First art fight thing done 🙏🙏🙏

For TawnyBudgie

Random Eddie Concept: You live next door to Eddie and y’all have said the casual “hello” and “good morning” to each other but haven’t properly met, you don’t even know each other’s names. But over the course of a month or so Eddie has learned that you love your plants, he can always count on seeing you standing on your back patio with your watering can every evening and sometimes if he has his windows open he can hear you talking to them and he won’t admit it but he thinks it’s adorable.

That’s why when he notices your flowers wilting he gets sort of concerned because you love your little make shift garden, but his brushes it off to maybe you’re out of town or something. But a few days later when he’s out on his patio having a smoke and he looks over and sees all the plants have gone completely brown and are slumped over in their pots he can’t shake the feeling that maybe something is wrong, so he just takes it upon himself to get his hose out and spray some water on them from his backyard hoping he’s not disturbing you.

He does this for a few days until he finally gets them to show signs of life again, that’s also when he gets the courage to walk up to your front door. He doesn’t know why he’s nervous but his hand is all sweaty when he reaches up to knock on your door. It all makes sense as to why you’ve all of a sudden abandoned your little garden when you answer the door in a robe that has a spaghetti stain on it with your hair in the messiest bun he’s ever seen but he’s also slightly impressed it’s still sitting on the top of your head, it’s all very clear to him that you’re going through a rough patch.

“Uhm I’m Eddie.” He gives you a soft smile and a little wave as your cheeks get red as the realization of how you’re dressed hits you when Eddie’s eyes look you up and down. “I’m your neighbor and I uh just wanted to let you know I’ve uhm been…watering your plants for you.” He explains as you try to adjust your robe so he can’t see the week old pajamas you have on.

“My plants? Oh god my plants.” Your eyes go wide as you remember all the flowers you have on your back patio. “They must be in such bad shape by now.” You run a hand over your face in an attempt to hide your embarrassment and Eddie just shakes his head at you.

“No no they’re fine really uhm most of them have kinda sorta turned a weird shade of green so I think they’ll be okay.” You let out a sigh of relief. “I just figured I’d introduce myself to you in case you look out your window and see me..I’m also uhm always around if you…ever wanna talk or uh…anything.” You give him a little nod as he rubs at the back of his neck clearly nervous and you can tell he means everything he just said so you just smile at him.

“Thank you Eddie that’s really sweet of you.” He just smiles as you introduce yourself and nods as he looks down at his feet for a moment before turning to head down your front steps. “I really appreciate it.” You add as he looks over his shoulder at you.

“You’re welcome…it’s nice to finally meet you.” He states as he gives you a small wave before he heads back over to his house.

Over the next few days Eddie notices you have slowly began watering your plants again and one day he gets home to find a few potted plants of his own sitting on his porch with a little note that says “Water daily and make sure they get sunlight and if you ever need someone to look after them for you let me know” followed by your name and number.

I just found this blog and I noticed that a lot of your stuff seems, well, oddly 3D. I don't mean like in a bad way but it feels like rendered but untextured 3D models? I kinda want to ask what your art process is (sorry for mini-rant)

thanks for checking out my blog! and no need to apologize for anything.

hmm, my art process. honestly i have no idea what to say, i dont know how people normally answer this question so i cant base it off anything either. i'm still kinda new to this whole art thing but i'll try and answer, super sorry if i get this completely wrong and this was all a waste of time.

i guess i'll just talk about how i draw things step by step? for the high effort pieces at least.

ok, so for starters like step 0. when it's a high effort piece, i can already see the image in my mind. i see the pose, i see the general lighting, the layout of stuff, but it's a bit blurry. if i cant see this mental image, the drawing usually comes out extremely poorly.

this is kind of an example of what i see in my head? this might be all useless info idk, but this is i guess where i start.

well step 1 is just the sketch and line. i start with just sketching the general shapes, then slowly refining it until it fits close enough to the image in my head. then in the line layer i'll fix any mistakes the sketch had and add more details to it. oh and for brush, it's just a round brush, like default. i dont know how much of a difference using a drawing tablet does, but i dont use one so... yeah.

i should've put more effort into the sketch for this drawing, but i did not.

next i do flat colors. pretty simple, i just select the smart select the outside of the line layer, invert the selection and now i can't paint outside the lines. i dont really think about what colors i use, i just use whatever the characters normal colors are.

next i do the shading, but first. i duplicate flat layer and recolor it to like a cream color

like so. for high effort pieces, i was told online to shade in pretty much black and white. now actually onto shading. there's 2 kinda shading i do, 1 from the proper light source, and 1 that's kinda just a shadow because things are close together (like corners and stuff). and i'll shade them on separate layers so i can adjust them individually however i want. oh right, i'll either use a very dark color, pretty much black and the the layer blending mode set to multiply. or i'll use a light kind of gray, tinted slightly yellow or something and set the layer blend mode to difference. then i just use a soft air brush and shade in the ways i described above. shading from regular light source, and the corner stuff thing.

normal lightsource - - - - - corner thing

then toggle both layers on and mess with the opacity of each layer until you get what you want.

then you can toggle the normal flats layer, the one that has color and it should apply the shading decently. you can mess with the opacity again on the shadows.

next i do lighting. i just grab a very light color, usually pretty close to white and set the layer blend mode to overlay. then i use a soft airbrush and "light" it? idk i just do like the opposite of the normal shadows, lighter the closer it is to the light source

mess around with the opacity as usual. then i do pretty much the same thing if there's another light source. in this case there was a blue light kinda coming from underneath, so i did that.

now from here i would go back to the flats layer, make a copy, and mess around with different layer styles and properties and settings. sometimes just messing around is useful. in this case, i felt it was too bright and colorful, so i decreased the brightness and saturation of it.

i think it helped a little bit but who knows.

now i do some kinda highlights and details. i grabbed the colors that were in the background and used those. it was a weird pale blue. i had 2 layers for this, 1 of them was specifically for his antenna things at the top, and one was just for his "skin". anyway, the antenna layer was normal, just kinda gave it an outline with the random reflective circles you see normally in pictures, no thoughts behind them. the skin tho had the layer blend mode set to soft light, i thought it looked best this way. it was just more random things to imply it was slightly reflective.

together the layers looked like this. i think it makes him look glossier which is what i was aiming for.

next, and it pretty much the end for pebbles, i got someone to look at it and let me know if they think anything was missing. they said it looked a little unsaturated. which it does. so i made a new layer, set the blend mode to saturation, grabbed the airbrush and made it pretty inline with the lighting layer.

that's kinda it. the background i didnt really care about, just drew and colored it. blurred it a bunch and added a bunch of shadows. i did add some like, "overshadows" is what i call it, i just draw some big shadows down the screen as the top layer.

but yeah thats literally everything i did to draw this. i would like to apologize if this was not at all what you wanted to know, i'm certain i've screwed this up bigtime. super sorry for wasting your time. if there's anything i can do to help, please ask. i owe you a proper answer to your question, i'm just really dumb. sorry for rambling. sorry. and sorry if the drawing i used for example didnt showcase what you wanted to know.

also, i really like your art! please keep up the great work!

my art's been in a weird place forever because like... ok let's just talk about some stuff

as the name of the sideblog alludes to, i'm colorblind, presumably protanopia (all i know clinically is that i definitely have something but just qualitatively judging how things look vs how things look to me i think it's red-deficiency, so protanopia, the rare kind hooray!!!), and thus coloring is always a pain. i simply don't understand how a lot of that works and so kinda screwed myself in the long run i guess by never advancing past sketches with a lot of my art. my shading is lackluster and even if i had the colors right i lack the inuition for how lighting affects them.

only recently was i presented with the idea that just using patches in a translucent black layer was actually not good, and yeah that explains certain things that felt off, but... how does a linear flat decrease in light availability impact saturation? what? i don't even know whether the tip i heard recommended to make it go up or down and it's all really muddied by the fact that obviously everyone has different techniques like this one person who used bands of higher saturation around the main shading patch and when i HAVE to outsource my VERY PERCEPTION OF COLOR to OTHER PEOPLE that is REALLY CONFUSING.

One thing people say every time it comes up is "oh! art by someone who's got a skewed color perception would be cool actually!" And maybe as a one-off gimmick but for my entire generally sorta realistic/surreal body of work, no, no that'd just have tanks that are pink when they should be grey, that sucks and I'm not doing that.

but THEN come the actual problems with just how i draw. i'm really not in the habit of using guides, changing lineweights... like i recently read the Wikipedia article on Executive Dysfunction between projects at work and got to the part where it said the example of just turning in the rough draft as the final draft and i was like "oh. yeah. i do that." having pen pressure sensitivity is really all i have there because my brain just doesn't want to work that into how i function. perspective can be shaky but hey who's good at it anyways? i feel like i've got a good conception of form in spite of this and that probably is thanks to the fact that i was schooled as an engineer so like, yeah, that's... that's my job.

Part of these habits are certainly to do with my current life situation. I don't have the stability in my life to sit down and perform practice art, or to spend very long periods of time on one piece. I don't have the overall mental fortitude or whatever you'd call it to pick up an unfinished piece the next day after sleeping on it for a while so it's sort of do or die. I don't have the self-awareness in the moment to recognize I'm screwing up and I do not have and cannot afford the patience to slow down and fix things. Maybe there's a day some time soon, but never soon enough, where I'll really be able to dissect it all and come out better, but the prerequisite to that is to basically purchase my own fucking house and regain control of my schedule and space. It must sound like I blame a lot of my failings on that but, holy shit, this place just erodes me.

and then there's the fucking technical stuff. sometimes it really does feel like i'm playing catch-up to where i was on paper, and the fact that i don't know how brushes work, make little effort to optimize my brushes, and have never downloaded brush packs from anyone else (can you just use those? is there a credit thing????) probably really compounds this. making that animation stumped me on several levels because i had all the frames i needed but just couldn't put them together- and once i had them i attempted to change some stuff and it just broke things.

In honesty while I'm getting better at internalizing compliments it's very clear people like me for what I depict rather than my ability to depict it well, and I'm proud of that, but sometimes I start feeling old and like I'm never going to really learn anything from this point and that hurts.

you like their hands

character(s) : todoroki shouto, bakugou katsuki, midoriya izuku (1/?)

legend : [Y/N = your name] they/them pronouns used, quirk’s not specific

post type : headcanons; accompanied with a small scenario [fluff, the mildest of spice not nsfw]

note(s) : i was thinking about todo’s hands today— also i’ll be adding pictures of what i think their hand looks like so.. 😳

»»————-　♡　————-««

todoroki shouto

i’d like to believe that shouto’s hands would be long and pretty— kinda like how i’d imagine akaashi and kageyama’s hands

but have y’all seen that man’s hands in the anime and manga 😳 they’re not really what i’d call them “long”

so i had to find a mid point, kinda like a fusion of both.

his hands are either really pale, or the knuckles are just really red

moving on..

you have a weird infactuation with his hands, and you were gonna tell him! but you just didn’t know when

he didn’t really get it at first??

yes, he will respect and properly entertain your interests. but.. his hands? he doesn’t get that part yet

shouto can say he takes care of them well. washing his hands at least 3 times a day, and applying lotion on them with the slightest mint scent in it

and he takes care of his hands because he needs to rely on them everytime he uses his quirk.

speaking of quirk— his hands are either scorching to the touch, or cold.

so the first time he reaches out for your hand, you just.. freeze?? you were talking about something random while walking with him

then he just suddenly reached for your hand

seeing your reaction, he’s like.. “oh. my hand must be too cold for them. gotta switch.”

then he switches hands, holding your hand with his left. and you’re still the same, and it appears to be that switching didn’t really help

scenario

“what’s wrong, love?” he pulls you aside, staring at your expression— seeing that you became stiff when he reached for your touch.

you want to downplay the entire situation, really. but shouto doesn’t budge, that’s just who he is, and he’s still left wondering what’s wrong, and if he did something.

that is until you mention his hands, and that you like them

“your hands.. are really nice i guess,” you avert your gaze “i like them.” you say in almost a whisper like tone.

he sighs in relief. and he feels better that it’s not about the fact that you hate the temperature of his hands, since they’re either abnormally sahara desert hot or cold like fresh snow on a december morning.

his cheeks flare pink for a moment, in sudden realization “y-you like my hands?” shouto asks this as a confirmation, hoping that he actually heard it correctly.

but when you nod, he takes full advantage— entertaining your interest in his hands to his best abilities

he smiles when he sees your expression change when he brushes the back of your hand with his own. then, he finally holds your hand— the coolness of his right hand is making you hyper aware

your heart only pounds faster against your chest, when he presses his lips to the back of your hand, maintaining eyecontact as he does soz

after dating you, he paints his nails with clear nail polish. it makes him feel better knowing that they’ll stay clean even with all the hectic training

to calm you down, he likes to rub his thumb against your cheek— his quirk slightly activating while he stares into your eyes

a little spicy; but whenever you eat your desert during a date, he will wipe the excess off the side of your lips, and ask you to lick it off.

is he teasing you? or is he serious? we will never know.

bakugou katsuki

SCREAMs

bakugou’s hands are big, and his veins are prominent— but not too veiny to the point it’s concerning.

he sometimes likes wearing rings but.. that’s just sometimes

his hands are strangely soft, especially the palms— but he could say there’s some rough spots here and there, but he’d guess it’s because of his quirk.

bakugou’s hands are always warm and sweaty, which he never actually cared about— until he started dating you

he’s kinda worried that you wouldn’t wanna hold his hand, but you can say it’s actually the opposite?

you really like his hands.. but you’re just scared of getting judged

so when he reaches for your hand, you try to pretend that he wasn’t? you turn your head away— trying to not look the slightest bit of dazed

scenario

“what’s up with you?” bakugou interrogates you, his ruby irises glaring into your eyes— his voice gruff

“what?” you question, the sudden action was out of the blue— and you hold in your breath when his hands cage you in, large hands pressed on the wall behind you

“HAH?” he yells, not amused by your sudden oblivion, “don’t act dumb,” he grits his teeth “spit it out, and tell me what’s wrong.”

“nothing’s wrong, suki— i don’t really follow?” you try to convince him that no, i’m totally not afixiated with something about you, even though you’re my boyfriend; i don’t wanna admit that. however— you’re not very slick.

“tch, fucking liar.” his eyes narrow, “if you hate my fuckin’ hands, then i prefer it if you were honest about it.”

“sorry, but what?” you blink, suddenly appalled by his words, “hate.. your hands?”

“because that’s what it is, huh?” he moves even closer to you, practically inches away; and you can only pray that he can’t hear the rather loud beating of your heart. “my hands are so sweaty that you don’t wanna touch em, is that it?”

you’re agitated by his misunderstanding, and you sigh; finally deciding to come clean. “fine! fine. i like your hands.”

you didn’t mean to make it sound that upfront.

bakugou blinks, the sudden tension releasing into thin air, his expression left almost as equally surprised as you.

“tch. so that’s how it is,” he smirks, and by the way it looks— you suddenly regret telling him that.

well.. not really?

he actually takes advantage of that, making sure you remember his hands nicely.

when he sits next to you on the couch, he’ll throw his beefy ass arm around your shoulders like usual. then, he’ll run his hand up and down, making sure you’re aware of his touch.

bakugou will be THAT BITCH that’ll gesture you to come over so he could kiss you,

and when you’re leaning in— he’ll pinch your cheek, a sly grin on his face.

a little spicy; but he’s the type to rest his hand on your neck when you guys kiss <3 ugh

but overall— he’s really glad you actually like his hands, and it wasn’t like you hated them at all

but GOSH he just wished you told him from the start >:T

midoriya izuku

less veins, but.. DAMN THEY’RE KINDA THICK?? not too thick but.. have you seen his hands in the manga??

of course— his hands are rough, with a bunch of scars from his quirk. which he was kinda conscious about

but he tries hard to take care of them outside of combat things in fights; if they’re damaged then.. oh well

he definitely fiddles with pencils, and when he’s studying— the chance of him having a silver’s hand is likely (the thing where the graphite smeers on the back of your hand) he hates that shit

he definitely has a writer’s callus. PROVE ME WRONG!! that man writes a lot, and so do i so 😌 twinsies

but he tries to keep them clean, and he wants to make them feel less rough— so he will invest in some hand cream

compared to the other two, midoriya’s hands are normal in temperature.

but his grip is firm but he doesn’t really realize it sometimes.

you like his hands because.. the detail on his hands leave you mesmerized

but you don’t really wanna weird him out or make him uncomfortable. since he gets really flustered quick.

and you don’t want him to just stare at his hands and think about your fascination about them. no distractions

but he gets real pouty when you pull away

scenario

“hey Y/N, do you.. hate holding hands with me?” izuku asks one day, when you guys are studying in your room

“what?” you tilt your head, really surprised by his question— since you guys sat in silence for the last few minutes. you can feel the edge in your stomach grow when he mentions his hands.

“you always pull away when i try to hold your hand.” you gesture him to continue what he’s saying, and he continues “ but i get it though! my hands are.. scarred, rough. they’re kinda ugly compared to the rest of the guys.” he’s rambling, and you can’t help but feel really saddened.

“izuku, no.” you shake your head, “your hands aren’t ugly. yeah, they may be scarred and all— but they saved a lot of people, it saved eri, and it helped you get to where you are today.”

izuku’s cheeks flush with red, and he can’t say that you’re wrong. but; though he’s provided with reassurance, that’s not the answer he wanted

“but why won’t you hold my hand?”

“because i..” averting your eyes to the wall behind him, you’re looking for the right words. “i like your hands. i didn’t want to make you feel weird because of me.”

you look at his face after the confession, and it’s just ingulfed in a red shade.

on the contrary, this makes him like his hands more. everytime he looks at his hands, he’ll be motivated by your words.

but he’ll be a little shy with acting on it at first; especially in public

but fear not! izuku may seem innocent, but he also knows what he’s doing so.. don’t be decieved

when he’s studying, he’ll write with his right hand, and feed you little snacks with his left hand— urging you to open your mouth and take the snack

after sparring with you he’ll comment on how you did so good, also while placing his hands on your shoulder— massaging any sore parts

a little spicy, but when you guys are kissing, HIS HANDS WILL ROAM TO PLACES. pulling you closer as he attacks your lips

overall— he might be a little shy at first, but he can say he’s pretty accepting of your interest in his hands. it makes him feel better about the appearance of his hands.

»»————-　♡　————-««

likes and reblogs are appreciated, thanks for reading!

i do not own bnha/mha and it’s characters. boku no hero academia/my hero academia belongs to horikoshi kohei. i only own the writing, and i don’t profit off of my hobby.

do not reupload, translate, and use my work for any reading videos without my consent. do not plagiarize my work :))

Hey! Do you take Kanao requests? Could you do a fluff where Kanao and reader are best friends with a crush on each other, and one day, reader confesses? Just something really fluffy for the soul ✨

Kanao Tsuyuri x reader fluff!

