#alright it's now almost midnight which means finally time for a dinner break!!! :D | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

myelocin · 4 years

Text

as we let the skies be our witness | hq

(( the moments you’ll share under the skies with: miya atsumu, sakusa kiyoomi, iwaizumi hajime, & matsukawa issei ))

warnings/tags: mentions of smoking, fluff, domestic stuff lmao, may turn into a series idk let me know which characters you want :D

click keep reading bc this is finished :D

miya atsumu:

with him, it always meant driving out in roads that led away from the city.

like sitting in the passenger’s seat of the old convertible his dad randomly bought when he struck lucky on a lottery ticket with your hands up in the air grasping at particularly nothing. but at the same time, everything. with you hearing atsumu laughing and yelling sometimes at and sometimes with you towards something you aren’t even keeping track of anymore. you’ll be facing up and smiling because the swirls in the sky are trickling slowly while at the same time you’re aware of how fast the car is zipping through the highway.

so when you look up then back to the side to face atsumu, it meant feeling like you’re caught in then suddenly running through time because one second everything could feel so still and the next you’re aware of how loud you and atsumu are screaming and how noisy the wind is when it’s blaring at your ear. you also feel like that when you’re looking at atsumu through the rearview mirror and see his eyes crinkle in time with the laughs that break out from his lips. you don’t even know what the two of you are laughing about but in the moment you just feel all sorts of giddy so you don’t put much thought into it.

you’ll catch atsumu’s eye time to time from the rearview mirror and you’re suddenly awestruck because after seeing how fast the strands of his hair are billowing so wildly in the wind while the pre-sunset clouds are rolling so slowly behind him—time, again, feels like it’s moving too slow yet at the same time too fast.

when you’re with him, later at a parking lot eating a half melted ice cream you almost forgot that you picked up on the way, he’ll ask you why you were staring at him so much in the car but you can’t find the exact words to describe everything you felt so you just shrug and tell him it’s because he’s pretty. and you know he’s satisfied with your answer because he’ll go back to frantically trying to salvage the melted icecream that’s dripped down on the back of his hand while you’re looking at him again, the sky behind him casting that halo that makes your mouth run dry and thoughts blank into nothing but the beginnings of a poem.

sakusa kiyoomi:

it’s walking home from a dinner with some friends.

there’s not much stars in tokyo specially because of the city lights—but december means the stores are putting out their display of christmas lights and for a few weeks, humankind is walking among a sea of twinkling stars that are meant to be up in the sky. kiyoomi will hold your hands in his which you’ll smile at because he does it in a way that was so automatic and natural that you know the reason is because he’s considered you to be part of the bubble he’s comfortable in.

you’ll be looking up at the sky—midnight black with some streaks of the dark grey clouds that are telling you it may rain later and you’ll hear yourself ask kiyoomi some questions that don’t really make much sense. he’ll be smiling along with you though, even as you start to swing your joined hands back and forth as you walk from the train station to your apartment.

winter nights in tokyo have been getting a little too cold even for you lately, but the scarf he’d wrap around you before you exited the train feels as warm as the palms of his hands that are enclosing yours. you’ll ask him how different he’d think tokyo would look if there were less city lights and more stars in the sky and he’d just laugh at your question but when you peek at him from the corner of your eye you’d see he has his lips pursed to the side so you know he’s giving your question some genuine thought. you’ll ask kiyoomi if he thinks the sky looks pretty as it is anyway but you only feel his stare directed at you when he hums out a yes. when you squeeze his hand, bump his shoulder, and tell him to cut it out and actually look up he’ll only say that he thinks it looks pretty because the way you’re smiling at it is pretty and he knows it’s enough to trust you on that.

you’ll let it slide then think about how even if not a lot of people are witness to the sakusa kiyoomi you came to know: the one who smiles at the little things you do and lets you swing your joined hands back and forth as if you were six again, you’re at least glad that the night sky is there to witness it.

iwaizumi hajime:

the skies are in that state when it looks like some sun is trying to break through the heavy clouds after a whole morning of rain.

you’ll wake up to the sound of hajime accidentally dropping the umbrella on the floor and soft curses because of the downpour he caught himself in earlier. since you fell asleep on the couch, you’ll choose to lay still and peek at him, only to finally laugh when he finally realizes that you’re awake and have witnessed him curse at the umbrella and the weather.

the feelings it brings is the kind when you’re still kind of sleepy but comfortable and alert enough to finally stretch and step out into the balcony to stretch. behind you, you’ll hear hajime tell you to come back in before the rain comes again but he’s joining you outside on the balcony himself anyway. the world outside will still smell like rain and the air still a little chilly despite the sweater you pulled on (you guess it probably is hajime’s because it smells like him) but it’s the view of the sun breaking through that will make the both of you stay. you’ll wipe the edge of the railings and lean forward while hajime would do the same and you’ll begin a light conversation by asking him about his day and how it went. he’ll laugh and say he wishes he was at home with you napping instead of driving through the rain and listening to bokuto and atsumu yell in the gym but you’ll tease him because he’ll be smiling in the endearing way that tells you he’s alright with it anyway.

the both of you know you should head back inside and start on dinner when the golds of the sky begins to turn darker but you’ll both be too engrossed in small talk and watching that one kid from the street below jump into puddles while holding a small umbrella that you suppose one more minute can’t hurt.

matsukawa issei:

it’s looking at him while he’s blowing smoke out into the world.

the two of you are road-tripping back to miyagi when issei decides to take a short break from driving and park into an empty parking lot by a convenience store. summer skies meant that the artshow the heavens present for the sunset swirl with colors a little more intense than the other seasons, so when issei moves with the intention of shutting the car door, you’ll tell him to leave it open.

you’re aware that you could always step out of the vehicle yourself and watch the world next to him but instead you’ll decide to stay inside the car and watch his silhouette against billow smoke into the air against the painted skies around him.

you’ll catch some things issei is saying while he’s on a phone call with hajime about the plans they have come up with to surprise oikawa’s return home next week but most of the time it’s drowned out by the sounds of some instrumental track playing at a medium volume from your phone on your lap. you’ll be taking sips from the can of soda you’ve held on to for the past 30 minutes and wince at the too sugary taste it has since most of the fizz is gone; you put it in the cup holder in the center because you know issei won’t mind the taste and finish it later.

by now he’s just leaning on the side of some trashcan while puffing out the last bits of what he can from the cigarette he’s just discarded and he’ll pop a piece of gum in his mouth before waving you over to join him. from inside the car you’ll yell out that you’re all good and to hurry it up despite not really meaning it because you’ll decide you like the atmosphere the empty parking lot holds the both of you in at the moment.

you always think the skies look pretty; like they’re the most beautiful paintings the deities have ever painted and that’s why they show their artwork in the skies everyday. you’ll still be watching him and listening to the very same track looping on your phone from the passenger seat in the car but looking at issei turn to face the sky with his hands in his pockets—you can’t help but think that in this very moment he looks as if he’s part of the painting itself.

237 notes · View notes

al3x1ss · 4 years

Text

Bring them to your home for the holidays {HCs}

Includes: Oikawa, Akaashi, Noya, Terushima, Kiyoko

THIS IS WRITTEN WITH A FEMALE READER! ALSO, ALL CHARACTERS ARE AGED UP!

Author’s note: In my family, thanksgiving means the Christmas stuff is put up after breakfast, so I got this idea ab the holidays and I got v happy. Enjoy!

Warnings: None, fluffy holidays for y’all!

Oikawa

okay mans HATES the cold confirmed

like snow comes he’ll probably hiss

(HISSING AT SNOW ME HONESTLY LMAO)

(Not me seeing a few feet of snow with my sisters and going “wow look at all that cocaine”)

ANYWAY

so y’all met when both of you happened to be in Brazil and he thought you were cute

long story short you had a few dinner dates, even hung out with Hinata!!

you guys hit it off very well :)

so you guys have been together for about 2 years and you’re like ya know what

“Come to my house for the holidays :)”

not only is this man a simp but he loves the warmth so ofc he says yes!!

so while you’ve lived here all your life, only really moving out of Tampa to Miami, you did have to take this tourist him to a basic spot

but you did want to take him to some of your favorite places

after him seeing your family again, you took him to one of your favorite carnivals!

then classic gotta go to the beach I mean

why not go to the ocean!!

issue with December weather in Florida is it changes every second so today was a bit C H I L L E D

(You did have to force him to eat something other than rice tho)

Picky eater kawa confirmed

what better way to spend December 25th than Disney

I mean

Mans whole went “wow 😍” when you told him

Kiyoko

BEST WOMAN I LOVE WOMEN

ahem

you were an exchange student during her whole high school career, turning into best friends and deciding to go to college together

college came along, and with the help of a few friends, parties, and a little too much twister, you realized

you were actually lesbian.

which you know what, we support!

it’s not like you’ve never liked a boy, it just happened to be that women were more your type

oh yeah another thing

Kiyoko is the prettiest thing in your eyes.

OH ANOTHER ANOTHER THING

HAVE I MENTIONED YOU REALIZED THAT YOU’VE ACTUALLY LIKED HER SINCE YOUR 1ST YEAR IN COLLEGE

NO?

OKAY.

so what you DONT know is that Kiyoko has realized she actually feels the same

during your third year in college, she had broken up with her boyfriend of a year, Tanaka, but never told you why

Huh

i wONdEr whY

But, after living in Japan for 7 years, Christmas time is rolling around once again

And you are going home for the holidays!

usually you would go home during summer break, but this time you really wanted to spend Christmas since your older brother had your niece!

and since Kiyo didn’t have any plans you were like

“hey, do you want to come home with me?”

home girl choked on her water 😳

“H-home?”

“Yeah! I’m going back to New Orleans for the holidays.”

cue brain calming down and like sLIGHT disappointment

but

it’s you

and she loves you.

HANGING OUT WITH YOU SORRY

so you guys did presents and stuff

your niece LOVES Kiyoko btw

your dad was like “👀”

I SEE YOU YOU SEE ME MAn

been knew you were 💅AND HE SUPPORTS

so around 4 you’re like let’s go do something!!

and she says okay!!

so one movie Kiyoko really loved was “Princess and the Frog”

Funny enough there’s actually a bakery you’ve gone too growing up

so you get New Orleans’ best beignets!

Ahh, fun times

next, you’ll always hear some type of caroling anywhere you are in the city

which means?

SMALL PARTIES

DANCING

FUN TIMES

you see random groups of people smiling around 7pm, the sun already down

and you’re thinking to yourself

Hey

I want to ask her to dance.

and you do :)

YALL BUST D O W N LIKE YES MAAMS

continuing

Finally at around 10pm you take her to this one street where each place has a bunch of Christmas wonderlands lit up

hile it doesn’t really snow in New Orleans, people used fake snow!!

gotta get that spirit somehow 😗

when I say Kiyoko is a goddess I mean it

the lights bouncing off her face while she’s smiling?

*chefs kiss*

Terushima

ah yes the city that everyone thinks is a state

IM SORRY J

BUT IM NOT EHDJFJHH

Chicago!! ✨

Terushima HAS visited Illinois before

However, surprisingly has never been to Chicago

So you were like

I’m born here!! 🥰

Come come!!🥺

And he said

Si si!! 🤪

so y’all flew out on the 20th

while your parents don’t live here, some old friends do

and why not have them meet your amazing boyfriend!

literally all of them were shocked I mean

(Y/N) likes a boy with a tongue piercing?

wack

the amount of BONKERS

but yes you love him very much

and he loves you!!

honestly your friends already fell in love with you two being in love it’s canon

afterwards you guys went too ZooLights

HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO THROW A SNOWBALL AT YOU

“YUJI MY PANTS ARE WET”

“IM SORRY PRINCESS IT WAS JUST A GOOD TIMING-“

you threw one at his face

Not y’all fighting like little kids-

n e wayz

best way to end the 24th?

ice skating-

nope.

It’s actually buying late presents because you two actually forgot to get some people presents and Christmas is literally in like 4 hours!!

YOU COULDNT CATCH YUJI IF YOU TRIED😳

MANS WAS ZOOMIN THROUGH EVERY STORE

GRANDMA? GOT IT

UNCLE? SURE

NEPHEW? YOU DONT EVEN GOT A NEPHEW

It was mega fun tho

surprisingly y’all didn’t get kicked out

you almost did when Terushima thought it would be a good idea to ride a skateboard into the electronics section at target 🤡

but we will ignore that for tonight ❤️

Akaashi

A NOTE:

this one will be the longest one with the most detail for certain reasons! also, for akaashi’s you do have a given birthday because Dec 30th is actually my birthday and I wanted to sprinkle in some of that ❤️

alright

best for last :)

So you got to be in an exchange program during college

and that’s when you met akaashi since you guys were in the same classes!

he also showed you around and was very sweet

so you offered to get him coffee

and after a while he confessed by giving you a copy of a book you both really loved

but

you semester was ending

which means home for the holidays

luckily, you guys would only have one more semester away from eachother before you guys graduated

but you did want to spend the holidays together

so you offered for him to come to New York with you

boy got excited so fast my heart-

wOOSH FOR THIS MAN

But like Christmas in New York with your loving boyfriend of 4 years?

Sign me up

So you know that during winter it’s a hit or miss with snow

is it still freezing cold?

Yes.

But can we guarantee 3 feet of snow every December?

No.

But we can guarantee it in like March JEJHRTJ

one thing you told him immediately was that you guys will be watching the ball drop from the roof

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to get mugged, shoved, or vomit on my shoes, Keiji.”

Yes ma’am indeed

so you guys had a pretty (quiet?) Christmas

your family?

LOUD AS CAN BE

but

Regarding to going places

You guys chilled all day in pajamas

Like the most y’all did was go to dunkin for hot chocolate

but the days leading to New Years?

GOTTA GO GO GO

Classic tree photo yes ma’am

nut crackers AND THOSE GIANT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND ORNAMENTS ACROSS FROM JIMMY FALLONS STUDIO?

Y’ALL KNOW THE STREET I FORGET THE STREET LMAO

bro side note their kabobs in that one corner

best thing I’ve ever had I stg

I haven’t been to the city since last Christmas wow now I miss it

OKAY NVM SORRY

you wanted to show Keiji so many things

but

You were used to walking like 10 blocks in any shoes as fast as you can

Akaashi was not 😂

So y’all had to take breaks sometimes

get him warmed and fed ya know

give the man smoochies 🥺

id be giving him smoochies 24/7 if I could

so you better for me 😠

His favorite place was the big Macy’s no lie

the perfumes and cologne section on the 2nd floor looked SO WELL PUT TOGETHER

okay nvm scratch that

FAO Schwartz was his favorite place

he loved the trains

you bought him a train as a late present SHH NO ONE SAY NOTHIN

So the 29th you decided to take him to where you were born

Brooklyn!

it was super fun showing him where you lived before you went to college

and before your siblings moved to different parts of the city

It was lovely

But the final thing you wanted to do was December 30th

your birthday :)

and one thing you absolutely love to do is ice skating

now usually you go ice skating at the public rink like a few minutes away from Rockefeller rink

not only was it cheaper, but there was a Panera like 2 blocks away so quick food!

but

you also wanted to give Keiji the experience

so you sucked it up and paid

you guys went at around 8 and had a blast

one of the best birthdays with him honestly

but, you realized people were starting to exit the rink at around 10

“Doesn’t the rink close at midnight?”

“Huh, weird.”

but Keiji kind of starts looking around while you realize you two are the only ones on the ice

So you’re like

I guess we have to get off 😔

But this sly fox

Pulls you to the center of the rink

Now, you were never one for the cliché act

Especially since so many proposals have happened on this rink that you’ve seen

But when you saw Keiji get to one knee

It didn’t even matter that this happened to so many other people

It was happening to you.

And it’s ESPECIALLY CLICHE

THAT IT WAS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY

however

I guess you can just suck it up, cuz at least you have a ring on your finger :)

- Lex 🖤🤍

End note: Let me know if you guys would like a part 2! Also if you have any ideas for a certain character or place, put it in asks!

#Royal Flush #Full House #haikyuu!!#haikyuu #oikawa tooru #oikawa headcanons #oikawa smau #kiyoko shimizu #kiyoko headcanons #kiyoko smau #terushima yūji #terushima headcanons #terushima smau #akaashi keiji #akaashi headcanons #akaashi smau #No Cursing :)

61 notes · View notes

bush-viper-cutie · 4 years

Text

Midnight Stars Tree

Pairing: young!severus X reader

Word Count: 5,350

Rating: E for Everyone

Plot: Three days before the start of seventh year, you attend a yearly potions demonstration at a wizard hotel across the street from a wizard museum. Every student seventeen and older participate in a tradition where you skip the last demonstration to hide away in a secret spot in the museum with someone of your choosing.

Warnings: None

A/N: Requested by anon (exact request found at the bottom) and I hope you like it :D I really liked the story so it got a bit long but I hope there were enough cuddle scenes! So many cute types of cuddles to choose from so I included many XD

Posted: 7/16/20

Masterlist

—–

(L/n) = last name

—–

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~

“Children! Gather around! Please!” Professor Slughorn waved a parchment over his head, trying to capture the attention of over a dozen excited students.

The hotel lobby was full of students from other wizarding schools. All also attending the yearly potions convention before the start of term where the world’s most notorious potions masters would brew together in the world’s largest cauldron.

Most students had clearly signed up just to travel and stay at a famous wizard hotel, away from Hogwarts and the other teachers. Everyone knew Slughorn was laid back enough to allow almost anything to happen. All-nighters? Wandering around the wizard museum after hours? Visiting the rooms of foreign wizards? He had a very agreeable reputation, Horace Sees-Nothing Slughorn.

You stood in the back with your friends, eager to get assigned your rooms. Thankfully, you were seventeen, which meant you’d guarantee room on the top floor where they put both girls and boys in together – separate rooms of course. Not like that stopped anyone.

“Alright, let’s not get distracted,” he laughed and put on his glasses. He unrolled the parchment and started listing off names and handing out golden glittering stones with numbers on them.

The youngest students were called on first, next the fifth years, sixth, and lastly seventh years. You were among the seventh years quickly ushered into the fireplace that would take you and your bags to the very top floor.

You stepped in and held your breath as the bright cold flames rose to your nose and whisked you away to the last floor. You exited and coughed the soot out of your lungs, quickly spotting your friend down the hall. It had begun. The frenzied ritual of finding out who was in the rooms across and to either side.

You took out the rock and walked ahead of your friend to the door with the same number and knocked with the rock. It swung open and a familiar scent of freshly washed sheets made you smile instantly. You left the door open and ran to the far bed, setting down your stuff as a form of first dibs.

“You won’t believe who’s across the hall!” your friend threw their bags down and jumped with excitement.

“Is it that tall Ravenclaw whose been eyeing you since last year? The one with the swooshy hair like ‘honey’?”

They laughed and jumped onto the bed, “Yes!”

Well, it looked like shenanigans were already scheduled for your friend for the weekend, but now the question was how would you join in on the fun? “So, did you see who else is around by any chance?”

“No one else worth talking about. OH. Except for that Snape guy. He’s to our left and rooming with Sirius Black! So you can guess how that’ll go. I bet Sirius will beg every girl on this floor, Hogwarts or not, to sleep in their room.”

“He’ll ask anyone alive just to get away from him.”

There was a knock at the door.

You sat up quickly and laughed, “That was fast!”

You opened the door with hips on your hands ready to slam the door in Sirius’ face. Your six other friends pushed through and flopped onto your bed, taking out the museum brochure and weekend plans.

“They have a Midnight Stars tree!”

“The crystal room has couches!”

“Did you see who was across your room!”

You sat on your friend’s bed and scanned the museum brochure. There were dozens of rooms perfect for what everyone was calling the ‘Secret Skip’, where for the final performance – the one where the world’s leading potioneers would brew the most complicated potion in the largest cauldron in the wizarding world at the same time – everyone from the top floor would skip and run to an available hidden spot with your chosen sweetheart.

You had two nights to find the spot and claim it and two days to find the perfect boy. “We’ll have to spread out and remember which rooms are a go and which are definitely no good.”

. . .

