#couldn't find this one clipped and i really liked it... it's such a dream smile

[sheepwasfound]

and the dream smile™ of the stream goes to

#couldn't find this one clipped and i really liked it... it's such a dream smile #the dreamiest of smiles if you will that's when you know it's a dream smile yknow #when the eyes get soft instead of bright like they would with a regular smile they get soft and happy and just a tiny bit secretive #dreamnotfound #dnf #sheepy #happy #flustered #mcc #gogy twc #sweet #dream smile #sheepy clip

[happy74827]

Chaos Theory

[Mike Schmidt x Female!Reader]

Synopsis: When Mike's crazy schedule finally aligns with one of the so-called "parental meetings" at Abby's school, he decides to see what it's all about. Little did he know he'd come to seriously regret that.

WC: 2,590

Category: Slight Fluff

I failed an exam today, so I wrote this to cheer myself up. I still feel pretty crappy, but this was really fun to write lol.

Also if you see any grammar mistakes, no you didn’t.

『••✎••』

When it came to Abby’s school, Mike was at a disadvantage. He couldn’t go to any of the parental meetings, not because he didn’t want to, but because he was constantly doing something work-related during the time those meetings were scheduled.

It didn’t mean he wasn’t keeping an eye on her grades and school attendance. It just meant he couldn't be there for the day-to-day things. Abby was a good kid, though; she never gave him trouble about the things he missed, and she did a pretty good job of keeping her grades up and attending all her classes.

Her teacher, you, was also very understanding of his schedule and position. He wasn’t sure how many teachers would have been as patient with him as you were. It was part of the reason he had grown fond of you, though it had been a gradual process that happened mostly unbeknownst to him.

At the beginning of the year, he had only been concerned about getting Abby acclimated to her new school. She was a quiet kid, stuck to her drawings, and it was even hard for him to get her to open up sometimes. Runs in the family, apparently. But, somehow, you were able to break down the wall that had been erected around her. Abby still didn't talk all that much, but she would always come back from school with a smile on her face. So, Mike was happy.

Then, like all good things, it came crashing down like a house of cards when his work schedule finally aligned with one of the “upcoming” meetings. This one was apparently a very big deal, and it was strongly implied to show up.

He hated these things despite never going to any before, but he just knew it would be filled with nosey people asking questions about his life. His sister. His “wife.”

God, he was already annoyed. The only saving grace was that it was the last meeting before the holiday break, so once it was over, he would be free for a while. Free to do what, exactly? Work, most likely, but a guy can dream.

The bell rang, signifying the end of the school day and the start of his personal nightmare. The door to the classroom was opened by one of the school's assistants, who held a clipboard in hand and waited for the “parents” to enter the room. He had arrived earlier than the scheduled time so he could speak to the assistant and find out what the meeting would entail, and already he knew it was a bad idea coming in here.

The woman was a nosy old biddy that was all too eager to learn the details of his and Abby's life.

He kept his answers short and clipped, but it did nothing to dissuade the woman. It got worse when he entered the classroom and saw the number of other parents who had shown up. He felt like an animal in a zoo; all the eyes followed his movements as he went to sit closest to the wall and away from the rest of the people.

The surrounding parents looked as though they lived in the next town over. They were clean-cut, hair styled perfectly, and clothes ironed. It was like they were trying to be a picture-perfect family.

He looked down at his own attire. His work boots were scuffed and dusty. His pants had a few grass stains from a recent job. His flannel shirt was buttoned wrong, and the sleeves were pushed up. Even his hair was a mess; he had tried to style it but didn't have much success, so he eventually gave up. The only thing going for him was that he had taken a shower before he left, so at least he didn't smell like sweat and grime.

As the meeting began, Mike had to try his best not to fall asleep. It was the typical teacher stuff. How the kids were doing. What the curriculum was for the following year. What their goals were. Blah, blah, blah.

Mike didn't care. He trusted you, and he knew his little sister was smart. She didn't need someone holding her hand and telling her what she was doing right or wrong. He knew this because he did that, and she didn't need it.

What did interest him, though, was the fact you kept looking his way. You didn't look at the others, and when you spoke, it was usually aimed toward them, but he saw the way you would look at him from the corner of your eye. He figured you were probably in shock that he actually showed up this time.

The meeting dragged on, and he was ready to leave. There were a few moments he had caught himself nodding off as he needed sleep, and this wasn't helping him. But then, like everything else in his life, the universe decided it was his time to suffer.

There was one woman who had sat at the front of the classroom. She wore her hair pulled back tight in a bun, her shirt was pressed, and her face was set in a permanent frown. He hated that lady; she reminded him of his good-for-nothing aunt who only wanted to criticize every choice he made.

The lady was also the mother of the most spoiled, brattiest child in the whole class. That damned kid had made it her life mission to torment Abby. He had come home more than once with her complaining about it, and when Mike had brought it up with you, you had told him that you had spoken with the parent.

That, of course, had done nothing. The child was an annoying pest, and he hated the way she treated Abby, but his sister had learned early on to deal with the bullying on her own. It didn't stop him from wanting to throttle the little shit, though.

The woman, the one who had started all his problems, took the opportunity to start a round of questioning. The first few were innocuous until they weren't.

"You seem to be a very patient woman." The woman had spoken to you, but her eyes were locked on him. "Is it a skill that was learned?"

The question itself was innocent enough, but the inflection and tone she used were meant to cut. He wasn't stupid. He knew she was alluding to something. It was always something, but he had to force himself not to say anything; the woman was a viper, and if he said something, she would attack without hesitation.

"I think anyone can be patient," You had responded diplomatically. "It's just a matter of the situation."

The woman didn't look happy with your answer, but she didn't pursue the line of questioning.

"Well, I couldn’t help but notice a certain someone who decided to finally drop in."

There it was. That was the opening.

Mike could tell you didn’t like the turn of conversation, and you were clearly trying to divert it elsewhere. It was no use, though. Mike could see the glint in the woman's eye as she prepared for the kill. She had a smile on her face, but her eyes were cold. "I was starting to think that Mr. Schmidt had abandoned his responsibilities. Wouldn’t be the first time someone in that family did such a thing."

He couldn’t help but have visions of his accidental mall incident from last year flash in his mind when he processed what the woman had said. He could easily hop over the desk and deck her right in the mouth. He had the muscle for it, and it was very tempting.

However, he would not.

If there was anything Mike had learned over the years, it was how to control his emotions, even if the situation was dire. The last time he had lost his cool, he ended up getting fired, but that was a long time ago… okay, not really, but the point was, he wouldn't make the same mistake again.

He wouldn't give the woman the satisfaction.

Mike leaned forward in his chair, arms crossed over his knees, and looked the woman straight in the eyes. "That's funny. I could say the same thing about your kid."

"Excuse me?!" She hissed, and she seemed offended. Good. He hoped she was offended.

"Okay, okay." You intervened, hands up as if to placate the two of them. "Let's keep this civil, okay? The last thing we want is to be kicked out of the school for brawling. That's not beneficial for any of us." You then looked back at the woman. "Let's not bring personal matters into this."

"Personal matters?" The woman was appalled at your statement, and her voice was so loud in the quiet room. He could tell many of the other parents were looking at them now, and he felt the weight of their gazes on him. It only made his anger spike. "That monkey of his tried to bully mine for three months now, and she's never done anything."

Monkey? Monkey?! Oh, he was going to kill her. It was one thing to talk shit about him; he was used to that, but Abby? No. Absolutely not. His little sister was the best damn thing to come into his life. He wouldn't have it.

But before he could say something, before he could even get out of the chair, you had done something he would never have thought you would. You got up and went to your desk, then you returned, holding a paper. You held it up for all the parents to see.

"This is a drawing my students did a few weeks ago," you started, and he was surprised at the level of calmness you were exuding. "The assignment was for them to draw the thing they loved the most."

Hearing those words, Mike had a feeling what was coming next, but he wasn't going to say anything. It would be like tempting fate. Still, he watched as you grabbed one of the papers, and then you turned it around so he could see it. Abby had done the drawing, and it was not only of him but of everyone else in her class as well. She had even drawn you standing near her with a kind smile. It was the picture she had brought home from that field trip months ago. It was a nice picture. Really nice. He liked it, and he knew Abby was proud of it.

"I made copies of every drawing so the parents could see them," You continued as you held out the picture for everyone to see. "So, tell me, would a bully do this?"

Your voice had a bite to it now, and he could finally see just how angry you were. He was surprised at how much control you were exerting. The other parents, however, were shocked at your sudden display of emotion. Even the woman, who had looked as though she was ready to take you on herself, looked like a deer caught in headlights. She didn't know what to say. No one said anything. Even he was shocked by your sudden outburst.

You were normally such a mellow person. Understanding, even. Always ready to listen, always ready to understand. You were the one who was there to help when something went wrong. You were the person who everyone turned to. You were… nice. You were a kind person. You were—you were just like Abby. That's all he saw in you now. You were just like his sister. You were just like her. You had that same determination and that same look of knowing something that others didn't, but there was also something else. You were a fighter, too. It was just something he hadn't noticed until this very moment.

You weren't the nice teacher everyone thought you were. No, you were more. You were the person he knew his sister was becoming.

"And to answer your question from before," you continued, ignoring the growing outrage from the other parent. "I'm a very patient woman because I understand that not everyone has the same opportunities. Some of us have a responsibility to provide the basic necessities for our family, which can often lead to not being able to attend these types of meetings.”

You looked directly at the woman when you spoke the last part, and you did not look happy. At all. In fact, he was pretty sure that was a little vein on the side of your head.

"Not everyone can be at their best every moment. Not everyone is at their best all the time. Not everyone has the privilege to complain about things not going their way. So, while I am a very patient woman, I will not have any of this derogatory about my students and their guardians." The calmness in your voice was gone, and your voice was rising, and you had started pacing back and forth behind your desk as you spoke. "Because if there is one thing that I cannot stand, it's someone who criticizes others just to make themselves feel better."

You went on to speak about your experience with the woman's daughter, explaining that a meeting needed to be called upon to address the issues with the child. You didn't stop there, though. No, you also spoke about how she should have addressed the situation when it was first brought up and how that, in turn, impacted the rest of your class. You had even pointed out some of the other parent's children who had done the same thing.

Suddenly, this meeting wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.

It took a while, but once you finished your little speech, everyone had finally gotten over their shock and embarrassment. The meeting, as such, continued without incident, and by the time it was all said and done, Mike was ready to go home.

As he stood from his seat and made his way to the door, however, you stopped him. You had your bag in your hand and your coat on as well.

"I just wanted to—"

"You don't need to apologize," Mike cut you off. He didn't want an apology. He knew you weren't at fault here. In fact, he was surprised you took the time even to defend him. That didn't happen often. "I was expecting something like that to happen, but I appreciate you speaking up for Abby. She's got a good teacher."

He thought you would be embarrassed or even annoyed, but instead, your face lit up, and your cheeks turned red. "Oh, uh, well, it's my job. It was what I needed to do."

"Maybe, but you did it anyway. So, I appreciate it." He looked around the room and noticed everyone else had left. Even the nosy assistant had disappeared. He didn't know what to say, so he settled with saying the first thing that came to mind. "And hey, maybe next time you can tell them this is why I don't go to these meetings."

Your laugh was light, and you had a smile on your face. He liked the sound of it. He liked seeing it, too. He also liked the way it lit up your eyes. They had a beautiful color. So bright, so shiny. It was almost hypnotic.

"I'll consider it."

Mike wasn't sure how, but somehow, he knew you were telling the truth.

#mike schmidt #mike schmidt fanfic #mike schmidt x reader #mike schmidt x you #mike schmidt x female!reader #fnaf #fnaf games #fnaf fic #fanfic #reader #x reader #fnaf movie #five nights at freddys movie #five nights at freddy's #josh hutcherson #michael schmidt x reader #fanfiction #abby schmidt #fnaf fandom #fnaf fanfic #william afton #mike afton #michael afton #fnaf x reader #fnaf x you #michael afton x reader #mike schmidt x y/n #fnaf x female reader #fluff #female! reader

[starryjkoo]

I was rewatching the last Suchwita episode Jungkook was on and it was just so endearing how he couldn’t help but talk about the Jikook NY trip even though it was something that would have to be edited out. It was funny because later in the episode he started talking about SNTY and stopped himself because he said he probably shouldn’t talk about it. Taehyung said to go ahead because they could just edit it out and JK said this 😭

And he was so serious about it! Like it was such a blunt refusal that Yoongi even told them (jokingly) to take it outside if they were going to argue.

And yet, when Yoongi asked JK about the travel show he couldn’t help but go into so much detail about it with such an adorably big grin on his face despite it absolutely being something that would have to be edited out (Jikook were taking spoilers about their show extremely seriously too lol!).

It was just sooooo cute 😭 Jungkook could have stopped at any point too but he even goes right into a second story after the “heartstrings” comment.

It’s just really sweet because that whole conversation with Yoongi was so genuine, like it was a conversation between the two of them that wasn’t part of the show because it was obviously full of spoilers that couldn't be aired. Either JK momentarily forgot because he was just so into sharing the story or he just didn’t care because he really wanted to tell Yoongi about it anyways.

And the way that both of them looked so amused and endeared the entire time from the first second that Jimin was brought up is just so… idk, I need better vocabulary, but it was just so damn adorable lol. Jimin really does have that effect on people because literally the first mention of him and it’s all laughter and smiles and you have JK forgetting his “why would I talk about something they have to edit out” mindset.

Also Jikook in general just seem so excited about their show and it’s really sweet. They've only really mentioned it I think in this clip and the last live where they jumped on Namjoon for spoiling something lmao, but it’s like the way they talk about it and how obviously excited they are to share it with us and how JK was so amused by whatever funny chaotic things happened when Jimin arrived... it's really heartwarming. And it’s just sweet that no matter what they always seem to have so much fun together.

Anyways, it’s just really funny that in the SAME episode JK asks why would he talk about something that’s going to be edited out he talked about something that had to be edited out because it involved Jimin lmao. The fact that Jimin is always some sort of exception to Jungkook too is seriously something. Like speaking of Suchwita, it reminds me of when JK basically implied that the Jimin episode was the only full episode he had watched (that whole JM live was just crazy tbh).

I really can’t wait to find out what happened that was so chaotic and funny that had JK smiling like that and what had Jimin “tugging on heartstrings”. Like, is there going to be a scene of pitiful, pouty Jimin? Or is he just super endearing at one point? I'm so curious to see what all went down. And the Japan trip just seems like a fever dream, but that's just a whole other can of worms. But I really hope they release the full Suchwita convo sometime because the way JK talked about it was seriously adorable.

#jikook #i know people have probably already talked about this #but i was rewatching and it was so cute i needed to say something 😭 #this drought is killing me 🫠 #i have so many thoughts about the tokyo trip tho #my mind is just too disorganized #silly that people try to devalue it by calling it company content #when jikook talk about it with such big smiles #whether you ship them or not they're just adorable #and their bond deserves to be hyped and appreciated

[honeyedmiller]

Fate, After All | Joel Miller —

Part Five (Finale)

warnings: tooth-rotting fluff (of course), no outbreak!Joel, Joel and reader are literally so in love it makes everyone SICK :’) , smut (fingering, unprotected piv [wrap it up y’all], f oral receiving, tongue fucking, spitting, literally just rough dirty sex [don’t look at me omg]), no use of y/n. 18+, minors dni.

word count: 9.8k (I'm so sorry omg)

series masterlist

-

Not long after you and Joel confessed your mutual feelings for one another, the older Miller brother had asked you to move in with them. Sarah couldn't have been more excited, because that meant instead of talking to you on the landline when you weren't around, she could just walk down the hall to her dad's bedroom or downstairs and you'd be there.

She never really spoke about it aloud, but she was thrilled to finally have a mother figure around in her life. She loved her dad so dearly, but there was just some things that she couldn't talk about with him. She was sure his 'papa bear' mode would kick in if she ever even mentioned boys or wanting to use tampons or anything of the sort. Not only that, but just having a woman around to guide her in life as well was something every young woman should have, and now, she had it for real.

Joel on the same hand was eager for you to start moving your stuff in. You sold a lot of your furniture pieces because you wouldn't be needing them anymore, and truthfully, you being sort of a minimalist made the move-in process easy for everyone. You always kept your space tidy and de-cluttered frequently. Joel's heart swelled at the fact that his double vanity in his bathroom and master bedroom was finally taken up halfway with someone he loved so much. He literally smiled at the sight of your toothbrush every morning, as a reminder that this was all real—you're here, you're his, and there's no one on this planet he'd rather be with than you. You were his dream woman. He'd thought he lost out forever after he chickened out and failed to ask you out in high school, you leaving for college and not keep in touch with him. Boy was he glad to find out he was terribly wrong.

-

It'd been a couple of years after your initial move-in, and you'd just gotten home from a long day of work. You closed the front door softly, slipping off your heels to the side of the entryway while hanging your coat on the coat rack. Hushed whispers were coming from the kitchen, as if you weren't supposed to hear the conversation that was happened.

"You think she'll like it?" Was all you caught before Sarah smacked her dad lightly on the arm as she heard your footsteps approaching, luckily not seeing the two of them and how quickly Joel had to slide the velvet box over to his daughter, to which she tossed in her backpack.

"Hey you two." You beam, taking your hair down from your claw clip as you approached them.

"Hey honey." Joel smiled, pulling you in for a hug and a kiss. You moved to Sarah as you kissed the top of her head as she greeted you, moving to the fridge after to get a bottle of water.

"What were you two talking about before I came in?" You ask, eyebrow raised quizzically.

Joel's face nearly turned beet red, but Sarah stepped in before he could come up with a lame excuse.

"We were just discussing if you'd like takeout for dinner, or pizza." She shrugged, and you narrowed your eyes for a split second. A headache was already brewing in your frontal, so you decided to let it go and nod.

"Either's fine. Don't really have the energy tonight to cook, truthfully. I have a headache I can already feel." You sheepishly smile, and Joel's lips formed into a small frown.

"Go lay down for a bit honey. We can wake you when dinner's here." Joel encouraged. You untwisted the cap to your water bottle, taking a gulp before recapping it and nodding.

"Alright." You nod, smiling softly as you move past them both to make your way upstairs.

"Alright, give me the thing back before you lose it." Joel whispers when he thinks you're out of earshot, but again, the headache you have is growing by the minute so you couldn't be bothered to even think twice about what he just said.

You plop yourself down on your side of the bed once you reach your shared bedroom, right after changing into a long sleeve and some sleep shorts. You snuggle under the brown comforter, drifting off into a much needed rest to alleviate the your headache. It felt like you'd only closed your eyes for five minutes before you heard Joel's rather heavy footsteps—loud enough even if he was trying to be quiet—approach the bedroom door.

He shuffled to where you laid, peaceful and silently begging him in your mind to let you rest just a little longer. "Baby, wake up. Food's here." Joel softly brushes loose strands of hair out of your face, cupping your cheek gently. Your eyes flutter open to meet his, and he has a sincere smile on his lips.

In a sense, Joel was grateful that you went to go lay down. He was disheartened that you were in discomfort, but glad he had enough time to elaborately plan out the night he was going to ask you to marry him. He'd already talked everything through with Sarah—you and her were going to have a 'girl's day' to get your nails done and have her help you pick out an outfit on Saturday, and then Sunday, if all went well and according to plan, he was going to take you to surprise you with three things before he popped the big question.

Sarah'd helped him pick out the ring about a month prior while you were at work, and they both came to an agreement that the beautiful teardrop ring with tiny diamonds surrounding the front of the band was the perfect ring for you. Classy, elegant, and beautiful.

You sat up from the bed slowly, breaking Joel from his thoughts. You stretched and yawned, the feeling of your headache significantly subsiding.

Joel stood up to his full height to offer you his hand, and when you took his, he brought yours up to his lips to kiss the back of it. You smiled sleepily and dragged yourself up, bones cracking in the process.

You both silently made your way downstairs and into the kitchen, where Sarah was starting to pile her plate with the yummy local Chinese takeout down the street.

“So, I was thinking,” Sarah starts, looking at you pointedly. “What do you think about a girl’s day Saturday? We haven’t had one in awhile.” She offers, and you realize it’d been a few months since you’ve had one with her.

“I’m in.” You nod, and she grins at your agreeance.

The three of you ate dinner with Sarah chatting for the most of it, but you never minded. You loved to hear her talk about her day or the funny things that happened at school. She was a junior in high school now, and you just couldn’t believe how fast time flew. She was sixteen already and on the varsity soccer team. She had really good grades, a good group of friends, and had a boyfriend (with a little protest from Joel, but you had to remind him of how you two were when you both were her age).

She was a really good kid with a good head on her shoulders, and as you’d told Joel multiple times he did a wonderful job raising her, he insisted on saying you helped to contribute. He told you that she saw you as a mother figure, and she couldn’t have been happier with who her dad had picked to start dating those few years ago.

It’s funny, because Joel did always think you were the most mesmerizing person, even back in high school. He always thought you were smart, sweet, funny, and just downright beautiful—and if someone told him he’d been planning on proposing to said person in just a few days? He would’ve never believed them. He always thought he’d pretty much just end up alone, which of course made him a little sad, but he’d finally accepted that truth. And then, you came into his life. Just when he was content with being alone, you showed up and bewitched the older Miller brother mind body and soul, and he fell head over heels fast.

A few hours after dinner, Sarah had gone to bed and you and Joel were enjoying some time to yourselves in the living room. You were laying down on the couch with your legs tossed over Joel’s lap, as both of you read in silence—you, Pride and Prejudice, and him, a potential new client and their contract they’d want to discuss with Joel sometime within the next week. Joel and Tommy’s contracting business really took off after a big investor saw their handiwork and what they could both do, and started giving them bigger projects to work on in Austin. Financially it was amazing for both him and Tommy, but sometimes Joel would be gone for nearly the whole day. You and Sarah both missed him dearly the times he was gone longer than usual, but you both understood that his bigger clients needed his full, undivided attention. He was working on hiring more people to take over some of his responsibilities so he could free up his calendar, because every time he was on the job, he’d open up his wallet to look at the picture of you and Sarah he’d taken one winter day when the three of you decided to go ice skating downtown. His heart would ache with the fact that he couldn’t just be with you two all the time, and he knew you both understood his disposition, but he still missed you both so much nonetheless.

Joel was running his fingertips softly over one of your shins when he cleared his throat, and you dog-eared the page you were on before closing your book to look at him.

“Would you ever want to have any kids?” Joel asks you, and you sit up on your elbows to look at him. His eyes were soft yet curious, and his hand movement on your shin halted so he could rest it on you.

“Sarah feels like my own kid too.” You explain, and he chuckles.

“I love that you feel that way, baby, but I meant have another one. A baby. With me.” His grip on your shin tightened in the slightest, gaze never wavering from yours.

“Oh,” You paused, thinking it over for a second. You pictured yourself having a kid or two when you were in your early twenties and figured you’d have them by now, but given your previous track record for dating before Joel, nothing ever worked out. Since Joel came into your life and introduced you to Sarah, having a kid of your own hadn’t ever really crossed your mind… until now. “Yeah, I would.” You answer, sitting up completely now and setting your book on the coffee table.

“You don’t sound so sure.” Joel smiles softly, but you can tell there’s a sort of sadness in his eyes.

“I just really hadn’t thought about it recently, until just now.” You move your legs off of Joel to maneuver yourself, taking the contract gently from his hand before setting it down on the coffee table next to your book. You swing a leg over his lap so you’re straddling him, and his hands instinctively rest on your hips. He starts to rub small circles into your skin, and you push your body flush against his so your face is mere inches away from him.

“Is that something you want, Mr. Miller?” The playfulness in your tone seems to shift his mood into a slightly happier one.

“Yeah, actually, I’ve been thinking about it and I really do miss having a little one running around.” He kisses the corner of your mouth, before pulling back to gaze at you once more.

“Do you think Sarah would be okay with it? That’s a big age gap. I know she’d be the best big sister, but you know.” You say, raking your hands through his soft curls.

“She’s been hinting that she wants a little sibling for some time now. Not sure she’s hinted to you, but to me, she certainly has.”

You laugh at that piece of information, because it’s something Sarah would definitely do.

“Alright then. I guess when the time comes, we’ll talk to her about it.” You nod, moving down to kiss him. He immediately responds to you by molding his lips to yours, hands moving up so they press against the small of your back.

“I love you, sweetheart.” Joel murmurs against your lips.

You smile softly, cupping the side of his face. “I love you too, handsome.”

-

Saturday had seemed to have come at a snail’s pace, but when it did, Sarah wasted no time in getting you both up and out of the house in record time. It was ten in the morning when you both got to the nail salon, and since it was rather early for the weekend, you and Sarah got taken in right away.

The kind nail technician asked what design you wanted for your nails, and just as you were about to pick a color, Sarah piped in.

“You should get your nails round with a French tip.” She suggested, and you contemplated. You’d never gotten French tip before, but it was cute and looked nice. You went along with her idea, and the nail tech got to work. After an hour and a half, you were both done and out of the chairs. You were about to pay when Sarah stopped you.

“Dad said this one was on him.” She smiled, pulling out a card that she used for a joint account between him and her.

“That’s very kind of him.” You say to no one in particular, putting your wallet back in your purse.

After she swiped the card, she looked back at you with a grin. “Let’s go shopping for a new outfit!”

Her ecstatic nature made you smile, loving that she didn’t think she was ‘too cool’ to hang out with people older than her. She had many friends, yes, but she also valued spending time with Joel, Tommy and you as much as she could.

After driving to the mall, she insisted you both go into a fairly new boutique with gorgeous clothes that were unfortunately on the pricier side.

“Sarah, honey, this place is a little out of my budget.” You confess sheepishly, because you didn’t like to tell her no. Joel told you it was okay to say no to her, but she genuinely never asked you for anything ridiculous or out of the ordinary.

“I know, but let’s just look around for a bit to see if we can find anything.” She smiles softly at you, and those green eyes of hers were so bright and hopeful that you couldn’t resist.

You’re such a sucker for her, Joel’s words rung in your head. You shake your head slightly, looking through a couple of racks before your eyes landed on the most beautiful dress—floor length champagne color that flowed beautifully. It had a slit where the right knee was, and it was fitted on top with spaghetti straps.

Sarah caught you staring at the dress and nodded in encouragement. “You should try it on.” She suggests, and you break your gaze away from the dress to look at her.

“Honey, this dress is over a hundred dollars. I don’t know…” You trailed off, never to be one to spend that much money on one piece of clothing.

“I just wanna see what it looks like!”

“Fine.” You knew you couldn’t argue with her because she was always firm on her stance.

You took the dress off the rack and went into the dressing room, trying on the delicate material. You’d be lying if you said it didn’t fit like a glove. The dress was perfect, like it was made for you. You couldn’t help yourself, so you fished your phone out of your purse to snap a picture (which was poor quality, of course, given the technology of flip phones), and sent it to Joel with nothing but a heart emoticon.

Joel rarely checked his phone while he was on the job, so you hadn’t anticipated a speedy reply. You tossed your phone back into your purse and stepped outside of the dressing room so Sarah could get a look. She gasped in awe, motioning for you to do a twirl.

“You look so beautiful. Wow.” The look in her eyes was telling you to get the dress. You suppose it could be worn for a fancier date night out with Joel, though you could literally be wearing a burlap sack and he’d still think you were the most beautiful person in the room.

“It does fit me good, huh?” You ask, gnawing at your lip. You sigh, giving in and deciding to get the dress. You change back into your regular clothes before bringing it to the front counter to check out. You were about to get your wallet out of your purse, but again, Sarah beat you to it and swiped her card instead.

“Sarah!” You gasp, looking down at her with furrowed eyebrows. She looked up at you sheepishly, shrugging.

“Dad said!” She held up her hands in defense, and you pinched the bridge of your nose.

“Please don’t be mad,” She started as you thanked the sales associate as they handed you a bag with the dress inside. “Dad told me he wanted to treat you.”

“I’m not mad, just… he shouldn’t be spending this kind of money on me.” You sigh, getting back to the car. You were definitely going to have a talk with Joel, because he loved to spoil you and Sarah both, but you felt bad when he spent a lot of money on you in general. You and Sarah both got lunch, which you made sure you paid for, before driving home. To your surprise, Joel’s truck was already in the driveway.

You both entered the house, only to find Joel in the kitchen once you both made your way through the living room.

“Hey dad.” Sarah greets him, giving him a hug.

“Hey babydoll. How was girl’s day?” He asks, looking between the two of you. The Millers both gave each other a certain look, as if they had a secret to hide, but you figured it was another insider between them so you brushed it off.

“It was great. Got our nails done and found a pretty dress for her,” She poked your arm, causing you to smile. “But I’m tired. I’m gonna head upstairs and take a nap.” She bid you both goodbye, before marching herself upstairs and closing her bedroom door.

“I have a bone to pick with you, Mr. Miller.” You cross your arms over your chest and raise an eyebrow at Joel, who’s looking at you with a smug smile.

“And what would that be?” He trapped you between the kitchen counter and his body, both arms flexing to cage you in on either side.

It was hard to concentrate when his tall, broad frame was just yearning to be touched in front of you. He had already taken a shower, so he smelled like fresh pine, cedar and mint.

“Why’d you spend so much money on me? Sarah tricked me twice and swiped her card before I could even get my wallet fully out of my purse.” You huffed, gaze never wavering from his.

“What, I can’t spoil my woman?” He asks, dipping his head to kiss you on your exposed collarbone.

“That was a lot of money, Joel. I love you and appreciate you wanting to spoil me, but–”

“No buts. I wanted to pamper you a little and make sure you had an outfit for our date tomorrow night.” The smug look he had on his face never faltered.

“We’re going on a date?”

“We’re going on a date.”

-

Sunday evening rolled around, and as promised, you and Joel went on said date. Joel took you to the nice Italian restaurant you two had rekindled at. You’d realized then that you hadn’t been there since that day, so you thought it was sweet he was bringing you back there. Although you were enjoying the food and the company you were with, you felt a bit overdressed. Joel even swapped out his usual plain t-shirt or flannel for a nice black button-up shirt with some slacks. You’d never seen him so dressed up in all the years you’ve known him.

He seemed to be really fidgety too, like he was nervous. His eyes kept averting every which way, and when you asked if he was okay, he’d just say “‘M fine, darlin’.”

After dinner, Joel took you to your favorite street market where they had the best crepes. He ordered you both one to share, and luckily, you were able to capture the moment he had whipped cream on the corner of his mouth with a huge smile, looking so handsome under the warmth of the string lights above. You’d brought your digital camera with you just in case you wanted to capture memories like that one in particular.

After dessert, you and Joel took a stroll down to a little gazebo overlooking the creek. This time, though, you noticed there was rose petals on the ground that led to the gazebo. This couldn’t be for you and Joel, could it?

“I think someone decided to have their romantic evening here.” You laugh, and Joel closes his eyes in bliss at the sound, but also in nervousness as it coursed through every part of his being. Joel’s hand was in his pant pocket fidgeting with the velvet box restlessly.

“Let’s go see.” Joel pulled you gently into the direction of the gazebo.

“Joel, I don’t think—” You were cut short when he pulled you up on the platform, engulfing you in such a loving and heartfelt kiss. You were weak in the knees when he pulled apart, and the look in his soft, loving brown eyes held so much emotion you couldn’t even begin to comprehend. If it was anything similar to what you felt for him, then, well, you’d definitely have a clue.

