#First Dates

[penvisions]

coffee and candor {one shot}

Pairing: Frankie Morales x Reader

Summary: Frankie picks you up for date number three and he's got it all planned out. Unfortunately, you're a little out of your depth with what he has in mind...

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: insecurities, frankie being excited and adorable gets it's own warning, competence kink, kissing, matching clothing, this is so fluffy and soft, um i think that's it tbh

A/N: while i'm still taking a short break from regular fic updates, this was a commission by the lovely @whocaresstillthelouvre. the prompt was 'nervous frankie x not outdoorsy! reader go on a hike early in their relationship'. i rather like how this turned out! i am still taking commissions even if i'm not working on wips at the moment. anything helps, please check out this post and this post to know more about what's goin' on in my lil corner. no pressure all all lovelies, i know things are tough for everyone! love y'll and hope the day is good to you ♡♡

ao3 link || navigation || main masterlist || ko-fi

Body tingling with anticipation, you wait on for the rumble of a truck engine to round the corner. You were nervous, this is only your third date with the man you had met by chance at a coffee shop. A mix up of to go cups and you found yourself placating a very tired and embarrassed Frankie Morales.

He had picked up your drink by mistake. But if you were honest, it was totally okay that you had to wait an extra few moments to get it remade before you blipped off to work, because it gave you the chance to chat with him and scrawl your phone number onto the cup that was supposed to be yours. His kind smile motivating you to be a little bolder than you normally would.

The truck does indeed rumble around the corner and within minutes you’re sat in the passenger seat with the radio playing low and cruising down the highway.

“So what did you plan for us today? The truck looks suspiciously empty.” You eyed the cooler sitting in the extended cab, lid propped open and empty. Then the simplistic backpack beside it, it was always in the foot space between the two front seats. Frankie had admitted to you that it helped to ground him to know he had essentials within reach at all times, just in case. You hadn’t pushed for more of an explanation, knowing he had faced more than a few situations he felt less than prepared for.

But the rite in the rain notebook with the matching pen he had in his pocket along with his wallet at all times told you he was good at preparing for anything within reason. The situations he faced out of his control had not been shared with you quite yet but you would be content if they weren’t, only wanting for him to tell you if he was comfortable enough to do so.

With pink tinged ears he turns to you with a lopsided smile.

“The pack has everything we need, don’t you worry your pretty little head.”

“Not worried, just curious.” Your tongue peeks out from between your teeth and you see the way his adam’s apple bobs in response. His eyes snap back to the road and you feel a giddy sense of satisfaction at having flustered him a bit. He’d been the perfect gentlemen, his large hands only skimming around your body to lead you through doors, a tentative palm on your thigh as you sit beside him. No kissing, at least not yet. You were hoping today would be the day.

“I figured we would get out of the city a bit, go on a hike. It’s a really short one, only a few miles. Not too bad of an elevation gain, cleared out of poison oak, leads to a view I really think you’ll like. It’s an easy looped hike, so I figured we’d have a bite to eat at the midpoint. I packed up some snacks too, plenty of water. Even got some bugs spray and sunscreen.”

He rambled on, excitement obvious as he detailed the plan for the day, his face lighting up in the most endearing way. He was totally in his element and you….you were not. When you didn’t quip back immediately, he loosened a curled fist from around the steering wheel and reached for your thigh.

“That okay?” He jostled you slightly, worry seeping into his voice.

“Oh, um, y-yes.” You tried to muster up a smile, but it paled in comparison to the one he had only moments ago.

“I knew I should’ve run the idea by you. You don’t seem as excited now,” His bottom lip was taken between his teeth, worrying the skin of it as he regarded your profile. The slight furrow to your brow, the way your hands were wound around the flaps of your open overshirt. You had picked out a tank top and shorts outfit, tossing on casual button up over it, not sure what he had planned initially.

The first date had been coffee: to make up for him stealing yours. He had been nervous, his energy spiking and waning as he admitted he didn’t do this often. Date. Get random phone numbers. Have a lot of free time. He was a dad, to a bouncy and energetic seven-year-old. Nothing to worry about on the baby momma front, she wasn’t a part of the picture. A story you didn’t push on either, just making it as comfortable as possible between you two for him to want to tell you.

The second date had been dinner, with him in an ironed outfit and you in a slinky dress. It had been so much fun, the excitement obvious as you both hoped for another chance to see each other.

And now, the third: a hike.

You did not hike. You didn’t do anything considered outdoorsy if you were being completely honest. You were a lazy, take the day off to look through thrift shops kind of person. A curl up on the couch with a cup of steaming coffee or a cocktail and a book kind of person.

“Hey,” He breathed, soft brown eyes watching the way you had closed up. “It’s okay. We don’t have to, I promise I won’t be mad.”

“You’re so excited, though.” You move a hand to tangle your fingers with is, hand still on your thigh. Your stomach flutters, his skin is calloused and warm.

“I get excited about spending time with you, hermosa. It doesn’t matter what we do.”

“I want to do the hike.” You insist, wanting him to go back to the enthusiastic way he had talked about his plans.

“Please don’t feel like you have-“

“I don’t feel like I have to, Frankie, I want to. Because you want to. Simple.” You squeeze his hand in yours, placating him along with a soft smile.

“Simple.” With a lopsided grin and a press of his lips to your knuckles, the tension eases.

Gravel crunched underneath the tired of the truck as Frankie maneuvers off the secluded highway. Tall trees and various shades of green surround you. You both sat and listened to the clinking of the engine cooling down, taking a moment to breathe in the pine and cedar.

“I, uh, got you something.” He huffed a little as he reached for the back and hauled it into his lap.

“You didn’t have to- oh my gosh!” It was a hat, a baseball cap just like the one atop his head. Dark navy blue, emblazoned with a ‘standard heating oil’ patch. Your stomach fluttered at the implication.

“To help keep the sun off your head and outta your eyes.” He plopped it atop your head, the stiff thing just barely resting over your hair. “We’ll have a lot of tree coverage, but better safe than sorry.”

“We’re matching.” You can’t help the teasing smile that took over your lips, heat blooming in your cheeks as you realized you would look like an official couple to any onlookers. Something you had thought about more and more as Frankie filled your thoughts and messages.

“Yeah, would you look at that.” A dimple in his right cheek had you reaching out to caress it, silently thanking him for his thoughtfulness. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted one like mine, but I’m really glad you like it.”

“I do like it! I like matching with you, Frankie.”

His smile was dazzling as he looked back at you over his shoulder. You perked up a little, not wanting him to see the way it was hard to catch your breath or the falter to your steps as your legs began to ache from the incline. The slight brush of the long grass and reaching limbs full of leaves tickled but you tried your best to ignore it, opting to focus on the broad set of shoulders carrying a backpack.

Another bout of time passed, allowing for sweat to dampen your brow and the small of your back. You had removed your overshirt, tying the long sleeves around your waist. The stray pieces of your hair that had escaped from your hat floated around your face as you puffed out a deep breath.

Frankie seemed to pick up the moderate pace he had been keeping, his boots thudding the ground as he turned to pivot from the path as it began to curve.

“Uh, the trail goes that way.” You pointed over your shoulder, having followed the man’s lead regardless.

“I know, got a map in the pack if it makes you feel better.” He tossed you a reassuring smile, over his own shoulder. His eyes alight underneath his cap.

You were about to respond when he took another step and suddenly the trees fell away from around you, leaving you stood on an overlook. Valley open and wide in front of you, the view took your already short breath away. Frankie looked from the view to gauge your reaction. And he broke out into a wide smile as he saw how much you were taken off guard by the beautiful view.

Removing is pack, he set it down and reached to turn you toward him.

“This last month or so has been so amazing. Getting to know you has been some of the best parts of my life, hermosa. I was worried dating again after so long and not even looking for it would’ve been another lesson learned but everything with you is just so….”

“Simple.” You allowed him to caress his hands over the small of your back, your own reaching for his shoulders. The bills of your matching hats bumped, easy laughter bubbling up from you both.

“Simple.” He agreed, tongue swiping out to wet his plush lips. His eyes flicked down to yours briefly and your heart fluttered as warmth blossomed in your chest. Pressing more into his space, your chest bumped his, giving him the nudge he needed to close the gap even more.

Out on that ridge where you never would’ve trekked to on your own, you shared your first of many kisses with the man who had taken you completely by surprise. His lips soft and pliant against yours, his warmth seeping into you much like the sun on your skin underneath the open sky. You were the one to lick into the seam of his mouth, something he readily allowed you to do. The slid of his tongue on yours like heaven.

Breaking away, Frankie peppered kisses over your face. Lips tasting the salt from your sweat but he didn’t seem to mind one bit. Turning side by side, he kept his hand around your waist and you mimicked him.

Maybe hiking wasn’t so bad.

dividers by the lovely @/cafekitsune

taglist: @tuquoquebrute @sawymredfox @jessthebaker @littlemisspascal

#dev writes #fic: coffee and candor #triple frontier #triple frontier fanfiction #francisco morales #frankie morales #frankie morales one shot #frankie morales fluff #frankie morales x reader #frankie morales x you #frankie morales fanfic #frankie morales fanfiction #frankie morales fic #fluff #ao3 link #pedro pascal #pedro pascal fanfiction #first dates #dating

[daddydoddsjr]

If the Law and Order people wanted to impress someone on a date, what would they go for?

Pairings || Law and Order SVU characters x GN!Reader

Contents/Warnings || First date fluff, mentions of alcohol, mentions of anxiety sorta

Authors Note || sorry that asks are coming out slowly, i’ve been hyperfixating on a different fandom :’)

Rafael Barba

Flowers on the first date kinda man

Would take you somewhere expensive

Probably a quiet, fancy restaurant where the two of you could have nice conversations in a calm environment

Refuses to let you pay, not even half

If it’s going well, he’d maybe want to walk around the city afterwards so your conversations can continue

He definitely planned all of this to try to be impressive

Sonny Carisi

Instead of a restaurant, he’d want to cook for you

His cooking skills are impressive enough

But he also impresses you just by being himself— an attentive listener and a perfect gentleman

Doesn’t mean he’s not freaking out on the inside, though

You can tell

Probably would google how to impress someone on a first date tbh

Olivia Benson

Hybrid bookstore/coffee shop date

Isn’t really worried about “impressing” you, so she just acts as she normally would

Would want to pay for your coffee though

And unintentionally impresses you by the amount of books she’s read and the conversations she makes

But who wouldn’t be impressed by her in general anyways?

Amanda Rollins

Paint and sip class !!

She’s confident and isn’t very nervous

The sip part of the class definitely helps calm any nerves that arise

Thinks the paint and sip is fun for a first date

And hopes maybe it’s just a little impressive

Fin Tutuola

Wouldn’t be great at planning the date himself

Either Olivia helps or you’re the one planning the date

He’s also definitely more nervous than he says he is

Despite this, he impresses you with how funny he is

Also offers to pick you up to go wherever you decide

And pay for anything, or at least split costs if you try to decline his offer

Joe Velasco

Dinner date at his favourite restaurant

Really, really hopes you like the food as much as he does

Possibly a nightcap afterwards so you’ll have more time to talk and continue the date

He tries a little too hard to impress you by trying to show off his knowledge on any subject you bring up

But you can tell he’s anxious

But the fact that he’s trying so hard is cute

Elliot Stabler

Central park date

Walking around a bit, sitting and talking on a bench, getting drinks and food from any food carts that are around

Tries to impress you by paying for anything you want and being attentive

He’s a little awkward

And protective despite it being the first date

#law and order svu #l&o: svu #raul esparza #rafael barba #svu #olivia benson #mariska hargitay #sonny carisi #elliot stabler #peter scanavino #first dates #fin tutuola x reader #fin tutuola #rafael barba x reader #sonny carisi x reader #olivia benson x reader #joe velasco x reader #joe velasco #amanda rollins #amanda rollins x reader #elliot stabler x reader

[daydreampending]

Lover’s Lake

When Steve invites you for a day at the lake, it doesn’t even cross your mind that it was meant to be a date. Not until you’ve invited your entire friend group, and Robin is the one having to spell it out for you.

