But, how did you know?" I asked. "During the summer, I noticed how you would look at Eren with eyes filled with sadness with a hint of happiness. You're happy that he's happy with someone but you're sad that that someone isn't you", he explained and.i felt tears falling down my cheeks.

Armin panicked and started wiping my tears. " I know you've known him for a long time, and I understand your pain, but there's plenty of people out there who would happy to have you. You don't have to give up. Its too early for that. I'm sure Eren would be happy for you" he said and it made me feel a little better.

I wiped the remaining tears and hugged him. I was glad to let some of the weight in my chest let go after so long.

We were done with our project and we were able to hang out with the others. While Eren and Mikasa were talking and laughing, Armin would cheer me up and take my mind of them since he was the only one who knew how I felt.

We would normally talk about books since it was the only thing we had much in common. Everyone was happy and everything was going great.

Years had passed and Eren,Mikasa,Jean and Connie were graduating. They invited Armin and I to their graduation ceremony and we accepted.

On thier graduation, we watched as each of them got onto the stage and receive their certificates. Each of them having unique entries.

They came to meet with us after grabbing their hats that they had previously thrown. Eren ran up to me and hugged me. "I did it [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]! I did it [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]!" he said tightening the hug. "Though I wish we would have done it together." he said letting go and taking a hold of my hands shocking me.

"Its okay Eren. At least you're done. Congratulations!" I said and he smiled brightly at me.

Mikasa came by and intertwined her arm in his making Eren let go of my hands. "Say [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] . . . You and Armin have been hanging around a lot lately. Are you dating by any chance?" she asked eyeing us both up and down.

There was a moment of silence before Armin spoke.[𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] and I are not together. Two people can be around together without being considered a couple, Mikasa"

"Why don't we just go to celebrate" Connie said. "Besides, we haven't eaten anything since morning and I'm starving" Jean said. "Alright, lets go then. My treat. Think of it as my graduation gift to you" I said and Connie and Jean seemed to be overjoyed.

We arrived at a restaurant, and while everyone was deciding on what to order, Eren asked to me to talk at the garden.

We excused ourselves from the table and went outside. For some reason, he seemed nervous. "What's the matter Eren? why do you seem tense? Is something wrong?" I asked and he looked at me

"I need your advice [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]" he said. "Go on" I urged him to continue. "Well, I was planning to propose to Mikasa today, but I don't know if shell agree. So should I do it today or postpone it?" he asked and I could not believe what I heard.

"You want to propose to . . . Mikasa . . . " I whispered and he nodded his head. Eren wanted to marry Mikasa.

"[𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]. Are you alright?" Eren asked snapping me out of my trance. "Yeah! Yeah! . . . I'm fine just a bit shocked, that's all" I reassured him.

"So, what do you suggest?" he asked. "Why don't you do it before we leave the restaurant. And don't worry, I'm sure shell accept" I said and he embraced me.

"You give such good advice [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]. I'm glad you're my friend" he said before we went back in the restaurant.

We had our dinner and talked about our future plans and laughed about silly things. After I payed the bill, I which everyone was thankful for, we headed out.

Just then, Eren called out to Mikasa, and as we all turned around, we saw him on one knee holding a small black velvet box in one hand. All the heads in the restaurant turned to their direction.

"Mikasa, we've been together for 3 years now. You were the first person to talk to me on campus. You always listened to me and hung around me even on the toughest of times. Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" Eren asked and Mikasa covered her mouth with both her hands and cried "Yes! Yes Eren! I will!" and they kissed.

Everyone was applauding as he slid the ring on her finger. I was feeling numb. I couldn't cry at all.Eren was gone . . . forever.

Everyone was happy for them ever since then. They started planning their wedding involving me in every minor and major decision they made. From the cake to the venue to the wedding dress, they asked for my every opinion. It felt as if they were taunting me but I could do nothing.

The only person who kept me sane throughout all the shambles, was Armin.

When he saw how stressed I was, he would invite me to his place to watch a movie. He was very sweet and has helped me to focus more on other important things other than Eren.

After all the preparations were done, their now had to choose their brides maids and best men.

Eren had of course chosen Armin,Jean and Connie while Mikasa had chosen her other female friends.

Eren had tried to convince Mikasa to let me be one of her brides maids but she refused regardless off how much he pleaded. He only gave up when I had also refused.

I received their wedding invitation a week before and surprisingly, a gift from Eren.

I brought the package inside and when I opened it, there was fabric inside. I took it out and it was a blue sequenced dress that was a short high-low with lacy sleeves. There was something else inside. It was a black long box and inside it was a gold and silver necklace with my name on it and a letter was also inside written;

𝕀 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕘𝕚𝕗𝕥 [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]

ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘.

𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕

-𝕰𝖗𝖊𝖓

I took the dress and the necklace and locked it in my wardrobe. I felt happy that even though we hadn't seen each other lately, he still remembered me though . . . it wasn't exactly how I wanted to be remembered by him.

The week flew by and before I knew it, it was the morning of their wedding day. On Sunday 23rd of October. I got ready, took a shower, applied my makeup and did my hair.

I took the dress out along with the necklace. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought about wearing it. If I showed up and didn't wear it, it would make Eren sad, and I didn't want him to have any negative emotions especially on his special day.

I got into my car and got to the venue where different people entered wearing designer clothing and had their hair done nicely. I took my purse and checked if I had everything I needed before heading fo the staircases.

The security outside authorized my invitation card and I was allowed in. I sat in the second row next to Professor Levi since we were close to the bride and groom.

"Why are you here?" he asked staring at me. "Oh! . . . I am Eren's best friend. We've known each other since we were 5" he nodded his head.

Just then Eren walked in wearing a stunning black suit that fit him so well and his hair was in a messy man bun with Jean,Armin and Connie following behind as his best men.

He made his way to the altar and stood there waiting. When he caught a glimpse of me he sent me a wave and a smile which I returned before he looked away.

" You two must be very close" Levi said and I looked down . "Very" I said.

We waited for about an hour and then the bride arrived. I looked at Eren who had a wide toothy grin plastered on his face. Mikasa was in a white wedding dress that hugged her up until her waist and just dripped down to puffiness. Her hair was done in a nice bun leaving some strands of hair on her face. She also wore a tiara like pin that held he veil while she was holding a bouquet of daffodils.

Everyone watched in awe and clapped while all I could do was stare. She was so pretty, no wonder Eren had chosen her.

She reached the altar with her brides maids on her side. They exchanged vows and placed the rings on each others fingers.

Tears started rolling down my cheeks without my permission. "I'm happy as long as he's happy" I said to myself as I wiped my tears.

"You may now kiss the bride" I heard and I stood up as everyone else cheered. I reached the door but before leaving I whispered.

"I love you Eren. I'm sorry I hadn't saud it earlier. But as of now, you wont reciprocate my feelings. I guess it will forever be a

𝕺𝖓𝖊-𝕾𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖉 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊"

ǫᴏᴜᴛᴇᴠ ᴀᴄᴄ.:

#eren yeager #eren x you #armin arlert #armin x reader #aot #aot x reader #attack on titan #mikasa ackerman #levi ackerman #jean kristen #connie springer

34 notes · View notes

pollenallergie · 7 months

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picture this…

you’re laying in bed on your side, facing billy’s side of the bed, ready to go to sleep. billy climbs into bed and lays down on his side, but he’s facing the same way as you, so his back is to you. you’re too tired to think anything of it so you simply close your eyes and attempt to get some sleep. however, mere seconds later you hear, “beep… beep… beep…” and you feel the bed move as billy shuffles (or, more accurately, wriggles) closer to you. your eyes open so that you can fix your partner with a quizzical look, but he’s completely oblivious to your confusion as he continues backing and up making little beeping noises, like a car that’s in reverse. billy doesn’t stop his silly little performance until his back is flush against your chest and your knees are nestled into the space at the back of his own knees that’s left when he just barely bends them. then, billy reaches behind him whilst making a mechanical-type noise, very similar to the one a crane would make as it lifts something. he continues making that noise as he gently grabs one of your arms and brings it forward to wrap around his waist, draping across his torso. when he releases your arm, settling it in place just where he wants it, he makes a little thud noise like the one that something heavy would make when it hits the ground after a crane’s released it.

you’re just barely holding back your giggles as you ask, “bill, what was that?”

billy just shrugs and replies, “just getting comfortable.”

you giggle as you explain, “you know you could’ve just told me you wanted to be the little spoon tonight, right? i wouldn’t have said no. i mean, it’s not like i haven’t let you be the little spoon plenty of times before.”

billy just sighs happily like, “yeah, i know, but ‘s more fun this way. it’s like playing with all the construction toys in a sandbox except we’re the construction toys and our bed is the sandbox. ‘s fun, right?”

