#my favorite peanut butter loving russian

[yelenasdiary]

Hi love!! I'm so excited your requests are open again for now. I love your writing so much!

How about a WandaNat x R story where R left for a longer mission so in the meantime WandaNat got into a routine without her, so that when R comes back they're still kinda stuck in that routine and therefore are ignoring R a bit. Just some angst with a happy ending ☺️

Overthinking

Pairing: WandaNat x Reader

Summary: Going on long missions were normal but returning home was harder than leaving. 

Angst & Fluff

Translations from Russian & Slovakia: Detka (baby), Krásne (beautiful), Miláčik (Darling)

Warnings: None | 1K

AC: Thank you for sending this! I hope you enjoy xx 

A week ago, you returned from a four-month long mission far, far away from the two people you love dearly. It was hard to leave them, but this was normal. You were Avengers, missions were a part of your job and you all understood that. When you first returned, things were normal as if you had never left. Wanda made the two of you breakfast while Natasha spoiled you with affection in bed like she always did. 

But a few days later, you noticed that your mission had kept you away from your girlfriends for a minute too long. The normal changed, you woke up in bed alone, you had breakfast alone, but you couldn't blame the two women for their new routine. They missed you more than you'd ever know and to cope with the lack of communication while you were gone, they naturally found a routine that helped them wait for your return. 

They woke up at the same time, had breakfast together, trained together, did mission reports together if needed but even though they still did most things together they still had things they didn't go together. Wanda loved the grocery store because it gave her a  sense of normality outside of being an Avenger so she did the grocery shopping for the entire compound. Natasha loved taking her motorcycle for a joy ride to keep her mind at ease and would often leave without letting anybody know but if her helmet was gone, nobody questioned her she was.

As for you, all you wanted was to be with them. All that time spent away from them made you realize just how much you loved them both so deeply. You knew they didn't mean to be ignoring you, they didn't even realize they were doing it but you missed them and the silence was getting a little too much for you to keep to yourself anymore. 

"Wands, darling!" You smiled as you entered the compound kitchen to find her unloading the groceries she had just brought, "let me help" you added. 

"Thank you baby" she smiled as you handed her a tub of yogurt to place in the fridge.

"So, I was thinking, how about I cook for us tonight? Just the three of us" you offered. 

"But you never cook?" Wanda cocked a brow at you. 

"I know, but I just thought we could do with something new" you replied. Wanda nodded, "well, okay krásne, dinner would be lovely" she smiled before kissing your lips softly. Your smile only grew bigger with excitement to finally spend some alone time with your girlfriends. 

----

The kitchen was a mess, your idea was to make Wanda's favorite meal, cholent. A slow cooked Jewish stew and peanut butter sandwiches for dessert. You had set the table and asked that the others would make their own plans for dinner, respectfully. Candles helped cover the burnt food smell while you dished up three plates and placed them on the table. 

"Something smells amazing" Wanda said as she entered the room, startling you. 

"I'm glad you think so" you chuckled, "I made cholent" you added. Wanda's eyes lit up, "you didn't have to spoil us" she replied as she took a seat at the table. Natasha followed behind Wanda, coming up to you and placing a kiss on your cheek. 

"Well, I was gone for too long" you admitted, taking Natasha's hand as she led you towards the dining table. "This is my way of making up for lost time" you added, taking a seat. 

"Detka, you have nothing to make up for.  We're just glad you're home" Natasha said, sitting across from you and Wanda. Your eyes dropped slightly at her words, your mind wanting to say something about the slight distance that had been placed between you and them, but you didn't want to ruin a good night. 

"Honey, what is it?" Wanda asked, placing a hand on top of yours. 

"It's nothing" you looked to her, brushing off her question with a light smile but she didn't buy it, not for a second. She tilted her head slightly, giving you that look. 

"Did something happen on the mission?" Natasha asked, looking between you and Wanda. You shook your head, "No, the mission was fine" you replied with a sigh. "I just…I know you both don't mean it, but I can see you two worked out a new routine without me…" 

Natasha looked to Wanda then back to you, "I missed you both so much and I just want tonight to make up for me being away for so long" you added. 

"Detka, I'm sorry" Natasha rose from her seat to sit on the other side of you, taking your free hand in hers, "we didn't mean to make you feel ignored. Wanda mentioned how exhausted you looked, and we thought it was best to let you sleep in and to give you some time to relax" Natasha explained. 

"We were going to wait until the weekend, but Nat and I have booked a little weekend getaway for just for the three of us miláčik" Wanda said. 

"We wanted to let you recover and do any mission reports before we stole you from everybody for a few days" Natasha added. 

"I am so stupid!" You shook your head, "here I was thinking you guys had found a way to do life with me on the side" you admitted with an eye roll. Wanda and Natasha chuckled, "oh detka, you overthink to much" Natasha said. 

"We could never do life without you or with you on the side-lines, you are our life" Wanda chipped in, placing a kiss on your cheek. Your cheeks warm with embarrassment for allowing your thoughts to get the better of you, "can we please forget I ever said anything and enjoy dinner?" You asked, an embarrassed smile tugging at your lips. 

After dinner the three of you cleaned up the kitchen and cuddled up on the sofa in the compound living room to watch one of your all-time favorite movies. Wanda twirled with your hair while Natasha gave your feet a massage. 

"So, where is this cheeky weekend getaway?" You asked. 

"For us to know and for your pretty little mind to think about" Natasha replied with a playful wink. "Oh, come on! Tell me!" You begged. 

"That would ruin the surprise" Wanda said, "I'm sure you could wait" she added to tease you before catching your lips in a kiss.

Taglist: @boredandneedfanfics | 

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#yelenasdiary asks #anon #wandanat #wandanat x reader #fanficiton #marvel #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #black widow #the scarlet witch

[stuckinstrangerthings]

Senior Year - It's a tie (part 3)

Pairing: Eddie Munson x fem!reader/ y/n Henderson

Context: y/n is Dustin's big sister. The events of S1 to S3 have happened with y/n being a part of it to some extent. S3 ends differently with Hopper escaping the Russians with Joyce and Murray. Joyce and Hopper made it to Enzo at some point and they are now happily dating. Joyce didn't move to California so the gang is all together in Hawkins.

Dustin's and y/n dad died a few years ago. He was Hopper and Joyce's high school friend so they are very close to the family. Hopper is y/n godfather.

I don't know yet if some of the events of S4 will happen in this serie, but I can promise that Eddie will be safe if they do.

Summary: Y/n is starting her senior year as Eddie's starts his third one. They know each other from being in the same high school, but are not really friends. She likes him. Good thing her little brother is now a part of the Hellfire Club.

Warnings: (for the whole serie) mention of dead parents, mention of drugs and alcohol, swearing, slow burn, flirting, mutual pining, fluff, friends to lovers, smut 18+.

Author's note: I want this will be a serie. English is not my first language. Also, this is my very first time writing fanfic. Please feel free to comment and give constructive criticism. Thanks!

-----

Today's study time is at the Munson's trailer. Physics test tomorrow. It's not your first time here but it is your first time studying in the coziness of Eddie's bedroom. You like it. Him letting you in is little universe. His room is messy and so full of stuff but it's so him. The posters, the cassettes, the books, the guitars, his art... Eddie everywhere. You feel confortable and so does he. You got in this little routine of studying at your place or his place and it's peaceful.

You take a break and start looking at all of his cassettes while Eddie devours the peanut butter cookies you made.

"Those are delicious" he says moaning "See anything you like?" he asks.

"Nope" you quickly reply.

"Ouch" Eddie.

You laugh "No seriously, I see a few bands I do know and appreciate. Like AC/DC, Metallica and Black Sabbath. But I don't know much about metal. You'll have to give me metal music lessons... if you want to".

He smiles "I'd like that. So what kind of music do you listen to?".

You smile softly and you join him sitting on his bed "Well, my father was a big fan of music. Specially rock, but anything, even a little bit of country. He had this huge vinyl collection. To name a few, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Lyrnd Skyrnd, ZZ Top even Dolly Parton. I love all kind of music but anything in my dad's music collection holds a special place for me".

"Most of those names are classic rock legends. I respect that... but you lost me at country and Dolly Parton" he grins.

"There will be no disrespecting of Dolly in my presence. Or I will retaliate by giving you country music lessons" you threaten.

You both laugh "I also like more recent girly stuff like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper of course. They are icons. Girl power".

"Oh yeah, what are your favorite songs?" he asks.

"Girls just want to have fun all though the night" You say as you look into his eyes with a little smirk.

He blushes and smiles "Oh I see what you did there miss, putting those two titles together to make it sound more dirty".

"Ok, what about you? Any favorites by those legends?" you tease.

"Crazy for you like a virgin" he proudly responds. Using your own technique right back at you.

It's your turn to blush. "Ok, it's a tie on this round! I have to say, I am impressed by your Madonna knowledge"

"Ok, now what about movies?" he asks smiling "I already know horror is not your best categorie".

"I suppose it's yours?" he nods with enthousiam "Oh boy, future movie nights won't be easy" you say playfully rolling your eyes.

You both smile "I like sci-fi, action, fantasy, comedy. Not a big fan of romance movies" you continue.

"No? Not a fan of Sixteen Candles?" he asks mockingly.

"No way! Have you seen that movie? It's just plain creepy... yuck" you grimace "But I did like Breakfast Club however! Don't think it qualifies as romance. By the way, meant to ask you, is Bender inspired by you or the other way around?" you tease.

He throws his pillow at you. Big grin on his face.

"Ok, favorite movies?" you ask.

"Horror: The Shining" he responds "Not horror: Ghostbusters. What about you?"

"Read The Shining, could not see it. Too scary. The twins... Very favorite movie is Back to the Future. Clear winner. For my second, i'm right with you on Ghostbusters. Loved it".

"Really? I'm impressed. Favorite character. Venkman?".

"Nope, no integrity. Ghostbuster is a serious business. Spengler is the best. You?".

"Spengler too".

You could talk about anything for hours. And you do most of the time. Conversation is easy with Eddie. Getting your attention back to studying Physics... not so much.

#stranger things imagine #stranger things 4 #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #st4 #eddie munson #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson slow burn #eddie munson friends to lovers #eddie munson smut #eddie x reader #eddie munson x female oc

[edsforehead]

Random Eddie HCs and thoughts I have, some NSFW:

- Eddie has absolutely sketched what he imagines you look like naked in his notebook.

- Eddie has posed in front of his mirror naked with a hard on. Sometimes he’ll flex his muscles to see how he looks, others he’ll post with his guitar.

- Sometimes he likes to speak in various voices and accents. Sometimes it’s deep, sometimes it’s high pitch, sometimes a transatlantic accent, an English accent, russian accent, etc.

- Speaking of accents, he’s assigned names and voices to the stray cats around the trailer park. Each one has their own distinct personality. When he feeds them, he greets them in different voices. One day you guys are hanging out on top of his trailer and hear a loud screech nearby. When you look over you see two cats having a tussle about 12 feet away, near the food bowls he’s left out. As one bap bap baps the other, he immediately launches into an old school mafia accent, narrating the fight. “George I told you to keep ya dirty mitts outta my food bowl you see, I saw you take my fish snacks, keep doin that and we’re gonna have a real problem you see!” You’re dying laughing and say “not the fish snack! George!”. He’s looking at you and smiling, both because of the situation and his ability to make you laugh, which is his favorite thing in the world. He feels like a million bucks when he does, a hero, especially if you also touch his arm or shoulder. When your laughter dies down he starts lookin around for something to throw in the cats direction to break up the fight. As he grabs a small branch that fell onto the roof he says “alright, thats enough George, Berny, shows over. I’ll getcha guys more snacks tomorrow” and flings it over so it lands a few feet away from them, causing them to run in opposite directions.

- Eddie has absolutely tasted his own cum. A few times, actually. The first time was out of curiosity, to see if it was as nasty as people seem to act like it is. After jerking off, he dips his finger into one of the sticky puddles on his chest and brings it to his tongue, immediately making a disgusted face before the taste even hits him. When it does, the expression melts away and he thinks, that’s actually not that bad. It’s salty but otherwise kind of neutral to him, though he can imagine why some people wouldn’t like it. The second and third time, it was mainly to make sure his first impression of it not being so bad was correct, and also he wondered if someone else would like his taste, if you would like his taste.

- Eddie loves peanut butter. Whenever he makes a pb&j sandwich, he’ll layer on a thick serving of peanut butter and either a thin swipe of jelly OR a heaping, dribbling pile of jelly, no in between, which he eats with a glass of milk. He thinks it’s the best thing ever. When he’s done he licks his fingers clean of the peanut butter & jelly that dribbled off, and licks his plate clean.

- One day you come over and he makes you a pb&j as a snack, while you’re munching away you see him dip his fingers into the open jar to scoop up a thick layer of peanut butter and start to lick his fingers clean. Your face is frozen into a look of shock and disgust, and when as he starts to go in again for a second helping you yell “Eddie!! That’s disgusting!” And start eyeing your sandwich with distrust. “What! This jar is just for you and me, Wayne has his own, you think I have cooties or something? And we share drinks all the time!” Your only response is to furrow your brow and gape at him in disbelief. “Ugh, fine” he grumbles as he gets up to grab a spoon. When he returns he plops down, scoops up a healthy serving, licks it off, and gives you a wide grin. As though the spoon is going to erase all the finger scooping and double dipping he’s done. You just shake your head, roll your eyes and continue eating your sandwich. It’s too late anyway, you’d already taken several bites out of the half in your hand. He starts talking about new song corroded coffin is writing, and as he does he stretches his legs out underneath the table until one of his feet slides up right next to yours, where he keeps it for the rest of your meal. He likes to find small ways of always touching you.

