#yes i am writing a childhood friends fic! where they meet and then never see each other again until on the ship!
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Fic Rec Friday #4
If y'all want more fic rec fridays, check out @mediumgayitalian
Below are 5 fics I've enjoyed this past week/recently.
(guess who learned how to indent on posts!)
oh, what a sin by @rosyredlipstick
https://archiveofourown.org/works/17194697
Summary:
For some reason, Nico thought convincing Fitzwilliam Emerson "Golden Boy" Solace to abandon his hosting duties, blow off his company’s gala entirely, and run off with him into the night would be much harder.
Well, that’s what Jason gets for trying to force Nico into attending a party.
We're back with another Rosy fic! This is an awesome one-shot where Will and Nico are both rich little shits and sneak away from their big-shot families. I'd read an entire series of this! The way Nico and Will's chemistry shines in this one-shot is incredible. Plus the family relations of Nico's family is just *chef's kiss*.
talk your talk and go viral (i just need this love spiral) by wrongcaitlyn
https://archiveofourown.org/works/46368430
Summary:
“Keep telling yourself that,” Will says quietly, because even though the door is closed, speaking any louder would seem wrong.
“You’re too harsh on yourself. If you wrote songs or something, you’d easily get on the Billboard Hot 100. Dad would help you. I would, too.”
“Promote it to your seven followers?”
“Yes!”
Nico laughs, and then Will is joining him, and they’re closer than before, but it’s nothing unusual. It’s been this way since before stupid feelings and stupid crushes, and Nico would be damned if he let it change just because of that.
or
a celebrity au ft. childhood friends to lovers, a bit of trauma, and a famous friend group (plus leo).
--
I'm still in the beginning stages of reading this story, but I'm already obsessed with it! The author's writing style is interesting, and I just love a good celebrity AU.
we're not brave, we're not soldiers by Chriscrosswallflower
https://archiveofourown.org/works/39827199
Summary:
The battle of Manhattan was mostly a blood stained blur but Will would never forget the sight of his brother’s body falling along with that bridge.
__
Follow along with this set of one shots as Percy and Will navigate the pain and trauma of being child soldiers and grow to form an unlikely friendship.
Because I think these two could be great friends and two sides of the same coin, so I decided to put my plot bunnies to paper.
I just really love the way Percy and Will are portrayed in this collection of one-shots. Their trauma and emotions feel so raw and so well-written, and I'm personally a Will and Percy besties truther, so I honestly would have loved this fic anyways. The fact that it's so awesome is a bonus.
The Sum of Our Choices: The Titan's Curse by TheTimeTraveler24
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24637117
Summary:
Maybe it's not always about trying to fix something broken. Maybe it's about starting over and creating something better.
A group of special individuals are drawn together for a reason.
They might not see it yet, but they are the only ones who have the power to change their destiny. They'll face opposition from the gods along the way and sometimes things won't work out the way they want. But this group is special. Their choices just might be the key to everything.
Something is happening. Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Thalia Grace are on their way to Westover Hall in response to a distress call from Grover Underwood. At the same time, Magnus Chase is wandering around in the woods. Under strange circumstances, the two groups meet and the course of history will never be the same.
This fic is actually a crossover AU with the Magnus Chase series, so if that's not your cup of tea, feel free to skip. However, this fic is a time travel "fix-it" fic of sorts where the trio are taken from their lives post the Hidden Oracle and have to relieve the events of the The Titan's Curse (and the rest of the series, this series is 800k words!) and I'm still on the first fic, but I am HOOKED already! So I figured I'd rec it here.
three-in-one soap by thelordofshrimp
https://archiveofourown.org/works/52887397
Summary:
Austin glared at his sister. “Will can’t lie, genius. He says that since he became head counselor, any shower that lasts more than three minutes gets interrupted by someone needing his help.”
“That’s… crazy.” Nico considered the number of showers he’d taken even in his short time at camp and imagined if even half of them had been interrupted.
“It is,” Jerry agreed. “Not like there’s much we can do about it, though.”
“You can always do something about it.” Nico sat up. “There has to be something.”
“Not unless you can somehow keep the whole camp safe at once.”
--
This is just a cute one-shot where Nico tries to make it so that Will can actually take a shower for once, but shenanigans ensue anyways. It made me smile, so I'm rec'ing it here.
--
Okay that's all! I'll probably keep doing this until I run out of fics to recommend. Have a good friday lovelies!
#percy jackson#pjo#solangelo#nico di angelo#percy jackon and the olympians#will solace#heroes of olympus#hoo#pjo hoo toa#fic rec#solangelo fic rec#percy jackson and the olympians#magnus chase
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fanfic ideas
(i would totally write these if i felt motivated. but i don’t. so now u have to listen to me.)
fandoms i had in mind: south park, unwind dystology, tcoaal. but these can be used for any fandom.
a/n: HI HELLO i would like to see these happen. so im dumping it on YOU. you’re welcome. most are x reader focused bc i have wrote those all my life, but u can switch these up idgaf
writers i see u sprinting at me from a mile away. it’s okay. slow down bookie. it’s okay i’m here.
ALSO IF YOU USE THESE GIVE CREDIT FOR INSPO 🙏 just put my user somewhere visible on the masterlist/notes or tag me 😉 it’s not that hard pookie
# south park ──
and yes u can use these ideas for any other piece of media. just give credit i am BEGGING 😭🙏🙏
— … unwind au. HELLO DO WE SEE THE VISION WTF?? cmon guys. stan and kyle being connor and hayden WTF DO U GUYS SEE IT wjat. kyle as connor definitely they’re pretty similar imo
— fingerbang au where it has four separate endings for the main four. but y/n is a stylist/manager/makeup artist (if u need it.. look up kpop fics for inspo)
— instead of tolkien and his parents moving in across tegridy farms, it’s y/n. yeah that’s all i got
— doubling down except heidi’s y/n, and y/n doesn’t get back with cartman.
this was one i attempted writing a WHILEEE ago but never really. yk. got the hang of it.
but basically to sum the idea up, it’ll be the entire doubling down episode except extended. like, it could play it longer and extra scenes (ex. extension of the dinner scene where they make fun of cartman to heidi, every scene in the montage written out)
— childhood best friends to enemies to lovers where y/n had a big fight w the love interest days before they moved. but then they move back to south park and (not surprisingly) they got a glow up and they’re hot now! so everyone tries to flirt w them but the love interest catches their eye and they’re still enemies ofc but they catch feelings
— this is more of a oneshot, but y/n asks someone (or a set of people) to get matching sanrio pajama pants. yeah. do whatever stinks
— high school au. where y/n is a sad emo loser and the love interest is popular. and they lose a bet and have to ask solemn little y/n out but y/n says yes so the love interest is like “….. im gonna break up with them after three months.” but (spoiler alert) THEY FALL IN LOVE!
bonus points for angst w happy ending. like y/n finds out about the bet or something and then the love interest is like “NO PLS. I NEED U. U DONR GET ME” and they’re vulnerable and desperate and y/n’s like “okay! 😊😊”
idea. hi. i have idea. y/n gets bullied for dating love interest so they’re protecting sad little y/n bc they feel bad and it’s really cute and love interest thinks “…….:…. why is y/n kinda cute.”
— DETECTIVE KYLE X CRIMINAL Y/N PLEASE IM BEGGING??? i Love him i Need This. ARAAAAHHHHH
— angel y/n who is pure and innocent but NOT NAIVE! please do not make y/n sound like how those 2013 wattpad fics would’ve made her sound. demon love interest.
is it just me or y/n is a separate entity. she’s banging every character in existence like what. also i’m not religious so i wouldn’t really know about this stuff
# unwind dystology ──
— au where risa isn’t in a state home and she has cool foster parents. and she has to babysit lucas but one day she meets connor bc he’s home (shocker!) and they become friends and he slowly stops being away from home to see her 💘💞🩷
— CAN WE GET SOME X READER UNWIND FICS PLEASE
— au where y/n gets hired to be connor and risa’s bodyguard. and risa has her gay awakening so connor and y/n get to know each other and fall in love!
— blind date hayconrisa. how will this happen? idk ask urself
— high school au. again. why am i so obsessed w high school au’s IM BARELY EVEN A FRESHMEN DAWG 😭 but anyways fake dating haycon. like maybe connors trying to escape from his admirers so he agrees to fake date hayden.
surprise surprise. THEY FALL IN LOVE THOSE GAY FUCKERS
— mermaid risa x sailors connor and hayden. i live laugh love hayconrisa.
— jackson wang party and hayden gets DRUNK (boy u are not old enough to be drinking!) so connor takes him home and takes care of him
— rockstar au. do we smell it
— guardian angel hayden who is never serious to the point connor’s like “….. are u seriously my guardian angel wtf”. but haycon. i lov haycon
— LIFEGUARD AU. LIFEGUARD CONNOR IS THE HOTTEST THING I HAVE EVER THOUGHT OF. WHERE ARE THE ARTISTS I NEED U
— risa or hayden has to tutor connor bc his dumbass is failing every subject (high school au)
— underage smoking + shotgun kisses in the graveyard…,,…. hayden somehow gets weed so he shares it w connor and risa and maybe haycon/conrisa shotgun kisses oneshot. hear me out hello
— yo chat can we get some more unwind angst w happy ending
— greek god/goddess au? dunno how that’s gonna work but i just came up w it
— LOVE BAND AU. connor being sad emo guitarist with a hot keyboardist girlfriend
— au where lev did clap at happy jack…,…
# tcoaal ──
i cooked way too hard w these. someone better write one of them and tag me (we’ll get married in a gorgeous cathedral if u do… 🌝)
also IK THESE ARE MORE FLESHED OUT THAN MY SP AND UNWIND ONES! it’s bc i prefer multi-chapter tcoaal fics
— me trying not to mention unwind au whenever i think of writing fics for other fandoms. NO BUT SEEEEE it would work so well. like maybe the graves parents wanna unwind ashley and andrew somehow finds out so him and ashley run away (andrews.. uh, 17? and ashley’s 15 prob. u gotta know the unwind lore for this to work)
maybe they’re like starkey when he killed that juvey cop. maybe they do kill juvey cops. maybe
— 1980s AU OMG where it takes place in the united states (did europe have a lot of arcades back then? but anyways. the united states had more arcades so let’s just say it takes place there) and andrew is the sad emo loser at the prize counter.
and y/n is babysitting for some kids when she (not specifically fem reader but i have a habit of using she/her when talking about y/n…) decides to take them to the arcade bada bing bada boom
and the two meet at the prize counter and they hit it off really well despite andrew being an absolute ass. and the kids are like “….. are they flirting” so then y/n begins to take them to the arcade more often to see andrew 💞💞🩷💘💘💞 and they get to know each other outside of him being at work
— nsfw ashley x y/n x andrew threesome smut where they take turns FUCKING y/n RAW!
w/ plot: ashley and andrew are both head over heels for y/n and they’re arguing over who gets to have you because.. um. idk. and then y/n shows up somehow and she’s like “guys what—“ and they immediately begin flirting with her
so she’s like “i like the both of u WANNA SEX” or something (cmon im not good at porn w plot) so they… yeah. they BANG!
— government detective/officer y/n who gets sent to track down the graves siblings. she finds them w a colleague and is sent on an undercover mission to somehow befriend them, get close to them and lure them into a trap where they get arrested
but in the process (surprise surprise) she falls for them! and there’s four separate endings. one for if y/n picked to save andrew, one if y/n picked ashley, one if y/n picked both and somehow kept her job and one if y/n eventually hid her feelings and just let both get arrested!
maybe even some epilogue chapters for all of the choices. like for the first two it’s y/n getting spooned/spooning the other as they talk about what would’ve happened i’d they didn’t escape (bc y/n was smart and made the one who got caught walk in front) and the remaining sibling doesn’t know that y/n still works for the gov’t.. for the third one maybe y/n moves in w them and they’re all poly now? dunno. still thinking. and for the last choice maybe y/n felt guilty and went to visit them in prison to confess but they’re both extremely pissed
smut for this one would be crazy 😭 “technically i’m getting paid to get closer to them so it won’t matter if i let them make me cum right” typa sex idk
also. maybe y/n’s getting cornered in an alleyway by some creep and as she’s about to try and strike andrew and ashley save her! and that’s where the attraction starts because she’s like “wait.. they kinda have morals.. like kinda”
— now hear me out i might b cooking w this. rock band au. ashley does drums, andrew guitar, y/n something else maybe singer bc she’s a talented queen. and they’ve all been friends since childhood and ashley doesn’t really have a problem w y/n bc she hasn’t made romantic advances on andrew and occasionally lets the two hang out bc yk. ashley. anyways something something something idk
— i have one thing on my mind. catgirl + catboy ashley and andrew who both meet y/n as she’s their parents’ neighbor who’s smoking on her porch. and they approach her for some reason maybe andrew wants a cig and y/n is the funniest person alive so they both grow a liking to her
love love love catgirl ashley killing her victims and then poking them with her tail as andrew just stands there like wtf
#give cred if used#give credit#julysn#julia’s fanfic ideas#fanfic#fanfiction#fanfic ideas#fanfiction ideas#fanfic writing#writing#writing ideas#unwind dystology#south park#the coffin of andy and leyley#south park x reader#south park fanfiction#scenarios#writing scenarios
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Hi again. Requests on Sabo at your service 😂 I love it too much 😍 anyway. I'm still here because the first request was great! You write very well. I put you if you allow me in the favorite writers that I discovered on this site! ♥ and also if ever another idea comes to me, let me come back to let you know *bows*
Good ! we're going to go to my dear and adorable Sabo.... I don't know if you write nfsw? Let me know if it's yes or no (so I can see what kind of request I'll send you)
So, reader will be in the revolutionary army before Sabo, she meets him at her mission in fuschia. Then after his accident, she helps him to overcome this ordeal and years later, Sabo discovers that he loves her but how to tell her given how much he is not comfortable with himself and says to himself he doesn't deserve happiness
I don't know if it's angst or not, but it's too hard to be soft... Especially the last sentence. Sabo-chan, you deserve all the stars in the universe, don't think like that 🤧 a happy ending at the end where I (reader) comfort him. I trust you to bring sabo's insecurities to the fore and how reader comforts him
Hello friend! Thank you again for such a wonderful request! I appreciate the compliments and would be honoured to be included among your favourites. I love this idea, and I really hope I did it justice.
(P.S. - I'm okay with writing NSFW stuff. I haven't had the chance to update the rules section of my blog to say so because I am fairly new to the genre, so just a fair warning).
(P.P.S. - HOO-boy, this got out of hand. IDK what possessed me but ~ I'm afraid I'm gonna have to break this fic into two parts. I hope that's okay 😅).
Anyways - Enjoy!
All My Life
Part 1
Sabo x F! Reader
Warnings/Tropes: Slight Canon Divergence, Revolutionary!Reader, Besotted!Sabo, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Amnesia, Light Angst & Mild Cursing.
This was the life - her life. Ever since birth, she'd been raised under the credo of the Revolution. It was as a favour to Dragon himself that Y/N and her parents left HQ to live under deep cover in the East Blue. A secret of the highest clearance was hiding there, he told them. The orders were to 'guard it with your life'.
She'd been born this way. The Army's youngest ever spy.
And that's precisely what she did. The moment she met a kid named Monkey D - she knew her mission had begun. Guard it with your life. Guard it with your life. Her leader's words rang in her ears for years after that. Keeping a razor-sharp eye on those blasted pirates that blew in and out of town with the wind. Biting the hands and feet of those blasted bandits whenever they invaded. Their leader, 'the Bear,' would never risk the humiliation of admitting half his wicked scars were from the end of her daggers.
When young Monkey D came away from those tumultuous times with merely a few stitches under his eye (self-inflicted, mind you), Y/N was half tempted to consider her mission a success. Little did she know -- the lion's share of her protective duties had only begun.
***
He wouldn't remember this for years. For years. And part of him was still ashamed to admit it to this day. He wouldn't remember the (h/c) girl with those fierce (e/c) eyes and that wicked pair of daggers at her sides. He wouldn't remember how she was his brother's first protector. Bandaging his rubber-skinned wounds and wiping his cry-baby tears with calloused hands. He wouldn't remember how the dappled sunlight of the jungle would play across her hair, sparking the flint in her eyes. How she could swing from the branches as limber as the wind and carve all their initials into the trunk of their tree house. Years went by, with him never knowing those golden days existed.
What he remembered, instead, was a hospital room. Bandages prickling his skin from head to toe. The smell of cotton was overpowered by night sweats and disinfectant. Not to mention the stench of Ivankov's various perfumes and powdered shoved in his face as soon as he awoke. Y/N would always laugh remembering that part, telling him he 'screamed like a monkey'. She'd be laughing so hard she'd be wiping tears. Mostly happy ones, he thought.
She was right there at his bedside when he woke up. Gripping the brim of his hat so tight, her knuckles were white. She handed it to him so he could see his name embroidered on a little tag on the inside. Sabo. Part of him feared he wouldn't remember that much if not for her.
When Dragon and the others discussed the idea of sending him home...remembering that jolt of fear of panic stills sends a shudder down his spine to this day. He cried out against it. Begged them to let him stay. He's not sure his please would've worked if Y/N hadn't protested alongside him. Telling them about the horrors she'd witnessed in Grey Terminal. The cruelty of the Goa Kingdom. When she spoke, there were tears in her eyes.
Years passed, and together they stayed.
She brought him books while on bedrest. Told him stories when his eyes got tired. Shared meals with him by candlelight in that lonely hospital den. Not all the stories were happy, but that was okay. Cause her voice captured each emotion expertly. Even when she wandered to his bandaged side, he learned to read her voice as clearly as any picture book. Learned what it sounded like when she smiled when she laughed.
She was right there beside him when he woke up from night terrors. Or when the headaches set his vision on fire. When shivers wracked his body, locking his bones together till he couldn't breathe. She was right there beside him. Her calloused hands pawed at hospital sheets when they finally removed the bandages. He saw his fingers for the first time. Her breath caught. She wouldn't think he heard her, but he did. How could he not?
The Doctors held up a mirror - and he saw it all. The molten skin coating half his left side gleamed in the dim light like a spider's webbing buried into the cracks of his flesh...absorbing his left eye. The blue of his eye had exploded like those supernovas he had read about in books. He tried to look, to see the doctor without turning his head, but all he saw was a blurry minty white. Like the sheets beneath his hands. Like the pallor on Y/N's face when she finally saw the damage done with her own two eyes. --And she cried.
He never thought it'd hurt so much to hear her cry.
She was on his left side the first time she told him about her family. How mercenaries had captured and tortured her best friend. How her parents had been lost trying to help others escape this huge fire that Nobles had set in the slums of her home. She told him spontaneous fires started there sometimes with discarded metals or glass catching the light in the summertime, but it had never been so bad as that day. From the pit that swallowed his gut, he knew instinctively that fire was no accident. All those people... razed to the ground on someone else's whims. Sabo felt sick to his stomach.
It was the first time he had tried to reach out to someone. What with his squeaking-taut skin, stiff muscles and aching bones. But he swore his heartbeat stopped when she wrapped her arms around his ribs. When she buried her salty tears into his collar, everything paused. Frozen in time. In the moment when her warmth was pressed against him. Where the drumbeat of her heart somehow eclipsed his own.
Looking back now, it seems almost silly how long it took him to figure it out. They knew how much trouble they'd get into sneaking into each other's barracks at night to read, study, or just talk until the candles burnt out - but they did it anyway. Sometimes they'd goof off in class just cause they knew they'd get detention together. He'd volunteer to peel apples and potatoes with her and Koala for kitchen duty. He'd drape his coat over her shoulders when she fell asleep in the library. He knew she'd always pick up his hat if he ever forgot. Or if some punk was dumb enough to try and swipe it off his head. Sabo swore she was even more protective of that hat than he was, sometimes.
She tried to brush him off when he teased her about it. But even though he could no longer see the blur of her hair on his left side - he could still hear how her callouses brushed that little tag stitched on the inside. The one with his name embroidered in small, crooked blue letters. He took that hat and shoved it atop her head.
She squawked and shoved at him, 'What the he-Sabo!'
Sabo laughed. 'Come on, why so serious, Y/N? The hat's just as much yours as it is mine. You can wear it whenever you like.'
Y/N stilled. It took him a few strides to realize he could no longer hear her boot strides beside his. He turned and looked at her. Really looked at her. There, rooted to the spot. Dust mites danced in the sunlight around her, glinting off her hair. Her face was cast in shadow beneath his hat. But her fingers clutched the brim, pale white and trembling. She knew that shiver in her grip. That warbled in her voice, even if it was just one word:
'R-really?'
The ground was swallowed beneath his feet in a matter of seconds. He clasped her shoulders, stilling her shivers. 'Really, really,' He ducked his head. Bowing down just enough so he could see the saltwater glint in her eyes. 'Besides,' he grinned. 'My stuff looks good on you.'
She snorted at that. 'I thought you were just saying this hat was ours?'
'I am,' he straightened. 'The fact that it was mine first just makes it better.'
Another indignant squawk. 'You jerk!' Sabo burst out laughing, dashing down the hall way before she could catch him. 'Hey! Get back here, you!'
Sitting around those crates of apples and potatoes, they'd poke and prod and nudge at each other. Just enough to screw with their carving job and *usually* not enough to result in injury. Then Hack would scold them or Koala would scoff at them something like 'grow up' or 'get a room, you two'. Sabo would duck his head from Hack, rubbing at the burn in his neck. Other times he'd stick his tongue out at Koala, even if he knew he was blushing. But for Y/N, the effect was immediately and vastly different.
She would sit stiff and ramrod straight. Her skin burned red from the crown of her head to the tips of her fingers. Then she'd jerk her head down. (H/c) hair falling and obscuring her face, chin tucked to her chest. Hands nimbly returning to their task with almost machine-like accuracy. Sabo's stomach always swooped at the sight, not in the good way he'd grown to like around her. This was like an icy chill washing down his spine, though he didn't know why.
When he'd turn his head to look at her, the growing darkness on his left side could nearly convince him that Koala and Hack weren't even there. That it was just the two of them. Whittling together to their heart's content. And at that moment, he knew exactly what to say to break Y/N's spell.
'Tell me about the brothers again.'
In an instant, the whole world would light up. As if by magic. Y/n would jolt to look at him. (E/c) blown wide and- and precious. He didn't know how else to describe it. Only when she searched his gaze, it was as if she were raking over his very heart. Searching every nook and cranny until - she smiled. Whether it was a dandelion, sunshine, or a supernova kind of smile, he could never help himself from smiling back. Nodding her along to make sure: go on, I'm listening.
And then off she'd go, launching into one of her infamous tales of 'The Pirate Brothers and me'. She told him about how they'd hunt together in the mountains. All their misadventures learning to beg, borrow and steal from the upper crust of Goa Kingdom. They and their little crew of wild kids saving up to sail into the great unknown. He loved how she gave each of her friends' little nicknames like 'Blondie' and 'Freckles' and 'Meathead' and laughed when she remembered their antics. Sometimes she cried for missing them. Sabo knew it was the good kind of crying, but that didn't make his chest ache any less.
It wasn't until news hit the papers that he knew exactly why.
ROGER'S SON, FIRE FIST ACE, DEAD AT MARINEFORD
The moment he read that headline and saw Fire Fist's, Portgas D, Roger D -- Ace's portrait on the front page news--the floodgates opened. Every nightmare. Every seizure. Prickling fiery pain over his skull. The aching squeak of taut skin. Stiff muscles. Fused bones. Nightsweats and feverish blurs of memory across the back of his eyes. His blind eye burned and ached. But never saw a thing any more.
The burn of water and smoke washed through his lungs. Flashes of sensation flared in his mind, behind his eyes, beneath his skin. The weight of an iron pipe, the breeze of the jungle, the light of the sun - he felt it all. Everything came crashing down at once. His knees cracked against the stone floor. His chest ached. He couldn't tell if he was set on fire or drowning. Everything was damp. He couldn't breathe. Everything within him, every fibre of his being rebelled, shocks along every nerve, pain from every thought. Ace is dead. Ace is dead. Ace is dea- Ace!
He screamed. Everything turned black.
***
27, Oct. 2023: PART 2 OUT NOW!!
#sabo x reader#sabo x y/n#sabo the revolutionary#one piece sabo#one piece#rosewolf writes#mugiwararosewolf#portgas d ace#ace one piece
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Hiya! Hope you’re doing well! I’d like to request a fic! It’s teddy boy John x Reader ^_^
So, basically, John and Reader have been best friends since they were little. Ofc, they’re severely pining for eachother. There’s a school dance/prom and Reader get asked by someone to go as a date to it and reader accepts bc they see it as an opportunity to try to get rid of their feelings for John. Sometime during the night of the prom, John finds reader crying outside the building. The guy who asked reader out didn’t show until like an hour in and when he did show he came with some random blonde bimbo, the douche paying reader no attention when he arrived. John tries to comfort reader and he’s not very good at it so he just somehow admits his feelings for them accidentally.
I love ur writing sm! Have a brilliant day!
~ ABRD <3
Hi, I'm well, thank you! Hope you are as well! So glad you enjoy my writing! I sat down and started writing as soon as I got the notif for your ask c: I've never written a request before so hopefully this is okay! When you mentioned John admitting his feelings, I immediately thought of the scene from the movie, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (one of my favorite movies from my childhood), where Luther confesses that he likes Alma, so it's sort of inspired by that. Since you mentioned reader having grown up with John, I gave her a written Scouse accent ^w^ Proofed in UK English.
If I Fell In Love With You
(image from Pinterest)
You and John are walking the halls of the school, as you often did together, with John having his arm draped over you.
It didn’t really matter where you were since you were usually by each other’s side anyway.
At the sight of the bulletin board, you let out an excited squeal. “Look, Lenny, it’s almost time for the dance!” It came out in an inviting way, despite you trying to bury your feelings for John.
“You’re not seriously gonna go to that, are ye?” his nasally voice rings out.
“’course I am,” you answer. “Everyone is. And I know you will, too.”
He rolls his eyes jokingly. “John Lennon does not dance.”
You let out a laugh and try to hide your blush when he playfully ruffles your hair. “Stop it!” You attempt to tame your locks as you continue, “Well, anyway, I’m going, whether you do or not.”
As the pair of you continue walking, another boy walks up to join you. To anyone else, he was just another student, but John had always seen him as a rival, both academically and in romance (though he was too proud to admit that).
“Hi, Y/N,” the boy says. You greet him back and he continues, “I couldn’t help but overhear you talking about the dance.” He practically stares John in the eyes as he speaks, “I was wondering if you’d like to go with me.”
John is trying to hide the jealous expression on his face as you reply, “Oh, sure!”