“yeah, billy,” you reply, “‘s super fun.” you press a warm kiss to the back of his neck before saying, “i love you, silly billy. goodnight. i hope you sleep well.”

billy giggles as he replies, “and i love you, petal. goodnight. i hope you sleep well too, my love.”

goodnight. <3

#billy knight #billy knight is literally the blueprint for all silly billies #letbillyknightbesilly2k23 #he deserves to be silly and have fun #billy knight strike #billy knight x reader

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grogusmum · 1 year

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APRIL: Budding Moon

SELKIE!EZRA X F!READER

WORD COUNT: 800ish

RATED: T

SUMMARY: Ezra tells his precious pearl about his first love, a young sailor. This takes place after part 5 series masterlist

WARNING: EXCESSIVE USE OF NICKNAMES Selkie Ezra can't be stopped, he is a menace to my heart. mentions of pregnancy. That's about it.

A/N: Here is the April installment of The Wheel of the Year, my theme for @yearofcreation2023, in May, many apologies! May's installment will be posted before the month is out.

Organized by the effervescent @oonajaeadira and @writeforfandoms According to some European folklore, April’s full moon is a time of transformation and metamorphosis. It is said that during this time, witches and other magical creatures were able to shape-shift and take on new forms. Well, I couldn't resist playing in that sandbox!

Gaelic translations

Mo stór - my treasure

Mo stóirín - my little treasure

Mo fhíorghrá – my true love

Mo ghrá – my love

Mo mhuirnín dílis - “my own true love” or “my faithful darling

“Tell me of your first love, Ezra.”

“So young were we, my moonbeam. I was seven years in my seal coat, and he was so beautiful, a sailor… our time together was short but full.”

“Will you tell me?” You snuggle beside Ezra in your soft bed, your new home on Roan Inish, like a cocoon.

Yes, you have visits from family and you love nothing more than your time with Cee, but there are days on end where it is just the two of you, growing closer as new life grows within your belly.

“It is an age-old tale, mo stór (mu store), saved him from drowning, his boat tossed by the sea, caught in a storm to beat all. When I got him on land, I could not leave him. I took off my pelt for the first time since my transformation. It didn hurt. It never hurts, but I was quite overwhelmed. I hollered and near cried at the sight of my human form. I was just a boy, barely 14 when I was changed and then I was suddenly a man. The seal pays much less mind of such things, my Pearl.”

"My own? How did-" Confusion etches your features, "the tears? He didn't call you."

"So young and impetuous! Offered one transformation without tears. Used it up first chance I got. I wonder how things might have been different if I had waited..."

You look at one another, mapping what could have been-

"What was he called?"

“Angus," Ezra smiles fondly.

You hummed your approval-

"A handsome sailor named Angus? Didn't stand a chance. I would have taken my pelt off too."

"Not a ghost of a chance!" Ezra chuckles, kissing your forehead, pleased you understand. "Well, this fine sailor lay prone in the sand while I had myself a right fit, and when I tired myself out, I laid myself right down next to him and fell asleep. When I woke, he had covered my vulnerable person in his peacoat. But he was gone. My pelt safely tucked under me," Ezra pauses here to allow for the weight to settle.

"Good man," you nod.

"I soon found myself clothes to cover my wicked nakedness," Ezra cheekily nudges. "And went to return his coat. It took some time to find him. He was son of the lighthouse operator.”

“Did he know what you were? Did he know what you had done for him?”

“Slow down a tick, mo ghrá (mu graw) – It was not he who came to the door but his mother, I told her my intention to return his coat. Now then, as much as today, a young man calling on another with smitten eyes is sorely frowned upon, to say the least. And I don know if you have noticed this about me, Moonbeam, but I have great difficulty keeping my feelings under wraps.”

Ezrs noses your cheek with a smile. You curve further into him, hooking a leg around his and scoff lovingly-

“You?”

“Hard to believe, I know. She saw right through me, like I was made of onion skin. Ran me off. But my sailor saw the exchange from his window and found me later.”

“He didn’t”

“He did.”

“Did he love you as quickly as I loved you?”

Ezra looks at you with hesitation.

“When did you know you loved him?”

“Moonbeam.”

“It’s alright, I want to know. I know you have a big heart, and that you have loved others as much as you love me.”

Ezra gently takes your chin between his thumb and first finger, leveling your eyes with his.

“I have loved. Tis true, but my shining pearl, I have loved none as I love you.”

“Not even your beautiful sailor, Angus?”

“He was close, I dare not deny it. He was a close second. He took me to a boat house to talk. Yes, he knew what I was the moment he saw me on the beach. And twas I who pulled him from Lir’s fathoms. He kissed me in thanks. And I dare say to stop was an arduous task, once we started. We continued to meet surreptitiously.”

“Is it the same, loving a man? As loving a woman?”