- As a kid, before Wayne was officially Eddie’s caretaker, his dad would occasionally drop him off at his trailer to look after, particularly on holidays. Whenever he had him on a Halloween Eddie would want to dress up like a hero, super or otherwise. Sometimes it was an honored knight, so he could strike down anyone who threatened those he loved, or spider man, because he wanted to help people in times of need, or sometimes super man, so he could imagine he had the ability to fly far, far away, and have super strength so no one could hurt him.

- Speaking of imagining himself as a hero, as a kid he would often draw himself as one. One with super strength, or a wizard with a magical powers. He’d imagine with a twirl of his staff he’d be could send those who would threaten him flying backwards, or with a few whispered words and a wave of his hands, he’d be able to make whatever he want appear. Sometimes it was a weapon he needed in just that moment, or a steaming bowl of stew, or a pile of magical gold. He’d imagine he had a loyal friend in the form of a fire breathing dragon that was always by his side, and on the occasions it would fly away to feed, he could always count on it to come back and to his rescue just in the nick of time. He’d imagine saving others, his mother, or himself from otherworldly dangers. He often escaped into his own imagination, before reality came knocking and he had to go with his dad on jobs to meet with strange men, face the taunting of his peers, or search the cupboards for food during the many days in a row he was left at home alone.

#eddie headcanons #eddie munson #eddie munson headcanons

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this Week #133 (Year 3/Week 29):

First watch, finally: Louis Malle’s seminal debut feature Elevator to the gallows shot when he was only 24. Blacker than the blackest French Noir and with the groundbreaking, stand-alone score by Miles Davis, "The loneliest trumpet sound you will ever hear".

4 years after Agnès Varda made 'La Pointe Courte', but still a year before Truffaut's 'The 400 blows', 'Ascenseur pour l'échafaud' opened the gates for the 'French New Waves'. All the drama was on Jeanne Moreau's face, as she wanders desperately all night across the dark streets of Paris.

🍿

2 more from Iceland:

🍿 "Welcome to the world"....

My 4th re-watch of Rúnar Rúnarsson's Icelandic masterpiece Echo. It is now one of my all-time favorite great movies. 10/10.

(Photos Above).

🍿 Godland, my 2nd film by tremendous director Hlynur Pálmason (after 'Seven boats'). This ambitious story dominated last year's Danish Bodil awards. It's slow-moving visionary epic, like some of cinema's greatest works.

🍿

Limbo, a new Australian thriller shot in stark black & white in the vast, sparsely-populated outback. A laconic film with even more laconic people. Simon Baker, who was so suave as Jared Cohen in 'Margin call', plays here a character as far from suave as possible, a broken-down, dope-shooting, heavily-tattooed police investigator, sent out to re-open a 20-year-old cold case of a missing aboriginal woman. And the people he encounters are pained like the dying opal-mining town they occupy. Haunting, empty slow-burner. 7/10.

🍿

2 by Louis C.K.:

🍿 Surprise! I love you, daddy was an accomplished and funny look at a father and daughter relationship. Some crude CK humor + a story about creepy 68-year-old John Malkovich seducing a 17-year-old girl, it still stayed warm and real. Very much like the best of Woody Allen, he even wore his traditional glasses, filmed it in artistic black and white, referred to themes from 'Manhattan', and even used the music with a similarly superb ear. But like Allen himself, art followed life, it opened with a jerk-off scene at the office, and you have to separate the 'artist' from his 'art'.

This is my second Outrage CK from the period after his Me-too Masturbatory Fall From Grace (The first was 'Sorry'). He must be an unpleasant jerk to be around, but the two films were great. 8/10.

🍿 Apparently he made a bunch of short films in the 90's. Ice Cream was his second, an absurd piece about a man, a woman, 3 babies and a Mariachi band.

🍿

Re-watch: In 2011(?) Philips ran an international contest called 'Parallel Lines' in which they asked people to create a three-minute short film using only six lines of dialogue: “What is that?”, “It’s a unicorn”, “Never seen one up close before”, “Beautiful”, “Get away, get away”, and “I’m sorry”.

Director Ridley Scott picked the winner, Porcelain Unicorn out of 600 entries. One of his protegees submitted The Gift, a Russian-based sci-fi about a mysterious box. I've always loved them both.

🍿

While waiting for Alexander Payne's latest film, The Holdovers, I watched his debut feature Citizen Ruth, the last of his films I haven't seen before, about religious fanaticism in America. But even though it's a black comedy, my dislike for religious extremism is so intense, I couldn't take it at face value.

🍿

Also, while waiting for Nolan’s 'Oppenheimer', I watched the 1980 documentary The day after Trinity, to fill up on history I didn't know. A useful overview done in informative & sober oral history style. 9/10.

“Peanut butter and Vienna sausages and whiskey…”

🍿

Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould is a 1993 Canadian anthology about the famed pianist. It's true that Gould was a God walking among us mortals, and listening to him play Bach any time of the day or night is the best thing one can ever do. But this artsy, stagey literary hand-job was boring and tedious. Like a religious veneration, it was not interesting. 2/10.

🍿

Les Biches is supposedly one of Chabrol's most famous films from that period. Apparently it's loosely based on Patricia Highsmith's 'The talented Mr. Ripley', with the main characters genders being switched. But I found their motivations confusing and the bi-sexual love triangle shallow and unconvincing. WHY, indeed?

🍿

Whenever I get bored by too serious films X2:

🍿 When my watch list of 1000 art films gets overwhelming, I just revisit the 2005 TED talk that chaotic Swedish doctor/magician Lennart Green gave in 2005. This rumpled sleight-of-hand master is one of a kind. 10/10.

🍿 Or I pop in Mike Judge's Office Space, and enjoy this perfect black satire one more time. "...The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care..." 10/10.

🍿

Wes Anderson visited the iconic JM Vidéo rental store in Paris, and pulled out a bunch of his favorite movies from their shelves. [This 20 min. tour was actually more enjoyable to me than any of the 8 films of his I had seen!]. I jotted down some of his picks for future watches (Kurosawa’s 'Drunken 'Angel', works by Rouben Mamoulian, musicals like 'Meet me at St. Louis', Renoir's 'The Crime of Monsieur 'Lange', Etc.)

The first from his list was Hollywood (1980), a 13-part history of the silent era in Hollywood, by British archivist Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by the distinct voice of James Mason, this YouTube series is, unfortunately, only available in low-res 360p, so I watched only the first episode. It reminded me that I never saw Griffith's 'Birth of a nation', which I need to, at one point. But not today, Satan, not today.

🍿

I didn't like Adam McKay's Don't Look Up the first time I saw it, and I didn't like it again now. I wanted to see a comedy about the end of the world, but this was way too noisy and "Netflix-hip", and still very fake. 2/10.

🍿

A recent 1-hour conversation between Paul McCartney and Conan O'Brien at the Tribeca Festival, in connection with McCartney's new books of own photographs from 1963-64. Lovely, in spite of Conan being extremely self-centered.

🍿

First attempt to watch Empire of the sun, my 17th sentimental movie directed by Spielberg. A sweeping saga, with his usual epic scope & dramatic score, told from a child point-of-view. Also, 13-year-old Christian Bale's breakthrough role. But the distorted white Orientalist focus of the story made it unwatchable for me, and I had to stop after an hour.

🍿

Throw-back to the "Art project”:  

Adora with Glenn Gould.

By the way, Adam Ellis, who drew the second-only Adora illustration in March of 2011, has a new horror film coming up in a few months, 'Dear David' - Yeah!

🍿  

(My complete movie list is here)

#movies

[zooterchet]

My Associates from Harvard, Essex County (The Sudbury Boys)

Justin Walsh: Trained as a USMC cosmetic hygienist.  Dropped out of Marine training after orientation and icebreakers, charged with the sexual assault of the sister of Dan Cheeseman, future lead singer of “The Pogues”.  Joined the Mossad, after the allegation that Dan Cheeseman wasn’t Jewish, for informing the police of the home invasion, attempted murder, and rape of his sister, his beating, and the murder of his mother, while serving as a police support officer for families (the Fraternal Order of the Police).  Dan Cheeseman was expelled from his Synagogue, on United States Air Force orders, paving the way for Justin Walsh’s career in hiking and outfitting supplies, to spot aliens, in the woods, on my advice.

Ivan Tomasic: Son of Russian diplomatic peace agent. Dr. Boris Tomasic, USAF satellite telemmetry, Ivan Tomasic attended UMass-Amherst’s biology program, the veterinary science program, to be a cardio-thorassic surgeon, with his huge, monstrous grip, a disability overcome with pride and courage during his job in highschool at an ambulance technician, coming face to face with death many times; as Ivan would tell you, its not feet of clay that makes you see yourself, but hands of steel, the grip of the cold heart of Croatia.  Originating for the Klaverns of the American South, claiming New York heritage because of his favorite character, “Batman”, a British pot dealer with the New Jersey Mafia, he learned from me how the Catholic Church worked, with Adolf Hitler; as if a Lutheran cage, invisible, without Hitler able to escape, an electric dog collar for a grown man, advised by his wife Eva Braun, a woman with smelly feet from wearing high heels instead of boots, a fake dominatrix (a rape tube).

Ryan Cunningham: Heir to a computer design fortune, and trained in computer management, office international communications, and mainframe design of computer systems for the Department of Defense, Ryan Cunningham found his home in America, from his native South Africa, to be a charming and quaint place, perfect for pot dealing, the beating of Dan Cheeseman for stealing safes he didn’t steal, and of course, his friend and future wife, Abby, who raped him in his sleep and stole his sperm; she felt a job as a ski instructor with broken feet, was far more respectful and honorable, that the United States Senate, and Harvard PD agreed.  He once was told to contact the Triads, to sell Dave Charlebois, myself, marijuana, but the Fitchburg Postal Office, didn’t think it was very funny, that people from overseas aren’t racist, so the cops sprayed the bag with PCP.

Christopher Sweeney: The descent of President George Washington, Christopher Sweeney is a monomaniacal genius, obsessed with the Boston Bruins, his family invention (Skoal chewing tobacco), and of course, the love of the factory, with his philosophy of “just do it”, applied to each person on his line, as an industrial engineer.  Having made the acquaintance of Dave Charlebois, during a “bandit robbery”, attempting to steal a load of coal with pure hashish under the tarp in an eighteen wheeler, he’s found Dave essential to his schemes, as both are Presidential blood, with Dave’s direct relative, Madison, and his cousins, Kennedy, Polk, Bundy, Marley, and Booth, preeminent.  He fears Dave’s old stalker in MI-6′s International Monetary Fund, the ace reporter that holds the DC Comics management compendium’s entire history of character and theory, fearful of Oswald, her family, the man that performed a perfect sniper round, by giving JFK a cigarette with cocaine lined out on the top - “niggers on a sunny tuesday”, as the Ottomans and DC Comics call it.  Booth’s secret, “flavor country”, the swap of two prison inmate cops, is different, a peanut butter sandwich, Skippy and Wonderbread, no jelly, with a Marlboro Red, in high sun on the neck, is much sought after.  It’s how a man, disappears, into another man’s claim of fame.  They say Lincoln, ran away that day, to be the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Joshua Moen: The result of an affair between JFK and a lesbian dominatrix, and a relative of Albert Fish, the House of Plantagenet, removed from power by the War of the Roses and placed in British Knighthood, Josh Moen wanted to be an economic journalist, working at a warehouse, reporting sales goods to corporate and other firms, as a traveling salesman.  Now, he’s an endocrinologist, playing out his dreams as House, the TV character, a Jesuit role teaching anyone who steals TV to be a Robutussin Juggalo, with House’s insights, lines written just for him by Jesuits, former police who went down for rape and murder, but were given pass/fail degrees, to help the police with their crime problem.  Lupus, Dave predicts, will be Moen’s downfall.  Jamaican Jerk.

Jeff Niemera: A 4chan mod, and corporate spy, Jeff Niemera is a psychopathic personality disorder, as evidenced by his 1600 on the SATs, a perfect score, prior to the raising of the ceiling of SAT scores, found racist by Asian-Americans because a lower score means extra help, and a better career, in management, unless you get an 800, you heard about the 1600 rule, and wanted to be a police officer (a DPW worker is what we give you, probably the crew tech, what passes as a manager - the guy that preps the equipment).  Jeff Niemera is a Tuscan Gypsy, specializing in the lira market, to cheat on you, with your wife, and fuck her gently, to discover your flaw, alienating entire restaurant chains for the Canondroga, by ordering lobster sauce from Chinese restaurants when he isn’t on the phone with them, in someone else’s home.  Luckily, Dave buys lobster sauce with shrimp inside the container, the actual lobster sauce.  Despite being banned from pork fried rice, because Dave’s old attempt to lose his virginity wasn’t a hooker (until the discovery was made, in Dave’s flaw, and multiple orgasm analingus and doggystyle was discovered), Dave still quite enjoys local hotspots.

Masha Sheineina: A medical student, and a real life doctor, Masha was cursed with a man’s name, that Dave once attempted to correct, by spelling it, “Moesha”, on his phone, by Ivan was quick to correct him, knowing that it is very important to respect our forefathers, as both Gentiles and Jews.  Masha was Dave’s contact at Brandeis, for a couple years, on Dave’s longterm operation to keep drugs out of Harvard, by getting Masha’s entire drug dealing posse robbed by Lincoln and the “News Zeppelin”, his hypnotic transer array method of personal oration over a drug deal.  Now, Masha has to have a salary, and work at a hospital, and despite being overly pleasant and never making a medical error, they won’t let her be a dental hygienist.  She’s actually good at her job, marking her as a failure in medicine, and a mobster.  Dr. Golden had a similar problem, when he went to prison, and kept setting up sexual assaults, despite wanting very dearly to serve in the Vietnam War.