“My sweetheart,” Joel started, taking a small step back as he intertwined both of his hands with your own. “Out of all the years I’ve known you, from when we were just teenagers until now, I’ve gotten the absolute privilege of get to know what a wonderful person you are. You’re so kind, caring, loving, and god, so patient. I always thought I’d never get to have a love like we do, but then just when I’d about given up on love, you walked into my life. You’re the love of my life; my soulmate; the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I know bein’ with me hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows, but you’ve loved me through and through nonetheless. I want to spend the rest of my waking days for the rest of our lives showing you and telling you what a beautiful soul you are and how much you mean to me.”

Tears were already in your eyes at his speech, and when he let go of one of your hands to dig out a velvet box from his pocket, you lost it. He got down on one knee, and with teary eyes and a hopeful smile, he asked you the big question.

“Will you marry me, sweetheart?” His voice trembled ever so slightly, and truthfully, you didn’t even look at the ring because you were nodding your head vigorously, tears flowing freely down your cheeks.

“Of course I’ll marry you, Joel.” You choked out, and he stood up again to slide the ring onto your finger, embracing you into a tight hug. You kissed him feverishly, raking your hands through his neatly done curls.

You sobbed against him, trembling from the adrenaline. He kissed the tears off of your cheeks and cupped your face with his hands.

“I love you so, so much darlin’.” He kissed the tip of your nose, and your hands moved to slink together around the back of his neck.

“I love you too.” You sniffled, pure bliss overtaking your features.

You stared into each other’s eyes for a few more seconds, not wanting anything to ruin the perfect moment. Right now, you two were the only ones that existed.

“Wait, let me take a picture.” You smiled softly at him, and he nodded in encouragement. You got your camera out of your purse, holding up your hand with your engagement ring. You sported a huge smile with teary eyes, and Joel kissed your temple as you snapped the photo. This was definitely a memory you both would never forget.

-

About a year later

The wedding was nearing in just twelve hours. Your parents had kindly offered their couple-acred backyard for the ceremony and reception which was perfect, because a small intimate wedding is exactly what you and Joel wanted.

“Can you believe in less than a day I’ll be able to call you Mrs. Miller?” Joel murmured into your shoulder, kissing your soft skin a couple of times before moving his gaze to you.

“It seems so surreal,” You caress his face, shifting your weight on top of him. “You’ll be my husband.” Your heart rate picked up at the thought, butterflies soaring through your stomach.

“I don’t wanna say goodbye for the night.” Joel fake pouts, embracing you even tighter. You’d been lazing with him in bed all day, enjoying each other’s company before you both had to get ready for your bachelor and bachelorette parties. Joel wanted nothing more than to just have a few beers with his brother and closest friends (which funnily enough included your father and brother) at the house, while your mom and sister were throwing you something cute and intimate at your parent’s house. Sarah was coming with, and although Joel was a little apprehensive, he figured he needed to loosen the reigns a bit. She was turning eighteen soon and heading off to college, so he figured if she was going to be around any ‘adult’ things, he’d rather it be with you.

“I don’t either, honey. But you’ll have fun tonight. Hopefully my dad doesn’t give you too much of a hard time.” You sweep the curls off of his forehead, and he grins at you.

“C’mon baby, you know your dad loves me… now.” He teases you incredulously, earning an eye roll from you.

“Yeah yeah, Miller. You and that damn Southern charm, hm?”

“Got you to where you are with me now, didn’t it sugar?” He rolls you both over, grinning boyishly down at you before moving to leave a trail of soft kisses down the pulse point on your neck.

You sigh in pleasure before gently grabbing his face and holding it before yours, “That’s right.” He leaned down to you to capture your lips with his, pleasuring you one last time before he can call you “wife.”

-

Today was the big day, and fuck were you nervous. Not nervous in the sense that you were getting cold feet, but it was moreso having multiple people’s eyes on you watching you walk up an aisle and marry the literal love of your life. Little anxieties also crept up as well, like tripping while walking down the aisle or not being able to say your vows correctly.

You were surrounded by your bridesmaids and your mom, as they were putting the finishing touches on you. You felt like a literal princess—you had the dress of your dreams, all of your family and friends around you on yours and Joel’s day, and the man of your dreams waiting for you at the end of the aisle.

“You look beautiful, honey.” Your mom said, holding you at arm’s length with tears in her eyes.

“Oh, mom.” You chuckle, bringing her in for a hug.

“I love you baby. I can’t believe you’re getting married today.”

“I can’t believe it either. It’s finally happening.” Tears start to form in your waterline, and Sarah fans your face.

“None of that! Can’t ruin your makeup.” She exasperates, making everyone laugh, though she had tears in her eyes herself.

“You ready, babydoll?” Your dad knocks on the door, pausing to take you in. A proud and sad smile forms on his lips. “My little girl. Can’t believe you’re gettin’ married today.” He sighs, and you move to give him a hug.

“You and mom are two peas in a pod.” You offer him a soft smile as your bridesmaids line up, moving downstairs to meet the groomsmen.

“Let’s get you married, babydoll.” He offers you his arm, which you take before you hear the music start to play—a soft, sweet melody to introduce the groomsmen and bridal party. Your dad led you down the stairs before Sarah and Tommy could walk down the aisle, and you took a deep breath. This was it.

The melody you chose for when you walked down the aisle started to play, and your dad led you to the beginning of the soft white runner. Your eyes immediately locked on Joel’s, who was already teary eyed with the widest smile on his face.

It’s like your feet were floating off the ground as you made your way to him. His tall and broad stature was clad in a crisp tux, hair neatly combed to the side, sporting an unwavering smile on his face. You kissed your dad on the cheek as he presented you to Joel, who took your arm carefully and led you to the very end of the aisle before the officiant.

Joel kissed you on the cheek, lips lingering by your ear for a second. “You look absolutely breathtakin’, my love.” He kisses your cheek one more time before standing straight up, looking down at you with nothing but love and pure adoration. Those big brown eyes that held a galaxy of emotions in them have captivated you for eternity. You smile up at him, tears forming in your eyes again.

“You all may be seated.” The officiant says, and you and Joel join hands as listen to his ‘we’re gathered here today’ speech. Truthfully, almost everything in the world was drowned out to you in this moment. It was just you and Joel.

“I believe the couple has agreed to exchange vows.” The officiant said, turning to Joel who curtly nods before clearing his throat. He gave your hands a small squeeze before smiling down at you.

“Sweetheart,” He starts, a slight nervous edge to his voice. “When we were just teenagers, all I could think about was how pretty you are every time I was around you. You always lit up a room without even trying. Always had me at a loss for words, which is why I never spoke much around you to begin with,” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Just like you lit up a room when we were measly teens, you did the same thing to my life once you walked right back in it all those years later. Though I never had the courage to ask you on a date in high school, I’d say things worked out pretty well considerin’ the fact.” The audience before you both laughed, and a happy tear slipped from your eyes.

“You’ve been such a light to not only me, but to Sarah and Tommy as well. Thank you for loving my girl like she’s your own. Thank you for teaching me such patience, making an honest man out of me, and provin’ me wrong when I thought I’d be alone for the rest of my life. You’ve changed my life for the better, have bewitched me body and soul, and there’s no one else I’d rather be standin’ up here with right now. It’s you, darlin’; it’s always been you. I vow to love you for eternity in this crazy thing called life, until my last dyin’ breath. Through thick and thin, trial and error. I love you, sweetheart.”

You wanted to sob like a baby at his words, but kept your composure as you sniffled and took a deep breath. The officiant turned to you, signaling it was your turn.

“If anyone told me four years ago that I’d be standing at this altar right now with the love of my life, I would’ve laughed right in their faces. I was so content with being independent and ready to give up on dating, until you showed up at that restaurant in all your glory. From that point on, you’ve turned my life around in the best way possible. You had me hooked from the start. You’ve been nothing but kind, supportive, nurturing, and most importantly, you showed me how to truly feel loved. I thought I knew what true love was before, until you proved me so wrong. I’ll spend the rest of my waking days thanking you forevermore. I was half the person before you came back into my life, and now I feel like you’ve made me whole again. You’re my person, Joel. My soulmate. I’m so grateful that that one blind date ended up not showing up, ultimately working out in my favor after all. Thanks Ma,” You glance at your mom, and everyone chuckles. “I love you, Joel Miller. Today, tomorrow, and for the rest of eternity.”

The glint in his eyes was nothing short of pure love, and you were certain they reflected the look in your own.

“Joel, repeat after me,” The officiant starts. “I, Joel Miller, take this woman to be my lawfully wedded wife.”

Joel repeats his exact words, gaze never wavering from yours.

“I promise to love you for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to have and to hold for as long as we both shall live.”

He repeats the words once again.

The officiant says your name, and tells you to repeat after him.

“I take Joel Miller to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love you for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to have and to hold for as long as we both shall live.”

Joel pulls you closer to him, wrapping his arm around your waist. The ring bearer presents the rings, and you slide Joel’s ring onto his finger. He replicates your actions as he slides your ring onto your ring finger, giving your hand a small squeeze.

“By the power vested in me and the state of Texas, I now pronounce you as husband and wife. Mr. Miller, you may kiss your bride.”

Finally.

Joel wastes no time as he dips you down softly, kissing you so gently yet passionately. You had your hands wrapped around the back of his shoulders, clinging onto him as he continued to kiss you. The guests cheered for you both, and he pulled away to murmur “I love you, Mrs. Miller” against your lips. Heat flooded your body at your new name.

Mrs. Miller.

Mrs. Miller.

“I love you too, Mr. Miller.” You reply breathlessly, a tear slipping down your cheek. Joel was quick to wipe it away as he stood you upright again, pecking your lips softly.

“Why are you cryin’, baby?”

“I’m just so happy. I love you. I love you so much.” You cup his face, kissing him again. You nearly forgot about the people that were watching you both in this intimate moment, so you shuffled back a little until he grasped your hand and you both made your way down the aisle.

You stepped back into your parent’s house with Joel, both of you laughing breathlessly. You take a second to stop and look into his eyes, enjoying your first moment alone as husband and wife.

“I’m the luckiest woman in the world to be able to call you my husband.” You murmur, running your hands up his biceps.

“I think you got it twisted, sweetheart. I’m the lucky one. I’ll remind you of that every single day until it’s my last.”

-

The next day, you and Joel hopped on a flight to Hawaii. As a wedding present, your parents gifted you an all-inclusive trip to a beautiful resort. The only thing your mom said when you asked her how you could repay her was ‘give me some grand babies!’

So that’s why Joel carried you over the threshold to your resort room just mere minutes ago. You made your way to the balcony which overlooked the resort, and the Pacific Ocean. After Joel got the bags from the bell hop, he caged your body between the balcony and his own.

“It’s so beautiful.” You whisper, nodding your head out to the ocean. The bright sun was glistening down on the ocean, making it sparkle.

“Not as beautiful as you, darlin’.”

You huff a laugh at Joel’s words. “Ever the sweet talker, Mr. Miller.”

“Only for you, Mrs. Miller.”

You turn around so you’re facing Joel, a beaming smile on your face.

“I’ll never get tired of hearing that name.” You reach up and run your fingers through Joel’s soft hair, hands knitting together at the base of his head.

“Good, ‘cus I’ll never get tired of saying it,” He pulls you in for a soft kiss, cradling your face gently. “Now c’mon baby. Let’s get ready for dinner.” He ushers you back inside, and you rummage through your luggage that you brought for a pretty, bright colored dress to wear to dinner.

You spent a bit of time doing your hair and makeup, wanting to make sure you looked good. You wanted to make yourself irresistible to Joel, because you’ve been secretly pining to have your hands all over each other. You both held out last night and didn’t have sex, mainly because you both were dead tired.

Joel had the same thing in mind when he got dressed for this dinner in some khaki pants and a white linen shirt, leaving the first few buttons undone. He was planning on having some mind-blowing sex with you, and he was getting restless just thinking about it. He had to keep himself in check though and remind himself that you both also came here to enjoy the romantic side of being newlyweds. All those thoughts went straight out of the window and drowned in the Pacific when you stepped out of the bathroom.

He couldn’t tear his eyes away—you were simply the most breathtaking woman. The dress you’d put on hugged your curves, and with slits that exposed most of your legs, it made Joel even weaker. He wanted to drop to his knees now and worship the ground you walked on. Your makeup enhanced your features more than it usually would, but it looked stunning. You had a certain glow to yourself that Joel couldn’t get enough of.

You felt the same way about him, too. You stopped in your tracks when your eyes landed on the man you loved, khaki pants fitting him perfectly with the white linen shirt that purposefully had a few buttons undone. The white cloth contrasted beautifully against his smooth, tan skin. The shirt clung to his biceps in the right places, easily showcasing the muscle that he had. He was wearing nice brown boots too, which added an inch or so to his height. You could feel yourself nearly drooling, panties dampening the longer your stared at him. He looked delicious. You almost wanted to cancel dinner and just jump his bones right then and there.

“You look…” He trailed off, moving to stand in front of you.

“Yeah, you too.” You said breathlessly, and you both chuckle.

“Let’s get outta here. Dinner starts soon.” Joel takes your hand after double checking he has the room key card, and you both make your way downstairs.

Dinner ended up being really delicious with a beautiful show, and to your surprise, Joel asked you to dance with him after. Joel wasn’t much of a dancer, and this wasn’t slow dancing. This was more like being in a club, so he had your body pressed up against his and your back met his front. His strong hands held your hips firmly as you swayed them to the beat of the song, and Joel could feel himself getting harder by the minute.

Truthfully, you were grinding yourself on him to tease him, but he knew exactly what game you were playing at so he did the same to you. You nearly moaned as he pulled you into him, the feeling of his hardness evident through his pants. Usually, you’d both be stubborn to see who would break first, but you couldn’t wait anymore. You spun around in his arms, eyes filled with lust and body buzzing with sexual tension.

“Joel,” The tone in your voice was surprisingly not as needy as you expected it to be. He looked down at you, eyes nearly black as he studied your features. “Let’s go upstairs.”

He didn’t need another word of confirmation as he clasped your hand and practically dragged you up to your room. You had to nearly jog as his long strides to the room didn’t let up. He fumbled with the key card, opening the door to the room swiftly before you both stumbled inside. He wasted no time as he tossed the key card and his wallet onto a table near the front door, grabbing your face and smashing his lips to yours. He pushed you up against the door, moaning into your mouth. Your hands found purchase in his soft curls, tugging teasingly.

He moved his hands to the back of your thighs, signaling you to jump. You wrapped your legs around his waist as he caught you, bringing you over to the bed. You traced his neck with hot, wet, needy kisses before he set you down. He released you, and looked down at you as he towered over you. The look in his eyes was very telling that you two weren’t going to get very much sleep tonight.

Your chest was heaving up and down, body nearly trembling with need as Joel loomed over you, taking you in. You reached out for him, wanting to feel his body on top of yours. He happily obliged as he slotted himself between your legs, caressing your cheek before kissing you again. Your hands trailed down the front of his chest, nails slightly scraping his hot skin. You unbuttoned the rest of his shirt before discarding it onto the floor. You ran your needy hands all over him until they made their way down to his belt buckle.

Joel chuckled at your eagerness before pushing your hands away. You protested with a small whine before he nipped at your neck, just below your ear. “Let me take care of you first, darlin’.”

Joel slid the dress slowly up and over your head, making sure to trail his hands over all of your curves as he did so. He moaned at the sight of the pretty white lace set you had on for him.

“All for me baby?” He asks, dipping his head to kiss the soft flesh of your breasts right above the bra you were wearing.

“Yes.” You’re breathless. It would be embarrassing to you in any other instance, but fuck’s sake, you needed your husband desperately.

Joel’s eyes trail down your torso until they settle on the thin white lace underwear that covered you. His hooded eyes looked back up to yours as he rubbed circles into your thighs.

“I promised myself I’d say my vows twice. Once at the altar, and once with just my tongue buried in your pretty pussy. Word. For. Word."

You gasped at Joel's bluntness, feeling your arousal pooling quicker into the only thing that separated you from his sweet tongue. You stared at him, doe-eyed and wanting, just waiting for him to take the leap. Maybe you should make the first move. Your arms could move quicker than your brain could process your own actions, and you started to reach out for him.

"Mm mm, baby." Joel stops you, grabbing both of your wrists in one of his hands, holding them above your head.

"Fuck." You whine softly, hips involuntarily bucking up into nothing.

He wickedly grins at you as he moves down to kiss you, easily moving his free hand to cup your mound before pressing his thumb to your extremely sensitive clit. You inhale sharply at the feeling, instinctively closing your eyes.

"Look at me, baby. Wanna see those pretty eyes on me when I make you feel good." Joel's voice is soft and loving, but has a stern edge to it. Your eyes peel open to look at him as he moves the thin lace of your panties to the side. He looks down, seeing you already covered in your slick. He groans at the sight and takes his middle finger, swiping up and between your folds. He moves his slick-covered finger to his mouth, eagerly tasting you. He hums in pleasure, and you can see clear as day that he's rock solid in his khakis.

He releases your wrists from his hand, but you don't dare to move. He skates his hands down your body gently, kissing your soft flesh along the way before grabbing either side of your panties. He gently taps your hips, so you lift them up for him as he slides the white lace down your legs. He discards them somewhere on the floor behind him, his focus solely on you.

He maneuvers his face between your legs, biting some spots on your inner thighs softly before kissing the spot after. He continued to move at a slow, torturous pace, making his way up to your aching pussy.

"My beautiful wife. I love you." He says, and you run your fingers through his hair as you look down at him.

"I love you t-oh," You start, but were cut off by Joel poking his tongue out to circle your clit, dragging it down to your entrance, then back up again. "Fuck!" You gasp, gripping his hair slightly. He moaned into you as he got to work, and god, he wasn't fucking kidding when he said he'd say his vows twice. His tongue moved slowly, carefully finding a rhythm that drove you insane.

You started to grind your hips upward, writhing beneath him. He hummed into you, moving a hand to press down on your abdomen to keep you from moving.

Joel shifted himself in the slightest to bring his ring and middle finger up, slowly entering you as his skillful tongue never broke contact. A broken cry left your mouth, eyebrows threaded together and breathing labored. His tongue flicked your clit continuously as his fingers languidly pumped in and out of you, reaching that sweet spot every single time. If he kept this up, you knew you wouldn't last long.

You felt the crescendo of your orgasm building up rather quickly, heat in your lower abdomen tight with anticipation. Both of your hands flew into Joel’s hair when the his hand on your abdomen pressed down, applying more pressure. He truly went to work on you and ate you like a starved man, not letting up once. He wanted you to come all over the lower half of his face, wanted to feel your legs shake as you cried out his name for mercy.

And oh, what Joel wanted, he got.

Your orgasm rushed over you, internal flames licking you from your head to your toes. Joel lapped you up, fingers slowing down until they came to a halt. He pulled them out of you slowly, but his tongue was unforgiving as he kept slurping and licking at your sensitive heat. Your body jerked in overstimulation, trying to wriggle away from him, but he clamped his hands down firmly on your hips.

“Jesus Christ, Joel– f-fuuuuck.” You whined loudly, tears springing to your eyes. Just as quickly as your first orgasm came, a second one was already building up. Joel felt it with the way your body was tensing, and to add to the pleasure this time, he moved his tongue down to dip inside of you, moving at a deliciously torturous pace. He moaned against you, feeling you flutter around his tongue. He brought a thumb over one of your thighs, rubbing tight circles over your clit.

If you thought you were seeing the stars above before, you were seeing the whole fucking galaxy this time around.

“C’mon sweetheart, give it t’me. Let me see my beautiful wife cum on my face again.” His dirty words came and went quickly as he got right back to tongue fucking you, your release right on the edge.

You moaned so loudly as your second orgasm coiled tightly and snapped like a cable right through you, your whole body shaking with pleasure as Joel’s name rolled off your tongue like a prayer on Sundays. Joel cleaned you up once more, kissing your oversensitive pussy before dragging himself upwards. Pure lust clouded his eyes and his overall expression. His pupils were blown, eyes seemingly’ve gotten darker.

He moves a hand up to tug your chin down. “Open your mouth.” His demanding tone sent tingles down your spine, only adding fuel to the fire. You obey him immediately, and he spits directly into your mouth.

“Swallow.” Was all he said, and you complied. Your eyes nearly rolled to the back of your head with how dominating he was being right now. You tasted yourself as you swallowed what he’d given you, eyes glossy as you awaited his next move. He stood up from the bed briefly, only to discard his shoes, pants, and boxers.

His erection sprung free and hit his torso, precum smearing as his tip was leaking and begging to be touched.

“My handsome husband.” You praised, only mirroring his words of affection to you earlier. He offered you a soft smile, climbing over you again. He rested his elbows on either side of you, face hovering mere inches above yours.

“Tell me now, baby. Do you want to make sweet love? Or do you want to be fucked roughly? You choose.” You laugh softly that he’s giving you an option, but there was all the time in the world for sweet love making on this trip. You wanted to be fucked senseless and take advantage of this domineering side of Joel.

“The latter, baby. Into oblivion.” You flash him a wicked smile, and that’s all you need for him to get off of you and reposition you so you both were facing the mirror that hung on the wall.

“Want you to see yourself getting fucked, sweetheart.” His voice is dangerously low. He climbs onto the bed as you arch your back, giving Joel a perfect view of your plump ass. He leaned down to kiss you on one cheek, before his hand cracked down on the other, giving it a fairly harsh slap. You gasped, eyes wide and mouth agape as you stared at his hungry expression in the mirror. The sting of the slap only added to your arousal, making your toes curl in the slightest.

“You ready, darlin’?” He asks, rubbing your ass tenderly. You nod in the mirror, but he shakes his head.

“Words, honey. Lemme hear you.” He presses, and you swallow thickly.

“I’m ready Joel. Please, fuck me.” Your begging alone nearly made him come undone, but he sucked in a breath as he positioned himself with your slick entrance.

He grabbed your hips, sliding into you with ease, courtesy of your arousal. You both moaned loudly, being filled up from this position always hitting deeper than usual. Joel’s cock felt heavy inside you as he gave you a minute to adjust to him. After all these years together, it still took a little time to adjust to his size. In doing so, this was the first time you both didn’t use any form of protection, so you could feel every single ridge and vein on his swollen member.

Joel had to concentrate on not cumming right there as he was buried in your tight warmth. The feeling of no protection was heavenly. You started to move your hips forward, giving him a silent signal he was good to go.

Joel moved almost all the way out of you, before snapping his hips forward to fill you completely again. You cried out at the pleasure as he set an unrelenting pace, fucking you senseless into the mattress.

“Look so fuckin’ pretty getting fucked dumb on my cock like this, sweetheart.” Joel grits, voice strained with pleasure.

“Feels—” You gasp for air, choking your words out. “Feels s’good. Y’feel so good, Joel. So good.” You praise him, fists clenching the fabric of the white comforter beneath you.

“Eyes up here, honey.” He moved a hand away from your hip to wrap around the front of your throat, pulling you up while applying the tiniest bit of pressure. Your eyes met his in the mirror, and you’d truly never seen such a pornographic sight in reality. You both looked so fucked out, so ravenous, so hungry and desperate for each other as his hips collided with your ass at an unrelenting, brutal pace.

Joel had an idea to add more pleasure to the mix, but it was borderline teetering a limit for you. You told Joel awhile ago that you’d try anything (well, almost anything) once, and if you didn’t like it, you’d let him know. He knew what he was about to do was truly obscene and filthy, but it was worth a shot. He moved his hand up your jaw and ran his thumb over your bottom lip, tugging at it. His thumb made its way into your mouth and you eagerly sucked on it, giving him the lubrication he was seeking. After a minute, he let his thumb out of your mouth with a small pop.

He looked into your eyes through the mirror, and then looked down, where your other hole was completely exposed to him. He was hesitant for a moment, but bit the bullet and spit right onto it. Your eyes widened and you gasped, wondering what the hell he was going to do… but then it clicked. He moved his hand down to your ass, resting it tenderly on your cheek as his thumb swiped over his spit there.

“Can I? If it feels like too much you can tell me to stop.” He said, thumb hovering right over the spot you both became so curious about. You trusted Joel and knew he’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you.

What the hell, you thought. Worst thing that could happen is you tell him to stop. You nodded slowly, and heat rose to your cheeks as he kept bucking his hips into you. His face displayed pure concentration, eyebrows threaded together as he slowly pushed his thumb into you. It felt really odd at first, but that bit of pressure alongside the weight of his cock pounding into you was pure fucking bliss. Your pussy clenched down on him, and you both moaned in unison once more.

After Joel gained his full concentration back, he used his other free hand to wrap around your throat once more. You couldn’t believe how much Joel was holding back before you two got married, because fuck, this was truly some of the most mind blowing sex you’ve ever had.

The only sounds heard in the room was his hips slapping into your ass repeatedly, the wet squelching noise of you taking him so well, and your heavy breathing mixed with a couple of scattered moans. Your head was completely empty from every thought you’d ever had, except for Joel. Your mind was just Joel Joel Joel.

“Fuck, baby, you feel so fucking good around me. You were made for this cock,” Joel groans. “I’m gettin’ close.”

He moved his hand from your throat down to your clit, rubbing tight circles again. You cry out at the sensation, one of your hands moving to grip Joel’s forearm. You dug your nails into him unintentionally, causing him to hiss. He truthfully didn’t mind the slight pain that it brought though.

“Fuck Joel, I’m gonna cum.” You choke out, and he moans in response.

“Me too, baby. Y’gonna cum with me?” He rasps, but before you could even answer, you were clenching down on him as your orgasm shot through you once more.

“Fuck, sweetheart, where do you want me?” He asks, his own release just seconds away. He removed his thumb from you to steady himself against you with his hands, his face contorting into absolute pleasure.

“In me, please, baby– fuck.” Bliss takes over the course of your whole being as you cry out his name. A string of curses comes out of his own mouth, mixed with your own name, as he painted your insides with his seed. Your eyes were trained on him the whole time, so turned on by your husband blissed out because of you, that it elongated your orgasm. Your legs were shaky and done for as he stopped moving completely, his tan chest rising and falling rapidly to catch his breath. He wrapped his arms around your torso as he slowly pulled out, making you groan at the loss of fullness.

He brought you down on the mattress with him, tucking your head gently beneath his chin. You both spent a few minutes trying to catch your breaths, enjoying the peacefulness of being wrapped into each others arms.

“You did so good for me. I love you, baby girl.” Joel kisses the crown of your head, thumb stroking a spot on your arm softly.

“That was incredible, my love. Didn’t know you were holding back on me.” You chuckle as you kiss his chest, nails scratching his beard.

He huffs a laugh, clasping his hand around your wrist gently. He kissed the palm of your hand, resting it over his heart when he was done.

“I’m so fuckin’ happy, darlin’. So happy I get to call you my wife, and so happy I get to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you so, so much.”

You tear up at his kind words, pulling his face down for a sweet kiss.

“I love you too, my sweet husband. Forever and always.”

You’ve thought it and said it a million times before, and you’ll think it and say it a million times again—the universe really had a funny way of aligning things in life.

It really was fate, after all.

#joel miller imagines #joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller series #joel miller fic #pedro pascal imagines #pedro pascal imagine #joel miller fluff #joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #no outbreak!joel miller #no use of y/n #joel miller au #Joel miller mini series #joel miller imagine #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x afab!reader #husband! Joel miller

[harus-simp]

Eyes on me

-Ricky x reader-

Warning:none

Requested: The Junhyeon x planet master!reader was awesome. Could you do one with Ricky x planet master!reader aswell? (Anonymous)

Author's note: hey there anon, thanks so much for requesting!!! I hope you really like how it came out :))

°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□°□

The eliminations brought nothing but anxiety and nervousness to all contestants, including ricky. But seeing who the planet master was brought nothing but a smile to his face and to his heart.

Going into the 3rd elimination felt specially hard for the trainees as they were further into the competition, everyone was really tired and they all had gotten quite close to each other. So it was really hard already to fight with them for a spot on the finale.

As ricky and the rest of the trainees entered the well known by now place where they had been fighting for their dream the crippling anxiety and nervousness started to appear inside of them. Just the thought of their debut opportunity slipping through their hands was heartbreaking.

They did their little intros and headed to their assigned places to wait patiently for their new planet master to start as soon as possible.

"Who do you guys think will be the planet master"asked jeonghyeon

"I honestly don't know, they've even managed to brought Key sunbaenim, so it could be literally anybody"answered zhang hao

"Yeah"said ricky

As music started playing and the lights turned black everyone immediately went silent seeing a silhouette approaching the main stage.

"OMG isn't that y/n sunbaenim?"shouted junhyeon as you got closer to the trainees view finding their reaction adorable and heart-warming as you saw their eyes shine in excitement. But you were specially curious to see someone's particular reaction.

As you bowed to all the trainees your eyes lingered a little bit longer on a blond haired guy that was watching you with an ambiguous expression, somewhere in between shock and thrill to have you right in front of him.

As you got your microphone to your mouth in order to speak you grabbed everyone's attention making the room silent on the process.

"Hello everyone, I'm actress y/n, also known as (your group name) shining princess " your last words being accompanied with the here I am signature gesture (you know, the nan binnaaaa)

You and ricky exchanged little glances at each other shortly before continuing your speech.

Ricky felt your eyes on him and flashed you the sweetest smile someone could have dedicated you ever, this not being unnoticed by ricky's team mates, as they literally saw their friend shining and sparkling once you entered the room.

As you explained the dynamics of the elimination ricky couldn't help but look at you with admiration and appreciation, a caring look present on his face and a feeling of comfort, like carresing your pet after a long day of work or watching your favourite show for the 20th time.

.

.

.

After some time announcing the survivors ricky started to get quite anxious, he was scared because the highest rankings had been taken up already and the only ones left were the lower ones, although if he actually got there he would still be honoured because the star creators would have given him another opportunities to show his multiple talents on stage.

He felt somehow relieved to have you near him, as he could have someone to go to righ after the surviving announcement finished. But still, it was pretty hard to handle.

You got a little break due to the outdoor activities video that they put to reduce the tension in the room, there when all the trainees were watching the clips laughing at the funny moments and commenting things between everyone you and ricky locked eyes again making you both smile unconsciously at the sight of each other.

Looking at both sides to see if anyone noticed you started to communicate with ricky throughout signs and reading lips. You also used little gestures to get your message across as at a distance was harder to understand each other.

How you doing? you mouthed

Pretty nervous tbh

Don't be, you've got this you murmur as you made a fighting hand gesture

Right after it you proceeded to continue announcing rankings, but this time they were on the top 9. You won't lie, you were pretty nervous as well, not having called for ricky's name had surprised you as much as it has given hope, he may be one of the top 9 trainees!

As you prepared to read the number 8 you felt your heart accelerate as you tried really hard not to smile widely and just run into your boyfriend's arms.

"Congratulations for the 8th place for...Ricky!"you announced with a smile on your face

He felt his whole world being brightened up as he resisted the urge to leave everything behind and give you the biggest hug you could ever get.

He stepped into the stage and as he thanked star creators for all the support he gave you a timid look to which you responded by looking at him with a sweet smile that could be infected to almost everyone.

.

.

.

The eliminations had officially finished,and although it was sad to see their friends part ways he couldn't help but feel so greatful for the position he got as an 8th rank.

As he saw you going off stage he somehow managed to sneek off following you backstage where you were waiting for him with your script still in hand.

"Congratulations for making it into the top 9 babyyyy"you said opening your arms to welcome him in a bear hug.

