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willowser · 10 months

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bakugou + strawberries ; 2.7k ੈ‧₊˚ for our meet fruit collab ! ‧₊˚✧ ₊˚

mina suggests speed-dating.

first as a joke — you think — after the two of you spend too many weekends in a row watching sappy rom-coms on her couch while crying into a bowl of trail mix, and then a second time, and then a third time, after you refuse.

in her last attempt, she pulls out the big ones: her upcoming birthday. it will be so fun!! she tells you, with her big eyes and bigger pout, looking at you as if you'd hung the stars by saying yes. it's a cheap shot, really, because she knows you or anyone would do pretty much anything when it comes to mina the birthday girl.

— and that's how you find yourself here, sitting in too nice of an outfit to be spending your allotted time listening to a man bash his ex-girlfriend.

you might have found him a bit cuter if he wasn't doing that, or if he showed even an ounce of interest in you whatsoever. instead, he's treating this like a therapy session, and you're not getting paid for it.

when the timer rings, you're more than thankful. irritated enough, even, to spin around the room in search of mina — who is happily watching on as two men grapple with each other for who gets to sit across from her next. you suppose being a top hero is good for that, finding someone who is willing to give you their all.

to yourself, you sigh quietly and turn back to the little bowl of strawberries in the center of the small table, the flutes of champagne on either side of it. mina's bottle, you noticed, is almost totally empty; your last date hadn't even looked at yours, nor did he seem to think to offer you a drink.

it's not that you're jealous. really. you wouldn't even say that you're interested in dating right now, finding your job at the agency to be too much of a whirlwind to balance, anyway. you love mina: she's your closest friend, your home away from home, your cheerleader and personal hero — but working for her is nothing short of a full-time job.

sometimes your bed is a little lonely, when she's not staying the night in it after another rom-com evening, but you really can't think that you'd like someone in it, anyway, much less a stranger. it's hard to explain where your time goes, who it goes with; having to share that with someone, you think, would take more emotional energy than you have right now.

and maybe it also sorta, kinda has to do with the fact that the one and only man you're thinking of outside of work — is the same man you see inside of it every single day.

the very thought of bakugou has your stomach turning, painfully. the image of him in the late afternoons with the sun glowing in his hair, the gentle look he spares you as you wait for the elevator, how he'd looked at you today, when you told him where you and mina were going; you don't know how anyone could make you feel the way he does, at least right now.

the seat across from you is taken up suddenly, then, and you look up into the eyes of someone that looks — nice. a little shy, a little nervous, as they introduce themselves. they decide to pour you a glass of champagne, and they even tell you, openly, voice shaking, how nice you look tonight.

you smile so hard that your cheeks hurt, much to your own surprise.

"i'm actually allergic to strawberries," they tell you with a laugh, gently pushing the bowl closer to you. "that would be a hell of a first date, wouldn't it?"

you agree. "definitely one to remember!"

"well, in that case—" they joke, suddenly leaning forward as if they're going to pull it back towards them, and it's so earnest and sweet that you feel your heartbeat in your throat a bit. "i sound like i'm kissing up to you, but—you have a really nice smile, also."

you have to sit back in your seat, fanning your face dramatically as you both laugh. "wow, i'm not used to someone—"

"time's up, extra."

you blink so hard that your eyes are crossed when you open them, and you look up at the man standing there, waiting for his turn, just as the timer dings and the room comes to life with a bustle. the person across from you only frowns, too timid to say anything in response before they're getting up and casting you a regretful glance. they're barely a foot away before the chair is taken, so aggressively that it scrapes against the floor and shakes the table.

you can't believe what you're seeing. you can't believe bakugou is sitting across from you, right now, ruining everything.

"what—are you doing?" you hiss, though your feelings — with a mind of their own — flutter like butterflies in your stomach at the sight of him.

the scowl he gives you is ugly, as always, but his face is smoother than you remember it being today; freshly shaven, maybe. the cologne he's wearing is strong, woodsy, potent enough that it dizzies you from across the table, that you can only imagine how sweet it smells soaking into the soft skin of his neck. even the shirt he's wearing, you notice, is a button down that you've never seen him in.

"the hell do you mean?" he growls, face pinched as he leans closer, so that his voice doesn't carry as it usually does. "'s'it look like i'm doin'? saving you from some sorry dumbass."

"bakugou," you grit, though the room quiets as everyone takes their seats again, and you have to swallow back your annoyance so you don't draw anymore attention to yourself.

you're not dumb enough to think he'd get away without some people fighting for his attention, too, the same way they did to mina, and — as irritated as you are, suddenly, at his appearance — you're not exactly keen on sharing him, either.

"they were very nice, thank you very much,"

"psh," he rolls his eyes, a muscle in his jaw jumping. "couldn't even look me in the eyes to tell me to fuck off—"

"maybe because they were worried you would blast them through the window—"

"and i would have—"

"oh!" you clench your hands into fists and squeeze your eyes shut, trying to will your anger back down. losing your cool isn't a good look, especially in a room of people that are trying to get to know you. "are you serious right now? why are you here?"

"you really wanna spend our five minutes doin' this?"

and there's something about the way he says it — our five minutes — that has your stomach turning in that horrible way it always does, whenever you bite into the softer parts of him. the look on his face is pensive, nervous if you thought that he was capable of being nervous. his shirt, his shaven cheeks, his alluring cologne; he's here, right now, on a date with you. pushed his way into it, even.

you straighten in your seat and sit back, dropping your eyes to the table, ashamed at the fire you've just thrown at him. "can you at least tell me why you're here in the first place?"

bakugou is silent for long enough that you can't stand not to take him in, how appealing he is to look at, how your heart sings when he looks back. one shake of his head has him sighing and then he's leaning back, too, staring only at the strawberries.

"this is her birthday thing, ain't it?"

"yeah," you murmur in agreement quietly, fiddling with your own fingers in your lap as your nerves harden into bitter disappointment. he's here for the same reasons you are, you tell yourself: for your friend, only.

distantly, you try to remind yourself that this nothing out of the ordinary. that you shouldn't be thinking of him this way, getting so hung-up on someone that's never expressed an interest in you to begin with. there have been a few late night conversations in the stairwell, that ran longer than they should have, that revealed more than they should have — but it doesn't make him yours. not in the way you want it to.

in an attempt to swallow down your own sourness, you reach for a strawberry, picking through them until you find the fattest one, and then bite it to the stem. a little stream of juice sprays out, dripping down over your bottom lip as you scramble for your napkin. you lick after it before patting at your face, spreading the sugar, the sweetness.

bakugou leans across the table so suddenly that you startle, mouth twisted like he's struggling to say what he's about to say. "alright, look—"

the timer rings, horribly, but his ruby stare never dims, never leaves yours and yours never leaves his, either, as if you're both suddenly trapped in a weird limbo of in-between; in-between the quiet moments, in-between the loudest ones, in-between everyone else, together.

and then mina notices.

"oh my god, blasty, you came!" she shouts, springing up from her seat to wave at you both from across the room. her earrings jingle loudly, bracelet beads knocking together as she leans too far to the left, champagne-drunk already. it snaps the moment between you and him, worry filling the gaps as you think about how you're going to get her out of here, once the night is over.

bakugou sinks a little further into his chair, as if it will hide him, before grumbling to himself. cheeks reddening, you realize; strawberry-kissed. he heaves a heavy sigh before digging his fingers into his eyes, deep enough that an ache develops in your own, and he opens his mouth to speak again when someone else approaches the table.

"okay, time to switcheroo!" he sings, grinning too cheerily at you, enough to make you laugh at his enthusiasm.

it darkens bakugou, considerably; "piss off," is all he says, scooting his chair further into the table as if to claim it. he barely gets another word out before the man is starting to protest, and the look he gives him then is awfully viscious: nostrils flared, looking up from beneath his long lashes and furrowed brow, as if this stranger had pissed in your champagne. "i said, fuck off, before i howitzer you through the—"

"okay!" you interrupt, reaching across the table with both hands to close one of bakugou's. his fingers are curled dangerously, and you swear you can see little sizzles of steam slipping between your linked fingers. "let's just—do an extra skip this time, okay? how about you just gives us this one, and you go to the next table?"

the man frowns — which is a bit flattering — but ultimately takes the lifeline you offer, trailing away without another word down to the next table. you can feel the couple on the other side watching you and bakugou now, a little open-mouthed, and your heart quickens at the worry that they're noticing him, that your new five minutes are going to be wasted, too.

—but his hand hasn't moved from yours and his eyes have returned, full to the brim with some emotion you can't read. if you had to guess, you'd say regret, maybe, but you aren't sure how to take that, and so you don't.

you should let him go, literally and figuratively, but the solidity of your logic is no match for the soft beat of butterfly wings in your gut.

"what are you doing?" you ask him again, softly, surely, because you want to hear the answer whatever it is. he either needs to deny you, here and now so you can move on — or he needs to acknowledge the confliction on his face, the soft intertwine of his fingers into yours.

bakugou looks at you now the way he does in the stairwell, the way he does when the sun is painting you warm, too. "i told you," he murmurs, "savin' you from some dumbass."

"but why do you even care?"

another heavy sigh falls from him and you can feel your glass-fragile heart breaking when his hand slips from yours, a little roughly. it surprises you when he grabs the champagne bottle from the center of the table and pours himself a small glass, downing it in one, bitter go before filling up your flute, too.

liquid confidence, maybe; his cheeks darken, noticeably, before he's running a rough hand over his face, still struggling to wash out the words.

"why the hell do you think?" he finally says, though his harsh question lacks the abrasive tone his voice usually has; instead it's gentler, more sincere, bakugou — katsuki — in his rawest form. "why d'you think i do—any of this shit?" one hand waves around to gesture to the span of the dining room, but you know he means more than that, much more. "you think i spend that much time after work just 'cause i have time to waste? jesus."

"i don't know," you say, earning a flat look. "why do you?"

"why do you?"

you take the glass from the center of the table and peer down into it, how it bubbles. maybe you're playing dumb and maybe that's what's really bothering him, but — someone like bakugou deals in absolutes, and you need him to do it now.

the struggle is clear, though, across his face, thickening how he swallows and turning down his lips that much more. you feel a bit bad in the silence, when the timer rings and the muscle in his cheek jumps again.

before anyone can even approach the table, he simply sticks his hand out, and the man beside you was definitely watching on, because he doesn't spare you a glance before going around.

and maybe, you think, decidedly, that's enough.

"because i don't want to go home yet," you tell him honestly, trying to ignore the blood rushing in your ears with his mouth twists and he starts to squirm at your truth. "because i'd rather spend the night with you in a stairwell, than anywhere else."

there's a ludicrous amount of tension that leaves his shoulders then, so much that you didn't notice it until it was gone, and he slumps back into his chair with pink ears, now. the sight makes you smile, widely, as if the sight is a confirmation.

maybe for him, it is.

"yeah, well," he grumbles, eyes dropping to the strawberries before darting away, as if he'd thought of something he shouldn't have. "that's what 'm sayin', too."

"no, you're not!" you laugh, nose crinkling when he side-eyes you with a frown. "you're not hardly saying anything!"

"i'm here, ain't i?" he argues, huffing like a bull. "makin' a damn idiot of myself just to stop you from—"

"—going home with some dumbass?"

"well, yeah!"

"so you want me to be going home with you, then?"

"yeah! no! i mean—" he scowls when you laugh again, lip pulling up over his teeth as if he means to bite into your softest parts, too. the thought is more thrilling that you're willing to admit — at least for now. "quit laughin'!"

but it's not just you; across the dining room, you realize mina's giggling, too, turned around in her seat, ignoring the chatty man that wouldn't shut up about his ex. when bakugou turns around to glare at her, she nearly tips out of her chair by throwing her head too far back, and when he moves to stand up like he needs to help her, all she does is wave at him to turn back around.

and he does, to you, cheeks flaring as he grabs the bottle of champagne again, pouring himself his own glass to glare into. he mutters out another quiet, "jesus" before slamming both his elbows on the table, rudely, and holding his glass up for — what you belatedly realize is — a cheers.

behind him, the afternoon sun has long since set, replaced now by nightfall and stars that shine through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows — but he glows regardless, and the look he gives you is just as warm.

#IT'S DONE I'M FREEEEEEE #literally i wrote both of these TODAY my brain is WORN OUT #somebody never let me wait this long again LMAOOOO #sorry that these are both dog water !!! :) i have no one to blame but myself !!!! :)#but it's DONE WEEEEEEE #WAAAAHH nikuniku gave me the idea of speed dating with bakugou 😭 where he just — absolutely refuses to play LOL #cuuuteeee #will edit in the morning brain sleepy.....#✿ willow writes #✿ one shot: bakugou

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z0mbiefrank · 1 year

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MCR5 Theory: Secretary Gerard is a character called The Widow

I'm unsure if everyone is thinking along the same lines, but I have yet to see anyone talk about it, so I've put together this post with evidence and links. (this will expand on the 9/11 theory. also special shout out to @autistme who made a spreadsheet with all the aus eagles lyrics) MCR performed Eagles at all six Australia shows this tour. At five of them, Gerard was dressed in a grey suit and skirt, commonly referred to as the secretary or office lady by fans.

(📷 Dough Peters) Here's a quick reference table for the things I will be talking about here. (Not necessary to read, I will explain it all)

At Brisbane, the drumheads read "everything under control" followed by "here comes the airplane". The planes have yet to hit the towers, but disaster is imminent. Eagles has evolved a lot over the tour but the Aus dates heard a new consistent change in the first verse.

All along the river bends All along with all my friends Yes, all around the river bends All together with my friends

There is minimal change for Brisbane 2. Notice how gerard is dressed as the secretary and says "my friends".

Next comes Melbourne 1. The drumhead reads "TErrOR". The plane has hit and there is a dramatic change to the first verse.

All night long the widow sends Valentines to bitter friends Yes, all night long the widow sends Valentines to all my friends

This character with friends now has a title, and it is The Widow. She has lost her husband in the attack. Her friends survived and she is sending them letters of love during this terrible time.

Melbourne 2, Gerard breaks the outfit chain. He is wearing jeans and a t-shirt, there is no hint of office wear, he is no longer playing the widow, he is playing himself. The drumhead also seems unrelated to 9/11 "BARK BARK BARK". They sing the same first verse as the previous night with minimal change, except for the last line

Valentines to all her friends

This is the only instance where Gerard does not refer to the friends as "my friends" at all during aus eagles, and it is because they weren't in the skirt suit that night, they were not the widow.

Next comes Sydney. The Widow is back and she's covered in blood! Something awful has happened to her, she's dying. But the drumhead reads "UNKILLAbLe". (This was written by Frank, an extremely powerful thing for him to do considering his accident in Sydney and PTSD. MCR has always used concept albums as a vessel to speak of things the band has been through.) The widow continues to write her letters during eagles despite the blood on her face.

(📷 Jess Gleeson) Sydney 2. The Widow again. She is in the exact same outfit, down to her boots (sports mode), but this time she is not only covered in blood but her eyes are WHITE. She is dead! The drumhead now reads "Unkillables", this is no longer specifically just one, but multiple people. It could be mcr as a band, mcr as individuals, or mcr fans themselves. In the context of a concept album, unkillables can take on a whole new meaning. It brings to mind the supernatural, ghouls, vampires, werewolves. How is it that the widow is dead, yet she is walking on stage right in front of us? Staring at us with blank eyes on the big screen? Is she a ghost, a zombie? I'm not sure. But she is still the widow. Even in death, she is searching for her husband.

(📷 ashymcr , expiiredglitter)

Which leads me to Summertime. The piece of evidence that drove me to write this long-ass post. As we know, it is a love song about Gerard's marital partner. Before they played, Gerard spoke in a breathy and musically haunting voice "I'll find you. I'll find you. come find me." Definitely something a lost and ghostly widow would say. They also bring out a white handkerchief, they do not have it in any other songs. Throughout the performance, Gerard clutched it to their chest repeatedly and held it lovingly in both hands.

In the third picture, he is looking down sadly at the handkerchief singing the line "If you stay, I would even wait all night." (video)

This is very clearly The Widow. She is mourning her husband, she is dead, lost and searching for him. Perhaps the handkerchief is all she has left of him, or it is simply to dry her tears, but she is clearly in mourning for her marital partner.

And finally, Eagles at Sydney 2. The first verse stays the same except for the third line. "Yes, all night long the widow sends" becomes

Yes, all day long the widow sends

She is writing night and day. She does not rest. Her outfits in Sydney are exactly the same. Every single other secretary's outfit is subtlely different, but now she is dead, she is stuck in the same clothing like a ghost. The Widow also makes an appearance later in the song.

We found the widow And hit her with a baseball bat

I have less ideas of what this could be about, but I think if some dead lady was walking about being unkillable, people would get freaked and attack her with a baseball bat. The concept of "unkillables" is something I could write a whole other post about but I'll spare you for now.

To conclude, I think The Widow as a concept album character would fit right in with MCR. They are no strangers to lovers separated by death. Others on here have spoken on how the feminine outfits Gerard has chosen this tour have often been of women scorned or living in the shadows of powerful men. I believe The Widow would fit right in. Even after her husband has died, she is only talked about in reference to him. She is The Widow, something that tells us more about her husband than herself.