Omg yess she’s such an underrated character and deserves sm love 💕

I’ll be doing this in headcanon form with a little scenario at the end, please enjoy ^^

Prompt: friendship/crushing/relationship headcanons

💕- Since she’s such a shy and quiet girl you’ll have to be the one to make the first move if you want to be her friend

💕- You were Giyuu’s tsuguko and he would bring you almost everywhere with him including Pillar meetings, the demon hunter headquarters, or the butterfly Estate and you would always see her there with her teacher,Shinobu

💕- You were so relieved to meet her, it was nice to have someone around your age to talk to, yes Giyuu was good company and all but he was just your teacher so there wasn’t much you could talk about

💕- Every time you see her you would quickly run to talk to her

💕- It took her sometime before she opened up to you

💕- but once she did she became ✨attached✨ since it was rare for her to open up to to people

💕- You two become besto friendos in no time and would often hang out a lot

💕- You would definitely have to do all the talking in the friendship since she’s not much of a talker

💕- and she loves when you talk to her too! She loves all your weird stories or whatever crazy thing you’re talking about and she also loves when you talk about your day

💕- She’d have a sweet, gentle smile on and look at you with such eagerness in her eyes as she listens to you

💕- Your platonic feelings for each other quickly became romantic, you two loved everything about each other, but you two were pretty dense so neither of you knew how the other person felt

💕- Giyuu actually knew that you both crushes on each other, but he never told Shinobu because he knew she may accidentally spill it embarrassing you two

💕- He would always convince Shinobu to let you two go on mission together to try and get you to get together

💕- Giyuu your wingman 😎

💕-She always does most of the work when you two go on a mission and not to steal the thunder but she rather she get hurt than you

💕- You two would train together a lot but she would be so soft and gentle with you and if she ever hits you with some force she gets so scared and apologizes immediately

💕- You are literally the only one she laughs so often around and her laugh is so cute and soft

💕-You’re like her pillar 🥰 she needs you to get her through a day without getting anxious or scared

💕- Whenever you two would go to a pillar meeting with your teachers she’ll always hid behind you scared of the other pillars when they come up to talk to you two

💕- Kanao was the one who actually feel for you first, you were her first crush 🥺

💕- She really wanted to tell you how she felt and everyday she told herself she would but her nerves always took over, because of this she was practically convinced she would never be with you and it always made her sad but one dango- colored haired girl saved her.. kinda

You were currently laying under a random tree in the butterfly estate, Giyuu-sensei was busy on a mission so you had the day off

You were about to drift off to sleep but then you heard a sweet high-pitched voice that made your eyes flutter open

You leaned up and saw one of your sensei’s fellow pillars, Mitsuri.

“Hello y/n, enjoying your day off?” She asked as she took a seat near you

“Yes but I wish Kanao was here” you slightly frowned, subconsciously thinking about he purple-eyed girl

Kanoa was also on a mission like Giyuu and wouldn’t be back until later this afternoon or latest, tomorrow morning

“You think about her often don’t you?” Mitsuri giggled

“Ahhh what no! it’s just- well she’s my friend and I miss her that’s- that’s all!” you quickly say feeling flustered, you could feel the heat rush to your cheeks.

“I was only kidding y/n,” Mitsuri chuckled at your frantic emotions, “but you two would make the cutest couple” she cooed

You felt your heart race upon hearing those words

“Would we really make a cute couple?”

“Well we wouldn’t really know unless you two actually are one now would we?” She states enthusiastically

Time skip

You walked frantically up and down in the garden of the butterfly estate, your mind bubbling with what Mitsuri said and contemplating whether you should confess or not. If you told her about your feelings would she feel the same?

You really did want to tell her how you felt but you were afraid it would mess up the beautiful friendship you had and you weren’t ready to give that up. As you were lost in your thoughts Kanao called you by your name pulling you from them.

Your quick and spiraling mood was immediately melted away and replaced with shyness and tenderness upon looking at the beautiful girl

“is something wrong y/n?” she asked very concerned at your off behavior

“I- ugh I- ummm” you stumble with your words

Come on y/n just say it, just like a bandage rip it off,

“I LIKE YOU KANAO AND NOT LIKE YOU AS A FRIEND BUT AS A LOVER I- I LIKE LIKE YOU AND IF YOU FEEL THE SAME PLEASE BE MY GIRLFRIEND” you let out a long breath as though you’ve been holding it this whole time

You slowly averted your eyes to her face to see her reaction, but all she did was blankly stare at you •_•, hurt immediately became your main emotion you were about to apologize but the her blank face soon turned into a smile

“I like like you too y/n and I’d love to be your girlfriend” she says in a more calm voice contray to your loud one

So what now? You thought,

“Can I kiss you?” You hoped your weren’t already moving too fast

She  nodded her head you then came up to her after hearing her approval

You were going to kiss her on her cheek but she quickly turned her head so you could kiss her on her lips

It was quick but sweet

You both just stood there for a moment very flustered at the very simple kiss but it was no simple to either of you

“Oh wait I need to give you something” she said and ran into the estate, when she came back she shyly handed you butterfly hair clip that was beautifully mixed with all your favorite colors

“I was going to give it to you when I confessed my feelings for you” she was currently looking down, her cheeks a light shade of pink

“How long did you have it?” You asked very curious because butterfly hair clips take some time to make

“About two months, I’m so sorry I didn’t confess !”

You assured her it was ok and you were just glad she felt the same way you felt for her

Dating headcanons

💕- She’ll randomly give you flowers and she’ll put them in your hair for you

💕- She really loves to do your hair! And it doesn’t matter what type you have she’ll be able to do it and it always looks great

💕- She’s like a cat, she’ll randomly come up to you and lay her head on your shoulder or lap but if you try to touch her she’ll run away

💕- She’s just over-flowing with so much emotions right now and she doesn’t know what to do soooo she ESCAPES

💕- Please be patient with the physical attention in the relationship she’s very shy and gets flustered easily, she doesn’t know how to react when you hug her so most times she runs or stands there awkwardly

💕- She’s not one for PDA but she would stand extremely close to you, brush her arm against yours , or often sit so close your shoulder are touching

💕- She really loves doing things for you she thinks it makes up for her lack of physical attention

💕- You forgot your book at the estate? she’ll get it! You’re thirsty? She’ll boil some tea for you, you’re carrying some meds for Shinobu? she’ll carry some if not all!

💕- and she likes doing it so it’s hard for her to stop when you say she doesn’t have to help so much

💕- She always shares her food with you especially when it comes to sweets

💕- She also love to blow bubbles with you, you two could spend hours in the garden just blowing bubbles

💕- When Shinobu found out she was beyond happy, she was so relived that Kanao was able to find true happiness and was able to come out of her shell

💕- She was even more happier to know it was you! She knows you’re good person

💕- Giyuu was happy too but he didn’t talk about as often as Shinobu, he would sometimes give you days off to go on dates with her

💕- Shinobu would joke and say your relationship was forbidden love since her and Giyuu would often have “brawls”

Romeo and Juliet? but everyone lives at the end

Say It

Part 1/3 of the Companion Trilogy.

Genre: Smut

Word Count: 3k

Summary: Hendery has always been respectful of your autonomy, never forcing you into doing anything you didn’t want to do. You’ve never outright discussed stated why you’d always shy away from his touches when they got a little too intimate, and he didn’t ask you to. He would just smile and change the subject. It wasn’t until you instantly took to the newly assigned guard, Lucas, that Hendery started becoming pushy, all subtleness flying out the window.   

Warnings: femdom, pillow humping, degradation

It was a pleasant day. Hendery had suggested a walk in the gardens, and you’d happily agreed, wanting to feel the warm sun on your skin and breathe in the fresh air. It looked like it was going to be a good day, but you failed to anticipate a major hurdle in your plan, namely Lucas, one of Hendery’s bodyguards. He’d decided to join the two of you--for protection, he said-- but seeing that you were still safely inside the palace ground, you figured he just wanted the company.

You were good friends with Lucas, but Hendery did not like him very much. Which is weird considering he had initially taken to him so well. They had seemed like two peas in a pod in the beginning, bouncing off each others’ energy. Actually, it was the fact that Hendery seemed to like Lucas so much was why you immediately warmed up to him too, eager to get in on the fun the two were having, and Lucas welcomed your presence with open arms.

But it all changed when Hendery gradually began lashing out at Lucas for no reason, getting snarky and rude with him, always leaving him behind whenever he could, and complaining about the tiniest mistakes he made to his father in an apparent bid to get him fired. You’d tried asking him about his weird behaviour but he just denied having any malice towards Lucas and stated that he was simply just not a good bodyguard. You found that doubtful. Sure, Lucas can be a bit ditzy and airheaded sometimes but he is brave and he is strong and he is more than capable of doing this job. As for the budding friendship they once shared, it was long dead now.

The walk had turned pretty tense now that Lucas was here. Hendery held your hand tightly, all but marching along and dragging you behind him as if he’s trying to outpace Lucas. Which is pretty stupid considering the leg span that boy has, he could catch up to you in two strides if he wanted to. But Lucas could sense the static in the air and he stayed a few steps behind.

This wasn’t the relaxing walk you had in mind. Your legs were getting pretty tired from all this power walking and you so request that you stop at one of the gazebos to take a break, but under the shade, it was even more stifling as Hendery sat cross-armed and pouting.

“It’s so nice outside today.” Lucas comments, trying to make conversation and you’re about to agree, glad to have something to talk about when Hendery scoffs, interrupting you. “What a novel observation. Perhaps you’d like to share your thoughts about the latest news too.”

“Hendery…”

He looks at you sharply, silently forbidding you from coming to the other man’s defense. You’ll have none of his bullshit though, and you’re about to tell him just that when something jumped out of the shrubbery and landed on the seat next to Hendery. It took him exactly a fraction of a  second to scream and launch himself out of his seat.

“What? What?” Lucas jumped to his feet, immediately on guard. He’d seen the frog but he didn’t understand Hendery’s severe reaction to it.

“Hendery has a phobia of frogs.” You explain, wrapping an arm around the prince and patting his back soothingly.

Lucas looks between Hendery and the frog in confusion. "Really? I think they're kinda cute." He mumbles, not having a dig at Hendery but merely sharing his thoughts.

A smile breaks out on your face at that. “I actually think so too!” You gush, having never found someone who shares your fondness of them before, least of which Hendery.

Lucas returns your excited grin before he clears his throat and says to Hendery, “Don’t worry, man. I’ll get rid of it.”

“You don’t have to. I’m not really afraid of frogs at all.”

Your head snaps up to look at him, eyes narrowed in suspicion, unconvinced. “You’re fucking terrified of them. You once hopped onto a door handle to escape one.”

Hendery blushes, “That was so long ago.”

“It was last year.”

“Well, I’m not afraid of them anymore.” He proclaims loudly as if trying to convince himself. “In fact, I’ll get rid of it myself.”

“Hendery, you don’t have to do this…” You get nervous. You’ve seen multiple times how severely he can react to frogs and you don’t want him to traumatise himself just because his ego is hurt.

"Don't have to do what? Catch this little frog? Don’t be silly." He dismisses you, reaching out to grab it. But as his hand is almost touching it, it suddenly jumps away, startling him and he screams and falls back on his ass.

"Are you okay?" You ask with concern, you and Lucas rushing towards him at the same time. Lucas is faster than you, grabbing Hendery’s arm and pulling him back to his feet.

"Get your hands off me. I'm fine." Hendery snaps at Lucas, shoving him off.

"Woah, man, I'm just making sure you're okay.” Lucas raises his hands in the air in surrender and backs off. “You fell pretty hard."

"I'm fine." He huffs, and turns to you. “I want to go back inside.”

He doesn’t give you time to reply, stomping away, obviously expecting you to follow behind him. You sheepishly apologize to Lucas and excuse yourself to go after the prince.

___________________________

"What the fuck was that hendery? You were so rude to Lucas." You ask him as soon as you get back to his suite.

“Why do you care?” He asks way too forcefully, like it was an accusation. “He’s just the bodyguard."

"What does that mean?" You were so confused by that statement. It wasn't like Hendery to look down on others so why is he talking like this now.

"It means that you should be focusing on me, not him. You're my companion." He gets close to you, putting his hands on your waist and resting his forehead against yours. From the way he was looking at you, you finally realize what this really is about.

It was no secret that Hendery wanted you. He never said it outright but he wasn't exactly shy about his desire. And it suddenly clicks that he obviously wouldn’t be super thrilled with how close you seem to be getting with a man as attractive as Lucas.

You trail your hands up his chest slowly, feeling him shiver under you, before you wrap them around his neck. "Is that what you're pissy about? You're jealous of Lucas?"

He scoffs, "I don't need to be jealous of a bodyguard. You're mine." His hold on you tightens and he pulls you flush against his body, leaning down to close that gap between your lips but you quickly tug on the hair at the nape of his neck, holding his head back.

"So you think you own me?" You question lowly, tone biting.

He gulps, hesitating. "That's not what I meant."

"It is. That's why you're so bothered by Lucas.” You insist, one of your hands circling around to caress his face, brushing over his jaw and lips, and it instinctively makes him look down at your own lips as they move, “You can't stand the fact that another man could get his hands on what belongs to you."

He looks back up at you angrily, jaw clenching under your touch. "And so what if I am? I never once forced you into anything. So tell me why I’m getting rejected by you when other princes', who don't afford their companions half the freedom I give you, get to have them fully?"

“You’re so fucking entilted.” You scoff, your hand dropping down his body and palming the outline of his dick through his pants, making him moan softly and buck a little in your hand. "So you think that because you are nice to me, you deserve to stick your cock inside of me?"

He finds it hard to gather his thoughts with your hand massaging him through his pants. "No, I-I'd just--"

"Let's see it then." You interrupt him, pulling away.

"What--"

"Show me your cock, and I’ll decide if it’s worth it." You sneer, and he stands completely motionless, frozen in shock, as you slowly unbutton his pants and pull them down along with his boxers to the ground.  

His, very impressive, dick stands erect, glistening with precum right in front of your face, as you kneel down.

"Hmm, you have a really nice cock." You purr, your breath hitting his member, and it jerks in response. He whimpers softly as you open your mouth as if you'll take him in and you feel him tense up in anticipation. You hold his gaze for a beat, watching the dark desire clouding his irises as you stick your tongue ever so slightly out of your mouth... then you pull it back in and stand up, depriving him of what he thought he was gonna get.

You smile as he falls into your arm in distress, a quiet sob leaving him as his cock comes in contact with your floral dress. He buries his face in your neck, and his hips start rutting against your waist when your hands slide under his shirt to rub his belly just over where his cock rests.  

"Please." He pleads softly.

“Please?" You repeat, mocking, "Why are you begging when you already own me, master.”

"Don't--you know I didn't mean it like that."

You completely disregard what he said, your next words taking him off guard. "You're a virgin, aren't you?"

“Wh-what does that have to do with anything?” He pulls back, flustered.

“That’s not an answer.” You taunt, lips ghosting over his collarbone, your eyes not leaving his.

“I--I…” He gulps, hesitating. “....yeah.”

You chuckle darkly, "And how do you expect to know how to fuck me right if you’ve never done it before?"

His face flushes at your jab, and he sputters defensively, "That's your fault! You never let me touch you."

You shrug, "You could've fucked other girls. Why didn’t you?"

You were genuinely curious. Plenty of princes sleep with other women even if they are already sleeping with their companions. Yes, companions are usually the first to experiment with, but they’re not commonly the only sexual partner. So if you weren’t giving Hendery what he needed, he could’ve easily gotten it somewhere else.

“Why do I need to? You should've been taking care of me."

You narrow your eyes at him, not satisfied with his answer. “Tell me why.” You press on, gripping his chin in your hand and looking deeply into his eyes.

You can see the panic in his eyes, Hendery was never particularly good at hiding his feelings from you and you already had your suspicions. “Speak.”

“I--I just...want you.” He whispers.

“Only me?” You keep prodding.

He nods, his dark hair falling over his eyes, hiding them from you, but you already got what you wanted. Satisfied, you lean up to press a chaste kiss on his lips. He tries to follow your mouth when you pull back all too quickly, but you press a finger to his lips and grin. "Is that why I’d catch you humping my pillow sometimes?"

Hendery jerks back, mortified. “You saw that?”

“I did.” You close the distance between you again, threading your fingers through his silky hair.  "You always did it so roughly too, you must have been so needy. Poor baby."

“Don’t tease me.” He ducks his head into your shoulder, trying to hide from you, but you cup his face in your hands and press your nose to his.  "I wanna see it again."

He gapes at you, mouth opening and closing but no words forming.

"Come on, don’t be shy now. You wanted this and as far as I can tell, you haven't earned the right to fuck me yet. So why don’t you put on a little show for me, and I might just let you. I've always wanted to get a closer look at you making a mess of yourself.” You kiss him again, this time lingering more and letting him deepen it. His tongue prods against your lips and you open your mouth to take it in. He moans when his tongue meets yours, his hands gripping your hips and pushing you against him needily.

You let him get lost in the kiss for a while, working himself up, before you pull back. “You’ll do it for me, won’t you, baby?"

He quickly nods, too high off the kiss to question you. “Good boy.” You grin, pecking his nose then turning him around towards the bed.

You grab your pillow and position it in the center of the bed then you coax him onto the bed so he’s hovering over it on his hands and knees, his cock barely touching it. You take a seat behind him and drape your body over his back.

"Go on, baby.” You encourage him, using your hands to grab his hips and guide his cock against the pillow. He initially stays passive, letting you move his body, but as his cock rubs more and more against the pillow and you continue to encourage him with sweet words whispered in his ear, he starts moving on his own.

"You're doing so good, baby. Are you imaging that you're fucking me?"

He eagerly nods. “Yeah… will you let me?”

You pretend to contemplate for a moment. “I don’t know. Depends how good you are for me. Remember, you gotta earn it, master.”

He whines, “Stop calling me that.”

“But you are my master.” You laugh, “My good, handsome master who will do his best to please me, right?”

“Yes. I want to please you.” He croaks, hips stuttering.

“Are you close, baby?”

He moans in affirmation, bucking against the pillow more desperately.

“Stop.” You tap his ass lightly, but he just mumbles in confusion and continues.

“Hendery, stop.” You repeat sharply, your fingers digging into his sides, and he finally stops. You take the pillow out from under him and tell him to continue.

“But there is nothing to…” He trails off, voice small and breathless.

“Nothing to fuck? Hmm, how about you just hump the air for me then?” You laugh cruelly, pulling away from him so you can lie down beside him to watch. “Come on, you said you’ll be good for me.”

He’s too horny and desperate to please you to resist now so he complies, his hips pushing into empty air and the tip of his heavy dick barely brushing against the sheets below.

“That’s it. Good boy.” You watch in fascination as a tiny wet spot starts forming under him, and you reach out to lightly rub at his nipples, driving him even more wild.

“Please--” He groans, head looking forward and eyes scrunched up, not even able to look at you.

“Are you close already, just from humping the air?” You tsk, mocking him. “How do you expect to satisfy me then? Or are you only thinking about yourself again?”

He shakes his head, “I can make you feel good, I promise. I can be so good for you.” He avows, his hips dropping down to grind up against the mattress.

You frown and pinch his nipple that you were just carassing, causing his hips to jerk back up. “You expect me to believe that when you can’t even control yourself? Look at you, you’re gonna cum all over the sheets and I’m not even touching you.” You scoff, eyeing the trail of precum leaking from his tip onto the sheets below.

"Maybe I should just let someone who knows what they’re doing fuck me instead. Like Lucas.”

That riles him up and he snarls, pushing you onto your back and climbing on top of you. But once there, he doesn’t know what to do.

You laugh, “See? You’re hopeless.” Your hand inches down his body towards his dick. “I bet you’d cum as soon as I touch your pretty dick.”

He grabs your wrist, stopping you just before you can wrap your hand around him, and he stares down at you, eyes pleading.

“Come on, baby. Show me that you can handle me.”

You challenge, shaking his hand off and grabbing his cock. He groans, throwing his head back and biting down on his lip hard. He shudders above you as your thumb rubs over the head of his dick. “Please, stop…”

“Why, you’re not gonna cum, right?” You growl in his ear, moving your thumb faster over his slit, the precum leaking out making it so easy. "Don’t you wanna prove to me that you can fuck be as good as Lucas can? You think he would cum just from a little touching?”

“Shut up.” He growls, trying to hold himself back with all his might.