The boy lets out a relieved laugh. “Okay, good. Meet you there, then?”
You nod and John looks at you stunned as the boy walks away. “What? A bird can’t be expected to go to a dance on her own!” you explain.
John simply chuckles and the two of you continue your walk.
***
It’s the night of the dance and you’re nervous as can be.
“Don’t worry, my dear,” your mother comforts, adjusting your skirt so it looks perfect for the photo she’s taking. “I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.”
You simply nod and take the deepest breath you can manage.
You arrive at the dance alone. You expected this, of course. The boy was supposed to meet you there.
You find yourself practically camping by the punch bowl for forty-five minutes before you spot him.
He’s arm-in-arm with the most popular girl in school, a natural blonde with natural unintelligence.
He seems to not notice you as the two of them stride over to the punch bowl. You call his name repeatedly, trying to get his attention, but he and his date simply ignore you before making their way to the dance floor.
You scoff, trying hard not to cry and ruin your makeup, before speed-walking out the door.
As tears flood your face a few minutes later, someone stops to sit by you on the stairs. “Y/N?”
You look up into the light brown eyes of John Winston Lennon. “I thought you weren’t comin’.” You sniffle, and wipe your face with the back of your hand, trying to conceal the tears that had just covered your cheeks.
“Well, I thought it would be a good opportunity to— Never mind that, what are you doin’ out here?”
You sniffle again. “Well, you know that guy I was supposed to go with?"
“Yeah.” He already seems angry at even the mention of the other boy.
“Well, he just showed up… with another girl. That stupid blonde who thinks she’s better than the rest of us just ‘cause she’s naturally blonde. He didn’t even call or acknowledge me!” Finishing your story, you burst into tears again.
John isn’t quite sure what he should do, but he knows exactly what he wants to do. He stands. “I’m gonna give that good-for-nothin’ bastard the hardest smack he’s ever had!”
“John, no, please don’t cause a scene!” you protest.
John sighs and sits next to you again, draping his arm around you like he always has. “He’s ugly anyway, Y/N.” You laugh a little as he continues, “And he’s thick as two short planks.”
“Don’t say that, Lenny,” you say with a giggle.
“I ought to stick my foot up his arse,” he says. He sighs a bit, still not really sure what to do. “D’ye wanna go to my house?”
You shake your head slowly. “This is the only opportunity I have to go to the dance.”
John nods in understanding. The quiet is thick enough to cut with a knife before he says, “Y/N?” You hum a response and he continues, “He really is stupid.”
“Why’s that, Lennon?”
“Well, he’d have to be to stand up… someone.”
He seems troubled about something. You quirk an eyebrow as you ask, “Somethin’ on your mind, John?”
He exhales sharply. “No, not really. Well, yeah, but—” He growls in frustration. “Look, Y/N, I’m a lad.”
You laugh a little. “Last time, I checked, yeah.”
“And you’re a bird. And we’ve known each other a long time.”
You quirk your eyebrow again. “What are you tryin’ to say?”
He runs a hand through his hair—you noticed he had restyled it slightly to look more clean—and says, “Well, I have to be honest, you’re the most beautiful best friend a boy could ask for.”
You frown at the words “best friend”, but manage to say, “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.”
He chuckles. “What I’m sayin’, Y/N, is— Well, what I mean to say is—”
You’d never seen John so flustered in all the years you’d known him.
“Y/N, I like you and I’d like to kiss you right this minute!” he spits.
You blush, unsure of what to say. So, you sit in silence for a moment.
John stands quickly. “I shouldn’t have come here; this was a mistake.” He starts to leave.
“Wait, John!” He turns around to find you standing now. “I like you too, John.”
He stalks back over. “You what?”
“I like you, too,” you repeat.
Now he goes silent.
A few beats pass before you look into his eyes. “Kiss me?”
His lips are instantly locked with yours in a moment of passion.
“Go back in?” he asks a moment later.
You nod, intertwine arms with him and the two of you head back inside for a night of pictures in the photobooth and dances to rock-and-roll music.
#mine#john lennon#john lennon x reader#request fic#the beatles x reader#the beatles fanfiction#vivi in the sky with fanfics
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Twitter showed me sone terrible takes on AM and Izu, nothing new here. But here I'm to rant about this.
I have to say....I get it. No, really, I do. When people make fics where AM is either malicious or too dumb to live...I get why rhey they are doing this...I get where they formed this wrong idea.
For example, when we had a fic where AM is racist towards quirkless- note how those fics skew away from AM being quirkless himself- is bc in canon we never had an in depth on AM's life.
Was his childhood rough or easier? Did he always wanted to be a hero or was a fateful meeting with Nana that lead to his career?
Yeah we don't know. So I get why people would make fics where he is racist towards quirkless bc is easier and....the fic writer can prop up fanon dadzawa "I don't need my quirk to be a hero" (forgetting canon Aizawa usea his quirk 100%)
But ok...let's go to another type of fics. "AM is too stupid to live" and YES. I get this one. It's the basic plot where AM own stupid allows Izu to fall from grace and be a villain ...
And while I do have issues with AM's canon intelligence here (not about if he can do math or science) we would have to take in account the intelligence of every staff in UA.
I mean....BK is clearly hostile with Izu ( he doesn't hide at all) and tried to kill him several times. Please, HE HAS TRIED TO KILL THE MC MORE THAN SHIGARAKI (Like shigaraki is the villain and all that, but aside the war arc...he never tried to kill Izu or call him "useless" hey....guess who does it?) OR ANY VILLAIN! Why AM can't at very least make him stay away from Izu?
Answer: Hori and his love for the most useless and hateful character I ever come across.
The same question goes to all teachers. No one in UA tries to do anything- Aizawa gives no fucks to Izu and others and the others teachers, while I do think they don't care that much...don't have screentime- I remember seeing a post saying how maybe no one steps in bc "kids with powers can be rough"
Ok fair. But this is not the boys being boys. This is BK being 100% hostile and murderous with his victim.
And even if it was boys being boys...they won't step in? If Izu and Sero fight....UA will shrugs?
I do write fics where either UA is a terrible school milking on AM's good name or is trying to do god but there are forces blocking them.
And all the while I think AM being a teacher in UA- he has no qualifications but lets be real...Aizawa shouldn't be one and "Dadzawa!" Is popular- maybe wasn't necessary. Like, if it is to be part of Izu'a life....why not be a Consulting or smth else? Hell, AM have (?) An agency...why not take advantage of that?
"AM is a bad mentor"
I understand why people have this idea. Hori refuses to let AM be a good mentor. He is so crazy in "humble Izu" that goes against his story. The number 1 hero of all Japan wants to help Izu....but Izu needs to be humble....and Hori's defination of humble is to make his mc still think he is worthless.
Which leads to the last take I saw "Izu is a nepo baby" and like....
"Izu has everything on a silver plate while BK..."
"Izu never had to work hard while BK"
My guys....Bk never work hard in his life, Hori gave everything for his fav. Izu? He was abused, his father is MIA (I get the fathers in Japan have the costume to work overseas but Hisashi is never once mentioned and please, note how among all the fathers, even the bad ones, they are there) his house indicates he is from poor background....he had no friends...and his abuser was after him for 10 years.
Inko has no friends "ah but Mitsuki and Inko are bffs" is 100% fanon...and I think is a creation of a BdDk fan.
Izu had to work harder than everyone else...even more bc he got a quirk which breaks his bones. Everyone in UA knows how to use their quirks. They were born with it...Izu? He got recently and Hori still goes on "humble his mc"
So...please if anything BK is a nepotism Baby. He is priviliged. He shouts he wants a perfect victory but his victories are given.
Hori refuses to make any plotline that may make people see his bk in a bad light....which is impossible at this point...he is the most hateful and useless character out there.
#hori is a bad writer#the way this fandom treats Izuku worries me#mha critical#izuku mydoria#anti hori#rants
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Trying to write a fic about Din’s childhood after he becomes a foundling is excruciating bc there’s like zero info ahdgsghshs I’ve been combing through wookieepedia for hours 😭
Trying to find out:
Who exactly rescued Din (says death watch but idk if confirmed)
Mando’a name for the people that found Din (like what do foundlings call their clan elders/mentors or whatever)
What age foundlings get their armor
What age do children of the watch start never taking off their helmets (like is it right away when they first get their armor or a little while after that?)
What town did Luke live closest to/go to often (maybe with his uncle? It seems like he’s never been to mos eisley in anh but has he been to mos espa? I need a place he frequents as a child aaaaaa)
Also how old do we think Din was when he was rescued/how old he is now? (He has to be at least 28 bc I think he was rescued in 19 BBY. But the Clone Wars started in 22 BBY so it could be any time between there I guess. Aidan Bertola was 11 in the episode that shows the flashbacks to Din being rescued and he has a playing age of 8-11 so in 9 ABY he has to be between 36 and 42 if my math is right lol I might lower his age bc I said so 😌)
#din djarin#dinluke#luke skywalker#the mandalorian#yes i am writing a childhood friends fic! where they meet and then never see each other again until on the ship!#im excited about this fic but like the details are killing meeeee#text it
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Solitary Love Chapter 8 (Yandere Giorno x Reader)
It's here! I was determined to post it this week so I really pushed myself to meet my deadline. I hope to post chapter 9 soon considering it's about 80% done. And I know I keep saying this, but for those who have been following this series and have made it this far... THANK YOU. Your support really does mean a lot to me.
It's thanks to your guys' support that I've been thinking about writing fics more and not just headcanons or make memes. But don't worry, that doesn't mean I'm abandoning them, just expanding my horizons! I would like to eventually write for other JJBA characters too like Dio and Jotaro. But I don't want to start several series and not keep up with any of them. I'm going to focus solely on this series so I can really give it my all.
The past few chapters were Giorno's POV so now we return to reader!
2 days left before departure
The sound of applause echoed throughout the room as the presenter finished his presentation. You were at a conference with the rest of your class and professor about the latest findings and research in the psychology world. Renowned Italian psychologists who revolutionized modern psychology were on the list of presenters tonight and you couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to be here.
Professor Hollman wanted to take this time for the class to really take something away from this whole trip across the globe. After all, he couldn’t bring his class to one of the world’s most beautiful countries under the pretense of “education” and not having them learn anything remotely related to their field of study.
With the conference coming adieu, many of the guests and presenters took this time to socialize and grab refreshments. These psychology conferences often lasted hours not only due to the presentations but also the criticism and bickering the older gentlemen and ladies had with each other over conflicting theories and beliefs.
Sighing, you took a sip of your water, praying you wouldn’t end up like them one day in the future.
“Signora l/n, was it? Dr. Hollman’s student.” you hear a voice say. Putting your cup down, you lock eyes with the man standing before you and realize the voice belonged to him. He was a fairly dark-skinned man with slick back hair of average height.
“Si (yes). I am y/n.”
“Fascinating thesis you presented. What inspired you to research it?”
You paused. How did he know about your thesis? You didn’t present it at this conference so where did he hear about it? Before you could ask, he seemed to have caught on to your confusion.
“I was an attendee when you and your class presented your theses. You probably didn’t see me but I do remember you and your work. Amazing job, by the way.”
“Grazie (thank you),” you flashed him a smile. “I was inspired to do my research on childhood trauma because it seems to be a common occurrence around the world, unfortunately. Freud was a lot of things, but he snapped when he said one’s childhood experiences can heavily impact your life into adulthood.”
The man laughed. “Infatti (indeed). Men marry their mothers and women marry their fathers which may perpetuate the vicious cycle. Perhaps may even be a factor to consider when examining Stockholm syndrome.”
That piqued your interest, “That would be an interesting study. What area of psych do you specialize in?”
“Criminal psychology. Stockholm syndrome, psychopaths, serial killers, kidnappings, you know, all the fun stuff.”
“Very fun,” you sarcastically said.
You both burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of your conversation. You never hit it off with someone as quickly as you did with this man. Giorno and Aurelio were a close second but you could tell Giorno had his walls up and was somewhat intimidating, to be honest. Aurelio was just fun to be around until his unfortunate accident. But this man was different. You both conversed as if you were long-time friends just catching up. You then realized you didn’t even grab this man’s name yet. So you asked.
“Loris Peralta, at your service, signora.” he smiled and bowed. “Seeing as I already know your name, y/n. I’d love to take you to dinner. How about it?”
Your eyes sparkled. A chance to go out with this charming fella? How could you refuse? “Alright. It’s a date,” you smiled.
He returned your smile with one of his own, “Excellent. I’ll come pick you up at around 7?”
You nodded excitedly, “I’ll see you at 7!”
***
“Ooh~ y/n’s going on a date!” your friend teased.
You couldn’t help but smile at your friend’s teasing. You were super excited for tonight to the point where you couldn’t stop giggling like a teen schoolgirl thinking about their crush. Although you’ve had your fair share of dates in the past, you weren’t quite as excited for previous dates as you were for tonight.
You decided to wear a long tight-fitted red spaghetti-strapped dress to accentuate your figure and show off your curves. While you were making some finishing touches with your makeup in the bathroom, you heard your notifications from your phone ring.
Hey y/n, my car broke down so I won’t be able to pick you up. Is it okay if we meet at the restaurant?
Putting down your makeup brush to reply to Loris, you felt a bit of disappointment. But it wasn’t his fault his car broke down. Things happen.
Okay. I’ll see u then.
“He’s here?” your friend walked in to check in on you.
“He said his car broke down and we’ll have to meet at the restaurant”
“Damn, that sucks. Want me to call a taxi for you?”
Nodding your head, you thank your friend and finish up with your makeup.
Sliding on your matching red heels and grabbing your clutch purse, you head out of your hotel room but not before saying goodbye to your friends.
“Bye guys!” you waved at them before turning the doorknob to exit.
“Bye! Don’t get pregnant!” your friends laugh.
Rolling your eyes and shaking your head, you leave close the door behind you and make your way down to get into your taxi.
***
It didn’t take long for your taxi to reach your destination. Glancing at your phone, the time read 6:50pm, so you were a bit early. Paying your taxi driver, you step out of the vehicle and wait by the sidewalk for your date just outside the restaurant.
It looked like he still wasn’t here yet. Maybe you were just too early. You stood there waiting for Loris and decided to message him to let him know you arrived.
Hey! I’m here a bit early lol. Lmk when u get here
You don’t expect him to reply right away so you just scrolled through your social media to kill some time before Loris got here.
7:00pm. Still no sign of Loris and no text messages from him. Okay, no big deal. You continue scrolling through social media.
7:10pm. Nothing from your date. You decide to message him again.
Are you here yet?
No response.
7:20pm. No text back and not a man resembling Loris in sight. This time you’ll try calling him. Pressing your phone up to your ear, you stood there listening to the ringing of the tone, waiting for this man to pick up his phone.
Your call cannot be connected to the person you are trying to call. Please leave a message after the tone.
Deeply sighing you hang up, not bothering to leave a voice message. Is he going to be a no-show? You couldn’t help but wonder that. Looking at the time again for what felt like the hundredth time, it had already been 25 minutes past your agreed time to meet. You haven’t heard anything from Loris since he told you his car broke down. You debate whether you should leave or wait for a few more minutes. If lady luck is on your side then he may turn up any minute now.
For better or for worse, you tell yourself you will wait for another 10 minutes. But when the clock strikes 7:30 and he still doesn’t show up or contact you, you’re leaving.
Time passed as you continued to try and kill time by playing on your phone. Refreshing your social media feed, watching Youtube videos, heck, even reading the news was appealing!
Finally, the time changed to 7:30 and there were no notifications from Loris. No calls either. Looking left and right and across the sidewalk, you did not see him for as far as the human eye can see. Keeping true to your word, you called for a taxi and made your way back to your hotel.
***
Practically stomping to the lobby of your hotel, you fumed as you were beyond pissed off and upset.
He stood you up.
You couldn’t believe it. This was the first time any date had stood you up. But oh no, you weren’t just going to ignore this. He’s gonna get a piece of your mind, the bastard!
You stood firm on the lobby’s floor and began typing furiously. You were too angry to let this simmer down and go back to your room right now.
At first, you were going to cuss him out and tell him how pathetic he was but after some consideration, you rationalized it probably wasn’t the best idea. What if that’s what he wants? What if he was some troll who enjoyed getting a rise out of people? Then you’d be playing in the palm of his hand. If you could take away anything that you learned in your psychology program, it’s that trolls like Loris do these kinds of things to get a reaction. Giving them a reaction only enables their behaviour to do it again.
So you erase the message you had written out for him and decide to be the bigger person.
Hi Loris,
I was really looking forward to our date tonight and after waiting for half an hour outside, I’m quite disappointed that you didn’t even bother to respond to any of my messages, let alone not show up. It was nice meeting you earlier today at the conference hall but I don’t think this relationship will work out. I wish you all the best.
Regards,
Y/N
Tapping the send button, a wave of exasperation washed away. Exhaling, you felt like you can finally breathe again after that stressful event you just experienced. You’d be lying if you said apart of you wished you had sent your original message, filled with cuss words and other vulgar things. But you figured this was for the best. You won’t stoop to his level. However, that didn’t mean your feeling weren’t hurt though.
“Rough night, huh?” you hear a familiar voice speak behind you. Turning around to see the owner, you found the face of a man you’ve been seeing a lot as of late.
“Giorno!” you gasp.
“Piacere di vederla (it’s nice to see you), y/n.” he flashed you his dashing boyish smile.
“What brings you here?”
“I was around the neighbourhood and thought I’d stop by to say hello to Signor Tocci. He’s a friend of mine and the owner of this hotel.”
You stared at him before quietly mumbling an “oh”. You couldn’t help but wonder how many connections Giorno must have. If anything you were astonished but he could have just known the owner from childhood or something.
Getting you out of your head, Giorno asked, “you look distressed. Did something happen?”
How did he know? Well, yes, you are a bit distressed after your experience with Loris but you always had a habit of concealing your true feelings, especially if they were negative. In your opinion, you don’t want to burden others with your negative emotions so you put on a mask and learn to deal with it yourself. You’ve been practising this for years and not even your closest friends would notice. So how did he? Did you make it so noticeable? You didn’t think so.
Regardless, it wouldn’t hurt to tell him, “My date stood me up.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Probably worked out for the best. He was an asshole. Acting all friendly when we met and then making excuses on our night out. He could have just told me he wasn’t interested instead of wasting my time like this.” you couldn’t help but sigh.
“You deserve better.”
You blush at his words, “u-uh. Thank you…” you turned your head to avoid eye contact. Damnit, you stuttered.
Compliments always did make you feel awkward. Giorno noticed this and you could see from the corner of your eye, he was amused judging by the look on his face.
You’ve encountered Giorno several times at this point during your trip here in Italy. You aren’t one to brag but you often did have gut feelings about certain people that were always on the nose. When you first met Giorno, he seemed like a well-mannered gentleman. Aside from the way he looked and dressed, the way he carried himself gave you the impression he was a man with power. That much was evident that night when you went clubbing. Still, he was surely an enigma with a strong charismatic aura around him. But this time you weren’t quite sure if it was merely his charisma and flowery language that made you blush or is he naturally suave with everyone?
“Don Giovanna? Were you waiting here all this time for me? Per favore, mi dispiace molto (please, I’m so sorry). Come into my office, we can talk inside.” an older man emerged from what looked like his office and interrupted your little conversation with Giorno. He wore a neat black suit and judging by his name tag, you can fairly make out he seemed to be the owner. Was this the man Giorno spoke of meeting with, signor Tocci? But why does he look so scared? The poor man was sweating like a sinner in church with beady eyes that didn’t dare to even blink, fearing if he blinked, it would mean the end of his life.
You were confused. Aren’t they friends?
“Tu sei perdonato (you are forgiven). I’ll be there shortly.” Giorno’s demeanour changed when he spoke to the signor. He’s always so light-hearted with you but ice-cold to others.
“I’ll go make you some tea!” signor Tocci frantically shouted and dashed out of the lobby.
Who on Earth was Giorno Giovanna? You asked this question to yourself before and were promptly reminded of the last time you were here in the lobby. You owed him an apology for mistaking and doubting his character! What better time than now? You’d be leaving the country in about a day anyways and would most likely never see him again.
“Giorno, I actually have an apology to make.”
The blonde was confused and waited for you to continue.
With a strong voice and straight posture, you spoke earnestly, “Actually, I thought poorly of you and was skeptical of your intentions. I guess I’m just a skeptical person in general, but after we went out for dinner together, I realized I was wrong and too quick to judge. Mi dispiace (I’m sorry). You’re a good man, Giorno.”
It was hard to tell what Giorno was thinking or feeling at this moment. His face remained blank and unreadable. But you got the sense he didn’t hate your little speech. You did speak from the heart, after all. His emerald eyes locked with yours before he began reaching his hand up to your face, softly brushing some loose strands of your hair and tucking it behind your ear. In a low but solemn voice, he spoke, “I hope you’ll continue to see me that way, y/n.”
Retracting his hand and placing it back to his side, he bid you farewell and motioned towards signor Tocci’s office, leaving you to question what his words meant.
#yandere#yandere jojo's bizarre adventure#yandere jjba#yandere jojo x reader#jojo golden wind#jojo part 5#jojo vento aureo#giorno giovanna#yandere giogio#giorno x reader#yandere giorno#yandere giorno x reader#solitary love
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Finally back with another set of fics! A few of these are from the recent Sterek Big Bang, so maybe go check out the collection and see if anything else catches your eye ❤️
The Misguided Believer by @kayefraser // 28k // T
—with art by @snarkyship-multifandom
It isn’t easy for a human to make it in a wolf's world, especially not for a human trying to earn an unconventional living as a private investigator like Stiles. Sure, the Human Rights Act had been passed twenty years ago, but that didn't lessen the discrimination that still existed against humans. Stiles is determined though. In an effort to pay rent, he takes on a human murder case that has been buried by the werewolf authorities, only to find himself on the trail of a potential serial killer. Unfortunately, to get anything done around town, he needs the help of one stupidly grumpy wolf by the name of Derek Hale. Granted, meeting the wolf over a dead body hadn’t made the best of first impressions, but Stiles is going to solve his first case and make a name for himself, and if that means winning over Derek to his cause by being his most charming self, then so be it!
Springtime Is Prime Time by @mtlyfe // 1.2k // T
How did Stiles come to be inside a pet store of all places? One minute he was out in a large open field with all the tulips for the nibbling and next, he was plopped into a pen with ten thirsty females.
Yes, it was definitely spring because that doe just tried to mount him! Twice!
A Functioning Adult’s Field Guide to Enemies With Benefits by @bisexualgoblin // 31k // E
—with art by @katy-krysler
The six years Stiles was away for college, he certainly missed a lot—namely the whole best friend turned into a werewolf thing. But he didn’t think he missed enough to get replaced by a douche bag like Derek Hale. Now with Scott’s wedding looming, it’s the perfect chance for Stiles to show Derek who the real brains of the operation is. If only he could stop jumping into bed with him...
The Duke and His Mate by @thatworldinverted // 3.5k // T
Hearts clash and fates collide when the mysterious Duke Hale falls head over heels in love with young Lord Stilinski, who has sworn never to marry.
A Regency romance featuring at least one werewolf, several pining letters, a well-heeled young gentleman, and a selection of plush velvet couches.
The Weight of an Enchanted Heart by @nerdherderette // 31.5k // E
—with art by @1jet2unknown
Marriage to the shape-shifting Alpha King of Lunansholt wasn't on Stiles' bingo card, but his magic had other plans.
[excerpt]:
Stiles entered Derek’s chambers, slamming the door behind him. “What did you do with my things?”
“These things?” Derek asked, waving his hand with an arched brow.
Stiles gaped when he saw his books lined neatly on Derek’s shelves. His trunk was in the corner, many of his clothes were visible in the partly open wardrobe, and the cloak he’d brought from home hung neatly on a hook.
“It would have been nice if you asked first.” A quick sweep around the room found only one bed. “Where am I supposed to sleep?” he asked, frowning.
“We are married now, Stiles,” Derek said after a moment. “We sleep together.”
The Importance of Turning Around Three Times Before Lying Down by otter // 31k // M
It’s like this dog has walked out of all of Stiles’ childhood dreams and into the real world just because Stiles wanted it hard enough. He is the most awesome dog ever, and he and Stiles have a bond. A deep, unbreakable bond because this animal is his soul mate, obviously. Now he just has to convince the dog of that.
And just because I read my big bang fic 1394795 times while I was writing it, I’m sticking this on the end:
Cloaked in Gold by @kaistrex // 58k // E
—with art by @snarkyship-multifandom
When son of the Alpha, Derek Hale, ends up in his bed in heat, Stiles decides to use it to his advantage and secure the Bite for his sick stepbrother. As he and his family are welcomed into the Hale pack, Stiles grows closer to Derek than he'd ever dreamed he'd get, but with the fanged Soulbite of a born wolf on Derek's neck, he knows he's just setting himself up for heartbreak. Derek has a Soulmate out there, and it definitely isn't Stiles.
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Coffee Shop Kisses
Pairing: Yelena Belova x Female!Reader
Word Count: 1.5K
Request: something soft with Yelena from @bright-molina
Summary: After moving back to her small Ohio hometown, the reader bumps into an old friend at her favorite coffee shop.
Warnings: none ?
A/N: Happy incredibly belated Birthday Bianca!!! Sorry this took so long for me to write but I really hope you like it!! This fic has everything: the gays, some light pinning, and chai lattes !
Masterlist
___
You couldn’t believe you were back in your small Ohio hometown. When you moved away after high school it was never your intention to come back but clearly, fate didn’t have the same plans as you drove through your childhood neighborhood.
It was nostalgic, driving through the familiar streets despite the changes in the neighborhood since your childhood. While the houses had mostly remained the same, you knew many of their occupants had changed. The Browns no longer lived in the house two doors down from yours, having retired to Florida not long after their children had moved out, and many other family’s you’d known growing up had followed suit. Others had downsized to smaller houses in other parts of the city, no longer needing the extra space. Now the neighborhood was filled with new families, young parents taking advantage of the location to raise their children.
Still, the atmosphere was largely the same, and if you let yourself you could almost imagine that the kids playing in the front yards and the street or biking through the neighborhood, calling out to friends as they passed, were the kids you’d grown up with.
It was strange, being back home. It felt stranger still to call it “home.”
It didn’t take long for you to fall back into a routine, despite the lingering nostalgia. You woke up every morning with just enough time to get ready and drive downtown to work, if you were lucky you’d end up with a few extra minutes to stop into your favorite coffee shop from your teenage years, which was conveniently located a couple doors down from your office. It was simple, sure, but it worked for you.
On the weekends you always made a point to walk to that downtown coffee shop with a book or some other activity, preferring the ambiance and the subtle noise of the building and its other patrons over the still silence of your house. Plus they had amazing drinks so you really couldn’t lose.