"Thanks"he reciprocated your action giggling softly

"You worked so hard to get there, I'm so proud"

Right in that moment he swore you could notice how his eyes literally sparkled with adoration and gratitude for your words, he saw how you looked back with the same expression,making it very hard for him to not be heels over you.

So he just went for it and leaned for a kiss, it literally made you feel fireworks as you put your arms around his shoulders and wrapped his hands around your waist. The comfort and the softness that the kiss made him feel was something he couldn't explain with words, it was purely sweet and an act of love he found so endearing.

As you separated after lingering on his lips for longer than expected you joined your foreheads together while you recovered from your beating hearts and your heavy breathes.

"Well as much as I'd love to stay here like this you've got to go ricky"

"What if I don't want to?"he asked in hopes you didn't ushered him out of the room.

"Rickyyyy"you whined.

"Alright, alright I'll get going"he said letting you go and asking for another kiss on his cheek before stepping out of the room.

You threw him an annoyed look as you gave him what he wanted.

Coming back to his team he was met with all smug grins and raised eyebrows, making him confused.

"What?"he asked

"Where were you?"

"Umm in the bathroom"he answered making up an excuse for his absence.

"Well unless you went to the second floor one the closest bathroom is at the other direction sherlock"said jay

Shit, he had been caught.

"And I think the lipstick mark you've got there says otherwise" answered uninterested zhang hao

He immediately wiped off the pretty mark he had on the corner of his lips watching them embarrassed.

"Well, how long has it been?"

"A-a couple months now"he said accepting his fate

"Well we've got plenty to catch up on so you better get started"

Yeah, he had a long way till they released him...

°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°

#zerobaseone headcanons #zerobaseone drabbles #zerobaseone fanfics #zerobaseone imagines #zerobaseone reactions #zerobaseone x reader #boys planet #boys planet drabbles #boys planet fanfics #boys planet reactions #boys planet headcanons #boys planet x reader #shen ricky #shen quanrui #zerobaseone ricky #zerobaseone #zerobase1 #zb1 #kpop

[leelei1980]

Loving Mr. Munson

Part 15: To have and to hold❤️

Authors note: The moment we have been waiting for! Sorry this one took so long but I wanted to take my time. This one was long so I had to break it up into 2 parts- I promise that there will be plenty of sweet smut in the next part, but I hope you enjoy Soft Eddie and the sweet fluff of this first part❤️

Tag list Lovlies : @tlclick73 @fairymunson @micheledawn1975 @elegantkoalapaper @goth-cowgirl-03 @bmunson86 @retrorage86 @hideoutside @veemoon @emmyshortcake @oneforthemunny @erinekc @babyloutattoo89 @amberolivia666 @eddiesxangel @liminalpebble @eddiesacousticguitar @munsons-mayhem28 @munsonsmullet @imyourdaninow @skyline4446 @maskofmirrors @blainetiberiuswinchester @bexreadstoomuch @harrywavycurly

Reader:

You can't believe it, the day is finally here. Today you become Mrs. Edward Munson. The thought gave you butterflies in your stomach.

As soon as Eddie had gotten off the phone with Steve Harrington you immediately called your best friend Lisa. After a full minute of her screaming her congratulations into the phone she happily accepted your offer of being your Maid of Honor. You swore her to secrecy, telling her that this was a small private ceremony and that there would be a more elaborate, traditional wedding in the future. She said that she was honored that you had chose her for such an intimate occasion.

You were surprised yet not surprised when you received a phone call later that night from Dustin, then Robin, then Mike and Lucas offering their congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.

" Sweetheart I made him take a fucking oath of silence-" Eddie sighed and you couldn't help but laugh.

" Did you honestly think he keep something like this a secret?" You wrapped your arms around his neck, smiling." It's fine baby. I know they will keep our little secret."

" I fucking love you, with all my fucking heart. And I'm ecstatic that your just as anxious as I am to make things official." He kissed your nose , then your lips." It makes it 1000 times more special, because this is something that we are doing just for us." He pulled you close." I do want to give you the wedding of your dreams Princess. I want you to have it all."

" I don't need all that Eds, I just need you."

He smiled and cupped your face in his hands." I can't wait for you to be my wife." And then he kissed you until he took your breath away.

The next day you met up with Lisa after work to buy a new dress. You just wanted something pretty, and lacy and white, although you were anything but virginal, especially since you have been with Eddie. The man had shown you pleasure you hadn't known was possible. But still, white was tradition.

You went from store to store looking for the perfect dress, trying on what felt like a hundred dresses before finding one that was just right. It was lacy, strapless, and the short skirt flared out at the waist. It was just what you were looking for, pretty, feminine and simple. Then you picked out white lace up heels and a beautiful pearl clip for your hair. It was really coming together.

The next night you went to the florist and ordered 2 small ,simple bouquets of white gerber daisies and 2 boutonnières for the boys. It may be a civil ceremony but you still wanted it to be perfect. Then last but not least a cake, just a small heart shaped cake that you could cut up and feed to your husband and bridal party. God, the thought of calling him your husband made you giddy.

" Darling?" Eddie asked as you lay in bed together, his arm draped over you, his face nestled in your neck.

" Yeah baby?"

" What are we doing about rings? I mean if this is going to be our secret we can't wear wedding bands right?"

" Right. Well you already wear rings, give me your favorite and I will use that during the ceremony. You can have my engagement ring. They are mostly symbolic anyway, when we have our bigger ceremony we can get matching ones."

" Your so fucking smart." He kissed your neck and squeezed you tight." I can't believe it is just a few days away." You felt his lips turn up into a smile against your skin." Are you really going to spend the night before the wedding at Lisa's?"

" Of course I am. It is tradition, you Mr. Munson are not supposed to see the bride before the wedding. Courthouse or not, I want it to be a surprise. Besides we are going to do a spa night. We are going to get mani and pedis after work then we will go back, drink some wine and apply some hideous face masks that will make our skin radiant."

He chuckled." That means I have to sleep all alone ?"

" I'm sure Steve would come in for a cuddle if you get lonely-"

Eddie laughed." No fucking way."

" It's all included in his best man duties."

" He is taking me out for a couple of drinks the night before and standing by my side. Those are the extent of his duties."

" Are you nervous Baby?"

" Not at all. You?"

" Not even a smidgen. I have never been so sure of anything in my life." You snuggled into him. " Do you think you could meet me at the town clerks office tomorrow to fill out the application for a marriage license? Supposedly it only takes about 20 mins. Then it will be one less thing we have to do."

" Absolutely. Then we can get lunch after. " He kissed your shoulder. "Damn baby girl, you are on top of it."

" I would rather be on top of you."

" So there is no rule about abstaining from sex right before your wedding or anything right?"

" I mean we could if you wanted-"

" Fuck no! " He pressed his erection against your ass." Does it feel like I want to abstain?"

" Not at all."

" Why don't you climb aboard baby, ride the fuck out of me and give me something to dream about that night that you are away."

You smile to yourself and sigh." Well, if you insist."

*************************************

The next day you met up at the town clerk's office to get your marriage license, you were one step closer, one more thing crossed off your list.

" It's down on paper, all we need now is a signature!" You smiled across the table at him.

Eddie smiled and grabbed your hand in his. "Almost there Sweetheart. "  He raised your hand to his lips. " I'm so fucking excited."

" I can't wait for you to see my dress."

" Your going to look beautiful. You could wear a fucking burlap sack and still look like a masterpiece."

You smiled" Your such a sweet talker Munson. "

He popped a fry in his mouth and winked." I speak nothing but the truth."

You smirked and stirred your drink around with your straw. " Harrington comes in tomorrow?"

" Yeah, the fucking blabbermouth."

You laughed." He was excited! He just wants you to be happy you know. I think it is sweet." You took a sip of your drink.

Eddie pointed at you with a fry." Now Dustin, he would have taken it serious. He would have kept a secret."

You smirked." You think so?"

" I know so. He's going to be my Best Man next time.Have you thought about what you want Dollface?"

" Your going to laugh."

" Why would I laugh?" He picked up his burger and took a bite.

" Because out of all the things one could possibly need to plan for a wedding, the one and only thing that I know for certain is that I want Gracie to be my Flower Girl." You had absolutely fallen in love with Dustin's little girl the last time you saw her, you were inseparable, and at this point you may even outrank Uncle Eggie as favorite.

Eddie stopped mid chew and sat back in his chair. He hurriedly swallowed and then smiled." Just when I thought I couldn't possibly love you any more...I love that she is the first thing to pop into your head. It's fucking PERFECT Sweetheart, Princess Gracie, our pretty little flower girl!" He clapped his hands together excitedly. " We could get her a fucking little crown, she would lose her shit!"

Your heart swelled." Yes! And she would have a fluffy little dress and a little basket of flowers! She really would look like a princess!"

" She would be so fucking cute. I wonder if Mason would be walking yet, probably not, he's just a baby still, I mean depending on when we plan the wedding though maybe-"

You cut him off with a kiss. " I love you Eddie Munson. I love that YOU want this as much as I do. " You sat back in your seat. " Maybe, if he can't quite walk we could have Rosie and Izzy be Jr. Bridesmaids and they could pull him down the aisle in a wagon! Wouldn't that be the sweetest thing!" You covered your mouth with your hands. " Holy Shit Baby we're making plans!!! I know, I know, one wedding at a time-"

Eddie smiled wide." We gotta keep track of all these ideas, get like a notebook or something, write this shit down."

" I will!" You were so excited now you could barely eat." It is going to be wonderful, with our friends and our family-" as soon as the words left your mouth it hit you like a ton of bricks. Your family, your Father.You could feel your face fall.

" Baby , what just happened? " Eddie leaned forward concerned." Your whole demeanor just completely changed."

You sat back quiet for a moment. " My family. Who knows if they will even go. I mean it doesn't really matter-"

" Sweetheart," Eddie said softly, reaching out and taking your hands. "Have you heard from your mom?"

You sighed. Your Mother had called you the day after the blow up. She apologized for your Father's behavior, sighting that he was just worried about your wellbeing, you both knew it was a crock of shit, that he was just making excuses for being an Asshole." Yeah. She said she is really excited, she can't wait to go dress shopping, Suggested the country club for the wedding/reception yada yada, but I know that my fucking Father is going to make it miserable. I don't want him to come. I don't want him to ruin the day. I would rather have one of my brothers or Wayne walk me down the aisle."

" It's so fucking shitty and I'm sorry." He ran his thumbs over the back of your hands. " I know you say it doesn't matter but Angel, I know it hurts you."

You bit your lip." He's not going to change, and I don't need his negativity in my life." You leaned forward." You and my Mom and our friends are all the love and support I need. " You let out a deep breath, ready to change the subject, you weren't going to think about that right now." Now, moving on, Baby I need your input,what's your favorite flower?"

*************************************

You sat in your old apartment wrapped in your fuzzy robe,wine tipsy and feeling fabulous. Lisa had put out a spread of your favorite snacks, your favorite wine, and now you were lounging around with hideous green masks on your faces, laughing and watching all of your favorite movies.

" Jake Ryan is a total babe, but I'm sorry, there is no way a stud like that would be into a sophomore with no boobs."

Lisa laughed. " And there is no way he would show up from out of nowhere with a cake, and a kiss-"

" Not in the real world! That's why we have to watch movies like Sixteen Candles my friend. "

" I don't know Hon, your life right now is just as wonderful as those movies. You hooked up with your ex boyfriends father , you fell madly in love,now you have a hot fiancé with an amazing body, incredible stamina from what I've heard,AND he is a musician. Not to mention that he treats you like an absolute queen.They should make a movie about you two!"

You smiled and snuggled into your robe." He is pretty fucking incredible, isn't he?" You sighed.

" You're so lucky!"

You finished up your wine and popped a couple of M&MS into your mouth. "I'm so fucking lucky." Instinctively you brought your thumb up to your ring finger to twirl your engagement ring and forgot that it wasn't there. It may have only been a week but you felt naked with it missing. You smiled to yourself, you would get it back tomorrow, along with a vow to have and to hold and then you would never have to take it off again.

When your face mask was dried and your face felt tight you went into the bathroom and washed it off. Wow, your skin was so soft, you were practically glowing, ok maybe it was more than the mask, maybe it was love, maybe it was wine.

"Ok Sweets, your turn-"

" Yeah Eddie, she's right here hold on!"'

Lisa smiled and handed the phone to you." It's Prince Charming! I think he's a little bit drunk!"

You felt positively giddy." Hey Baby."

" Hey Sweetheart." His voice was so fucking sexy." Whatcha doin beautiful?"

You smiled. " Just sitting here in my fuzzy robe , chillin with Lisa, drinking wine and feeling very silly and very tipsy. What are you doing Baby?"

" Just got back from the bar, had a few drinks with Harrington-" you hear Steve holler an enthusiastic 'Hello!' in the background. "And now I'm just sitting here thinking about how much I miss you." You could tell by his voice that he feeling pretty good. Poor Steve- now he got to deal with goofy, drunk, horny Eddie.

" Your sitting there thinking about lil ole me?" You giggled."Tell me Munson, are going soft and sappy on me?" You teased.

Lisa sat down next to me, eyes on me, smile on her face, she leaned in." This is getting good!" She whispered.

Eddie laughed devilishly." There is nothing fucking soft about me Princess."

You blushed." Oh, you don't have to tell me Baby, I already know. I know every single scrumptious inch of your body. I know where you are ticklish, I know where to kiss you, touch you, bite you to get you all wound up-"

You heard Eddie sigh on the other end of the line." You're driving me fucking insane right now, do you know that Sweetheart? Of course you know that, you fucking tease."

You batted your eyes at Lisa then gasped into the phone." Me?Why Mr.Munson, I don't know what you are talking about!"

Eddie chuckled." Oh you fucking know Dollface. You know exactly what you are doing."

" What's the matter Baby? Are those not so soft parts hard now?" You cooed into the phone."

" What do you think? Your a fucking Minx."

" Don't worry Edward, it's only one night. It was longer than that when I wasn't living with you-"

" But now you do and you belong in my bed and in my arms."

" Is that so?"

" I understand though, it's'tradition' . I just, I want you so fucking bad."

You heard Steve chuckle in the background." He's fucking whipped!" Than you heard an "Oof." And then laughter from both men on the other end, and Steve replying." Fucker."

" Baby it's rude to beat up your friends when they come to visit."

" I just hit him in the head with one of your fancy throw pillows, fuckin launched it across the room! Trust me, he's feeling no pain right now and he will make a full recovery. But Sweetheart," his voice went as smooth as silk, " As for me,I'm in desperate need of some mouth to mouth-"

You giggled." I'm sorry Baby, but it's just you and your hand tonight. I promise this is the only time I will ever turn you down for sex, under any other circumstances-"

" I know Angel-" he sighed." Tomorrow your going to make me the happiest man that ever roamed this earth, you know that right?"

" I know Baby." You smiled as you played with the belt of your robe." I can't wait till tomorrow. Part of me wants to go to bed right now so that I will wake up and finally it will be our day. But, I also know that if I went to bed right now there is no way I could fall asleep. I'm way too excited. "

" I could always come over, tire you out a little-"

" No!" You laughed." We need to stay strong."

" I know." You heard him chuckle." I'll let you go so you can enjoy your night with Lisa. Drink some wine, watch another movie and before you know it you will be passed out." He paused. "Then, tomorrow night , your fucking mine Princess. The things I want to fucking do you-" he practically growled into the phone...

" Yes! Yes to any and all the things." You smiled and felt yourself blush." I love you Eddie."

" I love you too Dollface."

" Sweet dreams Baby."

He laughed wickedly on the other end of the line." I assure you My Love, the dreams that I will be having tonight will not be sweet, they will be pure, unadulterated filth."

" As long as they are about me-"

" They are always about you Princess."

You just wanted to melt. Lisa, who was listening to your entire conversation was biting a pillow and kicking her feet." That's so sweet Baby, I'll be dreaming of you too." You bit your lip and winked at Lisa. " What are you going to do when your lying alone in our bed tonight baby? "

" It would be indecent for me to elaborate on my plans, considering Harrington is breathing down my fucking neck trying to listen to our conversation, apparently you give the man tequila and he forgets all of his fucking manners-"

You heard Steve snort." This is high quality entertainment right here. You guys are so in love with each other, it would be disgusting if it weren't so goddamn cute. So what are you going to do tonight when your all alone in your bed? " Steve laughed."It's alright Eddie you can say it, as soon as he gets off the phone with you he's going to go jack off in his room-"

" Jesus Christ Steve!"

You giggled." Are you baby? Are you going to fuck your fist tonight? "

" Shit, Sweetheart you can't just say things-"

"  Like what?" You asked innocently. "Like tonight, when your stroking yourself, pretend that I'm the one holding your cock, caressing it with my soft, freshly manicured hand, with glittery pink polish-"

" Fuuuck. Your fucking killing me right now. I've, uh, got to go-"

" I love you Mr.Munson."

" I love you too Angel. I'll see you at the Courthouse, can't fucking wait."

" Ditto. Goodnight baby."

" Goodnight Sweets."

We both hung up and I threw myself back on the couch sighing, still wine drunk and warm and fuzzy inside .

Lisa let out a little scream into the pillow than tossed it away. " Oh my fucking god! You guys, you guys are just so, he's just, your so- where can I get one? I need a Mr. Munson too! Does he have any single friends?"

You looked at her and you both started giggling like school girls.

*************************************

Your hands were shaking, not from fear but from excitement. Today you would marry the man of your dreams. In fact he was standing behind the heavy wooden door in front of you at this very moment, ready to make a lifelong commitment to you, to confess his undying love and loyalty to you.

You sighed. You had never wanted anything more . Today was the most important day of your life.

You had taken your time getting yourself ready this morning, wanting everything to be absolutely perfect when Eddie saw you. Your hair was curled but pinned back on one side with a pretty pearl clip, your makeup , a soft smokey eye, with a light pink shimmery gloss. Your dress,white lace and strapless, accentuated your breasts but in a subtle classy way, flared at your waist and fell just above the knee. It was pretty and feminine and made you feel beautiful. On your feet ,lace up heels that went mid calf and added a couple of inches to your height and made your legs look nice and long. You had followed the tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. The old, your grandmother's pearl earrings and necklace, the borrowed, you borrowed Eddie's ring to put back on his finger, something new, your dress, and something blue, a white lace bustier and thong set with little blue bows and ribbon on it, that counted right?

" You look so beautiful hun." Lisa smiled , handing you your tiny bouquet. She had also dressed up for the occasion, wearing a pretty green long sleeve dress with leather boots. "Are you ready to go in?"

" I'm so ready." You let out a deep breath and smiled." Time to get married."

*************************************

Eddie:

My ears perked up when I heard her voice outside the door. She was here. I knew she would be, there was never any doubt, but she was really here and this was really happening.

" How ya doin bud?" Steve squeezed my shoulder.

" I'm so ready, so fucking ready."

" I'm really happy for you Eddie, truly happy. You deserve this. "

I turned to face my best friend and saw a smile just as wide as mine, and tears? Were those tears in his eyes?

This morning we reminisced about the old days, about how at one point I told him I was destined to be alone, after my first failed marriage, one more of obligation than love. I thought that I would never find anyone that would truly get me, how I probably didn't deserve it. I hadn't really known what being loved and cared for was like until Wayne took me in, my Mother died when I was young, my father was a criminal, always in and out of jail.

Maybe my family was just fucking cursed in love.

But then there was Wayne, who was more of a father to me than my real dad was, and my friends that took a chance and got to know the real me, then stood by my side through everything.

Steve ' the Hair' Harrington , king of Hawkins high, athletic and popular had become my best friend, we had really been through it all together, and now he was here with me today on one of the happiest days of my life, like I had been there for him on his.

"Mr.Munson, my clerk has informed me that you bride to be is here." The Judge smiled from behind his desk and stood up.

" Thank you, uh, your honor, I-" I whipped my head around as I heard the heavy wooden door open.

Peeking her head in, Lisa smiled than ran into the judges chambers with a bag slung over her shoulder and a little box in her hand.

" Hey guys! I just wanted to give you guys these, we had them made up for you-" I watched as she popped open the top of a little plastic case to reveal a Daisy boutonnière for both Steve and I.

I smiled." She really did think of everything didn't she?"

Lisa smiled as she pinned it to my dress  shirt. I had worn a navy blue fitted button down shirt and a pair  of nicely tailored dress pants, the fanciest clothes that I owned and of course my leather Jacket. I had tamed my wild curls with some products that Steve swore by and made sure that I was clean shaven. I was sure that my preparations were nothing compared to what my Sweet angel had done this morning, though to be perfectly honest, as beautiful as I was sure she looked now, I still thought that she looked absolutely gorgeous without all the extras.

" She did." Lisa moved on to Steve, pinning his flower next. When she was happy with the way it looked she came back over to me and gave me a hug, mindful of the daisy she had just pinned." Thank you Eddie, for making my friend so, so happy."

I gave her a squeeze." You don't have to thank me Sweets, it's my honor."

She pulled away and smiled up at me. "I'll go get your Princess, but first-" she  opened up her tote bag and pulled out a small camera." You gotta say cheese." She motioned for Steve to stand close beside me, we were already smiling when she snapped the picture. "Perfect!"

The thought that there were pictures in that camera of my beautiful bride to be had my heart racing.

I watched Lisa set down her tote bag in a chair then disappear behind the door again.

I could feel my hands shaking with anticipation as I smoothed out the front of my shirt,ran a hand through my hair.

" Calm down Loverboy, you look great. I can see your hands shaking from here. Nervous?"

" No. I'm just so fucking anxious to see her-" I stopped as the doors to the judges chambers opened again. I watched as Lisa stepped into the room, holding a small bouquet of flowers, smiling again, this time tears running down her cheeks. When she got to us she stood aside then turned back to the door where my beautiful bride finally came into view.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched her walk in. I couldn't even find the words to describe how fucking gorgeous she looked. Absolutely Every. Single.Fucking,Thing, about her had me breathless. She was just perfect, everything about her was just.. perfect. This moment, the radiant smile on her face, her hair, dress, shoes everything would now be captured in my memory for a lifetime. I found myself drawing in a deep breath, I had been so caught up in the moment I had forgotten to breathe.

" I can't believe she's mine," I murmured to myself as she took her final steps towards me. I felt Steve squeeze my shoulder.

I watched as she handed her bouquet to Lisa than stood close beside me, I didn't hesitate to take her hand in mine,bringing it up to my lips, eyes locked with hers.

" I don't believe we have gotten to that part yet, Mr.Munson, the kissing the bride," the Judge chuckled. We all laughed.

She smiled brightly and reached out, lightly running  her hand down the side of my face than whispered." Hi Baby." The gesture made me want to fucking melt.

" Hi Sweetheart." I leaned down to her ear. " You look..there aren't even words to describe how absolutely fucking gorgeous you look." It took everything in me to not reach out and draw her into my body.

The Judge lightly cleared his throat. "Are we ready to proceed?"

" Yes!" We answered together, smiling.

" Well alright then!" The older man flipped open a book to a dog eared page and began." Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to join this Man and this Woman, in the bond of holy matrimony.

Edward and ( reader ) are here to pledge their love to each other, to be united in a partnership, and to offer each other the security that comes from promises sincerely made, and faithfully kept. They are choosing to make a lifelong commitment to honor and cherish each other, for the rest of their lives."

My heart fluttered in my chest as I looked upon my Sweet Princess's beautiful face. I could see it then, in her eyes, the love and affection that she held for me and in this moment it was almost overwhelming. Knowing that such an amazing woman could feel that for me-

" Edward, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

I squeezed her hands." I do."

The Judge turned to her. " Do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

Her beautiful eyes locked with mine. " I do!"

" Wonderful, now repeat after me. I, Edward Munson, take you, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, and repeated word for word what the Judge had said, my voice thick with emotion. I felt her small thumbs rubbing circles into the back of my hand and as I stared deep into her eyes I noticed tears.

" Perfect, now Dear, it's your turn. Repeat after me. I, take you Edward, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

She blinked and a tear rolled slowly down her cheek and without thinking I reached up and brushed it away with my thumb. She smiled even wider than her soft voice started, " I take you Edward Munson,to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

I felt like my heart was going to fucking burst.

" The rings please."

Steve smiled and pulled the diamond ring from his pocket and carefully handed it over to me.

" Edward, please place the ring on her finger and repeat after me- I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."

I watched her beautiful face as I slid the ring onto her delicate finger. "I give you this ring,Sweetheart, as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love." I brought her hand to my mouth again, I could feel it trembling against my lips as I placed a light kiss.

I watched her look back down at her finger and sigh, then her eyes met mine again.

Lisa snapped another picture before handing over my old silver Skull ring. I had had that ring since high school, it was the first ring I had ever bought.

My Princess lightly took my hand in hers and slid the ring onto my finger. "I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."

I could feel tears well up in the corners of my eyes, I was so incredibly happy. This was my dream, and now it was real.

" Please join hands."

I held her hands softly but securely, and she gave mine a squeeze.

" By virtue of the authority vested in me under the laws of the State of Indiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The Judge smiled and looked at me." Now, Mr. Munson, you may kiss the Bride."

I pulled her body close to mine than cradled her face in my hand, running my thumb over her bottom lip." I love you Mrs.Munson." I watched her face light up.

" I love you too Mr. Munson."

" Just kiss already!" Steve said from beside us, and we laughed.

I felt her arms slip around my waist, and I swooped down and kissed her with everything I had, every bit of emotion I had been holding back during the ceremony finally releasing, a tear of joy rolled down my cheek.

Lisa and Steve cheered, and I heard another snap of Lisa's camera, and I was grateful. Grateful that she had captured the happiest moment of my life.

*************************************

Reader:

" I love you so much Baby." You breathed , kissing the tear from his cheek and nuzzling into his neck. He held onto you tightly, just as wound up in emotion as you had been and it made your heart swell .It was perfect. The ceremony was perfect, it was everything you had wanted. Simple, sweet, intimate. And Eddie, he looked so goddamn amazing. The way his shirt fit tight across his broad chest, and his trim waist. And the pants, they fit him like a glove. He was so sexy. You loved that he wore his leather jacket, it was so perfect, so Eddie.

You drew in one more deep breath, getting lost in his intoxicating scent, soap and cologne and there was something else... hair product? You smiled as you pulled away.

You will never in your life forget the sight of Eddie when he first saw you walk into the room, the smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, the way his breath hitched when you got nearer. It melted your heart when he took your hand and kissed it just before the ceremony, knowing that he couldn't help himself , that he had to touch you.

He lifted your chin up with his finger,kissed your forehead, the tip of your nose than your lips. " You look like an Angel."

" Excuse me, Mr. & Mrs. Munson? " the Judge interrupted." Sorry, but if I could just have your Marriage License-"

" Oh yes! Sorry your honor, we just got a little caught up in the moment-" You backed away and ran to Lisa's tote bag pulling out your folder and quickly bringing it back to him." There you go Sir, and thank you, sooo much."

The older gentleman smiled." I see a lot of doom and gloom doing what I do, it is nice to have a little ray of sunshine every once in a while."

Eddie walked up to the desk with you , sliding his arm around your shoulders. " Jesus Sweetheart your freezing!" Eddie took his leather jacket off and held it out, you slipped your arms into it and felt his warmth creep into your body.

" Thank you baby. I am realizing now that short and strapless may not have been the best choice for a Fall wedding." You smirked." But I wanted to look pretty for you-"

" You look knockout fucking gorgeous, Doll." He winked at you , smiling. God you just wanted to eat him right the fuck up.

" There, everything is official. Congratulations."

Eddie picked you up and spun you around and you giggled.

" Would you mind if I took just a few quick pictures? I promise we won't dawdle, we know you are very busy." Lisa asked.

The judge nodded. The four of you hammed it up in the wedding photos, the judge, a good sport offered to take a couple group shots and also agreed to pose with you guys for a couple. You were so glad that Lisa had thought to bring a camera, you were frantically trying to get things ready on short notice that you didn't even think about it.

" Thank you again your honor,  you have no idea how incredibly happy and thankful we are." Eddie reached out to shake his hand.

The Judge smiled and shook his hand firmly. " Your very welcome and congratulations again. Now if you'll excuse me-"

" Certainly!"

Eddie took your hand and guided us all out of the building.

" Can I just say that that was probably the best wedding I have ever been to. It was simple, and beautiful and  meaningful and sincere. It was perfect."Steve hugged us. " I'm so happy for you two. Congratulations guys."

" Thank you guys sooo much for coming to be a part of our day. It means so much to us." You smiled, and hugged Lisa. " Thank you for everything."

" You don't have to thank me honey, it has been my pleasure." She squeezed you back than pulled away. " I have one last photo request- " She nodded to the fountain infront of the courthouse. " It will be perfect."

You smiled up at Eddie." Whatta ya say baby? "

He smiled back down at you and tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. " Whatever wifey wants, wifey gets." You watched as his smile grew even wider, his dimples absolutely dazzling. He was , without a doubt the most beautiful man you had ever known inside and out. And now this man was your Husband, to have and to hold. The thought was astonishing and overwhelming and you felt tears prick at your eyes and you quickly blinked them away.

" You alright My Love?"

" I'm just so happy Eds." You stood up on your tiptoes and kissed him.

" Awwwww!"

You felt Eddie smile against your lips.

" Let's give them something that will really blow their fucking minds."

A moment later you were being dipped backwards and you giggled in surprise. He smiled as he brought his lips down to yours.

" That's perfect!! Oh my god guys!" Lisa shrieked as her camera clicked away."That ones a keeper for sure."

You smiled up at Eddie as he pulled away. " Your a keeper for sure."

Part 2 - coming soon❤️

As always thank you so much for reading❤️ Comments and re-blogs warm my heart ❤️

#eddie munson #eddie munson smut #eddie fanfic #eddie stranger things #eddie munson fanfic #dilf!eddie munson #older eddie munson #loving mr munson #Leelei writes #eddie munson blurb

[faeryarchives]

scarabia with a yoimiya-like gender neutral s/o!

a talented pyrotechnician filled with uncompromising childish innocence and fiery passion as they excels in their craft of creating fireworks that symbolize people's hopes and dreams.

: ̗̀➛ kalim al-asim

"ohayoooo kalim! ah, this is great! i feel so relaxed all over, i could almost float away. so anyways, what are we going to do today?"

if people didn't know that you aren't the prefect at all - they would've thought that you and kalim are related in someway because damn you just radiate sunshine energy ☀️

you are like two peas in a pods! if you feel very happy then kalim feels happy too, when kalim is feeling down you feel very sad

"sil told me that you were looking down earlier so i snuck out and brought you here!"

"is that a fire- woah it became so many goldfish fireworks!"

yeah you guys were caught by jamil when you almost put the whole garden on fire but hey that's worth a shot and kalim is smiling again

would absolutely fight because you guys love each other more war 🥺

"i love you kalim!"

"i love you more!"

"no i love you more."

it ends up with you hugging each other but you still love him more

despite having similar personality with kalim, you would still prevent him from doing any reckless decisions

after knowing that you are good with kids, kalim would bring you back to his hometown along with grim to meet his parents and siblings and they end up loving you too much that they didn't want you to go back home 😵‍💫

"(naaaaaaame) can't you stay with us and play?"

"henchmen quick lets escape!"

"noooooo! (name) is my partner don't take them away from me we are going back!"