“What, am I making you angry, baby? You don’t like the thought of Lucas fucking me with his big, fat cock?” You drawl, your hand blurring over his cock as your other hand reaches up to tug on his nipple, practically forcing the orgasm out of him.You feel his cock jerk in your loose grip, and he cries out loudly as ropes of cum shoot out of his dick and land on your dress.

“So disappointing.” You lament, and he slumps over you, hiding his face in your chest and mumbling quietly, “I’m sorry.”

“You should be.”  You sneer and cup his chin to prop his head up and run your cum soaked thumb along his bottom lip. “But at least you know how to apologize. You may earn the right to fuck me yet.”

“Thank you.”

You smile, “Good boy.”

You push him on his back and climb over him, leaning down so your faces are inches apart. “And remember, You don’t own me, Hendery. I own you.”

He gulps.

“Isn't that right master.”

He doesn’t hesitate this time. “Yes.”

"Say it, Hendery."

"You own me. I'm yours"

____________________________

A/N: lol

♡ Kenma’s crush

genre: fluff

warnings: none

pairing: Kenma Kozume x f!reader

in which Kenma has a crush on you but he doesn’t realise it until Kuroo mentions it and this makes it harder for him to be near you.

word count: 1981

‘Bye Kenma! See you during lunchtime!’ said Kuroo.

'Uhm.. yeah see ya.’ waved Kenma and went to his classroom.

He left his backpack on his desk, sat down on the chair and started playing one of his games as usual. His days were pretty ordinary - school, lunch, practice, homework, sleep and playing games in between those activities. And this morning was nothing different than any other mornings until…

'Good morning everyone!’

Yes, actually the last couple of months weren’t exactly that ordinary for Kenma. Every day was normal to him until he hears your voice. You were so cheerful and full of life this early in the morning that Kenma couldn’t help but wonder how do you do that. How do you manage to look so pretty every day, to sound so nice and happy, to always be polite and helpful and most importantly how do you manage to still be on his mind.

Kenma was looking right at his game when he heard you. His hair was blocking everything around him but he still managed to peek. You looked beautiful as always. You went straight to you desk which was the one in front of his. When you passed by Kenma he quietly said 'Good morning’ almost impossible for anyone to hear it but you heard it.

'Good morning Kenma-san!’ you smiled at him and went to your place. He immediately blushed and was trying really hard to focus on the game.

School day was nearly over. The only thing left was practice. Everything went fine and couch Nekomata was more than proud of the team.

'Hey Kenma, me and Yaku are going to study at the school library. Do you wanna join us?’ asked Kuroo.

'Yeah… why not. But I’m waiting for the new game to come out so I won’t stay for too long’ said Kenma.

Yaku nodded 'Cool! Kai, Yamamoto you wanna join?’

'Ummm no thanks Yaku-san.’

'I can’t either. I have some work to do at home.’ added Kai.

Everyone said goodbye to each other and Yaku, Kuroo and Kenma headed to the library.

'Hey Kenma’

'Yes Kuroo..’

'Since we’re gonna study together… is there a subject in which you need help? You know me and Yaku are 3rd years.’ said Kuroo while smiling.

'Thank you but I think I’m good for now.’

'Tch…being your senpai is really hard sometimes you know Kenma.’

'Well he’s not like certain someone who lacks everything except science…’ jokingly said Yaku.

'EXCUSE ME-’

Kenma opened the door to the library completely ignoring his two noisy friends when he saw you. You were also there. Kenma gulped and couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

'Oh hi Kenma-san!’ you greeted.

He realised he’s been staring at you for a couple of seconds and tried to look the other way while saying 'Hello’ to you.

The three boys sat on the table next to yours. Kenma could sense your parfume. Suddenly he became nervous.

Yaku saw that and asked 'Kenma? Is everything alright? Do you need anything?’

'More like anyONE?’ added Kuroo.

Both Yaku and Kenma were very confused.

While studying Kenma had hard time concentrating because he always peeked at what you were doing. You were just reading but he couldn’t stop watching you. Suddenly you stood up and left the book you were reading on one of the shelves. Before leaving the library you said goodbye to Kenma which again made him blush and embarrassed because once again you caught him staring at you.

After you left he felt kinda sad but had no idea why. Kuroo was smirking the whole time while watching Kenma observing you.

———————

Kenma and Kuroo headed home and the tall boy was dying of curiosity.

'Hey Kenma’

'Hm what is it?’

'Didn’t you say you had to go home early? Why did you stay so late?’

'I don’t know…no reason.’

'Is that so…’

Both of them walked for a while in complete silence when Kuroo decided to break it.

'Who was that girl by the way?’

Kenma was a little embarrassed by that question.

'Um… she’s from my class. Why?’

'Just asking… so what’s her name?’

'Y/N.’

'She seems nice.’

'Yes, she is.’

'Are you friends?’

'Kuroo, why are you asking so many questions?’

'Oh no reason… just curious.’

'Okay.’

Another two minutes of silence had passed and Kuroo couldn’t hold it in anymore.

'When are you going to tell her that you like her?’

Kenma’s face became red. He stopped walking fully taken aback by the question.

'What?! I don’t… I don’t like her!’

'You don’t? Hmm because it seems like you do. ’

'I don’t.’

'You do.’

'I don’t.’

'You do.’

…

'I don’t.’

'You do.’

-the next morning-

Kenma was thinking about you the whole night. Usually he stayed up late because of a game but this time it was different. He couldn’t sleep because of you. Maybe he did like you. Maybe he wasn’t just nervous around you. He was wondering for the last couple of months why was he acting weird around you but he never thought that he liked you. Yes you are beautiful, smart, witty, cute and friendly but he never imagined he would fall for you. This feeling was completely new for him. He’s very observant and analytical, he’s the brain of Nekoma volleyball team after all, but this thing…his feelings for you made him clueless and confused. He tried his best to stay calm but looking at your back, neck and hair the whole day was nearly impossible for him. It was easier to control the feelings before but now that he knew why he’s like that he couldn’t even stay still.

Throughout the whole day he was playing a game desperately trying to not think about you. Everything was going well until you approached him.

'Is that the new game?’

Kenma’s cheeks got that cute shade of pink as soon as you spoke.

'Uhm.. y-yes it is… you know it?’

'Of course! I’ve been waiting for it since forever! Are the graphics really that good? Which character are you playing with? Did you unlock the new magic spells?’

You asked Kenma so many questions that he stopped functioning. He was listening to you but he felt so shy that he couldn’t even answer you. Luckily Kuroo was about to pick Kenma and go to have lunch together when he saw the two of you.

'Yo Kenma let’s go! Hey you’re the girl from yesterday!’

You turned around to see one of your classmate’s teammates.

'Hello! I’m Y/N nice to meet you!’

'I’m Kuroo Tetsurou, 3rd year. Nice to meet you too!’

'I’m coming Kuroo.’ said Kenma and rushed to his friend.

'Y/N’ Kuroo called you.

'Yes?’

'Do you wanna come with us? Maybe you can continue with your conversation. Sorry for interrupting it by the way.’ suggested Kuroo and brushed the back of his head.

'Y-yes! If it’s also okay with you Kenma-san.’ you looked at Kenma which made him even more shy.

'He would love to!’ exclaimed Kuroo.

Kuroo was more than happy to see his best friend finally talking to his crush. He felt that being Kenma’s matchmaker is his duty and tried everything he could to make both of you feel comfortable. Kenma was still shy but thanks to his friend he gained some courage and answered all of your questions. He even let you play to show you the new game features.

—————————-

Two weeks have passed since that day and you felt that Kenma was getting more comfortable around you. He still blushed and was a bit nervous but it really showed that the two of you were getting closer. He even walked you home but Kuroo was always with you. The truth is Kenma wanted Kuroo to be around for emotional support. Little pudding hair struggled with keeping the conversation and at some point actually thought that you enjoyed Kuroo’s company more.

Every day you waited for Kuroo to come so that the three of you could walk home. That day though Kuroo told his friend the last minute that he had to stay at school because one of the teachers wanted to talk with him. He was obviously lying and Kenma sensed that but he couldn’t just leave you so he walked you home. It was the first time for both of you to be just the two of you. It was very awkward in the beginning when you shouted 'One!’ and pointed at a stray cat.

'What?’ Kenma was very confused.

'My dad and I used to count stray cats when I was little… it’s like a little race… I’m sorry I just recalled of that…’ you shyly said.

'Oh one for me as well!’ excitedly announced Kenma.

You thought Kenma would find your idea to break the ice dumb but it actually worked.

The whole way to your home both of you were looking around to find cats and even jokingly argued who found the cat first.

'Kenma-san this kitty looks just like you!’

'How is that Y/N?’

'Look it has your hairstyle!’

The boy looked at the cream coloured little cat with a black spot on its head between the ears.

'I guess it does look a bit like me.’

'Now we know even if you become a cat you’ll still look cute’

This sentence made Kenma’s heart skipba beat. He definitely didn’t expect to hear that.

'Oh we arrived. Thank you for walking me home Kenma-san!’ you smiled and went to open the front door.

'Y/N!’ the boy said loudly which startled you a little.

'Yes?’

'Um…’ Kenma looked extremely nervous. It seemed like he had something important to tell you and yet he could do it. Then he added 'I wanted to say that… um…’ he sighed 'they announced the new dragon game…’

You looked at him a bit confused. He cringed at what he said because that was not the thing he wanted to tell you.

'Oh… really… that’s cool.’

The boy saw you turning away and wanted to stop you. This was probably his only chance to do it so he finally got the courage.

'No! Actually I wanted to tell you something else…’

'Okay… what is it?’ you asked.

Kenma gulped and felt his palms sweating. Then he quietly said 'I l-l-like you…’. It was so quiet that you couldn’t hear him.

'I’m sorry I didn’t catch that.’

'I like you, Y/N’ he said almost shouting.

There were a few seconds of silence, enough for you to feel little butterflies in your stomach.

'I was worried that you may have changed your mind.’ you chuckled.

'Huh?’

'I like you too, Kenma-san!’

You went to him and gave him a little peck on his cheek.

'Then see you on Monday, Kenma-san!’

He stood right in front of you completely speechless.

'Hey Y/N do you want to go somewhere… sometime and maybe… do something? Of course if you’re free… this weekend?’

You found him to be so adorable that you couldn’t help but giggle a little.

'I would love that!’

'Goodbye, Y/N’

'Bye, Kenma-san!’

————————–

The whole time while going home Kenma was smiling and his cheeks were burning. In front of his house was Kuroo.

'Sooo… you finally confessed huh?’

'How do you know?’

'I’ve never seen you happier, Kenma’

'Yeah… I guess I really like her. Thank you, Kuroo.’

'Anytime. I’m glad you did it.’

Kuroo looked behind his friend and saw the tiny kitty that’s been following him.

'Hey, Kenma this cat looks just like you!’

'Oh yeah… and it also brought a friend.’

'Doesn’t this one kinda look like Y/N?’

'Hmm…I guess you’re right. She would also be cute as a cat.’

Kuroo looked at Kenma not knowing what he was talking about but he was smiling. Kuroo knew how happy you’ve made his best friend.

Thank you for reading!

- sunflowershouyou 🌻

[19.09.2020]

Parent Trap

PART 2

Marcus Moreno x Reader

It’s hereeee! Children’s shenanigans. Yearning. A kiss.

The Artist

The rest of the week went smoothly. Artemis was very excited to have a new friend and talked about Missy often.

Friday came around, and Shade had to inform the school that she was running late in picking Artemis up. A seller was taking his sweet time, in trying to decide which of the 2 pieces he wanted, before deciding he didn’t want either.

She was annoyed; it wasn’t uncommon for a seller to act like they wanted her work before making up some excuse as to why they were no longer interested. Nor was it uncommon for a person to try and haggle for lower prices, claiming ‘you should be grateful someone even wants your business.’

She was tired to say the least.

She finally, after 45 minutes, pulled up to the school, and made her way to Artemis’s class to pick her up. She was surprised when she saw Missy sitting with her.

“Missy? What are you still doing here honey?” Shade asked concerned.

“My dad’s running late, but I have no way of contacting him to find out what’s going on,” She admitted quietly.

Shade nodded in understanding, before pulling out her phone. Marcus had made sure to give her his number the other day when they saw each other dropping their kids off.

She called him. It took about 4 rings, before he answered, out of breath “Hey Shade.”

“Hey. So. I’m here with Artemis and Missy, are you uhh.. on your way hon?” She asked politely.

She hears him swear in the background before stating, “I promise I didn’t forget about her. It appears that someone has changed every clock I know. I haven’t been able to tell time for 90% of the day.”

“Haven’t been able to tell time eh? Funny. Had something similar happen the other morning when my alarm went off an hour early. Weird how these clocks… have just magically changed for both of us,” She noted staring at the two girls suspiciously.

Both of them shrugged acting like they have no idea what she was talking about, before looking away.

“Listen, can you tell Missy I am on my way, I swear,” He requested with a sigh.

“How about this… How about I take Missy home with me, and she can stay the night? In the morning, you can bring her a change of clothes, and pick us all up for our date,” She offered with a smile.

“Are... are you sure? It’s no problem for me to come and get her, it would just be a few minutes?” He questioned hesitantly.

“It’s not a problem. We will see you in the morning, yeah?” She assured.

“Sounds good, can I talk to Missy real quick?” He politely asked.

She handed her phone over to her, and they talked for a moment before she hung.

“Alright. Let’s get outta here,” She nodded her head toward the door.

The girls grabbed their things and the three of them were off.  

She gets them home and told them to get to work on their homework. She checked on dinner that was cooking in the crockpot. It was crockpot chicken and noodles.

The girls finished up their homework and were currently helping her set the table an hour later. They were both giggling and whispering to one another.

“Alright you two, enough with the whisper party. Go wash your hands, while I serve up dinner,” She tells them, shaking her head.

She grabbed their bowls and ladled them a healthy portion for all of them. She had made some fruit salad to go with it and gave them a small plate of it.

By the time their plates were ready, the girls were bouncing back into the dining room. They took their seats, and she joined them.

Missy began asking questions about Shade’s work.

“So, what kind of art do you do?” Missy politely asked.

“I do mostly pencil sketches and paint occasionally even though I don’t think I’m very good at it. Been working on some new stuff, but... Mh. not sure how I feel about it so far,” Shade explained to her.

“Ooh. What kind of new stuff?” Missy asked excitedly.

Shade went to wave it off as nothing when Artemis piped up, “She’s been drawing the Heroics and their most famous battles! Kinda like a comicbook! It’s so cool!”

“What!? That’s awesome! Can I see it sometime? I mean. If you’re okay with it?” Missy asked amazed.

“Hmm. Possibly. If…” Shade began.

“If what?” Missy questioned.

“If… you promise to fix your dad’s clocks, and not mess with them again. I understand that both of you are excited to be friends and want us to get along too, but messing with clocks and alarms is not okay,” She bargained looking at both of them.

They both looked down, wincing as they mumbled apologies and swearing that they would fix things.

“Apology accepted. Finish eating and I’ll show you my workshop,” She stated with a smile.

Both of them perked back up and began eating again happily.

Once they all had eaten and cleaned up, Shade led them to her workshop. She slid opened the double doors and presented it to Missy.

There were several desks, covered in pencils, graphite and colored, pens, paints, and brushes. There was an easel and some blank canvases resting in a corner. She walked over to one of her sketch books and opened it about midway.

“Just, uh, don’t touch the ink too much. It takes a long time to dry,” She informed them setting it down on the small table where Artemis held her art supplies.

Missy was amazed. She stared at all of the drawings of Miracle Guy, Sharkboy & Lavagirl, Tech-No, and many other Heroics.  She noticed one thing though.

“You haven’t drawn my dad yet?” She mentioned looking up at her.

“No. I haven’t. I for whatever reason… cannot seem to draw him. Every time I do, I worry I’ll mess it up. Your dad meant a great deal to me at one point,” Shade tells her, thinking fondly of Marcus.

Missy and Artemis looked at each other, a plan forming.

They spoke a little more about art and what Shade does before the girls ran upstairs to go play.

Or so Shade thought…

The Hero

Marcus was finishing up some paperwork that had piled up over the week when Miracle Guy stepped into his office.

“What are you still doing here, man? Shouldn’t you be at home? With your kid?” Miracle asked him.

“Can ask you the same thing, MG?” Marcus countered, referring to his nickname.

“Had a job I just came from. Mission report. Saw your light was still on, figured I should check on our fearless leader,” Miracle lightly teased.

Marcus simply hummed in response.

“So. What’s been going on with you? You’ve been jittery all week. I had thought it had something to do with the incident at Missy’s school, but now… not so sure,” Miracle brought up, sitting across from Marcus.

“Remember… when we first started out? I was with that artist?” Marcus began, biting his lip.

“Yeah. The really pretty one, that you wound up breaking up with, right?” Miracle recalled.

“Mh. Her daughter is now best friends with my daughter… and we have a date tomorrow… and I honestly… don’t know how I feel,” Marcus confessed, setting his pen down, the report no longer distracting him.

“Wh-… What? Seriously? Wow. What a small world? I mean… this is the first time you’ve gone out since Isabelle died right? I think it’s only natural that you’re nervous. But… it’s also with someone you’ve been with. I doubt she’s changed that much in 15 years,” Miracle noted with a shrug.

“Yeah. I just… hmm. I don’t know. I am nervous… but I’m also…excited? Happy? I mean… I wanted to marry this girl back in college, but life… got in the way. I guess… I’m just worried I’ll mess it up,” Marcus admitted with a sigh.

“Oh? You never told me that part? Listen. It’s one date. If you don’t feel sparks fly or whatever then, it’s not meant to be. But if you do, explore it. You deserve to be happy Marcus,” Miracle stated.

Marcus opened his mouth to reply when his phone rang.

He answers noticing it was Shade’s number.

“Hey, what’s-” He began.

“Dad! You should get over here! Like quickly! As fast as possible!” Missy voice came, rushed.

Marcus goes to question her, but the line ends.

Marcus quickly gets up, grabs his things and runs out to his car. The drive under normal circumstances was 20 minutes, but he was there in half that time.

He ran up to the door, banging on it, panicked.

When the door opened, Shade stood there, looking extremely confused.

“Marcus?” She greeted staring at him concerned.

“Are the girls okay? Missy called and told me I should get here,” Marcus explained quickly.

“Yes. They’re fine. They went upstairs to play?” She answered still confused.

“But they had your phone? And she sounded worried?” Marcus recalled the phone call.

She suddenly patted her pockets, looking around trying to find her phone.

The Artist

It slowly dawned on her what happened.

“GIRLS! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW” She yelled up the stairs.

A moment passed, and neither of them heard movement.

“I am so sorry Marcus. Artemis… must have grabbed my phone while I wasn’t looking,” She apologized, moving to go upstairs.

Marcus stopped her.

“Hey, so long as everyone is okay. Even though a CERTAIN YOUNG LADY IS GROUNDED. I’m sorry for almost busting your door down with my knocking,” He tells her, shouting part of his sentence up the stairs.

A loud groan could be heard in response.

“AS IS ANOTHER CERTAIN YOUNG LADY,” Shade mentioned loudly.

Cue another loud groan.

“Would… would you like some water?” Shade offered, twirling a lock of her hair.

“Yes. I would actually,” Marcus accepted gratefully.

The two of them stepped into her kitchen. Shade grabbed him a glass and filled it with water, before handing it to him. He downed about half of it, before setting it back down, wiping his mouth.

“So. What… what happened?” Marcus asked trying to understand.

She thought about it, trying to retrace the evening.

“Oh…. I showed them…some of my artwork… and Missy asked me why I hadn’t drawn you yet,” She realized.

