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djarinsphere · 1 year

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The help of a stranger | Din Djarin

Din Djarin x female!reader

Summary: When you need it the most, a stranger is willing to help you out. The stranger becomes someone you love, but could he ever feel the same?

Warnings: mention of abuse (workplace related), canon-typical violence, angst, only partially proof-read

Words: 4.2k

A/N: This took me a while to write, but I hope all of you enjoy it. I love Din in this and I hope you do too! Lemme know what you think :)

Request | Masterlist

The Mandalorian was used to travelling alone. He wasn’t only used to it, he actually preferred it a lot. Whenever someone else was on his ship with him, it was usually a bounty and most of them were dead as soon as they entered his ship.

But things had been different for quite a while. Since he met the little child next to him, to be precise. Grogu had turned his life around in more ways than one but even simple things like travel had become quite different. He now had a child on board with him at all times and had to care for it while also doing his job to make sure they had enough credits to get through the days.

It would be a lie if he said he didn’t have any problems arising through this new situation. It was hard to navigate everything at the same time and still be able to do everything just as efficiently as before. That’s why he decided to finally get some help on the front of the kid at least. It was just hard to find someone suitable for that job. Someone that wasn’t going to rob him first chance they got.

Din didn’t even know where to start with this. He wasn’t going to put an advertisement out that would say “Seeking Nanny for green child”. The thought alone made his cheeks turn red.

It was a rather lucky incident that eventually lead him to finally find someone that would be able to care for Grogu.

After securing another bounty on a remote jungle planet, he decided that all the canned and warmed-up food in the Razor Crest wasn’t anything they should eat today. Besides, Grogu seemed to be a lot hungrier these days, so he would allow himself and his little companion to eat something better than whatever he stored on his ship.

The small cantina was filled with all kinds of people. Din could spot pilots from the New Republic, workers and a few people that kept their faces hidden with cloaks and masks. If he had to guess, he would have guessed that they were smugglers or bounty hunters. But smugglers was more likely.

“You’ll behave this time,” he told the green child that he carried with him. “I don’t want to cause a scene again like last time. You aren’t supposed to eat all the insects you can find.” While he had gotten rather used to Grogu’s strange eating habits, all the people around them didn’t know that the small kid could eat basically anything and that was normal. But Din found himself looking away every now and then when Grogu would put a particularly disgusting insect into his mouth.

A waitress welcomed them shortly after they stepped through the door. She led them to a table in the back and brought a high chair for Grogu. As soon as the waitress had turned around again, hurrying off towards another table, Grogu grabbed the small salt shaker on the table and started pouring its contents into his mouth.

Din was looking away in that moment, eyeing a table in the back where a card game was being played, but pistols were laying on the table, clearly ready to be used.

You were tired of working in this cantina. Your boss was just ordering you around all day, making you do even more work since the droid he had used before broke down. The work wasn’t the only problem though. It was the constant delay of your payment, the customers that were always treating you like something inferior to them and you could not stand the horrible sanitary conditions in the kitchen. And there wasn’t much possibility to change anything since your boss was always monitoring everyone and if things weren’t done the right way, or the way he wanted them, hell would be let loose.

Today, you were serving a Mandalorian warrior and a child that looked rather strange. You had never seen his species before, but you adored his huge green ears and his adorable eyes. After bringing them a high chair, you went back behind the counter to get a datapad ready that would display the menu. With the sleeve of your shirt, you brushed off some dust from the device’s screen, letting out a small sigh. These also needed to be overhauled. It was an old edition and you already had to explain to your boss that some of the datapads didn’t even work properly at this point. A few of them couldn’t be turned on anymore either.

When you made your way back to their table, you saw the Mandalorian looking away from his child that was emptying the salt shaker right into his mouth. “Uh-“ you started, unsure if you would be allowed to do or say something about it, but you doubted that consuming so much salt could be healthy – for anyone.

You gently tried to take the shaker from the little kid which made his ears drop almost immediately. He looked sad, frustrated and you instantly felt bad.

By the time you placed the salt back onto the table, the Mandalorian was looking at you. A shiver ran down your spine, in fear. You could feel your throat drying up. This cantina had seen a lot of Mandalorians already and a lot of them had been looking for trouble, oftentimes not even stopping at the staff. It was always a challenge for you to be face to face with masked Mandalorians. Or masked people in general. How were you supposed to tell if they were upset or not? How were you supposed to prevent bigger mishaps?

“I’m sorry, I-“ you started, trying to explain yourself. Maybe it had been an issue that you stopped the child from emptying the entire shaker. What did you know about little green children with huge ears?

“No, I’m sorry. He has to learn not to touch and eat literally everything,” the stranger interrupted you, taking the salt and pepper shakers further away from the baby.

Relief washed over you. You weren’t just happy that you didn’t upset him, but also that you didn’t cause a scene and your boss would have another reason to come after you. You were pretty sure that you were on the verge of being fired and while this place was awful, you didn’t really have anywhere else to go and finding work these days was pretty hard. Most people earned their money by hunting bounties for guilds or the New Republic, but you weren’t very skilled with any weapons. You knew how to defend yourself with a blaster in a worst case scenario, but that was about it.

You cleared your throat eventually, handing the Mandalorian the datapad. “You can find our menu on here. I will be back soon to take your orders,” you smiled friendly, trying to get back to the safety behind the counter. The Mandalorian simply nodded, before you turned away and made your way back to the counter. You checked the window to the kitchen quickly, not seeing any new meals that needed to be carried to the tables, so you took the time to refill the bottles of blue milk. Lots of them had gone empty since your boss didn’t keep an eye on it and you were busy tending to the customers.

You were about to close the second refilled bottle when your boss came around the corner, already an angry expression on his face. “Sir-“ you started, but he was quick to interrupt you. “Did I tell you to refill these?” His voice was loud, booming through the cantina as usual. You flinched visibly, immediately placing the bottle down on the counter again. “No, but I figured they might have to be refilled like usual,” you tried to explain yourself, heart beating wildly against your chest. You were frightened, again. You wanted nothing more than to get rid of this job.

“But I didn’t tell you to do that now!” His voice just got louder. You could feel everyone’s stares on you already, all of that making your hands shake immediately. “I’m sorry, I-“ Your words weren’t more than nervous stammers.

“This isn’t the first time you keep messing up. It’s always you that’s causing trouble.” All you had ever done here was try to get everything right. So many employees had already left but you didn’t and now this is what you got for all of it. Not that you could have afforded to leave. But during your time here, you still didn’t want to mess up.

“Maybe I should finally get rid of you. This is your last shift.”

You knew the shock was written on your face. An uncomfortable silence spread in the room that had been so loud just a few minutes earlier. Your heart threatened to stop as well. Where were you supposed to go? How were you supposed to survive? You didn’t have many savings, your rent was incredibly high and you had no idea where to find a new job.

You were left standing in shock when your boss turned around and went back into the kitchen. You gulped, the world around you spinning for a second. Your hand found the counter to support you somehow, trying to prevent your fall. This was horrible. All of this was horrible.

You made sure to pack everything that belonged to you into your bag when the cantina closed later that evening. It wasn’t much. You had just kept a mug around to fill yourself a drink every now and then. And had left a jacket in the kitchen in case it would get colder than usual. Of course, you wouldn’t miss this place, but you would miss the money you received. How were you supposed to pay the bills now?

Your only hope might be a cleaning job in one of the New Republic office facilities. But you had to get off this planet for that first.

Your thoughts were interrupted though when you saw the Mandalorian standing outside the building, seemingly waiting for you. Was he waiting for you?

He approached pretty quickly then and you could hear a small sigh leave his lips. “I saw what happened earlier.” Of course he did. Everyone did probably.

“I think everyone did,” you replied, visibly frustrated at the memory. You didn’t only get fired, you got fired in front of so many people.

“Probably,” the Mandalorian added, looking around for a moment. He seemed kind of nervous for some reason, putting one of his hands on his hip. “Do you already have an idea of where to go? Job-wise?”

It was a strange question. From a stranger specifically. Yet you decided to answer it truthfully. “No. I have honestly no idea what I will do now.” Tears were making their way into your eyes, your hand coming up to cover your mouth. How could this get even more embarrassing? You were now even crying in front of a stranger.

The Mandalorian seemed to be a bit overwhelmed by your reaction, looking around helplessly and almost avoiding your gaze. He seemed to think for an awful long time, a time where you could feel more and more shivers rising up in your body.

Eventually, he spoke again. “I think I have a job for you. If you want.”

Looking back, it might have been a bit foolish to just follow a bounty hunter you barely knew through the galaxy. But Din Djarin, as you had found out, never mistreated you even once. “The Job” you had been offered consisted of looking after the small child. It wasn’t the easiest job, especially since both Din and Grogu had a habit of getting into trouble quite often and you were the one that had to stick around and stitch them back together or make sure that Grogu didn’t get into too much danger.

Almost a year had passed since you had left your old home behind and started to find a new one within the Razor Crest. Travelling the galaxy was intriguing and you got to see so many new places. Desert planets, jungle planets… things you couldn’t even imagine before. You had met new species, talked to more people than you probably had your entire life and tried so many new foods that you could barely keep track of them anymore.

Din was a quiet travel companion but you noticed that with each passing month, he started to open up a bit more. First, your conversations consisted mostly of small talk and what mischief Grogu had been up to again. But then, he slowly started to tell you about some bounties he had done in the past, about planets he had visited and worries he had about your next destination.

You also dared to open up more, especially about your time as a waitress, about everything that came before he gave you the chance to escape your miserable life back home. Din was a great listener. With time, your conversations got longer, the topics more meaningful and you sound found yourself talking about your biggest fears. Din was open with you about the fact that he was constantly worried about Grogu, that he had no idea how finding a Jedi was going to work out for him. You were honest with him about the fact that you didn’t really have anything but him, the child and your travels together.

During all these talks, often happening late at night or while the stars were rushing by in hyperspace, you could feel yourself growing more and more fond of the Mandalorian. One night he told you about how he invented a rock game with other foundlings when he was a child, laughter making their way past his helmet. And every laugh left more butterflies in your stomach. Soon enough, you were filled with them, just like the smile was not able to leave your lips anymore. These conversations made you happy, let you feel safe and his voice started to become the most beautiful sound you could hear. And every time he retreated back to his bunk for the night, leaving you on your pile of blankets and pillows, you felt a sting in your chest, like something you loved dearly was gone again.

With time, it became harder and harder for you to hide your feelings. You knew Din might be oblivious to some advances made by others – you had witnessed that yourself – but he would surely notice that your behaviour changed. Seeing each other every day, it would be inevitable. But you were determined to try your best at hiding whatever was going on inside you.

Maybe it led to less late night talks, less meals spent together, but you were trying to save yourself from more hurt coming towards you. Not being able to act on your feelings was one thing, but being openly rejected would be another. At least you would be able to have the fantasies in your head.

Today, you were sitting on the ramp of the Razor Crest, Grogu next to you, playing with his favourite toy – a ball. You watched him with a smile on your face. Din was out buying supplies and you decided to stay back and watch over Grogu here. It was like that a lot of the time. And sometimes Din would come back from a fight, armour dirty and sometimes even mildly injured.

That was also one of the reasons why you didn’t dare to tell him about you how felt. He was a warrior, strong, brave and able to stand his ground. He had a presence, a strength, you could never match. You weren’t even able to hold your blaster properly sometimes.

In your head, you imagined Din would like to have a partner, a riduur, that would be able to fight. Mandalorians were warriors and you were neither of these. Getting Din to open up had taken a long time, but learning how to fight for him would take even longer.

You could only dream about being with him.

Din was carrying a large bag with supplies when he came back to the Razor Crest. He already saw the two of you from afar and something about the way you played with Grogu, eventually picking him up and placing him in your lap, made his chest feel warm. His entire body started to feel warm, cheeks included. If he wasn’t wearing the helmet, the blush in his face would have betrayed all that was going on inside him.

You were simply wonderful in his eyes. There was also a certain calmness he felt whenever he saw you with Grogu. You were like a mother to the little green child, but you had also become his calm in a storm. The Razor Crest had never felt like home as much as it did with you in it.

But how could he ever explain all of this to you?

A few more weeks passed and as did the stars in hyperspace. They were rushing past you on your way to a new planet, a new location, where Din had located a bounty he was after. You were sitting next to him in the cockpit, watching the different screens and buttons. One day you would finally at least get the courage to ask Din to show you the basics of flying. For now, you didn’t want to seem annoying. Not that he had ever given you the impression that he could be annoyed by you.

It was just your own doubts. And the fact that you were probably not anything like an ideal travelling companion or partner for him. Other people surely knew how to navigate a ship, get rid of pirates and care for a child.

“Do you already know what to expect?” You asked eventually, breaking the silence. Din turned his head towards you. You always wondered what eyes were hidden behind that helmet. Behind that dark visor that you couldn’t see past.

“A bunch of smugglers that settled down in the woods. I’m supposed to bring their leader back to the client,” he explained, hand coming up to fix the armour on his shoulder. There was an urge in your fingertips to help him, but you held back.

After months of living together, travelling together, you had learned to hold back, even though you wanted nothing more but to finally touch him. Just somehow. Somewhere.

“Then I will already wish you good luck. I can wait here with Grogu again, if you want.” It was always easier for him to do his job without having Grogu, and now you, around. Not having to watch after a little kid while fighting was definitely a blessing you could get behind. So whenever it worked, you just stayed back on the ship with the little green one.

Din walked off into the forest as soon as you had landed. You left the ramp open again, but sat down on some tree stumps, letting Grogu play around in the grass. He was surely putting a few bugs into his mouth but as you had learned, it wasn’t harmful to him and he was never not hungry.

You still kept an eye on him. Din had told you about how important Grogu seemed to be to some people, for his abilities, and that they wouldn’t shy away from getting to him at all costs. You never let him out of your sight at all.

It seemed to take Din forever. The sun had gone down already, but he hadn’t returned yet and slowly, worries were starting to spread inside you. What if something happened to him? What if he was bleeding out somewhere and couldn’t make it back to the ship? What if he had gotten lost in the woods? So many questions, unanswered.

With every passing minute, your worries just grew. The worst scenarios started to form in your head. You could almost see Din’s armour in front of you, the shiny beskar covered in blood and dirt. His painful groans echoed in your head without actually being there. Panic was rising inside you. He had never been gone for that long.

You started to pace around, Grogu sensing your discomfort and sitting on a stump, watching you without much movement. You weren’t sure if you were confident enough in your skills to go looking for him. It had been hours since he had disappeared between the trees and there was no way you would be able to find your own way in those woods. You had no experience navigating anything beside a busy cantina.

Hope rose inside you as you spotted a figure in the shadows though. Same height as Din, almost the same built. Almost. This person as a lot broader, face covered as well, but with a mask of a different kind. A hood was pulled into their face and your heart almost stopped. This wasn’t Din. Without standing around much longer, you grabbed Grogu, pressed him against your chest and wanted to make a run for the Razor Crest.

But someone was also standing behind you, blocking the entry into your ship. You gulped, panic filling your body completely. What were you supposed to do? Your hands turned sweaty, but you knew you had to find a solution or else you and Grogu would be damned. You needed to make a move now. The man in front of you just kept coming closer and closer. With every step, he sent another shiver of fear through your body.

Then you could feel your limbs again and everything in your head was screaming Run!. So you did. You ran into the woods, hearing fast steps behind you, but you were good at running at least. Grogu was hiding his face in your top, the little child shivering as you carried him through the unknown forest. Branches scratched against the exposed skin of your arms, leaving it bloody and red.

It seemed like an eternity, running and running, and slowly, your lungs were starting to give in. You stumbled, again and again, until you met the hard ground, stone pushing into your hands, sending pain through your arm. Your knees hurt, scrapped open, your legs weak from the running while you were still desperately trying to breathe.

Then there was the cold metal of a blaster against your head, tears streaming from your eyes. You were really going to die here. And you weren’t able to protect Grogu at all. He would be taken away, Din would come back and find you both gone. If he was still alive.

“Please-” you started, already expecting the laser to hit you, but it never did. The pain never came, the sound never filled your ears.

Instead, you heard a dull sound and the cold feeling on your head left. You turned around, looking at the Mandalorian.

“Din,” you breathed out, more tears coming from your eyes. Relief. You were overcome with relief, the feeling taking control of your entire body. Grogu sat down on the ground as you leaned against a stone, trying to get your breathing even again. But your eyes never left the man in front of you.

The person that had attacked you laid on the ground, motionless. But Din was staring at you, through the dark visor once more. “Are you alright?” He asked. The trembling of his voice could not be hidden. He was worried, worried sick.

“Are you alright?” He asked again, sinking down in front of you. His gloved hands cupped your head, the rough leather moving over your cheeks.

Even though you couldn’t see his face, his body language betrayed him. He was shivering slightly, his breath faster than usual and all calm had left him completely.

“I’m alright. Just a few scratches,” you nodded, a hand finding its way on top of his. You gave his hand a slight squeeze and for a moment, he seemed to become even more tense. Until he wasn’t anymore.

A weight fell off his shoulders and his arms wrapped around you, pulling you into him. His armour was hard against you, but you could hear the beating of his heart and for a moment, the pain in your limbs didn’t matter anymore. Nothing mattered.

“I was so afraid to lose you. I-” He kept you in his arms, even as he spoke. “I have come to care for you a great deal. There are some feelings I can’t really put into words.”

He didn’t have to say more. You understood. It filled you with warmth, head to toe, with butterflies in your stomach and a smile on your lips. The pain was something from the past for now. Knowing that Din seemed to feel the same about you was all you had wanted for so long.

“I was worried about you too. You were gone for so long and… I also don’t want to see you hurt. Ever. I don’t want to walk the galaxy without you.”

