#new relationship

[roxygen22]

A sickly Wonka and Female reader taking care of him (after the events of the movie.)

Summary: Stand-alone prequel to MLCB series combined with an ask for a sick fic. How the reader met and fell in love with Willy. Instant chemistry! (Longer than intended, but I just couldn't stop)

C/W: Illness, though not graphic

<><><>

BOXES

"ACHOO!" You heard a loud sneeze in the alley followed by a crashing sound on your walk home from work. You peered around the corner of the building and spotted a lanky man with a fuschia coat and dark hair curling around the brim of his brown top hat looking down at the mess of boxes surrounding him on the ground.

"Are you alright, sir?" you asked.

He swirled around to look at you with a light pink blush spreading across his cheeks. "Oh, uh, yes. Thank you, Miss...?"

"[Y/N]."

"[Y/N]. What a lovely name. I'm [achoo!] Willy."

"I know who you are, Mr. Wonka," you said with a smile.

"Really?" he said in a surprised and equally nasal tone before sneezing again.

"You *are* quite the celebrity around here, sir. Do you need some help?" you asked, pointing to the boxes.

Willy looked around and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. Noticing that he didn't seem to be the type to easily ask for or accept help, you pried further. "Where are you trying to take them? I work at a shop nearby. We could borrow the cart."

"Really?"

"You say that a lot, don't you, Mr. Wonka." You giggled.

"Just Willy, please," he said softly. "I just need to get these boxes to my shop at the Galeries Gourmet. I thought I could get them all in one go, but well..." he trailed off as he gestured with his hands to the boxes on the ground.

"Well, Mr. Wonk...Willy. You stay here and gather your boxes, and I'll go grab the cart."

He flashed a big smile your way. "Thank you, miss."

"Just [Y/N], please," you parroted back with a slight blush. "I'll be right back." As you walked away, you heard him sneeze a couple more times before you were out of earshot. Poor thing sounds like he is coming down with a cold.

<><><>

By the time you returned, Willy had restacked the boxes so they were no longer blocking the alley. You both loaded the cart, but he took over pushing it toward his shop. "So why are you helping out a complete stranger, [y/n]? I do hope you aren't missing out on any big plans on my account."

"You aren't exactly a stranger, Willy. Everyone knows the famous magical chocolatier. But in that moment after you dropped your boxes, you looked just as human as the rest of us. I couldn't very well just pass you by and ignore you. Besides, this is far more exciting than anything I had planned this evening."

"Really?" [achoo]

"There you go again," you grinned. "Yes, really. The only plans I had were dinner and a book."

"Oh, you like to read? I like to read, too," Willy announced proudly. "I just meant...well, a pretty girl...lady...person like you...I mean, no, uh... there's nobody waiting for you at home?" he stammered.

"Are you asking if I am spoken for, Mr. Wonka?" you teased and unintentionally sent him into a coughing fit. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I was just joking. Are you okay?" You grabbed his arm in an attempt to stabilize him as he doubled over.

"I'm fine," Willy croaked as he stood back up. He looked down at your hand on his arm and smiled. Feeling suddenly bashful, you let go and clasped your hands behind your back.

"We should keep going, Willy. You need to get out of this cold air."

"Right you are, [y/n]. Your nose is turning the same shade as my coat!" he said with a grin as he booped your nose with his index finger. Warmth spread all over your body like electricity at his touch.

Recognizing that his actions may have been a touch too forward for a girl he just met (who never confirmed her availability), Willy cleared his throat in embarrassment and started to push the cart once more. You walked alongside, still dumbstruck by the effect of his touch.

"You didn't answer my question," he quipped after a few steps, breaking you out of your reverie.

"And what was that?" You knew what he was referring to but wanted to hear him say it again.

"Are you...[clears throat] is there anyone waiting for you at home?"

"Just my parents." If anyone else had asked you that, it may have been creepy. But you could sense his sincerity.

"Oh," he said with relief, though you could swear you saw a brief glint of...sadness? "Great, well I will have your cart freed up quickly so you can get home and not worry them."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes, is there anyone at home waiting on you? Perhaps a special someone?" You looked up into his eyes, unabashedly flirting. You noticed that underneath those lush dark lashes, his eyes were actually blue with a hint of green around the pupil. Huh. He's even more beautiful up close, you thought.

"No. It's just me and my shop."

"Oh," you mimicked his earlier response, trying to disguise your excitment that the magician/chocolatier was single. The two of you kept walking in companionable silence until you reached his shop.

<><><>

After unloading the cart, Willy swept the hat off his head and half-bowed to you. "Thank you again, [y/n]."

You giggled at the gesture. Not ready to call it a night just yet, you offered, "I could help you unpack those boxes, if you'd like. I know you aren't feeling 100% and really, I have nothing better to do." Besides thinking about him all evening, you said silently in your head.

Willy tried to stifle another cough. "Alright, sure. More hands makes lighter work."

You grabbed a box, sat in the floor, and started shuffling through its contents. You had no clue where anything went, so you started sorting like things together for Willy to put away. At one point your hand grazed his as you reached for the same item. You both blushed.

Clearing his throat - you were unsure whether this time was due to awkwardness or illness - he sat down on the other side of the box from you. He said, "So tell me about this book you are reading." It didn't take much prompting for you to excitedly recount what you had read so far of Treasure Island and your other favorite adventure books. In turn, he regaled you with tales from his time as a sailor.

Time passed very quickly as you swapped stories. Next thing you knew, it was dark out, and the two of you hadn't even fully unpacked the first box.

"Oh dear," you groused and stood up. "I should get going, Willy. My mother is probably pacing the floors."

"Since you stayed out late on my behalf, it's the least I could do to walk you home. If you'd allow me the pleasure." You noticed that all of the talking had made his voice sound hoarse and gravelly.

"You really ought to stay inside where it's warm. The cold will aggravate your cough."

"I wouldn't be able to rest wondering if you made it home safely in the dark," he said softly as he stood and brushed the dust off his pants.

You felt the heat flash across your cheeks as you blushed at his admission that he would be thinking of you after you leave. "Oh, well in THAT case, I would be honored to have you accompany me."

You both bundled back up into your respective coats and hats. As you suspected, Willy's cough worsened with the cold. As much as you would love to draw out this encounter, you don't want him in the cold air longer than he had to be. You quickly led him to your shop to return the cart before heading home.

Once you arrived, you both lingered at the front door. You stopped breathing as he took your hand and kissed it. "I'm glad I dropped those boxes, [y/n]," he said softly as he looked into your eyes.

It was your turn to stammer. "Me, too. I mean...I'm glad...I'm glad our paths crossed."

"Perhaps they can cross again soon?"

"I'd love that. I..." you were interrupted by Willy's sneeze. You couldn't help but laugh at his timing. "You, sir, need to go home, get warm, and take care of that cold." You smiled up at him.

"Yes, ma'am." He grinned.

You unlocked the front door and slipped inside. You leaned against the door and slowly released the breath you didn't realize you had been holding. You stared at the hand that he kissed, biting your lip to contain a squeal of excitement.

"Mom," you called out. "I'm home, and you're never going to believe the evening I've had!"

<><><>

You were off work the next day, so you decided to swing by Willy's shop in the morning to see how he was doing. You walked in and browsed the store, but he was nowhere to be seen. You started second guessing yourself, wondering if you were being too forward by dropping in the very next day, when you heard, "[y/n]?"

You spun around with excitement, but your face fell when you took in his unnatural pallor. "Oh Willy, you poor dear."

He started to speak, but was overcome by a hacking cough that sounded far worse than the night before.

"You should be at home resting."

"I can't. My store..."

"....seems to be running just fine at the moment. Besides, your customers may be wary of you coughing all over the chocolate." You crossed your arms and raised your eyebrow.

He smirked. "Touché." His voice was still raspy from the night before.

"Let me walk you home this time."

"I am quite capable..." [achoo]

"Oh, I know you're capable of getting there. I'm not convinced you're capable of leaving the shop without being dragged out."

"You know me so well in less than 24 hours," he said with a smile that reached his glassy eyes. "I suppose you are right [sniffle]. You have a knack for appearing at a time of need. One can't pour from an empty cup, I suppose. Let me get my things."

You waited out front has he gave instructions to the cashier and stocker. Once he joined you, he offered you his arm and you began walking toward his place. The trek was interrupted by multiple coughing fits, one of which left him breathless and needing a break on a bench.

"Is it okay if I feel your forehead?" you asked. Once he nodded, you gingerly rested your fingers against his head. "You are burning up, Willy. Let me know when you feel like you can stand again so we can get you home."

After a few moments, Willy rose from the bench. He offered you his arm again, but you suspected this time it was to balance himself more than a gentlemanly gesture.

Willy looked even more pale and clammy by the time you arrived at his home. He handed you his keys to unlock the door as he leaned against the frame for support. You opened the door and gently led him inside. You wouldn't normally enter the abode of a relative stranger, but he was all alone and you felt oddly safe with him.

He collapsed on his sofa as you set to work to make him comfortable. You dampened a cloth to set on his forehead, removed his boots, and covered him with a blanket. "Would you like me to make you some tea for your throat?" He nodded and pointed to the cabinet where he kept the tea leaves.

You got the kettle going and looked back to observe the man. Was he asleep already? You tiptoed over to check. Sure enough, he had dozed off. Feeling that sleep was probably more necessary than tea, you turned off the stove.

Unsure of what to do, but having no desire to leave him in this state, you sat in the armchair next to Willy and passed the time by reading a book from his small collection. After about two hours, he started to stir. He looked around confused before he saw you and smiled.

"[Y/N], you stayed."

"Of course. Could you imagine the uproar if I let something happen to our town's infamous chocolatier? I would be cast out." You grinned. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better." His voice sounded a little less strained than earlier. That was a good sign.

"Good. I'll make you that tea now." But before you could make your way to the kitchen, Willy grabbed your hand.

"Thank you for staying and taking care of me, both yesterday and today. You hardly even know me."

"We can fix that."

"Really?"

You smiled, rolled your eyes, and went back to making tea.

<><><>

Masterlist

#pre relationship #new relationship #sick fic #timothée chalamet x reader #timothee chalamet fanfiction #timothee chalamet x reader #timothee chamalet #timothée chalamet #timmy!wonka #willy wonka x reader #wonka movie #willy wonka and the chocolate factory #wonka #willy wonka #willy wonka x you #wonka 2023 #wonka x reader #wonka x you #drabble #tooth rotting fluff #my little cocoa bean #female reader

[downfalldestiny]

Someday with you 🤍 !.

#Someday #downfalldestiny #downfall #life #relations #new relationship #relationship goals #Goals #Love #Kitchen #With you #My girl #beautiful couple #Cooking #Cook

[parkitaco]

27 + byler!!

The world is ending, but Will has never been happier.

Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, because people have died, and more could meet the same fate at any moment, and there's certainly no shortage of things to be upset or worried or angry about, but Will can't help it. For the past week, he's been walking on air, hiding grins behind his hands and blushing and stumbling over his words, and it's all because of Mike Wheeler.

He'd thought Mike would be angry about the painting, he really had. As soon as Mike and El had broken up, Will had seen impending doom coming for him, knowing full well that all it would take was one conversation - hey, so about the painting - what painting? - for everything to unravel. He'd spent weeks stressing about it, nearly giving himself a heart attack every time one of them glanced his way trying to figure out if they knew, if one or both of them had figured it out.

And then, last week, one of them did.

Hey, can we talk? Mike had asked, poking his head into his bedroom, where Will had retreated to for some peace and quiet earlier. Everyone has been staying in the basement, all jumbled together in a pile and taking turns keeping watch for demodogs and whatever else Vecna is throwing at them, but during the day they're mostly free to roam the house, provided they have headphones around their necks at all times. Will has taken to hiding away in Mike's room, the only room in the house that makes him feel even remotely safe, and Mike seemed to have no issue with it- on the contrary, he seemed pleased with the arrangement.

Will had frozen, the pencil he'd been sketching with tumbling from his hand as he stared at Mike, fearing that the other shoe was about to drop.

Uh- yeah, he'd said shakily, doing his level best not to look at the painting, which Mike had painstakingly pinned up to his wall, because the universe just really has it out for Will Byers.

Mike had sat down gingerly on the end of the bed, looking apprehensive, and Will had wondered what Mike could possibly have to be nervous about. He's not the one who'd been caught in an elaborate, incriminating lie.

Will, Mike had started shakily, sounding fragile and almost afraid, like the scared little kid Will had once known, why- why did you lie to me?

Will had broken down crying, never able to control himself in these situations, his feelings always spilling over and betraying him, and Mike had wrapped him in his arms, whispering hey, it's okay, I'm not mad, it's okay, God, Will, I'm so sorry, and it had been so outside the realm of Will's imagination, especially when he'd been preparing himself for the worst, that he'd just cried harder, clinging to Mike desperately.

Then the unthinkable had happened.

Mike had grasped at Will's chin, tilting his face up to look at him and swiping Will's tears at him. Will had felt exposed, vulnerable and stripped clean of every last secret, tear tracks marring his face, but Mike had smiled at him, looking at him like he was something beautiful.

Then Mike had tilted forward, closer, closer, and pressed his lips to Will's.

So, naturally, Will's been a little distracted this week.

There have been other kisses, quick ones behind closed doors whenever possible. They've had conversations, in low voices and stilted patterns, constantly interrupted and fractured by the other people in the house, of which there are many. There's a longer conversation to be had, things that Mike keeps saying he needs to explain in more detail than the rushed I've been pushing you away because I was scared and I'm so sorry, it's you, Will, it always has been, please forgive me that he uttered on the day of their first kiss. But Will, for once, isn't worried about the things they've left unsaid. He's enjoying these secret, small moments with Mike whenever he can get them. It feels like he has his best friend back, and something beyond that. It's new and exciting and Will can feel electricity thrumming under his skin whenever Mike looks his way.

Like now, for instance. They're sitting in the kitchen with the older teens, half-listening to them talk about making a run to the store later or something along those lines, and Mike keeps glancing Will's way, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Will returns it every time, blushing furiously, and were Jonathan not so wrapped up in his conversation with Nancy and Steve he'd surely be shooting Will a knowing look right about now.

Will stands, pushing back his chair and clearing his throat. "I'm going upstairs," he says, addressing the older teens, who all nod distractedly at him and barely pause their conversation, "If I'm not back down within an hour assume I've been Vecna'd."

He heads for the stairs, ignoring Jonathan's call of "that's not funny, Will!" and heading for Mike's room.

There's a patter of feet on the stairs behind him, and Will smiles to himself as he reaches the top, pausing until he can hear Mike right behind him before whirling around all at once, laughing and catching Mike's wrist before tugging him into the room and closing the door behind them.

Mike yelps good-naturedly, careening into Will as he tugs sharply at his wrist again and pulls him close. "Hi," he says, forehead brushing Will's as a grin spreads over his face.

"Hi," Will echoes, matching his grin and reaching up to wind his arms around Mike's neck.

This is all the decorum either of them have before Mike is surging forward and catching Will's lips with his own, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing him firm and slow, like he means it. Will is quickly learning that Mike Wheeler is a very, very good kisser, always steady and warm under Will's palms as he cups his face and tilts his head to the right, angling closer. Mike hums appreciatively, pressing closer to him, and Will's skin feels alight with joy as he swipes his tongue over Mike's lip.