“Oh? Ahem. So… Why…Why haven’t you drawn me yet?” He asked hesitantly and trying to hide his curiosity.

“I told her it was because… I was worried I would mess it up and that you meant a great deal to me… which is somewhat true… I have drawn you…but I always feel like… they didn’t do you justice,” She quietly admitted to him, not making eye contact. “Kind of hard to draw someone you were in love with for years. Especially when those feelings never quite went away.”

The Hero

He was surprised to hear that. He didn’t quite know how to respond. He did… know one thing though.

He moved around the island over to her.

“Forgive me… if this is too forward,” He whispered to her.

He gently cupped her face into his hands, and pressed a small, hesitant kiss to her lips. When she didn’t pull away or slap him, he kissed her again, but just a smidge longer.

He felt her arms move, sliding around his neck. He was extremely relieved when he felt her kiss him back. He lightly pinned her against her the island, his hands moving to her waist. They wrapped around her, pulling her close.

Their kiss lasted for a minute and would’ve gone longer if it weren’t for the fact that they heard giggles coming from the stairway.

They pulled away slowly.

“I told you that my daughter’s favorite movie was the Parent Trap, right? We’ve been Parent Trapped,” She whispered against his lips.

“You also said her number one favorite was The Mummy, which I guess it’s a good thing they didn’t unleash an unspeakable evil to get us together,” Marcus joked.

“This is true. You 2 are still grounded by the way, and Mrs. Moreno will be informed of that fact tomorrow when we leave you with her to go on our date,” She threw over shoulder.

There was a sound of 2 pairs of feet scurrying back upstairs.

“You… you still want to go out tomorrow?” Marcus inquired, hopeful.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. If you still want to,” She mentioned, biting her lip.

“Yeah. I do. Though… I think I should go grab my little delinquent, and take her home, so you can sleep without anymore “emergencies.” Plus, I apparently need to talk to her about boundaries,” Marcus noted as he slowly stepped away from her.

“Yeah. I apparently have to have a similar conversation. We’ll see you tomorrow?” She said with a smile.

“Yeah. Tomorrow. Umm. Just one last thing,” Marcus hurriedly said.

He pulled her into another kiss, that she returned with a sigh.

When he finally pulled away again, he simply said, “One wasn’t enough.”

He called for Missy to come downstairs and get her things. He told her that a slumber party will have to wait for another time. As he took Missy home, he couldn’t help the smile on his face, as he thought about Shade.

He knew his evening was far from over, but he couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

Sink Or Swim

tag list: @cleocc @feeling-kinda-so-so @hopelessromanticvirgo @dreamy-slytherin @adora8 @lockerfivethreefive @painfully-oblivious @poeticinemaa @jjustonemorething @sassy-sara @wedarkacademia @coolguyssyndrome @hischbabe @suckerforsobbe @tayspots @starmansander @theah0lt @zoenneforever @invisibleme @chibibanane @odi-et-amo85 @watermelonlover-123 @xiaomailab

~^~

Sunday, 16:38

Song: Troye Sivan - The Good Side

Jens stands at the window with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a mug of Lucas’s famous hot chocolate. He feels cosy, with the beverage and his own hoodie, freshly washed and still smelling somewhat of Lucas with the shared fabric softener. The rain outside has turned into snow, heavy enough to cover the pavement but just dusting the trees. It’s washed in orange tones under the streetlights, but there’s a frost on the window. It finally looks wintery, and cold, and it’s a little like being a kid, looking out with a vague stirring of excitement while being safely tucked away in the warmth. There are marshmallows in his hot chocolate and the lights on the Christmas tree in the corner are already twinkling. It’s homely. Cosy.

Jens can only bring himself to half-appreciate. It’s not exactly the same, when he can’t actually go home.

He’s warmed up further when a body presses up against his back. The arms that slide around his waist feel a little more familiar. He wonders if it’s possible, or okay, to make a little home of his own for a while.

Lucas presses a kiss to the back of his neck then rests his head between his shoulder blades, hugging him loosely. They’ve spent the past two days like this, in almost constant contact. Even while decorating the tree yesterday they had distracted themselves, stopping every few minutes to sidle up to the other and kiss an available patch of skin or tease them over their decorating choices. Lucas has been good at keeping the mood light, at making Jens feel somewhat okay and a lot less alone. Last night, Jens had spent more time watching him than sleeping.

“What are you thinking about?” Lucas questions.

Jens glances around at him, smiling slightly. “You.”

Lucas tilts his head up and raises his brows. “What about me?”

“Just you.” Jens shrugs, twisting around to pull the boy into his arms, careful of the mug in his hand. “That I’m lucky to have you. Be here with you.” He presses a kiss to Lucas’s temple. “In your bed.” Then his cheek. “In your shower.”

Lucas huffs, elbowing him lightly in the stomach and Jens calls a protest, quickly retreating with his mug held up in defense. He takes a sip and the marshmallows bump against his lips. He licks over his top lip when he lowers the mug and grins as Lucas tracks the movement. Lucas takes the mug and sets it on the windowsill before looping his arms around Jens’s neck and pulling him down into a kiss.

Jens goes easily, as he always does, unable to resist Lucas at any given moment. Lucas laps it up, as he always does, and provides accordingly, making Jens putty in his hands with just a few skillful brushes of lips. It’s the best way to forget. This is their little universe, just the two of them and their touch. It doesn’t matter where they are. It makes everything else in Jens quiet, too. It reminds him that he’s real, and needed, right here in this universe.

Wanted.

“Sometimes I really wish it could just be like this all the time,” Jens mumbles, mouths and noses and foreheads still brushing. “Just you and me. Is that bad?”

Lucas shakes his head, kissing him gently. “I wish for that all the time,” he whispers. “Just me and you, whole universe to ourselves, making out wherever and whenever we want.”

Jens snorts and shakes his head, squeezing Lucas’s hip. “Nice,” he mutters, and Lucas hums and kisses him again.

After a while, Lucas settles into a hug instead, tucking his face into Jens’s neck and sliding his arms around his waist. “I know what you mean, though. It’s been nice just being in our bubble.”

“Yeah. But that ends this evening. Then tomorrow, back to school and reality.”

“You don’t have to go to school,” Lucas says softly.

It would be nice if it was that simple, but it isn’t. Jens knows Lucas is definitely going to go to school, and he’ll feel weird if he has to stay in Lucas’s apartment alone. Or worse, with the boy’s father. He’ll likely fail the remaining exams, because he hasn’t even had any books to study, but he’ll have to take most of the resits already anyway.

“I should. I think it’ll be better than not going. That feels overdramatic, or something.”

Lucas leans away to look at him. “Jens, you aren’t being dramatic. In fact there’s been a worrying lack of reaction from you.”

Jens breathes out through his nose and rests their heads together, closing his eyes, wondering if it’ll be easier to say the words into the dark. “I’ve already spent a week thinking about nothing else. I just...I want to feel a little normal again. I’m so tired of having to react.”

Lucas rubs his side, unbothered by the occasional catch of his fingers against the hoodie. “It doesn’t match your usual chill vibe,” he allows. “Still. Trying to just ignore it...that doesn’t help.”

“It’s impossible to ignore. I’m not doing that.” Jens shakes his head, licking his lips. “I just don’t want it to be the only thing. I want to be able to be with you and to go to school and to sleep. I don’t want the world to stop spinning so I can wallow.”

“But would you mind, if the world stopped spinning and kept us like this right now?” Lucas bumps their heads together, and Jens pulls him closer, lips pulling up slightly. “See. It isn’t just time to wallow. It’s just time. To figure things out a little, and re-centre, and give yourself room to breathe.”

Jens opens his eyes and considers the boy in front of him, trying to figure out how to word his thoughts better. “It’s not like that, though. Whenever I’m just on my own, with too much time...I can’t breathe. It doesn’t work like that. With you, it’s different. But I definitely can’t just stay here all day waiting for you to come back.”

“Well, I could always stay with you.”

Jens shifts back and tilts his head, giving him an unimpressed look. “No, you can’t.”

“I am an adult, and I can do whatever the fuck I want.” Lucas raises his brows, smiling smugly.

“Is that so?”

Lucas jumps at the voice, and Jens’s heart quickens, but when they turn to look at the man in the doorway he finds a smile. He’s tall, probably around Jens’s own height, and a little broader, with hair the same shade as Lucas’s and a light scruff around his chin. His eyes are bright, and warm, and remind Jens of Lucas’s even though they differ in colour. The similarity is certainly present and overall there’s nothing entirely threatening about his demeanor.

Jens drops his hands from Lucas and shrinks back as Lucas flushes.

“I didn’t hear you come in.” Lucas raises a brow.

“Well, I didn’t want to interrupt,” the man shrugs. “But I couldn’t help overhearing your plans in passing and now you’ve made me curious.”

Lucas rolls his eyes, just slightly, and then grips Jens’s wrist, softly caressing the skin on the inner side. He steps forwards, towards his father, drawing Jens with him. Jens keeps just a little bit behind as the man’s eyes skim over him.

Lucas seems only slightly nervous as he says, “Dad, this is Jens.”

The man holds a hand out, and Jens takes it carefully, looking at the kind smile and searching for his voice. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr Van Der Heijden.”

The title is waved off as their handshake ends. “None of that. Just call me Hugo, alright? You’ll make me feel too old.”

It makes Jens relax a little as he nods, managing, finally, to return the smile.

“I wish we were meeting under different circumstances, but I’m happy to have you here all the same,” Hugo says. Then he gestures at his son. “And I’m happy to see this one smiling.”

Lucas flushes again, and Jens decides he quite likes this interaction as he offers Hugo a shrug. “I like that better, too.”

Hugo grins. Lucas grows redder, but said smile is working its way onto his lips. “I should’ve realised how awful it would be to put up with you both.”

“We’re excellent company,” Hugo waves him off. “You certainly didn’t seem too eager to leave it, before.”

“He was just joking,” Jens says hastily, regretting it when he earn’s the man’s attention. “We’ll both be going to school. I wouldn’t let him miss the exams.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t, but I’m not sure this one would listen to you,” Hugo gestures at Lucas with a huff, still smiling. He softens as he looks at Jens, skimming his eyes over him again, lingering on his tensed shoulders and where Lucas is still loosely gripping his wrist. His tone gentles, but loses its fond teasing to take on a more serious note. “You don’t have to be scared here, Jens.”

Jens’s throat closes up, but he shakes his head. “I—no, sorry. It’s just been a long time, since I did the ‘meeting-the-parents’ thing,” he admits, then instantly blushes.

Hugo’s smile returns and he laughs, carefully settling his hand on Jens’s shoulder and gives a squeeze. “Well, this is the first time I’ve ever done the ‘meeting-the-boyfriend’ thing. So there’s still no need for nerves, alright?”

Lucas squeezes his wrist, and Jens nods, and after another small consideration the man steps forward and captures him in a short hug. His grip is tight, but not forceful, and beyond the surprise Jens finds himself sinking into it. He closes his eyes when they start to water, after realising it’s so surprising because he has never experienced it. He can’t help but wonder if this is how it’s supposed to be, or if Lucas is just really lucky.

Hugo releases him too quickly, and Jens quickly and quietly clears his throat to get rid of the emotions clogged there. The sudden absence of contact is mended by Lucas pulling him back against his side, hand now clearly gripping Jens’s with their fingers interlocked.

“Come on, let’s sit down first,” Hugo beckons, setting his hand on his son’s arm this time as he pushes them back inside the room and lets Lucas guide the way to the sofa. Lucas sits down and pulls Jens with him and Hugo takes the armchair, leaning forward with his hands clasped between his knees. “Do you want to talk about your options, Jens?”

Jens licks his lips, leaning closer to Lucas. “My options?”

Hugo nods. “Now, before you worry, you’re staying here for as long as you need. No arguments. You were always welcome.”

Jens relaxes, nodding gratefully as Lucas sets a hand on his knee.

“I’m just talking about what could help. There are measures you could take, over what happened,” Hugo says softly.

“I don’t want anything like that. It’s not—I didn’t even think about it. I’m not doing that.”

He worries that it’s too harsh, but Hugo is already smiling and nodding again, working to put him back at ease. “Alright. Feel free to stop me, any time, if you don’t want to discuss it, alright?” He waits for Jens to nod before continuing. “I mostly want to know if you have any concerns. Lucas mentioned a younger sister?”

Jens swallows. “Yeah, Lotte. I don’t think that I have to worry. It’s never been like…” he trails off, searching for the words, avoiding both their gazes. “He isn’t violent, or anything. Not really, not like that.”

Hugo purses his lips, but accepts the explanation without pushing any further for now. “What about your mother?”

“I don’t actually know. I thought that...that she agreed with him. She usually does. But then I realised she wasn’t even aware of what he was doing, and she was the reason I got out. She doesn’t—I never actually got to tell her anything. I don’t know what she thinks.”

“Then is it possible that she’d be on your side in this?” Hugo asks gently. “I know if, like you say, she usually supports your father, it can seem like the obvious answer to everything. But this is a very specific situation. You’re her son, and very often that counts for something more.”

The back of Jens’s eyes prick, and he does his best to blink the sensation away, tightly gripping Lucas’s hand again. Jens had returned his ring, and it’s there now on Lucas’s finger for Jens to run his thumb over, a point of focus. “I don’t know. I can’t imagine she would kick him out and that’s the only way…”

“I see. When are you eighteen, Jens?”

“Uhm. Next month. The nineteenth.”

Hugo nods. “Would it be suitable, then, to work towards other living arrangements? I understand the finance can be scary, and having a job in your final year is an additional layer of stress. But there are supports available, and I could give you a helping hand.”

Gosh, no. Jens can’t be any more of a burden. He quickly shakes his head. “I couldn’t accept that. It’s kind enough of you to let me stay here for a few weeks, but I promise I won’t be that much of a bother.”

“And what happens in a few weeks?” Hugo raises a brow. Jens stays quiet. “Jens, you’re really welcome here for as long as you need. Until you graduate if necessary. I just understand that it might not be the most comfortable feeling for you. But we don’t have to worry about it right now, alright? It’s just something we’ll work towards thinking about.”

After a while of hesitation, Jens nods in acceptance and hears Lucas’s quiet breath of relief. Jens squeezes his hand and relaxes slightly as Lucas squeezes back.

“What about your belongings? I see you had some of your clothes stored for you, but I’m assuming it’s not quite a full wardrobe. What about school supplies, even?”

“I didn’t take anything,” Jens admits. “I don’t even have my phone.”

Hugo hums. “Alright. Would you like me to go collect some things for you?”

Jens’s eyes widen. “Oh, no, you don’t have to do that.”

“Well, I would prefer it to sending you on your own, or with Lucas,” Hugo points out.

“No, really. I can manage without for another few days, then maybe get another friend to come with.”

“Of course, you can do what feels best, and take someone closer,” Hugo nods. “My offer still stands. Even if you just want someone to drive you, so you have a boot for the luggage. At any time.”

Jens nods again, overwhelmed with the generosity. His gratitude has rendered him speechless, and he’s almost relieved when Hugo claps his hands against his knees and then rises from the chair.

“Alright, I’ve done enough pushing and prodding at you. Tell me when I’m too much, kiddo. How about I make us some dinner to make up for it, hm?”

“Do you still know how to do that?” Lucas asks dubiously.

Hugo scoffs, looking over his shoulder on his way to the door. “Just for that, you’re waiting longer for a gourmet meal.”

Lucas snorts as the man winks at them, then tilts his head against Jens’s shoulder once he’s out of sight. Jens sinks against him and releases a shaky breath.

“Are you okay?” Lucas questions, voice quiet even in the silent room. There’s distant movement, the sound of knocking cupboard doors and clanging pots and pans. Everything about it holds an intimacy Jens doesn’t feel entirely familiar with.

“Yeah,” Jens says honestly. “I actually can’t believe how cool he is.”

“For my sake, you’ll never tell him.”

Jens snorts.

“You’re right, though,” Lucas says quietly. “It’s good to have an actual adult who knows what they’re talking about, I guess.”

Jens hums, turning to press a kiss to the top of Lucas’s head before resting his cheek there. “By the way, the clothes thing. Does that mean he saw you in my hoodie?”

Lucas huffs. “Of course, that’s what you’d pick up on.”

“That’s kind of adorable.”

“Shut up.”

Jens laughs, about to say something else when the buzzer to the apartment sounds and he and Lucas pause to look at each other. After a few seconds, Hugo appears in the doorway with a furrowed brow.

“Were you expecting anyone?” he asks. They shake their heads, and he gestures for them to stay where they are. “Alright, I’ll see who it is.”

When he disappears into the hallway, Jens rises to his feet. He shifts his weight anxiously, staring at the door, and then Lucas is up and pulling him along. They creep out of the room quietly, though not enough to avoid Hugo’s notice, who shoots an aggravated look back at them before there’s a knock on the door. Lucas and Jens remain mostly concealed around the corner as Hugo cracks the door open. There’s a pause, and then he pulls it open fully and looks back as two boys are revealed in the entryway.

Jens steps out and Robbe barrels into him instantly, knocking the wind out of him as he winds his arms tightly around Jens’s waist. Jens comes out of his shock quickly and returns the hug, pulling Robbe into his chest with arms wrapped around his shoulders and face buried in his curls.

“Fuck, I missed your dumb face,” Robbe croaks, clinging to him, and Jens tightens his own hold with a hoarse laugh.

“I missed your dumb-ass,” Jens returns, completing the old joke. Robbe just keeps hugging him silently, pressed as close as he can get, and Jens eagerly accepts the affection of his best friend. It’s even more familiar than Lucas, and while it doesn’t incite quite the same reaction, it’s just as comforting.

“I know you didn’t invite us, but he got impatient,” Sander says apologetically, presumably talking to Lucas. “I did send you a text.”

“My phone’s in my room,” Lucas says. “Don’t worry about it.”

Robbe finally loosens up and steps back as Hugo speaks up, most of his attention on the new arrivals. “Wait, don’t tell me,” he holds a finger up to Lucas, before pointing it at Sander, still hovering in the doorway. “You’re Sander,” he guesses, leaving the boy nodding awkwardly as Hugo turns to his boyfriend. “So you must be Robbe.”

Instead of agreeing, Robbe blushes, one of his hands still curled in Jens’s hoodie. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have barged in.”

Sander hums in agreement, nodding at him. “He’s usually the polite one,” he tells Hugo.

Hugo waves them off with his already-familiar smile. “Understood. These are special circumstances, I imagine. I was just about to start on dinner, if the two of you would like to join?”

Sander’s lips part as he and Robbe share a bewildered look and Robbe quickly shakes his head. “No really, we didn’t mean to intrude—“

“Nonsense,” Hugo scoffs, ushering Sander inside along with them. “Come on, come in, sit down. It’ll be a while, anyway, so you can catch up while it’s cooking. Finally, I’m getting to meet you. I missed having a group of boys to feed.”

“Dad, you’re being weird,” Lucas says, exasperated, but Hugo merely flaps a hand at him and makes his way back to the kitchen.

“No allergies?” he calls back to them.

They all confirm the negative, and he offers a thumbs up before disappearing, leaving them all staring after in silence. Sander is the one to break it, looking to Lucas with raised brows, teasing smirk already in place. “Personally, I think he’s swell.”

Lucas groans, and Jens laughs, and Robbe beams at him before gathering him in another hug.

Jens accepts it with a growing warmth in his chest.

Makeup with Alex-A.E

“Alex got that Shane Dawson makeup kit, right? Maybe he could rope Y/N into filming a video with him (a “doing my girlfriends makeup” type thing) and it could be cute fluff Maybe the video also doubles as his introduction of Y/N to the fans ??”

