#but he also obviously felt like that was his responsibility as the owner of the hotel and he felt fuckin bad about it

[potatobugz]

do you think the mess in oshiros hotel is meant to signify that hes been letting his problems pile up until its become too overwhelming to handle.

im thinking about the fact that he's definitely the one who's been making the mess but he doesn't even realize it. he ignores the clutter until it becomes too hard to ignore you know? like when it starts actively blocking the way to the presidential suite. he insists that he and his staff will handle it and that madeline shouldn't clean up his own mess, but he still doesn't do anything about it. does he know that the staff is gone? that it's just him there?

mr oshiro is so hell bent on impressing madeline so that she'll stay in his hotel. he's so in denial of everything. he doesn't even realize he's dead, he still thinks his hotel never got shut down. I think his insistence on her staying is bc he really wants to believe that the hotel is open, and a costumer would affirm that belief. it could also maybe be a mixture of loneliness too. (also, him treating her as a costumer even after she says no is absolutely him being in denial. that man is very unhealthily attached to this hotel,)

and even though it was nice of madeline to clean it up, there's still parts of the hotel she can't fix. the plumbing. the windows. the, hole in the ceiling (oops.) she's not qualified to help him, and that's why I think the chapter ends on a bit of a sour note. madeline is of course not a bad person for wanting to help, the point is that she can't. it is unfortunate but true

anyways mr oshiro is a very good character i like him a regular amount. im normal about that old man

#celeste #celeste game #mr oshiro #oshiro celeste #character analysis #i guess ? #this is my first time making any post like this but i meeded to make it i need 2 talk about hom and his fuckin hotel !!!!!!! #one other thought i have is... i saw a few ppl say that mr oshiro manipulated madeline into cleaning or that he feigned incompetence ? #and i disagree with that. though this might just be me looking at jt w rose tinted glasses bc i do like him a lot #but first of all i dont think he couldve easily cleaned that whole mess himself. i know hes a ghost but like #there was stuff everywhere in the whole hotel. #not to mention he felt guilty when madeline did clean all that stuff up. of course it was also a little bit #because he didnt want to lose her as a customer #but he also obviously felt like that was his responsibility as the owner of the hotel and he felt fuckin bad about it #i could be wrong bc i dont remember everyting he said in that chapter but i dont think he ever asked her to clean either ? #and like yeah i think he can come off a little mean at times tbh #hes obviously going through some stuff. guysm cmon. he is not a bad person. none of these characters are. whevhhwveh #idk. i did my best here. *explodes* #thank you for listening to my insane rambles about peeing in a hot topic i hope u all have a goooood night #rambles #i honestly hope he gets a happy ending somewhat

[neptuneiris]

cardigan (epilogue) (1/2)

i knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired, and you'd be standin' in my front porch light.

pairing: modern!aemond × best friend reader!

summary: being in love with your best friend since high school becomes a strong and unavoidable feeling. until it starts to become more difficult when you get to college and the two of you, especially him, meet new people.

word count: 9.9K

previous part • next part

obviously i didn't expect this to be too long hahaha, even i was surprised, i didn't realize it was too much. so i decided to make the epilogue in two parts. thank u all so much por reading❤

Life in Highgarden could not have exceeded your expectations more.

At first you felt like you were supposed to when you came to live in a new city: terrified, anxious and nervous. You didn't want to feel lonely, but it was inevitable considering you know nothing and no one.

And when you arrive at your new dorm, you immediately loved it. Your room is bigger than the one at King's Landing and you have a beautiful view with lots of trees around and green grass.

Highgarden is well known for the fantastic flora and fauna. Everything is green, there are big trees and beautiful plants, there are even lakes and the weather ¡is perfect.

Yet you didn't have much time to get to know the city, because a week after you arrived, your classes started. And a week after you started your classes, you started your internship.

You met Arthur Winslow, the psychologist responsible of your internship, owner of a mental clinic for children, teenagers and adults.

He explained to you from the beginning that, once you were prepared, you would be present in cases of children and teenagers as well as adults to start your experience.

In addition, you would also support him in administrative things, such as his schedule, phone calls and so on. The pay is at a fair price, so it's perfect.

And as a result of Aileen and Sara not making it into the exchange program, you made new friends in your classes.

Although even if your friends had gotten in, Aileen would have chosen to go to Dorne and Sara to Winterfell, so you started talking to the people in your class.

They all came from different parts of the country, only a very few came from King's Landing and you didn't really talk to them much.

And after the first month passed, you just couldn't get any better.

You adjusted perfectly to your internship, to your classes which are wonderful and you also made good friends very quickly with whom you finally had that security to go around Highgarden almost in its entirety.

You went to many places, whether it was squares, parks, museums, lakes and even aquariums. Everything was so beautiful.

You took pictures, videos, made compilations with all your visits to upload to your Instagram, and even went out for fun on weekends to parties and bars with your friends.

You kept in touch with your friends at King's Landing and also let your parents know what you were doing by sending them pictures, videos and also talking to them on the phone.

Even Helaena messaged you by replying to one of your Instagram stories asking how you were doing and how you were doing at Highgarden.

Also her older brother messaged you, Aegon. He asked you how you were doing and also told you that he hasn't seen you in a while.

In truth with Aegon you did not speak much and fortunately neither of the two Targaryen brothers mentioned Aemond and for that you were grateful.

You were not thinking about him, not since you came to Highgarden and that is why you felt so at peace with yourself.

Despite being completely focused on your classes and internships more than anything else, you didn't lie to your friends that you had met and talked to a few guys.

You mostly met them at college parties, but nothing formal, it was all just hanging out.

You didn't have the mindset to really date, you didn't feel like you needed to and really a Highgarden guy didn't suit you if you were six months from now coming back to King's Landing.

You just had fun, experienced new things and officially started your psychology training.

And with the date getting closer and closer to return to King's Landing, you realized you didn't want to leave. Neither did Vhagar. At least not yet.

You grew attached very quickly to everything at Highgarden, even Vhagar with her walks in the parks and the view of the sunset when you took her for a stroll around the lake as well.

Everything was quiet and you felt at peace. However, you admit that you miss your friends and your life at King's Landing.

It's kind of a bittersweet taste to have to leave to go home. You definitely plan to come back because you've even grown quite fond of Dr. Winslow.

Until finally the date arrives and it's time to go back.

It was six months and yet it felt like it all happened in a matter of weeks. Yet you know you enjoyed every second at Highgarden and you don't feel like you wasted any time.

You immediately text your mom that you have landed at King's Landing and you also send a picture of your arrival to the group chat with Aileen, Sara and Ryan.

You call for an Uber and soon you find yourself arriving at the dorm with Vhagar in your arms.

The man driver helps you carry your bags up to your room, which you couldn't feel more grateful for, and as you enter that small space where you started your dependency, you feel nostalgic because you had missed it and happy because you are back.

And not long after you arrived, of course your friends would pay you an unannounced visit to welcome you back.

"You have to tell us everything.”

"And you have to show us the pictures you didn't upload to your Instagram."

"Did you meet cute guys?"

"How was your dorm?"

"How is the food?"

"We have to go to a party to celebrate."

You laugh as you notice the excitement in Aileen and Sara who are the ones asking all the questions while you and Ryan watch them with a small, amused smile.

And even though you didn't answer their questions, they still say they should get something to eat and drag you along with them to tell them everything.

Ryan takes them to a fast food restaurant in the middle of the university and soon the table is filled with fries, sodas, burgers, pizza and so on.

"You have to go one day, the program for the psychology internships are the best. The school is not that big, but the teachers are amazing, they even organize tours to many mental clinics of all kinds for all the students themselves. The only bad thing | could tell you about Highgarden is the food, it's not that good."

"Ugh no, dont tell me that,” says Aileen with a long-suffering face, "Don't make me change my mind about choosing Highgarden over Dorne if | get to go on exchange next year."

"But why would you want to go to a desert?” Ryan asks her confused, "Do you like to get your ass all sweaty?"

"Dorne is a place with incredible wonders and a lot of history, in case you didn't know,” she says seriously, "l've always wanted to see Sunspear."

"Just like any other place, genius. Besides, don't you know the temperatures reported in Dorne? It's like living in hell,” Ryan tells her incredulously. "l'm more supportive of Sara's idea to go to Winterfell where, if she's lucky, she'Il be able to go beyond the North and see the Wall. l'd rather do that than be dying of heat."

"So you'd rather be freezing to death?"

"Yes. A million times yes."

"And what about the parties?"

Sara asks you, picking up the subject and leaving aside for a moment Aileen and Ryan who continue arguing about Dorne and any other place in Westeros where according to Ryan it's better.

“They're not as noisy as here, but you still have a good time," you confess.

"Of course you have a good time,” Sara tells you mischievously, "All those guys you met seemed like they would really show you a good time."

You lower your gaze with a small embarrassed smile.

"It was just for the moment, that's all."

"And you didn't have any luck with any of them?"

You deny, looking at her again.

"I didn't want to. It wasn't...” You let out a sigh, "lt wasn't ideal."

"Oh come on, why not?” she asks incredulously, offended, "Didn't you get a good look at them? They were very handsome, Y/N. And they were just videos you sent us, I'm sure they were really hot in person."

You let out a small laugh, denying again.

"I didn't want to get attached to one of them, let alone start dating because | knew |'d be back here,” you confess, "And the whole long-distance relationships thing... it's not really my thing."

Sara grimaces and gives you a look of understanding at the same time.

"Well," she sighs, "At least you had fun with them."

"Not with all of them,” you clarify amused.

"But you did, so that counts."

After talking some more with Sara, since Aileen and Ryan are still busy debating... or rather fighting, you leave your part of the money for them to pay the bill while you go to the bathroom.

When you return, as you walk towards the table with your friends, a voice you know very well despite not having heard it in a while makes you stop as you hear your name called out.

"Y/N?"

And when you turn your head, a surprised Aegon Targaryen looks at you with a huge smile, standing with him is Helaena, apparently both of them having just arrived at the restaurant.

For an instant you panic at the thought that he's probably here too, but you're relieved to see that it's just the two of them.

"Is that you? Really?"

Aegon asks you amused, wasting no time in approaching you with Helaena following him and you also smile in his direction and shorten the distance between the two of you.

"It's been a long time since l've seen you too, Egg."

"Oh you little devil, you haven't forgotten how much | hate it when you call me that."

You both laugh and he wraps you in a tight hug that you reciprocate with the same affection, because even though Aemond was your best friend, you are still fond of all his brothers and nephews who have always been very good to you.

"Where have you been hiding? I haven't seen you for years."

He tells you incredulously, separating from you and you shrug your shoulders, already anticipating that you will talk about him. And even if you don't want to, you'll still have to.

"You know... here and there,” you say without much detail, shrugging your shoulders.

"Here and there where?" he asks you amused.

"Well... at school, with my friends and also at my exchange."

“But I dont see you around our house anymore, not even on birthdays, you didn't go to the ball either," he says almost in a sad tone, "You don't talk to my brother anymore, do you?" he asks a little more seriously, "Since the ball happened and he didn't take you, I knew something had happened. It seemed strange to me since you always went together every year."

You let out a long breath, lick your lips and nod, not wanting to give more importance to that matter that already happened many months ago.

"Yeah," you smile a little, affirming, "Yeah, since then."

"Forgive him,” Helaena stands between the two of you, with a smile and a sorry look, "l told him clearly that he won't ask you about him if he sees you when you come back, but his mental capacity is so low that the idiot doesn't understand."

You can't help but laugh at this, while Aegon at her side looks at her offended.

"l only wanted to corroborate what you told me,” he says innocently.

"Corroborate?" Helaena asks him.

"Yes," he says at once, still offendead, "I didn't believe you. At least not much. The two of them were inseparable and to suddenly not be friends anymore... it was like when | found out that Jack and Rose never existed and it was just a fictional story for the Titanic movie, I couldn't believe it and i felt cheated."

"Shut the fuck up."

Helaena says to him with a bad face and then turns to you with the smile and the softest and most pleasant look so characteristic of her.

"l'm so happy you're back. I didn't even know you were back, if i had known i would have texted you and we would have gone for a coffee."

"Thank you, Hel,” you smile softly at her, "And no, i didn't say anything about coming back and i honestly don't know why. I was so sad to leave but at the same time i was desperate to be back home."

"And what about Highgarden?" she asks you excitedly, "l've always been looking forward to going there. The nature there is just wonderful. There are lots of aquariums, isn't there?"

"Yes, yes, everything is amazing," you assure her, "Except the food. That's my only complaint. Everything is too... healthy"

"Oh yes, i knew that already," she says to you in understanding.

"And where do you live now that you don't live with my brother anymore?" Aegon asks interested, "Did you rent an apartment for yourself?"

"No, no, i live in a dorm now,” you clarify, "Because of the scholarship i got a big discount, and with the money i got paid for my internship at Highgarden, i have a chance to look for another job around here for a month."

"Oh, great,” he nods, listening to you attentively.

"A friend of mine who works at a boutique nearby recently told me they're looking for female employees. She works part time, maybe you have the same schedule if i pass you her number and she gives you more information."

Helaena tells you with such confidence that you're thankful that the first day you've been back to King's Landing, she's already saved you from looking for a job.

The flower shop where you worked before is already full of employees since your quitting, Sara told you since she went to ask to let you know before returning to King's Landing.

And now Helaena has helped you with that.

"That would help me a lot, Hel. Thank you so much."

"Oh, it's nothing,” she says nonchalantly taking her phone, "I'II tell my friend and then I'll pass you her number, don't worry."

After talking and keeping up with both of you for a few more minutes, your friends call you to leave and that's when the three of you say goodbye.

They both tell you if you want to keep them company, but since you've already eaten and you also have a mess in your room that needs to be cleaned up for your return, you agree to go out to dinner next week.

And just as you say, that's what happens once you're back in your dorm.

Vhagar greets you and keeps you company as you start to get all your clothes, shoes, make-up and all your stuff out of the suitcases. You also get something in and start arranging your few pieces of furniture in different ways in your space, wanting to try something new.

You put all your clothes in your closet, not wanting to leave anything for later, that takes some time, also to sweep and rearrange everything as you had it in your small bathroom.

You even fill a basket with clothes that need to be washed and go down to the laundry room, really not wanting to leave anything for later knowing that you have busy weeks ahead of you because of college and you want to get everything ready.

You wait for the clothes to be washed and also to dry, then go back to your room and continue organizing everything.

Until the sunset starts to show through your window and realizing that you are not missing anything anymore, you can finally lay down on your bed with Vhagar and rest.

You pick up your phone and begin to entertain yourself with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, letting the time pass.

Vhagar settles in next to you and you get more comfortable to start watching Tiktoks, entertaining yourself for another good time.

You think to yourself that maybe later you'll go downstairs to buy something from the vending machine and watch a movie or maybe a series until you fall asleep, sounding like an awesome plan for you.

Then you finally get up, grab your most comfortable clothes and take a bath. It doesn't take you long and you dry your hair, then you feed Vhagar and take money to go buy food and watch the movie or series.

When suddenly there is a knock on your door.

You watch it in silence, thinking confused that you are not expecting anyone. And you have no idea who it could be. You didn't agree with your friends that they would come here later if you've already seen each other in the morning.

You check your messages to see if any of your friends told you they were coming to visit you unexpectedly, but nothing.

So you go to open the door thinking that it must be one of your friends and they decided not to tell you about coming over, but when you open your door you didn't expect it to be your ex-best friend, Aemond.

You freeze the moment you see him, definitely not expecting it.

As his gaze lights up when he sees you and the two of you are face to face after what felt like an eternity of the two of you not seeing each other.

You unconsciously take a step back, surprised and confused, your lips parted, as he watches you intently, almost with a hopeful look, maybe because he's afraid you'll slam the door in his face.

But you don't move from shock because you didn't expect it to be him and you didn't expect to see him so suddenly after so many months.

And he… hasn't changed.

You know it's only been months, there's not much difference, but it's the same appearance since the last time you saw him. His hair is still short to your surprise and his clothing style is the same.

What you do notice are the muscles on his arms are more pronounced and you also get the impression that he is a little taller.

While you… what can you say about yourself? Really nothing.

The only new thing you've done is to start trotting in the mornings, also your hair is short below your shoulders when before you had it down to your waist and you've put more earrings in both ears.

And neither of you say anything.

The two of you are simply inspecting each other after a long time without seeing each other, you mostly feeling just as confused to see him here.

You really don't understand how he is here. Or rather how he knew you were already back.

He certainly couldn't have known, you still have him blocked from all your social media networks.

Then….?

You ask yourself but the answer comes to you in a second.

Aegon.

You think in affirmative mode. And also probably Helaena because the three of you met at the restaurant. But you know it was Aegon who must have told him everything.