Normally you enjoyed taking in the hustle and bustle of the small town around you as people completed their weekly errands, but that day you were lost in your head as you walked along the sidewalk. It wasn’t as if you were thinking about anything in particular (when reflecting back later you’d merely blame it on having had a long week at work), but rather than enjoy the people watching as you normally would, you let them all pass you by without a single glance, all the way down the street and into the line at your coffee shop. You ordered your usual without much fanfare, still having the presence of mind to drop your change into the tip jar on the counter. It wasn’t until you had gotten your drink that you were thrust out of your thoughts, quite literally.
You had only just turned around from the counter, about to start scanning the cafe for a seat when you were knocked to the ground, your drink spilling in your hands.
“Oh my god, are you alright?” Disoriented and still in a haze, the thick Russian accent of the woman who had spoken caught your attention.
A hand reached down into your line of sight and you took it gratefully, managing to keep the pitiful drops of unspilled chai latte in your cup as you were pulled to your feet.
“Let me buy you a new drink,” she offered though you barely heard her.
Now that you were back on your feet you got a better look at the woman who had bumped into you. She was of average height and had her blonde hair pulled into a double ponytail. You didn’t know any Russians but you could’ve sworn you’d met before.
“Do I know you?” You blurted out before you could think and the other woman blinked at you in surprise, brows lifting slightly.
“Perhaps,” she shrugged, “I used to live around here when I was younger.”
You narrowed your eyes at that, certain you would’ve remembered growing up alongside a Russian family, everyone you remembered was as American as they come. It was a small town in Ohio, after all.
“So did I,” you spoke slowly, still trying to ponder it out in your head. “Over on Brown.”
Her eyes narrowed at that, now scrutinizing you as well.
“I grew up on State Street.”
That’s when it clicked for you. You remembered them; family of four, two daughters. Natasha used to ride her bike down your street all the time which meant the woman in front of you must be…
“Yelena?”
“You remember me?”
“Yeah, holy shit! Your sister rode her bike through my mom’s flowers one time by accident, pissed her off for the whole summer. Plus, we went to preschool together.”
“Wait, Y/N Y/L/N?”
“In the flesh,” you replied, spreading your arms out dramatically.
Yelena took that as an invitation to really study you then, eyes flitting up and down as she fully took you in.
“You grew up quite nicely,” she spoke, tone appreciative and you found yourself blushing.
“I- I could say the same thing about you,” you stumbled over your words, feeling flustered. “I don’t remember you being Russian.”
You mentally cursed yourself for once again blurting something out before you could even think about it.
Yelena laughed at that and you couldn’t help but find yourself smiling at the sound. She had a cute laugh. It was fitting.
“Yes, well, my ‘family' and I were actually part of a Russian spy organization, sent to infiltrate a nearby SHIELD facility for some information, so,” she shrugged and you laughed at first, assuming she was joking before you realized she wasn’t laughing along.
“Wait, seriously?”
“Why would I lie?”
You fumbled around with your words at that, unable to come up with a proper response but feeling as though you needed to say something anyway.
“How about I buy you a drink and you tell me about it?” You finally settled on saying and Yelena’s brows lifted again in surprise.
“Sure, but I’m buying the drinks. I owe you for spilling your first one.”
You nodded in agreement, somehow having forgotten all about your spilled drink in the excitement of reconnecting with an old friend. An old friend who was very attractive, if you were being fully honest with yourself.
With new drinks ordered and retrieved, the two of you made your way to a small table by the front window of the cafe. True to your agreement, Yelena explained to you that her “family” when she’d lived in Ohio wasn’t actually her family at all, the entire thing fabricated for their mission, and that after their success she continued to work for the organization before finally getting out as an adult. She skimmed on a lot of the details but you got the sense that the entire ordeal was traumatic for her so you didn’t press. Though, you were quite amazed that the woman across from you (and the tiny blonde girl you’d played dolls with as a kid) was a former spy and assassin. In comparison, your own life story was much less exciting, though you guessed it also held much less trauma as well. Still, Yelena asked and she listened intently as you explained how you’d wound up back in your hometown all these years later.
After that, the conversation seemed to flow seamlessly from one topic to another, and it was so nice to talk to a friend and catch up that you didn’t even realize how much time had passed until you went to take a sip from your long-forgotten chai and found it ice cold. You checked your phone and were surprised to see that nearly two hours had passed and while you were planning on spending much longer at the cafe anyway, it still caught you off guard.
“Oh, I’m sorry, am I keeping you from something?” Yelena asked, having noticed you checking the time.
“No!” You rushed to reassure her before flushing slightly at the knee-jerk reaction. “No, I just hadn’t realized how much time has passed. It’s been really nice to see you.”
“It’s been nice to see you too, perhaps we can do this again sometime?”
“I’d like that a lot.” You tried to fight the heat that you felt rushing to your cheeks once more. You weren’t sure if she meant it the same way you did.
“Me too,” she replied softly, ducking her head so that her face was out of view. “I actually do have to get going but maybe we can meet here again next week?”
“Absolutely!” You nodded, trying not to seem too eager and failing miserably. “It’s a date.”
Once again the words slipped out on their own accord and you were left scrambling to do damage control.
“I- I mean like, y’know-”
“A date is good,” Yelena cut you off with a smirk, though you could’ve sworn you could see your own nerves reflected in her eyes.
“A date then,” you agreed, flashing a nervous smile.
“Goodbye, Y/N.” She stood from her chair with a smile, pausing on her way to the door to press a quick peck to your cheek, and then she was gone.
You sat there, still as a statue, for quite some time afterward, your fingertips lightly grazing over where Yelena’s lips had been moments before. You really loved this coffee shop.
#yelena belova#yelena x reader#yelena belova x reader#yelena belova fic#black widow#mcu#mcu fic#black widow movie#erin takes requests#bianca my love#erin writes
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Puppy love - osaki shotaro
sooo...i'm finally done with this piece for @tenderfrailty's nuevo comienzo collab! i'm so thankful to every other writer who helped me while i had writer's block to get ideas rolling. thank you to all my followers for supporting my writing on tumblr, i'm so grateful! also, big thank you to @mintkims for helping me make the banner! appreciate it so much!! i hope you'll enjoy this fic, it's quite long (sorry about that). do leave comments if you can! i would really appreciate the feedback!
pairing: osaki shotaro x reader
genres: fluff, romance, slowburn ; childhood friends to lovers, highschool au, animal shelter au
synopsis: as the school year drags on, you find yourself developing new feelings for your childhood best friend, Shotaro. Meanwhile, he goes through a breakup, and while recovering from the fresh heartbreak, he's trying to decide if he should start a new chapter of his life by finding someone new or staying single. while you're both figuring out the confusing feelings in your hearts, school responsibilities pile up. However, the both of you realise your feelings for each other through persevering through school together, volunteering at the animal shelter, a kinda annoying bunch of friends, and two very special dogs.
Word count: 17.6k (this was supposed to be 16k at most…bye)
Warnings: descriptions of toxic relationships, anxiety attacks, mentions of food, kinda mention of a gun?
a/n: this fic starts in about July 2021, and progresses chronologically until January 1st, 2022. (it’s long overdue…sorry about that y’all.)
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
"Jeez, i'm already sick of school," you whine, dragging your feet that feel heavy as lead behind Shotaro as the both of you walk to the multi-purpose hall, where the weekly student council meeting would be held. "It's only been half a year, but there's so much to do. Student council, band, schoolwork, tuition...the list goes on!" You finish with a sigh of resignation as you walk into the room.
Shotaro chuckles softly after hearing your complaints, but you can tell he's exhausted too, from the dark circles around his eyes, resembling a panda. He has about the same hectic schedules as you, after all. "So am I," he admits while pulling out chairs for both of you. "But we've got each other to go through this together, and that makes it easier," he adds, his characteristic eye smile gracing his features.
You look up at your best friend, and seeing his smile is enough to boost your mood. "Yeah," you say, sitting down and waiting for the meeting to start. "That's not so bad". He then flashes you a wider grin as he turns back to the front.
There was one thing you'd always envied about Shotaro: even if he's not feeling good, he always finds a reason to smile. You'd been best friends with him since childhood, but his personality has never changed; shy and bashful, but optimistic and compassionate to everyone. You liked that about him, it was what made him so precious. Even now, as you're thinking about it, you feel a flutter arise in your heart.
Wait what? What is this feeling? You think to yourself. You tried your best to push the feelings aside as you knew that you guys were just friends. Besides, he already had a girlfriend. It shouldn't be a surprise, with a personality as lovable as his, any girl would fall for him.
Kim Miyoung. Pretty, smart and popular, she was the one every boy in school pined for. Some would follow her around with heart eyes (disgusting, I know). Others dropped small gifts and notes in her locker, hoping to win her heart. Yet, in the end, she fell head over heels for your closest friend, out of every other boy she could have chosen. You remembered when Shotaro first brought you to meet her, he'd introduced you to her as "my best friend". To many people, this was a bombshell as they'd always thought that you and Shotaro would date, if you guys weren't already dating. Yes, that's how close you both were.
As you remember that, a fresh pang of jealousy and sadness comes out of nowhere and stings at your heart, causing you to let out a sigh involuntarily. He's just my friend, so why am I jealous?
You feel someone poking your shoulder. "Y/n? you alright?" Shotaro's soft whisper sounds next to you. Turning, you see him looking at you, worry apparent in his eyes. "I don't think you've sighed this much in one morning before".
You snap out of your daze and put on another smile. "Yeah, I'm fine...just more tired than usual," you half-fib. It was kind of true, after all.
Shotaro nods understandingly, pulls out two sweets from his pocket, and passes one to you. It was the exact brand and flavour that you liked. He always kept some in his pocket specially for you, in case you were in need of a mood boost. That was just one of many habits he had that you found endearing. "Eat this before Mrs Jeong comes in," he mouths as he unwraps his sweet and pops it in his mouth. You do likewise and stuff the wrapper in your pocket just as Mrs Jeong walks in. The councillors stand up, bow, and greet her. She gives us a brief nod in return.
The council president, Taeyong, steps up, along with the council vice-presidents, Kun and Doyoung. "The meeting will please come to order," he declares, and Kun begins to take everyone's attendance. Just like that, another boring council meeting has started.
»»————------------------------ ♡ -----------------------————-««
"Hey, congrats Taro!" You heartily congratulate Shotaro after the meeting ends, referring to him by the nickname you'd given him since you were kids. The new members of the student council executive committee had been announced at the meeting, and Shotaro was one of them, which meant he would be running for the position of council president along with four other people.
He beams back at you, returning the high-five. "Thanks," he says. "I'll do my best to serve in whatever role I'm given. I wish you were chosen too though".
You dismiss him with a wave of your hand. "Heck, I'm grateful that I wasn't selected! No extra responsibilities for me," you reason with him.
"Good point," Shotaro muses with a small laugh as you both stroll into the classroom. "Less responsibility, more time for other things".
You take your seats at the assigned desks. "My place or yours later?" you ask as you get your stationery out. Every day after school, you would go to each other's house to study and do homework, and just hang out and chill when you were done. It had been a custom for the both of you since elementary school, unless one of you had after school activities. On weekends, the others from your friend group would join. Sometimes, you'd even have sleepovers with them, which always resulted in lots of laughs together.
"Mine's open," Shotaro replies as you continue digging for your worksheets in your file. As soon as you find your homework, Mr Moon arrives, and greets the class before beginning lessons.
"Before I start, I want to announce this to the class," Mr Moon said, flashing a notice onto the projector. "The school has started a new initiative to give students the opportunity to lend a helping hand to others. In two weeks' time, everyone will have to begin doing volunteer service".
Audible groans fill the classroom. "I understand that you all already have a lot on your plates, but try to take this seriously, okay?" Mr Moon continues, attempting to empathise with the class. "Take this as an opportunity to practice compassion. Also, the more volunteer hours you serve, the more points you'll have when the hours get converted to points. The points will show up on your portfolio, and they will come in useful when you apply to other schools in the future, or when applying for a job. I encourage you all to find a few friends to volunteer with for causes you're passionate about, that will make it more enjoyable. Remember, a few hours of volunteer work on your part could mean so much to the beneficiaries," Mr Moon concludes. "Okay, now that's out of the way, let's get to the lesson. Today we will learn about..." however, you're barely paying attention. Instead, your mind is wandering, thinking of places to volunteer at. That is, until Shotaro kindly brings you back to the real world, forcing you to focus.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
"Do you want to volunteer together?" you ask Shotaro as you're waiting for your orders to be finished. You're both at Starbucks after school, ordering coffee to fuel your study session later. Year-end exams are happening in a few months, and you both cannot afford to fall asleep while studying.
"Of course! Miyoung will be volunteering with her friends anyway". He answers. At that moment, the barista calls your names, and you go to collect your orders. Meanwhile, for some reason, you're secretly celebrating that Miyoung won't be volunteering with him.
Shuffling out of Starbucks, Shotaro sips his coffee thoughtfully. "Is there any particular cause you have in mind?" he asks.
Tilting your head to the side, you give it some thought. "Not really," you admit. "I'd be happy to volunteer anywhere".
Shotaro falls silent for a while, and you swear you can hear the gears in his brain beginning to turn. Suddenly, his eyes light up. "I know! What about the animal shelter?" he proposes, turning to you, eyes wide with excitement. He knew that you both liked animals, and that animal welfare was something you're both passionate about. After all, he'd adopted a dog from the shelter before, and you'd rescued a cat from the streets before.
"Sure, let's go!"
The both of you skip to the shelter together like children, ignoring the stares from strangers. You'd done so many crazy things together throughout your friendship, this was nothing new.
When you reach the animal shelter, Shotaro pushes you in front. Knowing this is your cue to step up, you walk up to the counter. Realising that no one is there, you ring the bell. "Coming!" a male voice answers, and seconds later a boy with the thickest eyebrows you've seen rushes out. "Hi, how can I help?" he enquires with a friendly smile, and your eyes land on his nametag: Xiao Dejun.
"Hello, we would like to volunteer at this shelter," you say as politely as you can, gesturing to Shotaro.
"We'll be able to do so weekly, every Saturday morning". Shotaro finishes for you.
"Oh! That's fantastic, we really do need more volunteers," Dejun replies, clearly thrilled at the prospect of having new members onboard the team. "How old are you guys?" he questions further.
"We're 17," you respond.
"Okay that's great! You're old enough to volunteer," Dejun confirms with you as he gets out two application forms and a pen, and hands them to us. "You just have to fill this up, and you're good to go!"
As soon as you're both done scribbling your details on the form, you pass them back to Dejun, who briefly scans them and nods approvingly. "Great! I'll just have to get this approved by the shelter owner, and if all goes well, you guys can start this Saturday!"
Thanking Dejun, you both leave the shelter and proceed to Shotaro's house. "This Saturday! I can't wait," you squeal excitedly, thinking of all the adorable animals you'd get to work with.
"I know right! It's gonna be such fun!" Shotaro responds with equal enthusiasm, looking forward to the experience as well.
The two of you continue to banter on the way to his house. Upon arrival, you greet his mum and siblings and make your way upstairs to his room.
"Do you both want lunch?" His mum knocks the door, enters, and asks the both of you. You'd been coming over so often, his family was used to it already. His mum would even cook lunch for you whenever you came.
"Yes, please," Shotaro answers. "For both of us". She nods and leaves as Shotaro tells her "thanks".
"What are you gonna start on first?" You ask him, taking out your stationery and books.
"I'll start with Mathematics first. Get the hardest subject over and done with," he makes up his mind after a few seconds of thinking.
"Okay, I'll do that too then. We can help each other out," you add as he nods.
A few hours pass, and you look up to see Shotaro on his phone, typing busily on his phone, a small smile on his face. "Is it Miyoung?" You ask, and he nods, still typing. Usually, when you asked him questions about his girlfriend you would genuinely smile together with him, satisfied that he is happy with the girl he is with now. But today, your smile felt slightly manufactured, and mixed with the feelings of joy was a hint of sourness.
"Yep, it is," he replies, fingers still furiously working their way across the screen. "She's asked me on a date tomorrow," he explains.
"That's nice," you respond as the sour feeling seeps through your heart, further contaminating the joy that it now holds. "Where are you guys going?"
"We'll be at the park near school, having a picnic". He answers your question, then puts down his phone, with the same smile on his face. "I can't wait. It's been a while since we've been on a date together, so I'm glad we finally get to have one again".
"Didn't you ask her out many times previously?" you raise an eyebrow, finding it suspicious. She'd never rejected his invitations to go on dates, and if she had something on she'd always do her best to get it rescheduled, whether by hook or by crook.
"She said she was busy. I didn't want to bother her, so I told her to contact me when she's free," he says.
"I see," you hum, wanting to dismiss it as just that. Yet, for some reason, you can't seem to silence the alarm bells going off in your head. Shaking your head to try to ignore them, you look down at your assignment again, trying to get back to work.
However, you didn't realise that his smile was just the slightest bit forced as well, with a tinge of uneasiness in it.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
Saturday finally arrives, and it's time for you and Shotaro's first day of volunteer work, following Dejun's message to you both saying that your applications had been accepted. You'd agreed to meet Shotaro at his house at 7: 45 AM and head to the shelter together. Bounding up the steps, you press the doorbell and wait for him to open the door. "Coming!" Sure enough, you hear his voice from inside the house, and the thumping of footsteps. Following a "bye" to his parents and siblings, he opens up the door and greets you with his usual cheery tone, and you both are ready to set off.
There's a spring in both of your steps, instead of the usual tired dragging of feet. "I hope we'll get to play with them!" Shotaro gushes excitedly.
"I hope we'll get to walk the dogs!" you chime in, your own exhilaration taking over you as you continue down the path faster.
Upon arrival, Dejun is already waiting for the both of you at the counter. "Hi! Shotaro and y/n, correct?" You both nod eagerly. "Nice! I'm Xiao Dejun, but you can call me Xiaojun". He introduces himself. "I'll give you a tour of the shelter, brief you on your responsibilities for today, and you'll be good to go. Before that, do change into this". He tosses two volunteer T-shirts to both of you, and directs you to the washrooms to change.
When you both are done, Xiaojun gives you your volunteer badges before leading you both on a tour of the shelter. After that, he gives instructions on your different duties, such as how much food to give, how to clean the animals' living areas and how to properly handle the animals. "I think our first duty is to walk dogs together," he informs you both. "Let's get the leashes, and then we can go!"
With that, you all locate the storeroom and get the leashes, and then make your way over to the "Dog Dorm" to get the dogs. You successfully clip the leashes to every dog's collar, except for one, a shy Maltese, whose dog tag reads "Cloud". "Cloud, hey, over here". You try to coax the dog over again, but it walks forward a few steps, and then shies away again, whining.
A bark rings through the enclosed space. Turning, you see that a Samoyed puppy Shotaro is holding is gazing at Cloud with its boba eyes, tongue hanging out of its mouth. It barks again, as if beckoning her over. The Maltese trots to the Samoyed and nuzzles against him. "Hey Cloud, come here," Xiaojun calls softly. You turn around, and see him gesturing to the dog, treats in hand. She slowly goes over to him and eats the treats gently. "She's quite shy. She needs time to get used to strangers," Xiaojun explains. "She was like this with me at first too. But you should be able to bond with her after some time, pets and lots of treats. She's actually really sweet," a fond smile makes its way onto his face as he ruffles her fur affectionately. "Let's go!"
Xiaojun strikes up a conversation with both of you, and you all get to know each other better. You find out that he's in his final year at high school, wants to study veterinary medicine after graduation, and that his mum owns the shelter, and has a degree in veterinary medicine. Meanwhile, he found out that you wanted to study (insert course), while Shotaro wished to study to become a dance teacher, and he encouraged you both to work towards your dreams as well.
You get back to the shelter after the 1-hour walk, and get the dogs back into their enclosures. "Will you both be able to handle the dogs' baths yourselves?" he asks, ensuring that you both would be okay with the next task. "I'd stay and help, but another volunteer needs assistance with an injured rabbit".
"We'll be fine," Shotaro replies, and gives a thumbs-up sign. "We should be able to handle this".
"Okay, if you need anything, just text or call me, okay?" Xiaojun instructs, and then rushes off in the direction of the Rabbit Run.
Heading into the storeroom, you both get out a tub, the dog shampoos and volunteer smocks (because you both know most dogs shake the water out of their fur like there's no tomorrow after a bath and you'd rather not be drenched), and bring the stuff out into the backyard, then connect the hose to a tap nearby. You both work like a factory line, with Shotaro shampooing the dogs' fur while you dry them off, you get the dogs clean faster than you expected. All except Cloud.
"What do we do?" you sigh exasperatedly, looking to Shotaro for help since he's more experienced with dogs. "I can't coax her over".
Shotaro brings out a few treats, and slowly approaches her the way Xiaojun did. "Hey," he softly calls, stopping a few feet away from her and holding out the treats. She cautiously trots to him, sniffs at the treats in his hand, and gently nibbles at them. He lets her sniff him a bit more before petting her. "Good girl," he whispers to her.
You gawk at him. "Are you some dog whisperer or something?" you ask incredulously, blown away by his ability to get Cloud to approach him. "Because I swear, I don't know what magic you use to get Cloud to come to you so easily". You'd tried tempting her with treats earlier, but that failed.
"I'm just better with dogs than you," he jokingly brags as he settles Cloud into the bathtub and begins to shampoo her fur gently.
"Tsk, showoff," you scoff.
His only response is to laugh, which you've grown to find music to your ears as you find it adorable. He's so cute when he laughs, a thought enters your head, slowly causing a smile to spread across your face.
Focus on the dog! A voice in your head chides you as Shotaro hands Cloud to you. You look down and pretend to busy yourself with drying her off, hoping that he doesn't pick up on your flustered state. But you don't realise that he quickly busies himself with packing up the cleaning supplies to avoid you seeing his pink-tinted cheeks.
"These might be useful". He taps your shoulder, takes some dog treats out of his pocket and hands them to you. Sure enough, they come in handy as you distract her with the treats while towel drying her fur. You're actually glad that she's more docile and tame than the other dogs, or else you would be having a very hard time right now. And although you didn't mention it, you were really glad that you had Shotaro to help you - maybe more than just glad.
Finishing the cleanup, you check your phones, referring to Xiaojun's message to see what else is left for both of you. Your next task is to refill all the animals' food bowls and water bottles. Simple yet time consuming, considering the number of animals that were living in the shelter.
"Xiaojun's in the training area," Shotaro tells you as soon you're finished feeding the animals. "He says we can head over and observe the training sessions".
Both of you sprint to the training area, where Xiaojun is giving commands to the Samoyed Shotaro was walking earlier. "He looks like Jeno," Shotaro points out, making you laugh as you begin to see the uncanny resemblance between the dog and your mutual friend. You snap a picture of the dog, reminding yourself to send it to the group chat and tease Jeno later.
"Very good!" Xiaojun compliments the puppy, giving it a treat and scratching it behind the ears. The pup gives a happy bark, panting excitedly with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, and the sight is enough to make everyone's hearts melt. Xiaojun then looks up, beckoning you both over. He hands Shotaro a clicker, and gives you a bag of dog treats. "This is Jake. He's a five month old Samoyed," Xiaojun explains. "You can try giving him a few simple commands, like 'sit', 'stay'...you know, the usual. If he does the tricks correctly, you press on the clicker and then give him a treat. If not, repeat the command and see if he does it right," he instructs. "Give it a try! Jake's very friendly," he grins.
"You can go first," Shotaro passes you the clicker.
"No, you go first," you say and push the clicker back into his hand. "I'd like to see you demonstrate first before I try," you reason. "Who was bragging about being better with dogs earlier?" You take the chance to tease him, and he groans.
"Alright, alright," Shotaro concedes and takes the clicker. "N-no need to remind me".
Was that a light blush you saw on his cheeks?
And was that a stutter?
You dismiss the fleeting thought, watching as he proceeds to give Jake all sorts of simple commands, which he has no problem following. "Your turn," he says, passing you the clicker and treats.
You take the items from Shotaro and get ready to train the pup. "Jake, sit". Jake immediately gets into a sitting position. "Roll over". He drops to the floor and rolls over. As you give him more commands, he obediently follows them all, and you realise how well-trained the Samoyed puppy is. "Good boy!" you compliment Jake wholeheartedly, patting him on the head.
Xiaojun smiles at the sight. As you're about to go through another round of commands with Jake, a whine sounds from not far away. Turning, you see Cloud run over to Jake, who barks excitedly upon seeing Cloud. She nuzzles up next to him as he sniffs her all over. "Oh yes, I'll have to train Cloud; she needs more specialised training so I'll have to spend more time with her. Have fun training Jake!" he waves and gestures to Cloud to come with him. "Remember to check out when you leave". You say goodbye to Xiaojun and continue playing with Jake, until it's time for both of you to leave.
On the way home, you both continue making small talk with each other until you're at Shotaro's doorstep. "Wanna come over later?" he asks you. "Miyoung cancelled our date plans. I can ask the other guys to come as well".
You frown. "This is like the millionth time she's cancelled a date with you. What's up?" you question, feeling like something was up.
Shotaro shrugs in response. "She said she's busy again".
"What's she so busy with?" you press for answers.
"I'm not sure," Shotaro replies. "But I don't blame her, we're all getting busier anyway," he adds, and you know that he's got a valid point.
"Alright then. I'll go home, freshen up, and then come over," you say.
"Okay! See you guys later," Shotaro waves to you with a bright smile, opening his door and stepping in.
He's so cute and pure, you think to yourself. Miyoung better be treating him right. At the same time, a dull ache in your heart makes itself known, and you can't seem to shake it off.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
"So, we'll all be part of the band committee together!" Donghyuck exclaims excitedly, putting his drumsticks into his bag and hurrying out of the band room with you and Renjun as soon as you've all finished tidying up the band room. "I can't wait to start!"
Both of you laugh at Donghyuck's enthusiasm. "Me too," Renjun admits, packing his euphonium into its case. "I think we'll make a great team!"
"We do have really good chemistry, after all," you chuckle in agreement with them, slinging the flute case around your shoulder. You were merely feigning excitement; in reality you wished that you did not have to take on this role. So much for not having extra responsibilities! At least you were given the least stressful role, the Band Major Admin (BMA). Poor Renjun got the most stressful role, Band Major Music (BMM). He would have to know music better than all his bandmates and serve as the main communication channel between the band and the conductors. Donghyuck would be Drum Major (DM), in charge of the band's welfare and discipline (to be honest, neither you nor Renjun can visualise him keeping the band under control).
"That's why our ensemble performances together are always outstanding!" Donghyuck adds. "We're the best team! With us leading, NCIT Band will never fail!"