Word Count: 3.6k

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader

Idiots in love | Mutual Pining | Friends to Lovers

Main Masterlist

AO3 Link

#Steve Harrington #stranger things #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #mutual pining #friends to lovers #idiots in love #first dates #first kiss

[joannasteez]

crying, laughing, loving, lying - australian merlot

pairing: roman reigns x angel (black oc) warning: no warnings. first date fluff. this is an alternate universe work of fiction, so no wrestling will be mentioned. authors note: this will hopefully, be followed by other pieces that show the progression of angel and romans relationship. get ready for hallmark movie realness. music inspo: crying, laughing, loving, lying by labi siffre word count: 3100

some restaurants are made for first dates. for habitual blind daters too skittish to reach beyond that hectic first circle of hell limbo called first base. the 'will it now? won't it finally?', of it all. this ceaseless punishment of lovelessness. and angel thinks that it's all more shitty than bullshit anyways. love is simply an accompaniment and not the whole damn tune. a cappella's are more fascinating anyways. love is more of an accessory. something like bracelets or anklets. a thing to put on that dresses up life a little more prettily. but there is a trouble to it. the labor of coordination far less rewarding than it's worth. and what of the fruitlessness? the defilement and scarcity that rottens the garden. a few ruined by many and now she's at her tenth blind date since the new year, already familiar with the taste of fucking bile.  

"you need someone". 

but she doesn't. because need implies the failure of survival without it and if after every date her stomach churns—with a fear that she refuses to acknowledge—then that wasn't something she wanted anyways. definitely not something she needed. 

but here, amongst white table cloth, she waits. 7:39 pm. slightly too early to be upset because he, whoever he is, isn't late yet. but she wishes very openly that he will be. it'd just be a strike against him. something that eases the guilt of ghosting him when he inevitably asks for another date. and please don't mistake the self assuredness for a too big ego, she just knows these things. it's based all on common occurrence. they bring roses because "all women love roses", dragging their feet in eased and so damn smiley despite being five, ten or even fifteen minutes late and it absolutely grinds her fucking gears. cleanliness is next to godliness but fuck it punctuality is too. he will come with a rose and he will be late and he will ramble about himself and he will stare at her cleavage and then imply that him paying the bill grants access to spreading her open and then the inevitable lump of bile. 

it was a song she'd heard and a dance done a thousand times and her head hurt from the thundering bass and her feet from trying to keep pace with such terrible rhythm. 

angel wants to leave. wants to finally grant herself the relief of no guilt by stepping away before the burden of ridding her tongue of the bile. 

but she can't, because he's here now. sitting down with no rose. 

what the hell? 

and he is beautiful. a huge mountain of a man. herculean with a directness to his eyes that makes it appear as though he is staring through her skin and into deeper, more vulnerable parts. heat scorching fast over nerves and bones till she grows warm and its concerning. because angel has gone on first dates with beautiful men before. sat with them, spoken to and at them, laughed with and at them, dined with them, but for some gut churning reason, this, feels different. the temperature of the atmosphere is warm. the life in his eyes, inviting. 

and for the love of God he doesn't have a rose and it makes angel laugh. small and to herself. 

he sits. confused and amused in that awkward way. where the idea of a joke itself makes you laugh, not privy to hooks, punchlines, sinkers and the like. 

and for the first time in a myriad of failed dates, angel is taken by his voice. a dark symphony. pitch low and smooth. strong and double bass like. 

"can i get in on the joke?"

she wants to shrivel into and like a ball. because it wasn't necessarily funny. it was more so the absurdity of the situation. of course after much complaining and internal deliberation she would be sent someone that would stick her foot in her mouth. at least in regards to the romantic gesture of giving roses.

her throat clears. "sorry, it's just...it's kinda weird. it's nothing". 

he squints and it feels like a hole is tearing through her skin. peeling away till its settling warm into veins.

"if you leave me in suspense i'm gonna make you feel like shit about it". 

"is that a threat?"

"more like a spoiler".

and now the laugh is bright and clear. nothing hidden and inward about it. and he loves the sound. wouldn't mind if he could hear it a few more times tonight. her sarcasm more laden in her words than the surprise of them.

"because you've never practiced that before". 

"in a mirror once or twice, but i got you all giggly so tell me whats funny". 

angel sighs. "you didn't bring a rose and for whatever reason, men show up to first dates with roses", waving her fingers away to express the un-seriousness of her amusement. "it's just a thing". 

"like... the bachelor". 

"yeah", snorting. "sure, like the bachelor". 

his fingers, long and thick and just downright massive, rub into his beard. mulling over her words with a bout of sincerity that she doesn't think she's seen in a while. like some actual consideration, and not a half-assed pulling together of thoughts into words to make conversation for the sake of filling in the silence. 

"never really approached it like that. it seems more like a burden than anything y'know?", his eyes slipping over the bottle of wine you ordered before he showed, before its doing the same to your face. "flowers do the dying thing and then what? just something else to throw away. feels odd". 

"i mean, theres ways to preserve them". because of fucking course she would say this, after making a fuss about always getting flowers. but it was just that weird thing, trying to see the upside in a situation. to heal the downtrodden idealism of it all. "but i agree with you". 

"sounds like you want a rose". 

"i don't. i just-...". she sighs. flustered. "can we start over".

and he smiles. at her awkwardness and her eyes and the crinkle in her brows as she gathers herself. 

"of course". 

eyeing the bottle of wine again, his hand reaches out to you. 

"roman". 

and it fits. encapsulates his everything. name and the air of him reminiscent of old statues built with marble and brow sweating patience. an easy demeanor inherited from stoic warriors of old. fine silk looking hair and a jaw she's sure she can cut against if not for the thickness of his beard. 

she takes his hand and shakes. thumb over his veins and wrapped up in the strength of his palm. 

"angel".

"are you?"

they both smile. teasing eyes and a playful air. 

"sometimes".

he hums short. the song of it uprooted from his chest. hand slipping away from hers but the impression of it leaves a stain on her skin. where his fingers squeezed in the midst of a mere cordial shaking. and his eyes are not shy. taking hers to hold steady and uncompromising. and never has a man held her gaze so well, not since-

"you been here before?"

and it is only the shame of so many dates in such a short amount of time that leaves her tongue dry and her thoughts partial to lying. "uhh", her eyes sweeping over the menu. "no. i haven't". 

"any allergies?"

"used to be pescatarian a while back but i stopped. why?"

"i don't want you to surprise me with a closed airways cause i recced you something with peanut oil". 

"you've been here before?"

"a few times". 

"on dates". more like a statement than a question. 

he's busy looking over the menu, like he's seeing it for the first time. "dates, work stuff, a night out. it's a cool spot. convenient". he takes the wine bottle, opening it to pour. humming in delight as he nose takes to smell. "you've been here before though".

"what?"

angels heart sinking way down till it's falling steady out of her chest cavity and into her stomach. taking something similar to a rolling tumble as it goes and it feels devastatingly awful. being caught in a lie has never been a smooth easy ordeal and the urge to get up and leave runs rife under her skin. prickling in a manner that taunts her till her cheeks grow hot white. she wants to hide and suffer in the silence of her own shame. and he's a complete asshole about it, because he lets her simmer into a scorched heat, struck and wordless as a grin plays through his lips. picking up the wine bottle once more. his fingers wrapping about it easy and familiar. 

"when i said your last name for the reservation, the waiter called you by your first. which means she knows you, because you've been here a few times". his lips smiling. much more amused than worked up by your little white lie. sipping the wine to taste again. "that and the wine. first-timers spend too much on wine. the merlot here is decent enough". 

a forced chuckle toughens up. angel sooting the bridge of her nose with a thumb. un-fucking-believable. "this is fucking embarrassing". 

"it's good wine though. cheap as shit but it's pretty good".

"look", she starts. a deep sigh before she makes the effort to meet him. his brown eyes soft still. void of scrutiny. amusement waning but still nothing of judgement. and the niceties unnerved angel. most men didn't take too kind to lies in such a formally romantic setting. it made for awfully fierce energy that led to a frigidness she hated to maneuver. not that she was a habitual liar, but still, it worried her. "i didn't mean to lie... well... i did but-"

"it's alright. i get it. i used to be the same way".

"a liar?"

"embarrassed". 

and she knew exactly what he meant without him having to say it. because this probably wasn't his first date of the new year either. the wait staff were probably familiar with him too. his familiarity with the taste of the restaurants stock of merlot making perfect sense. he'd probably, once upon a time, given his fair share of roses. the what do you do for work spiel and the sometimes awkward dance of wanting more after the first date and wrongly reading what he thought were obvious suggestions that a woman wanted him physically. and sometimes thats all they wanted, or at least that's what angel thinks, because some of her dates just wanted sex. no strings or some strings and then it got tangled and messy. always too damn messy. but he was over the shame of cycling through to find "the one". angel had yet to get there. 

she clears her throat. thumbs twiddling together. apologetic as she looks to him. "i'm sorry anyways". 

roman's silence is heavy. his eyes slipping over her face. noting the details that exist in their guilt. but still even in this, angel is a beautiful woman. thick lashes and slightly hooded eyes. cheeks high and plump. her lips full and surely kissable. especially when she takes them between her teeth in what he's sure to be her nerves overworking themselves with all his staring and his wordlessness. his smile warm and easy again, turning back to the menu. he's had enough of making her feel like shit anyways, for it dampened the mood far too much and he rather you smile again and for as long as they date lasts. 

"forgiven and forgotten. the real litmus test is how you take your steak". 

"who said i wanted steak". 

"one, you owe me for lying".

she gasps. lips pulling up and her knee knocking softly into his. "you said forgiven and forgotten". 

"and two", he continues, chuckling. "you said you were pescatarian, meaning you gave it up cause you realized that grass ain't green".

"why are you reading me so well right now, this is crazy". 

"wouldn't be good at what i do if i couldn't".

her mouth purses over the wine glass to sip at the sweetness of the merlot, waiting for him to continue. and when he doesn't she finds herself more interested in hearing a man talk than she ever has in all her time of dating. 

"which is?"

"i teach and coach". 

"okay", her eyes play and rolling. "don't leave me in suspense. be more specific". 

and here the fierceness of his features round out to a softness. but surely it cant be those few sips of wine, suddenly freeing up the tight collection of his resolve. the slightest dusting of pink at his cheeks and his mouth smiling smaller. humility bracing him harshly just before her. it was more obvious to her now, he hates talking about himself. 

"sports history and college football", barely meeting her eyes. the menu suddenly becoming so very important to him. his throat clearing as his palm reaches to rub up against the thick hair of his beard. " 'm not a head coach or anything, just for the defensive line but its...", and finally he looks to her again. "it's cool". 

"don't say just like that. it down plays your passion. i like passion". 

the sincerity melting a warmth into him. the air feeling less suffocating for the both of them now as they share a smile. 

and the dinner goes smoother than angel had expected. the food cooked immaculately  and the wine warming her belly. his passionate talks soothing to her ears and his jokes funnier. the knock of his long legs turning into less of an accident and more of a playful teasing. and by the end of their steaks they're both closer than they started, leaning in to hear more of each others voices. his freckles an endearing scatter against his cheeks. the slick lick of his lips as he talks catching her eyes and by the end of her wine glass she comes to the arresting realization that he's doing it on purpose. slowly but surely ingratiating himself through small touches and that hostage holding stare. 

angel, afraid now, feels a disappointment weighing in her. the ending of it all , this little world of quickly built intimacy, nearing quicker than she realized. both of them perusing through the dessert menu. more than slowly to stretch the time.

"you a dessert guy?"

he sets down the menu. her voice bringing him in again. "fuck yeah i'm a dessert guy. they make a bomb ass bread pudding here. best i've had". 

and maybe her eyes are suggestive. and maybe they sharpen to pierce through him a little more fiercely and maybe her knee knocks into his when her lips part to speak. but angel does well about pleading the fifth, even with herself. 

her eyes looking up through her lashes as she flits them from the menu to him. and she can track the trailing of his gaze straight to her plump lips. "you've never had mine". 

"is that an invitation to taste test?"

a shiver breaks over her skin. an undulating warmth at her cheeks. she pushes her menu to the side. 

"y'know pastry emporium? the shop on 4th and everling?"

roman's brows jump in an instant, before they pull together. the sudden realization exciting his nerves.

"thats yours?"

"half of it. i co-own".

"i'm stoppin' by there all the time and i've never seen you". 

and the tiny world they live in has just become slightly smaller. their existences dancing on the edges of one another for who knows how long before this faithful night of teasing smiles and blood sweetening sips of australian wine.

"i don't mesh too well with the front of house stuff". her knee taking a soft slow lean into his. and maybe the styling and placement of the tables and chairs are purposeful. for moments like these. "but i can make an exception". 