You don't doubt that maybe Hel wanted to kill him.

When after a few more seconds, the two of them not speaking and just watching each other, you finally react, instantly feeling nervous, without really knowing why.

Also that little remorse comes to your chest for everything that happened between you and what happened the last time you saw each other, remembering everything you told him crying.

You hug yourself and bite the inside of your cheek, also as he is looking at you, remembering his girlfriend, the ball and also your birthday.

When he speaks first.

"Hi."

He says to you letting out a sigh afterwards, stirring in front of you, keeping his hands in his jacket pockets, which are movements you know he does when he's nervous.

Also his look tells you he's a bit worried and anxious, but he still stands tall in front of you, his lilac eye watching you intently and having a slight gleam in it.

And his sapphire in your direction… it looks just as beautiful and stunning as ever.

"Hi."

You answer him with your tone of voice a little lower and feeling a little uncomfortable, puzzled, but you also stand firm in front of him, feeling nervous.

You certainly weren't prepared for when this moment happened and you know he wasn't either, yet here he is.

"W-what are you doing here?"

You ask trying not to let your voice sound shaky, holding back.

He swallows hard and looks away from you for a moment while he presses his lips together, to look at you again with those nerves and that certain hope.

"Actually… I wasn't too sure about coming here," he confesses with a soft look in his eyes, just like his voice, "Aegon told me you had returned to King's Landing and I wanted to see it myself."

At this, you lower your gaze for a moment and bite your lips. Yet… strangely… you don't feel upset.

"He told me by accident and got a good punch from Helaena," he adds and you look at him again.

You don't say anything for a few seconds, just look away from him, swallow hard and let out a long breath.

"Well, it's true, I'm back. If that's all, you can go now…

"Y/N..."

He calls out to you this time hopefully, interrupting you in a quick tone, not wanting to waste the opportunity and clearly not wanting this to be over any faster than he wants it to be.

It's the first time you've seen each other in months and in all these months a lot has happened and he just… wants to try.

It doesn't matter that you in the end don't want to, that you're still upset and don't want to see him, because he will understand and he will finally respect your decision, but he wants to try first.

He doesn't want to leave without trying.

"I know you probably don't want to, because I know you didn't expect to see me and maybe you even want to kick me out…"

He says lowering his gaze for a second, sighing, and then he looks at you again.

"But I want to risk myself," he tells you honestly, "and I'll understand if you say no, truly," he assures you, "I just want to talk to you and after this, if you still don't want me to bother you anymore, then I won't go near you again, I assure you."

He tells you and you remain paralyzed again for a few seconds, listening to him and watching him with your lips parted.

"And if you want me to leave now, I will. But I just want to try…" he lets out a long breath, gathering his courage, "So…. may I come in, please?"

He asks you softly, watching you just the same and almost expectantly, stirring continuously where he stands, knowing full well that he is as nervous as you are, while you have no idea what to do.

Your mind starts thinking fast, considering what you should and shouldn't do.

But the truth is that nothing comes to your mind. You just have a quick, unexpected debate on whether to let him into your room or not.

Vhagar behind you barks twice, watching Aemond very intently, while repeatedly wagging her tail back and forth excitedly and looking very playful.

While Aemond in front of you watches her with excitement and some hope, to again focus on you, ready to face the decision you will make, either yes or no.

And finally after what feels like an eternity, you know that rejecting him is probably the best option, but for some reason… you can't find the courage to do it.

And not because seeing him now in front of you and having heard his words has softened your heart, but because you realize that your heart doesn't hurt like it used to.

Maybe it was all the time you stayed apart and you healed in Highgarden, helped by the change of air, your lifestyle and the new people around you, unconsciously overcoming everything that happened between you, that you don't feel that pain anymore.

However… you do feel a weight. A weight on your shoulders and in your heart.

And it is because of that weight that after considering it in depth, with your soft gaze, you step aside and open the door wider, allowing him the entrance to your room.

Aemond would be lying if at that moment he didn't feel as if he had just received the news that he won the lottery, because surprise overcomes him and also relief.

And not wanting you to take it back, he enters your room, thanking you with his gaze in silence, while you control your nerves and close the door, facing this.

He in an instant is already in Vhagar who eagerly and seemingly happily enjoys being in his arms and licks his hands and cheeks, making him laugh and give her kisses, caressing her.

You can't help but smile a little at the scene, but you are just the same neutral and firm.

When he watches you over Vhagar, he leaves another kiss on her head and sets her back down on your bed, now looking as if he has no idea what to do.

He honestly didn't think it would go this far. He thought you'd slam the door in his face.

But you're both here. Face to face with each other. And certainly with a lot of things to say that you couldn't say to each other before.

"Hmm…" he says, stirring and glancing briefly at your room, "Did I interrupt you with something important?"

He asks and watches you intently, to which you deny, crossing your arms.

"No," you answer softly, "I was just planning to go buy something from the vending machine downstairs and watch something, a movie or a series."

"Oh," he nods, understanding, "well, if you want, I'll go," he offers, "you haven't eaten anything?"

"No. You?"

"I haven't either. But I can go and buy some dinner for both of us, only if you want. There are many restaurants near here."

"Well…

You stir uncomfortably.

"Only if you want."

"Yeah, no problem," he assures you.

And again he leaves you alone in your room saying he will be back soon, making you sigh and sit on your bed with an almost terrified expression… not expecting or understanding any of this.

The fact that he's gone to buy food helps you mentally prepare yourself for when he comes back, having no idea how they'll start talking about everything that happened.

You don't even know what he will tell you first, but you calm down and use the time he has given you to not feel nervous and terrified.

You take a deep breath, you say that everything will be fine, that this shouldn't be awkward… or at least not too awkward and that if both you and he start to feel like it's too much, you can both say so.

And of course you don't want any of this to lead to a fight. It wouldn't be wise and it's totally unnecessary.

When after a few minutes, Aemond returns with Chinese food, soda and fries from the vending machine.

He actually buys you some of your favorite chips and has also ordered you the Chinese food exactly the way you like it. At this you just thank him and both of you settle into your bed.

You put Vhagar down, give him some of her food and the two of you begin to eat.

At first it did feel a little awkward, but then, as you talk about the food being delicious and ask both of you to pass such things around, the mood begins to lighten and it's like going back to when you both lived together.

The two of them are comfortable, eating, talking about anything and watching a movie, although this time there is no movie.

And he is the first to start a conversation.

"How was Highgarden?" he observes you attentively, his gaze soft, interested.

"Incredible," you answer without hesitation.

He nods, as the two of you put more pieces of food in your mouths and then you take a sip from your bottle of soda.

"You told me that's where the best psychology internship programs are, right?"

"Yes," you affirm, "When I found out I got into the exchange program, it was the first place I applied."

"And you didn't have any problems?"

"No," you observe him softly, "Because of my good grades they didn't deny me anything, they gave me one of the first places in internships for Highgarden and everything was a very fast process. And when I got there and met the psychologist in charge of me and his clinic… it was just amazing."

"Yeah," he murmurs, "yeah, I can imagine. And I'm happy for you."

He tells you honestly, with a small smile that you return. A genuine smile from both of us.

"Thank you."

"And how did it all go? What was that you were doing? Did you get to know all of Highgarden too?"

And you tell him everything.

You tell him how your first weeks were, how was your dorm, the university, the new people you met, your internship, Dr. Arthur, what you had to do and you even told him about some very interesting cases.

You also told him about the places you met, showed him pictures and videos. You tell him that you went out partying on a few weekends, all the while he listens to you and watches you with great attention, looking genuinely interested, and asking you more questions.

Until you have nothing more to tell him about your six months at Highgarden.

"What about you? Haven't you started your internship yet?"

You ask him interestedly.

"Yes, since April," he says, "Obviously it wasn't difficult. I'm going to my father's company and I got some of my friends to do their internships there as well.

"Oh," you nod, understanding, "and what do you say?"

"What do I say?" he repeats, letting out a sigh, "well, it's not as interesting as what you told me," he says with a small smile, "It's all finance, paperwork, computer programs and so on. But that's what I like and I've been doing very well."

"Yes," you murmur, looking at a spot in your room, "But it's interesting," you tell him, "I've always thought you'd end up like one of the characters in Succession, someday running your father's important company as a rich and powerful man.

He smiles softly and then looks at you, to which you also smile in his direction.

"Am I right?" you ask him amused.

"In fact yes, you are absolutely right," he assures you in the same way.

There's no more food except for chips and soda, so he then starts talking to you more about his life and everything he's been doing lately besides college and his internship.

All while you both stare at an unimportant spot in your room, side by side, eating junk food.

And you listen to him with close attention, really interested in wanting to know what his life has been like now that you are no longer a part of it.

He tells you about how he has spent more time with his family, he tells you about Daeron, Rhaenyra, Daemon and even his cousins and nephews, Jace, Luke, Joffrey, Baela and Rhaena.

He tells you how they all spent a small part of the summer on Driftmark, an island near Dragonstone where his whole family also has a property right there, but which belongs to his aunt and uncle Rhaenys and Corlys.

You knew about Driftmark, but never in your years of friendship with Aemond did he invite you there because all his family always organized anything in his huge mansion here in King's Landing or in Dragonstone.

He also tells you about upcoming birthdays and everything his mother has planned.

And in everything he talks about, he doesn't mention Alys at all, maybe for fear that you might get upset or uncomfortable and want him to leave, because you don't dare ask him about her either.

You just let him talk to you about the first thing that comes to his mind, both of you comfortable in your bed and still eating junk food.

When Aemond seems to have told you everything and you both stay in a comfortable silence, almost shoulder to shoulder, both of you watching your little room and just letting time pass by.

And that's when Aemond watches you with his soft gaze, while you continue to eat fried food, staring into nothing. He swallows hard and lets out a long breath.

"I owe you an apology."

You freeze for a moment, still looking at everything around you but him, surprised by his words and beginning to understand where this is going.

Unable to help yourself, you look at him and he looks at you with a look that is both serious and gentle, looking honest, only to look away, maybe because of nerves, and continue talking.

"I was a very bad friend to you," he says in a murmur, "what I did to you is something unforgivable, I know, something you didn't deserve," he admits, "I don't expect you to forgive me Y/N, I'm not asking for that, I just want to talk to you and that you listen to me, that….

"I don't want to listen to your apologies only if you say them out of pity, Aemond," you interrupt him, serious.

"What? No, no, this is not for pity, Y/N," he assures you, honest and desperate to clarify, "I never felt pity for you and you know it."

"I don't know," you mutter, "After what happened, you made me doubt if our friendship was genuine or because you wanted and were my friend for pity," you confess.

"Y/N…" he tells you in a sigh, sad, denying, "since you left… since we stopped seeing and talking to each other… you don't know everything I wanted to tell you, everything I wanted to apologize for even if you didn't forgive me."

"Aemond…" you call him cautiously, "you can't apologize to me just to make me forgive you and your girlfriend too, you….

"I broke up with Alys."

He interrupts you with the most honest and quickest sentence he's ever said in all the time you've been together, making you freeze once more and stare at him with your lips parted.

And he watches you with the most honest look, wanting to clarify that point as much as possible and that there is no doubt, even feeling proud to say it.

"I broke up with her days after you left the apartment, and that was the last time we saw each other," he explains, in a low, honest tone.

But even after telling you that, you don't feel entirely confident. That's why you lower your gaze and swallow hard as you consider how strong his relationship was.

"But if you go back with her, I don't….

"No, Y/N," he says to you in denial, "I'm done with her for good," he assures you, "I didn't want to and I don't want to have anything to do with her anymore. I don't care anymore, she's nothing to me and never really was in all the time we were together."

You listen to him surprised, attentive, breathing a little faster than usual, not understanding, while he then starts to tell you everything.

Everything he wanted to tell you since your friendship started to fall apart and the moment it broke.

"Alys managed to get my attention a lot when we first met. She led me to believe on our first few dates that a relationship could be good, healthy and loving. But when we finally formalized everything, she started to show herself as the real person she is when she already had me," he explains, "And I naively gave her everything she asked for, even money, because I was obsessed with her and the way she made me feel. She made me feel so unique, so wanted and so special that I-I just…" he lets out a sigh, "I let her hold me in the palm of her hand."

He brings one of his hands to the nape of his neck, ruffling his short hair with his fingers, feeling strange telling you all this, but also feeling it as a necessity for you to listen and understand him.

And you really don't have any problem, you listen to him carefully and let him tell you everything he wants to tell you, still feeling a little sharp pain in your chest.

"She would even tell me things she didn't agree with or like, either about me or my family, making me feel bad and upset sometimes, but then she would turn them into just a point of view and convince me that I had misunderstood her, when I hadn't," he explains to you, "She told me that my mother was very controlling after she met her, that my siblings, even Helaena, seemed very weird to her, and that Daemon didn't seem like a good person."

You are surprised to hear that and pay more attention, while Aemond feels ashamed of himself for telling you this, but it is the truth.

"In that instant I should have put a stop to her, I know. But like the fucking idiot I am, I kept letting myself be easily manipulated by her, because she kept telling me it was just her first impression and her views," he says in a low, sorrowful whisper, "She just had a long conversation with my father without looking bored. I even noticed she changed her attitude and looked more… kind. But only with him."

He says in a bitter tone, while you understand what he's going on about.

"And of course, how could she not be nicer to him," he says with a smile and a bitter look, "With her about to graduate, she told him about that and also about her internship with the man who owns the most important company in the country. She talked about everything she knows and her skills, almost telling him her entire resume so he would hire her."

Now you let out a long breath, must have imagined it.

You thought Alys had really fallen in love with him. That's what you always thought until today when he gave you the news that he broke up with her months ago and that there was no love in the relationship.

You always thought that no girl could reject Aemond for his personality and his looks, that no one could reject him for being him, for knowing him and in an instant wanting to know more about him.

Because that's how you fell in love with him, you didn't fall in love because of what he had and what he could offer you professionally and economically.

But that was just what caught Alys' attention, not his personality and his heart.

"It also happened that when I would talk to her about my classes or an important project that I had worked hard on and got an excellent grade, she would say that it wasn't enough and that I needed to work harder to earn my father's company. She discredited everything I did, telling me that I had to do more so that someday I could be the boss and both of us could run the company, talking about those kinds of plans and almost assuring me that it would be like that," he says seriously and bitterly, "She insulted my friends, saying that they only cared about parties, that they were alcoholics and did not care about their studies, that they were useless and did not contribute anything to me now and would not do so in the future. She also said that I should have more serious and professional friends around me."

He lets out a long breath, really at that moment with you by your side realizing more how really bad his relationship was, the kind of very nasty girl he had by his side and how very blinded he was.

"The same thing happened with you," he says to you, saddened, "Clearly you know because you heard that conversation."

You bite your lips, remembering how bad she made you feel with her words. And so does he, corroborating with her.

"I owe you more than an apology for that, Y/N," he tells you honestly, "You were right, a best friend doesn't leave her best friend aside and that time I didn't even defend you. I should have stopped her, I should have put myself firm with her… but I didn't." he says apologetic, sad and disappointed, "and I'm very sorry for that."

Then you realize that you can't accept those apologies, because it really hurt you a lot to hear that conversation and that he didn't stand up for you because of the way you are and what you like to do.

If things had been the other way around, you would have defended Aemond with all your might, because he was your best friend.

"She was the reason why I started to leave you aside on weekends, why I gradually left you living alone and also why I didn't take care of Vhagar anymore, because she doesn't like dogs," he says seriously and sighs, "She was also the one who convinced me to take her to the ball and planned everything so I would forget your birthday," he confesses to you, saddened. "She deleted messages from you that morning, she confessed it to me when I confronted her when I realized that your birthday had already passed and that even weeks later she made me stay with her so I wouldn't see you. She also planned that stupid two hour dinner with her parents to delay me so I wouldn't notice and let the whole one night go by."

You bite your lips again, not watching him, feeling the urge to cry remembering that day, your birthday, because he also made you feel so bad during and still after by not getting any explanation from him.

And all because of her. But also for him, because he wouldn't put a stop to it.

"And yet I was still with her…" he says in a sigh, incredulous and disappointed in himself, "Like I said, she had me exactly the way she wanted me to be, and she would convince me otherwise when she didn't like something or made me behave differently than she wanted me to."

He shakes his head, feeling annoyed with himself for allowing it, for having fallen so low, letting himself be moved by her as she wanted, making him start to think that his friends were less important than her, his girlfriend.

That she was more important than Y/N, his best friend, who had always been there for him in very good and very difficult times, leaving her and throwing away their friendship of years for a relationship of months.

"She knew exactly what to do and what to say to make me stay," he murmurs, "But Alys never loved me and never really cared for me. She only cared about me out of interest and wanted to be with me out of the same interest, which was all she cared about."