It was after dinner and Slughorn had already gone down every hall with Hogwarts students, knocking and telling everyone to go to bed. After a long day’s planning, your friends got up and left to their rooms, leaving you with the list of most to least romantic-sounding spots.

You changed into your night clothes and washed your teeth, ready to pass out from all the planning when a loud THUMP nearly knocked the signed and framed pillowcase off the wall over your bed.

“What are they doing! They’ll kill me if they keep going!”

Your friend shrugged and blew out their bedside candle, “Who cares. Just take the frame down.”

THUMP

The frame fell off the wall and onto your pillow, “I’m going over and yelling at them.”

“What! No!”

You opened the door and looked to either side, making sure Slughorn wasn’t still walking around. It was empty and the few floating candles illuminated either end well enough to satisfy your concern. You turned and knocked on their door hard enough to indicate your anger.

THUMP

You knocked again and the door cracked open.

Sirius smiled at you and opened the door further, “Ah. What can I do for you so late into the night?”

You frowned and pushed passed him, marching inside ready to tell them off. You gasped instead, seeing articles of clothing thrown around the room and a bed fully tipped over towards the door, pillow shredded in two.

“What happened! You trash your room already?”

THUMP

Your head shot up towards the tall wardrobe where the noise was coming from, “Is that a boggart?”

“It is, so best not to open it up,” Sirius motioned for the door.

“Where’s your roommate?” you made your way over to the wardrobe and hovered your hand over the handle.

Sirius put his hands up quickly, “Oh, he wet his trousers and went home. Slimy git couldn’t contain his excitement.” THUMP “Told me he actually came for the demonstration,” he laughed.

You scoffed and pulled on the handle. Snape tumbled out nearly knocking you over. You caught his elbows and helped him but quickly pushed him away as soon as he was steady.

Sirius laughed, “Oh, there you are.”

Snape bared his teeth at Sirius, “I’m telling! Wait till Slughorn finds out you and your friends are planning to break into the museum across the street! He’ll send you packing.”

“Try it, Snivelly!”

Your eyes widened, “Wait! You can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Snape pushed passed you towards the door, standing as tall as possible in an attempt to match Sirius’ height.

You pulled him back by his robes, “Wait please!”

“Snivellus is just upset he’ll be sitting with the babies.” Sirius held out his wand, standing taller, “Maybe I’ll just turn you into a weasel for the weekend, since you already act like one, eh Snivelly? Where’s your wand?”

Snape jumped back, realizing his wand was not on him and instead laying at the door to the restroom.

You stepped forward, holding out your hands, “Stop it, Sirius.” You turned to Snape, “Please don’t tell. You’ll ruin the weekend for everyone on this floor.”

“How? By making you attend the demonstration you signed up to see? Get over yourself. I’d only be ruining the weekend for you dull ‘populars’ with nothing better to do than commit crimes. What you’re doing is stupidly reckless.”

You crossed your arms and tried to not be offended by his words, “We’re just having fun, Snape.”

“He’s a lost cause, (L/n). He’s just mad no one’ll take him.”

“AM NOT,” Snape growled.

“You just don’t know how fun it’s supposed to be. What if you hang out with me and we go exploring together? Join me while we scope out the museum,” you kept your eyes on Snape as Sirius laughed at your offer.

“What, YOU’LL take him? Are you mad?”

Snape shook his head confused. He was always the type to question everything, “What do you mean?”

You gave him your best smile, “Saturday and Sunday night walk around with me, after the day’s demonstrations. It’ll be fun. And if you still want to tell on us and make us all sit through Monday morning’s demonstration then… Fine.”

“I’m not hearing this,” Sirius rubbed his eyes.

Snape looked into your eyes, his scowl slowly lowered and he finally spoke, “I don’t see the point.”

“But you’ll join me anyways? Just to look around?” You could tell it wasn’t working, he seemed as distant and unapproachable as always. Ready to turn everyone who wasn’t his friends down.

“Snivelly’s too scared to. I’m not though. I’ll gladly – ”

For a second his eyes flicked to Sirius. “Alright,” his voice was low and spiteful.

You nodded and turned to leave, quickly looking at Sirius first, “If you do ANYTHING to make him tell, I’M telling everyone YOU ruined this.”

You marched to the door and exited the room. The hall was still empty and quiet and very few lights were seeping under doors now. You knocked on your own door and hoped your friend hadn’t fallen asleep yet. You were so mad you forgot you needed the rock to get back in.

They opened the door immediately and pulled you in, “I heard everything! You’re really going to hang out with him?”

You shrugged, “He can’t tell if he broke in too. Besides, it’s just to find my spot and claim it.”

“But what about finding someone! No one’s going to talk to you with Snape hanging around like a dark cloud.”

You sighed and yawned, “I’ll figure something out during the demonstrations tomorrow.”

. . .

Students were slowly and quietly filing out of their rooms with wands held brightly in front of them, down to the end of the hall with the fireplace. You left your room and waved at your friend as they walked on without you. You knocked on the door to your left and tapped your foot impatiently.

“Snape!” you whispered.

The door opened and Snape poked his head out and looked around before stepping out, “This is a bad idea. If you had any sense at all you’d go back to bed.”

You smiled amused, “Then why are you joining me?”

He glared down at you but didn’t speak.

Did Snape actually want to break into the museum for fun? You held back a laugh, “Come on, we didn’t spend all day listening to some ghost squeal about historical artifacts for nothing. Slughorn is fast asleep after the boring day and we are going to go have fun.”

You reached passed him and closed his door for him before walking down the deserted hall. Snape’s unsure steps followed.

. . .

One of the museum janitors – apparently some guy that had graduated Hogwarts twenty years ago – had left the side door open for the students and guarded it with a tall staff and a mop. The museum entrance was silent, but out in the distance bouncing lights could be seen, deep into the beast exhibit.

You pulled out your pamphlet and ran your finger down all the starred spots you had called dibs on among your friends. The closest spot was the botanical gardens named ‘Satanical Botanicals’.

“Follow me,” you led the way through a long passageway made of rocks that made your hairs stand on end with electricity.

“People shouldn’t be in here without a guide. All these plants are toxic and poisonous,” Snape dodged a purple-fanged jug plant as it tried to dig into his shoulder.

“Not true, that one was neither,” you giggled.

There were four benches located in the gardens and two were in use by a couple of Hufflepuffs. You walked around to the first bench and saw it was among a snaring prickle vine. The last one was surrounded by whispering wisterias hanging low off the branches. The gardens were dark after closing time and the light purple flowers hummed and glowed faintly.

“This is a good spot,” you sat down at the bench and looked around at the flower bunches swaying. “Romantic.”

“Sure, if you want to be put to sleep and pass out in the dirt,” he pressed his hair down over his ears.

You stood up quickly just as a yawn came over you, “I’ll just cross this one out… Next spot.”

The Midnight Stars tree was across the museum and there was only one way through to it. The corridor was dark with lights only seen out of the corner of your eyes. You stood at the entrance and looked in, trying to spot something in the dark.

“We shouldn’t go through there,” Snape stepped back.

“We’ll run. Easy and fast,” you folded up your brochure and stuffed it in your pocket.

You took a step in, then another, looking back and hoping Snape was following you in. He wasn’t big or intimidating, not by his build at least, but his presence did have a slightly calming effect, or, the knowledge that he knew far more hexes than anyone at school calmed you down.

He glanced at you briefly before stepping in after you. Cold white mist surrounded your ankles and shrieks of pain sounded in the distance. You took off running, Snape still behind, and almost tripped as red flames burst to your right and a white translucent hand shot up to grab you. You jerked away and fell forward out of the corridor, tripping Snape.

“Watch it!”

“Sorry! I-I got spooked,” you stood up and held out your hand to help him up.

He ignored it and stood, dusting himself off, “I’m going in first next time. They can’t touch you. Read the brochure.”

The Midnight Stars tree was standing tall, it’s branches spanning the tall ceiling and walls and lantern flowers blooming full force in the dark. There was no need for windows or floating candles for this room. It was well illuminated in the room by itself. No one had made it this far, likely because of the grotesque corridor of ghosts of burning witches.

“This is perfect!” You ran up to the tree and spun around, admiring the way the flower petals swayed like real fire. “Give me a lift?”

“I’m not getting on my hands and knees for you,” the flowers illuminated in his dark eyes like flames, making them seem deeper like an endless hall of shadows.

He seemed very stubborn and quick to judge, “That’s not what I meant, just… give me a boost. Please?”

The please seemed to melt him slightly, just enough to at least consider it. He looked up at the closest branch and stepped onto the soft grass towards you. He uncrossed his arms and laced his long fingers together and stood unsure beside you. His eyes snapped to yours as you put your hand on his shoulder to lower him down to your height.

You wiped your shoe on the grass and put it in his hands, placing both hands on his shoulders and looked up at the closest branch. It was only a few feet above your reach and a swift boost should do the trick. You turned back and gasped softly, not expecting him to be so close. His nose only an inch from yours.

“Just do it,” he murmured.

You nodded and pushed off, reaching high for the branch. Snape’s fingers unclasped and your foot pushed through, knocking you down onto him. You screamed and fell forward, knocking him to the ground. His arms had automatically tried to latch onto you as an attempt to stabilize himself. You opened your eyes, glad to not be in any pain and realized he was still holding you as you laid on him. He groaned and opened his eyes.

You pushed up and sat, pressing your hands to your lips, “Are you ok? I’m sorry!”

His kept his hands on your hips and looked up at you, nodding slowly. “My hands were sweaty and… Sorry.”

You noticed his cheeks were turning a deep red and slowly spreading across his nose as his embarrassment rose. His hair spread out on the grass below and a ladybug walked over the sea of black, the lights reflected in its shiny yellow spots. You swung your leg and fell back onto the grass, feeling his hands leave your side.

“Thanks for trying to catch me,” you smiled and looked down, feeling your own blush spread over your face. You hadn’t expected to ever be so close to him, let alone fall into his arms. Fall into Snape’s arms and to be held firmly by his soft hands.

He sat up and pulled his legs in, wrapping his arms around himself and looked down at the ground at the little bug that had fallen off his hair. “I didn’t mean to… I mean, I didn’t do it on purpose – let you fall. It just happened.”

You giggled and plucked some grass, “My hero. Thanks for giving me a safe landing.”

He looked over and a tiny smile tugged on the corner of his mouth. His hard edges smoothed, and his normal aggressive demeanor vanished. It almost seemed like the Snape that walked the halls of Hogwarts with a scowl and stone-cold eyes had cracked just enough to let light into his dark eyes. His lips looked as soft and smooth as his voice felt.

His smile dropped suddenly, and he stood, “We should go.”

You nodded and followed him through the dark corridor, averting your eyes from the pained faces of the ghosts. There were still students roaming the museum, but you still followed Snape back into the hotel. You opened your room door without another word to him as he entered his own room.

. . .

“Last night to mark your spot,” your friend reminded you as they headed out of your room to join the other students.

All day you had been chancing glances at Snape, and you could swear he had been chancing glances at you too. Whatever happened under the Midnight Stars Tree last night had changed something in you. Snape was no longer some classmate who you were vaguely aware existed.

Since finding yourself inches from his face you hadn’t stopped thinking of him all day. The way his eyes seemed to glow, the way his pink lips curled, and the slightest hint of laugh lines appeared on his face. Every time you had caught his eyes just as he looked away made you blush and smile. You had looked at your hands and bit your lips trying not to look like a fool in love. Because you weren’t. But maybe, you did have a small little crush on ‘that Snape guy’.

You stood from your bed and checked the mirror to make sure you looked ok in the outfit – the one that you had brought for specifically ‘Secret Skip’ which was tomorrow. “What am I doing?” you whispered to yourself and headed out the door.

You knocked on Snape’s door and waited, rocking back and forth on your toes and heels with your hands folded in front of you. No one answered the door. You knocked again. Nothing.

“Snape? You’re still hanging out with me… yeah?”

There was a rustle coming from inside and Snape opened the door. He looked you up and down slowly and then out towards the ends of the hall.

“I won’t tell, alright? Your threat made Sirius leave me alone – surprisingly – so you can just go pick your spot or whatever with all your other friends. You don’t have to hang out with me.”

You bit your lip and smiled, “They’d all be too afraid to go through that corridor with me. I’d feel safer if I was with you.”

He kept his eyes on the end of the hall, but his lips tugged into a slight smile of amusement, “If you prefer.”

. . .

The museum seemed a bit more rambunctious now, with students running from place to place trying to get to their spots before the next. There were hushed laughter and whispered arguments echoing through every exhibit. Except for the Midnight Stars Tree room.

“You said you’d go first, remember?” you pushed on his back slightly, feeling him lean back into your push.

He sighed, “Fine…” He took out his wand and held it up as he started forward.

You followed close behind and kept your eyes on his robes as you ran, ignoring the bursting flames to either side. You both came out the other end without tripping over each other.

“Don’t think you have to mark your spot, considering no one’s even been here.”

You shrugged and walked forward, “Just in case.”

You took your wand and traced your room number on the lower part of the trunk, watching the numbers glow gently. You turned back and sat down next to Snape, incredibly aware of how close your hands were to his – until he moved.

“Should we leave now then?” he bent his head over his knees, resting on his chin.

“Your name’s Severus, right?”

He shifted his head to rest on his cheek, nodding carefully.

“The grass is soft, isn’t it?” Your attempt at small talk was laughable.

He nodded and placed his hands back down next to yours, looking down to make sure they never touched. You laid back on the soft grass and smiled when he joined, your inner hands still almost touching.

“Your… outfit looks nice.”

You bit your lip trying not to smile and giggle at his compliment. Severus Snape liked what you were wearing? “Do… you think it’s cute?” Were you pushing it?

He nodded slowly and his hand inched closer by only a few grassy blades. You did the same and felt your pinky brush up against his. The next second his hand was over yours and you were turning your palm up for him. His hand was soft and warm, wrapping around yours perfectly. Each slender finger fit between yours and held you as firmly as when you had fallen onto him the night before.

You lifted his arm with your intertwined hand and slid closer to him, so that your arms were tucked cozily between you as your head rested on his shoulder. You held your breath waiting for a response and felt his cheek rest on your head. You breathed in and noticed his clothes still smelled like the potions classrooms and giggled quietly, wondering if he had been brewing during the few days stay at the hotel.

You let go of his hand and pushed it away, choosing instead to lean on his body and place your arm over him. He wrapped his arm around you and pushed you closer, holding you to him as if you’d suddenly run away. You held him just as tight.

Your hand slid from his side to his chest, feeling the way his chest rose with every breath. His fingertips traced the length of your arm and then brushed through your hair gently. It was relaxing laying there under the glowing flowers that looked like dancing flames in the sky. Your knee rested on his thigh and just like that you were the most comfortable you’ve ever been.

You stayed like that for several minutes, shyly enjoying each other until you heard Sirius’ voice from the other side of the corridor of ghosts.

“(L/n)!”

You stood quickly and stepped away from Severus, knowing Sirius would just love catching the two of you together like that.

Sirius burst through the darkness and looked back as another boy came through right behind him. You recognized the other boy. A Hufflepuff with emerald green eyes and who was known as the third best looking boy in the school by many. You were surprised to find him walking besides Sirius, considering he was rarely seen with anyone other than his own Quidditch team.

“(L/n), finally found you,” Sirius smiled. He looked down at Severus sitting on the grass and arched his brow. “Since you’ve been taking one for the team, having to put up with Snivelly for two nights I thought I’d do you a favor.”

“I don’t need anything from you.” You noticed Severus slowly backing away.

Sirius placed his hand on the Hufflepuff’s shoulder, “I insist. So here.”

The Hufflepuff opened his arms in defeat and winked at you, “I see you’ve picked this spot. So why don’t I join you here tomorrow?”

This was a test, an all too obvious one. If you said no then Sirius would accuse you of having asked Severus, a rumor that was sure to spread fast. The fact it would be Sirius spreading it gave you chills, knowing he could be ruthless at times and who knew what he would say.

“Sure,” you glanced back at where Severus stood last but did not see him.

Sirius looked around too, “Well it’s settled then.”

Severus was nowhere in sight. You smiled politely, “I’ll meet you here then.”

You walked around them and headed into the corridor, running as fast as you could. You couldn’t spot Severus anywhere as you searched from the corridor exit to the front of the museum. He was gone.

. . .

Wizards from all over the world were filing into the auditorium to watch the big demonstration. A giant cauldron stood on the stage where four old wizards in different color robes prepared their ingredients. All the Hogwarts students were sitting in the very back behind Slughorn and the fourth years. Severus sat two rows behind you and avoided eye contact completely as you had found your seat.

The demonstration began and the lights dimmed. Everyone sat quietly and the second the old wizards started dropping things into the sizzling liquid, all the Hogwarts students from floor seven stood and made their way out. You followed your friend and stopped at the door, careful not to be spotted by the Hufflepuff boy with emerald green eyes. He wasn’t even looking for you.

All the back rows were almost empty, except for Severus and a few other students. You made your way down again and sat next to him in the empty chair to his right. He turned and stared at you in confusion. He crossed his arms and sunk into his chair.

The crowd cheered as the smoke turned pink. You extended your hand, hoping he’d know what you meant and take it. He turned and shook his head, his black hair swaying over his shoulder.

You leaned in, “Severus, please? I only agreed so that Sirius would leave us alone. I want to be here with you, enjoying the demonstration. Like you wanted. I was never going to join him.”

He sat unmoving.

You couldn’t see his face and wished desperately to be back under the Midnight Stars tree. You touched his fingers and pulled them out from under his arm, holding his hand tight, “Forgive me?”

His fingers wrapped around your hand and Severus turned back, nodding with the same small smile as normal, “Ok.”

The demonstration went on and you couldn’t help but hug his arm and lean into him. The demonstration was the same boring one as previous years but sitting there was worth it, especially when he wrapped his arm around your shoulders and pulled you in.

Your hand rested on his knee as you snuggled closer and his arm around your shoulder slid down around your waist. His other hand reached over and held your hand tight as it rested on his knee. His thumb rubbed your skin back and forth like gentle soothing waves.

You closed your eyes and imagined belonging to him and only him. They way he held you felt so right and it didn’t matter where the two of you were, it was just as relaxing. It felt perfect being with him, in the darkness of the theater and under the tree. Severus Snape was everything you wanted.

. . .

The demonstration as over, ending in booming claps and loud whistled cheers. Everyone stood and made their way outside where the other students were already waiting. Slughorn was none the wiser and herded everyone back to the hotel lobby.

Your friends had pulled you aside and told you every juicy detail, and luckily never bothered to ask you about your morning. They knew something was up with you and “that Snape guy” and had the decency not to push passed your walls. The rest of the morning involved packing and before you could say anything to Severus, he had Flooed away.

. . .

The Hogwarts Express arrived and students were filing out, eager to get in the large carriages that took them up to the school. You looked around again, and finally spotted a bobbing black head with sleeked lank hair. You pushed passed the crowd and pulled on his robes.

“Severus! Hi,” you smiled.

His black eyes looked on towards the carriages, “(L/n).” His voice was sharp and cold.

You frowned and waited for the last few stragglers to get in a carriage before speaking again. “Are you mad at me? Did I do something? I thought yesterday was nice, but you left so fast.”

He pulled on the sleeves of his robes and looked down, “You could have said no to him. You could have asked me… I thought you were going to ask me… I wanted you to.”

He looked sad but you weren’t sure what to say. “I thought you wanted to see the demonstration. That’s why you signed up… Sirius would have spread rumors – ”

He stared at you intensely and frowned, hurt plainly visible in his glistening eyes, “Yeah. Everyone would have known you liked me. How awful that would have been.”

He scoffed and made his way to a packed carriage. You made your way to one of the empty ones and sighed, hating the way his lips had trembled.

. . .

It was a week after term had started and dozens of students were enjoying the last few days of summer outside in the courtyard. A light breeze blew that carried laughter throughout. There were groups of friends spread out in every spot. Your group consisted of all your friends and added acquaintances, chattering away about their summers in the far corner next to a group of Gryffindors.