#believe it or not i could have written more but this got SO long dear god #anyways here you go pls be nice i get nervous sharing theories bc what if im WRONG!! but this was so fun to make :))#mcr #mcr5 #gerard way #op #mcrsydney #mcrmelbourne #mcrbrisbane #mcr 5 theory #marina toybina

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thornsnvultures · 7 months

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anywhere || eddie munson x plus size!reader

cw: angst, talking about drug usage, eddie's in the hospital post-vecna, your mom kinda fuckin sucks, best friend!eddie who likes you more than you realize

a/n: that one line in the muppet babies theme song fucks me up every time. literally every time I hear it I tear up. so thanks for that jim henson.

-----

"When your world looks kinda weird and you wish you weren't there," Eddie's terrible Kermit impression makes you laugh so hard you almost spill the bowl of cereal you're pouring. You hit him back with your equally terrible baby Miss Piggy voice.

"Just close your eyes and make believe that you could be anywhere!"

Eddie snorts at the way your voice cracks trying to hit notes your voice was not made to hit.

"Shut up, that was flawless and you know it," you hand Eddie his bowl with a grin and plop down on the couch next to him. Were you watching cartoons made for children? Yes, but who didn't love Kermit the Frog and his adorable little muppet friends?

You missed this, being here with Eddie. A lot had changed since you started going to college last year while Eddie stayed behind to be a senior for a third time, but not this. Your friendship never changed. It was something you treasured coming home to, when you could. School was starting to pile up and these visits were becoming few and far between, but Eddie would always be your Eddie. You were sure of it.

"So you're leading up Hellfire now, huh?," you asked Eddie as you finished your cereal. He took your bowl and put it on the coffee table with his, not meeting your eyes. Maybe you shouldn't have brought it up. The two of you didn't talk about it much, him still being in school. Like you didn't want to break the spell that everything was normal. The two of you hanging out like normal, like you did since you were kids. It was comfortable, you didn't want to ruin that.

"Yeah the, uh...yeah. It's up to me now I guess. The guys know they can't compete with my campaigns."

He's smiling, all cocky because it's true, they're always amazing. But his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes.

Weren't your just saying nothing had changed? Maybe you a lot had changed and you just weren't paying attention.

"I miss adventuring with you," you sigh, snuggling into Eddie's side until he puts his arm over your shoulder. "And the guys."

"Yeah, they miss you too," Eddie's voice sounds strained. You try to move thinking you're laying on him in a weird way, but he just pulls you closer, tighter.

You spend the rest of the morning watching cartoons. Eventually you forget the weird tension, putting it aside to enjoy your day with your best friend before you have to leave again.

-----

It's a year before you see Eddie again.

School was tough, taking up so much of your free time you barely saw anyone besides the librarian and the two people you shared a dorm room with. You had tried to join a DnD club at school but your schedule didn't line up well with the rest of the group. And it wasn't the same. You missed Eddie's energy, his frantic dramatics. The guys were cool but sticklers for rules and, to put it nicely, boring.

You couldn't take being away from home any longer, you missed your friend.

So when your mom called one Friday afternoon and told you, in her own bizarre and nonchalant way, that Eddie had been in some trouble recently and, "I'm sure you saw the news about the earthquakes," you came straight home.

"You know, I always thought he was a nice boy. Did you know he was selling... grass," your mom whispered the last word like police officers would be knocking down her door if she spoke too loud.

"I didn't." You did. You also partook, but your mother didn't need to know that.

"Anyway, everyone got all upset when that little cheerleader died, but when they found him, like that, I guess they thought he was a victim too. Can't maul yourself like that, that's for sure."

"Oh my god, mom," you stand up, your chair harshly scraping against the linoleum. You can't sit here and listen to this any more.

"Where are you going? I have a pie in the oven."

Your mom follows you to the door, huffing like you're the one being ridiculous. She never liked Eddie much but the ease with which she talks about your childhood best friend being... mauled...

"I'll be back later."

You don't wait for her to respond, slamming the door as you go. You hop in the hand-me-down car your dad gave you before you left for school, peeling down the drive and heading straight for the hospital like you should've done when you got back. Tears cloud the edges of your vision until they spill over, you don't bother wiping them away.

-----

"Hey, you're Eddie's girl."

"Excuse me?"

A short, curly haired boy in a baseball cap appears next to you when you ask the receptionist where Eddie's room is located.

"It's okay, Brenda. She's with me." You snort out a laugh when the boy tips his hat to the woman behind the desk. Her smile and the wave of her hand tells you she is in fact used to this.

"I'm Dustin," the kid explains as you follow him through the maze of hallways and elevators. "Eddie's told me a lot about you. Recognized you from the picture he thinks I don't know about in his glove box. Not my fault he just shoves stuff in there. If he didn't want everything to spill out he should organize. Not that I'm great at organizing either-"

"I'm sorry," you stop Dustin's rambling, your head spinning from all that information, narrowing in on the one that stuck. "He keeps my picture in his van?"

"Yeah a few in his room too. He's just down here. You just missed the guys, Jeff had to go to work and he was their ride so they left. Wayne will be in later. He usually stops by after work."

Dustin kept talking and you tried to keep up but the closer you got to Eddie's room the more your ears rang and your chest felt tight. You knew it was bad, he'd been in for a few days and was still heavily sedated after a number of surgeries. Wayne told you the day before you came back on the phone that he might not be awake when you got here. The old man might've been trying to spare you the trip, but you were coming to see him no matter what. You should've come back a long time ago.

Standing outside his room now, the year you were away felt like an eternity now. How had your Eddie changed? Was he your Eddie anymore? Was he ever yours?

"Hey, you comin' in? He's still sleeping."

Steeling yourself with one deep breath, you enter Eddie's room. With one look at Eddie and you're asking Dustin for a minute alone, pulling up a chair by his side.

"Sorry I'm late, Eddie. Traffic coming out of the city is crazy." You laugh at your stupid joke because you'll cry if you do anything else. You don't think about the air tube in his nose or the beeping heart monitor, the bandages on his arms or how hollow, how fragile he looks.

"My mom said you've been selling 'grass'," you chuckle as you twist one of his curls around your finger. "Should I tell her how many times I snuck out to smoke with you? She's already mad at me for taking time off from school to be here."

Eddie lays there as you talk, sleeping softly as you compliment the cards and flowers on the window sill. You tell him how the past two semesters of school have been, how miserable you've been without him, how guilty you've felt for "missing" his calls, not reading his letters because you've been too exhausted to do anything that wasn't surviving and work.

You're holding his weirdly ring-less fingers, contemplating leaving instead of holding out hope that he'll wake up while you're here, when you hear a familiar theme song on the television.

"When your world looks kind of weird,"

Your gaze falls from the TV to your friend in his hospital bed.

"And you wish you weren't there,"

Your eyes close wishing you were back in Eddie's house, stoned out of your mind doing muppet impressions.

A tear falls down your cheek as you close your eyes and sing along with Miss Piggy, not caring how ridiculous you sound.

"Just close your eyes and make believe and you can be anywhere."

You choke on a sob, suddenly angry at this stupid kids show for making you lose it when you were holding yourself together so well.

"Still sounds awful."

You open your eyes, wiping your tears away with your hand not in Eddie's at the groggy sound of his voice. He's holding the other one tight, almost too tight, like you'll run if he lets go.

"That was a perfect impression," the words stutter on a heaving breath but you're smiling through it.

"I'm on so many drugs."

"I'll go get the nurse," you laugh, trying to pull yourself together.

"No," Eddie just barely tugs on your hand, not yet strong enough to pull you close. "Don't leave."

"I'm not, I won't. I'm here, Eddie. I'm sorry."

Eddie's eyes flutter shut, too tired yet for a full conversation, but he won't let your hand go. You find the call button next to the bed to call the nurse and wait.

"I'm not going anywhere."

---

🖤

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x plus size!reader #eddie munson angst #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson drabble #eddie munson one shot #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson fan fiction #my fics

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starsandhughes · 6 months

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Penalty Box Series— Trevor Zegras Edition (Three)

23-24 Season Masterlist

previous: two

next: four

a/n yes that's the stars new locker room and yes that does mean they're better than everyone else because LOOK AT IT

OCTOBER 19, 2023

yourusername

liked by trevorzegras, _wyattjohnston, and 15,423 others

yourusername welcome back to my penalty box update show: I MET THE DALLAS STARS EDITION!

dad (troy) scored the first goal of the game less than five minutes into the first, and my z-baby got an assist, giving him his first point of the season! it's about damn time, my love!

not only did he get his first point, he also got his second (and technically third but... that was for too many men) penalty. if you'll notice, i did not use an exclamation point, and that is because he hooked hakanpää and had an... extra reaction to it... (i love you, babe, but please... you do not want to hear what razor and bogo had to say...) (i love you) (but oh my god) (it was hot tho) (just next time don't do it against a star)

my quackies worked really hard tonight, they just didn't get the dub in the end :( but mine and trevor's son, leo (@/leocarlssoon) SCORED HIS FIRST NHL GOAL TONIGHT! IN HIS DEBUT! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU, CURRENT FAVORITE CHILD! I LOVE YOU SM! MWAH!

p.s. @_wyattjohnston sorry my boyfriend was a pest! he's still being trained <3 it's all business! i promise, he's a sweetheart! thank you for the locker room tour and for introducing me to some of the other guys! i loved it and i’m utterly obsessed with you!

p.s.s. @/masconmctavish23 DO NOT TRIP HARLS AGAIN! I WILL FIGHT YOU!

p.s.s.s. i love you, always, my sweet boy🧡 (despite your faults)

tagged trevorzegras

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trevorzegras i'm your fiancé?

yourusername you've been downgraded since you caused jamie benn to intervene on your nonsense

trevorzegras YOU'RE PRO NONSENSE

yourusername NOT AGAINST THE STARS!

_wyattjohnston @/trevorzegras is she serious?

trevorzegras @_wyattjohnston probably not

jamie.drysdale @_wyattjohnston she's just quirky

yourusername @/jamie.drysdale WHY DOES EVERYONE USE QUIRKY TO DESCRIBE ME?!

jamie.drysdale @/yourusername it's the nicest word available

trevorzegras @/yourusername you're also my precious weirdo! i love you, forever!

yourusername @/trevorzegras @.jamie.drysdale i can't tell if i’m being attacked or not

trevorzegras @/yourusername probably not

user61 AHHH SISSY LIVED HER DREAM!!!!

user9 oop- hope that wasn't awkward with trevor and wyatt's sass off😭

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras you're doing amazing, sweatie!

trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale this is why we aren't living together this year

yourusername @/jamie.drysdale stop lying to the people! he lives 2 minutes away and moved out because we're having a baby!

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras and we've already had sleepovers!

trevorzegras @/yourusername @.jamie.drysdale could you two just let me be dramatic?

yourusername @/trevorzegras i think that might kill me

jackhughes @/trevorzegras sissy is dramatic enough for all of us. so no.

yourusername @/jackhughes will you ever not butt in on a conversation between me and z?

jackhughes @/yourusername i think that might kill me

leocarlssoon love you, too, mom! thanks for the mini trophy! and the post game goodie bag!

yourusername you're ever so welcome, my son! (you'll get a trophy every year for your first goal) (and a goodie bag after every game!!!)

trevorzegras @/leocarlssoon I'M SO STOKED FOR YOU, SON!

leocarlssoon @/trevorzegras thanks, dad! does she really give everyone a post game goodie bag?

trevorzegras @/leocarlssoon she does! she sends me with them on roadies she can't go to

yourusername @/leocarlsson i also give them to former teammates because i still loves them

trevorzegras @/yourusername love*

yourusername @/trevorzegras i said what i said! i love them a lot! plural love!

user72 z really went from precious baby child in the box for no reason to hot angry man sitting for his sins

_wyattjohnston it was great meeting you! let's hang out a little longer when the ducks come to dallas

yourusername and if i told you i go to ever dallas game against one of my friends/brothers as humanly possible?

_wyattjohnston i'll see you november 4th then😂

t.harley48 @/yourusername i also enjoyed meeting you and will see you on the 4th! and you really don't need to fight mctavish for me!

yourusername @/t.harley48 it's a little too late for that

jamie.drysdale @/t.harley48 he's fine, he just got wacked outside the head

masonmctavish23 @/jamie.drysdale speak for yourself

t.harley48 @/jamie.drysdale is this normal?

jamie.drysdale @/t.harley48 only for tripping, slashing, boarding, elbowing, head contact, and fighting penalties against you guys

_wyattjohnston @/yourusername you're too kind

yourusername @_wyattjohnston thanks, it's kinda my thing

tydellandrea53 @/yourusername i wanna meet you! you seem fun!

jamie.drysdale @/tydellandrea53 she wacked mac-t for tripping thomas

tydellandrea53 @/jamie.drysdale sounds fun to me

yourusername @/tydellandrea53 you get me

_quinnhughes @/trevorzegras @.jamie.drysdale how much did she cry?

trevorzegras @_quinnhughes she was surprisingly fine... it was scary

jamie.drysdale @_quinnhughes she saved the freak out for when she got home

_quinnhughes there's my girl

user37 i need to know if sissy gets disappointed when the stars lose against one of her boys

_quinnhughes she says no, but we can all tell she is

jackhughes she's a traitor

_wyattjohnston @/jackhughes @_quinnhughes our bad

lhughes_06 @/trevorzegras you're making it really hard to want to bet on you for canucks v ducks games

trevorzegras @/lhughes_06 i swear i’m trying to

yourusername @/trevorzegras istg if you make me owe jack a lot of money again we're getting a divorce

trevorzegras @/yourusername we aren't married yet!

yourusername @/trevorzegras i’ll wait.

jackhughes @/trevorzegras good luck!

_alexturcotte @/yourusername most of the time when a marriage is destroyed by gambling addictions, the other person files for divorce

yourusername @_alexturcotte sucks for them but i'm different

leocarlssoon @/yourusername what are you betting on?

trevorzegras @/leocarlssoon please don't get in on this

_quinnhughes @/leocarlssoon it's the high limit lounge in vegas on ducks v canucks games. stay away.

edwards.73 @/leocarlssoon it's hell week in one night three times a year

jackhughes @/leocarlssoon there's lots of screaming and fighting and crying

colecaufield @/leocarlssoon and it's not just jack and y/n this time

slknight35 @/yourusername i’m in

yourusername @/slknight35 buckle up buttercup! you're in for a wild ride in the gc

matthew_tkachuk @/yourusername i’m intrigued

yourusername @/matthew_tkachuk welcome to the shitshow, matty ratty😈

_quinnhughes @/yourusername stop turning everyone into gamblers

yourusername @_quinnhughes no <3

user45 BLUE SUIT! BLUE SUIT! BLUE SUIT!

colecaufield @/trevorzegras you embarrassed your girl

trevorzegras @/colecaufield wrong. i pissed off my girl.

yourusername @/trevorzegras that's not better

trevorzegras @/yourusername i’m just trying to be honest!

colecaufield @/yourusername we love an honest dad!

yourusername @/colecaufield i mean i guess

trevorzegras @/yourusername mwah!🧡

_quinnhughes @/trevorzegras sissy will never let this go

trevorzegras @_quinnhughes i fear this will be worse

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras she met some of the stars so maybe not?

yourusername @/trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale @_quinnhughes i haven't decided yet

trevorzegras well that's terrifying

yourusername @/trevorzegras mwah!🧡

#penalty box series #trevor zegras #trevor zegras x reader #trevor zegras x y/n #trevor zegras fanfic #trevor zegras imagine #trevor zegras x hughes reader #jamie drysdale #quinn hughes #luke hughes #jack hughes #cole caufield #wyatt johnston #hockey imagine #nhl imagine

216 notes · View notes

chaoticspeedrun · 1 year

Text

Donnie x Fem! Reader The little merturtle 1

Summary: Prince Donatello was the third of four brothers, the prince of an underwater yokai city, but he has always been searching for something else far more interesting than the mystic arts he is used to, he wants to know everything about the human world, their traditions, their creations... But when he finds himself entranced by a human princess it might just be the last push he needs to make his dream of exploring the land a reality.

AN; It's done! The first chapter of what I think will be four, an AU of Donnie as the little mermaid and reader as the princess of the land with my own twist to the story!

Also, I made the banner art just a couple minutes ago at work and I didn't think I was gonna color it so much.

Warnings: Angst with a happy ending, tooth-rotting fluff

MASTERLIST • NEXT

A trove and a ship

Dark grey rain clouds fill the sky, but from the spaces in between bright rays of sunlight beam down into the ocean, illuminating its surface and the dolphins jumping through its waves as well as a ship coursing through its surface.

“Isn’t this great?” You beamed from your place on the deck of the ship “the salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face” you sighed deeply “A perfect day to be at sea.”

“Oh, yes, delightful” Casey responded from behind you, her extremely serious expression stiff and her cheeks green, you were too entranced by the sea to notice.

“A fine strong wind and a following sea,” One of the sailors said while pulling on the rope from a mast, you rushed over to help him tie it “King Splinter must be in a friendly type mood.”

“King Splinter?” You asked curiously.

“Why, ruler of the merpeople, lass” another sailor responded “Thought every good sailor knew about him” the man teased.

“Merpeople” Casey grunted slowly walking down the stairs of the boat “ma’am, pay no attention to this nautical nonsense” she rolled her eyes but it just seemed to spur a new wave of nausea.