Kristy Long: The identical twin of Kelly Kathleen, Kristy Long was attracted to Ivan Tomasic because of his freakishly large penis, still held within Lotus Position, making it even more ridiculous and huge.  Despite getting fat because of the size of the penis (and mysteriously matching Kelly’s weight, a simultaneous increase), Dave was somehow attracted to Kelly, but not for the right reasons.  Kelly, worked at a video store, and the Charlebois “Batcave” resource, is Blockbuster Video, shut down by Quentin Tarantino, the Riddler (a Rabbi posing as a Catholic priest, a pedophile).   Dave was briefly made her comic book expert,and Dave was consulted on the meaning of the character, “Batwoman”, a flirt thrown at her by an African Hollander Jew, with a bowler hat.  The company in Amsterdam, hemorrhaged trillions of dollars, and Kristy is now a CIA agent.

Ben “B-Rock” Carl: King Penny, a local hacker out of Fitchburg College and a sandup comedian, posing as “Brian Monaghan”, a local lawyer bullied by the Mob, came into Dave’s life on the freeway robbery.  B-Rock, is an MI-6, Canadian Mounted Patrol veteran, the organization fronted by the Carnegie Institute.  Involved in a scheme, to make Anthony Hannigan famous and rich, by killing the actor meant for his part, “C-Money”, and then replacing Zsaz, a part meant for Headhunter’s actor, with Crispus Allen, Franklin Spencer, a Marine and DC Comics fan who has no idea that Dave Charlebois, isn’t the Joker, his favorite comic book character (Franklin’s favorite character, Dave Charlebois prefers Heathcliff, the children’s cartoon for the Montreal Mafia, MI-6′s “scotch” division of grass dealers, Bruce Wayne).  The real Crispus Allen, dumps a body on you, for a homicide charge, if they suspect you’re a politician, that hasn’t been paddled, by a female state senator.  Dave blew that shot, by seeing Mistress Lucinda, and busting her pimp that carved up a runaway actress in the basement while Dave was fucking, releasing George Lucas from his contract, a similar frame, with the same pimp’s father.

Cam Hollopeter: An Uzbeki framed for a pie insult related to Calvinism, by Josh Moen, also known as “Cryogen Bison” on M3′s early days, Dave came to M3 to avenge Cam Hollopeter, the battle growing so fierce that it made it into Borat, the film, with Uzbeki Jews being called “assholes”, Moen’s powers mighty.  But not as mighty, as Lupus.  One blow, is all it takes, for Batman to kill you.  No matter how long the battle lasts.

Stephanie Tomasic: Ivan Tomasic’s little sister, and an ardent pro-life supporter, she works at Planned Parenthood, killing the children of the poor, for being pro-choice, and refusing arranged or trapped marriage.  There are real abortion clinics, but Planned Parenthood isn’t one, evidenced by Kevin Smith featuring Planned Parenthood policy, in Dogma.  Stephanie Tomasic, escaped all reprieve from Dave Charlebois; until she realized it was Green Arrow, an affair with the First Lady, Dolly Madison, and by Arrow’s Light, the Viennese Dragon she feared in her sleep, was her own brother, recruited by Dave Charlebois, as his Bowman.

[sing-against-the-sky]

Mr. Noodles is instant ramen! I just googled it and it is Canadian, although I didn’t know that hahaha

What shows are you watching? I can’t wait until tomorrow after work when I can get actually zooted and enjoy myself. We should vibe again hehe

🪩

Oh I love instant ramen! My favorite thing to do is put a spoonful of peanut butter and some sriracha on them. It’s delicious.

I’m watching Russian Doll and Ted Lasso! Been putting off watching them but really enjoying both!

I would absolutely LOVE to get zooted and vibe with you tonight baby! Sunday night is like your Friday night right?

#🪩baby #🪩 anon

[jt-comphet]

me (gay) 🤝 nikolai knyzhov (a hockey player)

“be gay, do crimes”

#i’m the be gay #and he is the do crimes #i stand by this #i’m realizing i don’t have an over complicated nikolai knyzhov tag... #hmmmm #my favorite peanut butter loving russian #there we go #my post #nhl #hockey #nikolai knyzhov #sjs #san jose sharks

[becaeffinmitchell]

Fic: what i have (is who i carry home) (1/1)

Summary: Chloe, as it turns out, loves Valentine's Day.

Of course she does. Beca can't say she's surprised in the least.

aka, five Valentine's Days Beca Mitchell's had.

Note: After ten thousand years, I’m free! Or, you know, after eight years, I’m finally posting my first Bechloe fic. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone 🥰  Gif credit goes entirely to @evenstars​ (thank you so much again!)

Words: 4,954

Read below or on AO3!

--------

i. 2012, Freshman Year, Barden University

There are so many other things Beca would rather be doing.

Like go to the dentist. Actually show up for class. Spend time over dinner with her dad and the step-monster.

Okay, maybe not that last one. Nothing in the world would make her choose that.

But here she is, in that stupid red hoodie, holding that stupid bow and arrow, standing in front of people, refusing to sing that stupid song with Amy.

*

 Later, back at the auditorium where they have Bellas practice, Aubrey's voice is shrill and loud. (As always, Beca thinks.)

"Beca, you really need to be picking up the slack. We need every dollar that we can raise so that we have enough to cover our journey to the semi-finals, and you're dead last in our fundraiser right now."

Amy mutters something under her breath, soft enough for Beca to hear something about — the bus? The Trebles? She doesn't really know. Whatever it is, it's not something she wants to get in the middle of.

"Maybe we can think of something new to do." Beca's tone is dry, and she schools her expression into something neutral on her face, her head tilted slightly, knowing that Aubrey has to know she isn't just talking about the fundraising activity.

It's just — she can feel the potential of these girls, okay? And it's such a shame that they're stuck doing the same three songs, over and over. If she could at least try, show them her arrangements, maybe they'd have a fighting chance.

"I have the pitch pipe, and I say we do this exactly how we have been doing it."

Beca is about to say something snarky, something she knows is going to get under Aubrey's skin, when Chloe's voice rang out beside her.

"It's okay. I'll do it with Beca tomorrow."

She hasn't even noticed Chloe approaching them in the midst of this, so her head whips around so fast at the sound of her voice.

"Don't you have a class during that time, Chloe? That's the whole reason why we couldn't pair you up with Beca." There's something about Aubrey's clipped words that is super careful and controlled, like there's more that she wants to say but isn't.

Chloe shrugs, before turning to Beca with a beaming smile. "It's okay, skipping out on one Russian Lit lecture won't make a difference."

 *

 Chloe, as it turns out, loves Valentine's Day.

Of course she does. Beca can't say she's surprised in the least. She thinks she doesn't know anyone who's more enthusiastic about everything and anything.

There's something about Chloe that feels like embers starting at the base of Beca's dead, cold heart, warming it up and turning itself three sizes larger.

It's not a thing she wants to unpack right now; she's not the type to get attached to people, and especially not when she's going to go through with her plan, and leave at the end of the school year. It doesn't matter if her dad helps her or not.

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Chloe's voice, melodic as it comes, breaks the silence as they walk towards the south quad. She looks ready to go through the entire residence hall, her angel wings bouncing behind them.

"It's a day corporations literally invented to convince everyone to buy cards and chocolates and flowers at jacked up prices, so..."

Chloe lets out a happy sigh. "Maybe so. But it's also a day to celebrate love! And love is so awesome. I love love. And I'm not just talking about romantic love, though that is nice. You can also celebrate the love from all relationships in your life. Like your best friends, or your parents, or your siblings."

Beca raises an eyebrow, because Chloe is just so goddamn earnest. She tugs at her hoodie. "Let me guess, you and shower guy have a date?"

"Who, Tom?"

"How many shower guys do you have?" There's a beat. "Actually, don't answer that."

 *

 So here she is, still in that stupid red hoodie, still holding that stupid bow and arrow, standing in front of people, and singing a duet with Chloe Beale.

 *

 The next morning, Kimmy unceremoniously drops a box at the foot of Beca's bed, a loud thud waking her up.

There's a sleeping mask, a whole clip of flash drives, two huge jars of peanut butter, and cans of Red Bull in the box. There's also a card, and her name is written carefully in the middle of an envelope.

Happy Valentine's Day, Beca!!!! I've said this before, and I'll say it forever: I'm SO glad that I met you. I LOVE that you love music like it's the one thing you can't live without. It's something that really resonates with me, too. You make us better. :) :)

xoxo,

Chloe!

 *

 Beca drifts off to sleep that night, the music still playing in her headphones. She's wearing that sleeping mask across her eyes.

 ------------

ii. 2014, Junior Year, Barden University

 The thing with Jesse is, he really loves these grand gestures of romance.

Sometimes Beca thinks that that's his favorite part. It's almost like he's in love with the idea of being in a relationship.

Worse still, in love with the idea of her, like she's this perfectly scripted character who exists for him.

Last year for Valentine's Day, Jesse had shown up at her dorm. Well, outside of her window actually, boombox on his shoulder. She'd tried not to wince, her lips pressed together into something resembling a smile (she hopes) to the strains of In Your Eyes, at the ungodly hour of dawn.

It isn't even that she had just gotten to sleep like, two hours before that. Or the very clear and enunciated "fuck off!" that her neighbor gave them, complete with a dramatic slamming of her window. At least she doesn't have to deal with that now, now that they've all moved into the Bellas house, newly renovated.

It was just a lot, right? And maybe she should have been a better girlfriend to anticipate it this year, or at least match some of that. Rise up to his level, or something. She just has a reservation to a fancy Italian restaurant in Midtown, and she made that way in advance. So maybe she gets points for that?

January rolls into February, and she dreads it. Every day is a countdown to The Fourteenth.

 *

 Here's the more pressing thing: Chloe seems sad. Not all the time, but Beca catches it occasionally.

She presumes she knows her best friend pretty well by this point, until she's doing things like failing a single class on purpose so that she doesn't graduate. For the second year in a row.

And Beca gets it, at least on an abstract level. If she starts thinking about what comes after graduation — and that's in a year and some — she gets nervous, too. But in no version of her reality does she get so paralyzed with fear, that she would opt to repeat her senior year like it’s groundhog year.

She wishes she could know why, for certain. She can't help if she doesn't know what's going on in Chloe's head, but for the first time, it's Chloe's turn to clam up and switch the subject.

So Beca doesn't push. She hopes it's enough to keep her afloat as she works through whatever it is. She doesn't really know what that entails, but music? Music she can do.

She pours her energy into putting together a really solid mix for Chloe; it's all the songs that remind Beca of her, and their friendship. She picks songs and arranges them and removes them before she puts them back in, because it has to sound right.

Beca feels like the world's biggest dork for giving it to her the morning of Valentine's Day.

Well, second biggest dork, because she intercepts Chloe leaving the gift boxes in the room, for her and Amy.

"Hey, uh. Happy Valentine's Day," she says, handing her the flash drive — one of the many that Chloe has gotten her over the years, like she's her supplier — and hoping she doesn't look as awkward as she feels. "It's not anything like your, like, super thoughtful gifts." She gestures in that general direction. "But you're my best friend, so... here."

She gets pulled into a hug, and Beca can't be sure, but it sounds like Chloe's 'thank you' is strained and she's about to cry.

Beca hopes it's enough.

 *

 "So, Jesse gave you just the one earring?"

Beca's back from the dinner. It was... nice? There was a string quartet and Jesse made them play John Legend's All Of Me, and Beca didn't actually die of embarrassment when he started singing along, so she'll chalk that up as a win.

"Yeah, it's like — symbolism, I guess. From the movie." Beca shrugs, chewing on the popcorn she's made that Chloe is currently stealing. She thinks about lightly smacking her hand away, but ends up shifting the bowl so that it's nearer to Chloe.

Does she regret putting Don't You (Forget About Me) in their setlist? Maybe.

Probably not, all things considered, because it worked well together with the other songs, and they did win the finals that year. But it elevated the movie to mythical and legendary status for Jesse, and if he does that arm raising motion one more time during squabbles he wants to get out of? Beca might lose it even harder.

"Is it symbolism or a metaphor? I could never tell the difference."

"I think it was a metaphor in the movie," Beca starts, a thoughtful expression on her face. "But more of a symbol for like, me and Jesse? Oh my god." She presses her free hand to her eyes. "You're such a nerd. Stop making me think deeper about this than I need or want to."

"I just think it's nice," she hears Chloe say.

Beca hums, tone neutral. "It's something, for sure. Wait." She whips her head to face her best friend. "You didn't go out tonight? Ms. 'I Love Love'?"

Chloe chuckles lowly, quietly. "I have all I need here in this house, anyway."

 *

 When Beca goes to the kitchen in the middle of the night for a glass of water, she thinks she hears the soft strains of her mix playing from Chloe's room.

   ------------

  iii. 2017, Brooklyn, NY

 It's apparently the warmest February in New York on record, but Beca is still fucking freezing.

The incessant chill envelops the air, and she pulls her coat closer to her. She's bundled under layers, but the radiator in their tiny little apartment is, as most things in it, almost completely busted.

Jesus Christ. It's cold.

 *

 Amy is convinced she's cold because she's moping, because she's sad about breaking up with Jesse.

Beca knows she isn't, and it's not just the long distance thing.

They'd given it a fair go, and it sucked that he got busier with classes and she tried to solve all of the music industry's problems as an associate producer, working hours trying to make tracks sound... sonically unrotten.

It's not just the long distance thing, because if Beca was honest with herself, it was probably a sign that when he told her that he was thinking of completing his studies in California, her immediate response was that of neutral indifference.

So, she is totally fine.

 *

 Beca hears Chloe singing softly before the door even opens, and she can hear it swing open too, and she knows Chloe is about to shrug her coat off —

"Don't bother, it's also cold in here," Beca says, from under the covers.

Then, her eyes track Chloe as she walks to the radiator —

"I checked, it's working. Supposedly."

"Aww." Chloe strides the distance — not that it's that long — and sits down on their shared bed. "You're so cute when you're grumpy."