Severus sat hunched on a bench, ignored by everyone as he read and tried to keep his page as the wind blew. His head was hung low and his hair blocked the light from hitting his book, his finger ran across the pages tracing the words.

You looked around and sighed. You jumped down from the low stone wall and made your way over to Severus. You didn’t think he’d notice your shadow since his book was already shrouded in darkness, but he did. He looked up and tilted his head, unsure of your intentions in such a crowded space.

“Can I do something?”

He looked around at the eyes that had started to stare, “Um… s-sure?”

You pushed his book away and stepped between his legs and sat on his thigh. You hooked your arm around his neck and kissed his cheek. His arms wrapped around your waist instinctively and held you carefully. His pale face flushed pink and a wide smile spread across his face as you pulled your lips away.

Within seconds a few Slytherins came over – a part of the gawking crowd moments before. His friends sat around, bewildered by what they were seeing.

“Severus? When did this happen?”

Severus was about to open his mouth when you answered first, “Yesterday.”

Severus shrugged nonchalantly and squeezed you closer, “Told you guys to go.”

You laughed and nuzzled his cheek with your nose, loving the way he bit his lip to stop from smiling too big. You played with his hair as you sat on his lap and joined in the retelling of how it came to be.

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~

Masterlist

Request: “may I request a young sev x reader where they cuddle 🥺🥺 pretty please?” - Anon

221 notes · View notes

leggomylino · 4 years

Text

A Floral Memoir | Yang Jeongin

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ--ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ--ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

Genre: Nostalgic, drama, bittersweet, angst, fluff ending

Pairing: Yang Jeongin x fem!reader

Au: Flower shop au, friends to lovers au

Word Count: ~3.9k

Warning(s): None! c:

A/N: This was supposed to just be a blurb/timestamp but I’ve been heavily influenced by fictional prose from my Fiction 101 class so...this happened. :D | Masterlist linked down below and in bio!!! <3 | For Nana, who loves Yang Jeongin; and, for all the wonderful writers of @skzwriternet. Thank you all for being so supportive and kind. God bless. 🎔

Tag List: @hanniiesuckle17 @distrikt9 @hanstagrams @hyunsunq @smolboiseavey @jisungsjheekies @iluvlix @moonlit-han @stay-nctzen @yangomangos @stayndays @cotccotc @skzctnightnight @multi-stan-present @dreamy-dreamies @yunhoesss (If you’d like to be added, please let me know! Comment, ask, or DM me!!! ^^)

ღ Stray Kids M.List | M.List ღ

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ--ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ--ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

There’s this flower shop down the road from your house that you’re used to going to. It’s one of those hole-in-the-wall places, the kind that never stand out unless you’re actively looking for them. The brick’s chipped, covered in vines, and the sign out front is hanging by a stem, the slanted posture threatening to drop dead over the next teenager that pursues vandalism; still, to you it’s never unrecognizable, no matter how many years of wear-and-tear or lost du jour go by. To you, it’s the most beautiful place in the world: not for what is shown on the outside, but for what lies there within. What it stands for, represents.

This is the local flower shop of 129 Poppy Close Lane. And it is the place you grew up in, blooming alongside Yang Jeongin.

Jeongin had been your best friend growing up. The two of you did almost everything together: ride bikes, watch movies, play in the park. Feed the ducks, hop around like frogs, climb trees. Hide in your mother’s laundry basket in order to jump out and scare the daylights out of her-- which only backfired once when she nearly had a heart attack-- to which you vowed never to do ever again. Instead, the two of you set your sights on the neighbor’s son, a boy of roughly similar age named Kim Seungmin. But that always seemed to backfire as well. Kim Seungmin was simply too smart.

The day Innie’s parents-- that was your nickname for him, sometimes I.N.-- the day his parents announced they’d be buying out a crumbling furniture store, the two of you had been so excited. Think of all the beds you could jump on! All the sofas to tackle! The pillow fights! The two of you could make the largest blanket fort in the history of blanket fortresses!!!

...Instead, those dreams were crushed like petals pressed between pages. You weren’t getting a mattress playground; they were opening a flower store.

A flower store? But aren’t flowers free? Don’t they grow outside? The two of you prodded and pestered Jeongin’s parents until they ran out of answers to give, and instead only replied with “you’ll see” and “just wait.” But if there was one thing the two of you hated doing, it was waiting. Why did you have to? Wait for what?

...Time flies when you eventually forget about the thing it is you have to wait around for, too occupied curling toes beneath blankets by a roaring fire or towering blocks into Lego houses. After a few days of lazing around with Jeongin at your house and a short afternoon bike ride through the park, at last the shop of flowers was revealed to you. And it...was…

...Okay. Colorful, vibrant, definitely eye-catching, at least back in those just-starting-out days. But you still didn’t get it at the tender age of ten. Of course you’d heard of flower stores before, but the point escaped you. Couldn’t you just grow your own for free? Couldn’t you just ride to the park and take some from the woods? Why would you sell something you could obtain for free? Who would waste their allowance on that?

Jeongin was different. You remember looking over at him, standing to your right, and seeing his face alive and bursting with more color than the shopfront. The way his eyes sparkled as he took it all in, the pride that seemed to blossom in his smile and the way he carried himself. Straight, tall, and happy, just like the sunflowers waving outside the window. It was off-putting to say the least, but you felt gratified just watching him elate and gush his excitement. So you upheld that same excitement, too.

Years went by of the two of you hanging out in that place; Little Fox Flowers, it was called. Appropriately named for the son of the two owners who spent their days happily snipping away sadness and making the lives of all its customers just a bit brighter. A place where all the local college-bound kids would apply for part-time jobs in order to live out their novel fantasies, hoping for a quiet place to smell the roses after a long day of notetaking and hide behind the hollyhock to study.

They were always kindly denied. After all, the shop was a family business: just Mr. and Mrs. Yang, Jeongin, and you, who had been considered the daughter they never had since you were six. And, eventually, Kim Seungmin, who won everyone over with cake and the “look-at-how-responsible-I-am” presentation. He was responsible, no one could deny: the way he’d always turn you and Jeongin in before you could commence danger-inducing experiments.

And then, at fourteen, it was the three of you. You got paid, of course-- just scarcely minimum wage, but that was alright, because Mr. and Mrs. Yang always bought you lunch or dinner every other Friday. And the mean apple pie and best empanadas baked by the kind elderly couple who worked just across the street was to die for. (A side note: you’d find out two years later this was the place Kim Seungmin got his cake recipe from in exchange for helping fix a leaky faucet. The devious scoundrel.) The three of you worked and worked and studied and worked, spending perhaps too much time learning the wildest things about each other, things you were surprised you never knew of Jeongin, things you’d never guess about Kim Seungmin (you didn’t refer to him as just Seungmin until you were sixteen).

Jeongin was a fan of rock music. Kim Seungmin enjoyed more than a good book and ratting out his neighbors. Jeongin actually studied flowers in his free time, more than just what he learned passively working in a floral shop. Kim Seungmin was actually a prankster himself.

They learned things about you as well: how you preferred sunrises to sunsets, how you collected music boxes, how you kept a diary the two of them would never get to read, and now that they knew about it, were no longer or henceforth ever allowed in your room. This brought joy and laughter the color of fresh-sprung poppies to their faces...and a curious tint of rosehip to the cheeks of Yang Jeongin.

You distinctly remember the way he stared at you, two seconds too long before he looked away, to the flower arrangement before him, a smile never leaving his face. Spooked, you buried yourself back behind the front desk, occasionally peeking at his reflection through the storefront window.

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

At seventeen you’re all sweating bullets over SATs and TCIs and ACTs and every other stress-fueled test that exists in the better education realm. The three of you are taking turns quizzing each other and flicking foreheads or slapping wrists after getting an answer wrong. When the owners announce they’re heading home to finish up errands and get dinner started, you take turns in the final few store hours managing the front desk: two cramming backstage, one holding the reins out front. It’s in solitude that Seungmin tells you he’s decided to go to Harvard University, and possibly Yale if he finishes with a 4.1 GPA. At this you want to smack him, but at the same time, tell him not to go. It wouldn’t break your heart to see him go, but what’s wrong with your local university? Or a university just an hour out of town?

He tells you it’s something he’s always wanted, and heartily decided, so you take his hand in yours and wish him the best. It’s not a problem; Harvard and Yale aren’t too far away.

The real problem arises when they switch, and with Seungmin running the front desk and helping late-blooming customers, it’s Jeongin who tells you he won’t be going to college at all. “I’ve decided to travel,” he says. “I want to explore new cultures. I want to hear other kinds of music. I want to see other types of flowers.”

At this, you deadpan. Blink a few times, just to make sure that registered. “You...want to leave the country?”

“It’ll sort of be like studying abroad-- hey, maybe that’s what I’ll do. Study abroad. I’ll be able to see lots of things that way. There’s a program that can accept me right away if I apply before midnight.”

“Jeongin…”

You frown. You can’t help it. Jeongin? Leaving you behind? You aren’t about to lose both of your best friends; especially not Jeongin, who to you was Innie, I.N., the boy with the messy black hair and slightly bad attitude, and many other things.

His stare says everything for him, his smile drooping like perennial flowers. “You don’t like the idea.”

It’s not a question; it’s a statement. “That’s not true. I didn’t say that.”

“You don’t have to.”

He gets up, leaving the room. There’s an odd sense of finality as he exits.

“...I’m gonna see if Seungmin needs any help.”

“......”

You wince a little, even today, recalling the way he soft-slammed the back door. It was the last time you saw him, for the span of three long years.

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

It goes by too fast. Before you know it, you’ve reached the big two-O. Twenty is that odd age where you’re not sure about anything. Are you an adult? Are you still a kid? What age group do you fit into? What are you even doing with your life?

You’d chosen to major in botanical science. The flowers of the shop had ended up placing their roots into you. And being the sentimental gal that you were, you could never find yourself tearing away from your roots-- it was how flowers wilted and died.

So when Yang Jeongin reappeared on the shop porch one morning, looking fresh as a daisy, you could hardly believe your eyes. He must have been put in one heck of a vase of Miracle Grow and holy water to have survived away from the garden for so long. At first, you’re ecstatic to see him-- at first. But then you remember what he did to you: the way he just walked out of the breakroom, clocking out without you noticing, not answering your texts, ignoring your calls, only to find out the next day he’s insanely hopped onto the morning train and booked a flight for Beijing. Part of a study program, his parents said. Very last minute, they explained. We’re so sorry, they lamented.

The only means of contact you’d received were a cloying box of exotic chocolates and a note from Jeongin that first year, along with a music box you couldn’t bring yourself to ever listen to. It ended up thrown into your closet, shadowed in a great tub with all the other ones. The note said something along the lines of an apology and explained he’d lost his phone during a boat ride that first week, and the strict program he was enrolled in didn’t allow him to contact friends; only immediate family. He’d had to lie to his advisors and tell them you were his adopted sister, which you suppose wouldn’t have been a lie once upon a time. After that, you’d only get an awkward “Jeongin says hello,” from his parents, who felt just as uncomfortable about the estranged situation. They’d assure you he was doing well and just going through a phase. He was angry. He acted irrationally, just the one time. They knew how important this was to him. He’d come back around, he really cared for you, after all.

Seeing him now made your head spin. You had to grip the cash register nailed into the hardwood so you wouldn’t fall over. “You’re...You’re back. You’re here. In the shop.”

He dropped his bags near the front door as if the place was his second home. Just like it always had been. “I’m back. Here. In the shop,” he repeated, an urgent longing in his actions.

The smile he wore never left his face as he rushed over to you...then paused, fearfully, his hands frozen in an awkward state of half-reaching and half-retreating.

“Y/n…” He sighed, his breath a multitude of years lost. “...I’m sorry. I have no right to walk in here like nothing happened. You have every right to be angry. Are you angry?”

That was a good question. Were you angry? You should have been. You had every right to be, just like he said. This may have been his family’s store, but it was your second home, too, and you may as well have been a part of the family; you had every right ignore him or tell him to get out, to scream and demand answers, or even to cry and weep like the weeping willow tree out back.

Instead, you felt nothing. And everything. It was too much, so much strange emotion and Twilight Zone madness packed into a single punch that you smiled and simply replied, “I’m fine. How can I help you today?”

It came out sounding like you were the one asking for help. Jeongin seemed to catch wind of this too, distressed eyes staring into yours as if seeking a hidden entrance through the new roadblock to your mind. For the longest time, the two of you didn’t say anything.

Things got really awkward when Seungmin showed up on one of his monthly visits-- he ended up going to Harvard, but he still visited you every month and bothered to keep in touch-- and sensing the tension after a surprised gasp of excitement, uncomfortably shuffled to the back of the room with the excuse he’d get to work on the shop’s monthly revenue, assisting with the finances as part of his accountant training (a side gig to his major in criminal law). What resulted with the silent clicking of the door was the clicking of your own.

You clocked out, texting Seungmin the location of the shop’s spare key and asking him to do you this one favor. Then to meet you downtown for a slice. As you swung onto the Vespa your parents had given you on your nineteen birthday, you observed Jeongin, in the shop’s reflection, through the rearview mirror, as he stood there, absorbing and deploring his loss.

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

It’s now midday, a few months later, and you haven’t seen or spoken to Yang Jeongin since. Even if he did live down the street, in your mind he’d been cast from the garden, turned into fertilizing soil. He hadn’t tried to contact you since, and neither had you found yourself hovering over the call option, only to toss the phone away with an agitated moan. You didn’t know how to overcome the foreign distance between you two, or at least you hadn’t...until today.

Today, well, you still didn’t really know how to go about it. But despite your temporary closure to any and all things Yang Jeongin, you did a lot of thinking about that day, when he’d just shown up out of nowhere, sprouting like the happiest weed on the planet, fearfully trying to patch things up. It wasn’t forced or out of pity or selfish guilt. It was as true as the blue roses you’ve had to convince more than a few customers were not spray-painted or artificially made. Jeongin had made a big, unlike-Jeongin mistake, one lasting far too long, but it was still the first (and last; you’d be sure of that). There had to be more to the story than what appeared above the ground.

You should never judge a rose for its petals, Mrs. Yang once told you. It may still be blooming.

You’re parking your bike in its usual place in front of the store, locking it to the bike rack Mr. Yang had installed-- your Vespa got destroyed while letting Seungmin take it for a joyride-- and you push open the familiar glass door, the sweet chime of the old silver bell singing overhead. Jeongin looks up at you from around a middle-aged man at the register, his voice falling an octave late.

“Welcome i-- ...n.”

It’s that same awkward tension all over again, but you try to smile through it, for friendship’s sake. After holding open the door for the parting customer, you make sure the door is locked before nervously wringing your hands halfway to the counter.

Jeongin takes your actions in alarm, bracing himself against the register as you had just a few months prior. Funny how times change. “...What’s going on? What are you gonna do?”

...As if you were going to rob or beat him. You’d thought about doing so with one of the giant sunflowers, three month before, but would never risk harm to the flower. “I…” A sigh. “...Can we talk?”

There’s an arrangement waiting for pickup or delivery sitting at the edge of the counter. Jeongin stares intently at the wooden space before casting his gaze to the flowers. He lifts them, crossing the bouquet over his face to the other side. You’re not entirely sure what he’s doing until he hands the bundle to you. “I can’t leave the shop right now...could you make this delivery for me? The address is on the tag.”

“......” You accept the bouquet awkwardly. “...Uh, yeah, sure.”

“I’ll clock you in, so you get paid.”

“No...don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

He nods, slowly, just barely managing an unstable means of eye contact. “...Thanks.”

And so you walk out of the store, unlocking the door and hopping onto the shop’s delivery vehicle. It’s more a less like a Vespa, just older and a bit outdated. Securing the flowers in the protective shell container (a basket with a clear, wind-resistant lid), you snapped on the helmet and started the engine, making a hard right into the street.

It occurs to you as you're driving that you didn’t bother to look at the address in your haste to escape an uncomfortable situation gone wrong. So much for talking things out and tackling your problems head-on. That really worked out well. You squint beneath the afternoon glare reflecting off the lid, but the address is written so tiny and messily you have to pull over and open the basket in order to get a better look.

279 Blueberry Street.

You just about dropped those flowers, gripping them a bit too tight so that a few stray thorns poked your fingers. 279 Blueberry Street was...well.

It was Jeongin’s address.

...You had no idea what was going on, but intuition told you it was something fishy, something planned and arranged just as carefully as this cliché arrangement of red roses and baby’s breath. Typical and predictable, just like the old Yang Jeongin.

You’d bite. You drove the scooter across town and into your neighborhood, parking in the drive behind Mr. Yang’s Nissan. You remember taking many car trips around town and into neighboring cities in the backseat, Jeongin at your side, dropping fries and Cheerios and frozen yogurt all over the protective mats and onto each other. With a frustrated huff, you scurry to the front porch.

Maybe this is a crazy coincidence. Maybe Mr. Yang ordered flowers for his wife. Maybe Mrs. Yang got flowers for her husband. Maybe they both ordered them for Jeongin, as part of a gift to commemorate something you were once, for the first time in your life, unaware of. Or maybe you’d read the address wrong. Maybe it was Bluebell Street or Bellberry Street or something entirely different, and you were delusionally tripping because, hah, what else had been new over the course of the past few months...few years. Maybe...maybe--

A warm light envelops you as the door swings open, and you’re instantly hit with the nostalgic scent of fresh lavender and spring-time strawberries. The candles that Mrs. Yang loves to buy.

Jeongin’s eyes are strained, but there’s a new warmth about them that feels familiar. Like a withered blossom sprouting back to life. He’s no longer dressed in his work apron and usual uniform; instead he’s freshly showered, wearing Church clothes, his dark hair still wet and tangled to a messy frame around his face. There’s a comb stuck to the back of his head, and following your stare he removes it with a sheepish chuckle, tossing it somewhere towards the living room and attempting to tame wild curls in a more presentable manner. He smiles, tenderly.

“You made it...I was worried you’d think it was a mean joke.”

“Well…” You consider. “I almost did. But there are infinite possibilities out there, right?”

His smile blooms. Taking the smallest rose, he checks it for thorns before tucking it behind your ear. “Yeah,” he says, “There definitely are. Come in, please...there’s a lot of things I need to apologize for. Starting with the whole disappearing for three years and...yeah.”

You supplement his cringe with a frown, then thinking about the ridiculous letter, imagine him beneath flickering candlelight, frantically scrawling down a horrifically worded letter in secrecy. You think about him in Barcelona nervously pacing between bustling touristy streets and getting lost or ripped off and wanting to scream at the stupidity of his actions and lack of Spanish. You imagine him in a woodshop in Berlin, flipping through a dictionary and pointing to words he can’t begin to pronounce and the amount of frustration cooked up from having to go through five woodsmiths until he found one that spoke just a bit of a broken language he understood, and the funny game of Pictionary that probably followed.

You laugh, shoving his shoulder on the way in and hurrying into the kitchen for a vase. After placing the display on the counter, you grab his collar, kissing his cheek.

His face burns the shade of chrysanthemums, wide eyes wondering what it was he did to deserve such a reaction. To you, he had more or less abandoned you, after all.

But you know better. You’ve known Yang Jeongin since you were five years old; when he knocked over a bottle of glue onto your summer dress after trying to hand you the paper flower he’d made. When things seem bad, they’re never personally intended. They’re never what they really seem. And you should have remembered that, too.

He spins you around now, and the two of you laugh, laughter echoing down the cream-colored halls all the way to the back garden. Back to a simpler time; a time when the two of you were just kids, pushing each other on the big oak swing and tackling each other in mud, smiling amongst the flowers.

It’s the place where you and Yang Jeongin reside, never again apart, for the rest of your days. ✿

ღ Stray Kids M.List | M.List ღ

79 notes · View notes

tony-is-my-daddy · 3 years

Text

Dream a little dream of me pt2

The weather was bad, it was getting a bit cold at the middle of October now, but Peter and his little students were outside on the playground. He was pushing one of the youngest little boys in the swing who couldn't do it by himself yet, while watching over the rest of the children around him so no one would get hurt. Of course, you wouldn't think a class of fifteen kids was a lot to look after, but honestly, even looking after one was a challenge for some people.