“But it ain’t nonsense, it’s the truth!” One of the sailors said pointing at Casey with a fish though she only glared “I’m tellin’ ya! Down in the depths of the ocean they live! Oh!” The fish slipped from the man’s hands and Casey slapped it away before it slapped her face with its tail, the fish soon falling back to sea.

Deep down under the sea lived an entire society of yokai, merpeople with the appearance of different creatures mixed in between, half fish and half of a different species ranging from animals to even slime all mixed in with an aquatic species and conforming a big society hidden from the world up top.

These yokai were all ruled by king Splinter, a half-rat merman who was said to have been a formidable human once a long time ago, though those are only rumors passed quietly between the merpeople working at the castle who avoided being heard by the king and princes at all costs for who knows what would happen to them if their ruler, who hated humans so, ever caught their words.

The fish who had been thrown out of the boat swam far away to the bottom of the sea where eventually it crossed paths with a school of merpeople who were making their way to the big bright castle that was home to their king, illuminated with the power of the yokai in it and painting a beautiful picture to the residents of the hidden city.

Through a fanfare from the seahorses a smaller one made its way to the front where the crowd had reunited looking out at a stage “His royal highness, king Splinter!”

The king had a dramatic entrance on a small personal carriage pulled by dolphins and holding his trident up high which illuminated as he descended through the applause of his subjects, lighting up the chandelier on the ceiling.

The little seahorse continued “And presenting the distinguished court composer, martial choreographer, and youngest princess, Carassius Auratus Piebald!”

The fanfare and applause were back as Piebald, the overgrown goldfish princess made her way on a smaller carriage to her father who turned to look at her once she neared “My daughter, I’m really looking forward to this performance, Piebald” he said making Piebald chuckle sheepishly.

“This will be our finest presentation dad, you don’t know how hard the guys and I have been practicing, especially Leo” She murmured something her father couldn’t hear about Donnie and how he hadn’t been ‘as present’ before smiling once more “They’ll be spectacular!”

Splinter hummed in agreement “And especially purple with his big entrance, I am glad he was finally convinced to debut, he’s never used his ninpo in front of the public.”

Piebald nodded “He does have a great flair for the dramatic,” she said grinning before making her way to the front of the stage, losing the smile and replacing it with a frown once her father couldn’t see her expression anymore “If only he’d show up for rehearsals once in a while” she muttered.

Reaching the pedestal she would be standing on and letting go of the dolphins pulling her carriage Piebald pulled out a sheet of music and pulled out her baton, tapping it a couple of times on the stand to prepare the band and there it was, after beginning the swift movement of it the merry sound of the various yokai playing on her direction resounded through the room, entrancing the people watching as a curtain of bubbles dissolved to show three big clams standing in the middle, one blue, one red and one orange.

The blue one up front opened to show the middle prince inside of it donning an impeccable outfit for the occasion and the smug grin he was known for, the blue scales of his long merman tail glistening in the light “Ah we are the sons of Splinter” he sang while the two other clams opened up to show his brothers, both in their respective colors and with equally wide grins, they both joined in “Great father who loves us and named us well.”

“Raphael,” The eldest said before pulling out his sai and swimming with his bright red tail up to a bunch of demonstration dummies, a construction of his fists in bigger glowing form demolishing them after just a moment, now only rubble on the water, the crowd applauded the show of strength.

“Michelangelo!” The youngest sang, his orange tail sparkling under the lights of the chandelier and the light of his nunchucks of which the chain was glowing orange and growing in size enveloping him in a show of artfulness that the public awed.

“Leonardo~!” The middle son claimed, pulling out the pair of katanas on the back of his shell as he swam up to appear right in front of the public in a beam of blue, showing with dexterity the carefully crafted dance of swords using his teleporting abilities, the crowd cheered.

“And then there is our brother in his mystical debut” the three of them presented together reuniting in the middle as a bigger clam in purple twirled and they swam around it “We are presenting our dear genius brother to you to make a martial arts demonstration choreographed by our sister, his constructs will leave you in awe!” The clam started opening as the brothers formed a line to present it “He’s our brother Dona—” The three of them gasped at the empty clam in front of them, Piebald placed her hands on her head in dismay, eyes wide in panic.

“DONATELLO!” The voice of Splinter echoed through the palace, his trident illuminating his show of anger only emphasized by the full name of his son.

The son in question, a purple-tailed turtle yokai, swam around a mast at the bottom of the sea happily, looking at everything that used to be part of a boat with excitement, the small smile on his face as he examined the masts dropped when he heard a familiar voice calling for him

“Donnie! Wait for me!” A small purple turtle called.

“Shelldon, hurry up!” Donnie said before pointing at the full abandoned ship a bit ways ahead of them “Isn’t it fantastic?” He asked admiring the ship while his little companion, the regular sea turtle rolled his eyes at him.

“Yeah sure, it’s great dude, now let’s go before someone catches us” Shelldon was turning around before his tail was taken in between Donnie’s fingers, the yokai turtle holding him in place as the little one tried to swim away.

“Oh, you’re not getting cold fins now, are you?” Donnie asked, glaring in his direction before pulling him along.

“No way, dude! But if your dad or brothers found out—”

“Which they won’t,” Donnie said confidently. Entering the ship from a hole at the bottom “We’ll just look around, pick up anything cool we found and bring it back, they won’t even notice I was gone.”

“Yeah, like they didn’t find out the last three rehearsals you missed” Shelldon mumbled, and Donnie glared before swimming deeper inside the boat.

“Oh those presentations are just to exhibit our mystical skills and for Leo to show off” Donnie made a stern face and deepened his voice in an imitation of his father “Purple! The people must know that they are well protected, it’s good for their morale, scoff!” Donnie finished going back to his normal voice before gasping “Shelldon, look!”

He swam quickly over to a piece of metal laying on the captain’s deck, similar to his father’s trident but a miniature in silver with four prongs instead of three “Have you ever seen anything so interesting in your entire life?” Donnie asked, turning it around in his hands.

“Wow, cool,” Shelldon said examining it “But, uh, what is it?”

“I don’t know, but April can tell us” Donnie grinned, taking the object into a pouch at his side.

Shelldon hummed for a moment before getting back to their past conversation “But what’s the problem with raising morale?” Donnie rolled his eyes again.

“Oh please! Nothing ever happens down here, the people are safe, what would they even need to worry about? Sharks?” he joked, suddenly there was a rumble near the windows of the boat and Donnie’s eyes widened while Shelldon looked scared “Well I don’t even need to turn around to realize the irony of my words” Despite this, Donnie turned to look at the windows of the boat, where he could see a great shark outside “Well, I’ve turned around and I see.”

Despite the monotone of his voice, the moment he said that he took hold of Shelldon and swam towards the entrance of the boat as fast as possible, though, he did take a little something else he found on a barrel on his way, he received a glare from Shelldon for that one.

There was a great crashing sound from behind them as the shark destroyed the windows they had seen it behind, It only served to make Donnie hurry more, the shark persecuted them through the boat, twisting and turning, breaking wood when needed to get to them making the purple merturtle swim the opposite way, at one point his pouch got trapped on a piece of wood and despite it being closer to the shark Donnie made his way towards it, refusing to leave his treasure behind and managing to trick the shark into slamming against the ceiling.

Donnie found a window and quickly pushed Shelldon through before following right behind him, the shark immediately broke through it, following them while Shelldon screamed, they swam as fast as they could out of its grasp, Donnie saw a big metal rod, big enough for his companion, not enough for the shark, he made its way towards it hoping he was right, and after he and Shelldon swam through it there was the sound of a slam and a creak behind them, they turned only to find the shark trapped in the rod as he’d hoped, finally, Donnie and his companion sighed in relief.

So much relief that Shelldon swam toward the shark “Haha! Take that dude!” Shelldon stuck his tongue out and the shark opened its mouth wide, closing it quickly in front of the little turtle who scrambled away with his friend towards the surface.

Eventually, they reached a rock on the surface, near the human village, where a dark-skinned girl was taking the sun, Donnie popped his head out of the water discretely, glancing around to make sure no one else was close, feeling safe, he called out in a low voice “April!”

The girl glanced at the water and smiled seeing her green-skinned friend “Donnie! How are you?”

Donnie didn’t answer, instead excitedly offering her his pouch “April, look what we found!” he said offering the bag.

She took it in her hands examining the contents with a chuckle at her friend’s enthusiasm, she wished she could bring him more things from the surface, but his father would surely notice if he kept making these trips so frequently.

“Yeah, we were in this sunken ship, we were even followed by a shark to get it!” Shelldon said waving his legs around.

“Hmm,” April examined the things “Oh look!” She said in recognition when pulling out what Donnie had compared with his father’s trident, his eyes widened in excitement.

“What is it? What’s its use? Do humans use magic with it? No, wait, humans don’t have magic” He muttered the last part.

“It’s a fork,” April stated matter-of-factly, receiving Donnie’s still inquisitive face as he repeated the word to himself “We use it to eat! You see, we prepare a meal and put it on a clean plate, then we use this to poke the food and bring it up to our mouths, it facilitates eating without getting messy” she nodded confidently at his explanation while Donnie took the fork back into his hands.

“Fascinating, so is it bad manners to use your hands while eating? It’s like a whole ritual just to do so” he said examining the fork under the sunlight.

“What about that one?” Shelldon asked pointing at the artifact taken last from the boat, April took the piece of wood in her hands before making a small noise of amusement.

“Oh, this is a pipe,” She said once again getting Donnie’s attention “You see, some people put some particular plants on this extreme of it and then light it up with fire, they inhale the smoke that comes from it with this little part over here, it’s very unhealthy and some people die because of it”

Donnie sputtered at this “Wha- why?! If it’s so damaging why would they still consume it? It doesn’t make sense” He said, thinking there HAD to be some reason at least, but April shrugged.

“Some people just don’t care a lot about their well-being, they think it’s cool, or use it because they are bored or some people say it relaxes them a little when they’re stressed, in my opinion, it’s not worth it AT ALL, but it’s also addictive, so you should never do it because you might never want to stop.” Her explanation left Donnie in a thoughtful mood, he supposed it was similar to how some turtles would eat jellyfish and then start acting weird or lazy.

“Hey, Don” April called curiously “Wasn’t your thing today? That demonstration thingy?”

“What? No, no, I told you last time that it was a week from then” He dismissed, twisting around the pipe.

April raised an eyebrow “Uh, it’s been a week since the last time we met Dee”

Her green friend blanched “Oh no” he pulled his hands up to his face planting them there and groaning in anger “No, no, no, no! I forgot! Oh, pops is gonna be pissed, I gotta go April! Thank you!” He yelled, scrambling to take his things back into the pouch and submerging himself again into the water.

“Anytime!” April waved the two turtles as they disappeared into the waters.

Donnie and Shelldon swam away, ignorant of the eyes that followed them, two eel-like gargoyles followed them both quietly and through their eyes, a pair of yokai watched with a mystic orb.

“Yes, hurry home turtley-boo, we wouldn’t want to miss old daddy’s celebration now, would we?” A feminine voice cooed fakely before huffing “Ha! A celebration indeed, when I was queen, we had fantastical feasts and now I’m stuck here with you Draxy” She looked at the yokai across from her who watched the prince, his warrior, one of his own creations swim away “Banished, and exiled and practically starving while Lou and his flimsy yokai celebrate”

“Well, I’ll give them something to celebrate soon enough” Draxum glared at the orb his voice hoarse from misuse “I don’t want to have to endure your presence any longer when I should be leading my warriors against humanity, if he hadn’t taken them and destroyed my lab all those years ago” Draxum grunted before calling out to the orb “Huginn, Muninn!”

The gargoyles were startled and Muninn hit his head with the rock he was under before the voice of his master continued “I want to keep an extra close watch on this one of my creations, he is smart but too curious and passionate for his own good, that may just be the key to Lou Jitsu’s undoing.”

---

“I just don’t know what we’re going to do with you, my son” Splinter spoke looking at Donnie from his seat at the throne, the set of four siblings floating beside him each with a different expression, Leo was pouting.

“Papa, I’m sorry, it just slipped my mind—”

“As a result of your careless behavior—”

“Careless and reckless behavior!” Raph interrupted looking at his brother sternly, already aware of what he must have been doing

“The entire celebration was uh—”

“It was ruined!” Piebald interrupted this time, looking very angry “Completely destroyed! It is one thing to miss rehearsals, but my compositions and effort were for naught because of this!”

“The four of us looked like laughing stocks in front of an empty clam” Leo groaned “You even got your own special appearance, and you didn’t even use it!”

“But it wasn’t his fault” Shelldon attempted to cover for Donnie “It’s just uh, we were followed by a shark! Right, and then—”

Splinter didn’t seem to be listening to the little turtle, believing his tale was just falsehood to help his son.

“—and then we were safe, so we went to this human who was all ‘This is this and that is that—'"

“Human?!” Splinter exclaimed and Donnie’s four siblings all looked worried for him suddenly, their anger at Donnie dissolving at what they knew their father’s reaction would be ‘ough boy…’ Leo murmured while Shelldon quickly covered his beak, realizing his mistake.

Shelldon hid behind Donnie who glared at him in exasperation as his father continued “You went up to the surface again didn’t you?” Splinter asked tiredly rubbing his head

Donnie gave him a sheepish grin “Nothing happened.”

Splinter sighed “Purple, how many times must we go through this? That human only knows about us because she made an oath, if she were to betray us, she’d die or she would already have done so, that is the only reason I am not popping a vessel right now, but some of those barbarians could have seen you!”

“They’re not barbarians! How could a barbaric species create such wonderful things?”

“They are dangerous! And they would never accept our kind, they destroy anything they don’t understand, everything that’s different from them!” Splinter yelled before softening for a moment “Do you think I want to see one of my sons snared by some fish eater’s hook?” Splinter asked swimming over to his son who looked down after catching the worry in his father’s eyes.

“I’m twenty years old, I’m not a child anymore, I can take care of myself!” Donnie claimed, recovering some of the fire from before.

“Don’t you speak to your father like that Donatello!” His father took on his stern glare once more “You may be an adult, but I am still your king, and the security of my kingdom, including yours is my responsibility, you WILL obey my rules.”

“But if you just listened—!”

“Not another word!” Splinter turned around, his arms raised above his head “And I am never, never to hear of you going to the surface again, even with that human! Is that clear?!”

Donatello bore holes into his father’s back, his lips wobbling slightly at the promise of being unable to ever see his friend again or understand the nuances of a world he found so intriguing, he craved to understand, to learn, his anger transformed into grief and without answering he swam away as quickly as possible, his siblings and Shelldon watched Donnie go with worry and after a glance at their father they followed behind, leaving the king to his devices.

Splinter sighed leaning against his throne “Perhaps I’ve been too hard on him” He wondered.

The three merturtles and goldfish followed their sibling to where they knew he would be hiding, a cave hidden deep into the reef where he would hide all his treasures from the human world, far from their father’s eyes; they pushed the rock hiding the entrance and all went in except for Piebald.

“You take care of Donnie, I’m going to try to talk to dad,” she said pointing back to the castle, Leo nodded before seeing her go and closing the entrance behind him.

Inside, the cave was brimming with the trove that their purple-coded brother had reunited for years, all organized in a way only Donnie who knew everything about it could understand.

They found their brother resting over a rock at the bottom and playing with the new treasure he’d acquired with Shelldon on his shoulder, Raph spoke “Donnie, are you okay?” he asked nearing him slowly.

Donnie didn’t answer for a moment, nor did he take his eyes away from the fork, his brothers had settled around him by the time he spoke “If only I could make him understand” he said softly “I just don’t see things the way he does, you guys have met April, does she seem anything like a barbarian to you?” Donnie asked looking up into the eyes of his oldest brother.

The three shook their heads in negative, Raph tried to reason something “April is a nice girl, but dad is only looking out for our safety, she’s an exception, not the rule”

Donnie sighed leaning back again “I just don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad!” He stated before lifting himself from the rock and showing Mikey the fork “Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?” He asked and Mikey took the fork in his hands looking at it curiously before poking Leo with it.

“Ouch!” His blue-coded brother glared, snatching the fork from the youngest’s hands.

“You’d think my collection’s complete, it’s so full, just look at this trove!” Donnie said taking back the fork and adding it to a candle holder which instead of candles held a whole set of table-ware, only complete now with the fork “And yet there’s more, so much more out there that I don’t understand, they don’t have magic and yet they’ve progressed so much, they have so many things we wouldn’t be able to make, construct, how do they do it?” Donnie asked no one in particular, just floating around the cave and his brothers followed, looking around at all the curious artifacts and gizmos their brother had reunited.

“So what? You just plan on collecting every single thing they’ve ever made?” Mikey asked curiously “You’ve already got a huge collection of these things!”

“Who cares? In comparison it’s no big deal, I want more” Donnie admitted, shoulders hunched “I—I wanna be where they are, I wanna see them using these artifacts, creating them, look at this” Donnie grabbed a figure of a man and a woman dancing and showed it to Leo who looked at it attentively “Don’t you wanna see how they dance? Without floating in the water, without a tail, with two feet! How do they even lift themselves, and walk on those— things? Why do they cover them up with—uh, what were they called?” Donnie turned to Shelldon questioningly who hummed.

“Boots?” The little turtle asked and Donnie nodded.

“Yes! Boots!” Donnie agreed setting down the figure while Leo mumbled to himself about the boots and the feet ‘don’t those hurt?’