"Aren't you freezing?" she chooses to deflect the comment, hugging herself petulantly. "Hey, how was your date with that guy at the clinic?"

Chloe hums noncommittally. "We went for coffee and he double-booked me with another girl."

"Dude. What a dick." Beca feels a flash of — annoyance? Chloe deserves the world. Chloe deserves everything she wants. "I'm sorry."

"I know. It's okay though." Chloe smiles at her. It's that smile that Beca catches that she thinks it's just for her, but she's also a logical person who knows that Chloe has that ability to make people feel like they're the most important person in the world. "I've got all I need right here."

Warmth pools at Beca's stomach, and honestly. It's a nice change from the freezing.

 *

 It's 2 AM, and they're cuddling, because of course they are; because Chloe is warm; because Chloe is an embrace personified; because... Chloe.

Beca stirs awake, and she feels Chloe's breath tickle at the base of her neck. She shifts, not uncomfortably. Then, Chloe's hand drifts sleepily, and lands somewhere on Beca's hip.

And then.

And then.

There is a sudden, startling clarity in Beca's mind, knocking the figurative breath out of her. Her eyes fly open.

She loves Chloe.

And not in the same way where she loves the rest of her found family in the other Bellas.

Oh no, a voice sounds in her mind.

Oh, this is very bad, she thinks.

She can't believe how still she is right now, feeling the entire weight of Chloe's body in contact against her. Feeling her slow, steady breathing against her back. She's not even cold anymore.

Okay. So she loves her best friend. Cool, cool, very cool. That's totally fine. She can handle this.

Chloe's been such a fixture in her life, at every turn; in every note in between the downbeat and upbeat that is her life. Music is in Beca's veins, her whole life, but music flows right through Chloe. She's tucked warmly in the melody, a motif throughout the entire song.

Holy shit, Beca thinks. She's been in love with Chloe for so long, she doesn't even know when it started.

 *

 Okay, so. There's a weird spot on the ceiling, right? And Beca just keeps staring at it, because if she closes her eyes, she will feel Chloe's presence so keenly, pressed next to her.

She can't do anything with this knowledge. She can imagine it now, Chloe giving her a comforting hug but tells her, sorry Beca, I love you but not in that way.

It's five whole years of friendship, of Chloe by her side no matter what, and that is the one thing that she's got that she doesn't want to risk, just because she had this stupid revelation.

God. It's so stupid. It'll pass. Right?

 ------------

 iv. 2018, Los Angeles, CA

 What is really fucking weird, even in the grand scheme of things, is journalists asking her if she's doing anything for Valentine's Day.

Which, like. First of all, Beca's not stupid, she knows it's a way to suss out her personal-slash-love life.

She's kept that pretty close to her chest for now.

But also, there's literally nothing to tell. She's not being defensive because there's something to hide away. Beca is knee-deep in work all the time, and she goes home to an apartment that feels too big for just herself. It's a big change from the entirely too cramped apartment in Brooklyn.

Sometimes she finds herself missing that very specific part of her life. Not the struggling and being unhappy doing work with no integrity, obviously. But Chloe is now a message and three hours ahead, instead of being a daily fixture in her apartment, and it leaves Beca feeling off-kilter.

But maybe that distance is a good thing, after... you know. Revelations.

Anyway.

Her work ethic doesn't stop rumors. She's linked to every guy available — and some not — every single time one of them likes her Instagram posts. She's pretty sure she's had at least two full relationships, according to the National Enquirer.

Theo gleefully sends her screenshots. She tells him to fuck off.

 *

 Chloe Look out, super star! I'm going to be in LA for a good friend's wedding in February!! If you think we're not going to hang, you're sorely mistaken.

 Beca is busy, but she sure as hell isn't going to miss Chloe coming to LA.

 Beca You have good friends outside of the Bellas? I am shocked, Beale.

 Chloe Don't be jealous 😉

 She's not. Not because of that, she catches herself thinking, and frowns at herself. Not because of anything, she decides. It's also exactly how she decides she doesn't have feelings for Chloe anymore, because Chloe is happy with Chicago, and Beca has work, and honestly? Best outcome out of every outcome possible.

Still, Beca offers up her apartment for the long-ish weekend that Chloe would be in town. She's not a monster, and Chloe has like, a mountain of student debt.

It's the least she could do.

 *

 (Beca thinks back to that first performance at the Citadel, just under a year ago. Thinks of all the nerves she's never felt before, while she's walking to the microphone. She's always had the girls on stage with her, but not this time. Her family would be seated in the front row, supporting her no matter how far she goes.

She gets to bring them up on stage this time, of course, but it's also a temporary balm and she knows it. But that's fine, she can figure that part out.

It's the after that smarts a little.

After the performance, after the event, after she feels that pit, growing and clawing from her stomach when she sees Chloe lock lips with Chicago.

After she walks away with Theo, trying her level best to carry on a conversation as if she's not affected by what she'd just seen; trying not to think of all the what-ifs.

After, on the plane back home, when she directs a small smile at Chloe's direction. If she's happy then she's happy for her.

It's the least she could do.)

 *

 Chloe's flight reaches the airport at 7 in the evening, and Beca's right there at LAX, waiting for her to emerge. She can see a couple of people with the big paparazzi cameras, training their lenses at her, but she doesn't care.

There's a flash of red as she sees Chloe running to her, and thankfully she catches her.

"Oh, I've missed you," Chloe says, so earnest and sincere as always; always, and Beca can hear her own heartbeat. She's almost worried that Chloe can too, like a traitorous Tell-Tale Heart.

"Yeah, well, regular sight for sore eyes, that's me." That's good, right? She hits jocularity right in the bullseye with that, as if she can't feel the top of her ears growing hot.

Chloe just laughs; like another kind of warmth. She draws her in again, hand rubbing up and down Beca's back.

Beca thinks she's stupid, for feeling like she's home.

 *

 They get to Beca's place, Chloe appraising the place appreciatively as she wheels her luggage in.

"This is already at least fifty times nicer than our little shoebox in Brooklyn," she observes, and Beca shrugs, a little embarrassed.

"I mean, the label's paying for it, and it's like, it's — it's ridiculous." There's a voice at the back of Beca's head repeating, our little shoebox, and she wants it to shut up.

But it is ridiculous. She has so much space, and two rooms; she sleeps in one and the other one is where she works. She's pretty sure she spends more time in the latter than she does the former.

"Anyway, uh, so here's my sort-of office, it's a bit of a mess right now." She waves her hand around (god, why is she using her hands so much) at the room with her equipment and instruments, before stepping to her bedroom door. "And here's the bedroom, which, like. You should take the bed. My couch pulls out and it's really comfortable?"

"Don't be silly," Chloe tells her, looking back at the king-sized bed. "We've slept in way more crowded spaces. This will be perfect."

Beca swallows, hard. Perfect.

 *

 Falling back into a routine with Chloe is scarily easy.

She's been here for less than three hours, and Beca's already back to being attuned to her. They put on some music in the background, she listens to Chloe talk so passionately about school and all the stuff she's learning, and Beca is so proud.

She brushes her teeth and changes into her pajamas after Chloe does, exactly like how they used to, and climbs into her bed.

"Oh, shoot, I almost forgot," Chloe's saying, and Beca cocks her head curiously to see what she's forgotten. Her best friend comes back with a box, and hands it over to her.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Bec. Also, I don't think flash drives are in fashion now," she winks. "So your Google Drive storage has been renewed, for all the audio files you need to back up. Don't worry, I didn't look at anything else."

"Wh — oh. Oh, right, Valentine's Day, gifts and all," Beca says, and looks at the box in her hand. "Wait, is this —"

"Chocolate from your favorite place in New York? Yessss," Chloe says, a laugh coloring her tone. She settles back into bed. "Not that you have a shortage of chocolate places here, but Amy reminded me of the time she ate most of the last box after how you were saving your favorite pieces, so I thought I'd bring some here for you."

Beca's heart clenches.

"Thanks, Chlo." She's pretty proud of how unwavering her voice is. "I miss it."

"It's been tough for me too, not having you in my orbit," Chloe says, bumping their shoulders together.

"Yeah? Must be extra tough, because Chicago's not around either." Then she's scrambling. "Not that I'm like, comparing myself to your boyfriend in any way."

She sees Chloe's mouth twist to the side. Beca's eyebrows knit together.

"Chlo?"

"He's not my boyfriend anymore." Chloe's words are slow, measured. Like she's afraid of setting something off.

Beca pauses, as she takes it all in.

"Oh. I mean — Are you okay?"

"Yeah. It's been..." Beca sees Chloe's furrowed brows as she thinks. "Three months, almost. Just right before Christmas."

Beca thinks back to Christmas; to the group messages, the online gift cards and food deliveries made in each other's names. Nowhere in her memory exists this piece of information, and she's pretty sure she's not been that shitty of a friend to miss this.

It feels a little bit like being hurt, actually.

"Oookay," she says, licking her lips a little, letting the air out of her slowly. "Okay. Well. Good night, Chloe."

 *

 Beca can't fall asleep, and she's pretty sure she knows why. It's been an hour of staring at the ceiling, and she tries to will her stupid mind to shut down for the night.

She thinks Chloe must be asleep by now; her body clock must be three hours —

"Bec?"

Beca pauses for so long that she thinks Chloe might actually think she's asleep.

"Yeah."

She feels Chloe shift. "I want you to ask me."

Beca wants to be obtuse and frustrating; wants to pretend she doesn't know what she's talking about. Instead, the confusion and hurt win out.

She pushes herself up on her elbows, then into a sitting position. It doesn't feel like a conversation that they should have lying down. She waits for Chloe to do the same, before finding her voice and words.

"Why didn't you tell me that you and Chicago broke up?" Dimly lit by the street lights outside, Beca sees her shift in place, and she feels Chloe's hand reaching for hers. "I thought — well. You know. That we tell each other things."

Which is slightly rich, coming from her, she knows. But still.

Chloe sighs, just quietly. "Because I have feelings for someone else."

Beca blinks, taking that in. It's a weird feeling because she's simultaneously crushed and hopeful, and maybe it's the hour, or maybe it's Chloe's hand in hers, but as her eyes sweep across Chloe's face, Beca is emboldened.

She leans in, and time feels like it's slowing down as she closes the distance and presses her lips on Chloe's, roughly and then temperately.

Beca's not the most impulsive person. In the moments, though, when she is, they always leave her wondering if she'd done something stupid — like punching creepy middle-aged a cappella guys, like leaving in the middle of a fight, like pulling the girls up on stage during her solo set.

Like kissing Chloe Beale in her bed.

So she pulls back suddenly, as quickly as she had started it, an apology already stumbling out. "Fuck, I'm sorry, I just assumed, I'm so sor—"

Chloe makes a noise; something that sounds like no, her eyes so startlingly blue even in this light, and Beca freezes. She's sure her brain is working out some sort of rambling apology or excuse, maybe pass it off as a joke somehow?

But Chloe pulls her back in, both thumbs lightly touching Beca's cheekbones as she meets their lips again.

This second kiss is deeper, slower, more connected. It takes her breath away, as her hand curls at the back of Chloe's neck. Chloe tastes like mint and sweetness and sincerity, and a little like hopeless optimism on Beca's part.

A soft gasp escapes, and Chloe pulls away this time.

Beca has a tentative smile on her face, as she takes in a breath heavily; the questions written so plainly on her face.

Chloe's eyes shine.

"It's always been you, Beca."

 ------------

 v. 2020, Los Angeles, CA

 Having your anniversary on Valentine's Day is good. And bad.

Mostly good, because it means that Beca has that to help keep herself honest and not forget it, because it's impossible to.

Also, she won't forget, but, you know. Just in case.

Bad, especially last year, because it fell right around the Grammys weekend, and apparently when you're nominated and win pretty much... every single category you're in, that's kind of a big fucking deal.

(It started with Best New Artist, and by the time she's on that stage a fourth time, she literally had no other words and nothing but so much gratitude.)

But yeah, so last year's Valentine's Day-slash-anniversary was overwhelming. People contacting her from all corners, wanting to congratulate her and get some sound bites; the internet pouring both support, and scathing critique on her and her music.

Beca wishes she could say she rose above it, that she was as cool as her publicist thinks her to be.

Instead, Chloe had to deal with her, a stressful human ball of anxiety and nerves. Amazing, wonderful, sweet Chloe, just happy to be around her during these exciting and utterly vulnerable times.

 *

 This year, though. This year she's older and wiser.

Hopefully.

This year, the day falls on a Friday, but they've decided to celebrate it the next day and through the weekend instead, because Chloe has a seminar she needs to attend for school, and Theo had packed Beca's entire day with a long meeting.

Key word: had.

At 7 AM, as she wakes up groggily and checks her phone, the invite has disappeared from her calendar, presumably rescheduled for some other time. She vaguely notes the message from Theo about entire teams not being available, and Beca's not going to question the reason why, because she's immediately looking up flights to Ithaca and books the first one out.

 *

 (I'm not private jet rich, dude. Also, carbon footprint. Text to Amy, because of course.)

 *

 Here's her plan:

She'll make a beeline to Chloe's apartment (Beca's been here plenty of times, in the past couple of years; met her friends here in Cornell, hung out with them, appreciated that they're her support circle while she's here), and she'll say something incredibly dorky, and Chloe will kiss her, and then, they will properly celebrate.

God, the things Chloe can do with her mouth; the sounds Beca can get her to make.

Beca doesn’t even bother squirming in the plane seat.

 *

 Chloe I have a surprise!!!

Whereeee are you? 🥰🥰🥰

 *

 Here's what happens instead:

Beca has to fly back home — noun, the place where she lives; noun, Chloe — because while she was spending six hours flying east, Chloe had done the same in the opposite direction; her seminar being canceled (something about the professor being sick?).

She can't believe it.