Pairing: ImAllexx x Reader

Word Count: 1.7k+

___________________________

"I'm sure you guys only clicked on the video because Y/n is in the thumbnail," Alex spoke up as he took a seat on the cypress-colored couch. Next to him sat his friend, Y/n L/n. Y/n didn't have her own YouTube channel, but she was often spotted in his friends' videos. Just the other day Y/n was featured on Fraser's channel to talk about Trisha Paytas. "Yes, because I'm absolutely amazing," Y/n grinned. Her hand snuck her way into Alex's grasp, giving his hand a squeeze. "I can't disagree with that," a smile appeared on Alex's face as e looked to the floor in a bashful manner. Y/n merely let out a small giggle at his actions. "Are you gonna tell them or do I have to?" Y/n kept her eyes on Alex. "We also have news," Alex looked up to the camera, his smile stayed on his face. "Y/n and I have started dating." Excitedly, Y/n shot her hand that was holding Alex's into the camera frame, pulling his hand with her. Y/n's grin grew wider. "And even though most of you already know Y/n from other videos, what'd be better than talking about our relationship for 20 minutes while I try and do her makeup?"  Alex let out a chuckle as he wrapped an arm around Y/n's shoulders, she leaned into him with a smile. "This should be fun," Y/n muttered gently. "Makeup with Alex." "So Y/n pulled out some of her makeup and placed it on the table, but I also pulled out my own makeup as well," Alex gave a look at the camera. He leaned down to the coffee table that stood in front of them, quickly he picked up a black eyeshadow palette with the word 'Conspiracy' sprawled out on the front. "If you remember, I got one of Shane Dawson's palettes when it first came out." "How'd you even get it?" Y/n shook her head. "I just walked in and picked it up," Alex gave a small shrug as he placed the palette back down. "Oh, well I'm just happy you let me use it sometimes," Y/n gave a shrug as well. "Of course," Alex let out another chuckle. "Anyways, I think I should start doing your makeup now." "I actually forgot I wasn't wearing any," Y/n spoke, watching Alex pick up a random foundation. "That's because you're beautiful with or without it," Alex smiled as he picked up a fan brush and foundation blender. "I think I'm gonna go with these first." "Awh, I love you, bubba," Y/n cooed. In a quick pace, she leaned close to her boyfriend, placing a kiss on his jawline, missing his cheek. "Love you too, cutie," Alex smiled. "I think you're supposed to close your eyes... maybe?" Y/n gave a look at the camera before she closed her eyes. "Am I doing something wrong?" "No, no, just do the makeup, bubba." It was now Alex's turn to look at the camera before turning back to his girlfriend. The brunette had placed the foundation onto Y/n's face by using the blender, but once the foundation was on Y/n's face, he swapped the blender out for the fan brush. Y/n let out a giggle at the feeling of Alex putting the foundation on her face. Carefully, she opened her eyes to see what he was using. "You're not using the right brush," Y/n bit her lip, watching her boyfriend's attention pull away from focusing on painting her face. "How should I know?" "You literally watch me do my makeup every day while you wait for me." "I don't pay that much attention, apparently," Alex sighed. "Was I doing it right with the weird pink thing?" "Uh, yeah," Y/n gave a nod. Alex swapped out the fan brush for the blender again. "What's this thing called again?" "A blender, Al." "Blender," Alex repeated as he began to pat in Y/n's foundation. After a moment, Alex pulled away and placed the pink little thing back onto the coffee table. "What's this thing?" Alex picked up a small tube of color corrector. Quietly he mumbled the label of the tube to himself. "That's color correcter, bubba," Y/n smiled. "Oh." Alex opened the tube, pulling out the applicator. He began to brush it against Y/n's cheekbones. Y/n let out a laugh from Alex and his decisions with the makeup. "What's wrong now?" "Nothing," Y/n shook her head. "I feel like something's wrong because you're laughing," Alex bit his lip. "No, I'm just laughing because it tickles when someone else does it," Y/n slightly lied. "Whatever," Alex chuckled. He placed the color corrector back on the table in front of them and picked the blender back up and began to work on blending in the corrector. "Concealer? No clue what that is but we're not even gonna touch it," Alex looked through the tubes, bottles, and packages on the table. Y/n gave a look at the camera once again. "Contour... I guess I'll try this," Alex picked up a random brush to go with it. The brunette began to spread contour across Y/n's face. After a few moments of contouring, Alex was finally happy with the amount he placed on his girlfriend's face. "I find it amusing how we're not even talking, we're just focusing on the makeup," Y/n laughed, watching Alex go through her makeup once again. "I kinda wish I told everyone before so we'd be able to answer some of their questions," Alex replied, glancing back at his girlfriend. "I have a question," Y/n smiled. "When did you realize you had feelings for me?" "I think it had to be that one night we went out to that one fancy restaurant that had just opened. We went out with a couple of friends, but seeing you all dressed up... I think that's when I realized it," Alex responded. "What about you, cutie?" "It had to be when I spent the night, cooking with you was so fun and you let me steal one of your hoodies," Y/n grinned. "Bronzer," Alex mumbled, reading a small container. "I think I have a clue what this is used for." "Oh?" "Isn't it to highlight your face or something?" Alex asked, grabbing a small brush to use for the bronzer. "Sorta," Y/n smiled, watching her boyfriend. Gently, Alex pressed one of his hands against Y/n's neck, making her hold place as he began to place the bronzer on her face. Y/n held her breath as he did, something about Alex having a hand on her neck felt right. It felt good. Slowly, she bit her lip as she paid attention to how her boyfriend focused on her makeup. Soon enough, the feeling of Alex's hand left Y/n's neck as he pulled away. Yet, he still flashed a quick smirk at Y/n before fully turning back to the table to pick something new out. A smile reappeared on Alex's face as he went back to looking at the makeup, "Is it time for the eyeshadow?" "Is it?" "I think it is." For a moment, Alex's hands lingered around the brushes as he tried to decide with one he'd use for her eyeshadow. Y/n watched his hand, he wore a few rings on his hand. She had no clue why, but she adored the fact Alex wore rings, something was just so attractive about him wearing rings. One of the rings he was wearing at the moment was black with gold bits. Was it a Gucci ring? Probably. Finally, Alex picked out a decent brush before opening the palette. "I think I'm gonna give you a pink and gold look," Alex looked at all the different colors before finally deciding to bury his brush into the pink named 'Trisha'. Alex placed the palette down and buried his free hand into Y/n's hair, yanking her hair back to make her head lean back. Y/n bit her lip, fighting off the urge to let out a noise from Alex's sudden action. She peeked one of her eyes open to see a small smirk on Alex's face. He knew what he was doing. "What's going on here?" "We're filming a video, George. So you might want to go put on your disguise," Alex responded. Y/n kept her eyes shut, listening to their voices. "Nah, I know you'll just blur my face out if I come into frame," George replied. "Ooh, Makeup? Are we doing Y/n's makeup? Lemme join." "Absolutely not," Alex replied, his rip on Y/n's hair loosening as he spoke to his flatmate. "Awh, c'mon! Y/n! Tell Alex I can join, I bet I can do better than him," George began to whine. "George, you literally tried to use eyeshadow to turn Alex into Mike Wazoski," Y/n replied, not bothering to open her eyes. "Boo!" George responded, finally heading back into his room. "Alright, back to what we were doing," Alex spoke once his flatmate was out of sight, once again his grip tightened on Y/n's hair. Y/n fought back the need to let out a moan. "You alright, Y/n?" "Just peachy," Y/n practically whined. "You don't sound like it." "Shut up, Alex," Y/n let out a giggle. After a few moments, Alex finally pulled his hand out of Y/n's hair. He turned back to the table, closing the palette and going back through the makeup. "Uh, mascara? No, Eyeliner I think," Alex finally picked up a black eyeliner that held gold cursive on the side of it. "Close your eyes, cutie." Y/n bit her lip as she followed instructions. She felt the tip of her eyeliner against her skin. After a moment, Alex told her she could open her eyes again. "I'm not even gonna try with the mascara, I might poke your eyes out," Alex shook his head at the sight of the black tube sitting on the coffee table ominously. "Finally, lipstick," Alex muttered, looking through the different shades Y/n owned. He decided on a soft pink shade before turning to Y/n. Gently, he applied the lipstick, Y/n watching as he did so. "Wait, I think something's missing from your lips, lemme just-" Alex leaned in, pressing his lips against Y/n's. Y/n smiled into the kiss, leaning closer as she placed a hand on her boyfriend's thigh. They broke apart from the kiss before they would begin to make out. After all, they were still filming. "Now I need to reapply your lipstick," Alex clicked his tongue. Y/n only shook her head with a small giggle. Once Alex was happy with his work, he placed the lipstick down. "I think I'm done." "You sure?" "Yes." "You forgot the blush." "...Fuck."

Taglist:

@daddydobrock​

@anyasthoughts​

@multifandom-but​

Overthinking

Summary: V tries to figure out how to prepare for a date she’s not even technically going on.

Word Count: 1,742

Warnings: Language

Characters: Female V (Nomad), Johnny

A/n: If I missed any warnings please let me know! In the mean time hope you enjoy! I sat on this one for wayyyyy too long.  Previous Part: Reflections

V’s eyes slowly opened, but the light was too bright and her vision was blurry. She blinked a few times and slowly the tattoo on her arm came into focus. It annoyed her at first- a reminder of what an idiot she’d been, but now it reminded her that she wasn’t alone. Her condition was getting worse. She fell asleep to more nightmares and awoke with stronger headaches. Johnny did- god help her, get under her skin, sometimes, and he may technically be the reason she’s dying, but she was glad she wasn’t going through this by herself. Everything aside, when push came to shove, he had always been there when it mattered most. 

Speak of the devil, she thought as he appeared next to her. “Finally, you’re awake. I know people say they need their beauty sleep, but fuck, doesn’t seem to help in your case.”  “Good morning to you too,” V yawned as she sat up and stretched. 

He glitched and reappeared standing at the window. “Afternoon is more like. Was starting to think you’d sleep right through dinner.” 

“Nah, promised to call Rogue, didn’t I? Can’t exactly go out on a date for a midnight snack.”  Johnny took off his glasses and looked at her. “You’re sure about this?” “Can’t say the idea of handing you the wheel again thrills me, but yeah. Besides, I kind of owe you for the whole lake date with Judy; I know that wasn’t exactly a good time for you.” 

She swore she saw him shiver as he put his glasses back on. “Wasn’t exactly fun for you either, but she batted her eyelashes and you just couldn’t say no.”

V shrugged. “It was important to her, even if it did scare me half to death.” 

“And you’re worried about me having control. Imagine how I feel any time a pretty girl asks you for a favor. Sure, Panam, I’ll raid a Wraith hide out with you. I’ll risk my neck to get your leader back. I’ll help you steal a god-damn tank. Sure, Judy, I’ll fight through two dozen scavs to rescue your ex. I’ll start a war with the Tyger Claws to free some joy toys. I’ll dive to the bottom of a fuckin’ toxic lake, even though I’m terrified of being underwater. You are hopeless when it comes to damsels in distress.” 

“I...fine. Maybe I have an issue with saying no to my friends, but most of it was fun.”  “It’s just tits you can’t say no to. You say no to me just fine.” 

V laughed. “Well, technically you’ve got tits now, so there goes your theory. Besides, I said I’d do it, didn’t I? You know I’m a merc of my word. And I agreed to give you a second chance, so...so there’s no reason not to.”

He sighed. “You don’t owe me anything. If you really don’t trust me then-”

“I...I want to. It’s just...scary, is all. Weird, being trapped in my own body with no control. Felt like I was locked in my own trunk. I guess maybe that’s how you feel all the time, but, I don’t know. It’s my body. I’m supposed to be driving.”  “Yeah, I can kind of understand that. Right now I’m standing here talking to you, completely aware, but the drugs take you out of it. Guess I could see how it’d be scary to only get flashes, but I promise, I’m not gonna make that mistake twice.” 

“I guess we’ll find out,” V sighed and pulled up Rogue’s number. 

She couldn’t believe she was really going to call up the queen of Afterlife and ask her on a date.  

“V, need something?” Rogue’s tone wasn’t exactly encouraging, but the fact that she answered was proof that she was at least somewhat over the whole Grayson/Smasher business. 

“Johnny wants to ask you out on a date,” V replied in a light, almost teasing tone. 

“Johnny does, or you do?”

V was taken aback. “Johnny. You’re the one who said you got no issue tellin’ us apart.” 

“Just not like him. Well, alright. Where would we go?”

“Where would you like to go?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Silver Pixel Cloud.”

“Alright. Sounds good. We’ll pick you up tonight then.” “Sure, come around six-thirty.”

“See you then.” 

V grinned like an idiot at Johnny, who couldn’t help but smirk back a little. 

He shook his head. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“’Cause it’s cute. Johnny has a date! It’s...kinda weird to think about actually.” 

He pushed off the window and stood up straight, crossing his arms. “And why’s that?”

“Dunno, just hard to picture. Not like you ever had to work for your girls; they just lined up for you. Do you even know how to be romantic?” 

He rolled his eyes. “You think Rogue and I hooked up in the first place because I swept her off her feet with roses and open doors?”

“I have no idea why she gave you the time of day, or why she still does for that matter. I mean, what was it, three other women you were sleeping with last time you were dating?”

“Well, she doesn’t have to worry about that now.”

“You see my point though. You have no idea how to even go on a normal date, do you?”

“I’ll be fine.” 

“Just trying to help. Look, we don’t have a lot of time. Make this night count is all I’m saying. Make it special somehow. Maybe be a bit of a gentleman for once in your life.”

“I’m always a gentleman.”  “Riiiiighhhttt. In any case, I better get a move on if I want to get some biz done before I hand over the wheel. First thing’s first, breakfast.”                                      *                         *                          *

V shrugged off her jacket as she entered her apartment.“Can’t believe it’s already five. Time flies when you’re doing merc work.”

Johnny lit up a cigarette. “It also flies when you sleep half the day.”

“Getting up early is overrated.” 

He flopped down on the couch. “Gotta agree with you there.”

“So, excited for tonight?” V asked as she strolled over to her closet. 

“Yeah, jumping up and down like a little girl, just on the inside.”  “This is so weird. What do I even wear? Do I try to look hot, or should I dress more like you?” “Wow okay.” 

“What? Ha, no, I just really don’t know what I should go for here.” 

“Don’t think it matters, V. ‘Sides, you’re not the one actually going on the date, ‘member?”

“Yeah, but my body is.”

“Wear whatever, it doesn’t matter.” 

“Doesn’t matter? Must be nice being you. What’s it like to give actually give zero fucks about what anyone thinks?”

“Fuckin’ preem. You should try it.” 

“Seriously, there’s no part of you that’s self-conscious? I could dress myself in the worst sweats I have and you’d just strut out there and make it work?” 

“I could, yeah.” He sat up and looked at her. “V, what’s really going on? You barely put any thought into how you dress. Why’s this any different?”

“I don’t know. It’s weird. Like, if I were dressing for a date with Judy this would be so much easier, but I’m not. I’m dressing for a date with Rogue, for you. It’s-”

“You’re thinking about it way too much.” 

“You’re probably right. I’m gonna go take a shower. I’m starting to give myself a headache.”  “You always have headaches.” 

“Funny, I didn’t used to until you showed up.”  “What, no one ever pointed out the dumb shit you do before I showed up?” V smiled sadly. “No, I used to have someone that did the dumb shit with me.”  “Jackie.” 

“Mhm.” 

“You don’t talk about him much.” 

“What was it you said when I said that about you and Alt? There was never the right time?” “Not exactly easy to just spill about your dead chooms, is it?”

“No. Not really.”  They lapsed into silence until V stepped out of the shower. 

“So, decide what you’re going to wear?” Johnny asked appearing behind her in the mirror. 

“Fuck, can you not? You know I hate when you do that.”

“It’s not like I don’t know what you look like.” 

“I know, but it’s a little easier when you’re not... Can you just- You don’t have to be right here.”

He rolled his eyes, but glitched out of view. “Really V, it’s not like there’s any secrets between us. You’ve seen me naked. Is that your issue, that it’s just you? Cause I could-” She toweled off her hair. “Fuck, no. Just, look I know all that, but give a girl her fake privacy, alright? Let me pretend that I have some space in here.”  “Psht, nothin’ but empty space in here, can almost hear the echos.”  “Lucky that means there was enough room for your ego.”  She wrapped her towel around herself and strolled over to her closet. She decided maybe she was putting too much thought into it. She grabbed a pair of distressed jeans and tugged them on. She reached for her Samurai tank top, but stopped.  She turned to Johnny. “T-shirt or tank?”  “For fuck’s sake V, it doesn’t matter!” “But what would you feel more comfortable in? I mean you wear tanks, but it’s different when a girl does it.”  “Why?”

She flexed her arm. “’Cause for guys it’s sun’s out guns out, but for girls,” She drew a hand across her torso. “It’s more about the chest. So I don’t know. It’s that weird for you?” “In case you missed it, this whole thing is weird. Pick whatever.” V grabbed her Samurai T-shirt instead. She went back to the mirror and spiked up her hair and brushed her teeth.  “You done yet? We’re gonna be late. You know, now that I think about it, how are lesbians ever on time for dates?”

“We just add a half hour to whatever time we set,” V responded, tugging on her jacket. She slid Johnny’s shades out of the pocket and put them on. “How do I look?”

He shrugged. “Decent I guess, can we go now?”

“Yeah, let me just find the keys.” 

“We takin’ the Porsche?”

“Well yeah, since my motorcycle doesn’t exactly fit two, besides I’m sure Rogue will get a kick out of it.” 

He smirked. “Oh, she sure will.” 

Kinda want to make us happen (so stop smiling at me like that)

"Okay. What would you go for, then?"

"I don't know. Johansson, maybe? I like that one" says Steve, thoughtful, dropping down next to Billy, his back against the boiling side of the Camaro" Ooor-oh! Williamson! That one sounds good. Steve Williamson. What do you think?"

"Weird." Billy taps his cigarette butt with his thumb, blowing the ash, "I think it sounds weird. And I don't know why you want to change it, if all of those rhyme with the one you already have”

Steve rolls his eyes. The screams from the pool come gusty, like the wind that has risen from the east. The kids are already more than fifteen minutes late.

"Let's see. You try. I'm sure you'll have a knack for it"

Billy should get mad about his haughty tone, but what he feels instead is that tone describing a line that travels straight down from the hollow of his throat to just below his navel. The wind has extinguished his cigarette when he brings it to his lips. He throws it. Steals Steve's.

"Hey!"

"I don't know" he hits a puff, pretends to ignore him "I like the one you have. Sounds good. Ha-rring-ton. HaaaarringTON ”

"You only like it because you use it to harass me"

Billy can't help but smile. Wide. Cheeky.

"Maybe"

Billy shouldn't know about this last name thing. It's not like he and Steve have anything remotely close to that kind of familiarity. They are not friends or anything. Most of the time Billy only gets to see him like this, in passing. An almost daily coincidence. On days like today, waiting for the kids around a cigarette. On the days Steve stops by the gas station during Billy's shift to refuel the BMW. When he sees him in the distance, walking by, like those people you see only in the movies. Sunglasses on. White, pristine Nikes, a smile more expensive than all the money Billy will ever have in his hands. Million-dollar Steve Harrington, with his million-dollar smile. Completely unattainable for someone like Billy.