“What’s so special about flipping your fins when they have so many transportation methods that are so much faster? I’ve heard of carriages, pulled by seahorses with four legs! And they go fast, maybe faster than their ships!” Donnie said, Mikey was getting excited and Leo smiled understandingly at his brother, however, Raph seemed more worried now than when he entered the cave.

“What is so bad about wishing to be part of their world?” Donnie asked, “What would I give if only to see that just for one day, I bet they’d understand up there, my curiosity, my need to learn, I have so many questions, so many April alone wouldn’t be able to answer, I just want to see it, to-to be part of that!” He lamented a little softer swimming back down to where his siblings had found him as they too descended slowly, the smiles on the faces of the younger ones fading slightly at Donnie’s disposition.

“Donnie…” Raph began speaking while rubbing his fingers nervously “I know what you’re sayin’, but pops knows many things we don’t know, it’s only much safer for us here” Mikey and Leo looked at each other hesitantly through the eldest’s words, Donnie only sighed and Raph smiled softly at him before guiding him outside “Come, you’ve had a long day, how about we go home and I get you something warm to drink?”

“Donnie had started following Raph reluctantly when the light pouring from the small hole on top of the cave was eclipsed by a shadow “What do you suppose that is?...” He asked softly before leaving Raph’s grasp and swimming out of the cave and towards the surface, Raph calling out to him worriedly.

Donnie’s head emerge from the water, and he was in awe as he saw beams of colorful lights dancing in the sky, coming one after the other and exploding into many little pieces, they were being thrown from a ship which was softly illuminated by them and the moon, Donnie could hear the sounds of people cheering and laughing from its deck.

“Wow” The sight was hypnotizing, he hadn’t seen anything so amazing before, the magic from down below couldn’t compare in his mind, his grin grew and soon two of his brothers were floating beside him, Leo looked amazed, and Mikey was laughing at the show of light.

“Guys? What are you—” Raph, who had just joined them gasped loudly “no way” he mumbled in amazement but right that moment Donnie decided he needed to see that from up close and started making his way fast toward the ship to Raph’s dismay “Donnie! Donnie, please! Come back!” He said making his way toward his brother.

The sound of his brother’s voice was less than background noise to Donnie who was completely entranced by wonder, wanting, no, needing to see the inside of the ship, the people inside, and whatever they were doing.

He found a ledge where he would be able to see through and jumped, holding himself up, tail swishing below him and his eyes were finally greeted by the lights above the ship while his ears were enveloped by the sound of laughter and music.

He was fascinated as he saw a pack of humans all enjoying themselves but what excited him the most was to see how they danced, moving fluidly and happily on their two feet to hold them up, some type of creature, yellow and blue with stripes of red was dancing around them in four feet, making a weird but happy noise, Donnie was excitedly watching this being when it suddenly stopped in its place, smelling something and slowly as it sniffed it made its way to Donnie, the merturtle quickly moved aside from the ledge, breathing fast at the fear of being seen.

After a moment of relaxing his nerves, Donnie turned back, thinking it was surely safe now, but the creature was right in front of him, looking curious, Donnie was shocked at how much it resembled some yokai, but he was derailed from his train of thought when he heard a voice call out his way.

“Mayhem!” You called from deeper in the deck “Here boy!”

The being, who Donnie now knew was called Mayhem, turned back to the deck and happily left the merturtle alone who curiously glanced inside once again, his eyes following the creature who was now running circles around you as you laughed freely, hands reaching out to the pet that jumped into them “Aw come on mutt, what were you doing, huh Mayhem?” You asked with a bright grin which made Donnie stop in his tracks when he saw it.

“Good boy, good boy,” you said looking down endearingly at Mayhem in your arms as it tried to lick your face making Donnie’s stomach twist, he suddenly felt short of breath.

“Quite a show, eh?” Leo asked him, suddenly right at his side, Donnie panicked and shushed his twin quickly.

“Nardo they’ll hear you!” he chided, and his brother chuckled hiding slightly better, Donnie kept looking in but his eyes were now set on you while you took up a flute –is what April told him that thing was— in your hands and started playing around with it.

Leo followed the gaze of his brother who had been oddly silent instead of gushing, once he found what he had been looking at Leo gasped, doing a double take from his brother to the human dancing on deck, it was like a lightbulb had suddenly appeared on top of his head and he bit his lip before speaking “Stunning, isn’t it?”

“She really is” Donnie mumbled before realizing his mistake, he turned quickly to his brother who now had a smug smirk on his face.

“I was talking about the lights,” Leo said with a chuckle, his face being pushed away by his flustered brother as he groaned at him.

It would only make sense, Leo thought sadly, for his unknown craving brother Donnie to want something so far away from his reach, he was just glad Raph hadn’t seen his reaction to the human, the eldest brother and youngest still below in the water.

“Silence, silence!” Casey’s firm no-nonsense voice called out loudly and the rest of the humans quieted down “It is now my honor and privilege to present our esteemed princess Y/N with a very special, very expensive, very large birthday present” Casey said pointing proudly at a giant package with a red bow that had been standing there on the deck for a bit.

Meanwhile, Donnie felt a fluttering feeling all around his chest after hearing your name being called out, it echoed inside his mind while he processed that you were also a princess, he thought, deep inside on the back of his mind, that someone as gorgeous as you couldn’t be anything less than a princess.

“Aw, Casey! You crafty girl, you shouldn’t have” You said patting the back of your right-hand woman in happiness while a smug smile appeared on her face.

“Nonsense! It is a most special thing to celebrate!” she said as one sailor reached out to remove the cloth and reveal the present “Happy birthday Y/N!” Casey exclaimed when a huge statue was revealed showing you holding a heroic pose, a sword right at your side, and one of your legs propped up knightly-like while you looked at the sky.

You winced slightly, it was too much, you couldn’t understand why Casey would have someone depict you in such a…particular pose, it was kind of embarrassing, but you grinned sheepishly at your friend while mayhem barked

“Gee, Casey, it’s…really something,” You said getting a closer look.

“Of course, it is, I understand how much you like it, I commissioned it myself,” Casey said nodding triumphantly “Of course, I had hoped it would be a wedding present” She suggested, her gaze looking away from you, you barked a laugh.

“Oh come on Casey don’t start” You laughed taking a telescope in your hands before making your way over to where the brothers had been hiding, they quickly scrambled out of sight once you reached the edge “Look, you’re not still sore because I didn’t fall for the prince of Glowerhaven, are you?” you asked, turning back with your ever-present grin towards your companion who sighed.

“Oh princess, it isn’t me alone, the entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled down with the right boy.”

“Or girl” you murmured inaudibly, shrugging before going up on the edge of the boat your feet propped up before you “Well he’s out there somewhere I just—”

Leo, from his side of the ledge, looked straight at Donnie, who didn’t look back at him, his eyes lost in space as he listened attentively to your words.

“I just haven’t found him yet” You offered, making a vague gesture with your hand on top of your knee.

“Perhaps you haven’t been looking hard enough” Casey suggested, crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow, you just chuckled once again, looking out into the sea.

“Oh believe me Casey, when I find him, I’ll know” You assured confidently “Without a doubt, it’ll just, bam! Hit me, like lightning.”

The moment you said that Donnie wondered if humans might actually have some control of the mystic arts because immediately thunder struck not far from you.

#rottmnt donatello x reader #rottmnt donnie x reader #rottmnt x reader #rise donnie x reader #donatello x reader #donnie x reader #The little mermaid AU #Donnie TLM AU #rottmnt fanfiction

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rrxnjun · 1 year

Text

when nobody's watching ;; hrj

pairing. huang renjun x fem! reader genre. high school au/university au, cheerleader! reader | coming of age, platonic, angst, fluff warnings. alcohol and weed mention, swearing wc. 11k (10.932) a/n. no plot, just identity crisis.

playlist. idontwannabeyouanymore - billie eilish ; patterns - sarah close ; lonely - the maine ; rare - waterparks ; always forever - cults ; snow globe - waterparks ; hope ur ok - olivia rodrigo

where renjun can't seem to figure out who he is when nobody's watching and where you carefully examine and amire each version of himself he creates along the way.

When you’re 14, you watch Mean Girls for the first time. In the dark of your bedroom, with your childhood best friend Jung Sungchan huddling all your blankets to his side, your laptop illuminates the midnight with the gorgeous face of Regina George as both of you awe and giggle at the silly script. When you’re 14, watching Mean Girls for the first time, you are very aware of the fact that after summer ends and you turn 15, you’re going to high school– and the image of having to live through the fate that met Cady, you shiver with horror. That night, you are determined to live through high school with a smile on your face. Too blinded by the dramatized image of the high school experience, you decide that you have to be one of the nice girls everyone likes, because if you’re not, you can’t imagine having to ruin someone’s life just for popularity. You don’t really strive for popularity, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that you’re simply too terrified of high school before it even starts.

When the time finally comes and you turn up to the building with a tall, lanky Sungchan by your side, you realize too soon that life is, sadly, not like Mean Girls, and while you’d love to wear pink on Wednesdays and walk around in designer clothing, your small high school in the tiny, microscopic town you’ve grown up in, is too old-fashioned to have their roles divided this way. Sure, the hierarchy is there, and the cafeteria sure does have assigned seats for all the different friend groups and extracurriculars, but it’s not as serious as the story you watched all those months ago with both terror and excitement, making you quickly realise that you don’t have to try hard to fit in with the populars, because it’s truly not that big of a deal.

And so, in the spirit of the new realization, you join the cheerleading squad. I know, it sounds ironic. All this fuss about the fact that Mean Girls wasn’t actually as realistic as you thought it was, all for you to end up with the popular girls anyway. In your defense, it wasn’t that serious. You weren’t even that good at cheer. Jung Sungchan just made you join so you could be at all his soccer matches so he could boast about his abilities the moment the match is over. Curse the boy and his athleticism.

Standing in the heat of the sun, droplets of sweat appearing on your forehead as you tug down on the short cheer skirt, you huff as the cheer captain– Ryujin, as you learned only a few minutes prior– walks around and yells at you with what you presume is supposed to be support and excitement.

“Y/N! Why are you just standing there?” she asks you, her voice genuinely concerned, but also laced with a bit of annoyance. This is the third time you’ve messed up on today’s practice, and while you don’t really mind that much, you think your teammates are close to breaking down.

“Uh…”

“You’re supposed to be all the way over here!” she reminds you, pointing to the spot next to her on the freshly mowed grass, making you smile at her with tight lips and jog over there, nodding. Of course you were supposed to be there. You knew that…

“What’s going on, Y/N? You did great yesterday,” she sighs, making you roll your eyes. Yes, you did well yesterday– that’s because the formation was still fresh in your brain and the choreography wasn’t as complex. Also, yesterday was much more casual, since it was the first practice of the year. It was spent getting to know each other and sharing snacks in the locker room. On top of that, it’s only been 24 hours and your brain adapts slowly. There’s no way you’d remember the formations you learnt yesterday, when the sun is glazing your high, slicked ponytail, making you think you’re going to overheat and fall to the ground any second.

“I just… kind of forgot the formation?” you smile innocently, making the older girl look at you with wide eyes and an ironic smile, the despair clearly written on her face.

“Don’t even try to tell me-”

“But I’ve got it now!” you say, showing her thumbs up, trying hard to calm the cheer captain down. You don’t really know what she’s like– from what you’ve seen, she’s nice, yet a little scary when she gets frustrated– but you can only imagine how she’s going to kick you out if you don’t manage to get your shit together and remember all the choreography you were taught yesterday. It’s just cheerleading, for god’s sake! You always liked gymnastics…

“Okay,” she huffs, shaking her head as she faces the front of the soccer field you’re currently training on, making you do the same as you notice the flood of your school’s soccer players get out of the gym, one of them being your dear friend Jung Sungchan, carrying the ball. “From the top! 5, 6, 7, 8!”

Your body moves almost on auto-pilot. Now, I’m saying almost– you don’t really remember the formation that well and you have to keep glancing to the girls around you to match their movements, but you seem to be in the right places at the right times, so Ryujin doesn’t really notice, which saves your ass, if you’re being totally honest. Curious of the sight in front of you, your eyes scan over the crowd of boys laughing to themselves as they kick the ball around, ready for their soccer practice.

You recognise some of the upperclassmen. Yuta is the team captain, and if your high school was like Mean Girls, he’d for sure be the Aaron Samuels of them all. He passes the ball almost gracefully to his best friend Mark Lee (you only know his name because one of the girls from the cheer is into him. He seems a little goofy, but you guess Jisu doesn’t really care), who passes it to another boy, whose name is either Jaemin or Jeno. You don’t really know which one is which, because they always go everywhere together, and when you asked Sungchan for their names the last time you saw them in the halls, he just told you it was ‘Jaemin and Jeno’, and so did everyone else you’ve ever inquired about the two. Nobody ever really specified which is which.

Making a swift turn with confidence– because this is the only part of the choreography that you actually remember– your eyes are met with Ryunjin that is now opposite of you, wearing a focused smile that only reaches her eyes when you look at her. You suppose it’s a form of encouragement, a silent praise that you didn’t fuck it up yet, and it makes you strangely comfortable. Turning back to the soccer players– because the formation requires so– your eyes continue to watch the small crowd on the other side of the field.

“Chenle, pass to me!” you hear someone yell out, making you giggle as the boy holds up a middle finger to his opponent that was trying to trick him with a childish stunt, passing to his teammate. Stepping from one foot to the other, continuing to half-focus on the task you’ve been doing, you watch the boy that’s now in charge of the ball, your eyes almost falling out of your sockets.

The boy now running around the field with the ball is fairly short compared to the rest of the team, his jet black hair flowing in the wind as he charges through the field. You don’t think you’ve ever seen him before, because you’re fairly certain you’d remember the perfect curve of his nose and the focused pout on his lips if the encounter between you two did happen, the white of his ankles captivating you in a manner you’ve never experienced in your all 15 years of life.

Yells and curses are thrown across the soccer field, the boy not really knowing what to do as he looks around in confusion. He looks like he’s just as good at the game as you would be… except with your eyes closed; so you don’t really know what he’s doing in the team. But hey, you can’t judge. Maybe he just really likes soccer and wants to learn. Everyone starts somewhere. Focused on the soccer practice, another sharp voice pierces through your ears– the owner of it being your cheer captain, Ryujin– making you halt in your movements and hide behind one of the girls in terror.

“Y/N I swear to fucking god if you mess up this formation one last time, I’m going to shave off your eyebrows in your sleep!”

There goes your daydreaming. Strange– you thought you had this part of the choreography down, you were 100% certain you were doing the right steps and that the timing was sharply correct. You must have been distracted…

“I’m sorry-”

“The practice is over for today, I genuinely don’t have the energy to deal with this anymore,” Ryujin huffs out, making the rest of the cheerleading squad take their duffel bags off the grass, scattering back inside of the school building.

“I promise to get it down before the match, Ryunjin,” you peep as you catch up to her, trying hard to regain your position as a reliable cheerleader. You were told your smile was quite captivating, something a good cheerleader should never lack, so you suppose you can’t really let that quality go to waste so soon.

“You better, or else I’m kicking you out,” she glares at you, and you can’t really tell if she’s joking or not.

Squinting at the sophomore, you hum. “Are you serious?”

“100%.”

Nodding, you clear your throat. Taking a glimpse behind your shoulder, looking at the boy that made you so distracted in your routine, you take notice of his lost expression and the aimless posture of his hands by his side. He’s almost a little too far behind the whole team, and while you don’t really know how soccer works, you really think he’s not playing the game right, but you don’t pay more attention to it as you look back at your captain with a warm smile.

“I’ll do better.”

This is your first encounter with the boy named Huang Renjun. You learn his name through your best friend Sungchan, and while you were teased for hours about the intentions of knowing it– because Sungchan is one gossiping fellow who lives for drama– you don’t back down and fulfill your plan of learning something about the boy. After stalking the soccer player on instagram for a bit, you learn that he doesn’t quite live on social media (and good for him, honestly), making you curse as the only pictures of him you find on your feed are the ones his mum posted on his birthday. He’s a baby on those and he didn’t even like the post, not paying attention to it from what you presume was pure embarrassment.

The soccer match is in two weeks, and while you’re not exactly living the plot of Mean Girls, you sit at the cheerleader table for the time being. You suppose getting closer to the rest of the girls can only serve you– you’re a 15 year old with a dream of having the wildest high school years, after all– and it’s also good to hear all the gossip about the soccer team. You finally learn which one is Jeno and which one is Jaemin, and you also learn that Huang Renjun is a freshmen like you–, and while you learn that everyone thinks that he’s insanely pretty (which makes you frown, because you selfishly wanted to be the only one), he’s also insanely quiet.

You tried to bug Sungchan into befriending him. It didn’t work– he already befriended the talkative Zhong Chenle, telling you that Renjun is too quiet to strike up a conversation. You just think he chose Chenle for his big house and the fact that he has his own basketball court he gets invited to four days a week, but you won’t say that aloud for the fear of sounding jealous of the fact that you can never tag along.

The weeks before the match finally pass and you’re at your first high school soccer game. Dressed in a skirt that just barely covers your asscheeks (you complained to Ryujin about it. She told you to deal with it– you’re exceptionally tall for your age), you twirl around with pompoms in your hands, cheering for the team you know by their names now. You quite like the feeling of having the whole school looking at you when you perform your routine in the half-time break, the formation now permanently glued inside of your brain, muscle memory trained hard now as you were watched by the stern eyes of your cheer captain the remaining cheer practices. Squealing and cheering for the team, you get so into the whole process that you feel like the main character of a movie (so glad it’s not Mean Girls), ready to watch the game when the routine is done and you can take a break on one of the bleachers.