It was nice, though, the kids were slowly starting to go home with their parents, even the little boy who he was swinging, and after a while, it was just him and Morgan. It was strange, Morgan was usually one of the first kids to be taken home.

"Hey princess. Who's coming for you today," he asked as he sat down next to the little girl who sat on a bench, swinging her legs that couldn't reach the ground.

"Eric..."

Peter frowned. "Who's Eric?"

"My new dad. I don't wike him too much."

Oh. "Your mommy has a new boyfriend?"

"Yes he's gunna be my new dad."

"Well, when did you meet him?"

"Last week..."

"That's a very little tiny short time," Peter said, his thumb and index finger almost touching as he showed how small he meant to the girl. "Why don't you wait until you get to know him better? Maybe you will like him."

"But I wanted you to be my new dad..."

His heart skipped a beat at that. "Now now, Morgan, daddy told you not to talk about this, right?"

"Right... sorry."

"It's okay, bub. Just be nice to Eric, okay? You can't be sure what he's like if you don't know him yet."

"Otay."

Just then, someone walked through the gate, a tall, broad man with black hair and brown eyes. He smiled when he spotted Morgan on the bench.

"Hi Morgan! I'm so sorry for being late, it won't happen again, I promise," he said as he walked over to her and Peter. "Hi um I'm sorry, this won't be a regular occasion, traffic was just a nightmare," he explained to Peter this time. "Eric."

"Peter. It's okay, I gladly spend my whole day with this little angel, ain't that right, Morgan?" The little girl giggled as Peter pinched her cheek. "Alright, now go home with Eric, bub."

"Goodbye, Mr. Parker," she said as she jumped off the bench.

"Bye bye Morgan!"

Morgan and Eric walked out and got in a car, leaving Peter alone on the school grounds. He sighed as he looked around, the playground that was a few minutes ago full of screaming children now so lifeless. It was scary and he didn't like being there without the kids, so he went back to his classroom where he collected all of his belongings. He checked his phone before leaving and saw a message from Tony.

Tony: Ready for tonight?

Peter: Not yet, just got out of work

Tony: You're still beautiful

Peter: Don't make me blush

Tony: ;)

It was Friday again, almost a week after their first date, and now they were going on a second. Peter was so excited about having their second date now, since he very much enjoyed their first one. It all still seemed so surreal, him dating Tony Stark, texting him every single day and seeing him occasionally when he came to get Morgan. He loved it, of course, but he wouldn't be surprised if this all were just some kind of fever dream or a bad joke. Though be prayed for it not to be.

When he got home, he laid down for a while, opening up his chat with Tony again as he put something on for background noise on the TV.

Peter: What should I wear?

Tony: ?

Peter: This is a fancy place

Tony: Not that fancy

Peter: Fancier than what a kindergarten teacher is used to

Peter: So what should I wear?

Tony: I'll be wearing a suit and tie, if that helps

Peter: Then we should match

Tony: You're adorable

Peter: I know :)

Tony: Literally everything you wear will look amazing on you because EVERYTHING LOOKS FUCKING AMAZING WHEN YOU WEAR IT

Peter: You say that because you haven't seen me in my lazy sunday attire yet XD

Tony: What does that look like?

Peter: A shirt that's 3 sizes big on me and sweatpants

Peter: And ugly glasses

Tony: I wear ugly glasses too

Tony: But that's even worse since I wear them because I'm old as fuck

Peter: You're only 10 years older than me

Tony: I'd like to point out that you have daddy issues but then that would seem like I'm not glad that you do so I'll just keep quiet

Peter: Shut up and get dressed XD

Tony: Alright, see you in a bit ;)

God, he loved their banter.

During the past week, they really spoke every single day, for the first two days Tony texted him first, and then Peter got brave enough to text first as well. They got to know each other more, they told each other about their traumas and families - Peter about that one aunt that he still had and loved, and Tony about his dad and mom, then his closest friends who he counted as family. Peter now also knew that Tony loved old school rock, cheeseburgers and liked to work on old cars in his free time, that he went to MIT and graduated early with perfect grades. Tony knew about how much Peter loved to cook and that he loved pets, especially cats, and he was really into the 50's and 60's songs, that he was a nerd back in school and he was part of the decathlon team.

So basically, now they knew a shit ton of things about each other, even just after a week. It was crazy, they wouldn't stop talking to each other, it was like they were fifteen years old in love again.

As Peter's mind was wandering back to Tony and to how amazing of a person he was, he slowly began to get ready for their date. He chose one of his two suits (wow, what a great job) and a baby blue tie that looked good with the light grey. He got dressed, gelled his hair back, and he was ready to go. Thankfully, not long after that Tony texted, saying he's just leaving his place. Peter waited until the doorbell rung again and this time, he let Tony in. There was nothing wrong in letting the man look around, right?

"Hey Tones," Peter greeted when he opened his door for the man. "Come on in, I just have to put on my jacket and my shoes and we can go."

Tony walked in and looked around the small kitchen and dining space. He peeked through the archway to the living room as well, then hummed. "Living cozy up here, I see."

"Very," Peter chuckled. "That's what the landlord said when I was looking around the place as well, I assume because the best was to describe a small ass apartment is ‘cozy’." Tony laughed at that.

"Well it might be small but it's very homey. I like it a lot." The older man leaned over to look at the succulents that stood in a perfect line on his windowsill. "I like the plants."

"Oh there's a lot of them in here, most of them I keep in the living room. Wanna check them out?"

"Yeah sure-" he looked at his watch, "oh wow, maybe not now. We're gonna be late for our reservation."

"Oh sorry, yes, let's go," he said as he pulled up the zipper on his jacket.

They went to a modern place which looked super expensive, but Tony assured him that ut wasn't actually. They sat down at a nice little table for two, a romantic candle lit between the two of them at the center of it. Everything looked so nice and Peter was so excited. They ordered their dinner and began eating as soon as the waiter brought it to them. They were both very hungry already.

"How do you like it," Tony asked.

"Oh it's absolutely amazing. How's yours?"

"Good. I think my mamma made it better, though."

Peter's eyes widened. "Your... mamma?"

"Yeah, my mother used to cook a lot of italian dishes that she learned from my grandmother. She always said that italian food was the best kind of food in the world."

"Wow, I didn't know that."

Tony smirked. "You also didn't know I was half italian."

"No way!"

"Yep."

When they got back from the date to Peter's place, it was already quite late, yet it seemed too early to let the man leave just yet. Peter desperately looked around his house to find something, anything, that could make the older man want to stay for a bit more.

"Hey, I have some leftover wine. It's not Chardonnay or anything like that, but... if you wanna stay for a while and drink some then I think... I wouldn't be very opposed to that."

Tony smirked. "Well how can I say no when you're asking so nicely?"

They took of their jackets, shoes and blazers and Peter grabbed two glasses and the bottle on their way to the living room. They sat down on the couch and started drinking. Tony was looking around the place, the stairs behind Peter's desk catching his eyes and he finally looked up to see a loft bedroom.

"You actually sleep up there?"

Peter laughed. "Yeah, I do."

"There's no walls, aren't you scared of falling off?"

"There's fencing up there, Tones. See, all around the flooring."

"And where's your bed?"

"Oh I don't have a bed. I have a mattress on the floor."

"What the fuck?!"

"Yeah, I mean, it didn't seem like a good idea to have that old hardwood flooring hold up not just my weight but also a bed's weight. So I thought a mattress would be enough. It's actually quite nice up there, I have lots of plants."

"Yeah, and if you come home drunk you might break a leg on your way to your... mattress."

"That's why I mever drink until I get drunk."

They discussed Peter's living situations for some time, and when they finally stopped talking for a minute or two, Tony looked at his watch.

"It's late, isn's it," Peter asked.

"Almost midnight."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you here for so long."

"No, it's fine. I didn't really... wanna leave anyway."

Peter smiled, looking away from the older man's eyes shyly. "You know, if it's already so late... and you had a lot of wine now, maybe... it wouldn't be a great idea to drive home."

"Peter Parker, are you asking me to sleep over?"

He glanced up at the older man through his thick lashes. "Would that be okay?"

Tony put the glass half full of wine down on the coffe table and leaned in to capture Peter's lips in a soft kiss. "It would be more than okay," he breathed when they pulled away. Peter grinned from ear to ear and he pulled Tony back in for another kiss by his tie, this one deeper, more passionate than the one before. They ended up making out for about ten minutes on the couch, Peter's arms around Tony's neck and his legs in Tony's lap, the man's arms wrapped around his body and hands stroking his back. It was perfect. Sexy. Until Peter forgot that he still had a glass of wine in his hand and spilled it all over the back of Tony's shirt.

Tony, of course, forgave him, but it definitely killed the vibes. Tony's dress shirt ended up soaking in the sink while the two of them fell asleep, cuddling on Peter's mattress.

After that great second date, Peter invited Tony over on Tuesday the next week to bake a pumpkin pie together. Yes, it was a lame idea for a third date but it was his turn to finally ask Tony out, and he didn't really want to go anywhere, he just wanted to stay in his apartment, bake a pie and maybe cuddle with Tony under a blanket afterwards. Let a man dream!

Tony didn't seem to have any problems with the idea and on Tuesday, after both of their shift was over, he went over to Peter's.

"Hey! So great to see you again," Peter greeted him with a kiss.

"You saw me yesterday night when we FaceTimed," Tony said.

"Yeah, but that was on FaceTime, it's not the same. Come on, get undressed and we can get to it. I hope you're ready for cutting it open because I can't do that."

"Are you serious," Tony chuckled.

"Don't laugh at me! Just help."

No, Peter was obviously not serious. Cutting a pumpkin open was difficult, but he could've done it if he wanted to. But then he wouldn't have seen Tony roll up his sleeves and his biceps flex as he cut the pumpkin open, which would've been a shame. God, the man was so damn hot...

They cut the pumpkin and cooked it for a while for the filling while they made the pie crust together. It was such a great thing to do together, Peter enjoyed it, to be honest, more than he enjoyed their other dates. He loved cooking and spending time with Tony, mixing the two together only made things that much better.

"It says lightly floured hands, Tony," Peter yelled. "You don't have to take a handful of flour!"

"Oh I know what the recipe says, this isn't for the dough. I just thought maybe I could return that you ruined my favorite shirt last weekend." He wiggled his eyebrows while not taking his eyes off Peter.

"Nooo, no no no no, I said I was sorry!" But it was too late. His date threw the handful of flour at him, covering his shirt (he wasn't wearing an apron because he only had one and gave it to Tony, God damn it!) and even a little bit of his neck and chin.

"Yeah, that's what you get," Tony laughed wholeheartedly, his entire body shaking with his genuine laughter. It was adorable, honestly, and if Peter wasn't covered in flour, he would've smiled at how sweet Tony's laughter was.

"You're a meanie! That wine thing was an accident but this wasn't," he said like he meant it, but honestly, he was enjoying it a bit as well.

"Oh, I'm sorry my dear." The older man cupped his face with his floury hands and kissed him. Peter completely forgot about what happened for a minute, but then Tony's hand slipped into his hair, ruffling it so that the flour got everywhere.

They pulled away from the kiss, Tony grinning widely while Peter tried to mask his own smile and look angry. "White looks so good on you, baby."

"Oh yeah? Let's see it on you!" Peter reached into the flour bowl as well and the next thing Tony saw was him blowing the little white particles at him, he had just

enough time to close his eyes before they hit his face. "Aww, so amazing," the younger man laughed, rubbing the flour into his date's beard.

"You're so immature."

"You started this!"

While they fought over who was more childish, constantly throwing more and more flour at each other until there was barely any more left, they almost overcooked the pumpkin and they made no progress with the crust. Tony also told Peter that he was a terrible cook, which started out another playfight between them until they were wrestling on the dirty kitchen tiles, laughing and screaming as they fought for dominance. The older man ended up on top of Peter, straddling his hips while holding one of his wrists in each hand to stop him from fighting. Their laughter soon died off and Tony leaned down to kiss Peter, the kiss tasted like flour, but it didn't matter.

"I forget why I came here now," Tony joked.

"I wanted to bake a nice pie with my boyfriend, but nooo, you just had to ruin it," Peter said, laughing through the sentence and he wouldn't have noticed what he said if it wasn't for the smile on Tony's face changing into pure shock. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I- that was so wrong, I know we've only had two dates so far and we never even talked about where this whole thing was going. I'm sorry for being so forward, I wasn't thinking."

"You really think about me like that?" Tony's head tilted to the side slightly, like an adorable curious puppy's. And Peter would've commented on that if it wasn't for how nervous he felt at that moment. He swallowed thickly, his mouth suddenly very dry.

"Well..."

"Because, you know, I've never... felt this way with anyone before." Tony finally let go of his wrists and scooted off his hips to sit on the tile, now Peter sitting up as well to face him.

"Me neither..."

"It's so weird, I mean, we really haven't spent much time together but this whole thing feels so... natural."

"It does, doesn't it?" He felt so relieved. He wasn't the only one feeling that way! "I mean, talking to you is just so easy and I really like it. You make me happy."

"You make me feel like I'm twenty-something again," Tony joked and Peter smiled slightly, pushing at the man's shoulder. "No, seriously now, you make me feel young, happy, whole. I have never ever felt that before with anyone, and you... like, this is literally our third date and look at us!"

Peter laughed out loud now. "Where are we going with all this, Tones?"

"I think... I think it's a bold move, but how about we just become official?"

"You mean like actual boyfriends?"

"Yeah! I mean, what could go wrong? We both want this and we seem to perfectly match!"

"It's kinda early though, aren't you scared?"

"Hella fucking scared. It's like bungee jumping off a cliff. But everyone who's been bungee jumping and didn't die say it was an amazing experience."

"And what if we die?"

"Then... we'll know not to bungee jump again."

Peter chuckled. "So... boyfriends?"

"Boyfriends." He crawled into Tony's lap and kissed him again, this time it lasted longer. Their first kiss as an actual couple, and it happened nowhere else, but on Peter's dirty kitchen tiles while they were both covered in flour and who knows what else. And the pie was long forgotten.

Tony invited Peter over to his house as well. He said he'd seen Peter's multiple times while Peter had never seen his. So Tony drove him over to the Stark Tower and they went all the way up to the penthouse at the top of the huge building. On their way, they ran into Pepper as well, who greeted Peter with a big smile and told him that Tony had said a lot about him already. Peter was happy and Tony was blushing, but no one saw that (Peter did see it).

When they got up to the penthouse, Peter's jaw dropped to the floor. The living room itself was bigger than Peter's whole apartment and probably just the furniture costed more than his rent.

"Wow, this place was probably a chick magnet," he noted as he walked through the living room.

"It was but it doesn't work anymore. Now I just use it to amaze beautiful doe-eyed teachers with it."

"Well, it fucking works. This place looks great, Tony!"

"I'm glad you like it." His boyfriend stepped up behind him, wrapping his arms around his middle. "You know, it's definitely bigger than your... cozy apartment. And it has a bed. A king sized one, actually, that can fit the two of us perfectly."

"What are you saying, babe?"

The older man started peppering kisses on Peter's shoulder and up his neck, making him shiver. "Well, you could spend some more time here, you know. It has a nice working area, a big kitchen where you can cook whatever you want, and I have Netfix, Hulu and Disney+. It's a real dream, you know."

"Tony, babe, this is very nice of you but what if Morgan will get confused? I mean, she already wants me to be her dad-"

The kisses stopped. "She does?"

Peter mentally smacked his own head. "Uh... she might've been saying things to me about that ever since you first asked me out."

"Wow. She never told me about that. I mean, she asked about how you were when I told her I met you again, but nothing about... that."

Peter turned around in Tony's arm to face the slightly taller man. "On the first day Eric came to pick her up, she was all gloomy because she said she wanted me to be her new dad. And she once gave me a drawing where he drew Pepper, herself and you and me."

"Well, maybe that's a sign then?"

He frowned. "What kind of sign would that be?"

"If Morgan likes you then we really were meant to be. If everything's going so smoothly then maybe the universe is trying to tell us that we belong together."

Peter smiled, leaning his head against Tony's chest. "I want this all, Tony. I really do. But I'm so scared something will go wrong," he whispered.

Tony pushed his chin up with his fingers to make Peter look into his beautiful dark brown eyes. "Let's not worry about the future just yet. Let yourself fall, baby, I'm here to catch you, okay?" Peter nodded, and Tony pulled him into a sweet, loving kiss.

The kiss turned into making out, and then soon enough, hands were roaming bodies and their kisses grew more and more hungry. Tony pulled Peter upstairs into the master bedroom where they settled on the king sized bed, clothes flying off and touches becoming bolder, until they were completely naked.

And they made love. It was amazing, better than any sex they've had before, it was sweet, sensual, passionate, loving, and their bodies fit together so perfectly. After reaching their climax together, they laid in each other's embrace for a while, breathing heavy as they recovered from such an amazing orgasm. And those three little words were so close to slipping from Peter's mouth, but he wasn't gonna say it. Not just yet. But someday.

Someday...

#starker #starker fanfiction #starker fanfic #teacher x parent au #fluff #slightly nff #tony x peter #tony stark/peter parker #tony stark x peter parker #au #no powers au #teacher peter #single dad tony

28 notes · View notes

gra-sonas · 4 years

Text

Alex Manes - an essay

Alright, my inbox is bursting with asks, and I’ll get to them (tomorrow, it’s almost midnight D: ), but I’ve been thinking about this all day while trying to work (had to get up and angrily pace my flat several times), and I had to write it all down to get it off my chest. (Also, I’m sorry, but once again Tumblr won’t let me add a Read More, after two attempts at creating new posts with a Read More, I’m giving up 🙈)

As viewers, we’ve been introduced to two different versions of Alex.

Alex at 17

wears mostly black

puts on nail polish, eyeliner and jewellery, including a stud earring and a septum piercing

loves skateboarding

plays the guitar

works at the UFO Emporium

his mom, a Native American woman from a New Mexican tribe left the family when he was younger

has 3 brothers, presumably they’re all older than Alex

Alex at 27/28

a soldier, he’s been in the Air Force for a decade

a decorated purple heart airman with three deployments under his belt

an amputee, he lost part of his right leg in an attack in Iraq, sometimes uses a crutch

a codebreaker who's hacked into Russian and Chinese intelligence

a man who still dips fries into his milkshake

the nail polish, spiky hair, piercings and jewellery are gone

Alex wears fatigues occasionally, his civil clothes are mostly neutral colored shirts/jeans (until The Leather Jacket™ in 1x13)

we don’t know whether he still plays the guitar

his brothers are also all military, Flint (~2 years older than Alex) is a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant with the US Army

Quotes from/about Alex’s youth (incl. Jesse’s abuse)

1x01, Alex: "We're not kids anymore. What I want doesn't matter.“

✧→ 17 year old Alex hoped to escape his father one day, he dreamt of making music. His hopes were shattered that day in the toolshed, and Alex hasn’t allowed himself to go for what he wants since then - including Michael.

1x02, Alex: “Made me think about... I don't know, who I was when this started. Before I went to war.”

1x05, Kyle: “Do you remember that night your dad made us set up that tent to teach us extreme weather survival?” Alex: “Yeah. Your dad had driven home for the night, so mine concocted a brand-new form of kiddie torture.”

1x05, Alex: “My dad was a homophobic, abusive dick."

1x05: Alex: “The dad I got was a monster. Is a monster.” Kyle: “Because he sent you off to war?” Alex: “My father was my war. And your dad saw it, when we were kids. Do you remember the summer - that we built the tree house?” Kyle: “Yeah.” Alex: “That's the summer that my dad found out I was gay. He knew before I did. He thought he could beat it out of me. Jim tried to intervene. But you can't make someone stop hating someone. And my dad hated me.”

✧→ Alex is talking about his father/childhood matter-of-factly, but the language he’s using to describe his childhood allows a glimpse at the hell he went through: torture (through extreme survival trainings), homophobic abuse, his dad is a monster, sent him to war, for years tried beating the gay out of Alex, Jesse hates him. This is not just a homophobic remark his dad made at the dinner table, this informs us about years of violence and abuse Alex endured at the hands of his father.