You and Renjun continue to laugh at the pumped-up Donghyuck. Once out of school, all of you turn on your phones. Renjun and Donghyuck immediately begin celebrating in the groupchat you have with Jaemin, Jeno, Yangyang and Shotaro. In order for them to not be suspicious of you, you leave a few celebratory messages of your own in the group chat as well. Sighing, you exit the group chat and private message Shotaro.
You: shotaro
You: i really don't want this role 〒_〒
Shotaro: why though? it's a good thing!
You: i didn't want extra responsibilities and stress remember
You: now here I am with this stupid role
You: at least renjun and donghyuck can suffer with me
Shotaro: hahaha yeah, i saw you guys celebrating in the group chat
Shotaro: you celebrated too cuz you didn't want them to suspect that you were stressed over the role amirite
You: omg you know me too well
Shotaro: ofc i've known you since we were literal babies pls
Shotaro: but anyway always remember that you've got ppl to fall back on in times when you're troubled or stressed
Shotaro: myself included ^-^
Shotaro: and since renjun and donghyuck are leading with you, i'm sure they'll be willing to support you too!
Shotaro: and i'll do my best to help you out too <3
You: thanks bro <3
You look at the text conversation, smiling to yourself. Why is he so cute? You begin screaming mentally as your heart rate increases to about 160 beats per minute.
"Hey! Earth to y/n!" Haechan waves his hand in front of your face as you're jerked back to reality.
"What?" you snap. "Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to snap," you quickly put your hands over your mouth and apologize. "I was startled".
Donghyuck rolls his eyes. "You and Shotaro must have been flirting with each other again," he clucks disapprovingly and shakes his head. "Anyway, wanna get bubble tea with us? We're heading to the shop nearby".
"I was NOT flirting with him! He has a girlfriend," you raise your voice defensively at Donghyuck. "I was just texting him. We're just friends. And yes, let's go".
We're just friends, the words echo in your mind painfully, as if mocking you and reminding you that that was all that you and Shotaro would be.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
Back at the shelter, you and Shotaro have finished with your duties, and you're sitting in the yard, playing with the dogs again. You'd met many animals, all lovable in their own ways, but two particular dogs found themselves a special place in you and Shotaro's hearts: Jake and Cloud. Not only were their individual personalities adorable, their friendship together was something you found precious as well.
You're watching them play in the backyard after volunteer duties are over, as Jake tackles Cloud to the ground. Cloud growls back playfully, trying to get back up and fight back against Jake. The sight reminds you of how you and Shotaro would play fight (with boundaries of course) at times, putting a smile on your face.
"You know, Jake reminds me a lot of you". Shotaro states out of the blue.
"And why would that be?" you query, genuinely curious as to why Shotaro thought that way.
"You're both naturally very outgoing, and enjoy the company of people," he says as both dogs come over to you both, with Jake gravitating towards Shotaro and Cloud to you. "Not only that, you're both very sweet," he finishes, lovingly patting Jake on the head and giving him a treat.
"Really? You know, Cloud reminds me of you too," you say softly, reaching out to pat the dog in question.
"Eh? Why?" His dark brown eyes widen in surprise, and you giggle at his astonished expression.
"Remember how shy Cloud was?" you ask as he bobs his head up and down earnestly. "You were the same," you remind him, referring to the memory of your first meeting. You recall when you and your mum went to greet the new neighbours. There little Shotaro was, clinging on to his mother's leg, peering at you as his inquisitive eyes shone, reflecting curiosity and nervousness.
"Oh yeah, I remember when I first met you when my family first moved in. I was hiding behind my mother because I was so scared to come and meet you," he finishes for you, chortling at the memory. "You had to come take my hand and invite me to play with you".
"Isn't that similar to Cloud? She was super shy, and she needed Jake to bring her out of her shell," you point out.
Shotaro's mouth forms an "o" as he realises what you mean. "Like how you had to bring me out of mine," he adds.
"But," you continue. "She's really sweet once you get to know her. Cloud ignored me initially. It's like how when I first talked to you, you barely even gave me a reply!" you recall more memories of that day as Shotaro's face flushes red at the memory of how he'd unintentionally ignored you. "I have to admit, I thought you were rude at first. But you turned out to be one of the sweetest people I've ever met," you say to him honestly, stopping to tease him about how the tips of his ears had turned a shade of red at the compliment, which only serves to make him more flustered. Since young, he'd always get embarrassed when he received compliments, and you found it adorable. "When Cloud finally opened up, I found her absolutely lovable. She's just like you, shy but sweet". You turn to Cloud and pat her as she whines, then pick her up and place her on your lap.
He smiles wider, pearly whites coming into view as you continue. "Dare I say, we've become as close as Jake and Cloud".
"We really have," he agrees as Jake climbs onto his lap, tongue hanging out of his mouth. He then touches his nose against Cloud's, and the both of you can't stop the "awws" that come out of your mouths at the heart-melting sight. "It's been so long since we've known each other".
"Yeah it's been like, twelve years?" you splutter with uncertainty, trying to recall when you'd first met him. "We've been friends for so long".
"Yeah, best friends," he adds, smiling softly. "I'm so grateful to have you as my friend".
"Me too," you manage to stutter out. You know you should be happy and satisfied with the fact that you had managed to build up and maintain such a precious friendship for twelve long years, yet your heart yearns for more. To bring your relationship to the next level and let it grow into something more. To be more than just his best friend. However, you know that another girl has his heart now. Even if that wasn't the case, would you even have the courage to tell him how you felt? To get all this off your chest?
You let out an inaudible sigh, knowing that the answer was no. You weren't his, neither was he yours.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
It's been a while since you'd been volunteering at the shelter together with Shotaro. Throughout the course of the volunteer programme, you've both grown a lot closer, and you found yourself catching butterflies more and more around him. However, you don't know what to make of it.
Gosh, why do feelings have to be so confusing? That's the only thought resonating in your mind as you're playing with a beagle in the backyard of the shelter. "Fetch, Bella!" You command, throwing a red ball to the other end of the yard. Bella yelps, jumps up and runs off in search of the ball, before returning it to you. "Good girl!"
Further off, Shotaro is playing with Jake and Cloud, who are playing tug-of-war with a chew toy, while Shotaro seems to be very immersed in watching the mini competition. His pearly whites are in clear view as he laughs, while his eyes, which are riveted on the dogs, are slightly squinted into the eye smile you'd grown to find so familiar and lovable. The sunlight bounced off his hazel brown irises, turning them into pools of honey. Cute, you think to yourself, a smile growing onto your face.
Bella's whining snaps you out of your daze. "Oh sorry!" you exclaim, knowing what she wants. Picking up the red ball, you hurl it to the other end of the yard again, and off Bella goes again, in pursuit of her ball.
"That's the dog Yangyang wants," Shotaro's voice sounds next to you. Turning around, you see him approaching you, both dogs by his side.
"Oh, so this is the dog he kept talking about during lunch yesterday," it dawns on you. Yangyang had been gushing about a dog he was looking to adopt yesterday at lunch, talking about how cute it was and how his parents loved it too. He'd agreed to let all of you play with her from time to time.
"Speak of the devil," you say as you both swivel your head towards Yangyang, who is being led over to the backyard by Xiaojun.
"Hi!" you both heartily greet your close friend with a high-five and fist bump.
"You guys know my cousin?" Xiaojun asks, watching the interaction between the three of you take place in front of him.
"Wait, you're his cousin?" Shotaro asks, surprise taking over his features.
"Didn't I tell you I have a cousin who volunteers at the animal shelter?" Yangyang reminds both of you. "I was referring to him".
"It's a small world," you say, still letting the information sink in.
"Yangyang's in our friend group at school. We're all close friends," Shotaro answers as he gives Yangyang a side hug enthusiastically.
"Yeah, though I think y/n and Shotaro act more like lovers than friends," Yangyang adds, lips twisting into a playful smirk as Xiaojun bursts into laughter.
"We're not! We're just friends!" Both you and Shotaro shout in unison, denying what Yangyang just said about the both of you. Unknowingly, by doing so, both of you shot arrows of dull pain through each other's hearts as you left the other wondering if that was all you both were.
"Sure," Xiaojun replies, rolling his eyes jokingly. He'd grown close enough to you guys to tease you too. "I'll believe that when you stop flirting while doing volunteer duties".
"What did we do?" you groan.
"For starters, when we're training the dogs, I always catch the both of you staring at each other," Xiaojun begins.
"We do that?" Shotaro blurts, a light hue of pink beginning to cover his cheeks. However, you don't notice.
"Yeah you do! They're always staring at each other in school too!" Yangyang pipes up. "Even when our friend group goes out! Like they can't keep their eyes to themselves!"
Xiaojun laughs again. "And then, when we walk the dogs, I always hear you both discussing plans with each other," he continues with Yangyang's loud guffaws in the background. "As if you guys are planning dates". He ensures that he emphasises on the last word, wiggling his bushy eyebrows.
"Best friend dates," you add on to what Xiaojun said. "We've been so close since childhood, of course we'd hang out together more often," you argue as Shotaro nods emphatically.
Yangyang rolls his eyes. "Whatever. Anyway, you can't convince me that there's nothing between you guys". He folded his arms, as if to prove his point, and you watch with mild irritation as Xiaojun does the same.
"He has a girlfriend". Pointing at Shotaro, you remind Yangyang of that fact.
"Doesn't mean much," Yangyang shrugs nonchalantly.
"Whatever. Let them figure things out themselves, okay? You still have adoption papers to sign," Xiaojun says with a dramatic eye roll, clipping the leash to Bella's collar and leading Yangyang away to sign the adoption papers.
As you and Shotaro say goodbye to them, you're both left shaking your heads in disbelief. However, their words make you realise how you've felt towards Shotaro for so long. You make a mental note to set a time to talk to your cousin and ask her for advice on what to do in this confusing situation.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
"Like, I seriously don't know what's wrong with me!" You huff, using your legs to gently push yourself on the swing, while your cousin, Hyojung, listens to your rant patiently. You managed to get her to meet you at the park to talk through your confusing feelings. "I've been friends with Shotaro since childhood, but never in the course of our friendship have I ever felt this way! I'm probably going crazy".
Hyojung listens attentively, grunting sympathetically from time to time. "y/n, I need to ask you something, and I want you to answer honestly".
You sit upright, looking straight at Hyojung, who's on the swing next to you. "Have you ever thought of him as more than a friend? Or wished that you could be something other than friends with him?"
The question catches you off-guard, and your heart skips a beat. "Wha-"
"y/n." Hyojung gazes at you with her classic motherly look and says your name with an equally motherly tone to match. "You can be honest, I won't judge you".
You fall silent again, thinking of all the times that you've felt that pang of jealousy when Shotaro mentioned Miyoung, when you watched them go on dates and wished that you were Miyoung instead, or when you prayed that Miyoung and Shotaro would cancel their dates. When you recall all the times that you wished it was you instead of Miyoung going on a date with him, you know the answer to your question. "Well...yes," you answer, slightly embarrassed as you look down, scratching the back of your neck.
Hyojung nods understandingly. "You're probably crushing on him then," she concludes casually, and your heart almost stops again.
"Wha- I can't- he's dating someone though!" you protest, wide-eyed.
"You can," Hyojung points out, and you freeze momentarily and go back to listening to her. "You can't control feelings, can you?"
You nod slowly, uncertain of the point she's trying to prove.
"What I'm saying is, feeling this way is completely normal, especially since you've known him for so long," she continues, giving her swing a light push again. "Plus, he's really sweet and gentlemanly, it won't be hard to fall for him".
You almost forget that Shotaro was so close to you, he'd met practically your whole family. "I guess," you sigh as your face falls.
"y/n, it's okay to have these feelings," she reassures you gently, squeezing your shoulder comfortingly. "What I'd suggest is to keep them to yourself for now. Observe his next steps carefully. If he shows signs that he's returning your feelings as well, then go ahead and tell him. If not, try your best to move on," she advises, and you slowly nod, taking in all the information.
"Alright, thanks Hyo," you answer and shoot her a grateful smile.
"No problem, y/n. Don't worry about it, the universe has it all planned out," she says, winking at you. "Now, wanna go get milkshakes? We could go to my house to hang out after this".
"Sure!" You'd never say no to a refreshing, sweet milkshake any day.
The universe has it all planned out. Hyojung's wise words echo in your mind as you let them sink in while walking to the milkshake shop with her. If you were meant to be with Shotaro, then it would come to pass. If not, you'd somehow find a way out of this sticky situation you were in.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
As the year progresses, stress begins mounting due to the increasing workload dumped on you by frantic teachers and your new responsibilities as BMA. Moreover, the butterflies inside of you that would go crazy around Shotaro do not serve to help at all, instead adding to your increasing stress and throwing you into confusion.
You're aware that the year isn't getting any easier for your friend either. Ever since he'd been voted in as council president, his responsibilities multiplied faster than any of you had expected. On top of that, his schoolwork and tuition classes had increased (due to his somewhat paranoid parents), and he also had responsibilities as student choreographer in his dance club. Not to mention, he had younger siblings to look after too.
Because you're both aware of the increasing amounts of stress each other face, you try to share each others' burdens, as any best friend would. Shotaro tries his best to help you with subjects that are not exactly your strong suit. You're kinda grateful for the stressful period, as it allows you both to form a stronger bond, whether it was while helping each other out with assignments, complaining about the amount of work you had to do, or listening to each other vent about their stresses. Of course, playing with the animals at the shelter every week also helped you both to unwind, especially Cloud and Jake. Their sweet friendship was really the spitting image of the one between you and Shotaro. They'd be wholesome one moment, and then playfully teasing each other the next. Xiaojun had also kindly allowed you and Shotaro to drop by anytime you felt overly stressed. Not only would he allow you to play with the animals to destress, he would also lend a listening ear as you both vented about the stresses you were facing, and provide encouragement and advice after. Even if he was feeling stressed over finals, he'd assure you both that it was alright to rant to him. You'd both grown closer to him, and you trusted him just like you trusted Hyojung.
However, though all of this was good, it also intensified the feelings you had for Shotaro, as you still struggle to tame the butterflies in your stomach at the way he thanks you when you help him plan a composition, or the palpitations of your heart when he shoots you that adorable smile.
When you couldn't handle the stress and fell sick for three days, he still dropped by your house with food, homework and notes he'd taken for you, although you'd protested against it as you didn't want him to fall sick too. If you were feeling up to it, he'd give you a short tutoring session. Before he left, he'd nag you to take your medicines again.
You were immensely grateful to him, knowing that without his help, you'd be seriously behind the rest of the class. In return, you try to help him with student council matters and babysitting. Whatever you were able to help with, you'd jump in and help him, and he did the same for you too, willingly.
You also knew that his relationship with Miyoung had hit a rocky patch. Though you were admittedly still jealous, you did your best to support him through the trying time. However, what you weren't aware of was the extent of how bad it had become. Shotaro realised that Miyoung never really texted him as much anymore. While he understood that she was busy, he noticed that she was only texting him when she needed something from him, be it help with a subject or extra money. Adding on to that, she'd grown harsher with him. If he'd unintentionally pissed her off, she'd use the harshest of words to scold him. Most of this stuff wasn't anything anyone would scold their friend for, and it wasn't even like he'd made a mistake either. Heck, she'd scold him for being an uncaring and selfish boyfriend just because he said he was stressed out or busy, and would get back to her later. It really bothered him.
In addition to that, he didn't know why his heart would flutter nonstop around you too, or why he'd sometimes find himself getting flustered when you spoke to him, even if you'd just asked him something simple like where both of you should go to eat lunch. It threw him into confusion mixed with a twinge of guilt. After all, he did have a girlfriend.
He didn't want to burden anyone, so he didn't share much about this issue with any of his friends, even you, and tried to keep it to himself. However, it was affecting him quite a bit, and you and your friends are eagle-eyed to spot the changes in his mood.
"Bro, you alright?" Donghyuck asks at your lunch table one day, directing the question to Shotaro, who seems more down than usual. The bags under his eyes seem to have been inked out with a pen, and his eyes have lost their usual cheerful glow. Not to mention, he's clammed up a lot more.
"Yeah," he replies, looking up and managing a half-smile. However, that does little to ease any of your worries. Where was the bright smile all of you loved so much?
"You seem so down lately, Taro," Jaemin points out, concern reflected in his gaze.
"I'm just stressed, that's all," he answers back.
"You know that you can come to us for help anytime, right?" you say, putting a hand on his shoulder.
He nods weakly, smiling half-heartedly again. "I will, thanks," he whispers.
However, the stress soon catches up to him, and soon after you've recovered, he announces in the group chat one day that the flu bug had bitten him too. You owe him one after he took such meticulous care of you, so now, it's your turn to do the same for him.
"Wow, y/n and Shotaro are so close, they share everything. Even germs," Renjun jokes at the table, causing everyone to cackle loudly, when you bring up Shotaro's illness, and the fact that he'll be off school for a week.
Rolling your eyes, you scoff. "Very funny, Jun," you spit, tone laced with sarcasm.
"Seriously though," Donghyuck whines from his end of the table. "When will you tell him how you feel? It's been ages, y/n," he complains.
You feel your heart stop at the question. "W-what do y-you mean how I f-feel?" you stutter, failing to keep your cool.
Yangyang rolls his eyes and sighs dramatically. "Come on, y/n," he groans. "Don't think that we're unaware of your little crush on your childhood best friend".
"What crush?" You continue trying to play it cool, feigning indifference. "It's not like I-"
"Don't lie, y/n," Jaemin cuts you off. "We've known each other since high school started, we can read you like an open book".
"The signs are so obvious, even I can see it," Jeno speaks up. "And we all know I'm the most oblivious here". It was a fact, given that he didn't even know that his past crush, who is now his current girlfriend, liked him until she confessed two years later, despite so many obvious signs from her. "I don't know how Shotaro hasn't picked up on them".
You raise up your hands in surrender, knowing that there was no point in arguing with the friends you'd known for so long. Not as long as you'd known Shotaro, but still long enough to forge a bond thick as thieves. "Okay, okay, fine, I do like him," you admit as you feel your cheeks burn. "But I don't plan to do anything about it. He probably doesn't even like me back". You shrug, trying to feign indifference when in reality, it felt like you'd gotten the tiniest paper cut on your heart. So small, but it stung so much.
Jeno groans and throws his hands up, exasperated. "Oh please, the way he stares at you? Do you really not notice?"
"He has a girlfriend…" you remind them, thinking that they had forgotten.
As soon as you mention his girlfriend, groans and yells of protest go up around your table, starting a mini uproar. "Kim Miyoung? Really?" Renjun scoffs.
"She's been treating him like shit!" Yangyang adds passionately, eyes burning with rage.
"Who in their right mind would scold their boyfriend just for saying he's stressed?" Jaemin continues, brows furrowed in fury.
"I don't think he's even in love with her anymore," Jeno adds. "We've been trying to get him to break up with her, but he's still with her only because he's too scared to break up".
The boys continue to each give a piece of their mind about Miyoung, but Donghyuck remains dead silent throughout. "Um...I'm not sure how to tell you guys this, but...you've gotta see this".
A hush falls over the usually boisterous group at the table, and all five of you crowd expectantly around Donghyuck's phone. He draws up a picture, and as he zooms in, all of you gasp in unison. "Don't tell me that's-"
"That's Miyoung". Donghyuck confirms as he cuts Yangyang off, nodding his head solemnly. "I was passing by, and so happened to witness this".
"Is she- kissing another guy?" Jaemin asks, jaw dropping in disbelief.
"Wow, she was shitty, but I never thought she'd stoop so low and cheat on him," Jeno says scornfully as he rolls his eyes.
"That's low even for her," Renjun agrees.
Meanwhile, you're boiling inside. How could she do such a disgusting thing? You knew that if you'd managed to get with someone as sweet as Shotaro, thoughts of cheating would never, ever cross your mind. "That's not cool," you deadpan, trying to stay calm despite the raging storm inside of your heart now.
"I think he's been so stressed because Miyoung's been manipulating him for so long," Renjun guesses. "Adding on to that, he's got school, student council, dance club, tuition and the animal shelter".
"We've gotta force him to break up with her, before his relationship gets more toxic than it already is," you declare. You're not about to watch your best friend get sucked deeper into a raging whirlpool of a toxic relationship only to be taken advantage of, stepped on, and eventually drowned.
"I don't know how we're gonna do that though…" Jaemin's voice trails off.
"Look, we have a whole week to think about it. Let's use the time wisely," Donghyuck decides as grunts of approval sound all around the table.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
A week later, Shotaro returns to school, visibly much more well-rested. You'd been popping by his house every day throughout the week with his homework and warm food for him, filling him in on what he'd missed if he felt well enough, or simply keeping him company. "Hi guys! I've missed you all," he chirps as soon as he sits down at the table with your usual clique. Soon, your table is back to its usual chaotic state, as everyone seems to be in a good mood. That is, until…
"Shotaro...I'm really sorry but, you need to know this". Donghyuck interrupts the cheerful banter, pulling out his phone.
"Is it something serious…?" Shotaro questions as an uncomfortable silence once again falls over the table, and the atmosphere becomes tenser than a stretched-out rubber band.
"Well, yes," Jeno states, having caught Donghyuck's drift.
Without saying another word, Donghyuck shoves his phone under Shotaro's nose. You catch the way his jaw drops to the ground, and how his hand flies to his mouth. "No way…" he whispers, shock written all over his face.
"Hyuck caught her cheating in 4K," Yangyang says as Donghyuck lowers his phone. "You have to break up with her, Taro. She's gone too far".
"Please take into account all the times she's treated you like shit," Renjun cuts Shotaro off as he's about to protest.
The six of you observe as Shotaro's eyes gloss over with dismay, and you swear you can feel your own heart shattering into pieces as you watch his smile fade, instead being replaced with a frown as the corners of his mouth turn down. "I…I can't believe this," he whispers sadly, blinking a few times. "She wasn't being very nice, but I never thought she'd cheat".
"'Not being very nice' is an understatement at this point". Jeno huffs, indignation written all over his face. "She's been nothing but toxic".
"You have to confront her, Shotaro". Jaemin states, giving him his signature motherly stare. After all, he wasn't the "mom of the group" for no reason.
"I don't know…" Shotaro responds, shifting in his seat uneasily as he turns his eyes down.
"It's the best thing for you to do right now," Jeno adds, trying to coax Shotaro to initiate the breakup, since Miyoung wouldn't willingly do so and knowing him, he probably wouldn't be brave enough to do so.
"But…" his voice trails off slowly.
"Look Taro, it's time you let go of her," you speak up. "It's been so long since you've been trapped in this toxic relationship".
"I…" he stutters again, not sure of what to say. "I...kind of don't want to…"
"And why's that?" You do your best to sound patient, but the first arrow of jealousy shoots through your heart as you speak.
"I'm scared to do so, honestly," he confesses, voice barely a whisper.
"We'll all be here to back you up," Jeno encourages him.
"But still…" Shotaro continues on, still unsure.
“Shotaro… you know we love you, we’re your friends, we’ve been through so many things together, you really think we’d ask you to do this just to mess with you?” Renjun says, tone laced with concern.
“…”
“Taro, listen to me: we’d never want something bad to happen to you, much less stand back for long as we watch how a person drags you down, becoming a shell of who you used to be," you add, hopeful that this would convince him to make the first move to breakup.
"But I'm scared…" he protests weakly.
"Really? That's the best excuse you have?" you scoff, the jealousy you were suppressing so well earlier slowly seeping through the walls of your heart, like water from a leaking dam.
"It's scary, okay? Don't talk like that when you haven't been in a relationship before!" Shotaro replies, clearly a little irritated.
"It's not that hard!" you snap back. Jeno, ever the sensible one, nudges you trying to calm you down, but jealousy had just about completely taken over you by then.
Everyone at the table watches as Shotaro draws in a deep breath. "If what you're saying is true," he begins, “then why haven’t you said anything before, huh?! She told me you’d try this, you know? That you’d get jealous when I didn’t spend as much time with you as I did with her, but that’s not my fault! I’m allowed to have a relationship!” he argues back. "I don't discount the possibility of what you said being true, but I'm not ready to break up now!"
“We did, Taro! We did! So many times, and you brushed it off, or chose to ignore us, when all we wanted was to let you see for yourself how she was hurting you!” you shout back. By now, the entire canteen's eyes are riveted on the scene.
“But she isn’t hurting me! She loves me!” he protests. His tone sounded more like he was trying to convince himself, rather than like he actually believed what he just said. You swore that you saw a glistening layer over his eyes.
“No she doesn’t and you know that!” you fire back, sounding as heated as you feel.
"Well how would you know?" he demands, sounding more annoyed with every word he spoke. "You're not her".
"When the fuck will you stop being so stubborn and actually listen to what we're saying? Gosh, Shotaro. Aren't friends supposed to listen to each other? Then why are you still stuck in your own stupid corner, refusing to see things from our perspective? Who do you think you are, God?" you spit, tone containing traces of venom. By now, every emotion you felt - jealousy, anger, heartache - they swirled together in your heart, creating a tempestuous storm which raged on fiercely.
"Then why don't you believe me when I say I'm scared?" he questions, a stray tear escaping his eyes. "Why don't you understand how I feel?"
"It's. Not. That. Hard!" You're screaming your head off now, with the rest of your friend group standing around, not knowing how to react. "I can't believe you're still so weak, even after so long!"
"I-" Shotaro tries to say, but you hold out a hand.
"Whatever. If you're going to continue being stuck wherever you are, I'm not gonna bother. Go on being the fucking blind coward you are". You declare, slamming your hands onto the table with a thump of finality, before strutting away from the table, huffing as you exit.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
That day, you and Shotaro go separate ways, because he had to meet Miyoung and also partly because of the argument you'd both had earlier. You head straight home, take a shower, and try to get to your homework, but your mind isn't focusing. Instead, it keeps jumping back to the argument you and Shotaro had earlier.
Why was I so upset over it earlier? That's not me.
Realising that you won't be getting anything done, you pick up your phone and send Xiaojun a text.
You: hey, can i come over?
Xiaojun: sure! i'll be a while though, attending to an injured guinea pig
Xiaojun: you can go play with the animals first! the dogs are in the backyard
You: okay
You pack a few things, then leave your house for the shelter. Making a beeline for the backyard, you catch sight of Cloud, who's lying next to a sound-asleep Jake. It seems that she's spotted you too, because her ears perk up and she immediately leaves Jake's side and comes trotting to you. "Hey Cloud," you say, feeling some of the gloom in your heart dissolve as you pick up her favourite toy and begin playing fetch with her. As usual, she's a ball of energy, running after the toy no matter how far or where you threw it, barking as she does so.