Din let out a sigh, his gloved hand moving soothingly over your hair.

“You will never have to go anywhere without me, cyar’ika. I’m here to protect you.”

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userholland · 2 years

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between the lines | frat!tom

finals week is here and you’re an emotional wreck, to say the least. not only is your schedule jam-packed, but there are things going on in your life as well. you need to cram, you need to meet due dates and frankly, you could use a drink to get through it all. the night you go to a frat party, you see a cute and familiar face that you have to see every time you go to the small bookstore and he’s behind the cash register.

PAIRING : frat!tom & college!fem!reader

GENRE : college, book shop, love at first sight, dramatic love confessions, wedding date, & a long (too long tbh) slow burn

WARNINGS : tom being sarcastic but cute, lots of fluff + corny dialogue, toxic parents and divorce, a light/tasteful make-out, cursing, drinking, trust issues, both reader and tom being bibliophiles (annotations & recommendations blah blah), etc.

WORD COUNT : 13.9k

A/N : mostly, inspired by an another great idea @venomsilk gave me <3 🧸🌤 🍰 dedicated to her. this is for her valentine’s celebration (a few months late, oops. but school / mental health checks happened so respectable hiatus on this fic) and i was so happy and excited to write it tbh ! i've been more into the romance ya novels lately so i really wanted to give this fic a lot of love and filled it with inspiration from books i've read. pls rec me some bc this summer i want beach reads. anyways adore and appreciate my venomsilk besthie so much. bear with me in this fic, but hope everyone enjoys ! also this header is originally from here! i just added the shredded border

𑁍 masterlist 𑁍

Books. They were a common comfort you turned toward in times of stress, sadness or simply something to make the time go by on the bus ride to campus.

The small bookstore, that you often went to on the weekends, was unique. Most books were donated or found, then there was a small selection of brand new editions on the circular table when you entered the shop.

From the tall shelves filled with fictional adventures to the big, voluptuous, and green plants decorated around the front window, everything about this place was perfect. But, the dark, curly-haired cashier with a soft smile was a bonus to your shopping experience.

Every time you approached the counter, heat would suddenly radiate from your face and your heart fluttered when the boy rose his head to meet your eyes. Sometimes, you caught him reading a classic novel, other times, he was taking his time to finish homework when the store didn’t have but one or two people browsing.

His name is Tom, once overhearing one of his co-workers call him Tommy. You didn’t know anything about him, but it fit his charming yet approachable appearance. He wore a bunch of flannels with the sleeves rolled up and a solid color tee to match underneath, the occasional baseball tee or henley if the temperature in the store was too warm.

You didn’t mean to giggle the time you walked up to him and his cheeks were bright pink from how hot it was inside compared to the coming winter chill changing the fall weather.

Once or twice, you wondered if he remembered you. It sounded egotistical, questioning your importance to some stranger, but you couldn’t help it. He gave you recommendations or comments on the books you purchased, persuasive enough to burn a bigger hole in your pocket for decent literature.

The way he smiled and giggled when you had small talk, all from asking each other how your days had been. If it was a selling tactic he used; it was working.

Some days, romanticizing simple interactions like this made life less lonely and stressful. Tom was simply a crush; just another cute guy you could think about when you think about your future and the little fantasies in between your daydreams. It was nice for a bit and then you snapped back into reality, concentrating on your studies and looking forward to getting a degree.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

Tom took advantage of the lazy afternoon shift between his classes.

There were little to no customers, free time to study and complete silence unless he turned on the music over the speakers throughout the store. While the minimum wage didn’t seem worth it, Tom much more preferred working at his Aunt and Uncle’s bookstore than to getting ripped off from writing English essays for his “so-called” fraternity brothers.

As he sat at his post behind the register, comfortably wearing his black Carhartt jacket, with his head lowered so his brown curls hung down. He unknowingly pouted as he made bright-red corrections on his rough draft for one of his final papers. Even though Tom had three to four other final papers of his own to do, he was doing essays for other people.

His final paper for his Advanced English Romanticism class was way more important and frankly, all he wanted to do was pass with high grades, but earning money for next semester’s tuition by easily bullshitting Shakespeare’s literature theories or creating basic fictional, short stories for people who were barely sober 12 hours out of the day made his eyes wander to the rough drafts in his worn backpack.

The ink imprinted his, sloppy but small, handwriting on the side of his hand, and the end of the pen had a few bites when he was re-thinking his sentences and paraphrasing.

Suddenly, the bell above the entrance door rang, not phasing Tom to look up since people came in and out, but he glanced up when he noticed the familiar color of the jacket you wore. He had seen you a few times, wearing that same navy blue jacket with a red and black stripe going down the sleeves.

A gloss filmed over his bright-brown eyes but looked away once you walked toward the back, admiring the books placed perfectly around the best-sellers table at the center of the store. You were the same, pretty girl who wandered around the stop for an hour, maybe two, seeking a book and nothing else.

Each one that came to Tom’s counter was a different genre from a worn-out classic or a fairly used historical fiction– it intrigued him so, he’d list a few recommendations. After a bit of, what he considered, flirting, you left with a big smile until two or three days passed and there you were again, searching and reading in between the numerous aisles.

“Think fast!”

Tom already flinched, but a soccer ball thumped against the side of his head and he immediately pressed his palm on his temple.

“Jesus…” Tom hissed under his breath, his eyes giving a dirty look toward his friend, “A ‘hello’ would have sufficed.”

“What? You’re not happy to see me?” Harrison grinned, holding the ball under his arm.

Tom quickly retorted, “Why are you bothering me at work?”

Harrison tilted his head.

“Because I cherish every second we spend together…” He smiled before rolling his eyes, “What do you think? We have a meeting at the house in twenty minutes. C’mon, no one is even here, it’s your family’s store and you can leave when your manager is on his phone in the back office–”

Tom opened his mouth, but no words came out. His eyes shifted to you, past Harrison’s figure, watching as you flipped through another book on the same shelf; a hardcover version of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Basic, but not a bad read. Tom thought.

“Who’s that?” Harrison asked, “She’s pretty.” He glanced over his shoulder, but you had no idea that the two boys were glaring as you concentrated on the text.

“No one.” Tom said in an annoyed tone, messily pushing his books and paper into his worn-out backpack.

The rosy pink tint of the apples of Tom’s cheeks made Harrison slowly smile, “Oh, Tommy. You’re squirming. Is she an ex? Hookup? Maybe TA?”

Tom sighed, “If we leave now, I’ll still help you with your sports management paper tonight.”

Harrison nodded, “Geez, she must be someone if you make that threat.”

You couldn’t help but lift your head at their commotion, watching Tom lead the way. Harrison trailing behind with his duffle strap on his shoulder and spinning the soccer ball in his hands, but your glances connected as they passed. Being the brother he is, Harrison announces, “He has a thing for you! Big ole crush! Do you have his number-”

Tom pushed on Harrison’s back hard, forceful enough to get him through the door. He wanted to avoid you noticing the bright tint red painted on the apples of his cheeks from the embarrassment he couldn’t escape.

Your heart was in your throat, a warmness spreading throughout your body from the attention. Half-smiling, you looked back down at the book in your shaking hands. While it wasn’t your first choice, this happening made you want to buy it to remember this moment.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

The feeling of falling shocked your nerves, jerking your head up to make sure you were still in your seat. You hadn’t noticed you fell into a catatonic state, blankly staring at your laptop with little to no brain function. The brightness of the small screen gleamed against your face, making you blink your eyes a few more times before hearing the multiple cracks break in your back.

This was being a university student. More specifically, an English major.

As much as you loved a hardcover book, money thought differently. Instead of flipping through thick pages with a smell that comforted you, those same texts flashed on whatever device you could afford it on.

The biggest misconception of being an English major is that you like to read everything and anything. Completely wrong. You liked to read the books that were like a warm hug after a rainy, cold day or made you weep until mascara burned the corners of your eyes.

The details you paid attention to within the novels you kept close are the reason you loved to read. But, classics and sonnets that you were forced to analyze to write papers about what they mean bored you mindlessly, wondering why picking English was even an option when it’s just reading a language you know.

You turned to your tall bookshelf, perfectly placed in the corner of the room, and books of various sizes overflowed it like a garden. Some rest on the top of it after you ran out of room on your shelves.

Each had their own story as to how they were placed on the old wooden ledges; buying them brand new from bookstores, finding worn-out classics from the thrift store or they were collecting dust in your parent’s attic. But, lately most had come from the Joel & Anne’s bookstore–you blamed Tom.

Just as you wanted to pick up The Picture of Dorian Gray, a notification popped up in the corner of your laptop’s screen. It was a brief email from your professor, granting an extension to the midterm paper due for those who requested it and you couldn’t have been more revealed.

Thank God, you thought.

The pace of your heart slowed down, the cracking of your spine as you straighten your back at your desk.

Falling on top of the fluffy comforter of your bed, your body’s muscles relaxed. The tension disappeared from your chest as your heavy eyes fluttered close. In and out of sleep, the buzz of your phone caused your head to quickly rise. Half-awake, you leaned up to grab it then plummet back into the soft sheets.

“Since there’s an extension for your paper, does that mean I’ll see you at the Delta Epsilon ABC party tomorrow?” Your best friend, Lillian, texted.

“ABC?” You typed with a furrow brow.

“Anything But Clothes.” She replied with a tongue emoji.

Reluctant, you wanted to say “no” and take the extended due date seriously, but from how stressed out the paper was making you, a party didn’t sound like a bad idea.

You sealed your lips while typing, but once you sent “What should I wear?”

After Lillian pitched a few last-minute ideas, you exited from your text messages then placed your phone on the bedside table. Rubbing your dry eyes, you get back up to turn off your lamp and other lights.

As you stroll to the desk, you trace your finger over the trackpad of the laptop to exit from the email. Surprisingly, you forgot about the already-opened browser of the book you’ve been hunting down for your paper. You were so exhausted, you spaced out in those few minutes to probably forget about it.

Shakespearean plays were the subject of your paper, researching for hours on end about this ancient man’s entire collection and existence. His missing years, his creation of words we still use today, anything that pinpointed a significance in the English language was stored somewhere in the paper your fingers cramped to write for the past week.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

Tom downed the last Red Bull from his mini fridge, compressing the aluminum can in his hand then throwing it in trash. There it sat with the other empty cans and overflow of crumbled drafts.

He couldn’t remember the last time he blinked today yet his fingers were typing any of the words coming up in his head. The sixty bucks he was being paid for it was his only motivation to finish the last lines about the rise of the Roman Empire.

Shockingly, it wasn’t as difficult as told to him– but usually, it’s the people who don’t pay attention in their classes that find it hard and in their way. At least if he did it, there were rewards other than a high grade.

As Tom pressed tab to indent, he thought of how you smiled at him. He hoped it was him and not Harrison being cocky from what he said. He pondered what would happen if he stayed, walking back to you and saying that his attraction was true. But, Tom was more confident in his mind and he couldn’t actually imagine seeing you after how embarrassed he felt from Harrison’s announcement.

“Hey!” Harrison said as he knocked on Tom’s open door, expecting nothing but what he saw– Tom’s ass glued to his desk chair and the bright, white screen of his laptop staring back at him.

Tom turned his head, rolling his eyes at the blonde, blue-eyed devil, “Come here to make any of my other of my secrets known to the public?” He continued to jot down any last corrections on the paper he’d been working on for hours.

Harrison chuckled, jumping onto Tom’s bed, “It’s not like you were going to say anything to her if I didn’t, now she knows. ‘You’re welcome’ would be the correct answer, Mr. English smartass.”

“See, you’re saying ‘you’re welcome’ when I didn’t ask for your help in the first place. She’s just a girl that comes to the store a lot and I just…” Tom shrugged, tossing his pen down, “I happen to notice her.”

“Happen to notice?” Harrison scoffed. “Dude, you were staring at her so hard at her that I thought your eyes were going to pop out. Blink once in a while so if this girl does notice, she doesn’t think you’re creepy.”

Tom rolled his eyes, “She’s not some girl, her name is Y/N.”

Fuck. Tom thought, now realizing how much he corrected Harrison out of habit.

Harrison instantly smirked, “So, you know her name too? What else are you hiding so I can brief her in on it… but more subtle this time.”

“H, why are you in my room at one in the morning?” Tom asked with furrowed his brows.

“You’re going to the ABC party, right? You’ll be there, participating for once, and having fun. Maybe getting high or laid will loosen you up. ”

“I can’t, I have these papers to finish for the guys who will be partying downstairs all night and if I’m lucky, I can get paid double if I ask them for their fee while they’re drunk.” Tom smirked.

“C’mon. One party! It’s a few hours out of the whole semester… Before you have to go back home for the holidays and do nothing but watch Christmas movies and read books for pleasure.”

Tom replied with silence.

“Maybe you could invite Y/N. It could be a nice romantic gesture that your books talk about, right?”

“So, invite her to a party where everyone is wearing anything but clothes and shit-faced within the first hour.” Tom took a pregnant pause, “Yeah, I’ll pass on that.”

Harrison knew not to pry anymore, not planning to give Tom shit for wanting to do well in school. Unlike most of the trust-fund raised kids, Tom paid his dues from paycheck to paycheck. Maintaining high grades wasn’t only for his pride, but his academic scholarship that discounted his tuition.

He admired Tom for his natural work ethic despite it interfered with his social life. Luckily the other brothers saw Tom as an asset, but it was for their own selfish reasons. Harrison was a month younger than Tom, but still felt protective of him as if he were an older brother.

“Okay, well. I have a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign if you want to use it as shorts tonight.” Harrison winked before leaving to his room.

Tom chuckled, but his smile slowly turned into a frown. The desperate need to earn cash for his two semesters’ tuition consumed him the past four months, realizing that this term was practically done and he had done nothing else but work.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

You could say that having caution tape wrapped around your body was ironically hazardous. The plastic was constricting, too afraid to bend over or you may fall and never get back up. While it was cute in thought, you looked in the mirror from head to toe and knew this could end in disaster.

With too many intrusive thoughts, you were about to change back into your grey sweatpants and grab an oversized shirt from the dryer. But, just as you took a last glance at your reflection, Lillian came right through the front door and sported a dress made out of bright green and white condom wrappers fastened together with tape and safety pins.

It was totally Lillian.

You furrowed your eyebrow, “Did you walk all the way here wearing that?”

But she ignored your comment from the stun of seeing you actually wearing a costume.

Lillian gasped, “You look hot! That caution tape was a good call.”

“I feel like this tape is going to fall off at any second.” You groaned, grabbing your college t-shirt from the basket on top of the dryer, but Lillian held your wrist.

“What are you doing?” She retorted.

You sighed, “Changing into something that lets me breathe and walk.”

“Oh, don’t be a party pooper. It’s only a few hours.” She said as she walked to the mirror, fixing her strawberry-blonde waves. She pushed them from the front of her body then behind her shoulders, wondering if the prominence of her collarbones made a difference.

“A few hours of guys asking me what’s underneath this caution tape.” You mumbled under my breath, and she moved you in front of the mirror.

“Y/N, I made a promise to you at the beginning of the semester to make sure you have an amazing last year of college… and I always keep my promises.” She said, her head resting on your shoulder as the two of you glanced at your absurd outfits in the mirror, “And you look too good to not go out...”

You chuckled, “Are you pouting?”

“Depends, does it guilt trip you want to go to the party more?” Lillian jeered, giving you a light squeeze around your waist.

You scrunch your nose, “Only a little.”

The two of you pre-gamed with a fruity, alcoholic seltzer, which barely gave any buzz, then ventured downstairs to the Uber waiting in front of your apartment building.

As Lillian snapped photos of herself from the lighting of the warm streetlights passing by, you noticed Joel & Ann’s bookstore in the darkness. It made you think of what Tom might have been doing tonight, wondering what his life was like outside the store.

You blushed thinking back at the fond moment of his friend shouting he liked you, keeping your head up for most of the day. As harmless as it was, it lingered in your mind and turned into scenarios of how you would enlighten that comment.

Would you make the first move? or has he already and you didn’t notice? Overthinking didn’t help, but you needed to come up with something good to respond to it whenever you’d see him again.

Once you arrive on Fraternity Row, the Delta Epsilon house was anything but quiet. Everyone was following the rules of the party, wearing anything but clothes in different and creative ways.

A brunette passing by wore a makeshift dress, the sparkling Christmas wrap tailored with tape to fit around her slim body. Another guy wore paper-mache shorts made from Superman comic book pages— even a couple of girls sporting the same outfit idea as Lillian which didn’t make her happy.

You hold back a laugh, “Well, at least your wrappers are green. Hers are purple… and Trojan.”

“Ugh, now I’m gonna blend in.” She pouted her glossed lips, “C’mon, let’s go see where the drinks are.”

The music played loud enough that you could feel the bass vibrating your teeth. Lillian hooked your arm around hers as she pulled you toward the bar set up in the corner of the dim lit room.

Everyone managed to commit to the theme of tonight, impressed by the sustainability people reached like wearing a dress made of streamers with your university’s colors or pants made out of cardboard beer boxes. The surprises and creativity seemed limitless tonight, but there was no one who caught your attention.

“Are you looking for someone?” Lillian asked as she poured brown liquor into her plastic cup, spilling a bit on the counter when she shifted the pour into your cup on the counter.

“Kind of.” You mumbled, “You know that guy at the bookstore that I talk about? Tom?”

Lillian giggled, “Oh. The guy you practically stalk.”

“I don’t stalk him.”

“Yeah, right. You’ve just never spoken to him other than giving him money for a book and your literature small talk.” She joked, but it sort of hit a nerve. You almost wanted to prove to her that you could talk to him, you were just nervous as to what to say past your total amount and tax.

