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#(and bonus i got to include those last two gifs so it worked out)
beets · 20 days
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baby, bi bi bi
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Mr. Russo (Billy Russo x Secretary!Reader)
Author’s Note: I’ve had this fic and other Billy Russo stories in my drafts for ages, and I figured while I was working on other Daredevil and Moon Knight fics, I’d throw in some of these older ones that I’ve never posted. I think the original intention was for this to be longer and a multi-part series, but I don’t like that idea anymore. I cut about a thousand words, and I might include those as a bonus separate part--I’m not sure yet. Enjoy! :)
Summary: Working for Billy Russo wasn’t a challenge like most people would expect. You know how to do your job and how to do it well. One late night of working allows something about your past come to the surface, changing the trajectory of the relationship you share with your boss.
Warnings: Fluff, Billy softening up, angst (mentions of crappy experience in New York and the foster care system/Billy Russo being brooding and sad/hurt and rage/delicious tension), implied smut, cursing, mentions of addiction (drugs/alcohol)
Other Characters: Frank Castle
Word Count: 5,495
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Another day in the books. Although everyday at Anvil is never the same, it can get a little monotonous. You answer the phone, respond to emails, draw up contacts, and do whatever Mr. Russo needs.
Oh, Mr. William Russo.
Intelligent, suave, cultured, and the definition of sex on two legs.
He works so hard in his business, and he cares about what he does. Anything that you can do to make his day less stressful, you’ll do it, and that definitely came in handy today, even if it still is a late night for him. You catch a glimpse at the clock on your screen—7:14pm. With a tired sigh, you hear him shuffle some papers around and push his chair out, moving a short distance to slide on his coat. You hear the click of his Italian leather shoes move closer to where you sit, and you smell his expensive cologne in the gentle breeze he brings by. You watch him as he walks with a purpose when he stops in his tracks, turning around to address you. “Do you ever even go home?” he asks.
“Sir?” you ask, unsure where he’s going with this.
“You’re always here before I get here—no matter how early—and you always stay after me. I just don’t get it.”
“I do my job,” you tell him. “It’s that simple. I do it, and I make sure that I do it well.”
“You also deserve a break—a life. Don’t you have friends around to go out for a drink or anything?”
“No, actually,” you admit. “Last friend I made in New York was one from when I got here. She then took 180 dollars from my wallet and ran away, making me scrape by for food for the rest of that week. My family isn’t nearby, either, if that was your next question. Work—this—is all I have, really.” Oh God, do you sound pathetic.
“Where is your family?” Mr. Russo asks, slowly moving back to your desk.
You scrunch up your bottom lip in a frown and shake your head. “I don’t know. I grew up in the system. I’m assuming whoever my parents are, they live in the Boston area, since that’s were I grew up.”
His expression softens to something to one that you have only seen twice before. It’s not quite pity, but it’s deeper than sadness. “You grew up in the system?” he asks softly.
You give a small nod. “It changes you pretty quickly.”
“It does.” His lips part like he wants to say something more, but he presses them in a tight line and sticks his hand in his jacket pocket, his eyes swirling with a mix of emotions. 
“Is there anything I can do for you before you leave, Mr. Russo?”
He blinks a few times before he shakes his head. “N-No,” Billy breathes. “Have a nice night, (Y/N).”
“You too, sir.”
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There’s flowers on your desk when you walk in the next morning. How are there flowers on your desk?
“Hello?” you call into the office, sliding pepper spray out of your purse. “Anyone here?” Dead silence. Nothing looks out of place except for the bouquet, and after a quick sweep of the office, you see that you are alone. You look through the flowers and don’t see any card. Logging into your computer, you quickly pull up surveillance to see who delivered these. Your jaw drops when you see Mr. William Russo himself walk in at four in the morning with the same giant vase of flowers to your right. You lean back in your chair, your brain not really comprehending what you just saw. After a few minutes, you move towards the beautiful assortment of white gardenias, yellow lilies, red tulips, and magenta lilacs. You stick your nose to the flowers and take in a perfume of scents that make your chest happy and bring a smile to your face, and that smile remains on your face as you get to work and organize Billy’s day.
“Mornin’,” Billy says with a nod, walking a few hours later, not acknowledging the assortment on your desk.
“Morning,” you respond as he moves closer. “Thank you,” you say just before he enters his office. You don’t need to turn around to know exactly where he is—about a stride and a half from being in the doorway to his office, his right foot mid-step. “They’re beautiful.”
He doesn’t respond, but he takes a minute before he continues his gait into his office. 
The rest of the day proceeds as it normally does: you respond to client emails, answer the phones, do other office work, and hand Billy files, briefing him before his meetings.
“Have a nice night, (Y/N),” he says, adjusting his scarf on his peacoat as he walks past your desk.
“You too, sir,” you say. “And remember you have a 7:30 meeting tomorrow morning at the Four Seasons with Thaddeus Ross to discuss security for the SHIELD weapons conference.”
“Thank you for the reminder,” he says, turning to look at you, flashing you the faintest of smiles. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Well, considering you built this company from the ground up, I think you’d manage.” His smile grows a hair bigger. “Safe travels, Mr. Russo.”
The next few weeks proceed as they usually do, but you are dumbfounded yet again when you walk in Monday, about a month after you found the flowers on your desk.
“Morning,” Billy says, placing a coffee cup on your desk as he walks by. “Sweet cream cold brew, right?”
You turn in your chair and look at him, confusion and surprise written all over your face.
“Yeah,” you say. You notice he has a hot cup for himself in his hands. “You hate Starbucks.”
“I needed some extra caffeine this morning,” he shrugs.
“So the ‘shit-water jet fuel’ is what you were craving this morning?”
He nods, taking a sip of the drink in his hand. “Exactly,” he answers after he swallows. You can tell he still hates the brew.
“Well, thank you for thinking of me,” you say. “If you find yourself needing some more caffeine, just let me know and I’ll make a pot.”
His face says I’ll be taking you up on that in five minutes, but his lips say, “Thanks, (Y/N).”
The next morning, there is a bouquet of blush colored peonies, white gardenias, and purple roses on your desk.
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“Vultures today, huh?” Billy says as he comes out of his office and to your desk, placing some outgoing mail in your organizer, adjusting some of the flowers in the assortment of roses, chrysanthemums, and asters. “That phone hasn’t stopped ringing all morning.”
“It’s the political season,” you hum as you shift your gaze upward. “All the big wigs want the best security money can buy. You’ve made it clear that you and your people are the ones for that job.”
“You know how to flatter a man,” he chuckles, shaking some nuts you’re snacking on in his hand before plopping them in his mouth. 
“While you’re here,” you say, picking up a few slips of paper, handing them to him in an ordered fashion. “These are those calls back you were waiting for, these are inquiries from the three biggest politicians running for Senate, this is a message from Frank wanting to know if you’re on for dinner at Karen’s, and these are the Ulrich files you were waiting on.”
“Thank you, paperwork Santa,” he says, moving his gaze to quickly examine what is in front of him. “And here I thought it was gonna be a slow day.”
“Around here? Unlikely,” you grin.
He is about to say something more when he turns his head to the ringing of his direct line in his office. “Sorry,” he apologizes. “We’ll talk more later.”
You turn back to your computer in astonishment. We’ll talk more later? Is this the same Billy Russo that hired you? And does he mean casual talk or work talk? He would have made it clear, wouldn’t he?
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“Anvil, this is (Y/N),” you say as you continue typing a contract on your desktop.
“(Y/N), hi,” you hear Mr. Russo say on the other end of the line.
“Is everything alright, sir?” you ask, spinning around in your chair and watching your boss  give you a little wave through the industrial loft windows.
“We’ve been over this, you can call me Billy,” he reminds. “We’ve known each other long enough.”
“Sorry, it’s a force of habit.” You have to suppress a blush. “What’s going on?”
“I just got off of a call about that veteran’s fundraiser,” he says, and you shift to flip through the calendar.
“The one on Saturday night?”
“Exactly. They asked me to present an award and introduce a speaker that night. So in addition to networking and schmoozing, I’m gonna need to do some more things.”
“Let me know what you need to have ready, and it’ll be good to go by Friday night.”
“Actually, I was hoping you’d come with me Saturday. With my upgrade in duties, they gave me a plus one.”
What? “I appreciate the invitation, but I don’t know if I have anything black tie like that,” you say. 
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll have it all taken care of. So can I take that as I yes?”
“Y-Yes,” you stutter. “And—.”
“Perfect, you’re the best,” he says, having up the phone with a click.
Did your boss just ask you out? Or is this really just a work engagement?
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When you come home from work on Friday, you see a black dress bag hanging off a garment rack with black bag hanging next to it. Locking up and putting down your things on the table by your door, you slowly move over to it.
“Told you I had it taken care of,” the note reads on the bag.
“What did you do, Russo?” you breathe, undoing the zipper. Inside, there is a stunning pine green gown. You look at the label and your mouth drops open: Oscar de la Renta. Taking it out of the bag, you see that it has a v-back, but has fabric coming off of each shoulder to give it a kind of cape effect. You feel like you’re moving in slow motion when you dare look over at the jewelry bag on the right next to it, seeing Harry Winston embossed in gold lettering. Carefully, you take it off of the hangar and peak inside, seeing three boxes neatly arranged. Placing it on your breakfast bar, you pull out the large necklace box, opening it to reveal both a sparkling diamond necklace and its matching earrings. Shocked, you pull the other two boxes out and find that they are the corresponding bracelet and ring. As you look down in disbelief, you catch a Louis Vuitton shoe box at the bottom of the rack.
You sit down on the barstool, lightheaded about the luxury that is around you. As if on cue, you see Billy’s contact light up on your phone.
“I’m assuming you’ve seen what you’ll be wearing tomorrow?” he says after you pick up.
“It’s way too much,” you say. “I appreciate it, but all this is more—it’s too much.”
“It fits the event,” he shrugs off. “It’s a ritzy event full of high-rolling investors, contributors, and other people within the top one per cent. Trust me, you’ll fit right in.”
“I just . . .”
“It’s a lot?” You swear he’s smiling like a devil on the other end.
“A hell of a lot.”
“If it makes you feel any better, the jewelry is on loan,” he says. “But the dress and shoes are yours to keep. Oh, and before I forget, you have an appointment to get your hair and nails done tomorrow with Donna at the Marigold Spa. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Before your brain can think to ask him more, he is off the line, leaving you stunned in your apartment. 
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“Who is it?” you call from your apartment, responding to the rap at the door.
“Your chariot has arrived,” Billy says through the wood.
“I’m almost ready,” you say, nearly falling over as you try to put on the heels standing up. “Come in! It’s open.” You hear the door open and shut, and the click of expensive shoes against the vinyl floor.
“You know, for someone that works for a security company, leaving the door unlocked isn’t secure,” he teases.
“I knew you’d be over soon and I was still getting ready,” you say. “Just a courtesy.”
“To robbers.”
You chuckle as you successfully gain your footing in one of the shoes. “There’s water in the fridge if you’re thirsty,” you start as you slide on the other shoe, throwing a few last minute things in your clutch, and taking one final look at yourself in the mirror.
“I’m good," you hear him chuckle in a low timbre as you clack your way out of your room. “Thank you, though.”
“Alright, I’m all set to go,” you say as you enter the main living space.
Billy turns toward you and stands stock still. His eyes slowly look over your body from head to toe. It’s as if he’s drinking you in.
“Wow,” he finally says, his dark eyes twinkling in the lights of your kitchen.
“Well, the guy that picked it out has really good taste,” you say with a small grin and a blush rising up from your neck to your cheeks. “Thank you.”
He continues to look at you for a little while longer before he realizes that he’s staring.
“These are for you,” he says, holding out a bouquet of burgundy, cream, and lavender roses. “A little thank you for agreeing to come.”
“They’re beautiful,” you say, smelling them. You move to find a vase, getting the flowers settled before walking back towards Billy.
He puts out his arm for you to take.
“Shall we?”
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“I still can’t figure out how you manage to do it,” you say as you walk beside Billy after he schmoozes the last of the big-wigs in tuxedos.
“Do what?” Billy asks with a lift of his eyebrow.
“Work so well with these upper-crusty people. Some of them very clearly just a face at this fundraiser and don’t care the same way you do. I don’t know if I could do that.”
“Unfortunately, that’s just what the business is sometimes,” he sighs. “But then I remember that Anvil gives veterans an outlet when they get home—a legitimate career. Then it makes the schmoozing and pretending to care about their Hamptons houses easier.”
“That’s a great way to think about it,” you say softly. 
“Sometimes that’s all you can do.”
Instead of walking to the direction of your table, Billy leads you to the edge of the dance floor.
“Care do dance?” Billy smiles.
“I can’t promise that I won’t step on your toes,” you say, feeling a blush prick at your cheeks and your ears.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll have the band play something slow.”
You wouldn’t be surprised if his Marine-trained ears could hear how hard your heart is beating. 
“How can I say no to that, then?” you say with a small smile, your mouth suddenly very dry.
Billy takes your hand and leads you in. As if the band knows, the song shifts to something slow. Billy holds one of your hands in his while the other rests on the small of your back, his palm spread wide, securely holding you as you both move across the floor.
“And here I was thinking you had two left feet,” he grins.
“Well, I guess it helps that it’s not a formal ballroom dance,” you blush. Seriously, he has to know how fast your heart is racing right now.
“Is this what you thought you’d be doing with your life?” Billy asks as you slowly move in a circle. “Being a secretary, dealing with executives and government officials, and going to charity fundraisers?”
“Isn’t it every little girls dream?” you smirk, quirking an eyebrow.
He chuckles, twirling you to the music before he pulls you back into frame.
“No, really,” Billy whispers. “What did you want to be when you were younger?”
You think about it, but only briefly. “An author, I think. With all the time I spent in the system, I always tried to figure out how I could get out or what it would be like when I did. I’d just write about it. It moved from that to creating these different worlds and different people that were everything that I wasn’t and everything that I couldn’t be. Those are what made me happy. Scholarships from those stories is what got me through college to get my undergrad.”
There’s something soft in his eyes, tender even, as he listens to you talk about your childhood dream. It’s soul-churning and completely devastating in every sense of the word.
“What about you?” you return. “I’m assuming that the military wasn’t six-year-old Billy’s dream.”
“No, it wasn’t,” he admits. “I wanted to be a baseball player. But there were things that happened when I was a kid . . .” He clears his throat. You’ve touched a nerve.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—.”
“No, it’s okay. Saying that my childhood was shitty is an understatement, but it made me who I am and brought me here. In a way, I think the Marines was the only thing that made sense for me.” He gives you a gentle smile, pushing away the dark cloud that emerged on his face. “And just think: without it, we wouldn’t have met. And I don’t know about you, but our time together makes me happier.”
Your heart stops and leaps into your throat. He has to just mean as a coworker—maybe just even someone who isn’t an ex-Marine that he gets to see to break up his environment. You can’t let your mind go to these conclusions. It’d just be a disappointment, and he’s my boss. Still, you find yourself unable to look away from his hypnotic gaze, the tenderness in his expression making you melt. The song stops and he drops the frame, and you let your eyes flutter a few times so you can adjust your head out of the haze he has placed you in. Billy keeps his hand in yours as you stand, pointing his head towards your table. 
“C’mon,” he says. “I heard the steak was supposed to be amazing.”
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“Did you have fun tonight?” Billy asks as you hand him a bottle of water, his elbow cooly leaning against the island.
“Surprisingly, yes,” you admit, taking off the heavy jewels. “I don’t know, I hear fancy fundraiser, and I don’t think ‘party.’”
“That’s cuz you’ve never been to a Billy Russo fundraiser,” he smirks.
“I guess those are the only ones worth going to, then.”
“You know, I’m really glad you came tonight.”
“You are?”
“You sound surprised.”
“Oh,” you blush, but a nagging question starts to echo in the back of your brain. “I-I didn’t mean to. Just tired.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I’ll let you be for the night,” he says with a soft smile, giving you hand a gentle squeeze on the island before he moves away. “See you Monday, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart. 
Okay, that’s it.
“Are you only being nice to me because you found out I grew up in foster care?” you blurt as he walks towards the door. There’s no turning back now. “Before, you’d never say more than you needed to to me, and now for five months, you’ve gotten me flowers, you ask about my day, you know my coffee order, and you left me an insanely gorgeous gown and jewelry to wear to a fundraiser that I wasn’t supposed to go to in the first place.” You pause for a moment, processing that you’re probably running a bond that you’ve wanted for a long time, not to mention your job, probably. “What’s changed?”
“You know I grew up in the system?” he asks, his head turned to the side while his back is still to you.
“I do,” you answer. You had done some deep digging when you were applying for the job, trying to find out as much about the company and its founder as possible.
“Then you should realize that I sympathize with you. Pouring your life into something to move yourself as far away from your past as possible.”
“What I’m really hearing is that all of this from the last few months has just been pity,” you say bitterly, and you try to push away the feeling of tears stinging at your waterline. “And if that’s what this job has turned into, then I don’t need it. I know my worth, and it’s more than that—than whatever this is.”
Your statement causes him to spin around so fast you think he’s gonna get whiplash. He strides over to you so quickly you almost can’t process it. He drops his keys to the ground before kissing you hard, one hand on your waist as the other holds onto the back of your head. He almost knocks you off your feet, but his hands on your body assure that it can’t be a possibility. Your hands rest on his shoulder as your lips move against him, kissing him back just as urgently. His beard tickles a little, but you’re not moving in a way that makes it scratch. When Billy finally pulls away, you’re both left panting for air.
“It’s not pity,” he clarifies. “It’s admiration. I had always thought you were some brown-noser with daddy issues, but you always had this integrity and determination. And then . . .” he trails, his eyes intent and glassy. “I know that drive you have, and that fear of being a disappointment. Hell, that’s how I got here. I wanted to show you that we’re not that shit that happened to us. I wanted to show you that I care.”
“It’s a hell of a way to show it,” you say quietly, looking at his big brown eyes. “I, um . . .” you swallow hard and let emotion contort your face, reeling your feelings in before you continue. “Every time someone finds out, they treat me differently. I really didn’t want you to be one of those people. You might not have thought so, but the way you treated me before made me feel like I finally had a place, y’know? I had a purpose to do something. That I was needed and wanted.”
“I know,” he nods.
“I guess I’m just confused why now.” 
“You’ve been my secretary for four years. You know things about me that I don’t even know all the time. You know things about me that you don’t need to know, but you care enough to. I’ve always wanted to know those things about you, but . . . I’m not great at communication with people that—.” He stops to clear his throat, furrowing his brows together. “The only good relationships I have are with Frank and Curtis, and that’s because we’ve been through hell and back with and for one another. I didn’t know where to start with you, because you just come in and you’re like this . . . force to be reckoned with. I guess that finding out we had something in common made me think I could know you better.”
Billy tucks some stray hair behind your ear as he looks at you. “I don’t want to go back to what this was before,” he says softly. “I like this. Having a friend. Connecting with someone. And . . . I like to think this has the potential to be more than that. Than friends.” 
“Well, I guess I need to know if you kiss all your friends like that.”
A small smile spreads across Billy’s face. “Just the ones that use lemon shampoo and look good in designer dresses.”
“I’m not fired, am I?” you whisper. “Because I think a kiss like that is some kind of HR violation.”
“Not if you don’t want to be,” he responds. “I will say, though, the job market is tough right now.”
“Is this something we can do?”
“I’m willing to make it work if you are.”
You nod your head. “Let’s try it.”
Billy leans back in for a kiss, this one more gentle that the last, but just as deep. Your arms wrap around him and settle on his back, and you feel him lift you up slightly as he pulls you into him.
“We’re gonna do this slowly,” he breathes, brushing his nose against yours, his chocolate eyes staring into your soul.
“Okay,” you quietly agree. “Slow.”
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“We have different definitions of slow,” you hum as Billy presses a kiss to the back of your naked shoulder.
“Trust me, I wanted to, but I have a thing for brunettes in designer dresses,” he says, dragging his hands down the bare curves of your body in post-sex bliss. “And it looks just as good on the floor as it did on you tonight.”
You laugh as you roll onto your back, your head resting on his shoulder. 
“Hi,” he says with a dreamy look on his face.
“Hi,” you say, returning his gaze. He leans down and presses a soft, tender kiss to your lips before resting his cheek on the crown of your head. You lay like this in blissful silence as his fingers play with yours, the pale moonlight trickling into your bedroom through the curtains. You think he has fallen asleep—and you almost have—when he shifts a little on the mattress.
“Did you ever think of finding them?” he asks quietly. You know exactly who “them” is.
“I did find them,” you say. “I found out all about them, too. A little after I told you about growing up in the system, actually—curiosity got the best of me.” You think about what you know, and the silence weighs heavy in the bedroom. “My father was an alcoholic, and my mother used all kinds of drugs. They had a short and nasty relationship and split before I was born. My dad worked on the docks, showed up one day drunk, hit is head, and drowned. Based on his obituary, I was six when he died. My mom sobered up around that time, got married, and lives in Cape Cod.” You feel hot, angry tears sting at your waterline. “Two kids, and a freakin golden retriever.”
“And I’m guessing you don’t want to reach out?” he asks carefully.
You scoff. “No. Didn’t want me then, won’t want me now. I’m a part of that past that she worked to forget. I don’t want to go near her with a ten-foot pole. Besides, if she wanted to know me, she’d find me. She’d find a way. And she hasn’t. That says all I need to know.”
Billy wraps his arm around you and pulls you close, pressing a long kiss to your forehead.
“She’s missing out on the best person that I know,” he whispers.
Too emotional to respond, you snuggle into him and nuzzle your head into the crook of his neck.
“Have you?” you whisper. “Found yours?”
“I found my mom,” he swallows. “She chose meth over me—she safe-havened me. From then on it was group homes.” He’s quiet for a moment. “I think I’ve made my peace with it all. Can’t change it. But it made me who I am, and I’m okay with who I am.”
You don’t ask any more onto the subject. Instead, you snuggle in closer to him.
“For what it’s worth,” you breathe. “I really like who you are, too.”
Billy turns so you’re huddled together chest-to-chest, his arms holding onto you tightly, kissing your forehead before tucking your head under his chin. You fall asleep to the sound of his beating heart.
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You practically jump out of your skin when you feel a pair of arms loosely wrap around your middle.
“Jesus, Billy,” you sigh. “You really don’t make a sound if you’re not wearing Italian leather shoes.”
His laugh comes out as a hum as he places a kiss on the back of your neck, right on a bundle of nerves he found out about last night.
“I woke up and you weren’t there,” he murmurs into your skin. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” you grin as you turn the waffle maker.
He kisses your neck again before resting his chin on your shoulder. “I thought the guy was supposed to make breakfast.”
“Not in my house,” you say, running your fingers through his hair as you move to flip some bacon. “My place, my job to make you some food.”
“Fine,” he sighs, moving from you, but not before placing a light smack on your rear. “But I make the coffee.”
“You want any eggs?” you ask.
“Nah,” he says, pouring coffee grounds into the filter. “This all is more than enough. I don’t usually get to enjoy this part.”
“Well, if we’re gonna make a habit of this, it’s something you better get used to.”
You finish making breakfast in harmony, exchanging sections of the newspaper as you eat.
“Wow,” Billy chews, taking a sip of his coffee. “You’re destroying the crossword.”
“It’s a talent,” you smirk as you pause before filling in the rest of your answer. “Now, is it ‘ei’ or ‘ie’ in Steinbeck? I can never remember.”
“I guess you got cocky too soon,” he smiles.
“Yes, and I’m big enough to admit it. Which is it?”
“I’ll tell you, but it’ll cost ya.”
“Oh?” you say as his hand slides into mine, silently inviting you to get up and sit in his lap. You do, and his free hand squeezes your thigh.
“It’s gonna cost you a kiss,” he hums.
“Mm, you run a hard bargain, but I think I can afford that,” you smile, biting your lip as you press your mouth into his. It’s tender, and even with coffee in your systems, there’s something sexily sleepy about the embrace.
“It’s ‘ei’,” he breathes, his lips brushing against yours before placing another kiss on you lips.
“Thank you,” you say, filling in the squares and placing a soft kiss on the freckle just below his eye. His hand then gently holds your cheek, bringing your lips down to his. The kisses grow more needy, and just after he adjusts you so your legs straddle his lap, his phone starts to ring. Reluctantly, he pulls away and looks at his phone.
“Shit,” he hisses before he answers. “Hey, Frankie.”
“Brother, where are you?” you hear Frank ask through the phone.
“Yeah, no, I’m on my way,” he sighs. “I just got a little held up this morning.”
“Mm, yeah,” you hear him chuckle. “Where’d you find this one?”
Billy looks at you with warm, sparkling eyes. “I think she found me.”
“And the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day.”
“Yeah, shut up,” he chuckles. “I’ll be there soon.”
Billy hangs up to avoid any more snark over the line from his friend, but not before kissing you once more.
“I didn’t realize it was this late,” he sighs. “I’m sorry. I gotta go.”
“I know: ten o’clock runs with Frank, every Sunday. And if you go by the office, you have some extra workout clothes there so you don’t have to run in a tuxedo.”
“Nothin’ gets by you.”
“Nope,” you smile, popping the ‘p’.
You get up from his lap and begin to clean up the table while Billy moves back to your room to get his clothes.
“I will trade you one dress shirt for one very soft and fluffy robe,” he offers when he comes back into the kitchen, your Hello Kitty robe hanging from his finger.
“I guess I accept,” you sigh dramatically. You slide Billy’s shirt off of your body and hand it to him as he slides the robe onto your shoulders.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asks, adjusting the collar on your robe.
“Tomorrow,” you nod. “Have fun with Frank.”
“Somethin’ tells me I’d be havin’ more fun here.”
He leans down to kiss you, repeatedly procrastinating his delay with each punctuation of his lips.
“Okay,” he kisses. “I’ll see you—.” Kiss. “—tomorrow morning—.” Kiss. “—bright—.” Kiss. “—and—.” Kiss. “—early.”
You giggle as he takes you in for more kisses. You pull away from his reach, only to be swept back in for one final kiss.
“I really gotta go, now,” he sighs, tucking hair behind your ear.
“I know. I’ll see you soon.”
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Lovers & Friends (18+ Fic)
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Pairing: Keigo Takami x Black!Fem!Reader (Friends to Lovers)
Synopsis: In which you and Keigo have begun to realize the strange new feelings you both have for each other after one drunken night at a close friend’s wedding that ends with you in his bed, but because of your longtime friendship and committed relationships with other people, you’re more than happy to forget that night even happened and keep your mutual feelings in the dark…for now, at least. 
Story Warnings: Smutty smut; 18+ (MINORS GET AWAY); Cheating/Infidelity; Mating; Light Degradation; Spanking; Exhibitionism; Multiple Positions; Creampie; Unprotected PIV Sex; Facial; Scent Play; Marking; Spitting; Deepthroating; Cunnilingus; Begging; Edgeplay; Power Play; Wing-Stroking; Daddy Kink; Some Angst; Hurt/Comfort; Mild Violence
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!
Writer's Note: LAST CHAPTER!!! (for now that is). Thank you all so so much for reading & all the love that poured into this fic & my others. I'll have so many more, including holiday ones, in the future! -Jazz
Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Bonus Chapter.
Read on AO3 here!
***********
Chapter Twenty: Cuz You Luv Me.
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“You sure you’re not taking me to a warehouse, girls? Because this blindfold is sus.” 
You hear Yu cluck her tongue against the roof of her mouth from next to you, sitting in the backseat of a limo. “It’s for your surprise!” she explains. “I promise you that you’re gonna love it, babe!” 
"Here, you want some more champagne?” Rumi asks. You feel her press the rim of a champagne flute up against your lower lip, but you push it aside. “No, ‘cause you already got some on me already!” you whine. “And this dress is satin!” 
Yu, Rumi, and Nemuri laugh despite your complaints about not being able to get the dark, wet spots out of your beautiful, backless, satin red dress that hugs your form and makes you feel like the sexiest woman alive. You paired it with a fur coat that is soft to the touch and Saint Laurent heels that you purchased specifically for tonight. You wanted to dress to impress and celebrate tonight, whether or not you got a high ranking at the Hero Billboard Chart JP. 
“Oh, we’re here!” Nemuri excitedly announces. You feel the limo slow down and then come to a halt. For some reason, as you feel her hands move to the back of your head, your heart leaps in anticipation. You have no idea what this girl is planning for you. She begins to untie the blindfold wrapped around your head, covering your eyes. Once it’s loosened and off of your eyes, you keep them closed. “Okay…now open your eyes!” 
You do so, finding not a warehouse but a high-end nightclub teeming with activity. Two large, burly guards stand outside the tall glass doors leading to the club, each of them looking highly intimidating. The girls excitedly grin at you, wanting the same reaction and energy….but you don’t give it. You were hoping that if she had a celebration in mind, it would be somewhere lowkey like a restaurant. “A nightclub,” you sigh. “I thought we were going to dinner.” 
“They serve food here,” Rumi responds. "Shrimp cocktails and endless margaritas! What’s better than that?” 
“Rumi, I told you I was fine with just dinner and hanging with you guys at one of our cribs,” you say, eyeing the nightclub with disinterest. “After today, I’m not too hyped to be around so many people.” 
And you’re not. Though you feel sexy and you know your outfit is gag-worthy for the cameras, you don’t want to be around another crowd of people after standing in front of one today. You thought you were going to gag standing among that crowd––all of those cameras and microphones and flashing cell phones from the adoring fans. You were just about fed up with the news anchors and cameras in your face. Not to mention the stage lights. You don’t remember them being that bright. 
You thought you had prepared for the ranking event for the past week leading up to it. You thought you talked enough to Keigo and had enough reassurance from him that you would be okay. But the anxiety still kicked in. That self-doubt and criticism turned your brain into a foggy mess the minute you got up on that stage and saw your face on the screen of all of the pro heroes being ranked that morning. You didn’t feel powerful or confident standing among your peers in your hero outfit. You felt like a fraud. 
And yet, all of it was worth it in the end. Rumi raises an eyebrow at you, wondering if you’re serious.“Are you kidding? Girl, you were ranked pro hero no. 12 today! Of course, we’re going to celebrate! And don’t worry: this club caters specifically to pro heroes and paparazzi is nowhere to be found thanks to the quirked security.” 
The chauffeur then comes around to open the door, escorting you both out of the warm limo, with its heated leather seats and dim lighting, and into the chilly winter night. Why the Billboard Hero Chart JP always happens in the wintertime is beyond your knowledge, but then again, that leaves the rest of the year open for heroes to really push themselves to do their best so they can receive a higher ranking by the end of the year. And several months after the Hero’s Gala, you did just that. 
“Speaking of no. 12,” Nemuri giggles, looking like a movie star in her sleek, black fur coat, “how does it feel, my dear? The public loves you even more now!” You giddily smile, your breath coming out in fogs of air that look like cigarette smoke. “It feels no different than when I was ranked no. 13…but better!” you giggle. “I still can’t believe it.” 
You had worked so hard since the Hero’s Gala, mostly to distract the public from the debacle Rei caused when he very publicly proclaimed his love for you. Fortunately, after months of fighting villains and crime, opening sponsorship deals with different magazines and sports goods, and working nonstop with your publicist, that night was forgotten about and you were among the heroes everyone was talking about.
You could hardly believe it when you were announced ranking hero no. 12 for the year. You were standing in between Gang Orca and Ms. Joke, shivering in your boots as the announcers went through each hero and slowly climbed to the top. 
When they finally got the 10s on the ranking list, your eyes met Keigo’s who stood right at the end with Endeavor. He was already looking at you, a reassuring smile on his lips. ‘I’m here,’ it said. ‘Don’t worry.’ They were the exact words he said to you when you cried to him hours before the event started, in the middle of a breakdown: “Baby, I’m here,” he comfortingly said, his gloved hands in yours. “I’ll be right there with you, don’t worry. You’re going to get exactly what you want because you’re an amazing hero.” 
The moment he touched you, you felt every single doubt in your head disperse. You felt that he was right, which he was. You couldn’t believe it. The minute the announcer called you, it took everything in you to not scream. You stared at the ranking screen in awe, watching in real time as your name flew up to the twelfth spot. Everyone clapped for you, including Keigo and Rumi who were the loudest. “That’s my friend!” Rumi screamed in her big, boisterous voice, jumping up and down for you. You nearly cried at that moment. 
Meanwhile, Keigo was still at no. 2 while Rumi still had her spot at no. 5. After the event, all you wanted to do was fly into Keigo’s arms as he swung you around and coated you in celebratory kisses, but the news anchors had other ideas. You were forced to answer questions and be as kind as you could to the cameras even though all you wanted was a drink and some dick in celebration of your success. When the questions finally ended, you headed to the bathroom to change into your sexy clothes to fully celebrate your ranking. 
The girls had the same idea you did for tonight, dressing in their finest, sexiest clothes that would make all heads turn. The only head you wanted to turn tonight was your man’s. Your man. A stupid, giddy smile crosses your lips at the thought of him. You still can’t believe it after all of this time and he’s really your boyfriend now. Speaking of which… 
“But what about Keigo?” you ask, shivering in your fur coat and heels. "He’s still stuck at the venue. We’re here to celebrate him too, right?” Rumi pays no mind to your concern as she pulls a bag of pre-rolled blunts out of her purse. She passes one to you, but you shake your head. “He’ll be here later, he said. You know the roaches love their no. 2 pro hero.” She giggles to herself, both of you knowing that the paparazzi adore Keigo because he knows how to work the cameras so well. 
“He said to enjoy ourselves even if he can’t make it,” Nemuri points out, repeating the exact words of your boyfriend’s hours before when the event finally ended. You purse your glossy lips at the nightclub’s doors, your bones vibrating at the sound of the music pumping from inside. “I know, but it feels…weird without him.” You were hoping after the ranking event, you’d have some time to be with him. It’s been hard to do much ever since you both started picking up more shifts and work, mostly to keep up the facade that you’re both still single. 
It’s been months since you and Keigo started dating…in secrecy. Nothing has been public yet, but you’re not pressed to do so. You and Keigo both agreed to focus on your careers and rankings before letting the world know that you’re together. Plus, due to Keigo’s contract, he’s under obligation to portray himself as a single bachelor in order to garner more love from his fanbase. While that means sneaking around to meet each other for dates and late-night fucking sessions, you would rather have him this way than not have him at all. And whenever he is ready to make things public, you’ll be already too. 
“You’re just dick deprived, my love,” Rumi tuts. “But knowing the bird brain, he’ll kill one of the paparazzi just to make it here to see you in your after-event outfit.” She smiles at your eye roll. “Just don’t tongue each other down in front of me. I know y’all are dating and all now, but that shit makes me uncomfortable.” 
“You say that like we do it in front of you anyway,” you chuckle. “Us even holding hands disgusts you.” 
Like an asshole, Rumi nods. “Well, we think it’s absolutely adorable!” Nemuri retorts, sharply pinching Rumi’s ear, causing the woman to howl. “Now come on before we miss out on all of the fun!” 
The club, called “Club Pro”, is a high-end nightclub/bar/restaurant dedicated to all pro heroes who are looking for a night of fun without a camera or paper to autograph in their faces. Behind two tall glass doors is a beautifully decorated room with over three stories, sleek bars filled to the brim with the best booze, leather booths, and lounge areas, hookah sections, and cooks and chefs making the best meals for the best of heroes.
As soon as you walk in, you’re taken over by the dim lights, music, and low-key atmosphere of the place. You start to believe that maybe you’ll enjoy tonight, especially when you catch so many heroes you know enjoying themselves too. 
You and the girls walk to the bar stools located near the bar, giving smiles and waves to any heroes you notice and are friendly with. Rumi clears her throat before waving her manicured hand across the sleek bar at one of the bartenders. “Sweetie!” she calls. “A round of shots over here and your best seafood at section five, please!” You raise an eyebrow at her questionably. “Section five?” you question. “Did you make a reservation or something?” 
All she gives you is a smile which gives you the feeling that she has something else up her sleeve for tonight. Knowing she won’t tell you shit, you busy yourself on your phone while you wait for the shots to be made. No notifications from Keigo, but your phone is teeming with activity on your Twitter and IG. So many people congratulating you on your ranking. Underneath your photo of you on stage at the ranking event on your IG, you find dozens of comments from adoring fans and fellow heroes, including one in particular that shocks you:
Rei: Congrats, H/N! You deserve it! 
You: Thank you! You deserve your ranking as well for being such a wonderful hero. Enjoy it! :) 
“That was very sweet of him,” Nemuri comments from beside you. When she notices you watching her stare at your phone screen, she blushes as red as her lipstick. “Oh, I didn’t mean to pry!” 
“S’okay, Nemuri,” you giggle. “Yeah, it was sweet.” Nemuri takes this chance to ask you more, worry in her indigo eyes. “So everything is okay between you two? Did he speak to you at the event at all?” You give her a reassuring smile as you shake your head. “Yes and no, but he didn’t have to.” 
Since your breakup with Rei after his public proposal and declaration of love at the Hero’s Gala, you and him have been as friendly as two exes can be. You deleted all of his photos from your phone and on your social media platforms, but you still work well together when partnered on missions. Even at the event earlier, when you caught eyes, he gave you a smile and a nod which you returned. It was all that could be done, but it meant everything to you. 