Because, that’s it, people like Steve Harrington happen to people like Billy Hargrove only in passing. And he knows, he knows, but he can't help but force those coincidences a little sometimes, push them into happening, like dropping by the Mall to fetch an ice cream on the Scoops –even if it really does have the best stuff in town–, accidentally catching a conversation ("Dingus. I vote for dingus. That’s your new last name" and "Thank you, Robin. I'm glad you're taking it so seriously" and "I take it seriously. Steve Dingus. Think about it"). And Billy is curious now. As he always is, inevitably, about all things regarding Steve Harrington.

"And why do you want to change it?"

 "I'm gonna-" Steve hesitates. Draws a long, curved line with his shoe, staining the tip with the dusty ocher dirt of the gravel "I'm gonna leave"

It's a curious thing. One moment it feels like there's plenty of air filling your lungs, and the next, you have nothing.

"From Hawkins?"

"Eh? No. No” Steve takes a deep breath, “Only from my parent’s house”

Billy doesn't know if when your heart skips a beat you can ever get it back, but if not, Steve Harrington owes him this one.

But he sounds cool, perfectly collected when he speaks again. A long, hard-learned ability.

"And the last name thing?" 

“My father– He's always saying this shit,” he sighs, makes his voice even more serious, rounds it in an exaggerated imitation of his father “This –You're not worthy to carry the Harrington name– shit. So."

Billy knows a lot about asshole fathers and never meeting impossible expectations. If he could, he would erase every trace of Neil off himself, even if he's not sure how much would be left after that.

"Yeah"

He hands him the cigarette and Steve accepts it with a small smile.

 "It will cost me almost everything I have. But, you know, is worth it"

Billy frowns.

"Don't you have like, a shitload of money?" 

"Not if I leave" Steve shrugs, turns his head in the direction of the pool, throat working "If you leave casa Harrington, you leave casa Harrington for good. No car, no inheritance, no nothing. We’re not– in the best terms right now. My father and I" 

Billy wants to know about that too–he wants to know everything– but it seems like too much to ask. 

Steve's head lulls down. The wind picks up momentum over the curve of his back, ruffles his hair in a whirlpool. He puffs on the cigarette.

It's the closest Billy is ever going to get to his lips.

"Well, welcome then, to bottom of the bottom of the social scale.  I’m sure you’re gonna enjoy yourself down here, surrounded by the poor and the unprivileged “

He means it as a joke, but realizes he has screwed up the moment the words leave his lips. Steve’s face twists into something sad and ashamed and Billy is a fucking asshole that needs to stop and think before opening his big, stupid mouth.  

"I guess so," he says, lips pressed thin. And God, Billy is like a fucking elephant, stepping on every delicate thing. He should know better than making it worst.

Fuck.

Because is not as he can’t imagine the reason why Steve wants to get away from Robert Harrington. Why he needs to stop being someone so small under such a large shadow. Because Steve it’s not like that. It’s not some selfish and self-centered prick. Steve is caring and protective and so, so good.

And Billy is totally gone for him.

"You can have mine" he says, and immediately wants to smack himself in the head because though you were gonna start thinking before speaking, Hargrove. 

Steve looks at him, curious and a bit confused. Billy inhales. Deep.

"Can what?"

"My last name" he says, because Steve is looking at him intently, and there’s nothing he can do now "I hate it. You can have it if you want”

And Jesus, he feels so stupid right now. It’s like he can’t control his fucking mouth when he's around Steve, like he’s still seventeen and trying so hard to impress him.  Fishes inside his back pocket for the pack of cigarettes. He can see Steve’s smile growing in the corner of his eye.  And ok. That’s ok. Billy is a big-mouthed asshole. But Steve is smiling now, so ok.

At least he made it better.

"I don't think Steve Hargrove sounds very cool either, truth be told"

But it does. It does. And Billy is turning red, warmth spreading through his face, burning on the tips of his ears.

"It’s better than Johansson"

"That’s true" He does this thing he does sometimes, this thing of fixing his eyes on Billy and instantly looking away, elusive, and Billy's body tightens as if ready to hunt him down, thrumming with the blind impulse of reach after him. In this distance, he can see all the moles that dot his skin, delicate and beautiful, the long to touch them hurts at his fingertips.

"How are you going to do it?"

 “No fucking idea,” he shrugs. “I guess I can stay at Dustin's for a few days and try to come up with something from there. I don't really have anything planned. I just want–". He doesn't say it, like he’s not able to find the words. Like it’s less formed thought and more feeling.  But there’s no need because Billy knows them all. He has an interminable list of them. It starts with freedom, with independence, with never again.  He yelled them all at his father when he got away last year. Max is the only reason he hasn’t flown from Hawkins yet. 

Well, not the only reason. Just the only that’s not a fucking dream.

“No fucking idea” Steve repeats like an echo, huffs a laugh that comes out ragged. Nervous. Like he’s caught up in that thought. How are you gonna do it?.

And Billy is an adult now. Shouldn’t be losing his self-control around a boy like this anymore. Even if that boy is Steve Harrington. Should be able to stop his fucking mouth for fuck’s sake.

But he asks, anyway.

 "Wanna crash at my place?"

“Uh?”

Steve’s brow furrows. Most days it ain’t easy to tell apart the color of his eyes, irises so dark they mix with the pupils, but the sun is sinking low now, golden light brightening them lighter, a soft shade of brown. Billy tries not to think about how impossible he is, how out of reach even like this, so close to him, side to side, their bodies brushing. 

"While you figure it out, I mean. Or, you know, I could use a roommate, share the rent, once you regain some money, I mean”

It's a stupid offer and he knows it, because people like Steve Harrington never really happen to people like Billy Hargrove, only like this, the luck to steal a few moments, a coincidence.

"Really?" Steve asks with something completely, disarmingly unexpected. Something like hope.

He gets up, looks at Billy like he’s trying to decipher something.

"No. Not really. Didn't you just hear me, Harrington?” He says, uses his best unrepentant asshole tone. Lights another cigarette “I'm wasn't by any means inviting you or something"

And Steve smiles smiles smiles. And Billy has never-ever wanted to kiss someone so much, and for so long, and be able to hold himself back.

"Jesus, Hargrove" Steve breathes out a laugh, and he's beaming, and Billy doesn't have the slightest idea how he managed to do that "Is there anything you are not willing to give me?"

And he’s kidding, of course he is, but the words hit like a blow, straight to his solar plexus and Billy is not fast enough, he wasn’t prepared. So when he lowers his head, he’s sure Steve has seen it all, right there in his eyes.

 Everything.

He lights the cigarette, fills his lungs till he feels them burning. 

"You take it or what?"

"I take it" he says. Low and soft like it is something intended only for Billy to hear "And, you’re right, by the way”

“Uh?”

 “It sounds better the more I think about it"

   (This is how it goes:

Steve never gets to change it.

He moves in with Billy. Needs the money because (“No, no, no. You’re not gonna pay for all our food ¿You want me to die of embarrassment? Wait. Wait. Don’t answer that") so he postpones it because, there's no rush, really (“And you keep calling me HAAaarrrrington, so feels a bit like a waste”) it was one those in-the-heat-of-the-moment kind of decisions anyway so (“No. It was no childish. You’re an asshole. Ok, well. Yeah. That I can accept. It was not the most practical) it ends up on undefined hiatus.

And then they start joking about it. Billy calls him “Mr. Hargrove” (“Good morning, Mr. Hargrove” or “Wanna go to the movies tonight, Mr. Hargrove?” or “You forgot to do the dishes yesterday, Mr. Hargrove, that's five bucks to the forgotten-dishes jar, Mr. Hargrove”) and Steve uses his, when replies, in a fairly accurate impersonation (“You owe like, twenty dollars to that jar, Harrington. So you are not to speak”) and keeps on using it against him on a regular basis (“Gosh, Harrington, you're such softie. And think that you used to be such a hard-ass on High School” every time Max convinces him to take her shopping).

And, truth be told, Steve never hated it that much. Kind of loves it, now that his father hasn’t power over him anymore, now that it's Billy who uses it, rides the letters like a wave, HarrignTON, piling up the syllables like in a roller coaster. When he says,

“I’m glad you’re here with me, Harrington” falling asleep against his shoulder on the couch.

When he says,

“I miss you, Harrington. This is so boring without you” that time Steve took the kids on a camping trip for a whole week.

When he says,

“I can’t stop myself from kissing you anymore, Harrington. So this is your chance to step away”

They hyphenate, at the end.

There are a lot of Hs and Rs and Gs, that they share, and Steve wants them all.

They toss a coin in the air.

“Are you sure you haven’t cheated, pretty boy? You look too smug to not be lying”

“Why would I? But we can switch, if you want to”

“Nah, I think it sounds pretty good, actually” Billy says. Kisses him “Better the more I think about it”)

Broken vase | 2

Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Angst, Fluff, possible light smut in the future

Pairing: Agent!Namjoon x Agent!reader

Rating: 18+ (Mature Content)

Word Count: 5,7k

Warning: Public display of affection, murder threat, traumatic experience

Summary: You are one of the best agents in the Company, and so do Namjoon. After your last mission with him, you hate him and so do Namjoon. Suddenly, you assigned again with him as a married couple. How can you handle the mission, Kim Namjoon, and your emotional wound?

Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4  completed

Series Masterlist: The Company

a/n: Basically I had zero idea about how agents work. So I apologize for missing any crucial thing. I wanted them to focus to the mission, but I want them to kiss and jump on each other more. So If you thought, “Why don’t they spying the Lee couple better? Why they’re always distracted?”. Well to my excuse, let’s just think that Tae and Yoongi as their Hawaii sidekicks do the spying job and Jung couple just literally be on cover, laughing and talking with no other specific jobs to do. To this, I apologize. Thank you for reading this!

Taglist: @kb-bangtanenthusiast​, @w0lfqu33n​

       You fell asleep after you told Namjoon what happened to you. Maybe Namjoon hates you, but you’re his partner and he knows you needed that rest. He called Jin and Yoongi and filled in the situation that arose. He also told Jin about college friends of Minister Lee which you mentioned before you fell asleep. At first, he’s mad because you didn’t tell him a crucial clue sooner, but he will let it go, there should be no more fighting between you two. You both should realize that now you are working together, that you should tell each other everything regarding this case.

He has been listening to the headphone for several hours now. The couple’s room was silent, meaning they both have already fallen asleep. He put the headphone on the desk, and stretched his body. He walked to the bed and sat beside your sleeping body. He watched as you breathed slowly. He never watched you this close before, usually, you sensed it so fast and you walked away or even chewed him out. But now, he could see your long lashes, your pinkish lips, the shades of your cheeks, and even a scar on your forehead. Where did you get that?

He remembers how soft is your lips when you kissed him on the plane. The kiss was sudden and light, but he couldn’t help but notice how the kiss made his heart thumping inside his chest. How you affected him. He shook his head softly, maybe it because he hasn’t done fieldwork for a long time, yet been in cover. These last 5 years, mostly he has worked from the office, trained recruits, and lead operations.

Maybe I am nervous about this mission.

        He then covered your body with a blanket and then walked to the bathroom to wash his face, to wake himself up. He has already gulped cups of coffee but he still feels tired. He sat on the sofa. His mind wandering, why you’re attacked? Did they know that you are an agent? Did our cover blow? It has been less than 24 hours and you barely did anything. It’s impossible. Or did someone misidentify you as Minister Lee’s wife because you changed your room? Does that mean this threat is done by someone amateur? Or maybe it is just a random crime? He sighed in frustration. The threat itself has no clue whatsoever, now someone is targetting you? It’s getting more complicated.

           As morning came, Namjoon shook your feet slowly to wake you up. You stirred in your sleep and opened your eyes slowly. “Come on, y/n, we need to get breakfast and join the tour.” Namjoon has already ready to go, he wore a red t-shirt which accentuates his hard chests and denim shorts. He looks hot in casual attire and you almost wanted to jump on him while you’re this half asleep. Fortunately for you, you gained your senses to realize that the man before you is your job partner.

           You walked lazily to the bathroom, your neck’s still has a throbbing pain and your head still hurt. You brushed your teeth and picked your clothes for today. You’re not in the mood of something girly, you just wanted to stay as comfortable as possible. You searched your baggage to find anything like a t-shirt and hot pants, only to find dresses. You wanted to yell at Jimin for preparing unnecessary things. You finally decided to put on the simplest dress you found. You tried to zipper your dress up, but your neck’s killing you and you couldn’t reach your zipper properly. Hesitantly, you called for Namjoon. “Namjoon-ah, could you please help me?”

           He sat on the sofa. He was texting on his phone when you asked him. He grumbled silently and looked up to you. When he found you with your exposed back before him, he gulped silently. He was pulling your zipper you up as his eyes lingered to your neck, looking at your small bruise. “Luckily for you, it looks just like a hickey.”

           Your cheeks stained red shade as you touched your neck sheepishly. You laughed dryly. You then sling your bag around your shoulder and walked to the door.

            His hand grasped your wrist softly. “Are you really okay? Can you continue?” His eyebrows knitted in worry.

           You smiled and nodded. “I am okay. It is kinda hurt a little but I think I can hold it. Don’t worry, I will not let this ruin our job.”

           “That’s not what I me-.” He sighed and released your wrist. “If you said so.”

       You sat through the breakfast in silence. Sometimes glanced at the couple across you. You then texted Yoongi to let him now that you’re in the post.

“So how do you know Yoongi?” Namjoon asked while trying to chew his bread.

“Well, we worked in the same mission 2 years ago, also with Tae, here in Hawaii. They were a big help.” You laughed dryly, remembering the past.

“So they’re like Jin and Jimin in Hawaii then?

“Yes and no. They were before. But now, they aren’t. Yoongi lived here now but Taehyung is on his leave. They can do the fieldwork, but also handling agents, but they assigned to none. They’re like freelance agents. I think it’s a good job though. Sometimes it can be boring, stucked in the office like Jimin and Jin. Don’t you think?” you shrugged.

“I know what are you saying. But that boring work has stability you know? Don’t you think stability is important when you took a job?” He asked curiously.

You laughed loudly which made Namjoon stared to you to quieten. “Sorry, but you haven’t change for a bit, really! Yes, stability is important, but it is important to have a fun job too! And besides, if I want to have a stable job, I would never take this job in the first place.”

“I can’t understand you.”

You snorted. “Since when have you understood me at all? We’ve known each other for almost 10 years, yet you never understand me. Oh right, so what does Jin say about that friend?”

“Well, he found some names, but they’re not in Hawaii at the moment. And Jin also tracks Lee’s email, messages, and calls but they haven’t been in contact for a while.” He then put his hands across his chest. “We believed that they’re all clean. I personally think it’s nothing.”

“So we back to square one.”

“I’m afraid so. Oh right, Yoongi said that he will follow us later if we need backup.”

“Alright.” You fiddled your dress and sighed. “And Namjoon? About that friend thing, I am sorry not to tell you in the first place. I thought I can search it by myself first before I tell you.”

Namjoon smiled softly, “That’s okay. We haven’t worked together for a long time. Just promise me to tell me everything now. We shouldn’t keep work individually. And as harder as this mission already is, I don’t want to make it more difficult. So that’s why I also appreciate it if we try to be as friendly as possible by not fighting anymore.” He reached out his hand to you, waiting for you to take it.

You took his hand in yours. “Yeah I think you right.” You then pull him up and gestured him to walk with you. “Let’s go to the tour then.” He released your hand to put his hand behind your waist and pulled your closer to him as he walked beside you to the lobby.

You saw Dahee waving to you from the distance. “Nara-ssi! Good morning. It looks like you have a good night together.” She smiled playfully. “Are you joining the tour?” She then gestured to you to sat beside her.

           “Good Morning, Dahee-ssi. Yes, you too?” You and Namjoon joined them sitting in the lobby. “But, I thought you and your husband have been to Hawaii several times. Why do you join the tour then?”

           “Yeah we did! We go to Hawaii like every 2 years, but we keep joining this tour.” Her voice quietened, “I wanted to go alone, you know. We literally know every road here. But my husband there just so lazy to drive or take a bus.”She laughed.

           You shared a glance with Namjoon. It’s not that weird considering there also other people who joined the same tour more than once. Besides, you could see Myunsoo’s face lightened in excitement when he read the tour’s pamphlets.

           “Alrighty! Are you Mr. And Mrs. Jung? Aloha! I am James! I am going to be your guide on this tour.” A man in his early twenties with black hair and Hawaiian shirt reached out for your hand to shake yours. Both of you stood up to greet the man.

Namjoon interrupted your hand, and with his other hand he pulled you closer possessively. “Hi, I am Mr.Jung, and this is my wife. Please take care of us.”

He smiled as he handing you the pamphlet. “This is the pamphlet for this tour, any information you need is written there, and if you have any questions, just ask!” James then walked away to give the pamphlets to the other couple.

You were busy reading the pamphlet, unbeknownst to you, James’ eyes trained to you several times and Namjoon caught him red-handed. The way the other man looking at you, his wife, was making him uncomfortable. Namjoon might not be as instinctual as you, but James seems suspicious. Like why he looked at a man’s wife in the first place?

He then looked at you beside him, still has zero clues about the situation. That’s another weakness of you, you trust people so much. Like last night, when you helped the pregnant lady and now, this unknown man. He sighed. What are you doing to him? You are an agent, a skillful one, but you always make him worry. Why are you always on his mind?

Namjoon pulled you into his arms, snuggling his head into your neck. That action startled you for a bit. You then put your hand around his waist, pulling him closer. You could smell his cologne, he smelled earthy, warm, and sweet. It’s comfortable. You looked up to his face, “What are you thinking?” You smiled.

“Nothing. Just.. don’t ever leave me, okay?” he begged. 

You’re taken aback with his statement. The hug felt real, you’re not gonna lie. And how his deep voice begged you, it’s making your stomach fluttered. Your heart beat faster as he snuggled deeper and grazed his lips lightly in the crook of your neck. You could hear his beating heart in your ears. Your mind went blank and the only thing you want to do was hug him back tightly. You must be going crazy. 

You then took his face gently in your hands. “You are weird, you know that?” You giggled and then you pressed your lips to his. He returned your kiss slowly, molding your lips together. It is your second kiss, but somehow it felt different from the one you shared on the plane. It is more intimate. It is more desperate.

You released each other when you heard all of the tour guests stood up and walked to the bus in front of the lobby. Namjoon then interlocked his fingers with yours as you both walked to the bus. He dragged you to the seats in the back, just two seats behind Myunsoo and Dahee. There weren’t many people who joined this tour, only 4 more couples excluding yours and Dahee’s. Because this was an exclusive tour, those couples have already booked the tour for some time, and the company already checked their background, and they’re nothing to worry about. Except for the tour guide.

Namjoon remembered correctly, that the tour guide should be a woman named Tiffany whom he’s already checked before. Why does the tour guide change? He then pulled his phone to text Jin.

  09.38 am NJ: background check of the tour guide, pls. –NJ

09.38 am SJ: k.

  “Who are you texting?” you asked him warily.

He then showed the screen of his phone and you nodded. Then your phone vibrated and you slide it to unlock it.

  09.39 am JM: u k?

09.39 am You: im k.

  “Jimin?” Namjoon asked. You nodded as you felt your phone vibrate again.

  09.40 am JM: how is the kiss? Lmao

  Your face went redder. You impulsively hide your screen from Namjoon as you write to Jimin back. Damn, it had to be Yoongi who told him.

  09.41 am You: OOT! Fuck u. Gotta go!

         Suddenly there’s mic feedback followed by James’ voice. “Aloha! Welcome to Hawaii tour! We will be headed first to Queen’s Marketplace. The journey will take about 45 minutes.” James then walked through the small aisle to give bottled drinks to everyone. “And it is a complimentary drink for you.”