Okay, she can maybe believe it.

God, the Bellas are going to have a field day with this.

 *

 In the group chat, Chloe's taken a selfie of herself in Beca’s apartment and captioned it: I flew here a day early to surprise Beca, but she flew to Cornell instead to surprise me too 😂

 Emily OMAG YOU GUYS that is SO CUTE!!!!!!

 Beca reads Emily's text, shaking her head, knowing that this is the younger girl's version of restraint.

 Flo One time I thought a guy was going to propose to his girlfriend on the plane, but turned out he was having a heart attack instead.

 Jessica&Ashley #justsoulmatethings

 *

 Rush hour in LA is so horrible, and it's nearly 8 PM when she finally gets back to her apartment. She jogs all the way from the Lyft to her door.

Beca never jogs.

Her own door flings open, and she sees the smiling face of the woman she loves.

"Flying cross country for me is so romantic."

"You did that too," Beca points out, a small smirk on her face.

"Yeah, but you did it twice." Chloe beams, and kisses her again, and again.

#bechloe #pitch perfect #bechloe fic #beca stupid mitchell #and her working through her feelings #kinda #(also please validate me) #my fic

[iheartchv]

Hi! Can I have a TMNT match up, if it's okay? I'm an INFP Aquarius, russian, 19 y.o. I like music (especially folk-music, like Go_A did at Eurovision this year), games like Dragon Age or The Witcher and just fantasy in general (I've read The Hobbit and LOTR trilogy recently!). I can also sing and play the ukulele, piano and recorder. I'm a loud person and sometimes I can't control my loudness, a lot of people tell me to be more quiet and don't scream in their ears, though my friends are more than fine with me, cause I also joke a lot to ease the tension. Appearance: I'm 5.7 (170 cm) chubby girl, short light-brown wavy pixie haircut on the right side (left side is shaved), grey-blue eyes and I wear glasses. I hope it's enough, have a nice day!

Sure thing😄💕

🤔I think you'd be paired with... Michelangelo💛

Mikey would fall for you, and it might be cliché but maybe opposites attract??

His personality matches with yours so perfectly

You both are like peanut butter and jelly, the sun and moon

He can't imagine what his life would be like if he never met you

Your rebellious attitude caught his interest

You like marching to the beat of your own drum, and so does he

He likes to do his own thing, and really respects you for doing your own, too

He loves the fantasy genre, as well

He has played Dragon Age and seen the LOTR movies over and over again

He's down for anything fantasy related with you

He loves geeking out with you

Singing and dancing is a few of his favorite things to do

Looking for a partner or practice some moves? He's your turtle

He likes music and will give anything a listen

He thinks your Russian accent is sexy

He doesn't mind your loudness at all

He thinks that's what make you you

He's not only in love with you, he loves your body

Mikey loves your body, there's more to squeeze and love😘😘😘😘

You're so sexy, baby/babe

His hugs and kisses will surely melt your heart and leave you feeling good from your head to your toes

This turtle boi, this cinnamon roll, will protect you and be loyal to you

Hope it's alright and get who you wanted😆😅

#tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt bayverse #bayverse #tmnt 2016 #tmnt 2014 #tmnt 2003 #tmnt 2007 #tmnt 2012 #mikey #michelangelo #ask #request #matchup #match up

[i-do-trash-fanfictions]

Thera’s Journal Entry #32

I decided to write out everyone’s reactions to Thera’s treats. I also added in a few extras who we weren’t able to give anything this year.

I approached Zavala with a tin box full of Gjallardoodles in my hands. He heard my boots crunching in the snow and turned away from his railing to face me.

“Happy Dawning.” I said, hands held out so he could receive his gift.

He took the sweets gratefully, and nodded. “Thank you, Thera.” He stated, turning back around to the railing. Right before I turned I saw him open the box, put a piece into his mouth, and then close it again. I smiled.

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

I went over to Ikora’s area next. She smiled when she saw me coming, a tin box in my hand.

“Making your way around the Tower?” She asked as she accepted the donut holes, then turned to leave them on a table nearby.

“Yep. Then I’ve got to take care of a few others who are off world.”

She nodded. “Thank you for the treats. And happy Dawning.”

“Happy Dawning!” I called out.

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

I went over to where Osiris stood, fiddling with an object in his hands. I wasn’t sure what it was.

“Hello, Young Wolf.” He said, putting the object down on the table beside him. “It’s good to see you.”

“Happy Dawning.” I said, handing him a tin that had Peanut Butter cookies.

“For me?” He asked.

“Yeah. I go around every year at the Dawning, handing out sweet treats. I thought you might like some.”

“Thank you.” He said, taking the tin with a smile.

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

I headed up the stairs nearby where Hawthorne stood, her hawk, Louis, beside her on his perch.

“Happy Dawning.” I said, handing her the tin box which was full of birdseed for Louis.

“Do you want to feed him?” Hawthorne asked, opening the box. Louis tipped his head to the side.

“Yeah I do.” I grabbed a small handful and held it out to Louis, who quickly pecked it up. If he could smile, I knew he would be.

“Thanks Thera.”

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

I went down to the Annex, where I knew Drifter would be.

“For me?” Drifter asked with a fake gasp and a grin as I gave him the dark chocolate motes.

I smiled. “Happy Dawning, Drifter.”

“Hey, you’ve still got that bounty you need to finish.” He stated.

“I’ve got work to do Drifter.”

“Just don’t forget,”

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

I headed back up to the main are of the Tower.

“Thera!” Lord Shaxx boomed upon seeing me approach, his tin box full of vanilla blades in my hand. “Happy Dawning!”

“Happy Dawning.” I said with a smile.

He clapped my on the back as I gave him his treat. “Much thanks. I will be sure to enjoy these later.”

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

Banshee was next. 

He looked up from his gun as I stopped at his counter.

“Huh? Oh, hey Thera. Whatcha got?”

“Happy Dawning.” I said, leaving his tin on the counter for him.

“Oh, Happy Dawning.”

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

As I headed to the Hangar, I gave Eva her butter cookies.

“Happy Dawning!”

“And happy Dawning to you too, Thera.”

I quickly went over to Tess as well.

“Thank you, Thera.” She said as I turned to go to the Hangar.

“You’re welcome!”

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

Amanda stood and brushed grease off on her pants as she saw me come over.

“What’d you make this year?” She asked, taking the tin and pulling off the top.

“Chocolate ‘ship’ cookies.”

She took one and took a bite. “They’re good! I won’t keep you long. I know you’ve got a lot of other gifts to give out. Happy Dawning.”

“Happy Dawning.”

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

I went over to Saint-14, who stood tossing bread crumbs to the pigeons.

“Ah, hello Thera. Happy Dawning.” He greeted in his kind russian accent.

“Happy Dawning.” I said back, giving him his Lavender Ribbon cookies.

“Thank you. I will put these in my ship, and I look forward to enjoying them later.”

I nodded.

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

I quickly transmatted onto my ship and began to set course for the Cosmodrone.

Upon arriving, I found that Shaw Han wasn’t there, so I left the tin on the table and moved on.

Devrim would be next.

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

“Hello, Thera. Lovely to see you.”

“Happy Dawning.”

“Thank you,” He said as he took the cookies. “You always do make the best biscuits.”

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

Europa was next.

Variks was glad to receive cookies. I explained that I did it every year.

“Variks thanks you, Young Wolf.”

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

I exited his building and had Scout quickly transmatt me to the Exo Stranger.

“Hello, Thera.” She greeted.

“I hope you like blueberry.” I said, handing her the tin box.

“I don’t eat much, since I don’t have to, but blueberry just happens to be my favorite.”

“That’s good. I wasn’t sure what to make.”

“Happy Dawning, Guardian.”

“Happy Dawning.”

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

The Dreaming City was next on the list.

Petra turned after hearing me transmatt.

“Happy Dawning, cousin.” She said as she accepted the tin can.

“Happy Dawning, Petra. I would stop to chat, but I’ve got one more gift to hand out, and then I’ve got to hang out with my friend, Ann.”

“Of course. See you later, Thera.”

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

I transmatted back to my ship to head to the moon, my final destination, to give Eris Morn her cookies. Then I would be heading back to the Tower.

I would usually spend one night during the Dawning watching pre golden age Christmas movies with Scout. This year, Ann wanted to join me. Once I got back to the Tower, we would meet in my room and watch Home Alone, along with another movie of her choice.

Scout transmatted me to the ground, and I walked up the small ramp to where Eris stood.

“Hello, Young Wolf. It has been quite a while.” She greeted.

“Yeah, it has. Happy Dawning.”

She took the cookies, and there was a hint of a smile on her face as she did so.

“Thank you, Thera. And a Happy Dawning to you as well.”

I waved, then turned as Scout transmatted me back to the Queen of Hearts.

“So,” Scout asked when I took my seat in the cockpit. “What movie do you think Ann’s going to pick. We have a pretty good selection of pre golden age Christmas movies.”

“I’m going to try to convince her to watch a Christmas Carol. If that doesn’t work, I don’t know, she’ll probably end up picking Home Alone 2.”

“Probably.”

The ship flew off.

#destiny 2 #destiny #destiny guardians #destiny game #destiny the dawning #the dawning 2020 #the dawning #theras journal entries

[dipplie]

This is how I cope don’t @ me

1: Top 3 pets you wish to have Bunny, Mouse, pet bee 2: Top 3 Disney Movies Tangled, Zootopia, and a close tie between The Princess and the Frog and Wreck it Ralph 3: Top 3 OTPs Nick and Judy (I’m not a furry), honestly probably the other pairings from my 3 (4) favorite movies like Felix and Calhoun or Tiana and Naveen or whatever 4: Top 3 pick up lines Pick me up- no literally please just carry me around like sweep me off my feet no like ACTUALLY like ju- 5: Top 3 summer activities Lying in the grass, listening to music on the swings, drinking from the neighbors sprinklers because you didn’t bring water on your walk 6: Top 3 school memories    -Once in 5th grade we were doing an egg drop, and I put mine off till the day before, so my parents just gave me a jar of peanut butter, and I just put the egg in the jar, and when they dropped it from the school roof it exploded all over the pavement and left a stain for years.    -Another time in 9th grade, a couple friends and I wrote a giant “send nuds” in the snow beneath my friends next class’s window, and some other kids took a picture of it and spread it around, and like the whole school was talking about it for a day or two (though we denied it was us so we didn’t get in trouble).    -And in 12th grade the last day of the 3rd semester, my AP Psych teacher said “you know you guys might not come back after spring break since the covid-19 virus might come to America.” And half the class was like: “I hope so we don’t have to come back haha.” And then we went into lockdown for a year 7: Top 3 things you find attractive Being looked at, Being talked to, Being touched at all oh my go d 8. Top 3 shops I dunno man can I say Build-a-Bear Workshop I’ve never been there 9: Top 3 romantic dates Theme park, Aquarium, Build-a-Bear Workshop 10: Top 3 drinks Milk, Milkshakes, the color purple 