The bartender finally returns with a tray of shot glasses filled to the brim with tequila and bowls of salt, lemon, and lime. “Here we are, ladies: a round of tequila,” he announces. Nemuri and Rumi pass him $20 each before you each take a shot glass and raise it high. “To higher rankings now and in the future,” Nemuri says, a proud smile on her face. You each clink your glasses before downing your shots. As the liquid goes down your windpipe, a short fire burns your throat but settles into a warm pit in your stomach. 
Yu gasps after drinking her shot and turns to you with a tipsy smile. “So Ms. Popular,” she jokes, “what are you gonna do now that you’re no. 12?”
You giggle, already feeling the alcohol taking effect. “Well, for one, party like it’s 1999. Then I’m going to go home, take a much-needed hot bubble bath, and celebrate in private with Hawks.” You can hardly wait for that last part. Just thinking about your winged man’s naked, muscular body pressed against yours is enough to make you cream. 
A ding coming from Rumi’s phone interrupts you and she looks down at her screen. “Speaking of the bird brain…” A slow smile curls onto her lips as she turns to you. “He has a surprise for you.” Yu and Nemuri giggle at each other, a secret shared between them.
You look at each of the ladies, confused. “What?” you chuckle. “Where is he? Is he even here?” You begin to look around for those crimson wings or that halo of hair. 
“First, you need to come with us,” Nemuri giggles secretively. “Come on, come on! Take your drink with you!” She and Yu take each of your arms and help you off of your stool before leading you over to the VIP sections. 
“Girls, what is going on?” you confusedly ask. “I thought we were takin’ shots at the…” Your words die in your throat when your eyes land on the section five Rumi was speaking of. 
Section five is among one of the VIP sections of the club, separated by a velvet room that holds a wide leather booth and a sleek, round table that is currently surrounded with shrimp cocktails, trays of oysters on ice, and gold bottles of the expensive Armand De Brignac Ace of Spades Brut. In the front of all of these delicacies is a tray of multi-flavored cupcakes spread with buttercream frosting each decorated with either a piece of fruit, chocolate, or a sparkler that spouts blue flames that seem familiar to you for some reason. On top of the booth are dozens of rose bouquets and a blinking sign that reads out, “To the no. 12 hero! We love you!” in big, bold letters that light up like the Fourth of July for you. When you turn to face the girls, they each pop confetti poppers at you, sending streams of glitter and streamers all over you. “Congratulations, Y/N!” they each shout. 
You are in absolute shock, too overcome to process everything. “W-Who did this?” you softly ask, motioning towards the beautiful arrangement. 
“Who do you think?” a familiar, raspy voice asks. “Only one motherfucker can make those flames on those damn cupcakes and it ain’t your man.” You react immediately, your body going tense and your heart flipping. When you turn around, Keigo and Dabi each reveal their hiding places behind the booth, each one of them wearing a proud smile for you. 
Keigo comes up to you first, looking hot as fuck in a burgundy Armani sweater, black jeans, and rings on his fingers that you are hoping will show up as indents on your asscheeks later tonight. “Congratulations, baby,” he coos, taking your hands in his. He kisses each of them, holding your eyes with his. “We’re so, so proud of you. I told you that you’d be okay, didn’t I?” 
Dabi comes up to you too, dressed in a black tee and sagging jeans with boots and dog tags hanging from his thick, tatted neck. Seeing him there and knowing he helped bring this to life with Keigo makes all of your emotions overflow at once. Tears pool in your eyes as you fling yourself at them, wrapping each of your arms around their necks. “You guys,” you sob. “This is so, so beautiful.” 
Each of the guys chuckle at your reaction, holding you closer to them. ”Sorry I couldn’t show up to see you at the event, doll,” Dabi sighs, rubbing your face. “I’m only allowed some hours, so I needed to be real calculated with ‘em. I managed to save enough to come see you tonight.”
You pull away from him, giving him a wobbly smile. “Don’t apologize, Dabi. I’m just so happy you’re here.” He rolls his icy blue eyes at your tearful reaction but smiles nonetheless. 
He then steps back to allow you time with Keigo, busying himself with a shot. You take that moment to be with Keigo immediately, feeling deprived of him after going so long without him today. You wrap your arms around him, gazing into his golden eyes. “You did this all for me?” you tearfully whisper, your heart pounding with love and joy all for him.
Keigo tsks, making you giggle at his dramatics. “You kidding me? You deserve this and more, Y/N. You’re the most intelligent, beautiful, hardworking, and determined heroes I know and I’m so blessed to have you in my life.” In his eyes, you see nothing but pure love and admiration for you that you know is real. “If anyone deserves that ranking, it’s you.” He wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you closer. “And I plan on celebrating with you in private back at my place if you’re down,” he whispers, subtly pressing a soft kiss to your jawline.
You feel a delicious shiver run through your spine as fantasies begin to run through your head as to what he’s got planned. “You serious?” you giggle. “I was hoping I’d get to spend my after-party with you.” You stand up on your tip toes, leaving your lips just inches from his. “I’m gonna hold you to that, Hawks,” you purr. 
Keigo is on the exact same time as you, his eyes sharp and hanging onto every movement of your soft lips. “I swear, you drive me crazy," he sighs, pressing his hips against yours. You gasp quietly, feeling his obvious hard-on pressing against you. "Remind me again why." Feeling hot and tingly all over, you press yourself against him, almost as if you're trying to become one with him. "Because you love me," you whisper. Before you know it, his pink, pillowy-soft lips are on yours and you are reminded once again of how happy you are that he is no longer your friend. 
In the background, Rumi pretends to vomit, covering her mouth at the sight of you kissing her friend. “Ew, gross!” she gags. “I said no tongue fucking!” Keigo pulls away to wink at her. “You know you love watching this, cotton tail,” he cackles. Dabi side-eyes him as he takes the blunt Rumi is smoking out of her hand and takes a long drag. “Well, I don’t. You guys are fuckin’ disgusting.” 
As Keigo begins to argue with your friends, you giggle and laugh so hard that you feel tears prick your eyes. You are filled with so much joy that it is almost impossible to hold still. When your favorite song begins to blast from the overhead speakers of the club, you have the perfect way to let it all out. “Oooh, this is my song!” you excitedly squeal. Quickly, take a shot and down it, slamming it back down on the table. “Come on, let’s go dance!” 
“Not before a toast!” Keigo calls. He takes his phone and begins recording before taking his shot and holding it high. You all do the same, standing in a circle with your glasses raised. “To tonight and many other nights like this,” he cheerfully says. "I couldn’t imagine being here with anyone else but you guys.”
His eyes meet yours and you nearly melt, feeling the same exact way he does: you can’t imagine being here with anyone else but him and your wonderful little group of friends. No, family. “Cheers,” you giggle. 
“Cheers!” they shout in unison, cheering as you clink glasses with one another. You then down your third shot of the night and by this time, you’re ready to touch the moon.
While the girls scurry to the dance floor and Dabi busies himself getting an oyster, Keigo pulls you closer so he can get a shot of you in his video. “Come here,” he coaxes you, his arm around your waist. His lips then find yours again, catching you by surprise. “Keigo,” you whisper. “What about your contract?” 
Keigo gives you a firm look and you know that he doesn’t give a single fuck about any of that. “Fuck it,” he growls. “I want everyone to see that I’m yours and you’re mine.”
You can't be more in love with him. “Well, in that case…” You take his hand in yours and give him a sexy little smile that you know he can’t resist, and won't try to. “Dance with me, baby.” 
For the rest of the night after celebrating, Keigo shows you just how glad he is that your friendship is ruined by making your thighs ache and your body tremble against his on his bed as you cum again, and again, and again all over him. And you know as the night goes on that this isn’t just tonight.
This is forever for you. 
THE END.
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awooghan · 1 year
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24 to 25 ✧.* y.ji (part two)
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➳ PAIRING: jeongin x fem!reader
➳ GENRE: fluff, angst, childhood friends to lovers, christmas
➳ WARNINGS: mild language, mentions of food, long as hell, i put the ‘slow’ in slowburn (in my defense this trope does not work without it), i’ve checked like 1922847473 times for inconsistencies but if there are any pls be nice it’s my first long fic ;w; also you can slowly see the quality of my writing decline in the end im sorry 😭
➳ WORD COUNT: 47.7k (part one: 25.9k; part two: 21.8k) i'm so sorry
➳ SUMMARY: “stay for christmas?” was a phrase jeongin first uttered to you when you were both ten years old, but neither of you had any idea the bond those three little words would hold as the years go by. (inspired by “24 to 25” by stray kids)
➳ NOTES: IT’S FINALLY UP!! i’m so sorry for the wait, i really really wanted to get this right and it took me wayyy longer than i thought it would. but i love how it turned out and i'm so proud of it. i hope y’all enjoy :’)
i’ll include more to the note when i'm not in such a rush to get this posted but tysm to everyone who helped me in writing it! @crispy-chan jas thank you for beta reading (i’m so sorry it was so long) your comments were really sweet and really reassured me that i was doing okay &lt;;33 thank u @pearleechai and @gloseoks for helping me out with that one part i got stuck on for like a week lmaooo. to elsa specifically, ty for all ur help and encouragement in the couple chapters i asked for help on :D i’m sorry it meant u had some of the fic spoiled for u tho ;w; lastly, @svtbabies hopie u have been my lifesaver from start to finish w this fic. thank u so so much for planning w me and for the multiple times you’ve saved me from a huge writer’s block. i wouldn’t have been able to complete this without you, so ty for everything <33 also ty for the banner lol
➳ IMPORTANT!!! this fic is so long that i have to split it into two parts. i'd use the legacy editor but i can't toggle btwn the two anymore 😭 i did not intend for it to be this lengthy but anything for childhood friends to lovers i guess. PLEASE READ PART ONE FIRST.
part one | [part two]
network tags: @straykidsland
taglist: @hafsa-hoofsa-heefs @crow953 @urmomma0324 @tasmtrilogy
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20.
Regardless of how desperately you wanted to enjoy Christmastime like you'd usually do, you just couldn’t bring yourself to do it this year.
You had long broken up with Heeseung, and while it did hurt immensely to begin with, it still persisted as a dull ache. You’re a little bummed you couldn’t indulge in your Christmas romance fantasies this year, but you figured you’d manage. You know that wasn't everything in a relationship; it was just a bonus, especially for someone like you.
But what does feel unbearable this year had nothing to do with love or romance. All you could think about was last year and the way Jeongin had left. 
It plagued your mind for weeks after that night, on whether or not you should have stayed and spent your time with Jeongin instead of bringing Heeseung to Jisung's Christmas party. Nevertheless, you had to remind yourself that you didn't know Jeongin had planned to leave that night—and no matter how much you wanted to, you couldn't go back and change the past. 
You couldn't tell if you resented Jeongin for what he did, or if you blame yourself for not listening to him. All the times he wanted to speak to you last year—maybe even to tell you, you just cut him off, too caught up in your new romance with Heeseung to even notice what Jeongin wanted to say.
Perhaps this was what you deserved for trying to follow Jisung’s advice when you were sixteen. “Date and move on,” he said. There was nothing to move on from, but you still tried it anyway.
And look where that got you.
Your original plan had been to stay nestled up in the comforts of your bed, watching whatever trash Hallmark had put out this year as you drank an atrocious amount of hot chocolate to comfort yourself. You were tempted to avoid Christmas plans altogether, especially when all the neighborhood party would do was remind you of Jeongin..
However, Jisung, the persistent fool that he was, wouldn't let that happen. Not when you could be watching laughable Christmas movies with him and his, and now your, friends. 
Felix and Hyunjin are squished together on the loveseat in Jisung's apartment, not that Felix seemed to mind as it gave him an excuse to cuddle someone. Seungmin is positioned on the floor, his legs crossed under the coffee table as he picks away at what little snacks remained in the bowls Jisung had laid out earlier. And you were lazily stretched out across the sofa, your head in Jisung's lap. Since Jisung was the one that dragged you out of bed, he was going to have to put up with your grumpy state.
"What do we watch next?" Felix calls out as the end credits of the Elf roll across the screen. He casually scans the room for your responses, his arms wrapped loosely around Hyunjin's waist. 
"The Grinch?" Seungmin suggests before Hyunjin quickly follows up with A Charlie Brown Christmas.
You pout. All of those sound good but you’d be lying if you said you were in a particular mood for any of them. It almost crushed you to say that, as they had brought you so much joy in the past, but none of them seemed to cut it this year. 
A few seconds passes by and you decide to speak up, throwing in a suggestion of your own. 
"Are there any Christmas animes? Why don't we watch those instead of a movie?" 
A deafening silence fills the room at your suggestion. The boys exchange confused glances with each other, and you begin to wonder if you said something wrong. If there were Christmas cartoons, surely there’d be Christmas animes, right? But your thoughts are quickly cut short when you hear Jisung gasp rather loudly. 
"Oh, so NOW you want to get into anime?!" 
Your frown deepens and you hit Jisung's thigh with your fist. "Shut up, it was just a suggestion." 
Another silence hangs in the room and the other three boys watch you silently like hawks, as if they were ready to pounce on you at the next move you’d make. You hate how small you feel under their piercing stares, and you shuffle to the other side of the couch in hopes that they’d stop.
"This isn't because you miss a certain person, is it?” Jisung chirps in a teasing tone. He crawls over to your end of the couch, a grin pulling at his lips as he pokes at your cheek repeatedly. “Is that why you're all Scrooge McDuck?" 
You jerk your head away and shove his hand back, letting out a strangled groan. "Oh my god, Jeongin has nothing to do with this! and it’s Ebenezer Scrooge!" 
Jisung snorts, crossing his arms over his chest. "I never said Jeongin's name." 
"He got you there, just saying." Felix chimes in with a shrug. 
You huffed frustratedly, spluttering, "I– this– this isn't about Jeongin, and this isn't about Heeseung either. can we just move on from this already?" 
"You know it's okay to miss him, right?” Hyunjin says, his voice soft. “You’re not doing anything wrong." 
"I never said that!" you groan again, raising your voice slightly. "I can’t suggest an anime because you guys assume I miss someone? Can I not do anything without you guys thinking it’s about a boy?!”
"Well, you never even mentioned anime once until now,” Seungmin points out, “the only reason you would is because of Jeongin—”
“It’s not about Jeongin!” you snap, burying your face in your hands in defeat. “God, I hate men.”
A chorus of offended ‘hey’s echo throughout the room which causes your eyes to roll. 
"After all this time? after all these years, sugarplum?" Jisung gasps, his hand over his heart in feigned offense. 
"Oh my god, you know what's not what I mean, Jisung," you huff, grabbing your phone from the coffee table as you stand up. "I'm going to get us more snacks, I hate this." 
You carry yourself to the kitchen and from behind you, you hear Jisung call out, "But you haven't taken the bowls with you!”
Without turning back, you make a face to yourself. "I'll just get new ones," you respond blankly.
The kitchen was a break you so desperately needed. While you could still hear the boys chatting in the living room, it was just muffled enough to keep your mind at ease. you thought you could get away with Jisung not mentioning Jeongin, but maybe you had put too much faith in him. 
You didn't mean it, really, but sometimes it got to be a lot. 
You unlock your phone and staring back at you is a photo you knew you should have changed earlier, but something inside of you just couldn't bring yourself to do it. 
It was an old selfie of you and Jeongin, one you had to beg him to take in the first place a few years prior. You both had your large winter coats on and his arm hung loosely around your shoulders as you both grinned into the camera. In the picture, you had a light blush on your cheeks—presumably from the cold—but deep down you knew otherwise. 
You brought up his contact. This photo was one where he isn't looking at you, but he’s still holding up a peace sign. Just the look of it and the memory of that day flashes in your mind, making you chuckle. 
Clicking on the text conversation, you're met with the last text you had sent him months and months ago, the small seen tick making you frown. 
I miss you... you type out the words slowly. Your thumb hovered over the send key, but you can’t bring yourself to press down.
The glassy feeling in your eyes appears and you blink the tears away rapidly as you let your finger fall on the backspace key, completely erasing the message before you lock your phone once more. 
What you didn't know was in his dorm room, bundled up in blankets like a burrito was Jeongin as he hopelessly scrolled through his phone. he had stumbled across a photo of Christmas lights that reminded him of you, and it took every ounce of his being to stop himself from sending it to you, finding himself scrolling through your message history instead. How could he text you so casually after what he did? Afterjust leaving like that without so much as a proper goodbye?
He watches your typing symbol come up at the bottom, only to have it disappear moments later—leaving him just as despair-ridden as you.
21.
You lost track of how long you had been cuddling against Yeonjun’s chest as Die Hard played on the tv. You had wanted a Christmas film, an actual Christmas film, however, Yeonjun was adamant that this did, in fact, count, as it happened around Christmas day. 
You gaze up at Yeonjun, your eyes lingering on his own. You smile at how much focus he has on the movie, to the point where he’s hardly blinking. 
You originally knew Yeonjun from your neighborhood, which kind of makes things go full circle for you in a way. Him being an older kid, though, meant that you never had a reason to know him personally or even have a chance to talk to him. He stuck with his group, and you stuck with yours. 
But in a weird twist of fate, you met again when you got a part-time job at a small family restaurant just off of your university campus. After a few awkward conversations and some catching up, you both seemed to warm up to each other and Yeonjun soon asked you out on a date… you happily said yes.
Yeonjun is amazing. He's patient with you, smiles at you like you light up the whole sky, looks after you when you feel ill, he takes you on adventures at midnight for snacks just because you mentioned you were hungry. 
He’s, on paper, your dream guy. Handsome, understanding, open and caring. You like him, you really do. Yet, it always feels like something's missing—but you can never put your finger on what.
The end credits of Die Hard roll across the screen, causing you to lift your weight from off of Yeonjun and stretch your arms out around you. 
“I should get home,” you yawn, causing Yeonjun to pout slightly. 
He reaches out to grab your hand as he whines. “Do you have to?” 
You match his pout, nodding your head slowly. “Yeah, I should get back before it snows.” 
“You don’t have to,” Yeonjun muses, and you watch the corners of his mouth twitch into a hopeful smile. “You could… stay over for Christmas? What do you think?”
Your breath hitches at his words, stiffening like a board as you stare at him with wide eyes.
“Stay… over for Christmas?”
He seems to notice the hesitation in your voice, and he begins to rub gentle circles with his thumb on the back of your hand.
“Think about it,” Yeonjun continues, “waking up together on Christmas day? It would be so cute!” he grins. You could practically see the tiny hearts floating about his head. 
Stay over for Christmas. He doesn't know about it, but the whole sentence makes you feel uneasy. The implications and everything they bring with them—not to mention all the memories they invoke—are too much for you to handle at that moment. Not that you’d be the first to admit it
“I— I shouldn’t,” you start, your heart hurting as Yeonjun’s lips twist into a frown. “Baby, Soobin’s here and I don’t want to make things awkward for you by intruding.” 
Yeonjun sits up suddenly, his fingers linking with your own. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, plus he enjoys your company. Not as much as I do, obviously,” Yeonjun cheekily grins at his words, sending a wink your way.
You huff a laugh. “Regardless,” you say with a roll of your eyes, “I... I don’t think I feel comfortable staying here yet.” Your own frown seems to match his. “So I'd rather get back before it starts snowing.” Your shoulders drop and you focus on his fingers that are busy playing with your own. “I’m sorry.” 
One of Yeonjun’s hands moves from your fingers and delicately slides against your cheek, guiding your head so you’re looking up at him. Whilst you can see hints of sadness behind his eyes, his smile is one of comfort and understanding.
“Don’t be silly.” His smile grows. “I like you and we can go as slow or quick as you want.” His hand moves from your cheek as he lightly brushes your hair out of your face. “Don’t be scared to tell me, we’ll work through it together.” 
Your heart swells at his words and you lean into his touch, placing a small kiss on his palm. “You’re too sweet to me,” you mumble. 
He disagrees. “No, it’s just the decent thing everyone should do, They're your boundaries, I’m not going to be an idiot and push them.” 
“How did I find you?” You wonder aloud. His cheeks tint red and his smile somehow grows even wider than before. 
“No, no, how did I find you?” 
Your foreheads lean against one another, and you can feel his breath ever-so-slightly tickle your skin. 
“Can you guys stop being disgusting now?” a voice huffs from behind you two.
You and Yeonjun jump apart from each other and you turn to see his roommate, Soobin, standing with a scowl plastered on his face, an empty cereal bowl in hand. 
Yeonjun grumbles to himself, muttering ‘You're just jealous,’ as he grabs your hand, guiding you past Soobin and towards his dorm room door. At the same time, you quickly call out a goodbye to Soobin and Yeonjun sighs sadly when you both stop at his door. 
He pulls you close and you can feel his body heat seeping into you. It almost, almost, makes you want to stay, as you would rather be in the warm arms of your boyfriend than face the ten-minute walk home in the cold.
“Text me when you get home?” Yeonjun asks into your shoulder and you hum in response. 
“I will." 
Before you pull away completely, Yeonjun places a light kiss onto the side of your lips, leaving you open to steal one right back. 
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” this time Yeonjun is the one to hum. A small smile plays at his lips. “I love you.” 
You still for a moment at his words. You should say them back—you know you should—but you just can’t. They’re on the tip of your tongue and yet you fall silent instead. You settle for stealing another kiss from him and reaffirming your words from earlier, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
You can tell his smile is dripping in sadness, but you're unable to bring yourself to utter the words he so desperately wants to hear back from you. You look back and wave for a final time before you exit the hallway that leads you to the elevators and out of the building. 
When you finally make your way outside, you take a deep breath; it feels almost like a huge weight has been lifted from your shoulders. The pressure of staying over with Yeonjun is gone. But now in its place is another burden you’re not ready to think about. It had started creeping into the back of your mind the moment he said those words—a reminder of times gone by. Of another boy with dark hair and eyes that sparkled and those same, fateful words.
As you walk home, you shake your head, trying to push back the tears already threatening to cloud your vision. You’ve spent too long shoving down and ignoring those feelings just to ruin everything now by bringing them back up. You aren’t ready to think about it now and, as you look up at the clear, cloudless sky, you’re not sure if you ever will be.
It did not snow that winter. Not a single flake fell from the sky. 
22.
After years of not going to the neighborhood Christmas party, it feels weird to be back.
The party happens to be at Yeonjun’s family’s house this year, and once Yeonjun found this out, he jumped at the chance to introduce you to his family. You couldn’t help but smile at the hope swirling in his eyes that day as he gushed about how much they’ll love you.
But being the sweetheart that he is, he definitely noticed the doubt swimming in your eyes. He tried his best to reassure you, telling you how sweet his family is and how excited they are to finally meet you. 
That’s what wins you over, and now you’re here. The feeling of being home, or, at least, a few houses away from it, brings a warm feeling to your chest. To be able to spend it with your lovely boyfriend only deepens the feeling.
In a weird way, though, you notice bits and bits, just minor details that others seem to gloss over, that only tug at your heartstrings. From the movie playing on the flatscreen, to the gingerbread house tha’s about to be devoured by a wide-eyed seven-year-old, it brings this feeling of nostalgia that you can’t quite shake off. The more the night goes on, the more it seems to eat at you.
If you didn’t already think this was some weird full circle moment of sorts, you definitely do now.
Everywhere you look, all you seem to get is mirages of past times. Faint traces of Jeongin linger in the crevices of your mind. Even if it had been two years since you last saw him, he stuck to your memories like glue. 
You tried your best to push those memories to the side—to push the ick you felt every time something that reminded you of those moments away, even if it did send a chill down your spine. 
But Yeonjun just had to utter those words. “Want to stay over for Christmas?” 
It made you physically pause, the words processing in your mind. Ten years worth of memories surf through your mind at lightning speed. The slight word change gives you the worst feeling in your stomach you have ever felt—it was like a huge pit of emotions had opened up inside of you. 
You take a breath and exhale it slowly. “Do you mean stay for Christmas?” 
“Stay for Christmas, stay over for Christmas,” Yeonjun sighs, “same thing.” 
“It’s different,” is all you can mumble in response. 
Yeonjun groans, leaning his weight onto his hands that are placed on the counter sides. 
“One word difference.” 
You snap to face him, a stern look making an appearance on your face. Your voice dripping with irritation, you say, “But there’s still a difference.” 
You can cut the sudden tension that arises with a knife and it’s like that is exactly what Yeonjun chooses to do. He stands straight, turning to you, and you can see how tense his jaw is—like he’s been holding everything in, and how it’s now about to burst open at the seams. 
“We’ve been together for over a year and you still can’t even stay over. And when I offer to spend Christmas with you because I know it’s your favorite time of year, you fight me on it.” Yeonjun runs a hand through his hair in frustration. “Is it because I’m the one that’s asking?” 
“What?” you gasp, shaking your head. “It’s just, it’s stay for Christmas. Not stay over, not stay with, it’s stay for Christmas.”  
Yeonjun squeezes his eyes shut, hand still in his hair. All you can do is stare at him, waiting for what he says next. Once he does open his eyes, you can see the fogginess as in them, and when he speaks again, you feel like you’re being torn in two.
“But I’m not Jeongin, I can’t ask in the way he would.” 
You open your mouth to speak, shocked at his words, but nothing comes out. 
“What does Jeongin have to do with this?” You question. “I like you because you’re you, Yeonjun, not because you’re someone else.” 
You both stand there, staring at each other and you can’t help but feel like neither of your words are sinking in. Like they were falling onto deaf ears. 
“Well what about the snow?” Yeonjun suddenly asks. Had he been spending too much time with Jisung? 
“Yeonjun, baby, it’s just the weather,” you look at him with soft eyes, but all it seems to do is break him more.
With a hiccup, he tries to keep his tears at bay, “Then how come it never happens when we’re together?” 
You have to look away from him, not because you don’t care, but because if you look at him any longer, tears would spill from your own eyes. It would only just make everything harder than it already is.
Yeonjun’s sniffles fill your ears and from the corner of your eye, you can see him wipe his tears away. Even when he takes a few steps towards you and takes one of your hands in his, you’re still unable to look at him in fear of breaking. 
“I’ll walk you home,” he whispers gently. 
You gaze at the floor and nod your head, squeezing the hand that held yours. He squeezes it right back in a silent understanding. It’s like you hear both of your hearts cracking like glass in the silence, but it was unlike any type of heartbreak you had ever felt before… 
It can’t compare to the heartbreak you had with Heeseung, or even the heartbreak you felt when Jeongin left. This is its own brand of heartbreak, one that would last and one that would carve itself into your heart, a cruel reminder that will follow you for all time.
The walk back to your apartment is a quiet one. Your fingers stay linked with Yeonjun’s, and every now and then, you’d squeeze each other’s hands to remind yourself of the moment—of the feeling of your hands entwined with each other. 
When you’re outside of your door, it’s bittersweet and it’s heartbreaking. And when Yeonjun reluctantly draws his hand away from yours, you want everything to chase after it with your own. 
This is when you finally look up at him. 
His eyes are red and fresh tears have prickled up in his eyes as soon as they meet yours. As soon as you see his tears, your eyes quickly well up to match his. 
“We should,” he hiccups. “We should take some time apart.” 
You squeeze your eyes shut, sniffling away the sob that crawls up your throat. You feel Yeonjun’s light kiss on your cheek, and that sob defies you, escaping your lips. 
When Yeonjun pulls away, he speaks softly, as if speaking any louder would break him completely. “We’re on different pages and we both deserve people who aren’t.”
His lips linger on your cheek, like a silent plea begging you not to let him move away, but to pull him closer. To tell him that you both could make whatever it is you called a relationship work. 
But you don’t, and he soon pulls away, the warmth of his lips is quickly replaced with a damp, cold breeze. 
You regret opening your eyes when you do because you’re met with Yeonjun’s own tears rolling down his face. With no attempt to stop them, Yeonjun hiccups and looks away from you. 
“I’ll see you around, Y/N,” his voice strains. 
As he walks away, you open your mouth to yell out for him, but nothing comes out when you try. You just watch as he slowly disappears down the hallway, his shoulders hunched, shuddering slightly every time a quiet sob escapes him. 
You can’t tell if you’re lucky or not when you enter the apartment and realize that Jisung isn’t home. On one hand, you wouldn’t have to cry in front of him—on the other, you really don’t want to cry on your own. 
You trudge your way to your room, a numbness overtaking your body. You crave the warmth of your blankets and can’t wait to let them hold you in comfort as you cry for the rest of the night. 
When your blankets are secured around you and long after the tears have dried out, you sit there in self pity. Your phone is staring up at you, and you somehow find your way to your camera roll. An album of photos of you and Yeonjun sits right by your recents, and you’re hesitant to click on it. But you do, and the collection of photos from the past year and a half makes your heart wrench all over again.
You wish the relationship didn’t end this way as badly as he did, if not more. Yeonjun was perfect in every way—sweet, understanding, patient—yet, somehow, it still wasn’t enough to keep you two together.
“But I’m not Jeongin.” His words echo in your mind as you swipe through all of your selfies with him. He’s right: he’s not Jeongin. But that shouldn’t have mattered… right?
“I can’t ask in the way he would.”  He can’t.
Or can he?
If he had not flubbed the iconic line, not even with the slightest one-word difference… would you be where you are right now?
You let your phone drop onto the mattress as you ponder. Burrowing yourself further into your blankets, you try to imagine Yeonjun saying the line correctly this time. ‘Stay for Christmas?’ he’d chirp, hope lighting up his beautiful brown eyes. ‘Stay for Christmas?’ he’d pipe, a pure smile pulling his soft lips upward.
But it doesn’t feel right.
No matter how you try to picture it, there’s something about those words leaving Yeonjun’s mouth that makes your stomach twist. As hard of a time as you gave him about getting the phrase wrong, imagining him getting it right almost feels worse.
Maybe he can’t pull it off like Jeongin can. Maybe he was missing the awkward little beat Jeongin always carried when he uttered those three little words. Maybe he lacked the sheepish glow Jeongin always seemed to have creep up his cheeks when he said it, regardless of how coolly he tried to pull it off. Don’t forget the way he’d stupidly wiggle his eyebrows at you, and the faint little giggle that followed as he scrunched up his nose in embarrassment.
It’s a charm you truly believe only Jeongin could pull off.
But it shouldn’t have mattered that much. Jeongin wasn’t your boyfriend—Yeonjun was. And it’s not like Yeonjun didn’t have his own charm to him. His was more classic romantic, per se—always showing up at your doorstep with roses and a sweet smile, surprising you with dinner, taking you out for midnight drives while you blast both of your favorite songs. He’s a true Romeo, a type of lover that only exists in the movies.
“But I’m not Jeongin.”
You can’t stop Yeonjun’s gut-wrenching words from haunting your mind. It’s like the toll of a bell, its low tone ringing in every corner of your skull, shaking every crevice of your brain. Really, it shouldn’t bother you this much. 
For starters, Jeongin is no Romeo. You’ve witnessed him try to be one firsthand—multiple times, actually. The keyword here is ‘try’.
There really were no suave, overly romantic elements to Jeongin, like there were for guys in the movies. He doesn’t need big gestures like flower bouquets bigger than your head to show that he cares. It’s all in the details, the smaller things he did, how he knew you nearly better than you did yourself. Taking you to see the lights all those years ago meant more to you than any grand movie gesture ever could have. Ultimately, he doesn’t need anything else because he is enough as it is. It’s a thought that slowly crept in over time and you never even noticed until it hit you like a brick. He’s not picture-perfect, but that’s not who you want him to be.
He’s just… Jeongin. 
A part of you wants to admit it, but maybe, just maybe, he and stay for Christmas were what pushed your love for Christmas and the winter season more. But now that he isn’t here, that’s why it isn’t the same. 
Because is there really a Christmas without Stay for Christmas?
The longer you stare at the folder, filled to the brim with photos of you and Yeonjun over the course of your relationship, the more unbearable it becomes. Your thumb hovers over the back button, soon letting fall against the screen. 
Scrolling away as far as you could from it, another folder that instantly causes a mountain of flashbacks appears. Giggling at the joke title you named the album, you stare at it for a moment. You aren’t sure when the last time you looked at this album was. 
As soon as you click on it, you’re hit with a wave of bittersweet nostalgia so hard, it almost hurts.
It’s a compilation of photos of you and Jeongin, dating back to when your parents handed you your first smartphone. You’re able to scroll so far back that you can find photos of Jeongin in that obnoxious purple sweater. Somehow, as you look at it in that moment, it doesn’t seem as obnoxious as it used to be… 
Maybe it had grown on you, like stay for Christmas had grown on Jeongin. 
And how pictures of Christmases before (and all-year-round photos) made your heart seem to swell in a way you hadn’t felt in a while. All the lights that grazed your presence when you were with him, all the longer-than-necessary hugs you two shared in the snow, even the thoughts, the memories of it, are like little static shocks sending metaphorical butterflies swarming around you. It plays at your chest like a flute and it makes you begin to wonder… if the thought of Yeonjun or actually being around Yeonjun, or even his touch, made you feel that way.
You’d think since Yeonjun is—was—your boyfriend, you wouldn’t have to think so hard for the answer. Yet here you are, comparing everything you felt with Jeongin to how you felt with Yeonjun over the past year. 
It opens up the box of feelings you’ve tried so hard to push away. This time though, there’s no stopping it as everything bubbles up and spills over. 
You continue looking through the photos of you and Jeongin, hardly noticing when the pictures start to blur slightly, fresh tears making their way down your cheeks. You missed him, you missed him so much it makes your chest hurt. There’s no denying that anymore, not that there was ever a point to it anyway. You missed everything about him, how he knew you like the back of his own hand to how effortless things had been between you two for so long. 
A teary smile makes its way onto your face, unable to stop the overwhelming warmth that tore through you as you gaze at one photo of you two. Jeongin had an arm slung over your shoulders, braces-covered smile beaming up at you from the screen. You had a grin to match, happy and effortless, without a care in the world. 
That’s how Jeongin had always made you feel, even during times when you had disagreements or fought over stupid things. At the end of the day, you always made your way back to him. Because ultimately, nobody else could make you feel the way he could—like you were safe, like you were home.
Eventually you ran out of photos to look through, and somehow you made your way to your messages, scrolling through and rereading old texts from Jeongin. 
i miss you… you type out, take a deep breath, and hit send.
Instantly, he responds, making your heart swirl treacherously. i miss you too.
A second later, another text appears from him, making one last wave of tears pool in your eyes. stay for christmas?
The timing truly couldn’t be any worse than this, but you can’t deny the real reason behind your outburst anymore. All the seemingly-random bursts of butterflies in your stomach when you were a teenager slowly start to make sense. All the times your heart would skip a beat whenever he looked at you a certain way, the telltale sense of warmth you felt when you were even around him; heck, the entire incident at the winter formal—it all adds up. 
There’s no denying who your heart yearns for anymore. And, if given the choice, there’s no denying which dark-haired boy you would live everything with all over again. No more running away, only running back to him—if only fate would let you.
wouldn’t miss it for the world.
23.
“Why so glum, chum?”
You barely move your head from where you’re curled up on the sofa to look at your roommate as he bounces into the living room. His overly energetic skips come to a halt right behind you and he looms his head above you, letting the corners of his mouth drag into an exaggerated pout.
You let out a slow breath and stare back at him with solemn eyes. The weather had dropped to the all-too-familiar December chill, rainbow lights adorned the city—heck, you���re watching A Charlie Brown Christmas for the third time in a row—but you can’t seem to will yourself into the Christmas spirit even if you tried. The reason seems pretty obvious to you.
For better or worse, the boy tapping his fingers on the back of the couch as he waits impatiently for your answer is one you’ve known for years. Over time, he’s morphed from the awkward older kid that ‘needs to take a couple babies under [his] wing’, to a sweet (when he wants to be)—dare you say, mature (again, when he wants to be)—older brother figure of sorts. If anyone knows why you’re so somber as you wallow in candy cane wrappers and your favorite ugly Christmas sweater, it should be him. 
“You know why,” you grumble.
You think that’s enough of an answer, but Jisung bends down to get a better look at you and attempts to pry more. 
“Hmm, do I?”
Another, more irritated huff leaves your parted lips as you turn to Lucy mercilessly grilling Charlie Brown, and you make damn sure your back is to your snoopy roommate.
Why do you even need to explain yourself to him? Jisung has literally had a front-row seat to the entire story since before he knew how to part his hair properly. He watched you slowly and hopelessly fall for your best friend before his very eyes since you were sixteen. He witnessed you delude yourself into a bottomless pit of denial for years, pushing yourself down so far that not even the most picture-perfect guy could pull you out.
Your life might as well be a sappy romance anime unfolding right in front of him, and Jisung knows every minute detail, every moment of development, every tear you shed for Jeongin like the back of his hand. He could whip up a play-by-play of your history with that boy faster than he can for the plot of Your Name—and he loves that movie.
But you guess as the older brother figure, it also means he has to annoy the living hell out of you for it. Not that he didn’t in the first place, but usually he’d, you know, comfort you when you’re upset. 
Waddling around the couch to plop next to you, with overdramatized puppy eyes boring into your soul, is not that comforting.
“Come onnn, Y/N,” Jisung sing-songs, poking at your cheek. “Talk to me.”
Your frown etches further downward. You don’t do anything to move his hand, though, and opt to just turn your head back to the Peanuts characters.
“Cheer up, sugarplum.” Jisung now squishes your cheeks in one hand like a doting mother. It earns a whine from you, and you finally slap his hand away.
“Jisung.” You sigh, keeping your eyes on the TV. “I’m really, really not in the mood for celebrating Christmas this year.”