“Okay, but you don’t have to put it that way.” You pouted, but she handed you a drink.

“Well, you can forget about bookstore boy, and we can have a little fun tonight. Cheers!” She diverted your attention to your cups, pushing them together before she took a long sip.

You watched her, but didn’t drink with her. Instead your eyes shifted around the excited crowd, but no luck in finding your crush with brown curls and shiny brown eyes to match. You twisted your lips and took a small sip of your bitter beverage, squeezing your eyes shut as it burned the inside of your throat.

“What is that?” You hissed.

“I don’t know, but it gets you loose.” Lillian jokes, hugging you quickly before she pulled you to where everyone was dancing… or what could be described as dancing. It was more like drunken movement between strangers while flashed by neon colors in sequences.

Trying to dance with Lillian in a restraint costume didn’t help until there were two taps on your shoulder. You quickly turned around, acquainted with Tom’s blonde friend— just dressed in shorts made out of the big cloth from Twister.

“Hey! You’re the cute girl from the bookshop, right?” Harrison chuckled.

“Yeah! And you’re the best friend of the cute guy at the bookstore?” You confidently said, raising your eyebrows.

Harrison shared the same expression, “Cute?” He smirked, “I bet he’d love to hear that if he were down here… Hey, why don’t you do him a favor and try to get him down here to have fun.”

“Why? Where is he?” You asked over the music.

“Upstairs in his room, working on his papers… C’mon, I bet he’d be happy to see you.”

Harrison winked at you before turning back to the girl he was dancing with, tipping his head back to down his beer. When searching for Lillan, you saw her dance with some of your shared friends by the unlit fireplace.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

With the door cracked open, Tom listened to the muffled music below as well as the occasional conversation passing by to find an empty room. The bright light from the lamp on his desk shined against his paper. Although you remained silent, Tom took a quick sip of his to-go coffee and blinked his tired, dry eyes a few times.

After two light knocks, Tom assumed it was Harrison, once again, asking him to come downstairs, but instead his heart shot up to his throat when he saw you standing in his doorframe. He was even more surprised seeing caution tape wrapped around your body like a tacky, shiny dress.

“Hey! Hey, nice to see you… especially with your new look.” Tom jeered.

You giggled, “I could say the same, never really see the bottom half of you.”

The two of you shared a warm laugh before Tom shyly asked, “What- What are you doing here?”

“My friend sort of invited me at the last second, then your friend told me that I should come up here and try to urge you to come downstairs… possibly in a costume.” You trailed.

Tom licked his lips, “I appreciate it, but I’m working on some papers tonight. I want to get them done before tomorrow morning”

“A few papers over a party in your own fraternity?”

He hummed, “Well, papers I write for ten dollars a page. Paid in cash or credit… usually.” Tom smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair.

“Do I even want to know the other options?” You joked, slowly walking further into the room.

His blush was hard for him to hide, so he lowered his head down to hide the rosiness on his cheeks when he stood up to stretch. As Tom reached his arms over his head, the end of his shirt lifted a bit and you could see his v-line that disappeared past the band of his Calvin Klein boxers.

Making you blush in return, you rub the back of your neck and look at some of the posters lazily taped on his dull, baby blue-colored walls. Shockingly, not one model from Playboy or Sports Illustrated was staring back at you in a tiny string bikini, rather there were posters of his favorite bands, a few classical authors by his bookcase and distressed movie posters of The Empire Strikes Back and Jaws above his full bed.

“Sorry, it’s kind of a mess.” Tom tossed a few t-shirts on his bed in his hamper by the door.

He said that, but it was probably the cleanest guy’s room you ever saw. Besides the clothes scattered around, the bed was made and his desk was fairly organized. There was even a trash can–with a trash bag to line it.

“Mess? I wish my room looked like this half the time.” You jeered, walking over to his bookcase, “A bookcase says a lot about someone to me.”

Tom chuckled, leaning on his desk, “And what does mine tell you?”

You awkwardly sat down on the end of his bed, trying to cross your leg over the other. You tried not to show that the plastic coiled around your body was uncomfortable, but one wrong move and you thought that you may expose yourself to Tom at any second.

“You okay?” He asked, “I don’t want to assume, but you look very tense.”

“Wow, it’s that noticeable.” You joked back, Tom chuckling in return. “Yeah, it wasn’t my idea to come tonight so, I got stuck wearing this.” You added, running your hand over the material.

He could see the pout on your face, maybe even a bit of embarrassment, so he suggested, “Do you want to change? I can give you something to wear. Not as much plastic, but more comfortable.” He joked.

Your face heated as you stood up, watching him pull clothes from his drawers. He grabbed a dark-blue Tottenham sweatshirt with a faded logo and baggy, gray sweatpants with your university logo embroidered by the hip.

“Here, hope these are okay.”

“Trust me, anything but this dress is fine.” You grinned, taking them from him. Your hand grazed his, making him gulp as you pulled the clothes to you, “Do you mind if I change in here?”

Tom raised his eyebrows, not realizing he wasn’t responding until he nodded, “Yeah! Yeah, I can just turn around.” He reassured, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes searched around his room, trying to fixate on any small object.

Like the vinyl player in the corner on top of the rack, something he bought out of being impulsive. At the time, his dad had given him some old records that he had found in the attic from spring cleaning, music that was popular when he was Tom’s age. Tom stopped listening to them after–

“Well, I certainly look the part of being a frat dude.” You jeered, turning for him.

“I think you look pretty...”

Way to sound creepy, Tom thought.

“Pretty nice!” He quickly added, trying to save himself from embarrassment.

You smiled at his shy compliment before glancing at the papers scattered around his desk, “So, what are you working on?”

“Uh, themes in Frankenstein. It’s actually my final paper.”

You arched your eyebrow, but admired how he had three different drafts and all of them were marked in red. As you leaned further down to read, Tom quickly shuffled the papers, “It’s not really my best. I’ve been through every book talking about Mary Shelley and her reason for this book... It’s pretty scandalous if you ask me.”

God. He was so dorky, it almost made him charming.

Just as you were going to say your joking comment, the music got louder downstairs and you two could feel the heavy vibration of the bass through the carpet.

“Is your paper the only reason you’re up here by yourself?”

“Well, technically you’re up here with me so, am I really by myself?” Tom shrugged.

You chuckled, “Don’t deflect.”

Tom licked his lips, letting out a long sigh, “I just need enough cash to cover tuitions, and saving up for grad school too. My family has gotten tied up in money and my friend, Harrison, said that he could help me be in a frat and I could make more connections. So, I’m not really here to have fun, more like just doing what I can to make some money and add to my resume.”

“I know we just met, but… Can I give you some advice?” You sighed.

He naively nodded, his eyes turning glassy.

“You need to have some fun while you’re still in college.” You giggled, not meaning to sound mean, but you didn’t have to touch Tom to know he was a tense guy.

Tom responded with a nervous chuckle, “I’ve had… fun. I have fun. This party theme just isn’t really for me.” He protested.

“Well, I can’t disagree with you there.” You grinned, glancing at your now-cozy outfit, “Then what do you want to do tonight? What’s your fun thing?... other than reading the Mary Shelley scandal.”

His eyes searched around the room, then hummed, “It would be nice to have some peace and quiet… maybe work on my papers–”

You interpreted, “Okay, no, no. You’re not working on any papers, it’s about having fun. So, let’s go somewhere you think is fun.”

He smirked which made you think that he had a good idea, rather he said, “We can go to the bookstore.”

Actually, that wasn’t a bad idea.

You leaned against his desk, “Really? How?”

“My aunt and uncle own it.” He smirked.

“Ah. So, you’re like a bookstore nepotism baby. How lucky.” You grinned, cringing at your own jokes on the inside. But, it’s not like flirting was either of your fortes.

“Some kids get into movie premieres and have luxury cars, I have books and the cat that hangs in the front window until he goes back to his owners across the street.”

“I always wondered if that was your guys’ cat.” You smiled.

Tom nodded, “His name is Milo and he loves eating our plants and sleeping on the classic novels.”

You shared another light laugh before you said, “What are we waiting for? Get your jacket on.”

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

Once you took a step outside the house, the night breeze felt cool against your sweaty skin. The fresh air was a relief to your lungs once you walked out of the humid-filled frat house, like you had forgotten how clean it could smell outside.

Although the bookstore was a few blocks away from campus, Tom made you comfortable as he made you. Both of you weren’t sure if there were feelings, but there could be since your interaction isn’t ending with you leaving him behind a counter.

Tall street lights guided the way, and the only people passing were stumbling from the few bars lining your college town. There was little small talk between you two on the way, but Tom stopped in front of a convenience store, one he frequently went to if he wanted something to snack on during his shifts.

He walked toward the door, opening it, “You want anything?” He asked.

You nodded, walking in as he held the door open. The two of you walked into the small store with white walls and bright lighting over all the aisles. He walked around the chips and candy, heading to the big freezer with the familiar ice cream brands around the case.

The two of you gazed over it, smiling at the variety of choices like two kids. You couldn’t remember the last time you picked from the freezer– probably before you were even given an allowance. You were seeing another side of Tom, one that was a bit goofy when the stress faded from his character.

“Which one do you want?... I think I’m gonna get a cookie sandwich.” He hummed.

“No way. The strawberry shortcakes with the oats? Or the gelatos? Way better options.” You giggled.

He chuckled at your wit, “Okay, you pick for me. I pick for you. Does that sound fair?”

“Hmm…” You smirked, sticking your hand out, “Deal.”

Tom smiled as he shook yours, both your fingers trailing when you pushed open the glass case.

“Okay. Turn around…” You said, circling your finger to signal him to face back.

The curly brunette rolled his eyes with a small smile on his face, taking a slow turn around with his arms crossed. He stared at the rack of colorful packed snacks, reading the brands and flavors.

You grunted as you shoved the sliding window, then grabbed an ice cream bar of your choice. Putting it behind your back, you tell him, “Okay, your turn.”

Tom smiled to himself, seeing you try to conceal your ice cream bar under the hoodie as you headed toward the counter. He could hear your exchange with the cashier before Tom grabbed an ice cream bar out of the freezer, quickly closing it and hiding his pick behind his back.

“I hope you got me something good.” You teased, facing him and your hands behind your back holding the plastic convenience bag..

He sweetly chuckled again, “I think I did okay… I think you should be worried.”

“Ah, are you hard to please, Tom?” You continued to jeer with him.

All he could do was turn pink, chuckling out of embarrassment like an elementary boy in school. There was a glimmer in his brown eyes and you weren’t sure if it was from the bright lights in the store, but it made your heart pang at how innocent and sweet he appeared.

The two of you walked outside, sitting on the bench under the awning of the convenient store. There was a space between you as the bags crinkled when both of you reached into them. Counting down, you pulled out your ice cream bars for one another and it left you both with smiles and light laughter.

“Great minds think alike.” Tom grinned.

Both of you held the same ice cream bar, still exchanging the treats and opening them. As you ate on the bench, there was silence– but it was comforting silence. Better than surround sound music and drinks being spilled everywhere, preferring the sound of crickets and watching some stray cats walk by the alleys.

You tried to prevent any drops of ice cream getting on the hoodie he let you borrow, leaning out as you bit down and it made him chuckle.

“It’s okay. It’s an old hoodie.”

“Yeah, but, I don’t want to be a slob.” You grinned, trying to ignore how nervous you felt.

“Here, I got it.” He said, leaning over to wipe your chin with a napkin.

You glanced into his eyes again as he came close, holding your breath.

“There, now you are a presentable member of society again.” He jeered, putting the napkin in his wrapper before tossing it in the bin next to the bench.

The two of you stand up together, pulling and adjusting your clothes before continuing the venture to the bookstore. Street lights shined down on the red brick sidewalk, and a few cars passed by as they headed toward the center of town as you both walked further out from the noise of the bars and partying.

Chirping from the crickets was peaceful and the rest of the way was lit by the full moon, making you glance at the glowing orb high above the clouds and surrounded by the stars. The shine reflected off your eyes, smiling at the breathtaking sight but unknowing to you, Tom was glaring at you.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” You asked.

“Yeah.” He trailed, not taking his eyes off you as he shyly grinned.

Tom wished he had spoken to you sooner, not knowing how to express right then and there how he had some sort of feelings for you.

You turned back to him, “Are you okay?”

Embarrassed, he quickly nodded, “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Great.”

You grinned back at him, “Good.” you said before the two of you continued to walk to the bookstore.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

The soft warm glow shined on Tom’s back as his keys jingled when he unlocked the front door.

“You got it?” You ask him, watching him turn the key both ways until there was a click.

“Yeah, it’s pretty old so-”

Tom pushed enough of his weight with his shoulder against the door, opening the seal the door created from how cold it was outside. He half-smiled before walking into the dark room and you followed close behind him.

With how many times you’d been in this store, you could bet Tom that you knew the layout better than him. You carefully stepped around the racks of books, leading to the counter before you heard a loud thump.

“Ow!” Tom hissed under his breath, instantly rubbing his knee from cutting the corner too hard.

“Are you okay?” You giggled.

“Lovely.” He groaned, rubbing away against his soon-to-be bruised skin.

He turned on the reading lamp on the counter, the warm glow against his freckled skin. You noticed how he was able to smile with his eyes, the crinkling next to them when he laughed or smiled. Although you didn’t mean to observe that, it was hard to not notice. He radiated some kind of shine in the way he carried himself– at least from what you gathered.

“So, I’m sure you have some weird stuff behind here, huh?” You teased him, squatting down to look at the shelves.

“Nothing weird, but I hoard books… without telling anyone.” He admitted in a low tone, scratching the nape of his neck.

There was a collection of books down here filling up two rows, most of them had bright tabs on the sides to indicate some annotations between pages. The books ranged from recent autobiographies and novels to ones with broken spines and the names of classic writers on the covers.

You came back up, “I think you have a problem.” You jeered, smiling at him.

“As if being interested in literature is a problem.��

“...Touché.” You nodded, “Do you like working here?”

“Yeah. I guess.” He trailed, “It kills time, it’s quiet.”

“As opposed to going home?” You asked out of curiosity. He was sort of like a guessing game. One clue led to another, intriguing you as you went down this mystery path of a person.

“Uh, I don’t… I don’t go home anymore.” He nervously chuckled, “Haven’t been for a while.”

Heat burned his cheeks and neck, not realizing he was venting in the moment.

“Sorry to hear that.” You gently replied and sensed his discomfort as he looked down.

Tom hummed, “It’s alright. I feel less lonely here.” He shrugged, picking at his fingernails before looking into your eyes.

“Well, now you have me so… it’s a little less lonely than that.” You smiled, scrunching your nose. “...and that may have been the corniest thing I’ve said ever.”

“Yeah, just a little.” Tom nodded, and a sweet chuckle followed, “But, thanks.”

He had a bit of a twinkle in his caramel-toned eyes, and his jaw was incredibly sharp. When he looked away, he’d clench his jaw and you noticed how tense he seemed.

Tom smiled, blushing a bit before he pushed the book on top of the counter toward him. It was an old copy of Pride and Prejudice that he found on a top shelf a few weeks ago. He re-read it three times, and each time felt like a different experience. He rarely annotated, but Tom genuinely loved reading this book and wanted to write down any thought he had about it.

“A favorite?” You asked him.

“Can you tell?” He chuckled, passing it to you.

You skimmed the pages, running your fingers over the different colored post-its sticking out. His handwriting was a bit small, but you could make out what he noted and you found it incredibly cute. You smiled to yourself as you read through them, and Tom hoped there was nothing embarrassing in there– not that there would be but he was already nervous around you.

Just as you got to the last page, a picture fell out and you turned it over to its front. The frame was cardboard with the Disney logo on it and the picture was of Tom and his parents. Sporting a Mickey Mouse baseball cap, he showed a huge smile and held a melting ice cream. His mom and dad were smiling too, his mom with her arm around his small structure and Tom gulped.

“Are these your parents?” You asked.

“Yeah, I was wondering where I left that picture.” He smiled, taking it from you.

You watched him grin at it, but the smile slowly faded the longer he glanced. It didn’t seem so much reminiscing, but feeling more sad. He didn’t want to get down on himself, but he put the picture underneath the counter.

“It’s cute. My parents never took me to those kinds of places growing up, but I was never the Disney princess lover either.” You pouted.

He chuckled, “What? You didn’t want a Disney prince? Something like Prince Eric?”

You hummed, “You do resemble a bit of Prince Phillip.”

Tom furrowed his eyebrows, crossing his arms, “The boring one?”

“Okay, okay. Maybe Prince Charming… you look like you can treat a girl to a dance,” you teased.

“The one time I slow danced was at my prom in year 13 and I remember stepping on her feet most of the night.” He told, trying to deflect your compliment

You rolled your eyes, “Oh, please. Now you’re being dramatic like a prince.” You grinned at him.

Hesitantly, you moved your hand toward his face and pushed back the curls laying on his forehead. Your fingers carded to the back of his head, feeling his soft coarse hair and his brown eyes sparkled. It was a bold first move, but you wanted to know if this intense crush was too good to be true.

All this passes through Tom’s head is “do it”, his instincts scream. Kiss her.

You brought your hand back to his cheek, and you brushed your thumb over his bottom lip before leaning in to kiss him. Tom slowly moved his hands up your sides, pulling you closer to him as the two of you continued to makeout. He lightly pushed you against the counter, your bodies pressed together as he tasted your cherry-flavored lip balm.

With your foreheads against one anothers, Tom pulled away to take a breath, but it caused you both to let out this warm giggle. Just as you were about to kiss again, there was a sudden knock on the door along with the doorknob jiggling.