"hahahaha... hey kids how about this, when i come back again we will play a lot okay?"

they eventually agreed after you give them some of your handmade keychain of your signature goldfish tattoo ueueu

every time nrc would hold school events, crowley would always ask you to be in charge of the fireworks team and of cource you agree to it which leads to kalim being very supportive and happy for you

"oh my gosh let's go (nicknaaaame)! do you want some snacks? are thirsty? hungry? or maybe tired do you want me to hug you to give you energy or a ki-"

"ok i have seen enough pda for today, let's go we are in charge of decorating our dorm. goodluck prefect."

definitely would watch the fireworks on the magic carpet with you and kalim in each others' arms watching your precious work go up and bring smiles and amazement to your friends

"i finally realize what fireworks symbolize for me."

"oh? what is it then?"

"it's a secret." this caused kalim to let out a long whine and hugging you closer making you laugh at his antics. deep inside, what really fireworks symbolize for you - is feeling the love and appreciation people shows while enjoying your passion and work.

: ̗̀➛ jamil viper

no words can say how much jamil is proud to be your boyfriend because you were just amazing in every aspect

without him knowing, the vice dorm leader find himself more at ease after boyfriend - even smiling more often

"ne ne jamil, if we've got nothing else to do, why don't i tell you a story?"

"hmm? sure thing, i just finished cooking lunch for the four of us later."

"sweet~! did you know that back in my wor-"

adores your stories, it never fails to put a smile on his face and it always got stuck in his mind that leads to kalim being surprised when jamil started chuckling after looking at some goldfish on display

even though he loves you so much, jamil couldn't help but feel strict whenever you forget to do your tasks especially when they are due an hour of tomorrow.

jamil 🥺💜: your alchemy assignment is due tomorrow did you do it already?

(nickname) 😎🌺: of course i did!

news flash, you did not do the assignment

and jamil heard from grim you did it an hour before your alchemy class but hey you got a perfect score!

he adores the way you would try to put on some of your hair clips on his usual braids

don't tell him but your contact number on his phone is the one where he is smiling while holding your festival pouch

whenever you two got alone time, you would either be dancing with jamil in a slow dance or have him teach you street dancing

"is it like this?"

"which on= wait no you are about to fall!" by the time you realize it, jamil saved your fall by catching you with a relieved sigh.

"um hehe? nice catch?"

much to his surprise, you brought back a parrot with you when you texted him that you have something important to say

"why do you have a parrot."

"ok its a funny story but hear me out."

it turns out the important thing was saving the parrot from a certain hunter and you decided to bring it back with you since the parrot reminds you of jamil and it became your child, it was very spoiled making grim let out complains

overall? the viper is so glad to have a very understanding and amazing partner like you and he couldn't wait for you to meet his sister.

"i feel like you an najima would get along great."

"ooooh! maybe i will ask her about your childhood pict-"

"no."

sometimes i just want to cry because i almost finish this like three hours ago but then the page reloaded by itself and i didn't get to save 😭 i hope you guys enjoyed ~

#twisted wonderland scenarios #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland imagines #twisted wonderland #twst scenarios #twst imagines #jamil viper #kalim al asim #jamil viper x reader #kalim al asim x reader #faeryarchives #scarabia #twisted wonderland headcanons #twst headcanons #twst x reader

[wilhelmsbee]

Okay honestly? I'll just take you up on that offer because I'm obsessed with your edits in general, but if you ever feel like talking some more about that Wilhelm edit you did to the song Ribs by Lorde??? Would love that because that edit lives rent-free in my head! (no pressure though, I just like the idea of like... director's commentary or something for edits haha)

I HOPE EVERYONE IS READY FOR ME TO BE INSANELY DEEP ABOUT THIS EDIT OH MY GOD

preface: i talk ab why i chose each scene for the lyrics, then colouring/font, idk if this is the directors commentary you wanted but like this is how I think about all my edits

We're reeling through the midnight streets- initially, I actually wanted to start it on the this dream isn't feeling sweet line but it just didn't fit in instagrams 1-minute time frame ANYWAY This scene has always been the most painful to me. Wilhelm realises at this moment that he's truly, undeniably alone in his life. Everyone he trusts (or is supposed to trust) has left him, and he has nobody left to go to. He's alone, going through his own personal hell, finding out his only family cares more about public perception than him as a person. It's like the beginning of the worst spiral we see from Wilhelm. Its quite a literal scene-to-lyric moment, but also the we're part feels (to me) like him-as-well-as his public self. Crown Prince Wilhelm and Wille are such separate parts, and its all he has left.

And I've never felt more alone- The THERAPY SCENE! Specifically this is the I think it's better not knowing how it could feel scene, because that truly is the most heartbreaking viewpoint I've ever seen from a character. It was better not being in love because I couldn't miss it. He might be getting closer to the other boys in the secret society, as well as Felice, but he's not really breaking past the surface level with anyone. Not even Felice knows the depths of his pain, he keeps it all to himself. The loneliness crushes him, he wishes he didn't know how love felt. As far as he's concerned, he's never loving someone else again (true) and he's never going to be able to love Simon again (false). In this moment there's this feeling of emptiness. He has nothing he actually cares about, and he wishes that he never cared in the first place.

It feels so scary, getting old- He wasn't supposed to fill this role, giving a speech as the Crown Prince of Sweden about his brother's passing. Wilhelm's character (obviously) fundamentally switches after Erik's death. He used to be a lot sillier, more reckless and more willing to fight back against his parents. But now he's got every single eye on him, watching him. Put into an adult role at the age of sixteen, forced to carry the burden of spare his whole childhood, then suddenly forced to be the sole heir. Even if he had planned to maybe one day be the heir (which he didn't, judging by the he should be here instead of me comment) it wasn't supposed to happen until he was older and wiser. He stops acting like a kid because he can't be a kid anymore. The cuts between the frog/getting the frog/breaking the globe aimed to emphasise this. He's lost all connection to his brother, he's in a place he didn't expect to be until he was extremely old (if ever), and he's lost control of his own life.

We can talk it so good, we can make it so divine, we can talk it good how we wish it would be all the time- I wanted to frame Simon in this as a sort of healthy distraction for Wilhelm. He was the only person in his life who actually looked out for him and cared. They're happy and they're smiling, all the clips are intimate even if there's someone else there. It highlights how they care. It's good, it's divine. It's what kept him happy after the hardest thing in his life (so far). In this edit, he desperately wants it back because he knows how much it helped. It was the only bright thing he had. The cutting to Wilhelm alone in s2 after how we wish it would be all the time just aims to really enforce that he wished it was still like that, wishing for someone who truly cared and loved him. It's all yearning, pining, wishing things were better. Every single clip is a clip in which Wilhelm has been pining over Simon. There's an ache he expresses that was just so, so important to this edit.

This dream isn't feeling sweet- Lots of clips of Wilhelm trying to process things. He's been forced to change his entire life, after all being a prince is a privilege, not a punishment. The 'dream' of being royal crushes him, despite the fact he can't ever voice it. Walking down the halls of his castle, sitting in his private boarding school therapy session with an actual therapist, being driven home in a private car from the party where he was filmed fighting. These luxuries juxtaposed with his actual circumstances hurt. He can't complain because he's got it best in the country, but it isn't a system designed for him, it doesn't want to help him, it wants to make him conform. It isn't fair, but he can't say that.

We're reeling through the midnight streets- He's forcing himself to try and fit the mould while also being himself, and all it causes is pain. He's actively fighting against the institution he was raised in simply by existing. The panic attack from being perceived holding Simon's hand. Deleting his contact after his mother told him 'no more mistakes.' Trying to play nice at the dinner table even though his whole life was crumbling around him and the institution was failing everyone even though nobody believed him. The panic attack/anxiety vomit from Simon going public, against Wilhelm's institution, knowing that he might not be able to protect him. He's got no control in any of these scenes, its a desperate fight against himself. He's a publicity risk to his own family if he is true to himself, and he's a risk to himself if he isn't.

And I've never felt more alone- Desperately trying to comfort himself when nobody else can (or wants to) comfort him. After the fight at the party all his family cared about was the PR response. When August said that Simon would take the fall for the drugs, all he cared about was getting Alexander back. During the uniform tailoring, all Jan-Olof cared about was tradition and making Simon as background as he could. When Wilhelm gave up meditating to soothe his anxiety, he was upset at his inability to calm down, despite the fact he's never been given an opportunity to be calm. Nobody really knows about his mental health struggles, he just has to fight through them and desperately try to self-soothe. Nobody else will comfort him after all.

It feels so scary getting old- Each of these scenes show Wilhelm being viewed as his role instead of being viewed as a person. He clearly struggles with being viewed as just the Crown Prince of Sweden, especially since that was never supposed to be his role, so of course it hurts when he's viewed as just a pawn in the Royal Family. Especially from people he loves. Yes, it was undeniably hard when he first became the Crown Prince, and it absolutely would've crushed him to know that when he had a panic attack he couldn't be alone. But these scenes are interlaced with him being viewed as a political pawn by Simon and his mother. People he loves, people he trusts. He's just a public statement to his mother, and he's just a human representation of the Crown to Simon (in these scenes not in general ofc). He's never going to be able to be his own person again, because he's got a country to run when he grows up and a public image to form between now and then.

This dream isn't feeling sweet- The lyrics are now getting more compounding, it's louder and it's closer. He's fighting to be heard, he's being ripped off of his desk, he's forcing down a panic attack because he needs to be happy for Simon. His emotions aren't allowed, he can't feel anything negative so he won't feel anything at all. Nothing in his life feels good anymore, so he's fighting the losing battle to just try to break even. Nobody would dream of this, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. He can't even voice that, though.

We're reeling through the midnight streets- Now he's reminiscing about when things were easier, but they weren't, really. Yes, the placard was there the night he first kissed Simon, but that was also the beginning of the horrific realisation he wasn't built for the world he is forced to live in. His mother says 'no more mistakes' and he already knows it means he has to leave Simon. When that doesn't work and it all falls out, he's left to try and clean his own image up by nailing the closet shut with every fibre of his being. His life wasn't better, he's grasping for anything to show him life will be okay again. Everything has crumbled and now he's got nothing, so he yearns for when he had something, even if it was just something to lose.

And I've never felt more alone- He is constantly left. Something that isn't brought up enough is how often he's just abandoned. He has no one to talk to, he's forced to work through his struggles alone because his existence is political and any sign of weakness being public could reflect badly on his family. He becomes the embodiment of the Prince he could never be. Walking to the lake and reminiscing about when he would be happy there. Being left alone by his brother, who didn't even reply to him asking to say hi to his mother and father, who he then never sees in person again. Then wearing his brother's jacket. He's alone, and all he does is pine for a time when he wasn't. All he wants to do is go back and do it all again, and he can't. But he also can't move forward, he doesn't want to, he doesn't know how.

It feels so scary- Only two scenes so I'll discuss 'em one by one: -At Erik's funeral, there's a more literal fear of getting old. I don't want to repeat myself more than I already have but obviously, that forced Wilhelm to grow up and be more mature, and act like a Crown Prince instead of just the Prince. More attention, less room for error. He's terrified of fucking it up, and there's nobody who can help him. -The breakup scene is more metaphorical. He has to grow up and figure out what he wants to do with his life, while also having to grow to understand what he actually has the ability to do with his life. He's not ready to do this because he wants things to be good and happy but it was ripped away from him. He can't just pretend everything is alright anymore, but the amount of maturing he needs to do seems impossible at this moment, especially knowing he was in love with a boy when he wasn't allowed to be. He tries to be both a Prince and Wilhelm and all it did was betray his boyfriend's trust.

getting old- Wilhelm shutting his computer and pressing his hands to his eyes. It's exhausting. He's exhausted. Constantly working to try and be who he's supposed to be as well as being himself and trying to navigate his emotions in a vulnerable state is just too much. He can't carry it all, so he just gives up for a moment. It all goes quiet, but not in a good way. When you're that overwhelmed, the lack of anything just leaves more room to spiral.

FONT CHOICES

Intro: literally my handwriting. I wanted this to feel personal and almost like a desperate written plea to go back to when it was good, and what's more personal than my own handwriting am I right!!!

First chorus loop: Magazine font, it's in pieces and it doesn't match. There's a sporadic chaos, like he's beginning to feel it but it isn't there yet. The text isn't fully opaque, it's in front of him. We're seeing it before he does in this context. Trying to reflect how the media knows things before he does, like his brothers death, the tape leaking, all that good stuff.

Second chorus loop: Big, Bold, Unavoidable! I rotobrushed Wilhelm in every scene so that the text could be intertwined with him. He can't escape the reality of his situation, he is getting crushed by these feelings. The song gets louder and more claustrophobic, the text is in the scenes with him. It haunts him, it's everywhere. When he closes the laptop and it all goes silent, its not relaxing, it just makes you anxious in a different way.

COLOURING

I actually chose the blues from the intro scene, mainly in the night sky bit of the frame. Also! All the happy Wilmon scenes have a higher saturation, though you can't tell because of how I did the colouring. It just results in them being a little bit brighter, because things were good then and I believe it should feel good then, too.

#ellieoughposting #ellieeditrambles #new tag for if anyone else asks me ab any of my edits #cannot stress enough ill write one of these for any edit you want #just ask #anyway #edit analysis #wilmon edit #no beta we die like erik #wilhelm x ribs #also idk how else to mention this but this edit was a vent edit #like yes i think this hard about vent edits i have autism i cant not think

[3pirouette]

Fic: Your Eyes Look Like Coming Home (1/1)

Title: Your Eyes Look Like Coming Home

By: TriplePirouette/3Pirouette

Spoilers: Set during CA: TFA

Rating: Teen and Up (mild references to sexual activity)

Disclaimer: They're not mine.

Word Count: 2914

Distribution: AO3  Anyone else please ask first :)

Story Summary: for @behindthelabels for Steggymas! Steve can’t get her eyes right… or the story of how he managed to have a picture of Peggy in his compass. 

AN: So, I started writing a COMPLETELY different story for @behindthelabels, only to find out that I was basing it on something she hadn’t seen. So, I scrubbed it for the time being (though it’s likely to be posted soon, and dedicated to her as a “gift I know you won’t like but sorry, there’s no receipt so you can’t take it back”) and in the meantime, I cooked up this based on an ask she answered. I hope she enjoys it! Thanks @steggyfanevents for another great year!

Title taken from Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

~*~

He couldn’t get the eyes right. 

It didn’t matter how many times he tried to draw her, he couldn’t get the eyes right. 

Not that he could actually see what he was doing in the dark tent in the middle of the night as sleep evaded him. Drawing her was at least something he could do, an activity to fill the time and his idle hands as he waited for his next assignment. 

The curve of her cheek he managed after a few tries. Her nose took two or three attempts to get the line down. After about two months of sketching at every opportunity he had a passable likeness that he felt confident in. Her lips…

Her lips he got right on the first try. He couldn't imagine not knowing what they looked like, their bright red velvet likeness burned into his memory forever. 

But her eyes, Peggy’s eyes, evaded him. 

He couldn’t quite nail down the sparkle in them, never managed to figure out how to make them stoic yet mischievous at the same time. He could, and frequently did, get lost in those eyes whenever she was around. He would try to memorize the curve of her eyelid and the length of her lashes, made guesses about how many millimeters wide her pupils were and tried to get the shade as close as he could with his nubbin of a pencil, but still. 

Still. 

He couldn’t get the eyes right. 

It didn’t make sense to him that he had a notebook full of images of her and not a single one seemed real, not a single one seemed to capture who she was and the power that radiated from her. It didn’t make sense when he could see her in his dreams every night, as crisp and real as if she were standing before him, a smile on her bright lips and a twinkle in her eyes, but her eyes still evaded him in sketches.

His drawings were all he had out on the lines. It was the one thing he kept with him: his little notebook and the last inch of a pencil went in his pack wherever he went. He made himself notes about missions and plans he should write, but the majority of the pages were filled with drawings. Sometimes it was the monsters of battles on them, being purged from his psyche the only way he could: through the pencil. 

But usually, mostly, it was Peggy. 

He didn’t have any right to miss her, not really. They were both too important, too integral to the war to have time alone or time away from battle. She was busy saving the world through undercover missions and breaking codes in back rooms while he led the charge out in the open. 

There would be time for them when this was all over. 

Or so they told themselves. 

Stolen moments were all they had, little minutes and hours here and there when they happened to both be in the same place at the same time. They didn’t make promises about tomorrow: there were no promises to make in war. They only mused about when they’d next cross paths or how long their next assignment was scheduled to be. 

And those muses were short, clipped words between stolen caresses in closets or as they were making out between mission briefings in abandoned offices. 

Steve wanted to be valiant: he wanted to take her on long, romantic walks and ask her family for permission to have her hand. But war was hell. They were all exhausted and just a little bit traumatized, all broken and a little bit hopeless. Falling into her, feeling her soft, porcelain skin and kissing her warm, red lips, was like a balm. It didn’t last long, but it gave him fire to keep going, gave him a reason to haul his ass back to camp when he just wanted to lay down in the mud, gave him a reason to wake up another day and fight when he constantly seemed outnumbered and outmanned. 

Some nights, all he could do was focus on getting back to her so he could let his fingers trail over the curve of her hip, so he could feel the weight of her in his arms and her breath puffing against his cheek one more time, as he made his way through mud and snow, as he sat in freezing cold tents and hid in bushes behind enemy lines. 

He didn’t have much to hold on to. No family at home, no one waiting for him. 

They didn’t send letters, there was no way for them to write anything meaningful that wouldn’t get read or censored before it got to the other. 

He just had her, just Peggy, and their wartime romance that felt so fragile it could break like glass any day. 

There were so many things that threatened it. 

They were clearly going against regulations. Most who could find someone did, it wasn’t a secret. Even though he hardly thought Colonel Phillips was one to report them, if someone made an official complaint, he’d have to follow through. 

Either one of them could get killed any day. It was a harsh truth, but one they both knew deep down. Every goodbye was hard because they knew it very well could be their last. Men didn’t come back every day, spies were caught behind enemy lines regularly. Either one of them could be on the next list of casualties, so they kissed and touched and loved as long and as hard as they could with the little time they had. 

Steve tried not to think about Peggy finding someone else, but he had a hard time believing sometimes that she truly loved him. Not for anything she did, really, but for the fact that he still saw himself as a different person, still saw himself as someone that was looked over and dismissed. He constantly worked to prove himself, in the field and to her. 

He wanted to deserve her. 

How could he do that if he couldn’t get her damn eyes right?

~*~

“You’re going to stare a hole right through me, you know.” 

“Huh?” Steve’s eyes widened, realizing he’d been caught. 

Peggy leaned up, kissing him before wiping at the red rim of her lipstick around his lips with her thumb. She pulled the sheet tighter around her, her sweat-slicked skin chilling now that they’d slaked their needs for the time being. “Have I something on my face?”

He shook his head, pushing up to sitting and running a hand across his chin, but didn’t answer. 

Peggy slipped from the bed and wrapped her robe around her nude form, retreating to the small dressing table in the hotel room. It was serendipity: they were in the same city at the same time, her mission not starting for a few days and his just ending. The hotel room was a compromise, the quickest way to hopefully not get caught, to spend a quiet moment in the middle of the maelstrom. She started pulling the pins from her mussed hair, looking over her shoulder at him. “Well?”

He was embarrassed, caught, and didn’t know how to broach it without sounding like a fool. He kept his eyes down, shrugging his shoulders. “I can’t get the eyes right.”

She stilled, hands still pulling a pin from her hair, as only her eyebrow moved, lifting high. “The eyes?”

“Your eyes,” he sighed. He pulled his shorts on and moved to the side of the room, rummaging through his pack and pulling out his small notebook. There was a tear in the corner and half the pages were dogeared, so it bounced to an open page when he put it on the table in front of her, leaning back against the wall. He shrugged again before crossing his arms. “Can’t seem to get them right.”

Peggy was stunned, abandoning the half-done job of her pins as she started flipping carefully through the pages. In between his neat notes about troop movements and mission details were sketches. Some were half done, some were shaded and lined and damn near perfect. 

Almost all of them were of her. 

Her jaw dropped as she flipped through the pages. “Steve…” His name passed breathlessly through her lips, she was so taken with picture after picture of herself. 

“I know.” He shook his head, hiding his face from his in his palm. His words were muffled in his hand.  “It’s stupid, I know.”

She set the book down, looking up at him. “Stupid?”

He just waved his hand at the book. “I guess that, other fellas, well, they get to carry pictures, you know? They get to have letters and day passes and-“

“And we have this.” Peggy easily finished the sentence for him, standing in front of him and taking the notebook with her. She opened the page to her favorite likeness, a profile shaded best he could in pencil, her hair detailed in a sharp victory roll. “But why would you think this is stupid?” 

He didn't have the words to express his embarrassment, his insecurity, so he just shrugged again, pink running hot over his chest and up into his cheeks. 

“This,” she held up the picture, “is not stupid. Far from it, in fact.” Peggy shook her head and put the notebook down, letting her hands rest on his folded forearms. “Do you know what I do?”

He laughed nervously. “No.”

“When I’m on a mission or undercover, I collect the papers.” She leaned back, letting her hands move over his forearms. “I can’t draw, so I collect the papers. The ones that have your picture in them. Easy enough to explain away keeping an old paper or two in your flat to use about the place.” She smiled, just a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips as she holds his gaze. “I can’t have your picture in my purse or a ring on my finger or-“

“You want that?” He interrupted, once again surprised. Her confused hum spurred him to elaborate. He lifted her hand in his, running his thumb over her fingers. “A ring?”

Her half smile bloomed into something wider, something sparkling that he’d only captured on paper rarely. “Eventually.” She took his hand and threaded her fingers in his, reaching for his other, swinging them with a little mischief in her eyes. “Though if you thought we could get away with an elopement without the War Department finding out, I’ll start getting my shoes on.”

His lips crashed into her almost before she could finish getting the last words out. “Silly brute,” Peggy playfully admonished, pushing away from his embrace to sit back at the table and resume pulling her pins out. “As if I wouldn’t marry you after going through all this time and again just for five minutes of peace.”

His laugh was genuine as he stepped behind her, helping her probing fingers pull out the pins that had long since moved and snagged, pushed out of place by his passionate embraces and the friction against the sheets. “I guess I just always hoped. We never really talk about it.”

She took his hand in hers, kissed the back of it over her shoulder, her smile dropping just a little in the mirror across from them. “No, you’re right, but with all the things that could go wrong…”

He ran his hand over her cheek as her words faded, the weight of the world outside their little hotel room creeping in just enough. “With all the things that can go wrong, it’s nice to know that I have someone who wants to see me on the other end of it.”

Peggy turned, holding his hand tight in both of hers, her eyes finding his, warm and sincere. “Always, Steve. I will always be waiting for you to come back to me.”

He leaned down, kissing her gently. “Same, Peg. Every mission you go on, I’ll be waiting.” 

“Good,” she took a deep breath, pushing away the emotions she was far too anxious to not feel while she was in this room. If she got to thinking about leaving in a few hours, it would ruin the time they had left. “Now, let’s get these pins out, shall we?” She turned back, looking up at him in the reflection in the mirror. “I have not had my fill of you, but if we leave them in my hair will be matted beyond recognition and not only will I be dress coded, there will be no question as to where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing.”

Steve kissed the top of her head, pulling another pin out and setting it on the table. “Yes, Ma’am.”

~*~

Luck was on Peggy’s side when Steve and the Commandos made their way into the small base the next day. She would be heading out soon, as would he, but even fifteen minutes would be enough time for what she had planned. 

She passed him in the hallway, stepping in time with him only long enough to say hello to everyone and slip her hand into his pocket without him noticing. 

Ten minutes later, she made a show of bumping into him in the hall, flustered and dropping her pile of papers.

The commandos helped her pick them up, and she smiled like the cat that got the cream as she walked away. 

~*~

“Something wrong with Peg?” Dugan asked as they settled themselves in the back of the transport. 

“Wrong?” Steve asked, settling his shield next to him so he could lean on the wall of the truck. “She looked okay to me.”

Dugan raised an eyebrow under the rim of his bowler. “Carter ran into you like a freight train on a mission. Have you ever known that woman to ever drop anything like a ditzy secretary before?”

Steve looked at his friend, realization slowly dawning. It was unlike Peggy to not know where she was in space and to be clumsy. He’d never seen her trip or barrel into anything unless it was on purpose. And boy, had he seen her do it on purpose to unsuspecting targets when she wanted to get her hands on something they had. “But why…”

Dugan shrugged, pulling his hat over his eyes. “Dunno, friend. Maybe check your pockets.”

Steve started patting himself down as the truck roared to life, bouncing him as it headed out to their destination. Everything was where it should be, everything was accounted for in the right pockets. 

But it didn’t make sense. 

Steve started pulling each thing out, looking over each little piece of equipment. Everything was as he’d put it in there, except his notebook. 

On the very last page was a new entry in Peggy’s neat handwriting. 

My darling, we have the rest of our lives for you to get the eyes right. 

She didn’t sign it. She couldn’t. Not if they wanted to at least continue to pretend to follow the rules. But she did draw a little star symbol next to it. He looked over her words for far longer than he needed to commit them to memory, eyes following the sharp points of the star over and over. On nights to come he would look over them again and again, trying to remember her voice in his mind as he read them. 

He slipped the notebook back in his pocket, closing his eyes and trying to get some sleep before boots had to be on the ground. 

Something bothered him, though. It wouldn’t let him rest.

The star. 

She’d never drawn a star before. They’d never talked about stars or night skies in any significant way. They definitely hadn’t spent time talking about stars last night as he moved in her, dragging his lips over her soft skin and pulling her thigh up over his hip, existing as one for as long as they could muster in the middle of the war. 

No, the little eight pointed, stylized star wasn’t quite right. It had to mean something else. 

Four long points, four short points…

He sat up and shoved his hand in his pocket, pulling his compass out. 

He knew before he even opened it. It smelled just faintly of her perfume. He couldn’t hide his smile as he flicked it open to find her picture staring back at him. It was simple, surely an ID photo she managed to drag up from somewhere. He’d want to know why she had a copy at hand, especially one small enough to fit in his compass. She was full of surprises, though the more he thought about it he was sure it had more to do with the photostats or halftone prints she could get done from the records department on base. 

For now, though, he decided it would be better to just focus on what he had in his hands and not the how. He had her image with him now, everywhere he went she was just a flick away in his pocket. 

He could look at her face on those lonely, cold nights, and use it to help guide him when he felt like pulling out his pencil and trying his hand at her portrait again. 

He’d get her eyes right. 

And if he didn’t?

If he didn’t, she was always with him now. 

#3P’s Fic #Behindthelabels #Stegyfanevents #Steggy Fic #steggy secret santa #steve x peggy

[imhereforscm]

Which is your favorite Barbie movie? (　＾▽＾)

I recently watched Barbie as princess and pauper and fell in love with King Dominic again 🫠

Can you write a fluffy story where MC is cleaning her childhood room and finds a old barbie movie ( your choice ) and decides to watch it with Louie? Pretty please ( ＾ω＾ )

"Childhood memories"

Genre: fluff

Warnings: none

A/N: YES!! KING DOMINIC✨✨🔥🔥😩😩 And also prince Antonioᕙ⁠(⁠ ͡⁠◉⁠ ͜⁠ ⁠ʖ⁠ ͡⁠◉⁠)⁠ᕗ🔥🔥🔥 Barbie is amazing!!🥺🌹🌹 I love a lot of Barbie movies, such as The Twelve Dancing Princesses (fun fact: I burnt that DVD from watching it too much), Barbie In The Three Musketeers, Princess Charm School. I actually couldn't pick a favourite until I actually sat down to write this fic. And now I can proudly say... It's BARBIE IN THE NUTCRACKER🥺💖🌹💕🥺🥺🥺🌹🌹🌹

It started as a chore, it really did. But with every box you'd open, new memories would jump out at you.

Clothes and shoes that were too small for your current self, showing you a totally different person from the one you were today, as you cleaned away the dust.

Drawings of vivid childlike dreams shoved messily into shelves and all around your desk.

Those, along with your toys, brought a smile of sentimentality to your face, feeling as if every childhood bliss unfolded before your eyes like a film tape that was buried in the past covered in dust, yet not forgotten.

Soon, your mind had drifted away from cleaning your childhood room. A happiness so energetic and thirsty chased all those thoughts away from your mind, as you dug deeper between your toys and some sparkly hair clips with butterflies and flowers attached to them.

Your fingers made contact with a broad surface and peering into the box, you couldn't identify what it was, due to it being in the very dark bottom.

You began pulling out one toy at a time, equivalents of memories. Of how you first got them on Christmas or on your birthday or on an ordinary Wednesday evening. You turned some toys on. Some made sounds rather loud and not so coherent, because of how the batteries had began to run out. Some didn't turn on at all. Some toys had glue on them and you giggled as you remembered the way you'd accidentally break them, yet how happy you were to see the pieces sticking back together again and the fun continuing.

And finally, you reached the object of your interest. You pulled it out and your mouth opened into a huge grin, your eyebrows rising. You laughed happily, the mere sight of this movie in its colorful case bringing you so much nostalgia and happiness you swore your heart would burst and your eyes would fill with tears.

You still loved this movie and a bright idea made your eyes light up. You would combine the two things you loved dearly.

"So what's this movie about?" Tauxolouve asked, his face illuminated only by the light of your laptop. He spread his right arm, welcoming you gently into his embrace, as you joined him on the bed, two bags of chips in your arms, which you dropped on your lap to get comfortable.

"It's a movie I loved as a child, Barbie in the nutcracker. It's like... A sweet adventure, with ballet, classical music and it's got that fairy tale glow." Even talking about it made you smile, love filling your ribcage to the brim.

You put on the movie and cuddled close to Tauxolouve, resting your head against his chest and pulling the blanket up to your chin.

The movie started and the familiarity of it, combined with Tauxolouve's warmth made you feel at peace.

You watched as Clara slept and how the fairy dust danced around the room, enchanting the nutcracker awake and the magic of that scene didn't fail to take your breath away even now.

Tauxolouve watched silently, a pleasant smile on his face, until the point when the owl gave Clara the golden locket and he saw your eyes practically shine at its sight. "Do you like her locket?"

"Yep! It's so pretty!" You giggling, your cheeks a little rosy from the happiness. "I remember wanting it so badly when I was little."

Tauxolouve pressed a kiss to your temple, his heart flattering when you chuckled softly at his heartfelt move, before falling silent again.

You two watched on as Clara and the Nutcracker took off for their adventure and landed into a pile of pure white snow.

"What a cute fairy." Tauxolouve commented lightheartedly as the little snow fairy approached the two heroes. "But he's right, she should've said thank you to Clara for fixing her wing."

You chuckled at his commentary, but agreed.

His eyes squinted kindly as more fairies came out and started dancing. "The music is lovely."

Clara walked forward and the flowers growing from the places where she previously stepped, made the cozy fairy tale elements of this movie shine even more.

"Huh," You began, upon seeing the broad scenery. "I remember that being much more detailed. I still love it though."

"That's what matters most. For a movie or a painting or a poem to never stop conveying the same feelings each time you watch it, even if it is after years."

"That's a beautiful way to put it." You agreed, smiling and nuzzled more into his chest, breathing into his caramel scent, which fit perfectly with the feelings of this movie.

Warmth, fairytales and caramel. This is it. This is a feeling you knew you'd never get tired of.

"I just realized..." Tauxolouve muttered.

"What?"

"This mouse or rat king or whatever he is..." He stared aside, his eyebrows forming downturns. "He reminds me of the king. He's got the same tyrannical look."

You snorted. "I can see that, yes."

More of the movie passed you by, your attention focused there and your heart pounding with pure happiness and tranquility as more and more familiar figures came upon the screen.