1x06, Alex: “Things at my house suck.“

✧→ Many teenagers will probably say this at some point while growing up, this isn’t about Alex being upset about a curfew, or having to do his homework tho. This is as much as Alex will disclose about the ongoing abuse.

1x06: Alex: “Dad, this has nothing to do with you.“ Jesse: “Everything you do... everything. And I will not be humiliated.“

✧→ This is Alex, terrified of what his dad might do. And he knows that Jesse will do something (he’s already picked up the hammer). Alex expects violence, because that’s what his dad has done to him numerous times. 😔

1x07, Mimi: "You look like your dad today." Alex: "Oh, good. I was hoping that the rage face might skip a generation."

1x08, Alex: “I've been looking for leverage my entire life.“

✧→ “My entire life”, a clear indication that having Jesse as a dad’s never been a walk in the park, Alex just got the special ‘anti gay’ treatment as a bonus when he got older.

1x08, Alex: “When I was...- I wanted to make music. You sent me to war.“

✧→ Alex at 17 wanted to make music, and although he never says it, I think it’s implied that he never planned to join the military. Jesse didn’t give him a choice though, he made Alex enlist, probably threatening him with what he’d do to Michael if Alex didn’t do as he was told.

1x08, Alex: "Why are you trying to frame Michael? Haven't you done enough to him?"

1x08, Alex: "Do not talk to me about unprovoked violence!"

1x09, Michael: "And what do you want to say, Alex?” Alex: That I loved you. And I think that you loved me. For a long time.” Michael: “Yeah.” Alex: "But we didn't even know each other that well, did we? I mean, we just, we-we connected, - like something… -“ Michael: “Cosmic.” Alex: "Yeah, but we didn't even do that much talking."

1x10, Alex: "My dad is a bigot with no moral compass."

1x12, Flint (to Alex): "You ever get tired of being the black sheep of the family?"

1x13, Alex: "Look... I shouldn't have left you behind when I enlisted. I could... I could stand here and tell you that I didn't want to leave, but I did. After what my dad did to you, I just, I... I wanted to be the kind of person who won battles. But now I-I look in the mirror, and I-I don't even see myself sometimes. I see my father. I'm still fighting his battles. Not mine."

✧→ It’s kinda implied that Alex never wanted to enlist, but once Jesse forced him to do it, he tried to make the most of it. He wanted to be the kind of person who won battles. He was also looking for leverage, something he could use to take his dad down.

✧→ Alex at 17 wanted to get out, he wanted to make music and live life his way. Since Jesse was going to beat him for being gay anyway, he’d at least wear what he wanted, put on make up, and wear jewellery. Jesse hadn’t manage to break Alex.

✧→ The shed incident changed everything, because someone else got hurt. And from Alex’s POV it was because of Alex. Because he’d been selfish. He’d wanted Michael. And because of that Michael got injured.

Now that we’ve established the basics, onto Carina’s statement.

“Alex was too ashamed of Michael (not of being gay, which Maria knew, but of michael specifically) to name him to Maria for 10 years - until he saw Maria as a threat.” [x]

✧→ At 17, we saw how much Alex cared about Michael, that he wanted him safe and warm bc nights twere too cold to sleep in the car. That’s why Alex offered Michael to stay in the shed. He liked Michael, and he wanted to spend time with him. He even brought Michael a guitar bc he thought Michael would like to play. None of Alex’s behavior gives any indication that he was ashamed of Michael before the shed incident.

✧→ 17 year old Alex was afraid of his father, no surprise after years of abuse, but he also seemed confident, defiant even, believing he could handle it for a little bit longer until he’d finished high school and would finally be able to leave to make music. Despite living under Jesse’s roof, he dressed in all black, openly wore make up, nail polish, and jewellery/piercings, refusing to be another picture perfect son of his military father. We didn’t see it on screen, but given Jesse’s homophobic views, Alex’s behavior very likely caused his father to punish him in some way for it.

✧→ Then Michael kissed Alex at the UFO Emporium, Alex kissed back, one thing lead to another and they ended up at the shed where they had sex for the first time. It was Michael’s first time with a guy, we don’t know whether it was Alex’s first time tho. Alex still didn’t show any signs of being ashamed of Michael.

They were SO in love and happy in that moment. 🥺

✧→ When Jesse and the hammer happened, and it changed everything. Up until that moment, Alex had been used to his father’s abuse, he’d been strong enough, he’d been convinced he could take it, but this time someone else got badly hurt, and I think that broke something in Alex.

✧→ We never saw how things played out for Alex after Michael left the shed, all we know is that Jesse made Alex enlist. And given Jesse’s preference for blackmailing (he blackmailed Jenna, and Alex asked Flint what Jesse had on him) it’s probably fair to assume that Jesse threatened to go after Michael should Alex not do as he says.

Alex didn’t tell Maria for a decade because he was ashamed of Michael (at 17)?

Say what now???

There are several good reasons why Alex wouldn’t have told her, but shame isn’t one of them... I’m sure Alex thought of Maria as a trustworthy friend back then, but the most important reason why he wouldn’t reveal who ‘museum guy’ was would be the one the straight showrunner of the show’s apparently not aware of:

Alex would’ve outed Michael (without Michael’s consent I’d like to add) to Maria by telling her who it was. As a gay kid in 2008, I’m sure Alex was very well aware of LGBTQ etiquette, and the first rule of queer club is, you don’t out a fellow queer. And guess who’d just experience a brutal attack because he’s queer? Why would Alex ever consider outing Michael and potentially putting him at risk???

The outing reason alone would be enough to explain why Alex never told her who it was. And in 1x10 he didn’t outright out Michael either, Maria realized it was Guerin and Alex reluctantly confirmed (there was no way for him to plausibly deny it).

1x10, Alex: “It is just a standard, run-of-the-mill boy problem. Oh, come on. Don't give me psychic face, Maria.” Maria: “It's the guy from the museum, the one that kissed you into crazy stupid love when we were kids. He's back?” Alex: “Wha... How-how do you do that?” Maria: “You're just... I feel it, you're-you're hopeful, like you were before. Who is he? Come on, spill it. I've been waiting ten years for this. - Come on.” Alex: “You... you wouldn't believe it.” Maria: “It's not like you're hooking up with Wyatt Long or Michael Guerin or something. Geez. Please tell me you're in love with Wyatt Long. Wow.” Alex: “Michael's not so bad after a shower. But you know that.” Maria: “I had no idea...” Alex: “I know. I mean, how would you?” Maria: “It meant nothing, Alex. Seriously, I swear, it was just a drunk, dusty, no-good Texas rounder."

Another reason why Alex wouldn’t necessarily have told Maria: Alex was traumatized by what happened at the shed. This wasn’t just the ‘normal’ kind of abuse he endured on the regular (which is a boatload of trauma all of its own), someone else had been hurt, someone Alex liked, and because Alex liked him. On top of that Jesse likely threatened him. There’s no way Alex wasn’t scared and deeply traumatized. It’s fairly common that victims of abuse don’t tell anyone about it, out of fear even more bad things could happen, there’s surely also a lot of shame and self-blaming involved.

Alex also knew that Michael was homeless, and probably not yet of age. Jesse could’ve threatened Alex to put Michael back into the system or whatnot.

Absolutely NOTHING we’ve seen on screen suggests that Alex was ashamed of Michael when they were 17. Alex joined the military afterwards, and was away for a decade. Not many opportunities to talk about it to Maria, but again, the first reason (outing Michael) is a perfectly valid reason not to tell her for an entire decade. And this being a major trauma, Alex probably didn’t feel like opening that box again after such a long time.

And wow, claiming that Alex waited to tell Maria (which isn’t exactly what happened) because she felt threatened by her? Sure, Alex just waited for the right moment. 🙄

Is Alex ashamed of Michael at 27/28?

In 1x03 it seems like Alex let’s his father’s words get to him. “Seems to me the only one you're embarrassing is yourself, son.“ I’ve always interpreted this as a thinly veiled threat tho, and Alex, on instinct, immediately put distance between himself and Michael. Because before he talked to his father? Alex was perfectly happy to be seen with Michael, if he'd been ashamed, as Carina claims, he wouldn’t have approached Michael in public in the first place.

This is also how I read the scene in 1x02: “What happened at the reunion cannot happen again.“ In the pilot, Jesse had been part of the group of soldiers poking around Michael’s Airstream, and Alex saw the way his father looked at them talking. Then they kissed at the reunion, and I’m sure it felt so good and like coming home, but the fear of what Jesse could do if he found out was back the next morning, and Alex once more tried to put distance between himself and Michael to keep Michael save.

This is not an excuse for Alex pushing Michael away, not an excuse for Alex to call him a criminal either. That is absolutely shitty behavior and not okay. I just don’t buy this ‘Alex is ashamed of Michael’ shtick.

Friendly reminder that Maria did not only tell Alex in 1x10 “It meant nothing, Alex. Seriously, I swear, it was just a drunk, dusty, no-good Texas rounder.", here’s what she said in her next scene with Guerin:

1x10, Maria: “We're closed. - You found my necklace.” Michael: “Clasp broke. I fixed it. I think it calls for a celebration. And by celebration, I mean booze, preferably the free kind.” Maria: “Alex is one of my best friends.” Michael: “Congrats.” Maria: “I never would have slept with you if I knew you two had history. It can't happen again.”

So in 1x10 Maria

learned Michael is 'museum guy’

realized that Alex is in love with Michael (still), and hopeful

swore to Alex it was a one time thing and that it meant nothing

told Michael that Alex is one of her best friends (and you don’t go after your best friends’ love interests)

she would’ve never slept with Michael had she known

she also says it can’t happen again

And yet Carina’s surprised why many few fans don’t understand

what made Maria ignore Liz’s advice to talk to Alex (which would’ve been the fair thing to do, no one’s mad at Maria for catching feelings, it’s that she acted on them without talking to Alex first what upsets and angers people)

why Maria invited Michael to kiss her just 3 episodes later

why she’s still chasing after Michael 2 weeks later without having talked to Alex

she’ll continue to go after Michael but still won’t talk to Alex

and therefore some are having a hard time not to dislike Maria to some degree? Okay...

Either way, imo Alex was definitely not ashamed of Michael at 17, and I don’t see much evidence of him being ashamed of Michael at 27/28.

Apart from that, shame is for sure NOT the reason why Alex never told Maria.

Alright, this got LONG, but it I had to write it all down. I think I provided facts in the form of dialogue quotes. In addition, I’m sharing my interpretation of these facts.

I don’t claim that I’m right, I don’t claim that I know more than Carina (who seems to have forgotten some things she herself wrote tho), none of that. This is my interpretation of what happened, based on what we saw on screen, what’s been said by the characters, and what we know about the different characters involved.

I also don’t claim that Alex didn’t do anything wrong, that he’s a saint, or whatnot. But I strongly disagree with the notion that by not telling Maria Alex is somehow to blame for her going after Michael.

#alex manes #malex #michael guerin #long post is long #my apologies for the missing read more #i tried but tumblr wouldn't let me #🙈#rnm opinions #the alex essay

97 notes · View notes

arcasra · 6 years

Text

Arcana Spotlight Entry — “Death-Cast”

@thearcanagame

‘Death-Cast’

-modern au

-fan apprentice au

By @arcasra

Inspiration:

This entry is inspired by the book I just finished reading (in 4 days) and instantly became my favorite. That’s Adam Silvera’s “They Both Die At The End”. As I’m writing this on a word document, it is nearing 11 p.m., and just a few hours ago I cried inside my classroom, reading the last page of it. I faced the wall for a good solid 10 minutes.

I read that a week before finals and, safe to say, it gave me much hope. The story follows two teenage boys who are both Deckers—people who are about to die. They develop a special friendship that nothing else can ever replace. This book taught me, as ironic as it sounds, to live each day to the fullest. I always think that after each day, there would be a tomorrow, but this book contrasts to all of that. What if it is your last day on earth? How would you spend it?

I would like to thank Adam Silvera, whether this message would reach him or not, for all the lessons and morals inside the book. I read this book in school, surrounded by noisy classmates, but every time I delve myself into the world of Mateo and Rufus, I feel like I’m in the world with them. Thanks to Adam, also, for making me believe more in the probability of death, and that it is inevitable. All of us have our expiration dates. So until that day will come, we should be living in every moment that we can.

Synopsis:

On April 6, just a few minutes after the clock struck midnight, Asra and Ida received a call from Death-Cast, a company that rings your phone to tell you that you’re going to die on that day. The two have never crossed paths before, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. Through the app called Last Friend, Asra and Ida are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

I D A

12:27 a.m.

Death-Cast is causing my phone to ring, about to tell me that I’m going to die today. I’ve dreaded this day since I knew about the algorithm, and I never had the idea to question how, but why. It was launched when I was in third grade, sitting in the same bed that I have now. My dad and I were watching t.v., and this headline comes up of a company that calls you on the day that you are scheduled to die. At first I thought that it was kind of awesome, for the world to come to that point of technology, but as I grew older, I feared the call that nobody else wanted.

Yet here I am, staring at the caller ID on my phone. It’s there alright, bright and clear: DEATH-CAST. I could come to think of it as a prank, but the chances are too slim. Someone up at midnight just to instill fear into random people? Wait, that’s what the heralds do, anyway.

I press the bright green button and place the phone to my ear.

“Maureen, are you there?” the herald says. In what world am I a Maureen?

My throat grumbles. “No, no I’m not Maureen. I’m actually Ida. Ida Crest. Can you check to see if I’m really the one you’re supposed to be calling?” I could still get out of this, live another day.

“Sorry about that, but Maureen was the person who I got just got off the phone with. Anyway, you’re Ida Crest, born and raised in Lower Vesuvia?” but the herald puts my thoughts to shame.

“Yes, I am her.” I say. My phone is shaking as I hold with two, very sweaty hands. I stare out the window.

“Then hello, I’m calling from Death-Cast. I’m Liam.” he pauses. Should I say hi to him?

“Hey, Liam.” I do.

“Ida, I regret to inform you that sometime in the next twenty-four hours you’ll be meeting an untimely death. And while there isn’t anything we can do to suspend that, you still have a chance to live.” That sentence gives me a bit of hope, but it instantly shatters as he starts advertising to me the different simulations and programs for Deckers—those who are about to die—are recommended to do on their End Day. That’s kind of sweet to think about, but once you’re the one dying, it’s a whole lot different.

At age four I wanted to die because of an unknown disease, like a sudden loss leading to a ground-breaking cure or something more important. Instead I get this, some guy named Liam calling me on my year-old phone to tell me that I’m about to die today. That’s great. I whisper a little ‘sorry’ to the four year-old me. She can go back to braiding her dog’s hair.

Liam keeps speaking. “Log on to death-cast.com and fill out any special requests you may have for your funeral in addition to the inscription you’d like to engrave on your headstone.”

I don’t exactly have a clear idea of what I want the world to remember me as, other than ‘another girl who’s just there to waste the earth’s oxygen’.

“And Maureen, on behalf of everyone here at Death-Cast, we are so sorry to lose you. Live this day to the fullest, okay?” Liam says. I could feel his eyes getting droopy through the phone.

I hold my breath, close my eyes, and let everything slip away from me. “Okay.”

He hangs up.

A S R A

1:32 a.m.

Death-Cast calls me an hour after midnight, making me stop reading cookbooks at this late. This is it, I’m going to die. I press the answer button.

“Hello, Asra. I’m calling from Death-Cast. I regret to inform you that sometime in the next twenty-four hours—”

“Twenty-three.” I cut the herald off. They should get their clocks fixed.

“Sorry, in the next twenty-three hours, you’ll be meeting an untimely death…”

She goes on about programs for Deckers around Vesuvia, and how life isn’t always fair. It isn’t. In no way. It’s only up to us to make it a fair game.

“Asra, on behalf of everyone here at Death-Cast, we are—”

“—sorry to lose you. Thanks.” I complete, and I hang up. I’ve heard this call before, when my younger brother received it on his Nokia two years ago. I was beside him, holding his hand as he cried. He told me that he wanted to go playing video games, so I stayed at home all day with him. After dinner, he went to the bathroom. I voted to go with him but he said he needed privacy. I continued playing Resident Evil. You get that feeling that if you’re doing something that you enjoy, you won’t notice the time going by?

Exactly what happened to me. I finished a whole level before I realized that it has been an hour and a half since my brother went in the bathroom. The controller slipped out of my hands as I darted to go find my brother. As expected, the door was locked, so I had to kick it with all my might.

On the bathroom floor he lay, blood pouring out of the back of his head which is slumped on the edge of the bathtub. A rug was out of place, so I took it that he slipped. He’s very clumsy, I’ll say.

And I don’t want to go like that.

I drop my phone to the floor, and lie back on my bed, eyes completely open, staring at the dark ceiling.

Just like my brother.

I D A

2:09 a.m.

I made a Last Friend account. It’s an app where you can make a profile to meet other people who are dying the same day as you. On there, I go through almost ten profiles of guys and girls, before I come to some guy who’s in the area with me. He’s Asra, and he’s messaged me first.

A S R A

2:12 a.m.

@asranomy at 2:12 a.m.: you near upstate park?

@crestida at 2:12 a.m.: yea

@crestida at 2:13 a.m.: are you dying today?

@asranomy at 2:13 a.m.: sounds like a harsh way to put it but yeah, i am. how about you?

@crestida at 2:14 a.m.: same…

@crestida at 2:16 a.m.: wanna meet up somewhere?

@asranomy at 2:16 a.m.: how do i know that you’re not some sketchy dude?

@crestida at 2:17 a.m.: because i would be asking you the same thing

@asranomy at 2:17 a.m.: fair enough. so where do you wanna meet up?

@crestida at 2:18 a.m.: you’ve mentioned it already so maybe… upstate park?

@asronomy at 2:18 a.m.: cool. you better look like your account pic

@crestida at 2:19 a.m.: you should too

I D A

2:45 a.m.

I reach the park before he does, sitting down on one of the hundreds of empty benches. If he comes up behind me and kidnaps me and takes me to his basement, that would be an ugly ass End Day.

From the bench I could hear the soft ruffling of the leaves. The moon is still out, being my only light since the lampposts are all turned off.

The sound of the leaves and crickets tone down and I hear footsteps walking towards me.

A S R A

2:52 a.m.

On a bench I spot a figure. No, it’s a girl. She must be Ida.

I come up in front of her, hands in my pockets. Her eyes widen a little, I have no idea why.

“Are you Ida?” I ask.

“Are you ‘bout to pull a knife at me?” she retorts, hands pressing down on the wooden bench at either side of her.

“Hell no. That’s too mean, dying two hours right after you get the Death-Cast call. I’m Asra.” I pluck one of my hands out of my pocket and hand it to her.

She grabs it but doesn’t shake it. She uses it to pull herself up.

I D A

2:57 a.m.

I stand beside him. From here I could see that he’s at least an inch or two taller than me, nothing grand.

“So… Asra. How do you wanna spend your last day on earth?” I ask, looking up to face him. He’s got these wonderful violet eyes that I could get lost in, and striking white hair that looks like a cloud pooped on his head.

“Well I couldn’t travel the whole world in one day, so maybe with someone who’ll die with me.” he says, smiling the slightest.

“Who do you think will die first?”

“I bet that I do. Look, I know I’ve just met you, but I don’t wanna see you die, nah. That would hurt.”

A S R A

3:31 a.m.

We’ve both agreed to head to a coffee shop that both of us have never been at before. Ida orders something crazy, something they call a ‘unicorn frappuccino’. She told me she’s always had an iced coffee, and never bothered to try something new.

So on the day that she’s going to die, which happens once in a lifetime, she gets an unusual drink, which also happens once in a lifetime.

I get a cup of black tea from China.

L U C I O

3:42 a.m.

Death-Cast did not call Lucio because he isn’t dying today, but he is making drinks for two very different people. Out of all the customers Lucio’s had, they’re the most… unique. He thinks they’ve had a mutual agreement prior to this moment to get to this coffee joint and order drinks that were about to be crossed off the menu.