"You're so- pretty," Mike huffs, pulling back a little and looking at Will with wide, adoring eyes, and Will feels like he could spend forever melting under Mike's warm gaze. If everything goes to shit and Vecna wins, at least Will can die happily saying that he got to kiss Mike Wheeler.

"So are you," Will mumbles, pressing forward for another kiss. Mike shivers, stepping backward and pulling Will with him, legs bumping against each other. The backs of Mike's knees make contact with his bed, and he sways on his feet, breaking the kiss as he tumbles unceremoniously backward, holding out a hand for Will as he scoots up onto the pillows.

Will grins and reaches out to thread his fingers through Mike's, pausing for a moment to admire the boy sprawled out before him, kissed-red and smiling with his dark hair spilling over the pillows. He wants to sketch him. He wants to kiss him again immediately. He wants to spend a lifetime wrapped up in his arms.

Evidently growing impatient, Mike gives his hand a sharp tug, and Will laughs as he falls willingly onto the mattress, ending up sprawled across Mike with his face shoved into the crook of his neck. "You're a dork," he proclaims, as Mike reaches up and runs a hand through his hair. Will is all too aware of the seconds ticking away, of the fact that any minute now someone could come knocking, checking to make sure they're both still alive or demanding that everyone meet in the living room to discuss next steps or whatever else. These moments with Mike are precious, but they never last long.

Will shifts, tilting his head to face Mike's, and Mike grins as he dips forward to kiss Will one-two-three more times. Will shivers, thinking absently that he doesn't think he can ever get sick of kissing Mike, doesn't think he'll ever lose the thrill that shoots up his spine when Mike's lips brush against his own. That's the thing about the end of the world - it makes you think in an all-or-nothing sort of way, in forevers and nevers, a constant flip flop of what if we die and what if we live?

The world is ending, but if it doesn't, Will knows that he wants to spend forever with Mike Wheeler.

Evidently, Mike is on a similar wavelength - the life-or-death one, that is, because he pauses halfway between kisses four and five and pulls back to stare at Will, eyes wide and serious. "Hey," he says quietly, "Can I tell you something?"

"Always," Will replies, another apocalypse sort of word, but he means it with every fiber of his being.

Mike smiles softly, looking delicate and gentle as he trails a hand over the side of Will's face. "I love you," he whispers, smiling a little sadly, "I love you so much, Will. And I would have told you anyway, and I know you probably could have figured it out on your own, but- if something happened to one or both of us and I hadn't said it, I... well. I don't want to take that chance."

Will blinks hard, fighting tears, like he so often does, and he presses his forehead firmly against Mike's, clinging to him tightly. "I love you too," he whispers back, for all the same reasons that Mike just said, "I love you and we're going to be okay because we have to be, but- no matter what happens, just- don't ever think that I wouldn't do anything for you, okay?"

Mike exhales softly, a small, warm smile on his face, and he pulls Will closer, closing all remaining distance between them. Will lets it happen, pliant under Mike's hands, still unused to being wanted this way, to having Mike reach for him and pull him close and kiss him slow like he's trying to get it right. For all the electricity, Will has never felt more safe than he does when Mike holds him like this.

There's no way to tell what's going to happen next, Will thinks as Mike nuzzles closer still, nosing at Will's cheek until Will tilts his face up into a kiss, soft and sweet. But he has this moment, and he has Mike Wheeler, and he thinks that for now, that's more than enough.

#thank u for this i hope u enjoy <33 #27 - pulling the other one towards them #this got unexpectedly angsty i'm sorry #haven't written painting reveal/apocalypse byler in a hot minute so #yeah !! #byler ficlet #mike wheeler #will byers #new relationship #secret relationship #established relationship #stranger things

[atths--twice]

Adding to the Fund

Working in a restaurant can be stressful and tiring, but it can also lead to a relationship that was not expected.

Fictober Day 14

Prompt- That's all? Easy.

Sunrise and Sunset, the restaurant on Baker Street was packed. Sundays were always busy, and sometimes stressful, but thankfully the patrons tipped better on those days. 

Well, some of them, Dana Scully thought, rolling her eyes as she picked up the tip from table nineteen. 

It had been a group of older women who had complained about nearly everything: the amount of ice in their glasses of water, the lack of a butter substitute, the temperature of the coffee, and their meals- all for different reasons. 

“Young lady,” one of the women had said, crooking her finger at Dana to come closer. “This bread is far too toasted. I can’t eat this. Take it back and bring me a new sandwich.” 

She had taken the sandwich to the back, swearing as she replaced only the top slice of toasted bread. Waiting a minute to calm down, she had smiled as she brought it back to the woman. 

“Hope this is okay,” she had said and the woman only hummed in reply, her eyebrows raised. 

But she ate everything on the plate, didn’t she? Dana thought, shaking her head. 

Bringing the dishes to the back, she sighed as she added the receipt to the paperwork for the day. 

“Any tip from that party?” a voice asked and she turned to look at Fox Mulder, a fellow worker, his arms laden with plates. 

“Yeah. Two whole dollars. On a sixty eight dollar tab, I might add. Oh, and they also left me a note.” 

“To join them at their church?” he asked, shuddering as he set the plates down. 

“Not this time, no,” she laughed, knowing how often it did happen on a Sunday. “Here.” She handed him the note and he read it out loud. 

“My grandson works in a law firm. He’s very busy and finds looking for a girlfriend to be tedious. I’m sure he would enjoy your company, once he got to know you. 574-1296.” He looked at her, his eyes wide. “Oh, well this one deserves to go up on the board.” 

“No, Fox,” she said, trying to take it from him. 

“Why not?” he asked, holding it out of her reach. “You're not going to call him are you?” His mouth dropped open in mock horror and she shook her head. 

“Not for many reasons, but especially because with that many red flags, you know he’s a douchebag of a person.” 

“Then why? You have others up there. And so do I.” He pointed to the bulletin board on the wall where notes from patrons were kept, especially when they were particularly cringy or funny. “I think this one could make it to the top.” 

“No,” she said, stepping closer to him to take the note out of his hand. “This one just… it makes me feel… I don’t like it. I don’t like thinking that they could treat me shitty the entire time they were here and then suggest I call their grandson, who finds dating tedious. Like I deserve less than from a man who is apparently better than me. It’s gross.” 

“It is. I’m sorry I joked about it,” he said and she nodded as she tore up the obnoxious note and threw it away. 

“There. Gone. Reset,” she said, letting out a deep breath. “Their two dollars will gladly join the Dana Scully eats tonight fund.” He smiled and she smiled back. 

“Fox! Tables twelve and fifteen, orders up. Look alive,” Raul, the head cook called out. 

“Coming,” Fox called back and Dana walked with him. He gave her a confused look and she smiled. 

“I’m heading back out. I’ll help you then see to my tables.” 

“Thanks. I appreciate it,” he said, picking up the plates and lining them up his arm. “I’ve got fifteen. You’ll like twelve better.” 

“Okay,” she laughed, setting the plates along her arm as well and carrying the last plate in her hand. 

At the door, he nodded for her to go first and she smiled her thanks. 

When she was walking to table twelve, she saw why he had given it to her. There was a chubby, bald headed baby sitting in a high chair biting on a plastic toy and a little boy who was drawing on the back of the kids menu. 

“Hello, I’m Dana,” she said as she stood at the table. “Fox was busy so I offered to help him out. Who had the ham and cheese omelet?” 

“Right here,” the husband said, reaching for the plate. “My wife has the French toast and Davy here has the pancakes and bacon.” 

“Perfect. Here you all go,” she said, setting their plates down. She smiled at the boy who looked up at her and kept staring, his green eyes wide. 

“You look like Ariel,” he said in awe. 

“Oh!” she said in surprise. 

“I’m so sorry,” his dad said quickly. “Davy, you don’t just-”

“That’s okay,” Dana said, smiling at Davy. 

“But Ariel’s hair is down, not up,” Davy said. “But it’s red like yours. Do you have blue eyes?” 

“Davy!” his mom admonished him, but Dana only laughed. She squatted down beside him, smiling as she looked at him. 

“Well?” she asked and he leaned forward, looking into her eyes and smiling. 

“You do,” he whispered. “Are you a mermaid?” 

“Not at the moment, because I’m in a restaurant,” she whispered back. “But when I get into the water…” Her eyes widened and then she winked. 

“Like magic?” 

“Like magic,” she nodded and Davy’s smile grew. “But you can’t tell anyone except your mom and dad, promise?” 

“Promise,” he said, nodding emphatically. 

“Will you do the special mermaid handshake to bind the promise and keep my secret safe?” 

“Yes! Yes, I will!” He clapped excitedly and Dana smiled. 

“Okay. So, we do it like this.” 

She took his hand and shook it, then locked their fingers together, thumbs pointing up, then released his hand, waving her fingers up and down like a mermaid tail swimming away. 

“Show me again,” he whispered and she smiled, taking his small hand into hers again, perfecting the handshake before leaving their table to check on her own section. 

Back in the kitchen with her next set of orders, she smiled at Fox who nodded with a wink. 

At her break, she stepped outside behind the restaurant, needing a moment of fresh air. Standing in the sunshine, her head tilted back and her eyes closed, she heard the door open and close. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey yourself,” she said and Fox chuckled as he came to stand beside her. She opened her eyes and he smiled at her. “Thank you for giving me that table earlier. It’s just what I needed after-”

“Two bucks, Betty?” 

“Exactly,” she said with a laugh. 

“Good. I’m glad it helped.” 

“The little boy thought I looked like Ariel.” 

“Hmm,” Fox hummed, staring into her eyes. “He’s not wrong. But you’re much prettier.” 

“Because I’m not an animated drawing?” she teased and he laughed, his fingers brushing against hers before locking together loosely, causing her heart rate to increase. 

“That and you just are.” 

“Okay.”

“I really wanna kiss you,” he whispered, his grip on her fingers tightening slightly. 

“After you didn’t last night, which was a huge mistake by the way-” 

“I agree completely,” he said, nodding his head vigorously. “I… I hesitated too long.” 

“You did,” she agreed. 

“I was nervous. I thought maybe it was just me who was feeling…” He stopped talking when she smiled and shook her head. She squeezed his fingers, interlocking their hands further. 

“It’s not just you,” she admitted and he exhaled as he nodded. “I thought being in a group setting like we were, would help me loosen up enough to at least ask you to dance.”

“Which it did.” 

“Well, the alcohol definitely helped with that,” she said with a laugh. 

“That’s all it takes?” he teased. 

“Easy,” she warned and he laughed, both of them then falling silent. 

“I thought you said you wanted to kiss me,” she said quietly and he drew in a deep breath. 

“I do. Very much.” 

“Well, my break will be over soon and so will yours. You might-”

His lips touched hers softly, then more firmly as their kiss deepened. He let go of her hand and placed it onto the back of her neck, holding her close. She moaned as she wound her arms around his neck, her heart pounding. 

“Hmm,” she hummed when they broke from the kiss, his forehead pressed gently against hers. “That was good.” 

“It was,” he said with a quiet chuckle and she smiled. 

They sat down at the picnic table bench provided for employees to use during their breaks, talking and kissing until their break was over. 

Taking her hand, he pulled her to her feet, kissed her one more time, and walked to the door. 

“Oh,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “The family with the little boy asked me to give this to you.” He handed her the kids menu that had been folded into a small square. “I’m sure this one will be better than the one you got earlier.” 

She smiled as she opened it and then gasped when she found ten dollars inside. 

“Oh,” he said in delighted surprise as she began to read the note that was written in blue crayon. 

“Thank you for showing me the special mermaid handshake. I won’t tell anyone your secret. I hope I can see you again some time. Love, Davy. P.S. I’m four and a half. Oh, isn’t that just…?” She sniffled, blinking back tears as she read it to herself again. 

“A much better note,” he said and she laughed softly, tracing her fingers over the drawing of a mermaid that Davy had made. She had big blue eyes and red hair drawn in a similar style to Dana’s. 

“An incredibly kind note,” she replied, folding it back up, with the money inside, and placing it into her pocket. 

“And the money adds to the Dana Scully eats tonight fund,” he said and she shook her head. 

“No, this money will go into a different fund.” 

“Which fund is that?” he asked as they walked inside and put on their aprons. 

“The… Dating Fox Mulder fund?” she asked tentatively and he paused as he was tying the strings of the apron behind his back. Grinning, he nodded as he finished the task. 

“Only if it can be combined with the one I already have.” 

“Which is that?” she asked, tying her own strings. 

“The Just ask her out already fund,” he said with a grin. 

She laughed loudly, covering her mouth and looking around, but no one had noticed. 

“Yes,” she agreed, stepping close and squeezing his hand. “We can combine them.” 

“Good,” he said, squeezing back. “And it will be my treat tonight because I’ve got quite a bit in there. It pays to be somewhat of a nervous coward.” 

She laughed and shook her head, walking beside him to the kitchen, as his hand rubbed gently at the small of her back. 

#fictober23 #fictober 2023 #xffictober23 #alternate universe #diners #rude customers #teasing #fun #friendship/love #new relationship #kissing #first kiss #plans for a date

[redlegumes]

Steddiemas Day Four

December 4th - Questionable Holiday Movie or Song

Gremlins

written for @steddiemas

AO3: link | wc: 577 | Rating: G | CW: none | tags: holiday movie, popcorn fight, our son dustin henderson, new relationship

Summary: Eddie and Steve have started dating but not really hanging with Dustin as a couple so they sit down together for a holiday movie. (Lite Holiday Henderdads)

'Gremlins' with the Gremlin

( •̀ ᄇ• ́)ﻭ✧🍿

“Soooo puppets,” Steve said, loudly popping the ‘p’ while managing to still look entirely unimpressed. “Puppet, horror movie but it's also Christmas.”

“Steveeeee,’’ Eddie groaned, holding the ‘Gremlins’ tape up while shaking it. “You work at Hawkins's only movie rental store and you don't know ‘Gremlins!’”

Steve shrugged. “I sort of remember the tagline I think? Something to do with not feeding them after midnight?”

“This. This Harrington is what will finally kill me.” Eddie's exasperation with Steve’s pop culture understanding somehow NEVER overlapping with his own had reached new heights since they started dating. It was one thing not to get a couple references… but dismissing great works, like instant Christmas classics! That was another issue entirely.

“Stop being so dramatic.”

Eddie scoffed as dramatically as he could in response to Dustin’s intervening comment.

Continues after the cut

Dustin ignored him. “Steve can be taught, we've learned this. He can develop an appreciation for-

“-nerd shit?” Steve interrupted, unhelpfully.

“-good media,” Dustin finished with a long sigh.

Eddie still lightly fumed while putting the tape in the vhs player before flopping on the couch, at the other end from Steve.

They'd both agreed to movie night with Dustin because it has gotten a little weird that the three of them hadn't hung out since Eddie and Steve got together. Steve or Eddie would hang with Dustin, and the couple had no problem that they each connected with the kid in different ways, but by December they'd never hung out together unless they were with the big group. So, Dustin suggested they do a movie night.