"you better". his lips spreading wide and his smile bright. nothing bashful left in his expression as its overtaken by the prospect of seeing you again. "cause you owe me a taste test". 

and for once there is no threat of bile to stain her throat, or even the cringing anticipation thereof. and when they're both finally, hesitantly ready for the bill, he takes the responsibility without words. fitting his card into the leather book. appreciation swimming to settle gently in her belly along with the sweet merlot. he tips well too, and his fingers catch soft against her palm, leading her out of the restaurant and into the balmy night spring air. the urge to stick to him creeping in her skin. but the same seems to exist for him because he stands just before her, eyes circling the city, searching and thinking, before they find her face. a small smile on her lips as she looks to him expectantly. his touch grows firmer, as if he's just come to the end of a pending decision. fully taking her hand as he begins to step. 

"walk with me". but theres no inflection that implies a question. more of a statement that softly wills her into following. 

his hand as warm as his smile and gentle even in its size. he strolls easy too, to help her keep up with the wide steps he takes. 

but even beyond the easy going tenderness of him, angel has never felt such a stillness in her nerves before. the city she's seen a thousand times suddenly appearing brighter and less overwhelming. the usual droning no longer a harsh symphony. the pitch and pace less grating. and maybe it's silly, because he's, despite his teasings and his suggestive eyes and interesting conversation, still a stranger. still a man with a world of a life she knows so little about. filled with hopes and dreams and secrets. but that feeling nags still. nestles deep under her skin as it attempts to force out the hesitancies. 

roman leads her to the front of a flower shop and her eyes play at rolling. 

she tries to pull him away from the entrance. "we spoke about this".

"we did". 

his smiling melting her resolve to mush. so bright and unapologetic in how it spreads. he takes her hand tightly, pulling her into the shop. 

he orders one rose exactly. giving it to her after he's paid for it. 

"why?", she asks. trying to fight the rising heat in her cheeks. 

"because i think deep down, you want it. you just don't want it to feel like an obligation. and this right here is all off the cuff. im sure of that”.

and angel's belly flutters. that cliche appearance of butterfly's. 

tagging: @333creolelady @harmshake @theninthwonder @gomussy @spritelucozade @venusesworld @thesamoanqueen @empressdede (if i forgot anyone who wants a tag for roman centered fics, my apologies! just remind me for next time)

#roman reigns #roman reigns fanfiction #roman reigns fic #roman reigns fanfic #roman reigns x oc #roman reigns x black oc #fluff #first dates #au #hallmark movie realness #something something romance #eventual smut #eventual angst #joannasteez

[viejospellejos]

Uno de los mejores pasos por First Dates:

#first dates

[angyalikira]

five dates with mike schmidt

pairing: gn!reader x mike schmidt

genre: fluff, light angst

warnings: none

part 3/5

°:. *₊ ° . ° .•

third date // a walk in the park

No calls, no texts, no conversations for a week. It got to a point where you have slowly been giving up on your silly little crush. You tried to distract yourself with your work and with meeting other friends of yours but nothing seemed to lift your mood. A part of yourself hated being affected by a guy you only recently met. At the same time your heart just didn’t listen to your head.

You have been avoiding going to the mall for the past week. Someday you will have to face him and you are tired of feeling so frustrated. You walk inside and plan on buying some groceries. Will Mike spot you at all? Will he come up to you to talk or will he ignore you? Does he even work today?

Your overthinking has been abruptly stopped by Mike’s appearance. He is standing in a corner keeping a look at the crowd. You spot him first and freeze for a second. Here you are, unable to decide what to do. Some part of you wants to run away to avoid confrontation but another part of you has been missing him so deeply and is begging you to approach him. While you try to decide your next move he locks eyes with you. Once again you watch his whole demeanor lighten up, his eyebrows lift, fixing his posture and a gasp escaping his lips. The next few seconds you wait to see what he does next.

But to your surprise he gets moving, his feet quickly leading him to your spot. Mike stops a few feet in front of you trying to figure out what to say. He has had this exact scenario play out in his head the last few days. What to tell you, how to explain himself and most importantly – how to properly apologize to you. He treated you so coldly when all you were was kind.

At first he thought what he did was for the better. Abby asked him if you were visiting again anytime soon – which he denied – and he had to watch Abby’s face drop. His appetite was gone, he was even more annoyed with everything and he had nothing to look forward to.

Maybe it was selfish but he wanted you in his life. To brighten it up, to feel your warmth and kindness. He wanted you in Abby’s life, as a female role model and friend to her. He wanted you for himself, as his girlfriend.

“I am so sorry for how I acted the last time. I got scared and… I didn’t feel like I was good for you. I thought that it would be the best decision to push you away but I have been so miserable this past week… I truly am sorry.” he rambled while keeping up eye contact the whole time.

It was all you needed to hear.

“Apology accepted. For now anyways, we can talk about this more when we are in a more private space. Would you want to accompany me to grab a coffee?”

You two spent around an hour catching up a bit, drinking coffee and enjoying your time together. It felt like nothing even happened between you two but you still reminded yourself that you had to talk about it later. Otherwise you might miscommunicate in the future again.

“Are you free tomorrow?” Mike asked with his puppy eyes.

"Yeah, why?"

“Would you like to go to the park tomorrow? There’s this spot I want to show you… Only if you would like to though!” he really didn’t want to upset you with his suggestion right after you guys made up.

“Let me think about it…” you teased him a little but after a few seconds you gave in.

“Yes I would love to go. Are you bringing Abby too?”

“No, she’s at a friends’ house tomorrow so I only need to bring her home later.” he smiled at you.

The plan was set and you both gave your goodbyes shortly after. Mike still needed to work after all and you didn’t want him to get fired on your account. As you arrived home, you twirled with joy and already thought about which outfit you would choose for the next day and if you should bring Mike anything. You weren’t sure what he would like, so you decided to make him a quick bracelet out of braided threads.

You tried to sleep that night but you were too giddy from excitement, which meant that you were a little bit more tired than usual in the morning. Mike suggested going at 10 am, not too early but still a nice late morning stroll. You dressed yourself, put the bracelet in your bag and headed out. Mike was the first to be there and he greeted you with a shy smile.

“Good morning, I hope you slept well?” he started the conversation.

“I did.” you lied. I mean you can’t really tell him how big your crush is yet, right?

As you started your stroll together he had his hands in his pockets. You kinda wished you could hold his hand already, but it was way too early for that. A person can dream though.

“I want to apologize again for the last time. I have the habit of pushing new people away that are too good for me. For a long time it’s only been me and Abby – I couldn’t trust anyone else to stay in my life. So having you suddenly come in and… and making me happy to meet someone new again scared me. I thought the best decision for both of us would be to end this before it goes any further. I just.. I just know I’m by far not a perfect human being and might hurt you accidentally. I didn’t want that for you.” he admitted. You let him speak his thoughts before you thought of an answer. Some time goes by before you start to speak again.

“You know, I was kinda crushed when I came home that day. It went so well and in the end I thought I somehow messed this all up and it was my fault that you hated me… I’m glad to hear that wasn’t the case. But Mike, I want you to know that no one is perfect and you’ve been incredibly kind and forthcoming to me so far. And I can see by the way you care for Abby that you are a good brother. You should give yourself more credit.” you smiled at him and lightly hit his shoulder. He chuckled and just smiled back.

“So where’s this spot you wanted to show me?” you curiously asked.

“Not much further.” he answered mysteriously.

The two of you walked a bit more until he took an unexpected turn. You followed him and you were greeted with the prettiest view of the city. You gasped at the sight of it.

“Oh my god… this is stunning! I can’t believe I didn’t know of this place all my life” you were still staring at the view.

Mike however was only looking at you and your reaction. A smile appeared on his face again and he started to blush. He wished he could feel this happy all the time. He didn’t reply and just scooted closer to you.

In your admiration you only realized a bit later that your shoulders are touching. But once you did, it felt like electricity going through your veins. You felt like a teenager, experiencing their first love all over again. The awkward but cute phase of not knowing if you should hold their hands or not and the small touches whenever they can.

You both spent some time sitting at the spot and talking to each other. You got to know his hobbies, likes and dislikes, his favorite songs and artists, his favorite dishes and a good look into his backstory. None of you could hold eye contact for too long, both of you feel a bit nervous and shy throughout the day. After a few hours you guys got up and started to walk back.

In your mind you could only think about how you could initiate the hand holding. You couldn’t come up with a casual plan but you didn’t even have to. A runner was crossing you two and he slightly shoved you, causing you to bump into Mike. You took this chance and grab his biceps to balance yourself. Or that’s what you tell yourself.

“Geez that scared me.” you said annoyed as you looked back at the runner. Mike however was unable to reply because he was too affected by you right now. You seeking his protection (in some sort of way) made his heart race. He’s trying to act all cool about it but he failed. You kind of noticed that it’s affecting him and kept your hand there. And that’s how you both walked back until you stood in front of your house.

“Well it seems like we’re here… I really enjoyed today Mike. Thank you for showing me that hidden spot.” you turned to him and gave him a genuine smile.

“I mean I’m not the first person to discover it and I am sure a bunch of people know it too… but I’m glad you liked today. It was nice spending time with you again… I hope this isn’t weird but could I maybe have your number? It might be easier to plan our meetups that way.” he sheepishly asked and scratched the back of his neck.

“Oh yeah sure!” so you gave him his number.

“You better call me. Goodbye Mike, till next time.” you teased him and went inside.

“I’ll for sure call you! Bye!” he gave you a big wave and his signature smile.

Mike went home that day happier than he had been in months. He even told Abby about his outing, leading her to ask when you were coming over again. That gave him an idea for the next date.

#five nights at freddy's #five nights at freddy's movie #mike schmidt #mike schmidt x reader #mike schmidt/reader #first dates #fluff #fnaf #fnaf movie #josh hutcherson

[kjack89]

Clothes Make the Man

For my 10 year anniversary/4k giveaway, for @ionlyrunfromshame, who requested "modern au, established relationship, soft, fluffy", and well...you'll just have to wait and see.

“You’re here early,” Courfeyrac said in lieu of a greeting, standing back to let Enjolras into his apartment. 

Enjolras managed a weak smile. “I brought coffee,” he said, handing one of the coffees he was holding to Courfeyrac. “And I have a somewhat time-sensitive favor to ask.”

Courfeyrac arched an eyebrow and gestured for Enjolras to sit down. “Well color me intrigued,” he said lightly, plopping down in the armchair as Enjolras perched on the couch. “So what can I do for you?”

Enjolras hesitated for only a moment before sighing and saying, almost as if he couldn’t believe the words he was about to say, “You know how you’ve always wanted to treat me like a life-size Ken doll and dress me up to suit your whims?”

“Barbie.”

Enjolras blinked. “Pardon?”

“I’ve always wanted to dress you up like a Barbie doll,” Courfeyrac said sweetly. “You’re too pretty to be Ken.” His smile sharpened into a smirk, and he leered at Enjolras as he added, “And besides, I know what you’re packing down there and it sure as shit ain’t plastic.”

Enjolras scowled. “If I could go back in time and undo one thing from my past, do you know what it would be?”

Courfeyrac considered it for a moment. “Getting frosted tips in the year of our lord 2006?” he suggested blithely.

“No, sleeping with you,” Enjolras said through gritted teeth.

Courfeyrac just smirked. “Liar.”

Enjolras flushed slightly. “Well, maybe if I could go back in time and undo two things,” he mumbled.

“Mmhmm,” Courfeyrac hummed, in a particularly self-satisfied way., and he leaned back against the chair to give Enjolras a measured look. “So you want me to dress you up, make it tight, you’re my dolly?”

“Under very narrow parameters only,” Enjolras said. “Specifically, I need your help buying one outfit.”

Courfeyrac’s eyes narrowed, and he took a sip of coffee. “Just one? What’s the occasion?”

Enjolras’s flush darkened. “I have a date.”

Courfeyrac gaped at him. “With a human male?” he managed.

Enjolras’s scowl returned in full force. “As opposed to who, your mom?”

“That’s a bit juvenile for you, don’t you think?” Courfeyrac asked with a snicker.

“Fuck off,” Enjolras said, without any real heat. “Are you going to help me or not?”

“Well when you ask so nicely…”

He trailed off and Enjolras rolled his eyes. “Courf,” he said impatiently. “Answer the question.”

For a moment, it looked like Courfeyrac was actually going to, but then he hesitated. “Only if you answer this first: did you tell Grantaire?”

Enjolras just stared at him, confused. “Why would I tell Grantaire?”

Courfeyrac fiddled with the lid of his coffee cup for a moment before setting it down decisively on the end table and standing. “I’m afraid Courfeyrac’s modiste is closed for business, but I would be happy to refer you elsewhere.”

It took a moment for Enjolras to follow suit, scrambling to stand as he frowned at Courfeyrac, his confusion deepening. “You mean you’re not going to help me?” he asked, a little indignantly.