After a while, she grows tired, and she settles down on your lap as you sit on the grass and stroke her smooth, white coat. "You came," Xiaojun's voice sounds from beside you as he emerges from the shelter.
"Yeah," you reply lamely.
"Something bothering you?" he asks, voice showing concern as he sits next to you. Jake comes up next to him, and lies down again. Xiaojun begins running his hand over Jake's fur.
"Well...me and Shotaro, we kinda had an argument," you admit.
"What was it about?" Xiaojun asks again.
"My friend group and I were trying to convince him to break up with his girlfriend, since she's been nothing but manipulative and toxic to him. Also, she cheated on him. We have photographic proof," you begin as Xiaojun nods, beckoning you to go on. You show him the photo, and he tuts disapprovingly at the girl, shaking his head.
"But he kept saying that he was afraid to do so, and...I don't know why, but I lost my cool. I said some things I shouldn't have. I called him blind and a coward, and I know that the 'coward' one would hurt him really badly. I regret it now. I don't even know why I did what I did," you sigh, regret beginning to hit you like a ton of bricks. "It's not like me to react this way".
Xiaojun hums in understanding as he purses his lips for the right words. "I get it," he says finally. "I don't know if I'm right, but...maybe you're feeling jealous".
You consider denying it for a few seconds, but decide against it, letting your shoulders sag in defeat. "Okay, maybe I am," you admit.
"So that's why you lashed out when he said he didn't want to break up with Miyoung, besides the fact that you were concerned for him," Xiaojun adds as you nod meekly, knowing that the truth was out. You found that Xiaojun was trustworthy, so you trusted him enough to tell him how you truly felt about Shotaro.
"It was partly the reason, but not the main one," you add. "Oh, how do I get over these stupid feelings?" you groan, more to yourself than to Xiaojun.
Xiaojun nods again. "Sometimes, you just let them pass. Other times, you act on them," he tells you truthfully. "They might be there for a reason. If they're not, you'll find a way," he answers.
He seriously sounded like Hyojung. "Okay," you reply, letting out another heavy sigh. "Do you think I've ruined our friendship?" you ask, petting Cloud dejectedly as she falls asleep.
Xiaojun thinks your question over, before turning back and giving you an answer. "No. Shotaro's very sweet and forgiving. You're his childhood best friend, he'd definitely forgive you, I'm sure".
You nod slowly, processing what Xiaojun is saying.
"But I think you both should apologise to each other," Xiaojun continues on. "Both of you definitely exchanged hurtful remarks, and everyone's feelings were hurt in the process," he says truthfully. "I hope you both can fix things. I don't want to witness your friendship crumble".
You nod. "I hope so too".
Xiaojun gives you a warm, reassuring smile. "I've got stuff to attend to now. My project group wants to call," he informs you. "I might be back later. If I am, I'll say hi to you again," he informs. "I hope you're feeling better.
"I am," you say. It wasn't a lie. Xiaojun's advice had given you some comfort compared to earlier. As he walks away, you fail to see Shotaro come in from the corner of your eye. That is, until Jake perks up, brown eyes gleaming excitedly as he lets out a happy bark, then gets up and rushes towards the gate.
Shotaro must have seen you too, because you watch as he quickly averts his gaze from you, choosing to focus his attention on Jake instead as he showers him with lots of love and pets. A pang of guilt arises in you as the events of the earlier argument replay in your mind. Way to go, snapping at him over something dumb and possibly ruining your friendship.
You're so focused on moping, you don't realise that Shotaro has come to sit next to you. "I'm sorry," his voice suddenly cuts through your thoughts, and you sit up with a start.
You turn, and suddenly you're staring into his brown eyes, which held so much emotion in that moment. "For what?" you ask listlessly, mindlessly stroking Cloud's fur.
"For snapping earlier. I should have kept my cool and controlled my emotions better. I know I said insensitive things," he says quietly, turning his eyes downwards again. Jake seems to have sensed that he wasn't feeling good, because he's now started licking Shotaro's hand comfortingly. "I'm really sorry. I should have thought before I spoke".
"Why are you apologising? I should be the one saying sorry," you blurt out. "I blew up at you first, and -" you pause, scrabbling in your mind for the right words, before finally giving up. "I don't even know why. It's a dumb reason, I know, but it's the truth".
"It's not dumb," Shotaro answers. "We've all been there, haven't we?" A chuckle of amusement escapes him.
"It's still not an excuse," you protest feebly, your last brain cell having long given up on you. "I'm truly sorry for lashing out on you earlier".
Shotaro smiles reassuringly. "I forgive you. I hope you'll forgive me too".
"Of course I will," you reply, squeezing his shoulder to comfort him. "We're still friends, right?"
You wish to slap yourself right then and there, for randomly blurting out every thought that was on your mind.
Shotaro giggles, sending waves through you again. "Of course! Do you really think I'd throw twelve years' worth of friendship away like that?" he asks.
You smile, knowing that you could finally stop worrying about what would become of you and Shotaro's friendship. Just then, you catch sight of his tear-streaked cheeks, and the fact that his eyes are slightly red and swollen. "Did something happen?" you inquire, genuinely concerned for Shotaro now as your brows knit together in concern. "You can tell me anything," you reassure him. You'd gone from insulting him a few hours ago to comforting him when bad stuff happened.
Shotaro's face falls. "About that..I broke up with her". He quietly says.
Your eyes widen in interest. "You did? She initiated it?"
He shakes his head. "No. I did".
You place an arm around him in silent comfort, preparing to listen to his story. "I thought about what the friend group said today at recess, and decided that yes, as much as I was scared, I did have to end the toxic relationship. So I showed her the picture Donghyuck took as proof, and let her know that I felt disrespected that she'd gone and cheated on me, instead of telling me that she had feelings for someone else so that we could work things out together, or have a closure".
Nodding, you urge him to go on. "I was just hoping for an apology from her so that we could end things peacefully, but she slapped me instead".
"Ayo what-" at his statement, your jaw drops, and your mouth is so wide open that a cow could probably fall into it. That explained the faint purple bruise on his cheek. You had expected her to get angry, but to slap him? Was she insane?
"She said that it was my fault that we didn't work out and-" his eyes swim with tears again as he pauses, and you feel your own eyes water at the heart-wrenching sight. Choking on a sob, he continues. "She said that she should have known that I wasn't good enough for her". Both dogs seem to pick up on the change in mood, and immediately snuggle closer to him, as if trying to cheer him up as he pets them gratefully.
Hearing this, your blood begins boiling. "Not good enough for her?"
"She said that I was too ugly for her. That I was too sensitive. That she would have liked me better if I was tougher - and I quote - because she wouldn't want to date a pussy," he sniffs, feeling himself break down again. "She also said I was selfish for all the times I replied to her late because I was busy. That I didn't put any effort into the relationship".
"Liar," you spit, voice dripping with venom. "Who is she to speak?" Your volume increases in a crescendo as your voice rises to fever-pitch. Unable to hold in your fury, you begin swearing your head off while ranting about Miyoung, spewing profanities a mile per minute. By now, both dogs are also barking their heads off, as if angry with Miyoung as well.
Shotaro has calmed down a little, and is now looking at you, unsure of whether to stop you or let you go on raging like a bull. "Um...y/n...please calm down," he says softly, tapping on your shoulder.
You stop midway through the freestyle diss track you were on, realising you'd said some things you probably shouldn't have said. (Then again, who holds back when defending their best friend?)
Shotaro sighs, eyes still glistening with tears. "It's just...what if she was right? What if I was less selfish? What if I was tougher? What if I-"
"I'm stopping you right there!" You cut him off as you gently nudge him, unable to watch him keep blaming himself for the failure of the relationship. "It's not you, you know. It's her".
He looks you in the eye for the first time throughout the conversation. "They say it takes two hands to clap, though".
"Look, if she can't accept you for who you are, that's her fault". You state your point clearly, gazing at him in a firm yet comforting manner. "And she took advantage of you, didn't she? She manipulated you to get what she wanted!"
Shotaro nods, knowing that what you said was true.
"And you were the one always checking in on her, listening to her rant. Not once did she care to ask how you were doing. She'd just go straight on and rant about her problems," you continue as more of her flaws continue coming to your mind.
"Yeah…" Shotaro muses.
"Weren't you the one who asked her out most of the time? What does she mean by 'you didn't put in effort'? And not to mention, she was the one who cheated, not you. You were loyal even to the end. The same can't be said about her," you add, still in a huff over what she had done to your friend. Jake and Cloud cuddle up next to Shotaro as he pets the dogs.
"That's true I guess…" Shotaro looks away again, contemplating what you just said.
"How did you hold on to such a toxic relationship for so long?" you question Shotaro, narrowing your eyes as you silently wonder how he was still able to love someone like her.
"I guess I was just scared of breaking it off. She was really nice at first, and we were truly in love with each other," he begins, turning his eyes downwards again. "But over the course of our relationship I realised that she was becoming more and more manipulative, and I found interacting with her becoming extremely draining. I think at that point, I fell out of love with her, but I still stuck around, knowing that I didn't have the courage to cut off the relationship".
You nod encouragingly, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm glad you found it in the end".
"Yeah, I feel so much more relieved after ending the relationship, to be honest," he admits, much calmer than he was before. "I feel so dumb for crying over this now," he adds with a small laugh.
"No," you shake your head. "Don't feel that way. She said stuff that really stung". You knew that she'd attacked his insecurities and guilt-tripped him during the confrontation, so he would no doubt be feeling very hurt about it. "Besides, there were feelings attached for a while, especially at the beginning of the relationship".
Shotaro hums, knowing that that was true.
"And don't change a thing about yourself. You're great the way you are," you encourage him, smiling at him reassuringly as you put a hand on his shoulder.
"Really?" he looks at you, expression betraying his disbelief.
"Of course! If not, you wouldn't be my best friend!" you reply, smacking him playfully as he begins laughing.
Unbeknownst to you, Xiaojun watches the scene from afar, a smile on his face, feeling happy that the storm clouds had cleared and your friendship was restored.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
The rest of the week progresses as if the argument didn't happen at all, and Shotaro and you are back to being the best of friends. Saturday arrives, and after a quick drink of a vanilla latte the both of you are ready to head to the shelter for another day of volunteering. Today, there seems to be less duties than usual, and both of you have about two hours left to train the dogs and play with them.
You enter the Dog Dorm, and both your eyes light up immediately as soon as Jake and Cloud run over.
You've forged a strong bond with these two dogs, and it is evident from the way they follow you around like the lamb in the nursery rhyme. When you both leave, Jake's whimpers and whines would tug at your heartstrings as he tried to follow both of you out, while Cloud would just gaze at both of you, sadness evident in her large puppy eyes.
"They're so cute," you say as Cloud is sitting in your lap as you pat Jake. "I want one of them".
"Me too," Shotaro says, reaching over to feed Cloud a treat. "I miss having a dog around the house".
"Why don't you adopt them then?" Xiaojun asks as he enters the area with a golden retriever, who'd just returned from a grooming session. "They'd suit you".
"I've discussed it with my parents, actually," Shotaro speaks first as Jake runs up to Xiaojun. "They said that Jake sounds like a really sweet dog, and that they'd be open to the idea of adopting him".
"I have yet to talk to my parents, but I believe they'd be alright with adopting Cloud," you mention after Shotaro. "Besides, Pebble gets along with dogs well". You smile at the thought of your fluffy, but slightly chonky, grey cat you keep at home.
"That's great!" Xiaojun enthuses, unable to hide his happy smile as he . "Jake and Cloud do need forever homes, but they can't be separated for too long, so we thought you'd both be great candidates for potential owners since you're both next door neighbours. They've been best friends since they were puppies," he explains. "Like the both of you, childhood best friends".
You both laugh at the statement, but neither of you pick up on the hints of bitterness in both of your laughs. Best friends? Why did your relationship have to stay like that?
Was that all both of you would ever be?
Little did you know, Xiaojun had picked up on it as he went on talking, informing you about the adoption process, which involved paperwork and a house visit.
As he had hoped, you'd both convinced your families to let you adopt the dogs. Sending the dogs off with you both, he silently prayed that your new pets would help you both get closer than you already were.
And they did.
You'd both meet up even more frequently now to let the dogs play with each other. Today, he’s at your house, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate as Cloud, Jake and Pebble chase each other around the house.
"Your cat is really friendly with dogs," he comments as he watches Pebble play wrestle Cloud to the ground.
"Yeah, she's used to them," you reply. "Actually, maybe more than that," you add with a laugh as Pebble allows Jake to gently bite one of her ears, conceding defeat.
"Oh yeah, I trained Jake to do this," Shotaro says, perking up as he remembers.
"Hmm? What is it?" Your curiosity is piqued as Shotaro calls Jake over.
You watch as Shotaro holds out his fingers in a gun position in front of Jake. "Bang!" he says, flicking his hand upwards as if he'd just shot Jake. The Samoyed falls over with his eyes shut as he remains motionless. His mouth is slightly open with his tongue lolling out, for an even more realistic effect, and you can't help but laugh at the sight.
"Jake learns so well!" You marvel as the pup gets back up, wagging his tail excitedly as he eyed the treats in Shotaro's hand. Cloud barks, as if egging Jake on and telling him he did a great job as Shotaro feeds the treats to both dogs.
"It took him a while to learn, but he got it in the end," Shotaro tells you. "He does learn quite fast".
"Faster than you," you reply, taking the chance to roast Shotaro.
"Hey!" he says with a small pout, obviously caught off-guard by your sudden roast. However, he can't resist the urge to laugh as well when your own contagious laughter fills the room. As such, that afternoon ends with laughter and smiles.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
"Oh no," Yangyang whines, dejectedly tossing his pen onto the floor. It clatters as he runs his fingers through his hair in frustration and turns to the paper again. "I still don't understand this!"
You're all at Shotaro's house for your weekly study session together. Yes, the whole group only met together for study sessions and occasional sleepovers on Fridays, but you had the privilege of going over every day. Childhood best friend and neighbour privileges.
"Exams are fast approaching, and then soon...we'll be in our final year," Renjun comments, glancing up from the history textbook he'd been studying. "Time really flies".
"Yeah…I hope we'll all do well," Jaemin answers, not looking up from his English notebook. "We've all worked hard".
"We will," Shotaro adds with certainty. "Even if it's not up to our expectations, we'll all still do well".
"As long as we've done our best, we can be proud of ourselves," Jeno reminds all of you. "Don't beat yourself up. What's more important is that you learn from your mistakes".
"Thanks for the advice, Jeno," Yangyang states as he picks up his pen and sighs again. "But I still really need help with this part".
"I'll help, " Jeno responds, taking the book from Yangyang and studying the question.
You're stuck in about the same position as Yangyang as you're left gawking at your history paper as if it were written in Greek. However, unlike the boy, you didn't voice your concerns. You continued to stare at the page, trying to process the question. However, the words seemed to dance around the page, and before you know it, you're zoning out.
"Need help?" You snap out of your daze as Shotaro's soft voice rings next to your ear, and his hand appears on your shoulder.
"Yeah...I just can't seem to understand this source," you say, pointing out one of the questions to Shotaro.
"Oh! I understand it, I finished this yesterday," he says, grinning excitedly as he finishes studying the question. "I'll help you with it!"
"Thanks…" you try your best to sound cheerful and energetic, although the pressure weighing down on your heart prevents you from actually feeling like it. You were sure that the others also felt stressed, but they weren't saying anything, so you shouldn't either.
"...y/n? y/n? Earth to y/n…?" A hand waves in front of your face, and you're brought back to reality.
"Ah...sorry, I spaced out," you admit, a blush creeping across your cheeks. Whether it was from embarrassment or something else, you didn't know. Maybe both.
Shotaro's brows knit together. "Are you anxious?" he asks, knowing that you tend to space out when you're anxious. "Let's go, we can talk it out".
He excuses the both of you and leads you to the kitchen. After pouring you a glass of water, he sits you down at his kitchen table. "How are you feeling?" he asks, putting the jug back.
You shake your head as your heart rate seems to double, your breaths become faster and shallower, tears threatening to fall. "I...I…" you stutter, brain unable to form sentences and words at the moment.
Shotaro picks up on your distress, and sweeps you into a hug. You don't resist, instead reciprocating it. "Let it all out. I know you've been stressed," he tells you as your tears fall onto his shoulder. You sniffle quietly, the floodgates opening as you stay enclosed in his embrace for a few minutes, letting the tears freely flow.
"I- I'm stressed," you admit. "The exams are coming soon…and what's more, all the new responsibilities of the student council, band…"
He grunts sympathetically, lips pursed as he searches for the right words.
"What if I fail and get retained? I won't be able to live that down," you sniffle as you recall the dreadful sense of failure after you didn't do well in your exams last year.
All is silent for a moment as Shotaro thinks of his next words. "You won't. You're bright and smart, and you've worked super hard. Besides, no matter what the outcome, I'll always be here for you," he mumbles, unsure of whether what he is saying is helpful.
You look up at him. "Really?"
"Yes, really," he replies, giving you a warm smile, the smile that always brought you comfort, yet made you get a nervous rush at the same time. It's at this moment that you both realise you've probably been hugging a little too long, and you abruptly pull out of each others' hold.
Wish it lasted longer.
"Thank you so much," you whisper, feeling a lot less anxious than you were a few minutes ago.
"Glad I could help," he answers as he rubs your back comfortingly. "When exams are over, we'll do what we used to do as kids and have sleepovers, just you and me, okay? Of course, we'll also have one with the others, but I'd like to just hang out with you first".
"I'd love that," you nod. "Thank you, Taro. I love you".
As soon as the words leave your mouth, you're stunned by your unexpected confession. Oh no! What an idiot, he's gonna think you're weird now! You think, a small wave of panic washing over your mind again.
A light blush forms on Shotaro's cheeks as his mouth forms a stunned "o". "You mean it-?" he asks, unable to believe his ears.
"I- of course I do! But platonically! Platonically!" Painful as it was to say, you still had to add the fact that you meant it platonically and not romantically.
It feels as if someone lightly cut your heart with a small shard of glass when his giggles reach your ears. "I love you too," he replies. "Platonically". The last word is so soft, you barely hear it.
"Woi! Are you both done?" an impatient shout and a few knocks sounds outside the door. "You've both been gone so long!" Renjun's voice continues.
A panicked look simultaneously crosses your faces as Shotaro rushes to open the door and usher you out. "Yes, yes! We're ready!" he exclaims, dragging you out of the room
Oh, how I wish I wasn't such a chicken and told him I meant it in some other way.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
"It's finished!"
"We did it!"
Cheerful shouts and screams echo through the corridor of the level as students celebrate the end of their exams, and of course you and Shotaro just had to join the impromptu celebrations as well. "We did it, Taro!" you enthusiastically shout, slinging an arm around his shoulder as you both skip out of the classroom.
"Finally! Good job, y/n," his melodious laugh finally sounds out again after so long, due to him feeling too stressed to be happy. Relief washed over your heart as you saw an adorable grin appear on his face, complete with his signature eye smile. He gives you a high-five to congratulate you.
"The exams were quite alright, actually," you say to Shotaro as he bobs his head up and down in agreement with you.
"They weren't that bad. The only subject I'm kinda worried about is Biology, but it wasn't too hard," he agrees. "Our mugging sure paid off!" he adds, excited that his hard work had paid off.
"Now that it's over, we should celebrate together!" you suggest, excitement still bubbling out of you. "We should hang out!"
Shotaro's eyes sparkle at your suggestion. "We should! Oh yeah, I said that after exams, we'd have a sleepover together," he reminds you.
"Right, you did," you recall. "So when?"
"Tonight? 7 pm?" he suggests. "You alright with that?"
You think for a few seconds before replying. "Should be. If I can't make it, I'll text you," you add.
He nods, still grinning so brightly, he could rival the sun. "Alright then, I'll see you later! You can bring Cloud and Pebble if you want".
True to your word, you arrive at his house at 7 pm sharp. He appears at the door as soon as you show up at his doorstep. "Y/n!" he greets cheerfully, seemingly delighted that you'd get to have a sleepover with him again after forever.
"Taro!" You return his greeting before pulling him in for a hug.
Soon, you’re both in the comfort of his room, sitting on the carpet on his floor. “So…what do you wanna do?” he asks, uncertain. “We could watch Netflix, or we could play a game, or we could do something else…”
“Let’s play Mario Kart. I’ll beat your high score this time,” you smirk, confident that this time you’d win. The last time you both played, it didn’t go well for you, with you losing terribly and Shotaro celebrating his victory in front of you.
“It’s on”. Shotaro narrows his eyes into slits and stares at you for a while before moving to set up the game consoles. Soon, you're engaged in an intense battle of Mario Kart together, with both of you trying to distract each other to win the game. Meanwhile, Jake and Cloud watch at the side, barking. It’s a close fight, but just at the end, you overtake him and win by one second.
“Hey! You cheated!” Shotaro protests. He was referring to the way you’d made so many weird noises and faces in front of him just to distract him - which apparently was successful.
“Did not,” you say in response. “You tried distracting me too!”
“But I didn’t even do that as much as you!” he argues.
You roll your eyes and sigh dramatically. “I still won, fair and square”.
Sighing, he shakes his head and gets up, tackling you to the ground. You panic a little as you’re unable to overpower him, as he towers over you with his height.
At that moment, an idea strikes you. There was one strategy that you hadn't used against Shotaro since your childhood. But you remember that it was very effective, with him surrendering within minutes. You're unsure if it will work again, but you try anyway, reaching up with your free hand to poke his side lightly. You can't stop the smirk that forms on your face as he withdraws and lets out a small squeak.
You grin the most evil grin you've ever grinned in your life, and soon the tables have turned, with him desperately trying to squirm away from you and block your attacks while you simply laugh at his predicament, continuing to tickle him. The heart-melting smile you'd always loved appears on his face, his eyes lighting up as laughter and occasional squeals pour out of him. You soon find yourself laughing with him as you watch him smile and laugh brighter than a ray of sunshine while you chase him.
"y/n stop!" he repeatedly begs in between laughs. He tries to tickle you back, which fails since you're not ticklish.
"No!" you resolutely declare, and keep up the attack. That is, until a loud thump sounds and Shotaro lets out an "ouch", prompting you to stop.
"Oh my goodness, are you alright?" you ask him repeatedly as you check on him. While struggling to escape from you, he'd rolled all the way to where his study table was and hit his head on the leg of the table. "I'm so sorry, Taro," you apologise, feeling genuinely concerned for him.
He sits up, rubbing his head, still laughing. "It's alright, y/n. That was actually kinda funny," he giggles. It seemed as if his smile had never faded by the slightest bit.
Seeing that he's alright, you let out a sigh of relief, and before you know it laughter fills the room as you both share a laugh over what had just happened. Looking into your eyes, in that moment, Shotaro could feel something warm and fuzzy bubbling up inside of his heart - maybe even something fluttering inside of him. Memories of the times you'd had together run through his mind, almost as if he was reliving them. The first time you'd met, the first playdate you'd both had, the smiles of elation shared during middle school graduation. The countless laughs shared together, the times you'd cried with each other, the times you'd helped each other through school while complaining together. You were the one who'd been there with him, come hell or high water, since childhood. At that moment, he realises that you're truly his other half. Not someone like Kim Miyoung, who'd just used him like her puppet, manipulating him for her own purposes and trampling on his feelings. He realises that the fluttering in his heart, the giddy feeling, the blush that would find its way to his cheeks whenever he was around you - there was a reason why he felt all of those.
He knew that you were just the right one for him. But what was stopping him? On one hand, he desired to spill all his feelings to you. To hold on to that small sliver of hope he had that'd you'd return his feelings, let you know how he realised he felt about you, even if he'd just ended a relationship gone wrong. Though technically, it had ended long ago, with the hell she'd put him through.
On the other hand, something stopped him. What was it? He couldn't pinpoint it either. All he knew was that the right time was not now. Besides, his freshly wounded heart wasn't ready for another relationship. Yet.
He sighs inwardly. Why are feelings so complicated? He questions. If only it were simpler. Maybe I'd have an easier time...
"Whatever. Good game," your voice permeates his thoughts and brings him back to reality. "What do you wanna do now?"
"We could watch Netflix," he suggests, turning on the TV. "There's this new show I wanna watch".
Soon, you're both engaged in the movie. Jake, Cloud and Pebble have long fallen asleep, sharing the big dog bed. You don't know when you realise, but at some point your head ends up resting on his shoulder. His arm is slung around your shoulders, and you're aware of his thumb rubbing circles on the back of your hand. You look up and you're met with the sight of him focused on the screen, his eye smile in full view as he focuses on the scene playing in front of you. The scent of his sakura shampoo wafts into your nose.
Is this really what just friends do? You question internally. Before you know it, you've drifted into dreamland.
"Every day...I fall for you harder," Shotaro confesses quietly as he caresses your hair gently. His whisper is snatched away by the gentle night wind as it goes by unheard by you, as you're sound asleep.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
“Fetch!” Shotaro’s voice resonates in the evening air as he hurls the rubber ball some distance away. All three animals jump up and race after the ball. To your amusement, Pebble comes running back with the ball in her mouth, the other two animals hot on her heels.
“Looks like letting Pebble befriend dogs was a good choice,” you remark, taking the ball and patting Pebble on the head. “This is the most active she’s been!” Both of you laugh, knowing that before both dogs were adopted by you and Shotaro, Pebble had spent most of her days lazing around in the house. When she wasn’t eating, she was either sitting or sleeping.
A few more rounds of fetch later, when everyone is tired out, all of you find a big tree to sit down under and rest. That’s when Shotaro gets the idea of showing you the item that the dance club is going to perform for the upcoming New Year’s Countdown celebration, that is held yearly by the town council, featuring performances from residents, young and old alike. The school had sent the dance club and the symphonic band to perform, so the both of you would be performing. Earlier that day at the shelter, Xiaojun had revealed that he had been chosen to emcee for the celebration.
“And…that’s it!” Shotaro does the ending pose as you burst into applause. He then walks off, smiling shyly as he makes his way back to sit beside you under the tree. “That’s about it,” he says.
“That was so good, Taro! I can’t wait to see the dance club’s performance!” Even after he was done, you were still marvelling over the complexity of the routine, which stood out even more due to his beautiful technique. You were blown away by the fact that your friend had helped to choreograph such a difficult piece, and was also able to pull it off perfectly.
“Thanks! I can’t wait for the symphonic band’s performance as well. Especially your piccolo solo, I loved it so much,” he comments as your face heats up a little.
“Thanks, I’ll do my best!” you say, looking up at him and doing the “fighting” gesture.