Your eyes involuntarily follow Huang Renjun across the field. He does look a little out of place, you must admit. You wouldn’t really call him the sporty type either– his body not as chiseled and firm as his teammates, although you’d say that’s partly because he’s still growing and in puberty– but there’s something about him that makes you magnetically pulled to his presence, not being able to take your eyes off him.

So when the ball is finally in his charge and he runs around with it, looking like a lost puppy when you play fetch with it on its afternoon walk, your eyes light up, you almost even let out a happy squeal when he charges forward, the last few seconds of the match passing by as the crowd yells out a countdown. The whole thing is so intense you think you could pee yourself, if you’re being honest, and as you stand up to get ready to cheer for Huang Renjun’s goal– the one that could make your team win– the excitement dies down when the boy kicks the ball forward with no real intention, the opposing team instantly taking charge and striding towards your school’s goalie.

You may be a little obsessed with Huang Renjun, yes. But even you can admit that he messed up the match pretty badly, earning your team the first loss of the season, making the following matches end just as badly with the bitter essence of a bad start.

You’re just 15 when you first notice Huang Renjun trying to desperately fit in to a cafeteria table, the only thing that reminds you of your favorite teenage movie that you watched with Sungchan in the middle of the night. You’re just 15 when you see the first version of the boy, not knowing that the next four years spent watching him silently will be just as eventful and interesting, keeping you on your toes the whole time.

Sungchan would say you were just 15 when you first got a crush on Huang Renjun.

You’d disagree. Not because it’s not true,

just because you won’t give him the satisfaction of being right.

At 15 years old, Huang Renjun leaves the soccer team after two lost matches (which were, admittedly… both kind of his fault). Cheerleading isn’t as exciting anymore when he’s not there, but at least you get to watch Sungchan… am I right?

You’re already a sophomore when you finally share a class with Huang Renjun. You’d think this fact would help you get closer to him and learn something about the boy, but the opposite is true as your object of interest doesn’t really interact with anyone outside his circle, keeping to himself. Truth be told, you’d do anything to fit into his circle– but with the company he chose for himself in the sophomore year of high school is nothing close to what you represent, the science kids so far away from the cheerleading status you still hold.

While you’re still stuck in your Mean Girls arc, Huang Renjun switched to the Harry Potter universe, it seems. Or maybe it’s just your sudden obsession with the books that’s making you feel this way… Nonetheless, Renjun now reminds you of the Ravenclaw boys in Potions class, except this is reality and you’re only sitting in Chemistry, watching over his every move as he moves through the room and focuses on the experiments.

Sungchan nudges you with his elbow, scowling. “Stop ogling Renjun and fucking do something, I think this is going to blow up any second!”

Hissing at him, afraid his mean comment could be heard by unwanted ears, you grit your teeth at your best friend and roll your eyes. “Shut up.”

“No, I mean it, though, I think this is going to blow up-”

“I’m a cheerleader, Sungchan, I don’t know Chemistry, for fuck’s sake,” you sigh, fully commiting to the social norms you were put in. The soccer player only glares at you more after your comment, deciding to take the boiling mixture and spilling the contents of it into the sink with one swift motion of his hand, hopefully not burning the drain in the process and getting you in trouble. You never know with Chemistry. One wrong step and the whole school is on fire. On one hand, you’d love that, but on the other hand, you’d love to experience your first kiss before dying, so you really, desperately hope nothing goes wrong this time.

“Great, now we gotta start over,” you shake your head in disbelief, already taking another cauldron into your hand and putting exact measurements into the flask.

“As if the last mixture was salvageable,” Sungchan mutters, making you kick him into his shin for being annoying.

“Maybe you can befriend Huang Renjun and he can help us with the experiment,” you suggest innocently, watching your best friend melodramatically scream at your premise. This is not the first time you tried to make your friend to get to know Renjun, but it’s also not the first time he’s declining. You don’t know what’s so hard about being Renjun’s friend, you suppose he has a lot of them– from the looks of the group now standing around his small frame– Sungchan could easily sway the quiet boy with his charm and get him to your side.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I am not befriending Huang Renjun? You can do that yourself, if that’s really all you desire,” he huffs, shaking his head in disbelief.

“But-”

“No buts, for fuck’s sake,” he cuts you off, already knowing the contents of your rambling, “sometimes you gotta do the first step, if you want to cuff a man!”

“I’m old-fashioned, I’ll let you know.”

“That’s just… simply not true,” Sungchan grins, making you sigh.

“I mean, yeah,” you agree, feeling heat rising to your cheeks as you speak the next words, “I’m just shy.”

“Y/N,” Sungchan sighs as he looks you dead into your eyes, seriousness dripping off his tongue, “you’re like… the least shy person I know.”

Offended at his comment, because in this exact moment, you feel nothing but shyness when the topic of your conversation is Huang Renjun– your classmate you’ve never even talked to in the first place, but somehow grown interested in the first moment you’ve seen his face for the first time– you shake your head in disagreement. “You know that’s not true!”

“You made friends with my teammates even faster than I did! Don’t try telling me you’re shy when you were playing Call of Duty with Mark in his dorm room the first week you met him,” he rambles, making you grin at the comment. You knew he was jealous of you being friends with his older teammate– it didn’t matter that the boy was more awkward than anyone you’ve ever encountered (while also simultaneously being the most social human being on the campus, somehow. You’d say he’s so socially awkward and so social that it’s awkward at the same time.). At least you have revenge for not being invited to Zhong Chenle’s basketball court (yes, you’re still salty about that. You were decent at basketball. Well… more decent than Sungchan, at least.).

“That’s not the same, though,” you roll your eyes, making your best friend suggest something that is already known between the two of you, but never truly solidified in words.

“Because you like Renjun?”

“He seems interesting-”

“Because you have a crush on Renjun?”

“I do not!” you scream out, making the rest of the classroom look at you, resulting in you hiding behind your giant friend in shame. You only hope the rest of the conversation wasn’t heard by the whole classroom. You’d pack your things and move away to Nebraska if it was.

“I suppose the two of you are done with the experiment?” the professor inquires, making all blood leave your face as you vigorously shake your head in disapproval, apologetic smiles sent her way as you promise you’re almost done and that you’ll be quiet from now on. Truth be told, you don’t even know if you’re almost done. You don’t know how the experiment is supposed to go. You can only hope the period ends before you have to show the results.

Reading over the manual again, with Sungchan standing behind you and looking onto the white sheet of paper over your shoulder, you try hard to succeed in your assignment.

“I think I’ve got it,” he mumbles under his breath, gathering the things needed and finally getting to work, motioning for you to get closer and help him.

“You’re actually smart for a soccer player, you know,” you grin at him, the annoyed look on his face being the result of your successful teasing. Sometimes it’s fun to poke around with social norms and stereotypes– mostly because they’re kind of true.

“Just watch over the caldron and make sure it doesn’t bubble. If it does, turn the heating down, okay?” he urges you, earning himself a focused nod.

Now, the task at hand is easy. You just watch the caldron– it’s not difficult at all. But as we already established, you’re an individual that gets distracted really easily– especially when Huang Renjun is present in the same room as you, breathing the same air and looking insanely gorgeous even when he’s boredly looking at his own tools, seemingly done with the experiment with his head rested on his plopped-up hand, dissociated and uninterested. The group of boys around him– Shotaro, Jisung, Doyoung and Shohei, the proclaimed class geniuses at Science– look excited and immersed in the conversation, giggling at jokes and playfully smacking each other’s shoulders in fits of laughter when someone says something exceptionally funny. You imagine it’s Science jokes you wouldn’t get. You do fit the stereotype of a cheerleader, in a way– you’re not stupid, but you’re also not that smart in Chemistry, so you couldn’t indulge in their jokes even if you really wanted to.

Renjun looks uninterested and left-out. You feel the sudden urge to take him into your small circle, to ask him about his day and about his interests. He seems so different to the boy he was last year– while he did hang out with the soccer boys a few times after quitting the team, you didn’t really see him around. You suppose that the first impression you make on people is usually how you stay fixated in the minds of the general public, and while he used to be a soccer player for a while (two months, to be exact), he then lost the status, resulting in him being just… simply invisible for the rest of the year.

You were glad to see him with a new group of friends when you arrived in Chemistry class for the first time in your Sophomore year. While you didn’t really know how he ended up with them and what they do for fun after class, Renjun was now a part of the Science kids (this is your Mean Girls arc showing through. He does sit at the Science table in the cafeteria, though, so no one can really blame you for stereotyping.).

In this exact moment, though, he seems to be collectively excluded out of the collective. It’s frustrating– for this is the second time you’ve seen it happen to the boy– but you suppose there’s nothing you can really do or say to make it change.

“Fuck’s sake, Y/N! I told you to look after the caldron!”

“Oh shit!” you yelp out as you see the mixture boiling, the liquid inside turning black with steam, making the whole experiment fail for the second time.

Sighing, the boy only shakes his head at your distracted figure, taking the flask into his hand and once again, dropping the contents of it into the sink. Looking around the classroom, desperately trying to find something to anchor to so you can fix the situation, the bell rings and you’re left with the relief of knowing that the class is over and nobody can tell that you failed the assignment miserably.

“You’re lucky the bell rang, because this failure is completely your fault and I wouldn’t waste any time burning your skin off if we were called to show the results to the class,” Sungchan mutters, gathering his things.

“You’re not scary. I saw you shit your pants when you were eight.”

“Fuck off,” he rolls his eyes, leaving you behind to pack your things and silently ogling Huang Renjun on the other side of the classroom. The small circle of his supposed-to-be friends is now standing with the teacher, excitedly nodding as you hear them talk about a competition in Chemistry that is taking place next week. Interested in anything that includes Huang Renjun, you eavesdrop until you realize the boy was left out of the event– the four names scribbled down onto an application paper by their leader Doyoung left on the teacher’s desk, Renjun’s name nowhere to be seen.

You don’t think he did anything wrong to get left out. Looking at the neatly done experiment, you’re fairly certain he deserves to be on the list of applicants.

Looking at the group, you just think he didn’t fit in with them.

Huang Renjun leaves the classroom alone, his backpack thrown over his shoulder. After the year ends and he no longer takes Chemistry classes, you never see him with the Science kids again.

“I can’t believe you dragged me to the play just because you didn’t want to go alone,” you whisper to your best friend, staring forward at the stage. It’s almost over now, you can tell because you read the book it’s following– you were always a big Oscar Wilde fan– and you can’t help but giggle at the state of Sungchan. The poor boy isn’t used to having friends outside of the soccer player circle, and while he’s sociable, the image of showing up to the play completely alone, just because his friend Guanheng asked him to, is truly terrifying in his eyes.

“I can’t believe you only agreed when I said Renjun’s in the play,” he responds to you with a snarkier comment, making you roll your eyes at him.

“Shh,” you put your finger against your lips, subtly telling him to shut up, “I’m watching the play.”

“Sure…” he mutters, making you smile in satisfaction, for you managed to silence him and keep Huang Renjun out of the conversation.

You’re 17 now. You don’t know much more about Renjun than you did when you were 15, and you no longer share a class with him anymore, so you doubt you’ll ever really get to know him. You rarely see him, since you have no mutual friends or mutual interests, and so your silly crush started to subtly fade into the background. You must admit that you don’t look away when he passes you in halls with the group of drama kids he hangs out with now– you’re a weak, weak woman, after all– but the silent obsession with him is not your main personal trait anymore, and you can tell that both you and Sungchan are more than happy about the fact.

When the play ends and the whole cast scatters onto the stage to bow– you recognise Guanheng, Dejun, Kun, Sicheng and the director, Ten– all smiling brightly beside Renjun in the very corner, who only gives the crowd a shy grin as he bows down with the rest. Truth be told, you never expected him to get into the drama club. He always seemed quiet and reserved, but you suppose this is him experimenting with what he likes, finding the outgoing side in him and getting into more social circles.

After the lights turn back on and the school theater empties itself out, you find yourself waiting outside with Sungchan. The boy scratches the back of his neck in nerves, stressed from the sudden interaction with the drama kids. Your best friend is quite popular within the school, so you’re not really surprised that he and the charming Guanheng hit it off right away after meeting in Physics class. The sudden blush on his cheeks whenever you mention his new friend makes you strangely suspicious, though, but you won’t get deeper into it.

“Sungchan! Y/N!” you hear cheers from behind you, making you turn around and greet the cast of the play you just watched. Guanheng offers you a welcoming hug that you gladly accept, the rest of the friend group just as friendly to you as their connecting link is. Somewhere in the back of the group, you see Sicheng– the charming senior– trailing behind with Renjun. Too shy to look at him– because you still have the hint of the silly freshman on the inside– you avert your gaze off him and focus on the rest.

“We’re actually going to McDonald’s to celebrate the premiere, are you going with us?” Kun asks, a warm smile playing with his features.

“I- I mean-” you see Sungchan stuttering, shaking your head in disbelief at the hesitance he shows when he gets too much attention. Jumping in to save the boy, you quickly agree.

“We’re down!” you nod, seeing the man gratefully smile at you as you follow the drama club through the center of the town, towards the closest McDonald’s.

Throughout the whole journey, you’re painfully aware of Huang Renjun’s presence. You two haven’t even said hi to each other, and while you didn’t expect for that to happen, you still feel a little awkward to be invading his space. He’s in the back of the group with Sicheng, the two of them perhaps the closest of the whole club, and you wonder if it’s your fault for making him so distant himself from his friends right now. Did you invade his circle? Did you make him feel uncomfortable? You’ll leave, if that’s what he wants…

Arriving at the McDonald’s, you all order yourself your fast food of choice, the conversation flowing surprisingly easily after Sungchan gets accommodated to the new section of friends around him. Sliding into a big red booth in the corner of the room, you’re pressed between your best friend and Dejun, who can’t stop talking about the new Avatar movie. You almost agree to go see it with him in the cinema, from how desperate and excited he sounds, but then you’re reminded by the fact that you haven’t even seen the first part and you actually kind of hate sci-fi…

The whole time, your eyes don’t leave Renjun. Old habits die hard, you suppose, but you’re happy to see him genuinely laugh. You don’t think you’ve ever seen that on him before, and the sight of his eyes crinkled up into moon crescents and glittery stars in his dark orbsmakes your heart swell with fondness for the man. Still, though, you can’t help but notice the exclusion from the group– maybe he just doesn’t do well with crowds– as he sits in the corner of the booth with Dong Sicheng, while the rest are indulged in a shared conversation.

You don’t dare to try to include him in your conversation. Frankly, you think he isn’t interested, and it’s also not your place to organize a setting you were just tagging along to, only being invited because of Sungchan.

In the back of your mind, you think this is it. You think that Renjun’s battle of fitting in is finally over and that he found his place. He looked so familiar with the boys, so eager in the conversation with Sicheng– you’re happy he finally found his place in the world. It’s an unexpected one, to say the least, but you’re just satisfied with watching him be happy from afar.

You pay your goodbyes to the rest of the group after your meals are finished and the clock strikes 10. You’ve never been this close to Renjun before, and you don’t think you’ll ever grow closer. It’s fine with you, though. You’re always watching him– even when nobody else is, interested in knowing about his well being and the trajectory of his life. It’s strange, but it’s natural for you.

When you’re 17, you think Renjun finally found his place in the world– you think he’s finally satisfied with his table at the cafeteria, with the social status he has, with the group of friends around him; although still a little distant with most of them except for one. When you’re 17, you didn’t know you couldn’t be more wrong.

When junior year ends, Dong Sicheng graduates.

Renjun never hangs out with the drama club again.

When you finally turn 18– the birthday party with baby pink party hats and champagne all over the carpet of your teenage room– it seems like everything takes a sharp C turn. You’re a senior now, and while you got admitted to your dream university after many hours of stress and days spent filling out the applications with your best friend Sungchan late in the library, you don’t think you’re ready to leave your home yet.

It’s kind of weird that you realize the fact at a goodbye party thrown by your classmate Donghyuck. You’ve never really talked to the man before– you just shared multiple classes with him and he offered you weed outside of the gates to the building once– but there’s something about the aroma of the liquor he serves in his kitchen that makes you reminiscence about all the years you’ve spent in the cheer team or sitting at your little desk in the classroom, listening to only some of the lectures, because you didn’t really mind the rest. You also get back in your memory to the spacious cafeteria– the soccer team and the cheer team have joined their tables together after some months, and while it wasn’t like the Mean Girls, you still felt lucky to have such a big supporting system.

Your cheer captain– Ryujin– graduated one year before you, the role of the most responsible one falling onto your classmate Jiwoo not long after, since they were always friends and you all wanted to lead the team in the fierceful manner Ryujin always has. You swear you saw the ex-captain somewhere in the house a few minutes ago, though, carrying a bottle of vodka under her shoulder as she twirled her slim body around one of the guys that graduated two years ago, the one you always saw Donghyuck hanging around with in the backs of the school halls, wearing leather jackets and snickering with smug grins.

Twirling the liquid in the red solo cup around, standing alone in the corner of the living room (Sungchan left you stranded a few minutes ago, when he spotted Chenle and Guanheng in the crowd), your brain takes you back to all the memories you’ve made in the last 4 years.