You quickly ducked under the counter while Tom stood there, trying to fix his hair as well as rub the lip balm off his mouth. He saw his uncle walk through the door, turning on the lights and Tom’s embarrassment flooded his body.

“I thought we were getting robbed. The silent alarm went off a few minutes ago.” His uncle told him, pretty light-hearted once he saw it was Tom.

“No, it was just me.” Tom gulped, glancing down at you hiding under the counter.

“Good, good. Why are you here so late? Your mom told me you had some party tonight.” His uncle trailed, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“It was getting… loud and I just left to get some air. Work on some papers.”

You could audibly hear his uncle sigh, then say, “Is this because of… the divorce?”

Tom sealed his lips, it wasn’t what he wanted to talk about right now– especially since you were unknowingly in the room. Although divorce was a common thing, it was different going through when you’re already grown up and that was Tom’s struggle. He knew his parents had underlying issues, but he didn’t think he would get sat down and told his parents would separate their lives then and now.

“I know, it’s hard. But, you have to talk to someone about this. We don’t want you… hiding away, missing out on opportu-”

“I’m not, I just… wanted to be alone.” Tom shrugged, trying to grin and bear it.

His uncle didn’t want to get more into it since Tom was still going through it, but he nodded.

“Alright, make sure to lock up when you’re done. See you tomorrow, kid.” He sweetly said before he walked back out, the bell above the door ringing. Tom was only left with a bright red face, and a sudden racing in his heart. It’s like he realized how lonely he had made himself to be rather than people avoiding him altogether.

Coming from under the counter, you dusted off your shirt at first. You didn’t want to immediately face Tom, sensing there was a bit of awkwardness created. He rubbed the back of his curls, but you finally broke the silence.

“Sorry, my lip balm kind of… got all over your lips.” You joked, taking your thumb to wipe the smudge of gloss from his chin.

Tom smiled, but nodded, “Well, I’m more sorry you had to hear that, but it’s no big deal. I don’t know why my family has so many issues.”

“I think they’re just genuinely worried about you. I mean, you don’t seem much of the talking type.” You confessed.

“It’s ironic. They don’t ask about any of this stuff until I just don’t say anything at all. Maybe, I just want to be left alone and be able to think about how the only two stable people in my life just choose to not be with each other anymore.” He trailed, trying to humor himself.

You could tell he’d been hurt by people before, but this was something he was expecting. It was still shocking, but he chose to close everyone off.

Tom thought if he didn’t have to talk about these feelings, they’d go away. But, by telling you, basically a complete stranger, how he felt— his hurt was more on the surface than he thought.

“Well, you don't deserve to feel this way.” You told him with honesty, rubbing his tense shoulder, “If I can promise you one thing.”

There was a bit of comfort in that. At least someone acknowledging his feelings over their own.

“Thanks.” He grinned.

“Please, you’re one cigarette away from being Holden Caulfield. I felt like I needed to step in now… because he was the worst.”

Tom rolled his eyes, “He witnessed worse.”

“Well, luckily he’s a fictional character. Meanwhile, you need to worry about how you feel, and not be so… scared of thinking the world is going to get you.” You trailed, running your hand from your shoulder to the back of his curls.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

A week and a half breezed by and all you did was hang out with Tom at the bookstore, the library, or his room at his fraternity house. Occasionally, Harrison would pop in, trying to tease him, but also try to get to know you since Tom cared about you. It was actually a bit cute the way Harrison would pinch at Tom’s cheek, trying to make him flustered in your presence. You could tell he cared about him too.

Once your finals were finished and Tom was paid for his essays, it was nice to hang around the bookstore without the added tension. You could hang out for hours and read books in the cozy corner of the store, near the cat by the window and the sunlight would kiss against your skin. Sometimes Tom would get lost in the mesmerizing scene–like being with you meant more than fate. Something like he read in novels.

The sun was starting to set when the two of you entered the pizzeria where Harrison worked. Both of you nodded your heads over at him behind the counter before finding a booth by the window.

“Look at him in his cute apron.” You teased, sliding into the booth.

“Trust me, he thinks it’s a magnet for girls. I wouldn’t let him know.” Tom chuckled.

Although you and Tom were having a fun time, you hadn’t talked about the kiss you shared. Not that it wasn’t on both your minds, but felt better left unsaid than having to figure out what’s going on between you two and ruining this blossoming friendship. It already took long enough to talk to each other outside the bookstore, neither of you wanted to taint that.

“So, do you have any plans for the weekend?” You asked him.

Before Tom could answer, Harrison slid next to him already sporting a cheeky smile and wiped some flour on Tom’s cheek from his apron.

“What are you two gossiping about, huh? Or just miss me?” Harrison winked at you, but Tom wiped the flour off his face.

“We just wanted to grab a slice.” Tom cheeks tinted pink, feeling as if he’s being embarrassed by his dad.

“Calm down, Tommy.” Harrison smiled, “You’re too easy to mess with sometimes.” Harrison jokingly retorted.

You giggled, “Don’t worry, I’m gonna go and order.” You tell them before getting up, heading to the counter.

The two boys watched you walk up to the counter, beaming at the cashier as you made small talk before ordering. Tom’s look glistened, sparkling when he kept his eyes on you and Harrison snickered at his doe-like gaze.

“So, you guys made out and nothing happened?”

It was no lie that Tom regretted venting Harrison–moments like this reminded him of that.

Tom gulped, “I think what’s going on is fine.” He lied.

“Fine?” Harrison asked, “You’ve been crushing on her for weeks and she obviously likes you too.”

“You can’t know that.” Tom trailed.

“She’s been to the bookstore everyday to hang out with you, going out to dinner, spending time at the house and you know no girl likes hanging out there, look at the bathroom for God’s sake, it’s disgusting. No woman willingly stays there unless she’s basically in love.” Harrison explained.

Tom nodded in disagreement, “I don’t think she… likes me. I’m not gonna mess up just talking to her.”

“You’re not. You just need to figure out how to make the right move.” Harrison stated before quickly asking, “Hey, you got invited to Steven’s wedding, right?”

Steven was one of the alumni of the frat house and a close friend of both the guys. Tom was a “baby-faced” freshman when they met and was still teased to this day for looking so young.

“Yeah. I did, but I don’t know if I’m going. It’s kind of far.” Tom trailed, scratching his nail against the table.

Harrison smiled, “No, you should go and Y/N is your plus one. Bam, matchmaking.”

Tom rolled his eyes, “Yeah because a two hour car trip would really make me less awkward and weird.”

“You need to be a little hopeful. It’s not like your strangers anymore. You guys hang out at the store for hours with no problems. C’mon, she’d love it. It’s a nice countryside wedding and lots of our friends will be there so it’s not like you’ll be the odd one out. Introduce her, and maybe find some romantic spot to makeout, huh?”

Tom thought Harrison was a bit in over his head, but trying to make him see the other side of his pessimistic thoughts. Tom liked you, you like Tom. The problem was finding the moment to say that outlook to each other.

He twisted his lips, “How do I even ask that?”

“You’ll know how to say it when the moment comes… which seems like right now.” Harrison smirked.

As you walked back with a table timer in your hand, already wanting it to vibrate with your order since you were starving. You slipped into the booth, noticing both boys getting quiet which made you giggle.

“Am I interrupting something private?” You teased them.

“Actually, we were talking about a wedding we’re going to next weekend.” Harrison immediately said.

Tom wanted to sink into his seat.

“A wedding? Aw, that’s nice.” You smiled, “Who’s wedding?”

“Our friend, Steven, is getting married and I think Tom wanted to ask you something…” Harrison insisted.

Tom’s eyes widened, but Harrison quickly said, “I gotta get back to work. I’ll bring your food right out.” He flashed a cheery smile, something Tom wanted to slap off his face if he could, before leaving you two to talk– more like Tom improving what to say.

The feeling could be compared to dropping a baby into the deep end, trying to teach them how to swim and all Tom could do is internally panic.

You thanked Harrison before facing toward Tom’s pink-tinted face, and you tilted your head with a cheeky smile, “Something to ask me?”

He sighed but nervously smiled, “Not to impose, but… I was wondering if you wanted to… go with me? To the wedding. I know it’s last minute and all, but I would really like you to go… with me.”

You giggled at his shy question, “I’d love to go with you, Tom. It sounds like fun.”

There was a relief in the air for Tom, not thinking you would accept so quickly and with an assuring smile.

“ Really?” He still asked.

“I don’t know why you assume the worst of me. Maybe being your wedding date will change that. Weddings always give people a bit of optimism” You chuckled, tilting your head at his shy expression.

A light chuckle left his lips, “Remember, optimism isn’t my thing. Then our personality equal us out.” He joked.

“Exactly why I’m the perfect wedding date. I make the conversations and you hold your drink and nod. It’ll be adorable.” You grinned back as heat radiated from your cheeks.

Tom can’t hold back his smile once you look out the window. His eyes traced your jaw then up your perfect cheekbones, trailing to your eyes as the streetlight reflected off the irises. He feels that moment again where he could confess everything he felt for you right there in front of everyone at the pizza place, a small amount of courage whispering in his ear to do it. Just to say it out loud.

“Here’s your complimentary garlic bread, love birds.” Harrison interrupted as he placed the plastic basket on the center of the table.

“Thank you for your incredible service.” You jeered at the cheeky blonde.

Tom laughed off his sudden thought, nodding at Harrison before you two started talking about the wedding plan since you were going now. The rest of the night was hanging out and eating together, talking about the future with classic rock playing over the old speakers in the restaurant.

There was a coziness that radiated the more you were vulnerable, even showing through being more relaxed while sitting in the booths. You felt like you could tell him anything and for once not have to think twice about what you revealed or said. No one could compare to Tom and you wish you could tell him that.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

A breeze brushed past your face as you waited outside your apartment with your bags. You were sat on the front step, waiting for the two boys to pick you up on this nice summer day. Tempted to text them for a time of arrival, the door opened behind you and you glanced up to see Lillian.

“I went through the back only for your roommates to tell me you’re already waiting outside. I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.” She jeered as she sat next to you on the stoop.

You sighed, “Sorry, I’ve been hanging out with Tom.”

She chuckled, “Of course. I’m not surprised. It’s been this way ever since you ditched me at the party-”

“I didn’t mean to di-”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” Lillian giggled, putting her hand on top of your knee, “I know you really like him.”

“I don’t… like him that much.”

“I can’t remember the last time someone could actually get your attention away from books or studying so, I like to call it fate that you met at the party.” She teased and scrunched her nose.

You rolled her eyes before turning your head, seeing the car come down the street and you quickly stand up. As you brush off the back of your pants, Lillian picks up one of your bags and the two of you slowly walk up to the curb. Once the car stopped, the two boys got out and Tom immediately greets you with his pearly smile.

“Hey Tom, Harrison, this is my friend, Lillian.” You introduced them, gesturing your head.

“Hey there.” She greeted both of them, moving her hair behind her shoulders, “Don’t let anything happen to her.”

“We promise.” Tom grinned, lowly chuckling before he took your bag she gave to him.

After giving a goodbye hug Lillian, you slid into the backseat of the car. You sat on the left side so you could sit diagonally from Tom’s view, already creating terribly awkward scenarios in your head for what this two hour drive may be like.

What if we don’t talk at all? What if I’m in over my head? What if this isn’t real or what I thought? What if this whole trip was going to be a big mistake?

Tom was pondering the same, but he tried his best not to doubt his own feelings. Especially after the, what Harrison would call, pep talk he gave him on the way to your building. Nevertheless, it made Tom especially when he already knew he was being incredibly shy, but knew Harrison meant well.

“Alright so, I found out Cami Bernet was coming and I wanted to stay in her room so… It’s just the two of you sharing the hotel room, yeah?” Harrison announced, making you and Tom share a sudden glance.

“I don’t mind…” You trailed, your eyes shifting.

“Yeah, no problem.” Tom quickly added.

Harrison smiled at your reactions, “Don’t worry, there’s one bed and a pull out couch.”

Tom’s face beamed a light pink, making him turn his head toward the window. But, you did the same by turning your face to see the street passing by as you were leaving town. Harrison couldn’t help but smirk to himself at how antagonizing he could be yet trying to be a perfect matchmaker.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

Toward the end of the drive, you laid down in the backseat wearing the cozy hoodie Tom stuffed in his backpack. With your head sunk into your pillow and your legs curled up, you looked as comfortable as someone could on a road trip. A few times, Tom glanced over his shoulder to make sure you were okay when there was a sudden bump in the road, but you also looked cute nuzzling your face into your pillow.

Once you arrived to the hotel, you stirred in your daze as Harrison pulled in front of the huge front doors. Two valets walked up to the car, one on Harrison’s side then another by the trunk. As Tom got out, he quickly opened the back door and lightly shook your leg.

“Hey Y/N, we’re here.” He softly spoke, giving his hand for you to hold.

You blinked a few times, but lazily smiled as you wrapped your hand around his and pulled yourself up from the comfortable position you lied in. You pulled down your hoodie when you got out of the car, grabbing your bag on the floor while watching the valets take the rest of them to put on a luggage cart.

“Jesus, Tom. What’s in this?” Harrison asked as he gave Tom his duffle.

“A few books, some shoes…” He trailed.

“You brought books to a vacation wedding? How adorable.” Harrison teased him as he gave the valet his keys before entering the hotel doors.

You giggled, “What literary fix did you bring on a two day trip? Romantic novels, I bet.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s just my genre.” Tom chuckled, his eyebrows raised at his comment.

The entrance to the hotel was grand, to say the least. There were two large, revolving glass doors trimmed with gold that entered into the main lobby with renaissance art against the woven wallpaper. Both your heads tilted up toward the ceiling, admiring the pale murals along the lavish lights.

You could only hope to get married at such a beautiful place in the future, and you were pretty optimistic that you would find someone for that to happen.

Harrison faced the two of you walking toward him, noticing the way you glared at Tom and your eyes looking so bright. Although he was still looking at the scenery, your eyes were just on him. It made Harrison smirk, but turn back to the hotel front desk manager.

“Thanks.” Harrison grinned, taking the key card. He turned to Tom, “Here’s your key. Don’t be too loud and rowdy. This is a classy place.” He teased, seeing Tom already turn a tomato red.

You snickered, “Thanks, Harrison. You guys planned doing anything?”

Harrison nodded, “I’m meeting Cami by the pool then we’re gonna go back to her room before the rehearsal dinner. What about you guys?”

“I actually saw on their website that there’s a historical library on the second floor, a bunch of old collections.” You turned, “Tom? Interested?” You asked him with a beaming smile across your face.

Tom glanced at Harrison, who also was smiling, then back at you, “Yeah, of course. Sounds fun.”

“Wow, you guys really know how to get out of your comfort zone. Have fun with that.” Harrison, obviously sarcastic, stated before leaving to meet Cami.

Quickly, the two of you took the large, carpeted staircase on the second floor and followed the signs that directed toward the library. It wasn’t as fancy as the hotel, but it did look pretty old from the traditional style of the room.

You looked up at the high ceiling before heading toward the back shelves of familiar British authors. Although most of these titles triggered him back to all the essays he was paid to do his last year of college, he glared back at you completely mesmerized by the complete collections.

“Look, Williams works. All his romanticism in one set. I bet that’s like a dream to you.” You smiled to yourself, flashing back to your late night ramblings over the phone about literature. You never thought you’d meet anyone with a bigger opinion on themes of romance– and Tom was pretty convincing in his arguments. Truly adorable when you he went on his tangents, just wanting to listen to his soft voice all day.

Tom traced his fingers along the spines of the books before selecting one to read. He breezed through the pages, noticing the pictures within the text before he glanced up and didn’t see you straight on.

“Y/N?”

“Over here!” Your voice echoed.

He followed the sound of your tone then seeing you sitting in a comfortable nook that overlooked the beach and pool area.

“I found the best seat in the house.” You jeered, pulling your legs to your chest with your back against the wall of the nook.

Tom joined you, sitting down on the cushion within the space and facing you from the opposite side. The natural sunlight came through the window beautifully, so much so that he was already in the reading mood.

You grin, “I bet a bunch of writers came here and just wrote their hearts out.” You said as you looked out to the calm ocean.

“Or where a lot of people hid from their brides.” Tom jeered.

You rolled your eyes, then crawled over to his side. You instantly curled up next to him, your head against his chest as the two of you glanced at the page of the book together. Tom didn’t expect you to get so close, but he wasn’t complaining.

Within that time, you learned that Tom is the fast reader between you two. Dorky enough, you were a bit envious of that. Everytime he tried to turn the page to tease you, you’d quickly put your hand up to stop him and plea that he stop moving his eyes so fast.

About thirty pages in, Tom hadn’t realized he was flying through the pages with how in depth he was of the text. He turned his head and saw you fell asleep, smiling down at you and not knowing the short car ride really tired you out. He didn’t move though, he wouldn’t dare to with how peaceful you appeared. He chuckled at your light breaths, napping against him with your hand at the center of his chest.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

A few minutes later, you woke up in Tom’s arms and almost sprung up from the embarrassment.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize I passed out.” You chuckled, lifting out of his arms.

“No, it’s okay. I was just reading away.” He shrugged, showing that boyish smile that made your heart race.

The two of you came to the conclusion that you were starved, so you thought of the only bougie thing to do on a wedding weekend– ordering room service. Giddy and smiling, both of you went one of the three huge elevators in the hall and headed to the eleventh floor.

When you entered your room, your luggage was lined up by the door. Neither of you wanted to gawk, but it was probably one of the more fancier places either of you stayed in your lives.

There was a deep tub in the bathroom and robes hanging on the door as well as a king-size bed with an incredible ocean view and balcony. The sofa was in the corner with the mini-fridge next to it, making you curious as to what else they could offer.