11: Top 3 spices/herbs oh my god im too white for this question I think doritios are spicy, SALT 12: Top 3 apps to use not tumblr 13: Top 3 months of the year not winter 14: Top 3 clothing items Skirt, Bows, Thigh-highs 15: Top 3 kinds of flower Daffodils, Buttercups, Dandelions (yes I’m aware they’re a weed) 16: Top 3 Christmas movies Home Alone 1, Those stop motion rudolph ones, the original grinch 17: Top 3 things you don’t/Won’t miss Angsty middle schoolers, Angsty high schoolers, Angsty people 18: Top 3 games Minecraft, Stardew Valley, All the Zelda games between 2002-2009 19: Top 3 binge perfect tv shows I really don’t watch actually T.V. shows I just watch anime sometimes maybe and youtube series man 20: Top 3 kinds of candy Butterscotch, Chocolate coins, Those little pebble chocolates that looks like fish tank rocks 21: Top 3 ways to exercise/be active Well I have an answer, but I don’t think I can say it~ 22: Top 3 spirit animals (I’ve heard something about this being possibly racist so I’ll approach this wish caution) Bunnies, Lambs, a pet rock 23: Top 3 petnames Honey, Muffin, Sweetheart 24: Top 3 places you’ve been to A yearly carnival my old town had once a year, Disney World even though I almost drowned there, The Arcade in my old town called Bananas 25: Top 3 most used websites Youtube, Tumblr (regrettably), Pintrest 26: Top 3 people you last texted My boyfriend, my friend, my co-worker friend 27: Top 3 hashtags you use imagine using the tags how they’re supposed to be used 28 Top 3 items you can’t leave the house w/o clothes (i’m really funny) 29: Top 3 guilty pleasures I write self-insert sometimes I guess 30: Top 3 subjects of study/classes to take Psychology, Sociology, certain art classes 31: Top 3 things to draw/doodle My OC’s, My friends, inappropriate stuff 32: Top 3 aesthetics Cottagecore, Bloomcore, Wonderland 33: Top 3 things you’d buy if you gained three million dollars Pretty things, Cute Clothes and stuffed animals, therapy 34: Top 3 ways to treat yourself Buying pretty things, Wearing cute clothes and holding stuffed animals, therapy 35: Top 3 cartoon crushes Kyoya from OHHC, Mako from Kill La Kill, Marceline/Marshall Lee 36: Top 3 things to do in the snow Draw in it, make snow sculptures, eat it 37: Top 3 accents to hear Russian, Spanish, idk spanish 2 38: Top 3 scents Vanilla, Cream, Strawberries 39: Top 3 things to do in the rain Sit in the car quietly, make out probably, cry 40: Top 3 cupcake flavors Chocolate, Chocolate 2, Chocolate 3 41: Top 3 fruits Cherries, Strawberries, Grapes 42: Top 3 holidays to celebrate Halloween, Christmas, Valentines 43: Top 3 embarrassing moments My friend jokingly revealing my weird self insert fanfic I wrote in middle school (that was gross don’t ask about it) to my friend group, getting a constant D- in AP Stats the whole semester and the whole class secretly knowing about it, wearing an oversized minecraft shirt in my 6th grade school picture 44: Top 3 crayola colors Seafoam, Canary, Cotton Candy 45: Top 3 things you hope to accomplish in college Get back into theater and actually be included and noticed, not cry in the bathroom, feel cared about by my classmates 46: Top 3 fanfictions you’ve read don’t ask me that you can’t ask me that the last fanfics i’ve read were in middle school  47: Top 3 people you miss right now My boyfriend, Two of my friends GJ, my dopamine  48: Top 3 fears Being hated, Being alone, Being abandoned 49: Top 3 favorite literary devices (oh god it’s been a minute hang on) Alliteration, Juxtaposition, Colloquialism 50: Top 3 pet peeves Saying one thing and doing another, trying to act like you’re being the bigger person by not choosing a side, constant self deprecation 51: Top 3 music artists AJR, 3OH!3, Fake Type 52: Top 3 bad habits BFRD OCD, speaking before I think, lately I’ve been lashing out  53: Top 3 ice cream flavors Cookie Dough, Bubblegum, Cheesecake 54: Top 3 meals you love Bread and cheese, cheese with bread, I like dairy and bread 55: Top 3 things you want to say to someone in your lifetime Where are we going, What are we gonna do, what are you doing onii-chan (im so sorry) 56: Top 3 dog breeds Small, fluffy, actually a cat 57: Top 3 TV shows from your childhood The Amazing World of Gumball, Courage the Cowardly Dog, y’all remember Might Bee??? 58: Top 3 languages you speak/wish to speak Better French, More ASL, I guess Spanish would be useful 59: Top 3 series (book, movie, television) I like the first couple Saw movies but then it went kind of downhill, I eventually stopped keeping up with SU ad AT but they have lesbians now and we love that, and I guess I read Warrior Cats in middle school. 60: Top 3 pizza toppings Cheese, ???, that’s all I need 61: Top 3 youtubers you’re subscribed to Markiplier, Erolds Story, Wilbur Soot 62: Top 3 tattoo / piercing ideas Little Flower earrings, Little flower tattoos, Little flower stuff 63: Top 3 awards you want to win love trust and affection  64: Top 3 emojis 🍄🐝🍋 65: Top 3 things you’d do differently have different parents 66: Top 3 places to be in the world In love, Back up, Purgatory  67: Top 3 things you miss about being a kid Lack of responsibility and pressure, Mental illness, Lack of shame 68: Top 3 baby names Penelope, Theodore, Sofie 69: Top 3 smoothie combos/flavors Grape, Strawberry, Cherry 71: Top 3 turn ons People being patient with me, People treating me equally, Being touched kindly at ALL 72: Top 3 turn offs looking like Tyler1 73: Top 3 recipes you want to try Sugar spice and everything nice 74: Top 3 dream jobs Primary School Teacher, Child Consoler/Therapist, I dunno being a storytime animator sounds nice... 75: Top 3 lucky items Fidget Toys, Stuffed Animals, Random Office Supplies (you know the ones)

[spookyblackwidow]

Sweet Confessions

Author’s Note: Thank you so much for this adorable request!! I’ll admit that fluff isn’t my strong suit, but I still really like the way this turned out! I’m so sorry for the delay, I immediately fell in love with the concept but wasn’t in the right head space to be able to write it. But here it is! With some mild language, and, as always, a touch of angst

Warning: brief child abuse mention

~

Sweet Confessions

2091 words

“Romanoff, there’s an incoming storm, extraction will have to wait. Grab Barton and head back to the safe house, I’ll send you a new flight plan in the morning.”

“Nick, we’re more than capable enough pilots to avoid—”

“That’s an order, Romanoff. Stay grounded,” Nick grumbled and terminated the call.

“Hear that, Clint? Time to turn around.”

They trekked back through the narrow streets outside Lom, the Norwegian air brisk with a mid-March chill. The wind had noticeably picked up, swirling the powdery tops of snow piles. Years of Russian winters had taught Natasha enough to know Nick was right, the weather was about to get a whole lot worse, it was far too late for takeoff.

The safe house was a small cabin situated near the base of Skarstind, a mountain in the Jotunheimen range that could potentially provide some relief from the gathering blizzard, if the wind would be so kind as to shift. As it was, Nat and Clint had to fight their way through nearly a foot of snow and harsh winds in order to take refuge in the cramped building they thought they had seen for the last time.

The majority of the space was the kitchenette and living room, an open area paneled in dark oak. Off the back wall was a small bedroom and a bathroom, sparsely furnished, but functional. Natasha’s request for two queen beds had gone unheeded, but Clint had been gracious enough to allow her the full-sized bed to herself, opting to sleep on the tattered couch instead.

They dropped their bags by the door and set off to warm the cabin again, to stave off the chill that had permeated the building in their absence. Clint turned on the oven and rummaged through their food reserves as Nat lit a fire.

“Whoever packed our supplies is an idiot,” Clint muttered under his breath, pulling out a couple measly slices of bread and a nearly empty jar of peanut butter. “Who the hell sends two full grown adults on a mission in a remote area with so little for emergency food? What if we’re stuck here for a few days?”

“We’d have more if you didn’t eat so much of it earlier.”

“Can you blame me for not wanting to carry it five miles to the hangar?”

“You’re such a child,” Nat laughed dryly.

Their meager dinner was far from satisfying, but they’d both survived on less, and Nat was grateful Clint hadn’t managed to eat quite everything before they had left. The wind howled outside, the snow piling up along the windowsills, disguising just how much had fallen. It was still early yet, but with nowhere to go, they lounged across the couch, counting the knots in the ceiling beams.

“Hey Nat?”

“Mmhmm?”

“How well do you think we know each other?”

“About as well as I let anybody know me. Why?”

“I’ve got an idea. Want to play a game?”

“What kind of game?”

“We make claims about each other, something we believe to be true, so no easy shots like, ‘You’re one half of Strike Team: Delta.’ Guesses only, no prior knowledge.”

“And if you’re wrong? Are we drinking?”

“Oh no, I know better than to challenge you to any competition involving alcohol. I think I still have some M&Ms.” Clint dug through his duffle for a few moments and triumphantly held up a crumpled bag. He poured out the few remaining candies and divided them into two piles. “If I’m wrong, toss me an M&M. Whoever runs out first wins.”

“You’re giving yourself four guesses?”

“You’re assuming I’m going to be wrong?”

“Maybe.” She smirked. “Alright, I’m game. You avoid talking about family because one of your parents, most likely your father, was abusive.”

“Damn, Nat. There’s no easing into things with you, is there?”

“Is that your claim?” She rolled a blue M&M between her forefinger and thumb.

“Only if I’m right,” he smirked, settling into the oversized chair opposite her.

“No cheating.” She tossed the candy, which he deftly caught. “Okay, easing in… If no one’s looking, you’ll drink straight from the coffee pot.”

“Wait, did you hack into Fury’s cameras?”

“I will now,” she laughed.

“If that’s how this is going to go… You love bad jokes, especially puns.”

“And if you tell anyone else, you’re dead, you hear me, Barton?” Nat narrowed her eyes, as if having a sense of humor beyond sarcasm and biting remarks would tarnish her reputation.

“Fine, this is all confidential, we’ll keep it out of the mission reports.” Clint laughed, certain including their secrets, no matter how small, was never part of the game plan. There was a lot to be said, a lot to admit, and Natasha was the only person he was willing to open up to. Of course, she’d only get out of him what she wanted to discover, which could be anything.

“Good. Are we still easing in?”

“Please.” A part of him already regretting starting this game.

“You’re far too lazy to bother matching your socks, even if we’re not on a mission and you have plenty of time to sort your laundry.”

“That feels like pre-existing knowledge.” Clint narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Hey, I may have the blueprint to your apartment building, but I haven’t had a reason to break in yet.” Nat raised her hands defensively and smiled as innocently as she could manage.

“…I’m going to choose to ignore that for the sake of our friendship.”

“Good choice.” Nat winked. “Now’s not the time to give you a rundown of all the information I compile on my associates.”

Clint was never quite sure if she was exaggerating about her surveillance, but given her intense and guarded personality, he knew better than to doubt her; between her various shady contacts and heavily detailed notes, she’d saved their asses on more than one occasion.

“You always give me shit about pets, but if I had to venture a guess—”

“Which you do.”

“—I’d say you’re a cat person.”

“Guilty as charged.” She flashed him a tight smile, her lips pressed firmly together.

“Wait, have you never had a pet?”

“First of all, that was a question, and second, it’s not your turn. You put off washing dishes until you’ve completely run out of clean stuff.”

“Paper plates exist, you know.” He tossed an M&M her way, but she didn’t move to catch it, so it bounced quietly off her lower lip and landed in her lap. “Nat?”

“Sorry, I got a little lost in thought for a second.” She gently shook her head, ate the candy, and forced a smile. “Easing in, let’s go.”

“You’re afraid of spiders.”

“…You’re serious?” A genuine smile spread across her face before she erupted in laughter. “I’m Black Widow, the Slavic Shadow, the Red Death. You really think I’m afraid of an arachnid?”

“Admittedly, no,” he chuckled, “but it’s all I’ve got right now.” It was a lie, but he had no intention of letting her know; all he cared about was keeping her happy.

“Take your candy, idiot.” Nat rolled her eyes and held out a green M&M. She placed it in his extended hand, her fingertips lingering on the flat of his palm for a second or two longer than usual. “You cry at weddings, don’t you?”

“Truthfully, I can’t remember the last wedding I went to that wasn’t for a mission, but if you’re including television and movies, yeah, I guess I occasionally cry watching them. Some of us are human, you know.”

“Hey! I’m human! Emotions just aren’t my thing.” She shrugged.

“They could be, and no one would judge you for it. You know that, right?”

“I’m well aware that you would be fine with it, but most of the world is far less forgiving. This is who I am, it keeps me safe. Now please, take your turn before I run out of patience.”

“You would leave this life behind at a moment’s notice and never look back.”

“Hell no. I’m good at this. I’ve done so much bad in my life; this job—dangerous missions in foreign places to stop whatever villain of the week, no matter how small—is my chance to make it right. Sure, retirement sounds nice sometimes, but I can’t see there being a point where I’ve done enough.”

“Nat, you’re a good person.” Clint instinctively reached across the table for her hand, hoping to offer reassurance in whatever way he could. “I see you, not your past, not—”

“But enough about me,” she shook her head and set an orange M&M in his palm, “it’s my turn to guess. Let’s see… Your favorite kill—and before you interrupt me, don’t—was that fucker in Prague that preyed on kids.”

“I’ll admit, he deserved it, but not all of them do.” Clint shrugged. “The world’s a better place with him gone, I’m glad I had a hand in removing a predator from it.”

“See, I knew you enjoyed at least some of the damage we cause!”

“Aren’t we supposed to prevent more damage? I think you forget that sometimes,” Clint teased, giving her a knowing look.

“Oh, whatever,” she laughed. “Can’t a girl have a little fun? We’re assassins, after all.”

“Yeah, fine, you win, I’m an idiot.” He rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling.

“An idiot that’s almost out of chances.” Natasha smirked as she picked up the solitary red M&M in front of her. “Ready to lose, Barton?”

He tried to hold his smile, he really did, but nerves were getting the better of him. He’d waited months for an opportunity like this, for all the pieces to fall together just right. This wasn’t supposed to be the trip—the snow had moved in faster than predicted, he wasn’t as prepared as he would’ve liked—but there was no doubt in his mind that what he felt was real. He took a steadying breath and met her eyes. This was it, no going back.

“You love me.”

A deafening silence hung in the air, neither of them daring to so much as breathe. The candy slipped from Nat’s grasp and bounced off the edge of the table with a dull thunk. She blinked and looked down, tracing its path along the wooden floor until it rolled to a stop near the fireplace. No one moved.

“Nat?” He just needed her to look at him, he needed to see the truth in her eyes, in the lines of her face, but she just stared at the heat from the fire turning the candy shell glossy and thin. “Did I just lose?”

Finally, she turned back around, her expression blank, but her eyes revealed warring emotions beneath the surface.

“You love me,” she echoed quietly.

“With every fiber of my being.”

She searched his face for signs of deceit, but all she found was genuine earnestness; this was real, and she was expected to process it.

“You’re such a sap,” Nat smiled, laughing slightly, “but okay, let’s test your theory.”

She reached across the narrow table and grabbed his shirt to pull him in, their lips meeting in the middle. Clint slid a hand to the nape of her neck, his fingers tangled in her loose curls. Her grip on his shirt softened, and he felt her hands wind around to his back before twisting the fabric in her fists once more. All thoughts about the uncomfortable positioning ceased, just how close he was to falling off the edge of the chair no longer mattered. He’d imagined this moment countless times, but even his wildest dreams couldn’t live up to reality. He fully lost himself in the moment; all that existed were urgent kisses and racing hearts.

Eventually they parted, their breathing heavy, faces flushed, neither sure when the cabin had gotten quite so warm. Natasha laughed breathlessly and smoothed her hair, grinning like an idiot. For years, passion had been her business, but love? Love was new and exciting and wonderful.

“I guess we were both right,” Nat beamed, joy radiating from her, somehow making her even more beautiful than usual. Clint’s response got caught in this throat, all he could do was smile back. “Should we continue playing or…?”

Clint moved around the table to sit beside her and took her hand, their fingers automatically entwining, a perfect fit, as if this was how it was meant to be all along. “Forget the game, I’ve already won.”