You remember celebrating one of the only wins your school’s soccer team got in your freshman year with Sungchan, the tall boy carrying you on his back as he ran around the field in the lights of the reflectors. You remember blowing up the Chemistry lab with him once or twice, and you also remember the whole classroom giggling at you when you had to clean it up, accompanied by the horrified screams of your professor. The memory of the winter formal in your junior year is the most vivid in your brain– you went with your cheer friends, while Sungchan finally scored himself his first date. Her name was Lily and while you found the girl to be quite nice, the memory in your brain is so bright mainly because your dear best friend was so drunk out of nervosity of being with a girl that he puked in the school yard, leaving you to laugh your ass off until tears were streaming down your face.

Your whole four years were consistent. With the same group of people, in the same school halls and bedrooms of your friends when you had sleepovers as a cheer team building. You always had fun when new freshmen joined the team, making sure they know which Sophomore and Junior boys to be wary of, and while you’re excited for university, you don’t think you’ll get to replicate this carefree and silly presence of high school ever again.

“You okay?” you hear a voice call for you, making you snap your head up and see one of your classmates, Seunghan, staring at you with glittery eyes and a warm smile. You always perceived the boy to be quite the shy individual, but you think alcohol always helps everyone to get out of their shell.

“Yeah,” you nod, quick to make his worries fade away, “just lost in thought.”

“I get that. It’s surreal that we’re graduating, isn’t it?” he grins, shaking his head in disbelief. You didn’t expect anyone to get your feelings, but here you are– you guess you’re never as alone in your views as you think you are.

“It’s crazy…” you mumble, finishing up the cup and looking around, catching the boy staring at you constantly. Not really seeing your friend Sungchan anywhere, you decide the second best thing to do to pass time is to catch up with the boy right next to you, and so you lean closer to him and ask him if he wants to get out for some fresh air.

After seeing him nodding eagerly at your suggestion, you find yourself trailing out of Donghyuck’s house, straight to the backyard, while passing some of his friends on your way– their irises were twice as wide as a normal person’s would be and you swear you sensed the sweet, disgusting smell of weed resonating through the walls, so you were glad to get out before the essence got so deep inside of your nose and make you want to puke.

As a cheerleader, you were a regular at those parties. You’ve seen enough of Yangyang, Donghyuck, Eunsok… and Renjun getting so high and mixing the drugs with alcohol that it left them out of it for hours, and you don’t really need that for yourself right now.

“Finally,” you gasp when you reach the backyard, leaning on the wall of the house. Seunghan follows you with a cup in his hand that you’re not sure when and where he’s gotten on your way out, sipping on the alcohol as his eyes never leave your frame.

“What are your plans after graduation?” he asks, genuinely curious.

“University,” you say, letting your eyes travel through the backyard, finding multiple people sharing cigarettes and pipes in the bushes, giggling to themselves. “You?”

“Same,” he nods, “I got into the town’s uni, so I’m just gonna stay here, though.”

Humming, you take a short glimpse at him. Truth be told, you don’t know much about Hong Seunghan. All you know about him is that he’s super nice and he always greeted you when you passed each other in the halls, despite not having many shared classes or social circles. Your friend Yeri once told you that he’s got a crush on you when you got an anonymous Valentine’s day card in your locker during junior year, but you dismissed the thought quickly as you realized you’ve never really had a coherent conversation with him. Looking into his starstruck eyes right now, though, you can’t say that you wouldn’t believe it now…

“I’m moving across the state, actually,” you grin, desperate to hide your despair behind a smile. Sungchan got into a university only an hour away from yours, which is the only thing that’s keeping you going right now– while you will be so far away from home, at least you won’t be completely lonely. If you ever feel like it’s too much, you can just catch a train and meet your childhood best friend in the next town. It’s easy. Or at least, that’s what you keep telling yourself.

“Why so far away?”

“I don’t know,” you mumble, taking your eyes off him again, looking through the crowd in the yard and finding a familiar figure, sitting lonely at the edge of the empty swimming pool, his legs dangling inside as he leans back, supporting his weight with his arms and looks towards the sky, “they had the best History courses, I guess…”

The conversation you’re having with Seunghan is only a background task now, a side quest in your game, as you focus on what you’ve been doing in the back of your head for the last 4 years. You monotonously reply to his questions and hum at all the right places in the dialogue to seem interested, but your eyes are focused solely on the man sitting at the swimming pool, looking more lonely than ever before. You’d make yourself feel silly for paying more attention to a man you’ve never spoken to than to the blushy classmate standing to your left right now, quietly obsessing your whole teenage years with a stranger, but for all you know, this could be the last time you’re seeing him in your life, so you let your inner little crushing-on-Huang-Renjun self have it, at least one last time.

When you turn 18, so does Huang Renjun. He finds enjoyment in all the possibilities now open to him with the new status of an adult, his Fridays spent drinking away with his new group of friends. He wears leather jackets and ripped jeans, and while you find it quite attractive, you don’t think it’s what suits him the most. Hell, even the soccer jersey looked more fit on him– and he played for the team for a total of two matches. His hair is bleached blonde and you once saw him with red, puffy eyes and a little fucked-out smile accompanied by his sketchy friends in the park, so you can only imagine what he’s been doing his whole senior year. You’re surprised he even managed to graduate.

When you turn 18, it’s when you worry most about him. He doesn’t seem himself, and quite frankly, he never has, but this is the most unpredictable and unexplainable version of himself that he managed to craft.

You don’t think you’ve ever seen him genuinely laugh. And yes, you don’t know the boy, but still, you kind of miss the earlier versions of him, because at least those weren’t as self-destructive and damaging to his health.

You wonder why he’s not inside with his friends. You wonder why he’s so alone in the backyard, why he’s sitting at the empty swimming pool with a bottle of liquor next to him, why he’s not laughing at stupid jokes and dancing to bad EDM music in Lee Donghyuck’s house like the rest of his circle is. You wonder what made him hang out with the crowd for the last year, what made him let his grades slip and why he never seemed to stay with one friend group for long.

You guess it’s hard to be his friend.

Or maybe, he just finds it hard to be other people’s friend.

Changing himself up just to fit with the others, carefully crafting and molding his personality to have at least someone match his current energy– you wonder if it wouldn’t just be easier for him to be himself and let someone discover the true him for once. Because this surely isn’t him. And the soccer player, running aimlessly around the field wasn’t him. The kid that was good at science was never a good fit for the nerdy crowd either, because it wasn’t him. The drama kid that was decent at acting, but never really talked with anyone from the club other than Dong Sicheng (because even after all this time, you think that was his only real friend), wasn’t the real Huang Renjun either. And now, after the four years of admiring the mystery he is and examining him each passing day, you can for sure say that the version of himself that smokes and drinks in dark alleyways isn’t the real him at all.

After reminiscing on your four years of high school with a smile on your face, you wonder if Huang Renjun could do the same. If he smiles about the many twists and turns, or if he thinks of his high school years as a waste of his youth, a time he can only be reminded of with a bittersweet feeling, never fitting in despite trying so hard over and over again.

The boy at the swimming pool chews on the inside of his cheek, scoffing as he points his eyes towards the ground. There’s an urge inside of you to walk over to him and be a shoulder for him to cry on, be someone to finally offer him some comfort, to let him talk while you listen.

But you don’t do any of that.

You keep standing there, watching him, as Hong Seunghan talks your ears off about everything and nothing, making your confused heart simmer with despair at the broken look on Renjun’s face when he looks around for the last time before he takes the bottle standing next to him into his hand and smashes it into the pool with full force, the piercing sound of the glass shattering making your ears hurt as you jump up in surprise.

The boy stands up from his place as he storms off, your eyes meeting only for a mere second before he’s out.

“Are you okay?” Seunghan asks again, for the second time this evening already, while you look at him with a tight smile and nod your head at the question.

“Yeah. Just… got distracted.”

When you’re 18, you believe this is the last time you’ll ever see him. When you’re 18, all you do is wish him well.

Walking out of your trashy university accommodation, locking the door behind you– although you think it does nothing for the safety of your living space, considering the door is paper thin and anyone determined enough could get inside in two minutes, if they wanted to– you put the keys into your coat pocket and jog down the stairs, because you fear the old elevator ever since you heard your neighbor getting stuck inside of it one day when the power went out. Checking the time on your phone screen, you walk your way to university.

You always wanted to live somewhere far away. It’s not really about cutting people off or about starting new– Sungchan visits you every other week when he’s bored, after all– you just think you like the comfort the big city brings you. The architecture of the town is beautiful and your university’s History course is the best one in the country. You almost feel a little proud of getting in, moving out of the small hell hole your hometown was, and being competent enough to live on your own at 19, cooking yourself bad pasta for dinner every evening and posting instagram stories of the sunset with the song stickers from your playlist every other week. It’s a little surreal to live the life your younger self always dreamt of, for it doesn’t feel as strange and so brand new like you expected it to. You can’t say you don’t enjoy it, though.

Walking inside of the university building, still not used to the white modern walls and tall glass windows in the lounge area, you check the time and realize you still have at least 25 minutes until your lecture starts. Coming from a small town, you never really learned how to time your departure from home. You always arrive either very late or very early– it’s hard to calculate how long the walk is, when everything is within a 10 minute reach back home.

Deciding to spend some time in the lounge area before the class starts, because you don’t really feel like spending time in the lonely classroom and you also suspect someone’s having a class in there still, you walk towards the crowded place, adjusting the bag strap that’s sneakily slipping off your shoulder.

The view in front of you catches you off guard, the amount of students doing things to your little, anxious self (in moments like these, you wish you had Sungchan with you here. Despite being quite social in high school, it’s hard to make friends when he’s not around to be your isle of comfort; but you guess it’s time for you to be a big person and find friends on your own now), and as your eyes scan the place for an empty space to sit, your mouth drops agape in shock and surprise.

There is a boy with mousy blonde hair sitting at one of the bean bags, down in the university halls. He's surrounded by people, all typing away on their laptops, occasionally glancing up to their friends and talking in hushed smiles and cheery giggles. The boy is alone– scrolling away on his phone, earphones in his ears as the slight movement of his leg matches the beat– though, he doesn't seem lonely.

There are plenty of people around him, all with their kindred spirits, yet, the boy makes no effort in trying to fit into a circle; he doesn't try to match anyone's energy or to desperately make someone like him. In a way, the sight makes you sigh with relief.

Huang Renjun has finally stopped trying, and while this sentence usually doesn't have a nice ring to it, this time, you don't think there's anything more positive about the fact that he simply just has no energy to change himself to fit the vision of himself that is kept by others.

Taking a few deep breaths in and out, you contemplate on your next step. Is this really how you get to know your high school crush, after so many years of thinking of him? Is university really the time for your first real meeting? It makes you feel kind of silly, the tingling sensation in your fingertips making it hard for you to stay grounded as you shake your head to clear your thoughts, deciding.

Wiping your hands onto the fabric of your jeans, taking another deep breath in and out, you walk up to the boy with a hesitant smile and drop your body to the bean bag next to him, accidentally bumping into his outstretched legs. The action makes your cheeks heaten as your whole body feels hot with uncertainty, but you don't back away as he looks up to you with an uninterested look, merely just wanting to know what bumped into him and made him lose his focus and switch his attention to the world around him instead of his phone.

Clearing your throat, you force yourself to quirk up the corners of your lips into the most welcoming smile, greeting the boy you know so well, but also don't know at all.

“Hi,” you utter, seeing the boy glance at you with pure interest now, eyebrows furrowed as the gears in his brain work by themselves, trying to sort your face. When his thoughts are met with recognition, his irises widen as he works out a subtle smile, the one that reaches his eyes and makes them light up with a glittery sparkle, soft voice echoing to your ears.

“Y/N, right?”

“Yeah,” you nod, putting on an awkward smile, “from high school.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he nods, staring at you, as if to wait if you have anything else you want to say.

The encounter must feel strange to him. You've never really talked, and when you did, it was only when it was necessary. You were just a side character in his life– the one you pass in a game in a very unimportant side quest and never meet again, forgetting about it in an instant– however, to you, Huang Renjun, although he was never the center of your universe, was always there, somewhere in the back of your mind, as you looked after his every move and paid attention to every shift in his existence. To you, he was like the musician you fall in love with when you're a kid, and even though you don't listen to them anymore, you still have their account followed on instagram, keeping track of their every move, making sure they're safe and still loved by many.

Staring at you still, your throat gets dry as you have no words to say. Somehow, you always had so many things on your mind that you wanted to share with Huang Renjun, in each and every passage of his life. But now that you finally had the courage to walk up to him and talk, the words were stolen from the tip or your tongue and it's useless to try to search for them in your brain.

Maybe it's the boy recognising your hesitance, maybe it's his brain reminding him of all the times he's walked up to a new group and tried so hard to fit in with them, maybe he knows the lost look in your eyes all too well from how many times he's seen it in himself when he tried to make new friends; maybe it's the fact that he knows how stressful it is to walk up to someone and try to be their friend– nonetheless, for a reason to you unknown, he does something no one's ever done for him when he was in the position you are in right now, because, truth be told, this is the first time he's been in the position of being walked up to and interrogated with a premise of new friendship. And it's all thanks to you– so he takes the lead and warmly smiles at you, striking up a conversation.

“What's up? I didn't expect to see you here,” he says, taking his earphones out and putting them away to his pocket, turning slightly towards your figure and paying full attention to you.

Playing with your fingers in your lap, you turn your gaze away from him and master up a response. “I didn't expect to see you here either, actually,” you say.

“Yeah, well,” he shrugs, “I guess I just wanted to start over somewhere far away. It felt… a little claustrophobic back home.”

The two of you share a look full of understatement, because in his eyes, as his classmate from high school, you must have noticed at least some of the glimpses of his numerous friend groups over the time. And while none of them really worked out for him, since none of them ever really felt as if they were right for him, now, in the university halls, although a little alone and a little too ordinary, he seems like himself for the first time.

“I get that,” you nod, not wanting to dwell on the topic for too long in fear of hitting a painful spot in him or exposing that you’ve been watching him the whole time, “what do you study?”

“Art,” he says with an excited smile, the one that makes his eyes crinkle up a little and his expression is full of undenied joy and excitement, the one you’ve seen on him for the last time in junior year, talking away with Sicheng in a red McDonald’s booth– hinting that after so many years of changing himself up and trying to fit in with the rest, he's doing what he really wants and desires, with no expectations and harsh looks of others.

“That's so amazing,” you hum in amazement, offering him a genuine smile.

“It's very exciting,” he nods, glad he no longer feels like he’s been made from a broken mold, glad he no longer feels aimless and unarmed with everything he encounters, just like he did in high school in the sports teams and drama clubs, hating each passing second he’s spent doing something he despised, wasting away his life. “What about you?”

“Oh, I study History,” you reply, scratching the back of your neck, “doesn't sound as exciting as Art, to be honest, but I've wanted to study it for the longest time, so…”

“No, that's great,” he assures you, “although you don’t seem like a History kind of person,” he says, although he doesn’t know you that well– he can’t quite put a finger on when you two have met, and if you’ve ever even talked. Looking at you right now, though, he must have registered you, at least, because you seem too familiar in the foreign place and he finds himself silently holding on to the feeling of recognising at least something in the wide unknown.

Squinting, you curse the cheerleader stereotype for the first time in your life. “Is that supposed to be a diss?” you grin.

“God, no,” he shakes his head in disapproval, quickly leading you out of the misjudgement. “I just didn’t expect you to study History. I don’t know you that well, but you’re like, the furthest away from my image of a History major… but I guess my expectations can be wrong,” he defends himself, palms raised in defeat.

Humming, you still squint at him in uncertainty. “Well, I guess I get that. You seem like an Art major, though, to be honest.”

“Do I?” he asks, a tone completely different to yours– he looks grateful for the comment, his eyes shining with appreciation and maybe just a hint of pride.

To be honest, it's not really about the way he dresses that makes him seem like he’d study Art– his black high-top converse, beige pants and an oversized brown flannel could be worn by anyone– but his aura, the energy he gives off at first glance, is something that gives it away. This is the first time someone's ever affirmed Huang Renjun's identity, the real one, on top of that– the one he spent his whole life carefully crafting and creating, picking away the bad parts as he tried and failed to fit all the other categories he didn't like– and it feels truly euphoric to him, like he fulfilled his life-long goal and finally found his purpose. "Well, thank you," he says, and you can tell he means it.

You want to tell him how glad you are that he let go of trying to please everyone. You want to tell him how it's great that he finally found himself, how amazing it is that he finally let go of the desire to be liked for something he wasn't, just to be popular or have someone by his side. You want to tell him how you appreciated his existence all those years, how you watched over his every good and bad step, how proud you are of him for the journey he's taken and how amazing it is that he finally reached the final destination.

That would be weird, though– he doesn't even know that you’ve selfishly watched him all those years, tumbling and turning in the background of the mess his life had always been. So, instead, you mumble out a sweet: “You're welcome.”

By the way he looks at you, you almost think he understands your intentions. You almost believe he can read your mind and find the pictures of himself in your memories, each and every single one carefully preserved with his essence, although it was different each time and never really stayed the same.

But he can't. He can’t read your mind and he can’t tell that you know all about him, so instead, he thinks this is the universe rewarding him for being so patient, rewarding him for always trying, and that’s why he feels that he can’t let this opportunity get away from him.