It makes your heart ache to actually admit it out loud, but you’d be lying if you tried to say otherwise. Christmas will always be your favorite time of the year, but all the memories you carry with it hurt too much now. It’s all a gaping hole in your stomach that you can’t patch.
“I know, I know,” Jisung says simply, but a heart-shaped smile slowly forms as he speaks. You blink as you stare blankly at him—you don’t like that sparkle in his eye. 
That suspicious grin only widens as he utters his next words.
“That’s why we’re hosting a Christmas party next week.” 
Your heart stops for a second, and you stare at Jisung with wide eyes.
“We?!” 
You’re sure Jisung senses the aggravation in your voice. You already, and very blatantly, you may add, have made it clear that all you want for Christmas this year is to wallow in your blanket burrito and watch whatever cheesy film Hallmark was putting out. 
But of course, Jisung won’t let that happen. You know he means well, but you still wonder for a second why you agreed to move in with him once he graduated and came back home from college.
“You know this is my apartment, too, right?” you add. 
“I know, but just trust me!” He beams, and it only makes you scowl more. “Oh, wait…”
His phone flashes on, a notification popping up on his lockscreen, and whatever it is seems to elate his already excessively cheerful mood. You peer over his shoulder with curious eyes as his thumbs fly across the keyboard, but Jisung places a palm to your forehead and pushes your head away before you can get a glimpse.
“Nuh uh, that’s private!” He tuts, and you frown at him again. As he slides his phone back in his pocket, the cheesy smile returns to his face. Once again, you’re not a fan.
“I need you to trust me, okay?” he says. “It’ll be fun! It’s just gonna be you, me, and our closest friends. Promise.”
You’re still not super on board with the idea. Even a small hangout seems too much for you right now, and you can practically feel the flashbacks from the last few years haunting your mind as you think.
“I… I don’t know, Jisung.”
“If I give you hot chocolate right now, would that influence your decision?”
You watch as Jisung turns around, whipping out two to-go cups from right next to him. A small smile makes its way to your face as he hands you one.
“I’ll think about it,” you mumble, taking a sip of the warm drink.
The gesture is surprisingly enough to make you say ‘yes’ a few harrowing (for Jisung) hours later, and that’s how you find yourself at your and Jisung’s “Christmas Eve Eve Spectacular”. Why Christmas Eve Eve? Who knows, but you did hear Jisung mumble something about being able to go to your neighborhood party in peace. Weird, especially when he seems to know that it’s on Christmas Eve this year. 
Regardless, you think you did a good job of decorating the apartment for the occasion. Besides the small Christmas tree in the living room themed red and gold, you and Jisung had wrapped matching garlands above the curtains and hung wreaths on your bedroom doors. Your couch was adorned with throw pillows you had gotten on sale a week ago, and, because you didn’t have a fireplace, you opted to hang the stockings right above the TV instead. It’s very homey, yet screams young and broke at the same time.
The entertainment is even better. Something about Frosty The Snowman playing on the TV while a bunch of grown men yell at each other playing Twister just feels very college Friendsmas-esque to you. The best part? You’re in charge of the spinner. You can get your daily dose of Christmas cartoons without being trapped under a bunch of loud, sweaty guys.
“You’re cheating!” Hyunjin accuses Felix, slapping his hand from the yellow dot.
“It’s not my fault you don’t know what yellow means!” Felix yells back. He slams his hip into Hyunjin’s side and makes him topple over.
The taller boy gasps dramatically, pointing at Felix as he lies on the floor. “Now you really cheated, asshole!”
You snicker and shake your head at the boys’ shenanigans. You’ve nearly forgotten about the sour mood you were in just days ago; maybe giving in to Jisung’s incessant begging was the right decision.
Speaking of Jisung, he doesn’t seem too into the Twister game, and he’s usually one of the most competitive of the bunch. He was the first one out this round, claiming he “accidentally stumbled” on Seungmin’s hand as he “reached for the wrong dot”very early in the game. Weird.
From the corner of your eye, you can see him fervently checking his phone instead of watching the game, and sometimes, you’d catch a smug smile painting his face briefly before he quickly snaps back to a neutral facade. You’re tempted to snatch the boy’s phone from his hands and read whatever the hell is making him smirk so much.
After a moment, you focus back on the game. Seungmin and Felix are the only two left. Both are at the brink of collapsing, their entangled arms wobbling under them, and you’re placing bets with Hyunjin on who will fall first.
Felix’s arms give out first, after attempting to contort around himself and Seungmin as he stretches for a red dot. He groans out in pain, and you unceremoniously shove five dollars into Hyunjin’s hands as he revels in his victory.
“Thanks for the early present, Y/N,” he says, smiling cheesily.
You make a face akin to a grimace and roll your eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”
“I want a rematch!” Felix’s voice audibly cracks as he whines, lying in a starfish position on the floor. 
“Why did you try to go under and not over me?!” Seungmin remarks with an incredulous stare.
Hyunjin snickers. “That’s what she said.”
You smack him on the chest as the other boys groan. “Oh shut up, Hyunjin!” You hiss, shaking your head at the very mature joke. “We can do a rematch, though, but it’s up to you two,” you add, pointing two fingers at Felix and Seungmin.
Before you bend down to fix the bunched-up Twister mat, you turn to Hyunjin one more time. “And no more dirty jokes!”
The doorbell rings through the small apartment, making a look of puzzlement cross your face. You know you aren’t expecting anyone besides the boys that are already here, so you look to Jisung to see if he is. 
“Did you order takeout, Ji?”
Jisung shakes his head at you, but a small smile graces his lips. “Nope.”
You blink. “…Did you order a package?”
He chuckles lightly. “One could say that.”
The growing gleam in his eye makes you furrow your brow more. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His small smile morphs into a Cheshire-like grin.
“Why don’t you get the door and find out?”
You stare at him with a twisted face as you slowly get up. You really, really don’t like that sparkle in his eye.
Your stomach jumps with uneasiness as you make your way to the door. Part of it was due to Jisung’s odd phrasing, but regardless, you’re almost terrified to find out what lies on the other side. You just cross your fingers and hope it’s a terrible gift at best that you can pretend to like.
Your hand shakes as you slowly twist the top lock open, then the bottom. Then you pull the door open, and you feel your heart rattle in your chest at the sight.
“…Jeongin?”
You feel like you’re dreaming as you stare at the boy in front of you. Jeongin has a comfy, dark purple sweater over a white hoodie—an actually decent shade of purple that’s pleasing to the eye. He runs a hand through his messy black hair as he smiles at you, letting out a deep but nervous chuckle when he realizes he’s just fluffed his hair up more. He’s grown it out since you last saw him, and his bangs perfectly frame his face, some strands falling in front of his eyes.
You feel the breath sucked out of your lungs. Not because he looks good (but you’re not denying that), or because you pick up a hint of sandalwood and amber lingering from him that nearly makes you dizzy—but because you feel all the memories from over the years flood in all at once. First come the good memories, and there’s tons of them. The several times you played hooky with him, the night he took you to see the glittering lights… the day you first met. It all brings a warm feeling to your chest, sending your heart fluttering as a light blush coats your cheeks.
But right after the good, you’re brought back down to earth with the bad. You’re fortunate that the bad is so little compared to the good, but the night before he left for college so suddenly is one you just can’t erase, no matter how hard you try. Memories of concerned glances and the surging feelings of regret and heartbreak make themselves known once again. Every moment of longing and the mixed feelings of wanting to reconnect with him, to be by his side again, causes your insides to twist in uncomfortable ways.
You can’t tell if you want to yell at him after leaving and not telling you himself, or if you want to run into his arms and never let him go.
Say something, Y/N, your mind screams at you as you remain frozen in place. But what are you supposed to say to someone so dear to your heart, that also happens to be the reason it’s ached for all these years?
You draw in another breath, and you stammer out the first thing that comes to mind.
“H-Hi.”
You mentally slap yourself. That’s all you have to say? You have been yearning for this moment for three years, and all you can come up with is ‘hi’?
Luckily, Jeongin seems to reciprocate, mumbling a “hey” back with an awkward wave, but you still want to kick yourself for your pitiful attempt at a greeting.
You turn around to see Jisung visibly deflate at the interaction. It’s clear now that he’s had this surprise planned for a while, and all his offhand murmurs from the past week about ‘getting the band back together’ are starting to make much more sense. 
He blinks, and in a moment’s notice, his frown is gone and he sweeps in to save the moment.
“Jeongin, come here, my honey sweet!”
You chuckle fondly as Jisung smothers Jeongin with bone-crushing hugs and excessive hair ruffles. It’s just like when you were all awkward tweens and teenagers in the school hallways, except Jisung wasn’t randomly popping up behind you two, and you were all considerably shorter. You forgot how much you missed that.
“We’re about to play another round of Twister,” Jisung chirps after a minute, his arms still securely around the younger. “But I think Hyunjin, Felix, and Seungmin all want to go against each other, so you can go next round.”
Hyunjin cocks a brow. “No, they just said everyone can joi—”
“No they didn’t, Hyunjin,” Jisung bites back through gritted teeth, and sends the blond a look that makes him cower back to the living room. 
Once Hyunjin leaves the room, Jisung turns to a confused Jeongin. “Y/N’s spinning. You can keep her company, maybe catch up a bit while you’re at it?” he suggests.
Jeongin smiles lightly, but he’s shoved into the living room with you in tow before he can verbally respond.
You’re both unceremoniously pushed into your tacky Christmas pillows, and Jisung hands you the spinner. He even does the first spin for you, and sends you a wink as he moves to sit by the window.
You just blink, waiting for the arrow to come to a full stop. “Seungmin, left foot on blue,” you call when it does.
As Seungmin is stepping onto the end blue circle, you spin the spinner again, nibbling on your lip anxiously as you feel Jeongin’s body heat radiating onto you. It makes you want to squirm, and you try your best to keep your eyes on the spinner. 
“Felix, left hand, red.” 
Felix mumbles to himself, but you’re not sure what as you’re not really listening. Once he settles on a dot, you flick the spinner again. 
Jeongin clears his throat and fiddles with his fingers in his lap. “How have you been?” He attempts—keyword: attempts—to ask casually. 
You’re so focused on watching the spinner, all you do is hum in response. When the spinner slows and stops, you clear your own throat. “Jisung, right foot, green,” you call out, “and… alright,” you mumble afterward. “I’ve been alright, you?”
He watches you as you flick the plastic arrow again. “I’ve… I’ve been okay…”He trails off like he wants to say more, but he remains quiet. 
“Hyunjin, left hand, yellow.” 
You’re not sure how long you guys sit there silently for, but your insides feel like they’re trying to claw their way out of you. Maybe ten minutes of silence feels like ten hours, and you desperately pray for the game to end so you could do literally anything else.
If only your thirteen-year-old self could see you now. Maybe you were too dramatic that Christmas, because you are sure this just took the throne as The Most Awkward Conversation Of Your Life™. 
Out of nowhere, a loud gasp booms over Michael Bublé’s “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas”, the boys’ shouting, and whatever cartoon autoplayed after Frosty ended. Everyone’s heads snap to Jisung, who stares with sparkly eyes at the world outside.
You lean past Jeongin to get a glance. Light gray skies, slow-floating crystals, fluffy white blanket… it makes you break out into a grin. So does Jeongin, who smiles fondly as he pats your knee. The move makes you want to do backflips.
“Oh my god, snow!” Jisung cheers, already scurrying for the door. He mutters something about it being ‘just what he needed’ as he zips past you and Jeongin, but quickly turns on his heel when he sees neither of you move a muscle.
“Um, hello?!” the older boy chastises you and Jeongin, tossing you your coats and hitting you both in the face. “It’s the first snow of winter, what are you doing?!” He claps his hands for emphasis, but not before he shoves a pair of mittens into both your hands. “You need. To see. The snow.”
You exchange a knowing look with Jeongin but follow Jisung’s hasty instructions. Neither of you seem to move as fast as he wants you to be, so he does the job for you by hurriedly, but carefully, pushing you both down the stairs and to the lobby.
Jeongin presses his lips into a thin line, stepping closer to you as Jisung dashes back up the stairs to get the rest of the group. You smile back politely, but say nothing else. 
You turn back to the stairs at the sound of Jisung’s voice bouncing off the walls. Whether he knows you two could hear him or not, you don’t think he cares, considering that he’s already yelling at the top of his lungs.
“SEE!” He motions around himself widely. “I TOLD YOU IT’D SNOW WHEN THEY WERE TOGETHER!” A dopey smile covers his face as he holds his hands up to his chest, like he himself had just miraculously fallen in love. “It’s like magic!” 
Judging from a quick glance behind you as you make your way toward the front doors, Hyunjin seems to fully indulge in Jisung’s antics, smiling brightly and hopping up and down as they bound down the stairs. Felix and Seungmin, who trail behind them, don’t seem nearly as amused.
“Jisung, bro,” Seungmin blinks, “It’s literally just the weather.” 
Jisung’s smile drops instantly and he glares at the brunet boy, pointing a finger at him. “No! You had to be there for everything, trust me! I’M NOT CRAZY, WATCH!” 
The listless look doesn’t drop from Seungmin’s face as he follows his overly chipper friend downstairs.
Jeongin snorts, lightly bumping his shoulder into your own. “He’s still on that?” 
You open the front door for the both of you, rolling your eyes. “He never stopped, seriously.” 
The cold air hits you instantly and you’re glad Jisung gave you your gloves to wear. You scan the area around you and the only other people in sight are a group of children across the street. The ever-growing white blanket in front of your apartment complex is all yours and Jeongin’s—anything’s free game.
Unfortunately, the delicate, white crystals fluttering down around you do nothing to help the tension looming between you both. It followed you out of your apartment like a dark storm cloud, and now it’s raining on your snowy parade. You hate it. But you don’t know how to get rid of it.
“Sooo…” you start, and just as quickly trail off. “What now?”
Jeongin just shrugs, watching a snowflake fall to the ground. 
You sigh, mostly to yourself. Looks like you’re going to have to take the lead. You begin to roll up a ball of snow, making it bigger and bigger in hopes of building a snowman.
The bigger and more round your snowman base gets, the more that the little rain cloud between you and Jeongin seems to shrink away. Even though you haven’t said a word to the boy and nearly forgotten he was even there, something about playing in the snow together in silence is… healing. It’s therapeutic in its own right, the soft crystals somehow bringing a feeling of warmth to your chest as you bring out your inner child.
Just as you’re finished with the top body part and you’re lifting it up ready to place, a sudden impact of cold, wet snow hits the back of your neck and begins to slither down your back. This results in you dropping the snowman’s body and you gasp as it breaks apart into heaps on the floor. 
Turning around, you pout as Jeongin looks at you with a cheeky smile playing at his lips. He looks away, whistling innocently and shoving his hands into his coat pockets. Your glare hardens and you quickly pick up the precious bit of used snow, squishing it into a ball before lobbing it in Jeongin’s direction, just barely missing his left arm. 
“You need to work on your aim,” Jeongin remarks cockily, and you scrabble another snowball in your hands. 
Throwing the haphazardly-made snowball in his direction, his laughter fills your ears and makes the butterflies in your stomach fly. You duck as his own snowball is about to hit you, and it just skims the back of your head. 
“This is war!” You glare at your best friend. “You made me mess up my snowman!” 
“Why focus on your snowman when you can focus on me?” Jeongin laughs, making your heart speed up again. 
You hide behind the pitiful remains of your snowman and hold your hands to your cheeks. Sure, you were in a war, but you couldn’t let him see that his words affected you. You could have blamed it on the cold, but would Jeongin really believe it?
“You can’t hide forever,” Jeongin sings, his voice getting nearer and nearer. 
Keeping a watchful eye over your shoulder, you attempt to make a bunch of snowballs as you try to will the color on your cheeks away. You try to calm your breathing, suppressing any giggles that threaten to come out as you grow your small pile of ammo.
As you scramble to prepare for whenever Jeongin plans to pelt you with snowballs, all your worries seem to melt away. Adrenaline rushes through your body as you hear Jeongin’s boots crunch in the snow, but you also feel a wave of calm wash over you. It’s just you, Jeongin, and the white blanket of snow surrounding you two. Just like when you were little.
You missed this.
A small giggle escapes your lips as you peer over your shoulder one more time. Jeongin doesn’t seem to be sneaking up on you—in fact, he’s nowhere in sight. You turn around and let out a sigh of relief. You’re safe.
Until you notice Jeongin towering over you, smirking deviously.
“Did you miss me?”
You let out a squeal, backing yourself against your crumbling snowman as you frantically chuck snowballs his way. He seems to be unfazed by it, only chuckling as the snowballs split into pieces as they hit his chest, and he steps closer to you. 
Soon, you’re resorting to flinging pathetic scoops of snow at him as you try to scoot back. You’re in a fit of giggles as he inches closer, your heartbeat quickening his pace as you chuck one more blob of snow to hopefully deter him. 
It strikes him square in the face.
Your jaw drops in surprise, and you can only watch as Jeongin wordlessly wipes the snow off his face. You search his face for any sign of hurt, fearing you might’ve gone too far, but you only find a mischievous glint in his eye.
Oh no.
You gulp as he drops to his knees and continues to close the gap between you, his smug smile growing wider. A nervous giggle escapes your lips as you watch for his next move, and you grab another handful of snow in your mitt to get ready to fight back—then you feel his fingers at your sides.
“Jeongin, stopppp~!” 
You’re unable to control your laughter as Jeongin mercilessly tickles you. Any attempts at pushing him away are quickly proved fruitless by a shove of his hand, and you’re left thrashing around helplessly as he continues to torture you. 
You’ve practically been thrown into the pillow of former-snowman behind you by the time Jeongin sits back and lets you go. Gasping for air, you let out another giggle as you watch him bend over, hands on the snow by either of your sides as he catches his breath as well.
The air around you falls silent as you stare up at him. You search his face again, your chest heaving up and down. You can’t find any more signs of incoming mischief, but you find his soft gaze staring back at you, and the rosy color pricking at his cheeks. You assume his blush is from the cold, but you know yours is from otherwise.
Another few seconds pass and Jeongin still hasn’t tormented you. A smirk slowly spreads across your face as an idea sparks on your mind. 
Before you can even think it through, you spring up, arms outstretched as you pounce in his direction. He has no time to react before you tackle him, fingers going to his sides as you tickle him and get your sweet revenge. 
“You asshole!” You shriek in between giggles.
It’s now Jeongin’s turn to try to shove your hands away as he scoots back, an endless stream of giggles escaping his mouth as well. Hearing his laughter ring in your ears makes you laugh more in turn as you shuffle after him. You both grapple around for a moment and eventually land on the ground, you on top of Jeongin, your legs all tangled together.
You tickle him for another second when you look up and pause. It’s then that you realize just how close your faces are to each other, and suddenly, you forget how to breathe. Everything goes still for a moment as you stare at him with wide eyes. One more movement and you’d be kissing him.
You pray that Jeongin doesn’t feel your heart hammering against your ribcage as you’re pressed up against him, but you can’t help but wonder if his heart is doing backflips in his own chest.
Unable to take the thoughts swirling inside your head anymore, you roll off of him and onto your back, looking up at the sky. Tiny snowflakes fall around you in a light, gentle flow, but a steady one—it almost feels reassuring. It’s like the universe is sending you a message, in its own special way, that everything will be alright. 
You take a deep breath and look over at the boy next to you. His eyelashes flutter against his cheeks as he blinks, wide eyes gazing up at the snow. A couple snowflakes seem to fall on his face and he scrunches up his nose as he giggles. A fond smile decorates your lips as you watch him, and you feel your heart quicken its pace once again.
Another moment passes and Jeongin turns his head to you. “What's wrong?” he asks, eyebrows furrowed slightly. 
You shake your head and start moving to stand up. “It’s nothing, just…” you trail off, unsure what to say next. You hold out a hand to help him to his feet as well. 
The two of you stand in silence for some time. You take a small step closer to him, and you can’t deny the way your heart swells in your chest as you take in the scene around you. The snow seems to dance around you two, swirling around gently as if the crystals are casting a gentle spotlight on you both. When your eyes land back on Jeongin, you note the snowflakes that dot his chestnut hair and perfectly complement his slightly messy curls. It’s adorably awkward, but he looks cozy, like… almost like home.
He turns his head to look at you and gives you a smile that sends warmth spreading through your whole body. There’s a gentleness to his gaze as his eyes meet yours, and the way he reaches over to move a strand of hair away from your face nearly makes you melt. A faint blush dusts his cheeks as he steps closer to you, closing the distance between you two, and you hope he doesn’t notice your already rosy cheeks glow a deeper red.
“Stay for Christmas?” he whispers.
There’s no helping the grin that grows on your face at the familiar words. 
“Just come here.”
You can hear the squeals of the children across the street (and Jisung from behind you), but you feel at peace as you lean up to wrap your arms around Jeongin’s neck. A small chuckle reverberates through you as you feel him snugly hug you back, and you tuck your head in his shoulder.
You still don’t believe the snow is the seasonal deity that Jisung swears by, but something about the way it gently cascades down feels like it’s wrapping you both in a warm blanket and reassuring you that you’re okay. That you’re home. As Jeongin gently rests his head against yours and sways the two of you back and forth, you realize that this was what you were missing the whole time; not only in your old neighborhood, but during the time Jeongin was away.
Turns out the magic you always felt during this time of year wasn’t just in the snow. It wasn’t just in the whimsicality of Christmas cartoons, or your utter fascination with the holiday lights, either. It’s the feeling of comfort that comes with it, the feeling of knowing that someone who cares about you will be there to do it all with you a thousand times over. That special feeling that only Jeongin has been able to give to you all these years, even if it’s awkward at times, even if you’ve consumed one too many cups of hot chocolate for his liking… the feeling of being home.
You realize that Jeongin is more than just your best friend and your longtime crush—he’s home. And if it takes a bit of snow to realize that, that’s magic enough for you.
24...
Christmas has changed a lot since the previous year with you and Jeongin officially being back at best friend status—not that he had ever left. But just knowing he’s finally home is enough to rekindle your affinity for the holidays that you’ve been lacking for the past few years. Now it’s finally here, and the fire inside you is burning brighter than ever. 
With it being a newfound tradition in the Y/Nsung household—funny enough, you actually coined the name—your apartment this year is once again the main headquarters for all things Christmas festivities. And this time, it’s on Christmas Eve. You thought it’d be fitting, considering your shared history with Jeongin over the date. Like last year, you took care to decorate the apartment to a T, pretty garlands and shades of red and green glistening all over the living area.
The party had very much been a success, with only a few disagreements (read: screaming matches) between Hyunjin and Felix about who was actually better at the chosen game, and who was, in fact, cheating. You suspected both of them cheated at some point, but decided staying silent was probably the better option. 
And after a hearty meal of Chinese take-out from the 24/7 open restaurant, the three boys, minus Jeongin, called it a night and headed out for the comforts of their warm beds. You could still hear Hyunjin and Felix arguing as they left, with a sulking Seungmin behind them, grumbling something about having to listen to them all the way back to their hotel. 
You close the door behind them and turn to your best friend. He’s standing rather close to you, making your heart speed up slightly. The small smile that covers his face leaves you feeling comforted, loved.
It’s crazy how much can happen in a year. The awkwardness you feared would persist after being apart for three years had melted away after Jeongin (and Jisung) surprised you with his return, after that impromptu snowball fight that set your heart alight. You two spent the following few days doing some much-need catching up, and now, you’re closer than ever. It was like he never left home. Or, rather, like you were finally home.
“I thought you would have gone with them,” you mention, your own smile playing at your lips. 
Jeongin shrugs, opening his arms out wide, indicating his need for a hug. “Just wanted to spend more time with you.” You giggle, shuffling into his arms. “Without all of the yelling,” he finishes his sentence as a mumble. 
“Yeah,” you sigh into his chest. “This is much nicer.” 
Maybe it’s weird to say that you feel something in the air shift. Or maybe it was the way Jeongin subtly changed his grip on you, but something seems different all of a sudden. 
“Are you okay?” Your voice comes out softer than you expected, but when Jeongin holds you tighter and just sighs, your suspicions become elevated. 
He lets his arms fall from you and he slips one hand into your own, leading you back into your living room. An uncomfortable silence sifts between you two.
“Jeonginnie?” you finally say after another moment.
“I need to talk to you about something.” He frowns, pulling you down so you’re sitting next to him. “It’s serious.” 
A frown of your own instantly takes its place on your face. Jeongin sits there, his gaze on your one hand in his lap, and he plays with your fingers in hopes of calming himself down. 
“And I need to tell you because I don’t want what happened before to repeat itself.” Jeongin explains. “I don’t want to go however many years to go by again because I didn’t tell you myself.” He continues, now looking at you. 
Eyebrows furrowed, you gaze at him. “Jeongin, what’s going on?” 
“I… I got a job offer…”
You’re about to open your mouth and congratulate him, then he finishes his sentence, finally looking you in the eye.
“…but it’s two cities away.” 
If Jeongin listened carefully enough, he could’ve heard your heart crack in your chest.
“Oh…” 
He nods his head solemnly. “My parents are flying out with me tomorrow night to go check out apartments.” His gaze falls back to your hand that’s on his lap, and his voice grows softer as he continues to explain. “We’ll be back by New Year’s, but… once we settle on a place and sign the lease…” 
“…You’ll be leaving again,” you quietly finish his sentence, your voice wavering at the end. He nods once more. 
It’s like you were nineteen all over again, but this time, you had Jeongin in front of you—almost softening the blow. All the emotions you felt after he had left the first rush back to the surface all at once, and you nearly feel like you’re drowning. 
But you stuff it all down. You shove it back in the crackling dam that is your heart, at least for the moment. You can let out your frustration with the world when Jeongin goes home. Not now.
Be strong, Y/N. 
“We can still text,” you begin, your voice filled with hope—at least, you pray that’s what comes across. “And call and FaceTime.” 
The sides of Jeongin’s lips turn up into a small smile. Slowly, he moves his hand so it’s wrapped in yours, entwining your fingers together and giving it a reassuring squeeze. 
“We will.” He looks up at you again. “I just wanted to be the one to tell you this time.” 
You squeeze his hand back. Your heart races. “I appreciate that.” 
A thick, heavy silence spreads across the room. You’re too focused on gazing into Jeongin’s eyes to care about the world outside of your little bubble with him. But your heart cries out, not wanting the moment to end. Not when this could be the last night you see Jeongin for a while.
You want to hold his hand and hold him in your arms and never let him go. But you know you can’t do that. Not when this job could be a big deal for him, not when it could change his whole life. 
So you let the warmth from his hand seep into yours. You let your head fall onto his shoulder. You let the butterflies fly in all directions at the sight, and feeling, of his sweet gaze on you. The one you’ll miss so dearly when he’s gone.
The one you’ll cherish for as long as you can.
“YAHOOOO!!”
A loud yell echoes throughout the apartment, causing your stares to break and Jeongin to drop your hand. With the yell coming from the only other known person in the apartment, you silently think of the ways you’d hurt Jisung in his sleep tonight for ruining the moment.
Soon, a trail of slamming doors and footsteps are heard, growing in frequency and volume as they get closer and closer to the living room. Then the living room door swings open and slams against the wall, Jisung’s hand stopping it from bouncing back and hitting him in the face whilst he prances into the room with the largest gummy smile you've ever seen. His cheeks are all pink and he looks like he could burst into happy tears at any moment.
“Guess what, my babies!” he sings, maybe a little too lively, “Looks like your guardian angel came to the rescue, Jeongin’s not leaving tomorrow!”
Blinking, you sit there, your lips twisting into a confused grimace as he dramatically wipes the corners of his eyes with his sleeve. You want to wholeheartedly believe your fanatical roommate. You wish so desperately for this to just be some bad dream you’re about to wake up from. But the way your heart continues to squeeze in your chest, even as Jisung skipped into the room so cheerfully, tells you all of this is real. The idea that a last-minute Christmas miracle is about to turn things around sounds too good to be true.
You’re about to interject and beg Jisung to explain, but he beats you to it, sensing the skepticism on your and Jeongin’s faces. “Look outside!” He feverishly points to the window. “You’ll see what I mean!”
Lifting your head off Jeongin’s shoulder, you exchange confused looks with the younger boy as you both get on your feet. He leads the way to the window by your front door, blindly reaching behind him for your hand and connecting your fingers when he finds it. You notice Jisung wiggling his eyebrows at you and almost let go to make him stop, but Jeongin lightly squeezes your hand before your fingers can slip away. 
Heat rises to your cheeks as you push the blinds to the side, and you hope Jeongin doesn’t glance your way and notice. Luckily, he’s too occupied with gaping at the scene outside. And so are you.
It is, in fact, snowing—and it’s snowing hard. Wind howls against your thin apartment walls as the icy flakes come pouring down, a thick, white fog blurring your view of the street below you. 
“Wow…” you mumble to yourself. In the fifteen or so years since you’ve moved, you’ve never witnessed a snowfall this hard. Let alone on the first snow of winter.
“It’s snowing like this all over the country,” Jisung remarks, showing the two of you the weather report on his phone. Jeongin scrolls through the list with one finger and, to his horror, the city where his new job is located is there. 
“You know what that means?” Jisung continues, a small smirk on his face. “No leaving, at least for a few days.”
You keep your gaze out the window, your spirits brightening at the news. As selfish as it was, you could barely control the surge of happiness bursting inside you at the thought of having Jeongin around for a little while longer. 
Maybe a Christmas miracle is possible.
You completely miss Jeongin’s loved-up stare as you look back at him, a concerned frown on your face. “What about your flight tomorrow?”
He shrugs, rubbing his thumb in circles on the back of your hand. “I’ll figure something out,” he mumbles.
He steps closer to you, and you swear you see sparkles in his eyes as he gazes into your own. You forget Jisung is there as the taller boy leans down until your noses are nearly touching. A small smile grazes his features as he whispers, a gentle but playful timbre to his voice:
“Stay for Christmas?” 
“I– um– uh–” you sputter at the sudden close contact, your eyes widening in surprise. You take a second to breathe and recompose yourself before you try again, sheepishly gesturing to the window, “I don’t think you have a choice.” 
You carefully watch Jeongin for his reaction. He seems to lean forward, inching his face even closer to yours, and you feel your breath get caught in your throat. 
The boy squeezes your hand and leans his forehead against yours, a shameless grin on his face as he flashes you a wink.
“Fine by me.”
You pray that he can’t hear your heart pounding in your chest, or that he doesn’t mention how red your cheeks are. You note the pink tint dusting his cheeks as he steps back, in case he decides to tease you for the latter. Despite your embarrassment, the shy giggle that slips out his mouth still makes you smile.
Jisung suddenly breaks the moment with a dreamy sigh, a hand flying over his heart. “And it’s all thanks to snow!” 
You roll your eyes dismissively. “How much longer are you going to keep on about this magic snow?” you ask, causing Jisung to snort. 
“As long as I want, Miss Tuxedo Effect.” 
You can practically hear the shit-eating grin on Jisung's face. You drop Jeongin’s hand as you snap your head to the older boy, throwing a scowl his way.
“‘Miss Tuxedo Effect?’” Jeongin questions, an eyebrow raised as he looks between the two of you. 
If your cheeks weren’t already as red as a tomato, they surely are now. “Don’t ask,” you grumble, swiftly heading to the kitchen to try and evade his prying. To your disdain, he follows you like a lost puppy.
“What’s he talking about?” he asks again. When Jisung, who’s treading behind you two in amusement, goes to open his mouth, you glare him into silence.
“It’s nothing.”
That seems to shut your overly curious best friend up long enough for you to pour yourself a glass of milk. The less Jeongin knew about the tuxedo effect incident, the better. You don’t need two boys torturing you about it, especially when the first one still refuses to let it go after eight years.
You watch him in silence as your drink heats up in the microwave, his eyebrows knitted together as he tries to search your and Jisung’s faces for answers. You maintain a poker face, but of course Jisung revels in Jeongin’s nosiness.
“Jeongin, think about it,” he hums, casually taking a bite of one of Felix’s cookies. You resist the urge to slap it out of his hand.
“Don’t,” you glower at him.
“How many times has she seen guys in tuxedos?” Jisung continues, his cheeks casually puffed up with food.
“Depends,” Jeongin looks to his friend and shuffles closer to you, “are we counting movies?”
Jisung snorts, nearly spitting out a chunk of chewed-up cookie. “Don’t include movies!” He covers his mouth with one hand as he gulps the bite down. “You’ll never narrow it down if you do!”
Your jaw drops in offense as the boys fill the kitchen with giggles. “Hey!”
An embarrassed flush creeps onto your cheeks again and you turn to pull your mug out of the microwave. You take a sip of the warm milk as you stew quietly, waiting for their laughs to die down. 
“Okay, okay, seriously,” Jisung pipes up after a moment, stifling another giggle. “If you just look at high school…” he glances at you, his mouth quivering into a teasing grin, “she’s only seen guys in tuxedos, like, three times.”
“It was more than three!” You exclaim defensively, placing your mug down before you list off… every single time you’ve seen a boy in a suit.
You can’t believe you’re having this conversation.
“There was junior prom,” you hold up a finger, “senior prom,” you hold up another finger. You hesitate, then add, “the one time I went to homecoming—”
“Hey, that homecoming one doesn’t count!” Jisung protests. “You volunteered for extra credit!”
You groan and throw your hands up in defeat. Okay, maybe it was only three times, but you’d rather do anything else than admit it..
“Then what else is there?!”
Jisung shoots you a challenging look, eyebrows raised as one corner of his mouth threatens to twitch into a smirk. Your exasperated look immediately drops. You know, Jisung knows… and a quick glance at Jeongin tells you he just figured it out.
“Don’t tell me it was the formal?” The taller boy watches you with wide eyes.
“Jeongin!” you whine.
He gasps, a hand slapping over his mouth as he leaps over to smother you. 
“It was!”
His name escapes you once again as you use his shoulder as a way to try and shield yourself from the embarrassment—and him seeing the bright red tint currently burning your cheeks. 
“You thought I was cute when I wore that oversized suit?” he chuckles, letting his arms go around you.
“Shit up,” you continue to whine. 
Jeongin’s deep chuckle basically vibrates through you, it makes the butterflies in your stomach scatter. Your ear tingles when you feel his hot breath brush against it.
“If it's any consolation, you looked really good, too.” 
You smack his chest and turn your head away from him in hopes of him not seeing your blush. It fails miserably. 
“Oh my god, you’re blushing so hard,” Jeongin coos, using his free hand to try and get you to face him again. “Look how cute,” he hums.
With his fingers on your chin, you shut your eyes tightly. There was no way you could look him in the eye and have a rational thought. Not now, not when he was being so open and—dare you say it—flirty with you. 
“You’re so annoying,” you mumble, your eyes still closed. 
On the contrary, you don’t know how much more your heart can take. You don’t even have to open your eyes to know Jeongin is still smirking his ass off. 
“You don’t mean that, right, Miss Tuxedo Effect?” 
Your eyes snap open, your jaw tightening in an attempt to glare at him. He did not just go there. But at this point, with this new cocky attitude, why did it even surprise you he’d stoop so low? 
“You—” Your mind lapses and you’re unable to finish your sentence. 
Jeongin tilts his head slightly, his smile still crooked. “You?” 
Maybe it’s by sheer luck on your part or utter stupidity on Jisung’s, but a small noise makes you both turn and look at the older boy, who has his phone held up at the two of you. 
click.
He backs away slowly, retreating to the living room door. “You'll thank me for these later.” 
Rolling your eyes, you stare at him. “Why? Because the magic snow told you so?” 
Jisung gasps, pointing at you with a glare. 
“It’s not magic snow, it’s fate and I’ve already proved it enough times!” He yaps on. Huffing, he crosses his arms over his chest and his eyes narrow at you. “By the way, Jeongin will have to sleep in your room.” 
You freeze at his statement and feel all the color drain your face. 
“Uh…” you gulp. “Why?” 
“Well you see,” Jisung starts. His eyes flutter around the room, unable to stay on you. “The… the pull-out is broken!” He snaps his fingers before pointing at you. “Yeah, yeah, last time Hyunjin was here, he totally ripped it to shreds, sugarplum.” 
You blink slowly. The last time Hyunjin was here was last month, and Jisung was using the pull-out last week just fine.
“It’s just so broken now,” the older boy continues on his tangent, making a tsk noise and shaking his head. “He said he’d replace it, but he hasn’t yet, so it looks like Jeongin is going to have to bunk with you.” Jisung tries to laugh as he shrugs his shoulders. 
“Uh…” you repeat. 
It’s not that you didn’t want to share your room, let alone your bed, with Jeongin. He’s been your best friend for fifteen years—if there’s any guy on the planet you are comfortable doing that with, it’s him. Not even Heeseung or Yeonjun reached that level with you.
But even though you and Jeongin are attached to the hip, you two were never this close. Especially not when your parents shut down every attempt to stay for Christmas growing up. Why didn’t they just let you two do it? Surely, if they did, this wouldn’t be making your palms sweat as much as they are right now. 
That wasn’t the only issue now, though. Not when he could be moving away any day now, if it weren’t for the blizzard outside. Not when it took you this long to realize what you would give for him to stay.
Not stay for Christmas. Just stay.
“I can sleep on the normal couch,” Jeongin suggests, breaking your train of thought. Jisung feverishly shakes his head. 
“No!” He yells, his eyes wide. “I mean, you can’t, it’s so uncomfortable, you’ll have a bad back. It’s better to share with Y/N!” 