“Not so much, no,” Courfeyrac said cheerfully.

“Why the fuck not?” Enjolras demanded.

Courfeyrac shrugged. “My reasons are many, and complex, and you should ask Jehan.”

If Enjolras looked confused before, now he looked downright baffled. “For your reasons?”

“No,” Courfeyrac said patiently. “To help you.” 

Enjolras’s confusion disappeared, but it was quickly replaced by hesitation. “Don’t you think Jehan’s taste in clothes is a little, uh…”

He trailed off, clearly searching for the nicest way to put whatever he was thinking, but Courfeyrac didn’t wait for him to find it. “Quite the contrary,” he said instead, his grin sharp. “I think he’s just what you need.”

— — — — —

Jehan drummed his fingers against the arm of his chair, staring at Enjolras, who had the good sense to look uncomfortable. Not that Jehan was usually intimidating, but he could pull it off when he wanted to.

And at the moment, he very much wanted to.

“So you want my help,” he said, finally breaking the silence, and Enjolras jerked a nod.

“Yes.”

“Picking out an outfit.”

Again Enjolras nodded. “That is correct.”

It was hardly the most bizarre request Jehan had ever received, but the combination of the request and requester that was giving him pause. He was half-wondering if he was on some kind of Les Amis version of Punk’d. “Why do you need a new outfit?”

Enjolras sighed before telling him reluctantly, “I have a date.”

Now Jehan was certain that he was being Punk’d. “You know, I don’t think you’ve ever asked for my help before,” he said with a note of something like warning, which he figured would at least do the job of letting Enjolras know he was on to him. 

But Enjolras just made a face. “I’m not exactly known to be the asking for help type.”

That was a true statement if ever there was one. Still, Jehan couldn’t quite resist. “The words ‘toxic masculinity’ are flashing in my mind right now,” he said sweetly.

Enjolras scowled. “Because I’m definitely known for being a paragon of masculinity.”

Jehan’s smile widened. “And now I’m seeing that Garfield meme, only instead of propaganda, it says, ‘You are not immune to toxic masculinity’.”

“Well, something more to discuss with my therapist, I guess,” Enjolras said, with just a touch of impatience. “But in case you missed what I said earlier, this is somewhat time-sensitive, so if you’re willing to help me, I kind of need an answer sooner rather than later.”

Jehan arched an eyebrow. “Never thought you’d find a date more important than dismantling the patriarchy.”

Enjolras just shrugged, looking almost a little embarrassed. “Honestly, neither did I,” he muttered, in a fond but rueful sort of way.

Something about this whole situation wasn’t quite adding up, and while under normal circumstances, Jehan probably would’ve agreed almost immediately to Enjolras’s request for help, he felt like there was a piece of the puzzle he was missing. He narrowed his eyes. “Why exactly do you want my help?” he asked, and Enjolras just raised both eyebrows before looking pointedly down at himself.

“I feel like this really speaks for itself,” he said, deadpan, but Jehan wasn’t deterred.

“No, I mean, why my help specifically.”

Enjolras flushed. “You’re…fashionable,” he said, the pause between his words speaking volumes.

“Uh-huh,” Jehan said skeptically, and Enjolras’s flush deepened.

“You’re more fashionable than I am,” he said defensively, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Jehan gave him an almost pitying look. “So are most fourth graders.” Enjolras scowled but didn’t refute it, and Jehan decided it was time to rescue him. “So who else did you ask before you asked me?”

Enjolras’s flush had darkened to a somewhat mottled shade of fuschia. “No one,” he mumbled, though he didn’t even wait for Jehan to tell him he didn’t believe him before adding, “Just Bahorel. And Joly. And Courfeyrac.” 

Jehan really should’ve guessed as much. “And all of them said no?”

“Bahorel said he’s busy,” Enjolras huffed, clearly put out, “but he oh-so magnanimously offered to pay one thousand dollars to whomever does if they take video. Joly is out of town. And Courfeyrac told me to ask you.”

And there it was – the missing piece of the puzzle. Jehan nodded slowly, knowing that if Courfeyrac had suggested Enjolras ask him, there was a good reason for it. “I see,” he said slowly, cocking his head slightly before asking, “And you didn’t ask Grantaire for his help?”

Enjolras’s scowl came back even darker than before. “Why does everybody keep asking me if I asked Grantaire?” he said, not waiting for an answer before telling Jehan, “No, I didn’t ask him to help me pick out an outfit.”

And there was Courfeyrac’s reason. “So Courfeyrac told you to ask me,” Jehan said, trying and likely failing to tamp down his smile. “Well, I think he made a good call, and I will be more than happy to help you.”

Enjolras blinked, clearly confused by this sudden change of tenor in the conversation. “Really?” he said, somewhat skeptically.

“Of course,” Jehan assured him. “Anything for our fearless leader.”

Enjolras’s eyes narrowed. “Why do I not believe you?”

“Probably because you’re paranoid,” Jehan said cheerfully. He stood, brushing a non-existent crumb off of his shirt. “Now if memory serves, you said this is time sensitive, so we might as well get going.”

For one moment, it looked like Enjolras might argue, but then he made the wise choice to just shrug before also standing. “Alright. Let’s go.”

— — — — —

Roughly thirty minutes later, he looked very much like he regretted that decision. “Where are you taking me?” he asked, clutching the handle in Jehan’s car with both hands.

Jehan glanced over at him, amused. “You sound like you’re being kidnapped, not driven to a store.”

“At this point I’m beginning to feel like I’m being kidnapped,” Enjolras muttered.

“Who would have thought the man who has stared down the police in full riot gear would be scared of shopping,” Jehan said with a grin.

Enjolras glowered at him. “I’m not scared of it,” he snapped. “I just hate it and avoid it whenever possible. And you’re not answering my question about where you’re taking me, which is not helping me feel better.”

Jehan rolled his eyes. “I’m taking you to the thrift store,” he informed him.

Enjolras stared at him. “To the – why?”

“Because I wanted to get the Macklemore song stuck in your head all day,” Jehan said dryly. “Because I thought you would appreciate a more sustainable approach to shopping.”

For a moment, Enjolras did in fact look mollified, but then his expression shifted. “As long as it’s not run by the Salvation Army or Goodwill—”

“Locally owned and operated, don’t worry,” Jehan interrupted, having already seen this argument coming from a mile away. “Haven’t you ever shopped at a thrift store?”

Enjolras shook his head. “I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I set foot in a clothing store,” he admitted, “what with sweatshops and non-union labor and God only knows what else.” He gestured again at his own clothing. “I mean, why do you think I basically wear seven variations of the same outfit each week?”

“I will perfectly honest with you, I don’t normally give that much thought to what you wear,” Jehan muttered, though at Enjolras’s somewhat affronted look, he quickly added, “Up until today, at least.” Thankfully, he was saved by the appearance of the thrift store, and he had never been more relieved to announce, “And here we are.”

He parked and together they walked up to the store, Enjolras eyeing it with increasing trepidation. “I feel like I’m walking to my execution.”

Jehan was deeply tempted to roll his eyes but settled for opening the door for Enjolras. “Be intrepid,” he encouraged. “I have faith in you.”

Enjolras gave him a withering look but didn’t say anything, just staring balefully at the racks of clothing stretched in front of them. “Alright,” he said resignedly, “so where do we start?”

“At the very beginning, a very good place to start,” Jehan quipped.

Enjolras scowled at him. “Getting Macklemore stuck in my head wasn’t enough for you? You had to resort to Rodgers and Hammerstein?” 

Jehan just winked. “It got you to relax, right?”

For a moment it looked like Enjolras might deny it, but then he shook his head. “I hate that it worked,” he said sourly. “But seriously, where, uh, where should we start?”

“Why don’t you tell me a little bit about what you were thinking for tonight?” Jehan suggested, eyeing the clothes thoughtfully. “I mean, are you looking for a suit, or just shirt and tie, or…”

“Um,” Enjolras managed, and Jehan arched an eyebrow at him. 

“Eloquent.”

Again Enjolras scowled. “How about a button down and pants of some sort?” he said through clenched teeth.

Jehan nodded approvingly. “See, and you were worried,” he teased, grabbing Enjolras’s arm and all but dragging him in the direction of the racks that seemed to boast the most amount of button-down shirts. “If we had time, I’d get your measurements so that we could do this properly, but we’ll have to resort to trial and error.” He nodded towards the far end of the rack. “Why don’t you start at that end, and see if there’s anything that catches your eye.”

Enjolras obediently shuffled to the end, starting to sort through the hangers. Jehan did the same on his end, though he didn’t pay much attention to what he was sorting through since he would know what he was looking for when he saw it. Instead, he decided now was as good a time as any to press for information. “So you didn’t ask Grantaire for help.”

“Is there a question in there?” Enjolras asked, not looking away from the clothes he was rummaging through.

Jehan just shrugged. “I mean, if you wanted someone who’s at least somewhat fashionable, I would have included him in your desperate pleas.”

“It’s not really something I wanted to admit to him,” Enjolras muttered, the tips of his ears burning red. “Admitting it to Courfeyrac and knowing that he will hold it over my head for the rest of my God-given life was bad enough. Grantaire would never let me live it down.”

Jehan nodded slowly. “I thought there might have been another reason.”

He said it casually, but Enjolras glanced at him, frowning. “Like what?”

“Because then you’d have to talk with Grantaire about your date.”

To his surprise, Enjolras just rolled his eyes. “Please,” he scoffed. “As if Grantaire, of all people, would care enough to talk about it.”

Jehan frowned. “He cares a lot more than you give him credit for.”

“I know that, I just meant—”

“What are you doing with that?” Jehan interrupted, and Enjolras jerked his hand back from the rack, startled.

“You told me to grab anything that caught my eye,” he said defensively.

Jehan had, but he also hadn’t thought Enjolras would actually do so. “Yes, but that’s so…”

He trailed off, trying to find the correct words, and Enjolras frowned down at the shirt in his hand. “I thought I’d look good in blue.”

Despite himself, Jehan grinned. “Who told you that?”

Enjolras flushed. “No one.”

“The same no one you’ll be seeing tonight?” Jehan guessed.

Judging by the way Enjolras’s flush darkened, he had guessed correctly. “He said blue brings out my eyes,” he mumbled.

Jehan hummed noncommittally. “Sounds like a man trying to get laid,” he said with a smirk. “Or like someone who’s watched a few too many episodes of Queer Eye.”

“Or both,” Enjolras muttered. He frowned, looking down at the shirt again. “So no blue?”

Jehan hesitated. “Maybe just not that shade of blue,” he hedged. “Besides, that shirt looks like it’s way too small for you.”

“Really?” Enjolras asked doubtfully, holding it up to himself.

“Yeah, you’re probably looking for more of a large, or an extra large,” Jehan told him.

Enjolras brow furrowed. “But I normally wear a small or medium.”

“Vintage clothes run small,” Jehan assured him.

For one long moment, Enjolras just stared at him, and Jehan held his breath. Then he shrugged and put the shirt back on the rack. “Ok,” he said, and Jehan exhaled. “So what do you suggest?”

Timing was on his side, as Jehan spotted the absolute perfect shirt right as Enjolras asked. He tried, and failed, to stop his grin. “You know, prints are really in right now,” he said casually, edging towards the shirt in question.

“Prints?” Enjolras repeated skeptically. “What, like a check? “

“I was thinking more of a polka-dot,” Jehan said, picking the shirt in question up and holding it out to Enjolras. “What do you think of this?”

Enjolras stared doubtfully at it. “I think it’s, um, yellow.”

“I’d describe it more as goldenrod,” Jehan said brightly.

Enjolras wrinkled his nose. “And are the polka dots purple?”

Jehan glanced at the shirt. “I think they’re magenta.”

Despite his clear misgivings, Enjolras took the shirt from Jehan, looking at it without anything remotely approaching enthusiasm. “And you think this will look good on me?”

“I think the only way to truly tell is for you to try it on,” Jehan told him. “But we should find you a pair of pants to accompany them.”

Enjolras looked even less enthused by that prospect. “Can’t I just wear my jeans?”

“You could, but you were the one who said button down and pants,” Jehan reminded him, before really deciding to twist the knife. “And I hate to break it to you, because I know how deeply your love for them runs, but skinny pants are out.”

Enjolras now looked something closer to despondent. “So what are my options, then?”

Jehan tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Well, there’s always khaki cargo shorts.”

Enjolras looked horrified by the prospect. “It’s a little cold for shorts, don’t you think?”