Steve said Eddie was needlessly worried leading up to it. As Eddie simmered, he realized that was part of why he might've already been short with Steve. They were no longer a ‘new’ couple but Eddie liked their dynamic. He wanted to be in a couple that could chill with people (other than Robin). Dustin’s movie night made him realize they didn’t really do that. Steve’s outings and Eddie’s outings rarely combined. When he thought about it, they kind of split up for group events too. He’d started to question if they really were comfortable being an established couple around their friends.

Sometime during his spiral, as the characters on screen realized the Gremlins were evil killers, Steve had left the living room. Eddie became aware he’d gotten up, because Steve had just returned, handing a bowl of popcorn to Dustin before shoo-ing the kid to the other end of the couch. After a grumbling Dustin moved, Steve sat next to Eddie. He threw an arm around his shoulder. Frustratingly, Steve’s warm presence was as calming as always.

“Baby, we both know you don't keep me around because I have great taste in movies.” Steve leaned in and planted a chaste kiss to Eddie’s cheek while his free hand quickly squeezed Eddie’s knee.

“Oh gross,” Dustin exclaimed, and Eddie watched a piece of popcorn sail over Steve's head, landing in his own hair.

“Now Henderson, that just won’t do. Harrington’s completely right.” He winked at Steve and reached over Steve’s lap to grab a handful of popcorn that he then rained on Dustin’s curls.

A popcorn fight of epic proportions followed.

Eddie, Steve, and Dustin all ended up on the floor, laughing despite Eddie loudly proclaiming himself the winner after dumping the unpopped kernels down Steve's shirt.

Dustin sat up, wiping tears from his eyes. “See, I knew hanging with you both would be awesome!”

2023 RedLegumes Steddiemas 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 SteddieHolidayDrabbles 1 2 3 4 6 8 9 10

#holiday movie #popcorn fight #our son dustin henderson #new relationship #eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie #i write things #steddiemas #ficlet #steddie ficlet #gremlins

[thebelovedcreatures]

Care Instructions

Let me teach you

How to care for me

I might not come with directions

Typed in fine print

On a tag sewn to my body so it’s visible

Wash me gently in affections

Mix me with colors of rainbows

In cold water to keep me from shrinking

Back into a scared little girl who didn’t know what love

Looks like in daylight

Let me air dry

On a sunny day outside

Cool breeze summertime

And if you forget

Always dry me on high heat

Allow me to dance

Upside down and all around

Never forget

Don’t allow me to be winkled

Sitting on the bottom of so many others

Take me out fresh and hot

Shake the sleeves and fold me in your arms when I’m crisp

Let stains remain

Wear me on a cold night when you need comfort

Let me be the memories of all the best times

When you look at me and you have stories

Of that time when you heard the best music

Had the best night

Stayed out too late

Staring at another pair of eyes

Let me be

The one to rest against you

When you’re feeling your worst and your best

This is how to love

A woman like me who sees you in all your shades and blending

Of destructions and forgiving

#poem #writing #poetry #spilled ink #spilled thoughts #spilled words #spilled poetry #spilled writing #love poem #love #relationships #care #dating #long distance dating #new relationship

[wanted-to-be-nosey]

Too much

Here's my first fic as part of the @starkerfestivals summer bingo - it's my first ever bingo card, so here's hoping I get more than one done!!

prompt fill - Overwhelmed wordcount ~ 2,400 warnings - none I think. early relationship teething problems. Possibly self esteem issues?

AO3 link

~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter knew that dating Tony Stark would be weird.

He wasn’t naïve.

Being friends with the man came with its own set of warnings. He was aware of the genius’s eccentricity. He was aware the man didn’t have a healthy eating habit or sleeping schedule. That if they were in public someone was likely going to try and get the man’s picture or autograph or both. He’d spent the last five years witnessing it all first hand. Back when Tony was solely his mentor it hadn’t been as noticeable, but as they grew closer and became friends he learned to adapt to the elder man’s personality and fame.

He’s not entirely sure how it happened, but their relationship had slowly evolved until they began openly flirting just after Peter’s eighteenth birthday.

Tony had whisked him away for a weekend in Malibu with Ned and some of the other Avengers. Peter had been harbouring a crush on Tony Stark for most of his teenage years, whereas he knew that these feelings were all new to Tony. It was only over the past year he’d been able to see Peter as a grown man as opposed to the starstruck fourteen-year-old he’d been when they first met. As such, Peter wasn’t in a rush to push their flirting any further. Not wanting to make Tony uncomfortable, he was happy to wait for Tony to make the next move.

As it turns out, he was kept waiting for almost two years. A week after his twentieth birthday, Tony asked him out on an official date. He wanted them to be in a relationship. Peter hadn’t even had to think about it before giving his answer. He’d been dreaming of that moment for two years.

Once they were official, Peter had expected there to be some changes to their relationship. Some more media attention, maybe more dinners with breakfast the morning after, more lingering touches as they tinkered in the lab.

What he hadn’t expected was for everything to change.

It had only been a month, but Peter hadn’t stepped foot in the lab once since he’d agreed to go on a date with Tony. Instead, Tony had taken him out for fancy dinners, for romantic walks in private parks – not that the private signs prevented the paparazzi from following them in – and once, even on a helicopter ride to ‘see the sights’.

They saw each other at least every other day, but Peter was yet to stay the night. They hadn’t gotten further than some kissing and heavy petting. Anytime things began to grow more heated, Tony would back off and change the subject. Peter couldn’t decide whether to find it amusing that the man was apparently trying to protect his honour or be offended that the man didn’t want him as much as Peter wanted the older man.

Peter had spent more nights than he’d like to admit getting intimate with his own left hand when he returned from these dates.

And if he thought that the unusual – and unending – dates weren’t enough, he had not been prepared in the slightest for the gifts.

In the past four weeks, he’d been sent enough flowers, chocolates, trinkets and clothes to stock his entire apartment building. He’d know because he’d been handing bouquets of beautiful flowers and boxes of chocolates to neighbours he passed in the hallways for the past two weeks.

Despite his protests, Tony hadn’t stopped showering him with presents.

He’d ran out of free space on the surfaces in his apartment – much to Ned’s dismay – which was why he couldn’t even say he was surprised when he got home from class to find Ned sitting on their second-hand sofa, head in hands, staring at a dozen bouquets of roses scattered around the floor.

Heaving a sigh, he shut the door behind him before asking, “Again?”

“Yeah,” Ned groaned. “Arrived about thirty minutes ago. They have a note saying he hopes you had a good day.”

Thumping his head back against the door, he felt like the room was shrinking. Growing up he’d been used to May’s eclectic clutter surrounding the apartment, but this was stifling.

“I can’t keep doing this,” he muttered, hands digging into his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I just… I love him but I can’t keep doing this. I feel like I can’t breathe. He needs to pull back. It’s too…” he trailed off unsure how to express what he was feeling.

“Overwhelming?” Ned helpfully supplied. “Intense? Overbearing? Daunting?”

Rolling his eyes, he pushed away from the door and navigated his way around the vases to settle beside Ned.

“All of the above? I don’t know.” He shrugged, blowing out a breath. He didn’t want to come across as ungrateful.

“Maybe you need to talk to him. Be more assertive,” Ned encouraged.

“I guess. I don’t want to hurt him–“

“Well, he’s hurting you by doing this. You said yourself that you can’t handle it. And if you don’t say something then I will. This is our apartment, and I haven’t been able to find the remote for like a week. I think it’s been lost in the sea of peonies.” Ned gestured vaguely to the right, where last weeks peonies were still in full bloom.

Scanning the room, Peter couldn’t help but nod along. He knew his best friend was right. If he didn’t sort things out with Tony soon, then it wasn’t likely he’d be able to continue with the relationship. It was simply too overwhelming to deal with. Tony was too different to the man he’d grown to love.

He missed the Tony he’d known for the past five years.

“I’ll talk to him tonight.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter couldn’t help but smile as he watched Tony through the glass doors of the lab.

After some dinner and a pep talk from Ned, he’d made his way to the Tower and let himself up to the lab. He used to drop by unannounced regularly, but not since they’d started dating. Tony had started intercepting him on his way, diverting them to another location. He’d missed getting to see Tony in his element. His music blaring through the speakers as he moved effortlessly between separate holographic monitors while simultaneously tinkering with the project in his hands.

Even without seeing it, Peter could imagine the look of bliss on Tony’s face. The sparkle in his eyes as he worked out the solution to his next problem. The way he only ever seemed to truly let his guard down when he was working on something.

Peter knew that the minute he walked in, that carefree environment would be gone.

He’d considered if he should ask Tony to meet him in another room. If they should leave the lab as a sacred, safe place, but if he was being honest, if this was going to be potentially the last time he got to spend with Tony, then he’d like it to be in the lab. In the room where everything had started.

He allowed himself one more moment to watch Tony working before opening the door and quietly asking FRIDAY to turn down the music. The minute the music faded, Tony spun around on his stool to stare at Peter. He watched as Tonys face raced through a range of emotions from surprised to happy to confused to panic, before he was standing from the stool with a look of unease as Peter approached the desk.

“Hi,” Peter greeted quietly as he leant on the desk across from Tony. Hoping the small amount of distance would allow him to make it through the conversation without backing out.

“Hey, Pete,” Tony greeted warily. “I, uh, I hadn’t realised you were here. Did I forget about our plans? Have you been waiting long? FRIDAY didn’t warn me...”

Shaking his head, Peter absently picked at a loose thread on his jeans.

“No, no. Not at all. No plans. I just got here actually, and I asked FRIDAY not to say anything. I actually, uh, wanted to talk to you.”

He worried at his bottom lip before making eye contact with Tony who was close enough to touch. The older man had a resigned, pained expression twisting his face.

“What about?” Tony asked quietly, diverting his gaze away from Peter.

“Us.” Peter shrugged, trying to gauge Tony’s reaction. “Or I guess more specifically how I’m feeling at the moment.”

“I’m sorry,” Tony spoke quickly, the words tumbling from his lips. His voice pleading as he leant across the table. “Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want just please don’t do this Pete. I can change, I’ll be better.”

Swallowing past the tightness in his throat, Peter ran his hands through his hair.

“That’s the problem, Tony! I can’t keep doing this. It’s too overwhelming. I feel like since I agreed to be your... partner or boyfriend or whatever you want to call it, that I’ve lost you. I feel like you just keep sending me gifts – constantly – and I don’t have space. Despite seeing you, I don’t feel like I’m actually spending time with you. Do you realise this is the first time I’ve been in the lab since I said yes?” Not being able to stand still anymore, he began to pace the length of the lab as he continued. “I– I thought that once we started dating everything would remain the same except we might have more meals together and then, y'know, spend time in bed together. But instead, everything completely changed. We’re out and about constantly and we haven’t even gone past first base! Not that I’m saying we should do anything you aren’t ready for, but I just... I don’t know what’s happening between us.”

He felt drained after finishing his mini rant. He wasn’t even sure that he’d been clear about what he wanted. Words had just tumbled from his mouth in a stream of consciousness. The only sound in the lab was their heavy breathing and the bots pottering about in the far corner. Peter couldn’t even bring himself to look at Tony for fear of what his reaction would be.

After what felt like an eternity but was probably only a couple of minutes, Tony cleared his throat.

“Can I say something?” Tony asked quietly.

Nodding his head, Peter grabbed a stool and sunk heavily onto it.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Tony stated. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m not exactly known for having long, meaningful relationships. In the past the only thing that has worked for me is my money and my fame. Pepper only managed to put up with me for a couple of months and her final straw was the time I spent in the lab. I didn’t want you to think I was neglecting you, so I avoided it when we were together. I lose track of time when I’m tinkering, I didn’t want to do that if you were waiting for me. And you want to know why we’ve not had sex?” At Peter’s timid, embarrassed nod, he continued. “It’s because I’m scared. You only get one chance at a first time with the person you want to spend your life with, and I’m terrified of messing that up. What if once we’ve done that, you decide I’m too much for you to deal with and leave me? I’m not sure I could handle having you and loving you to then lose you. Knowing what I’m missing would be harder than living with the fantasy of it.”

Blinking past tears that were beginning to sting his eyes, Peter watched as Tony slowly made his way around the table until he was kneeling in front of him, Tony’s hands resting gently on Peter’s knees.

“Please just tell me what to do to make this better.”

“I don’t need you to do anything,” Peter whispered. “I just need you to be yourself. I didn’t fall for this version of you, I just fell for you, you dumbass. The one I can spend hours, hell days, with in the lab. You don’t neglect me by spending time in the lab because its something we do together. I’m happier eating Thai or leftover Pizza from the couch than I am at some fancy Michelin star restaurant. I don’t want all the gifts and flowers– " at Tony’s look, he shrugged and slightly amended himself “– ok so maybe for birthdays or special occasions, but not all the time.”

Sliding off the stool he knelt in front of Tony so he could look the elder man in his eyes before he continued.

“I also don’t plan on leaving you. I have those exact same thoughts that you do. I believe that I’m not going to be good enough. That I’ve too little experience compared to those you’ve had in the past, but May always tells me that you can’t live your life afraid of what might happen. So, don’t let your fear get the better of you. If I can believe that a genius, billionaire, former playboy, philanthropist can fall for a dorky kid from Queens, then please try to believe that I’m just as head-over-heels for you.”

Tony chuckled before slowly nodding his head.

“I suppose I should listen to May then. I can’t promise I won’t slip up– “

“We’re always going to slip up,” Peter interjected. “That’s part of being in a relationship. The best we can do is make sure we’re both on the same page and work through our shit together.”

“Well, when you put it so eloquently.” Tony rolled his eyes, before grabbing Peter’s hands, eyes turning dark. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve about had enough emotional chat for one hour. Why don’t we try moving past that first base?”

At Peter’s almost desperate nod, Tony smirked as he moved forward, one hand resting on Peter’s cheek while the other gently cupped the back of his neck. Leaning into the kiss, Peter allowed himself to relax and let Tony take the lead.

For the first time in weeks, he was completely at ease. Tony seemed to understand what he was after, and only time would tell how they’d react to those changes. Things weren’t perfect, they still had things they’d need to work through, but then who ever wanted to be perfect?

#starker #sfsummerbingo23 #peter parker × tony stark #dating problems #new relationship #Tony stark has shit self esteem

[skylarmoon71]

Leonardo-(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) - Oneshot

You've always been a bit shy by nature. Leo said that it was endearing. You were the very definition of innocent. Whenever Mikey made his little innuendos, you would get as red as a cherry. Leo often found his eyes lingering in your direction. He couldn't help it. Being around you made him a little more protective. So it was a complete shock when he'd finally approached you about his feelings. That adorable color had rushed to your face again as you made a stuttering confession of your own.

That's how you became a couple.

The only issue is the distance.

It was poor timing at best. You'd applied for an internship in Washington three months ago and the acceptance letter finally returned. So for the next two months you're away from him. Leo of course was overjoyed for you. But you knew there was a part of him that was a bit disappointed that he'd have to spend two months away from you.

He called as often as he could considering his night job. You both would send texts and updates back and forth.

But you still missed him.