“Do you want to hang out later? I have a class in 10 minutes, but I'd love to walk around and explore it here a little in the afternoon, if you're down,” he suggests, taking you off guard.

The new version of Huang Renjun that's in front of you is confident– something he always lacked, for it was never really him that he was showing to the world– and the new Huang Renjun is charming and magnetizing. You can't say you never felt like this about him before, because of course you did– you wouldn't have known so much about him and his various phases of life if you weren't interested in the boy, but the way you feel about him now feels more real– maybe because it's finally the authentic version of himself that he always was so afraid of showing to others. Electrified by his eyes, you bring yourself to nod.

“Of course I'm down,” you agree, smiling.

“Great,” he laughs airly, the sound making your smile widen even more, “I'll get your number, then?”

“Oh, sure,” you say, taking his phone out of his outstretched hand, typing the number into his contacts list. Walking up to him all those minutes ago, this wasn’t how you expected the encounter to go. You expected to say hi to him, to maybe hear him tell his major to you before he turns his back to you and walks away, never talking to you again. Instead, you get an invite, a premise of something new, a meeting that excites you and makes you feel all giddy inside, just like the first time you’ve laid your eyes on the boy in high school and decided to secretly hold your heart out to him, if he ever wanted to take it. It makes you feel like you should’ve done this long ago, like you should’ve walked up to him during high school, when you noticed him struggling, but perhaps, this is how it was always supposed to go, how you two were supposed to end up in each other’s lives and how you were always made to finally know Huang Renjun for real.

“Good,” he nods, locking eyes with you, “I have to go now, because the class is on the fifth floor and the elevator is broken, and I also don't really know my way around the building yet, but I'll definitely text you later,” he giggles.

Laughing, you shake your head in disbelief. “Of course. Good luck on not getting lost,” you say as you wave at him, his figure already standing up tall in front of you, his eyes glazing over your features for one last time.

“Thanks, I'll need it,” he tells you, “I'll see you later, then.”

“Later!” you nod, the smile never leaving your lips as you watch him leave and take a shy look at you over his shoulder for one last time before he takes the stairs up, eyes quickly drifting away when your gazes meet.

If anyone was watching you for the last few minutes, they'd think you were old friends. They'd think you were just catching up, accidentally bumping into each other and talking about the struggles of university life, bitching about the accommodation and how the professors seem uninterested in the topic of their courses. The reality is different, though, and although you and Renjun were just acquaintances meeting in a big town, miles away from the home, you can already sense that you and him were meant to have a storyline in each other's lives eventually.

This was Renjun's first time to be walked up to with a welcoming smile. It was also your first time to reach out and offer your friendship to someone. You changed your roles, in a way.

And while Renjun continues to find himself more and more each day, the true and real identity deep inside of him, he finally has someone by his side assuring him that it's enough and that he never has to change a thing about himself to be liked. No more masks and no more acting.

For the first time in his life, Huang Renjun knows who he is, even when nobody’s watching.

#nct #nct dream #renjun #nct fluff #nct angst #nct scenario #nct x reader #renjun fluff #renjun fic #renjun angst #renjun x reader #renjun scenario #nct dream fluff #nct dream angst #nct dream imagine #nct dream scenario #nct dream x reader

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unvalley · 9 months

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Daycare Love

← Previous

A/N: Surpise! Daycare Love is back! I'm sorry this took years to update. I'm not really too satisfied with my writing here and there're probably lots of typos and grammar errors but I hope you still can enjoy it. Thank you for waiting! :) ♡

Chapter four | Guilt

Juvia would like to think she was a professional at keeping work related matters at work and work only. However, that night after her very…interesting first day of work, she could no longer call herself a pro.

There she was, tossing and turning in bed, left and right and her thoughts would not stop. Gray would not go away. Aster would not disappear.

As wrong as it may sound, if it was another family, Juvia would have been sleeping like a baby hours ago but this was Gray. He wasn’t some random stranger. He was her best friend, even how much she knew she had no right calling him that anymore after what she did to him.

Seeing Gray again after all those years brought back so many memories from their childhood and teenage years.So did feelings return, feelings she didn’t remember she had.

As all these thoughts

Yesterday in the break room, Cana was unable to explain further what exactly she meant by Aster not having a mother but if she would bring it up again Juvia wouldn’t push her about it. She felt like Gray should be the person to tell her if he wanted to but if he didn’t want to she wouldn’t be disappointed.

But to say Juvia wasn’t curious was a lie. There were a couple possibilities she thought about. Did Gray’s partner pass away? Did they have a bad break-up? Or maybe Gray really wanted to raise a child on his own? The first options were possible but the third? It didn’t seem likely, considering he would have ‘’only’’ been as young as twenty one or twenty two when Aster was born. Also the fact that Gray wanted to prioritise his career. Juvia recalled the day Gray told her just that.

___

It was friday, after school,which meant it was Caramade Franks day for the blue and raven hair best friends. They were sitting on a bench in Magnolia park eating while simultaneously playing something like 21 ish questions.

‘’No way you like pineapple on pizza!’’ Gray couldn’t believe what he was hearing.‘’I was rooting for you, Juvia’’

‘’Oh please’’ Juvia rolled her eyes at her best friend's very dramatic reaction. ‘’Have you actually tried it or have you just decided to agree with what randoms on the internet?’’

Silence.

‘’Thought so’’

As she was trying to come up with a question to ask him next, she saw a family. A father, a mother and a child. The child looked between one and two years old. They were playing football, the parents cheering every time their little one kicked the football which made the toddler beam and sometimes go ‘’Yay!’’. Their interaction made Juvia’s heart melt. She hoped that one day she would have what they have; A happy family.

‘’Okay, this is deeper than the other questions. Do you see yourself with a family of your own in the future?

‘’Yes’’ Gray answered smiling, without hesitation. ‘’I would like to settle down with my person and hopefully have mini versions of us running around our house. Only if she wants to, I know how painful birth can be’’

Gray’s unexpected answer made Juvia look at him in awe. The fact he would give up on having children, for his partner’s sake. Whoever that will be is going to be one lucky woman.

‘’But first I want to focus on my studies. You know how passionate I’m on becoming an architect’’

‘’Damn, who thought that the Gray Fullbuster, one of the most popular boys in school, was softer than a teddy bear. I guarantee you there are plenty of volunteers in your fan club’’ May or may not include myself but I will take that to my grave.

‘’Oh shut it, Lockser’’ He gave her a light smack on her arm. ‘’You better not tell a soul, especially fire-breath cause otherwise he will make fun of me until the day I die and that will be on you’’

‘’Yes, don’t worry, these lips are sealed. Even though that would be hilari- Ow!’’ She got cut off by receiving another slap on her arm.

___

Juvia grabbed her phone from the nightstand to look at the time.

3:38

‘’Fuck this shit’’ She cursed and didn’t waste another second in bed and swiftly got up. She removed her pyjamas and changed into sportswear. Maybe a way-too-early-in-the-morning run would help her get some sleep.

Spoiler alert: It did not help.

___

Entering the break room, Juvia was greeted by one of her colleagues. Someone she knew very well.

‘’Good morning, Juvia!’’ It was Levy McGarden.

Levy was another old friend of hers. She was exceptionally intelligent, definitely the most intelligent person Juvia knew and found it slightly strange she hadn’t chosen a different career instead in early childhood education. She always imagined Levy being a scientist, a researcher or even a librarian since she was a bookworm. Saying she loved books was an understatement. It was an (healthy) obsession. Juvia remembered one year when they still were in high school, over the summer Levy had read nearly fifty books. Fifty! Voluntarily!

Despite everything, if working with children was something Levy was passionate about and it brought her joy, Juvia was happy for her and she was more than happy to have her as a colleague.

‘’Morning’’

‘’Oh dear, you look, uh…’’ Levy was struggling to find the right word upon seeing Juvia’s drowsy state with big dark circles under her eyes.

‘’Like death?’’ Juvia finished the sentence for her. ‘’I know. I didn’t get a blink of sleep last night but nothing a cup or two of coffee can’t fix.’’ Or a mega pint.

‘’Not the word I would have chosen but close enough’’

To be honest, speaking with Levy made Juvia uncomfortable. Not because Levy was making her uncomfortable but because Juvia felt guilty. Not only had she most likely hurt Gray but she also hurt all of her friends back then and Juvia still couldn’t bring to forgive herself.

‘’Levy’’

‘’Yeah?’’

‘’I’m aware that you guys let me know everything is okay between us but I’m really sorry for hurting you and I hope you’ll still accept me as your friend’’ Tears were forming in the corner of her eyes. It was only her second day at work and yet she was having a meltdown, really?

‘’Juvia…’’ Levy stood up from where she was sitting and rushed to Juvia to hug her. ‘’Of course I still want to be friends’’’

‘’Are you sure?’’

‘’Yes, Juvia’’ Levy reassured her and let go of the embrace to meet her eyes. ‘’I promise’’

‘’Thank you so much’’ Juvia wiped away the tears that had fallen down her cheek.

‘’I need to go to work now but I’ll see you later, okay?’’

‘’Okay.’’

Levy gave her a last smile until she wasn’t in sight.

Now Juvia really needs that mega pint.

___

It was now eight o’clock and time for Juvia to start work. When she entered the corridor at her department, Gray stood by the door waving his hand while saying bye to Aster.

Yesterday Juvia was going to inform Gray of Aster’s day, including the situation at nap time where Aster had brought up the nightmares that have been occurring. Unfortunately she had already finished work before he arrived for pick up. Hopefully Meredy had forwarded the message.

The good news is that after Aster woke up from his nap, he said that he slept well and without any nightmares. As Juvia was in a crouching position to see and hear him better, he wrapped his arms around her in a hug which surprised her. Nonetheless she hugged him back gently to not crush his tiny body. He was adorable.

When Gray noticed Juvia, he had a big smile plastered to his face. Juvia knew it was genuine but she could feel that behind his smile, there was hut. He shouldn’t be smiling at her like that, she didn't. She didn’t deserve his perfect smile, she didn’t deserve his hugs, she didn't deserve his kindness. Nothing.

‘’Juvia, good morning’’

‘’Good morning, Gray’’ She gave him a smile back, trying her best to hide her anxiety that was building up inside her. And the guild.

‘’So, Meredy told me what happened at nap time yesterday and I just wanted to thank you personally, for helping Aster. He slept like a baby last night too’’

Stop it, Gray. Stop being so nice to me.

‘’Gray, you know you don’t have to thank me. I’m just doing my job but I’m really happy to hear that I could be of help. And if there’s anything else I can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask’’ Juvia managed both to keep eye contact with him and also not stutter. She was anxious as hell but she needed to stay professional no matter how difficult it was.

‘’Well actually…Never mind. I’ll see you later, Juvia’’ He gave her a small wave before Juvia was the only one in the corridor.

‘’See you later’’ Juvia wondered what he was about to say but shrugged it off. It was probably nothing important.

Or was it?

___

Stay tuned! ♡

♡TAGLIST♡

@eme-eleff @jetblackrevival @be-dazzled @azuchifairy @greenapplegrass @fbflame94 @gruviaftw11 @pinkbtr @shampooneko @anaviarts @juvsbby @fortheloversofbooks

#juvia lockser #gray fullbuster #gray x juvia #ray fullbuster x juvia lockser #gruvia #fairy tail #ft #fairy tail 100 years quest #gruvia fanfiction #faity tail fanfiction #daycare love #daycare love fanfiction #unvalley fanfiction #AU

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svtjinny · 11 months

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JUYEON :: GAME CATERERS x SVT | 02

[editors captions] | speaking warning: food mentions for context, during the filming of game caterers she was blonde. she dyed her hair again soon after.

ep 2-1

jinny's first part is in like the first few seconds lmao

she was wandering around with hoshi & vernon

she was third in the shop line behind hoshi

for her task, jinny had to name a foreign candy brand

[ (Foodie gets a question right up her alley ) ]

she named the first american one she could think of and took the earth arcade plushie [we'll pretend dk took something else..]

[ (Can you spot the difference between her and Torong?) ]

you can see her sitting with woozi & watching jun eat the lemons !!

then after she goes around and lays in the grass with hoshi & shua with her prize

[ Jinny joins them with Torong ]

she doesn't go again after getting her prize but she does sit and watch

jinny didn't talk much soo there wasn't that much of her here

when myungho did the relay & went to the back, the camera zoomed into her telling him you're so cute, gēgē~

[ (Winner compliments another winner) ]

jinny : [when seungkwan said wwksb to dino] seungkwannie.. stop being open minded..

jinny can be seen sitting with the others a couple of times but for the most part she just sits there quietly talking to the members

there was a cut of her talking about torong to a staff member saying how cute it was and how happy she was to get it

the staff was looking at her so fondly..

everyone loves jinny :sob:

her last scenes were her walking into the break room, sitting with jeonghan, and laying her head on his shoulder

she also helped clean the spill !!

[ (Was laying down right next to the mess) ]

[ (Stood up second) ]

thats it for 2-1

ep 2-2

PLEASE this was made for jinny omg.

she was on hoshi & seungkwans team because she grabbed hoshi by reflex LMAO

she sat in the middle

yes there could have been 7 teams of 2 but idc.

jinny : ["why are you disappointed?"] don't be disappointed, oppa~ we'll lead you to victory!

[ (Holding hands as they go) ]

[ Dramatic/Torong/Tiger ]

jinny : ["were you attracted to your partner by instinct?"] woah.. we totally were..

seungkwan : why does that sound so sarcastic..

jinny : don't worry about it. [eng]

she made everyone laughksejrjhuih

[ (These three are notorious for teaming up against one another) ]

[ (Today they're working together) ]

for the flaws hoshi & seungkwan agreed on the fact that jinny argues too much on shows LMAO [playfully..]

jinny : a flaw? hm. for seungkwan-oppa, he's too picky.. and for hoshi-oppa, he's, like, obsessed with tigers..

she can be seen a few times talking with seungkwan & hoshi and yells the slogan with them

jinny smiled so big when pd said it was a music quiz

[ K-pop professors at MIT ]

jun / woozi : that's what seungkwan and jinny are good at

[ (K-pop prof) (K-pop producer) (Performance Team leader) ]

[ The best players teamed up ]

hoshi : shinee

seungkwan : sher -

jinny : - lock!

my boosoonyeon crumbs i love them

jinny ate that dance up let me tell you.

[ (Living up to their team name) ]

jinny : i would've been disappointed if we didn't get that, the dance is engraved in my brain

[ (They did a cover of the song for MAMA 2018) ]

[ (And again at the HYBE Family Picnic) ]

yes im writing that cover in because we all know svt would absolutely end if they covered sherlock

she got up so fast for stayc !!! yoon's jinny biased btw.. (luckiest carat ever?)

they didn't get it but she still danced

jinny : ASAP!!

[ (Jinny) (Wrote a song on this album) ]

[ (Punch) ] [ (Punch) ]

when drink less and talk more said the 4th (5th? i forgot pls) it was seventeen she was so confused LMAO

jinny : really? thats seventeen? baby you helped make this song.

[ (JINNY) (Composed most of SEVENTEEN's songs) ]

[ ('CLAP' composed by JINNY) ]

[ They didn't recognize their own child? ]

please jinny just banged her head on the table in disappointment

giving jinsoul hitting her head..

hoshi / seungkwan : ..??? are you okay ???

[ (Disappointed in herself) ]

jinny : ["jinny, what happened?"] i..have no words. you cheated me. [eng]

shua and vernon were giggling.

jinny : ["but someone still got it"] still!

5th song!! you already KNOW jinny jumped up from her seat

the three of them are still splitting the songs into three syllables sobbing

[ ('Hype Boy' produced by JINNY) ]

[ (I'll dance over here then) ]

she was still close to the table and they went to the far right side...

[ (Let's play together) ]

jinny : i love this song. newjeans, i love you. [eng]

[ (A message for the bunnies) ]

jinny : seungkwannie, you just embarrassed yourself in front of the camera..

jinny : don't cut that out please!

[ (Don't worry Jinny, we won't) ]

the amount of force jinny hit hoshi with at txt istg.

she was sitting not paying attention and then all she hears is "run for you"...

the second time around she was the one who said run away

cause she didn't trust hoshi LMAO

[ (Jinny, who's brother is a TXT member) ]

[ (Disappointed in her teammate, but still dances with charm) ]

that was her last scene bcz she took a bathroom break and then got carried away while getting a snack.. yes she confirmed it herself..

#svt ; jinny #svt au #svt oc #seventeen female addition #seventeen female member #seventeen addition #seventeen added member #seventeen 14th member #kpop extra member #kpop female oc #kpop added member #kpop addition #kpop oc #fake kpop idol #idol!oc #idol!au #idol oc

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rebeccalouisaferguson · 2 months

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As her many online fans have noticed, Rebecca Ferguson is playful, eccentric, sometimes very candid, can turn on a dime, and does not suffer fools. Interviewing her can be like riding a wild bull, a bit unpredictable and disarming, and I found that to be very much the case with my latest interview with her about “Dune: Part Two” . The actress, if nothing else, is quite frank and sometimes even blunt about her opinions.

Yesterday, we rolled out an excerpt from our more extended interview where Ferguson admitted that she was the one that left the “Mission Impossible” franchise after ‘Dead Reckoning,’ after a three-picture deal concluded, suggesting her character was killed off after the filmmakers knew she wouldn’t be coming back.