But Jehan was not so easily deterred. “How about cargo pants, then?”

Enjolras made a face. “I don’t think I’ve worn cargo pants since junior high.”

“Fashion is cyclical,” Jehan assured him. “Everything once in fashion comes in again.” Enjolras didn’t look even remotely convinced but Jehan resolutely steered him towards the pants. “C’mon, let’s see if we can find something.”

A few minutes later and they were following the same routine as with the shirt, though with a noted lack of enthusiasm from either party. Jehan cleared his throat. “So…tell me about your date.”

For the first time, Enjolras actually looked something like excited. “He wants it to be a surprise, so he won’t tell me where we’re going,” he told him. “Because clearly he doesn’t care that some of us like to be able to adequately prepare for these things.”

Despite his words, Enjolras’s tone was fond, and Jehan almost felt bad for what he was about to do to him.

Emphasis on the word almost.

“So what made you decide that now was the time?” Jehan asked, and when Enjolras threw him a sharp look, he amended, “For dating, I mean. I just know you’ve never been particularly interested in it, so it seems to have come a little out of left field.”

Enjolras’s expression turned contemplative. “I don’t know,” he admitted, but a small, half-smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he thought about it. “I didn’t go looking for it, obviously, but sometimes something just – you know, clicks. And once you realize it…” He shrugged, still smiling. “I mean, yeah, the world is ending and everything’s falling to shit, so no time like the present, right?”

“Sure,” Jehan agreed, trying to curb his own skepticism since the world had been falling apart since Reagan. “And you like him?”

Enjolras’s smile softened and he nodded. “I do. I really, really do.” He gave Jehan a measured look. “And while I normally loathe prying, I do appreciate you asking.”

Jehan jerked a nod. “Right,” he said, his tone turning brisk. “Well. These looks they’re about your size.”

He grabbed a pair of cargo pants from the rack, which looked like they were straight out of 2001. Enjolras eyed them warily, showing somehow even less enthusiasm than he had for the shirt. “Those are green.”

“I’d call them olive.”

Enjolras stared flatly at him. “You want me to wear green pants with a yellow shirt?”

As a poet, Jehan knew how to finesse a phrase, but this was a whole new level of diplomacy and tact, and for not the first time that day, Jehan wished Combeferre had a better sense of style than he did. He would be perfect to handle this. “Generally speaking, it’s good to keep things in the same section of the color spectrum,” Jehan said carefully. “That way you don’t have to worry about opposite ends of the spectrum clashing.”

This time, Enjolras didn’t bother hesitating, just shrugged in a slightly defeated way before grabbing the pants from Jehan. “Well, I trust you.”

“Great,” Jehan said cheerfully. “So go try it on, and then I want to see.”

Enjolras heaved a sigh before slumping in the direction of the fitting room. Jehan watched him go, holding his breath as if waiting for Enjolras to change his mind, to turn back around and tell him that this was a stupid idea, and these clothes were absolutely horrendous.

But he didn’t, and when the door closed after Enjolras, Jehan let out a relieved breath. He allowed himself a small, triumphant grin, and pulled out his phone to text Courfeyrac. Probably too soon to make this call but I’m gonna pull a George W. Bush and say…Mission Accomplished.

Only a moment later and his phone dinged with a text from Courfeyrac. Hero, Courfeyrac said, followed almost immediately by, Do you think you can get a pic?

Jehan’s grin sharpened. I’ll sure as shit try.

— — — — —

That night, Jehan and Courfeyrac sat together at the bar the Musain, enjoying a well-earned drink. “I still think you should’ve tried to get him to buy the plaid pants,” Courfeyrac said, clinking his beer bottle against Jehan’s.

Jehan laughed. “I think even Enjolras knew those were hideous,” he said. “Besides, the puke yellow shirt and green cargo pant combo is enough to scare off any self-respecting gay.”

Courfeyrac nodded before pausing, something contemplative in his expression. “Of course, that means we’re banking awfully hard on someone both being into Enjolras and having self-respect.”

Jehan snorted into his beer. “That is true,” he said with a chuckle, taking a swig of beer before his smile faded slightly. “I do almost feel a little bad.”

Courfeyrac glanced at him. “For the guy?” he asked. “For making him see that outfit with his own two eyes? Because I know it’s an image I’m not going to get out of my head anytime soon.”

The thought of the picture Jehan had managed to surreptitiously snap of Enjolras in his date night outfit was enough to bring his smile back, even as he told Courfeyrac, “For ruining Enjolras’s date with the world’s ugliest outfit. Obviously I know we all want him and Grantaire to end up together, but he seems to actually like this guy. And we should probably try to support him in that.”

“And not try to sabotage things?” Courfeyrac asked wryly.

“Yeah.”

Courfeyrac sighed. “Well now I feel bad,” he said, though he didn’t particularly sound it. “On the other hand, if it means Enjolras ends things with this guy before Grantaire finds out…”

Jehan shook his head. “The ends justify the means?”

“Something like that,” Courfeyrac said.

Jehan shrugged. “For what it’s worth, I asked Grantaire if he wanted to grab a drink with us tonight but he said he had plans,” he said bracingly. “So maybe he’s moving on, too.”

Courfeyrac didn’t look even remotely convinced. “Yeah, maybe.”

Jehan’s phone buzzed on the bar and he glanced down at it, brightening. “Oh, speak of the devil…Hey Grantaire.”

“What the fuck?” he squawked, borderline hysterical in Jehan’s ear, and Jehan’s smile froze.

“Grantaire, what—”

Grantaire made a sound that Jehan pretty sure was a sob, and Jehan’s heart plummeted to his knees. “Jehan, I cannot – this is – oh my God—”

“Grantaire, are you ok?” Jehan asked worriedly, trying desperately to flag down the bartender. “I don’t understand—”

“Enjolras’s outfit,” Grantaire wailed, and for the first time, Jehan realized that what he had interpreted as sobs were in facts gales of hysterical laughter. “I didn’t think it was possible to make a man this gorgeous look this ugly but holy fucking shit—”

Jehan’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “But how did you…” He trailed off as realization hit him like a ton of bricks, as did Enjolras’s perpetual confusion about why he would ask or tell Grantaire anything about his date.

His date, assumedly, with Grantaire.

“Oh my God, I didn’t even think—”

Courfeyrac looked like he was about to yank the phone out his hand and ask him what was going on, but Jehan waved him away as Grantaire hiccuped, “This is the best thing to ever happen to me,” while in the background, he could just hear Enjolras growl, “Prouvaire, the next time I see you, I swear to fucking God—”

“Leave him alone, it’s hilarious,” Grantaire said with a chortle.

“To you!”

“Grantaire, I had no idea,” Jehan told him, a little weakly, feeling his face flush. “I thought Enjolras was going on a date with some rando, so…”

“So you decided to sabotage it,” Grantaire said, and Jehan could hear the grin in his voice. “I appreciate it, I really do, though we’ll have to revisit at some point the fact than none of you thought I might actually have scored a date with him.” Jehan winced, but Grantaire added, a little softer, “Besides, I was a bit nervous, and now I am emphatically not. In fact, for the first time, I’m beginning to believe this might just work.”

“Then it was almost worth the ass-kicking Enjolras is going to try to give me later,” Jehan said solemnly.

Grantaire just laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him,” he assured him.

“Enjoy your night,” Jehan said, hanging up.

Courfeyrac waved his arms. “So what the actual fuck?” he demanded. “What the fuck is going on?”

Jehan couldn’t help himself – he laughed. “So remember what you said about the end justifying the means?” he asked. “Well, funny story about that…”

#exr #enjolras x grantaire #enjoltaire #enjolras #jehan #jean prouvaire #courfeyrac #grantaire #fanfiction #les miserables #modern au #hijinks and shenanigans #clothes shopping #first dates

[musclefetch82]

First Dates

Are you my date?

#muscles #bodybuilder #bodybuilding #first dates #are you my date? #tight clothes #tight shirt #date a bodybuilder #pecs #biceps #bearded male #bearded man #bearded bodybuilder #guys with beards #guys with silver chains #bodybuilder with silver chains #guys in jeans #bodybuilder in jeans

[shygirl4991]

Forklift Date

Summary:

SMG4 gets the courage to ask out SMG3 on a date and he is ready to wow his date with his style and Rizz forklift. inspired by a tweet by redflamehero Tags: Love confessions,forklift certified, first dates, fluff SMG3 and SMG4 sit peacefully in 3’s coffee and bombs sipping coffee, after the heist to get SMG3 notebook back things get pretty peaceful like this. And given he moved into the grounds to be closer to them SMG4 was convinced that the heist really did bring them closer together. That's when a new issue started to grow, the more time he spent with 3 the more he started to realize his crush on the man.

It was small things, he started to enjoy hearing SMG3 evil laugh when he sabotages the others in games they play. The way he would smirk making coffee because he was that confidante he would be able to guess the kind of drink you would like, surprisingly he was right every time. Then came the heart racing moments when SMG3 would wink at him when he would tease him, how warm his hand felt when they practiced their meme power.

Now it's the present day and he cant get the man out of his mind, thanks to this he had a plan to ask SMG3 on a date and learn how he really feels about them. They hung out all day watching memes both new and dead to fit each other's taste, now sipping coffee he can tell from the humming and writing in his notebook that it was the perfect time to talk. “Hey…you want to have dinner with me?” he threw out the question, he did it and he was ready to run off and vomit from his nerves.

SMG3 stops writing and looks up confused “Uh dude? You do know how that came out sounding?”

He takes a deep breath and smiles at his partner “you mean it sounded like i was asking you on a date? Cause yeah i am.” Slowly SMG3's face turns dark red as he takes in what was going on “WAIT WHAT?! Why would I want to go on a date with you…baka!” Seeing how flustered the other man got filled him with confidence “I promise you a great time and I bet I could even charm you with my mad rizz skills!” He winks at the guardian.

SMG3 scoffs “Rizz? You? Would love to see that!”

SMG4 gives him a huge smile and grabs his hand “Perfect i will pick you up at eight!”

Realizing what he did, SMG3 pulls his hand back and stands up “ I…YOU!! I’m not going on this date because I have any feelings for you, I just want to see how badly you fail.”

“Sure whatever you say man!” With a giggle he runs out of the coffee shop to get ready for his date. SMG3 stands in his new home in shock, after months of pining for his partner and doing doodles of them in his notebook he now suddenly had a date with said man. He had a date with SMG4, his rival and friend. He couldn't help but let out a smile feeling both excited and nervous for tonight.

A few hours later, SMG3 checks himself in the mirror to make sure his outfit is perfect, hearing a shout outside he knows its time. He didn't know what to expect on this date. A lot could happen on it, but he should have known the idiot would pull something like this. “Hey Three I brought the Rizz Forklift!” he waves at his date with such excitement SMG3 was expecting the man to jet off flying from the speed. “Did you really bring the stupid lift for this?!” he shouldn't be that surprised, honestly how did he not think their ride to the place would be a forklift given how excited the man has been getting certified. He sighs thinking to himself why was he even attracted to this idiot.

SMG4 smirks and hits a button lifting his date up “Of course, how else would i pick you up?”

Now he remembered why, the idiot can have charm when he wants to.

Getting comfy and sitting on the lift they head out, now that things have settled SMG3 got a good look at his date. It was always rare to see him without his hat, even more rare to see him in a different outfit. He made sure to note every part of it to draw into his notebook, getting caught staring, SMG4 chuckles “Did i charm you already?”

“WHAT!? NO! Please the only thing you can bring to the table is your cringe content,” it was so natural for him to shove his emotions away. Why couldn't he say what he was feeling? That he was charmed, more than SMG4 even knows. “Think you can do better then 3?” he stops the forklift in a field giving SMG3 such a smug look he was about ready to smack it off of him. That's when the lightbulb turned on “Is that a challenge? If that's the case maybe I should show you true rizz!’

Taking out his phone he starts playing music, he then takes SMG4 hand pulling him off the forklift careful not to make the man face plant into the ground. “Let's dance!” pulling SMG4 close they start dancing they both end up glaring at each other as they casually fight for lead turning a romantic slow dance into a dance competition. “Have to say you have some moves SMG4,but can you beat this!” He takes the man's hand then dips him.

SMG4 looks into his dates eyes blushing, he swears the light from the moon made SMG3 glow. With one smooth move SMG3 pulls SMG4 closer to him closer than when they started the dance, they both forgot about dinner all they saw was each other. Without another thought they slowly close the gap, SMG4 could feel his heart race from his lips touching the other man. He was enjoying the kiss till the phone rang bringing them both to reality, staring at each other with wide eyes. Awkwardly SMG4 picks up the phone “Oh yes! I'm on my way sorry for being late!” SMG3 touches his lips as he watches SMG4 panic on the phone about their dinner plans.