Due to your bashful nature, you never even got to share a kiss yet.

The day he'd sent you off his smile was just too charming. You paced out the room before anymore could be said, and you could hear Leo's soft chuckles that day as he bid you a safe and eventful summer.

Your internship is coming to an end. You had a week at most left, still that didn't stop your heart from aching just a little.

For the last couple days you found yourself missing Leo more and more. Hoping he'd somehow just turn up at your window. Walk through your door.

Slip into your bed....

Your thoughts would not stop rolling, so you decided to enlist some female support.

"April speaking."

Her voice echoed on the other side of the phone.

"H-Hi April."

"Oh hey, how are you doing? Leo's been sending us pictures of everything. It's really sweet."

You swallow.

"Y-Yeah he's great. It's s-sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. "

This is nerve wracking.

"Did something happen?"

"N-No everything's fine!"

In a manner of speaking.

"I've just been thinking about Leo..a lot.." You let out a breath, and there's a stillness on the other side of the phone.

"Wait..are you calling me for tips about phone sex?"

Red was too little a word to describe the state of your face at the moment.

"N-Nevermind! Good bye!"

You hung up the phone before anything else could be said, dropping your phone on the bed. When it buzzed, you jumped. Looking down, you read the message.

"Just tell him how you feel. It'll be fine. Good luck!"

The note did not deter your embarrassment, but you did feel a little more at ease. Smiling, you sent her a reply.

"I can do this."

For once, you would be forward. You needed to tell him what you wanted. Even if you passed out in the process.

That night you waited patiently by the phone, just scrolling through the cute messages you'd exchanged with him the night before. He always added little animal emoji's especially the puppy because he knew how adorable you thought it was. When the phone rang, your heart skipped a beat. You released your heavy breath, clicking the button as you pressed the phone to your ear.

"Hi Leo."

“Hey, I can't wait to see you Friday. Raph has been giving me a hard time. I know when you get back you can set him straight." You laugh at that. For some strange reason Raph became very obedient whenever you asked him to do something. He'd once commented that you reminded him of a pitbull puppy. He treated you like a little sister. So whenever he got into it with Leo you'd give him that look and he'd back off with a huff, patting your head. Sometimes being small and shy comes in handy.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you Leo."

He let out a soft laugh, and you find yourself a bit dazed. Your legs shifted against the sheet, and you gripped at the pillow to try and elevate the warmth that began to travel through your body at such a simple sound. You clenched the phone, and before you could stop yourself the words came barreling out.

"Leo I miss you so much! I-It's been driving me crazy. I keep thinking that you'll just show up but then I open my eyes and you're not here. It's so frustrating! I want you here with me. I want to hold you, I want to kiss you, I want you to touch me!"

You couldn't stop yourself. The second that last statement came out, you felt your stomach drop. The realization of how desperate and clingy that sound hits you and your lips quiver.

"I-I'm sorry Leo I-I.."

You can't find the words. Before you can humiliate yourself further you hang up. You shove the device under a pillow, clenching another to your chest as you try not to let any tears fall.

He would definitely be weirded out.

"What if he breaks up with me.."

Dread hit you like a brick, and before you could get too deep in your thoughts, your phone rang. For a moment you just stare. Because the possibility of him calling to say that this is too much, or he needs time away from you is terrifying. The last ring resounds in the air, and you finally answer the phone.

"L-Leo I-I shouldn't have said that.."

You feel like an idiot.

"Did you mean it, everything you said?"

That's not the question you expect. But you answer nonetheless.

"I..I did."

There's a bit of shuffling on the other side of the phone.

"I miss you too, so much."

His tone has lowered significantly, and a little shiver rushes up your spine at the unexpected shift.

"You never have to feel bad about being honest (Y/N). I want you to be honest with me. Tell me when something upsets you. Excites you.."

You nibble at your fingernail.

"Y-You don't think it's weird?"

"Not at all. I'm a little relieved. To be honest I was worried you would find someone on your trip. I know we're officially a couple but I just feel like we just started out. Distance sometimes shows us what we want and need. I guess I got a little clingy."

You can't believe it. This whole time he's been feeling exactly the same.

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't been thinking about what it'll feel like to kiss you. I've wanted to for so long. Seeing you so flustered that day when you left though, it just made me want it more."

You close your eyes. His words are like honey.

Every whisper is a promise of something more.

"I-I'm sorry that I always run away."

"You don't have to apologize."

His voice is always so soothing, reassuring. Leo's known since the moment he met you. It was one of the many reasons that he loved you.

"Tell me what you want. I'll do anything."

You can imagine the possibilities of that request.

Anything..

"If you were here right now...what would you do Leo?"

You can't help but ask. You have to know.

"I'd kiss your cheeks. They always get so adorably red."

You smile, as you turn unto your stomach, kicking your feet back and forth.

"Then I'd have to kiss you. Nice and slow. I want to feel everything, taste everything. You probably have a pack of gummies nearby. You're always munching on those. I bet you taste so sweet right now." You gulp, rolling onto your back as you release a little breath.

"Whenever you fall asleep on my bed you always manage to hike up your shirt. You have no idea how much I've had to retrain myself. Sometimes you're so defenseless. Right now I'm almost positive that you're not wearing a bra. I could slip my hands right under your shirt."

Your thighs are clenched together.

"What color panties are you wearing right now?" He asks softly.

"T-They're blue." Your fingers graze the top of it unconsciously.

"My favorite color." He hums appreciatively.

"I'd let you take them off yourself, I want to see how flushed your cheeks can get. Or I can do it myself. You'd like that wouldn't you (Y/N)?"

You nod eagerly.

"I-I would." You admit shamelessly.

"Lifting you into my lap would be so easy. I'd have to tease you just a little. I like it when you squirm. Do you think you could handle it if I just licked you right at the center? It'll definitely be sweet. Every bit of you is sweet (Y/N).."

You can't stop the soft moan that leaves your lips. You press your hand to your lips almost immediately to stifle the sound. Leo lets out a deep chuckle.

"I'll be waiting for you on Friday (Y/N). You better get a lot of rest."

It dawns on you that he's about to say goodnight.

"W-Wait Leo!" You whine.

"This is payback for running off without giving me a kiss." He taunts. You huff, cheeks now burning.

"M-Meanie."

He continues to laugh.

"Have a good night (Y/N)."

You hear the dial tone and you groan, dropping your head on the pillow.

#leonardo #cute #fluff #humor #leo x reader #care #confessions #shyreader #travel #dorks in love #new relationship #couples #miscommunication #love #tmnt leonardo #teasing #flirting #foolsinlove #admitting feelings #loving

[robbingprince]

“I’ll call you a taxi,” Laurent said, which shouldn’t have felt like a slap to the face, which still did.

“Oh,” Damen managed. Then, “What?”

Laurent gave him a look, trying for scathing. Between the sniffling and the sneezing, it didn’t quite land as desired. The pout didn’t help.

“I’m not going to sleep with you tonight, Damianos.” In this obvious tone with half an eye-roll. Which, yeah. Damen—yeah.

“Oh-kay,” both eyebrows up. “I wasn't thinking—you're not feeling well.”

He just blinked at him. As if waiting for the moment Damen will go, ah, right, that, because yes, it was so obvious, wasn’t it. Grumpily: “It’s fine if you want me out.” It would even be understandable if Laurent had said he needed some space. They did spend every night together for the past… yeah, a good bit of time, so it shouldn’t bother him. In fact, Damen should probably be gagging for some time on his own, should, ah, be an adult about it. Should leave.

Didn’t. Stared back at blue eyes that kept narrowing. Laurent’s shoulders went up, and then down, pout sharpening into something else, worse. Through his teeth: “I’m not going to let you fuck me.”

Damen blanched, nodded, weirdly stung by the vehemence. "Of course not. You're ill, and, I get it. If you want me to leave you alone, it’s fine.” In a very convincing tone. Laurent seemed very convinced.

“I’m disgusting. A snotty, sweaty mess.”

He was—snotty and sweaty and puffy and red in the cheeks. And so fucking sweet it was tearing Damen apart, was squeezing something in his belly that might, will definitely crush him. “I just wanted,” he choked, shook his head. He’d imagined making Laurent many cups of tea and tucking him in and. Being ridiculous and clingy and with him. He’d imagined… five steps too far already. They'd only been seen each other a week. Laurent’s thin lips thinned alarmingly further.

“Wanted?” this inexplicable fury, his voice ice-cold.

“I thought to maybe make some soup? There’s carrots in the pantry and I thought I could make, never mind, it’s silly.” Flashbacks to giving Jokaste chocolates when she was on her period made his cheeks darken uncomfortably. Never ended well with her either.

Laurent’s mouth opened and closed twice and nothing came out. He cleared his throat. “Soup?”

1.5 of domestic, disgustingly-enamoured sweetness. Established relationship but in early stages; sick-fic but it's a minor cold and Laurent is being very brave about it; the level of smitten is. Extreme.

Read more of Lemony-gingery-sweet on AO3!

#lamen fic #soft!!! #sick fic #by which i mean: laurent has the sniffles and damen has it bad #smitten damen #new relationship #1.5k

[batrogers]

Fluffy (with a bit of spice) prompts: General post-OoT GanLink, inner-wrist kisses.

[Also on AO3]

IIII

When staying put finally began to drive him crazy again, his adopted-mothers suggested he travel with their King. He figured it would hardly hurt to drag him back out into the desert, away from Hyrule and its people and all the little conflicts still simmering beneath the surface there.

The problem was, he hadn’t thought about what it would mean to be alone with him so long, or what else had changed, between twelve and nineteen. Link looked at him and thought, I’m not the only one who grew up.

The Gerudo King was... calmer. More mature. Link could look at his face and see he, too, had finally grown into his body, a face still dominated by a nose that no longer was the only thing you saw. He had a decent jaw, weighted down by his mature beard and longer hair...

Link sat down and gave into the urge to brush the curls off his shoulder as he settled in with dinner in his own lap. The Gerudo King merely glanced at him and nodded.

Nearly a decade ago, Link thought, I killed you. I deflected your magic with magic of my own, and you died screaming for my blood. And now...

Now, Link caught his amber eyes with his own and looked away, because the thoughts in his mind weren’t violent.

Certainly not in that way anymore, at least.

The Gerudo King reached out and tucked his fingers around Link’s jaw in return, and Link did not flinch away.

“Was it just your wander lust they suggested I join you for, or something else?”

Link cleared his throat and cursed Nabooru all over again for her teasing... but they’d noticed he liked men as much as women a long time ago. He gave up when he knew he was blushing and turned his face away, but the Gerudo King – Ganondorf, curse him – let go only to pick up Link’s right hand. He pulled it to his face, and Link once again couldn’t resist.

Didn’t want to. He felt his breath on his skin and did nothing as his lips touched soft skin, followed by a brief lick of his tongue.

“If you’re unsure, I am happy to help you explore...”

He liked Malon, he thought, dully. Malon was sweet, and pretty, and safe.

....but, right now, he was right: he didn’t want to be safe.

“I don’t trust kings,” Link said.

Ganondorf leaned closer, and pulled Link with it and kissed near his elbow, then, his food put aside in favour of something more.

“Good,” he said. “You shouldn’t.”

There was nothing else to worry about interrupting them, that deep in the desert in the end.

#my writing #Ocarina of Time #post-game #GanLink #Generic OoT Link #new relationship

[queen-of-writing-bad-things]

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 3

Episode 3: Scream Machine

~The Man Cave~

Life in the Man Cave had never been better. Ever since they'd confessed their feelings two weeks ago (with a little bit of help), Ray and (y/n) had been relishing their newfound love. So many years dancing around their feelings meant that now, they were more determined than ever to spend every waking moment together. It was bliss.

"Hey, we're here," Ray said to Henry as he led his girl to the main room, Schwoz close behind them. Wow, his girl, it was still so weird to think that she actually loved him, but he'd never complain. He just thought of himself as the luckiest man in the universe. 

"What's up?" (y/n) asked the boy cheerfully, unable to be in any other mood. His hand felt so right in hers and everyone had noticed that she kept looking at her boyfriend like he hung the stars in the sky. Not that they minded, it was great to see them finally be open, even if the constant kissing was a bit gross.

"Charlotte wants to show us the new project she made for the Gizmo Show." The teen replied from his place at the supercomputer and they turned their attention to a large box shrouded by a white tarp. Charlotte was still adjusting it and making some final adjusts, so all they could see was a Charlotte-esque figure moving under the sheet.

"Gizmo Show?" Ray asked in confusion as he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend and pulled her into his chest. He couldn't help but be extremely touchy, she was just irresistible and after years of holding back, he wasn't god give up any opportunities now. 

"What is Gizmo Show?" Schwoz questioned too. He was super into science and nerd stuff, but he'd never heard of it. Probably because it was for kids and teenagers.

"Oh, it's this huge competition they have every year, where kids bring all these cool machines and inventions they made--" (y/n) began to explain excitedly, making Ray look down at her fondly. She used to love the Gizmo Show as a kid and even in adulthood, she was a sucker for science and gadgets. Ray was a sucker for seeing her so cutely excited, so when Schwoz yawned in boredom, it offended him just as much as it offended her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Schwoz, was I boring you?" The young woman asked him in a sweet but sarcastic voice and the genius shrank under the stern gaze of his boss. 

"Yeah, a little bit," Schwoz mumbled back, feeling a little pouty at how Ray was even more protective of her now. Anyone who dared to put a foot wrong against his sweet girl was gonna get it.

"Don't yawn at my girlfriend, Schwoz. And you're just tired because you haven't slept in two days." Ray told him, making (y/n) smile at the ground bashfully when he called her that. How did she get herself a man as perfect as him?

"Ray, it's fine. I'm just a nerd, who loves the Gizmo Show because I won it like a million times when I was a kid." She smiled up at him to make his prickliness calm down and it worked. He couldn't stay mad with an angel in his arms, especially when she leaned up on her tiptoes to give him a sweet kiss, meaning they didn't hear Schwoz walking off with a yawn. 

"Why hasn't Schwoz slept in two days?" Henry asked the couple, making them reluctantly break apart. Looks like they'd have to resume that kiss later.

"Because he was binge-watching that mini-series about OJ," Ray answered and (y/n) let her head drop back on his chest. 

"Oh, yeah. The one about the big trial in the nineties." Henry nodded, thinking they were talking about the huge court case that had occurred years before. 

"No." Schwoz shook his head and Henry pulled a confused face. Was there another series about OJ on TV right now?

"The one about Orange Juice?" (y/n) prompted, but it wasn't ringing any bells for the boy. To be fair, only Schowz would watch a programme about damn orange juice.

"Yeah, it's called OJ, from farm to glass." Schwoz smiled, making (y/n) roll her eyes. It was a stupidly boring show and not worth the excited smile that was on Schwoz's face as he talked about it.

"Hey, have you seen the episode yet about how they remove the pulp?" Ray asked his handyman with a smirk on his face. Oh, how he loved to wind Schwoz up.

"Shhhhh! No spoilers!" He exclaimed with his hands over his ears. Man, all this fuss about orange juice.

"Was that the one where I fell asleep?" (y/n) looked up at Ray, the angle highlighting her lashes and soft, plump lips. God, he wanted to kiss her again.