Until the scene where the Nutcracker and Clara talking beneath the moonlight appeared within the screen of your laptop. "Oh my god, that scene...!" You breathed, more happiness and nostalgia gushing forth from your lungs. "I completely forgot about that scene..." You watched on, transfixed into this movie that seemed like a dream which you could only explain by feelings and sensations the next morning. "It's such a sweet scene..."

"Indeed. It's very heartfelt." Tauxolouve nodded. "The lesson of this scene is seeing who someone is within and believing in them. That even if they once failed, they can always try again, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's exactly it." You nodded, proud at this movie for being a part of your childhood and loving Tauxolouve even more for being able to see the magic in it, which many would mock for not having flashy enough graphics. "It's the type of thing that as a child you admire and when you're older, you understand it. But in both cases, it's precious and irreplaceable."

"I hope you know I want a hug after this too." Tauxolouve whispered into your hair as Clara hugged the Nutcracker, after breaking the cell, which the mouse king had turned invisible.

You laughed. "You can have one after the movie."

"Alright. I'm gonna remember, just so you know."

The movie came to the point where the Nutcracker turned back to prince Eric, by Clara's kiss and you gripped Tauxolouve's shirt, feeling the exact same giddy feeling you'd always experience as a child in this part. The emotions overtook you and you turned to Tauxolouve, placing a kiss to his cheek.

Tauxolouve chuckled teasingly. "We're gonna need to replay that part if it means you're gonna kiss me every time."

"I still owe you a hug!" You laid back on his chest, with Tauxolouve's arm still warped around you, continuing the movie.

Your eyes, ears and heart were glued onto the screen, until the colours faded to black and you sat up, your body feeling light. "That movie is still so beautiful." You said, your brain clouded with the childlike sweetness that never actually left you and you had merely discovered it again. "You think they married?" You asked, turning around and accidentally pushing the unopened bags of chips off the bed. It was a clumsy move, yet it brought you back to those times when you'd ask everyone around you if the characters were going to marry and be together forever, not caring if you stepped on something, as you were so caught up in your excitement.

Tauxolouve smiled sweetly at you, patting you on the head. "I believe it is as possible for them to get married as it is for us."

Your eyes widened at his words, your lips parting a little. Blood rushed to your cheeks, warming up your face and melting your surprised expression into one of affection for this man.

"You like that idea for us or them more?"

"Both." You honestly replied. "One day... Clara loves her Nutcracker just as much as I love you, after all."

Tauxolouve took your hand in his, bringing it to his lips and leaving a gentlemanly kiss there, before staring at you with a charming smile. "Now where's my hug?"

You laughed and threw your arms around him, squeezing him tightly into a hug similar to that in the movie. "Satisfied?"

"Very." He said and then he snapped his fingers.

"What did you do?" You asked, pulling away a little to look at him, irises filled with curiosity.

"Take a look in the mirror."

A little nervous, you got off the bed and went to stand in front of your mirror. "Lou!" You exclaimed, delighted. Resting on your collarbones was a golden locket in the shape of a heart. "It's like that from the movie!"

Tauxolouve approaches you, his reflection coming to stand behind your own as he pulled you into his arms from behind.

"Thank you so much." As you stared into the mirror at your entangled forms and the golden chain clasped arouses your neck, you knew Tauxolouve would make sure each and every fairy tale you harbour in your heart would come to life.

#scm #star crossed myth #fanfic scm #scm fanfic #scm tauxolouve

[vihrago-a]

ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ     𝐒𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐅𝐅 .    [  many  sentence  starters  from  the duality album  of  𝗦𝗘𝗧 𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗙𝗙  .  edit if necessary .   please credit if using .  ]

no sir, by the way, what the hell are morals?

but a wolf in sheep's clothing is more than a warning.

tell me how you're sleeping easy.

show me how you justify telling all your lies like second nature.

listen, mark my words, one day, you will pay.

you sink your teeth into everyone you depend on.

i smell the blood of a petty little coward.

maybe you'll change, abandon all your wicked ways.

make amends and start anew again.

maybe you'll see all the wrongs you did to me and start all over, start all over again.

who am I kidding?

now, let's not get overzealous here.

you've always been a huge piece of shit.

having said that, burn in hell.

dirty secrets, empty memories, and broken hearts across the floor.

i was knocked out, heels over head.

no wonder no one heard my screams.

and now that it's dead, I live in your head and I will haunt your fucking dreams.

no one will love you like i did, will treat you like i did.

no one will love you like i did, will touch you like i did.

no one will love you like i did, will fuck you like i did.

so good luck finding someone better.

run away, boy, if you couldn't tell, baby's got a thirst for blood.

someday, you may find that picture perfect guy.

and ill chase my words with poison.

remove the gag and step away, he's suffocating.

you pull the strings day after day.

that's why he needs a break from you.

oh, I hope he hears these words, maybe this time he will learn.

you should escape, skip town.

no more excuses.

you're better on your own.

why else go through the trouble?

and they ask who dares defy, I'll be raising my hand high.

do you even have a plan of attack?

i cant help it, i cant stop it.

im living fast until im dead.

and i dont owe you an explanation.

getting greedy, get it in my veins.

it feels just like a hole in your chest.

you're feeling like you're trapped.

you're the only one standing in your way.

just take a breath, relax, and tell me.

are you sick of feeling sorry? and people saying not to worry?

look around and count your blessings.

chin up, quit actin' like you're half dead.

tears can only half fill how you’re feelin'.

no, there's no denying chemistry this strong.

yes, pretend it's right but we both know it's wrong.

but i cant shake these memories that rain inside.

i know how to drive you wild.

you know how to make me smile.

we play with fire because we like the way it burns.

you're addicted to the lust, the imaginary trust.

give me the truth now.

i promise I can handle it if you can.

so give me any reason not to cut you out.

you're far too gone.

watch you pretend, you know it all.

i really wanna know you.

you're not fooling anyone, not you, not me.

so I wonder how you stay alive, when all I do is freeze.

i can't quite contain or explain my evil ways, or explain why I'm not sane.

all i can say is this is your warning.

i have a confession that you will not believe.

i have a confession of a side that i hide.

i have an impression, in the back of my mind.

make me an obsession, when you lock me inside.

i am good, I am evil.

i am solace, I am chaos.

i am human, and that's all I've ever wanted to be.

they're gonna try to clip your wings.

theres always another day, another night.

a bittersweet blessing in disguise.

i stole the moon.

i made the stars align.

and I showed you how to fly.

and you made me the bad guy.

out of sight and out of reach.

i fought for you.

i kept you safe at night.

i would have risked my life.

just show me how the villain was me.

miss mysterious, who are you?

who's the girl behind those eyes?

just a stranger in disguise.

miss mysterious, who could you be?

was the ghost of what we had?

did you erase it from your past?

is your sunshine like my rain?

is your pleasure like my pain?

#sentence starters #sentence starter prompts #sentence starter #rp prompts #inbox prompts #set it off #i worked so hard on this #have mercy

[masterwords]

two tickets to paradise (pt. 5)

Summary: Derek takes Hotch on a much-needed vacation. (Post-Route 66) In this adventure they visit the laundromat, and Hotch gets made fun of a bit for his terrible accent when speaking Spanish.

Warnings: mentions of past abuse (hotch), parental death (past/canon/derek), food, alcohol

Words: 4.2k

Notes: Yeah it's more cute. That's all this is. Cute romancy shit. Because when I'm mean to them I need to make sure I'm also nice to them. Vacation continues!

Read on AO3: two tickets to paradise

** CHAPTER LIST **

**

He didn't bother to pack his hand brace. Couldn't imagine a time he'd need it. Sure, his hands hurt regularly and you could find him pumping his fists for a good ten minutes in the morning to loosen up sore joints after years of shooting guns and typing up reports and various traumatic injuries. He'd broken fingers, sprained wrists, bloodied knuckles...the years and his job had been unkind.

But he didn't bring anything for them because he hadn't needed them in so long and he wanted to pack light. Maybe silly, but true. After the surgery, his stomach hurting gave way to his back being constantly sore which meant he had to pack his damn heating pad and he really didn't have room for another daily irritation. He could count on Derek to have packed something he could use anyway. Derek was in the shower washing the sand out of all of his nooks and crannies, or attempting to anyway, after another afternoone traversing the beach and getting into all sorts of shenanigans while Hotch slept the daylight hours away. Things were getting precarious. Would he be fully nocturnal by the time vacation was over? He was starting to think it likely.

The embarrassing fall earlier that day, he knew, was the culprit for his sore wrist and stiff fingers. It was worth it, the hike itself had been the stuff of dreams...walking through ruins had been a childhood dream, a scrawny little boy reading about Spanish conquistadors but really only wanting to know more about the Mayans themselves. He couldn't have cared less about the men who came to take over their land, but these ruins, these temples and the sacred clay that had crumbled to dust...that meant something to him and no sore wrist could ever sour that. His skin had touched a piece of history, he'd held a shard of pottery, beheld something so much bigger than himself that the ache in his joints meant very little. Still, he might need to baby his left hand a bit in order to continue the fun, they had itineraries to follow. While Derek showered, Hotch rifled through his bag until he found his little first aid kit. It was messy, not well kept, there were band-aid wrappers crisp and dried, scattered and crumpled inside and the antibiotic ointment looked like it was probably from the 1980s, but he found a tattered old ace bandage with a bent up metal clip and figured that would do the job just fine. He wasn't about to be picky.

He wasn't injured, he was just sore. It took some doing to wrap it himself, but he managed it well enough...sloppy, a little loose, did the job. There was a little plastic ice pack in the freezer meant to be shoved into a cooler for food and drinks, so he nabbed it and wandered out to the patio to sit in the sun with ice on his sore hand for a while.

A beer would help. Crisp, golden, icy almost slush working from his throat to his belly. The way it spread its chilly tendrils through his chest made him suck the air in a little deeper and all he smelled was briny salt air...and he smiled. He smiled and he relaxed into the lounge chair, turning his face up at the afternoon sunlight as it blanketed their beach. No one was out now. This was the time they ate or they explored, the home hours were early and late. They had neighbors on both sides now, a fair distance away but they were there. The college kids were still hanging around another few days, spring break wasn't over yet. On the other side was a couple of newlyweds, not too young but younger than he and Derek. Of course Derek had already introduced himself and offered to have them over for dinner one night. He couldn't go anywhere without making friends, and Hotch thought maybe he was already sad that his college buddies would have to return to school before the two of them vacated the house. Heaven forbid it just be the two of them. But then the quiet newlyweds showed up, each of them on their second marriage, each coming in with children, a blended family making a fresh start.

They would be coming for dinner the next night, which meant real shopping, actual food in their fridge, a real plan. Hotch was almost giddy over the thought. He'd been doing his very best to live spontaneously, but he was a planner through and through and he'd felt so untethererd...it was nice to have this one thing. Just a little sliver of planned fun. He would find a board game, maybe, or they'd swim in the pool. They could use the grill outside, have some beers, laugh. He was a good planner. And now that he was relaxing and adapting into this vacation lifestyle, Derek had let him have the reigns for the little makeshift dinner party. “We need to do some laundry,” he'd said, writing a little list after Derek told him about the invitation. “Do a spot of cleaning up...get some groceries. Just a few. Enough to be proper hosts.” Derek grinned, watching the way he'd lit up over it.

But he wasn't doing any of it. None of the cleaning, he didn't quite feel up to it yet. They had another day, he wasn't bothered, wasn't worried. In another life he might have had a checklist and been doing something daily to make sure they were ready...now he was willing to get to it when he got to it.

“What's that?” Derek asked, wandering out onto the patio in nothing but his towel. He was indicating the half-ass scraggly bandage wrapped terribly around his hand, Hotch didn't need to look at him to know that much. He lifted his arm and tried to flex his stiff fingers with little movement. Only a wince.

“Sore,” he replied quietly. “It's fine. Just following protocol.”

“You wrapped it like shit. Clooney coulda done better”

Hotch scowled. “Clooney doesn't have thumbs.” He offered his hand to Derek without bothering to open his eyes, to argue further, he knew what Derek was going to say next. “Go ahead, your majesty.”

Derek's hands were gentle as he crouched beside Hotch and unwrapped the brown bandage. He held Hotch's hand in his for a moment, turning it over, examining it for the telltale swelling in his knuckles that made everything difficult. It didn't look too bad, that was a good sign. Slowly he began re-wrapping it, tighter, pulling the bandage especially close to his wrist to hold it in place. He would tell you it was the shooting and the typing until he was blue in the face, but Derek only saw Foyet mocking them in these moments. They would never be rid of him. He was a parasite that had attached itself to Hotch so completely that there wasn't any way to separate them. They just had to live with it now. Find ways to mitigate the damage.

But Derek didn't have tunnel vision. Holding Hotch's bandaged wrist in his hand, he thought about the first time he'd heard him say anything about it hurting. It was years ago, when things were new and exciting, when they were still hiding their middle of the night hotel room visits from everyone. Hotch had used his SUV as a battering ram somewhere in butt fuck Oregon, some highway surrounded by trees and right on a damn cliff. His memory wasn't as good as Hotch's and didn't hold a candle to Reid's, he could remember glimpses but not all of it. He did remember seeing him standing there on the side of the road with his gun drawn and his arm hanging limp at his side, he remembered making devastating eye contact and continuing to drive when that insufferable bastard waved him off, practically ordered him to keep going.

It was one of those moments where he was forced to consider what he wanted out of life. Choices he was making...right or wrong. Hotch wrecked his vehicle, he was bleeding, and for the job Derek did what? He didn't stop, he just kept going, followed the murdering bastard all the way to the edge of the cliff for no reason at all. He was already long gone. He'd made his choice before Derek made his to keep going. And wasn't that the same awful soul sucking choice that the unsub had made when he drove exhausted? Killing his wife? Derek wasn't sure how to live with himself then, but he found a way and he kept finding a way. Over and over. He supposed they both did, in their own ways. Hotch & Morgan were separate from Aaron & Derek, and that had to be it. Anything more and it got too complicated.

Easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. If only he'd stopped. No more, they were in Mexico now on that same premise but he was making it work for him now.

This vacation was helping in ways Derek hadn't even contemplated. That Hotch would take the initiative here, before he was in misery, was a change he hadn't foreseen. He pulled Hotch's hand to his mouth and pressed a gentle kiss to his knuckles, smiling. “There. I'm telling Jess about this one.”

“She'll worry.”

“Nah, she's gonna be thrilled. You did this on your own! I didn't have to bully you. Between this and the naps...I'm not sure she's even gonna know who you are when you get back.”

That didn't exactly make Hotch smile, but the sentiment was sweet. He understood. “You never change.”

“I don't need to change. I'm already perfect. We're on your wellness journey here.”

Hotch rolled his eyes and let them close again. His hand already felt better in Derek's wrap, he knew what he was doing. A splash in the pool startled him, the cold water splashing against his bare legs and he looked in time to see Derek naked and swimming like a torpedo beneath the surface.

“What do you wanna do today?” he asked when he breached the surface, crystal droplets of water beading over his slick freshly shaven head. Hotch couldn't help smiling...he was gorgeous. Felt like all he did these days was smile and he hated to admit that Derek and Jess and Cruz were right. He did need this.

“We have to go do laundry. Clearly you're out of clothes, and I'm dangerously close. And that blanket...”

“That blanket isn't done seeing action, buddy.”

“No, I expect not. But our neighbors don't need to see what we do on vacation. It needs a wash.”

(x)

When he was nine, Hotch's mother packed a few outfits into a bag and dragged him out of the house while his father slept off a whiskey bender. A celebration, he'd said, won a big case. Don't you think you should pace yourself? She'd asked and was met with a bloody lip for all her concern. That was it, the end of her patience with his outbursts. His “fits” as she called them, explained them away. Excused them. Somehow it made sense to her that he'd take his anger out on them, she could make it make sense. His job was stressful, lives hung in the balance, but when he was happy and he still crumpled up his meaty fist and hurt Aaron? Hurt her? Well, there was no hope left.

They stayed in a roadside motel two towns over for a few nights with what little she had in her coffee can, and they ate lunch in the laundromat down the road. Peanut butter and jelly was cheap and easy. She always put extra jelly on hers, he only wanted the peanut butter. The jelly hurt his teeth and made his jaw tense.

They didn't have to. She had family she could have called, family with money, but she had an over abundance of pride so she never did. If she was going to leave her husband and save her son, she was going to damn well do it on her own. Not jump from one abusive relationship to another...because that's all it was. Her husband put hand on them, but her family tried to control her every move (and Aaron's future) with their money. She wanted desperately to be rid of all of it.

Just she and Aaron. And times were hard, but they managed.

They would sit with their greasy potato chips and she smiled easy and ate two, three little shitty sandwiches at a time while he picked his way through one. Looking back, he felt silly not realizing that she was eating more...and then two weeks into their carefree road trip, she started throwing up in the bathroom every morning. A quick trip to a women's clinic in the city and she knew they had to go home.

She was pregnant.

She and Hotch could live forever on her small wages from waitressing the breakfast shift at the diner attached to the motel. Discounted rates, good tips, lots of free food. The early morning crowd, mostly doctors and cops just off of their long shifts, tipped a pretty young lady well in those days. They'd been doing just fine...but another baby, no way. This was no life to bring a new baby into, she reasoned.

She needed her husband. They had to go home. Hotch felt like crying while he packed, but instead he just asked her for one more laundromat lunch date. She couldn't say no to him.

It started with a phone call. He watched from his perch beside the big metal dryer while she talked to his father on the pay phone. She looked so beautiful, he couldn't imagine how anyone would want to hurt her. But her features darkened, and she was harsh with him when he felt bold enough to try and convince her that they didn't need to go home. He could eat less, he wouldn't need any new school clothes, they could find a small apartment...he would sleep on the couch, she could have the bedroom and he didn't need any toys he promised. Begged.

The laundromat was where his good memories lived. Sometimes, when he was feeling lost or run down, he would throw his clothes into a bin and find the quietest most desolate laundromat he could just to be alone with his thoughts. His apartment had a washer and dryer, and for a while it was fine, but after Foyet...using it gave him a chill he couldn't shake, checking those oily shapeshifting shadows over and over when he walked by, when he stood too long. He found himself wishing for nights at the laundromat again.

Derek's memories of laundromats were a little different. Their washer broke almost every other month, it seemed, and his mother never had the money to fix it right away. When his father was alive, he could whack it with a wrench or tighten some hunk of metal inside and suddenly it would clunk along again until it rattled apart. It was a running joke in the house. But when he was gone, there was no one who knew which part to hit with the wrench, or which piece to tighten, so she would withhold the kids' allowance for a few weeks (always with the promise of catching up) to get it fixed. Until then, the family would pack up their dinner and clothes in trash bags and spend an evening at the laundromat. Kids with their homework, Fran with a romance novel, every person putting in equal shares of folding to make it go quicker. He and his sisters would run around the tables, play hide and seek, get into shouting matches over who was cheating at Monopoly and raid the bubblegum machines with any change their mother had leftover. (Or bits they found hiding under and behind machines. People dropped coins all the time into places adult hands couldn't quite reach but kid hands...it was like treasure.) They would leave with orange, green and blue tongues, clean laundry to last another week, and a handful of memories. (And maybe a headache for Fran, but a smile on her face.)

When Derek got his first paycheck, his first real paycheck, he bought his mom a brand new washer and dryer. He framed the old fix-it wrench and hung it on the wall above the new machines along with all of their memories of weekly visits to Bubbleland.

Now, the two of them and all of their mixed bag of memories were converging on a small laundromat in Sisal with outdated machines that rattled while they worked and took two or three attempts to actually get things dry. They were sure they could find another place, but this was right next door to where they wanted to have dinner so they would be able to put their clothes in the wash and go have a bite to eat, or get something to go and eat it there in the noisy room by themselves. The cashier played a game of dice with a few other men, laughing and drinking beer, completely uninterested in the only patrons of the place.

While Derek exchanged their money for coins at the desk, Hotch sat at a rickety little card table attempting to pre-treat their stained clothes with one hand. The other, still bandaged, was mostly useless. The soreness had become an unrelenting stiffness and he was doing his best to just forget he had two hands for the rest of the day. The only thing it was good for at the moment was being used as a way to pin the shirts to the table.

“Why don't you go order the food, I'll do this.”

Hotch looked so pathetic sitting there at the table with his busted up hand wrapped and elevated to shoulder level while he held the shirt to the table with his elbow and pressed the little stain remover pen over and over the beer spills and food stains. His glasses slipped down the bridge of his nose and dangled dangerously there, hanging on only barely and his long hair flopped in his face but neither broke his focus. He'd been living in his glasses since they landed in Mexico. Vacation, to him, meant not fooling around with contacts if nothing else.

It was cute. Derek didn't mind it so much, even if Hotch was ignoring him. “Okay. I'll go then.”

Hotch looked up and scrunched his nose. He didn't like the way Derek just...gave in. That wasn't right, he was supposed to put up a little fight. “No, help me get these in the wash and we'll go together. We can eat there.”

Derek couldn't say no to that, and why would he? Dinner at the restaurant sounded heavenly. He was practically salivating over their chicken mole, he'd eaten it three times already and couldn't get enough. They knew him by name already. Hotch hadn't gotten the same thing twice, and that was shocking, the way they'd swapped roles for once. The first night he'd had the ceviche, and then some shrimp tacos, and then some other fish dish he couldn't pronounce. “What are you getting tonight?” Derek asked when they entered the sidewalk.

“Lobster. You're paying, right?”

No one in the restaurant spoke English, and the two of them spoke barely passable Spanish though they were improving considerably over their time. Hotch could read it and understand fairly well but his accent was garbage and they'd laughed at him more than once. Derek had more of a flair for trilling his R's and he had more flair.

“You sound like the um...oh...Bueller...Bueller...you know?” the man who ran the laundromat had said in his thick accent the first time they'd appeared in his establishment and Hotch had attempted to converse with him. It didn't prove necessary, anyway, the man spoke perfect English and enjoyed mocking Hotch endlessly. His name was Jorje, and even saying his name elicited mockery if it came from Hotch. He wasn't used to anyone ribbing him like this...it caught him off guard and led to a very serious discussion with Derek on the way home about how he felt about that.

“You hated it,” Derek had said seriously. “You wanted to pull rank didn't you?”

“No,” Hotch replied indignantly. “It's just that...” his voice trailed off for a moment before he huffed a little and stopped. “No one but you and Jessica ever talk to me like that.”

“Well. Get used to it. These people don't need to know that they should be afraid of you. They see some middle aged guy with floppy hair in need of a trim, wearing his incredibly handsome boyfriend's clothes because his were too khaki, who walks a little stiff and is probably a little too quiet for his own good...”

“My hair needs a trim?” What he really wanted to take aim at was the middle aged bit, but his back hadn't stopped hurting in about four solid weeks now so he really had no legs to stand on. His own two didn't even want to do the job. Derek had only laughed and hooked his arm around Hotch's waist.

“Let it go. Embrace the anonymity. Let Jorje talk his shit. You can take it. Might even deserve it.”

This wasn't their first or last trip to the washers. Derek couldn't pass up the chance to be around anyone who had the nerve to talk to Hotch this way so while Hotch had, in a sort of off-hand way, suggested they try out another laundromat down the road with more updated equipment...Derek wouldn't hear of it.

This kind of fun was uncommon at best in their daily lives. This was a treat.

“Your hand still bothering you?” Derek asked while they waited for their food. Hotch was fiddling with the bandage mindlessly and shrugged.

“It's fine. Not bad. Just stiff.”

Derek understood that. He'd blown his knee out in college and could still wake up some mornings without being able to bend it for a full ten minutes after waking. Like it locked in place. A thumb jabbed in right beneath the kneecap seemed to loosen it up just fine, and it didn't hurt so he'd just ignore it the same way Hotch ignored his inability to make a fist some days. They were getting old and all of the abuse they'd thrown at their bodies would be creeping up on them, one by one. They wouldn't be outrunning any of it. The idea was just that they each knew how to fix the other's little...quirks.

Hotch's was coming faster these days, thanks to Foyet, but that didn't mean he was alone. They would get old side by side if Derek had his way. And he hoped that Hotch would see it that way, too. Hotch could walk with his cane and push Derek in his wheelchair and they'd still be gorgeous.

That was the plan anyway.

Emily told him he was an idiot. She'd said it in no uncertain terms, that he needed to watch Hotch. “You don't hide things,” she'd warned him. “You might ignore them for a while but you don't hide them. He doesn't know any other way. Watch him.” Two weeks later he was bleeding to death on the inside and none of them was any the wiser.

“You'd tell me if it was more than that, right?” Derek asked, suddenly a little too serious as he chewed on Emily's words. Hotch stopped playing with the bandage long enough to take in the solemn look that washed over Derek's features, the way his bright eyes went stormy. He didn't have a response to that. Not sure what to say. He knew what Derek wanted him to say, but he couldn't see how this compared. This was just...it was just pain. Not even pain...not even that bad...it was just something. Or it wasn't anything. It wasn't going to kill him, it was just going to make it hard for him to fold their clothes in an hour. It was going to make it hard for him to hold a pen or give a hand job or play volleyball in the morning or any number of other things...but it wasn't going to kill him.

“Derek, I'm fine. I've been...”

Derek's hands flew up defensively and waved. “No, stop, no...I know. I'm sorry. I get caught up sometimes. I know. I just hate the idea that you're suffering while we're here. With your back and then your hand...”

“I'm not suffering. It's a nuisance, sure, fine. But it isn't bothering me at all. I'm having a great time.”

“You wouldn't lie to me?”

“Well,” Hotch grinned and Derek frowned. “No. Honest. Sinceramente.”

Derek rolled his eyes and let out a loud burst of laughter that caught the attention of everyone in the tiny restaurant. “God you really do sound like the teacher from Ferris Bueller...naw, you know what you sound like? One of those computer translators they got on like Google and shit. You sound like Siri, but the Ben Stein version. Siri...how do you say honestly in Spanish? Sinceramente.”

Hotch's pout didn't even phase him.

It did lead to kissing in the street. Ducked in the space between the buildings for a few minutes communing with the shadows. Hotch may only have had one hand that worked the way he'd like, but he didn't need more than that right now.

#aaron hotchner #derek morgan #criminal minds #hotchgan #mortch #hotch x morgan #aaron hotchner x derek morgan

[boba-beom]

thank you smiles❤️ i'm really trying my best i would say. but one another exam down, one more to go!! i can't wait to finish the other one as well, because i'm flying home the next day and i've been missing my family like crazy lately🥺

how are you doing though? any interesting books you've been reading?❤️

you can definitely tell that the staff of those shows enjoy their time with txt as well based on how much they laugh and cheer for our boys. ah, it just warms my heart.

i'm also very happy with how much the fandom has grown and how txt are beloved not only by international fans, but by korean fans as well. they've worked so hard to get where they are and they only keep working harder and surprising us with each comeback, yet they're also so humble about it all. i just love them so much🥺❤️

also adding beomgyu of the day here. this beomgyu lives rent free in my head.

also thought this might crack you up. i couldn't stop laughing for ten minutes at this pls💀

major i like u vibes

you're always welcome!! and trying your best is all that matters, I'm still proud of you for doing so! one more exam left omgg!! I hope when the time comes, you have a safe flight home ☺️ sometimes you just need to be surrounded by them, you know?

I'm doing okay, my body still aches from the yoga but then realised it's also because of my period pains :( I had uni today but went home after my last lecture and took a long nap. I ended up sleeping for 5 hours lmao and as for books!! I'm currently reading a book called This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell. it's pretty interesting and I love books with multiple potential partners. are you reading any books recently?

you definitely can tell the staff enjoys editing their content too! especially the 2D1N series, you can tell they had fun editing those episodes hehe

txt are always so humble about their achievements and always so grateful, which is why I admire them so much 🥹 they treat winning a show trophy as if they've won a bonsang and I love that so much! you're right, they have dream week coming soon but I feel like I'll be here for some of their content 😭 I'm still excited for their 4th anniversary nonetheless though!

nskjfjks omg mirotic beomgyu was my obsession for the longest time when they performed that, again back with his facial expressions he is definitely a performer :') OH and his voice?!?! excuse me but he's just so fineeeeeee

PLS that clip is so funny. honestly, I love new jeans for dropping that song, hype boy was my favourite when it came out and it literally did us all a favour having all these bgs do their choreo, it's just so fun to do 😋 I wanna know if you have a favourite from new jeans??

AND THOSE PHOTOS omg definitely major I Like U vibes :(( but I find it so endearing how you still link things to that series! I'm always so grateful for your enthusiasm about that :') I'm sorry the series is running slow though!!

#ᥫ᭡ : asks. #[ 🧸 ] — mutuals. #april ♡ #aprilisque ♡

[marshmallow--3]

Okay let's find some way to unwrap this dream

Irl, I woke up around 9ish am, watched some Facebook clips of American shows (Drop Dead Diva & Law and Order: SVU) that I don't have access to, then it got to about noon and I realised I was still tired, so I had an internal debate of whether I should listen to my body bc it kept passing out and abruptly waking up, or if I should be sensible bc if I went to sleep then, I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight for work tomorrow

I decided to nap for 20 minutes, woke up after 20 minutes and decided I was still tired

So I went back to sleep and would keep waking up abruptly, so I had lots of quick succession flashes of the same dream and it's super interesting

The dream:

There was a young girl, aged 7 at most, on trial for murder

She wasn't physically present at court but spoke through a purple children's toy called Ayuda (Spanish: "help")

And she attested that she was in a nurse's office and a man dressed like Santa walked in - she was very clear that the man wasn't really Santa, he was just the nurse's husband dressed up like Santa

Then she had a blackout episode

Then she woke up covered in blood with a bloody knife in her hands, the nurse was dead, she'd been viciously stabbed to death, and the man dressed like Santa was looking terrified on the opposite side of the room, also covered in blood

But in court, the man was attesting that he was the real Mr Santa Claus and his wife was also present confirming her identity as the real Mrs Claus

The girl had a blackout episode so she couldn't confirm for sure what happened, but she knows she didn't kill the nurse, and experts are saying that the force used to stab the nurse could only come from an adult

Mr Claus was saying he was in the office the whole time and saw the little girl stab the nurse to death

So it's a trial of, who did this? This little girl or this man claiming to be the real Santa Claus?