"Did you love her?"

You dare to ask him without observing him, with a thread of voice, while Aemond at your side watches you for a few moments in silence and with his eye wide open in surprise.

I didn't expect you to ask him that, in fact I didn't expect any questions at all, but despite that, he knows the answer.

He knows it since the last time they both saw each other.

"No."

He respond in a low tone but completely serious and honest, while you dare to observe him surprised, but with an almost expressionless gaze and your lips parted.

"At first I came to have a certain affection for her … but only at first," he confesses, "Then it became that obsession with how she made me feel, but nothing else. I never came to love her and I am very relieved by that."

You take your eyes off him, closing your eyes for a moment, letting go of a long breath.

"And after I didn't see you again and I found out that you had gone on exchange… you don't know how that made me feel, Y/N," he swallows hard, "I had lost one of the most important people in my life. life for a fucking relationship and my own behavior. I wasn't thinking, I was an idiot. And I just wanted to scream and break everything for losing you… for not fixing it sooner."

An ugly and huge lump forms in your throat, observing an unimportant point in your room, your gaze lost and your eyes beginning to fill with tears.

You really didn't want to feel that way, you didn't want his words to soften you up, yet…they did.

But you hold back as much as you can, while Aemond next to you feels the same thing that you are feeling, but he doesn't dare to do anything about it, realizing your state, wanting to give you your space.

When you finally take a deep breath and talk to him even without looking at him.

“I missed you a lot too, Aemond. I missed you throughout your relationship with Alys and after I left to Highgarden. I missed you even when you didn't even deserve it."

You confess in a low and honest murmur, completely drawing his attention, you saying nothing else for a few seconds, swallowing the lump in your throat and completely holding back your tears.

While he listens to you and watches surprised, not expecting that, since he thought that all this time you had been hating him. He even thinks you hate him now.

And yes, if it was something like that, there was hatred, resentment, anger and courage for everything that happened, but even so, you also missed it very much.

You missed him, but you didn't forgive him.

"You also don't know how much I hate myself for ending our friendship, Y/N," he tells you in a sad and regretful whisper.

When you look back at him.

“I cannot forgive you, Aemond. Not yet."

And your words are like a dagger in the heart, a wound that, despite the fact that it hurts, accepts and respects it. He certainly didn't expect you to forgive him, but telling him that you had missed him, too, lit a small spark of hope in him. But it was not like that.

And he really respects it.

He doesn't want to make the same mistakes again, and so he does, feeling less weight on his shoulders, relieved that there aren't all those negative feelings between you anymore.

Nor does he expect that after this, everything will be back to the way it was before, because it won't.. He knows it's impossible. And if everything really ends between you both, then he will respect that too.

That's why he nods in your direction, both of you looking into each other's eyes, a understanding look and a small, soft, closed-mouthed smile on his lips, letting you know he's perfectly fine with that.

"Yes, i know," he assures you softly. “It's alright, I understand."

You nod gently in his direction, also placing a small gentle smile and both of you take your gazes away from each other and immersing in a comfortable silence.

Comfortable because finally neither of you feels that weight anymore and everything seems to be… fine.

Both of you have already said everything you wanted to say.

Or almost.

Because in the middle of that silence, Aemond starts thinking fast, having an indecisive debate in his mind, telling himself that enough has been enough, that everything is fine between you now and he doesn't want to ruin it.

But his heart tells him to do it, that there is still more.

While you by his side take your bottle of soda and take a sip, comfortable, this feeling good, but also knowing that this does not mean that the two will resume their friendship.

But for the moment… you enjoy it. You enjoy the moment.

And that's when he speaks again.

"After you left King's Landing…

He starts and you watch him, getting your attention.

"Helaena told me something," let out a long breath, "Something that made me finally realize my feelings and that made me have a little hope, even though you were already gone."

You are still watching him with attention, not having the slightest idea that it could be that what his sister told him, when Aemond looks up at you and looks into your eyes with his soft and honest gaze.

"She told me that you're in love with me."

Your hands become paralyzed first, you stop drinking soda and then your whole body is the one that is motionless, while you observe it with your lips between open, with your confused, attentive and nervous look at the same time.

You don't understand anything.

It's not like you told Helaena about it, in fact no one knows.

And it only makes you feel more nervous that Aemond is there, right next to you, acting completely normal about it, now that he already knows, continuing to observe you in the same way.

But you can't speak, you're still in shock, starting to feel like your pulse is racing too fast.

"She told me that you didn't tell her anything, that she just… knows," he says to you later, still in a soft tone, still making you panic.

You turn your gaze away from him, blink several times, starting to react from panic and nerves and hold your drink tightly.

"You should go."

It's all you say in a thread of voice, not daring to look him in the eye any more and you quickly get up from your bed, wanting to put as much distance as possible between the two of you.

You take Aemond by surprise, who stands up slightly, watching you worried, desperate and a little confused as you go to your door.

When his next words cause you to become paralyzed again, tensing up completely.

"I'm in love with you, too."

He says to you almost desperately, wanting to clarify as soon as possible, watching you attentively and cautiously, slowly getting out of bed to address you very carefully, not wanting to upset you more.

And he begins to explain to you with his soft tone, waiting for the moment so that he turns to you and can talk to you in the eyes, wanting you to see how very honest he is being with you.

"I don't know since when exactly, Y/N. It was probably before we graduated from high school," he lets you know, "That's why I asked you to live with me, because I certainly wouldn't have asked just anyone, and I-I… wanted to be close to you, almost all the time."

Your pulse continues to race, listening to his words carefully, feeling again the urge to cry, even without daring to look at him face to face.

"And all those dates, all those girls I went out with or flirted with at parties…" he sighs, "I told myself that I didn't get any further with them because it just hadn't worked out, when the truth is that I was fooling myself and it was me who didn't take them any further… because they weren't you."

He confesses to you and that's when you can't take it anymore and the first tears fall, starting to shake and with the realization starting to become clear to you as you hear it.

"And I wanted to repress my feelings for you with them, I wanted to fall in love with someone because I didn't want to ruin our friendship, Y/N," he tells you honestly, "And I know it sounds stupid and it's probably tired of hearing it already… but it's the truth. You don't know how much I was terrified of losing you, of losing our friendship because of feelings that weren't reciprocated… or that I thought weren't reciprocated."

Then slowly, Aemond, dares to raise his hand and gently touch your arm, turning you towards him very carefully and tactfully, needing to see you and needing you to see him.

And you let him.

Shaking, but you let him.

And his heart breaks the moment he sees you, with your sad, surprised face, your teary eyes and red cheeks, watching him as if he can't believe it.

"I wish I had known, Y/N," he says softly, watching you with all the love and gentleness in the world, "Because then Alys came, a girl with a personality I hadn't met before, pretending to be a good person and she made me distract myself from you by falling into her games."

You bite your lips, holding back the tears as much as you can, while he continues talking to you and explaining with all the sincerity in the world.

"And I know I was very selfish with all those girls and also with you when I saw you with that guy at that party, having a good time and having fun without me," he confesses with regret, "You don't know how upset I was and how terribly jealous I felt, Y/N. That was when I thought I had lost you for good and I hated myself not only for having ended our friendship, but also for never having confessed my feelings to you and realizing too late… what I lost for a person who wasn't worth it."

He lets out a long breath, biting the inside of his cheek and watching you with all the sincerity, love and affection as he says his next words.

"I love you, Y/N. I have always loved you. Just in the same way you love me…. or loved me," he corrects with a soft sad tone, "I was just too much of a coward to tell you and I didn't give you a chance to tell me either by going out and pretending with all those girls," he lowers his gaze, "I'm sorry."

Then, it's like you're living in a dream.

You don't know if it's real or not.

But you know it's real because of his touch on your arm and the closeness between the two of you, with him looking at you like that, being so terribly honest that it scares you.

It scares you because this is just what you wanted to hear.

This is everything you wanted to hear from him towards you, being just another one of your most pathetic and impossible dreams. But here you are. He has told you.

And that's exactly why you can't control it anymore and right there, in front of him, you lose it completely and the first sob escapes your lips, just as your tears are rushing down your cheeks.

You cover your face completely ashamed, crying, only you don't know if it's from happiness or sadness… or probably both.

But you know you cry because this is what you have been longing to hear for a very long time and you cry wondering why now, why now that things between you are no longer bad but not quite right either.

But mostly you cry because you feel confused.

Since you left King's Landing, one of your purposes was to leave him behind and forget, to undo those feelings for him. But you couldn't.

You still love him.

You love your best friend just the same way he loves you too, being something that was going on for a long time, simultaneously, but without both of you knowing it.

And you feel confused because you don't know if you should finally take this thing you've always wanted, you don't know because of everything that happened, even though he has already explained and apologized to you.

But you don't feel totally confident because he really hurt you so much.

And you don't know if what happened, will happen again and that's just what you don't want. You don't want him to hurt you again.

And Aemond, surprised by your behavior, yet he understands you and doesn't judge you.

That's why he wastes no time and pulls you into a gentle, firm and comforting embrace, letting himself be carried away by his feelings as well.

And you don't push him away. You let him hold you and lock you in his arms, just like you loved him to do when you lived together or saw each other during the day because his hugs have always comforted you and made you feel safe.

And that's also where you can let out your feelings.

He starts to comfort you too with soft words in your ear, stroking your hair with his hand, telling you that it's okay, that everything is fine, that this shouldn't change anything either, that you are the one who has the last word about the two of you.

As he continues to apologize for everything in soft murmurs, holding you tightly against him, not letting you go until you are well.

Until little by little, your sobs begin to decrease and you begin to calm down, sniffling your nose and still hugging him, taking all the time you need until your whole roller coaster of emotions stops.

Aemond doesn't let go, but does so slowly as you begin to stir, watching you intently and worriedly.

You bring your hands to your cheeks, wiping away your tears and sniffling your nose, to which he quickly runs his thumbs over your cheeks as well, still watching you with all that tenderness, that understanding and that affection.

"Are you all right, my pretty one? Do you need anything?"

You deny, again embarrassed, but at least feeling better and less emotional.

"N-no. I'm just… sorry, it wasn't m-my inte…

"Shh, no, it's okay," he interrupts you softly, "it's okay. This was my fault, I never meant to make you react like this. I should have been more careful with you."

"It wasn't that, Aemond," you confess, sniffling once more, "You took me by surprise, that's all. And I-I c-couldn't control myself, i-it was too much."

"Yes, I know, I know, pretty one. It's all right, everything's all right."

And again he pulls you into a soft, comforting embrace that you allow, now no longer feeling like those earlier hugs where before between the two of you there was the word friendship.

Now it's something more… something more intimate and more… honest.

And that's because both of you finally know each other's true feelings.

But still… after this, what you need is time. And that's exactly what you're asking for.

i couldn't tag many of you and I apologize if you asked me to tag you and I didn't, I could have missed your user but thank u so much for reading 😢❤

tag list:

@winxschester @namoreno @fan-goddess @lauftivy @bellameshipper @iloveallmyboys @barnes70stark @amazingnerd @yentroucnagol @helaenaluvr @almostpurplelady @lilitheal @targaryenmoony @dangerousstateofmind @summerposie

#aemond fanfiction #aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen fanfic #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x y/n #aemond targaryen x you #aemond x fem!reader #aemond x oc #aemond x reader #hotd aemond

[avelera]

Thinking about the lovely “New Inn Through the Ages” post by @virgo-dream in terms of alternatives to the popular “Hob built the New Inn for Dream after the missed 1989 meeting” headcanon.

- Quick disclaimer, this headcanon always mildly (and irrationally, this is fandom after all) irked me because to my pedantic, archaeology-obsessed ass, the New Inn was obviously visually at least 200 years old just based on the brick work so “built” never really worked, at most Hob could have purchased or renovated it if it was in response to 1989. To some that’s splitting hairs but what can I say, I never pretended to be rational about dumb history stuff.

- THAT SAID, it would be kind of interesting if Hob does own the New Inn but not necessarily since 1989, but even earlier. It could even be interesting for him to have built the New Inn in truth but back in the 1700s when the building was actually built.

- Hob appears not just comfortable at the White Horse in its 1889 but at the very least a regular. He recognizes Lou on sight and names her immediately, he knows her nickname at the establishment. This familiarity doesn’t track if this is his first time at the White Horse since 1789.

- After 1689, Hob appears to have opted to buy out a private room for them for their discussion, perhaps in response to his return in fortunes but also perhaps based on the memory of being nearly thrown out in 1689 and interrupted by Shaxberd in 1589. The guy is learning how to better manage their encounters. So it stands to reason that after they were interrupted by Constantine in 1789 as a result of her paying off the proprietor, that Hob would simply buy out the inn for 1889.

- Hob owning the White Horse in 1889 actually rather tracks with his familiarity with Lushing Lou and the fact that he’s so at ease there and clearly arrived well before Dream. He speaks to Lou with authority and is dressed with signs of at least middle class prosperity. Being the owner of the White Horse tracks with that level of prosperity shown, nothing flashy, after all it’s in a bad part of town these days.

- Thing is, Hob has a mind for business as we see in numerous instances at the centennial meetings. As a result, to me, it wholly tracks that he wouldn’t stop at buying the White Horse, he’d also purchase a few neighboring taverns and inns once he got a hang of the business. (Consolidation of neighborhood pubs under mega corporation ownership in the 1990s is its own interesting side note on this because again, I’m a history nerd.) The New Inn is presented as so close to the White Horse that a graffiti arrow is enough to point it out. That’s very close indeed.

- SO, I think from this it’s reasonable to say that Hob could very well have owned the New Inn as part of one of his business ventures since the 19th century or earlier, perhaps even as a result of the 1789 meeting and “Finding another pub”, perhaps even building the New Inn then in truth either before or after the meeting as an alternative in case another lunatic Constantine shows up. It’s so close by he might have hoped he could persuade Dream with its proximity.

- Right then, if that’s true, why can’t Hob save the White Horse?

- Perhaps after 1889 he simply sold his ownership stake in it. Heartbroken and angry at himself, especially if he’d provided all these contingencies like the New Inn in case of interruptions or other disasters, he might have just felt as much like a fool as in 1589 when he tried to provide a fine meal. Probably best to just give up and stop trying to control matters, since look where that got him.

- So he sells the White Horse. But the other inns don’t have the same emotional stake and business is business, so he sets those up with a “family trust” to keep running, lending the building out to different managers, etc. and simply carries on.

- Cue his look of devastation in 1989 upon learning the White Horse is going to shut down. If he once owned it, it might be a particular gut punch to know he could have prevented this if he hadn’t let his bitterness get the better of him. Despite his best efforts, he can’t prevent it from being condemned.

- LUCKILY he still had his own business interests nearby in the form of those pubs he built or bought centuries ago. He dusts off his paperwork around the New Inn and reassumes direct management (or at least, his nephew does in a few years). The 1789 “nearby pub” contingency might just pay off in the 21st century, who knows? And it worked!

And there you have it. My take on how Hob could have built the New Inn starting from its actual original construction. Very fun to consider too when you check out Virgo’s post and discover that a Mr. Hobert did indeed own it at one point ;)

#the sandman #hob gadling #the new inn #sandman meta

[delicrieux]

𝑻𝑰𝑴𝑬 𝑻𝑶 𝑷𝑹𝑬𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑫, 2. summer 1972, august

pairing for this chapter—regulus black x f!lestrange!reader   warnings for this chapter—none! word count—2.3k

regulus can get quite mean in the sweltering summer heat.

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the grandiose patio is lined with wet footprints. yours. and regulus’. the sunshine is too unkind to him – burnt easily, he seems even more miserable in summer. he’s not much fond of water, even if you constantly drag him into the depths of the pool. the chlorine reeks, he had said displeased, trying to swat away his wet hair from his eyes. you had fought, tooth and nail, not to state, you reek. it would’ve obviously been a joke, and sirius would have laughed so merrily at your boundless wit, but regulus would have flushed in embarrassment and confined himself to silence.

you don’t like much when regulus is silent. in fact, you don’t fancy silence at all. father’s silence usually entails bad news, and mother is always silent. your house is too big to retain any noise, and rodolphus is contemplative and rabastan doesn’t take up enough space. with bella here, perhaps things will become more rowdy.

already, she’s turning everything upside down in what she has dubbed ‘the great upheaval.’ the new lady lestange has expensive taste and moody preferences, and so the walls are getting painted, and all sorts of curious trophies and relics from the depths of gringotts are being brought as decorations. she had let you practice explosive magic to knock down a bookcase she believed to be misplaced. you had been very thrilled to help.

now, though, the pleasant buzz of nature is satisfactory. the gardens and the orchard have remained untouched, though the greenhouse has been smashed completely. the remnants of glass glimmer on the sun-sparkled grass, a perfect spot to avoid as the pool beckons your return. not that mother's menagerie had been of much interest to anyone for years. the servants had tended to it, but it remained vacant of visitors, except the rare moments rabastan felt particularly sentimental. all those exotic butterflies spilled into the crisp, open air. it was quite magical. regulus was particularly down that evening.

of course, bella hadn't given much faff for any of it, so you don't dwell. a morning in the sun is a morning in the sun, after all. and, surely, if mother isn't to care for her property, then why should you?