"Yeah, you wouldn't let me go." He smirked down at her when she hid her face in his chest, feeling embarrassed at how she always clung to him in his sleep. Now, all the secret touches and nights sleeping in his bed made sense and they both felt silly at how blind they had been to each other's pining. Henry and Charlotte were right - what kind of best friends cuddled on the couch and held hands at every given opportunity?

Ray leant down to press his lips to hers again, but she turned her head at the last minute when the elevator came crashing down and Jasper stumbled into the room. Goddammit, he just wanted to kiss his girl senseless, was that too much to ask?

"Is it time to see Charlotte's thing?" The curly-haired teen asked breathily as he recovered from the elevator ride. It always spooked new people.

"Jasper?" Henry spluttered, surprised to see his best friend downstairs when he should've been upstairs, watching the shop.

"You're supposed to be upstairs in Junk-N-Stuff, working," Ray told the boy in an annoyed tone. His mood had been soured by the interrupted kiss; the man had gone so long dreaming of what her lips would be like, that anything that stopped them now was a real kick in the teeth.

"Dude, what if a customer walks in?" Henry asked, making (y/n) roll her eyes. Honestly, they made everything into such a drama, so what if Jasper came down for a few minutes? He was Charlotte's friend too.

"It's okay. I left a sign saying, be right back." He smiled at them, thinking that his sign would solve everything, even though temporarily locking the door and closing the shop would've been a safer option.

"Okay, Jasper, just make sure you're not down here for too long. We don't want anything up there being jacked." (y/n) told the boy kindly, being much more friendly than Ray was to him.

"And you, stop being so grumpy." She then turned to her boyfriend and gave him a teasing smile. He huffed at the insinuation, he wasn't always grumpy, just when teen boys interrupted the time they had together. Rolling her eyes at his pouting, the young woman placed her hands on his chest and pressed yet another sweet kiss to his lips and this time, they were able to linger for a few seconds. 

"And hello!" And then those few seconds were up. Charlotte came out from under the tarp, meaning that they had to end it there so they could turn and look at her invention.

"Okay, Ray, (y/n), stop kissing, because I'm ready!" She smirked at the couple, making Ray huff grumpily. It wasn't his fault that his girlfriend was so hot that he couldn't leave her alone.

"Go for it, Char." The young woman smiled at the girl and leaned back into Ray's embrace. She was more than excited to be remotely involved in a Gizmo Show again and she was gonna encourage Charlotte all the way.

"As most of you know, the last three years at the Gizmo Show, my project has won the second place prize." She started, addressing her friend confidently, but only one was really interested. Henry, Ray, Schwoz and Jasper all looked like they were gonna fall asleep, meaning they gave a half-hearted response to the girl's opening statement.

"But this is the year that Charlotte goes number one." She stated boldly. She wasn't gonna come in lousy second place again. This year, was Charlotte's year.

"So you're gonna pee?" Ray joked, making the boys burst into laughter as he mocked Charlotte's proud speech. They thought it was hilarious, (y/n), however, did not. She gave them the same annoyed and unamused stare as the young girl did and when they continued to cackle at the joke like hyenas, the woman wriggled out of Ray's arms to see him pout. 

"You guys aren't funny." She shook her head and Charlotte was glad to have her on her side. At least someone was taking her project seriously, even if it meant that Ray dragged his girl back into his arms with a whine. Okay, he got the message to be quiet. He didn't want to have his arms empty again since he'd been living like that for nine years and had hated it.

"I call my project...The Scream Machine!" Charlotte pulled off the tarp and revealed her invention, but at face value, it didn't look like much. Still, (y/n) was impressed, even if the boys weren't. Any kid who could come up with a cool science project and pull it off deserved some recognition.

"Clap, doofus." She told her boyfriend in a hushed tone as she realised that she was the only one who had decided to clap. Ray and the others gave a round of applause for Charlotte, who looked a bit sheepish under the praise, but she carried it off well. 

"Now, as we all know, the future of our planet depends on finding new ways to create clean, renewable energy, but where will our energy come from?" She asked them and Henry put his hand up with a suggestion.

"France." He answered, which Charlotte immediately dismissed as wrong. Relying on another country didn't count.

"Energy balls," Ray suggested with a sure smirk on his face. Wow, he thought he was so clever.

"What the hell is an energy ball?" (y/n) giggled at him, turning around to look at him. Such an adorable doofus.

"Orange juice!"

"Double-A batteries!" Schwoz and Jasper shouted out, irritating Charlotte beyond belief. All these suggestions were ridiculous and they were getting on her nerves.

"Shut up!" She snapped, sending her friends into silence. Okay, she was scary when she was angry.

"As you're about to see, my Scream Machine creates energy from sound." She told them calmly, moving on from the random shouting out. It was a pretty impressive idea; sound into energy could be a great development in the movement for clean energy.

"Wait, your machine can actually do that?" (y/n) looked at Charlotte incredulously, not believing that one child could have come up with such a good invention. If it worked, she would be immensely proud of her young friend.

"Why don't you step over here and you can help me test it out?" Charlotte smiled at the young woman, who excitedly accepted her offer. She couldn't wait to see this thing in action and was more than happy to help out, unlike Ray, who got antsy at the thought of her being in an experiment?

"Whoa, hey. Is this dangerous?" He asked the young girl as (y/n) stepped away from him and awaited further instructions. Schwoz, Henry and Jasper ruffled his hair and teased him at how soft he was. The great Captain Man was utterly enamoured with his girl and they were more than happy to playfully mock how he was more protective of her than ever.

"Raymond, I'll be fine." She smiled at him and he backed down a bit, although he would always be ready to spring into action if something went wrong. She'd never be upset and she'd never be unsafe, that was his promise.

"Put that mask over your face," Charlotte told the woman, who obediently did as she was told. If only she knew what was coming.

"Now, watching as I take this shock rod that Schwoz made and do this..." She held up the sparking weapon, making (y/n) and Ray widen their eyes in shock.

"Hey, wait a minute---Owwwww!" She yelped into the mask and to everyone's surprise, the more she screamed, the louder Charlotte's machine played Hawaiian music and made a little hula doll dance. Well, at least it worked.

"Sweet girl..." Ray swiftly stepped forward and brought his whimpering girl into his arms. The small burn mark quickly healed on her arm, but he soothingly rubbed his palm over it anyway. Any excuse to touch her was good in his mind.

"Remind me never to volunteer for Charlotte again." She groaned, but then refocused on the girl's project. Through the pain, she could sense her wonder at how the machine worked and Henry, Jasper and Schwoz were equally impressed. 

"Whoa, what made it work like that?" Henry asked his friend as she smiled proudly. Their flabbergasted faces were worth all the mockery, even if she did feel a bit bad about zapping (y/n). She'd be fine anyway, one kiss from Ray and it would be forgotten.

"Sound! See, when (y/n) screamed, these magnetic nodules, converted the sound vibrations into energy, which this kinetic transformer transformed into electricity, which made the hula girl dance!" She explained excitedly, thoroughly impressing her friends. 

"Wow." Henry smiled and even grumpy Ray had to admit that it was a good invention.

"That's fantastic." He told her genuinely, encouraged by the woman in his arms. She was fine, a zap on the arm was nothing to her, especially when it was for science. 

"Well, Charlotte, I have to say I'm shocked. Literally." She giggled and enjoyed a squeeze from Ray as he chuckled at her joke. He had no idea why he had been so scared to tell her how he felt, she was perfect and so lovely, he just wished he hadn't spent so many mundane nights in the arms of other girls. He could've been with her all along and couldn't bear thinking about how lonely she must have felt when he flirted with others left, right and centre.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. So when someone makes a sound into this, how much electricity can it create?" Henry asked Charlotte, suddenly feeling very interested in her science project. Maybe it wasn't so lame after all.

"It depends on how loud the sound is and how long the sound lasts." She replied, knowing that her gadget had limits. Still, it was an amazing first prototype and who knows, maybe she could improve it to create tons of electricity.

"Oooh, I want to try something!" Schwoz gasped and pushed Charlotte away from her machine.

"No, no, no, no--" She panicked, but he wasn't listening, even though it wasn't his to test out. 

"Schwoz, don't, you'll break it!" (y/n) warned him as the girl freaked out. Her machine was so delicate and only a science fair project, nothing like what Schwoz was used to building. 

"Schwoz, that's not a good idea--" Henry added, but the little man was too stubborn. He picked up an airhorn and pressed it next to the mask. The loud noise made (y/n) jump into Ray's arms as the Scream Machine began to work at maximum power, which kinda impressed Ray.

"Yeahhhhh! Hula, hula, hula!" He chanted happily and wiggled his hips to (y/n), but she just rolled her eyes. Yes, seeing him move like that was sexy, but he shouldn't have been encouraging Schwoz and his hair-brained ideas.

"Schwoz!" Charlotte screamed as the circuits began to smoulder and the excessive electricity running through them meant that they were on the point of combustion.

"Schwoz, stop!" Henry ordered the genius, who wasn't much of a genius at that moment because he happily continued to press the airhorn into the mask until Charlotte's beloved invention exploded in a flash of light and a puff of smoke. Wow, that was a smart move. 

The resulting shock wave made everyone fall to the floor as the smell of burning plastic and electronics filled the air. Oh god, what was Charlotte gonna do now? The machine sparked and fizzed a little more, making Ray shield his girlfriend with his body as she cowered against the cold tiles. Having his heavy frame on top of hers was sinfully pleasant, especially when he let his head fall into her neck and absentmindedly pressed his lips to her sweet spot, but this was no time for passion.

"Schwoz, you dickhead, it's on fire!" The young woman cried and scrambled out from under Ray so he and Henry could run for the fire extinguishers. Ugh, why did she have to move so soon? He was enjoying the way she quivered under his touch.

The superhero duo each grabbed an emergency fire extinguisher and sprayed the burning machine with the gas until they had been smothered. The charred table then promptly collapse due to the fire damage, making Charlotte's bottom lip wobble. Her lovely Scream Machine...

"Don't blame yourself," Schwoz told her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder, but it was no comfort. The disaster was his damn fault and his lack of taking responsibility for his actions enraged her.

"You're so dead." (y/n) told him as she saw the girl shake in anger and she cautiously tiptoed past her to the supercomputer so she'd be out of the way for when the killing began. 

Seeking sanctuary in her boyfriend, she took a seat on his lap and watched as Charlotte looked at Schwoz with fire in her eyes. Henry passed around the drinks as she tackled him to the floor and began to painfully bend his leg backwards, making (y/n) squirm in discomfort at his screams.

"Stay still." Ray hissed in her ear, hating and loving her movements and what they were doing to him.

"Why?" She smirked, letting on that she was innocent and pure, even though she was anything but. She took a swig of her soda and ground her hips backwards, making his free hand fly to her waist. Thank god, Henry was too enthralled by the fight to notice anything.

"You know why." He growled and tightly wrapped his arm around her waist so she was immobilised. Aw, she was having so much fun seeing him get all riled up and desperate.

"Four months! I worked on that project for four months!" Charlotte shrieked at Schwoz and yanked his ankle into an unnatural position. To be fair, he deserved it. He'd ruined her work recklessly so she had a right to be angry, but she couldn't be allowed to break his leg, even if he was a little shit.

"Be a good boy and help me calm her down." (y/n) purred in Ray's ear and stood up from his lap before he could tease her back. She'd waited years to have him all to herself and now, she was finding her confidence in making him wait for her.

"Okay, Charlotte, come on," Ray told the girl as he, Henry and (y/n) approached her. Sure, it was fun to watch Schwoz get beat up, but they needed him to be able to walk.

"All right," Henry added and they each took an arm so they could lift her off the repairman, her legs kicking out as they did so. God, she wanted to rip his leg off for what he did to her invention.

"Schwoz, get up." (y/n) told the small man, not offering any sympathy to him. It was hard to hear him scream for mercy, but she knew that she'd want to kill him if he'd destroyed one of her Gizmo gadgets. Ten-year-old (y/n) could be vicious when she wanted to be.

Schwoz looked at Charlotte. Charlotte looked at Schwoz. Both now feeling incredibly angry, they lunged for each other, intent on starting another fight. If it wasn't for Ray gripping the girl's wrists tightly and Henry and (y/n) stepping in between them, they probably would've killed each other.

"Okay, let's all just calm down." The young woman told them sternly, not fancying cleaning up any blood off of her shiny floors. 

"I was finally gonna win first prize at the Gizmo Show, finally! But Schwoz had to go wreck my scream machine and ruin my chances!" Charlotte ranted bitterly as she walked away from the possibility of a fight. Although, just because she wasn't going to beat him up, it didn't mean she wasn't close to tears.

"Look, just calm down," Henry told her, but she was too mad to listen. 

"Hey! Never tell a woman to calm down." She hissed at him, making Henry look to (y/n) for help. Was it just Charlotte or was this a general rule that he didn't know about? Ray cringed at his sidekick's mistake, knowing that ordering girls about never ended well.

"Sorry, I was just trying--" He told his friend nervously, but Charlotte was insistent. She didn't want her anger to be dismissed so easily, she was upset and wanted to shout.

"Never tell a woman to calm down!" She reiterated in a sharper tone, making the boy gulp.

"Okay..." He whimpered, making (y/n) giggle as she watched in amusement. Henry should've known better than to mess with Charlotte when she was angry.

"Say it with her!" The young woman joined in, smirking when the dark-haired girl grabbed Henry's jaw and wobbled his mouth around so he'd say the phrase again. Ray and Schwoz were watching too, although they were choosing to do the smart thing and stayed quiet, the former preferring to slide his hand into (y/n)'s jean back pocket.

"You get it?" She snapped, releasing his jaw so he could stand straight.

"Yes, I promise!" He cried, feeling as though he'd thoroughly learnt his lesson. Jeez, she really was mad.

"Hey, Charlotte, this really isn't the disaster that you think it is." Ray piped up, making (y/n) look at him weirdly and it wasn't because of where he'd cheekily chosen to put his hand.

"Well, the Gizmo show is in what, two, three days? And Charlotte's project looks toasted, how is this not a disaster?" She asked him and he stepped in front of her and Charlotte so he could explain his theory, although not before giving her ass a cheeky squeeze.

"Schwoz is a scientific genius and he has all weekend to rebuild your Scream Machine, which he will. And you, sweet girl, are so good at fixing stuff and you're so kind that you'll help him, please?" Ray instructed Schwoz and then turned to his girl so he could give her his best puppy-dog eyes. They still melted her heart, but Schwoz, not so much.

"Nooooo! This weekend, I'm supposed to get my colonoscopy." He whined, thinking about how he'd been waiting for his appointment for weeks. 

"Reschedule it!" Ray exclaimed, ordering his assistant to fix the machine he'd so cruelly ruined. He made the mess, now he had to clean it up.

"Fine, I'll reschedule it." He conceded, rolling his eyes at the order. He didn't like it, but he needed this job so he'd begrudgingly do it.

"But rules say every kid has to enter their own gizmo, without help from a parent or other adult. It has to be my work!" Charlotte told her boss, thinking that if she let Schwoz and (y/n) rebuild the machine, it would technically be cheating, even if it was due compensation.