You took it with a smile. It’s just bottled juice with the tour company’s sticker stuck on it. When you wanted to open the bottle to drink it, Namjoon stopped you. “Please don’t drink from an unknown source.” He looked at you with knitted brows. “Did you forget what happened yesterday? We need to be more careful.”

You gulped at his remarks. Why were you so careless? You have worked for a long time, but why did you turn like a teenager on a field trip? Was it because you with Namjoon? Was it because of Hawaii?

You straightened your back as you looked at the scenery outside the window. Namjoon rested his head on your shoulder, sleeping soundly. He looks tired. You thought. Well, Namjoon did stay awake for a whole night while you’re sleeping. You pinched your cheek lightly. This is a mission, get a hold of yourself, Y/n! You can’t keep making trouble and making it hard for him. 

45 minutes later, the bus finally stopped at the parking lot. “Alright people, you get 2-hours of shopping here. We will meet on this bus at 01.30 pm. Please don’t be late because we are on a tight schedule!” James said. All of the couples stood from their seats and ready to go. You woke Namjoon up by shaking his thighs and you grabbed his hand to leave the bus. You should do your job by following Dahee and his husband.

You’ve been walking around for some time. Grabbed a cup of coffee, while looking for Dahee from the distance. They’ve been shopping since the time they step on the marketplace. The weather’s sunny and hot, and you didn’t know if you regretted that you didn’t wear sunblock, or felt grateful because your skin wouldn’t be sticky. Suddenly, Namjoon stopped. He looked confused as he searched his pocket. “I think I lost my phone.”

“What? Really? Do you remember where is the last time you use it?” you asked. He thought hard but shook his head. He’s one of the best agents in The Company, but yet sometimes, you forget how clumsy he was. So rather than getting mad at him for lost a thing, it’s just faster to just look for it. “Alright, you go to the cafe and I will check the bus okay? Let’s meet in 10 minutes in this place.” You both then ran in separate ways.

After a few minutes running, you arrived at the parking lot, wandering in front of identical buses. After you’re sure which one is your bus, you knocked on the door and talked to the driver. “Excuse me, I think I left my phone there, can I check it?”

“Oh sure miss. Do you need help?” The driver is still young, probably in the mid-thirties He was smiling as he opened the door.

You shook your head. “I believe I don’t, Thank you. I will just look for it in my seat.” You hopped on the bus and walked to your seats before.

“Okay then. If you need any help I will be just outside the bus to take a call.” The driver then stepped out from the bus, leaving you alone.

There you found in between your seats, a purple flip phone. You took it and put it inside your bag. As you walked, you looked to other couple’s seats and finally, James’s seat. Your eyes glanced at the door, seeing that the driver’s still outside the bus. You then opened his backpack quickly. You found only travel books, a camera, a notebook, and a water bottle in the main compartment. You patted the back of the bag and found something hard inside. You noticed there’s a small opening on the side seam. When you reached your finger inside and you felt something tubular. You pulled it out and your eyes widened. It is a syringe. And there’s liquid in it.

Does he use it for medication? If he does, why he hid it on his back? Or..  you gulped. Did he drug someone with this? Carefully you put the syringe to your bag, and placed the backpack like before. You then walked back to Minister Lee and Dahee’s seats. You carefully examined the bottled juice, smelling it, and opening every sticker attached to it. Luckily for you, they’re easily removed, meaning that they’re attached just now. But after removing every sticker, you found no opening or whatsoever in those bottles. Maybe it’s his medication. You sighed as you reached for the syringe in your bag to return it to James’s bag.

But there’s a weird feeling, instinct, that bothered you. You returned to your seats. You removed all of the labels on Namjoon’s bottle first. It’s sealed and there’s no opening. You then grabbed your own bottle, carefully remove all of the labels. The cap’s still sealed, but when you remove the sticker on the cap, you felt nauseous. There’s a little hole on the cap. You suddenly got a goosebump as you sat on your seat. You put your bottle in your bag with the syringe, you need to examine it carefully later.

“Are you okay miss? You found your phone?” the driver asked in front of the door.

You stood from your seat and walked down the aisle. “Yes, I found it. I’m afraid that I lost it somewhere I don’t know.” You laughed. “Well, I should get going. Thank you very much.”

As you stepped outside, the driver laughed sinisterly, making you look at him strangely. “It’s good that you can find what you seek, right, Miss Nara?” He smirked and glared at you eyes meaningfully.

You shuddered and walked away faster. Your heart’s pounding hard in your chest. you held your sling bag tightly, afraid that it will fall down. You never introduce you to him before yet he knew your name. Sure, maybe he had the guest lists, but to be that sure that you’re Jung Nara? It’s weird.

Your eyes searched for Namjoon, and when you found him, you sprinted to him. “Babe, I found your phone!” you almost yelled. You then handed him his phone.

He sighed in relief. “Thank God! So it’s on the bus?” He asked and reach for his phone, grazing your hands. “What the hell? Why are your hands so cold?” He held your hands tightly. He studied your face carefully, only to find a pale woman in front of him. He cupped your face gently. “What happened to you?”

Your mind went blank. You put your hands around his waist and just buried your head in his chest and whispered “I- We need to talk. With Yoongi too.” Your hands tightened. “I found something.. and I hope I am wrong.”

5 minutes later, you found yourself getting calmer after drink a herb tea. You sat in the small cafe in the marketplace, which Yoongi’s already checked to assume it’s a safe place. Namjoon sat beside you and Yoongi sat across you, while Taehyung listened in his earpiece, as he continued to follow Dahee. You then pulled out the syringe from your bag and put it on the table. Namjoon looked confused and before he asked, you pulled a bottled juice out too. “I found this syringe hidden in James’s backpack.” His eyes widened. “I don’t know what is in this syringe nor what he did with that. But before, I had a feeling. So I remove all the stickers on the bottled juices, and found this.” You said as you showed him a tiny hole on the cap. “I also don’t know whether the hole matched with this syringe or not, but I got a feeling that it will match.”

Namjoon nodded. “Alright, we need to investigate this syringe and the bottle. And contact the company. If it is a match, we can conclude that it is attempted murder. I think we should tell Minister Lee and Dahee about the threa-“

“We can’t!” You interrupted him. You grew anxious.

“Calm down Y/n. What do you mean we can’t?” Yoongi asked.

You hesitated for a moment. “Because it is my bottle.”

Namjoon shocked and grabbed both of your shoulders, forcing you to look at him. “What? What do you mean, y/n?” He asked cautiously.

You met your eyes with him, your eyes were glistening in frustration. “That bottle is my bottle. I’ve checked Minister Lee and Dahee’s bottles and also yours. But there are no holes. That is the only one with a hole,” you gulped, “it’s mine.” You wanted to cry. It’s not that you’ve never been threatened before but It’s just somehow made you nervous.

Namjoon looked at you in worries and confusion, “But why are you so afraid? You’ve been in plenty of fights and near-death-experiences, you know?”

“The driver..” you hesitated. “I think he noticed what I’ve been doing on the bus before. Furthermore he knew my fake name while I’ve never introduced myself to anyone except Dahee. And he felt weird.”

“What do you mean weird?” Yoongi asked impatiently.

You look into Yoongi eyes, “His eyes and his voice feel familiar.”

Yoongi noticed the meaning of your uneasiness, then slammed the table angrily. “That’s not possible! You and I knew that he is dead! You even watched it!”

You couldn’t hold back your tears anymore. “You and I both knew that we never found the body! And even I knew, that you don’t believe it in the first place.” you cried frustratingly. You hugged yourself tighter. This is definitely a nightmare.

Namjoon left in bewilderment. What the hell happened two years ago? He shook his head. “Alright, alright. We need to stop assuming things. Yoongi, can you examine those as fast as possible? And Y/n, we shouldn’t let James knew that he knew. We must pretend like we know nothing. And we should keep an eye on James and the driver. I’m going to request a background check for them and send a back up to investigate them further. We should continue our plan like before until there’s evidence. Do you both understand?”

Yoongi nodded as he grabbed the syringe and the bottle, “I will check these. I will prepare the back-up ASAP.” He walked out of the cafe.

“Can you do this?” Namjoon asked. You nodded slowly. You took a deep breath and again for the second time of this day, you pinched your cheek.

It is just a mission. It is a different mission. You can do this. You’re wrong about him.

When you finally walked back to the bus, you forced yourself not to mind James or the driver. Namjoon held your hand tightly to make you come to your senses. As you sat on your seats, he wondered, Why do they target you? Why we got no clues regarding Minister Lee, to begin with? Is this a trap? What if the threat actually addressed to you? He pulled his phone and wrote to Jin.

  01.43 pm RM: background check of the driver.

01.43 pm RM: also can you give me the file of Y/n’s mission in Hawaii 2 years ago? ASAP.

  By the time you came back to the hotel, your body drained. Yoongi and Taehyung finally decided to use the unoccupied room on your floor and moved the listening devices to their room. Namjoon called and told all the details to the company, begging that they will take you off this mission. You watched him from behind. You’ve never seen him so desperate before. He also almost cursed after he got an unsatisfying answer from higher-ups. There’s no way to send you back home or replaced you with another agent. You would have to continue the mission. Namjoon threw his phone angrily to the bed which made you flinched. The room grew silent.

“Do you really hate working with me that much?”

Namjoon stopped for a moment. “What are you talking about?” His phone vibrated. He grumbled as he picked the phone to read what you assume was a text from Jin. His eyes widened and frowned his brow confusedly. With the thought of you’re in danger was already filled his mind, he really didn’t need this fact to be added.

“Do you want to get rid of me from this mission, that much?” You snapped. You did realize that you shouldn’t be bothered by your emotions, but you’re that frustrated. You’re confused, mad, and afraid at the same time. Do you hate me that much?

He scowled at you. He, too was frustrated, with you. “My priority is the success of this mission. So, if you need to phrase it that way, yeah. I don’t want you here.” I only want you to be safe.

You felt a stab on your chest. You felt humiliated. Your eyes got teary. “We both know that we never want that happened in the first place. And besides, you said before that we shouldn’t assuming anything yet” You cried.

“What happened in Hawaii 2 years ago?” He snapped back.

Your eyes widened, “Why are you talking about it right now-“

“Why is there no data about your mission in Hawaii in the database?” His jaw clenched. You could sense Namjoon walked closer to you, cornering you. You stepped back until your back of your legs hit the side of the bed. Then you felt something cold on your stomach. You tried to move your hand to your thigh, grabbing your small gun which hidden underneath your dress. Click. “I won’t do that if I were you.” He warned.

You froze. Your throat felt dry. “Wha.. What are you doing?” you stuttered.

“I said, what happened in Hawaii 2 years ago?” he said coldly.

“I- I don’t want to say..” You groaned in pain as he pushed his gun harshly. You’re so sure it would leave a bruise. It’s maddening. Just a few hours ago, he’s the one who held you close, opening your heart. You were trying to trust him again. And now? You felt a soft pang in your heart as you realized. “You never trust me, do you?” you said weakly.

His eyes met yours. Your eyes brimmed with tears, feeling disappointed, and exposed. His gaze softened. “Just answer me.” Please.

“I can’t say..” You could feel, that your cheeks have already been wet from your tears. Again, he doesn’t trust you.

He felt betrayed. Why don’t you want to tell him? It messed up his mind really bad. “You do understand that what you’ve hidden will make you seen as a traitor, don’t you?” He warned you. “Not only you, but also Yoongi, Taehyung, and even Jimin.”

You bit your lips then you grabbed his gun and kicked his side until he fell to the carpeted floor. You seized his gun and aimed it to the back of his head. He froze. “I’m sorry..” You then knocked his neck with the gun. As Namjoon passed out, you threw the gun beside him and walked out of the room. “I’m really sorry.”

Ten years ago.

  Your forehead beaded with sweat. Your body’s hurt after all that kicking and punches. You then found a chance and pushed your body to the person before you. As the person stumbled and you locked his neck from behind.

“Alright, I give up!” Namjoon smacked your hand repetitively.

You snorted as you released him. “You know that if you couldn’t beat me at least once, you won’t be promoted, right?” You stood up, fixing your clothes. “Why do you even join the promotion test for field agent?”

Namjoon just laid down on the floor, controlling his breaths. “You really shouldn’t rub salt into my wound, you know.” He sat up and gestured his bag to you.

You walked to the side, picking your water bottle and drank it in one gulp. You then walked to Namjoon’s bag. After rummaging his bag, you picked his water bottle and threw it to him.

He caught that with his right hand nicely and drank like he’s in the desert. “Thanks.”

“I think you should focus more on the other field. I heard Seokjin’s department also setting the promotion test.” You walked closer to him and sat beside him.

“Yes, I heard too.” He sighed, “But, I don’t really want to be handler like Jin-hyung.”

“Why? I think it’s nice.” You shrugged.”And besides, you can be my handler.”

He laughed loudly, “What? Your handler? Are you fucking kidding me? You are such a pain in the ass. I feel sorry for whoever ended as your handler.”

You then hit his back hard. “Hey! If you ended in field-work, I also feel sorry for whoever ended as your handler. You clumsy dickhead!” You stood up. You gathered your things and tossed them into your bag. You hung your bag on your shoulder, as you walk to the door. “Just really think about it, okay? And also stop bothering me to spar with you. I need to study too.” He just waved as a reply.

  It has been 6 months since you joined The Company as a recruit. You still couldn’t believe that after your first loss in karate championship that year, you’ll be recruited. The thought of working by fighting never occurred to you. Well, maybe as a coach. But as an agent? Never for a bit. Maybe you’re that naive. When the Company told you what the work would be, you’re almost sure that your eyes were twinkling in excitement. You always love the adrenaline rush. Whenever you go to an amusement park, the only thing you ride is a roller coaster. You live for adrenaline. So, yes. You agreed to join in a heartbeat. Your parents? Well the only thing they knew was that you worked as a stuntwoman. So every time there’s an action movie, you just told them that you’re starred in there.

It’s not easy working as an agent. You did ace the fighting training considering your background. Even you’re good at firearm training. The one thing you sucked at was coding and hacking, basically anything with numbers. That’s when you meet Kim Namjoon for the first time. The Kim Namjoon who can solve any of the codes in just a second. He’s recruited when his college professor recommended him. He’s the top of his class and even in this country. Genius, that’s what people say about him.

You still wondered, why such a person like Namjoon ended in a place like this. He literally could work in every place in the whole world and yet he chose this. With every knowledge he had and used with his brain, yet he chose to fight. Sure, he’s good at firearm training, and for fighting? Well, He was not that bad considering he only trained for six months, but he was not good enough to work as a field agent. Oh, and not to forget how he almost blew the bomb-defusing-training, only because he clumsily cut the wrong wire. Thank God there’s Hoseok beside him who then defused it in no time.

He’s also the one who knew what’s he lack at. Thus, he contacted you to teach him to fight and as a thank you, he taught you coding and hacking. That’s why you become close to him in such a short time. You spent most of your time with him after work, to spar, go to the gym, or even just chatting. However, because you knew about how good he was (well, you are the one who taught him), you thought that Namjoon was not suitable for a field agent at that time. You always told him, trying to talk some sense to him. But every time, you brought that topic, he didn’t care for your advice for a bit. The promotion test was on the day after tomorrow, and you really hoped Namjoon will change his mind.

It’s the first time Namjoon didn’t listen to you. He applied for a field agent and barely passed the fighting exam. Furthermore, aside from being bad at fighting, he’s unlucky too. He paired with Minho, who was the only one who could fight the teacher and won. You couldn’t get mad at him. You could only hope that he won’t die or even hurt specifically. He didn’t win obviously, but he passed the exam with the addition of long and deep wound on his left cheek which would be scarred his face.

Miraculously passed the field agent exam made Namjoon become one of the favorite agents to work with. Who doesn’t want to work with a genius agent? He got more missions with more thinking which usually political, while you, who passed the fighting exam in an excellent grade worked in your usual environment, more fighting. Yes, of course after many missions and lots of training, Namjoon’s improving too, made him stronger, smarter, and a more high-demand agent than you. He soared to the top too soon, you barely caught him. He went up in an elevator, comfortable and fast, yet you earned your way up through the stairs, tiring and sweaty. You barely even talked to him, to busy with your own missions. And you could feel deep in your heart that you missed him.

so, what do you guys think? Let me know what you’re thinking or if you want to added in taglist!

Babysitting

i got this idea while in class before the break. my teacher brought her daughter in and my mind went zip 🥺 it was just so cute and i hope this fluff prepares you for the upcoming angst 

People always have mixed opinions on kids. Some think that’s they’re the best and some find them annoying. You always found kids to be a light in the world when things were going wrong. That’s why you babysat. Babysitting allowed you to help you your neighbors, gain money, and learn a few new things.

Like last week you learned that Elaine’s dog was a super spy and could only tell a few people. You were one of the few people. The little girl was easily excitable and despite sometimes blabbering on about random stuff, always found reasoning for something she didn’t quite understand.

When the little one said she wanted to go to the zoo, who were you to argue about it? The zoo was always fun for all ages. No matter how many times you went, you still awed over the animals.

You let Elaine drag you all around and listened to the stories that she told you. Being so focused on what she was saying, you didn’t notice a certain redhead walking towards the two of you.

The two of you were standing in front of the tigers, Elaine spinning a tale of why they looked how they did. “They used to be two animals! A tig and a er!” she was saying as she pointed at a tiger. “They had a fight but got mushed together!”

You smiled and kept looking at the tiger she was pointing out. “How do you know that?” You leaned closer, pretending you could see the two created animals that had been merged together.

Elaine puffed out her cheeks. “They told me obviously!” she stated as if it was the dumbest question she’d heard. “Tigers only like me and other tigers! But they’re always stealthy and like to tease.”

You had to scoffed at the last sentence. It reminded you of an attractive classmate you’d been thinking about for a while. Before you could open your mouth to say something, a pair of hands covered your eyes. “Well, well. Does the zoo know that they’re missing a pretty bird?”

Jumping away, you let out a small squeak, smacking away the hands. Your face flushed as red as his hair when you found yourself face to face with Karma. His signature smirk on plastered on his face.

Elaine drew away your attention. “(Y/N), who is this?” she asked, pulling at the hem of your shirt. Pulling your eyes away from the male, you turned and ruffled her hair.

“This is a friend from school,” you told her with a smile. You tried not to make it weird for the sake of your dignity. The girl next to you broke out into a big grin, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

You knew the look in her eyes. It was the same one she had when she had seen the stray fox in the garden. “Can he come with us? Please?!” she begged. You were stuck. You could either say no and risk getting the puppy dog eyes. Or you could give in like you know you’d have to.

You looked at the redhead, silently pleading that he was busy. You didn’t know if you could deal with the teasing. This man’s teasing was merciless. You really didn’t want to be on the receiving end. “I would love to spend time with the two of you,” Karma said. “It’s not like I get to see (Y/N) outside of school anyways.” 

A struggle played out in your mind. You could say no and risk Elaine throwing a tantrum. Or you could say yes and possibly be teased all day. Oh jeez, you didn’t want Elaine to be upset. With a sigh, you nodded. “Okay. That’s okay with me,” you mumbled. Elaine cheered and grabbed the two of you, running towards another exhibit. 

It had been a while but she managed to take the two of you to the beavers. That was an animal you had thought to be adorable. The animals’ tails had an interesting pattern and their fur seemed to be such a pretty shade of brown. “Did you know that beavers are one of the animals that mate for life?” you mused, reading a info plaque. 

You turned over to Karma to catch him quickly glance away. You had been able to grow more relaxed around him, not quite as flustered. You didn’t know what it was but it had happened. Karma was watching the beavers. There was a couple in the den who were acting very close. 