"you recon sister will hire more staff?" you muse aloud. regulus has languidly settled under an olive tree, the leaves framing the thin, half-naked body like an all-too-pale depiction of pieta. his head hangs, the burn-warmed skin glowing, "without me to help she’ll hardly be able to manage all of these household duties."

regulus raises a brow at that, "what have you done exactly to help," the way he says it is half-chiding, half-mocking. as though he thinks that's the way to speak to the owner of the manor, "you blow up bookshelves."

you turn away from his stare, and keep yourself upright against the pool, knees scraping against the pebbles.

"well," you reply with a sniff, "if you had not noticed, she has taken a shine to me."

"shines are used for small jewels."

you hit his leg in a mindless display of violence.

his sharp inhale isn't playful – "what was that for?!"

"that was for talking down to me." you scoff. and his cheeks grow red, but not because you caught him in his error.

his next response is bitter. "i see how it is," the pitch of his voice rising ever-so-slightly, a subtle crack in a violin string, "you grow more pompous every day."

with his legs folded under his chin, arms crossed tightly, his discomfort in his position isn't masked as well as his emotion is. his wide eyes belie an even wider sadness. a hunger, a wanting for the type of affection a mother provides. something you'll never want to think too hard on because you understand, but also have been told by father not to ponder on.

"was that you attempting to speak down to me again?"

"no!" he snaps back, before muttering, "not that you wouldn't deserve it."

your temper has spiked. that isn't fair, what did he know of all that you must put up with! father expects a lot, and yet you are not given enough to do, but your brothers still complain at everything, and then you must put on a smiling face in front of bella, and how rude is he, really, to disrespect you so!

regulus doesn't receive a single hint of a reply from you. if his plan to make you more malleable to conversation wasn't working, he could start something of his own.

"have you made up your mind," the subject switch makes you jump, "about what house?"

oh. he hasn't stopped prodding since the end of june. that's almost cute of him.

"why are you obsessed about this?"

regulus makes a face. "don't try to understand. i just am," he pauses. for once, he regards you carefully, head tilting slightly to one side, "so you have made up your mind."

"slytherin sounds lovely," you admit, as you have been practising this speech in the mirror for a fortnight now. it feels more real coming out of your own mouth and not an apparition's. you could never admit to gryffindor, as your secret would unravel. regulus would spot his brother’s influence, and he would know, with certainty, that you prefer sirius to him. he must know already, but chooses to ignore it, like you chose to ignore all things inconvenient.

regulus stills for a moment. "wonderful," he comments, and resumes the snootiness of his demeanour, but more distant, "i'll definitely be in slytherin,"

yes, clearly, he would suit the snake very well. and he would fit in, like cissy. no matter the apparent fragility to him, it seems to be hiding a will stronger than all of yours combined. his eyes glitter and gleam when the sunlight hits them just right, but their core seems deeper, darker. no cracks or fissures. just an endlessness.

"and so would you," he finishes the sentiment.

"wh- whatever do you mean?!" you cry in his face, startled out of the depths of your musings.

"dear cousin," he simpers, "for how much time must your father spend pontificating on how utterly useless you are before you realise i'm in your same boat."

he may not mean it, but the insult is unbearable. and perhaps there's a sliver of truth that irks you. that your own kin think so lowly of your abilities. but, nonetheless, "behind my back, at least," you sound, "please, regulus, don't say such things to my face!"

he snorts, faintly amused at your ridiculousness, "will it make you feel better if i apologise?"

you huff. your pride has been bruised. he has, as always, thrown you into a sulk, which will be harder and harder to get over now. especially with you sitting a little more self-conscious than you had been ten minutes ago. and really, it had been such a pleasant afternoon. sweltering, and you bask in sunlight like you're famished for it. the rivera had been sweet, always bright and sunny, but england is hardly ever not gloomy. yes, the weather is worth more mental effort than regulus black, you decide. you would rather converse with a house-elf than him. he, yes, is useless, but you have some use, surely.

"think before you speak," you warn, not very menacingly, "honestly, if my life is already doomed, you'll not aid in ruining it any further."

"what life? father dotes on you endlessly. even if you've got not a single brain cell, he still fancies you," he drawls, "really, you're like a pet. a mooncalf. not a thought behind those eyes."

there it is. the nerve that tics. and though he'd spoken in a lazy, pensive drawl, your response is razor-edged and dagger-thorned. you're the blight. the aphids that sully. the plagues of locusts, “so what!" you counter, and you're barely standing on the border, "what is it my trouble? at least my father loves me, which is too much to say of your own."

regulus rises sharply. it is the fastest he's ever moved in all his life. that face would strike a serpent cold, you imagine. "take. that. back." his tone is chillingly even.

but a quick wit has always served you best, "no. not till you're nice to me."

"fine," the sun casts an angry, dark shadow of his figure over the pool. only eleven, yet he might be the most daunting creature you've ever encountered. all long lines, jutting ribs, and pale skin. and those eyes. downturned, forlorn. a regal hazel. the lids are flutter-thick.

the silence that settles is thick with discomfort. you think of your mother’s room at the top floor, how hot she must be with the heavy curtains drawn. it would be good to air it, lest she grows sicker from breathing in all of that old dust. yes, you shall let a servant know as soon as you finish chipping away at regulus’ resolve with your withering glare.

finally, slowly, carefully, "you won't tell mother i upset you, will you?"

"aunt walburga has much to preoccupy her. of course i won't."

he takes this as enough an acquiescence.

you find a part of him has softened. the edges, maybe.

"why should i apologise anyway," he adds, as if by way of an attempt at conversing in your manner, "the truth needs no apology."

his voice, not that of his father's but certainly not the poshest, has something odd about it.

he waits for a few more seconds, in what you gather, is a wait for an excuse to take the blow off of himself. you keep thinking, and these thoughts blunder quickly about. of mother’s room and father’s study, of rabby down in the cellar, of rodolphus prancing around his new wife. of sirius locked in his guest room, all of his muggle trinkets confiscated. sirius would have a laugh if he wasn’t too busy sulking. this impish row would cheer him up.

you've accepted the role now. it feels like a coronation. the signet ring would fit. pretty thing.

"regulus," you start, but can't keep your straight face. his stare bores into you, until the laugh finally escapes.

"you twit!" he accuses you, "i thought you were really angry for a moment! good thing i wouldn't actually worry, with how loose tongued you are. and stupid! to think, everyone always bellows about how pleasant and intelligent you are."

"could hardly be talking of me," you say, feeling not very bitter, but the taste of it is tart on the back of your tongue. this is a new pattern. a childish bickering, or even teasing, "i've never wanted to know anything. everyone else is terribly inquisitive."

regulus just eyes you in bewilderment. as though your view on the world is rather strange. regulus is fond of reading, and he has a plethora of curious facts to share to anyone who would listen. he had been more vocal of them when he was younger, but at eleven, he's growing very reserved and respectable.

to anyone but you, it seems, because he's rude and standoffish in your presence, even if his cheeks start to burn when you catch him staring at you. maybe you should've let him know. it'd be sweet to see his eyes widen in surprise, or his lips purse. that'd be worth all his rude jokes and unwarranted insults. his silence has allowed him to believe that all his sentiments are harmless. but they are not.

perhaps you are useless, not even a little bit useful at all, if a mere boy who's still gangly and graceless has you wound around his little finger, while not even knowing it. you can't decide if that's better or worse than knowing. it doesn't really matter anyway. when the family meetings took place late in the evening, and you were pointedly dismissed, you had decided you shan't ever want to know anything. to live in simple bliss of a fantasy, to enjoy what you're good at enjoying, and never touch the dirt of any of their messy problems. the end of childhood doesn't concern you, no more than any of the scandals you overhear and promptly ignore. gossip you adore, but only if it's mindless, like a poor matching colour of a robe.

the rest you are well off without.

pretty thing, mother had once called you when awake. her gaze had been vacant. you refused to decipher the meaning, if there was any to begin with. pretty things needn’t be sensible, they only need to be admired.

regulus offers you his hand. a rarity, him touching you, because he rarely is one for contact. especially with you, it had seemed. the small, slim fingers don’t tremble in their wait, "want to swim?"

your earlier mood melts away like the heat waves over the warm stone. the blood has flushed both your skins, but his more.

it's not important anyway.

"thought you don't like water," you say smugly, happy to lord over this very basic information you know of him over his head, "you'll look like a prune."

regulus wrinkles his nose in distaste at the idea. his pale complexion is so easy to scorch and scar. the redness blooms on him beautifully.

but then, all he says is, "you're my favourite, you know that, right? always have been."

the pleasantry, in such an instant, brings another surge of blood to your cheeks.

"why?" you have to know.

a shrug, then, a smile. not malicious at all, and you've always enjoyed it when he can't hold the pretences up in your company.

"dunno," and his expression goes blank again. his gaze roams somewhere far, "so do you want to go swimming?"

his offer has something more, and the confusion lingers.

"it is very hot," is all you find to say.

and what else, but to hold onto his outstretched palm?

#regulus black #regulus black x reader #regulus black x you #the marauders #the marauders era #the marauders x reader #imagine #imagines #harry potter #hp #harry potter x reader #reader #reader insert #xreader #hogwarts #fluff #angst

[propertyofwhitney67]

Little Kitten

M!Whitney x AFAB!Reader

TW: smut, pet play, mention of kidnapping, kinda yandere Whitney

Words:1,070

𝘔𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘵  -  (𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵)

Note: Note: A continuation of My Little Pet. I chose to use kitty instead of puppy bc puppy makes me uncomfortable for some reason.

Also thank you so fucking much for 300 followers! You guys are amazing! I'm sorry this took so long to write. <3

It’s not so bad being Whitney’s pet, he takes care of me and keeps me safe. He even gets me toys and cute outfits. They look expensive, but he tells me not to worry about that. He only wants the best for his kitty, which includes clothes, toys, and food.

Being here is the happiest and safest I’ve ever felt.

I was napping lazily on Whitney’s bed with the tv on in the background when he opened his bedroom door, throwing down his bag and looking around for me. I stretched lazily, catching his attention and making him smile. “There’s my kitty.” He cooed and patted me on the head, fully waking me up.

I sat up and smiled at Whitney as he changed out of his school clothes. “Did you have a good day?” I asked him like any good pet would.

He grunted and tossed his shirt in the hamper, “Fucking sucked.” Once he was fully naked he laid down on the bed, patting his lap. “Come on kitty.” I crawled up to where he was and sat on his lap. “You know that’s not what I meant.” He tugged at my collar, “Don’t act stupid, Y/n.” I whined and nodded the best I could with his grip on the collar around my neck. He smiled smugly and released his grip on my collar.

I did as he wanted, sitting on his lap and cockwarming him. “Always ready for me.” He groaned lowly as I easily took him with no prep. He wrapped an arm around my waist as I rested my head on his chest.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked as he grabbed his phone. He obviously had a rough day, but I didn’t want to anger him by asking about it too much.

He sighed, and I felt his body relax some. “No, not really. I just want to relax with my pet.” He kissed the top of my head and tightened his grip around my waist.

It didn’t take long for me to become impatient. I wanted him to fuck me, but he just kept playing on his phone. “Whitney…” I whined and tried to bounce in his lap, but he stopped me. Grabbing me by the hips and holding me down.

“Impatient slut.” He grumbled angrily, still painfully gripping my hips. “Good kitties ask their owner for permission. Do I have to put you in your cage?” 

I whined again and shook my head, “No, please.” I didn’t want to go in the cage, I wanted to be on the bed with him. “I’m sorry…”

“If you’re really sorry, you’d show it.” He had that smug look on his face and lifted me off his lap and tossed me onto the bed. He hovered over me, caging me in with his arms. “Now be a good kitty,” He leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “and serve your owner.” I cried out in surprise as he bit down hard on the neck with his sharp teeth. He only chuckled in response, enjoying my shock and pain.

I held the spot on my neck where he bit me and pouted, “I am a good kitty…”

“Then do as you’re told, I trained you better than this.” He retorted and trailed his hands down my body before stripping me of the frilly lingerie I was wearing. “So perfect…” He mumbled under his breath, groping my chest before pinching my nipple.

I yelped and lightly smacked his hand away. “Tease…” I muttered, feeling my face heat up.

“Oh, I’m going to do more than tease.” He pinched me again before trailing his hands down my body and resting them on my thighs, pulling them apart and showing off my wet cunt. He smirked at the sight, “This wet from a little cockwarming? You’re such a slut.” 

He gathered some of my wetness with his finger, “Open.” I obediently opened my mouth and sucked my juices off his finger. “Good girl.” 

I hummed happily at his praise and released his finger with a pop sound. “If I’m such a good girl, I should get a reward.” I grinned mischievously, knowing he would give in.

He smirked before grabbing my thighs and pulling me closer. I could feel his cock throbbing against my thigh, “Who am I to deny such an obedient kitty.” He lined himself up before roughly thrusting into my wet cunt, forcing me to take him to the base. He groaned lowly into my ear while I dug my nails into his back. 

Even after all this time, he still takes my breath away. It was like we were made for each other. He fits perfectly inside me. Or that’s what he tells me…his thoughts have become mine since he took me. All the training has taken a toll on my mind, sometimes I can’t tell the difference between his thoughts and mine.

I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts. I’m his obedient kitty, nothing more.

“What’s wrong kitten?” Whitney’s voice broke me from my thoughts. He tapped on my forehead with his forefinger. “Thinking too hard?”

I frowned and nodded, “Yeah…” I felt slightly ashamed and embarrassed of my thoughts. “Sorry…” He takes such good care of me, I shouldn’t be thinking such things.

“You know what happens when you think too hard.” Whitney reminded me and I nodded sadly. He rubbed slow circles on my clit, “Good.” 

I moaned at his touch, clenching down around him. “Whitney, please…” He knows exactly how to drive me crazy. 

“Well, since you asked so nicely.” He grinned with a smug look on his face and didn’t hesitate to set a quick pace. My hips meeting his with every thrust. 

It didn’t take long for me to cum, “Don’t stop...” I begged, wanting him to fuck me through my orgasm.

Whitney groaned in my ear, “Wasn’t planning on it kitten.” He bit my neck again, pulling more moans from me. The pain only intensified everything. 

I wrapped my legs around his hips and he held me close, cumming inside me. “Fuck.” We both groaned as his warm cum filled me.

He didn’t bother puling out, just holding me close and resting his head on my chest, “I’m never letting you go.” 

The rational side of me feared his words, but his training persisted. “I don’t ever want to leave.”

𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

#tw pet play #dol #dol fanfiction #dol fanfic #dol x reader #dol whitney #whitney dol #whitney the bully #dol whitney x reader #whitney x reader #degrees of lewdity whitney #whitney degrees of lewdity #whitney the bully x reader #whitney x reader fanfic #degrees of lewdity #degrees of lewdity imagine #degrees of lewdity imagines #degrees of lewdity fanfic #degrees of lewdity x reader #degrees of lewdity fanfiction #my writing

[devine-star]

hi! I saw your response to my desperate thank you to your writing of colby with a male reader but held off until on requesting until now because I saw the response at like 1 am. but anyway I was plunged back into my snc phase and am in desperate need of perhaps Sam, colby, and Seth with a tall male s/o? when I think tall I think like 6'3"+

pretty please I literally never request and I love your work so much, obviously no pressure ofc but ily

Sam and Colby crew x Tall!Male!Reader!

Note: Just gonna be headcannons about first dates! :)) Also thank you for the request!! Send in as many as you'd like!

Colby:

When Colby was first set up on this blind date, he didnt really know what to expect honestly

He was currently sat in a bar booth on his phone reading over the description that Kat had sent him.

"Colby?" He jumped and turned to look at the voice but had to look upwards seeing as the man standing at the booth was roughly 6'5!

"uh yeah!" He said happily standing, at first he thought this was a fan

"Oh good! I was hoping that was you! Im Y/n!" But this wasnt a fan, it was the man he was on the blind date with!

Now, Colby knew a lot of things about himself but one thing he DIDN'T know was he was into taller men.

Like, REALLY into taller men apparently.

His face was flushed red the entire date and anytime Y/n stood to go get them drinks, he felt his heart rate speed up

The date went AMAZINGLY!

Colby was swooning everytime Y/n laughed or smiled his way

After one too many drinks, the two men were stumbling down the LA streets.