"It is your work!" Ray insisted. Loopholes, they were so great. 

"Yeah, see, Schwoz and (y/n) are just gonna recreate the project you made. Okay?" Henry added, knowing that Charlotte had completed the work herself and had built the thing previously so she'd put the effort in. Now, Schwoz just had to put the same amount of effort into rebuilding it.

"Okayyyy?" Ray and Henry said together, wanting the sceptical girl to agree. No one would know, it would be fine.

"Ugh, I guess so." She shook her head and grudgingly agreed. She had no choice, honestly. It was either this or no Gizmo Show at all and she knew which one she preferred. 

"All right, then we're all good." Ray clapped his hands, but (y/n) was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Hold on, doofus, I never said I'd help rebuild the Scream Machine. He broke it, not me." The young woman pointed out, debating internally whether it was unfair or not to make her work on something that wasn't her fault.

"Oh, please, please, please. It'll get done much faster." Charlotte begged her, trusting the woman to get the job done properly without any hiccups. Schwoz was likely to throw in some curveball and with her present, she'd keep him on the straight and narrow. It would be boring, but there was a silver lining to the offer.

"Okay, I'll do it if I get a kiss." She smiled at Ray, who happily welcomed her into his arms and cupped her face with his warm hands. Sweet lips met hers and even though they'd been kissing at every given opportunity, every time felt like the first. Fireworks, literal fireworks exploding into a combination of honey and mint, putting on a display which was exquisite to them and sickening to the teens.

"Gross!" Henry wrinkled his nose and Charlotte pulled a similar expression as they repulsed their boss's display of affection. Yeah, they were so happy that they were finally together, but that didn't make them any less mushy.

"Hey, I never say that when you kiss a girl." Ray mocked his sidekick once he'd pulled away and (y/n) savoured the taste of him on her tongue. Well, a weekend of tinkering with Schwoz would be worth it if that or more was her reward.

"Okay, I'll do it. Oh and Charlotte, don't worry about the adult thing. Schwoz will be doing most of it and he's, like, pint-sized, so I'd say in terms of height, he's a kid." (y/n) told the girl, who smiled at her sass and the prospect of her being on board with the project.

"Schwoz, now it's just up to you to make sure everything--oh my god." Ray trailed off when a snore from Schwoz told him that the man had fallen asleep again. Goddammit, this was important, he needed to stay awake.

"All right, I got this." Henry declared and walked over to the airhorn that was still sitting on a tool trolley. Seeing what he was about to do, Ray put his large hands over (y/n)'s ears so she wouldn't jump, just in time for Henry blaring the horn right next to Schwoz's ear. He awoke with a start and fell forward onto his face, making his friends look down at him in amusement. 

"Who did that?" He snapped, standing up in alarm like he was ready to attack whoever woke him up.

"None of your business!" Charlotte hissed back, feeling pretty pissed off that he'd fallen asleep on the job when he was supposed to be grovelling for an apology.

"Okay...good for you, don't calm down!" He told the girl, thinking that he was being pretty smart by using her earlier warning as his defence. He definitely didn't want to see her angry again.

~Later that evening, in Ray's car~

Schwoz had whined to (y/n) about needing spare parts and not wanting to spend all weekend with him moaning about it in her ear, she'd then whined at Ray to drive them to a store. So, here they were; driving in Ray's convertible through Downtown Swellview, looking for any shop that just might happen to open late. To be honest, it was a rare trip out for them, so rare that (y/n) had forgotten that Ray even owned the car, not that she was complaining.

Henry and Schwoz were in the back, trying to decipher Charlotte's blueprints in the passing light of the streetlamps. She'd planned thoroughly, but some of the equipment was quite technical, even for Schwoz. (y/n) was sat in the front passenger seat as Ray drove calmly with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on her upper thigh, his thumb occasionally rubbing the material of her jeans soothingly. 

"Hey, can we stop and get ice creams?" Schwoz asked from the backseat, his voice lighthearted and bouncy like he was a five-year-old child. Henry was so annoyed that he had to sit next to him for the whole trip, but he daren't split Ray and (y/n) up by making one sit in the back with him. The pouting would be immense.

"No...No ice cream until later. Right now, we just gotta get to the hardware store." The young woman sighed in the front. It was like travelling with a child; constant "are we there yets", toilet stops and now, ice cream. It was a thirty-minute drive, he could wait.

"I hate going to hardware stores," Ray grumbled, his hand gripping tightly around (y/n)'s thigh, which in turn made her clench them together as a surge of desire rocked through her body. 

"Well, I need extra parts if you want me and (y/n) to recreate Charlotte's stupid Scream Machine," Schwoz complained, making Henry roll his eyes at the man sitting next to him.

"Well, you both wouldn't have to recreate Charlotte's Scream Machine if you hadn't airhorned that hula girl," Henry argued, setting off a round of bickering between the boys.

"Stop making me feel bad--" Schwoz countered, but Ray had something to say about that. After all, it was his fault.

"You should feel bad! So just keep studying Charlotte's drawings, make sure you know everything you need to get!" Ray growled, momentarily removing his hand from his girl's thigh so he could poke at Schwoz and the blueprints. 

"I can't look at Charlotte's plans right now!" Schwoz whined, deepening Ray's anger at his complacency. How could he be so uncaring right now?

"I can't look at Charlotte's plans right now!" Ray mocked his voice, not realising that his hand was slowly creeping higher and higher up (y/n)'s thigh, making the girl shiver and her breathing go harder.

"Okay, everyone, calm down, we'll get nowhere arguing." She snapped at them all, trying to keep her voice level, even though her heart was racing. Taking advantage of a gap between the streetlights, (y/n) snaked her hand down to where Ray's was on her thigh and rested it on top, making the man aware of how it had climbed closer and closer to where she secretly wanted it.

For Ray, all of the air in the car had suddenly become close and warm as lust pumped through his veins. He'd picked up on how he was making her feel and had retracted his hand instantly, ending the contact that was teasing her into madness. But now, he was the one with a problem.

"I'm hot...is it hot in here?" He asked suddenly, not knowing how to deal with his desire without indulging it or hiding it. Deciding to opt for the latter, he took (y/n)'s hand and placed it on the wheel so he could quickly and clumsily take off his zip-up hoodie and throw it on her lap. The things she did to him and the things he did to her; the new sight of those biceps fanned her burning desire too.

"It's hot, I guess," Henry commented nonchalantly, not picking up on Ray's random behaviour. He'd understand when he was older or maybe he'd just get more observant one day.

"You know what, it's my car, I'm gonna put the top down," Ray told his friends and pressed the button that made the convertible roof fold back over their heads. The couple were glad of the cool night air, it let their skin cool down from days' worth of untouched desire and provided the perfect distraction. Ray was sure a kiss wouldn't cut it this time, his carnal instincts were craving more from his girl.

However, the sudden change in wind wasn't good news for Schwoz, who struggled to keep his little mitts on the paper as it danced around in the strong breeze. Henry tried to grab onto it, but he was too late, the blueprints flew from Schwoz's fingertips and were left behind as Ray carried on driving, he and (y/n) unaware of what had just happened.

"The plans! The plans!" Schwoz cried as he and Henry panicked. If those plans were ruined, that was it, game over. Ray and (y/n) frantically looked back to see that their hands were empty, making them freak out too.

"Schwoz! Where the hell are the plans?" (y/n) asked the genius as Ray focused on the road. Dear God, please, don't let it be what she thought it was gonna be.

"Heh..." He and Henry gave her a nervous look and her eyes widened at what they were suggesting. Oh god, no plans, no ideas, what the hell were they supposed to do now?

~Monday~

It was the day of the grand Gizmo Show and it had been a very stressful weekend, to say the least. Schwoz had been working overtime to whip together something for Charlotte and he'd told (y/n) that it would be exactly like that he had read on her plans, but suspiciously, he hadn't let her see the actual machine. She assembled parts and soldered circuits, but all of the main construction had been left to him, so she was essentially working blind as to what he was creating and that made her nervous.

"Oh, god, we are so late!" (y/n) panted as she, Ray, Henry and Schwoz sprinted through the halls of Swellview High with Schwoz's/ Charlotte's project. A couple of last-minute tweaks had made them fall behind schedule and they were only just bursting through the doors and into the hall where the show was being held.

"Coming through, 'scuse us, make a hole!" Ray parted the crowd as they rushed across the room with the new machine covered in a white tarp. 

"Where've you guys been?" Charlotte asked them as they tried to catch their breath. If she only knew the shit they'd been through.

"We got here as fast as we could." Henry breathed raggedly as everyone recovered from the sprint into the school. (y/n) had found that with her super-healing she could run faster and for a lot longer, but even still, she was beat.

"We wanted to stop for ice creams," Schwoz told the girl, making (y/n) roll her eyes. Of course, he'd bring that up.

"But, (y/n) wouldn't let us," Ray added, making his girlfriend look at him in offence. Schwoz was always a snitch, but why'd he have to rat on her as well? He was supposed to love her...

"Et tu, Brutus? I told you, we'll get ice creams later." She looked at him and then Schwoz with a stern face, daring them to argue back. They'd barely made it, if they'd made an ice cream stop, Charlotte would've been disqualified.

"Here come the judges. Move that table out of the way so we can put my Scream Machine there." Charlotte told her friends and Henry and Schwoz lifted the table together as (y/n) and Ray rolled the gizmo to where it should be. Ray pulled off the cloth to reveal...a completely different machine, making Charlotte and (y/n) look at it in horror. Was that what Schwoz had been hiding from her all weekend?

"Whoa, where is my project?" Charlotte asked the boys, who were nervously fidgeting as the girls took in all the different components, tubing and wires.

"What the hell is that? You told me you were building Charlotte's machine!" (y/n) hissed at Schwoz, who gulped at how angry she looked. Ray was adjusting the gadget whilst she was giving the genius an earful and he hoped that he wasn't next on her list.

"Technically, I told you I was working on a machine. I didn't say it was Charlotte's." Schwoz told the woman nervously, making her give him a clip round the ear. Honestly, she felt lied to and irritated that she hadn't seen it coming. Next time, she'd demand to supervise everything because obviously, he couldn't be trusted.

"Listen, listen, I need to tell you something...we lost the plans to your Scream Machine," Henry whispered to Charlotte as he took it upon himself to be the one who took the telling off.

"You lost them?" Charlotte yelled loudly, making them all shush her before the judges could hear. Even (y/n) didn't want that to happen.

"Okay, never tell a woman to shush!" She snapped, but this time, she really did need to be quiet.

"Charlotte, I wholeheartedly agree, but please, be quiet!" She whispered to the girl as she folded her arms and stood next to her.

"We're sorry!" Ray told both of them, not liking how tetchy his girl was now. Did that mean she wouldn't kiss him later? A whole weekend of working on a machine she didn't know about had kept her busy and therefore left him high and dry, with no relief from the scorching desire he'd been feeling since Friday night. He was wound up, to say the least, and a moody girlfriend meant he'd be on the receiving end of nothing.

"So many rules." Schwoz puffed out his cheeks as he learnt something new about women. He didn't know how they worked, which probably explained why he was so bad with them.

"Now, I know why you had to literally build your own girlfriend, you suck at women, dude." (y/n) shook her head at his bewilderment. Girls just want guys to be nice to them, is that too much to ask?

"Look, Schwoz and (y/n) tried to rebuild the machine, but--" Henry started, but the woman didn't like that her name was being dropped into the mix.

"--But without the plans, he couldn't get it to work in time so..." Ray trailed off as (y/n) gave him the side-eye and he felt it best to be quiet.

"So, he tricked me into helping him build the new...thing." (y/n) finished, realising that she didn't know anything about what she had helped make. Instantly, she was as curious as Charlotte to know what it did, although she wasn't as upset. 

"Then what the jack is that thing?" The teen girl snarled, pointing to her new gizmo with rage and disgust. 

"It's a little project I've been working on so, I got (y/n) to help me finish for you!" Schwoz smiled at her, but it didn't make anything better for Charlotte.

"Well, I can't pretend I made this." The girl hissed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to show off a machine that she knew nothing about.

"Well, it has got your little disco ball from your actual project." (y/n) tried to lighten the mood by poking the ball to make it wobble around. Ray even did his little hula dance, which made the young woman giggle, but Charlotte didn't find it so funny. She yanked the disco ball from the machine and threw it across the hall, making Ray gasp in horror. Not the disco ball...

"This isn't my work. I don't even know what it does." Charlotte groaned, rubbing her forehead in frustration.

"Okay, what this machine does---I don't really know what it does--" Henry tried to explain, but he didn't know and the judges were coming their way, meaning Charlotte was suddenly thrust forward to explain her invention.

"Okay next...ah, yes, here's the young lady, who's no stranger to second place ribbons." The head judge told her companions as they strolled up Charlotte, who smiled bitterly at her words.

"Steady on, love." (y/n) commented, not believing that a woman who worked with children could be so cruel. Second place wasn't terrible, sure, first was better, but still. 

"How are you, Charlotte?" The brunette woman ignored the sass and focused on the teenager in front of her, who was suddenly incredibly nervous at being branded a cheat. 

"Oh, you know, good. Little nauseous." She answered honestly, feeling her stomach do somersaults as the judges looked her up and down. Jesus, she'd never been this nervous at a Gizmo Show.

"Great, you wanna tell us about your project?" Was the one's next question and it left Charlotte stumped. She didn't even know where the on switch was.

"I'd rather not." She'd quickly mumbled into the microphone, causing the woman to switch tactics.

"Okay..would you like to demonstrate your gizmo?" She asked and Charlotte knew that she had no choice. It was either that or disqualification and she wasn't waiting another year to come first place.

"Yeah, okay." She apprehensively agreed as Ray stepped forward to make a witty, but unnecessary comment.

"Yeah, 'cause what else would she do? Not demonstrate it?" He laughed to himself, but he was the only one who found it amusing. 

"Sorry, he's a bit...y'know." (y/n) told the female judge nervously and looped her arm through Ray's so she could pull him away from the mic. Honestly, she couldn't leave him around anything, goofy doofus.

"All right, Charlotte. What does your gizmo do?" The woman asked, leaving Charlotte to stumble and look at Schwoz for help.

"Well, uhhhh, I should probably start by turning it on and to do that I just...uhhhh, I push this." She looked at her friends, who were coughing suspiciously and shaking their heads. Okay, so not that button.

"I mean, I pull this..." She moved onto the next lever and was met by another round of covered-up coughs. Next button.

"Actually, I just turn this nob..." She giggled nervously and was overjoyed to learn that this time, she was on the right thing. She twisted the button and the machine illuminated into a bright blue, wowing everyone around it.

"And next, I---uh..." She looked right for help, not knowing what the next step was.

"Arghhh, tap the screen, arggghhh." Henry, Schwoz, Ray and (y/n) coughed and she got the message. Jeez, they were sounding really ill at this point. After pressing the screen, Charlotte was alarmed to hear the machine power up until a beam of light came out of it, hitting Jasper, who had just been standing around and minding his own business. Everyone was flabbergasted to see his body being sucked into the machine and then rematerialised on the other side of the room. Oh. My. God. What had Schwoz built? 