At the back of his head he has a thought that one of them’s dying today.

Lucio guesses it’s the boy white the white hair, but he could be wrong.

I D A

4:06 a.m.

After a quick trip to the coffee shop, Asra and I head to the hospital where my mom is. She’s scheduled to have an operation for one of her kidneys in two days, and since I most likely won’t make it in two days, I decide to leave a note for her. She’s been in a medically-induced coma for about four days now.

The hospital is a quick walk from the coffee shop, only two blocks away. I tell Asra the whole story while we walk.

A S R A

4:18 a.m.

The hospital is still bright, standing out like a star. The woman at the front desk is surprisingly not asleep. She tells us that visiting hours ended at ten. I encourage her to let us—heck, only Ida if she insists—in Ida’s mom’s room.

Just when I thought all else failed, Ida steps in and tells the lady that we’re both Deckers. The lady gives us a bit of her sympathy, and hands us two visitor passes. I pocket both of those.

We decided not to take the elevator, since it seems like an instant death wish, and we both want to last as long as the world will let us. Three floors up doesn’t look like a big climb, so we agree on taking the stairs.

P O R T I A D E V O R A K

4:22 a.m.

Death-Cast did not call Portia Devorak because she isn’t dying today. Or in a few days, she hopes. A week ago her boss gave her a warning not to let people in after visiting hours, since she’s done it about five times already. Ms. Samuels said these exact words: “Another visitor after visiting hours, and you’ll find yourself on the streets of Vesuvia. Stop risking the patients’ lives.”

But because of those two young people at the counter on that early morning, she would gladly give up her job. Portia couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have your mother asleep when you’re about to die. For those two kids, she would gladly do anything.

Even if that meant being kicked out of the hospital she’s worked at for six years.

I D A 4:57 a.m.

It doesn’t take particularly long for us to reach the third floor. Not one of us died on the way up, so I’ll take that as a good sign.

Mom’s doctor is in the room when Asra and I walk in. He’s checking her vitals, making sure that she’s set to live another day, something that I would be beating her to.

“Ida, why are you here this early?” Julian, mom’s doctor since she’s had me, asks.

“Visiting mom. Is there something wrong with that?” I say. He shakes his head frantically, red hair dishevelling itself.

“No no no, nothing is. Take all the time you need, Ida.” he says, leaving mom’s bedside. “Oh, you’re informed about the operation on Thursday, right?”

“Yeah, I am.”

He smiles at me, then at Asra, who gives him a stern look.

“Have I seen you before?” Asra asks.

“I don’t think so,” Julian quickly replies, then walks out of the room.

J U L I A N D E V O R A K 5:04 a.m.

Death-Cast did not call Julian Devorak because he isn’t dying today. But Ida’s mom might.

Ms. Crest is close to fading away, yet Julian doesn’t tell her daughter so that he won’t add to her troubles.

He’s met Asra before, at the hospital as well. Asra brought in his younger brother who had his head split, bringing him to the first doctor he can see. Julian told Asra that he wasn’t in pediatrics, but he’s offered to take Asra’s brother to an emergency room to try to save him.

Julian was the one who brought him in. Julian was the one who tried to save him. Julian was the one who exited the emergency room alone. Julian was the one who told Asra that his brother was dead.

A S R A 5:37 a.m.

Ida takes one hell of a long time to say goodbye. I stayed in the room with her, which was her choice. She whispers words to her mom, hoping she’s listening. Ida writes something down on a notepad next to the bed, then walks out the door, I follow suit.

We pass by the woman at the front desk again, and now she looks worried like she’s seen a ghost. I don’t pay any more attention as we pass the double doors and out of the hospital.

Ida’s hungry, so we stop by her favorite diner. We eat for about an hour, in complete silence.

7:00 a.m.

They’re both full from their last breakfast.

8:00 a.m.

Asra convinces Ida to go visit Muriel, his best friend. Ida agrees. Asra leaves Muriel an envelope with cash in it, and a note telling him to go to college, for Asra.

10:00 a.m.

Asra and Ida take a bus tour all around the city of Vesuvia. They both see sights they’ve never seen before.

12:00 nn

Asra reaches to hold Ida’s hand as they walk to a restaurant for lunch. Ida doesn’t pull away.

2:00 p.m.

Asra and Ida go to a travel expo. They both buy tickets for a trip to the Bahamas.

3:00 p.m.

They leave the Bahamas’ tickets on the side of the road.

4:00 p.m.

Ida insists they visit the college she’s supposed to attend. It turns out to be the school Muriel dropped out of.

5:00 p.m.

Asra and Ida enter a bookstore and buy a stranger named Nadia, who has purple hair, the books on her reading list. Nadia offers a coffee trip with the two, but they decline.

6:00 p.m.

Asra bumps into a businessman named Lucio, who drops his briefcase. It’s full of amazing drawings of Vesuvia in the ancient days, with castles and magic shops. Asra and Ida help him gather his sketches, then tell him to quit doing business, and just draw. Lucio takes it to heart.

7:00 p.m.

Ida kisses Asra under a streetlight.

8:00 p.m.

They sit back at the bench in Upstate Park.

9:00 p.m.

Asra and Ida play with a lost puppy, who eventually wanders off into the dark. Both of them become anxious of their time left together.

10:00 p.m.

Ida volunteers to go looking for the puppy. Once she’s out of Asra’s view, he goes searching for her.

11:00 p.m.

Asra finds police cars and and ambulance truck. He pushes through crowds of people and spot Ida run over by a black car. The puppy runs off into the distance. He begs the paramedics to take her to a hospital. Instead of bringing out a stretcher, they bring out a body bag. Asra sulks and walks off, back into the park. He lies down on the bench that he first saw Ida in.

11:30 p.m.

Asra closes his eyes to go to sleep. He doesn’t wake up.

12:00 a.m.

#Arcana Spotlight #the arcana #the arcana game #nix hydra #writeblr #they both die at the end #adam silvera #modern au #fan apprentice #arcasra #ida x asra #asra #julian devorak #julian #portia #nadia #lucio #muriel

13 notes · View notes

pacman-tattoo · 7 years

Text

sweet [jake d. x reader]

( I'm in a mood for Jakey D x Readers, so could you write one? You don't have too tho )

you got it nonny

ft.a pupper

warnings: none

You had always liked your english classes. You enjoyed reading and losing yourself in worlds and writing essays; the analysis of characters and symbolism and settings; the steadiness of your teacher’s voice as she read passages from the book. At least, you did. But then your mother was transferred and you found yourself wandering the hall toward a class at the very end of a hallway, right next to the other set of stairs that you avoided taking because someone said it’d be at the other end of the hall.

First day at Middleborough and you were already late for your first class - which, by some stroke of luck, just happened to be english. Great first impression. Especially as you knocked on the door and had a peppy young woman who looked barely older than the students answer the door. She smiled and brushed a ginger curl behind her ear and there’s the faintest scent of tropical fruit wavering from the classroom. She introduced you to the class and you slipped into an empty seat next to her desk. She was sweet.

The class, on the other hand, was not. Apparently you were shoved into a class full of people who’d make snide remarks; people who would talk endlessly, not caring whether the teacher asked them to quiet down until she grew agitated enough to snap at them - and then there would be the comments about how she was a bitch, despite the fact she was trying to do her job. But your teacher liked you. You were sweet and listened and did your best. You had passion and she loved having you as a student.

So in what you could only assume was her giving up when it came to the class, she announced the final for the year would be a presentation of different aspects of the mythology the class had been studying - the gods, The catch? The class was forced into pairs.

“[y/n]?” She said, approaching your desk, “you’re paired with Jake Dillinger.”

You watched as she forced the smallest of smiles, setting down a paper on your desk, your name written in red ink at the top alongside Jake’s, and a number circled - apparently your presentation would be on hubris and how, within the different stories, people offended the gods due to it.

You’d never talked to Jake before. You’d seen him plenty of times but you kept your head down because he had the tendency to whisper to his friends over topics you didn’t really care for. But you grinned and greeted him after class, handing him a slip of paper you had jotted your number down with and asked him to text you later to make some sort of arrangement on when and where to work on the project. He shot you a cheeky grin and winked as he took the paper, slipping it into his pocket as he thanked you and made the small promise to text you before the day was over. You heard a few of his friends laugh, and you felt your stomach knot up. You were going to have to do this alone, weren’t you? You were used to it.

He texted you during the next class.

Well, at least he did text you. You had experiences where you ended up doing projects alone. So maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. You could only hope.

The two of you worked out a plan: he could come over to your house on saturday around three, and the two of you would figure out how to answer all the questions, since it would take enough time looking and rereading passages, and maybe start on figuring out the presentation. You weren’t sure how much he’d be doing, but - honestly - you were used to partners doing this. Especially when said partner is a pretty boy who talks in class all the time.

“[y/n]?” Your mother called out as she walked into the living room, where you sat with a laptop balanced on your lap, a word document open with an outline of your history notes, and Circe - your trusted pup - beside you, “I left some money for dinner on the kitchen counter. Is that boy still coming over?” You nodded. “Remember,” she said, pressing a quick kiss to your temple, “I’m a call away, alright?”

“Alright, mom,” you said.

“Is that boy still coming?”

“Yeah, he should be,” you said - you hoped he was still coming. From what you knew about Jake, he seemed... busy. In more ways that one, if what you heard about him was anything to go by.

Your mother only nodded slowly, “...right. I trust you’ll call me if anything comes up, [y/n].” She shifted her purse higher onto her shoulder, reaching down to scratch Circe behind the ear. “Don’t wait up for me, alright?”

You nodded. She left you, calling out a “love you” as she did, and you called it out in response before you hear the front door click shut. You looked to Circe, calling her name in a voice as soft as a feather. At least the two of you had Circe now.

That reminded you - soon she’d be turning one. You’d have to celebrate. So the next two hours were spent as you searched for different doggy-safe recipes for her, reading recipe after recipe only to jump when there was a sudden knock at your door. Immediately, Circe was up, at the door barking, her nails tapping against the wooden floorboards as she moved in place.

“Circe,” you called out as you approached, apparently your tone being enough to silence her as you opened the door.

There stood Jake, his bag slung over his shoulder and... actually not looking like prince charming for once as Circe’s already out the door before you can say anything, catching him off guard. She didn’t bark this time, only staring at him curiously - he doesn’t seem like a threat, but she definitely didn’t recognize him. He smiled anyway. There’s prince charming.

“Hey,” he glanced back up to you, before looking back to Circe, “who’s this?” He said, kneeling down and extending a hand slowly. She didn’t move aside from her tail, which was happily wagging as she looked from his hand to him.

“Circe,” you said softly, watching as he carefully pet her. You continued, “she’s very sweet, a-and she’s a really good dog - I think she likes you.” Then again, Circe liked almost everyone.

“She’s cute. I think her owners a little cuter, though.”

... Did you hear him correctly? You shrugged it off, “so, are you, uh, ready to work?”

He seemed dejected for a split second, but he stood nonetheless, smiling once again and followed you into your home, Circe padding along behind the two of you happily. At one point you started rambling about your ideas for the presentation and that nothing was concrete but you thought the two of you could just find the information you needed.

“That sounds great,” he said, “you really care about this, don’t you?”

You nodded, reaching for your copy of the book, “it’s our final grade, Jake.”

“I mean, this. Y’know, like, english stuff. Reading.”

You looked up to him and immediately there’s the trademark Jake Dillinger smile you’d heard about. “Yeah, I, uh, really like reading. And, uh, mythology.”

“What kind of mythology? Like, Greek gods and-”

“They’re cool, but... I really like Egyptian mythology.” You paused, only to remember what you two were supposed to be doing, “now,” you opened your book to a previously marked page, “I was thinking that since there were seven characters, we could split them up and put our notes together in the end.”

He agreed, a little quiet this time. So the two of you split up the list between yourselves and started to work silently. After an hour or two, Jake was the one to break the silence.

“Can I use your laptop?” You looked over to him, only for him to quickly clarify, “I was going to look up something-”

“Yeah. Sure, here, just - let me log you in.”

Within a moment of him holding your laptop, he spoke again, “why are you looking up cakes for dogs?”

You could have sworn you closed those - but alas, there the tabs sat, still open. “It’s... Circe’s birthday next Friday. I thought I’d make her something - look, Jake, if you’re going to make fun of me or something, just... go ahead.”

He stared at you, genuinely confused, “why would I make fun of you?”

You shrugged, “I don’t know - I’m kind of a nerd? I mean, you’re only here because of this project so-”

“Hey,” he said, hand touching your own, “I’m friends with a few nerds. I wouldn’t make fun of you for it.” You didn’t speak - what kind of a comment is that? After a moment he withdrew his hand and went back to your laptop.

The two of you spent the rest of the afternoon in silence. When he left, he lingered at your door for a few seconds, as if some movie cliche would come into play and you two would confess your love for each other - the popular guy and the nerd. But he said he’ll text you after you made the smallest step back, and then left you alone.

Next Tuesday, Jake offered to walk you home - making a point to break away from his circle of friends in doing so - and you gladly accepted. Your mother wouldn’t be home, so at least you had some sort of company. You brought up the project. He switched the topic to some extra-curricular he did earlier in the year. When you didn’t show much interest in archery, he mentioned the play.

“You? In the play?” You said, before realizing how harsh it sounded, “sorry, it’s just... I didn’t take you as the sort of guy to be into that sort of thing.”

He shrugged it off with ease, “yeah. I wasn’t.”

“What was it?”

He hesitated for a moment, “A Midnight Summer’s Dream-”

You stopped him a little too quickly, “you mean A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

He didn’t stop smiling - which was fine, but a little weir since you had a tendency to piss people off when you corrected them by interrupting them. “Yeah! Sorry, we did this whole thing with zombies and-”

“Zombies?”

“Yeah - zombies! There was something about needing money so we changed stuff.”

Jake started walking you home everyday. It was sweet and sometimes you’d invite him in and sometimes the two of you would actually work on your presentation - and sometimes that would involve you working for thirty minutes until Jake stopped playing with Circe and joined you.

“Circe’s birthday is tomorrow, right?”

“Mhmm.” You didn’t look up and kept typing away at the slide you were working on.

“Maybe I could come over?”

“If you want.”

“Are you still making that cake?”

“For Circe? I... yeah, I was going to-”

“Maybe I could help?”

You looked up this time, “I, uh-” you stumbled over your words, “i-if you want-”

“Great!” He was beaming with joy.

It was getting late. Jake was lying across your couch, and you’d been sitting on the floor, Circe’s head on your lap while you listened to Jake talk about different things that happened during play rehearsal.

“Where’s your parents?” He asked suddenly.

“Work.”

“What do they do?”

“My mom’s a line cook.”

“What about your dad?” You didn’t respond. “Oh.”

“What about you? Don’t your parents wonder why you’ve been coming here everyday?” You snapped. You didn’t know why you did, but you did.

This time, he doesn’t respond. Then, he softly spoke, “not really.”

You regretted it. You toyed with the edge of your shirt, “hey... Jake? Do you wanna... maybe stay over tomorrow night?”

“... Sure.”

Going to the grocery store with Jake was an adventure. For the most part he stayed by your side, carrying the basket, and kept up with you as you wandered around the store, eyes on your phone for the most part. Perhaps if you had paid attention, maybe you’d seen the soft look in his eyes as he watched you contemplate which candle to get. Maybe you’d seen the small smile he had when you read over the label of a peanut butter jar, telling him you had to avoid anything with xylitol because it was toxic for dogs, just finding how much you cared sweet - also he didn’t know that, but he’d watch out in the future if he got a dog, because a small part of him was sure you’d probably kick his ass.

The two of you returned to your home, you kicking your backpack out of the way from where you’d thrown it down earlier after school, and walked into the kitchen, Jake behind you carrying anything he deemed ‘too heavy.’ Circe wandered, following you and Jake around as she knew something was up. You didn’t hear Jake set the bags down while you were kneeling next to Circe, showering your pup in kisses and affection, nor did you hear him start to speak the first time - or the second or the third-

“[y/n]?” He finally said, snapping you away from Circe.

“Sorry, Jake-”

“Don’t be,” he said, “yo- it’s cute.”

Did he just slip up? You shook the thought from your mind - an honest mistake. We all make them.

After shoving the small cake into the oven, you sat at one end of the couch, watching Jake sit on the floor with Circe, showering her in attention - something she definitely didn’t protest to. It was pretty cute - sometimes you swore that Jake spent more time hanging out with your dog than you though.

“So... do you have any plans for summer?”

You didn’t. Well - originally you did but other things came up. “Not really.”

“Same!” He said too quickly, as if he’d been hoping you didn’t have plans, “maybe I can come over, if that’s alright?”

“Don’t you have friends to hang out with?”

“Not really,” he said, only to realize how it sounded, “I mean, they have plans - most of ‘em.”

“Are they nice?” He looked up to you. “Your friends. Are they nice?”

“They’re... different.” Circe nuzzled his leg, catching his attention - apparently he stopped paying attention to her for a moment. Then you can see an idea hit him. “You should have lunch with us.”

You agreed.

Jake singing happy birthday to Circe was pretty cute.

Is that weird?

It’s true, though.

... Did Jake like you or your dog more?

Is it weird to be jealous of a dog?

Fuck.

You aren’t jealous of Circe. You are not jealous of your dog. Not even a little.

Jake’s friends liked you. Except one of them - Jenna? - kept sneaking looks at Rich - who you never realized that the same Rich that sat in front of you in math. No wonder he kept sneaking glances at you whenever he could, as if you’d be doodling Jake’s name surrounded by hearts on your notes. You didn’t realize that Christine was the same person who was in your history class, two desks over. You remembered her finishing questions early and immediately napping. Play rehearsal, someone had said.

They seemed nice. Rich offered to walk you to math. He dropped the hint that Chloe and Jake used to be a thing.

“...Really?” You said.

Apparently, something in your tone gave him some answer he’d been looking for, because he changed the subject right then and there.

You didn’t question it.

Jake’s cute. You could admit that. It was cute the way he smiled and the way he seemed absorbed in devoting his attention to Circe and the little glimmer in his eye when he listened to you ramble on about this book on Egyptian myths that you had and maybe you’d let him borrow it - which totally wasn’t bit, you totally let people borrow books from you all the time except you didn’t after some kid ripped a page out of your favorite book when you were in fifth grade so maybe this was a little bit big and you weren’t letting Jake maybe borrow it because he was cute or anything. Nope. Totally not because he’s cute.

He invited you to movie night with his friends on Sunday - after exams. You said you’d ask your mom and see if she’d be okay with it, even if that did sound childish. Luckily she didn’t have to work Sundays.

Later that night you were added into a group chat. with him and his friends. At least one picture of Circe was sent. The group loves her. You almost didn’t catch a text from someone pondering who Jake liked more.

Whatever that meant.

Halfway through some movie musical, you fell asleep on Jake’s shoulder. The group gave him shit for it, apparently. The next night you heard your phone buzz and there was a picture from Rich.

You texted him back ‘wtf’ and get a series of emojis back. At first you didn’t understand it, being half asleep, but then you rolled your eyes and type out ‘:P’ before setting your phone down.

You never took Jake as the kind of person to like baking - that one time for Circe was mainly you and you only assumed he was there to be nice. But you texted him one day before your mom went to work talking about how you craved cupcakes, and he offered to come over and make some with you if you wanted. You jokingly replied back with ‘if you want’ before burying yourself in a book. You didn’t expect him to show up at your door thirty minutes later, but he did. Your mother called you and when you walked in, she was in the middle of a conversation with him. And there Jake sat, the motherfucker.

“Jake!” You said, cheeks burning because holy fuck, he’s actually here, “hey!”

He practically was glowing when he looked at you, “hey!” He smiled, “I, uh, met your mom. She’s really nice.”

She only shot you a smile. She knew.

“I, uh, didn’t think you’d actually come.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

After a short pause, you glanced back to the kitchen, “we could, uh, see if we have the stuff for cupcakes if that’s what you wanna make.”

He nodded, turning to you rmother and telling her it was nice to meet her before striding past you into the kitchen. You looked back to your mother.