“The year is ending so fast, don’t you think?” Shotaro asks, looking up. Ahead, the sky is painted with pinks, purples and oranges of every hue, a sight for sore eyes indeed. Yet, you find your eyes being drawn to your best friend.
“It is,” you say. “Before you know it, we’ll be in our final year of high school,” you answer, the reality of everything seeping through like blood on a white garment.
“I hope that the friend group will stay together, I really love everyone there,” Shotaro admits, eyes glistening a little as the sad possibility of the friend group separating runs through his mind. “We’re all planning to study different college courses and we might not see each other anymore”.
“Nah, I bet Hyuck will initiate a meetup as soon as he gets the chance,” you say. Most of the meetups the friend group had had been planned by Donghyuck, being the extrovert he was. If there was any hope for the friend group to stay together, it would be Donghyuck. “However busy he is, he’ll definitely plan something. Mark my words”.
“Yeah, he will,” Shotaro finally lets out a sigh of relief. “At least there’s still hope for the group to meet up again. “I know I’ll definitely see you around, though”. He turns to you, hope reflecting in his gaze.
“We’re neighbours, after all. And plus, Cloud, Jake and Pebble are gonna wanna see each other,” you reply honestly, giving Cloud a sip from a water bottle. You wouldn’t admit this to him out loud, but you’d feel like a part of you would be gone if you both stopped meeting up.
“I’m glad I’ll still see you around,” he says as he wraps his arms around your shoulders. You subconsciously return the hug, relaxing in his grip. Sure, the hug felt a little longer than those you’d usually give each other, but neither of you complained, staying in each other’s hold until it was time to go home.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
Time continues to fly by, and soon the New Year’s Countdown has arrived. The symphonic band had just delivered their performance and received a standing ovation, much to your pleasant surprise. You, Renjun and Donghyuck return to the picnic mat that you and your friends had laid out on the grass as Xiaojun returns to the stage.
“That was an outstanding performance by NCIT Symphonic Band! Next, we have NCIT Dance Club, bringing us a piece titled ‘New Beginnings’. Let’s put our hands together to welcome them!” he recites off his cue cards, before walking off again as the lights dim.
The lights come on again, revealing the dancers on stage in their starting positions. Though there are so many of them, your eyes immediately locate Shotaro, standing at the left side of the formation. “Shotaro! Jaemin! Jeno! Yangyang!” you and your friends cheer as loudly as you can for your friends who are onstage, so much that you thought your lungs would explode. You only quiet down when the dancers start. Though your other three friends were amazing, for some reason, your eyes keep being drawn to Shotaro as he dances with both the grace of a swan and the power of a deer. The three of you are unable to hold back your cheers when the other dancers move to the side of the stage, leaving Shotaro onstage as he begins his solo, executing his moves cleanly as he exudes confidence and charisma. You’re so enchanted by his every move that you’re positive that you didn’t breathe for the entire solo.
All too soon, his performance draws to a close, and the audience gives the dancers a thunderous round of applause. “Yo y/n, my parents are looking for us. We’ll be back!” Renjun informs as he and Donghyuck get up and leave the mat.
“Alright, see you later!” you answer, thinking nothing about it.
A few minutes later, Shotaro arrives. “You guys were amazing!” you immediately gush as he sits down beside you. “Your solo was amazing!”
“Thank you,” he says quietly, happiness radiating off his smile. In that instant, you feel your heart flutter again.
That’s when you register that Yangyang, Jeno and Jaemin are nowhere to be seen. “Where are the others?” you ask Shotaro.
He shrugs. “Don’t know. Said they’ll join us soon though”.
“Alright then,” you answer and turn back to face the stage.
The programme progresses, but you’re barely focusing on it. For some reason, three words kept echoing in your mind, distracting you from the performances in front of you. Words that you wanted to say to Shotaro so badly. They were always hanging off the tip of your tongue, yet you sorely lacked the courage to say them to him. What if I ruin what we already have? This thought haunted you like a monster that lurked in the depths of your mind. It only appeared whenever you had made up your mind to tell him how you felt, effectively breaking down all the confidence and composure you'd spent days, even weeks, building up.
Plus, next year will be the final year in high school for both of you, meaning a heavier workload as teachers scramble to arm students with knowledge for the final exams, hoping for them to get into their dream universities. You didn't know if you both could commit to a relationship now, considering the workload to come. So much to think about…
"y/n? You've been quiet, you alright?" Shotaro's soft, sweet voice brings you back to the real world.
Shaking your head gently to bring yourself out of your daze, you turn to him and whisper, "I'm fine, I was just thinking about something". He then nods and turns back to the stage where the emcees are waiting for the final countdown.
"y/n...there's actually something I want to tell you". Shotaro speaks up from next to you.
"Hmm?" you hum, still distracted by your train of thought.
"I...I really like you. W-wait, nevermind, scratch that, l-love you. Like, non platonically love you”.
Your heart skips a beat, and your head snaps in his direction. Your eyes behold the sight of a very flustered Shotaro, his cheeks tinted a shade of pink. "Wait, can you repeat that?" You reckon that your eyes must be as wide as grapefruits, but you don't care.
"I love you," he repeats, with more confidence this time. "It took so long for me to realise. But even after I did, I was so afraid to tell you, y/n".
You look down, trying to hide the blush creeping up your own cheeks as well.
"I didn't realise how I felt towards you. But when we spent more time together through volunteering, studying together and just hanging out, that's when I realised that I felt more than just platonic attraction to you. I was so afraid to confess, because I always feared ruining the many years of pure friendship we've had". Shotaro rambles on like a bullet train, mumbling so fast you can barely hear him. "And I was afraid of getting my heart broken again…" he adds, remembering the pain of his first ever relationship, which ended in lots of tears and pain for him.
"Shotaro…" your voice trails off.
"It's fine if you don't feel the same way towards me, y/n. I just wanted to get my feelings off my chest. Thanks for hearing me out". He says, before looking away from you slightly and blinking a couple of times.
"No, Shotaro, hear me out". After his brave confession, it was your turn to tell him how you felt too. "I love you too".
He turns back to you quickly, eyes holding the tiniest hint of hope. "I've had a growing crush on you since school reopened after the holidays, but I didn't dare to tell you how I felt," you chuckle, realising that you both were stuck in the same situation. "I feared destroying our friendship too".
"So...we're in the same boat, huh". He responds after a silence that seemed to last for eternity.
"Yeah…" you look down, lost for more words. "So now that we know how we feel towards each other...do you wanna...perhaps give things a try?" you blurt out, before facepalming mentally.
"But...we're going to be preparing for our finals next year, and there'll be so much more to do. We'll be focusing on our studies, I'm not sure if we'll have time…" Shotaro trailed off, an uncertain tone lacing his words.
You silently mull over what Shotaro said, knowing that you were thinking of the same thing, and that he had a point. Yet, in your heart, the tiniest voice was nudging you to just give it a try. It was as if some angel was reassuring you that the heavens would take care of it, and that destiny was now taking its due course. "Like someone wise once said, it's much easier when you've got someone by your side. Sure, we might be busier than ever, but we'll have each other, right?" you speak up, looking up at him hopefully. "We've made it since childhood as the closest of friends through thick and thin, I'm sure we can go further as lovers as well".
Shotaro giggles hearing his own words being quoted to him. "Then let's go for it". He agrees, turning back to look at you. "I believe we can do it if we try. So...be mine?" He gazes at you, eyes glimmering with hope.
You smile wider than ever, so wide that you could probably eat a whole banana sideways in one bite. "I'd love to," you respond.
His eyes adorably form crescent moons again. "May I…?"
You already know what he wants. "Yes, you may".
With that, his hand travels to the back of your head, and he pulls you in for a sweet kiss as a spectacular display of fireworks makes its way onto the star-studded night sky, marking the start of a new year, which would mean new responsibilities for the both of you. But none of you held fear in your hearts, only pure love for each other, because for you and Shotaro, you knew you'd have each other as the fireworks also marked a new chapter of your journey together, this time as something more than friends.
»»————----------------------- ♡ -----------------------————-««
if you made it all the way here, thank you so much! i hope you enjoyed it, have a nice day :D
tagging: @bangchan-fairy @moonsclover
#ficscafe#nct imagines#nct au#nct fluff#nct scenarios#nct angst#shotaro imagines#shotaro scenarios#shotaro fluff#shotaro au#shotaro x reader#shotaro x y/n
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"If I'm not careful I'm gonna end up writing content for a character who literally never appears in 141 episodes"
I mean, you are more than welcome to. In fact, we will gratefully encourage this.
you encourage chock? you encourage chock like the author? oh! oh! tk fic for anon! tk fic for anon for Two Thousand Words!
(also, heads up that i am moving next week! have been working on Importance of Timing when i can, but the first chapter probably won't be here for another two weeks at least.)
---
Verin Thelyss, Essek knows, is a seasoned battle commander and strategist.
He’s also in possession of the instinct to tackle people when he’s excited, so Essek is well aware that it’s only those decades of training and experience that have his little brother pausing for the briefest instant as Caleb and Jester teleport him into the hold of the Nein Heroez before he launches himself at Essek in a dead run.
Veth and Caduceus are at their respective homes, Kingsley watching over the ship, but he is far from alone - Yasha and Fjord each have a supportive hand on his shoulder, a silent assurance from the tense minutes waiting for their friends to return from Bazzoxan. They swear in unison and scramble for their weapons as Verin screeches to a halt just shy of shunting Essek straight though the hull and yanks him into a rib-crushing hug.
He burrows into the junction of Essek’s neck and shoulder, made possible only by virtue of the activated floating spell that puts the coiffed swoop of his hair a full inch above Verin’s. “Thank the fucking Light, you’re not actually dead.”
“What the fuck, he’s like a swearing puppy,” Beau hisses. There’s a soft thwap as Fjord gently smacks her across the back of the head.
Essek is feeling out the edges of friendly intimacy, still, stumbling through every brush of fingers and shared look of exasperation, but even he does not need Jester’s frantic gesturing to prompt him to lift his arms and awkwardly wrap them around Verin’s shoulders.
It’s like wrapping a single thread of silk around one of Yasha’s biceps. Clearly he is not built for comforting.
Verin stiffens with a single sharp twitch of his ear against Essek’s collarbone . Essek’s thoughts flail wildly between an expectation of tears or a dagger to his ribs, but his brother just laughs, loud and hearty, and snuggles even further into his personal space. “I see someone’s finally taught you how to hug back - you should have written and told me, this is better news than any number of pages on den politics.”
Essek bristles. “Careful, or I will stop,” he huffs, somewhat more waspishly than he intends to.
Luckily, Verin has proven immune to his moods. “Oh, please don’t,” he insists, voice still crackling with glee. He grins, warm and wide enough that Essek can feel it against the side of his neck. “It just makes doing this that much easier.”
“Doing what,” Essek says reflexively, even as the tiny portion of his brain that he allows to remember his childhood starts to blare an alarm. “Verin-”
It’s far too late to realize that Verin’s hands have somehow been maliciously positioned just along the backs of his ribs.
Jester, standing with Caleb behind Verin, perks up in clear interest as the corners of his mouth start to twitch up. On second thought, Essek thinks he’d have preferred the dagger.
“Verin,” he hisses again, fighting back the anticipatory shiver crawling up his back. “Don’t - don’t you dare-”
It’s about then that Verin’s evil, evil fingers find the edges of his mantle’s arm slits and squeeze him even closer as they stretch to wriggle under his arms.
He snatches his arms back, but it’s too late - a dismayed giggle sneaks from his throat, then another, and then he’s beating helplessly at Verin’s shoulders as he dissolves into high, squeaking laughter.
Every single nerve between his armpits and his ribs squirms in unison - a bubbly, slippery sensation even more potent for how long it’s been since he last felt it. “No,” he shrieks. “I - ahaha! eeheee! - no tickling, no tickling, Verin-”
Jester looks thrilled - she’s bouncing on her toes, babbling something to Caleb that’s inaudible over the rush of his own laughter. Light, the Nein are going to tear him apart for this-
“Yes, tickling,” Verin protests, laughing right along with him. “All the tickling! You let me think you were dead! For months! I thought I was never going to get to watch my poor brother giggle himself to pieces ever again!”
He’s not, because Essek is going to kill him. “That - nahaha, hff, ahaaa! - that was - ha - it’s been decades - stop, stop, there’s people!”
“Yeah, people,” Beau says, loud and smug and far too close behind him. “Hey - Verin, was it? - does hotboi here have a worst spot?”
Oh no. Oh no. Essek squeezes his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to focus and does the only thing he can while laughing like an idiot.
With a shaky flick of his wrist, his floating dispels. Verin yelps in surprise as gravity takes Essek straight out of his grip.
The instant his boots hit the deck, Essek twists the rest of the way out of his grip and bolts.
There’s nowhere to go, really - the Nein have a room full of Counterspells, and Verin can run faster than he can, and he’s already tumbling halfway back into laughter in giddy anticipation of being caught. Still, it’s a surprise when he stumbles into a brick wall of leather and biceps that resolves itself into Yasha as she hoists him back into the air.
“Oh, where do you think you’re going?” She sounds admirably innocent given the soft, teasing smile she gives him.
“Noooo,” Essek giggles. Heat gathers in his cheeks as he tries to make himself stop - it doesn’t make sense, he’s not even being tickled anymore, but even the potential for it flutters light and fizzy at the bottom of his lungs. “I - I’m not ticklish anymore, I’m not-”
The Nein and Verin cluster around the two of them, bubbling with various levels of amusement. “Really?” Beau drawls. “It’s cute that you think denying it has a single fucking chance of working.”
The sarcasm helps him center himself, if only a little - he buries his face in Yasha’s arm and sucks in a deep breath that doesn’t do nearly enough to get rid of his blush.
He straightens as best he can while being bear hugged by a barbarian. “I am denying nothing,” he says carefully. Jester is still bouncing next to Beau, fingertips already twitching where they’re curled sweetly on her cheeks around a mischievous beaming smile, and Essek has to look away before the nervous snickers still wobbling on the back of his tongue can worm their way free. “I am well aware that Verin is - incorrigible-”
He hisses the last word in his brother’s direction - again, harsher than he intends, but he is so unused to being soft around him - and fails to contain a shy smile as Verin sticks his tongue out in retaliation.
Jester’s tail waves its way into the edge of his peripheral vision. He jumps and looks over at Fjord instead. “-but I, ah, I would ask for more respect from the rest of you-”
“You really shouldn’t,” Fjord says, grinning boyishly back at him. “I mean, you know us.”
And then, to Fjord’s right - “Essek?”
He’s been avoiding looking at Caleb. It is foolish, perhaps, to think that after all of the incredibly stupid things he knows Essek has done he will decide to judge him for this, but he cannot help the way his shoulders stiffen as he twists a little further to meet the gaze of the last link in their semicircle. “Yes?”
Caleb looks - focused, in an offhanded way, like he’s intent on something happening just slightly out of their current reality. Stunned might be a better word for it. He blinks for a moment before focusing those keen blue eyes somewhere near Essek’s eyebrows. “Ah - did you know that when you laugh, your ears -” He puts his hands up to his own ears and flaps them a little.
Drow do not run particularly warm, but that only makes it easier for Essek to feel the heat absolutely flood back into his face. “I-” he stammers. Nearly a century of politics is nowhere near enough to help him keep a straight face. “I - ah - eeh!-”
Caleb is close enough to reach out and run a questing fingertip over Essek’s left ear - it flicks wildly, trying to dislodge the unexpected tickle, but a surprised squeak still slips out.
There’s a moment of silence before Verin starts to snicker. “Oh, I like your friends,” he says merrily, beaming. “Go on, Light knows he doesn’t let himself laugh enough otherwise.”
“Don’t,” Essek gets out hastily, but Caleb is already reaching out for another go and Yasha’s grip is firm enough that all he can do is squeak again. “Wait - hm, hnn!”
Beau sidles up to Yasha’s side and gives him a self satisfied leer as she reaches out across their little group to pluck the feather from Fjord’s tricorn. “You got him, babe?”
“I do,” Yasha confirms and lets out a little squeak of her own as Beau reaches around her, no doubt squeezing something entirely inappropriate with company present.
“Hot,” Beau smirks, and reaches to flutter the feather over Essek’s right ear. “Aw, does that tickle? Thought you said you weren’t ticklish, man.”
Essek maintains some facsimile of composure for all of two seconds before his face crumples “Nnn - hehehe - eheehe - oh!”
His lungs are surely going to burst, with the way they’re shivering out desperate giggles as he shakes his head frantically between Caleb’s fingers and the teasing feather. He can’t move his arms, so he kicks his legs instead. “Please,” he begs, nearly incomprehensible even to his own ears. “Ah - aha, heeheehee! - tickles-”
Verin leans down and scoops his ankles up with one ridiculously sculpted arm. “Essek, you’re going to put a hole in someone with those boots.”
He looks up, raising his eyebrows teasingly, and Essek’s stomach drops like he’s cast something on it. “Here, I’ll fix that.”
Essek’s eyes, narrowed with laughter, shoot wide open. He doesn’t remember Verin being this evil - but then again, his brother’s never been egged on by five other people determined to render reports of his death more realistic.
“Verin, Verin, no-” he tries, but he’s giggling so hard that he can’t even get the words out. He twists as far away from Caleb and Beau as he can, flailing frantically, but Verin’s grip holds firm.
He pouts dramatically. “What? Is it my fault that my tiny, ticklish wizard brother insists on wearing metal-tipped boots that endanger everyone?”
Essek opens his mouth to reply and promptly dissolves into another frantic peal of laughter as Beau gets bored of his ears and shoves her feather in Caleb’s direction before jabbing a finger between his trapped arm and his chest to get at his armpit. “Your - shihihit, shit, ahahaaa, not there! - your arcanist brother is going to kill you just as soon as I can- hahaha!”
Verin just laughs, unlacing one of his boots and starting to slide it off. “Is that your attempt to convince me not to tickle your feet?”
Jester, practically vibrating, emits a sound that perhaps only weasels can hear. “Oh, that’s so cute! Can I have one of them?”
“One of his feet? Sure.” Verin hands over an ankle, grinning down at Jester. “You, I think you’re my favorite.”
As Essek gasps and struggles and falls further and further into a formless mirth that makes him feel so light he can hardly bear it, there’s a different sensation at his ear. A hazy portion of his brain identifies it as the rough bristle of chin scruff and an amused huff of breath.
“You don’t really want them to stop, do you,” Caleb murmurs. “I will help you, if you do.”
It’s quite unfair, Essek feels, to try and make him explain himself while he’s strung out and dizzy with laughter. He tries anyway, for a syllable or two, but Verin digs in between two of his toes and he ends up just tipping his cheek against Caleb’s and shaking, laughing too hard to make a single sound.
“Alright, then,” Caleb says. “In that case-”
He brandishes the feather with a flourish more suited to somatic casting, swooping it down the length of Essek’s nose before directing it back to his ear.
“Tickle, tickle...”
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You Took My World Away.
Author Note: Am I starting off with an angst fic about Erwin? Yes.
Summary: Erwin didn’t really focus on love, not until he met Reader. Although, nothing good really lasts for him, so losing his lover wasn’t that suprising, but his potential baby? it hurts. Really, really, bad.
Pairings: Erwin x Reader
Type: Feminine Reader
Theme: Angst
TW: Death, Swearing, Injuries, Miscarriage.
[gif belongs to the rightful owner]
He knew it’d happen eventually.
Your presence wasn’t there at HQ anymore, he knew that he’d never get to hold your hand one day, he wouldn’t hear and see you greet him a good morning by the kitchen when he walks by, he would never be able to catch you in his arms ever again when your ODM gear breaks down while you swing around during your off days.
He just never knew how soon it was, he realized how much he took you for granted, when they brought what was left of your body to him, he realized how stupid he was to not have been there by your side. How stupid could he have been, you must’ve been so lonely while you passed.
Nobody spoke when Erwin softly cried as he held your body, nobody tried to talk to him to let go of your corpse, not even Hanji or Levi. His friends surrounded him and you, he held you close to his chest as his friends tried to make him feel better, “Erwin? You should let go, alright?” Hanji gently clutched your limp arm as Erwin had quieted down. “No, I-” Erwin strained voice tried to speak.
“Erwin. Let her go.” Levi’s voice cut through, Erwin looked at him with pain and disbelief in his eyes, “You- Why aren’t any of you grieving?-” Mike’s hand placed itself on his shoulder. “We are, Erwin, but you have to let her go.” Erwin’s grip around your body had tightened. Levi held his wrist, as Hanji slowly pulled you out of his grip. Erwin tried to pull you back in his arms, Levi and Mike pulled him back, restricting him from taking your corpse away from the soldiers who were responsible of handling the corpses of other soldiers.
“You don’t understand, I need to-” Erwin tried to explain himself, as he looked at Mike and Levi frantically, as if to tell them to let him go. The two squad leaders struggled to hold him back. “Erwin, snap out of it! You knew this would happen!” Levi’s harsh voice tried to get through to Erwin, but his cerulean eyes were focused on his lover’s dead body as it slowly faded out of his view.
“You can’t take her away from me!” Erwin’s pained cries tried to convince Hanji to turn back, they could feel their tears run down their cheek, they could feel their grip on your body tighten slightly, as if they too, didn’t want to hand you over, with a heavy sigh, you were placed on the rickety wood of the carriage that carried also what remains of soldiers who fought bravely to their deaths.
———
“Oi, Erwin.” Levi leaned by the door frame, watching as the blonde sat in his chair, holding what seems to be a piece of jewelry, by the way the sun rays shone through the window, blanketing his restless figure and the item with different shades of the sun’s gold, the piece of jewelry produced a glare that seemed bright white to those who chose to stare at it head on.
“Levi?” Erwin looked up from his seemingly long gaze at your necklace, looking up to meet Levi’s industrial blue eyes, who seemed to glare at him from the door frame. “What- what are you doing here?” Erwin’s voice sounded rough and dry, as if he was dehydrated or had a sick throat.
“You haven’t left your quarters, not even for meals, besides, Hanji needs a break from being in charge in your place.” Levi looked away from Erwin’s full blue eyes, it has been fairly obvious that Erwin still hasn’t gotten over your demise.
“Oh yeah, uhm, I’ll be there.” Erwin looked over at Levi who seemed to be fishing something from his pockets. “You don’t have to start working soon, I’m just, here to deliver something honestly.” Erwin’s figure perked up as Levi’s footsteps came closer, placing two letters, one was a blood-stained letter, the second, a letter with the doctor’s wax seal was on it.
Of course, the doctor’s letter came first, probably news about you, his beloved, late wife. He grabbed his letter opener, prying gently at the black wax seal that kept it closed until it was delivered to him.
He slowly removed the parchment out of the envelope, placing it on the side as his eyes scanned the words on the parchment. His eyes scanned it over and over again before a heavy and broken sigh came out of his lips. Levi looked over to Erwin who seemed to be on the verge of crying once again.
Levi knew better than to poke through Erwin’s business so he left quietly, closing the door to give his commander some privacy.
Erwin’s hold on the letter tightened as it wrinkled the parchment. It read,
———
Trost District, Jan. 16th 851
Commander Erwin Smith.
Survey Corps.
Commander Smith, I am writing to you about your late wife, Mrs. Smith. I am saddened to share with you that your wife had carried while in battle, she was 4 weeks in her pregnancy, I am terribly sorry to be the one who had to inform you of your late child, I bring my condolences and hope that soon enough, you’ll be able to come from Trost to Wall Sina to collect your late wife’s corpse and give her a final resting place.
My Condolences
Dr. Edward Harley
———
Erwin felt himself freeze, he tried to take in deep breaths, doing anything to prevent him from spilling his tears, he knew if even one spilled from out his eyes, he’d never stop crying again.
The overwhelming guilt of not being able to be there by your side in the battlefield, to not be present during your passing, you must’ve cried for him, he shook his head, trying to rid himself of his thoughts of you and looked up to the dirty ceiling of his quarters as he tried to blink his tears away.
He continued on, he felt his hands weaken as he reached for the blood stained letter, he knew it was from you, the rich royal blue wax seal, a sign of extreme passion for the one who was to receive the letter. His letter opener pried at the wax seal, opening with a bit more force from the knife.
He pulled out the parchment the envelope dropping as soon as he let it go. He read this slowly and carefully, different from the doctor’s letter. His eyes ran over your written words carefully, making sure not to miss not even one letter on the parchment. He didn’t even notice his tears staining the parchment, the ink slowly spreading into the parchment, not being water-proof.
The letter was carelessly thrown onto his desk as he cried his heart out, the letter read,
———
Dearest, Erwin,
My beloved husband, I am currently writing this letter on the day of our wedding, I will carry this letter everyday with me, for in fear of my demise being uncertain whether it’d be today or years later.
It pains me, the thought of leaving such a remarkably amazing husband behind, I knew from the day we both met each other that our lives will be short, which is why we both married as soon as we were sure that we truly wanted to spend every second of our lives being in each other’s arms. I wanted to start a family with you, Erwin. I knew it will be hard to be able to start a family but I want to someday, I hope that both of us live long enough to atleast have a child together, I wish to wake up in your arms everyday, I wish to watch you and our child play around as they laughed cheerfully from enjoying their childhood.
I am sorry that it came to the time you’re reading this now, rather than a time where we lived happily, I was selfish enough to wish that you never had to read this and I was able to throw this letter away. I want you to know that my death will not keep us apart, this world was cruel enough to take me away from you.
I am strong enough to tell you that even if in this time I’m taken away, I will still find you in another life, I will wait a hundred years to be with you again, my beloved husband and hopefully, the future father of my children.
I promise that I will perish with you as my last thought and our wedding as my last memory, may we meet again.
Yours Truly, Y/N Smith.
———
He finally let his cries out, it wasn’t silent nor was it pretty, it was loud and painful, his eyes stung from the salty tears that left it, the painful and broken cries from his mouth went ignored by Erwin, the letter now laid on his desk as he had his head in his arms, his shoulders shook with every cry, his lungs begged to breath big breaths rather than staggered and short ones.
His hands clenched around his hair, it felt easy to pull out his hair, he could feel the cold ring on his finger, which used radiate so much warmth, even if it was the coldest night or the winter days. It was like the ring was powered by your presence. It felt warm rather than cold metal whenever you were with him. Now it feels cold forever, colder than any blizzard or colder than ice on his skin.
He cried out his guilt and his anger, he cried out the guilt of not being able to grant you the one wish you wanted, a family.
He felt horrible knowing that he could never hold you or his child ever again. He should’ve kept you here, he should’ve never let you went on that expedition. He should’ve been there. He wanted to turn back time, even just a few seconds from your death he could’ve at least done something, just something.