“Do you think if we take from here Harrison will kill us?” You asked Tom, opening the small fridge door.

“Kill, no. Strangle? Maybe.”

You giggled, but saw a few sodas and healthy snacks. As you checked out the selection, Tom walked back to the bathroom and turned on the light. His eyes widened to a bottle of champagne on ice set on the counter. There was a tiny card next to the bucket that said: Happy Wedding Everyone! From us, to you! XO The Bride and Groom.

Holy shit, how much was Steven paying for this. Tom thought.

“Wow, that’s for us?” You asked peaking from the doorway.

“I say that we toast. It only seems right.” Tom trailed as he checked the label on the bottle.

Maybe this wouldn’t be as awkward of a night as the two of you dread. Thank God.

Tom already popped the cork, making you hurry back with a bit of a pout on your lip.

“Well, couldn’t find wine glasses but I did find hotel coffee mugs. Much more sophisticated.”

After pouring both cups at least half, the two of you sat on the balcony to admire the scene. The view from your hotel room was beautiful, as if it was a green screen. The sun perfectly setting below the shorelines and the winds blowing the tall grass in the dunes. It reminded you both that it was the summertime; a period of time to relax and destress from the fast pace environment of school and warm up from the previous harsh winters.

There was a freedom in the air, almost confusing from how much time you suddenly had.

“This is definitely the kind of view I want for my wedding.” You trailed, a bit mesmerized.

Tom nodded, “Really?”

“Yeah. A beach wedding is romantic… well, until it gets windy, but I know I’ll get my planning down.” You said before turning to him, “Where do you want to get married?”

His heart skipped a beat, “I’ve never thought about it.”

You scoffed, “Never?”

He nodded, “Never ever. My dad sort of said that it’s what the woman does and the man just nods and agrees.”

“God, your dad sounds like a joy… No offense.” You quickly corrected yourself.

“He’s always been like that. Then I wonder why they didn’t work out.” Tom tried to humor himself.

Your lips went to the side before saying, “Hey, that’s their issues. It doesn’t fall on you or anything. I personally think they did do a great job at raising their son. He turned out pretty okay.” You grinned, holding your cup with both hands.

Tom smirked, “I can agree with okay.”

When he looked at you, it’s like he had this crush on you for years. He thought for a moment that maybe if he believed in his gut feeling, there could be a chance with you. He couldn’t keep backing out each time he wanted to ask you that simple question.

You wondered the same just a few feet away from him. You didn’t want to think so highly of yourself in his perspective, but the thought of getting over this crush would make you feel nothing but regret.

Something was there. The word for it was unknown at the moment. Ultimately, it was now or never.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

In the early hours of the day, you and Tom found yourselves in a rush to get ready. As you tried to do your makeup in the bathroom, Tom was in the main room looking in the long mirror while trying to perfect his black tie. He wore a nice navy blue suit with a white button up, feeling like he was playing dress up since he never went to many fancy occasions other than important fraternity meetings.

“How are you doing in there?” You asked him, contorting your face to make sure there were no creases in your concealer.

“I remember why I wear clip-on ties.” He mumbled as he pulled at the end of the tie, but the knot was too crooked by his collar.

As you put down the brush, you grabbed one of your earrings and tried putting it on as you walked out to see where he was at. You saw how he struggled to figure out what shirt to where, seeing the two other unbuttoned ones on the pull-out coach he slept on last night.

“Here, let me try.” You trailed, standing right in front of him so you could align the tie. Tom glanced at you, your eyes focused on the centering as your fingers moved the knot around to get it just right. He gulped with how close you were to him– the last time being when you two had a short make-out before being interrupted. If he kept thinking about it, the more red his cheeks would get and he tried to let his mind go somewhere else.

“There, that’s better. A wedding date has never looked so handsome.” You teased, patting down his tie on top of his shirt. He nervously chuckled, both of you sharing a shy smile before you touched his gelled curls to fix the stray strand of hair by his forehead.

“Now, how do I look?” You asked him, dramatically posing with your hands on your hips. You wore a knee high dress, a pale blue that complimented Tom’s shade of blue where it still matched.

“You look beautiful.” Tom complimented in complete awe.

Heat rose your face, genuinely flustered, “Good, we should probably head down there… before Harrison can think of any comments to throw our way.”

“You’re right.” Tom groaned.

Well, Harrison’s insinuated comments were well in his head anyways so, you two got a few of those before the three of you headed to the wedding venue outside by the beach. Harrison briefly mentioned Cami, not getting into too many details which was for the best (at the moment).

The three of you took your white fold-out seats toward the middle of the left side, Tom and Harrison pointing out Steven’s family in the front row. You picked up the pamphlet that sat on the chair, the cover showing a professionally taken picture of the couple.

Smiling, you read through the brief summary of the ceremony and Tom kept giving you short glares. He really couldn’t believe how beautiful you looked, especially in the warm sun and beautiful setting around you all.

Once everyone gathered, the wedding started and eventually everyone stood up for the bride’s entrance. You saw her already tearing up, almost making you want to shed tears as well, but you held it together. It was nice to see this woman so happy and you didn’t even know her– you just knew she was happy.

All went well and thorough, everyone awing at the ring bearer and flower girls, but then the vows came and there was nothing but silence.

“I promise to love you today as much as I did yesterday, as much as I will tomorrow and years to come.”

Both you and Tom got shivers up your spine, relating those words. You glance down at Tom’s hand resting between his legs, watching him pick at his nails, and you carefully placed your hand on top of his wrist. He didn’t even realize he was doing it, a shy smile to show his bit of embarrassment. You quietly giggled, squeezing his hand before bringing your hand back to your own lap.

Tom let out a shaky sigh, gulping and thinking his tie was now strangling his throat.

The ceremony would end in a beautiful kiss before the bride and groom left back down the aisle. Everyone slowly moved over to the reception which was only a few feet away under a huge white tent. The cake was set as well as the food and free bar, everyone, including Tom, able to loosen their ties and even take off their shoes to dance.

“That was really nice. Anything like you want at your non-thought of wedding?” You jeered at Tom, walking next to him.

He nodded, “I took a few mental notes. But, my eyes may have been concentrating too much at what color pink the bridesmaid dresses were.”

“I was thinking between a light flamingo or cotton candy.” You scrunched your nose.

With booze and food being passed around, all the wedding guests were having a great time. With the sun set and the fairy lights beaming around the tent, everyone was having fun and embracing the bride and groom’s special day. Their first dance together was sweet, applauded and wooed before the real party started.

Hooked on A Feeling by Blue Swede began mid-verse, making everyone laugh at how random the song was. People linked together, swinging back and forth with happiness painted on every face.

“Do you want to dance?” You asked Tom, getting up from your seat and giving your hand out to him.

He nodded, “I’m good right now.”

“C’mon. One dance.” You pouted, “Don’t leave me hanging here.”

“Maybe later.” Tom chuckled, turning a bit pink.

That was one thing he forgot before the trip– how to dance with rhythm in his step.

“I’ll warm you up and maybe makeTom realize he’s missing out.” Harrison jeered, stepping in to take your hand.

Tom dazed in pure awe of you sway back and forth with Harrison. He wasn’t envious, confident knowing that his bestfriend wouldn’t do that to him, but just being able to see you gracefully dance was like seeing an floating angel glide on clouds. Harrison spun you a few times, throwing your hand back in laughter just from the positive atmosphere.

A minute or two passed in the song, and Tom leaned his arm on the back of his seat, grinning at your smile, but you suddenly made eye contact across the room.

He blushed as you and Harrison walked back over, hoping he wouldn’t be making a fool of himself.

“It’s your turn.” You smiled, taking his hand and Tom got out of his seat. Harrison purposely cheered for both of you loudly, making a scene to tease Tom, but he was happy that Tom was happy. Brown Eyed Girl started playing when you both planted your feet and instantly grooved to the fast beat. Sure, the songs were kind-of cheesy, but it’s expected at a wedding and all you could do was embrace it.

You two merged into the dancing crowd, everyone happy and spinning around as well as kids jumping around between their parents. You wrapped your arms around Tom’s neck, both of you moving and swaying and people passed by singing some of the lyrics. Even Steven and his bride cut in, making everyone cheer for them and laugh.

Once the night calmed down, with kids and older folks heading to their rooms, slower songs played for the guests still enjoying their time. As nice of a night it was, you looked out at the beach from afar and Tom was nursing his drink next to you.

“Do you want to… go see if we can sit on the beach?” You hesitantly asked, wondering if it was cheesy.

Tom nodded, “Sure. Yeah.” He half-smiled.

You both walked together from the wedding tent, heading down the unlit path. Tom grabbed one of the folded blankets displayed in a bin for people who wanted to sit on the beach any time of the day.

As you two got closer to the beach, Tom couldn’t help but notice everything going on. The moonlight, the leftover pink petals and rice in the sand, even dolphins fins going by within the waves.

No one could make this up as the most perfect moment to ask someone out. Tom cracked his knuckles, the two of you listening to the crash of the waves against the shore, before he stuttered out his words.

“D-Did you have fun tonight?” He shyly asked, not looking at you.

“Yeah, I had a lot of fun. I’m glad you invited me…” You trailed.

Okay, this was the moment. Tom thought, This is when you tell her.

He gulped, but you spoke before him.

“Are you okay?” You furrowed your brow.

Tom cleared his throat, “Yeah! Yeah, I just… I want to tell you something.”

You giggled at his sudden shyness, getting closer to him, “What’s going on?” You grinned, but a bit concerned. You couldn’t gauge if his tone was happy or upset.

He didn’t want to take a completely dramatic pause, but there wasn’t enough air in the world for his lungs to feel like they were working. His tongue felt dry, his skin felt cold, holding his breath until it just all slipped out.

“I really like you and… I haven’t been able to figure out how to say it. I read these books about love and what it is but, I couldn’t think of anything to say for shit.” Tom chuckled, his neck and cheeks heated, “But, now I know that I want to be with you and I’ve known that ever since you came into my life wearing some caution tape and gave you my hoodie… I think that you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met.”

He couldn’t believe he admitted it out loud, feeling a bit faint from letting it all out at once.

You chuckled in relief, “I like you too, Tom. We’ve spent so much time together and you’re so fun to be with that I’ve been tripping over myself wondering if you felt the same.” You thought your heart was in your throat and butterflies bursted in your stomach, “I didn’t want to be that weird girl who just thinks she’s in love with the cute guy at the bookstore she spends too much time at during the day.”

Tom gulped, surprised by your response, but he had to catch his breath again when your eyes met again. The moment was still a bit awkward, not knowing what to say next, but you bite your bottom lip, “I think this is the part in books and movies where we kiss and ride into the sunrise on your beautiful steed.”

He cracked a smile and leaned in, his hand against your cheek before your lips met. You would be lying if you said you weren’t dying for this kiss to happen. Like that end at any sappy romance novel you read for pleasure, they always ended in these kind of passionate and satisfying kisses. Although you didn’t think those type of scenarios were real, this was enough to make you start believing.

*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*✭˚·ﾟ✧*·ﾟ*

Your eyes fluttered open, surprised by the sound of the waves still crashing onto the shore and salty but gentle breeze brushing across your face. You two must have fallen asleep from how tired the night made you between the dancing and drinking, but you weren’t complaining instead smiling at the coincidence.

A few moments later, Tom would stir from his sleep. He didn’t believe how loud and close the waves were, but his eyes fluttered open to you sat up and looking out at dawn. The wedding arch still stood between the soft sand of the beach, both of you watching the glowing sunset begin its descent under the horizon.

Another cold breeze set the relaxed mood even more as you two sat there admiring the start of the morning. Tom stretched his back, both of you comfortable with the silence between you two. Feeling refreshed and happy, you turned your head to Tom and the orange light made his brown eyes shine.

“Yesterday happened, right? It wasn’t just an amazing dream I had.” Tom joked, turning to smile at you.

“Truly real. Nothing fictional about it.” You smiled.

Tom placed his hand on your cheek, cupping your skin softly before placing his lips on yours. Your smile faded as your noses brushed together, your heart fluttering as you paced your sweet kiss. It was your happy ending that no book could write.

#tom holland #tom holland fic #tom holland fics #tom holland x reader #tom holland x female!reader #tom holland angst #tom holland smut #tom holland fluff #tom holland imagine #college au #bookshop au #one shot #frat!tom #tom holland au #tshwritersnet

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mellylari · 1 year

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I promised myself I’d do this so here it is. The Ninja ranked by how well I would think of them if was an employee working at a ninjago city supermarket:

Cole - the kindest customer. The favorite customer. Caught me purchasing a cake for myself and now we’ve started sharing recipes/bakeries we like every time he comes in. Once caught the boss yelling at one of the teens and started throwing hands. Motm convinced me Cole would absolutely be pro-unions and workers rights, okay? I can’t explain it but you gotta trust me. 10/10 would help me unionize.

Lloyd - The only reason he’s in second place instead of Zane is that I feel like he’d have the vibe of a kid whose not used to shopping on their own and wants to make a good impression. Like he’d put his items on the conveyor belt, all of which being candy, and when I tell him his total he would spend like a minute or two thumbing through his wallet because he wanted to give exact change. And if he takes longer than like 10 seconds he starts apologizing profusely and the only reason it isn’t annoying is because you can feel the 12-year-old-energy coming off him in waves.

Zane - Yes, he would be the most well behaved ninja to check out. But I think he’d be too well behaved. A completely average customer ignoring the nindroid part. I’d recognize him as a regular, but our interactions would be so minuscule that I’d never think any more of him than just ‘customer’. I probably don’t even realize who he is sometimes, until one of the other ninja show up with him and I go ‘oh shit it’s the white ninja.’

Nya - I think 9 times out of 10 when we interact, it’s just a very normal transaction tbh. Like maybe sometimes she’ll mention being a ninja, or she’ll come in fresh from a fight, but most of the time it’s just eh. She’s okay. BUT. but. There’s going to be one time she comes in, one time she goes shopping, where she just goes ape shit. Maybe one of other customers said something, or maybe it was a bad day, I couldn’t tell you. But there’s going to be a time where she gets so pissed off that she knocks over an entire shelf, and she gets suspended from the store for a month.

Jay - I couldn’t tell you what it is, but jay feels like The Annoying Customer. Like the kind of guy who keeps telling you about his political opinions despite you not asking for them, and since you’re not legally allowed to get into politics on the clock you just have to sit and fume whenever he says some bullshit. He also seems like the kind of guy to hold up the line because he noticed you had Prime Empire merch and really wants to let you know he was Super Star Rocking Jay, and saved everyone from the game that one time.

Kai - Kai Jiang-Smith is my favorite ninjago character, I swear he is, but I would hunt him for sport if I ever had to deal with him in a work setting. As far as I’m aware he’s the only character we’ve ever seen in a convenience store, and the one I can say for certain I would have a violent hatred for. I cannot express to you how much cashiers do not, in fact, like being flirted with on the clock. It does not change when a celebrity does it. We are tired and hungry and immune to your advances. If Kai fucking Smith, with his verified blue checkmark looking ass, came into my store during my 9-5, and started hitting on me, I would become the next seasons villain. Not to mention he’d do the same thing Jay would, where he’d want to make you very aware that he is the red ninja and he’s saved the city so so so many times. Not to get like a discount, he just loves to gloat.

#ninjago #oh also Jay seems like the kind of person who #when his items don’t instantly scan #would be like #‘guess it’s free lmao’#those jokes are mediocre at best #cole brookstone #lloyd garmadon #Zane Julien #nya smith #jay walker #Kai smith #melly screams

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astralfuchs · 2 months

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Given how “unique” a Miku concert would be I’m surprised Crypton themselves didn’t send some team members or equipment personally to make sure things are set up right bc other than some performers that might hide their face/wear disguises idk how many usual concert locations have something prepped for “holo” projections compared to Japan and their Vtuber boom (although I’d rather buy a plushie from a booth but hopefully at least the theatres would have good sound quality)

Sucks for any workers scrambling and getting hate/hope it doesn’t affect the sales of any other indie ppl performing their concerts

The weird thing is it worked before. I went to miku Expo 2018 in cologne and 2020 in Berlin. Both times it was an actual hologram concert with the same band as magical Mirai. Neither of these two locations had a concert like this before, I'm pretty sure. All of the equipment must've been toured around with thew Miku Expo crew. Going against advertising and expectations (basically all of these concerts, and like all of them in recent years were holographic) without notifying buyers beforehand and also not even afterwards when people keep asking is, to put it lightly, customer unfriendly at best and a scam at worst.

I arrived a bit late in 2018 since I only had standard so I don't know how it was there, but in 2020 people went around giving out free stickers and badges, or general stuff they got from other miku events. One of them seemed to be a huge meiko fan so when she gifted me something I gave her the meiko badge I got from the random gacha button bags. Stuff like that really made it feel like a community coming together, so reading that giving out badges, stickers, etc. wasn't allowed this year, even for people who specifically got an okay from cfm and also got their stuff stolen from is surreal.

I had vip in 2020 and as far as I know everyone got their vip merchandise, which doesn't seem to be the case this year, which makes no sense because you would know how many people at this location have the vip ticket. Another thing I read is that vip ticket holders were supposed to be let in earlier for merchandise and the concert hall but it didn't happen, which also worked flawlessly before in my experience.

Merchandise being not enough for everyone is sadly not new, I was in line for it in 2018 and when I was three people away the store people shouted they were all sold out, which was very much a bummer but I thankfully bought the penlight and t-shirt beforehand in the online store so it wasn't too bad for me and as I said I was quite late to the so definitely in the latter half of the people that got in. Still should've been more but I would chalk it up to being the first concert in Europe and them not having expected such a huge crowd maybe. How this is still the case 6 years later and in America where there were concerts way before 2018 is beyond me.