Once SMG4 hangs up he lets out a shaky breath, was that kiss a heat of the moment thing or did it mean something? He was stuck standing there playing the moment on loop.

SMG3 stares at his date and decides if SMG4 can take the first step then maybe he could take it a step further.SMG3 climbs and sits in the forklift smirking at his date “So admit defeat? Or are we going for round two?” He prayed that the other man would understand the true meaning behind his challenge.

SMG4 lets out a huge smile as he gets back into the forklift getting the answer about their kiss “Never, I won't stop till I prove I have the rizz,” SMG3 chuckles slowly grabbing SMG4 hand blushing “This might end up being a long battle, you sure you want this?”

Grabbing his hand back he nods “No regrets, let's find out who truly has the rizz.”

They went to dinner having a great time talking about everything they went through together, they even went on a forklift stroll under the moonlight. Before they knew it the date was over and neither of them wanted to leave each other's side, though one question lingered in the air. SMG3 opens the door to his evil lair “What was all this?”

“I’m hoping…the next step for us?” SMG4 watches the guardian waiting for his reaction. SMG3 turns glaring “This isn't some dumb prank for a video?! Are you really…do you actually?” he looks down, shaking slightly. Seeing the sight, SMG4 frowns, pulling his partner into his arms “I am, do you want to be boyfriends?”

SMG3 slowly pulls from the hug, coming up with the perfect excuse to keep SMG4 with him longer “Yeah i do, but just because we are dating now doesn't mean the challenge is done!” grabbing his boyfriend hand he drags him into his lair to have some coffee not seeing Meggy and Mario was watching the whole thing. They look at each other and smile “FINALLY!”

#shygirl4991 #fluff #love confessions #forklift certified #first dates #smg34 #smg43 #smg4 smg3 #smg34 fanfiction #shygirl4991 fanfiction

[fromasgardandback]

First Dates // Moon Knight Men Headcanons

masterlist | oneshots

Marc

Marc is undoubtedly a more secluded guy 

like he wouldn't take you out in a crowd of hundreds or to a busy restaurant

there’s this small bistros café near his home that he takes you to

he knows the owners so they allowed him to reserve the special seating upstairs  𑁋 this was a small spiral staircase that led to the second floor with a balcony to overlook the residential & historical part of the town

this man went all out with roses, candles, and your favorite wine or beer or liquor

he wanted to make it memorable, and trust me it was

“Marc, where did you find this place? The food is incredible, but this view is insane”

“I guess you can say it found me. I live right over there.” he pointed to where his apartment building was

“Wow. I can’t imagine the feeling of walking in such a historical and quaint part of town like this every day. I’d feel like I’m straight out of a novel.”

“You do until you hit 4th street and then you’re slapped with reality” he smiled lightly and you chuckled

he walked you home afterward with a promise of another date and a phone call in the morning

“Thank you again for tonight, it was perfect”

“Thank you for agreeing to come with me. I hope I did you right tonight”

“Even better” you reached up to place a gentle kiss on his cheek

not that he would mention it to anyone else, but the minute he went home he pumped his fists in the air excitedly knowing that his planned-out date went so well

Steven

Steven would definitely take you somewhere nice for dinner

someplace where they can accommodate both of your diet and restrictions, but still an upscale place

like this man wanted to take you to a Michelin star restaurant but opted for a smaller place

he wanted to save the Michelin restaurant for your 6th month anniversary

he picked you up from your home with flowers and a handwritten note

he was so nervous he wrote what he felt on the card instead

“Steven, these flowers are beautiful. Thank you so much!” you took the flowers and placed them in a vase

“I saw them and thought you would like them. Mainly because they reminded me of you. Not that I’m constantly thinking about you, just that I did when I saw them-”

“Steven,” you giggled. “It’s really sweet. I love them.”

“So, I uhm... I found this place while searching for nice restaurants. I hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will. Although with such great company I don’t really mind what we’re eating.”

he blushed like a fool at that comment and just ATE IT UP

“I had a wonderful time tonight, Steven. I love listening to your stories and findings.”

“Y-you do?”

“Of course I do. So, when will I see you again?” you leaned against your front door smirking at the flushed and giddy man before you

it was the best first date you had ever been on and you promised him that there would be more than one chance to go to a Michelin restaurant with you

Jake

Jake is a man of few words, and those few words were beautifully said the night of your first date

he hates being around other people, so when he told you that he was taking you somewhere secluded, you hesitated

“My darling, If I wanted to do something to hurt you, I wouldn’t do it in the woods. Come with me, I promise I would never hurt you.”

and he didn’t, but the sight before you was right out of a fairytale

one of those storybooks that are meant for the reader to fall absolutely in love, yeah this was it

picture a gazebo with lights and a radio softly playing music with a creek nearby

Jake is romantic AF, but refuses to show anyone but you

“Jake, this is stunning. How did you do this?”

“I did what I had to do to make my love happy.” he smiled like a chesire cat, which for Jake was very uncommon

the entire night you two talked, and not just like what are your hobbies? no, y’all talked

your dreams, your future, what the ideal partner looks like, what you both have been through

Jake might have this hard exterior that everyone knows, but you got to see a glimpse of his soft side

“Jake I had the best time tonight. I was apprehensive at first, but I don’t regret a thing”

“My darling, my beautiful. I am glad to have taken you away from your worries for the night, but how about forever?” he kissed the back of your hand, gently peppering to your knuckles

“Slow down there handsome, take me on a second date and we’ll talk.” 

#sarah's specials #marvel #marvel imagines #marvel x reader #Moon Knight #moon knight imagine #moon knight x reader #moon knight headcanon #marc spector #marc spector x reader #marc spector imagine #Steven Grant #steven grant x reader #steven grant imagine #first dates #love #fluff #jake lockley #jake lockley imagine #jake lockley x reader

[atths--twice]

A Coffee Shop Christmas

An alternate universe in which Dana Scully owns and operates a coffee shop in which Fox Mulder is a frequent customer.

“Next in line, please,” Dana called out, smiling as a young woman and her child walked up to the counter. “Hello. Happy holidays. What can I get started for you?” 

“I want a hot chocwate,” the little boy said and Dana looked to the woman for confirmation before addressing the boy. 

“Do you want to have whipped cream and sprinkles on top of it?” she asked and his green eyes lit up as he smiled. 

“Yes! Yes! I wove sprinkos!” he said as he jumped up and down, the people in the coffee shop chuckling quietly. 

“Rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, or red and green sprinkles for Christmas?” she asked and he frowned as he stopped jumping. He tapped a finger to his chin and Dana looked at his mother as she placed a hand over her heart; the sight of him too adorable. 

“I want wainbow sprinkos,” he said and Dana nodded. 

“Please,” prompted his mother and he nodded. 

“Pwease.” 

“You got it. Anything else? Maybe a cookie, or a marshmallow snowman?” 

“I have it, Mama? Da snowman mahshmawow?” 

“Oh, honey. I only have enough money to get the hot chocolate for you. I’m so sorry.” She smiled tightly at him and Dana shook her head. 

“Oh, there'll be no charge for it. Anyone who says marshmallow the way he just did deserves a special treat,” Dana said and the woman began to interrupt, but Dana shook her head, not wanting to hear it. “One hot chocolate with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles, a marshmallow snowman, and for you, Mom?” 

“Nothing, I…” 

“What would you like?” Dana asked softly and the woman let out a deep breath. 

“I… I… really like peppermint white mochas,” she whispered, shaking her head. “But I don’t… I don’t want you to get in any trouble for-”

“Can’t get in trouble when you’re the owner of the shop,” Dana said with a smile. “You want a venti?” 

“Yes. Thank you,” the woman said, tears shining in her eyes. “Truly, thank you. It’s been… been a long time since I’ve… thank you.” She wiped her eyes quickly and Dana nodded, ringing up a child’s hot chocolate and then discounting it by fifteen percent. 

“That will be a dollar and twenty cents.” 

“No, but it’s…” The woman looked at her and Dana smiled. “Thank you, again.” She exhaled a shaky breath as she counted out the money, all in change. 

“Thank you. That will be at the end of the bar when it’s ready. Could I get a name please?” 

“My name is Sammy,” the boy said, pointing to his chest and Dana smiled as she took the change and placed it in its proper spots in the register drawer. 

“Thank you, Sammy,” she said, winking at his mom and then looking at her barista, Jane. “A hot chocolate for Sammy with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles, a venti white chocolate peppermint mocha for his mom…” Dana raised her eyebrows and the woman nodded. 

“Sabrina.” 

“For Sabrina,” Dana said. “Also a marshmallow snowman, and two plain croissants. Thank you, Jane.” 

“You got it, Boss,” Jane said, bopping her head to the techno Christmas music that was playing softly. 

Sabrina stared at Dana, her mouth opening and then closing, tears in her eyes again. Dana smiled and nodded as Sabrina mouthed thank you and proceeded to walk down to wait for their items. 

“Next, please,” Dana called as she turned to look at the next customer and her heart skipped a beat. 

How had she not noticed he was there? 

“Good morning,” he said as he walked up to the counter with a smile and the scent of his cologne reached her nose. 

He smelled so good. 

“Good morning,” she replied, her heart now thumping in her chest at his proximity. 

“How are you today, Dana?” he asked as he laid down the armful of stuff he was holding.

“I’m fine, thank you, Fox,” she said and he grinned with a nod. 

“Delighted to hear it,” he said. “I myself am doing well.” 

“Good. I was just about to ask,” she said and he nodded again. 

“As you always do,” he said, smiling and separating the items into groups. “Along with my usual coffee today, I also need to purchase these and some gift cards. I was selected to bring holiday gifts to the women in the HR department and I thought, "What would be better than a cute coffee mug and a gift card to this fine establishment?” Seeing as I am always here, I figured I should know that it’s definitely a treat.” 

“It’s very thoughtful of you to think of me… my shop, I mean,” she said, her face flushing as she looked at what he had selected. “Wow… all of these?” 

“I didn’t clean you out, don’t worry,” he assured her, glancing back at the shelves. “I tried to match them, but also be mindful of taking too much.” 

“That’s… that’s very considerate. But I do have stock in the back if there is something you wanted in particular.” 

“That would be great. But, before you check on that, could you do something for me?” 

“Sure.” 

He leaned closer and she swallowed as she did the same, his cologne even stronger as she took a quiet sniff. 

“That woman there, with the little boy?” he asked quietly, looking to his left with his eyes only. 

“Yeah?”

“Could I buy her a gift card and have Jane covertly give it to her?” 

“You… you want to get her a gift card?” she whispered and he nodded. 

“Broke my heart when she said she only had enough for his hot chocolate and she wasn’t able to get anything for herself. You’ve helped, now I want to do the same.” 

She pulled back and stared at him, at this man she had slowly gotten to know over the past three months when he stopped in every weekday to get a coffee. She knew he was kind, attentive, and had even helped out a couple of times when there had been a spill or a demanding customer became too loud. This was different though and it caused her to fall for him even further. 

“Yeah. I can get that for you,” she said softly and he grinned. 

“Good,” he said, taking out his credit card. “Fifty dollars, please.” 

“Fox!” she said in surprise and he shook his head. 

“Twenty five for her and twenty five for the kid. Although, I’m sure the majority of it will be spent on him.” He handed her the credit card and, with shaking fingers and a lump in her throat, she put fifty dollars onto a green gift card with Happy Holidays! written on it in rainbow colored Christmas lights. 

“I’ll be right back,” she whispered, giving him back his credit card. 

Putting the gift card into an envelope with the amount written upon it, she walked over to Jane. Whispering in her ear what to do when the drinks were ready, she slid the gift card into Jane’s apron pocket. 

“Wow,” Jane whispered. “If I was straight, that man would be joining me for dinner tonight. All I’m saying.” She gave Dana a pointed look and then gestured for her to return to the register. Letting out a shaky breath, Dana nodded and walked back. 

“That was very kind of you to do, Fox.” 

“It’s nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve seen you giving out food without charging for it, or giving someone a steep discount on their purchases. It was only right that someone else lent a hand.” 

“Still it was kind and thoughtful. Thank you,” she said. He looked at her and smiled, her stomach flip flopping. 

“Did… did you want me to check in the back for any of the items for you?” she asked as a loud Ohhhh was heard from Sabrina and Dana looked over at her. 