Erwin cried for what seemed like endlessly, hours it felt, on the other side of his closed door, was Levi and Hanji, who was stationed around his door, Hanji sat down on the ground, the tray of food originally brought warm enough so Erwin could atleast enjoy something while mourning, now laid beside them cold and tough.
They listened as Erwin let out staggered breaths and pained cries, they listened as their friend was miserable. Levi glared at the closed door of their friend’s quarters, as if it was to blame for the pain Erwin felt.
They sat and listened to Erwin’s cries over and over again, waiting for the right time to come in and comfort their blonde-headed friend.
“Levi..I can’t stand to listen to him anymore, I’m going in.” Hanji pulled themselves up, dusting their uniform before grabbing the door knob, a pale hand covered Hanji’s, they looked over to Levi’s face, emotionless eyes bore straight in Hanji’s pitiful ones.
“Let him cry and mourn, he won’t say anything if we go in there, you know he keeps to himself.” Levi suggested, Pulls back as Hanji let out a small sigh, stepping back from the door.
“I wish I could help him.” Hanji mumbled, sitting back down beside the closed door, trying their best to drown out Erwin’s muffled cries.
“Everyone loses something everyday, it just so happens to be the most important thing, Erwin lost these past few days.” Levi looked over to Hanji before glancing at Erwin’s door and walking away, leaving with slight sympathy in his heart.
Hanji soon walked away with the cold tray in hand, unable to take the overwhelming aura of sadness and guilt radiating off Erwin’s quarters, Hanji walked away with sadness built up inside themselves and a determination to lead while Erwin grieves.
Hanji looked back one more time, seeing Levi retreating back to his office before mumbling something as they walked back to the mess hall, deep in thought.
“Captain Hanji?” Moblit’s voice broke through her train of thought, “Is something wrong?” The blonde spoke worriedly, Hanji looked up at Moblit before speaking softly.
“As much as I think what Levi said is right, I don’t think Erwin just lost something, I think he lost his whole world.”
#snk erwin#erwin snk#erwin smith#attack on titan x reader#attack on titan#aot x reader#aot#shingeki no kyojin x reader#shingeki no kyojin#aot veterans#snk x reader#aot x y/n#aot angst#erwin x reader#aot erwin#erwin x y/n#attack on titan erwin#sweet.erwin#sweet.aot
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the one where you walked me home (porco x reader fic)
the one where you walked me home (porco x reader)
contents: porco x fem reader, mentions of marcel galliard, childhood friends, best friends to lovers, fluff, pining, alternate universe - college/university, modern au, bisexuality, smoking, porco galliard-centric
rating: teen and up audiences
summary: When he walks her home that night, Porco realizes he might have feelings for his childhood best friend. He has no idea in hell how to deal with it but he tries.
word count: 5079
notes: i just thought it'd be interesting to try writing a modern au porco/reader fic in a more porco-centric POV. what i try to do here is explore how he deals with the soft sappy feelings of slowly realizing he's in love since he's pretty bad at emotions and even more so when it's not a [strong, violent type of feeling]
*fic loosely based on this song:
*this is also cross-posted on ao3
***
2:40 AM at an empty parking lot behind a 7-Eleven. The nearest lamp post flickers weakly with its dimming orange light as Porco sets down his third empty beer can on the concrete with a yawn.
“Hey,” he says, lightly shrugging the shoulder against which she leaned her head on. She doesn’t budge from beside him. He rubs the lethargy off his eyes.
They’ve been sitting on this parking block for almost three hours now-- since they left the gig hours ago at the pub just across the university. They’d just spent the past few hours ranting about midterms and how fucked up alienated labor is along with the absence of ethical consumption under capitalism-- and how everyone is forced to participate in it, talking about trips they’d like to make in and outside the city, their ideal lovers, and anxieties about the future. This was a thing they did now and then, usually on Fridays and Saturdays-- seeking a kind of cathartic escape from their hectic academic life in each other’s company. A friendly rendezvous they’d jokingly call dates every now and then.
He leans forward just enough to get a peek at her face, partly obscured by the mess of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes.
So she’s asleep.
His eyes dart towards their things lumped together beside her feet-- their backpacks sitting atop an A4-size sketchbook along with the last unopened beer can.
Porco idly clinks his finger against the top of the beer can he had just emptied as he breathes out a wistful sigh.
Somehow, she always reminded him of his long-gone brother. Not to say that she shared even a bit of Marcel's fairly easygoing yet charming demeanor. Because she was far from that. She was loud with a crude mouth-- more like Porco himself, really-- except that she at least was kinder, more pleasantly charismatic towards other people than himself. And in that way, yes, she did remind him of Marcel. But there were other things-- pastimes and memories that reminded him of his brother when she came to mind. They’d known each other even as kids. Back in middle school, Porco remembers how she’d visit their home on the weekends so the three of them could build a Lego city which Marcel himself had drafted on the back of one of his sketchbooks. Those two were always quite the artists even as kids-- Porco recalls fondly. His brother had been the one to introduce her to Porco during one of those weekends. He didn’t like it at first-- how Marcel would seem to pay more attention to her at times as they animatedly sketched parts of the city on paper in the middle of assembling the Lego blocks. He’d eventually learned to be tolerant of her presence at least as the weekends passed by and the city gradually came to life-- vast with skyscrapers, houses, trees, vehicles, and lamp posts. Porco distinctly remembers building a garden with her beside a house that resembled the Galliard residence. He had assembled the green pieces that resembled leaf blades onto the flat Lego board, while she topped them off with tiny colorful flower pieces. It was honestly quite fun and it became a thing he eventually looked forward to on the weekends with Marcel.
But all things come to an end and at times, at points where they feel like they’re not supposed to. Porco knows this well.
In Marcel’s old room, the city remains hidden away, unfinished.
It was on a rainy day when Marcel had met an accident on his way home with a schoolmate. Onlookers had witnessed him racing against the red light to push Reiner away from the path of an incoming vehicle.
Even if it was an accident, Porco despises Reiner after that. He'd decided to never talk to him after the incident but as fate would ridiculously have it, they’d meet again in high school-- as classmates, nonetheless, to his dismay.
It was after this same incident that Porco had grown closer to her-- the only other person who possibly knew Marcel almost nearly as he himself did. She knew about the city and she knew about his sketches, after all. In the first few days after his brother’s wake, they’d simply talk about Marcel as they walked home together after school and how they both missed him. Those walks home would eventually involve detours at the nearest Mcdonald’s where they’d get nuggets and buy a Happy Meal-- the ones that came in flimsy cardboard packaging printed with colorful cartoon mascots-- for the sake of getting the collectibles that came with them. It was a thing they never really grew out of. Even now, as college kids, whenever they’d find themselves eating out together at the nearest Mcdonald’s after their Philosophy classes scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they’d get themselves a Happy Meal, even if they sometimes earned puzzled looks from the cashier as they engaged in quick, petty quarrels as to which collectible they should get.
Soon, Porco feels her shuffle in her seat beside him, the weight of her head now off his shoulder. She rubs the sleep off her eyes with a yawn.
“...should go home,” she drawls, accidentally kicking one of the empty beer cans sprawled in front of them on the concrete. It lands right at the feet of a passer-by who in turn shoots her a cold glare before kicking the can back in her direction. "I-- hey, uh, sorry about that," she apologizes, louder than necessary. Said passer-by only clicks their tongue in annoyance as they raised a middle finger at her before walking away with a muffled swear under their breath.
She exchanges incredulous, befuddled looks with Porco for a few silent moments before eventually letting out a snort and bursting into a fit of stupidly drunken laughter with him.
“...is what I mean… fucking capitalism... makesnasshole out ofveryone,” she remarks, broken phrases drawn out in between chuckles. “Yeah, yeah. I got it for the tenth time,” Porco says, laughing with a roll of his eyes. He stands up and stretches out a hand in front of her. “Now can we go home? Can’t exactly start a revolution when the alcohol’s fucked you up that bad,” he says with an impatient sigh.
“Yeah? How do you know? Did Karl Marx write that?” She languidly takes his hand.
“No, but-- fucking… well, I don’t know. Maybe? Indirectly? I mean, we did just give in to consumerism,” Porco says with a sharp click of his tongue as he pulls her up to stand.
“Well… yeah. I guess so.”
“Anyway.” Porco places a palm at the top of her head and urges her to face him. “You seem more out of it than me. I’m walking you home this time, alright?
”She shrugs languidly. “Sure, whatever,” she says, her words muffled as she falls face first into his chest.
--
“Give me the fucking keys,” he says coarsely after her third failed attempt at unlocking the door to her own flat. In the dim light of the hall, Porco tries to make out the shape of what he recognizes as the right one among the five keys dangling from her keychain. He sighs, frustrated as he finally unlocks the door.
“How the hell did you--?” Confused, she eyes the keys still dangling from the door. “Why wouldn’t it open when it was me?”
“For the love of--” Porco runs a palm down across his face with an exasperated sigh. “You were forcing the wrong key.”
“Oh.” She snorts trying to stifle a chuckle. Porco pulls the keys from the door and hands them to her along with the sketchbook he’d been carrying.
“Thanks.” She gives the door a light push before finally taking a step into the flat. And then a sudden stop. She pockets her keys and lets the sketchbook fall on the carpeted floor of the foyer. She tilts her head pensively for a few moments, staring blankly at the darkness of her room. Porco raises an eyebrow in confusion. She turns on her heel to face him again.
“What is it?” he asks.
She stands on the tips of her toes, eyeing Porco with what felt to him like newfound curiosity. She rests a hand on his shoulder to steady herself.
Her other hand soon reaches up to cradle the side of his face. It comes as a surprise, but not the kind that made you flinch or visibly react in some way. This was simply… unexpected. Weird. And somehow new.
She’s looking at me. And she’s looking like she’s waiting.
And what is she waiting for, exactly? He feels a nervous lump in his throat, swallows it down. He has half the mind to lean his face closer as he, too, looks at her-- and he looks at her like he’s waiting.
Alas, whatever this is-- it ends where it feels like it’s not supposed to.
“‘Night, Porco,” she says with a feeble smile before falling back flatly on her feet.
“Yeah. You too. I’ll see you around,” he says, tentatively glancing at his side.She crouches down to lazily pick up the sketchbook before finally entering her flat again. Porco catches her giving him a tiny wave through the crack of the door moments before she completely pushes it closed. He bids her goodbye with a curt nod.
Once the door closes, he rolls up the sleeve of his jacket to check the time.
3:15 AM. Porco raises a palm to his cheek. The ghost of her touch lingers on his skin.
***
“Are you serious?” Porco scoffs. “Y/N, you’re not even watching the film.” He leans his head against his palm with his arm resting on the side of the couch.
“Sure I am,” she says, unpinning her hair before letting her head fall on his lap. As she types out a message on her phone, Porco manages to make out Pieck’s name at the top of the chat box.
“You keep checking your phone.”
“It’s fine. We’ve both seen this film before anyway. I told you-- I’m just rewatching it for my paper on Nietzsche.”
“So you dragged me into this for what?”
She gives a halfhearted shrug. “I don’t know. Felt like it. Just wanted to bother you for a good film.” She finally sets aside her phone to look up at Porco with a shit-eating grin. He sighs and flicks a finger against her forehead. “Ow. What the fuck.”
“At least try to look like you’re actually watching,” Porco says, turning her head to face the TV screen.
"Fine, fine," she says with a grimace as she kneads the pain away on her forehead.
They’re now about an hour into Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. As lovers Joel and Clementine ran through the memories-- hand in hand mapping the history of their relationship-- the ups and downs-- scenes of the two playfully mocking the film at a drive-in theater, a stroll through the flea market leading into talks of having a child, lovemaking underneath the covers as Clementine told Joel about her insecurities rooting from childhood-- all these small intimacies that nonetheless revealed to each other their flawed, detestable selves along with reasons they probably shouldn’t be together, Porco realizes it.
He looks at her, notes the way the flicker of the TV screen daintily lit up her solemn face and how she’d break into a smile every now and then. She’d brush the back of her hand against his knee and point at the TV screen to tell him that this was among her favorite parts so he absolutely had to pay close attention. A bit funny considering she was the one who wasn’t paying much attention to the film during the first part, Porco thinks. At least she’s watching now, even as he can’t help but watch her instead.
As he absentmindedly brushes a hand against her hair, he wonders if they could be something more, wonders if they’d be anything like Joel and Clementine-- imperfect, but nonetheless worthwhile. They’d known each other since they were kids and he can definitely make a list of things he doesn’t like about her-- like the way she’s too loud and frisky and never seemed to take the right things seriously, how scatterbrained she was that she’d forget the schedule for a midterm exam and how her room always seemed to be in shambles, the way she was so stubborn she’d easily get upset at something as simple as choosing to eat at a fast food different from the one she insisted on, how she’d smoke in his dorm no matter how many times he’d told her that she could get him in trouble for it. But it's not like he's perfect either. She’d told him that he came on too headstrong at times and that’s why a lot of people felt intimidated by him-- a trait that had gotten him into fights and eventually, long afternoons of detention back in high school. She says she hates the way he thought himself too strong to cry in front of anyone and how he’d grown dismissive of opening up to her as they got older. Whenever they’d get into heated fights, she’d tell him that all you ever are is angry and how he was pretty shit at saying sorry like he meant it. And despite all of these, they had remained close friends over the years. They’d promised each other that they’d get better-- slowly, but surely-- even if that was something easier said than done. He could live with that. He would.
***
“Hey, uh--” Porco breathes out a puff of smoke as he hands her the cigarette. He gazes distantly at the parade of city lights before them-- from the headlamps of the vehicles passing below them on the bridge, the streetlights, and the buildings overhead. “--do you still like Pieck?”
She suddenly lets out a cough and a puff of smoke at that. She gapes at Porco incredulously.
“Pock, it’s been three years since we broke up. And that was high school.”
“Look, I know that, but--” he sighs. “I was just wondering.”
She laughs. “That’s not really what you wanted to ask, is it? There’s something else.” She raises an eyebrow at Porco. He rolls his eyes at that, irked at how easily she could read him. “So ask.” She passes him the cigarette and he takes a drag of it.
“Ok--” he says with a sigh. “--Have you liked any other girls after her?”
She raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
“No, not really. Nothing serious, at least. I mean, I did have a crush on this girl who sat beside me in English class during freshman year. But... that was freshman year, you know? Nothing ever really came of it. And you know I would have told you if something actually did, anyway."
“I see.”
“There’s more you want to ask,” she says with a cheeky smile.
“Ok. Fine.” Another drag of the cigarette. “How about-- boys? Have you liked any guy at all since then?” The city lights blur against the filter of smoke. Porco refuses to meet her eyes even as he feels her gaze on him-- heavy with something he could not exactly put his finger on. He knows she’s not smiling anymore and from his periphery, he thinks he senses a swallow in her throat. She turns to the city overhead.
“Yes, actually.” She takes the cigarette from him, smiling fondly upon the light brush of their fingers. “I-- you know, even though I’ve known for a long time that I liked both guys and girls, I still find myself doubting that sometimes. When I’m attracted to a girl, I sometimes think that maybe I was just gay all along. And now that I find myself actually liking a boy again, a part of me entertains the thought that maybe me liking girls was just a phase and maybe I was straight all along. But... I just know it’s not like that. And yet, what people say still gets to me-- they’ve got a way of making you think that being bi isn’t a real thing. Even though it is. I know because... I’m real, right?”
“Yeah. You are. You’re… you’re here.” The corner of his lips turn up as he says it. “I get it. I mean, I think I’m the same.”
“Really?” She turns to gape at him.
“I suppose I’ve never told you this either because it’s so fucking embarrassing, but…” He sighs defeatedly, kneading his temples with unease. “...I made out with Reiner in high school.”
She regards him with a scandalized look.
“Dude, what the fuck. I thought you hated the guy.”
“I do, alright? It’s just that… teenage hormones and shit. I was stupid and he’s stupid. I-- I don’t know what I was thinking that time. But… I do wonder sometimes--” He scratches his head tentatively. “--what my brother was thinking rushing in to save him from that accident. Like… just what did he see in that meathead that was worth saving?”
“And did you find your answer to that when you were making out?”
Porco eyes her with a deathly glare.
“Fuck you.”
“Oh, so you did,” she says with an impish grin.
Porco flicks a finger against her forehead.
“Ow-- hey! Stop that,” she says with a grimace. “I mean, I don’t blame you. Reiner’s hot.”
He clicks his tongue at the remark before hastily seizing the cigarette from her grasp to take another drag. "Not like he's the only guy I ever found ho-- I mean liked."
She laughs.
"We should head back," he says coldly.
"Sure.” She nods. “Though… is there anything else you wanted to ask?"
As the filter of smoke hangs between them, Porco wonders about the boy she likes.
He shakes his head. "No. It's nothing."
***
“It was like deja vu,” Porco says, sighing into his phone as he shifts to lie near the edge of his bed. “Except in this dream… before she said goodnight, we, uh--”
“You kissed?” Pieck suggests from the other line.
“Well… yeah.” He puts a palm to cover his face, feeling the flush on his cheeks as he says it.
“So you like her,” Pieck says, almost breaking into a chuckle.
“I, uh…”
“I get it. She’s charming and reminds you of Marcel.”
“That’s…”
“I’ll be honest with you.” She sighs and Porco senses a smile from her tone. “Remember when I said I broke up with her because uni was getting too busy? The truth is that… I feel like you two always seemed to get along better than I ever could with her-- and it probably has to do with Marcel. When I realized that, I’ll admit I did start to feel jealous. I thought back then that you two might eventually get together. After all, you two were both still in high school, while I was already away in uni. It left me distraught for months so I just... decided to break it off. Don’t get me wrong, though. It’s been years and it’s not like I haven’t dated anyone else since then. And in hindsight, that just might have been for the best. I mean, you confiding in me about her right now-- I think-- is a testament to that. Because you realized it too, didn’t you?”
“Oh." He pauses. "I never thought that you-- Pieck, look, I--”
“Pock, if you feel guilty about it just because I used to date her, don’t. It’s not anyone’s fault. That… that she just loved you first. It’s circumstance. She met you and Marcel first before me.”
That she loved you first. As Porco echoes the words in his head, he becomes acutely aware of the beating in his chest and the warmth swarming his face. He buries his face in a pillow and screams into it.
“Hey, Pock? You ok there?” Pieck chuckles.
“How do I-- you think I should tell her?”
“Well, it’s the honest thing to do. And I genuinely think you don’t stand to lose much by doing so. Even if by the littlest chance of her not returning your feelings, I don’t think confessing would ruin your friendship. Might be a little awkward at first, but I don’t think she’ll end up hating or avoiding you at all.”
“You sure you’re not just sayi--”
“No, Pock. I’m not just saying this because we’re friends. I’m saying it because it’s what makes sense.”
“Ok, well… thanks,” he sighs. “And by the way… I’m sorry I called you this early. I know you’re probably busy especially since it’s your thesis year.”
“It’s fine. I’m glad you told me. Frankly, I do find satisfaction in knowing my speculations are correct. And you guys… you two are more predictable than you think-- if I’m being honest,” Pieck laughs.
“Well, I suppose being predictable isn’t so bad… if you’re right.”
Once they bid each other goodbye on the phone, Porco remains sprawled across the bed staring blankly at the ceiling. He rests a palm on his cheek, internally cursing Marcel as he feels the warmth streaming his face once again.
***
“Fuck,” Porco swears under his breath as they both ran towards the car, their feet splashing against the puddled ground as the rain cascades. A looming thunder rolls across the night sky as they make it to the safety of the vehicle.
“So… still not convinced that trying to get a Happy Meal on a rainy Friday at midnight was a bad idea?” Porco says, trying to catch his breath as he sets down the paper bag on the space between their seats.
“Well, I’ll admit it kinda sucked that you had to have your car still parked in school. And in my defense, I didn't expect the drizzle to cascade so soon on the way back. But you know what? It’s fine. We got what we needed and that’s all that matters. I’ll stand by this being a good idea.” She laughs as she peels off her drenched jacket. “Oh, by the way, where can I put this?”
“Just put it in the backseat,” Porco says as he peeled off his own jacket.
“Got it. Here, give me yours too,” she says before turning to place both of their drenched jackets in the backseat.
“Thanks.” Porco switches on the car’s dome light and the windshield wipers. The car’s interior now warmly lit, he rummages inside the paper bag, then hands her a box of chicken nuggets along with a plastic fork. “You want the fries now or later?”
“Later’s good. Thanks.” Porco acknowledges her with a nod, then leans back on the car seat with a languished sigh.
The rain patters incessantly against the windows over the rhythm of the windshield wipers. The faint yellow glow lulls from the ceiling of his car. He recalls a rainy evening spent staring out the window as he nervously waited for Marcel to come home. A distant memory weighs heavy on his eyelids.
“Porco. Are you ok?”
“What? Yeah.” Porco shifts lightly in his seat, slightly startled. “I just… remembered something.”
“What is it?”
“The rain. It just reminded me of Marcel.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Yeah.”
“You know, he was…” She puts down her food and lightly wipes the sides of her mouth with the back of her hand. “Back then, I considered him as something a little more than a best friend. I like that he liked my drawings and how he never made fun of them… even though he was ways better than me at it,” she recalls fondly.
He scoffs. “So… are you guilt-tripping me for something I said about your drawings when we were twelve?”
“You were an asshole, but you should be glad I’m past that.” She rolls her eyes with a sigh. “All I’m saying now is that Marcel was... really special to me.”
“What-- did you have a crush on Marcel or something?”
She snorts. “You could say... it was something like that. Yeah.”
Figures. He nonchalantly crosses his arms in front of his chest. The pattering rain fills in the lull in their conversation.
“I like your drawings too,” he finally says.
“That’s why I drag you along every time I go out to draw. You like watching me, right?” She teasingly raises an eyebrow as she says it.
“Well, sure.” He shrugs awkwardly in his seat.
“Tell me. What else do you like?”
“I don’t know. Let’s see…” he sighs, feigning annoyance with a roll of his eyes. “I like it when I’m in the middle of pulling an all-nighter at Tim Hortons… and you go on and disturb me just to get a Happy Meal on a rainy Friday midnight.”
“Yeah?” she chuckles. “What else?”
Porco turns to glance at her. As she meets him with a playful grin, his mind races with answers.
I like it when you steal my jacket and you leave me to freeze to death in the cold of the cafe’s AC. I like it when you go on a chaotic, semi-coherent drunken rant about how badly you want capitalism dismantled. I like it when you remember Marcel. I like your hair. I like how your hands unpin your hair before you rest your head on my lap.
He scoffs-- more in reaction to his own thoughts than at her teasing. Who knew he could be that embarrassingly sappy? “What are you… getting at?”
“Nevermind.” She shakes her head, still smiling. She laughs while timidly raising a palm to her cheek. “Can we share your fries now?”
***
“So I’m thinking of getting a tattoo,” Porco says, settling himself on the dormitory steps faintly lit by the porch lights hanging on both sides of the entrance.
“Cool. So where do you want it?” She sits beside him while setting down her things-- a shoulder bag and a sketchbook on the concrete step.
“I was just thinking on my arm,” he says, pointing a finger at a spot on his skin.
“What do you want it to look like?”
“Not sure yet.”
“I could draw you one.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure. I could do it right now.”
“Really?”
She takes the ballpoint pen out of the spring of her sketchbook and begins to doodle something on his arm. Covering her drawing with a cupped palm, she chuckles while mischievously peering up at him.
“I swear to god, if you’re drawing something embarrassing-- Oh, fuck you.” Porco laughs, managing to take a peek at the ink drawing of a cartoon porcupine with the hair on its head stylishly pushed back. Below the drawing, it writes 'porcopine.' He pulls his arm away from her grasp.
"What? You don't like it?" She grimaces.
"Porcopine? Really?"
“What? It's cute,” she says with an offended click of her tongue, reaching for his arm once again.
Below the word 'porcopine,' she then writes the phrase 'i <3 you.'
Porco furrows his brows upon reading the phrase, then lets out a chuckle. “What does this--?” he asks, pointing out the inked words on his skin.
“What do you mean? It is what it is.”
“You mean it?”
“Of course I do.”
“How do you mean it?”
She tilts her head pensively and squints at Porco as she gathers how to describe exactly what she meant. She supposes that he’s right-- a clarification was indeed necessary. This kind of thing could get confusing, after all. When you’ve known each other for so long in a relationship such as this, lines tend to blur. One day, you could both feel like the bestest of friends, and then like lovers the next.
“I mean it in a way that I wouldn’t mind marrying you.”
“Oh.” Porco gapes at her for a moment. “Ok,” he says, letting out an awkward chuckle.
“What’s with that reaction? I’m serious, Pock.”
“I just… I mean, to be honest…” He furrows his brows, carefully pondering his words. “I wouldn’t mind marrying you either.” Porco scratches his head sheepishly.
“Ok then,” she chuckles, shifting in her seat to face him. “We could build something. Something bigger than a Lego house. Maybe one with a garden. A story with a perfect ending.”
“Yeah? And if it’s not perfect, what then?”
“Something worthwhile, then. An ending that feels like an ending.”
“Ok. I can live with that,” he laughs.
“Porco.”
As she cradles his face in between her palms, Porco becomes acutely aware of the flush in his cheeks.
Then, slowly, she leans closer to gingerly place a kiss at the tip of his nose.
They soon find themselves both chuckling at what was probably the most blatantly romantic gesture between them thus far.
“So, uh, what are we now, exactly?” he asks awkwardly as they soon pull away.
She shrugs. “Lovers? Best friends who would marry each other? Though the latter is kind of a mouthful if you ask me.”
“Yeah. Let’s go with that first one.”
“Say, Porco.” She tilts her head questioningly at him. “You want to tell me how this night ends?”
“How the hell should I--”
She puts a finger to his lips and shakes her head. “Hey. Lovers now, remember? I’m not the only one telling this story. So tell me.”
“Ok. Let’s see,” he sighs. And so he indulges her. “It ends with you beside me. We’re lying down on my bed.”
“Clothed or naked?”
He gapes. “Are you seriously even consi--”
She flicks a finger against his forehead as she regards him with a mischievous smile. “Just answer the question.”
“Ok, fine,” he resigns, lightly kneading his forehead. “Look, I want to say naked because my AC’s broken ri--”
“Naked it is, then.”
“Clothed.” He glares. “For tonight.”
“Fine, fine,” she says, scratching her head in resignation. “You sure you’re not having second thoughts about letting me stay tonight, though? Not worried you might wake up with a bunch of porcopines on your face? Or I don’t know-- dick drawings?”
“Fuck off,” he says with a chuckle.
“So… what is it, really? You want me to stay or you want me to go?”
Porco sighs before slowly leaning his face closer to hers.
“I want you to stay,” he says against her cheek, before placing a chaste kiss on her skin. “Whatever I wake up to in the morning, I’m sure it’s worth it.”