Jeongin’s cocky attitude seems to dissolve in seconds. His smirk melts into a small sheepish smile, the tips of his ears turn pink, and he can barely look you in the eye. 
“Is that okay?” he asks in the smallest voice ever. 
It’s now or never, Y/N. 
“Sure,” you smile. “It’s fine.” 
Jeongin shuffles out of the room, leaving you to glare daggers at the boy who’s gone back to nonchalantly snacking on Felix’s leftover desserts.
“You are so full of shit,” you grumble, feeling the blood rush to your cheeks again.
Jisung just gives you a tilted smile mid-munch.
“Would it help if I said the snow told me to do it?”
You slam your hand on the kitchen island, throwing your head back in despair and frustration. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“I didn’t, the snow did!” Jisung yells after you as you stomp out of the kitchen.
As Jeongin hogs the bathroom and gets ready for bed, you replay your words over and over in your head as you pace back and forth in your room, creating a small draft. ‘It’s fine’?! Are you crazy?! It’s not fine. It’s not fine at all.
Why did you agree to let Jeongin sleep just centimeters away from you? Is it too late to back out and hide in Jisung’s room for the night? If anything, Jisung deserved it for a multitude of reasons, the primary one being his ongoing snow escapades. You don’t know why you didn’t try fighting back on that earlier.
Running a hand through your hair, you heave out a sigh and flick the lights off. You pull your duvet up and shuffle under the covers, bunching the blanket around your chest and letting your arms rest on top of it. A strange feeling swirls in your stomach as you stare up the ceiling, and you truly think about what you just signed up for.
After fourteen years, you’re finally getting that Christmas sleepover you and Jeongin have been joking about since you were ten. Well… the one you’ve been joking about since you were ten. Jeongin started it, then attempted to forget it existed for a while, then he started joking along with you. However, at some point… it didn’t feel like you were joking anymore.
You don’t remember when, specifically—if there even was a specific moment. You just remember that at some point, despite years and years of endless teasing on your part, you genuinely wanted this sleepover. With all the roadblocks you two had endured during your childhood and teen years, though, you thought it’d never happen. 
And now, here you are.
The soft click of the door opening causes you to look up. Light from the hallway floods into the room and Jeongin smiles warmly at you. His hair is fluffy and he still has a few drops of water on his forehead from washing his face. He smooths out his oversized black t-shirt a little as his eyes meet yours, then he looks down and dusts off his gray sweatpants. You can’t help but smile fondly at the sight. 
His smile fades into something more timid as he closes the door behind him and shuffles over to the bed. Before climbing into the covers, he looks at you, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. 
“Is this…” he hesitates, “Are you sure this is oka—”
You chuckle, gently cutting him off. “Just get in the bed, Jeongin.”
A bittersweet feeling cascades over you as he tucks himself under the covers. It’s really happening. Your first Christmas sleepover has finally officially begun, after fourteen years of waiting. Somewhere in the back of your mind, though, you’re plagued with a brutal reminder that this could also be your last Christmas together. Ever.
You feel Jeongin move around a bit, soon settling and facing you. You shift onto your side after a moment, smiling tightly at him before letting your gaze drift out your window.  Snow continues to surge down, and the wind rattles against the glass. If it weren’t for the dim glow of the streetlight outside, you wouldn’t be able to see a thing.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Jeongin mumbles after a beat. You don’t need more light to know he has a cocky grin on his face.
“I’m not even looking at you, dummy,” you scoff, pointing past his ear and out the window.
He turns his head around, following your finger. Once he lands his eyes on the window, his jaw drops slightly and nods in understanding. “I didn’t think it would snow this hard.”
His voice is soft but gentle, and it makes your heart skip a beat. You force out a chuckle in an attempt to ground yourself. “Should’ve known Jisung would’ve gone mad.”
Jeongin snorts, “He’s long gone, you know this.” He turns around again, the corners of his lips lifting up slightly. “But… at least I get to stay for Christmas.”
You can't help but smile back. “After all these years,” you muse.
“Yeah…”
A beat of silence. “Is this what you imagined it would be?” You ask, your voice quieter.
Jeongin purses his lips together, looking down for a second. “When I was ten? No.”
You both chuckle.
“I thought we’d be knocked out on the couch after eating too many cookies,” Jeongin continues before adding as an afterthought, “Well, after you ate too many cookies.”
You gasp in fake offense, lightly swatting at his chest. “Hey, you were just as bad!”
He scoffs, and another chuckle slips out. It’s like music to your ears.
Then another beat of silence.
“Was this what you imagined it would be?” He repeats your question back to you.
Your eyes meet his as you shake your head. ”No.”
It wasn’t… at least, not until you got older, but he didn’t need to know that.
Feeling some of the tension melt away, you and Jeongin continue to lie down next to each other in a comfortable silence. You aren’t sure how quickly you became accustomed to feeling his body heat seeping into you. In so little time, this image of Jeongin lying next to you, you want it burned inside your mind. The image of his hair so fluffy, you want to reach out and run your hands through it. The silhouette of him under the covers so cozy, you want to throw yourself into his arms.
How it had been a measly fifteen minutes, but this scenario with him… of you two being together… you want it forever.
“Are you okay?” Jeongin’s voice breaks the silence, as well as your train of thought.
You let out a sigh. “I… I guess.”
You can’t help but feel like this is some cruel twist of fate. That maybe the snow isn’t magical or special, but rather cruel and cunning—teasing you by giving you what you’ve always wanted, your stay for Christmas, only to rip it away from you so ruthlessly in a few days. 
All of the words you want to say, that you wish you could say, becomes a bitter pill in your mouth. It leads you to wonder if it was worth spitting it all out, or if you should swallow and shove it down instead. If anything you say in this moment, if you tore your chest open and bore your heart out for Jeongin to see… would it really change anything? 
You already know the answer, but it doesn’t mean you can’t try.
“I…” you start. “I don’t want you to leave.” 
While you were lost in thought, Jeongin had shifted himself so he was laying on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He exhales and you can practically see his breath in the air.
“Honestly?” he sighs. “I don’t either.” 
“Then…” you hesitate. “Then can’t you just stay…” your voice shakes. “…with me?”
It feels weird not asking that he stay for Christmas, but you have that covered right now. You know it won’t last forever if you’re not careful, though, so it’s pointless to try.
So it’s not stay for Christmas, for once in your life. Just stay. 
He rolls over onto his side so he’s facing you and he places his hand ever so near yours. “I wish I could. but hey, we’ll work it out.” He smiles reassuringly. “Just like you said, we can text, we can FaceTime, we can visit…” 
Pushing your lips into a thin line, you nod. “R-Right. Yeah.”
Gently, he grabs your hand in his, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. “We'll make it work. We’re…” He pauses. You can’t pinpoint what in his eyes changes in the dark. “We’re best friends for a reason, remember?”
You sigh. “I… I guess.”
But was there a reason? Sure, you may have asked him if he wanted to be your friend when you first moved to the neighborhood, but you didn’t plan any of this. Nine-year-old you just needed a friend to ease your mother’s worries—you had no way to know what fate had in store for you two when you did get that friend. 
Now Jeongin is way more than a friend to you. More than the awkward boy in an obnoxious purple sweater you met all those years ago. He's, to keep it short, home. And you don’t know if you can handle losing your way home a third time.
Maybe the reason was simply fate, because all of this—it just kind of happened. And now you’re stuck, unsure what to do next… or maybe you do.
You hesitate for one moment, then take a deep breath. 
“But it— it’s more than that.” 
You stare at your entwined hands, watching how Jeongin continues to caress the back of your hand with his thumb. Swallowing your nerves, you look up to catch his eyes.
Here goes nothing.
“Jeongin, I really don’t want this to mess up what we have, but I…” you pause. “I fell for you.” 
You attempt to gauge his reaction. You can’t read the look in his eyes, but somehow, it urges you to keep going.
“I’m sorry this is so sudden,” you start again, your voice shaky, “it’s just— you’re such an important part of my life, you always have been.” You feel your eyes prick with tears. “And even when you were gone, I always found myself wanting to run back to you.”
You pause again, softly biting down on your lip as you struggle to swallow down your pounding heart. You take one more deep breath.
“It’s… it’s always been you, Jeongin.” Your voice cracks, a small whimper escapes your lips. Your eyes continue to well as the floodgates open in your heart, and you look down before you completely break. “I-I can’t lose you again.”
You attempt to blink your tears away, but a few manage to slide down your cheek, seeping into your pillow. Shaking your head, your lower lip quivers, and you choke out a sob.
“Y/N…”
Jeongin slips his hand out of yours and you try your best to calm your breathing. He slowly moves his hand up, gently brushing away a few stray hairs that stick to your face, and you look up at him through glassy eyes. Your vision blurs, but you sense a feeling of longing, an almost-bittersweet swirl of warmth and affection radiating from Jeongin as he gazes down at you.
As he moves to cup your cheek, wiping away a tear with the pad of his thumb, the sound of your pounding heart rings in your ears. The sensation seems to fade into the background when he begins to speak.
“I fell for you, too. I… I have been for years, actually.”
Your breath hitches in your throat at his words. He smiles tenderly at you as you sniffle, wiping away another tear.
“It’s always been you, too, Y/N, and I hate that it took so long to realize it,” he breathes out after another moment. "If anyone should be apologizing here, it’s me.”
“Jeongin…” you mumble, but he shakes his head firmly. 
“I never should’ve left the first time without saying goodbye.” The boy sighs, remorse pooling in his eyes as they meet yours. “It— it hurt so much to think about, but leaving you like that hurt even more.” His gaze drifts down for a moment and he slips his free hand into yours, giving it a gentle squeeze. Smiling lightly, he looks back up at you, his regrets replaced with a newfound conviction. “I’m not letting that happen again.”
A new sensation overwhelms you: one of relief, of euphoria. It fills the empty gaps in your chest, and causes the butterflies in your stomach to take flight. It’s as if you had been stranded at sea for years and finally found land, as if you had one puzzle piece left before everything seamlessly clicked into place. For the first time in years, everything feels right. Jeongin’s gaze, so sugary sweet like honey, makes you crave more.
His smile widens, causing yours to do the same. “I guess we have one more reason we have to make this work, then, right?”
A small giggle escapes you so quickly that you can’t even catch it. Jeongin catches the few tears—tears of happiness this time–that slip from your eyes, before pulling you into his embrace, fully immersing you in his warmth. You hug him back tightly, tucking your head into his shoulder and never wanting to let go.
“I love you, Jeongin,” you whisper.
You feel Jeongin press a light kiss to the top of your head. When he pulls away, he reaches a hand up, gently cradling the back of your head as he brushes his nose against your hair. 
“I love you, too, Y/N.” 
This image of you and Jeongin… all snuggled up, warm and safe in each other’s arms throughout the night... this feels right. This feels like home.
You’re home.
...to 25. (epilogue)
The bitter air churns around you as you step out of Jisung’s car, and you immediately regret not wearing a larger coat instead of just your cardigan. However, before you can pull it closer to you, you feel Jeongin slide his hand into yours, entwining your fingers together. Sighing contentedly, you lean into his shoulder and gaze up at him.
“You okay, there?” He rubs his thumb over the back of your hand. “I know I look dashing, but still.”
You scoff lightly. “‘M just cold, Jeongin.”
Smiling, he turns his head to face you, his breath warm against your ear.
“Okay, but try not to fall too hard for me, Miss Tuxedo Effect.” 
Rolling your eyes, you use your free hand to hit his chest. “Shut up.” 
His chuckles are like heaven in your ears. You want to hear more of it, even if it’s at your own expense. And you knew he was never going to let you live “tuxedo effect” down. Just like Jisung and his “sugarplum” ordeal, this was just another nickname you’d have to put under your belt—not that you minded much, not when you got to hear Jeongin laugh in the way he does. 
Your attention gets brought back to him once you feel him squeeze your hand lightly. Your eyes linger on him and shift to the subtle light shining from your front porch. You notice how stiff he’s gotten, wide eyes staring blankly at your house like a deer in headlights.
“You okay?” you ask quietly, rubbing the back of his hand with your thumb. 
He sighs and hesitantly nods. “Just… nervous.”
You smile. Following the events from last Christmas Eve, Jeongin moved into his new apartment close to his job at the end of January. By the beginning of summer, he and Jisung helped get you a job closer to him so you could move in with your now-boyfriend.
Despite having an extra month together after Christmas, neither of you exactly… broke it to your parents that you two got together. You don’t remember if it just slipped your minds or if you two wanted to surprise them, but either way, they’ll find out in just a few moments. Given your history with the Christmas party and Christmas as a whole, you both agreed there’s no better place to break the news.
Getting up onto your tippy-toes, you place the lightest kiss onto his cheek, but pull away far too quickly in Jeongin’s opinion. “It’ll be okay.” You squeeze his hand. “I’m right next to you.” 
He glances at you, a smile playing at his lips. “Always?” 
You hum, nodding. “Always.” Then you give him a quick once-over and huff, a grimace twisting your mouth. “But do you really need to wear that?”
Jeongin looks down at his outfit, and his smile slowly grows more bashful as he fixes the tie of his tuxedo. Meanwhile, you’re left to painstakingly replay the events from five minutes ago in your mind.
The scene itself mirrored the one from when you were sixteen: Jisung in the driver’s seat, you in the passenger seat, and Jeongin trying desperately hard to get changed in the backseat, Mariah Carey taunting him from the speakers. Every now and then, Jisung tried to push his luck by jolting the car forward. 
It was all way too similar, except this time, there was no sneaking Jeongin out of the house. Also, there was really no need for an emergency tux this time around. Yet, somehow, Jisung still convinced him to put it on.
“I just want to make a good impression,” you hear Jeongin squeak out a moment later. You look back at him and he’s frantically smoothing out his suit jacket, and a light pink blush dusts his cheeks and the tips of his ears. You have to restrain yourself from smothering the boy with kisses at the sight. 
“Babe, you already have a good impression,” you chuckle adoringly, “you grew up here, remember?”
Your boyfriend gazes at you with wide eyes, uncertainty glazing his features. You step closer to him, taking his hand in yours again.
“It’ll be okay,” you repeat, allowing Jeongin to lace your fingers together. “And Jisung did not need to bring the suit with us.”
“But it’s an emergency tux, Y/N,” Jeongin says. “You have to keep it around you in case you need it, it’s in the name!”
“This isn’t even a fancy emergency!”
“But Jisung said it’s a romantic one! That counts!”
You let out a deep sigh, but you can’t be too mad at Jisung for trying to help. “Fine, fine.” You wait a moment then wonder aloud, “Speaking of, when do you think Jisung will get back?” 
Since Jisung still lives in town, he welcomed you both back to his apartment with open arms and, in true Jisung fashion, an excessive amount of babying. He had taken the liberty of not only driving two cities away to pick you two up (he claims he came for a job interview anyway—you don’t not believe him, but you think he also just missed you two), but also dropping you both off at your house before driving off to get coffee.
Jeongin shrugs. “Who knows? He does love his coffee.”
You chuckle fondly. “He’ll catch up later.”
Pulling Jeongin by the hand, you lead the way up the pavement and to the confines of your house. 
Even though it hadn’t been long since you were last here, you missed it dearly. You also missed the way your house was now adorned with Christmas lights. Every year, your dad always seemed to outdo himself with putting up better and better lights. You are sure he had been planning it since last year, that maybe he had already started on next year’s lights, too. 
When you walk through your front door, you’re met with the smell of cinnamon and sugar cookies. There’s light Christmas music in the air and everyone is scattered around, laughing, drinking, and having a merry time. Your mom and dad are nowhere to be seen—you assume they’re in the kitchen somewhere, checking on guests or snacks. You figure you’ll bump into them eventually.
You find countless familiar faces in the sea of people. You see old families that have lived in the neighborhood since before you moved here, families that you have come to view as part of your own. You spot the kids you grew up with; some who are freshly-turned teenagers, and others who have since grown up and started their own lives. You even see Yeonjun, sharing a drink with his girlfriend.
While it was awkward between you at first, you both came to terms with what you had and what you were. You two loved each other, but not in the way that the other wanted or needed. He was a memory, carved into you like stone, but a cherished one that you will hold deep in your heart.
Your eyes meet and you both smile instantly at the sight of each other. His eyes glance back at the boy beside you and you can see how he laughs, his smile growing wider. His eyes meet yours again, he nods his head and you nod yours. 
There’s no need for spoken words. You’re both happy, and you’re both happy the other is happy. Everything you two went through, from your journeys together to your journeys apart, has led you to this moment. 
Ultimate happiness. 
Jeongin pulls your attention back to him, leading you through small groups of people, and you turn back one final time to send Yeonjun a smile. When you look back around to see where Jeongin is guiding you, you see his mom sitting at the dining table, munching away on some snacks on a paper plate. 
She looks up with a bright smile; you’re sure it’s where Jeongin got his from. However, her smile soon melts into confusion at Jeongin’s peculiar outfit. Rising from her seat, she pulls her son into a hug. 
“Hey, sweeties,” she hums, pulling away from Jeongin after a second, keeping her hands on his shoulders as she looks down at his ‘emergency tux’. “Why are you wearing a tux? It’s just the Christmas party.” 
“I told you,” you mumble from beside him. 
He huffs, pulling and lossing the tie around his neck. “I just… it’s dumb.” 
“No, no,” you pout. “You look great, don’t worry about it.” 
Chuckling, Jeongin runs a hand through his hair, his eyes landing on you as he smiles. 
“Of course you’d say that, Miss Tuxedo Effect.” 
Rolling your eyes, you mutter to yourself as Mrs. Yang giggles. 
“Well, for whatever reason you’re wearing it,” Mrs. Yang pinches Jeongin’s cheek causing him to attempt to pull away. “You look very handsome, honey sweet.” 
“T-Thanks, Mom.” 
Pulling on Jeongin’s hand, you fish into your bag, pulling out a pair of black jeans and an almost-obnoxious shade of purple sweatshirt. Dubbing them an ‘emergency change of clothes’, you now know you were right to pack them. 
“You packed spare clothes?” Jeongin asks as you shove them in his hands. 
Humming, you nod your head. “Of course, I knew Jisung would try and fill your head with some foolish idea.” 
“It wasn’t…” You cut him off with a look. He doesn't finish his sentence. 
He puts the jeans over his arm, pulling the sweatshirt out to see. You almost fail to notice the way the tips of his ears, once again, turn pink as he smiles. 
“I thought you hated this color,” he laughs. 
Pushing him forward and in the direction of the stairs, you concede. “Eh, it grew on me. Now please change.” 
Jeongin continues to laugh as he struggles against you. “I’m going, I’m going!” 
When he comes down a mere five minutes later, the now-discarded tux in his hands, you can tell he’s far more comfortable than before. He leaves it on the couch and takes his place beside you once again, slipping his hand into yours. This time, you take the initiative to thread your fingers together.
A gasp leaves Mrs. Yang’s parted lips when she notes the way her son beams down at you. A warm glow seems to encircle him, and you can almost count the specks in his sparkly eyes when you look up. There’s nothing but affection swimming in his loved-up smile—just pure endearment for you.
“Did you two?” She watches you two with wide eyes. 
You and Jeongin suddenly look away from each other. Bashfully, you let your gaze fall to the floor, and you feel a tinge of red tickle your ears, but you don’t bother to let his hand go.
He doesn’t, either. He just squeezes your hand lightly as he nods, letting out a shy giggle.
Mrs. Yang gasps again, her hands flying over her mouth. Like mother, like son.
“You did!”
Without warning, she springs up from her chair. “Oh, I have to go find your father, now!” she gushes, pulling Jeongin into a bone-crushing hug. When she lets go of your startled boyfriend, she turns to you, squeezing you tight. “And your parents, too!”
You let out an embarrassed chuckle as you hug her back. When you both part, Mrs. Yang turns on her heel and scurries to the kitchen. 
Jeongin snaps his head towards you as his mother’s figure disappears into the crowd. His lips twitch up to an amused grin—it only grows wider when you match his expression. 
You shake your head to yourself, leaning your forehead against his shoulder. You feel Jeongin’s hand snake around your back, and you let out an exasperated sigh as he pulls you into his own hug.
“Parents, am I right?” he comments. His other arm hooks snugly around your waist, bringing you in closer. You shake your head into the crook of his neck as your own arms go around the boy.
“If that’s how your mom reacts, imagine what mine’s gonna do,” you mumble into his skin.
For better or worse, you’re quickly proven right.
“Ohhh, look how cute!”
You know exactly what happens next without even moving your head. Your mother, amidst her endless gushing about how she’s been “waiting for this day for years!”, scrambles to pull her phone out of her pocket, making a beeline straight for the camera app. Her mouth is probably gaping up and down like a fish, and she’s most definitely shuffling around the crowded space for the best angle. If your and Jeongin’s fathers were dragged along, they do nothing to stop her (not that they could to begin with, but still).
You don’t need to look up to know, and you don’t want to. You’d much rather her not see how red your face is, anyway.
“Okay, don’t move!” your mother orders. “One, two…”
“Mom!” you whine, burrowing yourself further into Jeongin’s sweater.
As your mother fulfills her need for pictures, Jeongin’s giggles ring in your ears. You try to focus on that to will your embarrassment away.
“Are you done yet, Mom?” you speak after a moment. A pout forms on your lips when she tuts.
“Uh uh, I need more!”
“You don’t have enough yet?!”
“There’s never enough photos!” A hearty, teasing laugh leaves her throat, chiming over the music for a second. “You know this, sugarplum.”
“Wait, so that’s why Jisung calls you ‘sugarplum’?!” Jeongin questions. He almost pulls back to get a better look at you, but you grip onto him tighter before he has the chance.
“Yes, and that’s my sugarplum!” Another familiar voice cries out.
Stepping back from Jeongin, you turn to see Jisung standing there with a childish frown on his face. He holds a take-out cup in one hand, and lets go of a girl’s hand to point at Jeongin with the other.
Wait… who’s the girl? You’ll have to get back to that.
“You’re her boyfriend, call her ‘baby’ or ‘boo-boo’ or something,” he adds, exaggerating his pout. “I claimed ‘sugarplum’ years ago!”
You roll your eyes. Technically, your mother claimed it first, but you know she’ll let Jisung go.
“Please don’t call me ‘boo-boo’,” you say, blankly staring up at Jeongin. Instead of responding, he reaches a hand up to pinch your cheek.
“Aww, is someone blushing?” he coos.
You push his hand away with a whine, earning a giggle from him and both of your moms. “Not you, too!” 
The girl next to Jisung leans over to him and whispers something in his ear. You aren’t sure what, but the boy responds to her with an “I told youuu,” a whimsical ring to his voice.
Jeongin glances at the girl, then at you, his face twisted in bewilderment. All you can respond with is a shrug.
“Ah,” Jisung pipes up, sensing your confusion, and he gestures to the brunette next to him. “This is Lia.”
She gives you all a small wave, quickly looking down and smoothing her maroon sweater with one hand. You all exchange greetings back, and Jisung continues, a sheepish smile on his face.
“We met during college, and, uh, I ran into her at the cafe just now.” The older boy scratches at the back of his neck, and a rosy glow rises to his cheeks. “She told me she just moved here, actually, and I figured I’d show her around… make her feel at home, you know?”
A warm smile paints your lips. You think of when you first moved here, how the community welcomed you and your family with open arms. Even if your grumpy nine-year-old self didn’t appreciate it, your twenty-five-year-old self couldn’t be more grateful. “You’re gonna love it here,” you say to Lia.
Lia smiles back, and she seems to relax at your words. “Thank you.”
“Oh, aaaand,” Jisung cuts in again after a moment. He tenderly takes Lia’s hand in his, sending her a bubbly, heart-eyed grin as he swings their hands between them.
“Do you really have to open with this?” Lia says softly.
“Yes, I do!” Jisung squeaks, his voice jumping higher than normal. “They’ll get it, trust me!”
He glances hopefully at you and Jeongin, his eyes wide and bright. The two of you exchange confused looks with each other. What could he be talking about?
A second later, it clicks. Why else would Jisung be hopping up and down so eagerly, about ready to jump out of his hoodie any minute now?
“Don’t tell me you met during—” you begin.
“During the first snow!” Jisung finishes your sentence in a singsong. He tapers off with a dreamy sigh, and his eyes seem to sparkle more when they land back on an embarrassed Lia.
“He just means the second time around,” she clarifies with an awkward cough. “The first time was during spring.”
Your first instinct is to roll your eyes at your friend’s ongoing infatuation with the snow, but a fond chuckle takes its place. You had stayed up many nights talking with Jisung when you lived with him, the two of you sprawled out like starfish on your kitchen floor as you shared thoughts about the future, the simultaneous excitement and uncertainty of it all. If there was one thing Jisung was firm on, it was his hope that he’d meet The One during the first snow of winter, that the twinkling little snowflakes would be his guiding star to his person.
“Love at first snow,” was what he called it, “…you know, like you and Jeongin.” As much as you found the phrase irritating at the time, you never bothered to correct him.
But of course, it’s one thing to have hopeless romantic fantasies, and another to have them come to life. It’s kind of endearing, maybe heartwarming in a weird little-sister-figure way, to observe Jisung’s increasingly lovestruck daze as he relives the recent memory—you can practically see the hearts dancing around his head. But that’s not the point right now.
So this is the girl Jisung always texted you about during college.
You recall countless conversations about how pretty and smart and sweet she was, and even more of him blowing up your phone at three in the morning for date ideas (“the more aesthetic, the better! :D”). Even though he successfully asked her out, he still never let it go that they never saw the first snow together before they broke up.
Despite her embarrassment, Lia seems to mirror Jisung’s loved-up smile. From what he told you, they parted ways on good terms—something about both of them graduating soon and having different mindsets, he said, but they both agreed to stay friends. But something tells you that, even after all this time, they’re still on the same page about the first snow… and maybe some other matters, too.
You can see it in their eyes: the feverish look that makes their irises shimmer as they gaze at each other, the almost-overwhelming amount of affection that swims in their pupils and makes the corners of their lips twist up. You recognize it all too well—it’s the exact same way you used to look at Jeongin. Every once in a while, you still catch yourself doing it.
It’s nothing but fate, at this point, when you notice faint white pellets of snow are still hitting the window in your peripheral. An overjoyed smile of your own quickly overtakes your features, and when you look up at Jeongin, it seems like he’s thinking the same thing as you.
With an infectious giggle, Jeongin grabs your hand, but you sharply turn to Jisung and Lia before he can pull you away. Your boyfriend's small whines fall on deaf ears, and he childishly tugs at your hand as you try to get the lovebirds’ attention.
“Hey, do you wanna go see the magic snow or not?” you call out, half-teasingly and half-genuinely.
In a snap, Jisung’s lovesick daze flips into a triumphant smile as he turns to you. “So you admit it’s magic?!”
You roll your eyes, giving Jeongin’s hand a quick squeeze to calm his impatience. “I needed to get your attention somehow,” you say, “but just this once, I’ll admit it.” 
The way your friend seems to light up like a Christmas tree is enough to make you give in. You do owe him for his stunt last year, after all—you’re more than happy to let him have this one.
“Now, do you want to go see the snow or not?” you ask after another moment, a small smile etched on your lips.
“Of course I want to see the snow!” Jisung chirps.
As he looks to Lia for her response, his puppy-love daze making a return, you allow yourself to take in your surroundings. The warmth teeming around you from the Christmas party is one that never gets old, no matter how many times you come, and no matter how long you’re gone. It brings a wave of peace to your heart, even as a couple of screaming children run a lap around you and your friends.
Your chipper boyfriend begins to pull you to the front door with him, making you lose your step for a second, and you find yourself meeting Yeonjun’s eyes from across the house one more time. Before you lose sight of him, you nod to the window several feet away from him, sending him a wink to him before you turn around. Even if you weren’t meant to be his love at first snow, the least you can do is make sure he got his.
By the time you look away, Jeongin has already pulled you both to the front door, Jisung and Lia already dressed and waiting for you two. Hastily, he throws on his coat before he scrambles through the pile of shoes by the doormat to find his own pair.
You’re about to do the same, then you realize…
“Right, I forgot my—”
“Your jacket?” Jisung calls out. Without another word, he digs into his backpack and tosses you the coat you left behind at his apartment earlier. You slip it on with a relieved smile, mouthing a ‘thank you’ before getting your shoes on and swinging the door open for all four of you.
Soft, puffy snowflakes dot the ground around you as you begin your stroll down the sidewalk. You hear Jisung and Lia’s musings behind you, but they fade into a quiet buzz as all the memories from your childhood flash before your eyes. The houses you pass by are ones you used to see everyday on the way home from school, and the sidewalks are ones you used to run around on during the weekends. You never would’ve thought you’d be back now, reliving it all with the people you love most.
It gets even better, though, when Jeongin nudges your shoulder, and points to a grassy area coming up ahead. You follow his finger and gasp, immediately recognizing the spot.
Reaching for his hand, you break into a sprint and pull the boy with you to the neighborhood park, the two of you almost tripping due to the slippery snow. The park is almost the exact same as it was when you first moved. Some parts had been upgraded over time, whereas others still seemed heavily used and loved by the younger children around the neighborhood.
Your eyes glaze around the small park and you could almost see a vision of nine-year-old you, standing near your mother as she pushes you to speak to the other children—to make some new friends. You could practically see nine-year-old Jeongin hanging upside-down from the monkey bars, adorned in that now less-obnoxious purple sweater. 
You wonder what nine-year-old you would think if she saw where you are now, with Jeongin’s hand wrapped tightly around your own. You wonder what she’d have to say about the way your cheeks tickled pink, not only from the cold, but also from the way Jeongin’s gaze lingered on you for a moment too long, and the way his lips tugged into a soft smile whenever you looked back at him.
Tugging lightly on Jeongin’s hand, you lead the both of you over towards the monkey bars, his whines falling on deaf ears as you drop his hand from your grasp to climb up the metal bars. Once you’re sat down in the most comfortable position you can, the cold metal sending shivers down your spine, you beckon Jeongin to join you. 
“Sit with me.” You smile down at him, one hand keeping you steady as the other makes grabby hands in Jeongin’s direction. 
Jeongin huffs. “But it’s so cold.” 
However, his words fall short when he still begrudgingly makes the small climb up. He lets his legs dangle through the holes, his knees knocking against your own lightly. 
A gust of cold air causes you to shiver and as a response, you pull your coat closer to you. This seems to make Jeongin chuckle fondly, and you feel his eyes linger on you for a second before he looks out at the horizon. The falling snowflakes glisten under the remnants of the sunlight, and the holiday lights emit a breathtaking glow. You’re both still not tall enough to see much above the houses in front of you, but that’s okay—you know what lies beyond it.
“You know, I never thought we’d be back here,” you mumble. A giggle escapes you as you watch the stars slowly make their appearance above you.
Jeongin has a giggle of his own as something on the monkey bars catches his eye. “I can’t believe it’s still here,” he continues to laugh, causing you to redirect your gaze. 
“What do you mean?” 
He runs his fingers lightly over the faded black ink scrawled across the top of the monkey bars. 
Y/N and Jeongin, 2010.
“No way,” you gasp, trying your best to lean over to see it better without falling. “I thought they replaced the park equipment years ago.” 
Looking up at you, Jeongin smiles. “Obviously not all of it.” 
He fishes around in his pocket for a second and before you can question anything, he pulls out a black marker pen and unclips the lid. 
“What are you–” 
Your sentence goes unfinished, however, when he leans over and adds a small section under his own nine-year-old handwriting. 
And forevermore.
Your heartstrings are played like a violin as you watch Jeongin cap the pen back up, a pleased smile etched on his lips. When he finally comes back to reality, noticing your gaze, he shrugs. 
“What?” he says. “Had to add it and make it official.” 
“We’ve been official for a year, I don’t think the monkey bars would mind.” 
Jeongin rolls his eyes, a chuckle escaping him. “What if some kids read it? Surely, they’ll love to know the story has a happy ending?” 
If you weren’t afraid of falling, you would have jumped on him, showering his face in the most kisses possible. However, for both his and your safety, you opt for words instead.
“I love you,” you breathe, beaming at him. You’ve never said anything more true in your life. 
His smile mirrors your own. “I love you too.” 
You look back at the sky as Jeongin shoves his pen and hands back in his pockets, the dopey grin on your face growing wider, if that was even possible. Another giggle escapes you when you feel a drop of snow hit your nose. This is everything to you—it’s ultimate happiness.
But there’s one thing missing.
“I can’t believe I forgot,” you say, your gaze falling back down. 
Raising an eyebrow, he looks at you in curiosity. “Yeah?” he responds, and you stare back with a cheeky smile.
“Stay for Christmas?”
Jeongin shakes his head, but his giggles still fill your ears, sending your heart into shockwaves of emotions, like the ripples after a stone hitting the water. The tips of his ears as well as his cheeks glow pink under the streetlight that has just flicked on. You can’t tell if it’s from the cold or from you, but you wish for it to be the latter. 
“You know you don’t have to say that anymore, right?” Jeongin asks, gazing at you with a look that makes it hard to catch a breath. 
“I know,” you exhale, “but it’s basically tradition now, it’s a must.”
“Well, tradition or not…” Jeongin begins. He slips his hand from out of his pocket to grab and entwine your fingers with his own. His heat seeps into you as he runs his thumb over the back of your hand. “…I’m here to stay.” 
He uses his other hand to tap lightly on the recently-added handwriting, his words echoing around in your ears. “Forevermore.” 
Your eyes are all soft and sparkly as you smile at him, giving his hand a squeeze before letting the air around you fall silent. A contented sigh escapes your parted lips, forming a faint puff in the cold air as you watch the fluffy, white crystals above you flutter down.
Jeongin started off as a mere stranger, nothing but the awkward boy in an ugly sweater. Sixteen years later, he’s sitting with you atop the same monkey bars upon which you two met as so much more. He’s your best friend, your childhood playmate, your built-in Mario Kart partner. He’s your teenage crush, your love at first snow, your stay for Christmas—and all that only you two know it entails.
Perhaps, most important of all, Jeongin is home. And as long as you have Jeongin, you’ll always know your way back.
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multicolorlou · 6 months
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Nails (Game AU self insert)
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Summary: Matthew Lillard!William notices your shoddily done nails and offers to pay for you to get them done professionally.
Author's Note: This includes some dirty conversation, some self deprecation (not in a kinky way), and mentions of not having a lot of money
@truecobblepot this was a headcanon I had I wanted to tell you but since you were asleep I just wrote a whole fic ❤️
It was another normal day at work, Kellen tapped away at her keyboard. As manager, it was part of her job to write up the company newsletter for her particular location. It was especially important considering it was the headquarters of Fazbear Entertainment. She was working right under Afton and Emily themselves.
This month she was going over some of the new performance tapes that were going to be distributed and the troubleshooting that may need to happen if issues arose. They didn't very often, but occasionally those two geniuses would miss something small.
As she worked away, the door to her small office opened, and in stepped the boss-man himself… well, one of them.
"Good morning, Mr. Afton."
She said jokingly, they were already beyond a romantic relationship at this point, but the formalities amused them.
"I brought you coffee." He placed it down on the table as he kissed the top of her head.
"Ah, disgusting, black coffee." Kellen joked, smiling up at him, "I'm joking, thank you, Will."
He leaned against her desk, "What were you up to last night? Usually I get a call from you."
She lifted her hand, showing off her freshly painted red nails. "I was doing my nails!" The paint work was somewhat sloppy and there wasn't anything special about them, but she seemed proud enough, so he smiled.
"I thought girls usually went and got them done." He pondered.
"Well, girls with money do, I can't be spending that kind of money, especially with how indecisive I am." She chuckled, "I haven't had my nails done since prom."
He smirked, she seemed so young to be reminiscing like that. "So, what, two years ago?" He teased her, earning a playful flick.
"Hey, now, I'm not that young." She laughed, turning in her swivel chair to face him. "Man I even got my toenails done, usually I'd think that was a waste of money."
He chuckled, seeming deep in thought. "Is that just not your thing or?"
"Oh, no, I love going and doing it…. As you can tell I'm kind of awful at doing it myself… I just… you know…" She seemed to be getting embarrassed that she couldnt afford a luxury most girls had. "Sorry you gotta see these awful things, but it gives me the illusion of classiness." She gestured with her hand, quickly burying her nails in her lap, now self conscious.
"Oh, hon, I didn't mean to make you feel bad, they look great."
"No, no, I know they're not the best, I just figure most people won't look past the color anyways." She feigned a chuckle and started typing again, her mood more melancholy.
William hesitated for a moment, but then spoke up. "Say, what if I paid for you to go get your nails done?"
She blushed a little, looking down at her lap. "You don't need to do that-"
He shrugged, "Just think of it as a bonus, you work so hard after all."
She shook her head, giggling a little, "Don't spoil me!"
"All I ask is you get them done purple, just so you remember who paid for them." He smirked, running a hand through her hair, he gently tilted her head up. Her face went completely red now.
"Ah- yes- sir."
He seemed pretty proud of himself, "Good girl." He let go of her head and rubbed her shoulder a little. "I can't wait to see those nails next time they're wrapped around my-"
"William!" She butted in, stopping him, she was absolutely mortified- not to say she wasn't enjoying the idea.
"Sorry, sorry…" He was definitely not sorry, not by the way he swaggered out of her office, smug and confident with what he had done. "Just stop by and grab my card before you go get them done… and make sure to stop and… show me." He winked, closing the door.