A shiver ran up your spine as his hand brushed against yours. Heat flushed your cheeks again. You felt like saying something but no interesting topics came to mind. Thank god Elaine was around. “(Y/N)!” she whined, running over and tugging on your arm. “Can we get food? I’m hungry!” 

With a smile, you nodded. “Yeah, of course. I’m sure the food court is around here somewhere,” you said, taking her hand. Without realizing it, you had taken Karma’s hand in yours as well. The three of you went off. To people passing by, you looked like a couple with a kid. 

When the three of you finally found the food court, Karma said that he would go get the food. While he was in line, you couldn’t help but stare. “Are the two of you dating?” Elaine asked with her childish curiosity. You turned to her with wide eyes. 

You gave a nervous chuckle. “No, no, no,” you said, starting to bite your lip. “We-We aren’t dating. Sure he-he’s um... He’s really attractive but I don’t think he’d be interested in me.” You shook your head and pushed hair away from your face. 

Elaine started to giggle, causing you to quickly look around. Karma was just now walking back to the table with a tray of food. “Alright, here we go,” he said with a cheeky tone in his voice. 

You ate silently, smiling at the questions that Elaine would ask Karma. All of them were relatively easy to answer. “Do you wanna date (Y/N)?” she asked Karma in a wonder-like tone. You choked on the drink, but played it off.

Karma gave out a chuckle. You quickly glanced up at him and saw that his cheeks were dusted in pink. He leaned in to talk to her. “Well, uh, you see,” he whispered. There was a little part of your heart that sunk. You thought he was gonna say no. You pretended not to be paying attention after that. “I was kinda waiting to ask them about that.” 

You kept eating, keeping your head down. “You should ask them,” Elaine whispered back. “They like you, too, ya know.” You kept acting as if you didn’t know what they were talking about. 

Karma let out a soft, ‘oh,’ as he leaned back in his seat. You looked between them and saw that Karma’s lips had turned upwards into his cocky smirk. Before anymore could be said, your phone went off. You looked down and saw that it was Elaine’s mom sending a message. “Darn,” you said. You sent an apologetic smile towards Karma. “I gotta get Elaine home. Her parents are coming home soon.” 

Elaine started to whine about going home. As a compromise, you told her that you would get her ice cream on the way back. That made her happy real quick. 

You and Elaine stood to get ready to leave, Karma following suit. “You know, I might as well leave as well,” he sighed, resting his hands behind his head as he walked next to you. “I only stayed as long as I did because you were here.”

That was something you hadn’t been prepared for. “Oh? Well, thank you,” you said. Elaine was swinging your arm back and forth. “You’re really good with kids.”

Karma was blushing as he stared ahead. The rest of the walk to the exit was in a peaceful silence. “Before we part ways, I wanted to ask you something,” he said. He quickly took your hand and held it. You looked into his eyes, a curious smile pulling at your lips. “If you’re free in the near future, do you want to go out with me?”

Your lips parted in an open smile. “I would love that,” you said. Quickly moving forwards, you gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Text me later, Karma.” You pulled back and walked to your car with Elaine. 

Karma was left there in a stunned silence, touching the spot where you had kissed him. 

Anxie-tea || Grace and Bex

TIMING: About two weeks ago PARTIES: @silveraccent and @inbextween SUMMARY: Grace and Bex meet up for coffee to catch up. The two have different ideas about what exactly the meeting is. CONTENT: Allusions to Internalized Homophobia

Grace teetered outside of Coffee Plus, the nerves building in her stomach the longer she stood there looking in. It was busy, or at least, she felt like it was busy. The emotions from the other side of the door hit her like a truck, a distraction felt needed, but how easily acquired, she wasn’t sure. She looked down at her phone, her fingers growing numb from the cold as she sent off a quick text to Bex letting her know that she had arrived. Finally, she stepped into the shop, the smell of coffee and pastries curling around her nose. Though she hadn’t seen her from outside, she glanced around for the brunette anyways, hopeful that she’d be there that way she wouldn’t be in charge of finding a table. She stuck her hands into her pockets, fingers fidgeting with the pop socket on the back of her phone. She stayed by the door, ignoring the glances from the baristas who, in her opinion, knew her a little too well. 

Bexley needed some normalcy. After everything that had happened at school, and her first few weeks in White Crest, a coffee date with a friend sounded nice. Her and Grace had met back over the summer, and they’d hit it off pretty quick. Back then, though Bex had been careful, she hadn’t been quite as...afraid to be her true self. She’d left White Crest in quite a hurry, and hadn’t even bothered to tell Grace where she was going. It felt not good, but she hoped once she explained, she’d understand. So now, she was hoping to at least salvage something of a friendship with her, and coffee seemed like the perfect start. Her eagerness had led her to arrive early to Coffee Plus, getting her chai tea with coconut milk, sitting in a booth towards the back-- she remembered Grace didn’t like being around lots of people-- and waited. When she saw the shyer girl enter and glance around, she tried to wave her over but realized she couldn’t see her. So she got up and scuttled over. “Grey!” she waved, smoothing down the fringe of her dress, fiddling nervously for a moment. “Hey! I got us a table, but-- I can wait in line with you while you get a drink, if you want?”

The chatter of the coffee shop was loud enough to drown out Bex’s call, and it wasn’t until she made her way over, that Grace noticed her. “Oh, hey!” She smiled at the girl. The nickname made her ears burn and she looked towards where she had been sitting. “Oh, cool-- yeah, give me a second.” She turned back towards the counter to one of the baristas who stood there, patiently waiting for her order. After putting in her order for a London fog, she made her way to the side counter. “So,” Grace looked at Bex, trying to figure out if anything seemed too different. It had been a few months since she had last seen her, and though she wasn’t sure what the implications of this meeting had been, she hoped that there was affection involved. For once. “You said you’re helping with your parents' firm? How is that going?” 

Bexley stepped off to the side and waited patiently for Grace to order her tea before stepping back over to her, tucking a strange of loose hair behind her ear. She’d chosen to wear one of her more wintery dresses, a lovely shade of sky blue, with a white cardigan, tights, and some boots. She wanted to look nice for Grace, after all, and she liked dressing up. It didn’t have to mean anything more than that, right? “Oh, uh--” she startled when Grace asked her a question, pulling her eyes away from the other girl, “--it’s, you know...I’m still getting used to it! It’s really busy and everyone there is super bossy. Especially Fran, the front desk lady. She’s the lowest on the employee tier so she really enjoys bossing me, the intern, around.” Rolled her eyes before giving a smile. “How’s work? I know I sort of already asked, but, like-- that’s so cool that you got a job like that already! I hope it’s a good one?”

Out of respect, Grace tried to focus on the hum from others. She felt weird being able to dissect whatever it was that Bex was feeling, and while it was a bit harder to focus on the baristas, she knew she’d be better off for it. Bex’s peeked through, just a bit, but Grace made an attempt, and that’s all she could really try towards, right? “Sometimes being busy is better though, right?” Grace asked with a smile as she took a few napkins from the side counter. At the very least, when Regan was seemingly bossing her around, if she could even call it that, Grace had been learning something. She hadn’t seen it as that. She felt slightly bad for Bex, mostly because even now that Regan was gone, Rickers left her alone for the most part, allowing her to do her work, sans the few conversations about his grandchildren. “That sounds frustrating,” she said with a small frown. She wasn’t sure what else to offer, so she instead nodded at Bex’s question of how her work had been going. “Um, it’s good--” She thought for a moment, “I got sort of lucky that there was an opening and that they were taking somebody fresh out of college, but, you know.” She shrugged. She took her drink once it was ready, “it’s quiet for the most part, so I don’t mind it all that much.” She took a deep breath as she flexed her fingers around the warm paper mug.

“It can be, yeah,” Bex agreed with a nod, but the kind of “busy” she was at her parents’ law firm wasn’t the kind of busy that was helpful or made time to go fast. She swallowed down the thought and smiled. “It’s, well, you know! Everyone likes to boss the newbie around. I’m sure they’ll get tired of it eventually.” She sidled up a little closer to Grace, glancing around them to see if she recognized anyone else in the cafe. When she was sure she didn’t, she sidled even closer and brushed her arm against Grace’s. “I’m sure you were lucky that the job opened up, but you definitely deserved a good job like that, too. Give yourself some credit,” she said, taking her arm and leading her over to the table she had picked out for them, hidden in the little nook in the corner. “So,” she said, sliding into the chair across from Grace, putting her chin in her hands, smiling, “tell me how you like White Crest so far! I know you haven’t been here too long, but people seem to form opinions on the town pretty quickly.”

“That’s how it sort of goes, right?” Grace hadn’t ever understood the way that most structures worked within business. She hadn’t ever wanted to know. She knew, for the most part, that most jobs held a hierarchy, but it wasn’t ever something Grace respected, mostly because she thought everyone was holding onto the same idea of, fake it till you make it. When Bex took a step closer, she felt the tips of her ears burn. Bex’s hand on her arm made Grace lift her drink to her lips, allowing for the burning hot liquid to scald her tongue in an attempt to hide the deep rouge that began to seep through. Could she not? Just for a moment, blush at the act of even being touched by a pretty girl on the arm? She followed Bex to the corner table and slid into her chair, setting her drink down. She reached up to rub at her cheek, pretending that it itched. When Bex asked her how White Crest had been treating her, she thought to all of the… terrifying things that had happened. Grace forced a smile, “I mean, there have been some ups and downs, but for the most part I really like it.” It wasn’t necessarily a lie. She made some good friends here, even if they all seemed to spiral into anxiety at any given moment. “I think it’s the people that make it, you know?” The smile dissolved into something more natural the longer she looked at Bex. In their quieter corner, it was harder to focus on the other cafe patrons, but she continued to try and give the girl her privacy. “How about you? Aside from work, how are you liking it now that you’re back?” 

Ups and downs sounded about right for White Crest. Bexley had spent most of her time away from the town, off at boarding school, and when she was in town, her parents had insisted on her having an escort when she went most places. They told her that the world was dangerous, especially for someone like her, but she understood that it was for another reason, too. She shook away the thoughts and looked back across the table at Grace, tracing a circle around the top of her cup. Steam drifted out and she fiddled the string from the tea bag. “I’m glad you like it here. Does that mean you’ll be staying for a while?” she asked, unable to hide the hopefulness in her voice. Grace was one of her only friends at the moment, even if Bex had stopped talking to her after she’d left for school. “I kinda think that’s universal anyway. Staying for the people that you find, but yeah! I get that. I’m glad you met some good people.” She took a sip of her tea, and tried to hide the fact that it nearly scolded her tongue. Scratched her head. “Uh, it’s, you know! Home. It’s not bad, though! I think I’m just still getting used to it, being back with my parents. Living by myself in a dorm room was a very different experience so I’m just, you know...readjusting.” That was one word for it. She was having strange nightmares again and things were getting weird around her again as well, and, of course, her parents were blaming her for it all. She took another sip, forgetting it was still too hot. “Where’s your apartment now? Is it in a good neighborhood? Please tell me you don’t live in the Bend.”

“I think so,” Grace admitted with a smile. She hadn’t planned on leaving anytime soon-- though, that had been before everything that had happened. She could see herself living in White Crest a little longer, mostly out of concern. Fear had gripped her, had pushed her towards leaving, but she couldn’t let it win, not yet. She didn’t want to leave those she cared about behind. Others, on the other hand, seemed to have no issue with doing so. Cece’s face flickered before her and she shook it away by gripping her cup and lifting it to her lips, allowing the liquid to scald her tongue. She held it close to her mouth, just in case she needed another distraction. “People are kinder when they have something to lose, I think,” Grace said it without much thought, realizing how… odd it might sound. She set her cup down and quickly began, “I meant that in more of a… if they sense that you’re going to dip out on them, they’ll do everything in their power to keep you around kind of thing.” She wasn’t sure if that was what she meant, but the words were out into the open now regardless. Grace didn’t know what dorm life had been like-- when she was in college, she opted out for living in a room alone. College was already enough of an emotional buzz, she didn’t need the constant reminder of a roommate only a few feet away from her, especially when she could feel everyone through the walls. “Living with other people is hard, especially when you figure out your own routines.” Grace was sure that the only person she could ever think about living with had been her Grandma, but that had come and gone-- long in the past now. “It’s by the University, so no, not in the Bend.” Grace offered her a smile. She now knew to be careful of certain areas of White Crest-- though, when she had first moved, she knew nothing of where to be concerned about. It seemed the building she lived in, for the most part, offered safety. “It’s fine, but college students really like to party-- then again, I can’t complain… the rent is cheap.” She shrugged. “Do they expect you to live there long? With them, I mean.” 

It was an interesting statement, and Bex regarded the words for a moment as she thought about what it meant. “No, I understand what you mean, yeah. It’s like...you want to hold onto something tighter when you think you might lose it, and it’s something you value. That can apply to people, too,” she said, nodding. It made sense. She wasn’t sure why Grace had chosen to say it, but she meant it all the same. She picked up her tea again and blew gently on it to cool the surface before taking a sip. It warmed her insides and she let herself deflate a little, putting on a gentle smile. “Well, it’s nice that you were able to figure that out! I mean, a lot of people think they can live on their own and then end up spiraling, so it’s really a wonder that you were able to figure it out and know what you want.” And what Bex wouldn’t give to live alone, or at least not with her parents. She missed her old dorm room, she missed having freedom. She was a twenty year old adult still living with her parents, and from the sound of it, they wanted her to stay there until she finished Grad school. It made her stomach churn. “Cheap rent is good,” she tacked on from behind her tea cup. “Um...a while, I guess. They want me to stay through Grad school, though I’m not sure what the plan there is anymore. I was supposed to go to Harvard, but they pulled me from Penn and I don’t know if Harvard will accept UMWC as a good enough undergrad.”

Grace tapped her fingers against the side of her cup. She could feel the liquid lightly swishing inside, so at the risk of not knocking over the now half-empty tea, she dropped her hand into her lap. Grace continued to do her best to focus on others around her, though the more people began to spill out the door and into the cold winter’s day, the harder it was. She glanced down at her mood ring and rubbed her thumb against it before looking back up at Bex. “Yeah, living alone just works better-- I have weird routines.” She tensed, “not weird routines, but work-- it’s weird.” It wasn’t that weird, and it wasn’t like she worked late hours-- just early ones. “Cheap rent is great,” she mused as she picked up her mug, knocking her knuckles against it. It tilted slightly, but Grace managed to catch it. “Oops,” she hissed under her breath as she picked the drink back up and lifted it to her lips. Longing-- that was what Bex was feeling. Grace shifted uncomfortably in her seat and crossed her ankles to the side, hooking them against the leg of the chair. Why the longing? Grace wondered as she looked at her friend. She looked back down at her drink, the liquid visible through the lip on the lid. “That’s really long,” Grace furrowed her brows, “that…” She wanted to tell Bex that it sucked, but wasn’t sure if it was her place-- though it was obvious that the brunette was unhappy with the development. “I’m sure if you’re good enough, they will-- Not that I don’t think you’re not good enough, because I’m sure you are, you know?” She felt the tips of her ears redden as she let out a laugh, “I just mean that isn’t it your grades and you that matter? Not the school?” Grace hadn’t ever cared about school and had floated by with the bare minimum in order to get her degree, so she wasn’t sure if that was the case or not. “Maybe by then you’ll be old enough to say to hell with Harvard or something.” 

“And, you know, that’s totally fair. Some people just need to be on their own,” Bex agreed, giving another smile. This was nice-- really nice, especially after all the weird stuff that had been going on. This was nice and normal and good. She sipped her tea again and found it nearly gone, staring down into her cup. She looked up quickly when Grace said Oops, watching just in time as she fumbled with her cup. She couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle. “You always were kinda clumsy. I hope that doesn’t translate to your job, I don’t think accidentally dropping a body is as funny as knocking your cup over.” Brown eyes glistened as she looked across the table at her. Maybe life could just be normal. Maybe she could just have normal. “Yeah, it’s-- I mean, it’s not what I had planned, but sometimes life just...doesn’t want to cooperate. It’s okay for now, though, I think. And yeah! Hopefully...though they do sometimes look at your undergrad, I’m sure if I get high marks they’ll look past it.” That, or they’d look at her father’s checkbook. It wasn’t that she was worried about not getting into Harvard-- quite the opposite, in fact. She knew she would, and that was what scared her. She didn’t want that. She’d never wanted that. Being back here just...reminded her. And she found it harder and harder to ignore the part of her that wanted something more. She gave a weak smile. “Yeah...maybe.” 

“Oh, well--” Grace let out a laugh of her own, “luckily I’m not really in charge of any of the heavy lifting.” Luckily they were typically on gurneys to begin with-- or what resembled them. The awkwardness that she had felt, as well as the longing surrounding it, dispersed slightly as she sank into her chair. Grace looked up at Bex with a tilt of her head, “well, hopefully they look at your grades and you, not whatever school got you there.” She wasn’t sure if she was going to make things any better. “I’m clueless when it comes to school or whatever, I only really went for…” She went for the quiet, but wouldn’t that sound odd? She instead decided to go with a lie, “to make my Grandmother proud.” She dropped her shoulders, arching them up to her ears before dropping them and drinking down the rest of her tea. “I hope that you’re able to…” She paused, “I don’t know-- feel better about the whole situation?” She offered with a tentative smile. Bex looked fragile, like she was getting ready for everything to fall apart at a moment’s notice. “Thanks for coming out,” Grace said after a moment of silence between them, the only sound in the cafe the chatter and shuffle of feet from around the corner. It was getting hard not to focus on Bex. “I’m glad we did this, since--” She thought about before Bex had left, “we didn’t get to before. I was bummed that we didn’t get to go out on a da--” Grace felt her stomach drop, “I mean, hang out, we didn’t get to hang out.” Why the hell had she called it a date? 

“Oh, well-- that’s good then!” Bex chuckled back, giving a lopsided grin. “I’d hope they wouldn’t make you do all that alone.” She drained the rest of her tea and set the cup on the table, still holding it in her hands as she tapped fingers along the side of the cup. She gave a small, dismissive sigh and put her chin in her hand as she leaned her elbow on the table. “Yeah, that’s really all I can hope for now! I’m sure it’ll all work out, though.” And she had to believe that, because what else did she have if she didn’t? Nothing. “Was she?” she asked before she could stop herself. “Proud?” She wondered what it would feel like, to have made someone proud. To hear someone say they were proud of her. She wondered if she’d ever get to know. A painful jab made her have to blink and look away a moment. But everything else Grace said fell to the wayside when the almost word was said. Bex’s elbow slipped from the table as she reared back, blinking. “Did you say--” did she think that this was a-- No. Oh no. Bex’s heart dropped like a stone into her stomach. “I-- I have to--” she scrambled from the table, stood up awkwardly and snatched her purse, “This was nice! But I-- I can’t be-- I’m not like that,” she said, a little more harshly than she’d wanted, wincing. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I’m sorry.” And with that, she bolted.

“Wait--” Grace got to her feet as Bex rose, hurriedly gathering her things and bolting towards the door. “Don’t, please--” Why had she said that? It had been a misstep-- obviously this wasn’t a date. Clearly this was a meeting between friends, and even though there had been some flirting prior to Bex’s departure the first time, Grace had no right to call it a date. Anxiety and embarrassment filled the small space and it nearly knocked Grace off of her feet. She watched in desperation as Bex ran towards the door. Grace tried to keep her voice low as she called after her, “that’s not what I meant--” She blinked at Bex’s retreating figure and fell back into her seat. Grace wrangled her hands together in her lap and pressed her nails into the skin, leaning forward as she reached up to cover her ears. She was such a fucking idiot for even thinking that somebody like Bex could… Grace grabbed her bag after a moment and stormed out of the cafe.