Arms wrapped around each other and happily laughing and chatting about anything

By the time they got to Colby's apartment, Colby was feeling brave

So, as they were saying goodbyes Colby reached up and pressed a kiss to Y/n's lips; it got slightly heated.

"Wanna come up for some coffee?" Colby sloppily winked causing his date to laugh and agree

Sam:

Now, Sam knew he was into taller guys. Knew it his whole life!

So when he seemed to bag to, somehow, bag a nearly 7 foot tall guy; he felt AMAZING

Their first date was to an aquarium!

Lots of laughs were shared as Y/n seemed to bump his head on multiple things

First was the tube that you can walk through the water and see the fish

Sam couldn't help but giggle and lean against Y/n as he was laughing as well.

The next was when they were in the gift shop and Y/n was knelt down trying to find a size of shirt that Sam had wanted and when he stood? BAM! Head connected to a shelf

The two shared jokes about how this date would end in an e.r trip and decided to end the date and go for ice cream

But Sam couldn't hold in his giggles when Y/n had to bend over to order their ice cream at the small ice cream stand

Walking on the LA board walk, hand in hand and eating Ice cream. The two enjoyed deep talks

Talking about their goals and life and even some about their childhoods

Eventually the sun went down and somehow this date went from a 2 hour date to a 7 hour date.

Y/n dropped Sam off at home and before Sam could get out of the car Y/n stopped him and placed a kiss to his cheek telling him he'd love to do another date; Sam agrees.

Once Sam was inside, he did that classic movie thing where he leans against the door and happily sighs.

Colby looked over from where he was sitting in Sam's living room, "where have you been?"

"More importantly, how did you get into my house???"

Seth:

These two met when Seth was working at the Conjouring house

What a romantic way to meet!

Y/n had just gotten the job when he met Seth!

Y/n was a guide and Seth was just there working doing paperwork

The two spent many long nights together, Y/n opting to help Seth with his paperwork and Seth often followed the tour groups and helped relay stories to guests

The owners would often make small comments about how the two height differences were funny but also small comments about how close the two were

Often asking if the two had gone on a date yet or finally confessed their feelings

Seth would often borrow Y/n's hoodies, they were often dresses on him due to how much taller Y/n is to him

Seth would also fake not being able to reach a cup from the cabinet just so Y/n could reach around him from behind to grab the cup for him

Seth was crushing HARD after like 6 months of working together

The night that brought the two together was the night Seth was grabbed in the basement.

He came running up the stairs, TERRFIED

Y/n was the first person he ran to, tears in his eyes.

Y/n brought him outside and calmed him down as he held Seth

Eventually, the two fell into silence with Seth's head on Y/n's shoulder and Y/n's head resting on his

Something about this scary experience frazzled Seth's mind, he turned to look up at Y/n

Y/n looked back at him

Their eyes said everything when their voices failed

Soon their lips met and they shared a passionate kiss under the night stars.

From inside, they heard a gasp as one of the owners ran off shouting to their partner "you owe me 20$! They kissed!"

#colby brock #sam golbach #sam golbach x male reader #colby brock x male reader #seth bordan x male reader #seth bordan

[leggerefiore]

Another parenting prompt:

How do Ingo and Emmet react to their kids wandering off and disappearing?

Imagine they take their eyes off their child for a split second, and when they look back and the kids just vanished. Do they remain calm or are they panicking? If they panic, how do they act and feel? And how do they act when finally being reunited?

Bonus points if the little ones are perfectly safe and just wandered off to follow a cool-looking Pokemon.

To be fair to Ingo, he would just have to shout at the top pf his lungs and Erin would immediately beeline for him.

▲Ingo▼

Ingo would consider himself an attentive parent. He wanted to be available and watchful over Erin, as he could see the little boy's many difficulties in coming into himself. It was rare he took his eyes off him without also having a hand on him, yet one of the few times he failed to do all that, he turned around to find the small child gone. He felt frantic as he turned his head to gaze around the Nimbasa street, thinking maybe he had just stepped away to stare at something interesting. There was no hide nor hair of Erin anywhere in sight.

Panic began to bundle up deep inside his heart. Thoughts of completely ridiculous scenarios filled his head. What if Team Plasma took him? What if… What if a Zoroark somehow mistook him for a little Zorua with how quiet he was? His breaths grew fast and heavy as more and more worrying thoughts filled his head.  A Krookodile eating him… “ERIN!” The Subway Boss put in his best shout that he mostly used to alert departing passengers the train was about to leave. A few people passing by froze at the sheer volume, and he scared off some poor roosting Pidoves.

Suddenly, he watched Erin re-emerge from an alleyway. His little feet carried him back to his obviously distressed and upset father while holding something in his arms. Ingo felt relief crash into him at the sight of his unharmed son. Kneeling down, he readied himself to scold the boy for running off. Yet, before he truly could, Erin held out a strange pokemon. It looked like a Pikachu, sure, but… It was unnerving. Erin seemed to adore it, however, while pressing it closer to him in a hug. The pokemon squeaked out a “Mimikyu!” in response to the affection.

“... Ah, well… I suppose if you made a friend…” Ingo had no idea where this pokemon came from, “I can't be that mad.” He pet the boy's head, who only smiled up at him sheepishly.

Now, he had a new situation. Finding this likely lost pokemon's owner and breaking that to Erin.

He nearly screamed at the strange black appendage that came out to pet Erin like he just had.

▽Emmet△

Emmet was machine a Braviary with how he kept watch on his beloved girls. It was hard for him to get distracted from any task he actually focused on, and they rarely had a chance to ever escape him without his knowing exactly where they had gone off to. Yet, Elesa had suddenly caught him unaware as he was walking them through the amusement park as a surprise on his day off. She had eagerly greeted him with a hug, which he obviously could not resist returning. In those few moments alone, Emma and Inka had both somehow run off together.

When they broke the quick hug, he looked around to introduce them to the gym leader again, but found they were both gone. He froze and his smile dropped. His eyes scanned the area around him for any signs of them. When there were none, panic soaked in. The amusement park was a large place filled with many people! What if someone took them? Before his distress could grow any worse, Elesa asked him what was wrong. Emmet barely managed to get it out in words, but she understood, long coming to know his little quirks. Brought him to the gym and used the PA system to call out for the girls to meet their father there.

He waited with bated breaths, even sending out his pokemon to search. Archeops took to the skies, while Eelektross slithered through the crowds with alarming speeds. Soon enough, a familiar pouting face broke through the masses of people to reappear before him. He picked Emma up and squeezed her tightly. That was one of two. He could only wonder why she wandered off, but her attention seemed to shift to Elesa, staring at her intently. He was confused. Putting her down, she walked over to the model and began to ask about her clothing. Elesa just giggled and entertained the girl's questions. She seemed more content to remain in place, and the gym leader was watching her.

Emmet returned to his fretting. Where was Inka? She was the one he was most worried about with his ability to just end up in the strangest locations. He could only wait, however. His heart raced in his chest with each passing moment. He did not want Emma to have to go through what he did with Ingo. Especially, so young… His panic was ended with a screech. Elelektross came racing back to him, with Archeops circling just above.

The electric type dropped the missing twin, who angrily stomped her foot at it after regaining her footing. Before she could make any more gestures, Emmet scooped her up and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Inka let out a whine as she shifted away from him. He gasped. In her arms was a pokemon! A Sneasel seemed to look around in confusion within her arms. Where had she found that?

“Inka?” he asked, confused. Emma had even returned to his side, a bit jealous her sister was getting carried and not her. “Is that someone's pokemon?” he did not want to have to scold her about taking other's pokemon.

“No! It was eating trash and fell in the can! Me and Emma helped get her out!” she pouted at his accusation. Emmet giggled. Oh, what sweet little girls! They were temporarily forgiven for the stress.

Only temporarily. They got a verrrry tight hug and a scolding when they got home later that day.

#ingo.ima #emmet.ima

[sirianasims]

My father pulled some strings and called in a few favours. We managed to find the perfect place in Brindleton Bay, all the way across the country.

We bought the most adorable house in a quiet neighbourhood. It was far away from my parents, but also far away from the scandal. Katherine and I needed a fresh start.

The most important thing, however, was that the house was right next to a vet clinic, and the owner was interested in selling it. My most important dream could still come true.

Katherine, being pregnant and newly fired, was not finding any jobs, and I was struggling to get the vet clinic up and running after years of neglect by the previous owner, but I finally felt a little optimistic about the whole thing. Maybe we could do this.

Soon after we moved in, some of the neighbours came to welcome us to the neighbourhood. I was very surprised to recognise them – Colten and Kailani, two of my brother’s closest friends in high school. My brother had even mentioned his secret crush on Kailani before he left.

Kailani was touched when she heard about our situation, especially the fact that Katherine was pregnant.

She told Katherine to ask if she needed anything – Colten and Kailani had just discovered that they were having their second child. I was glad that Katherine seemed to be making new friends already. I didn’t want to be her only support.

They were my friends too, of course – but I was mostly smitten with their beautiful dog.

I was still adjusting to being a proper adult – being a house owner was expensive and we wouldn’t have made it without the seemingly endless support from my parents.

The next few months passed, and we slowly settled in as Katherine’s belly grew.

I tried to be excited, but I was mostly filled with dread. Katherine was thrilled, decorating the nursery and constantly bugging me about baby names. She’d given up on ever having kids since Antony didn’t want any, but it had always been a secret dream of hers.

Kailani was also getting bigger. I’d often meet her when she walked Sansa as I was going to the vet clinic, and she was only a month or so behind Katherine.

I was much more relaxed around her – at least that baby wasn’t my responsibility.

It was harder to relax around Katherine. She was hormonal and frustrated with her new, heavier body, worried about her future job situation, and it didn’t help that Antony was dragging out their divorce.

Arguments seemed to erupt out of nowhere. I would be lost in my own thoughts for a bit, not paying attention to something she said, and she’d snap.

I tried to explain that I was thinking about important things, like how to make the vet clinic profitable so at least one of us could bring in some money. I didn’t really mean to be hurtful, but the money situation stressed me out. I hated relying on my parents for everything.

She obviously didn’t respond well to the low blow about her lack of career, and called me out for being immature.

She made me feel like a child. It was hard not to retaliate and say something that made her feel old, like how she clearly had all the maturity in this relationship – and then I was the bad guy.

I hated arguing with her. She clearly had more experience in that as well.

After an argument, I’d usually go for a run to clear my head and give us both some space. Sometimes I wondered what would happen if I just kept running. I was sick of worrying – about the bills, the clinic, the baby, and our strained relationship.

At least Katherine’s divorce was finally happening.

beginning / previous / next

#duchellilegacy #duchellichapters #duchelligen3 #eric duchelli #katherine gilscarbo #kailani ward #colten smith #is it really being childish if you're still a child?

[to-the-stars8]

Learning to Love Slowly

Jason Todd x Reader All Chapters AO3

40-Batcaves and Dead Robins

“So…Jason, are you bringing your girlfriend to dinner tonight?” Bruce asked suddenly.

At the question, everyone went silent and turned to hear his answer. Jason sneered at him because he hated being put on the spot like that, especially in front of everyone. There was a few moments of silence before he finally decided to say something. 

“I don’t know. I haven’t asked her if she wanted to come,” He said.

Dick, on behalf of his father, rolled the chair from the batcomputer over to his brother’s phone on the table nearby. Despite Jason’s irritation at the invasion of privacy, especially since his password was now obviously compromised, he didn’t make a move to take the phone from him. 

After a few seconds, after the message was sent, there was a ding. There wasn’t too much wondering from the crowd surrounding him about what you said, because as soon as it appeared on the screen Dick read it aloud. 

“Of course, Jaybeans, I’d love to! By the way, do you really think your Pops will let me see the Batcave?” Dick then added on his own commentary after seeing Jason’s face, “Don’t be too upset, Jaybird. It’s the last family dinner before the new year, let’s make it fun!” 

Bruce chuckled in response to his eldest son, only meeting Jason’s angry eyes briefly before quietly surrendering himself to the idea of staying out of it. Taking his phone back while mumbling about how no one there wouldn’t know how to respect boundaries if it hit them in the face, Jason then disappeared upstairs. 

He didn’t mind you coming over—Hell, he wanted you there, but he also hated suddenly springing things like this on you. Jason was about to message explaining what had happened when you replied again. 

Should I wear the dress you like so much?

Okay, maybe he wanted you there a bit more than he initially thought because the thought of you in that pretty little pale pink dress drove him wild. After all, it would be nice to see you after the tough time you had with your exams. 

When you arrived Jason met you at the door with a kiss, and Dick ran out greeting you like a dog after its owner arrived home from a long vacation. He was excited, pulling you in with Jason trailing behind the cave. 

“It’s kind of weird to have someone who’s not, ya know—”

“Wait, wait, wait. Dick,” You laughed. “Let me get my bearings first. I’d like to say hello to Alfred and your Dad before I go invading the most personal of your family’s spaces.”

“But—”

“Dick,” Jason warned. Reluctantly, he let you go.

Bruce and Alfred were thrilled to see you back in their home, saying how long it had been and how much your presence was missed. You felt so welcomed whenever you entered the Wayne Manor as they seemed so happy to have, as they described it, someone normal around for a change. Well, the second normal person. Apparently, Tim had been dating a civilian, too, named Bernard. 

The entire time Dick had been impatiently waiting to show you the Batcave, and, by the time dinner had been served, gave up on showing it to you at all. Jason didn’t care whether or not you saw the cave, and, in fact, preferred the latter. 

There was too much history in the cave, happy and sad, that he felt like he would have to explain. To Jason, the cave was nothing more than a pit of despair and longing that he knew would turn anyone with common sense. 

Forgetting the cave, dinner was great. You seemed more than happy to be there, and Jason was more than pleased, especially seeing you in that dress. The dinner had gone so great that everyone had insisted you stay longer to play some of their games. You joined in with such enthusiasm that Jason already knew you might be stuck at home with him for the night. 

Watching you beat Dick and Stephanie in Mario Kart earned you an extremely special place in the household as one of the greatest players of the game, a title previously owned by Steph. Soon enough, Tim was going around to the whole group gathering money on who would win in the next round, all bets going to you. Unfortunately, just as your luck was up, Stephanie quickly earned back her rightful name. 

You handed over the controller to Jason, “You play now. I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Oh, do you need me to show you…”

“I’m fine, I’ll be right back, honeybee.” With that and a kiss, you were gone. 

Jason watched you go. The first few minutes you were gone he thought about following you, just to make sure you didn’t get lost in the twisted maze of the manor but decided against it. 

It wasn’t until the third round he had played did he start to get worried that you were lost. Excusing himself, Jason got up to go find you. The halls were empty and, for once, quiet. He was worried you had left without saying anything until he had come across Alfred. 

“She’s with Bruce down in the Batcave,” Was all he said before stepping away. 

Jason didn’t know how to feel at that information, especially since he wasn’t there with you. As he made his way to the cave entrance a thousand rushed thoughts were going through his mind. Did you like the cave? What were you thinking? How in the hell did you end up there with Bruce of all people? 

Shaking off his trainwreck of an inner voice, he tipped-toed on the stairs down to where the two of you were. When he got down to the platform he could hear you and Bruce talking, voices echoing clearly. 

“It’s small,” You said. 

Jason, standing back and slightly hiding, could see the two of you standing in front of the glass cases of old suits. The two of you were in front of his, making his heart sink as you stared at it. Even from across the cave it was obvious how fucked the suit was from what had happened with the Joker and that building. There were spots of blood on the yellow and green and black spots from the soot of the explosion. 

All remnants of a dead Robin. 

Bruce chuckled, thoughtfully and somberly. “He was a small kid.”

“You would never guess it now,” You remarked. It was a joke, but the way you said it was like you were thinking out loud. The wheels in your head were turning, and Jason wanted to know what thoughts your head was cranking out. “I—I can’t imagine what it was like for you, Mr. Wayne, as his mentor and a father. I’m sorry.”

Bruce was quiet for a few seconds before finally saying, “Thank you. I regret what happened every day. He was—No, sorry, still is a good boy. ”

“He’s a softie.” You patted Bruce’s arm. “And a good person.”

“I know, and every day I wonder where he got all that from.”

Jason sat there in stunned silence. His heart was thumping in his chest and all he wanted to do was bury his head in your chest while he cried. It had been so long since someone called him, an over six-foot-tall brick house of a man, a boy, much less a good one. 

Suddenly, Bruce changed the subject, “Jason, when did you get down here?”

Jason was sure Bruce had known he was there far longer than he showed but spared him the embarrassment of getting caught by you. You turned around fast with surprise before melting into an expression that just gave away how happy you were to see him. Laughing lightly at himself, he walked toward the two of you. 