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artemiseamoon · 1 year
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💫Exception 💫
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Bonus flirting with danger chapter for Anon
(I won’t be doing this for everything guys, if you don’t have an A03 account yet I recommend you get one. When you request, it goes to them, not me. The reason many writers, including myself have locked our work is because AI is scrapping and stealing fanfics, supposedly. Once I hear news this has been stopped, or it’s been disproved, I’ll open my A03 to all again. Sorry to lock out those who don’t have accounts, i really am, I just want to protect my work)
How A03 invitations work
SPOILERS if you have not finished Flirting with Danger, of if you haven’t read the finale yet!!! Please catch up first.
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One year later
Ramón is a doting father. Everything you could have dreamed and more.
Over the last year, you’ve had moments you had to pinch yourself and make sure you weren’t dreaming. Before, when you dreamed of this outcome you felt foolish and like a romantic, it seemed so unreal, so unattainable. Your happy ending arrived, and you’re still savoring every single moment of it.
Unlike before, you’re not doing this alone anymore. Ramón is head over heels in love with Isabel and her with him; they’re two peas in a pod and you love seeing it. Ramón has been the happiest you’ve ever seen him. You didn’t think you could see him smile any brighter, or his eyes fill with anymore joy, he was already bursting at the seams with it.
Then, five months ago, you found out another little one is on the way. The news made you nervous but filled you with happiness too. Sure, you would have been fine only having Isabel, or at least waiting until she was 7 or 8 before another one. But you didn’t run from this one or deny it like before, and when you told Ramón it bought happy tears to his eyes. He so badly wanted to be there for everything with Isabel, and now he gets a second chance.
He's obsessed with your growing belly and is always littering it with kisses and speaking to the baby. When doing the tiniest tasks, he eases you away and takes things out of your hands, so you don’t have to lift anything.
“Ramón”, you say while giggling, “this isn’t heavy at all, I got it.”
“No, no let me. You should be resting, "he says while kissing your face, then dipping his head to kiss your belly.
Isabel’s excited too. One day when she was laying her head on your belly, as Ramón was reading a bedtime story to all of you, she sat up, looked you in the eyes and said,
“Mom it’s a girl.”
And when you went to the doctor around 4 months, you found out Isabel was right. You and Ramón have another little girl on the way and Isabel has already been suggesting names. Ramón has too.
Now, you’re in a beautiful spawning house, in a tropical place off way the map. The massive house is filled with laughter, jokes, and retelling of memories. You’ve been here for about a week now.
When Ramón suggested this, you were nervous, understandably so. The last time you saw any of the family was just before you were taken. And there was still a part of you that feared they knew the truth and you’d be walking into a trap.
Ramón did everything he could to calm your nerves and soothe your fears. He was amazingly supportive and even helped you come up with a narrative when the topic of where you were comes up.
Now, 7 days in, all those initial feelings and fears are long gone. You missed the family and being with them again feels like home. You didn’t realize how much you longed for family all these years having gone into hiding and not being able to contact anyone from your old life.
That's all changed now.
You are part of this family and the way they responded when they saw you made your heart grow 10 times larger. You didn’t expect to be missed, for them to wonder if you were okay, you didn’t expect to be received with open arms and Isabel stole the show, everyone loves her.
Before finding out about the second baby, Ramón surprised you with a ring. One he purchased before your disappearance with the help of Dina. It was cute, the story he told you about how nervous he was and worried he’d pick a ring you wouldn’t like.
Dina, as expected, did perfectly well, the ring is gorgeous and fits you to a T. You were surprised he held on to this, even after finding everything out and it conceived you even more that you two, despite the odds, despite the betrayal and lies, were always destined for a happy ending. Even in his angry and hurt state, he kept and traveled with your picture, and the ring.
The two of you didn’t do anything big or showy, he gave it to you and that was it. No church, no party. But the Arellano Felix family likes a party and even though they couldn't give you anything lavish that would call attention to their secret hideout, they had a party in the house (with just the family) and Benjamin officiated a small ceremony. It was beautiful, and you would have chosen this any day over a big party.
Going outside to get some air, you dip your feet in the pool and watch as Benjamin and Ramón run around with the girls, playing with Ruth and Isabel as they cackle and giggle. Dina exits the house next and sits to your left, in a lounge chair.
When you glance back at her, she’s grinning, there’s a light in her brown eyes. One you haven’t seen since her wedding.
“Look at them.” She glances at you, then back at the scene ahead.
“I know right,” you tilt your head to the side and smile.
After a moment Dina turns to you, “you’re different than before, in a good way.”
You make eye contact with her, “a lot’s happened in the last couple of years. It has a way of changing a person, making them more - mature, wiser.”
Dina nods.
“I’m happy to see all of you, and to see you smile. I know it’s been hard.”
Dina, in her classic way, only makes a micro expression but doesn’t dive deep on her heartbreaks of the last few years. Then she says, “we’re all here now, together, that's what matters.” her eyes jump to the ring on your finger. “It suits you.”
You nod in agreeance as you look at your hand then reply, “it’s perfect, thank you Dina.”
She gives you a little wave of the hand, like it’s not a big deal, then she smiles.
“What about you, think you’d even get married again? Is there a special guy?”
She grins and you can see her answer in her face before she replies.
“Marry? No. But let’s just say I’m not lonely.”
“Ah, okay.” You smile at her and glance back at the house. You have a sneaking suspicion who that someone is, you can see him inside in the living room. “As long as you’re happy.” You add warmly then start to rise to your feet.
Dina gets up and helps you. As you slide your feet into your sandals, her hand is warm on your back,
“Have you eaten? Do you need anything?” She asks.
“My stomach just started rumbling at me, so the little one is hungry now.”
Dina smiles and touches your belly, “come on, let’s get you both fed.”
As you two walked back into the house, you glance over your shoulder at Ramón. He’s holding Isabel in his arms. They both smile at you; you smile back and go inside.
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kingdaddydaichi · 3 years
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NSFW Alphabet || Katsuki Bakugou
I had so much fun with this! Vodka may or may not have been involved in the making of this little ditty. 🍸 I hope you shameless hussies enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. 😩
*Exhibit A:
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(Source)
A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)
I feel like he gets clingy asf, but plays it off like it's something he's doing for your sake. He'll probably never admit that he feels so vulnerable after sex, but he does. If it was a rough session - which it usually is with him - he'll ask if you're okay, if you're hurt anywhere, kiss any marks he left on you - he's such a protective hero boi.
B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)
His: he's not gonna lie, he's fully aware of how well-endowed he is. He really is proud of his cock, the way it makes you sing when he works it - and he knows how to work it okay? Favorite non-sexual body part - his arms. He works hard to keep them cut (as in lifting, not cutting). 😬
Yours: listen, Katsuki is an ass man through and through. Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong, I'm 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 listening 👏🏼. He loves to watch the subtle ripples he sends through your ass cheeks when he's driving into you from behind. Also, our big scary boomboom man appreciates a nice, thicc pair of thighs. Bonus points if they're muscular/toned - he loves the way it feels when your thighs have such a strong grip around him.
C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)
Let's just say our boy's orgasms are explosive. He cums hard and loud, shooting long ropes of his hot seed. Consistency is about average, not too thick, not to thin, but there's a lot of it. He doesn't taste too bad - salty, but not too bitter. You're more likely to gag from the sheer volume and force of his cum hitting the back of your throat than the flavor.
His precum gets honorable mention here. It's fucking delicious. That is all.
D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)
It took him no less than 2 years into your relationship to tell you this, and if you ever tell anyone he might actually kill you, or at the very least make your ass bleed. He hasn't gotten to the point that he's ready to try it yet, but he's not entirely opposed to the idea of you pegging him. Someday. It kinda does make his balls tingle a little just thinking about it tbh. He hasn't yet, but he thinks he might be ready to try working up to it and is really close to asking you to stick a finger in his ass and stroke his prostate. He's heard how good it feels and he's super curious to find out for himself.
E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)
Not very experienced, actually. He's only had 1 or 2 lovers before you, BUT he's determined to be #1 at everything. Couple that with how perceptive he is and you've got yourself a winner of a loverboy. He's going to make damn sure that, even if things don't work out between you two, he will always ALWAYS be the best you've ever had. No other man will outdo him, E-V-E-R.
F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)
Doggystyle all the way, baby. As stated before, he loves watching your booty jiggle every time he slams his hips against it. He gets off on spreading your ass cheeks to watch his slick-coated cock slide in and out of you. God he just loves hitting it from behind, makes his dick so fucking hard.
Bonus 2nd Favorite Position (couldn't help myself): you on your back with your ankles on his shoulders, your ass lifted off the bed, him on his knees and hugging those thick thighs of yours, keeping them closed as he reams into you. (Slight variation of this one: he leans over you, nearly folding you in half, putting you back on your shoulders with his hands pressing into the mattress beside you, angling you such that his prominent corona rubs over your g-spot as he drills down into you. 10/10 you're gonna scream his name when (not if) your liquid gushes all over him.)
Tell me the truth, am I a disgusting human being? Here are all the fucks I give:
G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)
Bakugou is serious asf about his sex game. This is not the time to joke around or poke fun at him, understand me? If you do he will get pissed and either fuck the silly out of you, or if he's feeling particularly ruthless he'll just stop altogether and let you ache for him as punishment until you beg him for release.
H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)
He takes care of his body, paying a lot of attention to his hygiene, which includes manscaping to keep his pubic hair trimmed and kempt. The carpet's just a shade darker than the drapes, like a honey blond. If he lets it grow out, it sticks straight out just like his head hair. It's actually kind of funny and he hates it.
I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)
*sigh* Let's be honest. Katsuki is not the super romantic type, at least not outwardly. However, if he realizes something he's doing is hurting you - physically or emotionally - he's going to stop dead in his tracks and hold you close, push his fingers through your hair, and tell you how much he loves you and how safe you are. He can be rough and he can be an asshole, but if he thinks he's genuinely hurt you at all, he's all over you, doing everything he can to make you understand that he will never let anyone hurt you, especially not himself. Got that?
J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)
He doesn't jack off very often. You two share a very active sex life so he doesn't see the need to. If you have to be apart for more than a day or two, he'll rub one out. Or if the need hits him particularly hard and you're not available or in the mood, he's not above closing his eyes and reaching into his pants to wrap his thick fingers around his cock and start tugging.
K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)
Lord Baby Jesus, where do I even begin? Kinky, kinky Katsuki. This man should come with warning signs and disclaimers.
First of all, he dom asf okay? Even if he lets you play with his ass someday, he's gonna be bratty about it. He's going to top from the bottom, hashtag facts. And trust that he WILL own you afterwards to securely reestablish his dominance.
Giving and Receiving: Hair pulling. DIRTY TALK - you think he's got a potty mouth in the streets? His mouth is downright filthy between the sheets. Loves it when you dirty talk right back to him. "You love taking my fat cock, don't you princess?" "Mm yessss, fuck me, Katsuki! Your cock feels so fucking good babyyy!" He eats that shit up.
Giving Only: Degradation. Praise. Spanking. Cockwarming. Dom/sub/power play. Shibari/ropework (he tried it bc you wanted to and he fucking loved it). Creampies. Begging. Discipline. Ravishment.
L = Location (favorite places to do the do)
Literally anywhere inside your home/homes - bed, bathroom/kitchen countertops, kitchen/dining table, office desk/chair, any piece furniture is fair game really, up against a wall, washer/dryer, the fucking floor, ugh just all the places to fuck. Not one square foot is sacred tbh.
M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)
Wear something that showcases the curve of your butt. Doesn't have to be revealing per se, matter of fact he'll get possessive as fuck if you're showing too much skin in public. At home/privately though? He can't help himself. Dat ass tho...he is going to smack it hard enough that it stings and that's final, understand?
Tease him. You can't be obvious about it though. If he senses that you're doing it on purpose, it'll just backfire. But if you just so happen to brush against his crotch when you squeeze past him, it'll drive him crazy. Go commando in short shorts/skirt and cross your legs just so, his dick will twitch. Even better if you do shit like this in public where you know he won't act on it. But when you get home you best believe he's going to dick you down so hard, won't even bother to take said shorts or skirt off.
His ears and neck are his most sensitive erogenous zones. Whisper in his ear or kiss his neck and he's going to grit his teeth in an effort to fight back the shudder that threatens to rattle his bones.
N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)
Let's get one thing straight. Katsuki Bakugou does not share. This is non-negotiable. He will not agree to anything involving additional people - cuckolding, threesomes, orgies, exhibitionism, voyeurism (unless it's him watching you pleasure yourself - that he will gladly do, and probably start palming himself in the process).
O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)
Loves giving and receiving. Giving puts him in full control of your pleasure, receiving makes him feel like you're worshipping his cock, which you probably are. Have you seen this man's cock? Of course you have. Gatdamn.
Y'all, Katsuki's so good at eating pussy. Like how does one get that good at eating pussy? I don't even know, but god the way he flicks his hot tongue over your precious, tiny bud before wearing it down like a fucking feed bag? It's unnatural. Like it could be his backup quirk if blowing shit up doesn't work out. You've seen the way he licks his lips when he gets excited, everyone has.* He doesn't even bother swallowing while he's feeding on you so you just be dripping in slick and saliva and he's just slurping away. It's lewd.
*See Exhibit A above.
P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)
You already know this, but I'll say it anyway. His go-to fucking style is fast and rough, dominant and relentless, hard and dirty. But every once in a while he'll want to take you slow and deep and passionate. He'll hold you so tight in his arms and chest, you'll have to tap his shoulder sometimes to let you breathe. And he'll just roll his hips so fucking thoroughly both of you will feel every last inch, his pubic bone rubbing your clit so hard. You've told him so many times how much you love it when he makes love to you like this, but he maybe makes it a rare treat on purpose. 😈 Little shit.
Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)
Quickies are difficult for our boy. It's not that he's against them, it's just that he savors every drop of sensuality, he has a tendency to draw the pleasure out as long as possible. He can’t help it.
R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)
The idea of having public sex turns him on, but he's only done it with you a couple of times when he was 10000% sure you wouldn't be caught. He can't risk doing anything that would tarnish his reputation and goal of becoming the #1 Hero. He might be freaky as hell, but he needs a sex scandal like an Alaskan needs a refrigerator.
S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)
He loves you long time. He's a Taurus for fuck's sake (well, Aries/Taurus cuspie, but that just sweetens the deal). Great stamina. Grinds you down like a whetstone. Can last as long as he needs to to ensure you cum for him as many times as it takes for you to beg him to stop. If he feels himself getting too close while you're blowing him, he'll stop you and go down on you instead. If he's inside of you, he'll pull out and start kissing all over your body, sucking, nipping, licking until his urge to cum passes, then he pushes it right back in and keeps going.
If on the off-chance he does cum before you, he'll be ready to go again in about 20-30 mins. Just give him some motivation, he deserves it.
T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)
He didn't own any toys when you first got together, but you did. He hated the idea of you using them though, especially when he's right there with you. You've since assured him that you don't want to use them to replace him, but to enhance the pleasure. So now you do use them from time to time.
The first time you managed to coax him into using a toy together, it was a small wireless bullet with a remote. When you brought it out and showed it to him, there was a wild glint in his eye. He carefully inserted the vibrator into you, his cock slowly following suit. He loved the fact that he had complete control over this thing, but later complained because the sensation of it against the head of his cock made him cum too fast. He still wants to use it sometimes though. 😏
U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)
Oh he can be so unfair. He loves teasing you until you're begging him to put his cock inside you. He's not so much into orgasm denial per se; he just loves to hear you beg him for shit - to let you cum, to suck his dick, to stop fucking you when you're overstimmed, etc.
V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)
Lol he's fucking LOUD! And he's going to make you cum so hard that you're screaming his fucking name. There was a time when one or both of you lived in an apartment and the neighbors would bang on the wall behind your headboard.
Shit, what sounds does he NOT make? He growls, moans, grunts, groans, yells, swears, fucks you so hard you can hear the wet sound of slapping skin, hell even the bed protests. Another reason he doesn't fuck in public - he can't stay quiet enough to be discreet about it.
W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)
Okay, as much of a wild sex beast as he is behind closed doors, he gets embarrassed so easily when your sex life is so much as hinted at around others. It's legit funny how flustered he gets about it.
If he goes into work real tired and Kirishima says, "Hey Bakubro, you look like shit this morning. You and (y/n) stay up too late?" while doing the finger in the hole gesture, Katsuki will just "Shut the fuck up, Shitty Hair, or I'll blast your ass right through that fucking wall!"
Or if you two go out together with friends and the girls are talking about sex-related stuff, Katsuki will just roll his eyes and try to ignore it. But if one of them is all "So, (y/n), does Bakugou ever like accidentally let off explosions while you're doing it?" and you wink and say, "Only when he's especially *cough* frustrated *cough*". Katsuki will go red from his neck up to his hairline and start stuttering, sparks flying from his palms. "H-hey, d-don't tell them sh-shit like that! I-it's none of their god-goddamn b-business, (y/n), what th-the f-fuck?!" Meanwhile, you and the girls are in stitches while he stomps away, just mortified, bless his heart. When you catch your breath from laughing you'll follow it up with, "Looks like tonight's gonna be one of those nights", and you all lose it again.
X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)
As has been mentioned, Bakugou's well-endowed. I figure he's packing about 7.5-8" in length x just under 2" wide. He takes some getting used to, that's for damn sure. Oh, and he's more of a shower than a grower. Like around 6" long x 1.5" wide when flaccid. Katsuki + sweatpants/basketball shorts = swinging dick print, alright sis? Take notes, this motherfucker visibly jumps when he does, class dismissed.
Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)
Eh, he's surprisingly not ridiculously horny. Maybe a little above average sex drive? A lot of times hero work just takes it out of him and he comes home utterly exhausted and just needs a soft place to land, and you provide him with all the love and nurturing in your heart. ❤
Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)
Depends, really, on the time of day and what type of day it's been. If it's late (like past 9pm lol) and he fought more villains than usual that day, he's probs gonna pass out pretty soon after. If it's earlier in the day - especially first thing in the morning - it gets him pumped and almost comically genki.
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blu-joons · 3 years
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DATING NCT A⇴Z HEADCANON ⇴ Mark Lee
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A ⇴ AFFECTION 
His favourite kind of affection was when you’d have your hands in his hair. He loved to feel your hands brush though his soft locks and pull him a little bit closer whenever you needed him to be right there for you.
B ⇴ BEFORE DATING 
When the two of you first met, Mark was very awkward, he didn’t have the slightest clue of what he wanted to say to you. He could barely string a sentence together until one of the members called him out to start with at least a hello and introduce himself, and from there, you loved to tease him about it ever since.  
C ⇴ CONFESSION 
It didn’t take Mark long at all to know that you were the one that he wanted. He was far too shy to confess in person, so he sent you a demo of a song that he would have written just for you, leaving it until the very last minute to let you know how he felt. When he saw your name flash up on his phone he panicked, only to see that you’d text him and begged him to let you in and get you out of the cold to be with him.
D ⇴ DATES 
You knew just how dedicated Mark was to his work, so you’d often end up surprising him on those late nights with dates set up in the studio for you. You also knew that Mark was a terrible cook, so as long as you showed up with a bag of takeout in hand, then you were going to be safe for the night. He’d spend all night long telling you about his projects, whilst he always worried that you’d think he was bragging, all you see was a hard working and passionate guy who loved his job, and you.
E ⇴ EXPERIENCE 
Mark had seen plenty of other people in love, but never himself before. He always had an idea of the type of boyfriend he’d be, and whilst he was the first to admit that he wasn’t perfect, he was determined in making his first experience of love his last too. He wanted to always be the one that would be there for you from the moment that he met you, just as long as you were willing to help him learn along the way. Day by day, he knew he was getting better at being a boyfriend, and that was all that mattered to him.
F ⇴ FIGHTING 
Neither of you were fond of arguments, but you were human too, and appreciated that they were just a part of being in a relationship. Whenever the two of you argued, one of you would always walk away before things got too bad, you were both very good at minding your tempers. Usually, after an hour or two the person who walked out would return so that the two of you could talk things through with each other and nip the problem in the bud before it became too big a hurdle for you to jump over. Major arguments were definitely a problem when the two of you were already so shy.
G ⇴ GETTING TO KNOW HIS FAMILY 
He often joked about his family got in contact with him a lot more since you’d came into his life. He loved to tease you and let you know that you were the favourite in his family’s eyes because they got in with you so well and always asked after you whenever Mark was on a call by himself.
H ⇴ HOME 
Rooming with a manager definitely had its perks for Mark, he always gave the two of you space you needed in the dorm. Therefore he was a little reluctant to move out of the dorms and in with you, he wanted to wait a little while and see the direction his career took first, and also make sure his other members were alright.
I ⇴ “I LOVE YOU” 
He was the first one to say, “I love you,” when you surprised him with a Canadian Day after you heard him talking about how much he missed home. Seeing the effort that you went to in order to put a smile back on his face meant the absolute world to him, and he couldn’t repay the favour in any other way then finally letting you know that he loved you.
J ⇴ JEALOUSY 
Mark tended to doubt himself a lot, which would lead to a bit of jealousy at times. You’d often have to reassure him not to get jealous of anyone, you loved talking to people, but if you ever left his side at an event then he’d definitely begin to worry. No matter how many times you told him not to get jealous, you knew that he’d never a listen. It was a feeling that he just couldn’t get rid of, no matter how hard he wanted to. He knew he never really had a reason to get jealous, but that didn’t stop him feeling the way that he did.
K ⇴ KIDS 
If there was one thing Mark definitely saw in his future, it was kids. He very much had an ideal plan of what his life would like in years to come, he’d even picked out the perfect age to start a family. Whilst he never told you about his future plans, just in case he pressurised you, you were very much aware of just how valuable and important having a family was to him and how keen he was to start one in the future with you.
L ⇴ LAUGHTER 
One of the biggest things that Mark worried about was whether he could make you laugh or not. Any time that he didn’t see you at least with a small smile on your face would worry him. He worked hard at everything that he did, and that included making you happy. To cheer you up, he’d often search up things to do that would put the smile back on your face, and do a lot of research into your favourite cheesy jokes that he knew would get a reaction out of you each and every time. It was one thing he always made sure to do every day, knowing that if you ever had a bad day when you were around him then he’d never forgive himself.
M ⇴ MISSING 
Having spent so many years away from home, Mark never thought he’d experience the feeling of homesickness again, until you came along. He was never afraid to admit when he was struggling, but sometimes he’d forget about you in it all. There would be days sometimes when you just wouldn’t here from him because Mark didn’t know the right things to say to feel better. It’d only be when you’d message one of his members and ask them what was going on that he’d get the kick he needed to message you and sort himself out too. He still never knew the right things to say, but his members wouldn’t let him go until he said something.
N ⇴ NICKNAMES 
He often called you “sweet,” because you reminded him like the maple syrup at. You were adorable and cute, and reminded him exactly of the sweet tooth he had whenever he had maple syrup from back home.
O ⇴ OBSESSION 
Mark was obsessed with your hair, he loved to have his hands in it almost as much as he loved to feel yours messed in with his. Playing with your hair was always comforting for him.
P ⇴ PDA 
Subtle gestures were how Mark would often be affectionate in public with you. When he walked past you, he would usually kiss your cheek, or if you appeared beside him suddenly his hand would rest against your shoulder or arm just to remind himself that you were back by his side and safe.  
Q ⇴ QUESTIONS 
He would love to ask your opinion on nearly anything he did. Having your approval on anything was a huge bonus to him, but if something didn’t quite hit the spot for you, he’d refuse to let it go until you’d told him exactly where you thought he could improve or do better next time.
R ⇴ RANDOM FACTS 
For any occasion that the two of you celebrated, Mark would write a song for you. You knew that he loved to compose anyway, and anything that he came up with was something that you adored, but it was the pieces he wrote just for the two of you that held the biggest place in your heart. To see the effort he went to in order to find the perfect lyrics meant the world to you, and of course, he delivered each and every time.
S ⇴ SEX 
There were definitely times when things would get awkward for you both, and neither of you could do nothing more than laugh. For the best part, he would be a complete romantic, but then that shy side of Mark that you’d grown to adore would often make an appearance. You loved how caring he was during intimacy, even if he did end up making a bit of a fool of himself, just knowing you were happy was more than enough for him.
T ⇴ TEXTS 
He was definitely someone who would text, usually to let you know if something was up. You’d often end a shift to see a text from Mark to let you know that he’d be working late that night and to make sure you didn’t wait up for him.
U ⇴ UNIVERSE 
The two of you complimented each other very well, you shared a lot of traits which meant that you were able to be incredibly understanding and supportive of each other which was all that Mark ever really wanted.  
V ⇴ VACATION 
As the two of you didn’t end up finding the time to travel often, Mark would always fly your family, or his, maybe sometimes even both, in to visit the two of you instead. He knew your breaks were to spent with your families, regardless of where the two of you were in the world, just having them there with you is enough.
W ⇴ WHINING 
Mark wanted to be the perfect boyfriend, so if something didn’t quite go his way then he’d definitely whine and make his frustrations clear.
X ⇴ XXXXX 
He’d often find himself planting kisses against your skin, especially when you were nice and close. With your hands in his hair, there was no greater feeling for Mark then when you’d tug at him gently and pull him closer towards you so that you could press a soft kiss to his lips. A nervous giggle would always come after it, your kisses often left him feeling shy, but it was by far one of the things that you loved the most about him.
Y ⇴ YOU 
You were his biggest fan who supported him no matter what.
Z ⇴ ZZZ 
The two of you would always fall asleep close together. You’d often feel Mark’s hand tap against your skin as he came up with little melodies or ditties whilst he drifted off to sleep, using you as his instrument.
---
Masterlist
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leonaluv · 3 years
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Spouse reading ~ Choose one pile you feel drawn to in this reading.
For fun only 😝 Includes typos
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Messages from each pile - Pile one "Can I Kiss you?" pile two "Watch Me" Pile three "I dare you" Pile four "Self-made", and Pile Five " Young"
Pile one- Kiss-
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Career- Astronomers/Space /Astronanut
An ambitious person that wants to reach high for their goals. Loves to move around a lot and being an astronaut will require the person to stay fit. A spouse could work with telescopes, NASA, or programming involving space. Something involving space and your spouse has to fix things. Even if it doesn't need fixing your spouse just can't help themselves. Saying it is for humanity kinda like that space mission one step for man and a huge step for mankind.
I read earlier how people are the happiest when they focus on a task so your spouse could just fill fulfill. Loves to kiss and flirty, but the person will ask if you are in the move for it.
A person could have dealt with a bad past and got cheated on and through the experience your spouse realizes needed to follow their dreams. Landed their dream job and were able to walk away from this emotional pain. Deep down your spouse still feels somewhat anxious, but it isn't something that your spouse will feel on a daily bases.
I think you might feel a bit standoffish with your spouse at first , but decide to entertain it develop into this union.
Make sure you are ready even if it is just a kiss and your spouse is loyal. Appearance: Makeup, Brown eyes, Rosey cheeks, silk hair, pigtails, or shaved side braid. Woman or man over 25 years age maybe brown hair or blue eyes. Could have fair or brown skin. A person looks approachable like gentle, and warm.
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Bonus things about a spouse: religious, new to relationships it just might have been a while that they put themselves out there. You could meet somewhere low key maybe at a camp, library, or private place. Something about their body will stand out because the person could be fit. A person is more energetic than nervous.
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Pile two- Watch Me
Career: News, journalist, skincare
A blog to review skincare or make videos of skincare. One of those jobs your spouse could have or experience of all of them. Your spouse is into music and comes across as elegant. Confidence and I think your spouse is more classy and the vibe I get is older Hollywood classy sexy vibe. Your spouse doesn't like to beat around the bush and wants to get straight to the point. Your spouse likes to save up and wants coupons so even though your spouse comes across as elegant still will prefer to eat fast food. You could think of that as that being part of their charm. Partner could go on a diet or be vegan maybe your partner will have cheat days enjoy nonvegan food sometimes. A spouse could have inherited unexpected wealth, but because of the sudden money increase might run into the wrong crowd. Also, it might not be a big amount just enough to get by. Partner has trust issues and prone to self-doubt at times. Later in life, as your spouse gets out there more they will develop this strength to be more confident.
Appearance: Asain, Small nose, and Piercings woman: brunette , thick eyebrows
A person could be dressed casually or look somewhat homely like they haven't left the house. Over 25 years of age man or woman maybe have dark eyes (dark brown eyes) and dark hair (black hair). A young man could be between ages 18-25 young man (knight of pentacles).
Bonus: Travels, loves to meet new people, charismatic, loves attention. Might meet this person at a family event, near the water, outside, or drinking event. (Ten cups) changes job
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Pile three- I dare you
Career: Tv weather woman or man, school, telemarketing, and producer(music)
Teasing, the playful light vibe I get from pile three and I'm thinking your spouse is young compare to the last two piles. I got multiple jobs since this could apply to different people, but for everyone who picks this pile your spouse is creative. One of their jobs could be an art teacher and partner is neat likes to keep things tidy. Organize and family-oriented, however, your spouse could be secretive. Partner is protecting themselves and it could be because your partner already is in a relationship. At first, but I think it is more so of them wanting to keep this union a secret. If you were a student of your partner it could be scandalous for it to get out.
Appearance: secret /Location: sports event is where you could meet this person
Bonus: spouse is into self-care, and there is a hidden sign to your spouse. Living a double-life. Okay so for the other piles I pull cards for the appearance. I'm thinking this person either changes their looks a lot or maybe it shows their secret side.
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Pile four- Self- made (Mirror)
Career- Bussines owner, Model, Music, Beekeeper
Appearance: native American, eyebrow scar, native American, monolid eyes, curvy, and green eyes.
Page of cups - young woman to 25 years ( young man)
,Spouse is a show-off and can be a generous person who can balance the two well. Outgoing and social butterfly also I think your spouse could be someone who does like to give, but your spouse could want to show off that they did. The image of a YouTuber giving to the homeless, but shoving the camera in their face to film their reaction. Partner needs to learn that giving is receiving and newds to know to give expect nothing back. A spouse can get jealous, but on this side, you will only know.
Location: shopping area, downtown, and awards ceremony
Bonus: when your spouse gets older and away from their family will understand the world and their selves more. Experience growth as the saying goes time heals.
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5) Pile 5 -Young
Career: Speaker, Psychologist, Beauty, scammer or Puppets
( scamming could be just dating other people,)
Appearance: Long hair, nice legs, crooked teeth, baby face, or white / fair skin
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Person number 5 likes to ask for help and compare to others piles in this reading this person is way more forward. Not afraid to say they need something or advice from those around them.
Your partner could be a bit too serious at times. It could take your partner to get that your joking. Maybe at first, you might think your spouse is a bit dull, and then later you will see how cheerful that person can be. Your spouse is romantic and optimistic always having a positive spin.
Location: Dentist, surgery, and hospital
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I made this at 3:00 Am 😆 hope you enjoy it
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Subtitles: Episode 4, We Interrupt This Program
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Subtitles Masterlist
Summary: [Y/N] is still recovering from one of the worst migraines they’ve ever had and they have the scars to prove it… Wait. Those scars weren’t there before and they certainly weren’t from passing out on the sidewalk a few days prior!
Word count: 9,361
Warnings: Mentions of (not super graphic) death and mental illness. Also Reader being just a little horny on main, but what’s new; almost 9.5k words and they’re simping for most of them. Lots of dorky fluff and also talking about insecurities.
Tag list: @madamevirgo​ @ravennight41​ @multifandomgirl16 @cyanide-mustard​ @badasspolygenderfriend​
~~~
    In the black void of otherwise dreamless sleep, voices were conversing.
    “[Y/N] [L/N]…” one started.
    [Y/N] [L/N]. Age twenty-five. Born to Killian and Alice [L/N] in [city, state] but Dad wasn’t in the picture. No siblings, no living relatives. They wanted to go to school for botany but Mom was diagnosed with early-onset dementia while they were still in high school, so they changed their career path to neurology in hopes of finding a way to help her. She still lives in their hometown.
    “Oh, wait,” another voice chimed in, almost indistinguishable from the first, “I know this one. Oh, God.”
    [Y/N] was an Honors student, at the top of all their classes. A degree in neurology with phytotoxicology on the side. They took an internship in Europe one year and somehow found themselves in Sokovia. HYDRA was still laying low at the time, caught wind of them.
    “Wait,” a third voice, this one easier to differentiate from the other two. “They’re HYDRA?”
    The second voice responded, “Former.”
    [Y/N] had no idea what they were getting into. HYDRA, always good at hiding in the shadows; they brought [Y/N] in under the guise of an assistant job studying new forms of neural regeneration. A job that paid well enough to live comfortably and even send a little extra home, while developing something that just might solve all their mother’s problems? It was a dream come true. 
Fortunately for HYDRA but unfortunately for [Y/N], they were very good at their job too. They helped HYDRA develop all kinds of nasty stuff. Nanobots that changed brain chemistry, near foolproof brainwashing tech— They even helped develop special toxins, one of the world’s deadliest poisons. All the while, thinking they were doing something good.
“How is that possible?” the original voice asked. “How could they have been so oblivious?”
“One-track mind?” the second voice offered, “Plus misinformation on HYDRA’s part and ‘routine health checks’ with something a little extra mixed in.”
“They were tested on?”
“A victim of almost everything they’d helped create, except the fatal stuff and anything that would disrupt business as usual. IVs and shots full of toxins, nanobots being released into their room while they slept.”
The third asked, “What changed?”
“Wanda.”
[Y/N] stumbled upon Wanda and her brother by pure accident. They’d been late that day and in their hurry, ran through a wrong door to where HYDRA was keeping Sokovian volunteers for testing. The twins were the youngest in their group, [Y/N] was only a couple of years older and the youngest in their division. It was a match made in heaven, really.
“Try hell,” the first voice suggested with a scoff.
The other voices offered their murmured agreements.
“So they knew each other,” the third voice said, “Before.”
That’s when [Y/N] started pulling at threads and HYDRA’s costume began to unravel; their one-track mind had switched gears. There was something too weird about the whole thing, these Sokovian civilians had stories that didn’t line up with [Y/N]’s own. 
“And they believed them?”
They believed Wanda. She and her brother were just two more Sokovian citizens suffering at the hands of war and wanting to help their people. They had no reason to lie. They had more reason to be honest to [Y/N] than HYDRA ever did, actually. It was just a bonus that for Wanda and [Y/N], being around each other was like being a moth drawn to a flame.
[Y/N] may have been naive but they were far from stupid. When they figured out what was going on, they wriggled their way deeper into HYDRA’s ranks under their own disguise of loyalty. They became a full-fledged HYDRA agent, tasked with assisting in neural and poisonous weaponry. They weren’t able to protect Pietro and Wanda from testing, obviously—not that Wanda would have let them; she and her brother still believed they were being tested on for the greater good—but they did their best to stay nearby and keep the Maximoffs’ sanity intact for as long as they could. They even managed to save a couple of the other test victims by injecting them with temporary poisons that lowered their heart rate to the point of appearing dead. When the bodies were dropped off, the poison wore off not long after and some of the victims were able to escape. No side effects to be seen.
“I have a question,” Original voice said abruptly. “Why do we know this much information on one person? Like, this is some in-depth, intimate stuff. Why do we know that [Y/N] and Wanda had the hots for each other since day one?”
Second voice answered, “We’ve done extensive research on [Y/N]. The result of an investigation on the person who caused the apprehension of an entire faction of HYDRA after successfully poisoning them.”
The tests that were done on [Y/N] were not without their outcomes. They gained the ability to transform almost any matter into almost any other form.
“Huh,” Third voice hummed, “That reminds me of a series of disappearances a few years back. One house was replaced by rose bushes and another—get this—burned down because the roof had been turned to lava. Whoever it was, they either stopped on their own or died. What were they called?”
“The Alchemist,” Second stated simply, much to Third’s dismay. “And those were incognito HYDRA agents.”
After Pietro died and Wanda disappeared—not really disappeared, just left with the Avengers—[Y/N] had a choice to make. They were far too deep into HYDRA’s work now, the awful things that they had done were beginning to weigh on them, as Wanda and her brother had been just as grounding for [Y/N] as [Y/N] had been for her. After she was gone, they had a hard time dealing with the horrible business going on around them. So they did what they knew how to do; they mixed up a combination of poison and nanobots.
[Y/N] had fully committed to perishing with the rest of their coworkers but apparently, the poison hadn’t been quite strong enough. They’d made a miscalculation in a time of poor mental state and woke up the next day to hear that not all of the HYDRA agents had died either. At least the survivors had been taken in for the time being but that just wasn’t enough for them; they’d had a right to be concerned too because HYDRA had a habit of getting themselves out of sticky situations. This case was no different. 
[Y/N] most likely felt responsible for having a hand in HYDRA’s dirty work, for not doing more, and they must have felt even more responsible when they learned that HYDRA was a much bigger problem than they could have ever imagined.
First blurted, “Well, what happened next?”
Second answered, “They went after agents until they got caught, the only way they knew how.”
The second miscalculation that they’d ever made got them caught. The agent put a gun to [Y/N]’s head and pulled the trigger.
“So are they dead too?” First asked. The voice seemed to quiver.
The third voice hemmed and hawed a bit before saying, “They must have, with the way all this weirdness had been going. Oh my god, poor Wanda, not one dead partner but two—”
Second spoke over the other two voices’ rambling, forcing them to calm down and listen. “They didn’t die, though, they—”
The voices started cutting out like the dream was a TV program being interfered by a poor connection and static.