And then later, there was a call with this little girl through Ayuda, because she's actually part of a sect (cults are for cunts with cash, sects are separate from society, I learnt this in Sociology & RE) and was kidnapped from home; one of the investigating agents said, "you're really brave, I'm glad you want to be free", and the little girl replied, "no, you only think I do", and then the call went dead - also it was never her real voice coming through, it was programmed to sound like the toy's voice, so it's this cheerful robotic voice coming from the toy

And then later it was revealed that monsters exist amongst humans

There was a woman who was a suspect, she was believed to be a monster who didn't actually need a heart to live and fed off violence and human souls

So she was tricked by some civilians who are the teenage kids of the investigating agents to undergo heart surgery

They tricked her because they removed the heart entirely and woke her up, told her that everything was fixed - her heart was left on the table and her chest was still wide open - but she just smiled and tried to pass as authentically grateful for saving her life, and there's no indication at all that she feels pain or any sensations at all

And then the teenagers are like, "one more thing, look down"

And she does, and sees her chest cavity is empty and that her ribs are still cracked open and her insides are on show

And she takes her time looking up, looking from under her eyebrows and a grin starts to form and she says one word, "Oops" before launching herself at them in attack

And then there were another part of the teenage group who found out that one of their friends had been staging clues around the detectives, pretending that the little girl had been in contact, and they referred to the toy they'd left as Bebéita (Spanish(?): Little baby)

So they took their friend before the detectives to clear things up, and the detectives withheld information to see if she were the real deal anyway, they raised their voice and lowered their voice, because they knew from investigating what effect this had on the voice of the little girl

And this teenager projected the little girl's voice through her and followed exactly what the detectives where expecting even though she didn't know what effects there would be to falsify it

Anyway so you'd think that no-heart murder lady was the real murderer but she's actually only a follower

The truth of the case is that the little girl had murdered the nurse in the sense that it was her body used, but a dark spirit possessed her to do it

The real murderer was this floating purple plasma body

And some scenes that stick out:

The no-heart murder lady had intended to murder one of the detectives but the detective came back from the dead because she also had monster powers but no-heart murder lady did not know this

The little girl and the purple plasma murder blob were always watching the detectives from across the city and the detectives knew this so whenever they stepped outside, they were just like

even with a kid's playground near the precinct 😂

Fun dream, fun times

#my dream #my dreams #quirky dream #quirky dreams

[the-letter-horror-lover]

Flower Crowns

HumanizedSerenity

Summary:

Bright summer days should be spent in the gardens, enjoying the sunlight and admiring the flowers. In the Phantomhive household, that sometimes leads to pondering on the things that matter most. For Nel!

Notes:

For Cennis.

This is story is dedicated to Cennis! I think I managed to fulfill all your requests, though the result is a little unconventional, I hope you enjoy it, though! Hopefully you'll make some sense out of this nonsensical mess. Sorry it's a year late!

Oh! This story is set after the Green Witch arc, but it ignores anything that happened afterwards.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Flower Crowns

Dear Finny and Snake,

When I first decided to write this letter, I debated for a long time on what I should say; it seems that my skills with words will always flee me whenever I feel the need to express my personal feelings openly and candidly. So before I can proceed, I must beg your forgiveness if I digress or stall for time. As necessary as I find this letter to be, it is also incredibly difficult and unnatural for me to expose my emotions to others in such manner. There are certain things that I have never shared with anyone; thoughts and secrets I keep to myself and foolishly hoped to take them to my grave. Time, however, has taught me that sometimes the hardest things to say are the ones that must truly be heard. I've come to realize now that there are things that I need the both of you to know, and so I forced myself to break my vow of silence. However, I do hope once you finish reading this that you will think no differently of me.

The cicadas were singing restlessly. Birds of all varieties would occasionally join in their song, and in the distance the sound of the cool water of the stream that flowed by the Phantomhive estate steadily running its course created the fitting background melody. The sun had decided to give a rare welcoming summer gift, embracing England with its warm rays, allowing no clouds to interrupt its affectionate display. The air was warm, but not overly humid, and the occasional breeze would help spread the distinct scent of grass and flowers, as well as something that was fresh, musky, and indescribably characteristic of the English summer.

Finnian loved days like this. Nothing could compare to the joy he felt when inhaling all those marvelous smells, listening to the birds and cicadas chirping together in a wonderful chorus, as the warmth that radiated constantly from the sky caressed his skin. Even now, as he crawled through the dirt, and the mud wiggled its way under his clipped fingernail, he couldn't contain his smile, his happiness being almost overwhelming.

The outside world. A home. Friends and family. Those were things that #12 would never have dreamed of having, but that Finny could never again live without.

And it was all thanks to the Young Master.

"I think he's gone that way. I can smell him," a voice cut through his thoughts. "Says Wordsworth."

Finny continued to smile as he looked back. Snake, the most recent addition to their family, was also on his hands and knees. Emily and Wordsworth were both circling his neck and shoulders, and his custom made uniform – the one the Young Master had commission especially for him – was now stained with mud, dirt, and grass. No doubt Mister Sebastian would yell at them for that later, but the Young Master would most likely just shrug it off and say it could always be washed, but that in the end it really didn't matter since he was planning on getting them some new clothes anyway.

Snake's handsome features were twisted into something akin to worry and anxiety, his right hand pointing towards the east end of the garden. A boxwood hedge framed the shrubs and flowers (poppies, angel trumpets, baby breaths, andromedras) of numerous colors that occupied the area. Together, they surrounded most of the left side the estate's main garden, separating it from the woods where tall trees stood strong, as if they too took pride in the Phantomhive name. A stone path cut through the arrangement, framed by thick evergreen (boxwood, he reminded himself) leading to Finny's favorite place in the entire world.

"You can smell Oscar from all the way over there?" Finny asked, looking back at his friend. "Even with all the flowers?"

"We have a good nose, and Oscar has a very distinct scent. It makes him easy to find," Snake replied. "Says Wordsworth. He stinks, says Emily."

"Okaaaaaay! We'll trust Wordsworth and Emily, then!"

Finny continued to crawl towards the direction Snake pointed. He stopped before the hedge momentarily before lowering his body further until he lay flat on the ground, ducking his head as he made his way under the bushes, Snake following him close behind. Both kept their eyes alert, gazes searching for the dirt for Oscar.

"This way, right?"

"Yes, his stink is getting stronger," Snake ducked his head, trying to avoid some twigs. "Says Emily."

"Further up ahead we go, then!" Finny lowered his own head, causing his chin to rub on the dirt. "Why do we need to find Oscar anyway? Don't your snakes always come back to you?"

"Black said we have some important guests coming to the manor tonight. He said to have everyone together at all times. Says Wordsworth," Snake's hair got tangled on one of the leaves. Finny stopped and tried to help him. "He said he doesn't want the dinner party to be ruined because the guests saw snakes crawling in the dining room. Says Emily."

"Guests?" Finny blinked, then his eyes widened in realization. "Oh yeah! He told us about it too! Some important people from London, right? Mister Sebastian has been scolding us all day! I wonder who they are?"

"Black said they were –" Snake stopped himself, nose sniffing as he turned his head to the left. "He's just over there! Says Wordsworth."

"Let's go, then!"

They both rushed towards the direction. Finny's smile only seemed to widened as they raced together. Something warm and fuzzy bubbled inside his chest, being released in the form of laughter. They were met with taller hedges of evergreen, ones that surpassed even Mr. Sebastian in height.

"Just over the other side. Says Emily."

Finny stood up. He helped Snake to his feet, before turning towards the hedge. He gently touched the green leaves, searching for the place where it was thinnest. Once found, both servants pushed themselves through the barrier, Finny still smiling while Snake held on to his shirt, a hand at the level of his eye so to protect his face from more assaulting twigs. They pushed and pushed, but finally made it to the other side.

The sun blinded him for a moment. Before his vision could focus again, however, the smell – oh, and what a strong and enchanting smell it was – filled Finny's lungs. He knew immediately where they were.

The Phantomhive rose garden was perhaps the most beautiful place in the world. Bushes of red roses surrounded the area, the contrast between the green and red vividly beautiful. Just behind them, white trellises were covered with more vines that twisted themselves into the holes in a lawless yet beautiful pattern. A curved roof created a small shaded area for the small wooden benches – each fit for two, maybe three people –that were spread around the circular perimeter, the only sitting in the area available the grass part of the garden. The stone pathway that led to this section of the Phantomhive garden was decorated by a white arch with roses that seemed richer in both size and color. In the middle of the garden was an outdoor tea table, made of white metal and composed of swirly design, and a matching set of chairs.

But even though the sight was always beautiful, to Finny, what made it so heavenly breathtaking at the moment was the fact that the Young Master was there.

The fourteen year old boy sat by the tea table, with Oscar comfortably resting on his shoulders just as he did with Snake. His eye was distant as it looked at the roses without seeing really seeing them, it's blue as beautiful as the open sky. His dark bangs, ever so soft, fell elegantly just below his brows having been brushed carefully that very morning. His right hand, both delicate and small, supported his chin, as the long left fingers tapped gently on the table. Clothed in soft blue, the boy's never changing pale skin and small frame made him look perfectly in place when surrounded by his beautiful blood red roses.

It was a beautiful sight. Stunning. One that filled Finny's heart with warmth, for no one would ever be as important to the gardener as that boy was. The Young Master was, after all, more than Finny's boss and family.

He was his savior.

And yet, the blond could not help but think something was amiss. The way the Young Master's gaze seemed far off and distant instead of calculating and alert, the way he hadn't looked up when he and Snake entered the garden, and the way he seemed to almost lean into Oscar's touch, as if the snake's cold scales provided him with some sort of physical comfort, all seemed… Wrong.

It was true that the Young master always had an aura of melancholy to him. As much as Finny tried to ignore it, as much as he wished to deny it, he was not completely blind to the mournful and somber air that the boy he held so dear carried around him. The darkness of his titles – evil nobleman, Queen's watchdog… Even that of the Earl, a noble role he was far too young to undertake – filled the boy with a burden far too heavy for those thin shoulders. It gave him a collar that was simultaneously too large for his young age and too tight in its restrictions, always threatening to choke him. The responsibilities he had, the enemies he made, and the horrors of his past – horrors Finny could not begin to imagine – all created a dark cloak that the was visible to all who bothered to really look at the child.

And yet, there was something different. Usually the Young Master wore that cloak with pride. He twirled around with it, a teasing smirk playing on his lips as he mocked his enemies. The ever present kindness he showed towards the few he cared about made it seem unimportant. The Young master walked with his cloak without any apparent concern or regret, his short temper, his teasing, and his wit demonstrating that its weight and darkness were meaningless, sometimes even helpful. It was something that, despite its sinister nature, was of no concern to Finny, for it never seemed to bother his Young Master.

But now… Now, as Finny watched his Young Master stare at the roses with forlorn melancholy, he could not help but think that perhaps his Young Master had tripped on its hem.

"Y-Young Master…?" he called.

The boy finally turned towards them, calmly. He took in their appearances, eye studying them from head to toe, before giving a small teasing smile.

"You know, the stone path exists for a reason," despite his usual jesting tone, the gardener could not shake off that feeling that something was wrong. "But I suppose the expression 'strolling through the garden' could actually mean walking and crawling where the plants are. Maybe by getting close and personal with the flowers, you get a more intense and rewarding experience."

Snake's face turned red, even though he knew, just as Finny did, that the Young Master meant no offense.

"W-We were looking for Oscar," Snake replied. "Black said to take him back to the manor as soon as possible. Says Emily."

"Sebastian did?" the Young Master blinked. "Whatever for?"

"Because of the guests," Finny replied this time. "Mister Sebastian wants everything to be perfect for tonight's dinner! And it's our duty as Phantomhive servants to make sure of that!"

"He doesn't want for everyone to scare the guests. Says Worsworth."

"The guests?" the Young Master clicked his tongue. "Scare them is the least of what I wish I could do. I'm sure if anything were to happen to the Viscount Druitt tonight I would be doing the rest of England a favor. Maybe they would even give me an award. I certainly would deserve it."

Finny blinked. He was about to say something in response, but the Young Master stood.

"But I supposed he is right in some way. As much as it pains me to play nice to that man, we'll need to be on our best behaviors tonight," the Young Master's eye seemed distant once more. "It is crucial that everything goes perfect, just as Sebastian said."

Oscar slid from the Young Master's shoulder and then made his way back to Snake. The boy headed towards the stone path. He stopped in the archway for a moment before turning towards them.

"I trust you to do your job, and make sure to meet the Phantomhive standard."

"Y-Yes!"

"O-Ofcourse, says Emily."

The Younger Master smiled before turning and walking away.

The idea to write this came to me that day in the garden, a week ago. I know you noticed that I was not at my happiest moods, and I thank you for respecting my privacy and not asking what was on my mind. Truthfully, I cannot tell you the events of that morning, only that Sebastian brought me some news that, although satisfying, made me pounder on many things.

If you knew that your time with someone you cared very dearly for was coming to an end – and you could do nothing to stop it – what would you do? Or rather, what would you say to them? I think about that often, but only on that day did the importance of those questions truly started weigh on my mind.

The gardens always were my mother's favorite place to be in the Phantomhive Estate. My father preferred the library or his study; he would often purposely neglect his duties as the Earl and head of the family in favor of teaching me how to play chess. I greatly enjoyed our time spent together, when he would place me on his lap or on a chair that was far too big for me, and spend hours giving me all of his attention. My father enjoyed the indoors, the books and the board games and the days spent together as a family in the playroom. Those were the things he liked.

But my mother… My mother loved the tall trees and the flowers. Like myself, her health was quite poor, and she spent numerous days, or sometimes even weeks, in the bed she shared with my father, unable to leave the walls of the manor as she rested and recovered. For that reason, she took great pleasure in being out in the sun, appreciating the open air more than any of us. The flowers were her most favorite thing in the world. She cherished them deeply. Some of my fondest memories of her, the one where she smiled the brightest, were spent on that very spot where you saw me that day. She would hold me in her arms and tell me stories, – many of them of her and my father before their marriage, when he was courting her – laughing and smiling as if she had not a care in the world. I remember always thinking that she was always the happiest and the most beautiful during those moments.

I'm very thankful that her precious garden is being taken care of by someone who loves it and appreciates it just as much as she did.

"So it's spelled L-A-V-E-N-D-… Ah, no, that's an M, not an N. I used to confuse them all the time too, so don't worry," Finny gently corrected Snake, one arm wrapped around the footman's shoulder. "Mister Sebastian used to get so angry! It was scary! He was such a strict tutor!"

"Black can really be scary when teaching. I remember it well with Lady Sullivan…" Snake and Finny both shuddered at the memories. "No wonder Smile is always running from his lessons. Says Goethe."

"I think everyone would run if they were in the Young Master's place! Having lessons every day with Mister Sebastian? That must be so hard! Ah, but thinking about it now, I don't think he is afraid of Mister Sebastian!" Finny grinned. "The Young Master isn't afraid of anything, after all!"

"He… He really isn't," Snake smiled softly. "Says Oscar."

With a deep breath, Snake rolled up the long sleeves of his summer uniform – a light linen button up and an even lighter black suit – up to his elbows, hoping to alleviate some of the unusual heat. He reached for the quill once more, returning to his lesson. The grass pricked at his bottom, the shade of the large tree offering little relief from the heat as the three o'clock summer sun beamed down mercilessly on them, the rays of light so bright they were almost blinding. Bugs of all sorts chirped restlessly, as if they, too, were bothered by the heat. The only thing that seemed to promise some comfort was the sound of a nearby stream that coursed through the woods inside the Phantomhive Estate.

Still, despite the fact that the humidity was drenching him in sweat, causing his hair to stick to his forehead and the nape of his neck, Snake found that it was too beautiful of a day to spend indoors. With their main chores done, he and Finny were able to steal away a few moments for themselves, deciding to take advantage of the rare English sun to study. The Phantomhive garden – with its rich green grass, dark brown and moisty dirt, and beautiful flowers Finny cared for with the utmost attention – was the perfect stage for their session. They had walked all the way to the border where the garden met the woods, far enough away from the main house so that the scent of Bard's cooking would not distract them, and yet close enough so they could still see the mansion they now called home.

"So N is the smaller one?" Snake asked. "says Oscar."

"Yep! N is the small one and M is the big one! It's M for Marigold and Mimosa, and N for Narcissus and Nemisia!" Finny nodded. "That's how I remember them!"

"Marigold…? N-Nemi… Nemeh…?"

"They're flowers!" Finny explained.

"There flowers that begin with M and N? Says Goethe."

"Oh, yeah! There are tons!" Finny's eyes seemed to sparkle in that moment. "There are Moonflowers and Morning glories, and also Nightshade, and Nicotiana… And Malvas are really pretty too! Oh, oh! And there's Mahonia, Nas… Nas… Nasturtium! But Monkshood is also one of my favorites! I think we have some of that nearby…! Let me see…!"

Snake smiled gently as the garden turned his head rapidly, eyes wide and searching.

"You know a lot of flowers, don't you? Says Oscar."

Finny ceased to look around, turning to look at Snake instead. He blinked at Snake for a moment before his eager grin turned into a gentle smile. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the sky, his green eyes now distant, but still full of kindness and love.

"Well, yes. When the Young Master found me, he did more than just save my life. He gave me… He gave me everything I never dreamed of. Thanks to him, I became Finny. And… And when he taught me how to grow, when he trusted me with this garden…! The open air, the plants, and all the pretty flowers…! It was all so different from what I knew and… And it all just made me really happy! I promised myself I would learn everything there is to know about gardening! Everything! For the Young Master and the happiness he gave me, I would be the best gardener in the world!" suddenly Finny's smile turned embarrassed, as he lowered his head and scratched the back of his head. "Aaah, I'm not there yet… And I mess up all the time… Still, the flowers are all so pretty… Even though I'm still… Well…"

It was Snake's turn to look around at the garden, noticing all the different types of plants and flowers he couldn't name, blooming beautifully at Smile's garden. They varied in shape and sizes, some bright and loud, others quiet and serene, but all unique, strong, and beautiful.

He took them all in, marveling at how wonderful they looked, how amazingly they smelled when not separated from him by gray iron bars.

"I think you're doing a good job," One of Snake's hands reached for a small, white flower with delicate petals that was growing near the two of them. "Says Goethe."

"You think so? Really?"

Snake nodded, and Finny's grin grew so wide that it looked as if it could rip his face apart.

"Thank you!" he threw his arms around Snake, bringing him closer. Snake blushed, his heart hammering inside his chest. Finny laughed before releasing him, though Snake's heart didn't seem to notice that. "But… But I still have much to learn. Mister Sebastian is the one who does most of the pretty gardening. He fixes all my mistakes, after all."

He paused for a second before continuing.

"Mister Sebastian taught me how to read, but it was only after we started using the flowers that I began to learn," a sigh. "When I first came to the manor, I didn't even have a name. Then, one day, the Young Master showed me a book. He named me after the main character in the story, you see. I promised that day I would protect the Young Master, always. And I also promised myself that I would, one day, be able to read that entire book!

"But it was hard… I couldn't understand much English at first… And the book had so many big words! And Mister Sebastian was so strict, too…! It was then that… That the Young Master came into the room and interrupted our lesson. He didn't say anything, just placed a rose from the gardens on top of my desk and left. I saw him looking at Sebastian, and they… You noticed, right? How sometimes it seems they talk to each other without talking?"

Snake nodded.

"They do it all the time. Says Oscar."

"They do. It's because they understand each other so well! Mister Sebastian and the Young Master are always together, so they always know what they are thinking!" Finny's smile turned bitter. "I… To be honest, I'm kind of jealous."

Snake thought back on that day in the rose garden, when Smile sat all by himself, looking melancholic, his one visible eye so distant. There was something on his mind, something bothering him, but no matter how hard he tried, Snake would never be able to understand what it was. Smile would never trust him with that knowledge, and the walls he put around himself – the ones he only saw crumbling once, when they were in Germany – were too thick for him to see through. Snake knew of only one single person who could read Smile without much effort, to whom those walls were as transparent as the clear water from the stream a few yards into the woods.

He could definitely understand Finny's feeling.

"Mister Sebastian understood what the Young Master meant, and he taught me how to write the name of the flower. Then he chose another one. And another and another… Soon Meirin and I could read and write English!" Finny continued. "It was thanks to Mister Sebastian's great teachings and how he didn't give up on us, but I also think the Young Master helped in his own way. Without his idea, who knows how long it would have taken me to learn! But after I a while I could read The Finnian Cycle without a problem!"

Snake looked at the paper in front of him, examining all the letters forming names of flowers that were all over the garden. He could easily picture Finny sitting in the garden for hours, looking at flowers and spelling their names out loud until he memorized it.

He felt his cheeks heat up, his heart beating just a tad bit faster. The sound of the bugs seemed just a bit louder, and he was suddenly overly aware of Oscar's cool skin hugging his neck. With renewed determination, he reached for the quill once more, rewriting the word, his calligraphy not nearly as shaky as before.

They stayed there for another three minutes before the Smile arrived. He walked calmly towards them, his noble composure proud and perfect. Once upon a time Snake would have seen him walking like that and would have been fooled, just as everyone else was, by his straight posture, his graceful steps, and his cool mask. He would have been taken aback by the boy's beauty and elegance, the urges to look away and to keep staring fighting each other. Smile had that air to him, one that was both captivating and overwhelming, beautiful and alluring, to the point one had to force themselves too look away or else risk spending an eternity simply admiring him.

But that was before. After a little over a year in his service, after spending so much time in his presence and sharing so many adventures, Snake knew Smile well enough to be able to detect signs of a hidden frown, his eye glazed over with boredom.

Snake looked at his letters, and then at the boy he now called Master. His heart skipped another beat at realizing that just as he was learning how to read and understand letters, he was also learning how to read and understand Smile.

"Young Master, welcome home!" Finny called. "How was your trip to the town?"

Smile's features softened, a tiny smile gracing his lips. Joker had always been perceptive, choosing the most suited nicknames.

"Exhausting. I had not realized how many errands Sebastian and I had piled up," he sat down beside them, and only then did Snake realize he carried a bag with him. Before they could ask about it, though, he gave Snake's quill and paper a pointed look before raising an eyebrow. "Wouldn't it be easier to do that on a table?"

Snake felt himself blush.

"We thought about it, but the day is so beautiful!" Finny spread his arms out. "It would be a shame to waste it!"

"I suppose it would," Smile nodded. "How are the studies going, Snake?"

"V-very well. Finny is a great teacher. Says Goethe."

Finny grinned.

Smile's his eye turned back towards the writing. "I bet he is," he then turned towards Finny. "Flowers?"

Finny nodded, grin still in place. "They were so useful to me when I was learning, I thought they could help Snake, too!"

Smile's smile this time was a fond one.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I went by the bookstore."

Finally, he reached inside the bag, pulling out a thick, leather-bound book. Instead of turning towards Finny like he had expected, he turned towards Snake instead. It took the young man a moment to realize that Smile was giving him the book.

He blushed again, nearly dropping his quill. With as much care as he could he reached for the book, his hands shaking slightly. It was heavier than he thought, though the feel of the cover beneath his fingers was one he surprisingly enjoyed. Even without opening it he could smell its musky scent, pleasant and yet uncomfortable at the same time, making his nose itch in a funny and unfamiliar way. He shifted his legs, placing the book on top of them, and slowly, with his breath caught on his throat, opened it.

His eyes widened. He could feel Finny peering over his shoulder, but at that moment, he didn't pay his friend much attention. He quickly and carefully began to flip through the pages, his heart speeding up with each turn. Words he didn't recognize or understand were scribbled all over the paper, and alongside them – along with diagrams, anatomical sketches, and charts – were beautifully drawn snakes.

He saw Goethe. And Oscar. And Emily, and Bronte, and Wordsworth, and Keats, As well as Donne, Dan, Wilde, Webster, and many others.

He looked up at Smile, his eyes still wide. The boy, though, wasn't looking at him. His fingers were playing with some flowers he had plucked from around them, a few others sitting upon his lap.

"Finny found it easy to read by learning the names of flowers. He also used that book I gave him, the one of his namesake, to motivate himself," his eye still looked at the flowers on his hands, even as he answered Snake's unspoken question. "They were things that interested him. I figured we could try the same trick with you."

Snake looked down at the book, then at Smile. He was speechless.

"Young Master…!" Finny spoke, and Snake finally remembered that he was also there. He looked at his friend to see his eyes full of admiration and respect.

Snake looked at Smile again. He took in his appearance; that large, blue eye, that small nose, his round cheeks… He was beautiful. Incredibly beautiful. He was like a porcelain doll, so fragile and precious. And yet, he was also full of strength, full of pride. While his appearance made him seem easily broken, his stare and his aura radiated power, showing that he was more than capable of protecting those he held dear. There was a deep sadness, a melancholy that somehow filled the boy with wisdom, with empathy, but also with a cold shield that prevented even those who loved him most from approaching him. He was intelligent, cunning, manipulative, and, at times, even cruel. Snake couldn't fault people for calling the boy an Evil Nobleman.

And yet, Snake also knew that Smile could be kind and caring, his gestures and advice, although often given with indifference, spoke far louder than his scowls, sneers, or scolding.

Smile was a boy full of contradiction, full of mysteries, and in this moment, as his hands gingerly touched the pages of his new book, Snake felt a rush of endearment overwhelming him. A strong sense of belonging, a protective urge, and a powerful need. It was the same feeling he felt when the boy first told him to hold his head high, that he didn't need to be ashamed of his appearance. The same feeling he felt during that entire trip, when those creatures followed them and all he could think about was how to keep this tiny noble safe. It was all related to the feeling he felt when Smile's life was in danger in Germany, the hurt he felt when he couldn't approach him, the helplessness of seeing Smile suffer and not be able to help, of seeing him fall down in the woods and being overwhelmed by terror when he thought, for a small second, that Smile wouldn't make it and he would lose the boy forever.

It was the feeling that reminded him why he was a Phantomhive servant.

"I recognized a few of your friends there. Saw Wilde, and Wordsworth. Oscar too," Smile continued, still not looking at them. "Finny can help you learn all the names and help you read the book. I'm curious to see if they have anything there that you don't already know."

Snake felt his cheeks heat up. For some reason, his eyes stung a little. He blinked quickly, finding that they were a little wet.

"T-thank you! Says Wordsworth."

Smile looked at him. He gave him that same smile he had given Finny, just a few moments before. He leaned forward and then placed something on top of Snake's head.

"Just be sure use it well."

He stood up and left, entering the mansion where Black awaited him by the door. Snake stared at him for a few moments before removing the object off his head, and examining it with care.

It was a flower crown.

There are many times, though, when I wonder what she would think of me, if she saw me today. My mother was much like Lizzie; a woman with a kind and gentle heart that saw beauty and wonder in everything; capable of loving even the most disgusting of all dark things. Despite knowing this, I sometimes doubt that even she would be able to care and forgive one as twisted as myself. Sometimes I wonder what I would say to her, if I had the opportunity to see her one more time. If I had known, on my tenth birthday, that that would be the last time I would ever see her, ever feel her arms around me, and ever hear her laugh… What would I have said?

I always try to stop myself from letting my thoughts go farther than that. Maybe it is selfish of me, or maybe it is foolish and juvenile, but I don't like to talk about my parents, much less remember them. As much as I cherished them, as much as I miss them, they are part of the past now. They are part of a life that has long been taken from me, and they knew a me that has long ceased to exist. If they saw me today, I'm certain they would not recognize me as their son.

I doubt they would be able to forgive me for killing the innocent child they loved.

But that doesn't matter anymore. Not really. Whatever was in my past, whatever happened before the fire, before my tenth birthday, and before I met Sebastian, is irrelevant to my life now, and so to give it any thought is to simply waste time. Or at least, that's what I tell myself. Perhaps this is just a lie I repeat over and over to try and dull the ache. Yet still, there are truths to those words; my parents are the past, and the people in my present are the ones that matter.

That day I was thinking about the two of you. In the same scenario where I always pictured my parents, I suddenly replaced them with you. I found myself wondering what I would say to you if I knew our time together was running short.

The question left me feeling conflicted. Despite never giving much thought, never allowing myself to dwell on these things for too long, I still have an idea of what I would say to my mother, and what I would want her to know. But when it comes to the two of you, things become more complicated. There is so much you deserve to know, yet so much I wish to keep hidden. I do not want you think of me any differently then you have in the past. I fear that, if you knew all that there was to know about me, you would hate me as much as I most certainly deserve.

And so you must forgive me, but I will keep some things to myself. These secrets I'll take to my grave, but I hope you will accept the thoughts and feelings expressed in this letter as a form of atonement, for while there are some things that I wish to remain forever a secret, there are others that I've wanted to share, but never had the courage to say it.

I understand that it may seem as if I am contradicting my earlier statement, the one that said I would break my vow of silence and share all of that which should be shared, but even as I wrote that, I already knew that there were things I would omit. It was foolish of me to think I would be able to take all my secrets to my grave, but there are some that I will do anything to make sure will only be known to the demon in hell.

Yes, I am contradicting myself. But I have only fourteen years of age. Isn't that what children do?

So please forgive my childishness, and please forgive my stalling. I will, however, keep part of my promise, and share all that I can.

"Ah, Snake!" Lady Elizabeth looked his way, her voice filled with genuine delight as she called him. "I'm glad we found you! If you are not overly busy, would mind accompanying Sulli-chan and I towards the entrance? Please?"

"Me, my Lady?" he pointed at himself, eyes wide. "Asks Keats"

"Yes, yes!" Lady Elizabeth replied, nodding. "Please?"

Snake looked away, feeling his cheeks flush.

"O-Of course. Says Donne."

Taking a deep breath, he followed the two girls and Mister Wolfram quietly through the manor. The long halls – with pastel colored walls decorated with oil paintings of pastoral sceneries and flowers, as well as expensive vases and sculptures – created an echo for their footsteps as they walked on the hard wood floor. Large windows, framed by velvety purple curtains, allowed for the bright sunlight to illuminate their path, small dust particles lazily dancing in the air.

Lady Elizabeth was wearing a pink dress with a full skirt, with delicate lace patterns and flowers that matched the one that decorated the bow she wore on her head. Lady Sullivan wore a green and black long sleeved dress, and green bows on either side of her short hair. Both girls had their red lips turned upwards, their wide eyes and long eyelashes adding a sense of noble radiance to their beauty, and their unsoiled skins glowing with grace.

It made Snake avert his eye. He felt his cheeks heat up, this time not from embarrassment, but shame.

The first time he met Lady Elizabeth he had been astounded by her beauty. She had walked into the manor with a radiant confidence and a smile that seemed as bright as the sun. Her green eyes sparkled with excitement, joy, and innocence. Her hair, so soft and healthy, looked as if they were made of the thinnest thread of gold, adding an angelic glow to her full curls. The light green dress she wore at the time had been decorated with beautiful bows and a full skirt that bounced with every excited skip. Her skin, rosy and pale, reminded him of Smile's expensive china, her features so delicate they seemed as if they had been sculpted by the greatest of all artists.

Yes, Lady Elizabeth's beauty had stunned him. She was mesmerizing. Her laugh filling whatever room she was in with a joy that made it easy to forget the troubles of the world outside. She was exactly what little girls dreamed of being: beautiful and courteous, fitting the role of a young noble lady to perfection.

But what truly shocked Snake, what caught him by surprise to the point of leaving him speechless, was her kindness.

The moment she walked through the front door, Snake had expected to be on the receiving end of repulsive glares. It was how it always happened, after all. Be it when he was in his cage or together with the circus, high class ladies – and sometimes even some commoners as well – would always shriek at the sight of him and his snakes, their beautiful faces twisting in disgust as they stared at his monstrosity. They hated him at first glance, fearful and suspicious, his ugliness being his greatest sin.

Snake had learned long ago that beautiful people like Lady Elizabeth could never be in the same presence as hideous abominations such as himself.

Not that he could blame them. Despite loving his snakes – feeling nothing but comfort in their cool, scaly touches, and finding beauty in their bright and shiny colors – he knew such traits were not desirable on a human such as himself. No, that wasn't the right word; it's not that it wasn't desirable, it's that it was absolutely despicable. While those features were mesmerizing in his friends, on him, they did nothing but make him into a monster.

Why Smile – easily the most beautiful person Snake had ever seen – kept him around, he couldn't understand.

But just as her fiancée, Lady Elizabeth too, had surprised him. When Smile had first introduced them, instead of a narrowing of the eyes and a wrinkling of the nose, the girl had surprised him by him by starting a friendly conversation, with not even the smallest sign of repulsion.

To know that beautiful people like Smile and Lady Elizabeth were also kind and accepting made Snake's chest bubble with a very familiar warmth.