“A few seconds ago. Dick was getting annoying.”

You giggled, “I’m sorry to have bailed. I ran into your dad on the way back from the bathroom and he offered to show me the cave and…” You gestured all around you. To him it wasn’t much, but, as far, as he could tell, you liked it. “Don’t think I could resist getting a tour from the Dark Knight himself.”

He couldn’t see the appeal in what you described, but the cave and Bruce had become such an odd norm to him. He nodded over to the glass case. “Bruce told you the sob story of the dead bird.”

“No,” You said. “No birds here.”

Jason thought about rebuffing your words when he realized what you meant. Right, there were no dead birds. Just a dead kid. His eyes shifted over to Bruce whose eyes were looking glassier than usual. And, a dead son.

Jason cleared his throat. “We better get back upstairs, Dick’s gonna be pissed when he hears he wasn’t the one to give you the grand tour.”

“That’s right,” You said. “Let’s go. Are you coming, Mr. Wayne? I’d like to hear some more silly Jay-Jay stories.”

Bruce finally tore his eyes away to look at you and nodded. Clapping his hand on Jason’s shoulder and your’s he guided the two of you back upstairs. Though, usually apprehensive to his father’s touches, Jay tried not to be too quick to push away this time. 

It was the least a good dead son could do for his grieving father. It would be a good New Year’s resolution anyway, to breach the gap between him and Bruce. 

Just as the three of you emerged from the clock entrance upstairs, Dick entered the room. Looking distressed, he whined, “Did you show her the cave without me?”

#robin jason todd #jason todd headcanon #jason todd fanfiction #jason todd fic #jason todd imagine #jason todd robin #jason todd x y/n #jason todd x female reader #jason todd x you #jason todd x reader #dick grayson #nightwing #good dad bruce wayne #bruce wayne being a good dad #bruce wayne #stephanie brown #tim drake

[lyrical-fanfics]

I think it's the food (Ruggie BucchiXReader)

this is part of a series of one-shots that will later tie into a longer series on my AO3. They're meant to be read like the vignettes in Twisted Wonderland, so if you want a sequel please let me know. Also, let me know if you think you know what the dorm the reader is based on!

The reader is not Yuu. The reader is a student at the OC sister school Fantasia College for girls

3rd person POV

Genre: Some fluff, sick care

Fem!Reader

    A light breeze blew behind the hyena beastman as he hung laundry. He happily hummed to himself, not for the joy of the task, but for what was coming. His phone was placed nearby just in case anything went wrong with his delivery, and he had to go fix it. He waited eagerly for a voice that was sweeter than summer rain, a voice that he would protect fiercely just so its owner continued to make deliveries to him. 

    “Ruggie!” There it was. There was that beautiful voice. 

    And his source of leftover catered food. 

    (Name) came walking through the dorm like an angel, and the sheets around her were the clouds of heaven. Her cheeks were cut by a smile that he had gotten all too used to, and in her hands were the fruits of labor he didn’t have to endure. He quickly rushed over to her, restraining himself from digging around the food that was balanced on trays in either hand. He instead elected to grab one of the trays of leftovers and carry it to a collapsible table he had set up. 

    “So what do we have today?” He watched over (Name) as she placed down the two platters, and removed the lids. “Score! Sandwich and salads! Nice! We can totally take these apart and save the materials to put back together later! Oh! Plus soup!” (Name) laughed as he excitedly scavenged the food that she had brought, setting down her bag full of silverware and dishes. 

    “I hope you like it, Jamie had me make most of it,” (Name) smiles as Ruggie had already begun to dig in before she could even take out a plate for him. She joined him by his side at the food, and he replied by handing over a sandwich to (Name). Their ritual was set in stone, even if (Name) was responsible for catering an event, she would always wait to eat until Ruggie got his fill. 

    “Of course I do! You make some pretty good stuff, (Name)!” Ruggie smiled as he chewed, appreciating and thanking the deal he had with her. 

    For months now, the Ruggie had been getting leftovers from events and meets that (Name) would usually try and get her dorm to eat, resulting in her usually having to throw out a good amount of food. She never felt good about it, and she always ended up eating the same things several days in a row before having to throw out the rest. With this, she didn’t have to throw out food, and Ruggie’s appetite was voracious. He was also a pro at making food last a long time, and storing food for long periods of time. 

    “Thank you, I made the soup myself, the sandwiches and salads aren’t anything special!” (Name) finally got a bowl in Ruggie’s hands, which he immediately filled by pouring soup from a container she brought. His smile caused her cheeks to rouge a bit, and his excitement filled her with light feelings of appreciation. 

    “You make really good food regardless” Ruggie slurped soup without care and smiled at (Name). These times were some of the most special to him. He loved when he got to spend time with (Name) like this… because of the food obviously. He thought. Maybe. He didn’t quite know yet, but he definitely liked the food. Until he figured it out, he protected that time with claws and teeth. He guarded her against the students who hung around the Savanaclaw dorm, anyone who would harass her from delivering the food he so desperately loved. 

    After cleaning up, (Name) helped out with the laundry. She had left for the day early, as she had suddenly felt very tired. Ruggie didn’t think much of it, as he was thinking about the catering that was going to happen the next day, as Barbhandel, the sister dorm to Savanaclaw and the dorm that (Name) was part of, often held many sports practices due to the layout. Barbhandel was the dorm of sports and often held indoor sporting events when things got a bit too cold on campus. (Name), being the Vice-housewarden and the elected mother of the dorm, she was often left with plenty of leftover food. Especially since she had made a good chunk herself. 

    The next day Ruggie waited as he normally did. He texted (Name) where he was going to be. He was going to be cleaning Savanaclaw that day, and he started early to ensure he had enough time for the ritual he cherished. He fantasized about it slightly, thinking while he worked about the food that (Name) would have today. All he knew is that it was something to be leftover from the Archery club. Probably something light and fancy, as the members of the Archery club, were all rather stuck up. He also wondered what (Name) would say that day, but he pushed down that thought over his more selfish desires for food. 

    He finished up and waited in a predetermined spot, just at the entrance of the Savanaclaw dorm lounge. He had a childlike excitement and patiently waited for a few minutes before becoming concerned. He finally checked his phone and found a message from (Name), but he was interrupted by a bag being shoved in his face. 

    “Here.” the curt voice called, causing Ruggie to instinctively grab the unexpected delivery. He peered over the top of the paper bag he was given and spotted a girl that wasn’t his beloved (Name). 

    “Allie? What are you doing here?” Allie Thyme, a girl with a sharp toothy frown and all-around punk aura. Her blunt-cut, two-tone bangs and sneer made her extremely intimidating, but she fit right into the Barbhandel dorm. 

    “I’m not in charge of telling you. Look at your texts dumbass.” Just as fast as she shoved his leftovers toward Ruggie, she walked off without even saying goodbye. Ruggie sneered at the receding Allie before checking his phone. It was hard to believe that she came from the same dorm as the sweet (Name). He found the text that Allie was referring to, and quickly read through (Name)’s words. 

    Hey! I’m sorry, I ran a fever this morning, but I’m sending Allie over with the food I promised! Sorry if she gets lost!

    Ruggie pouted slightly before shrugging the inconvenience off. Free food was free food, right? Nothing to worry about. The food is what made the moment special. 

    He didn’t notice it himself, but his excitement was slightly tempered. He wasn’t as happy or joyous about the food that was given to him. He dug into the bag and found food of the exact quality he was expecting, but something was off. It wasn’t because of the age, or the quantity, everything was perfect, but there was something missing. 

    After a few bites in, Ruggie had tried every combination of blending bites, seasoning, and sauces provided, but nothing was working. It was filling, but it wasn’t satisfying. Ruggie let out a large sigh before putting away the food. Something was missing. He couldn’t find joy in the free food as he normally did. Sure, his wallet was happy, and his stomach was full, but the satisfaction just wasn’t there. 

    He found himself later in the day at (Name)’s dorm. The lack of satisfaction had followed him all throughout the rest of his chores, all through his schoolwork, and even into his free dinner. Clearly (Name) had some sort of seasoning or sauce she forgot to send in the leftovers she brought over so often. There was something he was missing. It wasn’t her cooking, even if all the flavor notes were there. After all, the free food is all he cared about, right? 

    While most of the girls were confused as to why Savanaclaw’s number one errand runner was there, they all happily pointed to (Name)’s room. Most assumed he was there to run her an errand. Some assumed he was her boyfriend coming in to finally take care of her. Some even gave him a dirty look as to why he wasn’t there sooner. Others gave him dirty looks and wondered what he could possibly need from (Name). 

    He came to (Name)’s door and gave it a knock. The outside of the dorms in Barbhandel was decorated wonderfully with a pirate motif. (Name)’s room in particular had a rather cutesy skull and crossbones on it over the more menacing counterparts on other dorms. The entire dorm seemed to acknowledge her sweetness. Ruggie perked up when he heard shuffling inside before the door opened in front of him, revealing a feverish (Name). She looked up confused at Ruggie, who only gave her a wave in response. He did his best to ignore her status, but it was hard to not hold some concern for her red cheeks and tired eyes. 

    “Oh, Ruggie! Did you need something? Did Allie not deliver the leftovers?” (Name) bundled the blanket around her closer to her body. She stifled a sneeze with her blanket corner. 

    “Oh, no, she delivered it,” He began to feel somewhat guilty coming to her, and his goal was muddled in his head. Why was he here? He almost wanted to tuck his tail and run from her, but that satisfaction he was looking for felt close. “I came here to check on you, got your text.” No, he wasn’t. He was here entirely for his own reasons. He wasn’t here for anyone but himself and his selfish desires, but he just blurted it out. 

    “Oh, thank you, please, come in. It’s cold out here in the hallway.” (Name) then shivered at an invisible chill that Ruggie did not feel in the slightest, highlighting how she felt. She was none the wiser of his true reason to be there. Her sweet demeanor and faith in Ruggie made him slightly sick. She really did believe anything that came out of his mouth. Even if for the past few months he had just been using her for food, did she really believe he was there because he cared? 

    He followed in after her, making himself comfortable immediately in her space by finding a chair, but she immediately plopped down on her bed letting out a slight groan. Her unceremonious action surprised Ruggie, as she usually just laughs off any small discomfort or toughed it out. She was clearly uncomfortable with whatever she had. 

    He felt even more guilty now. Why was he here? Did he really need to pester her over some weird lack of satisfaction? 

    “Oh, Ruggie, good thing you’re here.” She turned her head and smiled. How could she smile like that right now? Why did he begin to feel this way? “I couldn’t finish my dinner, so if you want it you can take it.” 

    Ruggie looked over at a plate of curry. The rice had been fully soaked by the gravy, but the plate still looked warm. Barely a bite had been taken out of it, and that rubbed him the wrong way for some reason. Something about her not eating, and just willingly giving up on the food before even taking more than a few bites bothered him. His grandmother rang out in his head in a way that he had never heard before. 

    “Come on, (Name), you know that’s not enough,” he jumped up from the chair he was in, and gently pulled the plate from the nightstand. Stirring the curry a bit to even the temperature, he scooped a bite before sitting on the edge of (Name)’s bed. “I’ll eat the rest if you eat a little more. Can’t have my free food source go and get sicker on me because you aren’t eating.” 

    (Name) laughed and sat up. She gave a smile that filled something inside Ruggie. It was what he was looking for. “Is that why you’re here? I should have known.” 

    “You got me, come on, open up.” 

    “I won’t have to pay you back, will I?” Despite her question, (Name) clearly was going to pay back in full whatever Ruggie requested. He could tell by her good nature and 

    “You will! But consider it part of our deal, I gotta protect my number one food source after all.” He let out a small laugh before smiling again at (Name) “jeez, you’re too much of a goody-two-shoes, someone might take advantage of that good nature of yours if you aren’t careful.” 

    “I’ll be alright, I know you won’t take advantage of it!” (Name)’s earnestness made his heart flutter just slightly. He wanted to protect that innocence and make her right. 

    While (Name) ate, even if it was just a few bites, Ruggie finally felt that bit of satisfaction he was looking for. He didn’t need to eat in this situation. That joyful innocence and twinkle in (Name)’s eye really brought a flavor to him that he knew he was missing. 

Thank you for reading my fic! If you want to continue to follow this fic series as it gets uploaded, follow it on AO3

#twst x reader #twst imagines #disney twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #disney twst #twst #twisted wonderland #ruggie bucchi #Ruggie #ruggie bucci x reader #Ruggie x reader #Lyric's Vignette Series

[violetmuses]

Four Course - Bucky Barnes

TITLE: Four Course - Bucky Barnes (Restaurant AU)

FANDOM: Marvel’s “Falcon and The Winter Soldier” 

CHARACTER: James “Bucky” Barnes 

MAIN STORYLINE: As Bucky helps a restaurant succeed, you suddenly turn heads. 

Author’s Note: Hey! I couldn’t get away from one absolute brainrot. This project is also loosely inspired by “Burnt” and “The Bear.” Feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for reading my work as always. - V.  💜

Main Masterlist

___________

2024

“You’re late, Sam. What the hell?” Clashing dishes and sizzled burners echoed all around while James continued working, already slammed. 

“Watch your mouth, I just clocked in. Had to drop AJ and Cass off at school this morning too.”  Sam quickly rolls his eyes. “Is Z here yet?” 

“Nope.” James immediately praises the ceiling, casted in fluorescent lights that sharpened too much now. 

“Thank God.” Sam pings that response, snatching one of many tickets and handing it to one server in record time. “I’m not trying to deal with his attitude yet.” 

“Neither am I.” James agrees. The last few years scorched like Hell. Zemo had finally traveled stateside and opened this restaurant. 

“Stop complaining. He can smell annoyance blocks away.” Joaquin warns, returning to the kitchen and still giving meal orders. 

“Obviously.” James shakes his head, cooking regardless with his bare right hand. 

____________

Helmut Zemo would’ve arrived during the first shift, but showing up fashionably late still made a difference in his own mind. 

His limousine pulls up towards that familiar curb and one young driver almost runs around New York traffic just to aid that exit. 

“Thank you.” Helmut whispers gratitude with accented English, but uses a separate door to enter the restaurant.

*****

“Shit, Come on. Zemo’s coming!” After running outside, Joaquin finds James  smoking a cigarette and finally snaps, sending himself into panic. 

“Where’s he now?” James stubs out the cigarette and brushes off his uniform, standing up in an effort to calm Joaquin down. 

“Kitchen. Get up.” Joaquin continues, no longer messing around. 

“I thought he didn't spook you anymore.” James chuckles without humor and still faces Joaquin. 

“Zemo doesn’t scare me, but we got a critic today. She’s hiding through our rush at this point.” Joaquin sends out even more alarm bells.

 James almost wants to choke him with his leftward metal arm. 

“Why didn’t you just say that?” James almost yells out loud, but is smart to walk back inside with Joaquin trailing behind him. 

___________

This restaurant leveled out in terms of quality placement, but wasn’t exactly known to be high-end. 

Ambitious owner Helmut Zemo founded the location eight years back, fusing Sokovian favorites right alongside other cuisine nowadays. 

The official review would be…something. Not that you would bum out this entire place, but everything felt rushed for plating. Each meal balanced onto your table without showing much love. 

You wouldn’t fault the cooks, at least not yet. 

***

“Is she nice?” Now, Joaquin mentions you, the critic, fighting an urge to cringe. Yet, he still helps out his coworkers. There’s no other choice. 

“So far.” Zemo clears his tone, clipping the response. 

“Quit chatting, you two. We gotta work and she wants dessert in the next few minutes.” Sam chimes, uniting with James as tickets keep moving in or out of the kitchen. 

“Sam?” Zemo arches one leftward brow and crosses his suited arms. James and Joaquin keep working, completely ignoring this quiet square up. 

“What? I’m not wrong.” Sam defends himself and silence then falls between both men. Zemo walks off. 

“James, come with me.” Zemo instructs. James can’t refuse, following both Zemo and Joaquin out towards the dining room. 

_________

“Here you go, Miss.” Smiling, Joaquin greets you once more and ends up gifting scrumptious cheesecake as dessert. “Hope this one makes you feel better.” 

“Thank you.” You grin back and chuckle at the moment, looking forward to enjoying this slice. 

James and Zemo stand at a fair distance as you turn your fork, cutting down this cake a bit more now. 

“Last bite.” After different meals, from appetizers to right here, Zemo whispers, hoping that you won’t actually step away and shut this restaurant down. 

Meanwhile, James’s heart races and drops all at once. In truth, he crafted every morsel that you’ve ordered. 

“How’s the cake?” Joaquin smiles back at you for the millionth time. 

“I need another slice.” You wipe your lips and rave, genuinely surprised. 