“—Found by—Barely alive—Hospital—Braindead—Westview—Find a doct—”
Suddenly gunshots sounded, one followed by several more, and the darkness cracked and shattered, revealing blinding light behind it. A silhouette walked silently through the wall of light; it was Geraldine—no, Monica—poised with a gun in the outfit she helped deliver Maximoff twins in. As she walked forward, crossing from a plane of burning white to one of void black, the image of her warped and distorted until it changed. Monica, looking much more modern, in a uniform that included a bulletproof vest and a lanyard with S.W.O.R.D. printed at the top, moving carefully towards a broken and bleeding body on the ground with another in a heap behind her. The image distorted and changed again, and the first body was sitting on their knees and looking up defiant defeat. The person they were looking at was no longer Monica but a bulky figure in a dark outfit with straps in the form of an H across their chest, the body that had been laying in a battered pile behind Monica just a moment earlier. The H-adorned assailant held a still-raised gun to the kneeling person’s forehead.
[Y/N] could only spit at their feet before another gunshot sounded and the image disappeared to black.
You woke up sweating and choking on your breath. Your brain, throbbing with a pain that shot through it like a bullet, didn’t register fast enough that you were standing instead of laying down so when you flailed, you threw yourself off balance and fell forward. Catching a quick glimpse of your surroundings on your way down told you that you were somewhere outside and that it was the dead of night. You tried last minute to brace yourself for a concrete-laden impact.
    You were instead greeted with soft fabric and arms wrapping tightly around you.
    “Goodness, [Y/N], are you quite alright?”
    You squinted at the striped sleepwear for a moment before looking up where Vision’s worried gaze and whirling irises were waiting for you; it took your eyes a moment to fully focus as the pain in your head faded but left a faint ringing behind. Then you looked around at your surroundings; not only were you outside but you were standing in Vision and Wanda’s driveway. Your gaze settled on a particular section of the house’s exterior where you vividly remembered a vaguely human shape exploding out of its walls. 
    You were standing in the exact same place you had been when it happened.
    “[Y/N]?” Vision said again, drawing your attention back to him.
    “Oh, cosmo, I’m sorry,” you said but your throat was too dry and you had to stop and clear your throat halfway through. Being in Vision’s arms, you were keenly aware of the fact that you were both in your bedwear and that yours had been sweated through. You slumped against him, partially to hide your embarrassed face but also because you felt like you hadn’t slept at all.
    “Vis?”
    “Yes, my favorite teacup?”
    You snorted softly at that. “You don’t even drink tea.”
    “Oh, I know,” Vision lilted back. Then he nuzzled his face into your hair. “I do like the patterns and the daintiness of them though.”
    That time you laughed a bit. Feeling his warm breath against your scalp and his strong arms holding you safely in place against him, you almost instantly melted into the embrace. You wrapped your own arms around him and pressed your face into his chest. “What are we doing outside?”
    “Ah, yes, about that. You appeared to be sleepwalking again.”
    You groaned. “Again? This is a nightmare.”
    One of Vision’s hands moved to run itself through your hair and down your neck. “That accident you had the other day certainly did a number on you.”
    The accident. In other words, that time where you walked off in the middle of a conversation with Vision, Agnes, and Herb to mumble at a wall and then faceplant onto the sidewalk. Not only was your nose still recovering but your mind and dignity as well.
    “The only time I’ve slept well since is when I fell asleep on your couch,” you whined. Then you lowered your voice and grumbled into Vision’s chest.
    Vision chuckled. “What was that?”
    You looked up at him and scowled. “The four of you are over here in your stupid, big, warm, cozy house. Meanwhile, I’m across the way, alone and uncomfortable, with only Bernard to keep me company. Bernard’s terrible company.”
    “Truly,” Vision agreed, grinning slightly. He loved your strange, cute, not at all challenging struggles.
    The both of you turned to give the lawn ornament in question a pointed look. Bernard seemed to glower back.
    “Well,” Vision said as he pulled away from you a bit, “why don’t you come inside then? Wanda’s up with the babies anyway. You might as well join us, especially if it means you’ll be able to sleep better.” Not taking no for an answer, the synthezoid was already tugging you towards the lit-up porch.
    You were too tired to argue and, quite frankly, you didn’t want to, so you allowed yourself to be pulled along as you admired the soft cotton of Vision’s matching pajama set.
    “Oh, my.”
    “What?” You looked at Vision’s face again only to catch him staring at a spot above your eyes. The porch light glinted off the gem embedded in his own. “What, do I have something on my face?”
    “No,” Vision responded slowly, “but you must have done something to it. You have quite the scar.”
    Your eyebrows raised. You moved away from him to look at your reflection in one of the windows and surely enough, you had a raised scar on your forehead, near your hairline. You gingerly pressed your fingers against it; it certainly wasn’t new.
    A seemingly random thought popped into your head. Is that… a scar from a bullet?
    “What on earth did you do to yourself?” Vision asked. Him walking up to stand directly behind you and press his hands to your neck, under the collar of your shirt no less, was more than a little distracting. “You’ve got one back here too.”
    You reached back to where Vision was touching and when he removed his fingers, you could feel a similar scar at the base of your neck.
    You thought again, Bullet… exit wound…? 
    Something about the dream you were having earlier called out to you but you couldn’t remember anything about it. When you tried to think about it further, the excruciating pain came back in waves and you had to steady yourself on the windowsill to prevent yourself from collapsing.
    “Huh,” you said instead, “I have no idea.”
    “They don’t hurt?” Vision questioned. “They’re not just… odd raised bruises perhaps? Welts maybe?”
    “No, I don’t think so. They don’t hurt at all, though.” To make a point, you pressed down hard on the raised scar on your forehead, watched the skin turn a few shades lighter before releasing the pressure and dropping your hand again. Under the thick, stiff tissue, you barely felt the pressure at all.
    Vision thoughtfully hummed, placing his hands back on the curves of your neck; you prayed to whatever deities existed that you didn’t make any sounds you’d regret.
    “Well,” your partner said, “I suppose that’s better than nothing.”
    A pause. Your eyes stayed trained on the window’s reflection, specifically where you could see Vision’s fingers gently cupping your neck.
    Then he abruptly leaned down and pressed a kiss on the scar tissue, missing a pulse point by a hair. “We should head inside then.”
    You had to take a solid minute to recover from the shockwave of tingles that briefly made your veins turn into lightning. Then you shuffled after Vision into the ever so inviting house.
    Stepping out of chilly darkness and into a home of cozy furniture and warm light that turned the entire place a golden brown felt like walking into another world. An extra added layer of comfort to the usually perfect home was the slight disarray of baby equipment almost everywhere that wasn’t the floor itself, most of which you had gone out and bought during the babies’ day of birth and all of which Vision and Wanda appreciated; somehow, you had prepared for the babies’ accelerated growing on a panicked whim better than the Maximoffs. Tiny baby blankets and stuffed animals were strewn about and each visible part of the house—the living room, the dining area, and the kitchen, although the kitchen was partially blocked off by a drying rack of baby clothes and swaddles of various patterns and sizes—had a designated Baby Tray. These trays, perched on whatever flat surface had been previously free of decor or clutter, held bottles, nonperishable treats, diaper-changing equipment, teething toys, a mini first aid kit for each, and other useful trinkets; the new parents had apparently completely forgotten that almost all their house’s rooms were openly attached to each other and that, if one singular Baby Tray was designated to the dining area, it would take the same amount of about five steps to get to it from either the living area or the kitchen. It was almost comedic, the number of baby care items that were laying anywhere but the floor or in proper storage because, according to Vision, god forbid something gets a speck of dust on it and have to be washed or, according to Wanda, one of the babies be without their favorite toys easily accessible at every given moment. The only thing allowed to touch the ground, aside from feet, was a playpen that now replaced the usual coffee table in the living room area and a play mat in the babies’ room with its attached toys for the twins to play with. A final touch to the hominess was the soft light that you could see streaming out of the baby room’s open door, and the gentle voice of Wanda, singing a Sokovian lullaby, fluttering out of it. 
    It felt like coming home.
    Vision stepped away from your side to clean up somewhat, picking up a few toys and folding baby blankets and onesies to move them aside in case you wanted to make yourself comfortable on the couch. Standing inside now, you could much better make out Vision’s dark blue terry robe over a pair of bright yellow pajama pants that no doubt had a shirt to match hidden beneath dark blue fabric. The yellow of his pants matched the yellow gem that was embedded in his forehead, glittering with an unused power that you had yet to experience and that felt warm whenever you went to place a kiss on it. Poking out from the hems of his robe and pants were perfectly human hands and feet, despite their deep red color that matched the rest of his body; you found the continued presence of fingernails when not in his human disguise—absolutely unnecessary to his design, he’d pointed out when you initially asked about them—weirdly cute and continuously felt the urge to grab nail polish and paint them to match either the color of the gem or the same silver as the plating that started at his scalp and trailed down beneath the collar of his shirt. You briefly wondered how far that plating traveled across his body before mentally kicking yourself.
    The greatest thing about this still-fresh reveal of Vision’s inhuman identity—aside from the fact that he was no longer hiding something important from you, obviously—was that you now knew that he wasn’t just difficult to make blush but rather he quite literally couldn’t blush. You wondered what else he could and couldn’t do, only to mentally kick yourself again. 
    I can’t tell if I’ve gotten worse or better since I’ve started dating them, you thought.
    Oh, your brain responded on its own accord, so much worse. 
    Shhh!
    Vision was still puttering why while you stared and inwardly argued with yourself. At this point, he’d cleaned up most of the chaos and moved the stuffed animals and now-folded blankies to sit neatly on the dining area table.
    “Vis,” you said.
    Before you could continue, the man perked up and looked in your direction. “Yes, duck?”
    You blinked. “You make my heart go rainbow-colored. Anyway—” You broke off into a laugh when Vision went flustered, his hands flapping about while he sucked his bottom lip between his teeth. “Did I win this round?”
    Sometimes Vision got into the habit of ending all of his sentences around you and Wanda with a pet name. When you had first noticed this feat, you’d decided to start doing the same, just to see what would happen. He noticed and began purposely doing it back, where he had previously done it unintentionally, and now doing the occasional back-and-forth conversation that ended in pet names more than punctuation was somewhat of a competition between you two. 
    Vision scoffed at you, picked up a plushie, and tossed it at you. “Not fair!”
    Being in the house that was beginning to feel more like home than your own, around your partners and their sweet baby boys, seemed to shield and reenergize you from the exhaustion you felt after first waking up that night. You caught the stuffed animal, a plushie of a wizard, grinned and tossed it back at him. 
    “Oh,” Vision chirped, catching the plush wizard again, “I see how it is.” He puffed out his chest and gave you a warning, albeit amused, glare, then picked up a couple more plushes. In a lower, sort of growling voice that made your heart leap out of your chest and into your stomach, he continued, “If it’s a war you want, it’s a war you shall get.”
    You yelped as he started in your direction and dived across the front of the couch to get some stuffed animal ammo of your own. He nailed you in the foot with a cream-colored bunny and you returned the favor with a plushie of a witch in a red dress after taking cover behind the playpen. Now each of you was standing where the other had previously been, with you poking your head over the playpen’s sheer wall and Vision slowly pacing around the back of the couch for his second lap. You pulled the playpen with you with one hand as you moved away from him and the two of you began circling each other. 
    Oh, if Wanda could see her partners now.
    “Oh, Wanda—” you started to stand, only to get smacked in the face with a blue teddy bear; luckily, it was of the very soft variety. You stared at Vision in disbelief.
    Vision stared back, eyes bulging, unsure of whether he should apologize or prepare for an attack. He was too torn to do either, though, and had to scramble back to avoid an onslaught of stuffed bullets flying his way.
    Still aware that it was very late at night, your war-cry was softened, “Revenge!”
    Then your attack quickly diminished, partially because you were running out of ammo and Vision wasn’t throwing anything back and partially because Vision was now floating off the ground and heading towards you, arms full of said ammo.
    Wow, didn’t know it did that, you thought randomly, eyes fixed Vision floating in general, before specifically fixating on the devilish grin he wore while doing so. He looked like a very handsome, well, vision.
    A handsome Vision, if you will, your brain offered. You almost snorted before remembering you had not yet moved to avoid Vision’s floating plushie attack. You stumbled backward and scrambled out of the living room just as Vision started throwing.
    “No no no no no nonononono—” You were choking between laughter and squawking as you got up and began running down the hallway to save yourself. “Not fair, not fair not fair, not fair—!”
    You ran past the baby room and caught Wanda mid-turnaround, saying, “What on earth is going on out there?” You reeled back to pause in the doorway, caught a glimpse of the babies in their one large crib, smiled, went to pant out an answer—
    Only to feel arms wrap around you and drag you back down the hallway. You started to shriek, then forced it into a startled laugh as to not disturb the babies, and flailed around in Vision’s arms as he lifted you off the ground. It was brief, though, because then your struggling caught Vision off balance and the two you tumbled to the ground. There, you both harmlessly pummeled each other until you both were out of breath and snickering, and you somehow ended up with his top half under you but his legs pinning down your own.
    “You can fly?” you bubbled. You grabbed his face and squished his cheeks in your hands. “What the hell?”
    He laughed and nodded, and one of his hands caught your own. He glanced up at you as he kissed your palm and replied, “Yes, just a little.”
    “Just a little—”
    “And his wife can move things with her mind, like the crib she just finished rocking to put the boys back to sleep, and if she has to do it again because of her partners’ roughhousing…”
    You and Vision quickly disentangled yourselves from each other and looked up at Wanda, whose face said serious but whose eyes twinkled with amusement and who looked no less terrifying in a pale pink, puff-sleeved nightgown.
    You got up and straightened your clothes, with Vision following closely behind. “I will very happily take over the next shift because I started it and I’m very sorry.” 
    “What? Nonsense, [Y/N], I threw the first stuffed animal.”
    “I threw it back,” you pointed out.
    “Neither of you better have thrown and hit something,” Wanda warned.
    You glanced at Vision for confirmation; you didn’t exactly see much when you were chucking plushies aplenty and then running from your flying boyfriend.
    Vision nodded. “Nothing at all, although I did make the evaluation that we do have a plethora of plushies and baby blankets.”
    “I thought I was the one who pointed that out when you first gave me the shopping list, but okay,” you huffed under your breath, then grinned with Vision lightly bumped you with his hip. “So, the babies having a bad night?”
    “Actually, they were apparently worried about you,” Wanda said.
    That made your head do a confused tilt. “Me?”
    “Ah, yes,” Vision nodded, “We fell asleep with them in the living room and Billy started crying. We woke up to figure out what was wrong and Wanda saw you standing outside.”
    Wanda added, “Tommy started crying shortly after I walked to the door with him like he wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    “Aww,” you cooed, peering over Wanda’s shoulder to see the babies. She stepped to the side so you could walk in and shuffle over to the crib, and she and Vision stood nearby as you crouched down to brush a hand over their little sleeping heads. You continued, much softer this time, “Were the boys trying to make sure I was safe? Are they my little protectors? My little superheroes?”
    Tommy gurgled happily in his sleep. Billy remained quiet but his head leaned into your hand.
    You looked up at their parents with big, awestruck eyes to see them leaning comfortably into each other, watching you with the same level of affection you felt for them and their babies.
    “Heroes indeed,” Vision said. He walked over as you stood up again and lightly rocked the crib; Wanda strolled over to join the group. He continued to the twins in baby-talk, “But no hero-ing until after college, my little honeydews. For now, leave the protecting to your parents.” 
    “Especially this one,” Wanda chirped, making her way over to your side and slipping her arm around your back. “They’re a handful.”
    You faked a gasp, “I’m a treasure.”
    “You’re a putz,” Wanda said simply, with a smirk and a light pinch to your hip.
    You gasped harder and stared at her with utter betrayal.
    “A goof,” Vision chimed in. He slipped his own arm around you, the final piece of your three-person puzzle.
    You gasped harder still— and almost choked on air. Then you looked to the babies. “Bullies! Bullies, both of them! Billy, Tommy, you must protect me!”
    Very enthusiastically, neither baby did anything. 
    “I’ve been betrayed yet again,” you cried, not too loudly, though. You slumped against Vision and Wanda’s waiting arms. “Betrayed by my own brood!”
    “Your brood?” Wanda questioned, quirking a brow. Vision was giggling softly at your other side.
    “Yes,” you whispered, looking at her with wide, distraught eyes, “My brood. My pack. My murder.”
    “Your what?” Vision said.
    “It’s a group of crows,” you explained under your breath, before slumping down farther and continuing your distraught monologue. “I’m all alone! Oh, the horror—”
    “Well,” Wanda said, “We’re supporting you very well a family that has completely abandoned you.”
    You flopped your head back in her direction. You were so far to the ground now that you were practically on your knees, only your arms and shoulders being held by Wanda and Vision. You traced fingers lamely across each of their arms. “So strong, those who once held me…”
    The married couple exchanged an amused but mysterious look.
    “Wanda, darling,” Vision said, “They seem to have gone delusional.”
    Wanda nodded sagely in response. “Clearly lost their mind.”
    You squinted, glancing between them. What were they up to?
    “To the ward with you,” Wanda suddenly announced.
    Then you caught a red glow by your feet, but not fast enough before you were swept up into the air on a cloud of red mist. You burst into startled laughter but quickly slapped a hand over your mouth so you didn’t wake up the children. Once you relaxed—enough to stop laughing anyway, not enough to not be freaking out about being magically escorted out of the nursery—you waved your hands through the red; it felt like waving your hands through the open air. The only thing actually felt was the pressure on the back of your body that was holding you afloat and carrying you out of the room, but when you tried to balance on it and move to a different position, all you did was squirm and twist awkwardly in the air before flopping back down. You craned your neck, mostly to make sure Tommy and Billy hadn’t woken up from your outburst, but you only caught Wanda, hands glowing red, following you out of the room and Vision trailing after wishing his babies a goodnight.
    You looked back at the ceiling for a moment. After you heard the nursery door shut, you asked at a normal volume, “I’m not gonna fall, right?”
    “Not unless I let you,” Wanda reassured you. You couldn’t see her but the teasing tone of her voice made you imagine her with a smirk. A smirk, narrowed eyes, her pretty nightgown floating around her, magical powers that she could definitely use to crush you if she wanted to and you’d probably thank her if she did.
    Wow, okay, I either need to confess my sins or go to sleep.
    “Why?” Wanda asked suddenly.
    “Why what?” you choked back, heat rushing to your face. Surely, she couldn’t read your thoughts…
    “Why ask if you would fall?”
    Oh.
    “Oh.” You started flopping around in the cloud of magic, testing the proverbial waters; you were being taken to the living area now. You heard both Wanda and her husband laughing from beneath and behind you when you settled again. 
    Vision asked through chuckling, “What could you possibly be doing?”   
    You suddenly flung yourself to one of the magic surrounding you, thinking maybe you would fall through, but the magic held. You huffed and laid back again but not before you caught a glimpse of the couch that you now hovered over. You grasped at the magic again, watching it wisp through your fingers but feeling nothing at all. “This is so cool.”
    Wanda’s voice was softer when she spoke this time. “You think?”
    You couldn’t hold back the disbelieving laughter that bubbled up. Suddenly breathless out of sheer excitement of learning more about the people you cared for most, you sighed, “Wanda, baby, you must know that you’re amazing.”
    Then you squawked as the magic suddenly disappeared around you, but instead of falling straight to the couch below, Vision flew up to catch you. He held you bridal style as he gently dropped back to his feet next to the couch, grinning—he very rarely just smiled, it was always a big, happy grin when it was directed at you or Wanda or the babies—and giving you a peck on the forehead when you stared up at him, doe-eyed.
    “Got my own Superman, too,” you said, “Damn.”
    Vision plopped you down on the couch. “Who?”
    “Comic book character,” you responded with a wave of your hand, “Doesn’t matter. You’re far better looking than him anyway.”
You shifted a bit to get more comfortable and watched as glowing red magic started swirling all around you. The magic was misty, red around the edges and glowing orange-white in the center, picking up the scattered toys from your and Vision’s scuffle and tossing them into the playpen, pulling said playpen out of the way and sliding the original coffee table back from its place against the wall, picking up any other stray blankets or baby items and placing them neatly out of the way; it also straightened out Vision’s robe and ruffled your hair. Part of the magic moved out of your line of vision, so you twisted to follow it and saw it taking the baby clothes off the drying rack to fold and put on the counter next to it, then continued watching as it folded the rack itself and moved it out of the way. 
Wanda was now in your sight again too; she was standing still, palms up with magic flowing outward from the red clouds around them, and looking around to see if there was anything else she needed to put away. She was also blushing, from you calling her baby or saying she’s amazing, you couldn’t tell. After staring for probably way too long, probably looking at her with the same starry-eyed, dopey look that a teenager had at their first concert or after a first kiss, her gaze flitted to yours and made a nose-scrunching face at you before finishing her magical cleanup and making her way over to the couch as well.
You slumped back in the pile of throw pillows behind you, covered your face with your hands, and flutter-kicked your feet few times. “This is so cool!”
    You felt a nudge at your feet and you raised your legs so he could sit, then did the same with your head when you felt Wanda’s hand brush across your forehead. When they were both seated, you laid your legs and head on their respective laps and the three of you settled into the comfortable position that had been adopted long after your relationship had started. 
    That is until you quickly sat up again. “Is that how you unpacked your house so quickly?”
    Wanda smiled and nodded. She rested a cheek in the palm of her hand, endeared by your wonderment towards her powers.
    “Is that you unpacked my house?”
    Another nod. 
    “And the magic show was real— Wait.” You scowled. “But all the pulleys and stuff.”
    “That was, ah, my bad,” Vision offered with a raised hand. 
    “Covering for him actually using his powers,” Wanda explained.
    “I knew the mirrors didn’t make sense with you putting your hat through your body!” you exclaimed. “So flight, super strong, and… not sure what to call that last one. What was with you that day, by the way? You acted drunk, but you can’t get drunk!”
    “I swallowed some gum,” Vision muttered, glancing away and rubbing the side of his neck. His other hand waved towards his torso as he continued, “It got all… stuck. Gummed up my gears, if you will.”
    Wanda rolled her eyes at the pun. You snickered at it.
    “I had to magic it out of him,” she added.
    Your gaze flitted back and forth between your two superhuman partners multiple times as you took in the information. Because you were sitting between the two, this involved the turning of your head various times, which made your head swim a bit. You almost wished that they were both sitting to one side of you.
    Instead of suggesting this, you settled your gaze to stare aimlessly ahead and said simply, “I’m dating two of the weirdest, coolest, most stellar people in the world. How the hell did I manage that?”
    “Charisma,” Vision offered, even though you and him both knew at this point how you’d weirdly creeped on him at the office the first day the two of you met.
    “Sheer force of will,” Wanda suggested, but you guaranteed she was remembering how, for the few dates you went on with them, you’d had to be reminded that you were actually on dates and that they weren’t just casual friendly hangouts. 
    You looked between them once more and then you wished you had suggested they sit to one side of you. Despite their steady, comfortable voices, Wanda was in the process of hiding her flustered face behind the curtain of her hair and Vision was chewing on his lip and couldn’t seem to keep his hands and feet from tapping away.
    “Okay,” you said after a moment, patting your thighs to do something with your hands. “I’m grasping that you guys don’t agree with me here. Wanda, go sit by him so I don’t get whiplash from trying to look at you both.”
    You and Wanda quickly switched places. You sat cross-legged on the couch to face them and Wanda and Vision shifted around to sit in a way that allowed them to face you without one blocking the other. After a moment, you waved your hands at them; the cheery air has since faded into something more somber. “What is it? Tell me why you get all quiet like that when I tell you, with evidence, why you’re the actual grooviest people I’ve ever met.”
    There were a few more moments of silence before Vision went to speak first, which surprised Wanda. She looked at him, eyebrows raised high on her forehead, and lightly grasped his wrist.
    “Vis?” she murmured.
    He sighed softly and placed his other hand over hers. “Oh, it’s really nothing dear, I promise. It’s just… Well, you’ve heard how the people of the cul-de-sac talk about us sometimes.”
    “Mean girls,” you grumbled under your breath with a nod, “the lot of them sometimes.”
    Wanda seemed to suddenly sag with sadness and both you and Vision reached over quickly to hold her.
    “Oh, darling,” Vision said, “It’s not your fault—”
    “That’s not true,” Wanda whispered.
    “It is true,” Vision said, and this time he said it with a fierceness that was familiar to you, whenever Wanda was being treated poorly by people like the Queen of the Cul-de-Sac, Dotty, or when Wanda decided to get down on herself. He grasped her shoulders tightly, squeezed them until she looked up at him. “Wanda, darling, love, I didn’t exist before I meant you. I mean, I did, of course, I did, but I was just this strange, non-human, non-machine thing that was just… kind of… there. It was you that gave me an existence, Wanda. You made me human.”
    Both you and Wanda stared at him, surprised. Wanda stared because she obviously didn’t fully agree with his opinion of her. You stared because of course, you were dating two of the weirdest, coolest, most stellar, and most romantic people ever. 
    Get yourself a man like that, you thought. Then after a moment, Wait, that is in fact also my man. 
    “And you—” Vision said, turning his head in your direction.
    “Oh, I’m next?” you stammered. “I thought it was Wanda’s turn.”
    Vision still held Wanda but also reached over to tightly grasp your hand and bring it to his mouth. “I just wished we could have confessed to you sooner. I just hate, hate, hated lying to you and now you’re involved with all this too—”
    The synthezoid with the English accent looked up at you with eyes begging forgiveness as if he’d committed one of the worst sins imaginable. You let out a hoarse laugh and ran your thumb across the side of his hand.
    “I’m sorry,” you said, still chuckling as you wriggled closer to your couple, “but as much as you might like to think you’ve subjected me to something I didn’t sign up for, I’d like to point out that I’ve been about a month ahead of you. I was here before you.” You felt a nagging urge to look at Wanda and repeat the last sentence, and there was something extra special about saying it that second time like there was a double and then a triple meaning behind it, but the way you both furrowed your brows afterward made it clear that neither of you really knew what those meanings were.
    Not yet, anyway.
    You cleared your throat and removed your hand from Vision’s grasp to place it on the back of the couch. “I moved into this town with no husband or wife, no family, nothing but a pile of letters and a new deed to a new house that happened to be the smallest in the neighborhood. My first week here I told one man in front of the entire night watch that I thought the joke he made about his wife was distasteful, and then the week after I tripped and spilled wine all over his wife. Agnes brought because she thought I’d be a form of entertainment and we somehow ended up becoming friends over a flask that she hid in a pocket sewed into the inside of her skirt.” You offered a look to Wanda again while you mentioned that Agnes never thought your “for the children” jokes were all that funny, though. “I’ve dealt with the comments and the rumors and the ‘what’s wrong with them, they don’t have no kids!’ People are weird and they’re mean and they’re fun and they suck. You want human, dude? You got it. If I was still bothered by comments that are nothing but a bummer, I think I’d be trying a little bit more than wearing clothes that I enjoy over the clothes that are expected of me, telling Dotty she needs to stop being awful before she gets frown lines, or, you know, pining over two people—a married couple nonetheless—until I somehow seduced them with my staring at them from around corners and just generally horrible, awful attempts at eye contact.”
    The married couple in question chortled at that.
    You used your hand on the back of the couch to hoist yourself up on your knees so you towered over Vision just slightly.
    “Here’s the thing, sunshine,” you continued, “I’m not in your boat on this one, you dorks, you’re in mine. I was here first and I don’t give a fuck.”
    Wanda gave a sudden laugh. “What language.”
    “Has he not told you about the time I said ‘Fuck you’ to a plastic bird in my garden?” you asked. “Multiple times? His name is Bernard and he’s plotting to kill me, I swear.”
    Wanda’s troubled expression was split by a wobbly smile.
    You threw up your arms in the dramatic fashion that you knew the two people in front of you loved and hollered—then quickly quieted back down to not disturb Billy and Tommy in the other room—“All this for my rambling putz ass to say, who cares about what’s outside this house! You two, and your kids, and I are the only people that matter here. Here being the house, Westview, whatever! Everyone else? Nonexistent.
    “Also, just to clarify,” you paused to wave your arms around, gesturing at the entire house, “Love it here. Love this shit.”
    You suddenly caught Vision’s slacked jaw in your hand and gave him a peck on the cheek. “This face? Love it.” You moved to peck a spot of silver on his skull. “Love this too.” You pecked the gem on his forehead and swore it glowed brighter in response. “Love this.” You pecked one of his ear plates. “Love these goofy things.” You pecked the tip of his nose. “Love this and the fact that you have it even though you don’t technically even need to breathe. Oh, speaking of which!” 
You lifted one of his hands with one of your own and tapped on his red fingernails with your other. You caught a glimpse of his face now that yours wasn’t directly in front of it and noticed him trying to hold back a giddy smile—and failing—while he watched you from underneath red lashes; your whole body would have tried to twist itself in knots under that look if you weren’t too busy swearing to kiss those eyelids and lashes too, at another time. Instead, you pecked each fingertip of the hand you were holding. “Love these ‘useless to my design’ things too. You know what, just speaking of hands—” You dropped Vision’s hand, which made itself to your waist as you went to grab Wanda’s; you were vaguely aware that you were practically leaning into their laps at that point but that could be dealt with when you weren’t trying to make a point.
When you went to touch her, she let you hold her wrist but quickly squeezed her hand into firsts before you could hold it like you had with Vision’s. She was looking away.
    You pressed a kiss to her whitening knuckles. “Wanda.”
    She looked at you, her perfect face distorted by a deep sadness that almost shattered your heart on the spot. She tightened her first further. The deep emotion appeared to make her slip back into her natural Sokovian accent when she spoke again. “You don’t know the pain it’s caused.”
    “I’ve done my fair share,” you affirmed even though you weren’t quite sure why. Then you kissed her knuckles again. “And maybe I don’t, but I know what good it’s caused, that you have.”
    Her face twisted into an ugly grimace. She asked hoarsely, “Like what?”
    “The first time I saw your face, I wanted to go to space, grab the moon, shrink it down—so it looked like one of those cool little lava rocks, you know? But prettier—and get it put on a ring,” you offered, then kissed the back of her hand and whispered, “and that’s after I found out you were married to a very attractive man too…”
    Vision snorted. Wanda cracked the smallest of smiles.
    You whispered lower, “And I may or may not have even been interested in marriage before that…”
    That time Wanda rolled her eyes; you smiled and grabbed her other clenched hand to share the attention with. You continued, “You’re also so nice, like so nice. You are so kind and care about what people think so much, it’s almost buggy—and bordering on self-destructive but that’s not what we’re talking about— And I sort of get it now, you know, but wow, making your magic show worse for the sake of people’s sanity? Wouldn’t even be on my radar.”
    Another little smile.
    “I’d be like, ‘Who wants to see me turn this entire table into a rosebush! Dotty’s rosebush specifically; Dotty, I stole your rosebush.’ I actually did steal a rose from her bush that day.”
    Wanda blinked and you noticed the lines of her expression weren’t as deeply etched into her face anymore.
    “That was Dotty’s?”
    You grinned and nodded, then kissed both of her hands. “Also, I love your hair and the way it perfectly frames your perfect face, and I love your little nose scrunches, and I love your eyelashes and the way you look at me from under them sometimes, and I’d kiss all those things but I’m not going to because I gotta get these stubborn, always-working, never-wanna-take-a-break, always-somehow-perfect-nails-having hands to relax before they hurt themselves even though it’s very clearly hard enough to make who woman who owns them do the same. Oh, I did I mention that smile—hoo, Wanda, that foxy smile…”
    Wanda was blushing now and bringing up her smile made it happen again, just slightly. You took advantage of the moment anyway and flung yourself back onto the couch with a hand over your heart. “Be still, my pounding heart!”
    Vision, who was watching by your and Wanda’s sides, laughed a bit. Wanda herself rolled her eyes again; the smile didn’t disappear afterward.
    You sat up again and pointed at Vision, now that he’d brought attention to himself again. “And I don’t know whether you heard any of the stuff this guy said! You made him exist? You made him human? What? You two also do this thing where you just look at each other and have a whole conversation, I don’t know if you guys know you do that or not. You do, though, and I don’t know if either or both of you are psychic but if you are and still love me? With my unhinged brain? Migraines and all? I wouldn’t understand, even if you explained it to me.”
    Vision offered, “Neither of us is psychic but anyway, please continue.”
    “Have anything to add?”
    “You’re doing wonderfully.”
    “Thank you.” You looked back and Wanda, noting that her face had almost completely softened now, as she was too busy being flustered to be sad at this point. You quickly scooped her hands before they could curl into fists again placed kissed on each of the crescent moon-shaped marks now dug into their palms. “Your magic rocked your babies to sleep. Your magic cleaned up all their and put it all in one nice, neat place. You floated me around the house with your magic and even protected me from falling when I was wriggling around up there; bet that was fun for both of you to watch. Vision said earlier that that was your job, to protect me, and while I don’t fully agree because I consider it the other way around, is that not what you did?”
    “I thought it was cute,” Wanda replied softly to the second to last sentence you said. She watched as you gave her hands a few more pecks.
    “So, you agree then,” you said, “that your magic protected me and also made me cuter?”
    She laughed and the sound made your heart soared, performing an aerial performance in your chest. She tried to wriggle her hands free from you but then you scowled and tucked them protectively under your chin.
    “Gotta say it. Gotta say your magic made me cute.”
    “I’m not saying that.”
    You shrugged and got comfy, laying your head in her lap with her hands still hidden. “Have to. Otherwise, no hands for you. Oh, did I not mention how good you are to your kids yet? You’re so good—”
    “Okay, okay, okay,” Wanda forfeited through a wet laugh. Hearing said laugh, your head shot up in concern, but the woman was smiling as she snagged your hands back; what she chose to do with them next was grab your face and place a kiss directly on your mouth.
    It was quick and soft and sweet and absolutely none of that prevented the fireworks that went off in your skull and your chest and your stomach and your veins that made tingles shoot all the way down to your toes. She pulled away as quickly as she had moved in and you blinked; your brain was still short-circuiting, like a robot—like a Vision with his gears all gummed up, and your dazed brain thought that was a very funny connection, so it repeated the joke verbally.
    Luckily, Vision was close enough to the level of dork that you were and he laughed at it with you.
    It took a deep breath and a head shake to de-gum your brain—if only Wanda could magic that—but after the excitement wore off, you felt sleepiness start creeping in and decided to make your final push. You curled a hand around both of your partners’ necks and brought their faces closer to nuzzle your noses together; they responded by each of them wrapping an arm around your waist and returning the affectionate action.
    “So, in conclusion,” you stated, which caused Vision to laugh lightly and Wanda to grin just slightly, “I love both of these perfect faces.” You kissed each of their noses. “And these funky, magical brains.” You kissed Wanda at the base of her hairline, then Vision just below his forehead gem. “And these equally funky, magical hands.” You grabbed the hands not looped around your waist and kissed the back of them. “And both of those babies, and this house, and y—”
    You sucked in a sudden breath to stop yourself so hard that you almost choked and you reeled back to the other side of the couch only to drag Vision and Wanda with you. The three of you tumbled into a flustered heap on the couch and over their shoulders, you could see early morning light filtering through the windows. This barely registered, though, as you were too busy focusing on the fact that you almost L-worded them on a silly, tired whim. 
    Despite the awkwardness of the moment and the unspoken words, no one made a move to remove themselves from the warm, cozy entanglement. One of both Wanda and Vision’s arms was pinned under your back, keeping them solid in place against you while simultaneously and successfully enveloping you in between them; your own arms, which had instinctively wrapped protectively around their shoulders in the tumble, kept them in a similar state. Wanda’s hair fanned found and covered the three of you like a blanket, and you were keenly aware of her breath softly wafting over the exposed skin of your neck from where her head now rested on your shoulder. Vision’s rested slightly lower, on your chest, and you felt a quickened pulse where his gem pressed into your neck, but you couldn’t be sure whether it was yours or his. 
    You stared past their shoulders and watched as sunlight shone through the curtains and dappled the ceiling. You tried to figure out whether you were stupider for stopping yourself from finishing that sentence or for not saying it at all.
    Then you felt a kiss being pressed to your clothed shoulder.
    “You’ve said so many things that you’ve loved tonight [Y/N],” Wanda murmured, her hot breath causing goosebumps to rise on your skin. “What’s two more?”
    “I—” you started, then bit your tongue again. There was something about saying that phrase that made you worried; you felt like if you said it now, the happy little world you lived in would begin to crumble, like it would all end far too soon. You sighed softly and said instead, “I don’t know how I would live without you.”
    There were a few moments of silence where you watched more sunlight filter in and wished you could take it back because what a way to talk a big game and then not follow through—
    Then Vision’s head appeared above you and he pressed a dizziness-inducing kiss to your lips. When he pulled away, he nuzzled your nose with his own as he murmured, “I love you too.”
    In almost the same moment, Wanda was mumbling the same phrase against your jawline. 
    Sleepy and hazy-brained you couldn’t do much else but stare at Vision like a lovesick puppy that struggled to say that L-word, then snuggle back down with both him and Wanda when they relaxed against you again. That seemed to be the last of what needed to be said, though, because everything was cozy and warm and golden brown in your home again and, one by one, the three of you fell into a deep, comfortable sleep.
    In the black void of otherwise dreamless sleep, you heard the vaguely familiar First Voice finish chewing something and then go, “Aww…”
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nerdythebard · 3 years
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#15: Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty
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Umm... I, uh... t-this... ughhh...