I don't know if this is because of crunchyroll (it probably is tho) but I can't say cfm is innocent either since they partnered with them and it's their job to ensure everything is up to standard, which clearly didn't happen.

For me, I was really happy to hear there was going to be a Europe one again, especially since I really loved it, it is such a magical experience so the last year's being online only made me super sad since it isn't the same in the slightest, but seeing it's also partnered with crunchyroll I decided against it. It's because I loved it so much that it really saddens me to see what is currently going on (also probably why I wrote so much, very sorry). Miku Expo is one of the best, magical and insane events you can go to as a vocaloid/piaproloid fan and I wish for all fans, people who've been in the Fandom longer and already have been to Miku Expo, and newer fans that didn't have the chance yet, to have that same experience but this is not it. This being someone's first miku expo experience is just a sad thing to think about considering what a massive downgrade the experience is. I hope there will be official statements soon and that the people who are currently experiencing it still have a good time.

#Sorry for long post #I sadly have a lot of opinions when it comes to vocaloid related stuff #Being in a fandom for almost 10 years does things to you #Miku expo #Miku Expo 2024 #My post #Long post #ask

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raven · 4 months

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i feel like the tipping culture in my country might be different than in yours so i have a question (in good faith, i hope it comes across this way): why does tipping seem to be “reserved” only for waiters? why isn’t tipping for example cashiers a thing?

yeah im not super in the know on why tippong originated but heres my perspective as someone whos worked counter service cashier jobs and food retail and as a server

tipping is not reserved for waiters it's for people in the food industry, including cashiers, baristas, delivery drivers, etc (& support staff at restaurants get tipped out too) as well as for people giving services like hair dressers, masseuses, tattoo artists, taxi drivers, etc. like many people (stupid) wont tip cashiers and many places (fast food) wont let you tip their cashiers (they do get paid regular minimum wage though, while server minimum wage is 2.35 but it's weird to me to not allow tips). I always tip on to go orders bc the workers are doing the same amount; my restaurant doesnt have to go orders really but my old one did and tips on to go went straight to the support staff. but basically, its just how it is. why not tip retail? thats just not how it is. I dont know. Sorry. I havent really worked retail (i worked food retail and didnt get tips, but people would sneak me cash since i was doing some barista stuff) but it's kind of just that you are less in control of a customer's experience, generally. Like if you get your bra size measured, would you tip the person who did it? Idk. I'll have to check this out when i get my size measured soon. Idk, i try to tip as much as possible lol. Cashier, barista, etc. i buy something for $5 leave a $5 tip because it feels bad to leave just a dollar or two... theres also a retail store that allows tips at checkout and idk what it really goes to but i tip every time, i guess i could ask. and there's other services you tip for like hairdressers or masseuses or tattoo artists or taxi drivers like i mentioned before. at least thats just how i and others do it. because these people spend time, even several hours with you helping you and are probably not paid enough is my guess. (definitely taxi drivers are not paid enough especially if its uber/lyft...) Do you tip car repair? I need to get my car repaired, I'll look into it...

For why servers are prioritized in conversation: The bottom line is that it has been ingrained into american culture down to LAW that servers get paid less because they get tips. love it or hate it, by not giving tips you are not showing you disagree with a system, you are just fucking over a worker. You still spent the money at my restaurant, it will stay open. Many servers are also against passing laws to invoke minimum wages to lessen tipping because they would be paid way less, and i cant blame them. Like, my restaurant cant afford to pay me $60/hr. I got paid $60/hr tonight. I felt like i was going to die, but i would feel the same way if i was getting paid minimum wage by my employer, and i would be getting 1/4 that amount. Like serving simply isnt really worth it as a job because of the toll it takes on your mind and body to deal with customers, stand on your feet all day, carry heavy plates, clean the restaurant, etc, if we are not getting lots of money. At least for me since im disabled and killing myself with this job lol. But i have no college education and i LOVE feeding people good food! (I've also worked counter service not fast food, complicated , we did a lot of takeout, i mostly cashiered, never got a ton of tips, it was definitely much easier than being a full server in a full service restaurant. you should still tip people there thoughh)

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oddballwriter · 2 years

Text

Big Top Burger & Zomburger Relationship HC

Summary: What I think the Big Top Burger and Zomburger characters are like in a relationship

Warnings: Mentions of alcohol & bars, and the possible undead

Author’s Snip: I got into Big Top Burger again, and I want to expand out of just writing for Slenderverse. And also because some of these characters are real cute and just wanna think about how they’d be in a relationship.

Notes: I’m excluding Steve because... he’s just weird. I don’t think he could really be normal if he tried. I don’t think anyone is simping for the clown man so I think it’s fine. Also, this is the only Bigtop and Zomburger post I have so far, if you like my writing then feel free to request something, so long as you read the rules and boundaries for my blog first.

I’ll shut up now. Enjoy!

꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦

Penny

MILF /j

No, I’m just yanking your chain a bit

She is really cute and she’s implied to be a mother

I think it’s actually confirmed by WorthiKids that the little girl we see in the s1 credits and s2 intro is her daughter

We don’t know if she’s a single mother but for the sake of this post I’ll just have it that she is

So as a single parent its inherent that she needs time to take care of her daughter along with work so she might not have a lot of times for dates

I feel like she’s one to enjoy simple dates like the movies or a small night out

She’s so sweet and polite I love her so much aaa

Obviously there’s a bit of a requirement and need for you to be looking for a serious relationship and that you’ll remain since she’d most likely want someone good to stay for the sake of her daughter and her

She would be sooo happy if you took quickly to being some type of figure in her daughter’s life

She seems like she’d give you cheek kisses regularly

Love is stored in the Penny /hj

Billie

She’s definitely a chill hang out date kind of person

You guys would hang out at her place and listen to some music or watch movies that she has

Billie is pretty monotone and tired sounding when she speaks and I feel like in a way that’s charming

Depending on your personality, you might be the one with the energy in the relationship

She just feels so laid back and chill , Idk what else to say, she just seems so cool

She’d totally tell you about all the weird things that she’s seen while on the job at Big Top

Tim

He has such a buddy buddy vibe outside of work and that it peaks through a bit while on the job as you watch the series

He’d take you on the typical dates but I feel like he enjoys going to bars with you every once in a while to get some beers

He also tells you about the oddity that is Steve

He seems pretty funny, he just has that vibe to him that he’s a really funny guy outside of work

He probably flirts a bit but in a light hearted easy way

But over all he just has the vibes that he’s just really cool and he’s a neat boyfriend

Frances

She seems very fun loving and buddy buddy outside of work

Cesare said that his workers are just a bunch of theatre majors and I believe that for Frances

I’m gonna say it, she has theatre kid energy

I really think she’d be fun to hangout with if not date too, similar to Tim

She seems like she enjoys the gimmick of working at a themed food truck and even enjoys them as a customer since likes bad food

Would honestly get shitty food with you just to eat it and hate it

Conrad

I love him

I love me some beefy strong dumb guys

He is an absolute idiot yes, but he looks like an absolute sweetheart too

He seems like he’d gladly go on any type of date with you

He’s totally able to pick you up, he can man a canon for crying out loud

He’s real gentle with you if he’s carrying you or picking you up since he’s really tall and super strong

If anything is ever too heavy for you, he’ll be a sweetheart and offer to hold/carry it for you

He looks like he’s lowkey real soft on the inside

Some of that tough brute exterior, soft sweetie interior

Doctor

He tries to be a gentleman

He succeeds for the most part

Also, I hc that he didn’t actually talk like that but he would be doing it for so long and would do it off the clock for fun, to the point that it just… stayed

He treats you well regardless though

He’s probably more into the romantics than the rest of them and goes out to dinner with you to a restaurant

He wants to try and make his own meals so that you guys can have your own dinner dates at home

But judging by the s2 intro, our boy can’t cook for shit

Cooking dates are probably a most simple type of date night activity though

Cesare

You are… you are dating a dead guy possibly

Most likely

Maybe some type of entity of the underworld

I don’t know but obviously he’s an interesting person to date either way

He’s very… strange to put it in simple terms

You have never been to his place (most likely because it’s some type of underworld)

You’ve probably asked and he did a little tangent about how you’re not allowed there

He does come to your place a lot

Cemetery dates? Cemetery dates

You can bring food for yourself but the food is only for you since he “doesn’t eat”

He probably walks about with you making fun of some of the headstones

Rants about his evil schemes, his workers, and Big Top Burger all the time to you

I feel like you’re relationship is more leaning to the situationship side since you will go days without seeing him and then he’ll just show up

You think that he’s just a busy guy with his food truck business

But in all honesty that’s obviously not the case with the shit that he can do and is up to

Well at least you have a strange and off-putting, possibly a real undead, goth boyfriend

#big top burger #zomburger #btb doctor #btb cesare #btb frances #btb conrad #btb Billie #btb penny #btb tim

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alittlebitofrainbyyourside · 4 months

Text

Syn and I were talking about how like- okay, I've probably talked about this before but like- ..... I largely view myself as an NPC? I know this is insane, it is life. you live with a brain like mine and try /not/ viewing yourself as an NPC.

anyway, I view myself largely as an NPC and Syn and I were talking about how this made me uniquely a pretty damn good fit for working retail. Sometimes I tell people that I had a good time working retail and they assume that like- oh, it was a matter of privilege working in a great place- I was a visible dyke in a trump loving place where people open carried guns. The owner had a trump flag in his office. I want you to say that to my face. One time, in early 2020, a customer came in while I was cleaning the shelves and started yelling about how we were all sheep for believing in covid and I blinked and went 'you see these shelves? I'm trying to do some spring cleaning before they walk out of here themselves.' the problem with any individual customer trying to ruin my mood is that like... I was an NPC. I genuinely operated on the assumption that if you were being a dick, there was nothing I could have done to change that. People yell at shop keepers and quest givers all the time. They're dicks. But that's not a *me* problem. Yell, get the fuck out. I'm not going to hold any baggage from that because it wasn't about me. I also happened to work at the kind of place that customers absolutely expected and knew there was a gun under the counter- so like... I'm sure that did keep a certain kind of riff raff under wraps. it was old timey enough of a store that like- you had to manually do a lot of the items? you just had to know the prices of almost everything. Very few things scanned in and out- like cigarettes. Cigarettes scanned- chewing 'bacca did not. I had to know the prices of all the 'fresh' food items off the top of my head. I had to know how much soda cost off the top of my head. if I was lucky, the rarer items had prices on them that i could manually type in. Which meant that I *loved* to fuck up prices for people I liked. Oops. Did I ring that up wrong? You'll never know Jim because your cash register at the end of the day is only a list of prices, there's not even items attached for you to be like '.... hey. why is candy selling for 10 cents'- because it's for a single mom that's why Jim.

We made hotdogs? and had icecream and like, chicken salad and shit like that- so you also had to know alllll the info on how to make those things and you had to juggle running the cashregister /and/ making food sometimes. Sometimes there was someone specifically there to do food- especially during like 'lunch rush'. but only sometimes. and you'd get calls for like 'I need 100 all the way hotdogs, and two without chili' and you'd look at the clock and go 'you gonna be here at 2?' and they'd say yes and you'd get to work making 102 fucking hotdogs and trying to fit the paper bags into the food warmer so that they're still warm when some construction worker inevitably rolls in and is like 'yo the foreman called ahead?' If you were unlucky, it would not be '100 _____ hotdogs' and instead it would be like '4 all the way, 2 ketchup and mustard, 4 mustard, 3 ketchup and mustard' and you'd mentally curse the fact they didn't do the mental labor of grouping together all the like hotdogs together for you. and it was always this fun chaotic challenge. my job as an NPC was to make it happen for them. To make their day easier, to get them their gas and their food and get them out of my store with a joke or a smile. I always get so ????? when I see people complaining about like 'ugh don't make x joke to cashiers, they've heard it 100 times that day' and I'm like- man, my dad (a career cashier/store manager/person depending on when in his life you're talking) taught me those were the best. He loved a script. He loved a repetitive joke, something easy to respond to. and honestly, when I'm behind the counter- Same. Same.

I dunno man. Sometimes I miss it. There was something... so interesting about the juxtaposition of like- because it was the kind of store it was- We were something so vital and essential to these people's day- and yet we were also in some ways largely invisible. And for other people, we were the most important interaction that they would have that day. Customers would come in and if you'd been missing and go 'you're back! I came in yesterday and they had so and so up here, ruined my whole damn day.' Dad always talked about how like, for regulars, you were the person they counted on seeing on their way to work- or before they went home. You were a transition that helped them switch gears, and so you wanted to make it a positive interaction. You wanted to make them feel like they mattered, if only for a minute. That kind of job suits my NPC-brain very well.

#I suspect what I actually miss is my dad but we're not talking about that right now

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ahatintimestorybook · 1 year

Text

Ebb and Flow Chap. 18-Lore of Subcon and Sapphire

Next chapter is up! We’ll be getting into more lore of the mermaids! Honestly I love introducing and explaining lore in my fanfics.

Thanks to @gigilefache for being my beta reader!!