"Wasn't I just over there?" Jasper asked the astonished crowd, but they were too speechless to reply. 

"Good Lord, did your device just transport your device from there to there?" The head judge asked Charlotte, who was also completely baffled at what Schwoz had given her.

"Y--y--yeah. I guess so." She answered, not knowing how to respond at all. 

"We should stop this competition now because Charlotte's device isn't just the best gizmo at this show, this is mankind's most impressive invention of all time!" The judge announced and everyone applauded Charlotte and her "success", but the girl was feeling anything but proud. 

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, it's not so great. Look at that pancake flipper! I wish I had thought of that." She chuckled humourlessly, wishing that her device was about one million per cent less impressive so she wouldn't have to explain herself to the entire world about her revolutionary technology.

"Are you kidding? You have created instant teleportation. This technology could end the need for cars, aeroplanes, shipping. It could help preserve the Earth's entire ecosystem. Charlotte, you are going to be the most famous person on this planet." The judge explained, making Charlotte's stomach drop to the floor. Holy shit, what had Schwoz done?

"Someone call the government!"

"Call Fox News!"

"She's gonna win the Nobel Prize!"

"Yeah, take that China!" Ray added to the random things being shouted out by people in the crowd, not realising that he was contributing to the utter fear being felt by his young assistant. 

"Well, Charlotte, I hope you're proud that--where'd she go?" The judge cut off when she noticed that her star inventor was no longer standing by her side, in fact, she'd disappeared completely.

"Oh, here she is, hiding under the table." Jasper pointed her out and Charlotte whimpered under all the attention, fearing what this newfound fame would mean for her.

"Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte!" She smiled awkwardly as a man lifted her onto his shoulder and the crowd began to chant her name. This wasn't how she wanted things to go at all. 

"Okay, okay. Okay, thank you. I need to get down now. Yeah, okay." She patted the man on the head and he gently placed her back on the ground. Signalling for her friends to come over, Charlotte walked over to a secluded spot as everyone admired "her" teleportation device.

"Hey, kid, what's this thing you built?" She asked a boy around her age, thinking it looked perfect for a secret chat.

"It's a soundproof booth." He answered and that was just the answer she was looking for.

"Cool. In here." She told the gang and they all crowded in, not caring about the protests from the booth's inventor. A small stunning laser from Henry's whiz watch soon sorted him out.

"Yeah, that's my gizmo," Henry smirked at Ray, who happened to overhear his line and loved it. The large man made room for his sidekick as (y/n) stood next to him, ready to grill her friends for what they had unleashed on poor Charlotte.

"Right, I need you guys to listen." The girl looked at them all, knowing that she only had a few minutes before the crowd came looking from her.

"I know what you're going to say so you're welcome." Schwoz smiled at the girl, thinking she was gonna lavish praise and gratitude onto him for sharing his awesome technology with her.

"I'm not welcome! Everyone out there thinks I'm in this scientific genius, who just created this most important invention in the history of the world!" She pointed out in a stressed voice, feeling the pressure again. 

"Once again, you're welcome!" Schwoz smiled at her, but he didn't see that it was actually a very bad thing.

"Idiots!" (y/n) sighed at his blatant stupidity.

"People are calling the government, Fox News!" She gasped, trying to get her head around all the madness.

"So? They're fair!" Ray told her, questioning the girl's worry, which got him a slap on the chest from his girl. Sometimes, he was so dense.

"And balanced!" Henry added, earning a punch on the arm. Idiots, (y/n) and Charlotte worked with idiots.

"And what happens when they wanna know everything about me?" Charlotte prompted, but she still wasn't getting through to them. Looks like they needed it dumbing down.

"Listen, idiots, people are gonna find out she works at Junk-N-Stuff and then reporters are gonna come poking around to talk to her. How long will it take them to figure out that's where Captain Man lives with Miss Danger and works with Kid Danger?" (y/n) explained, making the boys throw their heads back against the booth's walls in frustration. It was inevitable, reporters were always sneaky and shifty.

"They're right. This is a problem, we need to make it go away." Ray groaned as he let his forehead flop down to rest on the young woman's shoulder. Why was life never easy?

"How? I mean, everyone out there just saw her device work." Henry pointed out, gesturing to where the demonstration had just taken place. 

"Yeah, people ain't that stupid. We can't just tell them that Curly's teleportation was just a trick of the light." (y/n) sighed, raising her hand to Ray's head so she could run her fingers through his silky hair. She was still a bit annoyed at how much of a mess had been created, but having him so close...was it getting hot in the box or was it just her?

"We need to get rid of it," Ray told them all, lifting his gaze just enough so he could see over (y/n)'s head and look at that damn teleporter. 

"My machine?" Schwoz asked sadly, not wanting to see his beloved creation destroyed. Now, he'd know how poor Charlotte felt on Friday.

"Yeah, your machine." Ray mocked him using his Schwoz voice, making his girl giggle. He loved how his goofiness always made her laugh, even in the gravest of times. 

"Okay, dude, there's, like, a billion people out there. How are we gonna get rid of it?" Henry asked his boss, but (y/n) had already come up with an answer.

"All we need is a plan," Ray said mysteriously, leaving a few seconds for anyone to come up with one. Of course, (y/n) could have just come out with hers straight away, but seeing him look so serious was hot.

"Which is?" Henry looked at him expectantly, not knowing what he was waiting for. Surely, he had a plan.

"I don't know, Henry. Is it not enough that I pointed out that a plan is what we need?" Ray asked his sidekick in an annoyed tone and that's when (y/n) decided to jump in before any fight could break out.

"I have an idea." She told her boyfriend with a pleasant face, making him cran his neck so he could get more on her level.

"Is it a plan?" He asked, his mouth dangerously close to her neck. God, at this point, he had to be teasing her.

"Yes."She confirmed, making Ray look at Henry with a smug smirk. She'd just ignore that.

"Okay, all we need is for Captain Man, Miss Danger, Kid Danger and a criminal." She said, smirking at Jasper as she formed the idea in her head.

"You want me to be a criminal?" He asked her, to which she slowly nodded her head. 

"Oh, yeah, will you do it?" She asked, using her best fluttering eyelashes, but they only worked on Ray.

"Do I have to whack someone?" Jasper asked, hoping that he'd get to be in on some action.

"No, but you do get the opportunity to impress Captain Man." She offered, knowing that the boy's love for her superhero boyfriend would be enough to sway him.

"I'll do it!" Jasper exclaimed, ready to help Captain Man in any way he could. 

"Good, now, all you have to do is dress up as a criminal and come attack the device. Then, we'll come in and get you, but sadly, the teleporter will have been destroyed in the fight. Easy-peasy, squeeze the lemon." (y/n) explained as they all huddled around her and they all nodded in understanding once she had finished. 

"Okay, we better get into our positions," Henry told them all and Jasper was the first to leave. His costume had to be perfect if he was gonna "fight" Captain Man.

"What about me?" Schwoz whined, suddenly realising that he hadn't been given a job, but there wasn't a lot for him to do. This was a job that didn't need his genius coking it up.

"Just go outside and look normal. You can give us the signal if you want." (y/n) hissed, shoving the small man through the door as Charlotte prepared herself to go next. Honestly, he was such a baby sometimes. Once she was out there, no one would notice Swellview's greatest crimefighters sneaking around. Popping a gumball into their mouths, Henry, Ray and (y/n) started to chew as Charlotte peeked out of the door.

"Okay, here I go." She whimpered and stepped out of the booth, only to be immediately swept up in a tidal wave of people vying for her attention. Wow, being famous looked like hard work. Seeing that they only had a small window of opportunity, the superheroes started to blow their bubbles and transformed into their super suits. 

"Henry, you go first, then we'll follow after." The young woman told him, thinking it would be better if they split up rather than moving as one big group. Plus, she wanted an excuse to be alone with Ray, even if it was just for a second.

"Right, right." Henry nodded and as soon as the hoard of Charlotte-lovers had passed the door, he was creeping out and over to a small table to hide. Good, at least they had some cover. Now, alone together, the young woman turned to her boyfriend with hungry eyes.

"Before we go, kiss me." She told him, putting her arms around his neck so she could pull him close. They had no time at all, but she really wanted to taste those lips one more time before they had to go do their duty.

"Why, sweet girl?" Ray smirked down at her, holding his head back so it was slightly out of her reach. She'd teased him, now, it was his turn.

"Because, I've never told you but, you look so hot as Captain Man." She bit her tongue when his eyes grew darker before surging down to press his mouth to hers hungrily. Hot, wandering hands slid down to the backs of her thighs as he lifted her to put her legs around his waist so she wouldn't have to angle her neck awkwardly. It was a bit uncomfortable navigating around his utility belt, but she was too distracted by his bubblegum taste to care. Now at his level, she freely ran her hands through his slicked-back hair, mussing it sightly as he pressed her tightly against the wall. Thank god it was one-way glass. 

Ray broke free from the kiss and moved his lips to the right, trailing them across her jaw to under her ear, where he nipped sharply at her skin. A moan tore from her lips and Ray couldn't help but move further down her neck, wanting to see what other noises he could get her to make.

"Fuck, you're so hot and all mine, sweet girl." He panted against her neck, making her whine as she realised how long they were taking. What a shame that this couldn't last forever. 

"We have to go." She whimpered, clutching his shoulders tightly as he growled against her skin. He didn't want to go, he just wanted her.

"Ray, Henry's waiting and Charlotte's being ambushed by reporters. We have to go." She repeated and he reluctantly moved away from her skin and released her legs from his hold. 

"Later." He told her in a low voice and she nodded breathlessly as he placed a final sweet kiss on her plump lips one last time before they stepped out into the hall. The reporters were still swarming around Charlotte, who was looking incredibly nervous and then, they spotted Henry, who looked incredibly pissed off at how he'd been hiding on his own for five minutes.

"What took you guys so long?" He asked in an irritated tone as they tiptoed past some unsuspecting bystanders and joined him behind a pop-up table. Did he really want to know?

"Something came up." (y/n) smirked, her chuckling growing even louder as her comment went over Henry's head. He was so innocent, it was cute.

"Where's Jasper?" She followed up, wanting to know where the boy was considering the reporters were getting more and more excited with Charlotte. The poor girl looked like she was gonna pass out. Not knowing where his best friend was either, Henry took out his cell and dialled his number as Ray took out his handy compact mirror and a small comb.

"Jasper, where are you?" The boy asked his friend whilst Ray groomed his hair back into perfection. Normally, he'd keep it messy to show off that his girl had chosen him to be the one she wanted, but Captain Man had to appear immaculate and tidy, even if it made him look a little vain.

"I'm right outside, I found a great disguise in the dumpster." Jasper's faint voice could be heard from the speaker, although in some places it was a little patchy due to the noise from the busy. crowd. (y/n) saw the way Ray was admiring himself in the mirror and she rolled her eyes. Yeah, he looked great (telling him that definitely inflated his ego), but there was no time for staring at himself.

"Okay, just get here and follow the plan," Henry told him, accepting the fact that Jasper was probably gonna smell like a dumpster. Nice. 

"Can I whack someone?" He asked, still holding onto the hope that he'd be allowed to get in on some action.

"No, you can't whack someone, just get here!" (y/n) hissed into Henry's ear so Jasper would hear her and the boy promptly ended the call. Looking out over the table, Ray saw Schwoz wander into the middle of the room and then flick his nostril with his thumb. That must have been the signal. Ray repeated the action back to him and that's when Jasper came bursting into the hall in a very wacky costume. It had a cardboard mask, a trash bag sash and a grungy hoodie.

"Ahhhhhhhh, quick! They're after me! I need a place to hide!" He shouted at the crowd, pointing a cut-off garden hose at them so he could pretend it was a gun.

"Ahhhh, it's that bad guy! Somebody do something!" Schwoz yelled in a bad acting voice, signalling for the three superheroes that that was their cue.

"I'll do something!" Ray exclaimed as he and his sidekicks ran out from their hiding spots. It wasn't the most epic entrance ever, but then again, Captain Man could make anything cool.

"And I'll do something...also!" Henry quipped too, pointing a finger at Jasper as he gave him a sharp glare. Wow, his clothes really stank, they were a few feet away and they could still smell them.

"I'm also here...to do something!" (y/n) smiled at the crowd, feeling like her line wasn't as cool since she was the last one to speak. Obviously, she was there, they'd all seen her.

"Dad, look! It's Captain Man, Miss Danger and Kid Danger!" Piper cried as she gasped at the sight of her favourite heroes. Maybe this science fair wouldn't turn out so bad for her after all. The superheroes smiled bashfully as the crowd cheered at their appearance and Jasper took it to ask Schwoz what was the next step. 

"Hey, what do I do know?" He asked, having forgotten everything that had been said earlier.

"Run to Charlotte's table," Schwoz answered in a hushed voice. At least he had been paying attention.

"Right...Ahhhh, this man can't stop me!" Jasper replied, but his need to whack someone was too great. Seeing an opportunity, he punched Schwoz in the nose, making the poor guy drop to the floor unconscious. Honestly, (y/n) said no whacking.

"Uh...hold it right there!" Ray improvised, not expecting Jasper to deviate from the plan and actually attack someone. At least it seemed more real now, maybe.

"No! I'm not...holding it anywhere! Ahhhh!" Jasper turned and sprinted to where the teleporter was and Henry, (y/n) and Ray wasted no time in running after him. They circled the machine a few times as they pretend to care about what he was doing.

"Sir...I urge you to give up." Henry told the "criminal" confidently, acting as though this fight was difficult. 

"Eat feet!" Jasper hissed back, making the crowd gasp at the stupid insult. No one spoke to Kid Danger like that and got away with it.

"Oh, okay, that does it, punk!" (y/n) shouted, looking at Ray for their next move. It was probably gonna hurt, but if it destroyed that damn machine, it was worth it.

"Let's get him!" He cried and the three released a battle cry before jumping over the teleporter, crushing it to pieces under their combined weight. Well, that was easy. 

"Charlotte's gizmo!" The head judge cried like she was in actual pain as she watched the world's greatest invention be destroyed by some two-bit criminal. The crowd couldn't believe it, the revolutionary technology was in bits just like that and it got even worse as the heroes stood up and trampled through it to get to Jasper.

"Ahhhh!" They growled, stamping and throwing bits of the machine around so they could properly destroy it whilst also looking like they were ragging Jasper around. They continued to whack components around as Schwoz got to his feet and (y/n) couldn't help but feel like she was wasting all the work she did at the weekend. Oh, well.

"It's such an odd fight!" The head judge told the man on her left as they both watch Kid Danger and the criminal stamp on the plastic tubing. Well, duh, it was odd. because it wasn't real.

"All right, punk. Next stop for you..." Ray said as he and Henry held Jasper up by his collar, the boy pretending to have been defeated by a particularly hard hit from a circuit board.

"Jail!" Henry finished, looking out at the distraught people watching. Well, they were upset but convinced.

"Oh, I hate jail..." Jasper complained in a dramatic voice as Ray and Henry began to lead him away roughly.

"Tough...well, we better go..." (y/n) hissed and they quickly shoved Jasper out of the hall before any questions could be asked. Let's just say it was a resounding success.