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You know what, let's just move on! (>///<)
Next Time: The true king of music comes in to bring the heat!
Now that we've got that embarrassing thing out of the way, let's... uh... see what we need to play as Aphrodite in D&D:
Soulmate Bond: While the concept itself is exploited to its core by fanfiction writers, here we need to focus our attention on our party members. We're the ultimate support. If we're close, they are better at doing... well... D&D things.
Sustainability: We might be offering our heart and soul to help our teammates, but we can't forget about ourselves. We won't be much help if we cannot survive.
The Power of Love Protects You: Aphrodite is a very good healer. Her Ultimate also grants temporary invulnerability to her soulmate. #LoveWins.
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Despite being often viewed as "just a goddess of love", Aphrodite is an immensely powerful Elder Deity. Born directly from the Primordial being Ouranos, she is love and desire and passion; some of the most powerful forces that can drive a person to accomplish their goals... or to make them completely mad.
In D&D, however, we're going to make her a Protector Aasimar. We get +2 Charisma and +1 Wisdom, 60 feet of Darkvision, Celestial Resistance (which grants us resistance to radiant and necrotic damage), and we know how to speak Common and Celestial. Thanks to the Light Bearer feature, we know the Light cantrip, and because of Healing Hands, we can touch a creature and make them recover Hit Points equal to our overall level (once per long rest).
I think we can all agree that if Aphrodite was a character in D&D, she would be a total socialite. For that, let's modify the Noble background slightly, by swapping out History for Insight, keep the Persuasion proficiency, swap the proficiency with a gaming set into another language of our choice, and let's replace the Position of Privilege feature with a similar yet bit more useful Kept In Style from Sword Coast: Adventurer's Guide. This feature makes sure that whatever city we're in (it does say Waterdeep, but work with your DM on that one), our needs and desires are catered to and most expenses are sent to our family to deal with. Our name and family symbol might grand us (and our party members) discounts or straight-up free lodging and meals at a high-class festhall, and general approval from the middle class.
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ABILITY SCORES
There is no doubt about it, Charisma is our top ability; we're the Goddess of Love and Desire, we need to flaunt it and charm people left and right. Wisdom is next, we may not look like it, but we're actually pretty resourceful and can read people quite well. Constitution is after that, all casters need Hit Points and yes, we're going to be a caster.
Dexterity is a little lower than I would like it to be (especially since SMITE Aphrodite doesn't use any armour), but we'll make it work later. Follow that up with Intelligence, we might seem like an occasional ditz and books are Athena's thing anyway. Finally, we'll dump Strength.
CLASS
Although there were several ways to make this build work (I was considering another Sorcerer multiclass), I've decided to use the recently-released stuff. We're going Cleric start-to-finish.
Clerics have a d8 for their Hit Dice, and they start with [8 + our Constitution modifier] initial Hit Points. They gain proficiency with light armour, medium armour, shields, and simple weapon. For Aphrodite, I would go with a quarterstaff (with a holy symbol attached to it) and studded leather armour. Clerics' saving throws are Wisdom and Charisma, and they get to pick two class skills (Medicine and Religion).
Level 1: Clerics start their D&D adventure by picking their subclass, their Divine Domain. There once was a leaked playtest material with the Love Domain subclass (which was later rebranded as Unity Domain), but with the release of Tasha's Cauldron of Everything it became the Peace Domain, and that's what we're using.
With the Implement of Peace feature, we gain proficiency in Performance. The Emboldening Bond feature lets us choose a number of creatures within 30 feet of us (including ourselves) equal to our proficiency bonus. For 10 minutes, all bonded creatures can roll a 1d4 and add the result to any attack roll, ability check, or saving throw they make... okay, so this is basically the Bless spell, but lasts longer and targets more creatures... Aphrodite, why are you so broken OP from the start?
Clerics also gain some Domain Spells, when they hit certain levels. Those spells do not count against the number of spells Clerics can prepare per day, and are always prepared:
Heroism imbues one creature we touch with bravery for 1 minute (concentration). For the duration, the creature is immune to being frightened and gains Temporary Hit Points equal to our casting ability modifier at the start of each of their turn. When the spell ends, all of the remaining THP are lost.
Sanctuary wards one creature within 30 feet of us against attacks for 1 minute. Any creature that attacks the spell's recipient must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, they must choose a different target or lose the attack (or spell). If the protected creature initiates an attack, a spell, or deals damage to anybody, the spell ends.
Besides those spells, we also get some from the Spellcasting feature. Clerics know cantrips, regular spells, and rituals. We start by picking three cantrips:
Guidance is a must-have for support players. It lasts for 1 minute (concentration), and it gives the creature we touch a 1d4 to add to their next ability check. The spell then ends.
Sacred Flame is probably the best source of radiant damage in the game. Target within 60 feet of us must make a Dexterity saving throw or suffer 1d8 radiant damage (damage increases as we level up).
Word of Radiance is a great way to handle swarms and multiple enemies. Each creature of our choice within 5 feet of us must make a Constitution saving throw or suffer 1d6 radiant damage (damage increases as we level up).
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Clerics have access to their full spell list and prepare spells every day. The number of spells we can is [our Wisdom modifier + our Cleric level]. We are only restricted by the number and amount of spell slots. At the 1st level, we get two 1st-level spell slots:
Guiding Bolt creates a flash of light that targets one creature within 120 feet of us. On a successful hit, the target suffers 4d6 radiant damage, and the next attack roll made against it until the end of its next turn has an advantage.
Healing Word uses a bonus action to target one creature we can see within 60 feet of us and let them recover [1d4 + our spellcasting modifier] Hit Points. The healing increases by 1d4 for each spell slot higher than 1st-level.
Shield of Faith grants us (or a creature within 60 feet of us) a +2 AC bonus for 10 minutes (concentration).
Level 2: We gain one of the Cleric's signature skills - Channel Divinity. Once per short or long rest, we can become a conduit for the divine powers and perform one of the following effects:
Turn Undead: Each undead creature within 30 feet of us must make a Wisdom saving throw or be turned for 1 minute. A turned creature must spend its turn trying to move as far away as possible from us and cannot willingly move closer than 30 feet towards us.
Balm of Peace: CD effect granted to us by our Domain. As an action, we can move our full movement speed without provoking attacks of opportunity and when we move within 5 feet of any other creature while doing that, we can restore [2d6 + our Wisdom modifier] Hit Points to that creature.
We also get to learn one more spell: Protection from Evil and Good last for 10 minutes (concentration). Until the spell ends, one target we touch is protected against the following types of creatures: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead. Creatures of those types have a disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. The target also can't be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them.
Level 3: We unlock 2nd-level spell slots here. Spiritual Weapon creates a manifestation of our deity's power (it can be a sceptre, a weapon, or even a comb or a giant lollipop). We can summon it as a bonus action within 60 feet and make melee attacks with it. On a successful hit, the target takes [1d8 + our spellcasting modifier] force damage.
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Our Divine Domain also grants us two spells at this level:
Aid bolsters our allies' toughness and resolve. We choose up to three creatures within 30 feet of us. For the next 8 hours, each target's Hit Points and Hit Points Maximum increase by 5.
Warding Bond creates a connection between us and one creature within 60 feet of us for 1 hour. While the bonded target is within 60 feet of us, it gains a +1 to their AC and saving throws, and resistance to all damage. Unfortunately, if they take damage we suffer the same amount.
We also get a new racial feature: Radiant Soul. We can use our action to sprout a pair of luminous wings, which give us flying speed of 30 feet for 1 minute. Once per turn, we can also deal extra radiant damage (equal to our level) to an attack or a spell. This feature can be used once per long rest.
Level 4: Time for our first Ability Score Improvement. Let's raise our Wisdom and Constitution, to start rounding up those odd numbers.
Because we've increased our spellcasting ability, we can pick two spells here:
Hold Person forces a Constitution saving throw onto one (humanoid) target within 60 feet. On a failed save, the target is paralysed for 1 minute (concentration).
Calm Emotions does the opposite of what Aphrodite stands for, but it's nonetheless useful. The spell forces a Charisma saving throw onto all creatures within 20-foot-radius sphere (creatures can also choose to fail this throw). On a failed save, we get to select one of two effect: suppress the charmed or frightened status for 1 minute (concentration), or suppress a creature's hostile feelings for 1 minute (concentration).
We also learn a new cantrip: Spare the Dying helps a creature with 0 Hit Points to remain stable; the player doesn't have to make Death Saving Throws, but the character is still unconscious.
Level 5: Our Turn Undead gets an upgrade and becomes Destroy Undead. Starting at this level, when an undead of CR 1/2 or lower (skeletons, shadows, zombies, etc.) fails the saving throw against our Turn Undead, it gets destroyed instead.
We also unlock 3rd-level spell slots: Spirit Guardians create a flock of spectral protectors in a 15-foot radius centred on ourselves for 10 minutes (concentration). Creatures within the area have their speed halved and must make a Wisdom saving throw or take 3d8 damage (radiant if we're good or neutral, necrotic if we're evil; half damage on a successful save). We can select which creatures are unaffected by the spirits, and we can choose the form they appear as. For Aphrodite, I'd suggest doves since those are her sacred animals.
Our Divine Domain grants us two spells at this level:
Beacon of Hope lets us grant a number of creatures within 30 feet of us an advantage on Wisdom saving throws and Death Saving Throws for 1 minute (concentration). We also receive maximum healing from spells.
Sending allows us to put a telepathic message in the mind of a creature we've previously met (or seen, like in a photo). The message must be of 25 words or less, and the receiver is able to reply.
Level 6: Our Channel Divinity feature can now be used twice per short or long rest. We also gain a subclass feature: Protective Bond. The bonds we create help people protect each other. If a creature affected by our Emboldening Bond is about to take damage, any other bonded creature within 30 feet of them can use a reaction to teleport to their location and take all the damage instead.
For this level's spell, we'll go with Fast Friends. Using her divine beauty, Aphrodite can ensure people do her biddings without question.
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Fast Friends lets us charm one humanoid within 30 feet of us that can hear and understand us. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become charmed for 1 hour (concentration). While charmed, the creature will carry out any task and provide any service we ask if we do so in a friendly manner. Any task that might harm the target or conflicts with their morals requires another Wisdom saving throw. When the spell ends, the target realizes they were under a spell.
Level 7: We don't get anything class-related, but we do unlock 4th-level spells:
Death Ward grants one creature we touch immunity to death for 8 hours. When the target's Hit Points get reduced to 0, they come back to life with 1 Hit Point instead and the spell ends. The spell also protects from instant-kill effects, such as Power Word: Kill.
We also get more spells from our Divine Domain:
Aura of Purity creates an energy surge spreading 30 feet from us. Until the spell ends (10 minutes, concentration), non-hostile creatures within the aura cannot succumb to diseases, have resistance to poison damage, and gain an advantage against the following conditions: blindness, deafness, charmed, frightened, paralysed, poisoned, and stunned.
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere is our another attempt at Aphrodite's Invulnerability ability. The spell creates a bubble of force that surrounds a target within 30 feet of us. For 1 minute (concentration), nothing – spells, physical objects, or energy – cannot pass through the bubble, and the target inside cannot be harmed by anything. They can use their action to move the bubble up to half of their speed, a'la giant hamster ball.
Level 8: A lot happens to Clerics here. First off, we get another ASI; let's boost our Charisma and Dexterity. Next, our Destroy Undead now works against the undead with a CR of 1 or lower (spectres, ghouls, boneless, husks, etc.). We also learn another 4th-level spell: Banishment sends a creature within 60 feet of us into another plane of existence, provided the target fails its Charisma saving throw. The spell lasts for 1 minute (concentration) and has two outcomes, depending on where the banished target is from:
If the banished target is native to the plane of existence we're banishing it from, it gets transported to a demiplane prison and reappears in the same spot when the spell ends.
If the banished target is not native to the plane of existence we're banishing it from, we must keep the spell active for 1 minute for the banishment to be permanent.
Finally, we get another Divine Domain feature: Potent Spellcasting allows us to add our Wisdom modifier to the damage dealt by our Cleric cantrips.
Level 9: Once again, we don't get any new class upgrades, but we do unlock 5th-level spells:
Holy Weapon enchants a weapon we touch with divine energy. Until the spell ends (1 hour, concentration), the weapon emits a bright light for 30 feet and a dim one for another 30. Attacks made with the now blessed weapon deal extra 2d6 radiant damage and if the weapon is not magical, it becomes so for the duration.
We also receive our final Divine Domain spells:
Greater Restoration is a high-level healing spell that cures serious ailments, such as curses, status effects (charmed, exhaustion, petrification), loss of Maximum Hit Points, etc.
Rary's Telepathic Bond links together the minds of up to eight willing creatures for 1 hour. Until the spell ends, the creatures can communicate telepathically freely, regardless of distance (although they must be on the same plane of existence).
Level 10: We learn our last cantrip: Mending repairs some minor breaks and tears in objects we touch, such as broken key or a severed rope. The spell can mend a damage of up to 1 foot.
We learn Divine Intervention from our Domain. We call our deity for direct help, and roll percentile dice. If the result is equal to our Cleric level (or lower), the plea is successful and we receive help from our god (DM's interpretation. It can be a vision, a direct manifestation, a spell or an item useful for the request we make, etc.). If we do not succeed, we can try again after taking a long rest. If we succeed, we can try again after 7 days.
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We also learn another 5th-level spells: Mass Cure Wounds creates a wave of healing energy that affects up to six creatures in a 30-foot-radius sphere appearing at a point of our choice within 60 feet of us. Each target regains Hit Points equal do [3d8 + our spellcasting ability].
Level 11: Our Destroy Undead now affects the undead with the CR of 2 and lower (ghasts, poltergeists, will-o'-wisps, etc.).
We unlock 6th-level spells here. Word of Recall allows us to teleport us and up to five willing creatures within 5 feet of us to a pre-established sanctuary to our deity.
Level 12: Time for another ASI! This time, let's raise our Dexterity and Constitution.
Planar Ally allows us to summon an otherworldly helper directly from our deity's entourage. The creature can be a celestial, a fey, or a fiend loyal to us, although it is under no compulsion to carry out orders. It will also demand payment for its services.
Level 13: We unlock 7th-level spells at this level.
Temple of the Gods is the divine version of Mordenkeinen's Magnificent Mansion, but with less furnishings. We create a temple within 120 cubic feet space for 24 hours, and designate creatures who can freely enter it. Undesignated creatures may try to breach the temple, but have to succeed on a Charisma saving throw. If they manage to enter the temple, they are hindered by divine magic; each attack roll and saving throw carries a 1d4 penalty to their overall result. The spell cannot be cancelled by Dispel Magic or Antimagic Field.
Level 14: Our Destroy Undead feature now affects the undead with the CR of 3 and lower (wights, vampiric mists, mummies, etc.)
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Since we've skipped Revivify, now is a good chance to have a resurrection-type spell. Resurrection brings back a target that's been dead for no more than a century (that isn't undead and didn't die of old age). The spell neutralizes poisons and diseases, closes wounds and regenerates missing body parts; it does not, however, remove curses. The resurrected character takes a -4 penalty to all of their attack rolls, skill checks, and saving throws; each long rest reduces the penalty by 1.
Level 15: We don't get anything here, just 8th-level spells:
Antimagic Field creates a zone (10-foot-radius sphere) in which no magic can exist for 1 hour (concentration). Summoned creatures disappear, magical items become mundane, spells cannot be cast. Magical effects (charmed and frightened conditions, etc.) except ones coming from artefacts and/or deities are suppressed.
Level 16: Time for an ASI! Let's put one point into Constitution and one into Dexterity.
Holy Aura radiates from our body up to 30 feet for 1 minute (concentration). Any creature within range that we choose is also sheds the same light in 5 feet radius of them and have advantage on all saving throws, and other creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against them until the spell ends. If by chance a fiend or an undead attacks us, it has to make a Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the spell ends.
Level 17: Our Destroy Undead reaches its peak potential and now affects the undead with the CR of 4 or lower (ghosts, banshees, flameskulls, etc.)
We also get our final Domain feature: Expansive Bond. The benefits of our previous Bonds now work for creatures within 60 feet of each other. Moreover, if a creature uses Protective Bond to take somebody else's damage, they have a resistance to that attack.
We finally unlock 9th-level spells. Mass Heal affects any number of creatures within 60 feet of us and restores up to 700 Hit Points, divided as we choose. The creatures are also healed of all diseases and blindness and deafness effects are removed.
Level 18: We can now use our Channel Divinity feature three times per rest.
We take a few step back with spells and take the 7th-level Divine Word. We choose any number of creatures within 30 feet of us and force a Charisma saving throw on them. On a failed save, the creatures suffer an effect based on their current number of Hit Points:
50 or fewer: deafened for 1 minute
40 or fewer: deafened and blinded for 10 minutes
30 or fewer: deafened, blinded, and stunned for 1 hour
20 or fewer: killed instantly
Regardless of their Hit Points, a celestial, a fiend, or a fey is additionally sent back to its native plane of existence and cannot return for 24 hours (unless via Wish spell).
Level 19: Time for our final ASI. Let's get that Dexterity up again and... I dunno, maybe Strength? Doesn't change much, but it's better than having an odd number for more important stats.
Now... in case the theme of this build hadn't been clear before
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And the 9th-level healing spells are absolute monsters. Power Word: Heal restores all Hit Points of one creature we touch. It removes charmed, frightened, paralysed, and stunned conditions, and if the creature is knocked prone, it doesn't waste its movement to get up.
Level 20: Our capstone is Cleric 20, which grants us probably one of the strongest endgame abilities: Divine Intervention Improvement. From this point onwards, our Divine Intervention always succeeds. We don't need to roll for it, although the 7-days limit is still present.
For our final spell of the build, we get True Resurrection. We can bring back a creature that's been dead for no more than 200 years and hadn't died of old age. The spell restores all of their Hit Points, closes wounds, removes poisons and diseases, and even lifts curses. It can even make a new body for the willing soul, if the old one's gone.
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And that is it. Aphrodite, the protective Goddess of Beauty. Let's see how well (or not) we've made her:
First off, and this should come as no surprise, we're a support character. We have a plethora of healing and protection options, and our charms could help us and our party members to avoid conflict. We have the AC of 15, 133 Hit Points on average, and a +3 to our initiative.
Unfortunately, this build has a few downsides: we're don't have many damage-dealing abilities, with the most prominent being our cantrips. Also, we're pretty useless against creatures immune to being charmed. Our Intelligence is also not great, so those saving throws could be trouble.
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Anyway, another deity off the list. I hope you guys enjoy yourselves with these builds. I'll see you next time!
- Nerdy out!
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scarletwinterxx · 4 years
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First and Last pt. 3
Hello! How are you liking this series? I’m sorry for the slow updates but I’m back to work so I don’t get that much time to write. Like always, thank you for the love and support. Enjoy!
For my other works you can check them out here, and for my other story series’ you can check them out here.
All works are copyrighted ©scarletwinterxx 2020 . Do not repost, re-write without the permission of author.
PART ONE || PART TWO  || PART THREE || PART FOUR ||  FINALE ||  BONUS
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It has been a very busy few weeks for everyone. Midterms were coming, projects and exams were being thrown to the students’ way left and right. Hyuck and Y/N haven’t had the time to see each other the whole week. 
It’s not really a secret but they kind of miss each other. The day doesn’t end without either of them texting the other one how was their day or did they eat already. Just little acts like that, Hyuck looks forward whenever his phone dings meaning he just received a text. An instant smile making it’s way to his face, no matter how long and stressing his day goes he always looks forward to when Y/N asks him if he already ate or remind him to rest. 
The same goes for Y/N, after a very long day filled with classes a text would already be waiting on her phone. Constantly reminding her to eat and not to stay up too late. She found it cute that now someone tells her these things. All her classmates gushes about their boyfriends but she could never relate. So this is how it feels like, she thought. 
It was a Friday, the last class Y/N have. She’s so ready to collapse on her bed and sleep. It’s been a long two weeks. She already saw the text from Hyuck reminding her to eat something and a little word of encouragement making her smile while walking all the way back to her dorm. 
As expected, she just jumped on her bed not even bothering to take her coat off and was just about to doze off when she heard someone rapidly knocking on her door. 
“Okay okay, I’m coming” she mumbled, begrudgingly making her way to the door. 
On other side of the door, Hyuck stood. Rocking on his heels back and forth. The moment he was done with his last class he bid goodbye to Jeno whom he had the class with then literally ran out the door. Jeno was just smiling after his friend, knowing already where he’s going.  
When Y/N opened the door. She didn’t expect it to be Hyuck, she thought he would just go back to his own dorm and catch up on some sleep. 
“Hyuck?”
“Hey, good you’re not asleep yet. Did you grab some dinner?” he asked, meanwhile the girl just stood infront of him. Still a little confused and groggy from the very short nap she took
She looked so adorable right now, Hyuck wanted to tuck her in his arm and keep her there forever. 
“Aren’t you tired?” she asked, finally speaking. Y/N opened the door wider to let Hyuck in. The pair walked back to Y/N’s room and as soon as they get back there Y/N immediately collapses back on her bed. 
Hyuck chuckled at Y/N actions, her legs dangling at the edge of the bed. He took the empty spot beside her, looking down on the girl who already had her eyes closed. 
“Did you eat yet?” Hyuck asked back, Y/N mumbled something but he didn’t hear
“What was that?” Hyuck asked again, poking Y/N on the side. The girl swatting his hand away before answering again, “I’m too tired”
“Want to just order in?” 
“Okay” she mumbled again, eyes still closed and the hand she swatted away still in her grasp. Hyuck’s heart clenched at the sight before him, Y/N was being so undeniably cute he didn’t know how long he could keep his feeling at the bay. 
With his free hand, he pulled his phone from his pocket then proceeded to order some food for the both of them. Y/N’s hold on his hand softened but he didn’t want to pull away. 
After he finished ordering he locked his phone and set it on the bed, turning to look at the girl who is now napping beside him. 
“Even in your sleep, you still look cute” he mumbled, a small smile making it’s way to his face. 
He laid beside her, his other hand going under his head while the other one was still in Y/N’s grasp. Not to sound creepy, but at that moment he just looked at her. 
“I can feel you staring” Y/N mumbled, instead of looking away Hyuck just smiled at the girl whose eyes were still closed
“You just look to cute” the boy mumbled back making Y/N open an eye and look 
“Stop that, I know what you’re doing” Y/N warned then sat up, sitting cross legged on the bed while Hyuck was still laying down
“Okay okay fine, I won’t. I didn’t know something so small can be this intimidating” Hyuck mumbled then closed his own eyes
“Want to say that to my face?”
“I didn’t know-”
“You’re really asking to be hit today, aren’t you” Y/N said, acting as if she was going to throw the pillow she was holding
“What can I say, I like getting hit on by you” Hyuck replied with a cheeky smile on, the girl opposite him looking around the room, clearly avoiding his gaze
“Oh my god, you’re blushing. That’s so cute” Hyuck cooed at his girlfriend
Hyuck liked seeing the progress between him and Y/N, they joke around more, she can keep up with Hyuck’s cheekiness which the boy loved so much. It’s such a cute sight to see when she starts to get annoyed at him then he’ll say something flirty then she gets all blushy and shy. 
“I swear I’m going to knock you out if you don’t shut up.” Y/N told the boy with a sarcastic smile on her face which made Hyuck laugh 
“Actually, I talk in my sleep too.”
“Why do I put up with you?” Y/N asked more to herself than Hyuck
“Because you like me” that answer made Y/N freeze for a second, at the exact moment someone rang the door bell
“That must be the food, I’ll go get it” Y/N bolted up and walked out of the room before Hyuck could mutter another word. 
He noticed the change in her expression when he said she liked him, now he kind of regrets saying it. It was a joke, kind of. He didn’t mean to make her feel uncomfortable. 
Just when they’re finally walking the same steps, he didn’t want to fall three steps back again. 
“Why did you order so much? I don’t think we’ll finish this” Y/N said as she walks back in the room
“Just eat up, I know you haven’t eaten yet” The pair ate their dinner in silence, conversing here and there. They were both very tired from the long week so they decided to call it a night. 
Even after Hyuck was long gone, his words were still ringing in Y/N head. 
‘Because you like me’
Did she?
Did she like Hyuck?
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“How did the two of you meet?”
“We got grouped for a project last semester, he wasn’t single then” Y/N answered bluntly, making Hyuck choke on air. The rest of their friends laughing at Hyuck
“What? It is true” Y/N said when Hyuck sent her a playful glare
They were currently at another party thrown by the older guys, Y/N like to say Hyuck dragged her but she did want to come with him too. 
It surprised her too, saying yes to going to a party. The whole night Hyuck had been by her side, she was honestly enjoying her time
“We met again this semester, I guess it just kind of happen. Hyuck can be persistent when he wants to be, I guess I got used to it. It would feel weirder if he won’t be there to bother me” Y/N continued, the way she was telling it made the rest of the guys just watch her with a fond smile on. The thought that their friend found someone who genuinely likes him put their hearts at ease.
“I don’t really socialize, I like being by myself. But after knowing Donghyuck, I learned it’s not so bad to have someone with me. He just... makes everything brighter” as Y/N says this, she looks over at Hyuck who was already looking at her
“Do I?” Hyuck asked, a little smile appearing on the side of his lips
“Yea”
Renjun rolling his eyes at the scene in front of him but he really was happy for his bestfriend. He did see the change in Hyuck these past months. He’s always been a happy guy but there’s something different about Hyuck now that he’s with Y/N. Renjun is just glad to see his bestfriend smiling like this again. 
“Oh my god they’re being too cute again” Johnny said when he walked by, making the couple both look away with red cheeks
“I’m going to go get some drinks” Hyuck said, giving a quick kiss on Y/N’s head. It caught a lot of them of guard, Y/N included. They’ve never really showed that level of affection before. They’ve held hands and hugged before but this was something new. 
Y/N could feel her cheeks get even redder. Meanwhile, Hyuck didn’t even notice his action. It just came naturally to him. 
He then made his way to the empty kitchen,he was getting some soda from the fridge when he heard someone walk by. Looking up to see who it was, he rather wished he didn’t. 
“What do you want?”
“Can’t I say hello to you?”
“Hello, now bye” Hyuck said then walked around Lia. The girl rolling her eyes before speaking again
“When will you cut this whole act?” her question made Hyuck stop on his tracks
He turned to face Lia again, the girl had her arms crossed on her chest and a challenging look on her face
“What?”
“Until when will you keep this thing up? The whole dating Y/N?” she asked, not batting an eyelash as she speak those words out loud. For a second, just a second he was confused about what she was talking about. 
Then it clicked. 
Lia knew. 
Hyuck doesn’t know how, but somehow she does. 
“Don’t drag my girlfriend into this”
“Girlfriend? really? Just say it Haechan, she’s not really your girlfriend”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about”
“That day, in the lecture hall. You were talking to her, asking her to be your fake girlfriend. But for what, I’m not sure. Is it to make me jealous?” Lia asked
“I could care less about what you think” Hyuck spat out
“Then why? Are you that desperate?” she was provoking him, he knew that
“You’re really lying to your friends, that’s low for you” she snickered
“You would know about lows huh” he replied back, the girl looked away for a second. He hit a spot there. 
“Don’t make me as the bad guy when you’re the one who cheated” Hyuck mumbled, wanting to just get away from here
“You’re all a bunch of liars” Lia said, then added
“Did your bestfriend told you he knew about me and Hyunjin? He was the one who caught us but you never said anything so I thought he never told you. How does it feel that Jeno knew this whole time and didn’t say anything?”
Hyuck clenched his fist, the memories hitting him all at once
“Guess you’re not that close. Well now that you know, just imagine how they would feel if they hear you’re lying to them”
“Is he? Are you?” Someone said from the door. Renjun was standing there with Jeno and Jaemin behind him.
“Oops” Lia said but not an ounce of guilt was there, she waved her hand then walked off without another word
“Are you?” Renjun asked again, “I-”
“It was my fault” Hyuck didn’t notice Y/N walking between the two until she spoke out
“Y/N don’t”
“We’ve been nothing but accepting towards you but turns out you were lying to us the whole time” Renjun said, each word digging deep into Y/N’s mind. She was close to tears, wanting nothing but to say sorry to all of them.
“Don’t say that to her, it was me okay. I was the one who asked her” Hyuck defended Y/N. He could already see her trembling lips and shaky hands, he knew she was fighting the tears
“But why?” Jaemin asked, finally speaking out
“You were all tiptoeing around me, walking on eggshells, treating me like a broken boy, like I was so fragile all the time”
“We did that because we were worried about you” Renjun replied back, his tone getting a bit louder
“and I know that, but it’s almost been a year. I’m tired of the pity glances you give me”
“We were just worried about you” Jaemin said
“I can take care of myself” Hyuck answered back, he didn’t mean to snap at his friends. He felt guilty about lying and now he’s being a jerk to them
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry” Y/N muttered, her voice breaking as she say the words outloud
“I thought you were our friend” Renjun said, this made Y/N choke out a sob.
“Stop, it wasn’t her fault” Hyuck stopped him, knowing Renjun could say something that could hurt her even further. He couldn’t bear to see her like this when it wasn’t even her fault in the first place. 
“Whatever” was the last words Renjun said before walking away, Jaemin looking around the room.
“And you? You knew about Lia?” Jaemin asked Jeno who has been silent this whole time
“He told me, he never lied about anything. I didn’t tell anyone else because I thought Lia would tell me herself since she got caught. But she never did”
“And you never told us?”
“It wasn’t my business to say. I told Haechan the moment I knew but it wasn’t my story to tell” Jeno said
At that moment, Hyuck felt guilty for all the troubles he had caused. Y/N, Jeno, and lying to everyone. 
“It was all on me, don’t be mad at him or Y/N. If you want to be angry at anyone be angry at me” Hyuck told Jaemin
“I’m not, I just don’t understand why you didn’t just tell us. We would’ve understood, we’re your bestfriends” the disappointment in Jaemin’s voice hurt Hyuck. He really did hurt his friends. 
Jaemin then walked away, now it was just the three of them in the kitchen. 
“Y/N-ah, don’t cry, Renjun can be a bit harsh but he’s just hurt” Jeno told the girl, “I just- I’m very sorry” Y/N said in between sobs
“Don’t, you don’t have to be sorry to me” Jeno spoke to gently it made Y/N cry even more. She felt like she didn’t deserve it. 
“Hey, don’t cry. I’m sorry I got you into this” Hyuck said
Jeno and Hyuck looked at each other, already understanding what to do. Jeno pat Hyuck at the back, “I’ll see you later, take care okay?” the boy told Hyuck before walking away
When it was finally just the two of them, Hyuck turned to Y/N, Pulling her hands away from her face and wiping her tears away
“Sorry”
“Don’t be, it was my fault. I got you into this” he mumbled, smiling down at the girl
“But-”
“Stop blaming yourself okay? I should be the one saying sorry to you” it hurt him seeing her like this, just when she found people she could be comfortable with then this happens. He hated Lia for ruining that for her. 
But at the end of the day it was his fault. He knew he had to fix this himself. 
“Come on, I’ll walk you home” he wiped the last of her tears before pulling her hand and walking out of the house. 
When they got back to Y/N’s dorm, she has calmed down a bit but he knew deep inside she was a mess. 
“Hey don’t worry about Renjun and Jaemin, I’ll talk to them”
“They hate me now” she mumbled, her eyes starting to get watery again
“No they don’t, stop worrying about that okay?”
“I don’t think I can” it took a lot for her to admit that, but she did because she trusted Hyuck. 
“Try, please”
“Don’t cry too much when I go, I won’t be there to wipe the tears away and I hate to think you’d be crying alone tonight” Hyuck said, his voice so gentle and quiet. 
“Will you be okay?” Y/N asked, 
In that moment Hyuck knew. He liked Y/N. He likes Y/N. Here she was, crying and a mess but she was still worrying about him. He wanted to tell her then and there but he also knew this wasn’t the time. 
So he just smiled down at her, running his hands up and down her arms
“As long as you don’t cry some more”
“Okay”
For a moment they just looked at each other, finding comfort in the silence surrounding them. 
“You go in, you must be tired” Hyuck told Y/N, what she did next surprised him. Y/N put her arms around him, her head on his chest hugging him close to her. 
“I’ll try and not worry to much, I hope you won’t have too much trouble with your friends”
Hyuck put his arms around her, resting his head on top of hers. 
“I’ll be fine”
With one final smile, their night ended. 
It was a mess, Hyuck admits that. But now there’s one thing he’s very sure of. This whole fake dating thing with Y/N needs to end. 
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sierrahq · 3 years
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CONGRATULATIONS , you are invited to attend the wedding of a lifetime !
under the cut you’ll find the details of those who have been accepted for the grand opening of SIERRAHQ ! again , thank you to every single applicant . we loved reading over everyone’s interpretations and secrets !
once accepted , please familiarise yourself with this page  - you have 24 hours to send in your character acc !
SYDNEY (  she / her )  was accepted as WILHELMINA BROOKS aka THE BRIDE ( ryan destiny , cis woman , 26 , she / her   )
i LOVE seeing a powerful strong black female character , and that’s exactly what you’ve given us ! from the fc , to the high school nickname , accolades , even the mention of one of the tropes - you found a way to completely embody the bride and her relationship not just with herself , but with everyone around her . even the quirky headcanons you included - i can see the amount of work you put in , and it really pays off . i cannot wait to see more of billie !
ALEX (  she / her )  was accepted as MARCUS MURRAY aka THE GROOM ( lucien laviscount , cis man , 27 , he / him   )
ok i know it wasn’t on purpose , but the fact that the bride and groom both have alliterative names is my favourite thing on this planet ! when i say . . this is exactly what we’ve been looking for , i mean - this is exactly what we’ve been looking for. the way my jaw dropped again and again whilst reading this app , and hearing all about marcus’ life , past , present and future . . i was desperate to keep scrolling on the app and find out more ! the playlist was an additional bonus touch i just ADORED !
SUNNY (  she / her )  was accepted as MARIANA MARQUES aka THE MAID OF HONOUR ( camila mendes , cis woman , 27 , she / her   )
mariana had my heart from the very first paragraph. the genuine care she had for her friends 8 years ago, how willing she was to drop everything for those around her, and seemingly never expected anything in return, it tugged so beautifully at my heart strings. getting able to see how that love she constantly dished out to other people was never returned was such a good way to go ! i loved the detail of her needing to process situations through communicating, but none of the 15 were willing to give her that even despite all she had did for them. it’s no wonder she’s feeling so conflicted about seeing them all again. so excited to see where this beauty is going to go !
NAE (  she / her )  was accepted as CRISTIAN OJEDAS aka THE BEST MAN ( freddy miyares , cis man , 27 , he / him   )
when i say i was SCREAMING from start to finish i truly do mean that. cristian perfectly embodies that pristine individual who was meant to have it all, and had it tragically taken before they got the chance succeed.  the huge contrast from the person he was versus the person he is now after all these years was beautifully described. all the optimism he held for his future disintegrating into nothing after the night of the accident, and him just not being able to get it back was described so beautifully. you’ve really created a character with so much depth, and i can’t wait to see where cristian’s story takes him and how the residents of sierra island will either help him along or make things worse.
LU (  she / they )  was accepted as MARLI BROUSSARD aka THE OLD FLAME ( brittany o’grady , demiwoman , 26 , she / they   )
as soon as you started off by saying marli was a contradiction - i just knew i was going to love them with my whole chest and being . i cannot get past what a perfect fc you chose for the character you wrote . it is like the two just go perfectly hand-in-hand . those last two lines of how she is now ? boom ? that made my heart literally stop for a second . thank you for bringing them , they are going to be such a perfect addition ! also , the gumbo sounds delicious !
JALA (  they / them )  was accepted as PARKER CHEOL-HEE SONG-O’BRIEN aka THE SIBLING ( bae yoobin , nonbinary / agender , 26 , they / them   )
i hope it’s ok i aged parker up just the tiiiniest amount but feel free to let us know if not ! so , wow . not to spoil anything , but the secrets you provided us in relation to parker overall ? that is some juicy juice you gave us . that is DELICIOUS . parker is such a wonderfully deep and complex , and TRAGIC / sad seeming character - you’ve managed to give us so much so succinctly and easily . i honestly want nothing more than a happy ending for them ( i say , as if i’m not an admin , in charge of making every characters life miserable )
MEGAN (  she / her )  was accepted as ROBYN SRINIVAS aka THE ALIBI ( geraldine viswanathan , cis woman , 26 , she / her   )
first of all the fc choice alone ? chefs kiss ! but then oh my god the CHARACTER . everything about her , from her occupation , to the change in her personal aesthetic and style . i could not have dreamt up a more intriguing character who i immediately am simultaneously in love with , and utterly shocked by ! your mind has worked incredibly deliciously - and most importantly , thanks to your plots and connections , i cannot wait to see how robyn will interact with everyone else !
ALI (  she / her )  was accepted as YOON SANG - MI aka THE EVENT PLANNER ( shin do-hyun , cis woman , 26 , she / her  )
oh my gosh what a beautiful and elegant character you have given us ! from comparing her to a turtle in its shell , to showing how yoon has grown and changed from how everyone in high school would have known her - there was something so inherently powerful about her going from someone the 15 might not have noticed before , to being someone who holds such a strong relationship with them - even if it may be one sided or only remembered on her end . the way you’ve already developed her in such short time , i am in awe ! especially excited to see her around the bride !