“So when the relationship came to a point where—there was not more to be done really with Ilsa,” she said of the character’s arc. “And they will make a good, something dramatic out of [a character’s ending], and all I can do is embrace it.

Perhaps in perfectly forthright Ferguson form, when asked that she would presumably return for “Dune Messiah,” the third film in the ‘Dune’ saga that Villeneuve intends to direct, though maybe not right away, she said, yes, but maybe, and it depends on the script. Ferguson stressed she thinks Villeneuve is “exquisite” and brilliant and possibly couldn’t even turn in a bad idea if he tried, she admitted for her—as she suggested with her’ Mission Impossible’ character and why she decided not to return to the franchise—it’s always all about the script.

“I mean, I do,” she said about her interest in returning for more ‘Dune’ films, “But there’s never just [an immediate] yes or a no. I’m very much what’s on the page; the story needs to be there, and there needs to be reason.”

“But it’s Denis. Denis wouldn’t write something that I wouldn’t want to be in. I love him. I think he is exquisite; he’s exquisite as a director; I think he is so creative,” she continued. “I think he is so smart, and especially when he talks about how the world is going and the way the studio lies and the creative freedom that is gradually taken away from us. I know what he wants, which means I believe in him.”

“So if it came [to a sequel], of course, I’d want to [be in it], but also, I want to take my character into a place that’s interesting to me. There’s always the balance. If you’re going to dedicate your four months to something, it needs to be worth it, right?”

Denis Villeneuve is currently writing “Dune: Messiah” with co-screenwriter Jon Spaihts and recently said it was “almost finished.”

But in our interview with Villeneuve, where he confirmed rumors of him directing “Sicario 3” were untrue, the filmmaker would not commit to helming “Dune: Messiah” next and suggested he may need a beat first to “dream” a little more about it.

“Once the [new] movie is out, I intend to go back into the snow and dream a little bit to see if I’m going back to Arrakis right away or if I’m taking a detour just for mental sanity, to take a little distance and get rejuvenated,” he told The Playlist.

In the meantime, maybe look at your draft one more time and make sure Ferguson’s part is up to snuff before you send it to her. “Dune: Part Two” opens on March 1. More from these interviews soon.

#rebecca ferguson #interview #dune interview #mi7 interview #Youtube

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hermionegalathynius · 1 year

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Sweet Sixteen (2/11)

Second chapter, lets go!

Pairing: Sirius Black x Reader

Warnings: not any that I can think of.

Sirius Black Masterlist

Main Masterlist

First Chapter

Next Chapter

The library was even quieter on Saturdays.

Y/n suspected it was because no one ever felt like doing school work on the weekends, even though it was statistically the most efficient time to get stuff done. That was why she was getting stuff done. The past week had been... busy, to say the least. She had five essays due on Monday, two of which had to be a maximum of ten inches. Along with that she also had to draw up two charts for Astronomy and learn how to do Expelliarmus non-verbally by Tuesday. It was a lot, but she was used to it. In fact, she welcomed it. Academics had always been her strong point, and she intended to keep it that way.

"How would you describe Golpalotte's Third Law?" she mused to Remus, her usual study partner when he wasn't off galavanting with his friends.

He looked up from his own Potions paper, brown hair unusually messy from running his hands through it, "Well, Golpalotte said that the antidote to a blended poison isn't simply the antidotes to all the separate poisons in the blend mixed together. Instead you must find that one ingredient that will transform the poisons in to a combined whole, which will counteract the entire blended potion. As the textbook states, the true antidote to a blended poison is more than the sum of its parts."

Y/n smiled at him bemused, "I was trying to find a way to put it quote-unquote 'in my own words', but you've just recited the textbook."

Remus's cheeks went a little pink as he glared playfully at her, "Doesn't knowing that what I said is how it's written in the textbook also a sign that you know that paragraph as well as I do?"

Y/n narrowed her eyes at him, "Well done Sherlock. 10/10 detective work, I must say."

He chuckled softly and the two of you went back to work.

———

Sirius yawned contently as he trudged up the stairs to the boys dormitory with James still chatting on excitedly behind him.

"... didn't even glare at me today, Pads! Not once! Maybe she's starting to fall for my Potter charm?" That last sentence he said with a cocky smirk on his face as he wiggled his eyebrows. Of course, Sirius wasn't looking at the time, but he knew his friend well enough to be able to guess.

He snorted, "Yeah right, Prongs. That's as likely as Dumbledore getting a girlfriend."

James punched him in the shoulder playfully, "Oi! Don't knock my hopes down! Especially when you might be in the same position as me very soon."

Sirius paused in front of the door into their dorm, "What's that supposed to mean?"

James strode past him, patting him on the shoulder, "I mean, your soulmate is the one girl in this school who doesn't swoon at your mere presence. She is also the one girl who you've never dared to try to charm because she makes you nervous."

Sirius glared at him, "Thanks for the reminder."

"Hey, I'm only stating it as I see it. You gotta admit it's a little ironic, mate. I mean, she's Y/n L/n, top of our year and the most Ravenclaw Ravenclaw I've ever seen. And you... well, do you get my point?"

Sirius sighed and flopped onto his bed, throwing an arm over his face, "Yes, I get your bloody point Prongs. Did it not occur to you that I've probably been thinking the same thing ever since I got her bloody name on my bloody wrist?"

James chuckled, "Alright, relax. I get it. You don't want to be reminded of the irony of your situation. I'll just sit here looking pretty then."

Sirius rolled his eyes even though James couldn't see them. His friend really was the most dramatic person he knew.

Then, as if to break Sirius out of his spiralling thoughts, an owl tapped on the window.

Sirius took his arm off of his eyes and sat up as James walked over to the window to let the bird in.

"That's odd," he said as he twisted the latch on the window, "We've never received post in our dorm before."

The owl flew straight to Sirius and perched on his bedside table, sticking out it's leg. Sirius quickly untied the letter from the bird's leg and gave it a little scratch behind the head as a thanks before it flew off again.

"Who's it from?" James asked.

"How am I supposed to know? I haven't opened it yet!"

"Then open it!"

"What do you think I'm doing?"

Sirius shook his head in exasperation as he broke the seal and pulled the piece of parchment out. The writing was small and neat, looking as if one of those muggle pinter things had made it.

Dear Mr Black

I would like to inform you that due to our conversation being cut short, I have taken your silence as agreement to go ahead with the tutoring sessions. Miss L/n has also been contacted and will be expecting you in the Library every Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock to dinner and every Sunday morning from 10 o'clock to 1pm. If you have any problem with the times of your sessions, please send me a letter explaining when you are free.

Sincerely, Professor Sikander

Sirius swallowed, his gut clenching. Not only was Y/n L/n his soulmate, but she was also supposed to be his tutor?

It was going to be a long year...

———

"Why do I have to tutor him, Sienna? The last time I spoke to him was in first year when I apologised for bumping into him on the train and he tried to flirt with me." Y/n complained as she got ready for bed that evening.

She had left the library at closing time after having spent the whole day there finishing all five essays and two charts, so she was knackered and in no mood for the letter she received upon arrival back in Ravenclaw Tower.

Sienna shrugged, "I don't know. But what I do know is he's cute and every single girl in this school would kill to trade places with you."

She wiggled her eyebrows at Y/n who grumbled, "They don’t need to kill anyone, I'd trade places with them in a heart beat if I could."

Her friend rolled her eyes, "Come on, Y/n. It can't be that bad? It's not like you have to socialise with him. You only have to teach him."

Y/n climbed into bed and gave her friend a small smile, "You're right, as usual. I'll survive. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Tag list:

@obscurilicious

@hphufflefan

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thatonecurlygirl · 2 years

Text

When Realities Blur [Ch 1]

Fandom: Stranger Things

Pairing: TBD

Word Count: ~2k

Summary: Y/N, is a typical young adult in the 21st century, doing typical 21st century things such as obsessing over Stranger Things like half of the people she follows on TikTok are also doing right now. Little does she know that if everything aligns perfectly, realities can blur and you may end up somewhere else entirely. After falling asleep on her third round of binging Stranger Things, she awake in Hawkins, Indiana itself with a batch of friends she never thought she’d meet in her wildest dreams and a mission to save her friends from the fates she witnessed in her reality.

Masterlist

“How are you not sick of this show?” Samantha, your older sister scoffs as she peeks in your bedroom.

“It is a masterpiece! And these guys, these guys are so very hot.” You fan yourself dramatically.

“Look, I am home from college for two weeks, I really don’t want to hear you masterbating over that stupid show the whole time?” She suggests.

“Yeah, yeah, tomorrow!” You wave her off as the next episode begins to play.

You loved the previous seasons of Stranger Things, but something about the fourth season really draws you in. You wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but it’s almost like it has a supernatural hold on you and it won’t let go. Every waking moment you thought about the characters, funny moments, made references to the show and it had secretly become an obsession. You wouldn’t dare tell your family how much you are obsessing over the show as they would not understand, they never do.

“Yo! Turn down that damn television, Y/n!” Sam yells from down the hall.

“I’m a grown-ass adult, you can’t tell me what to do!” You shout back.

“I’m older than you so yes, I fucking can!” You hear her slam her door.

Samantha is twenty-two, just two short years older than you, but she likes to hold it over your head as if she were ten years older. You and Samantha never really have gotten along, she moved out with your narcissistic mother when your parents divorced and you stayed with your father who pretty much married his work after the divorce. Samantha takes after your mother a lot and is quick to remind you that she was supposed to be an only child and wishes that you were never born. Long story short, Sam is a certified bitch.

“Blah blah blah.” You mock her quietly as you turn down the television and tuck yourself under the covers. “What I wouldn’t do for everything to be different.”

*** *** ***

“Y/N! Why aren’t you dressed yet?” You are shaken awake by an oddly familiar voice, one that shouldn’t be in your bedroom right now, pulling you from your sleep. “Y/n, you’re going to make us late.” The voice Amy’s in a gentle sing-song voice.

“You have five minutes to get ready or I’m leaving without you,” Another voice joins in, bringing you all the way out of your slumber and you shoot straight up in the bed.

“What the fuck is going on!” You exclaim, looking between the two wildly confused people standing in your room.

“I am not sure?” Robin says slowly as she back away from your bed.

“Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever?” Steve quickly makes his way across the room, placing the back of his hand against your forehead. “No fever, you have four minutes now. Come on Robin.”

Steve grabs Robin by the wrist and pulls her out of your bedroom, closing the door behind them. You spring from your bed, which is a entirely unfamiliar bed as you pull on the clothes that at on an unoccupied chair in the corner, not paying much attention to what you were putting on or the fact that you were making your way through a house you’ve never seen before like you’d lived there your whole life.

When you closed your eyes, you were in your bedroom, immediately after arguing with your sister. Now, here you are in a fictitious world, with fictional characters, in the past. What in the actual hell is going on.

“I’m ready.” You say quietly, sliding into the back seat of Steve car, behind Robin.

Steve begins blabbering about girls and whatnot, you aren’t paying much attention as you grab the fatty part of the skin on your thigh and pinch so hard your eyes begin to water and you wince from the pain. Pain, you felt real pain. Not the imagined pain, the dull nothingness of an injury in a dream. This was real, biting pain. You have no idea what going on, but something is not right. Have you completely lost it? You have to be locked away in some psyche ward under some heavy sedation, because THIS IS NOT REAL!

“I like boobies, you like boobies… Vickie likes boobies. Definitely!” Steve says adamantly.

“There’s no doubt, Vickie likes boobies.” You say before you even realize you said anything.

“Thank you, Y/N!” Steve exclaims.

“And don’t stress too much over it Steve, you’re hot and definitely boyfriend material, girls here just suck and don’t realize what a catch you are.” You are now fully invested in the conversation.

“You think I’m hot?” Steve smirks at you in the rear view mirror. “Robin, Y/n thinks I’m hot.”

“Shut up and drive, Steve.” You laugh before turning back to Robin. “Seriously though, Vickie totally likes boobies. You stand by her during the pep rally, right?”

“Yes.” Robin blushes.

“You should talk to her. Me and hot stuff here will find a spot as close as possible, so if you get nervous just look at us.” You smile at her. “You’re call though, Robby.”

“Thanks, Y/n, you’re better at giving advice than Steve is.” She grimaces.

“Hence why he is still single.”

“Ohhhh” Robin giggles.

“Low blow, Y/L/N, low blow.” Steve pouts.

“It’s all in love, Steve.” You laugh.

“It’s all in love, Steve.” He mocks, pulling into a parking spot at the high school.

“Wait, I’m back in high school again?” You groan, running your hands down your face in frustration.

“No,” Steve shakes his head, confusion painted across his face once again. “Y/N, we graduated last year?”

“Right, right! God, I feel like I’m somewhere else today.” You laugh a humorless laugh

“Keep an eye on her, Steve.” Robin slides out of the front seat and runs to join the other band nerds.

You keep quiet for a while, really taking in your surroundings, occasionally pinching yourself to ensure that somehow you are in fact, not dreaming. You mindlessly follow Steve around and clap for the band and cheerleader, but in truth you are so lost. Confused as to why all of this seems more familiar than just watching it on tv. You’re wondering why and how you’ve somehow become a part of your favorite tv series. How you remember nothing of your “life in Hawkins” leading up to waking up this morning, but somehow are familiar enough to know you are due at work in an hour and the name of the girl standing beside you, though they never mentioned her name on the show. What is happening?

“…What did they die for?” Jason’s voice booms through the speaker. “For-”

“Not for you to win some stupid fucking basketball game, you idiot!” The words leave your mouth before you are able to stop them, though you are not apologetic for saying them.

The entire gymnasium of students turn, all eyes on you and you can hear Steve mumble curses under his breath, eyes wide as he too looks at you. Your eyes never leave Jason though as he bores a hateful stare into your soul.

“What was that Y/L/N?” Jason scoffs.

“They died in some freak accident. Don’t be an insensitive prick and use their deaths as a pawn to get us excited about a basketball game. It’s stupid and disrespectful.” You fold your arms across your chest, glaring hatefully back down at Jason.

A chorus of “oooohhh’s” echo through the gym as Jason stands there speechless.

“Go on, I’m finished.” You wave him on with your hand and with a hateful laugh and scoff he jumps right back in, skipping over the disrespectful bits and pretending the whole interaction didn’t happen.

“Are you sure you’re okay? That was definitely unlike you.” Steve asks, serious concern on his face now “And we should probably leave before we get in trouble for being here.”

Steve ushers you down the bleachers and out of the school all together before anyone can send school administration after the two of you. The last thing you need is for them to call the cops on you, Hopper is no longer around, he can’t help get you and Steve out of a trespassing situation.

As soon as you and Steve make it back to his car and safely inside, you turn to him eye wide and a throbbing headache, “Something is not right, Steve.”

“Are you okay?”

“Steve, I don’t know what’s happening, but I’m not supposed to be here.” You pinch yourself again, you skin bruising from the repeated abuse from you.

“Right, we graduated last year. We snuck in today. I thought you said you were okay with doing that?”

“I’m not talking about that Steve, I mean here in Hawkins, now. I am supposed to be back home, in my bed, watching you on Netflix.”

“What the hell is Netflix?” He asks.

“Steve, I’m from the future, from a different rea— Steve,” You pause, “I’m from a different reality.” Realization hit you as you admit through the searing pain of the migraine that causes you to see stars. “I have to get back, before everything goes hell.”

“What are you talking about, Y/n?” Steve raises his voice in panic.

“Steve, we’re in trouble. Hawkins is in trouble and I have to get back home.”

“Okay, I will take you home” Steve quickly starts up the car and pulls out of the high school parking lot.

“You don’t understand Steve, I have to get back home with my dad and stupid Samantha before—”

“I think you need to go back to sleep.” Steve says with his eyebrows knit together.

“Yes! You’re right, I need to go back to sleep!”

You blabber to yourself the whole way back to your house and Steve makes sure you get inside and lay down in bed before he leaves you there alone to go back to sleep. Steve obviously doesn’t get what’s going on, why would he? You barely understand what’s going on, but maybe you can find your way back home before shit gets real.

You open your eyes and find yourself suspended in an odd darkness, one similar to what El experiences when she goes into her mind. You, yourself have never experienced this before though. Hell, this whole day is unlike anything you’ve experienced before. You find yourself walking up to a mirror reflecting your image, but not as a mirror image. This you in the mirror has her hands tightly covering her mouth, tears welling in her eyes and the only thing that echoes in your mind is “Speak no evil. Speak no evil.” As it replays on an endless loop.

“I don’t understand!” You yell into the void.

“You’re going to lose yourself in here, Y/n. Speak no evil.” The mirrored you drops her hands, placing a singular finger to her lips. “No spoilers… or everyone expires. The butterflies have no mercy.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll figure it out, but the only way home is through the storm… as long as you don’t lose yourself.”

When you open your eyes you are still in your Hawkins bed and a small note placed on the edge of your bed.

‘Sweetie, I had to make sure you were still alive, you slept all day yesterday. If you still don’t feel well, please stop by the hospital. I will be home late, again. Dad.’

You smile down at the note, your dad here in this reality seems just like your dad back in your reality which makes you feel a little more comfortable. You read the note a couple more times, trying to gain the courage to face the rest of the day and figure out what is going on and how you even got here in the first place.

“Wait!” You read over the note one last time, “‘…slept all day yesterday?’ Eddie!”

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