Tag List: @romanoff--natasha​ @clintashaotp​ @baker151910​ @unsociable-hobbit​ @thexploress​ @unholyromanoff​

#clintasha fic #clintasha fanfiction #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfiction #natasha romanoff #clint barton #black widow #hawkeye #otp: a couple of master assassins #affectionate assassins #mild language #fluff #fluff with a touch of angst #pre-avengers #marvel #charlie writes #my fanfic #my fic #join my tag list! #I put far too much effort into this #there are so many little things that literally no one will notice #but I've already accepted that #I went through and explained them all to my beta reader last night #just so someone other than me would understand

[shiro-0197]

Oh bae grrr don't apologize!! I'm just glad your day was alright, and I hope you get some rest tonight!! My day was okay. I was just in front of my laptop since I had classes, and then I finally finished my slides, and had another leo meeting. My brother was a royal pain in the ass the whole day istg, but I'm fine now :) thanks for asking btw!!

Aww but that's so admirable! Gotta love teachers like that, haha. And I totally get that! That one uni I researched is probably the one I've set my eyes on. I've done EXTENSIVE research on it, so I don't want to set my sights on other places. What about you? Do you have any specifics for your future uni?

ikr?? He's just grandpa Kuroo to me istg. He's also an ENTP, and I vibe really well with ENTP's, so haha I think that'll also be cool.

I AGREE SOMUCH. Shōyō is just such a cute smol bean. He'd be the best little spoon, honestly. i agree thoo, they're all amazing characters, and probably would be so fun to hang out with 😭

that's actually pretty great!! I hope the cases come down to double or single digits soon!

oh nice!! And aaah I've heard A LOT about Russian food, it honestly sounds delicious. (I just love hearing people talk about food and culture. I could read/listen to them for hours istg). And aw that's such a cute story. I'm sure they were all really glad you introduced it to them. Confuzzled tho... Y-you don't like cottage cheese? :O

Yes you should be proud!! Today I was ready to kill my brother, then I saw your message(‼️) and I decided I could let him live a little longer, because I was busy reading it.

Ah yes!! Your country's flag colour too!! Tho the blue is such a pretty shade, it's like a teal? So pretty‼️💖💖💖. The Malaysian flag is just like an off-brand US one 😭🤚

and aw I'm glad I'm right! I only know one other person who has white as their favourite colour, and she's the best (Angel). So maybe both the cool people in my life like white xD my favourite colours are pink and yellow :>

Yes, why wouldn't they be? I cherish anything anyone makes for me, and especially you, because you're truly that special. Love you!! Sleep well, sweet dreams :))

—ari (gone back to signing my name with lame ol' Ari because I'm out of ideas. Also. I'm getting territorial over my nickname because at today's leo meeting there was this other guy also named Ari and we DID NOT vibe well grrr)

Hey hey!!! I know I answered like ... 24 hours late which sucks a lot, very sorry :(( I'm hoping your day went good today too!! Tell me about it?

Oh I'm glad you got the work done! Mind showing me a few slides? I'm curious hehe~ Also I'm going to have to detach your brother's ribs for bothering you, my apologies😁

Yeah!! They really make me feel like there is a reason to keep going. Like, at least to make them go "that's my student!!"😭

Well, since I got all the research done for me, I just mostly did research on what its actually like to be a translator, you know? I read through like 24 articles on both languages I know and I think I'm prepared xD I'm gonna look up the unis my teacher suggested soon though, and probably question some of the students because I'm desperate like that😝 Hopefully that'll pay off

Hehe, yea, the way he acts like he has seen life is adorable in a way. That's so cool though, imagine having the luck to have your personality match your favorite character's😭 I really wish I had an extroversion trait in my mbti xD I'd really need that ..

YES also you saying he'd be a little spoon made me want to cuddle him SO BAD I'm JSJDJWJDJ I want to give him a headpat and squish his little cheeks .....

Not gonna lie, I wish I could spend a year with one character each day. How cool would that be? You get a hang out and maybe learn something new. Then live in pain for the rest of your life because they wont be here anymore but that's nothing to worry about

I really hope so too!! Honestly this has been crazy. And the way everyone still refuses to cover up their nose... sometimes I wonder if it's ok to mock people who got COVID, cuz like, it's not always their fault, but when you saw that person without a mask before and now they're in the hospital, it's kinda funny, in a rude way. I'm an asshole, I know, I'm sorry😔

Yes yes, if you ever get the chance to try it, you should!!! I'm really sure you'll love it. You should try adding ketchup and mayo mix as well! It'll do magic

Oh no, I LOVE cottage cheese (mixed with sour cream and sugar..🥰🤤🤤), I just really hate it when its cooked or baked. Like ... that's it, its warm and so much soggier now. What have you done? You ruined it. Congratulations! You've lost my respect. Well, not you of course, anyone who cooks cottage cheese xD it's like water, it sucks when warm.

Awh what !!!!! That makes me so happy??!?!? I bring you that much joy you pass up on murder ?!?? That's a lethal strike ma'am were getting married again

Yeah!!! I also kinda like the symbolism. And the story. Which is an honor for this whole place because I really dont like this country xD dont ask why~ personal reasons. Though it's so much more peaceful than others, so that's also great hehe. The Malaysian flag is kinda funny now that you call it like that😭😭😭 I still think it looks cool though!! I'd call it "Asia's USA" but that would, uh, be more of an insult, considering the state (see what I did there? Haha states... haha) of the country right now😓

Welp, the purest people like the purest colors xD just kidding, we're all probably chaotic~ at least out of everyone I know, everyone with white as their favorite has done something no normal person would do (ex. One of the color-white-lovers I knew tried stealing 7 shopping carts😐 I really didnt believe him until he showed me the photo of the fine he got.) Pink and yellow are such a good combination🥺🥺 they're like peach and sunset and uhh... PB&J, if that counts? Peanut butter is now yellow, deal with it😔 Anyway they're really pretty, together or not !!! what's your favorite hue?

Daww... you're so sweet... I'm melting🥺🥺😭💕💕 just so you know I also created a separate album for the stuff you drew me <3

I hope you sleep well tonight!!! You deserve it after all♡♡♡

Dawwh😭😭 I know what it feels like. Sometimes people with your name embarrass themselves so much, it makes you embarrassing because you have the same name. It's not the situation you're in, but uh ... another example? xD I could change your tag to "Shortcake🍰💕" if you'd like😝

#Ari💕 #i know you said not to apologize but #i mightve worried or frustrated you so😡 #im very sorry!!! #i love you!!! #💕💓💕💞💞💝💓💖💞💖💕💝💓💖💕

[softschofield]

i was tagged by @hannibalssweaters - thank you, darling ♡

nickname: my real name is kaitlin, so kaitie is a nickname in itself 

real name: as above!

zodiac: taurus

favorite musicians or bands: the beatles, florence and the machine, lana del rey, mother mother, so many i can’t even think of them asoudhaiusdgas

favorite sports team: none :’) but if it counts, my favourite ballet company is the australian ballet  

other blogs: none!

do I get asks: yes and i love it every time :’)

how many blogs do I follow: 627

tumblr crushes: literally all of my mutuals, yall are so gorgeous and sweet

lucky number(s): 79

what am I wearing: a tight, a-line white, black, and yellow striped dress that i’ve got under a cottagecore-y green dress with big pockets, a thin black belt, black combat boots, and yellow velvet and soft floral scrunchies in my hair

dream vacation: the redwoods in california, oregon and washington, basically all of the american national parks in the midwest/west. i’m also always dreaming of spending more time in scotland and england, and i’d love to go back to germany and more of the eastern european countries.

dream car: a little yellow beetle

favourite food: pasta, soup, and curry! also peanut butter toast is just my eternal go-to and i owe it my entire heart

drink of choice: earl grey tea

instruments: i played drums for so many years and i’m fairly certain i could slip back into it if i had a bit of time to practice, and i also used to play the violin. that’s the one i regret giving up the most, but maybe one day i’ll relearn :’)

languages: unfortunately just english!!! my family is german and i studied it through all of high school, so enough german to get by; my grandmother desperately wanted to teach me when i was little so i’d be fluent by now, but i stubbornly refused because “no! i’m australian!” - those first generation feels, lmao. so i regret that stupid decision. but when i was in high school i went through a massive phase of studying languages in my free time, so i can read russian and serbian and get by as long as it’s written phonetically LMAO, my latin isn’t terrible, my french is passable, and i lived in italy for a little while and came out of it almost fluent, but that’s all gone now. so, basically, what i’m saying is - english. 

celebrity crushes: paul mccartney circa 1964-1968, george mackay, and i know there are so many women i’m in love with but i can’t think of a single one rn!! so i’ll just say: all of them. every woman. for female characters, definitely daenerys targaryen, the 13th doctor, and helen magnus.

random fact: i sang sing the alphabet backwards 

tagging: anyone who would like to do it, i love you! x

#me #getting there with these!! ♡♡

[ambitioncunningpridemieczyslaw]

I was tagged by the beautiful and talented @halevetica !

Answer 20 questions and then tag people you want to get to know better.

1. Name: Nikolas

2. Nicknames: Nik, Niko, Hannah

3. Zodiac Sign: Pisces

4. Height: 5′ 8″

5. Languages spoken: English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, American Sign Language

6. Nationality: Russian-Italian

7. Favorite season: Winter

8. Favorite flower: Red Roses🌹

9. Favorite Scent: Lavender

10. Favorite color: Green

11. Favorite animal: Wolf 🐺

12. Favorite fictional Character(s): Xena, Mieczyslaw "Stiles" Stilinski, Jeremy Gilbert, Carrie Bradshaw, & Cheryl Blossom There are definitely others, but those are my ride or dies

13: Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate: Coffee is this even a question lmao

14. Average sleep hours: 7 or 8. Sorry, but I make sleeping a priority lol

15. Dog or Cat person: Well... I've always wanted a dog, but have two cats I rescued. I want to say dog, but my babies have my heart so cat... I think.

16. Number of blankets you sleep with: One. Is that weird? Because I sleep with at least ten pillows every night if that helps.

17. Dream trip: Rome, Italy

18. Blog establish: July 10, 2018

19. Followers: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

67

20. Random fact: I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER, MARGOT ROBBIE, FINN BÁLOR, & MY KITTY CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tag @saltytyrus @justkimberley @livinginfictions @nobodyzhuman @treatpeepswithkindness only if you want to of course!

[sapphicsaro]

morgan + anya, five years

@vicapuleti requested: “Morgan and I guess 5year old Anya ? You knew this one was coming 😍”

apparently i can’t write a fluffy story about two five year olds lol, so here’s some angst with hints of fluff about our two favorite ballerinas. feat. hints of bucky and sam!

-------

“How do you spell it?”

“N-A-T-A…S?”

“Mhmm.”

“S-H-A. Natasha?”

“Good,” Clint replied, both hands on the steering wheel of his truck, eyes on the road ahead.

“Next one, papa!”

“Let’s go back to Russian, okay? You want to be ready for later.”

“Okay,” Anya fiddled with her small bear, and glanced at her father. “Should I start?”

“Yes, pigeon, lemme hear it.”

“Okay, um…Самолёт построим сами (We build an airplane)…Uh, Понесёмся над лесами (We'll soar above the forests), Понесёмся над лесами (We'll soar above the forests)…Um…”

“А потом (And then)…”

“Oh yeah! А потом вернёмся к маме (And then we'll come back to mama)!”

Clint smiled, “Good job, pidgey.”

Anya giggled, “Are we almost there, papa?”

“Actually, we are,” He answered, pulling the truck into the long driveway of the cabin. “Are you excited?”

“Yeah, I miss Morgan.”

“I’m sure she missed you too, baby.” Clint got up to the oh-so familiar cabin, parking close to the entrance. He hopped out of the car, slamming the door shut, before heading to the rear passenger door to get Anya. When he opened the door, she had already unbuckled her seatbelt and was smiling at him widely.

“I did it all by myself, papa.”

Clint shook his head, “Oh my gosh, you’re practically an adult…” She giggled. “C’mon, sweetie,” He held his arms out and she reached for him, letting him pick her up and place her on the grass. He grabbed her tiny backpack from the back seat, and slammed the door behind him. “Ready?” he held his hand out to her.

She grabbed it tightly, “да (Yes)!”

Hand in hand, the daddy-daughter duo made their way up the porch steps to the front door of the cabin.

“Can I please ring the bell?”

Clint smiled at his little girl; her hair went from strawberry-blonde as a baby to a deep red like her mother’s. It was loosely braided as requested by her this morning. Her eyes were a soft green, and every time Clint sweared they were exactly like Natasha’s. Her outfit today was all picked out by herself and she had on a tiny gray jumpsuit with her favorite light up sneakers.

How could he ever say no to her cute little face?

“Go ahead, baby.”

She let go of his hand and went on her tiptoes, pressing the button to hear the ringing in the home. Anya went back to her father’s side, grabbing his hand again before the door opened.

“Is that little Anya?”

“Aunt Pepper!”

Pepper laughed, bending down so Anya could leap into her arms for a big hug. “I swear, I see you every couple months but you just keep growing!”

Anya, with her arms still around her aunt’s neck, giggled. “I grew one more inch!”

“Wow! You did? I’m so proud!” Pepper pulled away from Anya, pushing a loose strand behind her ear, “Well, little ballerina, Morgan is in her room…Think you can go up and say ‘hi’?”

Anya nodded excitingly, “Mhmm!”

Pepper stood up, releasing the five year old from her hands, “Okay, be careful on the stairs!”

Anya zoomed past and made it to the stairs, looking back at her aunt and father before carefully taking the stairs one at a time. How disciplined.

“Hi, Pepper,” Clint gave her a small hug, the glitter backpack still clenched in his hands.

“Hey, Clint. So glad you guys made it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

——

Anya made her way to the bedroom down the hall, knocking softly on the door, “Morgan?”

The door flung open to reveal five year old Morgan Stark, dressed up in a flowy yellow dress covered in little daisies. Her short hair was pulled back with a matching headband and she had on white sandals to go with the floral ensemble.