Enjoy

~~~~~~~

Lucas and Willow sat in the flower shop. It was a very slow day due to the rain storm that pounded on the store's window glass. Vanessa, Brooke, and Hali had been out for the day and it worried the both of them that they girls would be stranded until the rain stopped or worse they'd walk outside and get caught in their mermaid forms.

Feeling worried, Lucas went to the phone and dialed Vanessa’s number. The phone rang and he hoped, no, prayed she’d pick up a worry set in his chest. “Come on. Come on.” He whispered. Soon, the phone reached the voicemail and Lucas sighed, he wasn’t getting a hold of her. It wasn’t long after till he heard a beep from Willow’s phone, Vanessa texted her best friend.

“She said, Hali and Brooke are reading to the Kindergartners so her phone is silent so as not to interrupt the story time.” Willow explained.

Lucas sighed and smiled as he watched the rain come down. “I’m glad Hali’s adjusting to the human world. She’s in school, making friends, and now she has a job.” He explained, chuckling.

Willow smiled as she went over to her and put her hand on his shoulder. “Not only that, but she’s got an amazing older brother that’s keeping her in line,” she added. Lucas chuckled as the two watched the rain trickle, waiting on Vanessa and the girls to come home.

At the Lapis Bookstore, Vanessa sat with the parents as she watched Hali and Brooke tell the kids about fairy tales that came from the Sapphire Kingdom. Vanessa wasn’t worried about Hali and Brooke telling these stories as they were fairy tales and not true stories from the kingdom.

“And so the young catfish escaped with all of the crystal corals from the evil sea witch, and was able to bring light to the kingdom, defeating the sea witch for good.” Hali read.

“Because of her bravery and strength, the prince made the catfish the head of the guards and protector of the seas. The End!” Brooke finished.

The Kindergartners cheered as Hali and Brooke smiled and bowed. “Great story!” A little girl cheered.

“Can you read us another one?” A slightly taller little boy asked.

“Please can you read us one more?” A pair of identical twins pleaded.

The owner of the bookstore chuckled and strolled over to the kids. “Sorry children, but story time is over.”

“Aww...” The kids sighed.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be back for next week’s story time!” Hali promised. The kids cheered and ran over to their parents. The kids told their parents about the stories they read as well as saying goodbye to Hali and Brooke, some gave the girls hugs as a thank you. Vanessa stood up and smiled walking over to the girls.

The owner saw Vanessa and went over to shake her hand. “Thank you so much Miss. Greengrove. I didn’t know your family friends were such good storytellers. If it weren’t for them, the kids would’ve been disappointed that their weekly story time was canceled.”

“It’s no problem.” Vanessa replied.

“Well if you three need anything let me know. Also if there’s something here you want to buy, it's on me.” The owner told them.

“Thank you!” Hali and Brooke beamed. The owner smiled and walked back to her counter to help a few customers.

Vanessa sighed as she looked out the window to see the rain pouring down. “Well, you girls want to find some books to take back home? We can stay here till the rain dies down.”

“Okay!” Hali beamed. The two went to look for books and Vanessa did the same. She strolled over to the romance section of the bookstore to look for a good story to read on her own time. From the shelves, she found two that caught her eye. As she skimmed through, she saw two workers run in, drenched from the rain.

“Sorry we’re late.” The worker told the owner.

Vanessa sighed knowing they might be stuck here longer than usual. “You okay Vanessa?” Hali asked.

Vanessa looked down. “Yeah, just looking at the rain.” She replied. Hali looked out the window to see the rain coming down hard.

“You know this storm reminds me of how my dad would create storms when angry.” Hali explained.

Vanessa looked at the rain once more before asking Hali, “what made your dad mad that caused him to do this?”

Hali shrugged. “Could be anything; humans hunting animals, human pollution, boats staying in one place over the kingdom. Sometimes it could even be something in the kingdom itself that got him angry.” She explained.

“And do you think this rainstorm is one of them?”

Hali nodded. “I can tell it’s his storm.”

Vanessa nodded and got a bit worried that Hali’s father was creating this nasty storm not knowing his son and daughter were up on land.

“Hey guys!” Brooke yelled, catching Vanessa and Hali’s attention. “Look at this book I found!” The two walked over to Brooke and saw that she found a book with a dull teal cover. It looked to be hidden away showing dust and age.

The words were legible, and showed the words Sapphire and Subcon together. Hali and Vanessa looked at each other as they pushed away the dust to read the title and realized that the book was about Subcon and the Sapphire Kingdom. “Brooke, where did you find this?” Hali asked.

“I was looking for more fairytales and found this in the back of the books.” Brooke explained.

Hali carefully opened the book and her eyes widened. She read through the story and let out a chuckle. “I remember this story. My grandfather told me this a long time ago.” She explained.

“What’s it about?” Vanessa asked.

“It’s how humans and merfolk were once friends.” Hali said.

Vanessa looked in shock, “I remember that tale, but everyone says it’s just a myth. A fantasy…” She explained.

Hali shook her head. “It’s not.” She turned the page showing the early settlers in Subcon meeting the merfolk. “300 years ago merfolk used to live on the beaches of Subcon. We lived peaceful lives till the humans showed up and we stayed in the bottom of the ocean for a while.” Hali turned the next page. “While at first we didn’t trust humans, a few of the settlers and our king and queen at the time had their first meeting and they made peace.”

“The peace treaty was that as long as we didn’t stay long in the far out ocean or fish for anything we were on good terms.” Vanessa added. “After that, merfolk and humans got along and we respected our differences.”

Hali smiled, but frowned as she turned the page. “However, some humans didn’t like to form bonds with mermaids and broke that promise and started to hunt in the areas, stealing treasures and kidnapping mermaids.” She explained.

“That’s when the Hurricane War started. Soon kingdoms far and wide either sided with humans or mermaids in the eye of the hurricane.” Vanessa continued.

“The war ended with no winner. There was so much death including the death of the king, and all the homes on land were destroyed. With that the peace treaty was destroyed, humans left mermaids alone and we stayed hidden from humans.” Hali finished as she closed the book.

The trio went quiet as they stared at the book. Vanessa sighed and tried to put her arms around Hali, but she hesitated touching her after the two read a serious story. “I…I know I wasn’t there, but I’m sorry for what we’ve done to your kingdom and I understand why your dad does all this.” Vanessa said. “But after knowing you and why you and your brother are here, what do you think of the human world?”

Hali was quiet as she gave a small smile. “Honestly, things have changed since 300 years ago. Many humans forgot about us, but everyone is so nice and kind.” She explained. Hali frowned, “but that’s before knowing that I’m a mermaid.”

“But what about the people that do know? Like Mu and Timmy for instance.” Vanessa asked.

“Well… they're still friends with me.” Hali answered.

Vanessa smiled. “See, there’s people that will still care about you. Those who understand you will stay with you forever.” She explained.

Hali smiled and looked at the book once more before holding it close. “I think I know what book I want.”

Vanessa smiled and turned to see the rain started to calm down. “Looks like the storm is lighting up. Wanna start heading home?” She asked. Hali and Brooke nodded. The three bought their books and left the store.

The trio opened their umbrellas and carefully started to walk home. It didn’t take long for Brooke to trip and splash into a puddle. Vanessa and Hali turned around and saw Brooke now in her mermaid form.

“Ooops.” Brooke said.

Hali held her best friend on her back using her jacket as a towel to prevent her from turning into a mermaid too and they kept walking.

Once they were far away, Monroe appeared from the bushes with a camera and smirked, getting the proof they needed. Monroe pulled out his cellphone and called his boss. “Empress! I think I got the evidence you need.”

#ahit au #hat kid #ahit the prince #queen vanessa #ahit fanfic #bow kid #ahit moonjumper #Ebb and Flow AU #Ebb and Flow #ahit the florist #ahit the empress #even though she's mentioned

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underburningstars · 2 years

Note

Starker au in the 1930'ish where tony is a army soldier who writes letters for his lover, Peter until the war is over

Anon sorry it took me a while. Your request was really great and I got a bit enthusiastic with it.

Instead of using 1930s I used 1940s so that I could include the WWII aspects. I hope you don't mind. Enjoy!

This is also a prompt fill up for the 'Bakery' square of SFSummerBingo22 @starkerfestivals

also on ao3

CARD AT THE BOTTOM

sometimes

we love

in fingertip touch...

and it's

just as close as

we can get

♡

May 03, 1941

The bakery had good business today. That's why Peter had missed his lunch and had been standing without a break for more than an hour. He's starving and his feet hurt like crazy. All he wants now is to eat and rest.

He was just about to start eating his bagel when a young man walks in. If Peter hadn't been so tired he'd be in awe of how beautiful the man is. But right now, he doesn't. He gets up to serve the customer.

"Oh, you don't have to get up. Please take your food. I'll help myself." The man starts looking around but Peter doesn't sit. He can speak from personal experience that people don't like it when someone doesn't trail after them around. The man turns around and, "Please, I insist. I know what I'm looking for. You don't need to trouble yourself." Peter begrudgingly sits down and starts eating.

The man doesn't look much older than Peter. By his clothes, he seems to be from an upper class family. Now that Peter has food in his stomach, he notices how utterly breathtaking the man his. He has a tanned olive skin, red full lips, honey brown eyes and extremely soft looking brown hair. He also has a nice voice, nor too pitched nor too deep.

Peter realizes he's staring when the man lifts an eyebrow at him. He quickly looks away, cheeks flaming. He goes to the front desk and prepares his receipt. He looks at the type of bread and feel curious.

"Rose bread. For someone special?" Peter ask, not being able to help his curiosity.

The man looks at him with a smirk, that makes Peter burn under his shirt. "Yeah. For my mother. It's her birthday and she loves this bread. I heard the ones here are the best."

"Well, you heard right." Peter says with a proud smile.

"Is that the reason behind the name? 'Buns and Roses Bakery'" The man tilts his head a bit to the side. Cute.

"Partly." Peter explains, "It's also because my aunt loves buns and roses the most and my uncle wanted to name the shop for her."

"That's a lovely thing to do. I'm Tony, by the way. Tony Stark." The man - Tony - introduces himself.

"Stark? As in from Stark Repairs?"

"Yep." Tony says popping the 'p'. "One and only. Good to know that we're famous."

"Of course you are. Everyone knows about your repair shop. They say you are a miracle worker." Peter had always been interested in fixing up things, especially machines. So he feels himself get excited meeting the young, genius mechanic.

"Not a miracle worker, just a hard worker. And you never told me your name beautiful." Tony leans closer to Peter, placing his elbows on the desk

Peter's face burns bright red, both at the nickname and the proximity. "Oh...ri-right. I'm-I'm Peter." Peter stammers. "Peter Parker."

"Pretty name for a pretty face, huh." Whatever blush had gone down from Peter's face rises with full force at the praise.

"It's-um-0.25 dollars Mr. Stark" Peter places the packed up bread on the desk.

"Oh yes. Here you go." Tony hands him the money and takes the bread. "And please call me Tony. See you soon, beautiful." He calls over his shoulder as he gets out, leaving behind a blushing, sputtering Peter.

May 07, 1941

Peter indeed saw Tony soon. Right after four days, Peter was in the market shopping for groceries when he saw Tony, drinking coffee from one of the stores.

He was wearing a overall, both skin and outfit marred with grease. He must've been here from work, Peter thought. Suddenly, Tony looked up, eyes widening when he saw Peter. Then the older boy sent him a beaming smile and ran towards him. "Told'ya, didn't I? I'll see you soon."

"Technically, I saw you first, Mr. Stark." Peter retorted, laughing when Tony scrunched his nose.

"What's with all the 'Mr. Stark'? I told you call me Tony." Tony was looking at Peter with his big eyes, waiting for Peter to say it.

"Tony." Peter repeated, shaking his head at his childish behavior. "Happy?"

"Oh, very." Tony was about to say something when someone called him from behind, a black man wearing the same overall. Tony looked at him apologetically, "That's my cue to go."

Peter tried not to but he felt a twinge of disappointment as Tony was leaving so early. "Yeah, okay. Goodbye." The look on Tony's face told him that he hadn't done a good job at hiding his feelings.

Tony looked around a bit to see if anyone was looking at them, when he saw no one was, he leaned closer to Peter's ear and whispered, "See you soon, beautiful." Despite himself, Peter felt himself smile after Tony's retreating body. Peter spent the whole day smiling.

May 25, 1941

The next meeting took a while. Peter was looking for new culinary items for the bakery when someone sneaked behind him and whispered into his ear, "Hello, beautiful." causing Peter to startle and turn around.

"Tony!" Peter exclaimed, hitting him lightly in his shoulder. "You startled me."

"Sorry, sorry." Tony laughed, not sounding sorry at all. "It's been so long. I got excited when I saw you from outside."

"Mhm. It's the third we've met accidentally. They say if you meet accidentally three times then it's fate." Peter, for once, tries to tease Tony instead of being the blushing mess.

But Tony gives him a small but sincere smile, eyes fond. "Maybe it is fate." Tony says, completely serious. Peter’s eyes go wide hearing his words, breath getting stuck in his chest.

Tony steps forward towards Peter, for the first time looking hesitant and nervous. "On the 29th. Are you-are you free on that day?"

"Ye-yeah." Peter clears his throat. "Yeah I am. Why?"

"Maybe...um-we could go out? Y'know. It's-it's my birthday. And we're friends, right? So, we could...maybe watch a movie? Hm?" Peter can clearly see how nervous Tony is. And rightfully so. If the wrong person hears something like this, it could ruin his life. Even get him killed.

But Peter isn't like that. There's nothing Peter would like more than to go out with Tony. "Yeah, okay. We could-we could go out. And watch a movie. Sounds nice."

Tony beams, nodding his head eagerly. "Yeah can't wait."

"Can't wait." Peter agrees.

May 29th, 1941

Peter has nothing to wear. He and Tony decided to meet outside the bakery and to reach there on time he has to leave to house in an hour but he has no idea what's he gonna wear. Whatever he picks out looks horrible. Accepting defeat he moves to his last resort

"Aunt May I need your help." Thankfully she's home today as uncle Ben decided to take care of the bakery.

"Oh, does someone have a date tonight?" she teases.

"N-no. It's not like that. Just a friend, really." Peter has never told anyone about how he likes boys more than he will ever like girls. Aunt May and Uncle Ben mean the world to him, so he doesn't think he could handle it if they start hating him.

"You try to dress up this hard to meet just a friend?" She raises a brow in question.

"Yes." Peter deadpans. She laughs but let's it go. In the end they decide on a brown button down shirt with beige trousers and jacket.

In the end Peter is only five minutes late. When he reaches the designated place, he sees Tony lean on the wall of an alley beside the bakery. He's wearing a white dress shirt with dark grey trousers with suspenders and jacket of the same color. Looking at him makes Peter's breath hitch.

As he approaches the older man, he starts feeling self-conscious about his clothing. He has half a mind to run away but then Tony stops him and sends him a beaming smile as Peter stands in front of him.

"Hello, beautiful. Look at you. And here I thought you couldn't get anymore gorgeous." Peter blushes at the comment and directs a shy smile towards the older boy.

"You look very good too." Peter replies. "As always." He mumbles, quieter.

"Hm? What was that?"

"Oh, ah, nothing." Peter responded and changed the subject. "Why are you standing here instead of in front of the bakery?"

"Oh, you're uncle's there. So I thought perhaps I shouldn't stand there. In case he minded seeing us together." Tony explained.

"Yeah. You did good. They, well, don't know...about me. No one does."

"No one? That's-none of your friends? I can't imagine keeping so much to myself." Tony frowns, troubled.

"Well, I'm scared of how they'll react. What if they hate me? What if lose everyone? Thoughts like these keep me from telling them. What about you? Who did you tell?" Peter asks.

"There's a Rhodey, the one you saw in the market that day." Peter nods. "And also Pepper. Another friend of mine. Some other people know too." They start walking side by side to the cinema as they talk.

"How did they react? When you told them."

"Shocked? Yeah, mostly shocked at the news. But not repulsed. I have known both Rhodey and Pepper from before I could walk. They've watched me to so much worse than like a guy in a way I'm not supposed to." Peter hums, thinking about it. And then he remembers the Irish coffee macaroons he made for Tony.

"Oh, these are for you." Peter hands then over to Tony. "Happy birthday."

"That...wasn't necessary. But I'll enjoy them. Thank you." Tony opens the box slightly to peak inside. "Mmm, smells like coffee. I love coffee!"

"I'm glad. It's a dish I'm really proud of." They both stop walking and smile at each other. Tony averts his eyes first. Looking at the cinema hall in front of them.

"Let's go inside. Or we'll miss our show."

They watch a science fiction movie called 'Buck Rogers' that has both of the scrunching their noses that the scientific inaccuracies. They criticize the movie the whole time and go out, laughing together. At least the soda and the huge tub of popcorn was nice.

"I don't know if I'm annoyed about that movie or happy that now I finally found someone who can criticize with me." Tony says cheerfully.

"Why, you don't do that with your friends?"

"Oh no. They glare at me for weeks saying I ruin movies for them. Now they don't even watch movies with me anymore. Especially, science based ones." To answers. "Hey, are you hungry? We could get some food and then ice cream."

"I could eat. Do you have any place in mind? We have to pick the place carefully."

"I do know a place. It's a restaurant run by a couple I know. It's fairly private too." Peter easily agrees to the suggestion.

The restaurant is small but cozy. There are seven tables, each of them placed in a way that the people inside can't be seen. They take a corner seat and a middle aged woman approaches them. "Anthony dear. It's been so long."

"I saw you two weeks ago Anna." The women - Anna - clicks her tongue in disapproval.

"You and Edwin both keep saying the same thing. With a troublemaker like you, two weeks is too much. Who knows what kind of nonsense you'll manage to get yourself into." Peter looks at the scene with a smile on his face.

"Anna" Tony whines. "Stop scolding me. I bring you new customers and this is how you repay me."

At that Anna turns her face to look at Peter and gives him a motherly smile. "Oh I'm so sorry dear. I should've greeted you first. I'm Anna Jarvis. Co-owner of this place."

"Hello. I'm Peter Parker. I'm a friend of Tony's. Nice to meet you, ma'am." Peter introduces himself.

"You must be quite a special friend if Anthony here is spending his birthday with you." Saying that she looks at Tony with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Right, Anthony."

"Of course." Tony directs Anna one of the fakest smile Peter has ever seen. "Would you please kindly bring us your special pasta. I promised Peter food."

"Oh, of course honey." Then she leaves towards the table, humming a cheerful tune under her breath.

Tony looks at him sheepishly, "Sorry, she's a bit -"

"Lovely." Peter cuts him. "She's lovely."

Tony smile and nods, agreeing. "Yeah she is."

"She knows about you." Peter points out.

"She's actually the first person I ever told. Or more like, she told me." Tony laughs a bit, shaking his head. "She and my mother are best friends. So she always visited us often. When I was thirteen, I was having difficulties understanding myself. About who I was.

Then one day she comes to me and tells me that even though the world isn't knowledgeable enough to accept it yet, no form of love is wrong." Tony explained."It was such a huge moment for me, but them mama came and ruined it by saying that there is love that isn't acceptable and the name is incest." Peter bursts out laughing at that.

"You seem to have a wonderful family. If you don't mind me asking, what about you father?"

"He died when I was very young. I don't remember him all that much." Tony waves his hand a bit as if dismissing the matter. "From what I've heard from people, he'd be a shit father. At least he left us quite the fortune."

"My parents are dead too."

"Pete." The nickname makes Peter smile a little. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"It's nothing bad. They died in a car crash. I was maybe 5 years old back then. I don't remember them much too."

"Guess we have that in common."

"We have a lot in common Tony." Peter laughed.

"That's true." Just then Anna brings their food. Two plates of pasta with mouth watering smell and a glass of wine. She tells them to enjoy and leaves.

The pasta tasted even better than it smelled. Conversation came easy between them. They talked about everything and nothing. Childhood memories, embarrassing situations, what books they like. Peter can't remember the last time he connected so well with someone.

After that they went to the park and got ice cream. They walked side by side, hands sometimes grazing. "Next time, let's go to Coney Island." Tony spoke up. At the prospect of there being a next time, Peter's heart started beating faster.

Not trusting himself to speak now, he just nodded eagerly with a smile. Looking at his eagerness Tony chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Coming Friday?"