And it also made his cheeks flush in shame.

"Ah, there it is!" Lady Sullivan said. Snake blinked, only then realizing he had been too lost in his own thoughts to notice that both girls had their green eyes turned towards him. "I told you, didn't I? It's been happening more lately."

"You're right," Lady Elizabeth nodded. "It did happen again."

"What happ— I mean, is something the matter, my Ladies?" Snake turned towards Mister Wolfran, only to see the man shrug his shoulders, his attention fully on pushing Lady Sullivan's wheel chair. "asks Donne."

"Something is clearly wrong," Lady Sullivan crossed her arms.

"Yes, very much so," Lady Elizabeth agreed, her brows frowned, her tone lightly concerned.

"W-What is it?" Snake stopped. "Should I go get Black? Or tell Smile? Asks Donne."

"Don't bother," Lady Sullivan waved her hand, dismissing his questions. "This is not something they can help with."

Snake blinked, even more confused.

"What? But Black can do anything! Says Keats."

"I'm afraid Sulli-chan is right. Sebastian is amazing, but I don't think he could help us with this."

"B-but… How? And what about Smile? Says Keats"

Both girls tried to hold back their laugh.

"Ah, Ciel would be even less helpful, I think!" said Lady Elizabeth. "He wouldn't know what to do."

"He'd be very confused," Lady Sullivan nodded, laughing. "Boys!"

"Confused?" Snake shook his head. "No, that's not possible. Smile can understand everything! He knows everything! Says Donne"

"Not everything," Lady Sullivan said to herself, snickering.

"And certainly not about this," Lady Elizabeth said. "Ciel wouldn't know what to do! No, this is a matter that requires a true lady's intuition!"

Snake was at loss at what to say. His eyes were wide, his breath hitched at his throat. This only seemed to amuse the two girls, who giggled to themselves. Mister Wolfran looked at him with sympathy.

"Lady's intuition? Asks Keats"

"Yes! A true lady knows how to read the mood of every situation! She knows when the people around her are happy and when they are truly satisfied. She also knows how to see past the pleasantries and polite words, so she can know how to fix it!" Lady Elizabeth explained. "She knows when something is bothering those she cares about, and she does her best to learn what is wrong so she make them it better."

"And there is something bothering you," Lady Sullivan concluded.

"And we want to help," Lady Elizabeth said. "We're worried, after all."

Despite their friendly smiles, the two girls eyed him with concern. It made his stomach sink with shame. He wasn't worthy of their worry. Girls as pretty as them should not concern themselves with people like him.

"It's nothing," he shook his head. "Says Donne."

"Liar," Lady Sullivan said.

"Come on, Snake. You can tell us," Lady Elizabeth said. "We're your friends."

His eyes widened at her words. The faces of Joker, Doll, Beast, Dagger, Jumbor, Peter, and Wendy all flashed in his mind. That familiar warmth was back, spreading through his chest.

"Thank you, my Ladies," he said. "But… But you really shouldn't concern yourselves with someone like me. Says Donne"

"Nonsense!" said Lady Sullivan.

"B-But—"

"No 'buts'! We're your friends!"

"Sulli-chan is right, Snake. You're sad. Something is making you sad. And we're worried. We're friends. So don't say stuff like—" Lady Elizabeth's eyes widened. "That's it, isn't it? 'Someone like me'… Is that what's bothering you?"

Snake bit his lower lip. Their stares seemed to gain weight as they looked at him, making his lungs fill with air that, too, magically seemed gain mass. After a few seconds, he could not stand it anymore, and looked down, trying to avoid their gaze.

"What? What is it? Says Keats" Keat's voice sounded tiny, weak. He couldn't even fool Snake.

"Oh, Snake…" Lady Elizabeth took a couple of steps towards the footman, then raised her ungloved hand to touch his cheek. She hesitated when he flinched, her shoulders deflating. Snake's chest sunk with guilt, and he forced himself to relax as her hand finally touched his cheek. The feel was as comforting as the skin of his snakes. "Snake, you really shouldn't let things like this bother you."

"Things like what? I-I don't understand! Says Donne."

"Ah, if only Ciel was this easy to read. If only he were this open about his problems," Lady Elizabeth said, more to herself than to the others, her eyes cast down. "Perhaps then I could be of more use to him. Maybe I would be able to actually help him."

"Lady El—"

"Just Lizzie, Snake. We're friends," she repeated. "And do you really think we care about things like this? About your appearance? Do you think that Ciel cares about it?"

Snake felt that warmth again. His eyes were wide for a mere second before his lips melted into a gentle smiled as he remembered what Smile told him back in the Campania. He repeated those words to himself every day, reminding himself of the honesty and conviction in his master's eye and voice. It was a mantra, one he held dear to his heart, one of the fondest memories he had, and one he used to so to reassure himself that he had a place by Smile's side.

But old believes, believes that were founded in the cruel evidence provided by his past, were hard to let go and sometimes his insecurity would get the best of him.

"I know… I know Smile doesn't care. He told me that before. But…" Snake paused, feeling his cheeks flush even more. "It's not cute. Says Keats."

Lady Eliza—Lizzie shook her head.

"If Ciel cared about cute things, I would have been able to bring his old smile back a long time ago," Lizzie said. "Those things don't matter to him, just like they don't matter to us. I… I can't imagine what you went through before becoming a Phantomhive servant, just as I can't imagine what Ciel went through during that time he was missing. I can't erase it, the pain either of you went through during that time."

Her hand lowered, and she reached for his. Her fingers were long, delicate, soft and gentle. Snake blushed even harder.

"But you helped Ciel and I that time in the ship. And Sulli-chan told me how you helped rescue her from that village in Germany. That's what matters the most to us, Snake. Who you are is what makes us cherish you, is what makes you our friend. All of us; Soma, too," Lizzie's eyes were on their intertwined fingers. She squeezed them reassuringly. "Ciel adores you. It's clear to anyone who sees the two you of you. He cares for you a lot, even if he's not very good at showing. Ciel, he… He keeps everyone at a distance. He doesn't like us to get too close. He's like that to everyone, except Sebastian. But Sebastian… Sebastian is different. I can't explain, but from the moment I saw him, I knew Sebastian and Ciel would always have a connection like no other, that none of us could understand."

Her eyes had become cloudy as she spoke. She shook her head, as if to banish away whatever thoughts had creeped inside her mind.

"But that doesn't matter. Because when Ciel cares about someone, he may not show it through warmth or by letting us stay close, but he does show it through his actions. When Ciel cares about someone, he'll do anything to help them. And I've seen him do that for you," She said. "Trust me, Snake, Ciel adores you. He really does. You wouldn't be here if he didn't. And I think that's what matters most. Don't you?"

Snake looked at her, shocked. His heart was hammering against his chest. He thought of Smile, and of the day he first saw him on the circus. That day felt like so long ago. Then he thought about when he was sick, and how worried Doll was. He remembered sharing a little of that worry, even if he was suspicious of him and Black. The boy had seem so frail, so helpless…

And then he remembered how Smile – tiny Smile, sickly Smile – had looked so big when he offered him his hand, offered him a place by his side, even after he had tried to kill him. He thought of how angelic he looked – beautiful and wise and so melancholic, but also determined and strong – and how, when they locked eyes, he knew he couldn't refuse him. He thought of all the things he gained since then; of his new home, his new friends, of his new family, of Finny, and the moments they all shared together.

He thought about that flower crown Smile had made the day before, and he smiled.

"Yes," Snake agreed. "You're right. Says Keats"

"A lady is always right about the matters like this!"

"Always!" agreed Lady Sullivan.

Lizzie let go of his hands. She walked back towards Lady Sullivan and Mister Wolfran, and they continued to walk.

"Oh, and besides," Lizzie looked back at him. "I think snakes are pretty cute! Especially yours!"

"T-Thank you. Says Donne."

He accompanied them through the entrance hall and waited by the door as the two entered their individual carriages. He watched them leave before closing the door and heading towards the gardens.

There he saw Smile and Finny, sitting at one of the outside tea tables. Smile had his eye turned towards a pile of paper, one of his hands supporting his chin, the other reaching for a tea cup decorated with blue and gold twirls. He didn't seem to be paying much attention as Finny babbled on, his hands moving excitedly.

On top of the gardener's head was a flower crown.

"Ah! Snake!" Finny turned towards him. Smile looked up, as well. "Come join us!"

Snake looked towards Smile. The boy gave him a nod.

Snake ran towards them. That comforting warmth seemed to almost overwhelm him. It was the same warmth he felt when Doll opened the door of his cage, when Joker gave him his name, and Dagger put his arm around his shoulders, telling him jokes as if they were brothers. It was the same warmth he got when Peter and Wendy gave him advice, when Jumbor ruffled his hair, or when Beast would talk to him as she brushed Betty's fur.

And in that moment, he knew that he'd be happy if he could stay by Smile and Finny's side until the day he died.

But unknown to any of them, a figure watched them from the shadows, his red eyes narrowed in displeasure.

Many things changed after the night of my tenth birthday, myself included. Perhaps I was the thing that changed the most. I'm certain if you were to ask Tanaka or Lizzie they would both have their own thoughts and observations about how different I was as a small child. Grief, fear, and horror have such an effect on people; they kill the innocence, destroy the good, and leave you feeling so hopeless and so desperate that you'll hang on to any chance of escape, even if they are as thin as the thread of a spider's web.

When I finally made it back, when I found my spider's thread, I thought I had nothing more to lose. My parents were gone, my innocence lost, my mind and body degraded and defiled to the point where I did not care if I soiled my soul. I wanted one thing, and one thing alone, and nothing would stop me from getting that. I would willingly sacrifice anything, willingly bathe my hands in blood, and sin until even the monsters of the night had nightmares about me. I knew then that I would have to walk a path of darkness, one far darker than that which my own father walked. I knew I would do things that many would find incomprehensible, repulsive… Even evil. As a ten year old, before Sebastian and I had even made it back to the site of my burned home, I knew I had already shed away my radiance, given up on any hope of ever meeting my parents in heaven. And I also knew that I would do things that would make the title of Evil Nobleman seem like an understatement.

And certainly, these four years in which I have served as the Queen's Watchdog have proven my expectations to be correct.

There were things I did not expect, though. Temptations, I guess you could call them. Things that would make me long for a radiance I no longer have, for a purity that was lost and could not ever be regained. Lizzie's unconditional affection, Soma's unexpected friendship, Sieglinde's hungry curiosity and trust in my guidance… As well as your persistent loyalty and care. I was ready for a path of darkness, for a world of shadows and horrors. Care, friendship, trust, and loyalty were things I never thought I would have again.

But I do. You have given me something I had never hoped to gain again, and in return I started to feel things I thought I was incapable of experiencing. This path of shadows that I so readily threw myself in, the one I continue to walk with my head held high, feels less cold than it should. Having the two of you around, sharing my days with you, made the loneliness and the darkness that crept into my heart easier to bear.

Even as I write this I feel stupid. Though my words are honest, the sentiment inside them is hard to express. For so long I both silently embraced these feelings, while outwardly dismissing them as weakness that to finally admit to them, even on paper, is far too embarrassing.

Know that despite this, despite my inability to properly demonstrate my care, it is still there. It is an honest and great care, one reserved only to the two of you, and one that will remain true years after we part.

Finny was still wearing his flower crown the next day. The orange blossoms sat on top of his yellow hair as if they belonged there, like a long lost part of the gardener that had finally been returned to him. He dreaded to think of the day the flowers would wither, losing their beauty. Not that Finny would throw them away. The flower crown was his Young Master's precious gift to him, and even once the petals dried up and stems became too fragile to be touched, he would keep it safe and with him forever.

He didn't have many possessions, but the ones he did had been given to him by the Young Master and Mister Sebastian, and he treasured every single one of them. After having nothing, not even a name, the simplest and smallest of gifts meant the world to Finny. He would never part with them. Not ever.

"What are you smiling about? Says Oscar."

Finny turned to see Snake looking at him with a curious tilt of the head. He hadn't even realized he was smiling until the boy had pointed out, but that only caused his grin to grow wider.

"The Young Master gave me a flower crown!" he pointed towards his head.

Snake's eyes softened, "Yes. I was there when he gave it to you. Says Wordsworth."

"I know! But isn't it pretty! And hey! We match now!" Finny said. "You should wear yours too! Then we could both wear them together while working and we can show the Young Master how much we love his gift!"

Snake looked away. "I… I want to, but Black yelled at me. Says Wordsworth"

Finny resisted the urge to tilt his own head in confusion for fear it would cause the orange blossoms to fall. "Sebastian did?"

Snake nodded. "He said it wasn't according to uniform, and that it could get the mansion dirty," then, after noticing Finny's fallen demeanor, he added "Ah, but I'm sure he won't have any problems with you wearing it! You are mostly in the gardens after all, right? Says Emily."

"You think so?" Finny knew he was pouting despite Snake's reassurance. "I don't want to take it off, but if Mister Sebastian says I have to…"

"You should be fine. Says Oscar."

Finny didn't say anything.

"Really! You work mostly in the gardens anyway. Says Oscar."

"But—"

"Smile certainly won't mind. Says Wordworth,"

Finny blinked, "He won't, will he? Yeah, you're right! Thank you, Snake!"

The footman blushed again, looking away. The flush created a soft red glistening on his scaly skin, creating a mesmerizing affect that Finny found absolutely adorable.

It was sad, really, how Snake had no idea how breathtakingly beautiful he was.

Still, Finny supposed it was a vast improvement from when he had first arrived at their manor. Back then he barely spoke, barely looked any of them in the eye. His shoulders were always rigid and hunched together, his eyes either turned to the floor or to the walls. Often times Finny caught the young man tugging at the sleeves of his uniform, pulling at the hem of his shirt, or crossing his arms as if trying to give himself a hug. He didn't say much to them, answering questions with the bare minimum, even his snakes' voices sounding unsure, hesitant, and defensive, the words coming out as mere mumbles – unless it was Oscar or Emily speaking, of course.

It was clear that they started to see Snake as their family long before he began to return the feeling. It was a gradual progression, one where the changes occurred over the course of months, every step forward accompanied by at least two step backs, the progress made in one week completely lost two weeks later. But progress did come. First he stopped looking away as often, maintaining eye contact far more often, and looking away only when embarrassed. Then, his snakes' voices grew louder, their teasing and biting remarks more frequent, their arguing something Snake finally felt comfortable translating, rather than just keeping it to himself.

The biggest change, though – the one put a stop to backtracking, forcing Snake to just keep walking forward, never to look back – came during the trip he and the Young Master took with Lady Elizabeth and her family.

At first Finny had been envious of Snake. A big part of him wished that the Young Master would have taken him instead. Whenever he was apart from his Young Master he would feel his chest ache, his thoughts always anxious, wondering if he was okay. He trusted Mister Sebastian completely, he knew the man would never allow any harm come to the boy, yet he couldn't stop worrying. The Young Master was always in danger, always at risk, and Finny simply felt better when he could be by his side, when he could feel useful. He couldn't stand the thought of any harm coming to his precious person while he could do nothing to protect him.

But there was also another reason for his envy. More than his precious gifts, the thing Finny treasured the most in his new life was the time he could spend with his Young Master. He loved those afternoons when the Young Master drank his tea outside, he loved the Easter egg hunts, the birthdays they celebrated together, the time they trained Lady Sullivan to meet the Queen, the visits to the city when they went shopping and the Young Master bought them all gifts and indulged them in their curiosity, even as other nobles looked at them funny on the street. Domesticity was something he never had as #12, but that as Finny, he treasured with all his heart. The thought of sailing across the ocean with his Young Master, of seeing the waves, and staying out in the sun… That was a memory Finny wanted to have so badly that he couldn't help but envy Snake for it.

Now, though, he was grateful for it. Perhaps his Young Master had noticed how uncomfortable Snake was around them, how even though he had been embraced as a member of the Phantomhive household, he still couldn't feel like he was part of their family. Maybe by taking only Snake, the Young Master hoped to show him that he was trusted and accepted.

If that had been the case, it certainly worked, because when Snake returned he was far more confident than before, his loyalty to the Young Master as strong as the rest of them.

A loud voice interrupted his musings. The two servants turned to see the Young Master, followed by Soma, exiting the manor to the gardens. The Indian Prince had a pout on his face while he rambled on, one of his hands waving dramatically while the other clung to the Young Master's shirt. The younger boy was scowling, his visible eye rolling as his fists clenched.

Finny chuckled as he watched the two interact.

"I didn't know Prince Soma and Mister Agni were visiting."

"They must have arrived a few minutes ago. Says Wordsworth."

"Probably without any warning, too," Finny said. "No wonder the Young Master is acting like that."

"I think even if Smile knew they were coming, he would be in a bad mood. Says Emily."

"He probably would have arranged a way to leave for the day," Finny laughed. "Mister Sebastian would probably have gone with him."

Snake laughed as well. It was a beautiful sound.

"Still, they're good for him," Finny said, his eyes softening as he turned back to the scene before them. Now Prince Soma had his arms around the Young Master's neck, his head resting on top of the shorter boy. The young earl didn't look nearly as angry as before, a slight annoyance coupled with resignation visible in the way he relaxed under the older prince's touch. "Friends like Prince Soma are good to the Young Master."

The two continued to observe as Prince Soma dragged the Young Master by the hand before stopping in the middle of the garden, a spot where the grass grew thicker and stronger, wide open to the three o'clock sunlight. Then, he sat down, pulling the younger boy with him. The Young Master made a funny face, muttered something that Finny couldn't hear, but remained in place, crossing his legs and leaning back. He gave Prince Soma his full attention.

Finny tried to go back to his duties, but every now and again his eyes would glance back at his Young Master. He couldn't help but stare. Every time he watched his Young Master, so calm and serene, he felt like his own personal sun was lighting up on his chest, the warmth filling him with giddy happiness he didn't even know existed until that night he ran into the young earl while making his escape. It was a feeling beyond descriptions, one that, no matter how many new words he learned, how many books he read, he could never quite find the way to express them. Nothing seemed good enough.

And he would do anything to protect this new happiness. He'd do anything to keep the one most precious to him safe. More than that, though, Finny wanted to repay the Young Master for all he had done for him.

And if he had to spend his entire life trying to do so, he gladly would. Nothing would make him happier.

"I…" Snake began, a little uncertain. Finny looked at him, to see his dear friend blushing, his hands pulling at the sleeves of his uniform. "Is it wrong that I wish for things to stay like this? Says Emily."

"Wrong?" Finny frowned. "Why would it be wrong?"

"Smile has many cases to take care of. And… And I need to search for my family. For Joker and the others. He said he would help me. Says Wordsworth."

Finny nodded, waiting for Snake to proceed. The Young Master respected all of his servants' privacy, never disclosing their past to the others. It had always been up to them how much they shared with each other. It always took time, they never talked about their lives before the Young Master at first, then as they grew closer together, they began to open up, to reveal things about the past that haunted them, but no longer defined them. Those were but the horror that the Young Master had extinguished by giving them a new home, a new family, a new purpose, and his full trust. Those pasts were no longer relevant, they no longer kept them inside cages, shackled by their feet to the agonizing loneliness, the crippling despair that made their chests ache and their throats close, so sore that they could not even scream. They were helpless, broken, with the scent of death and hatred clinging to them until the day that little lord with his butler cloaked in black reached out and gave them his hand. He freed them all from all of it by giving their darkness a purpose while allowing them to walk freely and happily in the light, among beautiful gardens filled with flowers.

Snake, though, was new to their family. He still clung to bits of his past, still thought about it, and shared but the bare minimum. Finny didn't fault him for it, since they all had started in a similar way before. At times, though, he ached to know more about him, to understand Snake's pain better so he could make it all go away, just as the Young Master did with him.

"I know someday I'll find the others again. But whenever I see Smile like he is today," Snake's blush brightened, the color so mesmerizing on top of his skin, glistening under the sun, that Finny had to mentally remind himself to focus on what the other servant was saying. "I can't help but want things to stay like this forever. Says Oscar."

The sun inside Finny's chest growing so big that he thought it would explode.

"I feel the same!" he said. Snake looked at him startled. Perhaps his voice had come out a bit too loud, but that didn't matter. "I feel the exact same way, Snake, so don't feel bad! It's not wrong at all! I… When I see the Young Master relaxed like that, I think 'There's nothing I wouldn't do to make sure he could stay like this forever.' That's what you mean, right?

Snake, still surprised, nodded.

"It's not wrong. The Young Master… He deserves to be happy," Finny said. "He gave us all so much and… And I think it's natural that we want to repay him in whatever way we can."

"It's not just that, though. I…" he looked away . "It's not just that I want him to be happy. I want to be there to see it. I… I want to remain by his side – a-and yours! And Bard's and Meyrin's and Tanaka's – forever. Says… Says Wordsworth."

It was a wonder Finny's insides hadn't melted yet.

"I want that too," unlike before, his voice came out quietly this time, soft and serene. "I want to be with the Young Master forever."

Snake looked at him with a tentative smile.

"Is that so?"

They both jumped. They had been so lost in their conversation that they didn't notice that the Young Master had already retired back to the house, no doubt after Mister Sebastian came to fetch him for something. Prince Soma, though, was still in the gardens, just a few paces away from them.

It was Finny's turn to blush. Prince Soma was standing with his arms crossed, his lips perched, eying them with curiosity and suspicion. Mister Agni stood behind him.

"You want to spend the rest of your lives with Ciel, is that it?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. "Did I hear it right?"

Snake seemed too terrified to speak, so Finny nodded for the both of them.

"And you never asked my permission for that?"

Finny frowned. "Permission?"

"Yes! My permission! As Ciel's best friend I need to make sure all the people around him are the best they can be to protect him and keep him happy! They need to be good people, and they are only good people if I give them my approval, of course!" Soma nodded, as if agreeing with himself. During his speech his eyes had glanced back at the house, but then went back to eying them. "That's my job as his best friend!"

Finny looked at Snake, who still seemed mortified.

"Lucky for you," Soma went on, not waiting for them to say anything. "I know you two! I was the one who recommended Snake to visit Ciel, after all! He owns me for that! And I've known you, Finny, for a long time! And Agni and I like the two of you. Right, Agni?"

"But of course, your highness!"

"See?" Soma then grinned, and Finny could feel himself relax. "So you're off the hook! I've known you long enough to know that you would never hurt Ciel! Though you still should have asked permission."

Finny almost laughed with relief. "Than—"

"But!" Soma interrupted, pointing at both of them, looking determined. "If the two of you ever hurt Ciel, you'll have to answer to me!"

To my great embarrassment, Meirin and Bard are fully aware of these feelings. They have also expressed their concern over your own, Finny, numerous times. They have shown great fondness towards you as well, Snake, even though you have only been with them for a short time. Despite their incompetence as maid and chef, Meirin and Bard are both great and perceptive people whom I am proud to call my servants.

They are truly worthy of the Phantomhive name. As are you.

As with Meirin and Bard, I am proud to call the two of you my servants. I am proud that I have you by my side, and I am proud of how much you have grown since becoming a part of the Phantomhive household. But most of all, I am proud of the trust I can place in you, and that when needed, I know without a shred of doubt that you will be by my side, ready to obey my orders and protect me without question.

It is only appropriate that you should know, then, that I would do the same for you. I may not be strong or fast, but I have my wits and I know how to use a gun when it is required. I may be very young and my health may be very weak, but I would also like to believe that I am capable of protecting myself and those who are dear to me, even if my methods would not be considered entirely orthodox, honorable, or legal. However, as long as it achieves my goals, and as long as it protects myself and those who are dear to me, I care little for any of those things. Rest assure, then, that I will always do whatever is in my power to keep the two of you, as well as Tanaka, Meirin, and Bard, safe and comfortable until the remainder of your lives. I will also do all that is possible so that you can remain together, always, for I would never dare to destroy the family you found in each other.

No matter what happens, know that I have not forgotten you.

Snake looked out the window, his eyes following the clouds gently floating in the sky. There were only a few of them, soft and fluffy looking, round and small, with wispy tails that resembled still smoke. The sun shone brightly, as it had for the past four days, still warding off the familiar English rain.

Years ago he would never thought he'd be able to enjoy days like this, that he'd look at such a beautiful blue sky sprinkled with soft clouds from behind a window in a manor, rather than the bars in his cage. He'd never thought he would be able to dress in such fine tailored clothes, that he'd be allowed to walk freely in such a beautiful garden, feeling the warmth of the sun, and enjoying the presence of those who were precious to him.

Years ago, he would never have thought anyone would have been precious to him.

Those were dark times for him. He knew of nothing but his cold cage, and the laughter and horrified gasps of those who stood outside of it. He remembered curling into himself, closing his eyes and hoping it would all go away, withdrawing, allowing his mind to drift until nothing existed.

Nothingness, he would tell himself, was better than the loneliness and the despair he felt.

And yet, it still lingered. No matter how hard he had tried to push it away, it snuck up on him, crawling towards him until it was all he could feel. The laughter would ring in his ears long into the night when he laid down and looked at the starts, marveling at their beauty. Then he would remember the horror, the jests, the way kids screamed when they looked at him, and how some people would reach and poke at his skin.

"How ugly" they would say.

"What an awful creature" others would comment.

"Mommy, I'm scared!" a little girl would cry.

"So hideous! So disgusting!" some would shout.

"How could God create such a monster?"

When he remembered those words Snake would turn his back towards the beautiful stars, while tears prickled at his eyes.

When Joker and the others found him and welcomed him into their family, Snake was happy for the first time in his life. He loved his snakes, his only friends and companions for most of his life until that point, but the acceptance and affection he got from the other members of the circus was something he never thought he would ever have. It was something he was certain he didn't deserve.

Having his first family ripped away from him and disappearing like that… Even now Snake's heart still clenched at the thought. He missed them. He missed them terribly, every day longing to see their faces again. That morning they didn't return, he had been overwhelmed by a suffocating loneliness.

But now it was gone. Now he had Bard, Tanaka, and Meirin. He also had Black, and Lady Elizabeth, Lady Sullivan, and even Prince Soma and Mister Agni.

Most importantly, though, he had Finny and Smile.

"You're thinking about them again."

Snake turned around to find Smile standing behind him. His dark blue coat – one the footman remembered seeing Miss Nina sketch out a few months prior – matched his eye perfectly. It complimented the white shirt and the black pants perfectly. Smile's head was tilted to one side, his chin slightly raised as his eye studied him.

"W-what do you mean? Says Webster."

"You were thinking about Joker and the others," Smile's tone and face betrayed no emotion. "You get this look on your face when you are thinking about them."

"I… I didn't know," he looks away, his cheeks heated. "Says Bronte."

Smile regarded silently for a moment. "Do you miss them?"

Snake hesitated. Then, after a few moments, he lifted his head again, eyes meeting Smile's. He found no pity in that stare, no harshness, no accusation… Only curiosity.

"They were my first family. Before I met them, I… I didn't dare to even dream of ever being free, or of ever living happily with other people," Snake said. "They did so much for me, but I failed them. Says Bronte."

"Failed them?" Smile rose one of his eyebrows. "How have you failed them?"

Snake didn't answer right away.

"I… I knew they were going out. They did it many times before, but they never told why. I knew something that night felt different, but I didn't try to stop them," in his mind, he could see all of them, smiling as they talked, Jumbor giving a pat on the back, Peter giving him instructions with a scowl on his face while Wendy looked at him with what he could only describe as a motherly gaze. He could see Beast approaching his snakes, the only one who ever had the courage to let them crawl up her arms and wrap themselves around her shoulders, and he could see Dagger telling a joke and trying to get him to smile. He could very clearly see and feel Freckles pulling him to the tables so he wouldn't be late for lunch. He could also see Joker, his smile always in place, cheerful, even though his eyes were the saddest one Snake had ever seen. "If I had stopped them… Then maybe they wouldn't have disappeared. Says Bronte."

"You said they did it before, right?" Smile waited until Snake nodded to continue "Then you couldn't have known that they wouldn't come back. It was out of your hands. They kept those things a secret from you, told you to not get involved. You didn't fail them, you simply obeyed their wishes. There's nothing wrong with that."

"But—"

"Besides, feeling guilty and blaming yourself won't do you any good. It certainly won't bring them back," something changed in Smile's eye when he said that. A small flicker of sadness, there in an instant and then gone just as fast as it had appeared. "We'll find them. Together we'll find out what happened to them and bring them back. Isn't that what you want?"

Snake thought on the conversation he had with Finny the day before, when Prince Soma had come to visit. He thought about how he wanted to spend the rest of his life by Smile and Finny's side, how now that he knew them, he couldn't imagine being apart from them.

But he also thought about Joker and the others. His first family, the first people to ever show him any kindness.

How wonderful would it be for his two families to combine and become one?

"I do," Snake nodded. "Says Webster."

Smile nodded as well "Good."

They stayed quiet for a moment, before Snake spoke again. "They will love it here. Says Webster. They will like Finny and the others too, says Bronte."

Snake's eyes widened when the words came out of his mouth. Suddenly, he was worried, his heart hammering, but not in the pleasant way he had grown accustomed to. He started to mentally curse himself. How could he be so stupid? So careless with his words? Just because Smile said he would help him find them, it didn't mean they would be allowed into the Phantomhive manor.

He started to apologize, but Smile spoke up, silencing him.

"You think so?" If he thought Snake's comment was strange or inappropriate, he did not show it. Instead, he leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "I didn't think they would. I certainly thought they wouldn't like me, after all that happened. But I don't know them as well as you did."

"They are good people. Says Bronte."

Smile nodded, and once again, something flickered in his eye again; something that was akin to sadness. "I know."

They fell into another silence. Snake took the time to once again study Smile, taking in the appearance of the young boy. He remembered his thoughts when he first laid eyes on him, when Black brought him into the tryouts. He seemed so small and fragile, so tiny, but so incredibly beautiful. Even Joker and Dagger had been stunned.

Snake had watched everything silently from a distance. He had been awed and amazed that someone as beautiful as Smile could exist in the same world as someone as hideous as himself. And just like he did with Lady Elizabeth, Snake had wondered if Smile would look at him with horror and disgust.

Now he only felt bad for ever thinking his precious master could be that shallow.

"Young Master."

Black's voice came from down the hall. Both earl and footman turned to find the perfect butler standing there, his red eyes looking at them with cold harshness, the shadows covering his face and shoulders, adding to the natural eeriness that always surrounded the perfect butler. Snake fixed his posture on reflex, not realizing how at ease and comfortable he had become in the presence of Smile until his Black's presence reminded him of his status and all the teachings that had been bestow on him since he'd been welcomed into the Phantomhive household.

"What is it, Sebastian?" Smile moved away from the wall, his full attention now on Black.

"I have the documents you asked for," just then, Snake noticed that Black carried a stack of papers with him. "They are related to that case, my Lord."

Smile's eye widened. He then nodded. "Take them to my study. We'll look at them there, right away."

"Yes, my lord."

Smile gave Snake a simple nod of dismissal before turning his back towards him, walking towards Black.

"C-Case?" Snake spoke before he could stop himself. When both Smile and Black turned towards him, moving with a synchrony that would have left Peter and Wendy envious, he felt his cheeks flush. "S-says Webster."

"It's not really a case for the Queen. It's something more… Personal," Smile explained. "No need to concern yourself with it. Now, if you'll excuse me, Snake."

Both earl and butler quickly disappeared into the shadows of the hallway. Snake remained in place for a few moments, and then, when he could no longer hear their footsteps, turned towards the opposite direction, towards the sunlit garden, where Finny awaited him for his writing lessons.