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Stealing Moments
Book: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir
Pairing: Liam x Riley
Summary: The Royal family spends the afternoon taking part in some pre-Easter (or preaster, if you will) activities.
Rating: G - I’m not going to sugar coat it (sugar is the last thing this story needs), this is some majorly fluffy stuff here. Even for me, and I’ve produced some pretty fluffy work.
Word Count: 1,947
A/N: So this story is a triple threat:
I am participating in @wackydrabbles prompt #88 “I meant every word.” Which will appear in bold.
I am also participating in the @choicesaprilchallenge2021, day 3 teal. That prompt will appear in italics.
I am also participating in @trraw, day 2 Liam. That prompt will appear in the form of a handsome and charming King.
A/N 2: This is an idea that I thought of while I was writing my upcoming Uncle Drake fic (you’ll see that one on Sunday), so I decided to write it up as a little prequel to that. Thank you to @jessiembruno for encouraging me to take my crazy throw away ideas and make them into something, and also by contributing this adorable moodboard. You are a Canva master. To think, not too long ago you hated it and cursed it out on the regs!
Tags: You know the drill, they’re down below. I hope you get it! If you want to be added or removed, let me know!
Liam sat in his study, wrapping up some paperwork before his next meeting when there was a knock on the door. “Come in.”
Bastien entered the room and shut the door behind him. “Sir, Lord Neville is demanding an audience with you. Immediately.”
“Of course he is. Tell him I am unavailable, and to make an appointment with my assistant before he leaves.”
“I did. I explained to him that you have an important afternoon meeting that could not be rescheduled. He didn’t appear to care.” Bastien chuckled to himself. This wasn’t the first time Neville had tried to weasel his way into an urgent meeting with the King.
Liam let out a deep breath as he stood, scrubbing his hand over his face. “Of course he didn’t. That’s fine, I need to get to my meeting anyway. I will tell him myself.”
Almost immediately upon exiting his study, Neville was in his face. “Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter that requires your immediate attention-”
Liam held up a hand, silencing him. “I’m sure you do, Lord Neville. Unfortunately, I am on my way to a very important meeting, so I am unable to sit with you right now. Please see my assistant on your way out, and she will be happy to book you for my next available appointment.”
“With all due respect Your Majesty, that simply won’t do. It won’t take long, perhaps I could walk with you to your next meeting?”
Liam internally rolled his eyes at the suggestion. He knew just how to stroke his ego to get him to back down. “Lord Neville, as one of our most valued members of court, I couldn’t possibly do you the disservice of giving you anything but my full attention on what I’m sure is a crucial matter. That is all I would be doing if I allowed you to continue at this time. I will make sure that my staff adjust the schedule to provide us enough time to examine the issue thoroughly. Please send me any documentation as soon as possible so that I may review it before our meeting. That way, we can hit the ground running when we do meet.”
Neville stood tall, a smug expression quickly spreading across his face. “Very well, Your Majesty. I appreciate your assistance in the matter. I will leave the documentation with your assistant.” He bowed, and Liam nodded in response before exiting the area and moving on to his next meeting.
“If I may say sir, the way you handled that situation was truly masterful.” Bastien commented as they walked through the palace.
Liam chuckled and patted his security guard on the back. “All in a day's work, my friend. Everything is in place for this afternoon, I trust? I will have no disruptions for the remainder of the day?”
“Yes Your Majesty, the staff has been fully alerted that you will be unavailable. I will be at the door to ensure that you are not bothered.” Bastien replied.
Once they arrived at their destination, Liam crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him. He was the last to arrive, so the sound of the door caught the attention of those that had already gathered.
“Daddy!” Eleanor jumped out of her chair and ran straight for Liam, leaping into his arms.
“Hello Princess.” He chuckled as he held her close, placing a kiss on her cheek. “Are you ready to decorate some Easter eggs?” He carried her through the livingroom area of the royal quarters, returning her to her seat at the kitchen table.
“Yep! I helped mommy mix all the colors together. It was so fun!” She gestured to the cups of coloring spread out across the table.
Liam couldn't help but laugh at his daughter’s enthusiasm as he approached his wife, who was standing at the table making the final preparations for their afternoon project. “Hello, beautiful.” He leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on Riley’s lips.
“Hey handsome. You made it right on time. I’m impressed.” She teased.
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world. No matter how hard Neville tried.”
“Neville, yuck!” Eleanor chimed in, causing both of her parents to burst out laughing.
Riley turned her attention back to her husband. “Alright, you go get changed. I don’t want you ruining your fancy king clothes with egg dye.”
Liam kissed his wife and daughter before going into the bedroom to put on some more casual clothes. He returned unnoticed as Riley explained the egg dying process to Eleanor. He stood for a moment and watched them, his girls, his world. He couldn’t help the smile that quickly spread across his face at the sight.
“Daddy, come on, we can’t start without you!” Eleanor called out to him from the other side of the room, breaking him from his thoughts.
He returned to the table and stood between his girls. “Alright, I’m here. Where do we begin?”
Not only was this Eleanor’s first time decorating Easter eggs, but Liam’s too. He was told that as a Prince, there were more productive ways for him to spend his time. It was just one of the many childhood experiences being royalty simply didn’t allow for. He was so happy, not just to have this experience for himself, but to share it with his daughter. Another way to give her the childhood he never had, but always wanted.
Once Riley explained the process, they got to work; since she was the seasoned professional, she let Eleanor and Liam take the lead and do most of the work. She marveled in the similarities in their gestures, the concentration on their faces as they placed their white eggs in the dye, and the excitement when it would come out dyed a bright color. At one point, Riley couldn’t help but laugh when they pulled out their eggs at the same time, and looked up at her with identical expressions of joy, showing off their creations.
They had gotten down to the last egg, Liam turned to Eleanor, “Ok Princess, we’ve got one left. You get to pick the color.”
A thoughtful expression overtook Eleanor’s face as she surveyed the colors that surrounded her before turning to her parents and confidently announcing her decision. “Teal.”
Riley and Liam locked eyes and shared a confused expression. There was no teal, they had only prepared basic colors, blue, green, yellow, pink, and purple. “Baby girl, we don’t have teal. These are the only colors we have.” Riley explained.
Eleanor’s lip started to quiver as her arms went across her chest. “I want teal. Please.” Her parents had been teaching her the importance of manners, so she figured if she said please, they had to give her what she wanted.
They both knew what that lip quiver meant, they were going to need to move quickly to avoid a total meltdown. Liam approached the princess and started rubbing her back to keep her calm. “It’s alright Eleanor. Why don’t you tell me why you want a teal egg so badly?”
“It’s my favorite color.” She looked up at her father, a pleading expression etched in her face. Her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
There was no question that Eleanor had the King wrapped around her finger, and when she looked at him like that, there was absolutely no way he could deny her. “Alright, let me go talk to mommy and see what we can do for you.” He kissed her on her cheek and returned to his wife. “Riley, there must be something we can do. I can send someone to get teal coloring. We have unlimited resources at our disposal, there must be some way we can make this happen for her.”
Riley shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Man, you really are a sucker when it comes to her. Aren’t you.”
“For both of my girls, actually.” He lifted her hand to his lips and brushed them gently across her knuckles, while giving her a hopeful expression.
She sighed deeply, as much as she tried to fight it, she was also a sucker for her family. “Alright, I guess I can try to mix the blue and green together. Maybe I can get the right ratio to make a teal dye.”
Liam turned to Eleanor and gave her a thumbs up, she clapped her hands and cheered in response. Riley got to work carefully mixing the two dyes into a third cup, occasionally dipping a piece of paper in to test the color. She smiled to herself when the fourth test paper emerged from the cup. Mission accomplished. “Did somebody want to make a teal egg?”
“Me me me!” Eleanor raised her hand and jumped up and down in her seat.
Riley placed the cup in front of Eleanor and handed her the egg. The pair worked together to color the final egg to the princess’s exact specifications.
Liam watched as the two of them completed their family project. His heart was so full at that moment that he felt weak in the knees. He reached behind him and laid his palms against the kitchen island to steady himself. He stood there as his wife, the love of his life, sat with his daughter creating memories in their home. In that moment, he wasn’t a King, he was the luckiest man in the world.
With the help of her mother, Eleanor pulled the egg from the dye, her smile growing exponentially as she proudly looked up at her father to show off her work. “Daddy, we did it! It’s teal!”
Liam chuckled at the sight in front of him. “I think it’s the most beautiful egg I have ever seen, Princess.”
Riley looked up and noticed Liam’s expression before leaning down to Eleanor. “Hey sweets, why don’t you go wash up for dinner while I put all of this away.” Her daughter looked up and nodded before rushing down the hall. Riley approached Liam and put a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, are you alright?”
“Love, I can honestly tell you I have never been better.” He placed a hand on her cheek. “Do you remember our first date? During the social season?” She nodded. “You asked me what my dream was, and I told you I wanted a real family, one that was close and listened to each other.” He paused, staring deeply into her eyes. “I have that, because of you Riley. You’ve made my dream, my heart’s desire, come true. Going into my social season, I had all but given up on falling in love, and assumed I would simply marry for duty. Then you uprooted your whole life to give me a chance at happiness. I will never be able to tell you how truly grateful I am for all that you have given me.” He placed a lingering kiss on her lips.
“Liam, I did it for me too. That night in New York, I had never felt like that before. I was not that girl, the one that drops everything to fly around the world for a boy I just met, but I knew there was something there that was worth exploring.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Really?”
Riley laughed gently. “I meant every word.” She leaned in to kiss him, and he pulled her close.
They pulled apart just as Eleanor bounded back into the room. She ran straight for her parents and jumped into Liam’s arms. He held her against one side, and pulled Riley into the other. He was sure that life couldn’t get better than that very moment.
Tags:
Permatag- @anjanettexcordonia @athena-penrose @cordonia-gothqueen @cordoniaqueensworld @gabesmommie1130 @gkittylove99 @hopelessromanticmonie @iaminlovewithtrr @jessiembruno @kat-tia801 @khoicesbyk @kingliam2019 @lucy-268 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @mile9213 @mom2000aggie @pixie88 @queenrileyrose @secretaryunpaid @sweatyrysconnoisseur @theroyalheirshadowhunter @twinkleallnight @txemrn
One Shots- @darley1101
Liam x Riley- @jared2612
@choicesficwriterscreations @wackydrabbles @choicesaprilchallenge2021 @trraw
#choices fic writers creations#wacky drabbles#choicesaprilchallenge2021#cac2021#trraw2021#choices stories you play#play choices#choices#pixelberry#choices trr#choices trh#trr fandom#trh fandom#trr fanfic#trh fanfic#the royal romance#the royal heir#choices the royal romance#choices the royal heir#king liam#trr liam#trh liam#liam x mc#riley brooks#liam x riley
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an absolutely massive Haikyuu!! fic rec pt. 3
KageHina AND KuroKen because I’m very picky with these ships so there’s not a lot :/
KageHina:
The Cure for You (is You), by tsunderei (6k. T. canonverse)
Brooo...cute shit
Kageyama knew they would separate after graduation. He knew he was going to miss Hinata. He just didn’t know he’d still be here, three years later, nursing an old crush that now seems more or less ruined by time and distance and stupidity.
discovering the smile of one kageyama tobio, by emleewrites (8k. T. canonverse)
Innocence, pure innocence. Those are synonyms, shut up.
Kageyama blinks once before a grin of his own spreads over his face. Shouyou’s breath halts in his lungs at the sight, and he wills for time to stop, just so he can drink it in. He sees it sometimes, when they’re playing - Kageyama’s fierce smile when they pull a combo off just right, when they show their opponents how possible the impossible can really be. But then there’s another serve, another rally, and the moment is gone.
'Shame', Shouyou thinks to himself, as he lets his eyes roam over Kageyama’s stupidly happy face, taking in the creases that are from joy rather than frowning, for a change. 'It’s a really nice smile.'
-
In which it's their third, and final, year in high school and Hinata has only one goal: to make Kageyama smile outside of volleyball.
room to grow, by Mysecretfanmoments (6k. T. canonverse)
Third year Kageyama is considerate, careful, doesn't grab Hinata's hair. Hinata's still trying to figure out how he feels about it.
where the night goes, by bigspoonnoya (20k. M. canon-divergence)
This one is very popular, and for good reason! It's beautiful.
When their bond loses the immediate context of volleyball, they're left to consider why it's still so vital and important.
Meeting again, by chance, six years later.
thirty-three days of mist and mountains, by tinygumdrops (curryramyeon) (36k. T. canon-divergence)
Kageyama, that’s a lot of paper, sir. I sure hope you recycle, god damn.
Tobio runs by himself every day. Even though he can't shake off that awful feeling that something's closing in on him, he still does it. It's habit now.
When he gets a phone call that Hinata Shouyou is thinking of coming to Italy, Tobio feels like he has to run even faster.
(Or: Tobio has a month to prepare himself before his high school rival comes to visit him. They haven't spoken to each other for two years, and Tobio can't even remember what food Hinata likes. He's got a lot to think about.)
soft serve, by tothemoon (9k words. T. canonverse):
Alternatively, the fic that made me immediately go out and buy a pint of ice cream after reading. So cute and fluffy! We’ve got a socially awkward Kageyama and, if I may, a little bit of a subdued Hinata. Cute, cute, cute. Want ice cream.
"I'm gonna run you over with this truck," Kageyama says, with only half of his usual conviction.
(Because frankly, he's still flabbergasted that Hinata would remember his favorite flavor.)
Or, in which Kageyama and Hinata drive an ice cream truck for a week, the former struggles with a crush, and the latter dares to eat the popsicles without paying.
Fake it, Make it, by zadderlee (50k words. T. canonverse. Unfinished):
Ah yes, the classic fake dating that causes real feelings to arise. Here for the trope, will always be here for the trope. It is an unfinished fic, but it's still worth the read. Actually hilarious and Suga had me rolling. I take back what I said about only feeling safe alone with Iwa, I’d feel safe with Suga (lets be honest, with almost all of the Haikyuu boys. But not Atsumu. Rat bitch (I love him so much).
"Because Kageyama is already dating someone!"
"Really? Who?"
“Me!” Hinata shouts suddenly, grabbing Kageyama’s hand as an afterthought and grinning triumphantly, like he’s somehow missed the implications of what he’s just done. Kageyama is going to kill him.
touch, by buu (3k. T. canonverse)
Pure, young love. COVID-19 doesn’t exist yet. (WASH YOUR HANDS, DAMMIT)
Hinata doesn't notice it at first, really. It's small things, natural things, like when they sit together at lunch and Hinata ends up hooking his ankle over Kageyama's and he doesn't move away; in fact, he seems to not notice it, and go on eating his lunch like nothing's different.
we are the sparks that never fade, by thecivilunrest (4k. T. injury au)
A Kageyama injury fic and I never realized how painful that could be until I read this work.
The first thing Hinata tells him after seven years is, “Toss to me.”
confession, by buu (3k. T. canonverse)
Just a really short, sweet school-boy love fic.
“You've been an ass to me for three weeks!” Hinata blurts, and finally the weight of it is pushing down on him. He's been trying to ignore it, telling himself it's just Kageyama being Kageyama, but this isn't like him, this is weird, and Hinata hates it. He's miserable.
kisses, by buu (3k. T. canonverse)
So many smooches! So pure!
There's a blur and Hinata remembers warm lips, surprisingly soft from someone who frowns all the time, and Kageyama's terrified face when he pulls back, and the electricity running through Hinata's entire body, heating his cheeks to match Kageyama's.
Kissing, it turns out, is as good as volleyball.
Never More Cruel, by dawnstruck (3k. T. canonverse)
How have you not read this?? I know you haven't, so read it and smoosh in sweetness with me.
Hinata starts fading away from him, and Kageyama tells himself that he doesn't mind.
Kuroken:
teach me the way home, by icespyders (22k. T. canonverse)
WHY DOESN'T THIS HAVE MORE HITS??
Don’t go far off, not even for a day, because —
because — I don’t know how to say it: a day is long
and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station
when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep.
Kuroo and Kenma grow up in transit.
Good Calls, MemeKonHQ (MemeKonYA) (4k. T. canonverse)
Captain Kenma, captain Kenma!
His first morning practice as a third year starts with a blur of gray and red moving fast towards him on his peripheral vision the moment he sets foot inside the gym, and then a pair of lanky arms gracelessly falling over him as Lev contorts himself in all sorts of ways to properly envelop him like some sort of octopus.
“Kenma-san!” He basically screams, thankfully far away enough from his sensitive ears that it doesn’t outright hurt. Lev puts his chin over the crown of his head and Kenma sighs, “Kenma-san! I am so happy! Some of the other second years thought you would bail on us! But you didn’t! Now you can keep tossing to me.”
(Or: Kenma's third year. Or part of it.)
even if you're ahead for a bit, i will catch up, by ghostpot (4k. G. canonverse)
Kuroo sticking to it.
Kuroo first confesses when they're sticky-fingered, wide-eyed kids, and subsequently every day after that. Kenma takes a while to come around.
the golden route, by astersandstuff (12k. T. canonverse/road trip au)
Why is it so hard to find good kuroken fics? This is so good, though. Kenma and Kuroo in a van, on the road, kisses, and mackerel pike.
“It’s a three-and-a-half hour walk,” Kenma points out, on the subject of the cat’s home in a town inside Ama District. “Why aren’t we taking the train?”
“That cancels out the point of a road trip,” Kuroo argues.
“Railroads are roads.”
“We’re currently leading a frugal existence.”
-
Or, in which two childhood friends go on a road trip and Kenma builds up a quest.
love's not the way to treat a friend, by girltalk (8k. T. canonverse/post-canon)
How sweet! To be each other’s life lines. Drunk Bokuto is the best boy.
There’s really nothing quite as revelatory as the silent minutes spent in bed during the aftermath of a wet dream involving you and your high-school best friend.
the walk home, by skiecas (42k. T. canonverse)
Gorgeous. Author writes kurokens dynamic growing childhood through adulthood absolutely wonderfully.
Kenma reluctantly spoons vanilla into his mouth, watching the sun set. And when everything is dusted in stripes of pale orange and purple and gold, he glances at Kuroo’s profile muddled in the shadows of the descending sun, and wonders whether he had somehow accidentally made friends with an impressive sort of boy. The ice-cream melted under his thumb feels maddeningly sticky, like he’ll never wash it away thoroughly enough and it would leave its mark wherever he touched before he could.
Kenma has never really thought of anyone as good-looking before, never really cared enough about these things to notice them. But Kuroo is objectively so, in this light, in this angle—maybe all the time.
(A Kuroo and Kenma life story, told in five acts).
#haikyuu!!#haikyuu fic#haikyuu fic rec#kuroken#kagehina#kageyama tobio#hinata shoyuo#kuroo testuro#kozume kenma
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I just saw your post about requests and I was wondering if you could write an enemies to lovers fic, angst with a happy ending for Minho?
hi! i don't usually write angst because i suck at it hsshs but i hope i did well and that it was what you expected and you like it! sorry for the wait too.
misunderstanding - l.mh
minho and you had been enemies since you met in high school, it kept going till you graduated and continued in university, because that was your luck, he seemed to follow you everywhere.
you didn't even remember why or how this enemy thing started. at one point, you were ready to end it, but minho was an asshole - to you - and then you decided that if he wanted war, he would have it. you were no damn coward.
on the other hand, minho hated you - or strongly disliked you - and every time you asked him why, he would roll his eyes and say "tsk, as if you don't remember" but you really didn't.
one day, you were in the cafe near your university. you had a free hour, so you and your best friend, sook, went there. your morning hadn't been the best, so you were kinda in a bad mood.
"cheer up, y/n, the day will get better"
you looked at her "it definitely won't" you said, as you saw minho entering the cafe. he went to the counter and ordered and you were praying to whoever was up there that he didn't look at you.
you sighed when he looked at you and smirked.
"oh, y/n, whatcha doing here?"
"please leave me alone, minho, today's not a good day"
"as if" he snorted and left.
your friend looked at you, and you couldn't believe that, for once, he left you alone. yeah, he laughed at you but he left.
---
it was the afternoon, you were still at your university because you had homework left and a few projects that you wanted to finish.
the door opened and when you looked up, you saw minho. you rolled your eyes and kept working on everything. he sat in the table in front of you, you could see his back.
again, you found yourself thinking of what did you ever do to him for him to treat you like this. before he got mad at you and started being an ass, you were friends. not the best friends kinda friends, but you were on good terms. it happened so long ago, but it still bothered you.
"can i know what did i ever do to you?" you said "i can't stop thinking about what you said, and the more i think, more confused i am"
minho turned to you "are you being serious right now? you don't really remember what you did? wow"
you shook your head "we were on good terms, and you were nice to me, why would i ever not treat you well?"
he looked at the wall "remember when rumors spread that i was going to confess to you before the end of second year?" you nodded "they were true, i was going to confess. i even told your best friend of the time, areum, so she could help me. but then, later that day, i passed by the bathrooms and hear her speak with other girls, without you. the conversation was about me and you, apparently she had told you that i was going to confess and your reaction wasn't the best-"
"that's why you make my life hell sometimes?!"
"let me finish. your reaction wasn't the best and you supposedly said that you were my friend out of pity and that it was disgusting that someone like me even thought that had any chance with you. i didn't want to believe it, but days later, you started to avoid me"
you looked at him, without saying a word. you got up from your seat "you know, i know you were stupid, but not to this extent. back then, i thought you knew me, but i just realised you didn't. at all. don't talk to me, pretend i don't exist. if you still are in contact with areum, i'd recommend to ask her about this"
you left, leaving with a loud bang.
"fuck her, fuck him, and fuck everyone"
---
minho didn't want to talk to areum about this. is not like he was still in contact with her, but there was a little friendship between the both of them. minho finally decided to call her.
"yes, minho? it's weird for you to call" she said
"hm... i wanted to ask you about y/n. i had a small argument with her today, about our past and-"
"lee minho! for how long are you going to be like this? this happened ages ago. she was a bitch to you. yes, you didn't find out in the best way, but you needed to know. i've been here since then, when are you gonna acknowledge me?"
she hung up. minho thought her reaction was weird, but well, she had always been like this.
---
for the next days, you ignored minho. if he waved at you, if he approached you, if he even sat near you... after his little confesion, you were beyond mad.
you told sook what happened, and even her thought that everything was messed up. you had cut ties with areum in your third year of high-school. she started spreading rumors about you, and you ended the friendship. but you didn't know or even think that she could have said something to minho.
truth is, when minho told you he was going to confess back then, your heart skipped a bit. areum never told you anything about it, and you didn't understand why she would say such things or even talk about them with other girls. and casualty, minho was passing by. there was no other option: she knew minho was passing by at the time.
as mad as you were, you wanted to clear up things with minho. your university life had been hell just because he decided to be stupid.
"doesn't matter how the conversation ends, it's the best you can do, y/n" sook told you
you didn't have minho's number, so you left a note in his locker, to meet you in one of the classes. of course, you didn't say in the note that it was you because you knew he wouldn't come then.
at five o'clock, you were waiting in the class. you decided to hide behind the open door. when minho entered, he saw no one. you then closed the door "sit there, we're gonna talk. i don't care if you don't, you'll hear me anyways" you locked the door and kept the key in your pockets.
he looked at you "i never knew that you were going to confess. never. i don't care what that areum bitch said. she must've know back then that you were passing by the bathrooms. i wasn't avoiding you, i actually went through something but it wasn't my intention to avoid you, sorry about that" you said all at once "you could've talk to me about it, stupid boy"
you were about to pick up your things and leave, but he held your wrist "i should be the one saying sorry. yesterday i called areum and she had a really weird reaction. that made me think that maybe you didn't know anything and she just played with my feeling as she pleased. i understand that you don't want to talk to me again, i just wanted to apologise"
you nodded at him "not everything's lost... maybe we can go step by step, if you want"
you left him in the classroom, thinking how he'd be able to repair the damages in your old friendship. he still liked you, and he really wanted you back.
---
minho made his mission to be friends, at least. you found him waiting for you in front of your classes, inviting you for lunch and even introducing his close friends to you.
"...so this is chan hyung, then there's changbin, hyunjin, jisung, felix, seungmin and our dear youngest, jeongin"
"nice to meet you all, i'm y/n, old friend of-"
"we know, we know" jisung said "he hasn't stopped talking about you since your small reconciliation, we know even your favourite color"
you blushed and looked at minho, who was sending glares to his friend while the rest laughed
"i have to get to know ya, then? it's only fair" you smiled
after a while, you knew what their majors were. chan, changbin and jisung were majoring in music production; felix and hyunjin were majoring in dancing, just like you and minho, but were a grade below you and minho. you remember seeing them. seungmin was majoring in veterinary medicine and jeongin in early childhood education; you all had lots of topics to talk about.
---
a few months passed, and your relationship with minho was only growing stronger. he had stopped being stupid and whatever happened in the past, you both decided to keep it there.
"do you wanna come over to my house?" he asked "we can order delivery, my treat, and watch a movie. you can also meet my cats"
he was fiddling with the ends of his shirt, so you knew he was nervous.
"is it a date?"
he looked at you "n-no. i mean, y-yes? if you want it to be?"
you laughed and held his hand, something you both liked to do even if you were just friends "i'd love that"
a few hours later, you were at his house, he told you to sit in the sofa, where his cats were. you ended up sitting on the floor not to bother his cats.
"what are you doing there?" he said
"i didn't want to bother them. they're sleeping so peacefully..." you said, smiling while looking at them.
minho swears in that moment his heart did a backflip and he stopped breathing for a second. he couldn't stop smiling at you.
"let's order?" he asked, and you nodded.
half an hour later, the food arrived and you decided to play a movie. you ended up watching one that minho chose. in the middle of the movie, you started to feel sleepy, so you put your head on his shoulder. feeling brave, he put your hair behind your ear and held your hand.
"are you tired? i can turn off the movie"
"hm. let's cuddle, i want to cuddle with you"
he wasn't someone that liked hugs, but hugging with you was something that he had been waiting for a long time to do.
after a while, he decided to speak, but you were first.
"i like you, minho. and i don't know if you like me back or not. but these past few months we've been doing this small acts, holding hands, cuddling, meeting up without the rest... i like being like this, cuddling with you and enjoy being like this. i really like you, no empty feelings"
minho stayed quiet and he felt like he was about to cry "i like you to, y/n, always have always will"
he put his hand on your cheek, and tilted his head so he could kiss you.
you felt something explode inside of you, it felt like you reached infinite happiness. you kissed him back, obviously, and started fidgeting with his hair.
"you're mine, and i'm yours"
you smiled "of course, baby"
---
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