“Jake seems nice.”

“He is,” you shifted your weight over, “he’s very nice.”

She glanced to her watch, “well. Save some cupcakes for me,” she smiled, standing, “I’ve got to get ready for work. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

After another trip to the grocery store, you learned Jake was amazing at baking. There was something magical just about watching him work, instructing you to everything as he went. You wondered where he learned all of this. The next hour hour and a half - baking and letting the cupcakes cool - were spent with the two of you basically sitting back and watching TV and you pretending not to notice Jake’s arm over your shoulder - it felt like you were in some cliche romance but it was cute.

Jake was careful. He was careful when he mixed the batter. He was careful when scooped batter, making sure it didn’t spill out of the cupcake liner. He was careful when he frosted the cupcakes, gently swirling the icing around the top of each. You were a bit fascinated, watching him and then noticing how he’d furrow his brow in concentration and this little grin he’d get if things were going the way he wanted it. Eventually he plucked a cupcake up and offered it to you.

It was heaven.

“Oh my god.” He smiled at your reaction. “Marry me.”

He laughed. It was pure and sweet and you only smiled. And then he spoke as you looked away, softly. “you’re so cute.”

“You’re one to talk. You’re adorable.”

He stared at you. Fuck.

“Shit, sorry-”

And then he smiled. “You have something right there.”

You looked up, not even getting a chance to speak before his lips were on yours. It was short and sweet, but he kissed you and it was heaven. And when he pulled away, he smiled a little. For once you didn’t see Jake ‘Prince Charming’ Dillinger, the guy who could smile at anyone and melt their heart. You saw Jake Dillinger, the sweetheart who baked you cupcakes and the boy who celebrated your dog’s birthday with you.

“You’re so cute,” he mumbled, staring at you with the stars in his eyes.

“And you’re sweet.”

Then he kissed you again.

And it was heaven.

#bean writes things #be more chill #be more chill reader insert #be more chill x reader #bmc #bmc reader insert #bmc x reader #jake dillinger #jake dillinger x reader #you can tell where i started getting a little tired #it done

132 notes · View notes

gotstory · 7 years

Text

My 20 year old Idol Husband - [Day 10 - Can you trust me?]

20 yr old Jungkook, at the top of his idol boyband career, has a secret only he & his bandmates know – An underground relationship, with you, a girl he met at a fanmeeting. Things get a little out of hand and you find out you’re pregnant.

Read: Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3 / Day 4 / Day 5 / Day 6 / Day 7 / Day 8 / Day 9 / Day 10

The smell of fresh coffee and warm bread perked you up the moment you went into Fan's kitchen. It was bright and airy, decorated with a mix of bright coloured flowers and pastel crockery.

She took her apron off and pushed a plate of breakfast in front of you, "My brother said you should eat. Is everything ok?" she asked with worry clouding her brows.

"Where's he though?" you looked around remembering he said he would be right back.

Fan only shrugged, "he's in his doctor's mode and being quiet."

Just as she said it, Jun appeared from the door with a small paper bag.

"Hey Jun, join us." You waved him over with a slight smile, trying to put aside the awkward moment you shared awhile ago. By the lead of his questions while examining you, he planted foreboding thoughts of uncertainty in your head.

"Oh, sure... " He sat beside you, placing the bag hidden away from the eyes of his sister.

You both ate in an awkward silence for some time until Fan could hold it no longer.

"So, what's wrong with Chae-rin? Is it a flu of some sort?" she asked.

Jun put down his utensils and shifted in his seat, "I can't quite determine it yet but..." He looked over to you, as if to ask for your permission to continue.

You put down your fork, "I don't think so. There aren't any of those symptoms... And... I feel fine now." You smiled at both of them, hoping it would assure them you were well. After all, it wasn't like they were obligated to nurse you back to health.

Jun waited quietly until you were done before he stood up from his seat.

"Chae-rin, I don't mean to be nosy but I think you might need this, just... to be safe."

He picked up the small paper bag and handed it to you rather shyly.

"The instructions are pretty simple but if you need help, let me know."

You were about to open the bag immediately, curious as to what it would be but he didn't let you. With outstretched arms he hurriedly clasped the brown paper bag shut, ushering you away. "Do it upstairs, go upstairs... In the room. Go on-"

Once you were behind closed doors, you carefully opened the bag only to see a pinkish box.

A pregnancy test kit?

You gasped.

No way, but...but....

You sat on the bed, staring at the little box. A million thoughts running through your mind.

What am I going to do if this thing tests positive? How am I going to face the world? And Jungkook? No, this can't be.

Your heart was pulsating so hard you could hear it in your ears. This wasn't what you were expecting from just that first encounter with Jungkook.

Yes - you did like him, very much indeed, but having a baby? That was just taking it way too far.

You slid the box back into the bag, feeling too overwhelmed to even take a second look at it.

Just -- just, tell me I'm dreaming.

------------------------------------------------------

Jungkook and the boys had landed back in Korea and they were going to get a one week break to head home to visit their families.

"Hey kookie," Jimin swung an arm around the younger boy, "I'm getting the train tickets tomorrow, should we leave in the morning?"

Jungkook had been toying with the idea of flying over to see you again but the long flight would really take a toll on him. "I'm not sure yet, hyung." he replied, "I'm kinda wondering if I should make a surprise visit to Chae-rin."

Jimin inhaled a sharp breath and put his hand over Jungkook's mouth, "if the manager hyung finds out, we'll be dead! We're supposed to head back home together!"

"I know... let me sleep over it and decide tomorrow."

Jimin eyed him suspiciously, "whatever it is, just -- don't do anything stupid."

When they arrived at the dorm, Jungkook just had a nagging feeling that you were hiding something from him. From the way you hung up after the call, it just didn't feel right. He too knew that you had your fair share of suitors and without letting others know that you were taken, he was feeling just that bit of insecurity.

When he was finally alone, he decided to text you. Message after message he typed, but hit the backspace until it frustrated him.

The distance and silence was driving his young heart crazy and his patience was wearing thin.

Ah, heck. I'm just gonna call.

---------------------------------------------------

"Chae-rin!" Fan called out from the kitchen to no response. She picked up your phone as it started to vibrate.

"Oh, it's Jungkook."

She made small quick steps up to the room, bursting in with an outstretched arm, waking you from your thoughts.

"Answer it, quick!" she said, as you put the phone to your ear.

You: H-he-hello?" Jk: Jagi-yah! You: Jungkook??

For the first time since yesterday, Fan saw you brighten up in delight. She gave you a nod and smile as she carefully shut the door behind her.

Jk: What took you so long to answer the call babe? Were you out partying without me? You: Yup I was, partying in the bedroom. Jk: Mwoh?! You: I'm kidding. Do I look like I would be doing that at my age?

Jungkook at that point was mentally kicking himself, not because he fell for your little tease but because it was getting to him that nothing was under his control.

Jk: Are you still at your friend's home? You: Yeah, I wasn't feeling too well so she had me stay over. Jk: What's wrong? Did something happen? Uh, Chae-rin ah, I should have known in when I saw you pale as a sheet. You: Hey, hey, go easy now. See, that's why I couldn't tell you? Jk: You know what, I'm coming over. You: No you're not. Don't be silly. I'm fine! Besides, there's a doctor here! I'm old enough to take care of myself. Jk: A doctor? Who. You: Oh, Fan's oppa is a doctor.

The conversation went silent for awhile.

Jk: (sighs) I just wish I was there. You: Hearing from you like this is good enough, Jungkook-ah. Don't feel bad? Jk: Anyway, how are you feeling, and what's wrong?

You went on to tell him about the slight discomfort you were having but omitted the parts about Jun handing you the kit.

You: I'm better now and will probably head home later tonight. Don't worry Jungkook, getting distracted is the last thing I want you to do.

You were almost pleading him, hoping that the amount of details you let out would somehow assure him that you weren't intentionally keeping things from him.

Jungkook tended to be a little obsessive and persistent in his ways, you found out, and the only way to get him to stop was basically to feed his curiosity to a point where he could wonder no more.

Jk: Sure? I'm gonna call your home tonight, to check on you.

He said it in a candid tone just to make you smile.

You: I'll be waiting then...

------------------------—----------------------

After a couple of movies and a simple dinner, you bid goodbye to Fan.

"I'll take the day off tomorrow to rest, I think I need it." you laughed and let out a sigh.

"You need a break babe, you've been working non-stop! Since the BTS concert!"

You shrugged, "what choice do I have? After those interviews were out, the boss wanted even more news and coverage. Saying how the artistes always seemed to let out exclusive stories when I was there."

"Wait till he hears your exclusive relationship" Fan wriggled her brows in a teasing manner at you. "Alright get going, it's getting dark now!"

You made your way home to the empty house which you left the day before. Almost immediately, the phone rang.

You: Hello? JK: Ah, you're finally home. You: Jungkook? Isn't it midnight in Korea now? JK: Isn't it dark where you are now? You: I don't believe you! How'd you know I just got home? JK: Did you not see flowers at your door?

You briefly placed the phone on the table and opened the door again.

To your shock and surprise, there really WERE flowers - but not hung on the door, or laid on the floor. They were held in the hands of a man, whose face was shielded by it.

Under the dim light of the night, you faintly recognised his silhouette and the loosely flapping outer shirt.

"W-wha-what are you d-doing here, J-J-Jungkook?!"

You blinked continuously, wondering if the nausea was acting up as hallucination now. You were shocked beyond words as you could only stare wordlessly, with a dropped jaw.

"Wait a minute," you turned on your heels, leaving the door open as you rushed to the phone again and spoke into it.

You: Jungkook??

You held the phone, and simultaneously watched the figure at the door walk in, now revealing his face, with his phone to his ear as well.

JK: Jagi-yah, aren't you gonna let me in?

You let go of the phone in an instant as it fell to the floor, and ran into his open arms, wrapping your arms around his body and taking in that familiar scent you missed so dearly.

"OMO!" he stumbled a little at the force of your weight on him, "are you that happy to see me?" he whispered, gently hugging you back, relishing the long awaited moment with closed eyes.

You hit his chest lightly, "why didn't you tell me! I'd have come back earlier if I knew you were here..."

Gazing into his eyes, you realised he was just as how you left him, maybe a little thinner with more tired eyes, but still the same smiling sweetheart as you remembered him to be.

He held you close, examining your face with his eyes and a light caress.

"Why have you lost so much weight? Haven't you been sleeping well?" he asked, running his hands down the sides of your waist. "It hasn't even been 3 months and you're already missing me this much huh?" He teased.

You sat him down by the kitchen counter and started asking him a slew of questions while you got him a drink.

"When did you arrive? Weren't you just in Seoul when you called? Don't you need to head back soon? Does anyone else know you came?"

Jungkook laughed, pulling your wrist to have you closer to him.

"Have you lost your interviewing skills already? I don't think that's the way to ask questions."

You blushed, both at the proximity and at your foolishness.

"Well... I took the first available flight after I called you this morning and got here the moment I touched down. It's just Jiminie-hyung that knows I came, the rest assumes we've gone back to Busan for the break."

"Oh my..." you cupped his chin in your hands, noticing now that his dark circles were so deep. "You must be exhausted from all the travelling, Jungkook~ you really.... should take care of yourself..."

He pulled you onto his lap, holding tightly onto your waist. "That's your job... and that's why I'm here."

Your hand was almost going to take a swipe at his his arm when he lifted his arm to resist. Unintentionally, he pushed the little paper bag that sat at the table edge, onto the floor.

"Ah... just a minute." His arm was uselessly long at times like these, beating you to the bag as you held your breath while he reached for it.

You watched him pause mid-air while his body was bent over your legs.

He put the box back into the bag and set it on the table behind you. There was no doubt that he'd seen what it was though there was still a chance he didn't know what it was for.

You smiled, unsure. "Are you hungry? I can fix you some food, you must be tired."

Attempting to propel yourself off, you were surprised that he simply let you move off his lap and scoot back into the kitchen. You could feel his eyes on your back as you scurried back and forth the cupboards, your mind in a mess.

"How about ramen? Yea, I think I've got some..... hmm." You opened drawers and shut them, momentarily forgetting where they were.

He watched you, wordlessly, observing at a distance. It was obvious how you were flustered and he smiled, thinking how cute it was.

Of course, he was well aware what the box was and it hardly took him a minute to put two and two together. But since you were trying to feign ignorance, he played along to see just how long more you could keep up.

"They're on the right shelf." He pointed, calm as usual.

"Oh yeah!" You reached for it quickly, not sparing him a glance.

He watched you fumble with the packet and saw how the back of your neck was turning red from his steady gaze.

Walking over, he took the packet from your hands, pulled it open, and handed it back to you.

You bit your lip, holding the open packet. Debating internally if it was okay to begin addressing why you had a pregnancy test kit on your table.

He leaned his back against the edge of the counter and placed both his palms on them, looking at you.

The silence was harsher than questioning and it was almost deafening for you. He was quite a master at manipulating without words, with his tall but unassuming presence urging you on to spill what the matter was. He didn't even need to ask.

"I'm sorry." You blurted out of the blue.

"Whatever for?" he waited in question.

"You know..... ....." you gestured in the air to nothing much in particular, hoping he'd not make you spell it out.

"Nope." he pursed his lips together, stance remaining open and unchanged, showing you he was ready to hear you tell him anything.

"I... promised we'd keep no secrets. But..." fessing up was a lot harder than you imagined, it was taking a dig at your pride.

Finally he pushed himself off the counter and took a few strides and reached for the bag. You watched him approach you again, unable to read his expression since his lips were pursed. He took your hand in his, leaving the open ramen on the counter, and led you into your room.

You secretly wondered how he knew his way around your house when it was his first time here.

Sitting by the edge of your bed, he pat the spot beside motioning for you to take your seat.

Taking the box out of the bag, he looked at it carefully this time.

"I trust you, Chae-rin..."

Your heart skipped a beat when you heard him address you by name, it meant that he wasn't in the mood for jokes.

He continued, as he met your eyes, "....and always will. Can you not too?"

You felt a pang of guilt wash over you.

Holding the box out to you, he asked, ever so gently. "Were you going to use this... because, the doctor told you to?"

You held his gaze, and found yourself nodding like a child caught red-handed.

He shut his eyes, feeling a little dizzy. OMG, Jeon Jungkook.

#My20YearOldIdolHusband #myidolhusband #gotstory #bts #bts fanfic #bts imagines #bts scenarios #jungkook fanfic #jungkook fluff #jungkook smut #jungkook fanfiction #jungkook scenarios #jungkook imagines #jungkook #bts fanfiction #bts fluff #bts smut #kpop fanfiction #bangtan

167 notes · View notes

dkminwon17-blog · 7 years

Text

Week One - Tuesday

{5:19am KST} – Text Message

Seokmin: Good morning beautiful. Ready for another day of work?

Rei: Good morning! It should be around 12pm there right? So, good afternoon to you. But yeah, I'm getting ready as we speak. Just got out of the shower.

Seokmin: Yeah, it's 12:20pm right now. You've gotten good at telling the time difference.

Rei: Well, we have been pen pals for about... 14 years now? But it did take me a while to get used to me being in Korea and you in America.

Seokmin: F O U R T E E N YEARS?!! Damn that's long! That's longer than I've known anyone else in my life, besides my parents and sister of course.

Rei: Hah, yeah, I know. Hella long time. I can't believe I'm not tired of you yet. XD

Seokmin: I'm going to ignore your snarky comment but mention one thing...

Rei: What is that?

Seokmin: I know that we've known each other for 14 years but must you really tell me things that I shouldn't know?

Rei: What are you talking about?

Seokmin: "Just got out of the shower." I may be your best friend, but I am still a man, so please try not to say stuff like that to me... Thank you!

Rei: Lolol. You? A man?! No way! I thought you made your voice that deep on purpose!

Seokmin: Ha. Ha. Shut up. Never mind that then. It's almost 6am, have you had breakfast yet?

Rei: lolol. No sir. I haven't had breakfast yet, but I've had coffee. I'll get something from the convenience store before heading to the office.

Seokmin: Okay, that sounds good. Get something remotely healthy please. Take care of yourself!

Rei: Yes oppa, I will.

Seokmin: Ew, don't call me that. It's weird.

Rei: hah. What about you oppa? Have you had lunch yet?

Seokmin: Rei stop. I'm only a month older than you.. And yes, I have, made myself pork chop for lunch and dinner.

Rei: Lolol, okay I'll stop. And that's good, but next time make sure to eat a fruit or vegetables with that meal. You need your greens!

Seokmin: Yes ma'am.

Rei: Good.. Okay, it's 6:15 now. I need to go if I'm going to the convenience store before work. Also, Yani won't stop calling me, so I have to go. Good bye! Until later, my Prince.

Seokmin: Alright. Have fun at work my Princess. And I hope you like your gift! Goodnight :)

Rei: Gift?! What gift?

Rei: DK!! D WHAT GIFT?!

Rei: Seokmin, god dammit. What gIFT?!

Seokmin: ;)

~ * ~

{6:45am KST} – Text Message

Yani: Hoe! I've been trying to call you! Pick your phone up!

Rei: Well good morning to you too (:

Yani: Shut up -_- I'm not feeling well and won't be coming into work today. I've called it in already.

Rei: Aww. Then I guess I'll be having lunch alone since Paul isn't back from vacation yet.

Yani: "Get better Yani. I'll bring you medicine after work." Aww thanks Rei! You're the best! .-.

Rei: hahhah. I'm at our floor now. I'll call or text you during lunch break. Love you lots, feel better hoe!

Yani: Have fun! :*

~ * ~

{7:16am KST} – Text Messages

Rei: D! What the fuck? Is this from you? Is this snoopy doll what you were talking about?

Seokmin: I see you're at work. :D

Seokmin: Do you like it?

Rei: Yes.. but I thought we were done sending each other gifts after junior year of college. :/

Seokmin: Speak for yourself. YOU were done but I was still sending you declarations of my love, which by the way, you never got back to me about... DX

Rei: Shut up. All those were, were paper hearts stuffed in a box. I never understood why you sent those...

Seokmin: That was my way of expressing how "you have my heart." ;)

Rei: lolol staahhhppp

Seokmin: Am I making you blush Rei? ;)

Rei: ....... Nooo..

Seokmin: I think I did. Mission accomplished. I feel good!

Rei: Hah. Whatever, I need to get to work. Byeeeee.

Seokmin: Goodbye my Princess. Have fun!

Rei: :P

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

{12:07pm KST} – Text Message

Rei: IT'S LUNCH TIME!

Yani: I know. I live in Korea too smart ass.

Rei: Yani. I will never understand why you're so mean to me. I am an angel to you! )X

Yani: Oh shut up. What are you having for lunch?

Rei: Packed myself a Hawaiian delicacy.. ^^

Yani: Oooooh, what is it?

Rei: Spam Musubis. I made extra last night because I thought you'd be at work, but apparently not. Sooooo, more for me.

Yani: ugh. You bitch, I want some! Save me at least two please? And bring it to me after your shift is over?

Yani: I'll love you forever. ^__^

Rei: Lolol, I suppose I could do that..

Yani: Good, I will be holding you to your word.

Rei: Yani.. Has there ever been a man with purple/pinkish hair working on our floor before?

Yani: Not that I can think of.. why?

Rei: Nothing.. It's just that, there are two men seated a couple of seats away from me..

Rei: One has his back to me, he has black hair and is wearing a cap right now.. Odd coz that's against dress code. But the other.. The other has pink hair and wearing a regular hoodie.. Isn't that against dress code too?

Yani: When I think of it, yeah.. Maybe they're big bosses?

Rei: I think they are, people have been bowing to them as they pass.

Yani: That answers your question then.

Rei: Yeah. But it's just weird coz you'd think big bosses wear professional outfits like blazers and shit like that.. Like how we're supposed to dress. But neither of them are.

Yani: Maybe they had a – rough night.. ;)

Rei: Oh my god, shut up XD. I just finished eating lunch.

Yani: Oh please, you can be worst than me sometimes.

Rei: Very true.

Rei: OH SHIT! I JUST SHARED EYE CONTACT WITH PINK HAIRED BIG BOSS! WHAT DO I DO?!