“Anya!” Morgan jumped into the redhead’s arms, “Come here! I have to show you what I got!”

The two little ones went into the pink bedroom, where Morgan’s toys were all neatly tucked away. “Close your eyes!” Morgan said as she grabbed Anya’s hands and put them up to her face.

“Okay…” Anya wasn’t one for surprises. Maybe that was hereditary.

She heard some shuffling around before Morgan shouted, “Open!”

Anya placed her hands by here side, opening her eyes to see a frilly pink tutu in her friend’s hands. “Mommy signed me up for ballet! I’m going to be just like you!”

Anya smiled, “Really?”

Morgan nodded, “Yep! I’m still doing tap. But now, I’m in ballet too!”

“I can help you with the first steps so you can know them before you go to your first class!”

A soft knock at the door caught their attention. “Hey, ballerinas, we don’t want to be late. You got an hour to eat and finish up your cards,” Pepper said.

Morgan ran to her bookshelf, grabbing her box of crayons and construction paper, “I’m ready!” She ran past her mother out of her bedroom.

“Slow on the stairs, remember, Morgan?”

“Yes, mommy!” She took the stairs one by one, her tiny sandals clacking on the wood.

Anya didn’t move from her spot in the bedroom, instead her eyes stayed locked to a spot the ground. Pepper looked at her, she knew Anya was much quieter than Morgan, but something seemed off. “Honey, are you okay?”

The redhead shrugged, “Yeah.”

Pepper walked closer to her “niece” and knelt down in front of her. “What’s wrong?”

Anya chewed at her bottom lip, a trait she definitely inherited from her mother. “I’m just nervous.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, sweetheart. It’s going to be so nice today. I promise.” Anya nodded slowly, still looking down at the floor in front of her instead of at her aunt. “C’mon, I got a peanut butter sandwich with your name all over it.” Pepper held out her hand and Anya took it, smiling slightly, as they headed downstairs.

Clint was at the kitchen table, sitting across from Morgan who was excitingly telling him a story. “He did what?”

“Jackson pulled my hair! But I told the teacher on him and he couldn’t go to recess,” she told him, spreading out her colored paper and emptying her crayons. “Miranda said that he’s mean to me because he likes me, but I think that is dumb.”

Clint laughed, “It is dumb.”

“Is this the Jackson story, again?” Pepper asked, letting go of Anya’s hand and heading into the kitchen.

“Yes!”

Anya slowly walked over to her father, looking up at him with her big green eyes. Clint smiled, and bent down to give her a kiss, “You gonna make a card with Morgan?” Anya nodded, still hesitating. “Come here,” he picked her up and made his way over to the other side of the table, placing his daughter down in the chair next to the brunette. “What color card would you like to do?”

Anya thought for a second, “Red?”

“I’m doing red too!” Morgan shouted, holding up her paper.

Clint smiled, “Red’s a good color for them. Here, give me your paper and I’ll fold them.” The two girls obliged and he returned their sheets, ready for them to decorate.

The two sat and colored away, Morgan taking up most of the conversation while Anya sat quietly alongside her. Clint was throughly entertained, as was Pepper. After the loss of their spouses, an unlikely friendship formed between the two single parents. They both felt alone, overwhelmed, and broken after losing the love of their lives, and no one quite had a shared experience like the two of them.

Tony and Nat were much more similar than anyone would care to admit. They were both stubborn as hell, would risk their lives for a mission, and never heard the word ‘no’. Clint and Pepper had many similar qualities as well, as they were the more domesticated ones in the relationship.

When their loves died, the two felt alone.

But, at Tony’s funeral, little Anya Romanoff-Barton gave Morgan H. Stark a hug, telling her that “her daddy was up in the sky and was watching over her, just like mama was.” And the rest was history.

The two girls became inseparable, ultimately making Clint and Pepper closer, too.

So, every three months, one of the pairs would make a trip to visit the other. It helped keep the adults from cooping up in their home and never leaving, which was really easy to want to do after you lost your spouse. It also helped keep the Avengers family together, even though most of them were split apart to do their own things.

However, almost all of the Avengers made time for the girls. Clint couldn’t speak for Pepper, but he had someone over almost every other week, checking up on him and playing with Anya.

Last week, Sam and Bucky were in town, an unlikely pair to want to visit a five year old. But they immediately transformed into goofy uncles, playing tag and making Anya laugh with their failed attempts to copy her gymnastic moves. Anya would whisper to Bucky in Russian when Sam wasn’t looking and he would flashback to seeing young Natasha, except Anya was free from the confines of the Red Room.

The visits helped keep Clint from falling back into his depression. The dusted were brought back, but his wife could never return. After he would tuck Anya in every night, he would lay in his bed and begin to cry, as it felt empty without Natasha. He needed help. As did Pepper.

So here they are, reconvening again, two single parents of two little ballerinas.

Today was not like the other visits, though. Today was a year after the dusted returned, and Thanos was destroyed. This also meant it was a year since the loss of Tony and Nat.

It was a particularly difficult time for Pepper and Clint, but when you’re a parent, you have to find a way to get through the sadness to take care of your child. Both parents already had to do the difficult task of telling their child that their mom/dad had died, which was not a one time thing when your child was young. 

Anya would ask about her mother all the time, and it pained Clint to think about her, as he always flashed back to her hand slipping from his and her lifeless body at the bottom of the cliff.

But, his therapist told him to think of her smile first. Think of her smiling on the porch bench, baby Anya in her arms. Think of her smiling when they finished their mission in Lagos and flopped on the bed, laughing about how quickly they completed their assignment. Think of her smiling on their flight in space; how mesmerized she was by the universe around her. Think of that instead. Don’t think about what happened when they landed. No, remember her hands entwined in his while they laid in the hospital bed, eyes never leaving their teeny newborn sleeping in the plastic basinet.

That’s the Natasha he has to remember.

So when Anya asks about “mama”, he tells her about the good times, and how much she loved her “маленький (little one)”. He tells her about her bear, the first stuffed animal Natasha picked out for her baby because it reminded her of Budapest, where she saw the same one in the window of the village shops. He tells her about the arrow necklace, which she had left in her locked jewelry box, something Bruce had miraculously rescued after their building was ambushed. It was too big on Anya, but she still wore it every day, never taking it off.  

And for Natasha, he enrolled their child in ballet and gymnastics, and kept up her Russian lessons. Anya enjoyed them, always telling her dance teachers and gymnastics instructors that she was going to be just like her “mama”.

Clint hoped so. Clint hoped to god she would have her mother’s determination and heart. She already looked so much like her, why would she need anything from him? 

“Papa, can you please check my card?”

Anya handed him the folded construction paper, the outside decorated with a “⧗”. Clint traced his fingers over the symbol, memories of its owner flooding back to him. He swallowed the lump in his throat, opening the card to reveal a stick figure drawing of Anya and her mother holding hands.

Fuck.

“It’s beautiful, sweetheart.”

Anya smiled, “Can you check my spelling?”

Clint chuckled, “Of course, baby.”

And there it was was, scribbled across the red paper: “Dear mama”.

God. 

It broke his heart. His eyes welled with tears, but he continued reading:

Dear mama, I miss you! Papa does too. I wish I could see you, but papa says you’re in heaven. I hope you can see me from up there. I’m sending lots of hugs and kisses! Я люблю тебя (I love you), Anya

Sure, her handwriting wasn’t the best, but she had been practicing writing this card for the past couple of months and Clint thought it was the best thing he had ever seen. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

Anya smiled as Clint handed her the card back, and she finally took a bite out of her sandwich.

“Mommy, is mine good?” Morgan asked.

There were tears rolling down Pepper’s cheeks as she held her daughter’s card, a beautifully done Iron Man helmet on the outside with the inside containing another drawing (this one showed Morgan and Tony, each holding a cheeseburger), and a small note that ended with “I love you 3000!”

“It’s wonderful, sweetie. Daddy will love it,” Pepper said through her tears.

Clint checked his watch, “Uh, Pep, it’s 1:30, should we get going?”

“Shoot! C’mon girls! Anya, you can bring your sandwich in the car, Morgan, put the crayons away.”

The four of them made their way outside and into Pepper’s car, strapping each of their kids into a car seat. Clint offered to drive, and Pepper gladly took him up on it. 

The drive was lengthy, and the two adults were stuck with listening to Disney music on a loop. Morgan loudly sang her heart out, Pepper encouraging her fun, while Anya sat and listened, playing with her bear and checking her card over and over again. Clint swore he could see her mumbling her Russian poem under her breath, but he stayed focused on the road.

When they got there, the music turned off and Morgan calmed down. 

Seeing the graveyard made Anya curl up into her carseat. She hadn’t been here before. When her mother had her funeral, she was at Morgan’s cabin, where they did Uncle Tony’s service too. It was a shared funeral, and her father spoke about her mom, calling her “Natasha”. Anya was sad, missing her mama, but everyone around her tried to make her feel better, telling stories of “the Black Widow” and how awesome she was.

Anya missed her a lot. Anya missed hugging her mama. She missed seeing her come home from a mission really late at night to sneak her a kiss goodnight. She missed helping mama make dinner. She missed family movie night. She missed their secret midnight snacks, usually sneaking chocolates into their mouths before heading back to bed. She missed doing ballet and gymnastics with her. She missed everything.

When Anya met Morgan, it helped a lot.

Morgan talked about how much she missed her dad, and it was very similar to how Anya felt. They bonded quickly, and even though they only saw each other every three months for the past year, the two were inseparable. Morgan asked her mom if she could FaceTime Anya, and Pepper would let her, hearing the two girls giggle through the phone.

The graveyard, as eerie as it may seem, was very pretty.

Clint parked the car nearest to the headstones they were looking for. They were close to each other, with no one in between, and a constant amount of flowers laying by their names. Fans would visit regularly, thanking the two for saving the dusted, but Clint and Pepper made sure their family would be the only visitors right now.

“You ready girls?”

They both looked scared, sad, and uneasy.

Pepper took off her seatbelt, turning back to face the girls, “Hey, there’s no need to be worried. Nothing scary is here, it’s just us. We’re going to talk to your daddy and your mom, read them your pretty cards, and then spend some time here with them. We will be with you the entire time, okay?”

Anya nodded, while Morgan answered, “Okay mommy. Let’s go.”

The adults got out of the car, unbuckled their daughters, and grabbed their hands.

Clint and Anya went to the right, while Pepper and Morgan went to the left.

Morgan ran right up to the headstone coated in Iron Man memorabilia, and sat crossed-legged in front of it. Pepper knelt down, before taking a seat on the grass next to her daughter, who immediately began talking and showing off her card.

Anya wasn’t as excited as Morgan; in fact she was extremely worried. But, Clint knelt down, gave her a big kiss on the cheek and touched her arrow pendant. “When mama got nervous, she would play with that arrow right there. It was a reminder that I was always there with her, even I wasn’t physically there. Now, it’s a symbol of both of us. Mama is always with you, including right now. Don’t be scared, baby, it’s just us, your family.”

Anya nodded and slowly walked over to the headstone decorated with flowers, cards, and small notes. It wasn’t nearly as covered as Tony’s, but it definitely had more heartfelt notes written for the woman who gave her life for all of the dusted. She sat down, much like Morgan, and fiddled with her bear.

“Привет, мама (Hello, Mama).”

Clint sat down next to his little girl, turning to the headstone, “Hey, sweetheart.”

Anya looked at the headstone, “Natasha…”

“Remember, that’s mama’s name,” Clint said, resting a hand on his daughter’s back. “N-A-T-A-S-H-A.”

“I like it.”

“Me too,” he smiled back at her, giving her a small kiss on her head.

“I made you this, Mama. I drew us, and wrote you a little note. You can read it later though. Papa checked my spelling.” Clint let out a little laugh; Anya placed the homemade card on the headstone.

Anya turned to her father, “Can I talk to mama alone for a second?”

Clint nodded, “Of course, pigeon.” He stood up and walked back to the car, leaning against it as he watched his little one. He peeked a glance over at Pepper and Morgan, who were giggling and snuggling as they talked to Tony’s headstone.

Anya continued to play with the bear in her hands, unsure of what to say, before her eyes welled with tears and she said, “I miss you. I miss you a lot, mama. I don’t know why you had to go. Papa said you saved me, and Kate, and a lot of other people, but I want you back...Is that bad?”

Anya wiped a tear from her cheek, “I don’t know what heaven is like, but I hope you have a place to dance and do gymnastics. And there’s lots of chocolate.” 

She paused, “Mama, I remember the poem you would tell me before bed; Papa helped me. My Russian isn’t as good, but I’ll say it to you. I hope it helps you feel better up there, like how it helped me feel better before bed. Oh yeah! Here’s my bear too, you can hold him while I do it, okay, mama?”

She placed the bear gently on the headstone, next to the card, “Самолёт построим сами (We build an airplane), Понесёмся над лесами (We'll soar above the forests), Понесёмся над лесами (We'll soar above the forests). А потом вернёмся к маме (And then we'll come back to mama).”

Anya placed a hand on the headstone, “I love you, mama. I hope I can see you soon.”

——

author’s note: wow i’m an asshole, but who doesn’t love angst? also, pepper/clint is a friendship i love a lot, okay? plus, morgan and anya would be polar opposites, but they definitely would be best friends. let me know your thoughts about this heartbreaking chapter that i’ll probably go to hell for, along with your head canons about clint and pepper or morgan and anya (or even the other avengers visiting anya bc that's so cute tbh)

#black widow #hawkeye #tony stark #iron man #pepper potts #pepperony #morgan stark #clintasha #clintasha au #anya romanoff-barton #anya romanoff barton #peppertony #clintasha fanfic #clintasha fanfiction #hints of #bucky barnes #sam wilson #falcon #prompt #avengers au #avengers #mcu edit #mcu