“Yes, Ma’am.” Joaquin nods, saying farewell as you finish eating the first cake slice alone. 

“Zemo?” You acknowledge Helmut at last, gesturing for this man to come closer despite this dinner rush. 

“Yes?” Helmut answers quietly, using his typical brand of charm to greet you. 

“Who covered my orders?” You question Zemo. 

At that moment, James’s blue eyes nearly widened. Still, you look right at him, knowing that he is the main “culprit.” 

“Fair enough.” James accepts that comment. You’re standing feet away from him now, privately standing outside and not viewed under Zemo’s watch. 

________

“Tonight wasn’t bad,” You tell James. “The main entree that you put out could’ve been a lot better, though.” 

“Glad you’re so understanding.” You nod, taking in your sight of an alleyway landscape. Horns blare from nearby traffic. 

“Good to see you again.” James clears his throat, slyly referring to the past. 

“Call me, Buck.” You lift your cell phone, use his nickname, and wink, heading elsewhere to leave him behind. 

#baron zemo #zemo #baron helmut zemo #helmut zemo #daniel brühl #daniel bruhl #sebastian stan #bucky barnes x reader #sam wilson #anthony mackie #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky x female reader #bucky x reader #bucky x you #au #restaurant au #tfatws #fatws #mcu #marvel #the falcon and the winter soldier #falcon and the winter soldier #strong language #tw smoking #smoking tw #joaquin torres #danny ramirez

[btschooseafic]

Scared of Love (in a coffee shop)

Pairing: ot7, ot6 x jungkook

Details: jungkook centric, a/b/o dynamics, coffee shop au, soulmates au

Summary: Jungkook meets (most of) the pack that runs Jin's Cafe.

Warnings: implied mpreg (not jk), attempted assault

Masterlist

***

Jungkook was used to getting ready for work as evening approached (although it was a little earlier than usual). He wasn’t used to the small flutter of excitement at his chest. Or, at least, he hadn’t felt it in some time.

When he got the job at the bar, he’d thought it would be temporary, just until he could refine his portfolio and start applying again. The job wasn’t so bad, at first. He enjoyed seeing people celebrate—job promotions—new mates—good times. But then the nights dragged on. He saw more people lost in the bottom of their cups than celebrating. He was drained by the end of the night, no energy left to work on his portfolio.

“Jungkook-ah!” Yoongi waved and smiled and Jungkook felt something dancing in his stomach. “How are you doing?” Yoongi seemed to actually be waiting for a response.

“I’m—I’m good. Excited to be here.”

Yoongi studied him. “That’s good. Are you ready to see how to close up?” He asked. Jungkook nodded. So Yoongi showed Jungkook how to clean the coffee machines and counters. “There’s a separate routine for the back. Jin-hyung can show you what it’s like over the next couple of days. You can try working in the front and in the back, see what you like better.”

A broad shouldered man stepped out from behind the curtain marked ‘employees only!’

“Yoongi-yah, where’d you put the—“ The man broke off, blinking at Jungkook. “Hello?”

“Hi?” Jungkook replied.

The man put his hand in front of his mouth and leaned close to Yoongi. “I thought you were closing up,” the man whispered loudly. “Who is this?”

“Hyung.” Yoongi rolled his eyes. “Remember I told you Jiwoo brought in a prospective employee?” The other man just squinted at him, like he remembered nothing of the sort. Yoongi sighed. “He liked your matcha toast.”

“Ha ha! Of course he did! I’m an excellent cafe owner, obviously everything I make is spectacular!”

Jungkook concluded that this was Jin, and he was just as self-centered as Jungkook first assumed. Then he saw how Jin’s ears were bright red. Was he embarrassed that Jungkook liked his toast? Jungkook’s lips twitched. That was… kind of cute, actually.

“I’m Jungkook,” he introduced himself, bowing slightly.

“Kim Seokjin.” He paused, pursing pink puffy lips. “I’m sorry I forgot about you, it’s coming back to me a little now. Thanks for enjoying my food.”

“Ah, hyung, it’s fine, it’s been a long day,” Yoongi reassured him. He pulled out his phone and glanced at it. “Namjoonie is heading over now.”

“Excellent!” Jin clapped his hands together. “Jungkook, would you like a tour of the kitchen before he arrives?”

As an omega, Jungkook hesitated for a moment before agreeing to be alone with a stranger.

“I’ll come too,” Yoongi offered. “Just in case hyung forgets anything else important.”

“Yah!” Jin’s ears flushed again.

A small giggle escaped Jungkook’s lips. Seokjin and Yoongi looked at him. Jungkook held his hand over his mouth.

“Ah, sorry, it’s just… you two seem to get along well.”

“I would hope so!” Seokjin huffed. “Seeing as Yoongi’s my mate.”

Jungkook blinked. “Oh…”

“Yoongi didn’t tell you?” Seokjin shot him a look. “Seems like I’m not the only one forgetting important things. Anyway, come along, I’ll explain as we walk.” He held open the curtain. Yoongi and Jungkook stepped through. Seokjin showed him around the kitchen, and pointed through another door at the locker room. “It’s not much, but to me, it’s beautiful.” Seokjin touched the oven, smiling at it. “It’s always been my dream to open a cafe. Of course, it’s hard to run a cafe by yourself, so my mates helped me.” He reached over to pinch Yoongi’s cheek. “And they’re actually very good at it.”

Yoongi swatted him off, blushing slightly. “You don’t have to sound so surprised.”

“We also sell records, because Yoongi is obsessed with music, and plants, cause Namjoonie likes leafy green things.” Seokjin paused. “Not vegetables. He could stand to eat more of those.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, that concludes our short, yet sweet, tour. Tips are appreciated.” He held his hand out.

Jungkook stuck his hands in his pockets. He felt something small and round and pulled it out. It was one of the candies he kept on hand for Seoyeon. He placed it on Seokjin’s palm.

Yoongi snorted. “Don’t encourage him.”

“This…” Seokjin held it up. “Is the single best tip I’ve received in my entire career.”

Jungkook squinted. “You can’t have received many good tips, then.” Seokjin shrugged, unwrapping the candy and popping it in his mouth.

They returned to the front, Yoongi telling Jungkook about the best selling albums currently. The door opened, the little bell above it jingling.

“Am I late?” The man asked, slightly out of breath. Yoongi shook his head.

“This is Jungkook.”

“I’m Kim Namjoon.” He smiled. Oh. Dimples!

“Anyway,” Seokjin said. “The three of us are in charge. Hoseok still works here part time, but Taehyung and Jimin have other responsibilities now, so that’s why we needed more employees.”

Jungkook nodded, even though he didn’t know who Seokjin was talking about, he figured they were more of Seokjin’s mates. “That makes sense.”

“If you could help us with closing today, and then tomorrow come in around two or three, you could meet Hoseok then, and he can run you through the afternoon shift.” Namjoon showed Jungkook how to wipe down the tables and couches and water the plants. “To be honest, the books don’t make a significant profit,” Namjoon told Jungkook as they straightened out the shelves. “But customers are allowed to read the books without purchasing them,  or donate used books. I think it makes for a nice atmosphere.”

Seokjin showed Jungkook what needed to be prepped for tomorrow morning in the kitchen. They sliced apples together, and Seokjin let Jungkook nibble at the core.

Jungkook stared at the check Namjoon placed in his hands at the end of the night.

“We can do cash, if you prefer,” Yoongi commented. Jungkook shook his head.

“This is fine, I’m just… I didn’t realize I would be getting paid for the trial period.”

Yoongi’s brow furrowed. “It’s work. Of course we’re paying you.”

“Normally we pay weekly, but for the trial period I figure we’ll do daily, in case something ends up not working out,” Namjoon told him. Jungkook nodded, tucking the check into his pocket, determined that he would reach that weekly pay.

The afternoon shift was nice. He got to hang out a bit with Jiwoo. “The afternoon shift is my preference, since I take classes at night,” she told him.

After a week of learning under Hoseok, Jungkook was refreshed in his coffee knowledge. He often worked out front, practicing more and more elaborate latte art to surprise the customers with.

He also became familiar with the specific aspects of working at Jin’s Cafe.

Yoongi let him choose some albums to order to sell, and gave him editing permissions on the cafe’s playlists.

Sometimes Jungkook worked in the back. He wasn’t great at cooking the same recipe over and over, especially for profit. He preferred cooking for himself, the freedom of just throwing things together and hoping they tasted good.

“Namjoon isn’t allowed in the kitchen cause one time he burnt a hole through one of my favorite pots,” Seokjin told Jungkook. “Compared to that, you’re welcome back here anytime.”

At the end of the week, Jungkook insisted he was ready for the infamous morning rush.

It was just halfway into the shift when Jungkook finally got a break. He stood at the counter, munching on a chocolate almond croissant Hoseok brought him from the kitchen.

Jungkook was good at customer service, and he enjoyed that challenge, but it took a lot of energy out of him.

“Jin-hyung is the same way,” Hoseok said when Jungkook admitted this to him. “He’s great at charming even the most difficult customers, but it leaves him totally drained afterwards, so he prefers staying in the kitchen. Besides, he really enjoys cooking. As long as he can peek out and see how people are liking his food, he’ll be happy.”

“What about you?” Jungkook wondered. Even while working only part time, Hoseok seemed great at remembering customer’s names favorite orders. Jungkook had heard him asking after a regular customer’s mother’s surgery and how that big project at work ended up.

Hoseok smiled sheepishly. “I’m similar. I enjoy meeting new people, but it also makes my heart race too fast. We’re all mostly introverted here, except for Joonie. That’s why he takes care of the business side of things,” Hoseok explained. Jungkook nodded. Namjoon only stopped by every couple of days—though he had still found time to give Jungkook a plant cutting. Jungkook was enjoying the small sprout of green in his apartment. “He does all the meetings with the investors and stuff like that. Seokjin would end up yelling and I’d end up…” He paused. “Probably lecturing them.” He giggled. Then his face turned serious. “We’ve had some pretty shitty investors in the past. They didn’t give us the freedom to do what we wanted with the cafe. It’s better now, but it was really hard for a while.”

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook said. “But I’m glad it’s better now.”

Hoseok smiled. “I can tell you really mean that. You’re lovely.”

Jungkook flushed. “Sajangnim…”

Hoseok waved his hand. “You can call us all hyung.” He paused. “Unless that’ll make you uncomfortable? Jiwoo said she’s happy to address us casually, but you’re your own person, so if you don’t want to—“

“I want to!” Jungkook said quickly. He liked the idea of having several more hyungduel to look after him (and vice versa).

Hoseok’s grin was heart shaped. “Great! Now, let’s see what else I can teach you, Jungkookie!” The chalkboard outside needed to be redone. “Usually we do a doodle and a joke. Often a pun. The secret goal is to make Jin-hyung laugh. Why don’t you give it a try this time?” He handed Jungkook a box of colorful chalk pens.

“Got it.” Jungkook nodded seriously. Hoseok laughed.

“Cutie.”

“…Hyung.” Jungkook squirmed, not necessarily disliking Hoseok calling him cute, but not sure what to do about that. Instead of dealing with it, he leaned over and started to draw. He drew a steaming cup of coffee and a scrawled out a quick little pun.

Hoseok rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That’s good! I mean, the pun is… could use some work, honestly,” he said. Jungkook wilted slightly. “But the drawing is great, feels like I could reach in and grab the cup to go!” Jungkook smiled tentatively. Hoseok clapped his hands together. “I know, how about you take care of the chalkboard whenever you take the morning shift! What do you think?”

“I can do that,” Jungkook said, resolving to Naver coffee puns later.

Soon, Jungkook’s trial was over. He had mostly settled into morning shifts. He knew the names of several regular customers, and regularly updated Yoongi’s morning playlist.

One afternoon, he was lingering in the locker room to chat with Jiwoo. Jiwoo glanced at her phone.

“Oh, I’ve got to hurry, it’s almost time for me to start.”

“Is it that time already?” He needed to get going, he had a call with Junghyun soon. “Do you mind if I change in front of you?” Jungkook asked.

“Go ahead,” Jiwoo waved her hand, turning around to organize something in her locker. Jungkook pulled off his work shirt, comfortable enough to change in front of another omega. He was wearing an undershirt anyway.

The door burst open. “Hyung, are you in here?”

Jungkook froze, staring at the man in the doorway.

It was the strawberry boy, one of the mates from in front of the club that night. The strawberry scent was gone now, leaving the faint smell of alpha, most likely peeking through scent blockers at the end of the day. Jungkook was surprised to find he didn’t mind the alpha’s natural scent. He nearly stepped closer to smell it better.

“Goddammit Taehyung!” Jiwoo said, standing in front of Jungkook and trying to shield him from view (she was shorter than him, but Jungkook appreciated the effort). “You can’t just burst in here—it’s not just your mates that work here anymore.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Taehyung bowed.

“It—it’s fine,” Jungkook said, wondering if Taehyung would remember him. “I’m sure it was just an accident.” He pulled on his hoodie and zipped it up.

Taehyung nodded wildly. “Ah, but I couldn’t help but notice… your tattoos are really cool.”

Jungkook’s cheeks felt warm. “Thanks.”

“Where’d you get them done?” Taehyung wondered.

“Oh, I did them myself,” Jungkook admitted.

“Seriously?” Jiwoo’s eyes widened. “That’s so cool…”

“It is!” Taehyung agreed. “But, what are you doing working in a cafe if you’re so good at tattoos?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say I’m so good. That was just practice. I’ve never done anyone else’s.” Jungkook thought Taehyung was probably just exaggerating cause he felt bad about bursting in on him changing.

“No, really, they’re so good,” Jiwoo told him. “You should be proud of them. Anyway, are you okay, JK? Cause I’ve got to get to work.”

“I’m fine,” Jungkook assured her. She rushed out of the room. Jungkook slung his bag over his shoulder.

“Um…” Taehyung smiled shyly. “I was wondering, do you remember me?”

“…Yeah, I’m surprised you remembered me.”

“You’re surprised?” Taehyung’s brow furrowed. “Jimin and I have been worried about you this whole time. I mean…” He held his hands up. “Not that you didn’t seem capable of defending yourself, but I know some alphas can be real assholes.”

“Sure,” Jungkook said. “But some aren’t. You…” He cleared his throat. “I mean… thanks again, for helping me, that night.”

Taehyung shook his head. “I didn’t really do anything.”

“Maybe not intentionally,” Jungkook acknowledged. “But your perfume was strong enough to hide my scent. That really helped.”

“Strawberries.” Taehyung grinned. “I like sweet scents, good thing one of my mates opened a bakery, huh?”

“I want you to know, I scolded Tae for rushing into the locker room like that,” Hoseok told him the next day. “He’s aware that you and Jiwoo change in there, so he should act better.”

“I’m fine,” Jungkook said seriously. “Taehyung-ssi seemed nice.”

Hoseok nodded slowly. “He’s very nice, but he’s still very puppy-like. He’s our maknae, you know, so he might be a little too exuberant sometimes. But I promise he will back down if you ever feel uncomfortable.”

Jungkook nodded, although, for some reason, he couldn’t actually imagine Taehyung making him feel uncomfortable.

***

taglist

@ldysmfrst

#bts fanfiction #member x member #ot7 #ot7 x ot7 #ot6 x jungkoook #jungkook x ot6 #a/b/o dynamics #omegaverse #soulmates au #coffee shop au #jungkook centric #polyam

[petitelepus]

IDW Sunstreaker was originally suppose to watch his friend's pet for a bit, but that turned to hours and calls later, no response. Essential the human was dumped into his care and he was gonna give em up until he realized he gained an artistic pet that he wouldn't mind keeping

Sunstreker was mad. How could his friend do this to him and worst of all, dump you on him without any warning?

"Frag, they aren't answering..." He cursed silently as he tried to call them, but the mechanical voice replied that the number wasn't in use anymore.

While he was mad, you appeared unaffected by everything that was happening around you. You just silently sat on the chair and kicked your legs back and forth. It was like you didn't care and it frustrated Sunstreaker.

He turned to look at you and scowled, "Hey, don't you care where your owner went!?"

"Not really." You replied as you looked at your legs. "They said many times that if they could, they would have taken me back to the shelter, but they wouldn't take me back."

"They did what now?"

Sunstreaker was baffled. Pets were loyal companions and family members. If the owners loved their pets, their pets would return their love and gift them with undying loyalty.

Why had his friend gotten you if they weren't ready for the responsibility? Just how irresponsible they could be? Also, what kind of a shelter wouldn't take you back if you were obviously neglected?

You nodded at his question, "I doubt they ever liked me. They called me stupid so many times and forgot to feed me sometimes..."

Sunstreaker frowned as he put the phone away and looked at you with a little more compassion now.