~In the car~

Finally, Schwoz had gotten his hands on some ice cream. (y/n) had relented on the way back from the Gizmo Show and had told Ray to pull into a drive-thru ice cream parlour so they could all grab a cone. It was a tight squeeze in the car for six people, but they'd managed it. Ray was at the wheel with (y/n) snuggled into his side as she sat in the middle of the front bench next to Henry and then in the back, Schwoz, Jasper and Charlotte were crammed in, but thoroughly enjoying their ice creams. It was cramped but cosy.

"Over your shoulder, you know that I told ya, I'll always be picking you up when you're down, so just turn around." They all sang along to an old song. It was something from the early 2000s and (y/n) was surprised that the teens remembered it.

"Hey, babe, can you hold this for a second?" Ray turned to (y/n) and held out his ice cream for her to hold.

"Uh, yeah, sure. What are you--" She asked, but her eyes nearly popped out of her head as Ray unfastened his seatbelt and opened the car door. He rolled out onto the road, forcing (y/n) to grab the wheel before the entire car crashed into the oncoming traffic.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Henry yelled in alarm as the car swerved from left to right and the gang who were still present scrambled to brace themselves for an impact. Luckily though, (y/n) was a competent driver and soon had everything under control, but that didn't mean she wasn't angry.

"That moron, I'm gonna fucking kill him!" She screamed as Schwoz, Charlotte and Jasper tried to see Ray's body lying on the road. She could feel her dropped ice cream seep into her jeans and she promised herself that she was gonna sleep in her old room tonight, even if she preferred to be with Ray in his room. What was so urgent that he felt the need to do that, especially when his girl was in the car? What an idiot.

He definitely wasn't getting any tonight after that stunt.

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[downfalldestiny]

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#People #Sunsets #Sunrise #Moon #sky full of stars #Stars #Sea #Ocean #downfalldestiny #downfall #life #My kind #Deep connection #relations #new relationship #magic destinations #magical world #magic moments #حياة #love #Exited #Mountains #Portugal

[belinhagamer999]

can you do a situationship flag? it means "an informal arrangement typically between two people that has components of both emotional and physical connection, yet operates outside the conventional idea of being in an exclusive, committed relationship."

Hello I made the flag!

[IMAGE ID: The image displays a vibrant square or diamond pattern with a gradient colorful background including shades of green, blue, pink, and yellow. In the center of this pattern, there is a light blue heart. The overall aesthetic of this design is warm, simple, and cute. /END ID]

Idk of That’s your style or if people will like it, for me it’s good! Btw Didn’t know about situationship before!

#situationship #romance #flag #romance flag #alloromantic #relationship #lgbtqia #queer attraction #romantic attraction #lgbtq community #queerplatonic #queer romance #new relationship #tertiary attraction #aro

[atths--twice]

Next sentence prompt (plus an idea I had and it for so perfectly with the prompt): “Is that what you’re wearing?”

Ties That Bind

Mulder fumbled with his coat as he got out of his car, his untied tie hanging around his neck and his dress shirt only halfway buttoned.

“Fucking zombies,” he muttered, hating that he looked so unprofessional arriving at work.

With his arm hurt and in a sling, daily activities were harder to accomplish, especially getting dressed. Buttoning the bottom buttons of his shirt had been easier, but as he had to move up, his arm screamed at him to stop. Feeling sweaty and shaky, he had listened and done the best he could. He had arrived early, hoping to get into the office, before too many people saw him in his state of undress, and wait for Scully to take pity on him and help him out.

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

“Jesus, Scully!” he said, jerking to the side as she seemed to appear from out of nowhere. He moaned as his arm ached from the sudden movement and he closed his eyes.

“Sorry,” she said quietly as he heard her stepping closer to him.

“Fucking zombies,” he said again, opening his eyes and looking at her. She raised her eyebrows, lightly touching the scratches on her neck.

“Couldn’t agree more,” she said. “Although… I don’t necessarily agree with the term zombies.”

“As you’ve said already,” he stated, rubbing his arm gently and she nodded with a small smile.

“So, I’ll ask again- is this what you’re wearing?” She gestured to his state of dress and he sighed.

“I can’t get it all done thanks to-”

“The fucking zombies. Yeah, I heard you.” She smiled and then licked her lips. “Would you like some help? Or are you hoping this might catch on as the new style?”

“Ha ha,” he said as she chuckled quietly. “But, yes, I could use some help. We have that meeting later today and I can’t very well go in like this.”

“Hmm, no you can’t. So, what should we do about it?”

“Could you please help me make myself more presentable, Agent Scully? I would greatly appreciate it.”

“Yes, Agent Mulder, I think I could be of assistance.”

She took his coat, folded it in half, handed it back to him, and he laid it over his left arm. Stepping closer, she began at the lowest button and put it through the hole, keeping her eyes on his as she did.

“Painful to get dressed today?”

“Incredibly,” he said with a nod.

“Did you take any pain pills?”

“Only ibuprofen. Couldn’t take anything stronger since I was driving.”

“Hmm, true,” she said, moving onto the next button, her fingers grazing his chest and he bit back a moan as he stared at her lips, desperately wanting to kiss her again.

“Could you put your head back so I can get the top button?I don’t want to pinch you.”

He did as she asked and he swallowed as she buttoned it and then ran her hands down his chest, smoothing out his shirt.

“Now the tie,” she said and tugged it from around his neck, placing it around her own.

“What are you doing?” he asked, confused by her actions.

“It’s easier for me to tie it this way.”

“You can tie a tie?”

“Does that surprise you?” she asked, her brows creasing as she smiled.

“I don’t think there’s much that you do that surprises me, Scully,” he stated, shaking his head as she expertly worked the tie into a knot. “I was not aware, however, that you knew how to tie a tie.”

“Raised by a Navy man and a tomboy at heart, I learned how to do a lot of things that girls my age didn’t want to learn. I can also change a tire, jumpstart a car, and gut a fish.” She smiled as she looked down at the tie and adjusted it. “How’s that? Good?”

He kept his thoughts to himself, knowing he might shock her if he said what he was really thinking- that her tying and wearing his tie was extremely erotic. So instead, he nodded and she smiled.

“Okay, so now…” She loosened the tie and left it hanging around her neck. Reaching up, she lifted his collar, but struggled with the back. “Could you bend down a little? You’re too tall.”

“Or you’re too short,” he murmured as she hummed, her eyebrows raised.

His collar ready, she took off the tie and put it over his head, adjusting it around his neck, getting the length of it just right. When she was satisfied, she laid his collar back down. Tugging at the knot of the tie, she grabbed a hold of the whole thing and pulled him towards her, pressing her lips to his and kissing him.

He stumbled slightly, having not expected her to do that, especially in the parking garage at work. Kissing him three times, she pulled back slightly.

“I don’t surprise you, huh?” she asked, her lips ghosting across his, kissing him again.

“I withdraw my previous statement,” he said, holding her hip with his left hand.

“Smart man,” she said, kissing him once more, before pulling back as they both heard a car beginning its ascent towards them.

She smiled and he let out a deep breath as she let go of his tie and smoothed it down, assuring that it lay flat.

“Thank you,” he said and she nodded.

“You’re welcome.”

She turned around and began walking towards the elevator vestibule. He watched the swing of her hips as he licked his lips, still tasting her kiss.

“Fucking zombies,” he murmured, this time rather thankful for them as he grinned madly and hurried to catch up to her.

#xf fanfic #the x files #msr #love #happy #flirting #teasing #post millennium #surprise kissing #gentle kisses #new relationship

[jesuisserieux]

do it. write the fic.

Alright bestie @passiveaggressivegummybear I don't know how you pulled the motivation out of me but here's a drabble. For anyone who doesn't know this is in response to this post I made about Hozier's new album Unreal Unearth, which if you haven't listened to, I HIGHLY recommend. I can't promise actually writing a fic for each song, but here's one based on First Light, because it made me weep. Sorry this is like a month late lmao. Also sorry if it's not what you were expecting, I am physically incapable of writing things without happy endings atm. I hope you like it!

Read it on ao3 here!

Could This Be How Every Day Begins?

            R wakes slowly, blinking sleepily in the faint golden light filling the room. He’s awake early, he realizes, which is unusual for him. He turns, to look at the clock on his bedside table, but he’s not in his room and he’s not looking at the clock. There, on his other side, sleeps Enjolras. He’s still, his breathing deep and even, and he is beautiful illuminated in the light of the new day. Grantaire just stares at him for a minute, not even trying to think about how he got here, just enjoying this sight he never thought he’d get to have. He thinks back to the night before, despite how unreal it all still feels.

~

            He had been anxious. He and Enjolras had been getting along so much better this past year and Grantaire was about to ruin it all with his stupid feelings. But he had to tell him. He’d talked extensively with Joly and Bossuet about it, and everyone agreed their friendship would always be a little bit weird if R never told him how he felt. He’d always be wondering “what if?” about things. They were definitely right, and it was definitely the mature adult thing to do, but that didn’t mean it didn’t make him want to throw up. There was no way Enjolras was just going reciprocate. Probably. Joly and Bossuet (and also Eponine and Courf and Bahorel and-) had been insistent that there was evidence that Enjolras liked him back. They were biased though, they had to be, they were his best friends!

            But the bottom line was Enjolras deserved to know. He deserved to know how disgustingly and totally Grantaire was in love him, and if he didn’t want to be friends after, that would be okay. It wouldn’t be okay, a voice in his head said, it would take months, maybe years to recover from. But that wasn’t Enjolras’s problem. Another more sensible voice in his head pointed out that, even when (if) Enjolras turned him down, he wouldn’t be mean about it. There’s pretty much nothing Enjolras cared for more than his friends, and if Grantaire had already made that cut, then a love confession wasn’t likely to push him over the edge. But still, his brain was echoing what if what if what if? all the way to Enjolras’s door.

            “Hey,” Enjolras’s smile was like the sun when he greeted him, “are you still up for Pride and Prejudice?”

            “You know it.”

            It was an inside joke between them (they had inside jokes now!) that Enjolras had never seen a movie before. It was completely untrue obviously, but it felt like every time Grantaire made a movie reference he inevitably ended up explaining the whole plot of the film because Enjolras didn’t know it. Eventually, they’d just started writing down all the movies he needed to show Enjolras. Pride and Prejudice was at the top of the list because Enjolras had read the book, so he’d actually know what was going on. Grantaire hadn’t thought that choice through when he was planning out a love confession.

            The movie had finished, Enjolras discreetly wiping away a few tears, and then they were sitting on the couch just talking. It was far too late, but Enjolras didn’t seem to care, and R certainly didn’t. The conversation was easy, like it almost always was now. He was in the middle of telling him how he felt before he even realized he’d begun. He felt weirdly calm. This was Enjolras. He could talk to him about anything. And the feeling of that, that surety, made him tear up a little. He felt a hand on his and looked up. Enjolras was watching him raptly, looking a little teary himself.

            “So yeah, basically I’m in love with you. Not basically, I love you. That’s it.” Aaaand the nerves came rushing back. Never let it be said it was an eloquent confession.

            Enjolras squeezed his hand, so tight it almost hurt. “Do you really mean that?”

            R was taken aback, “Of course I-” but that was all he got out before he was being kissed, passionately, awkwardly, and most importantly by Enjolras. He grabbed Enjolras’s waist on instinct alone, pulling him closer, practically into his lap.

            Enjolras pulled back a few inches. “I love you too. I’ve loved you for a while.” He smiled shyly.

            “Really?”

            Enjolras nodded, some of R’s nerves reflected in his face. “Are you sure?”

            R’s brain was still coming back online after that kiss. “Sure of what?”

            “That you love me.”

            R laughed out loud, “Did you hear everything I just said, Ange?”

            Enjolras flushed red, “Yes of course I just mean- sometimes, you don’t want it to be reciprocated. Or… I don’t know you could’ve changed your mind now that you know how I feel. It’s okay if you do!” he added hurriedly, though his expression seemed to contradict that statement.

R kissed him. Enjolras melted into it almost immediately, throwing his arms around his neck. “I meant it. I mean it,” said R between kisses, “I love you. I’ve been in love with you pretty much forever, ask any of our friends.”

“Okay.” Enjolras twined his fingers in R’s hair. He still looked uncharacteristically shy. “I love you,” he said again, like he just had to say it. Grantaire had felt like his heart would burst. He just had to kiss him again. And once he’d started, he couldn’t really think of a reason to stop.

~

            In the light of morning, Enjolras stirs. His eyes blink open slowly, a far off look in them. Then, as if he can sense Grantaire looking at him, awareness sparks in his eyes, and he turns his head. His whole body relaxes when he sees R. He makes eye contact and smiles, a small and joyful smile.

            “Hi,” says Enjolras. God he’s beautiful.

            “Hi,” says R, and then, “God you’re beautiful,” because he can.

            Enjolras blushes and slides a little farther under the covers. It’s adorable. “So are you,” he says. Before Grantaire can make a self-deprecating remark, he continues, “I love you.”

            R can feelhimself grinning like an idiot. “I love you too.” He leans into give him a good morning kiss.

When he tries to deepen it, Enjolras pulls back, “Stop, my breath is disgusting.”

“I don’t care, I love you. Bad breath and all.”

“Gross,” says Enjolras, but he allows himself to be pulled in for another kiss.

~

            When Grantaire finishes brushing his teeth, he steps into the kitchen to find Enjolras is making them breakfast.

            “Hey,” he says smiling, and Grantaire realizes that that look on his face isn’t new. How did he miss how Enjolras lights up when he sees him? He’s going to get such an earful from their friends later. “Are banana pancakes okay?” asks Enjolras, like he’s worried they really won’t be. Like he doesn’t want to fuck this up just as much as Grantaire. “They’re not fancy or anything, but I’m pretty good at making them and I-”

            “They’re perfect,” says R, “I love pancakes of any kind.”

            “Great.” Enjolras hands him a cup of coffee and then leans in to pour creamer. “Cream no sugar, right?”

            Grantaire nods, watches him pour with a small amount of awe. It’s possible, that this whole time he’s been noticing things about Enjolras, that Enjolras has been noticing things about him. Wow how did it take them this long to get their shit together?

            Enjolras smiles and goes back to watching the stove. His hair has a coppery tinge in the light of the sunrise. The sky is beautiful right now, an explosion of colors painting them both in shades of gold and rust.

            R must be staring, because Enjolras turns back questioningly, “What?”

            “Nothing,” says R, “I just can’t believe I get to have this now.”

            Enjolras’s smile is brighter than the sunrise.

#I really hope this is kind of what you were wanting #either way thank you for motivating me to write this #it's been in my head for a bit #and it was nice to write something other than my WIP #enjolras #grantaire #enjoltaire #les mis #les amis #my writing #fluff #new relationship #the mortifying ordeal of being known #hozier #first light #first light hozier #one shot #ask box #answered asks

[gender-fluidbees]

i love long conversations about nothing cuz like yeah i’ve known you for a year but in the past two and a half hours i’ve learned that we have the same cracker barrel order and i told you that i used to have recurring nightmares about the chick fil a cow

#neurospicy #conversation #new relationship #crush #friendship #best friends #best friends to lovers #bisexuality #bisexual