She had a hand over her mouth and was trying to hold back her tears, not wanting to scare or worry Sammy. She turned her head and met Dana’s eyes, believing it was her who had given her the gift card. But when Dana looked at Fox, Sabrina’s eyes widened and she drew in a sharp breath. 

“Mommy!” Sammy said. “I got da snowman!” 

“Yeah,” she breathed and walked over to Fox, Sammy trailing behind her as he held his marshmallow snowman, smiling happily.

“Sir,” Sabrina said, stopping in front of Fox. “I can’t accept this… I don’t even know you.” 

“Sure you do,” Fox said, smiling at her. “I think you just don’t recognize me in my work clothes.” 

“What?” Sabrina asked, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. 

“I’m one of Santa’s elves,” he said quietly. “When we’re out in public we have to stay incognito, hence the suit and tie you see me wearing now.” 

“You…” 

“I’m Fox, elf number 2525. I’m glad I have that one as twenty five is my favorite number, and I got it twice. I’m also glad when I can do something to make people happy. Especially those who may have lost the holiday spirit a bit.” He smiled at her and Dana had tears swimming in her eyes as she watched them. 

“Yeah,” Sabrina whispered, her hand running over the top of Sammy’s head. “I don’t… it’s been hard. This money will be so nice to have to get him a special treat and to take a moment for us, even though I still feel like I shouldn’t accept it.” 

“Oh no, you can’t give back an elf’s gift. Those are the rules,” Fox said and Dana laughed softly, wiping at her eyes. 

“Do elves accept hugs?” Sabrina asked and Fox nodded, opening his arms and hugging her. 

“Here are your drinks and croissants,” Jane said, placing the cups and a small bag onto the counter. 

“Oh,” Sabrina said as she stepped back and laughed out a sob. “I forgot all about them when you handed me that gift card. I got so flustered. Thank you. Thank you to all of you. You really changed my day. Changed both of our days. Sammy, can you say thank you to everyone?” 

“Dank you,” he said, giving them a sticky smile. 

“You’re welcome,” they all said and Sabrina took his hand, smiling at each of them as she picked up the bag and the drinks and walked out of the coffee shop. 

“Okay. Enough tears,” Jane said, rubbing Dana’s back. “I’ll get your drink ready, Fox. You want the usual or you want me to surprise you?” 

“You know what? Surprise me,” he said. “Just no-”

“Hazelnut,” Jane and Dana said simultaneously and he nodded as he pointed at them. 

“And I’ll go see what we have in the back if you tell me which items you want,” Dana said, blowing her nose on a napkin and letting out a deep breath. 

Five minutes later, four bags hanging from his arms that were each filled with a ceramic coffee mug, a travel mug, a bag of limited seasonal coffee, and a twenty five dollar gift card, Fox picked up his coffee and bade them goodbye. 

“Oh, wait,” he said, taking a taste of his surprise coffee. “Huh… that’s delicious, Jane. I want that tomorrow.” 

“You got it,” Jane said, winking as she began to make the next order. 

“See you both tomorrow. Thanks for your help, Dana.” 

“And for yours,” she said, the words she wanted to say to him feeling trapped in her throat. 

He nodded at her with a smile, walked out the door and headed toward the bus stop as Dana sighed, feeling like a failure. 

“Slipped past you again, eh?” Tom, the older gentleman who arrived nearly as soon as the coffee shop was open, asked as he came up to the counter for a refill. 

“I’m… I’m working on it, Tom,” Dana said, taking his cup and filling it with his usual half decaf and half regular coffee, her cheeks burning. 

“Huh,” Tom said, his tone disbelieving. 

“It’s complicated. He’s a customer,” Dana said, setting his cup down and staring at him. 

“True. But still,” Tom said, nodding his thanks as he walked back to his table and his laptop. 

Dana chanced a glance at Jane and saw she was watching her with a kind smile, but her eyebrows were raised in obvious agreement with Tom. 

The bell above the door jingled and Dana was happy for the distraction.  

“Welcome in. Happy holidays. What can I get for you?” 

____________________

“See you tomorrow,” Dana said to Jeff and Corinne, the mid-shift baristas, as they walked past her, buttoning their coats. 

“See you, Dana,” they both said and she smiled as they walked out the door. 

“I’ve got everything done in the back, lights off, doors locked,” Miguel, the late shift barista, said as he came in from the back untying his apron and tossing it into the small laundry cart. 

“Great,” Dana said, smiling at him. 

“Everything done out here?” he asked just as the bell above the door jingled and they both looked over in surprise. 

“What?” Dana asked as she stared at Fox, who had never been in the shop twice in one day and especially that late at night. “What are you doing here?” 

“I’m-” Fox began, his gaze moving from Dana to Miguel, who had moved quietly but quickly to stand beside Dana. 

“Everything okay?” Miguel asked, touching her arm. 

“Oh! Yes. It’s fine. This is Fox. He usually stops by in the morning.” 

“Ohhh. This is Fox,” Miguel said, his hand moving from her arm and Dana felt her face flush, sure she was about to be outed, knowing he had been discussed amongst everyone working in the coffee shop. “You’re the one who bought the gift card this morning for that woman.” 

“Guilty,” Fox said with a grin and Dana let out a sigh of relief at how Miguel had identified him. 

“Good man,” Miguel said, sticking out his hand. “Nice to put a face to the name.” They shook hands and then Miguel turned his attention to Dana. “What else do you need me to do before we close up?” 

“Oh, you’re…” Fox said, seeming to realize the place was empty and the lights were low. “You’re closed.” 

“Technically not for two more minutes,” Dana said with a forced laugh. “But yes. We close at eight.” 

“I didn’t realize,” Fox said. 

“Well, that’s because you’re not usually here at night, right?” Miguel asked and Dana cleared her throat. 

“Right,” she agreed. “Well, you can head out, Miguel. I’ve got whatever else needs doing out here covered.” 

“You sure, Boss? I don’t mind staying.” He gave her a smile, one she knew well as his teasing smile. “I could finish the small amount that’s left and you could speak to Fox.” 

“Thank you,” she said, placing a hand on his back and nearly pushing him toward the door. He grabbed his coat and scarf from the back of a chair, chuckling softly as he nodded. 

“Night, Boss. See you tomorrow,” Miguel said, pushing the door open. “Pleasure to have met you, Fox.” 

“You as well,” Fox said, waving at him and smiling. 

Miguel nodded at him and then looked at Dana, raising his eyebrows. Though he said nothing further, she heard everything he was not saying. 

She locked the door as he left, waving goodbye as he shivered and put on his coat and scarf before turning left and walking out of sight. 

“I hate to hold you up,” Fox said when she turned around. 

“You’re not. I still do have some things to take care of here.” 

“I could help? Make it faster?” He smiled and she drew in a breath through her nose. 

“Why did you come back tonight?” she asked softly. “I’ve never seen you here this late.” 

“Ahh, well,” he said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “A few reasons… but um…” He put his hands in his coat pockets as he rocked on his heels. “The women loved their gifts today.” 

“Oh, that’s great. You made good choices.” 

“Well, you helped.” 

“Hmm,” she hummed with a nod. 

“I wanted to tell you that they loved them.” 

“You could have told me that tomorrow when you came in,” she stated and he nodded. 

“I could have. Yeah. But…” 

“But?” she asked, her heart beating faster. 

“I wanted to tell you tonight. I wanted… I wanted to see you again,” he said softly and she pressed her lips together to stop from smiling. 

“Why?” 

“Because…” He sighed and shrugged as he gestured with his hands in his pockets. “Every day when I come in here, I work up the nerve to ask you something and every day I leave without doing it.” 

“Ask me what?” she whispered. 

“If you’d… if you’d like to have dinner with me. Or drinks. Or a walk in the park. Or… see a movie. Whatever you’d like to do,” he said softly, shrugging again. 

“You do?” she whispered and he laughed softly. 

“Yeah. And every day I chicken out. I…” He took a hand out of his pocket and rubbed it across his mouth. “I talk myself into it and then I tell myself that this is your business, where you work, and men asking women out at their place of business can be creepy and weird. I didn’t want to make you feel weird or uncomfortable, so I…” He looked at her and shrugged. “I leave without saying anything and then I kick myself over it all day.” 

“Well, I-”

“But today,” he continued, beginning to pace, and she raised her eyebrows. “Today when I gave the women their gifts and they all exclaimed over them, they asked where this coffee shop was and when I told them about it and you, it got really quiet. I thought maybe they didn’t like the gift or something and then Aurelia, this amazing woman who has been there forever, laughed and said that now it all made sense.” 

“What did?” Dana asked as he stopped pacing and looked at her with sheepish eyes. 

“She thought… that I had bought them here because we were dating,” he stated and for a second she stopped breathing. 

“Sh… she did?” she asked and he nodded. 

“I told her that wasn’t the case and they all looked at each other and asked me why the hell not? I… I laughed it off and said it wasn’t like that, but I…” He sighed and gave her a half smile. “I wished it was like that and I knew I only had myself to blame. I left their office determined to stop by here on my way home, but I forgot I had a late meeting and now… now I’m keeping you when you should be leaving. I feel like I’m making a huge mess of this and-”

“Fox,” she interrupted, stepping toward him. “You’re not the only one to blame. I… I also thought… I wanted…” 

“What?” he asked, his expression hopeful. 

“I thought saying something would be odd since you're a customer, but I…” 

“You what?” he asked, stepping closer to her. 

“I wanted to ask you if you’d like to see a movie. Or get dinner and drinks. Or take a walk in the park,” she said, shrugging and smiling slightly. 

“Yeah?” he asked, grinning happily. 

“Yeah,” she said with a nod. 

“Well, that’s… that’s…” 

“Yeah,” she agreed and he laughed quietly. 

“I know it’s rather last minute,” he said and her smile grew. “But, would you like to have dinner with me tonight? Or-”

“Take a walk and look at Christmas lights?” 

“Then dinner?” he asked hopefully and she laughed. 

“Yeah,” she agreed and he nodded. 

“What do you need to finish here? How can I help to speed it along?” he asked and she laughed, her heart racing with excitement. 

In no time, they were leaving the coffee shop and stepping onto the still busy streets, despite the hour. She adjusted her scarf and hat, letting out a breath that swirled around her like fine mist. 

“Main Street?” he asked. “Check out the store windows? There’s one store in particular I really like.” 

“The Company store?” she asked, knowing most people liked the windows they created, but something about them always felt too… modern to her. 

“No, although they are nice, just not to my liking. Too unfeeling or something,” he said as they began to walk towards Main Street. 

“I think that too,” she said with a nod. “The ones at Jasper and Company-”

“But Jasper and Company-” he said.

They both stopped walking and stared at each other. He grinned and she bit her bottom lip as she smiled back. 

“They’re nostalgic,” he said and she nodded. “Like you’re in someone’s living room and sharing Christmas with them.” 

“I completely agree,” she said and he grinned again. 

“Well then,” he said, offering her his arm. “Let's delve into a bit of nostalgia.” 

She laughed as she slid her arm through his and they continued walking down the street, talking about everything and nothing all at once. 

______________

“Next in line please,” Dana called out as she handed Jane the cup for the next order. 

She grinned when she saw Fox standing there, as always in awe as to how he seemed to sneak in without her knowledge. He grinned back as he approached the counter, a small bouquet of daffodils in a glass vase held in his hands. 

“Good morning,” she said, taking the vase from him and shaking her head. “What can I get for you?”

“The usual please. And also…” he said, leaning forward to give her a quick kiss. She smiled when he pulled back, grinning like a fool. 

“You are too much,” she whispered and he shrugged. “Thank you for the flowers.” 

“Thank YOU for the past three months,” he said quietly and she leaned forward, giving him another kiss. 

“I love you,” she whispered and he nodded. 

“I feel the same,” he said and she laughed. 

Setting the vase out of the way, she put in his order and rang him up. 

“Three dollars even, please,” she said and he shook his head. 

“You know, I thought there would be perks to sleeping with the owner, but I guess not,” he mumbled as he took out a ten dollar bill and handed it to her. 

“There are,” she said cheekily as she finished his transaction and handed him his change. “You get to sleep with the owner. Coffee still costs money.” 

“Yeah,” he said with a grin. “Capitalism. Am I right?” She laughed as he put his change in the tip jar and leaned toward her again. “One more kiss before I go?” 

She grabbed the lapels of his coat and pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly. Jane wolf whistled and Tom laughed as he clapped appreciatively. 

“That one good enough for you?” she whispered as she pulled back and Fox stood frozen in place for a few seconds. 

“Yeah, that… hmm,” he said, stepping back and clearing his throat. “That’ll do it.” 