"You don't sound stupid to me." He said and you whipped your head up so you could look at him as if to see if he was serious. It nearly broke the Autobot's spark, seeing you look so confused when complimented.

Sunstreaker saw no other way. He looked at you and smiled, "Then... Would you become my pet then?"

"Will you feed me?" You asked back, and he was so sad about how you felt the need to ask an obvious question.

The Bot nodded, "I will."

"Can you feed me now?" You asked and just like on cue, your stomach grumbled and he nodded as he reached for you and gently picked you up.

"Would you like some hamburgers?" He asked and you nodded eagerly, "I'd love some, but with no onion please?"

"No onions, got it."

#humans are cute #sunstreaker #transformers idw #idw #transformers #reader #anon #ENJOY!

[tedexia]

Title: It was written in the stars.

Couple: Eli Whipp x Cornelia Locke

Series: The English (2022)

Summary:

Initially I'm going to change some details of Hugo Blick's magnificent play wonderfully performed by Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer.

The first thing is that Cornelia is not sick, and therefore her son did not die of Syphilis. Obviously that implies that she was outraged by Melmont, although he was not sick with Syphilis at the time either.

Cornelia's son was intentionally killed by a man sent by Melmont to get rid of her and the boy.

Thomas Trafford is also not dead, and in what is a fit of frustration and rage decides to confront Melmont, discovering Cornelia, Eli, Martha, her son and the Sheriff on the scene.

Everything else has happened as in the series, until the moment when Eli murders David Melmont, from where this fanfic starts.

Obviously I don't have any rights over the characters, I'm only responsible for the plot of this story.

Chapter 1: Scorpio

Cornelia told him that his sign was vengeful, maybe she was right, and he was just as vengeful as she was, he told himself after twisting the remains of the sword inside David Melmont several times.

Everything... all the horror and pain Cornelia had gone through was this bastard's fault, and although for the Pawnee she should have shot him, she understood that it was best to finish the job with her own hands. After all, if years ago he had taken matters into his own hands and finished off Melmont and the three soldiers, this bastard would never have gone to England to hurt her.

When Cornelia awoke, she went straight into Eli's arms. Not that he doubted that she would look for him, but a demon was forming inside Eli from a few minutes ago....

The other man besides the sheriff seemed completely thrown off when he found them there. He had called her name and seemed almost as perplexed as she was to see him.

So as she hugged the native, Thomas Trafford's eyes lingered on the woman he left behind in England in the hope that she would never come here... that she would never have to go through any suffering, that the skin of her body would never have a single speck of the dust of this soil so beloved and so cursed. Yet here she was, and from what he had heard, she...she had a Melmont child. Trafford's head kept spinning almost to the brink of madness.

The sheriff declared that he would arrest the native as responsible for Melmont's death, and Cornelia's eyes filled with despair, her hands clutched at Eli's leg, who was standing to prevent her from halting the course of his responsibility.

- I have a better plan, sheriff," Trafford exclaimed, gaining the attention of the others, "If you will allow me, and we will put it into practice immediately.

......................................

As the rumor of the Hoxem villagers was somewhere between annoyed and furious, the store owner shouted angrily that a woman and an Indian had asked for Melmont hours earlier and then disappeared with the deputy sheriff.

The alibi wasn't very strong, but it would make sense.

- My deputy arrived alone, on the way Thomas Trafford met the woman and the Indian. They have been with him on his land ever since.

The crowd did not seem very convinced, but everyone knew of the sheriff's dislike for Trafford, so it was impossible for him to lie to lessen any responsibility the landowner or anyone connected with him might have.

....................................

Cornelia took the towel in her hands while it still felt all like one long dream, it had been days since she had felt water on her skin, and dirt baths didn't count as one. Her world was spinning again and it was time to start thinking about the consequences of it. Her little boy had been avenged, by an angry mother like her, and by the man who had kept her alive on every inch of this ground.

At this point it seemed her fate hung on one little lie that changed everything. She soaked the towel even deeper in the basin of water and began to undress, the best thing she could do before anything else was to take a bath.

Eli watched the movement of Trafford's men, most of them armed and moving from place to place as if expecting a surprise attack. The dry bale the pawnee was sitting on was a little more comfortable than hours of riding on his horse. Eli's eyes went to the big house where he had seen Cornelia disappear, and where Trafford had just entered. The native looked up at the stars shining in the sky, yesterday he was still seeing them with her. Even though she had run away from his kiss a few nights before, but they had still shared a fire, the blanket and an arm to sleep on after that.

Eli leaned back against the dry wood behind his back and continued to look up at the stars, maybe this was the end of the road with her...and that was how it was written in the stars after all.

I am not a native speaker, please forgive me for any mistakes. I just want to let go of my pain with this fanfic.

#cornelia locke #eli whipp #the english 2022 #eli x cornelia #fanfic #happy ending #chaske spencer #emily blunt

[dragonmasterkaylz]

Cute & Nerdy- Dean Winchester x Nerd! Reader

Warning: I’ve never done an ‘x Reader’ fanfic before so don’t judge. Don’t like, don’t read.

It was no surprise that Dean Winchester had a crush on Y/N. She was cute, a great hunter and she had no problem being herself. They first met her in a Vampire Nest and, to their surprise, she wasn’t scared. She was smart and she obviously had a plan. By the time the brothers got there, the Nest was cleared out.

“Holy shit…! Are you a Hunter?!”, Dean asked. Y/N nodded and said, “And these Vamps were pretty stupid. They didn’t search me for any knives, or even my gun”. Sam smiled and said, “Well, good job”. She smiled back and then put her weapons away before saying, “I hope I see you both again~!” Dean hummed and said, “She’s cute…”. “Aww… someone’s gotta a crush”, Sam teased. “Shut up!”

And Sam turned out to be right, especially when she started living with them. He quickly found out that she was a nerd and that made her even more attractive. Usually, he wouldn’t have a problem asking a girl out… but this was different. “Dude. You’re in love with her”. Dean gave his brother a look and said, “No, I’m not!”

The door to the Bunker opened and Y/N ran down the stairs, humming to herself. “Woah! You look different!” “Yup~! I decided to dye my hair F/C. What do you think?”, she asked. Sam smiled and said, “I think it looks great. Fits your whole aesthetic. Dean?” The older Winchester just nodded and said, “Looks great…”. But inside, he was screaming. ‘She’s too goddamn cute!’

“Also, I have a side job at the nearest Comic Book Store”. Dean choked on his drink and said, “You do?” Y/N nodded and said, “We need to get money in somehow. I know it’s not much… but it’s something”. “That’s very responsible of you Y/N. Thank you. We really appreciate it”, Sam said. She giggled and said, “The owner even gives me some of his product to be put around my room. Isn’t that awesome?”

“No! No, it’s not!”, Dean shouted as he stood up. “It’s obvious that this man wants to get in your pants!” She blinked in confusion. “Why would he do that? I mean, I’m not exactly—!” He stood up and grabbed her arm before walking out into the hall. “Smooth Dean, real smooth”, Sam mumbled to himself as he tried to find a case for them.

The two walked into the ‘Dean Cave’ and Y/N asked, “What’s going on with you?!” “Okay, you listen to me. It’s obvious that this man finds you attractive and is trying to get into pants by bribing you with things you might like. And that’s dangerous!” She frowned and looked down, then he lifted her head up. “Look, I’m not saying you should quit. But— dammit!”

He walked away from Y/N and rubbed the back of his neck. “Dean, what’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange lately”. “Because I like you Y/N!!! That’s why!!! And… the fact that other men look at you with lust in their eyes, just pisses me off. But, you don’t seem to notice!” She walked up to him and said, “Maybe because I don’t care about them…”. “What are you talking about?”

She giggled and her cheeks turned pink as she grabbed his flannel and pulled him in for a kiss. Dean’s eyes widened in shock, but then he slowly kissed her back, pulling her close. Once they broke apart she said, “And you call me blind”. He stroked her cheek and chuckled. “I suppose I am. I love you Y/N, I really do”. She smiled and said, “I love you too, Dean”. Then they hugged each other.

“Okay… when’s your next shift?”

“Tomorrow. Why?”

The next day, Dean walked into the Comic Book Store and Y/N waved at him as she sorted out the comic books. He looked at the Funko Pops, when the Owner asked, “Can I help you?” “Yeah, you can…”, Dean said before walking up to him. “You’re gonna leave my girlfriend alone. Or else”. Then Y/N hugged his arm. “Damn… your girlfriend sure has a—!!!”

Dean punched him and shouted, “Look at her like that again and I’ll put holes in your knees! Understand me?! Do I make myself clear?!” The owner nodded as he felt blood run out of his nose. “Asshole”. Dean then walked out of the store and said, “You be careful, okay? I think he gets the message. Call me if anything else happens”. She nodded and kissed him, before saying, “Thank you, sweetie”.

END

#supernatural #dean winchester #sam winchester #x reader #dean x reader #fanfic

[puffpasstea]

Satellite

A/N: It's hereee!!! The FINAL chapter is ready for you guys!! I hope it's the ending that you've all wanted and I hope you like it. To everyone who has read and supported this little fic: thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I appreciate your support and encouragement more than I could ever say. Please let me know your thoughts, or if you have any comments or feedback! I always love hearing from you all.

Warnings: some kissing?

---

Chapter 10

Harry reached for the volume knob of his car’s stereo and turned it down as he watched me get into the passenger’s seat with an unabashed grin on his face. “Y’look so pretty tonight.”

“Unlike all the other nights, when I look like a bridge troll.” I deflected, his blunt compliment making my fingers shake as I fastened my seatbelt.

He shook his head, hiding a chuckle. “Ready to go?”

“Mhm.”

The air between us felt electric, though I couldn’t figure out exactly why. Maybe it was Harry’s sudden forwardness, him stealing glances at me whenever he was at a stop sign or traffic light, giggling shyly when our eyes would meet and shrugging and mumbling “nothin’” in response to my “what?” Or maybe it was simply that he’d made a formal invite this time around. The whole thing felt serious and planned. A change from our casual, spur of the moment meet-ups since he’s been back. 

“S-so, where are we going?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“There’s this little Italian place-”

“Is it fancy?”

Harry laughed

“I’m serious! Am I underdressed?”

“You’re perfect….I mean, you look perfect- perfectly fine.”

***

Harry was lying. I could tell, as soon as we’d arrived, that I’d never, in my life, set foot inside an establishment quite like this one. Not that it mattered because I could also tell that the place was positively empty.

“A-are we the only ones in here?”

“Sort of. Yeah.”

“W-what?!!”

“Well, they usually open the kitchen in an hour. So, people will be coming in soon, but I know the owner, and, well…I wanted to talk-”

“What’s all this about, will you tell me already? You’re starting to freak me out.”

“Uhh, I will, I promise, but could we order drinks first?”

The drinks came, and, later, so did the first course, but Harry hadn’t answered my question yet. Instead, we talked about my experience working with him and the cast, perhaps for the first time. I told him about all the things that I found strange, or new, that he’d grown accustomed to and hardly noticed anymore. He expressed to me that he still gets nervous and unsure about acting, in a way that doesn’t happen with music. He’s learned to turn the uncertainty of working on new records into anticipation and excitement, and it certainly showed in his work. Even his most heartbreaking songs always came from a joyous, creative place. He hopes he can one day do that with acting too.

Setting my glass down, I laid my hands out on the table in front of me. “Why are we here, Harry? N-not that I’m not enjoying this because I am; I really am. It’s been a while since we’ve just been able to talk like this, but…Out with it already! Why have you brought me here tonight? Is everything alright? I mean, is it Gemma, is she-”

“No, no, god, no! She’ll all good-”

“Well, then, what is it? Is it work? Did Jeff-”

“No, work is fine. Better than fine, actually. It’s great.” Harry smiled, picking up his drink and taking a big sip. “It’s jus.’ I- uh…” 

I scanned his features closely, attempting to decipher the unreadable expression on his face. His cheeks blushed when he noticed me watching him and he quickly looked away, focusing his gaze downward on the tablecloth. 

“Well, so, it’s been over a month since I’ve been back, and I have been working on things, and-” He paused, apprehensive, and briefly glanced up at me. I gave him a nod of encouragement to keep going. “I really think I’m in a much better place now. Obviously, long term I- I’ve got to be better at- well, you know....” 

I smiled, unsure where he was going with this, but finding his flustered vulnerability quite endearing.

“And I will be! I’ll be better moving forward. But, you leave soon. And, I don’t want to make the same mistakes as last time. I don’t want to regret things.” His eyes finally focused on mine, watching me expectantly. 

My throat felt dry. With a shaky grip, I brought my glass to my lips, sipping on it slowly to buy myself some time. “Harry, what exactly are you saying to me right now?” I couldn’t control the growing smile on my face. “Because I THINK I know what you’re saying, but, I don’t wanna get my hopes up and-”

“I’m saying I want us to be together, Matilda!”  Harry’s smile mirrored mine. A silence fell over our table. He reached across and held my hands in his, squeezing gently. “I’m saying I love you and I want us to be a real thing. No more sleeping together while dating other people, no more running, no more delaying. I’m saying I can’t imagine a life with anyone but you.”

At that moment, I felt dizzy and giddy with joy. I could hardly wrap my mind around it or believe that it was real. Looking back though, I think I couldn’t process what he was saying because it was the first time anyone had ever openly and freely expressed to me how much they valued me. It was, without any exaggeration, a life altering experience. Because that moment was the beginning of the rest of my life.

“Alright…that- that’s what I thought.” I spoke, softly, smiling and tripping over my words.

“Is that a yes?  Are you saying yes to me?” 

I nodded.

Harry half stood up from his chair, leaning in. “May I kiss you?”

I nodded. ***

That night at the restaurant changed my life, not because it re-wrote who I am, nor because we ‘lived happily ever after’ like some fairytale romance. We certainly did not. We’re two, deeply flawed people, our individual faults and struggles, as well as our relationship challenges, continued to press our sense of what love is, what it means to commit to someone, and what intimacy looks like after the initial stages of infatuation have faded. In fact, we almost broke up just ten months after that night. But, I think, what fundamentally changed for me at that dinner is that, for the first time ever, I belong with someone. For the first time in my life, I was accountable to someone other than myself. Harry knew me, saw me at my best and at my lowest, and he loves me anyway. Years of experience had taught me to associate being seen with fear and shame, and it certainly took a lot for me to learn to accept and reciprocate his love healthily. Unlike fairytale romances, real life relationships, I would soon learn, don’t just end after the guy gets the girl. Progress isn’t linear, nor do you ever stop trying to love each other. Those were the things that I held onto during our bumps in the road. And those were the things that changed my life.

Over the remaining few weeks I had left in LA, Harry and I went on real dates, out in the open, like a real couple. I met his friends eventually, he let me into his life fully. When I flew back home, he came to visit a month later, and he met my friends; came with me to work; made me breakfast in the mornings; we went out to dinner at night; we did laundry; watched tv; cleaned my apartment on Sundays. I traveled to see his shows whenever possible.  One time, during soundcheck, he learned that I play the guitar, for the first time, when he and Pauli discussed adding instruments to Satellite, and I picked up a guitar and played the intro to see how it would sound.

“How come I didn’t know you could play?”

“You never asked.”

“Fair enough!”

Pauli laughed and whispered something about Harry finding this knowledge a huge turn-on. The band jokingly asked if they should leave us alone, clear the stage for us to make out. I was both flattered and self-conscious that they could all so obviously see our feelings written all over our faces. But these were Harry’s closest friends, he felt safe being openly affectionate in front of them. 

Turning around, I felt someone towering over me from behind. 

“Don’t mind Mitch, that’s just his face. Also, you’re touching his guitar.”

Mitch, I thought, was the hardest to win over. Though, according to Harry, ‘he’s always liked you.’ I think Harry was just being a supportive boyfriend, knowing my anxiety around friend groups, he wanted me to feel included. 

***

Our most difficult challenge came when I decided to make a change in my career and join the teaching faculty at the college. It happened to coincide with Harry’s work on a new album. He was absent-minded for weeks at a time, and I was stressed and busy. Our communication was nearly non-existent, and, for a while, I thought we would break up. The distance was difficult; neither one of us had been in a serious relationship that had lasted this long. Negotiating where to spend the holidays, who’d fly out to whom and when, whether or not I’d stomach another public event with Harry just to spend more time together, all of that was nothing compared to the stressors that work conflicts brought us. We would end up solving that problem by moving in together, but it would take us both a lot of time to finally come to that solution, and to be emotionally ready for what it meant, for spending so much time together after having spent so much time apart, for merging two very different lives, lifestyles, careers that were so inherently different. For my bouts of depression and anxiety to be impossible to hide away from him, for his huge, messy, life to surround my reclusive existence. Though none of it was a fairytale romance, I suppose, in our own way, we did live happily ever after.

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