“Love is love, of course, mo stóirín (mu storeen). But if I were to consider it the same, I would be guilty of being woefully inattentive to so many wonderments. Though putting a finger on it is no easy thing. There is a particular beauty and energy that men display and the same for women, and of course, there are those that defy those expectations and, well, that is just thrilling…”

“Our feelings grew, we would steal away, charting one anothers vestiges, discovering the bliss each location had to offer," Ezra runs his deft fingers along the dips and swells of your body, eyes on yours, searching for any sign discomfort in hearing about his past lover. He finds only interest and warmth and rubs his cheek on yours. Suddenly, his eyes turn sad-

"By and by, it became difficult for him to explain his disappearances. And of course a sailor must return to the sea.”

“So must a selkie,” your voice is smaller than you intended.

"Mo mhuirnín dílis (mu voor-neen deelish) I will convince you yet..."

Ezra wraps around you, pulling you impossibly close, filling in any space between you. The firelight flickering in his soft eyes. "There is no power that could pull us asunder, save were you ever to wish it."

You lay there quietly, fingers skating his cheek, chin, his brow, the slope of his nose.

"Never, Mo fhíorghrá (moh hear-graw), never, I sooner turn selkie myself."

THANK YOU FOR READING 💚

For more selkie Ezra or any of my writing, you can find my masterlist here, and if you care to be tagged for future fics, follow this link to my handy dandy taglist form!

#year of themed creation #wheel of the year series #selkie ezra #selkie!ezra x you #selkie!ezra x f!reader #ezra prospect #ezra prospect x you #ezra prospect x f!reader

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kitsuvil · 1 year

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— resigning [scaramouche x gn!reader]

warnings/notes; cursing, fluff, smoking, cigarettes, heavily insp by uramichi, soft scara is eternal, scara who has a soft spot for kids is the only scara, use of kunikuzushi as his name bcs i will die in my grave still calling him that it's beautiful, yn and scara are adults

summary; you volunteer at your nearby daycare pretty often... of course, only to help out with the children. it's not like there's a really hot guy who constantly complains about wanting to quit his job but stays for the kids, not at all. today's volunteer work is a field day trip.

"Kuni, catch!"

"We're on nickname basis now?" He grabs the bottle of cold water I tossed him from the air.

"It's not my fault your name is too long to say."

"You act as if it's my fault. I didn't name myself, after all."

"Still, you're the one with the name."

"Whatever, don't be surprised if I start suddenly calling you sweetie pie baby cakes."

"What?..."

"I'm joking."

Kunikuzushi gives me a deadpan stare, telepathically nagging me for actually thinking he would ever call me that. Before I can pick out a response though, Lisa calls us out.

"This field day was not made for people to flirt, go on and take care of the children, you lovebirds."

"Say that again and I'm writing my resignation papers."

"Maybe in your dreams, for now I want you to go check on the bouncy house."

"Fuck you."

"Kunikuzushi, mind your language—may I remind you once again, we're around children?"

He trudges off, leaving me stifling my chuckle at how quickly Lisa got him back on track.

"You too, Y/N. Volunteer work isn't couples work, can you check on the playground area? Especially the sandbox... You know what happened last week."

"You got it."

I do in fact remember what happened last week. The daycare's playground was entirely covered in sand because the kids couldn't keep the sand where they're supposed to... Something about digging down to Australia? I'm sure Lisa doesn't want a repeat of that, especially in a park she doesn't own and was offered to borrow for the day from the mayor.

"Y/N! Come play with us!" A group of children run towards me upon spotting me walking towards them. They stare with their expert puppy dog eyes, practically begging. "Guys... Only if you pinky promise to keep everything clean and not hurt each other," I give in with a long sigh. "We promise! We love playing with you!" They all share high fives and I can recognize all 4 of them as Beatrice, Elizabeth, Marie, and Sara.

This group has always been so sweet, though all of them have spent a few years here from the amount of time their parents work, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm overjoyed that of all places, they ended up here.

"I finished checking on the bouncy house but... What are you doing over here?" Kuni comes up from behind me.

"Having fun with the kids. What's with that look—do you want to join? Hiding jealousy isn't your strong suit, you know."

"Shut it."

"Ooooh! Mister Kuni said a bad word!" The little group cheers.

"There's a lot more where that came from," Kuni laughs while gritting his teeth at their choice of address.

"Maybe not, stop yourself there. You can come join us, though, don't be shy," I offer my hand out to him.