This time Peter answered with a blinding smile and an enthusiastic "Okay!"

They both walked to the alley the met in, shuffling around, still reluctant to say goodbye. Then Peter worked up some courage to raise to his tiptoes and kiss Tony's cheek. A lovely blush turned his ears red.

Peter snickered slightly, happy to be able to make Tony blush. "Goodbye, Tony."

"Goodbye, beautiful."

June 02, 1941

As promised, they went to Coney island next time. It's been really long since Peter last came here. It just seems to get more and more colorful.

They ate cotton candies, over priced food, enjoyed the rides. Tony even won him a teddy bear.

At the end of the day, they again stopped to the alley. But this time Tony pulled him inside and kissed him. They used the darkness to their benefit and locked their lips in a passionate kiss.

After breaking the kiss Tony leaned his forehead against Peter's and whispered, "Five days from now my mom's visiting a cousin of hers. Wanna come over?"

Peter could only nod breathlessly.

June 07, 1941

It was the first time someone touched Peter like that and he loved every second of it.

June 23, 1941

They went to the beach. It was completely empty and so they got a little courageous and kissed during the sunset, out in the open.

Peter also found out that he's allergic to seaweed.

July 13, 1941

Aunt May and Uncle Ben went to a one week tour, leaving the house to Peter. When Tony comes inside, the first thing he does is suck him off against the door.

Later, much later, after they're done with dinner and washing dishes he bends Peter over the table.

August 04, 1941

Ned tells him that he doesn't spend much time with them anymore. Michelle agrees. Peter never meant to avoid his friends. But whatever he has with Tony is still new and fragile and by focusing too much on that, he ignored his friends.

He promises that it'll never happen again. He makes more time for his friends and his uncle and aunt too. It's nice.

August 10, 1941

He celebrates his birthday once at home with his uncle, aunt, Ned and Michelle. They cook all kinds of food, bake cake and decorate the house. In the middle of all the chaos Peter manages to pack some of the food separately.

Later, after everyone's asleep he sneaks out of the house and goes to the bakery. He sees Tony sitting outside, slightly hunched to protect himself from the wind. "Tony! Come'on, let's go inside." Peter pulls the shutter up and shuts it down again after they're inside.

Now from the safety of prying eyes, Tony immediately hugs Peter to his chest. "Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I missed you so much."

"Missed you too, Tony." Peter's voice is muffled from being pressed to Tony's chest. They play music on the radio, eat, dance, drink and kiss the night away.

August 24, 1941

Peter meets Rhodey and Pepper. Just after talking for fifteen minutes Peter can understand that they are the reason Tony has been alive for the last 27 years.

They are as good as Tony said. Right after he introduced Peter, they take him with them as one of their own.

December 10, 1941

There's a war going on around them. The world was in a war for long and now America has joined it too. Tony's troubled by it. More troubled than he wants Peter to know. But Peter can see it on his face. How his brow creases when he reads the newspaper, how he tenses when he heard about bombing somewhere.

Tony hates the fact that there are people dying and there's nothing he can do. Peter hates that he can't do anything about Tony's troubles.

December 31, 1941

Peter wanted to tell his friends about him and Tony today. Tony has met them all. Aunt May and Uncle Ben too. But they all think that Tony's a new friend of Peter and that's it.

He's still not ready to tell his family but he wants to tell his friends. Wants them to know what Tony means to him. He wanted to tell them during new year. For it to be symbolic or whatever but now that the time has come he feels himself feeling anxious.

"Okay, Peter. I don't care how much fun you're having pacing like that but it snot fun for me. What is it? Tell us." Michelle snaps at him.

"Me and Tony are together." Peter blurts out and instantly pales.

"Yeah we know." Michelle says nonchalantly. "Right?" she looks at Ned who nods.

"What? You knew. Since when?"

"Since you introduced him to us. It was kinda obvious." Ned states.

"It was extremely obvious. Even your uncle and aunt know." Michelle retorts. Then she softens her tone. "We love you Peter and if Tony makes you happy then we're okay with it. Your happiness matters the most." Peter loves them all so much.

May 03, 1942

It's been a year since he and Tony met. They make a rose bread in Tony's place with Maria sitting in the porch, reading.

July 07, 1942

Even though Aunt May and Uncle Ben know about him , Peter wants to introduce them officially.

Tony’s a nervous wreck. Nevermind the fact that they've both met Tony several times and adore him enough to rival Peter.

He wants to tease him. Get the revenge for how much Tony teased him for being nervous before meeting Maria. But Peter decided to be the better man. Holds Tony's hand and squeezes, reassuring.

Tony nods at him, a determined glint on his lovely eyes and they enter through the door.

October 31, 1942

Right after meeting Aunt May, Maria and Anna had formed a wonderful (and dangerous) friendship. So today they were doing some 'only girls' thing where they eat, watch movies and shop.

That means Peter and Tony got to have the whole house for themselves after a long time and they use it extremely well. At the end of the day, Peter is searing with pleasure, overwhelmed with the feel of Tony's hands and mouth all over his body bringing out orgasms out of him in ways Peter didn't know was possible.

In return, Peter touches him too. Holding him close, not even letting air pass between their bodies. That's how they spend their Halloween.

February 06, 1943

When Tony tells Peter that he wants to enlist in the military, Peter can't say that he's surprised.

February 20, 1943

They spend the day before Tony's dispatch without talking about it at all. Tony brings out his 1937 Jaguar SS 100 3.5-Liter Roadster, which Peter can't decide is absolutely gorgeous or ridiculous looking.

He takes them to one of his properties where they have a picnic, kiss and sleep together. Both literally and figuratively. Then they do to a drive in movie theater where they watch 'The Spider Women' less and kiss more.

Tony stops in front of Peter's home and brings their lips together one last time. He presses their foreheads together and whispers, "I love you Peter." It sounds too much like a goodbye for Peter to be happy hearing it.

"No, no. You can't say it now. Say it again after you come back and-and then I'll answer."

"Okay, okay honey." Tony gives him a heartbreaking smile and Peter gets out of the car barely holding back his tears. Just before he closes the door Tony mutters a quiet little "Goodbye beautiful." Peter doesn't answer him. Instead he runs inside.

He rushes to his room ignoring Aunt May's calls and shuts the door. He slides down against it, hugging his legs close to his chest he let's the tears fall.

March 01, 1943

A few days later, Rhodey follows Tony because of course he does.

Before Tony left, they promised each other to write letters. It hurt to do, reminding Peter of everything that's missing yet he does it. Because it's something they both need.

March 24, 1943

After almost five weeks he receives Tony's first letter.

Hey beautiful,

I'm writing this on the bus. We're going towards California now. It feels a bit nostalgic to be here. I don't have time for sightseeing though, as we are going to deploy from San Francisco. I don't know how long I'll be there. A few weeks maybe.

I keep thinking about you. About our last day together. How perfect it was, how perfect you were. Laughing, dancing. You look the most beautiful when you're happy.

I miss you so much. Your lovely eyes, pink lips, soft skin, silky hair. I miss everything about you. I need to go now. And I know it'll hurt but please write to darling. I'll wait for your letter.

Forever yours,

AES.

March 25, 1943

Dear Tony,

Trying to write a letter I have realized that I have no talent for it. There are so many things that I want to talk about but now my mind is blank. You're the who's good with words, not me.

I miss you. That I can say. I miss you so much that it hurts. I actually started writing letters right after the day you left. But writing these I discovered that I can never be the one to send the first letter. I'm sorry honey. I'm really sorry but I can't. I can't bear the thought of sending a letter but never getting a response.

I can promise you with everything that I will always reply to your letters. No matter what happens you'll get a reply from me. I'll be waiting for you to come home to me safe and sound soldier. Take care.

Truly yours,

PBP.

April 12, 1943

Hey beautiful, Pretty sure you didn't get my first letter yet. But I had a dream about you yesterday and just needed to write to you. I actually dream about you a lot. But this particular dream was special. It was about the day we first met. You looked so beautiful that day. I think I knew the moment my eyes fell on you that you were the one. You mean so much to darling. Wish I could show you it all. Forever yours, AES.

April 13, 1943

Dear Tony, I'm happy to know that you dream about me. I dream about you too. Though I don't know how to feel about you finding tired and starving me beautiful, I appreciate the sentiment. It was the same for me, by the way. The moment you called me beautiful, I knew you were the one. Yours truly, PBP.

May 22, 1943

Hello beautiful, I got your letter. Thank you for writing to me. And it's okay you don't have to write first. Just reply to my letters and that's all I ask for. I'm in the 107th division. All the other guys with me are really good people. Our Captain is just the tiniest bit of stuck up. But other than that we get along good enough. He and Barnes - another guy here - they're both from Brooklyn. Childhood best friends. Watching them makes me miss Rhodey. And speaking of Rhodey, I'm ninety-nine percent sure that Barnes has a male lover called Sam in the air force. He's with Rhodey. But it's not like I can downright ask him. So I keep my thoughts to myself. Miss you honey. Take care please. Forever yours, AES.

May 23, 1943

Dear Tony, Happy early Birthday, honey. And for the love of God, keep you suspicions to yourself. I don't even want to think about what would happen if you're wrong about him. Take care of yourself. When you come back I don't want a single pound of weight loss. And I don't know if she told you but Maria had flu a few days ago. The fever has broken down but she's still a bit week. I'm staying with her for a while. Yours truly, PBP.

June 18, 1943

Hello beautiful, Mama absolutely did not tell me about her fever. She'd day she didn't want to worry me but she not telling ne things is more worrying. Thank you for staying with her. And I think losing a few pounds is inevitable, my dear. But I swear I'll try my best. Forever yours, AES.

June 19, 1943

Dear Tony, Your mother is a very special person to me too. So no need to thank me for taking care of her. She had me make he five different types of pastries as an apology for telling - rattling to you, in her words - about her illness. I'm any other circumstances, I'd never trust you with you own health. But since I don't have any other option now, I'll reluctantly trust you to take care of yourself. Yours truly, PBP.

June 30, 1943

Hey beautiful, I know I'm writing this letter even before I got the your reply for my previous one. But it's an emergency. Things aren't in the best condition here. So I won't be able to write to you for a while. Honey, I don't know if I'll ever be able to write to you again. Things are bad sweetie. Really, really bad. I'm going to the front lines and I don't know if I'll come back. So, if a military messenger comes to my mama with bad news, please take care of her. Also, even if it hurts and is difficult, I'd like you to move on darling. Find a nice guy. Someone who'd cherish you like you deserve to be. Please take care of yourself. Forever yours, AES.

Reading Tony's letter makes Peter's hands tremble. Tears are streaming down his face uncontrollably. His body is shaking with the force of his violent sobs.

He is vaguely aware of someone taking the letter from his hands. Someone is saying something to him. Maybe Aunt May. But he doesn't know. He doesn't know anything beyond the fact that Tony might not come home to him.

He presses his face into the crook of Aunt May's neck and cries until he passes out.

November 21, 1943

Even after five months, there's no news of Tony or the 107th division as a whole. His name is not among the martyred soldiers and no military messenger comes to Maria with bad news.

Even Rhodey doesn't know anything because apparently they were some specially trained division only engaging in extremely secretive missions. Peter doesn't know what else to do.

He had turned into a living corpse while waiting for any news about Tony. But waiting was all Peter could do, so he did.

January 17, 1944

Hello Beautiful, It's been a while, right? I actually have no idea what to say to you. I want to say I'm sorry an I am. I'm really, really sorry. I know I worried you and I wish I could promise that it wouldn't happen again but I can't. There are full possibilities of this happening again. Darling, when you read this letter know that I thought of you with every single breath I took. And I'll always do that. Forever yours, AES.

After reading Tony's letter, Peter felt like he could finally breathe. After months and months of torturous waiting, he could feel some relief.

He didn't waste any time and started writing a letter.

Dear Tony, After long seven months I could finally breathe today. My mind isn't processing much more than the fact that you are alive. I have been waiting to hear this for so long that now it all feels surreal. You are okay right? Please, please be okay Tony. You need to come home to me, my soldier. Stay with me. I don't know what I'd do without you. And about your last letter, you're my only one Tony. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't adore anyone more than I adore you. And no one can make me feel as cherished as you. So don't you dare say things like that ever again. Yours truly, PBP.

When Peter tells everyone the news, expectedly, Maris cries and unexpectedly, Pepper cries too.

March 13, 1944

Hey beautiful, I'm so sorry dear. I'm sorry that you're hurting. That I kept you waiting for so long. I'm really sorry. I'm mostly okay. No serious injuries just a few scars. The most damage is the seven inch sewing marks on my chest. A bomb blew up right in front of me. It was scary. Baton says I'm like a cockroach who'd survive anything. He's an asshole but he's probably right. And you're my only one too baby. That's why I would never want you to be stuck in the past. But okay, darling. I'll come home to you and we won't talk about that anymore. Take care. Forever yours, AES.

March 14, 1944

Dear Tony, A seven inch sewing mark? A bomb? What are you talking about? How is this okay? This is nowhere near okay. Are you kidding me? This is outrageous. In one sentence you're telling me you're fine or whatever and then you tell me about a bomb blowing up in front of you. Give me some good news darling. Something to quell my heart. Yours truly, PBP.

April 09, 1944

Hello Beautiful, You're my lucky charm y'know. You asked for a good news and IT'S here! I'm promoted. Military promotion during war means someone died and I'm taking their place. But. PROMOTION!!! I'm really happy. You're happy too, right? I did a little victory dance when I was alone in my tent. It's your turn now. Shake that sweet little ass of yours for me, honey. I'm getting paid much more now. See. Taking a bomb in the chest isn't that bad. We can save the money and live in the suburbs. We can build a house with white pocket fence. We can expand the bakery and repair shop there. I'd be our safe haven. I want that with you. Please wait for me. I'll give you everything you ask for. Forever yours, AES.

April 10, 1944

Dear Tony, We're going to ignore your bomb comment and never talking about it until you're home. I'm really happy to hear about the promotion sweetie. Just do y'know, I did dance for you. A white picket fence house in the suburbs seems like a pipe dream to me. Can we really have that? Us. Together. Sounds too good to be true. But if we do have that then let's get pets too darling. A few dogs and cats. Does that seem good? The life you talked about. I want that. And I want that with you. So quickly come home to me soldier. Truly Yours, PBP.

May 17, 1944

Hey Beautiful, It's been three years now since we met. Three years ago I went to the bakery and felt my heart sing. And was lucky enough to have you feel the same. I promise you dear, that we'll have a white picket fence house in the suburbs. It won't be a pipe dream. And pets sound real nice darling. I like big dogs more than the smaller. So you better get prepared to have them tackle you to the ground all day. Honey I wanted to tell you that you shouldn't reply to this letter. Our division is shifting to somewhere else. It's nothing dangerous like last time. Promise. But apparently the postal there is horrible. So it might take some time to send a letter again. Wait for your soldier, yeah? Forever Yours, AES.

Peter read Tony's letter with a small smile. Time to go back to the waiting game, he thought.

August 13, 1944

It wasn't until three months, that Peter got Tony's next letter.

Hey Beautiful, Missed me. I missed you a lot. Happy Birthday, by the way. I wanted this letter to reach you by your birthday so I sent it a long while ago. Did it reach you on time. I hope it did. About the stupid shit Clint says. Bucky trying to throttle him at least once everyday. Steve looking like he has given up on them. These are our little joys during war. I want you to meet them. You'd like them, a lot. When we all come home. I can introduce you. I'll tell them you're my best friend. Maybe I'll tell Steve and Bucky about us. Told you about Bucky and his air force guy remember. They'll be okay with us. Wait for me yeah? Forever Yours, AES.

August 14, 1944

Dear Tony, You seemed so sad on your last letter. Is everything alright? I hope you're doing well. I received your letter three days after my birthday. It was the best gift for me. I miss you so much honey. When you come home you can introduce me to them all. I'd love to meet them. It doesn't what tell them about me. I know what I mean to you and that's enough for me. Waiting for you soldier. Truly Yours, PBP.

September 27, 1944

Hello Beautiful, Did I seem sad in my letter? I didn't realize. I just miss you so much. I haven't seen your face in so long. I feel like when I come home you'll not recognize me anymore. I don't think I'll be able to bear that. Wait for me darling. Please wait for me. Forever Yours, AES.

September 28, 1944

Dear Tony, Don't ever think like that. Ever. No matter what the war does to you, you're Tony. My Tony. My only one. Nothing will ever change that. What I feel for you goes beyond this war and all the others that will come. I'm waiting for my soldier to come home. And when he does I'll never let him go again. I'll cling to you so much you'll get sick of me. Truly Yours, PBP.

November 19, 1944

Hey Beautiful, Thank you for your last letter. I really needed that. It's just that I don't have many things that matter. I have my mama, my friends, the repair shop and you. That's all. And I'm scared to lose them. I want to fight because if me fighting means at least one less person dying then it's worth it. But I miss you so much, sweetheart. These days I have a recurring dream. Well it's more a nightmare, actually. It always starts with me being in a dark cage and then suddenly a missile flies towards me and I think that I'm gonna die. I'd die and break all my promises to you. But then I wake up in my room and run to the bakery but it's not there. You're not there. I hate it so much. I just wanna hold you now. Forever Yours, AES.

November 20, 1944

Dear Tony, Listen to me very carefully. You're are gonna be okay. You're a brave man who is fighting for to save the lives of people he doesn't know. You're gonna fight and live and when you come home I'll be in the bakery waiting for you, sitting on the same chair. I'll always be there for my dear. Always. Truly Yours, PBP.

March 24, 1945

Hey Beautiful, I know this letter is very late. But the place I was in for the past three months had no postal service. It was supposed to be a quick rescue mission but it turned out to be more complicated than that. I should've warned you. I'm sorry. Sorry if I worried you. I read your last letter. I don't know what I'd do without you. You make me wanna be a better man. I'll fight and I'll fight to be alive too. Then we'll meet again in the bakery. Forever Yours, AES.

March 25, 1945

Dear Tony, You scared me to death you idiot. How could you do that? I hadn't heard from you for so long. You didn't even warn me. Please. Please don't ever do that again. Please honey. Please. Truly Yours, PBP.

May 08, 1945

Everyone's saying that the war is over. That Germany has surrendered. But Peter can't believe it. The war had been going on for so long. Tony had been gone for so long and now it's over. Just like that.

November 13, 1945

After the war ended, all soldiers slowly started coming home. Streets started filling with men again. Some families were reunited with their sons, husbands and fathers. Some mourned the loss of them.

Peter was sitting in the bakery. Like he did every single day. He sat in the same chair, looking at the door, waiting for his soldier to come. He enters the bakery at five o'clock in the morning and leaves as 12 o'clock night.

Pepper says he's being self-destructive. She's probably right. But Peter doesn't care. The only thing he cares about is Tony coming home.

Today is just another day of waiting. It's three o'clock in the afternoon. Way past lunch time. Peter is sitting on the chair re-reading 'The Hobbit' when the bell chimes indicating someone's entry. Peter closes the book and stands to greet the customer he hears a voice he hadn't heard in forever.

"Hello beautiful." He feels his heart clench, a lump forming in his throat and eyes stinging. He can't speak, he can't even breathe. He just keeps looking at the man in front of him. Just as gorgeous as the day they met.

Finally after what feels like an eternity he runs towards Tony and jumps on him, legs circling around his waist, hands around his shoulders and face nuzzled in the crook of his neck. "I love you." Peter sobs. "I love you. I love you so much."

Tony holds him close and tight. Peter feels his shirt dampening with Tony's tears. "I love you too my darling. I love you so so much."

His soldier is home.

"The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again."

- Charles Dickens

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