Quite a sentimental thought, isn't it? It is strange, unnatural, even, for me to lay out my emotions so candidly on paper. I cringe at my own words, embarrassed and yet still very unsatisfied. I am conflicted; I feel – to put it simply – uncomfortable at seeing my feelings written quite so plainly, yet I also feel as if what I have written is not enough. Glancing up above it seems I repeat myself a lot, dance around the subject, and end up writing a whole lot of nothing. Just a pile of repetitive nonsense that barely scratches the surface of all the thoughts I wished to express. I am doing the exact same thing I have always hated; skirting around what needs to be said, avoiding the point…

It's certainly is ironic, isn't it?

Yet I continue doing it; avoiding the subject as I force myself to write this. By now you must be wondering why this pathetic excuse for a letter is even necessary. I could never explain to you the reason, only that it is related to the news Sebastian brought me that day, and the personal case I began to investigate since. I believe that soon enough you will have your own suspicions, and though there may be a smudge of truth in your future theories, reality is far darker than you could ever imagine. And that is fine. This is the truth that neither you, nor anyone else, must ever know. It is one of those truths that will die with me.

The sentiments that I am trying to express, however, are not. I would hardly be able to put an end to this without having said these things, and this, I'm afraid, is my only opportunity to do so.

And yet I am awful with sentiments. I wanted to show you my profound gratitude and appreciation. Has it come across properly, I wonder?

I doubt it. If it has, then it probably doesn't sound like me at all. I am not, as I keep saying, one for sentimentalities and honesty. Those are not traits that suit me, nor are they traits that I see in myself, which is perhaps why this letter is so hard to write. Though the words and sentiments are certainly mine, I cannot see myself saying any of these things. Maybe it's because it makes me weak, or because it makes me vulnerable… Or maybe it's simply because it has been so long since I've allowed myself to be this open about my emotions. Being open, being vulnerable, and basking on sentimentalities are luxuries that I cannot allow myself to have, even within the walls of my own home. They were things I shed away during that month long ago, and things I have not allowed myself to experience since then, for they have no place in the path I walk. They would only slow me down, make my goals harder to achieve, and those are things that I would never allow to happen. Sacrificing these luxuries made this path harder and lonelier to walk, but I do not regret it for a second.

But now, I realize that it has been so long since I've been candid about these matters, that to simply speak of them feels unnatural.

"Just what are you two doing?"

Finny and Snake looked up to see their Young Master staring at them, his right hand on his hip, his expression nurturing a half-hearted scowl, and his visible eye staring at them with curiosity. A little over one dozen orange blossoms were scattered on the grass where the two servants sat, their legs crossed and three flowers in each of their hands.

The sound of cicadas filled the silence. There were a few clouds in the sky, battling against the sunrays in order to protect the English from the unusual warm week they were having. After five days of constant sunlight and humidity, it seemed like the familiar grayness and rain were finally returning home from their long trip abroad.

"Well?" despite his words and expression, there was no malice, no real harshness in the Young Master's voice.

Finny raised his hands, showing the flowers.

"We're making flower crowns!"

"Is that so?" the Young Master only raised an eyebrow.

"We wanted to make one like the ones you did. Says Oscar."

"They are all so pretty! We wanted to see if we could make some of our own," Finny said. "We're not very good, though."

"I can see that," the Young Master said. He seemed to be fighting back a small smile. "Do you even know how to make them?"

Finny and Snake looked at each other, then at the Young Master. That seemed to be enough of an answer for him.

"Move over," he shook his head, finally losing the battle against his smile. "I'll show you how to do it."

Finny beamed at him. Both servants shifted themselves so the Young Master could sit in front of the flowers. The boy did not hesitate to sit on the grass with his custom made clothes. A talk tree with thin branches that stretched high in the sky provided them with the shade from the bright sun rays that peaked from the cloud, making their task easier to see.

The gardener's heart seemed ready to burst with warmth, his cheeks hurting from smiling so much.

The Young Master was surprisingly patient as he taught them. He started out by picking three of the orange blossoms, explaining why they needed to have long stems, and then showing them how two braid the flowers together. Then he showed them how to add another flower before finishing the first braid, and how they had to hold two stems together as one and continue the braiding process, adding more and more flowers as they went along.

Soon, as Finny and Snake grew more confident in their task, the three fell into a comfortable silence. Finny bit his lower lip, trying his hardest to move his fingers and hands gently so not to destroy the flowers. It was hard, he was certainly moving slower than the Young Master and Snake, but as soon as the crown started to take shape, he found that his hands grew more certain, and that it became easier and easier to control his strength.

Yet again the Young Master was showing him how to create something beautiful; showing him that his hands could do more than just destroy.

He couldn't begin to imagine how he could ever repay him.

"I never imagined the Young Master would know how to make something like this," Finny said, his tone soft, but holding all the admiration he held towards the boy.

"It's not like you," Snake agreed. "says Goethe."

The Young Master picked another flower from the pile in the middle, easily working it into his beautiful crown.

"I don't suppose it is," he said. "I don't think I've made one in years."

"How did you learn it?" Finny asked.

The Young Master's hands stopped. His eye was still looking at his crown, but his gaze seemed distant, his shoulders no longer in their usual straight and perfect posture.

Finny and Snake both stopped what they were doing. Finny frowned, task forgotten. He looked at the Young Master, wondering what he had done wrong, and what he could do to make the boy smile again.

"My mother taught me," he finally said.

Finny blinked, nearly dropping the crown. His mouth was slightly agape as he watched a small, melancholic, and longing smile form in the Young Master's lips.

This was the first time the gardener had ever heard the Young Master talk about his parents. It certainly was the first time he ever heard him say the words "my mother".

He remembered their time in Germany, and how the Young Master had been so terrified, relieving a nightmare none of them could even begin comprehend. The Young Master was always so strong, so brave, and so intelligent… Sometimes Finny forgot that he, too, had suffered in his past, and that his own parents had been cruelly taken from him not too long ago.

"Her health was poor, just like mine," Ciel continued. "For that reason, she could never play with Lizzie and I, when we went outside. My aunt Ann was the one who played with us, while my mother sat at the tea tables, or under the trees, and watched. Her favorite place was the rose gardens, actually. I always knew she wanted to play with us, but she never seemed fazed by the fact that she couldn't."

There was a tenderness and fondness to the Young Master's voice that Finny had never heard it before. It was as if with each word, the young earl was further transported into his memories, reliving those days with his aunt and mother. Finny could almost picture it: the Young Master, with round and puffy baby cheeks, running around, playing with a bright a smile on his face while the Lady Phantomhive watched.

"She used to make them for us," The Young Master continued. "She would always sit close to the flowers and make them for Lizzie, aunt Ann, and I. Once she also made one for our dog, one for Tanaka, and even for my father and Diedrich," he chuckled. "My father would always do anything to make my mother happy, so he had no problem wearing them. And Diedrich… Well, he could never say no to her. No one could. My father always had trouble getting Diedrich to go along with ideas, but all my mother had to do was ask him once, and he'd do it. Father always complained it was unfair. Diedrich was supposed to be his German dog, he would say. But mother would laugh and say Diedrich was not his dog, but her puppy. Diedrich never once said she was wrong."

His fingers started working again, moving with expertise.

"One day, when it was just the two of us, she taught me how to make them. I was sitting on her lap, and she had her arms wrapped around me, and she helped me make one. We gave it to my father, and he kept it in his study, close to his chessboard. Then I taught Lizzie, and after that, there were times when instead of playing, Lizzie, aunt Ann, and I would sit together with mother and make them. We always made sure to keep them in the greenhouse or in the drawing room."

He stopped again. His smile was gone. His eye narrowed, his gaze hardened.

"I guess they all burned in the fire. Along with everything else."

He stood up, suddenly, tossing the unfinished crown in the pile of flowers. Finny looked up to find that the mask of Earl Phantomhive was back in place, his lips turned down, his posture perfectly straight, and his eye cold.

"I have matters I need to discuss with Sebastian. Make sure to clean this up, once you're done. Excuse me."

He turned and walked back into the mansion, where Mister Sebastian waited for him by the door.

Sentimental as it may be, and as unnatural as it is for me to admit it, your companionship brought something to my life that I did not think myself capable or even worthy of ever experiencing. Amongst all the evil I have done, the wrongs I have done – and would still do it again despite how disgusted I feel towards myself because of it – it was great to know that I could provide you with some sort of happiness and comfort.

And in return I gained far, far more than I ever deserved. And as selfish as it is, I'll greedily take your loyalty, your friendship, and all you have to offer, even as I walk farther and farther away from your light.

The light is not where I belong. At least not anymore. I'm not even sure I ever belonged there in the first place. Certainly someone as twisted as I am could not have been a simple piece of clay molded by the devil; certainly my wickedness is within my core, something that I always had and it was merely exposed when I was broken, like the interior of a crystal.

Yes, that must be the case. The light was never my home, never a place where I could dwell on. Yet those dearest to me – from my parents and Tanaka, to Lizzie and Edward, to Soma and Siegliende, Bard and Meirin, and the two of you – are people of great radiance. But with every decision I make, I can feel myself getting farther and farther away from you. I do not regret said decisions, but I will shamelessly continue to take all you have to offer even as I turn my back on you.

It is wrong, I know. Unfair. Immoral. Contradictory. But I do not care. This is who I am, and I am not ashamed of it. My darkness is all I have left, after all.

My only wish was that I could, in some way, repay you back for all you have done for me. The preparations I made simply don't feel like they are enough.

There were a few more clouds in the sky that day. A cool breeze relieved England of the heat that had plagued its lands for the past week. Still, with no rain in sight, Lady Elizabeth, Lady Sullivan, and Prince Soma enjoyed tea in the Phantomhive rose garden as they waited for the little Earl and his loyal butler to return from an errand.

On top of the table were snacks – English, German, and Indian, accompanied by tea and lemonade – that Bard, Mister Wolfran, and Mister Agni had prepared for the trio. They talked happily, smiling, laughing as they exchanged stories; Prince Soma's hands waved wildly as he spoke, Lady Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with excitement, and Lady Sullivan leaned forward in interest, clinging to every word that widened her previously narrow world.

It all brought a smile to Finny's lips. He couldn't make out their conversation, being so far away from them, but the energy and happiness that the Young Master's friends emitted was strong, vibrant, and even more radiant than the bright summer sun. It made the air smell fresher, and the roses appear more vibrant, the sounds of birds and the river like a sweet lullaby.

His eyes shifted towards Snake. The young footman was, along with Miss Paula, serving the three guests. There was a small smile on his face, though his eyes looked anxiously at the three friends. He shifted his weight from one foot to another, glancing down, still shy and nervous. Finny chuckled – that pretty scarlet shade was returning to the young man's cheeks, and it was so pretty!

Snake looked up, and Finny waved at him. He nodded, and straightened his shoulders, holding his head a little higher. Finny beamed at him before returning to his task.

On his left hand was a basket full of roses, on his right, a pair of large gardening scissors. Though his duties for the day had long finished, Finny continued to scout the gardens, looking for the prettiest flowers he could find, carefully selecting and clipping them for his and Snake's very important task. He was on his hands and knees, the dry dirt clinging to his gloves and trousers, as he crawled around, eyes determined to inspect every inch of the gardens that, in the time span of a day, had grown even dearer to him.

The Young Master's mother had loved these gardens. She loved the flowers, the open air, and watching her loved ones play while she made flower crowns. This had been her special spot, and the Young Master had entrusted its care to him.

To say he was honored and touched didn't seem like enough.

Right now, though, he had something else in mind. The image of Prince Soma, Lady Elizabeth, and Lady Sullivan had only strengthened his resolve. Their happiness was beautiful; it was vibrant and cheerful, and so incredibly contagious… To everyone except the one person who needed it most, for no matter how intense their joy was, it seemed to do little to rid the Young Master of his cloak of darkness.

Finny frowned. There was no denying that as the week progressed, his beloved Young Master's melancholy had increased. His eye had grown more distant, his lips barely ever turning into its usual teasing smirk. With but a few exceptions, the boy had completely secluded himself to his study, keeping only Mister Sebastian as his companion.

Finny noticed that he wasn't eating as much. Every morning he seemed tired, as if he hadn't slept well. And yet, at the same time, something burned inside that blue eye, a determined and strong fire that fed his inner darkness in a way that Finny had never seen before.

But that didn't make the sadness any easier to ignore. The melancholy, the anguish, the despair… It all radiated together with the darkness and determination.

And it pained both Finny and Snake to see it.

"Ah! Finny!" Lady Elizabeth called. Finny turned around to see the girl waving at him. "Finny, can you come here?"

Finny leaped to his feet. He placed the scissors on the ground before running towards the table, basket still in hand.

"What can I help you with, Lady Elizabeth?" Finny asked.

Lady Elizabeth reached for one of the roses in his basket, bringing it close to her nose. She smiled brightly before handing the flower over to Lady Sullivan, "These are the ones! Aren't they pretty? They smell so good, too!"

Lady Sullivan looked at the flower, her green eyes examining them, "They are pretty. The soil here must be really fertile for them to grow like this."

Prince Soma nodded eagerly, reaching over to look at the rose.

"They are! The Phantomhive gardens always had the most beautiful roses!" Lady Elizabeth said. "My mother told me so! She said she never saw any roses that could compare to these!"

Finny chest swelled with pride.

"Really? Never ever?" Lady Sullivan asked.

"Anywhere?" Prince Soma asked.

"Not anywhere! She said they are the most beautiful of all of England!" Lady Elizabeth said. "And that when Uncle Vincent fell in love with Aunt Rachel, he would bring her roses from the garden to court her! It was so romantic!"

Finny blinked, surprised. "I didn't know that."

Lady Elizabeth nodded, "Yes, it's why the roses were her favorites! He would always bring them to her. My mom and dad told me he would stay in the gardens all day long; asking Tanaka and Mister Diedrich help in choosing the flowers!"

"I never heard much about Ciel's parents," Prince Soma said. "So that's how he courted her?"

"Yes! Aunt Rachel loved telling us that story! And Uncle Vincent always had this really loving look when she told it, too!"

Finny looked down at the roses in his basket, his eyes in awe.

Lady Elizabeth put the flower back in the basket. "Why are you collecting the flowers, Finny? Is it for some special occasion? Oh! Like a dinner party? Or a ball? Is Ciel throwing one?"

Finny blushed. He glanced at Snake, who had been listening to the conversation with great attention. His cheeks, too, turned red, and he looked away. This did not go unnoticed to the three of them.

"Snake?" Lady Elizabeth frowned in concern.

"S-Smile looked sad yesterday when he mentioned his mother. Says Emily," Snake still refused to look at her. "He's also been working hard on a case. He said it was a personal, though. Says Bronte."

"We want to cheer him up," Finny explained. "So we thought we could make him a flower crown! Like the ones he has been making this week!"

"B-but… We're not very good at it. Says Emily."

Lady Elizabeth blinked. Once. Twice. Then she gasped. Her smile was radiant, her eyes sparkling brightly as she clapped her hands together, "I'll help you! I'll definitely help you! Oh, please, let me help! Ciel used to love the flower crowns Aunt Rachel made him! If we make one like that, it will definitely cheer him up!"

"You thinks so?" Finny asked.

"Of course!" Lady Elizabeth nodded. "And it will be so much fun! Please, can I help? Can we help?"

"O-Of course!"

Lady Elizabeth's smile only widened as she tried to hold back her excitement.

"Not that I'm against the idea," Prince Soma said, his hand raised as if he had a question. "But shouldn't we try to find out why Ciel is upset first?"

Lady Elizabeth looked at Finny and Snake, Finny glanced at Snake, then at Lady Sullivan and Prince Soma. He could feel his own smile falling.

"Ciel won't tell us," Lizzie concluded. "If something really is bothering, he would never tell us. He never does. And… And I don't know why."

"They said he talked about his parents, right?" Lady Sullivan asked. "Maybe something about this case is reminding him of them?"

Finny tapped his chin, looking thoughtful. "Snake did say that it was a more personal case, right, Snake?"

Snake nodded.

"Maybe Ciel just misses his parents?" Prince Soma asked.

Lady Elizabeth looked down at her hands folded on top of her lap. "But Ciel never talks about them anymore."

Finny sighed. Compared to Lady Elizabeth or Tanaka, he hadn't known the Young Master for very long at all. And yet, in all the time they spent together, Finny had only seen his Young Master openly express his grief twice.

He felt his throat close at the thought of those memories, his chest aching. Never had he felt as useless as those moments when his precious Young Master was in so much pain, and there was nothing he could do to comfort him. He tried holding him, yelling at those who carried out insensitive conversations right in front of him. He treated his injuries, kept him company, and did his best to erase his insecurities when he said he wasn't worth any of it. Finny had tried his best to help his Young Master during those vulnerable moments, and yet, all of his efforts had been for nothing.

His Young Master had a never ending darkness and a profound sadness inside of him. They clung to him like a parasite, sucking his radiance. But the Young Master was also strong. He was proud, beautiful, and clever. He was the strongest person Finny knew… but in those moments, in those two occasions, the garderner was reminded that despite it all, his Young Master was still a child who had all his happiness cruelly taken from him at a very young age.

"Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it," Finny didn't even notice he had spoken until the words came out of his lips. But once they were out, he found himself unable to stop, not caring about all those eyes looking at him. "The Young Master likes to be strong in front of others. I think the only person he lets himself be sad with is… Is with Mister Sebastian. But he is the Earl, and he thinks it's his job to be strong for all of us. Maybe that's why he won't talk about it."

Soma grinned, "Well, if Ciel won't talk about it, then he doesn't have to talk about it. We'll cheer him up anyways! Let's make him a super special crown!" Soma said. "We'll use all of Ciel's mom's favorite flowers! This way Ciel will have something to remember her!"

"Yes!" this seemed to return Lady Elizabeth's energy, her eyes now determined. "Ciel would love that! Finny, Snake, let's do it!"

Finny and Snake looked at each other, smiling before nodding.

Prince Soma was quick to stand up and go towards Lady Sullivan, pushing her wheel chair as Lady Elizabeth guided them through the gardens. Snake carried the straw basket, which soon was filled with all of Lady Rachel's favorite flowers. Together, the five of them – as well as Emily and Bronte – picked the best of them all.

Their rich aroma filled Finny's lungs. The sound of the leaves rustling in the wind cheered them on as they went on their adventure. Soon they were talking, jesting, and exchanging stories. Somewhere along the way, Miss Paula, Mister Wolfran, Mister Agni, Tanaka, Bard, and Meirin all joined them.

Every time Finny looked, he saw that Snake was smiling, seemingly happier and relaxed than Finny had ever seen him. The sight made Finny's heartbeat quicken and his chest grow warm.

With a smile of his own, he knew with great certainty that this was what having a family and a home felt like.

It must have taken them hours to collect all the flowers and braid them together into a full and colorful crown, but for Finny, this moment could have gone on forever and he would not have even noticed. Somewhere along the way Prince Soma and Lady Sullivan made flower crowns for Mister Agni and Mister Wolfran. In fact, soon all of them were wearing one, all of them gifts from someone else, including Tanaka; the former head butler had even knelt down to the floor as Lady Elizabeth crowned him, the two smiling at each other as if remembering something from the past.

The Young Master's one was the prettiest, though. With rich blood red roses, fragile and soft orange blossoms, and embedded with tiny baby breaths, the crown was full and elegant, delicate yet strong.

It was nearing supper time when the Young Master finally returned. They were so preoccupied with their activity, that none heard earl and butler approach. The sound of their footsteps, as well as the Young Master's cane, was muted by their loud conversation.

"What is going on here?"

The Young Master looked perplexed. His one visible eye was wide, his mouth open. Behind him, even Mister Sebastian looked just as shocked, as well as slightly confused; there was no sign of the usual anger that would cloud his features whenever they neglected their duties – as they were doing at that moment.

They exchanged looks. Finny met Snake's eyes, noticing how his dear friend's shoulders tensed slightly. The flower crown sat in between the two of them.

"Well?" he asked when no one seemed to reply.

Lady Elizabeth reached towards Finny, her delicate fingers touching his hand lightly. Finny looked at her to see her smiling at both him and Snake. When their eyes met, she nodded encouragingly.

Swallowing the lump on his throat, Finny got up, grabbing the flower crown. Together with Snake, the two walked towards the Young Master, whose confusion only seemed to grow.

"W-We wanted to give you this!" Finny bowed his head as he shoved the crown towards the little earl.

"W-we noticed you were upset. S-so we wanted to cheer you up. Says Emily." Snake's voice shook almost as much as Finny's.

"You… You what?"

"Everyone helped us, too!" Finny continued.

"You made this…?" the Young Master asked. "For me?"

"Yes. W-We hope you like it. Says Bronte."

There was a moment of silence. Taking a deep breath, Finny finally found the courage to look up.

And he was glad that he did, because in that moment, the Young Master gave the two of them the most beautiful smile Finny had ever seen.

"Thank you."

I'm uncertain of what else I can say. Though I promised honesty – and honest I was – I feel as if I am leaving you with nothing more but my rambling. You'll know, as you read this, that although I said I would break my silence, I am still keeping secrets. If I could be selfish one last time, I ask you not to concern yourself with those. Like I said before, those are things that I wish to take to my grave Do not, however, mistake my silence for shame or regret. The things I did, I did out of necessity to accomplish my goals. I do not regret them. Many of them were wrong, many were despicable, and part of me does wish that things could have gone differently, that life had not created a situation where that was the outcome that would best benefit me and my agenda. Yet, if I were to relieve many of those moments, and were I of sound mind, I would not have changed a thing.

But those were my choices and my wrongs, my sins to bear, and I'll bear them proudly, even if silently. Perhaps it is just another part of my selfish nature not to wish to impose them on anyone but myself and Sebastian. They are my evils, – our evils, for we have done them together, and among the many things we share, that is perhaps what makes our bond strong – and I will not have you, whom I've grown to care so much for, tainted with their knowledge.

The feelings expressed in this letter, though, are genuine. I know I've repeated these words numerous of times, but their importance cannot be overstated; these words as a true as I could make them, and I hope that you were able to find some small satisfaction and appeasement despite their nonsensical nature. If you are to take anything from this letter, take my eternal gratitude, and my affection. Know that, while facing the cold darkness, your presence helped remind me of what the light was like. The light, however, is not a place I can – neither do I want – to reside, and the darkness is not a place where you should travel. With that in mind, I wish you the greatest happiness in the world as we part ways for the last time.

Ciel put his quill down. A single blue eye stared at the letter, reading over its content. The sound of the heavy rain tapping against the window in his study created a comforting melody, one that he heard many times during his childhood as he played in this room while his father worked.

With a sigh, he folded the paper and placed it inside the envelope, sealing it before he could change his mind. He turned towards the window, watching the rain.

How fitting that today was the day that the six days streak of sunshine was finally broken.

A knock snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Young Master?" Sebastian's voice called from behind the heavy wooden door.

"Come in, Sebastian," Ciel said. The demon did as he was told, walking into the study with grace, his uniform perfectly clean, not a single wrinkle to be seen. "Is everything ready?"

"Yes, my lord," there was a hint of a smile on his face, his red eyes sparkling with delight. "The carriage should be here in a few moments."

Ciel said nothing. He stood up, letter in hand, and walked around the room. His face betrayed no emotion, his eye cold and unreadable as his mind went over the information they had gathered.

"Are we sure of this lead?" he asked. "Viscount Druitt is hardly a reliable source, after all."

Sebastian smiled this time, "I agree that in the past he has been… troublesome." Ciel snorted. He was now standing in front of the chess set he and his father used to play, where he had placed the flower crown Finny and Snake had made for him. "But I have checked his story and his information. He does not appear to be lying, my Lord. Or, at the very least, he believes his own words."

Ciel placed the letter next to the flower crown. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lip, but he was quick to mask it away.

"Then if he's lying, it's because he had also been lied to," he concluded.

#black butler fanfiction

[impactmintsfresh]

hello love! would it be possible to request something with daddy!stucky where the reader’s favorite activity is playing with bucky’s long hair, and steve surprises her with a hair styling play set with fake scissors and everything because he loves to watch bucky and their baby play together?

Of course! I love this idea, it is so super cute I hope I did it justice.

Word Count : 1.6k

Warnings : Ddlg relationships (SFW)

Steve smiled as he came into the living area. Bucky had fallen asleep with you on the couch and when you couldn't wake him up you had started playing with his hair. Tangled was softly playing in the background and Steve could tell Bucky was faking but you were too engrossed in braiding the couple of strands of hair.

You had heard once that you can braid love into peoples hair, it sounded strange at first. But one night Bucky had woken screaming from a bad dream, with Steve away you had helped. You'd gotten Bucky some water and when he refused to move from his spot on the edge of the bed you had sat on your knees behind him and began braiding his hair.

The feeling of your hands through his hair, the slight pull as you twisted the strands together had been just enough to keep his mind anchored in the present. You two had stayed like that for a while, before Bucky felt your hands leave his hair and he turned to pick you up and carry you to bed.

You loved to play with his hair now, when you were feeling bigger you might wash it for him or tie it up. But when you were feeling little you liked to put little clips and sparkly things in his hair. Aunty Nat had once gotten you glitter spray but your Daddy had really not liked that you had gotten a spanking and a time out. Daddy Steve had snuck you some snacks though and told you that he thought Bucky had looked like a very pretty fairy princess.

Steve felt his heart melt looking at your little tongue sticking out as you concentrated on clipping the butterfly on just the right part of Bucky's hair. You had once packed them into his mission bag so he could keep his fringe out of his face when he was fighting, Sam had bullied him for a bit about it until Bucky snapped. He wore them though, you couldn't see and had no way of knowing but he wore them for you. Wasn't like anyone was going to live to tell.

"What you doing to Daddy there my love?" Steve was whispering as he came into your view, not wanting to wake up Bucky.

"Making Daddy pretty for you." Bucky's eyes flew open at that, knowing Steve the cheeky shit would never let it go. "Daddy you awake!" You clapped your hands and passed Bucky the pink plastic mirror so he could see your work.

"Oh wow Baby, look at that!" Bucky twisted making sure he got to see all of the different styles you had done in his hair. There were at least three different types of plaits, one ponytail, one bun, and what was probably a knot that wouldn't come out without some serious conditioner.

Bucky held up one of the braids. "Is this a new one you learnt Baby?" You nodded very seriously, you had spent ages learning different styles when Bucky was away for him. Steve tried to hide his laugh as he looked over Bucky.

Steve picked you up and carried you into the hall. "I have a surprise for you, my love." You wiggled around in his lap trying to find the present, but Steve held you firm making sure not to drop you. Picking up the box, he walked you back to Bucky while you whined and tried to peek.

You excitedly ripped open the box as soon as you could, revealing a pink case. You looked at Steve confused, who just smiled and helped you open it. Inside were a bunch of plastic hairdressers tools, everything from straighteners to scissors for you to use on Bucky. Steve was kinda hoping this would stop you tying knots into Bucky's hair but also because he loved the look of peace on Bucky's face when you played with him. But he knew there was only so many times you could braid the same strands and tie the same couple bobbles and clips in.

Of course, you complained that Bucky wouldn't let you try them all on him now insisting that you all needed to go to bed. But you had the perfect opportunity tomorrow when Bucky and Steve had the day off.

You started by making Bucky tip his head over the side of the bath so you could wash it. Normally when you washed Bucky's hair it was soft and loving while you were in a hot bath together. This time it was a little more… ruff and ready. You put a towel around the back of his neck and grabbed the shower head.

"is ok Daddy?" You forgot to check the water on your hand and sprayed the freezing cold water right on the back of his neck. Bucky tried not to swear.

"Oh um a little cold there Doll?"

"Okie!" You turned the water all the way up, still not touching the water.

Bucky felt the skin of his scalp burning off, and sent a silent prayer to the AI to figure this out. Thankfully the water quickly returned to the normal temperature of his shower, and he made a mental note to figure out a way to thank FRIDAY.

You rubbed the shampoo into Bucky's hair after it was nice and damp, not thinking too much about any soap that may have dripped into his eyes. That was all Bucky could think about though as his eyes started to burn. He tried to subtly wipe away the suds but he startled you, making you drop the showerhead onto the floor.

The shower head sprayed water all over the bathroom and with soap in his eyes Bucky couldn't see where it was to grab it and stop the water. The screaming brought Steve, who couldn't stop laughing as he turned the shower off. He had the pair of you go and change out of your soaked clothes before you were allowed to play hairdresser again.

You didn't have a plastic sheet so you settled for cutting a hole in a bin liner, Bucky tried to tell you that it was needed since the scissors were plastic but Steve had smacked the back of his head for trying to ruin your fun. Bucky grumbled about not being able to move his hands, but was excited for you to start playing with his hair.

"Daddy, how do you ant your hair?" He watched you bounce behind him in the vanity mirror, feeling himself smile at your eagerness.

"Well I have this very pretty Dame letting me take her out to dinner tonight and I want to impress her." He watched you duck your head and smile.

"Sounds special."

"Oh yeah see she has to be the smartest, funniest, kindest woman I know and she's giving silly ole me a chance so I gotta pull out all the stops." You were really laughing now. You smacked Bucky lightly with the plastic hair drier.

"-addy stop."

"Only if you give me a kiss, Doll?" You lent round and kissed him on the cheek. "Hmmm I guess that will do. Now Darling, I want you to make me look very handsome."

You couldn't help but think he already did, but decided you would try a new braid style you had been practicing really hard that aunty Yelena had shown you.

You started by pulling sections on Bucky's hair and using the scissors to 'cut' them. "This long?" You held up the hair for Bucky to see, it was from the back and he couldn't even work out how much was going to be 'cut' off.

"Looks perfect Baby." You smiled and continued to pull and play cut all of his hair. Bucky closed his eyes and focused on the feeling of your fingers.

Bucky felt like his heart was going to give out as he watched you try to use the fake blow dryer on his hair. When you realised it wasn't going to dry his wet hair you started blowing on it yourself. You cheeks all puffed up and the soft air blowing against his head had Bucky falling in love all over again with you and your innocence.

Eventually thought, you realised that was never going to work and called Steve to help you use the big girl blow dryer. Steve stayed after that watching the way you were so hyper focused on what you were doing you didn't notice your tongue sticking out again. When you played hairdresser with Bucky next time you might ask him silly questions about his day and make small talk like a real hairdresser but this time you were so focused on making his hair pretty for your date.

You twisted and braided all the different strands until it sat perfectly. With each twist you tried to think about all the different things you loved about Bucky, all the ways he was special and important to you thinking that they would get trapped in his hair and stay with him.

Bucky had long since closed his eyes again, overwhelmed by the feeling of someone spending so much time to pamper him. He listened to your little murmurings, not quite words but little sounds he treasured.

When you were done you held the hand mirror up for him so he could see the back. He smiled knowing exactly where you had gotten the idea from home. He didn't say anything, just picked you up and spun you around. You had laughed when his arms ripped though the stupid bin liner and laughed even harder as he kissed your face all over.

"I guess you like it?"

"Oh Baby, it's so perfect! Do you think my date is going to love it?" You giggled clinging on to him nodding.

#Thank you so much I loved writing this <3 #Ask #Anon #Request #myfic #Steve x Reader #Bucky x Reader #Stucky x Reader #Steve Rogers #Bucky Barns #Reader #Little!Reader #Dadddy!Steve #Daddy!Bucky #Daddy!Stucky #daddy!stucky x little!reader #ddlg: soft #ddlg: SFW