He hesitates a little before taking it, but nonetheless comes down and crouches with the rest of us. Strangely enough, his hand is warm. It sends butterflies fluttering through my entire body, also creating goosebumps whenever I think about our entwined hands. His hands are fine, smooth, not a single callous on any of his finger tips.

"Y/N, are you okay? You're clutching my hand as if the world is about to end," He raises his eyebrow as his voice brings me out of my trance.

"Yeah, no, I'm perfectly fine. I just- Let's go play hide and seek or something..."

Marie scoots closer towards Kuni, getting closer to his ears. She says something I can't pick out with my ears, but I do understand what it was after seeing the expression laid out on Kuni's face. "Marie, that stuff isn't for kids to talk about. Spend your time playing here, not thinking about boyfriends and all those things. Save it for when you're actually our age."

"But..." She sits back down, looking deflated.

I shove my shoulder up to his, teasing him, "What did she say, huh?"

"Nothing you need to know."

The kids scurry away and whisper amongst themselves, coming out with an announcement momentarily after.

"Y/N, Mister Kuni, we have something to perform for you guys!"

"A performance, you say? I can't wait to see it!" I get comfortable, ready to watch whatever silly show or dance they came up with.

"Yay!" The kids cheer, forming into a line and holding hands.

"Y/N and Kuni, sitting in a tree!" Beatrice starts them off, but the rest of them follow in unison, "K I S S I N G!"

I pause in shock, throwing a hand over my mouth immediately after hearing their song.

"Guys, guys, please, stop it, that's..."

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage!" They practically jump up in glee.

What genius children.

Kuni and I stare off into yonder, frozen in time with embarrassment, refusing to look at each other.

"I'm going to report you four to Lisa. No singing about kissing, marriage, or... Especially making babies." Kuni demands, entirely red faced.

"WAIT! Please not Miss Lisa... We're sorry," They stare at their toes, acting innocent.

I sigh in defeat, unable to be angry at them, "We can let them off for now, it's fine, we have other things to be taking care of anyway."

"Like what?"

"Have you seen the time? It's almost dinner, we have to prepare the food and get ready to send the kids home in an hour or so."

"Oh. I guess you're right. Time flies fast during work... Especially when you're helping out."

I pretend to not hear the last part he muttered under his breath.

Of course, with bickering in between, we manage to finish handing out dinner and return the children to their parents without... too much struggle. The fiasco from before gets reported to Lisa, but instead of getting upset, she just waves it off with a laugh, and "Even the kids understand what's going on, whatever is going on between you two needs to get figured out."

Damn Lisa.

But we're actually alone, stuck packing our stuff and getting ready to leave ourselves.

"Y/N, I'm taking you home. I know you didn't arrive with a car, neither did I, it's already dark and I don't trust you out there alone," Kuni comes up behind me.

"Awe, you want to make sure I'm safe? That's sweet."

"No, I don't want to be blamed for not keeping you safe if anything happens. There's a difference."

"Whatever you say, let's go. I'll invite you in for some dessert if you stay obedient during the walk home."

"Obedient? You think of me as a dog? Maybe I won't take you home anymore, I'll leave you for dead instead."

"That's just mean, I was kidding, I know you wouldn't leave me for dead anyway," I laugh at how quickly he responded with annoyance.

"Be quiet, let's just go."

"I'm perfectly fine with that."

A few minutes into our walk, Kuni brings out a lighter and a cigarette from the small backpack he was carrying.

"You smoke?" I question as he takes the cigarette to his mouth, lighting it.

He takes it out of his mouth for a second to respond, "I think it'd be more surprising if I didn't smoke. How else would I get through life?"

"I mean, you don't see me smoking to get through every day."

"I don't, but that's exactly why you should try it sometime. You want one?" He offers.

"Just this once," but a thought runs through my head when I accept his offer.

"...But only if you light my cigarette with yours."

"You mean... You want a cigarette kiss? Fuck you, this is why I can't keep you out of my head, how are you gonna go and casually pull this shit," He looks away, almost as if to ignore my statement.

"What was that?" I grin.

"You're imagining things, I didn't say anything."

"Right," I feign ignorance.

Kuni speaks up after a short moment of silence, "I'll take you up on that whole dessert thing, in that case. Only if you make it a date, 'sweetie pie baby cakes.' "

i had the time of my life writing this, its been in my drafts for so long i came up with the idea like months ago LMAO i hope everyone enjoys ty for reading and take care of urself <3

#scaramouche #kunikuzushi #genshin #genshin impact #scaramouche x reader #hoyoverse #fluff #genshin fluff #modern au #genshin modern au #the balladeer #kunikuzushi x reader #genshin x reader

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