AJ (  he / they )  was accepted as ADELINE LEWIS aka THE BLACKOUT ( zendaya coleman , cis woman , 26 , she / her  )
reading through adeline’s characterization really hit me in the heart. your interpretation of the skeleton is exactly what g and i envisioned, and you still managed to take it in a direction neither one of us had been expecting. it really felt like she had grown up feeling like an outside, but after the accident and years of being plagued by not fully remembering that night, she wants nothing more than to just fit in to some sense of normalcy. i am absolutely rooting for her, and i can not wait to see where her journey goes. i really hopes she gets to find some semblance of peace, very excited to see what you do with her!
KNOCK (  she / her )  was accepted as DESMOND CASTOR aka THE GROUNDSKEEPER ( trevante rhodes , cis man , 31 , he / him  )
i think admin sphynx and i both jumped for utter joy when we saw an application for trevante rhodes - and then you did not disappoint ! i especially loved the way desmond’s life was so changed by the hurricane , and how that has paved his way to where he is now . i loved the incorporation of this event from 8 years ago , and how the hurricane effected so many people on the island . that was when i knew i was utterly obsessed ! you’ve embodied the groundskeepers gruff but hardworking nature perfectly , truly . thank you , i cannot wait to see him on our dash !
TAZ (  she / her )  was accepted as KAITO ITO aka THE GETAWAY DRIVER ( dori sakurada , masc nonbinary , 28 , he / they  )
i would just like it to be known now that i am kaito’s number one fan ! from start to finish this application had such a grip on both admin g and i. they are such a well thought out character, and the internal struggles he has had to continuously deal with whether its searching for love beneath the disinterested facade or pulling themselves from the depth of their worst thoughts. i really loved the idea of him blowing through life using his family’s money only to get cut off later on and have no other choice but to come back to the island. and even the way he made his way back was so unique, and i think very spot on for the getaway drive skeleton. i’m very excited to see how he’ll be interacting with everyone else on the island, and to see how those feelings they’ve trapped inside begin to manifest on the surface !
NICO (  they / them )  was accepted as GRETA VAN MEETEREN aka THE LOCAL ( samantha logan , cis woman , 28 , she / her  )
ok i just completely am in love with the fact that greta is a fisherwoman . i love the way you’ve carved greta out as a character that has sympathy to her , but also has so much confidence and fire to own , as well. the way you captured her feelings towards the 15 , comparing them to being like family who left her behind . . heartwrenching ! i am possibly the most excited to see greta reunite with everyone for that very reason - so thank you for providing us with the angst !
BUG (  they / them )  was accepted as AKIHIKO ENDŌ aka THE CULPRIT ( sen mitsuji , cis male , 27 , he / him  )
bug you have been an utter delight ooc . talking to you and helping you shape this character , answer your questions , see how receptive you are , or just hear you expand on your thoughts for ace . . it has been a true pleasure ! the culprit is such a haunted character , and you’ve done a fantastic job of showing that with ace . more than that , the depth you’ve given him - his background , how it all plays into who he is now . . it is so wonderful and beautiful ! i know its odd to feel sympathy for such an anti-hero type of character , but i can’t help it ! 
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patriotsnet · 3 years
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What Percentage Of Republicans Are On Welfare
New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/what-percentage-of-republicans-are-on-welfare/
What Percentage Of Republicans Are On Welfare
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Democrats Return The Favor: Republicans Uninformed Or Self
Republican States Are Mostly on Welfare
The 429 Democratic voters in our sample returned the favor and raised many of the same themes. Democrats inferred that Republicans must be VERY ill-informed, or that Fox news told me to vote for Republicans.;;Or that Republicans are uneducated and misguided people guided by what the media is feeding them.
Many also attributed votes to individual self-interest whereas GOP voters feel Democrats want free stuff, many Democrats believe Republicans think that I got mine and dont want the libs to take it away, or that some day I will be rich and then I can get the benefits that rich people get now.
Many used the question to express their anger and outrage at the other side.;;Rather than really try to take the position of their opponents, they said things like, I like a dictatorial system of Government, Im a racist, I hate non-whites.;
Average Spending Of Welfare Recipients
Compared to the average American household, welfare recipients spend far less money on all food consumption, including dining out, in a year. As families with welfare assistance spend half as much on average in one year than families without it do, there are some large differences in budgeting. Families receiving welfare assistance spent half the amount of families not receiving welfare assistance in 2018.
The Gop Push To Cut Unemployment Benefits Is The Welfare Argument All Over Again
The White House is on the defensive over accusations from Republicans that expanded federal unemployment benefits, which were extended through Sept. 6 as part of Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, are too generous. The GOP argument is that people receiving the $300 weekly benefit have little incentive to return to work. The criticism from Republicans has gotten louder in the wake of a disappointing jobs report.
Its an argument that echoes similar claims conservatives have been making about government assistance programs for decades that people are taking advantage of the system in ways that allow them to collect checks while sitting back and relaxing.
As Washington pays workers a bonus to stay unemployed, virtually everyone discussed very real concerns about their difficulties in finding workers, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday. Almost every employer I spoke with specifically mentioned the extra-generous jobless benefits as a key force holding back our recovery.
But Democrats counter that millions of Americans need that money to get by. More than 20 million jobs were lost in the early months of the pandemic; 10 million American workers are currently unemployed, the Labor Department says.
Democrats say the sudden demand for more workers from businesses is outpacing the number of workers that can get back into those jobs, especially since many schools arent fully open, and many workers cant afford child care.
You May Like: When Did The Democratic And Republican Parties Switch Platforms
The Politics And Demographics Of Food Stamp Recipients
Democrats are about twice as likely as Republicans to have received food stamps at some point in their livesa participation gap that echoes the deep partisan divide in the U.S. House of Representatives, which on Thursday produced a farm bill that did not include funding for the food stamp program.
Overall, a Pew Research Center survey conducted late last year found that about one-in-five Americans has participated in the food stamp program, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. About a quarter lives in a household with a current or former food stamp recipient.
Of these, about one-in-five of Democrats say they had received food stamps compared with 10% of Republicans. About 17% of political independents say they have received food stamps.
The share of food stamp beneficiaries swells even further when respondents are asked if someone else living in their household had ever received food stamps. According to the survey, about three in ten Democrats and about half as many Republicans say they or someone in their household has benefitted from the food stamp program.
But when the political lens shifts from partisanship to ideology, the participation gap vanishes. Self-described political conservatives were no more likely than liberals or moderates to have received food stamps , according to the survey.
Among whites, the gender-race gap is smaller. Still, white women are about twice as likely as white men to receive food stamp assistance .
How Democrats And Republicans Differ On Matters Of Wealth And Equality
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A protester wears a T-shirt in support of Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who is part of … a group of Democrats looking to beat Trump in 2020. Photographer: John Taggart/Bloomberg
If youre a rich Democrat, you wake up each day with self-loathing, wondering how you can make the world more egalitarian. Please tax me more, you say to your elected officials. Until then, the next thing you do is call your financial advisor to inquire about tax shelters.
If youre a poor Republican, however, you have more in common with the Democratic Party than the traditional Wall Street, big business base of the Republican Party, according to a survey by the Voter Study Group, a two-year-old consortium made up of academics and think tank scholars from across the political spectrum. That means the mostly conservative American Enterprise Institute and Cato were also on board with professors from Stanford and Georgetown universities when conducting this study, released this month.
The fact that lower-income Republicans, largely known as the basket of deplorables, support more social spending and taxing the rich was a key takeaway from this years report, says Lee Drutman, senior fellow on the political reform program at New America, a Washington D.C.-based think tank.
Across party lines, only 37% of respondents said they supported government getting active in reducing differences in income, close to the 39% who opposed it outright. Some 24% had no opinion on the subject.
Also Check: Democrats News
Bases Of Republicans Antidemocratic Attitudes
shows how Republicans antidemocratic responses in the January 2020 survey were related to education, political interest, and locale. These relationships provide only modest support for the hypothesis that allegiance to democratic values is a product of political activity, involvement and articulateness, as McClosky had it . Although people with postgraduate education were clearly less likely than those with less education to endorse violations of democratic norms, the overall relationship between education and antidemocratic sentiments is rather weak. Similarly, people in big cities were only about 5% less likely than those in rural areas to endorse norm violations, while people who said they followed politics most of the time were about 7% more likely to do so than those who said they followed politics hardly at all. Given the distributions of these social characteristics in the Republican sample, the most typical antidemocrats were not men and women whose lives are circumscribed by apathy, ignorance, provincialism and social or physical distance from the centers of intellectual activity , but suburbanites with some college education and a healthy interest in politics.
Social bases of Republicans antidemocratic attitudes.
Key indicators of latent dimensions
Political bases of Republicans antidemocratic attitudes
Translation of ethnic antagonism into antidemocratic attitudes in Republican subgroups
Welfare Accounts For 10% Of The Federal Budget
Many Republicans claim that social services expenditures are crippling the federal budget, but these programs accounted for just 10% of federal spending in 2015.
Of the $3.7 trillion the U.S. government spent that year, the largest expenditures were Social Security , health care , and defense and security , according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities .
Several safety net programs are included in the 10% spent on social services:
Supplemental Security Income , which provides cash support to the elderly and disabled poor
Assistance with home energy bills
Programs that provide help to abused and neglected children
In addition, programs that primarily help the middle class, namely the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, are included in the 10%.
Don’t Miss: How Many Registered Democrats And Republicans Are There
At Least 60 Afghans And 13 Us Service Members Killed By Suicide Bombers And Gunmen Outside Kabul Airport: Us Officials
Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport Thursday, transforming a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover. At least 60 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops were killed, Afghan and U.S. officials said.
Welfare Spending By President And Congress From 1959 To 2014
Republicans’ Facts About Welfare Are “Not Factually True”
America faces many problems today. The current economic recovery has been the slowest since the Great Depression, the national debt has surpassed $18 trillion, and the federal government continues to spend more than it collects. While its not unusual, unethical, or unconstitutional for the federal government to operate with deficits at times, the question is why does Washington continue to overspend? Is there a legitimate reason or is it neo-politics? In this article, well take a look at spending on welfare programs during each presidents term from J.F.K. to Obama. Well also look at the party in control of Congress. Which one was the biggest spender as it pertains to welfare programs?
The Dark Side of Social Benefits
Politicians love to sing their own praises and for a very good reason. Otto von Bismarck, the first Chancellor of Germany, made an astute political observation in the 1880s when he stated, A man who has a pension for his old age is much easier to deal with than a man without that prospect. Bismarck openly acknowledged that this was a state-socialist idea and went on to say, Whoever embraces this idea will come to power. Thus, the strategy of using legislation to gain votes was forever embedded in the political landscape.
Welfare Spending
Lets take a thorough look at federal welfare spending from 1959 through 2013. The following graph includes spending for two data points:
Democrats in control: 13.7%
Republicans in control: 3.5%
Don’t Miss: What Republicans Voted Against The Repeal Of Obamacare
What Is Governments Role In Caring For The Most Needy
Nearly six-in-ten Americans say government has a responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. Do these views vary depending on whether the respondent has personally benefited from a government entitlement program?
These data suggest the answer is a qualified yes. Overall, those who have received benefits from at least one of the six major programs are somewhat more likely than those who havent to say government is responsible for caring for those who cannot help themselves .
When the analysis focuses just on just the respondents who have received benefits from at least one of the four programs that target the needy, the gap between entitlement recipients and other adults increases to eight percentage points .
Some larger differences in attitudes toward governments role emerge when the results are broken down by specific program, though in every case majorities of both recipients and non-recipients affirmed that government has the obligation to help those most in need.
For example, nearly three-quarters of those who ever received welfare benefits say government has a duty to care for those who cannot care for themselves. In contrast, less than six-in-ten of those who have never been on welfare agree.
Similar double-digit gaps surface between non-recipients and those who ever received food stamps and Medicaid .
How Come We Are Red And Blue Instead Of Purple
Republicans to live outside of urban areas, while Democrats tend to prefer living inside of urban areas.
Rural areas are almost exclusively Republican well strong urban areas are almost exclusively democratic.
Republicans also tend to stress traditional family values, which may be why only 1 out of 4 GLBTQI individuals identify with the GOP.
63% of people who earn more than $200k per year vote for Republicans, while 63% of people who earn less than $15k per year vote for Democrats.
64% of Americans believe that labor unions are necessary to protect working people, but only 43% of GOP identified votes view labor unions in a favorable way.
The economics of the United States seem to have greatly influenced how people identify themselves when it comes to their preferred political party. People who are concerned about their quality of life and have a fair amount of money tend to vote Republican. Those who have fallen on hard times or work in union related jobs tend to vote for Democrats. From 2003 to today, almost all of demographic gaps have been shifting so that Republicans and Democrats are supported equally. The only true difference is on the extremes of the income scale. The one unique fact about Democrats is that they are as bothered by their standard of living as Republicans tend to be.
Don’t Miss: When Did Republicans Turn Against Nixon
States Have Shifted To The Right
Democrats are floating a plan to tax stock buybacks.
Even excluding health insurance which some experts argue should not count people in this patch of Appalachia draw between a fifth and a third of their income from the public purse.
Perhaps the politics of welfare is changing up to a point. Democrats made big gains this year in elections for the House and several statehouses, running largely on the promise that they would protect the most recent addition to the safety net: the Affordable Care Act, including the expansion of Medicaid in many states. But championing the safety net does not necessarily resonate in the places that most need it.
Take Daniel Lewis, who crashed his car into a coal truck 15 years ago, breaking his neck and suffering a blood clot in his brain when he was only 21. He is grateful for the $1,600 a month his family gets from disability insurance; for his Medicaid benefits; for the food stamps he shares with his wife and two children.
Every need I have has been met, Mr. Lewis told me. He disagrees with the governors proposal to demand that Medicaid recipients get a job. And yet, in 2016, he voted for Mr. Trump. It was the lesser of two evils, he said.
About 13 percent of Harlans residents are receiving disability benefits. More than 10,000 get food stamps. But in 2015 almost two-thirds voted for Mr. Bevin. In 2016 almost 9 out of 10 chose Mr. Trump.
Program Goals And Demographics
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Larger group differences emerge when the results are broken down by age and income levelsdifferences that are often directly related to the goals of specific benefits programs.
For example, adults 65 and older are nearly three times as likely to have received an entitlement benefit during their lives as those adults under the age of 30 . Thats not surprising, since nearly nine-in-ten older adults have received Social Security and78% have gotten Medicare benefits. Both programs were specifically created for seniors with age requirements that limit participation by younger adults.
Similarly, Americans with family incomes of less than $30,000 a year are significantly more likely as those with family incomes of $100,000 or more to have gotten entitlement help from the government . Again, this difference is not surprising, as assisting the poor is the primary objective of such financial means-tested programs as food stamps, welfare assistance and Medicaid.
Also Check: Why Do Republicans Wear Blue Ties
Which Party Are You
The average Republican is 50, while the average Democrat is 47.
55% of married women will vote Republican.
GOP candidates earn 59 percent of all Protestant votes, 67 percent of all white Protestant votes, 52 percent of the Catholic vote, making them a Christian majority party.
Only 1 out of 4 Jewish voters will support Republicans.
If you are white and have a college education, there is a 20% greater chance that you will be a Republican instead of a Democrat.
American Republicans have been found to be among the most generous people on earth, and not just financially. Republicans also provide more volunteer hours and donate blood more frequently.
Here is what we really come to when it comes to political party demographics. It doesnt matter if youre a Republican or a Democrat. What matters is that everyone is able to take advantage of the diversity that makes the United States so unique. Instead of trying to prove one way is the only correct path, both parties coming together to work together could create some amazing changes for the modern world. Until we learn to compromise, however, the demographic trends will continue to equalize and polarize until only gridlock remains. If that happens, then nothing will ever get done and each party will blame the other.
Taking The Perspective Of Others Proved To Be Really Hard
The divide in the United States is wide, and one indication of that is how difficult our question proved for many thoughtful citizens. A 77-year-old Republican woman from Pennsylvania was typical of the voters who struggled with this question, telling us, This is really hard for me to even try to think like a devilcrat!, I am sorry but I in all honesty cannot answer this question. I cannot even wrap my mind around any reason they would be good for this country.
Similarly, a 53-year-old Republican from Virginia said, I honestly cannot even pretend to be a Democrat and try to come up with anything positive at all, but, I guess they would vote Democrat because they are illegal immigrants and they are promised many benefits to voting for that party. Also, just to follow what others are doing. And third would be just because they hate Trump so much. The picture she paints of the typical Democratic voter being an immigrant, who goes along with their party or simply hates Trump will seem like a strange caricature to most Democratic voters. But her answer seems to lack the animus of many.;;
Democrats struggled just as much as Republicans. A 33-year-old woman from California told said, i really am going to have a hard time doing this but then offered that Republicans are morally right as in values, going to protect us from terrorest and immigrants, going to create jobs.
Recommended Reading: Did Trump Say Republicans Were Dumb
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Friday Special #7
January 9th, 2021
So it has come to my attention that when people talk about RPG Maker the series, many aren’t aware of how far back the series goes.
Did you know that series dates back to almost thirty years?
That’s right, next year will be the 30th anniversary of RPG Maker!
So why don’t we have a history lesson into arguably one of the most important franchises in gaming history?
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Alright, where does the story begin for this iconic series?
According to sources, there has been games similar to RPG Maker that were made by ASCII (the original company behind RPG Maker) and that were released as far back as 1988, with the following titles:
Mamirin (1988)
Dungeon Manjirou (1988)
RPG Construction Tool: Dante (1990)
Dante 2 (1992)
Chimes Quest (1992)
The very first official RPG Maker title came in the form of RPG Tsukūru Dante 98, released on December 17, 1992. This game, along with its 1996 sequel RPG Tsukūru Dante 98 II, was originally made for the NEC PC-9801 Japanese home computers at the time. It was originally made when ASCII pulled from other games (listed above) and combined them together to create a RPG-making development title with its own toolkit. The genre of RPG specifically was thanks to the rise of JRPGs in recent years like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy to name a few. 
The next major release of RPG Maker was in the form of RPG Tsukūru: Super Dante in 1995, which marked the very first time that the series has landed onto a console. The console was the Nintendo Super Famicom and it was later broadcasted a year later using the Satellaview service. While it did exhibit some restrictions in terms of content due to system limitations, it was famous for providing hundreds of character, monster and scenery assets with color swap palettes to save on memory in the cartridge as well as designing the stats of characters and monsters pre-determined by the player. It was said that the game was popular with players but sources are limited about actual reviews. RPG Tsukūru 2 is the sequel and it was released in 1996 on the Super Famicom as well. 
Windows saw the release of the third installment with RPG Tsukūru 95, which was released in 1997 and was the first of many RPG Maker titles for Windows. Unlike its predecessors, it boasted higher resolution in sprites and tilesets as well as higher screen resolution. It also has the honor of being the first version to have an unauthorized English translation and release due to demand. Also with this version, the number of party members was boosted to 8 people with the first 4 acting as the main battle party. RPG Tsukūru 95 Value! was released not long after with the added bonus of having Windows XP support, which was new at the time and very valuable. 
So when did the West finally receive an official version version of RPG Maker?
On November 27, 1997, Enterbrain released the following title RPG Tsukūru 3 for the original Playstation and chose to release the software simply as RPG Maker in the West three years later on October 2, 2000 under Agetec. This was the first time the West would finally receive a version of RPG Maker and experience the magic of RPG development, but it was reported that a limited run of copies were released outside of Japan. It was also one of thirty games that utilized the now-rare Playstation Mouse (which is usually an arm and a leg to import). Players got to customize their own assets using the Anime Maker that was also built into the game and, like the original Super Famicom versions, utilized color-swap palettes to save on memory. Another cool feature that was a first for the series was saving your created game onto a memory card so that you could share your creation with your friends.
One of the most beloved and popular versions of RPG Maker is next on the list and it is RPG Tsukūru 2000 for Windows on April 5, 2000. Despite the popularity, it was Japan-exclusive and it featured a lower resolution for graphics and assets overall than its RPG Maker 95 predecessor. Despite this, it boasted more functionality with unlimited sprite sheets and tilesets.
The last in that trio was RPG Tsukūru 2003, first released only in Japan in 2003 before being released worldwide in 2015. Improvements to this version included the side-view battle system that was popular in Final Fantasy, and interchangeable resources. From this point, the development company Enterbrain would take over RPG Maker as it was part of the ASCII company. 
Starting with the released of RPG Tsukūru 5 on the Playstation 2 in 2005, Enterbrain was starting to look into developing the series for an international audience of players. They would beginning to craft titles that are now iconic in the RPG development community, with the first of these releases being RPG Tsukūru XP (RPG Maker XP as it was known world-wide) released on Windows in 2004. While many of the simplified features have been removed from this version, it was the first RPG Maker game to use Ruby, a type of programming language first seen in 1995, and it was the first title to distribute assets online amongst the community thanks to the rise of the Internet. It allowed greater control over sprite size other gaming aspects, which helped it become more versatile than previous titles. However, a drawback is the steep learning curve, which was intimidating to new players. It was released to Steam in 2015.
The next modern RPG Maker title was the release of RPG Tsukūru VX (RPG Maker VX as it was known world-wide) in Japan in 2007, world-wide in 2008. It has the one-up over XP for its more user-friendly layout and faster framerate of 60fps over XP’s 40 fps. The programming was completely done over to be more accessible in scripting and the battle systems were now similar to Dragon Quest with a front-view battle system and detailed text. Because of these aspects and other improved features, it became a popular choice for modern developers since release. However, one of the biggest drawbacks was the lack of support for multiple tilesets when mapping that frustrated players. It was released to Steam in 2016.
Right after that, RPG Tsukūru VX Ace (RPG Maker VX Ace as it was known world-wide) was a direct sequel to the version mentioned above. Described as an “overhauled version of RPG Maker VX”, it removed the multiple tileset issue that plagued players in the previous version and re-introduced battle backgrounds during battle scenes. Magic and skill systems were re-worked to have their own recovery and damage formulas in the programming, and a new set of music tracks were accompanied in the database files. It was released to Steam in 2012.
Having the distinction of being released by Degica for the first time world-wide, RPG Tsukūru MV (RPG Maker MV as known world-wide), underwent quite a few adjustments by introducing multiplatform support as well as side-view battles and high resolution features and assets. For the first time, JavaScript replaced Ruby as the default programming language. Players also saw the return of layered tilesets, which were missing from the previous installments. Not only was it released for Windows, but also for PS4 and Nintendo Switch (A XBox One version was planned but unfortunately scrapped), giving players new ways to share games. It was released to Steam in 2015.
The newest installment to the famous series is RPG Tsukūru MZ (RPG Maker MZ as known world-wide), and it was just released last year in August of 2020. Reviews for the game were mixed as players noted that the trailers leading up to release were very similar to RPG Maker MV. It did have some positively-received features such as autosave functionality and XP-style autolayer mechanics. It was released to Steam in 2020. 
So with the history side taken care of, what about some of the most iconic games ever made using the software?
Good question! Given the extensive list of successful games to come out of RPG Maker, that will be a separate Friday Special so I can cover them more in-depth. Maybe next week perhaps?
So there you have it, a comprehensive history of RPG Maker!
(Now, there were some older Japanese titles that weren't mentioned because of lack of sources, I do apologize. I also wanted to stick more to the major installments of the franchise itself.)
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Thoughts From The Head
I was formally introduced to RPG Maker by some mutuals of mine on Discord a few years ago when I expressed interest in wanting to create scenes like a movie of sorts. My software of choice is RPG Maker VX Ace as it was suggested to me for being better at creating events than any other version. It's understandably intimidating at first, especially for newcomers, but there are hundreds of tutorials on Steam, Youtube and all over the internet.
I also have other copies of RPG Maker, including the PS1 version of RPG Maker and even RPG Tsukūru: Super Dante for my Super Famicom that I just received a few days ago! It's definitely wild how much the series has grown and improved upon over the years.
From what I have been recommended by friends who are long-time players of this series, either go for RPG Maker MV (if you're interested in mapping) or RPG Maker VX Ace (if you're interested in creating events). From what I have seen, those two are some of the more popular choices. In terms of platform, always go for Steam (and get them on sale when you can) because you will have better accessibility and it's more user-friendly than the console versions. The abundance of community-generated assets also help.
To end this post, here's some pics from RPG Tsukūru: Super Dante!
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junipersgarden · 4 years
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metanoia 5. | Mistake
PAIRING: Peter Parker x Superhero!Reader
SUMMARY: Nick Fury has successfully managed to kidnap Peter and yourself by taking full control over your vacation, Peter’s jealously and love takes control as he targets Brad Davis... quite literally. 
WORD COUNT: 2687 words
WARNINGS: Mention of blood
a/n: i still have to write the next chapter and gonna be honest i dunno when i will but i hope you enjoy this part !!
[NOT MY GIF]
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...
On a bus in the Eastern Alps, Austria...
...
"Why does Flash do those livestreams?" You tilt your head to the side as you observe Flash talking into his phone as he exaggerates his current status.
Peter simply shrugs with his mouth turned down and eyebrows raised as you giggle at his weird facial expression.
You and Peter were seated toward the back of the bus and the both of you were stoked that you two finally got to have quality time; a time to finally relax and try and not stress about the Fire Elemental that could potentially destroy all of Prague.
You had to also be mindful of what you said and who you said it to so you don't accidentally expose yourself; sure you'd been Saviour as long as Peter's been Spider-Man but still always kept track of your words and actions.
"So, how have you been Y/N/N? Just, haven't really talked or seen you in a while and I'm really sorry about that." Peter's eyes soften as he shifts to look at you.
Knowing he was referring to Spider-Man duties, you weren't mad or anything at him; the crime rate has risen after the Blip since people left with nothing have corrupted themselves and villains have become more 'popular' merely because the Avengers don't exist anymore.
It was up to you and Peter to protect the neighbourhoods in New York like you two had done in previous years but now you both are expected to carry the mantles of the deceased and absent Avengers.
Yes it scared you to be seen as one of the next Avenger's to promise to live to guard the Earth from any threats with your life, sacrificing everything for everyone to be safe but what scared you the most was drifting from the important people in your life like your family, F/N, MJ, Ned and Peter.
"'M sure it's not your fault you've been busy and it's fine Pete. I'm doing alright I guess; just everything feels out of balance after the whole you know. But I don't wanna waste time sobbing about-"
"Hey," Peter gently grabs a hold of your knee in a comforting way, "I know you're not big on talking about feelings but it's good to let it out; whenever you're ready I'm here."
Peter rubbed soothing circles on your knee with a twinkle in his eyes as if he swore on his life he'd be there for you no matter what.
You deeply sigh and refuse to cry but you placed your hand to top of his, turning your head to face him.
"T-There's something I wanna show you." Peter kept his hand on your knee as he dove, scrambling in his bag he fished out what appeared to a glasses case.
The case looked so familiar to you but you couldn't exactly identify where you'd seen it or what possibly is inside it but it seemed to be important.
"Is this you're way of telling me you need glasses?"
"N-No! I got these off... Nick Fury."  Peter said ever so quietly, afraid someone would hear him.
"O-Oh... what is it?" You lift your hand off Peter's so he can open it.
Peter opens the case and reveals a pair of glasses with a Stark Industries card beneath it.
"Oh god." You exhale as you stare intensely at the glasses and instantly remember seeing Tony on multiple occasions working on that exact pair or wearing glasses so similar to the one's in front of you.
Peter sees your face and panics. "S-Sorry Y/N I shouldn't of-"
"Try them on Peter." You blurt out and surprise yourself and Peter.
Peter nods and picks the glasses and puts them on. "How do I look?"
You look cute.
"You look like Tony." You smile and pick up the card to fiddle with it and turning it over, you see Tony's handwriting and read what he wrote.
"Pete." You nudge him and pass the card to him so he can read it.
"For the next Tony Stark, I trust you. P.S Say Edith?"  Peter reads out loud and gives you a look of confusion.
Suddenly, the lenses of the glasses turn blue as if an AI had been activated.
"Standby for retinal and bio-metrical scan." A female voice from the glasses speaks.
"Peter what's happening?"
"I don't-"
"Retinal and bio-metrical scan accepted." The female voice announces.
"H-Hello?" Peter calls out to the voice in the glasses.
"Hello Peter and Y/N. I am EDITH, Tony Stark's reality, security and defensive system
"So he made you for us?" Peter asks.
"No. But both of you do have access to all of Tony's protocol's."
That sure'd come handy.
"W-What do you stand for and what can you do?" You question EDITH.
"EDITH stands for Even Dead I'm The Hero. Tony loved his acronyms.
"Yeah, he sure did..." Peter agrees.
"I have access to the entire Stark Global Security Network, including multiple defensive satellites, as well as back doors to all major telecommunication networks."
"Woah..." You and Peter say at the same time.
Peter begins to glance around the bus with bewilderment and disbelief.
"W-What can you see?"
"P-People's phones. Like w-what they're on..."
"Oh my god..." You say with astonishment and you can't help but chuckle at your and Peter's discovery.
Peter chuckles along with you and he can't help but grin at you, thinking just maybe, the universe has given him the break and happiness he needs; Y/N is almost back and cannot wait until then or when he finds the perfect opportunity to let his hidden feelings out.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"10 minutes everyone!" Mr. Harrington shouts as the bus stops and everyone jumps to their feet to get out.
Even though Peter's plan was already failing miserably with Paris now out of the trip completely, Peter at least 4 and a half hours just with Y/N without anything going wrong or bad or Brad Davis trying to swoop Y/N away from him was a bonus.
Peter and Y/N had talked for the whole bus ride and shared a few laughs and reconnected more than they have ever done in the last 8 months.
"You go first." Peter offers Y/N to go before him to hop off the bus.
Y/N complied and thanks Peter but as he went to follow her, Dmitri struck his arm out to prevent Peter from walking any further.
"What?" Peter queries as he watches Y/N and the rest of his class walk further away.
Dmitri points and Peter's eyes travelled along Dmitri's finger to a blonde woman with her arms crossed staring at him before disappearing from plain sight.
Peter grips his backpack and began to pursue after her and entered in what was a closed bar and the woman standing with her arms down her sides and noticed something black lying on a fussball table.
"Hello-"
"Close the door." The woman says with an accent.
Peter twists the blue door's handle and closed it shut, giving the woman an awkward smile, started to walk to her and held his hand out for the woman to shake but she stayed perfectly still and unimpressed.
"Um, I'm Peter Parker-"
"Take off your clothes."
I-I'm sorry what?
"Excuse me-"
"You told Fury Spider-Man couldn't be seen in Europe. So I made you this; another suit" The woman leaned toward the table and picked up a black package and gifted it to Peter.
"Oh uh, thank you." Peter grabs the suit but stood with it, not knowing what to do and certainly not wanting to-
"Take off your clothes!" The woman demands in a frustrated and annoyed tone.
"This is embarrassing..."
Peter moves ever so slowly, hoping that maybe she'd tell him not to but she yelled at him to hurry up so Peter dropped his backpack and setted his suit back onto the table.
Here goes nothing...
Fumbling with his zipper, Peter pulls down his jeans and to his horror, the door clicked open.
A beam of white light shone into the room and Peter scrambles to the woman who was reaching for her gun.
"No, no, no don't!" Peter latches his hand to grab the woman's gun and held his other hand as some sort of protection and saw the person at the door was none other than his rival Brad Davis.
"Woah!" Brad peers up from his phone and examines the scene in front of him. "Sorry, uh,  I thought this was the bathroom?"
"This is not what it looks like!" Peter hurriedly stammers.
"Uh yeah." A flash from Brad's phone followed by the noise of a camera click.
"What are you doing-"
"I'll leave you two alone." Brad backs his way to the door.
The woman quickly grasps her gun and aimed it to Brad's head as Peter struggles with his pants. "Don't shoot anybody!"
Peter beckons to Brad to stop so he could explain as he zips up his undone flyer, Peter leaves the bar and sees Brad speed walking back up to the group.
"Hey man look-"
"Look, Peter. I'm not here to judge your life choices, dude. If you want to hook up with some random European chick on our school trip, that's on you." Brad gradually slows down to a stop.
"That's not what that was. Honestly."
"I can't pretend I didn't see what I just saw. I know you're trying to get with Y/N/N. It's obvious. But I like her too."
"Wait a minute, hey, hey you can't show Y/N that photo dude come on."
"But I have to. She deserves the truth." Brad spins back around and jogs to everyone, desperately searching for Y/N.
Peter heaves out heavy breaths; years of friendship and everything could be ruined within the next couple of minutes all because of an out of context photo, stubborn Nick Fury and Brad Davis falling for Y/N too.
Oh no.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hoping back on the bus, you managed to score the backseat and promptly waited for Peter; saving a seat for him again and eager to spend the remaining extra 4 and a half hours with Peter again and possibly trying on EDITH for yourself.
As everyone piled onto the bus and finding their seats, you couldn't see Peter anywhere and worried that maybe something happened to him.
But your concern was turned into disappointment as you saw Peter sit in the nearest seat toward the front, the seat furthest away from you.
Maybe he didn't see me?
As if he'd read your mind, you see Peter shoot his head from his seat, staring down at Brad who was furiously scrolling on his phone and then avert his eyes to you before drawing away.
"Oh." You slouch into your seat and can't help but feel upset in a way.
Peter, again, sticks his head from his seat but is wearing the EDITH glasses and standing up with regret written all over him.
Curious, you sneakily stand up and glimpse out the back window and understand to why Peter's face is as pale as a ghost; a Stark Industries drone was hovering to the bus with intentions to strike.
"Holy s-" Your statement is interrupted by Flash Thompson being punched by Peter Parker.
Did he just punch Flash? About time! But wrong time Parker!
"H-Hey ARIS?" You squeak, heart racing with fear for the safety and lives of everyone.
"Good afternoon Ms. L/N, how may I-"
"Need you to tell me what the hell Parker did." You grumble and aim your wrist at the drone for ARIS to scan the drone.
"Target is Brad Davis and is about to fire in 3, 2-"
Surveying the bus, you spot Brad out of his seat with his eyes on you and without thinking, you leap out of your seat.
"1."
"Brad-" Immediately the bus is taken under and swerves violently, people screaming at the instant motion.
Inertia fails to keep you balanced and you forcefully slam into a row of seats and bang your head slightly on the window.
Groaning in pain, everything around you seems heightened and intensified, vision blurred from the strong and unexpected impact, a weight of someone yanking your arm awakes you from your state and soon realise Brad had dragged you to the floor with him.
"Lookatthebabymountaingoats!" Peter's piped voice strains, begging for everyone to look the other way.
Semi shoving yourself off Brad, you help him to his feet and allow him to go in front of you so he can see the 'baby mountain goats'.
With everyone distracted, Peter springs into the air and through the emergency exit window, you watch with two thoughts: What the hell are you doing and what the hell did you do?
Hearing sounds of the drone malfunctioning, you rotate yourself and see flames being emitted from the drone and wince at the explosion, you crawl back into your original seat.
"Didn't see any mountain goats..." Mr. Harrington sadden utters.
"You missed them."
"I know you think none of us have notice Peter." Betty abruptly confesses.
Your heart drops to your stomach; for sure Peter Parker was not in anyway subtle about being Spider-Man but he did have you fooled for years until- until then...
"But your new look," Oh thank god Betty, "I love it."
Sinking into your seat again, you hiss at the pain of your head and massage to rid the pain but as you land your fingers to the wound, you feel that the back of your head is damp.
Pulling your hand from your head, you gasp as you see blood staining your fingertips; the red metallic liquid decorated with black meant that the wound would be deep if it was secreting your 'black blood' which contained essence of your powers out.
"Damn it."
There was only one way to heal it but that would require for your eyes to fully blackout but the chances of someone seeing your eyes could mean the end of your life but if this patch doesn't heal fast enough naturally without extra energy or power converted strictly to the injury could mean severe blood loss.
Let's do this...
You shut your eyelids and focus intently, a small shallow breath leaves you, feeling your iris and eyes become tainted with black.
You could feel the wound closing up and blood seeping its way back into your body, an invisible wave of energy forms around it and soon enough, the gash is no more but you could tell there would be some sort of mark and continuous aching.
"Hey Y/N, you have to see this."
Opening your eyes, you forget of your darkened pupils and squint your eyes shut and knead them to make your eyes go back to normal.
You'd only seen Brad with his eyes glued to his phone but you had no clue of the people around you.
Going with Attempt #2, you bravely open your eyes and breathe out a breath of relief.
Brad, still retaining to his phone, slides into the seat next to you.
"What is it Brad?"
"It's about Peter. He and this chick were in the bathroom and-"
Peter would never.
"You got proof?"
"Yeah! I got a photo of them; can't believe Peter could do such a thing."
Brad enters his photo gallery and is puzzled as he insanely swipes through all his photos.
"Uh, this is so weird, it was right here on my phone!" Brad tries to justify.
"Uh huh... totally weird... Brad if you don't mind, I'm incredibly tired from almost being killed again and would like to enjoy a nap by myself?"
"Oh, yeah, s-sure..." Brad lowers his seat and goes back to his seat, still hunting for his precious picture.
Bending down, you fish out your pair of headphones and plug them into your phone and open your playlist, adjusting the headphones to your ears and Google 'Popular attractions in Prague' and 'Events in Prague'.
Prague for the meanwhile before getting burnt to crisps better be worth it...
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