Yani: Bow stupid!

Rei: Okay okay. I did it.. He nodded and smiled. *sigh* I panicked..

Yani: I could tell, you texted me first before doing anything.

Rei: I know.. I think he's talking about me with the other guy. 0_0

Rei: Shit.. They're laughing.. I'm so embarrassed. I'm gonna leave now. I'll call you when I'm outside your house.

Yani: Hahahah! Okay okay. Have fun at work hoe. Don't be the laughing stock of our floor. I can't be best friends with the floor's "foreign new weirdo". XP

Rei: Ha. Ha. Very funny. Okay, I'm leaving now.. Bye!

Yani: Don't forget my spam musubi! Byeeee

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

{5:32pm KST} – Text Message

Rei: HOME SWEET HOME!!!

Seokmin: Home at last then?

Rei: Yessss, feels so good to lie down.

Seokmin: Haha. That's good.

Rei: It's midnight there right? Are you sleepy? Should I say goodnight?

Seokmin: Yeah it's midnight, but no I'm okay. You know how I can't sleep without hearing your voice. ^^

Rei: Did you want me to call you then?

Seokmin: I would love that, yes.

Rei: Alright.

{5:39pm KST} – Phone Call

Rei: Wow, one ring. I'm intrigued at how eager you are to talk to me.

[Seokmin chuckles tiredly]

Seokmin: Hah, shut up.

Rei: You sure you don't want to go to bed? You sound sleepy..

[He yawns]

Seokmin: No. I wanna talk for a bit, then I'll go to bed, I swear.

Rei: Okay, whatever you say boss.

Seokmin: So.. How was work? Did you like my gift to you?

Rei: Oh right! I almost forgot about it. Thank you for reminding me.

[Rei pulls out a box and opens it up to find a stuffed snoopy doll and a note]

Rei: "Confide in me with anything. I will listen, even if I cannot reply. I am here." Aww, thanks D. I love your hand writing by the way.

Seokmin: Thanks. And you're very welcome. Anything for my Princess.

[Rei blushes and bites her lip, butterflies in her stomach going crazy]

Rei: Shut up. Stop calling me that.

Seokmin: Why? You call me your Prince, so I think it's fair that I call you my Princess.

Rei: Okay... whatever.

[She squeezes Snoopy's stomach]

Rei: He has a battery inside of him?

Seokmin: Yeah, squeeze his nose.

[Rei squeezes Snoopy's nose]

Snoopy: Let me comfort you.

Rei: Aw. He's adorable, I love him. Thank you Seokmin.

[Seokmin smiles, happy]

Seokmin: You're welcome Princess. So even when you can't get a hold of me, you'll have Snoopy. He'll always listen to your problems or anything in that matter.

Rei: hah, I don't think he'll have a choice. But thank you again.

[There's a pause from her side of the line]

Rei: D..

Seokmin: Mmm?

Rei: I just... I think it's weird that we've never seen each other's faces since middle school.. I mean, I've sent you photos of me, but you never sent any back. Why not?

Seokmin: I want to wait till we see each other face to face. I know that's weird but do bear with me? Please?

Rei: But what if it never happens? I'll never know what you look like after puberty. What if you're a major babe, and look so good that I can't keep my hands off you when we meet!

[Seokmin laughs heartedly, his heart fluttering in his chest]

Seokmin: Rei! Are you confessing your love for me?!

Rei: Oh shut up. That was meant to be somewhat serious.

[Rei can't seem to contain her smile as she squeezes snoopy]

Seokmin: Well, I'm not going to tell you if I'm a "major babe" or not. One, I'll sound like a total narcissist if I told you how good looking I am.

[Seokmin chuckles at his own words]

Seokmin: And two, we will meet. Don't doubt it. Just believe in it, and it'll happen one day.

Rei: But what if I've met you already and didn't even know it was you. I only know your voice now.. Your image from the 6th grade was drowned in all our old emails to one another.

Seokmin: Rei, just trust me okay? I'm sorry but it will happen. Have faith in your Prince.. Please?

[Rei sighs, feeling slightly defeated]

Rei: I'm not one to let a Prince save "his Princess", you know.

Seokmin: I know.

[He laughs lightly, finding her completely amusing]

Seokmin: Geez, can't you let me be romantic just once?

[Rei blushes]

Rei: Maybe one day.. But I want it in person. Not your voiced lies. You can't see me, but I'm sticking my tongue out at you right now.

Seokmin: Hah. Alright. One day. When we finally meet, I'll sweep you off your feet. I guarantee it.

Rei: I guess I'll just have to wait for that day then.

Seokmin: Yes, please wait. Please wait for me Rei. I meant it when I said I have feelings for you, so please wait...

[Rei chuckles softly, hiding the sound of glee in her voice at his words]

Rei: I think you're exhausted. Go to bed now D. I'll talk to you in the morning. Bye.

[Seokmin sighs, slightly upset]

Seokmin: Alright. I'll talk to you in the morning. Good night beautiful.

Rei: Goodnight my Prince. Sleep well.

~ end call ~

~ * ~ * ~

{7:50pm} – Self Convo

Rei: Okay.. So, he said to share my emotions with snoopy.. I wonder if there's a recorder or something..

[shuffles with snoopy, over looking him thoroughly]

Rei: I don't see one...

[sighs and brings snoopy on top of knees]

Rei: This is so weird.. But okay. Day one, I suppose

[clears throat]

Rei: Snoopy... I think..

[takes a deep breath and smiles, biting her lip]

Rei: I'm in love with Seokmin.. What do I do..

[exhales sharply before wrapping snoopy in her arms, a warm smile on her face]

2 notes · View notes

inviting-nonsenseworld · 7 years

Text

Title: With you

Summary: The start of a new year was always special for Tadashi, and being able to spend the actual first day with Kei made it even better.

Word count: ~2.8K

Hi there! So, this is my story for @popypotato for the @tsukyamgiftexchange. I’m sorry this took long, but I came back from a trip recently and I still had a lot to edit in the fic. I actually had had many ideas of what to write, but I decided to go with a New Year temple visit and lots of fluff kind of thing. This starts with Tsukki and Yams as kids, then goes to them as teens.

May 2017 be a marvelous year for you! I hope you enjoy this :D

Now betaread by @shockandlock. Thanks <3

(Also found in AO3)

It was almost time for them to arrive, and Tadashi couldn’t be more excited.

His mother was still talking, but Tadashi had gotten distracted in the middle of her many warnings for him to be careful and not get lost as she put his scarf around his neck. He repeated “yes” a few times and nodded but as she kept going and as time passed, he became restless.

Tadashi looked out the window, then tried to see the time on his mother’s wristwatch, but there was no sign of anyone outside and it was hard to see the time while being discreet.

It must have been almost ten o'clock already. He wondered if Kei and his brother were going to be late.

“-and remember to behave yourself, Tadashi.”

Tadashi nodded quickly when he heard his name, catching his earmuffs when they almost fell off his head. His mother sighed, and he laughed, embarrassed.

“I hope you listened to at least some of what I said,” she said with a pointed look.

“I did!”

“Well, then.” His mother opened her arms with a soft smile. It was all Tadashi needed to know she wasn’t mad, so he jumped into the hug. “I hope you have fun. Don’t forget to call when you’re coming back, okay?”

“Okay.”

The doorbell rang not long after, and Tadashi answered the door with a big grin. There was a moment of greeting before Tadashi introduced Akiteru and his mother to each other. They started a conversation about the plans for the day, and Tadashi used the opportunity to sneak outside to Kei, who was standing by his brother quietly.

“Hi,” Tadashi said. He pulled his scarf closer around him as a chilling breeze swept by dragging some dry leaves on the ground. Kei nodded at him, seeming unfazed by the weather, and Tadashi asked in awe “Aren’t you cold?”

”Not really,” Kei answered. He looked down at his simple blue kimono then held the sleeve of the coat he wore over it, hands covered in gloves. “This is pretty thick, so I’m fine.” He grimaced slightly. “I don’t see the point, but my mom insisted me and my brother should wear these today.”

Tadashi turned back, and sure enough Akiteru was wearing a light green colored kimono underneath a thick coat. “I think they look super cool and comfortable.”

“Oh. Thanks” Kei looked at his clothes again, rubbing his nose. “They, uh, they are comfortable.”

Tadashi picked at the tips of his scarf, embarrassment crawling up his neck as the conversation fell into a lull. “So, h-how was your New Year's Eve?”

“It was okay. My parents made a special dinner and we played some games. Nothing new.” Kei shrugged. He glanced at his brother, and a small smile appeared on his face. “I got to play some volleyball with my brother, though. He taught me another way to serve.”

Tadashi gasped and let out an excited “Ooh! That’s awesome!”, then covered his mouth with his hands. He and Kei looked at Akiteru and Tadashi’s mother, but neither seemed to have heard anything, leaving both him and Kei sighing in relief then trying to hold giggles. Despite the fact that Kei always talked about his brother with pride, he made everything possible to prevent Akiteru from listening in, and Tadashi wasn’t about to risk breaking his efforts.

“What about you?” Kei asked.

Tadashi launched into a talk about all the different pastries he had helped his mother prepare for their family dinner, which led to to an avid conversation about cakes and types of flavors. It was only when Akiteru interrupted them saying they had to go that Tadashi noticed they were still at his doorstep.

He waved goodbye to his mother, and they started their walk to the temple at last. The trip was filled with chatter, and the best part was that it wasn’t forced to fill the silence. Kei didn’t like small talk and Tadashi was terrible at it, so even when they had nothing to talk about, the silence proved to be nice nonetheless.

Tadashi felt warm all over, and he knew he couldn’t stop smiling.

“What?” Kei asked when Tadashi looked at him again, but didn’t say anything.

They had just arrived at the first gate to the temple. They bowed, walked by the outside of the gate, and started climbing the stairs.

“Nothing. It’s just- this is so cool,” Tadashi said. He glanced around, taking in all the people nearby chattering in low tones - the noise somehow mixed in harmony with the typical calm of a temple surrounded by trees, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

“Have you never visited a shrine in the first days of the year?”

“I have, but it’s the first time I’m going with a friend.”

“Ah.”

A strange silence arose after that, the first one in a long time. Tadashi glanced at Kei, worried, wondering if he had crossed a line, then looked up at Akiteru, who smiled at him and winked, leaving Tadashi more lost than before.

They were about to cross the temple’s main gate and entrance when Kei murmured something.

“What?” Tadashi asked.

Kei glanced at him from the corner of his eyes, then shook his head. “Forget it,” he said before hurrying his step.

Tadashi watched in confusion as Kei’s back got farther ahead. Akiteru put a hand on his shoulder and urged him to keep walking as more people arrived behind them.

“Tadashi,” he said, matching his pace as they began to catch up with Kei. When Tadashi looked at him, he mouthed ‘me too’ and slightly moved his head in Kei’s direction.

Tadashi repeated the words in his head for a few seconds before it dawned on him. His eyes widened, and then the warmth from before consumed his chest as a wide grin broke out on his face. He nodded when Akiteru put his index finger to his lips, but it was impossible to hide his smile.

When they caught up with Kei, he was waiting at the line of the purification fountain to wash their hands and rinse their mouths. They remained in silence until they did so and were finally free to wander through the temple. It was more crowded than Tadashi expected, and they had to enter another line to make their wishes.

Tadashi had thought a lot about what he was going to wish: he wanted to get good grades, he wanted to get better at volleyball, he wanted the bullies to forget him, and he wanted to have lots of fun. However, there was one thing besides those that stood out in his mind.

He, Kei and Akiteru stopped in front of the offering box, each dropped a 5 yen coin inside it, bowed twice, clapped twice, and bowed once more. Tadashi closed his eyes and wished strongly, hoping the gods would listen to him in the midst of so many people.

“What next?” he asked after they stepped back from their wishing.

“Paper fortunes?”

“Alright.”

“Hey, Kei, Tadashi.” Akiteru waved at them to stop. He had his phone out. “Mom and dad asked me to take a picture.”

“Does it have to be right now?” Kei frowned, something close to a pout on his face.

“Yes, or we’ll forget about it,” Akiteru said. “Ready? Smile!”

Tadashi smiled, leaning closer to Kei and putting two fingers up in a peace sign. Akiteru’s phone emitted a clicking noise twice before he gave them a thumbs up.

Kei grumbled something Tadashi didn’t quite understand, but Akiteru rolled his eyes and nudged his arm. “Don’t be grumpy, Kei. You’ll be thankful you have these pictures to look back to in the future. I can send them to you as well, if you want, Tadashi.”

“Ah, thanks,” Tadashi said, surprised. His mind remained stuck on the word “future”, and he looked at Kei as a reflex.

“Do you think we can come here next year?”

“Sure, why not?”

It wasn’t like it was a promise - many things could happen during a year, so there would be no point to that. Yet Tadashi’s smile came back at full force.

Maybe his wish for a lasting friendship with Kei would come true, after all.

“Hey, Tsukki?”

Tadashi was standing with a hand on the window, close enough that his breath fogged it. He watched as Kei looked up from his phone in question.

“What?”

“It’s snowing.”

Kei looked past him through the window and squinted his eyes. He hummed in thought. “My parent’s train will probably be delayed.”

“Which means we’ll have a few more hours after dawn together.” Tadashi grinned. “Damn, I feel terrible for thinking like that.”

Kei snorted. “You say that while smiling.”

“I’m happy, that’s all. I still feel bad for your parents.”

“It’s fine. They considered a possible delay, so they prepared for it.”

Kei pressed a button on the side of his phone, the screen locking, and patted seat on the couch beside him. Tadashi wasted no time in joining him and slouching with a yawn.

“How long until midnight?” He asked.

Kei picked his phone and turned it around, showing the bright 11:18 pm on the screen.

“Nice, we’re close,” Tadashi said. He yawned again before straightening his posture, but sleep was still clinging heavy on his eyelids. “What do we do now? Card game?”

Kei shrugged, frowning. “We did that already.”

“We can play again.”

“No.”

“You say that because you lost all the games.”

“Shut up, that’s not why.”

“Hm-mn.”

Tadashi chuckled when Kei huffed.

“Another suggestion?”

Tadashi looked around Kei’s living room, but his mind was working slow and nothing stirred his creativity. Maybe they should have gone out at night instead of during the whole day - they’d be less tired, and there’s be more things to do. On the other hand, there would be less private time for them, and Tadashi slid on the couch until his head fell on Kei’s shoulder. “Ah, what’s that?”

From his new position, he saw a book partially hidden underneath the center table.

“That’s an old photo album. My mom was looking at it the other day, it must’ve fallen,” Kei said, picking it up.

“Can I see it?”

Kei shrugged, but passed it to Tadashi nonetheless. Right on the first page, there were very familiar pictures from years ago when Kei and Tadashi visited a temple on the first day of the year, and Tadashi smiled when he saw them.

“You put those in an album?”

“My mom did, but yeah,” Kei said, looking at the pictures. There was a soft blush on his cheeks, but Tadashi remained silent, observing him in fondness. “This one was near the offering box,” Kei pointed to the one in the left, “and this one was after we picked our fortunes.”

“I got a neutral blessing,” Tadashi commented. “I wasn’t very happy with that.”

“I don’t remember what I got.”

“I think it was a high blessing. You were so lucky, Tsukki. Ah, which reminds me.” Tadashi pointed at the third picture on the page. Kei, Tadashi and Akiteru appeared in it, but while the brothers were simply standing straighter with smiles, Tadashi was on the tips of his toes, hands on his coat pockets and had stuffed his chest.

“What were you doing there, by the way?”

“I was trying to imitate you. You know-” Tadashi said, passing a hand through his hair, trying to straighten it, then pretending to dust off his long-sleeved shirt and posing like his young-self had tried to, “being all tall, serious and cool looking.”

“Cool looking?” Kei asked, amused.

“Yeah. I thought that if I seemed cool, like you, the gods might give me a better blessing, even if my paper was neutral.”

Kei rolled his eyes, and took his glasses out to clean then on his shirt. “That’s not how it works. And you still failed terribly at being tall. You were so tiny, getting on the tip of your toes made no difference.”

“Hey, I think I did a great job, okay? I almost reached your chin.”

Kei chuckled, and Tadashi grinned, heart skipping a beat. The skin near Kei’s eyes crinkled when he laughed, but it was only visible when he wasn’t wearing his glasses. It was endearing, and it never failed to fill Tadashi’s chest with warmth.

However, he felt a nagging of doubt. At times like this, when everything was going so well and he felt he could burst in happiness, he felt he was walking on a tightrope, so close to falling as he awaited the impending blow from a harsh wind to knock him down. He was lucky to have Kei by his side, but how long was it going to last?

“Stop it,” Kei said, startling Tadashi out of his thoughts.

“Stop what?”

“Doing that.”

“What?”

Kei put his glasses back and sighed in frustration. “Stop overthinking. You’re making that expression again.”

“I wasn’t-” Tadashi cut himself off when Kei gave him a deadpanned look. “Okay, maybe I was. It’s just, everything’s going so well...”

“And everything will continue to go well,” Kei said, voice firm, taking Tadashi’s face in his hands.

He didn’t say any other words, but the sheer intensity of Kei’s gaze was enough for Tadashi to understand what he meant. He swallowed thickly, feeling his heartbeat speed up, and barely managed to nod in confirmation.

“I can’t help it,” Tadashi said.

“Me neither - sometimes,” Kei admitted, and Tadashi knew it meant a lot for him to say it out-loud. “But I’m here to remind you not to.”

Words were a funny thing, in their relationship. When it came to affection and feelings, they were a necessity to avoid miscommunication, but there was no need for an excess of them when actions could demonstrate thoughts just as well. It was a struggle until they found their new middle ground when they started dating, but perseverance led them here, and it started flowing naturally.

Picking out the ‘I love you’ in Kei’s actions was effortless now, and Tadashi’s heart felt like it was going to combust when Kei pressed a soft kiss on his forehead then on the side of his mouth. Tadashi groaned and hid his face against Kei’s chest, cheeks burning. His mouth opened and closed twice, but no words seemed right, so he settled for sliding his arms behind Kei’s back, enveloping him in a tight hug.

The silence that settled between them was comforting, and soon enough Tadashi was close to dozing off. He shook his head quickly when he noticed, startling Kei.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Tadashi said, and pouted. “I almost fell asleep. We decided we’re going to wait midnight together, didn’t we? So don’t let me do that.”

“Alright, your majesty,” Kei said. He looked down at Tadashi in amusement, and rose his hands in surrender when Tadashi punched his shoulder lightly. “Okay, okay. Here.” He offered one of his earphones to Tadashi.

Tadashi turned around until he was leaning on the couch beside Kei, pushing the forgotten photo album to the side, and put in the earphone. Together, they remained like that - sometimes humming, then outright singing - until Kei’s phone marked midnight and they could hear noise from the streets. Fireworks cracked.

“Happy New Year,” they murmured to each other with smiles and a tight hug. None was certain who leaned in first, but then they were kissing, lips touching sweetly and tongues sliding together with softness that sent a pleasant shiver down Tadashi’s spine, and it didn’t matter anymore.

Tadashi felt entirely breathless, his stomach doing flips and his skin prickling where Kei had lifted his shirt and was pressing his hand against his side. They broke the kiss, but remained close, foreheads touching, just gazing into each other’s eyes.

“Hey, Tsukki.”

Kei made a questioning sound.

“I was thinking,” Tadashi continued. “What do you say about going to the temple tomorrow?”

“Not today?”

“Nah, it’s gonna be too crowded.”

“It’ll be just as crowded tomorrow.”

“Hmm, so maybe in a few more days? Like, in four days.”

“Sure, why not?”

Tadashi smiled. He felt warm all over, just like years ago when they went together to their New Year temple visit for the first time, but he knew it was for a different reason now.

Kei was right, he shouldn’t overthink too much. Their relationship was perfect in its imperfection, and that was all Tadashi could’ve asked for.

#tsukyamgiftexchange #yamaguchi tadashi #tsukishima kei #tsukkiyama #haikyuu #my writing

33 notes · View notes