“Good.” 

“Your usual is ready, Fox. Once you can function again, that is,” Jane teased. He huffed out a breath, gave his whole body a shake, and walked over to pick up his drink. 

“Thank you, Jane.” 

“Uh huh,” she said, glancing at Dana and smiling. 

“Well,” Fox said, walking towards the door. “Well…” 

“See you later,” Dana said, waving at him with a smile. 

“Yes. Yes, you will,” he said, still looking a bit dazed. 

“Bye,” she said and he nodded as he walked out the door, Tom laughing softly from his table. 

Dana looked down at the bright yellow daffodils, smiling as she stroked her fingers across their soft petals. 

Two women laughed as they entered the coffee shop and her attention was diverted. 

“Hello. Good morning,” she said, feeling happy beyond what she could ever have imagined. “How can I help you?” 

#the x files #alternate universe #coffee shop #holidays #modern setting #acts of kindness #caring #Friendship #feelings realization #christmas lights #first dates #developing relationship #love #love confessions

[alidravana]

Fandom: 911

Ship: Tommy/Bucky

Length/Rating: ~1K, Teen

Tags: First Dates, Fear of Discovery, Closeted Character, Panic Attacks, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Huddling For Warmth, Hugs, Communication

Summary:

“Buck?!” The table cloths were that classic picnic stripe, bright red and white criss-cross, both matching and clashing with the brightly coloured dining plates that adorned their table. A simple Margherita pizza for two following the best breadsticks that he had ever eaten, and now the two of them were debating dessert, Buck wondering if he had the courage to suggest that they actually split something. Like a real date. But then a familiar voice pierced through the restaurant saying his name, and his name, which normally sounded so right coming out of that person’s mouth, suddenly had Buck feeling small. He wasn’t ready for this.

Written for @chaos-company's Angstpril 2024 - Day 2: Frozen. Warning that this contains spoilers for 7x04 and implied speculation based on promos for 7x05.

Can be read on A03!

#911 #911 spoilers #angstpril2024 #bucktommy #kinkley #first dates #emotional hurt/comfort

[wangxianficrecs]

💙 at first sight of the sun by sunflowersfield

💙 at first sight of the sun

by sunflowersfield

T, 3k, Wangxian

Summary: “There are days,” he says slowly, choosing his words with care, “when I do not feel like speaking. Or, I simply do not have any words. It is…difficult to explain,” he admits. Wei Ying nods. “I think I understand,” he responds thoughtfully. “But Lan Zhan,” he adds nervously, “you know I was just joking about the daily compliments, right? I don’t really expect you to do that!” Or: Lan Zhan is a researcher at the forest preserve, and Wei Ying has just been hired to work at the front desk.

Kay's comments: This story was so soft and I'm absolutely in love with it. Just… Modern AU Wangxian falling in love with each other. No angst, no misunderstandings, just Wangxian in love.

Excerpt: There is a day when Lan Zhan wakes up feeling ill. He is used to taking care of himself when he is sick, but Wei Ying offers to drop by and keep him company while he rests. Lan Zhan dozes off on the couch while he waits for him to arrive, knowing that Wei Ying has a key and will let himself in. Lan Zhan dreams of a man with a smile made of sunshine, and when he opens his eyes, Wei Ying is there.

modern setting, modern no powers, pov lan wangji, first meetings, strangers to lovers, getting together, first kiss, neurodivergent lan wangji, neurodivvergent wei wuxian, happy ending, first dates, fluff, short & sweet, selectively mute lan wangji

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

#Wangxian Fic Rec #The Untamed #wangxian #MDZS #Kay's Rec #Kay's Favorite #modern setting #modern no powers #pov lan wangji #first meetings #strangers to lovers #getting together #first kiss #neurodivergent lan wangji #neurodivvergent wei wuxian #happy ending #first dates #fluff #short & sweet #selectively mute lan wangji #short fic <15k #teen #at first sight of the sun #sunflowersfield

[viejospellejos]

Diálogo entre dos astrofísicos:

Este es el nivel de hoy en día en España..

#first dates #nivel #geografia

[angyalikira]

five dates with mike schmidt

pairing: gn!reader x mike schmidt

genre: fluff

warnings: none

part 1/5

°:. *₊ ° . ° .•

first date // pizzeria

It happened very suddenly. He didn't mean to ask you out – at least not yet – but he couldn't stop himself. His body was just rushing with adrenaline and excitement any time he was close to you.

You were at the mall, going around shopping when you saw the hot security guard. It's not the first time you have seen him, but today you decide to finally talk to him. Both of you guys were in the same coffee shop, him being right behind you waiting to order. As you tell the barista your order, you tell them that you will be buying the guy behind you his drink too. Your words were almost a whisper, wanting to keep it as a surprise a bit longer. When it was his turn to order the barista told him about your plan and he seemed taken aback by that. No one has ever done something like this for him before. Right after he orders he looks for you in the shop and when he stops you he swears his heart just flipped. You were the prettiest person he has ever seen and your cute smile had his whole face blushing. He tried to play it cool and went over to you.

"Uhm so thank you for the coffee… You sure it wasn't a mistake? I-I really just don't want you to regret it and i just wondered why you did it and-" he nervously starts to ramble but you cut him off before he can overthink it more.

"It definitely wasn't a mistake, Mister cute security guard. Your job seems draining so I thought I could make your day a little better by buying you a drink." you smile at him sweetly and his mind blanks. This feels like a dream to him.

"That's sweet… I appreciate it a lot. I infact did not have the best day today but you totally changed that now…" he admits while twiddling his thumbs as he looks at you.

As you both of your coffees are ready you try to come up with an excuse to talk to him more. It seems like he is trying to do the same thing because he keeps on opening and closing his mouth as if he wanted to say something but decided against it after all.

"So how is it being a security guard? Any difficult people you had to deal with?" you finally decide to continue the conversation.

"Uh it's okay… not too bad, not too great honestly. And yeah I had my good share of rude people. But that's part of the job." he tries to make it sound as cool as possible without trying to come off too cringy. You of course notice but find it cute.

A few more words are exchanged but it seems like you both have a difficulty to keep the conversation alive for some reason. You feel frustrated because you really wanted it to work. But if it's not meant to be then you should respect it.

"Well I have to go now, enjoy the rest of your day." You start walking away and wave as a goodbye. But before you could walk more than two steps he stops you with his words.

"Wait! Uhm I know this is sudden but… would you maybe, only if you wanted to of course, i wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable… but would you want to maybe meet up again sometime? I would love to get to know you better." he sweetly says as he looks at you with his puppy eyes. It seems like he naturally does them and it makes your heart flutter. You turn back to him and smile.

He is horrible at sudden ideas sometimes but he manages to come up with something quickly.

"I would love that. Any ideas where or when?"

"How does today sound? Once i am done with my shift? Or is that too early for you? We could also maybe do tomorrow-"

"That's perfect, so where would you take me?" you ask him as you teasingly tilt your head to the side. This does wonders to him because he gets more flustered and is even more in awe of your beauty.

"There's this great pizzeria close to here if that sounds good to you?"

"It's a plan then. Can't wait to see you after work then." You smile and wave goodbye to him. As you walk away he wonders how his day went from being so unlucky to so insanely good. His motivation levels got so high after his encounter with you and no one could ruin this day for him anymore. He even caught himself smiling at the thought of meeting you later.

After his shift he quickly gets home, showers and dresses in some nicer clothes. Nothing too cheesy but he wouldn't want to embarrass you in public with looking bad either. Abby noticed the change in his behavior and kept teasing and asking him who he was meeting up with. He of course said it's only a friend so Abby would leave him alone but she's not a stupid girl at all. Once he is on his way, he almost runs to the place in excitement. He really does not want to mess this up.

As he walks in he sees you already sitting at a table. He stops in the entryway, clearly affected by your pretty and cute outfit choice. But once your eyes meet his, he comes back to reality and joins you at your table.

"I'm so sorry that you had to wait for me… You look absolutely stunning by the way." he sheepishly admits as he scratches the back of his head.

"Thank you. You look pretty cute yourself." you tell him as you lean your head on your hand. It's like time has frozen, his eyes widen at the compliment and he gulps jn nervousness. You wish you could take a picture of him right now.

"Have you ordered yet?" he changes the topic so he can focus on your conversations again.

"No not yet. Was waiting for you." you look at him with anticipation. "So which pizza do you recommend?"

"I uh recommend the salami pizza… Or is that too basic for you?" he feels like he could've given you a cooler answer but he is bad at improvising. Especially since he eats the same type of pizza every time.

"Ohhh i love a good salami pizza. Already a plus point for you." a chuckle escapes your lips.

You guys spend the evening getting to know each other and laughing a whole lot together. Mike gets more and more comfortable with you with each second that passes and his nervousness is almost completely gone too. Only almost because he still can't believe he is on a date with such a pretty person.

As he walks you home he stays close to you in a protective manner but still in a respectable distance. Your comfort and safety is more important to him than any of his stupid feelings. Once you arrive at your doorstep he almost jumps in joy – you live pretty close to him, meaning he could easily meet up with you more easily. You turn around to face him and you feel like your breath was stolen. In the moonlight Mike looks even more handsome and his eyes are shining with so much care and appreciation. You wish you could spend even more time with him but you don't want him to lose any more sleep (after he admitted to you that he kind of struggles with his sleeping).

"I also really enjoyed today. I hope we can repeat that soon." he doesn't quite know what to say and he hopes he doesn't seem interested because he is in fact the absolute opposite of that.

"I really enjoyed today, Mike. I'm really glad now that i got the courage today to buy you your coffee." you admit as you try to maintain eye contact with the pretty man in front of you.

"I might take you up on that offer." you chuckle as you poke his chest with your index finger.

"And hey, it seems like we love pretty close by so you could pop in whenever you feel like it! You're always welcome at my place. And i'm sure Abby will like you too."

To Mike it feels like you just marked his heart as his because his heart feels like exploding once again.

He stands there starstruck for a few more moments and tries to comprehend this past evening. As he walks home, he prays that this wasn't just a lucky day.

"Good night Mike. I hope you can sleep well today and i'll see you very soon i hope." you give him one last smile, wave goodbye to him and walk inside.

#fnaf #five nights at freddy's movie #five nights at freddy's #mike schmidt #mike schmidt x reader #mike schmidt/reader #fluff #first dates

[fromxxthexxashes]

while a summer wind blew through the trees (43454 words) by june_nights Chapters: 11/11 Fandom: 9-1-1 (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV), minor Eddie Diaz/Shannon Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Minor Evan "Buck" Buckley/Abby Clark - Relationship Characters: Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Evan "Buck" Buckley, Sophia Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Adriana Diaz, Shannon Diaz, Ramon Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Helena Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Christopher Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Isabel Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Bobby Nash, Henrietta "Hen" Wilson, Howie "Chimney" Han, Buck Voice: The Universe!!, Josephina "Pepa" Diaz Additional Tags: Pre-Canon, Alternate Universe - Pre-Canon, First Meetings, Internalized Homophobia, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Unrequited Love, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss, First Time, First Dates, Idiots in Love, Falling In Love, Pining, All Roads Lead to Canon, the Buddie Speedrun (TM) Edition, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Breaking Up & Making Up, Found Family, Angst with a Happy Ending Summary:

El Paso, June 2010

Looking at Evan is hard sometimes, the same way looking into the sun without blinking is hard, but looking away is even harder because Evan has a smile that lights up a room and when he laughs, his eyes crinkle at the corners. Eddie has wanted him since the moment they met, and while that was easy to ignore - this is harder. This, that's Evan's humor and the way he cares too much about the people around him and not nearly enough about himself. It's the way he'll memorize random fun facts he's never going to need but still doesn't know the difference between Star Trek and Star Wars, and it's his complete disregard for personal space, highlighted every time his shoulder bumps Eddie's when they're walking next to each other.

 Or:

Eddie and Shannon get married young. What if they broke up instead? Buck leaves home at 20. His adventures take him all the way to Peru and back. What if they took him to El Paso?

Notes: This has such beautiful build and delicious, gorgeous angst and some absolutely lovely and cute moments. I love a good summer fling romance. This one is done particularly well. If you like the angst of the divorce era (and the eventual makeup) in canon you’ll really like this one.

#buddie #buddie fic rec #911 abc #911 #911 fic rec #eddie diaz #evan buckley #pre-canon #alternate universe - pre-canon #first meeting #internalized homophobia #unrequited love #not actually unrequited love #friends to lover #first time #first dates #idiots in love #falling in love #pining #breaking up and making up #found family #angst with a happy ending #teen and up audiences #43k